Written Answers of 19 December 1997

TREASURY

  Ecclesiastical Buildings
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the rate of VAT payable on the maintenance cost of churches and cathedrals which are listed as being of important historical and architectural significance. [21002]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No.

  Bingo Duty
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from how many establishments bingo duty was collected in the last year for which figures are available. [20493]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: HM Customs and Excise do not collect statistics on the number of establishments paying bingo duty.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much bingo duty the Treasury received in each of the last 10 years; [20491]

  (2) what proportion of the revenue received from taxes and duties on gaming, gambling and lotteries consisted of bingo duty in each of the last 10 years. [20492]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: The information requested is contained in the table.

  Bingo duty (£ million)

  Total betting and gaming duties (£ million)

  Bingo duty as a percentage of total duty

  1987–88

  61.0

  855.0

  7.1

  1988–89

  63.3

  913.2

  6.9

  1989–90

  65.9

  976.0

  6.8

  1990–91

  67.4

  1,006.4

  6.7

  1991–92

  74.7

  1,052.8

  7.1

  1992–93

  79.1

  1,025.4

  7.7

  1993–94

  77.9

  1,105.8

  7.0

  1994–95

  84.4

  1,216.9

  6.9

  1995–96

  90.7

  1,573.3

  5.8

  1996–97

  95.8

  1,441.0

  6.6

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information is contained in the Commissioners of Customs and Excise's bingo duty returns on the total number of people playing bingo each week. [20494]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: The bingo duty returns made to Customs and Excise do not require any information on the number of people playing bingo.
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  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for East Yorkshire of 26 November concerning inheritance tax reliefs for small businesses and farms. [20711]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: I have sent the hon. Member a reply to this letter today.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the deadline for the submission of self assessment tax returns; and if he will make a statement. [20712]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 16 December 1997]: The statutory filing date for the first self assessment tax returns is 31 January 1998. There are no plans to extend this date.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in each of the last 10 financial years, how many people filled in income tax returns; and of those how many were(a) primarily self-employed and (b) pensioners. [20993]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 16 December 1997]: Information is not available in the form requested. The total number of returns issued to individuals in the main April issue for each year since 1994, and the number of these issued to people whose main source of income was from self-employment, rent or investment income, was as follows:

  Millions

  Total

  of which, main source self-employment, rent or investment income

  April 1994

  8.05

  4.10

  April 1995

  7.42

  4.15

  April 1996

  7.61

  4.25

  7.00

  4.19

  The criteria used to determine the issue of tax returns do not include whether or not an individual is a pensioner, and the numbers of pensioners issued with tax returns is not available.

  Duty Free Sector
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 1997,Official Report, column 559, if he will commission research to establish (a) the number of jobs in the United Kingdom directly related to the duty free sector and (b) the value of United Kingdom spirit sales in the duty free sector in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the rest of the EU. [21295]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 17 December 1997]: I have no plans to commission research into any of the areas mentioned.

  Capital Gains and Inheritance Taxes
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of revenue raised from(a) capital

  337
  gains tax and (b) inheritance tax in each of the last 10 financial years; and what has been the estimated cost to the Inland Revenue of collecting it. [21329]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 17 December 1997]: Following is the information requested:

  £ Million

  Capital gains tax

  Inheritance tax

  Net receipts1

  Cost of collection2,3

  Net receipts4

  Cost of collection3,5

  1987–88

  1,379

  25.1

  1,078

  25.7

  1988–89

  2,323

  26.6

  1,071

  23.2

  1989–90

  1,854

  34.3

  1,232

  25.1

  1990–91

  1,852

  39.0

  1,262

  28.0

  1991–92

  1,140

  43.3

  1,299

  26.9

  1992–93

  982

  38.4

  1,211

  26.2

  1993–94

  710

  41.9

  1,333

  25.3

  1994–95

  926

  33.5

  1,411

  36.4

  1995–96

  796

  32.6

  1,518

  37.9

  1996–97

  1,131

  30.3

  1,558

  31.9

  1 Excludes tax on gains of companies which are charged to corporation tax.

  2 Relates mainly to the costs arising from gains to individuals and trustees, but some other costs (mainly of land valuations for companies) cannot be separately identified and are included in the collection costs of capital gains tax.

  3 The basis for compiling collection costs changed from 1989–90. Direct comparison of these and later figures with those of earlier years may be misleading.

  4 Includes capital transfer tax and estate duty.

  5 Includes the cost of work done by the Shares Valuation Division of the Capital Taxes Office for other Inland Revenue purposes.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the date at which the PAYE computer system at the Inland Revenue will become millennium computer compliant; and if he will make a statement. [21554]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: The work needed to make the Inland Revenue's PAYE computer systems Year 2000 compliant will be completed in three phases by April 1999. The majority of the work lies in the first two phases which will be delivered in April and October 1998.

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many public appointments he has made since 1 May; and how many and what percentage of these(a) receive remuneration and (b) are of (i) Afro-Caribbean and (ii) Asian origin. [16788]

  The Prime Minister
  I have made 14 new public appointments since 1 May to bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies"; 64 per cent. receive remuneration. Owing to the small numbers involved the information about ethnic origin cannot be provided since to do so would risk identifying individuals without consent. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has provided information for all Departments in an aggregated form.
  338
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the names of all those people whom he has appointed to public bodies since 1 May, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and whether they receive remuneration. [19979]

  The Prime Minister
  I have made the following new public appointments to bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" since 1 May:

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  Councillor Rosemary Butler

  Mr. Ian McKenzie Smith

  National Heritage Memorial Fund

  Ms Mary Ann Sieghart

  Security Vetting Appeals Panel

  Sir Anthony May

  Dame Janet Smith

  Sir John Blelloch1

  Sir Peter Woodhead1

  Dr. George Gray1

  Mr. Peter Jones1

  Committee on Standards in Public Life

  Sir Patrick Neill1

  Lord Goodhart1

  The right hon. John MacGregor MP1

  Sir Anthony Cleaver1

  Mrs. Frances Heaton1

  1Receive remuneration.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will initiate proposals for a quarterly meeting with(a) the Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality and (b) other organisations representing the Black and Asian Community. [21869]

  The Prime Minister
  The Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality has met my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on a number of occasions. Leading members of ethnic minority communities have met my right hon. Friend and other Home Office Ministers and Ministers of other Departments. A further opportunity to speak directly to Ministers will be given by my right hon. Friend' s recently announced Race Relations Forum. I do not plan to hold regular meetings.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to meet the Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality. [21868]

  The Prime Minister
  I expect to meet Sir Herman Ouseley from time to time in the course of my official duties.

  Beef Import Ban
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 15 December,Official Report, column 33, if he will make a statement on how the Government will ensure that the policing of the import ban is appropriate. [21846]

  The Prime Minister
  Imports of animal products from non-EU Member States must be imported through Border Inspection Posts. All consignments undergo documentary checks. Some also undergo identity and physical checks.
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  Because of our obligations under the EU treaties, there are no routine checks on products from other EU Member States. Border controls were removed on the introduction of the Single Market. Controls on imported animal products depend on random non-discriminatory checks. For the purpose of the SRM controls, we are seeking to introduce a number of measures designed to police the requirement for veterinary certification, involving MAFF and local authorities.

  IRA Meeting
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received opposing the visits of IRA Army Council members to Downing Street on 11 December. [21702]

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations on the talks process.

WALES

  European Funding
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of Objective 5b funding in Wales in(a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) 1996. [21592]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  £26.8 million was committed under the Dyfed Gwynedd Powys Operational Programme for 1992–93 through the ERDF and ESF Structural funds. The Rural Wales Single Programming Document 1994–99 makes available some £129 million through the ERDF, ESF and EAGGF Structural Funds.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he is undertaking in relation to the future of the Information Group of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority as regards linkage with a health authority or the Welsh Assembly. [21812]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The Department has established a group representing the Authority, Health Authorities and NHS Trusts to consider options for the management of all of the Authority's functions and it will report in the Spring.

  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received concerning the impact of the Welsh Assembly on the future management responsibility for the information group of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority; and if he will make a statement; [21814]

  (2) what proposals he has to retain the information group of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority as a single entity after the establishment of the Welsh Assembly; and when he proposes to make a statement about the future of the groups. [21815]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The Department has established a group representing the Authority, Health Authorities and NHS Trusts to consider options for the management of all of the Authority's functions and it will report in the Spring. I have received one letter about the future of the Information Group and its contents will be taken into account in preparing options.
  340

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  to ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the Stoner Report into the latest proposals for horizontal groundwater drainage wells in the areas affected by the impoundment of the lake behind the Cardiff Bay Barrage. [21813]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  This report has now been considered by my Department and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid (Personal Injury)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total number of legal aid certificates in personal injury cases in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these in each year related to(a) medical negligence cases and (b) other cases, indicating each type. [21694]

  Mr. Hoon
  The number of legal aid certificates issued in respect of personal injury litigation in each of the last three years, by category of case, was as follows:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Medical negligence

  12,198

  13,418

  9,165

  Accidents at work

  18,820

  18,567

  17,141

  Running down

  15,911

  14,116

  12,689

  Other personal injury

  40,880

  46,165

  47,014

  Total personal injury

  87,809

  92,226

  86,009

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Royal Opera House
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received in respect of the Government's policy on the Royal Opera House. [20931]

  Mr. Fisher
  My right hon. Friend announced on 3 November 1997 that he had asked Sir Richard Eyre to lead a review of the future of the Royal Opera House companies and Covent Garden. Since that announcement we have received over 1,000 letters from a range of sources.

  Departmental Corporate Identity Strategy
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost of the project to develop his Department's corporate identity strategy; and how many officials from his Department it will involve. [21113]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To date, there has been no expenditure on the Department's corporate identity strategy, which is being developed with the assistance of the Design Council.
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  The current estimate of the costs to develop and implement the Department's corporate identity strategy is £79,000.

  Elements of these costs will be off-set against:

  on-going departmental projects (eg IiP).

  efficiency savings arising from the project. These savings cannot at present be precisely estimated, but are expected to be substantial.

  CDT have been appointed to work with the Department on the strategy and a final contract is being negotiated with them to take the process forward in parallel with the Departmental Spending Review.

  The exercise is expected to involve wide consultation with Departmental staff and a Steering Group, including staff representatives, has been set up.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people living in sheltered housing accommodation benefit from the concessions of the television licensing scheme. [21388]

  Mr. Fisher
  Approximately 398,000 concessionary television licences are currently in force in sheltered accommodation, out of a total of approximately 643,000 concessionary licences. Television licences cover households rather than individuals; the precise number of beneficiaries is therefore not known.

  BBC
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will review the system of public funding of the BBC from the licence fee to include an assessment of the effects of its broadcasts on British exports. [21701]

  Mr. Fisher
  The Government's Agreement with the BBC guarantees the licence fee until the end of March 2002. We intend to conduct well before then a review of the funding arrangements. This will take account of anticipated commercial revenue, including revenue from international programme sales.

CABINET OFFICE

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what progress has been made in the process of decontaminating the Millennium Exhibition site at Greenwich; and what steps he has taken to ensure public safety. [21015]

  Angela Eagle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency, purchased the site at Greenwich Peninsula from British Gas in February 1997, work on remediating the land has progressed quickly. British Gas were responsible for the statutory decontamination. English Partnerships has undertaken extensive further work to a standard suitable for accommodating the Millennium Experience. All aspects of the remediation work have been carried out to statutory health and safety standards.
  342

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Algeria (Military Exports)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 27 November 1997,Official Report, column 645, what is the Government's policy concerning the underwriting of defence equipment sales to the Government of Algeria by the ECGD; and what measures have been taken for the recovery of the £97.8 million not yet recovered. [20569]

  Mrs. Beckett
  There is currently no medium term or short term ECGD cover for defence equipment sales to Algeria. ECGD medium term and short term cover is primarily available for sales of equipment to Oil and Gas Sector. Recovery of amounts owed to ECGD in respect of military and civil sales is being made through debt rescheduling agreements signed following multilateral negotiations between Algeria and its major creditors under the auspices of the Paris Club.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 24 November 1997,Official Report, column 419, if she will make a statement on the number of inspection visits made by Euratom safeguards inspectors to each (a) facility and (b) material balance area at (i) Sellafield and (ii) Dounreay in each year since 1988; and if she will list the annual total of safeguards inspection person-days for each year in this period committed to United Kingdom nuclear facilities by (1) Euratom and (2) International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. [20778]

  Mrs. Roche
  Reports on the operation of Euratom safeguards are published periodically by the European Commission. These reports include information on typical Euratom safeguards inspection effort both by country and by type of installation.

  The most recent Euratom report, published in 1994, contains figures for total inspection effort in the UK for the years 1989–92. Figures for subsequent years have also been published, most recently in a paper presented at the IAEA Safeguards Symposium held in Vienna in October 1997 (a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House). These figures show Euratom safeguards inspection effort in the UK rising from slightly under 2,000 person days in 1989 to just over 3,000 person days in 1996. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) do not themselves routinely publish corresponding figures for their inspections in the UK, the information they have provided to us shows that such effort has ranged between approximately 400 and 670 person days per year for the period in question.

  In the case of both Sellafield and Dounreay there is essentially continual Euratom inspector presence. The detailed information sought on numbers of Euratom safeguards inspection visits to Sellafield and Dounreay since 1988 is not included in the Commission's reports and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Copies of the Commission's 1994 report and of its reports for previous years have been placed in the Library of the House.
  343

  Ministerial Expenses
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated budget for the year from 1 May for(a) travel and (b) other office costs and expenses for her private office. [21766]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Budgets are allocated on an annual basis for a financial year beginning in April.

  The 1997–98 budget in my office for travel and subsistence is £90,000.

  Other office costs and expenses, including staff salaries, for the same period total £766,000.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many official functions of her Department she has held in her official apartment since 1 May. [21767]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Three.

  Government Chemist
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to receive the Annual Review of the Government Chemist for 1996–97. [22246]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have today received the Annual Review of the Government Chemist for 1996–97. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the deep-mine collieries which she and her fellow Ministers have visited since 1 May. [19178]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: I visited a number of deep mines before assuming responsibility for coal industry matters. My concern has been to deal with the substantial problems that had been created for the coal industry not least at Asfordby mine and Monktonhall whose representatives I have met on a number of occasions since 1 May. This has required intensive exchanges with key players, particularly representatives of the industry at all levels, and the development of policies to establish a level playing-field for coal at home and new markets for coal abroad.

  Energy
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 10 December 1997,Official Report, columns 1002–03, when she expects to announce the Government's proposals relating to the long-term energy requirements of the country. [20912]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: The timetable of the review of our policy towards approval of new power stations, including the role which coal should play, will be announced shortly.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the relative efficiencies of coal-fired, gas-fired and oil-fired electricity power stations; and if he will make a statement. [21273]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 16 December 1997]: These vary according to the design and technology used. Modern Combined Cycle plant, all of which is presently gas fired, can achieve thermal efficiencies of up to
  344
  55 per cent. with the latest designs. This compares to typical operating efficiencies in the range 36 per cent. to 39 per cent. for plant using more conventional technology be they coal, oil or gas. More advanced clean coal plant based on combustion and gasification technologies are now available which offer efficiencies of 43 per cent. or more. Properly sized combined heat and power plant can achieve thermal efficiencies considerably in excess of any of the above.

  In assessing our future policy towards the electricity industry the Government are taking into account the contribution made by each fuel to its overall goal of ensuring security diversity sustainability and competitive prices.

  Domestic Gas Appliances
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many domestic gas appliances were condemned as unsafe by registered installers in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many cases this was due to the emission of carbon monoxide. [20722]

  Angela Eagle
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive that the information is not available in the form requested. However, under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 gas installers registered with the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) have a duty to notify to the Health and Safety Executive any gas fitting, or any flue or ventilation, used in connection with that fitting which is or has been likely to cause death, or any major injury by accidental leakage of gas; inadequate combustion of gas; or inadequate removal of the products of combustion of gas.

  The latest provisional figures for 1996–97 show that the Health and Safety Executive received 5,819 such notifications. A breakdown of these is given in the Health and Safety Commission's "Health and Safety Statistics 1996–97" (page 163) a copy of which has been placed in the House library. However, the data do not show how many appliances were considered dangerous because they were emitting carbon monoxide.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Smoking
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) improvement notices, (b) prohibition notices and (c) prosecutions the HSE has initiated in each of the last three years in relation to the hazards of (i) smoking and (ii) passive smoking. [20124]

  Angela Eagle
  There were no legal proceedings taken by HSE's Field Operations Directorate in each of the last three years in relation to the hazards of (i) smoking and (ii) passive smoking in the workplace.

  There were no notices issued in 1996–971 in relation to the hazards of smoking and passive smoking. The information is not available for the two preceding years.
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  HSE Inspectors are asked to promote the development of workplace smoking policies, where appropriate, to reduce employees' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. This approach will be reviewed once new evidence on the risks of passive smoking has been considered further.
  1Figures for 1996–97 are provisional.

  Sonar Equipment
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what year side scan sonar equipment became available to(a) the Royal Navy and (b) offshore oil exploration companies. [20358]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Side scan sonar equipment has been available to the Royal Navy since the Second World War. It was optimised for use in the relatively shallow waters of the Continental Shelf. In the mid-1970s the capability of equipment held by commercial oil exploration companies to locate and identify objects on the seabed was similar to that available to the Royal Navy.

  EU Transport Directive
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on European Commission Proposed Directive OJ C25/28.1.93 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for transport activities and workplaces on means of transport. [20470]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There has been no progress made on reaching agreement on this proposed Directive since 1993.

  Water Consumption
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measures he intends to take to make new buildings more water efficient; and if he will make a statement; [20345]

  (2) what measures he intends to take to promote greater water efficiency in households; and if he will make a statement. [20344]

  Angela Eagle
  The Environment Act 1995 introduced a duty for the water companies to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. At the Water Summit we encouraged the water companies to fulfil this duty with vigour, imagination and enthusiasm. We also said that we would make new Water Regulations which would include significantly tighter requirements for water efficiency. The Water Regulations Advisory Committee have recently consulted on their proposals and we are now considering their recommendations.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average water consumption per person in each region of England and Wales(a) was in 1977, (b) was in 1987, (c) is estimated to be in 1997, (d) is projected to be for the year 2007 and (e) is projected to be for the year 2017. [20343]

  Angela Eagle
  Forecasts of per capita consumption for the years 2007 and 2017 will be collected by the Office of Water Services as part of its forthcoming Periodic Review. At the last review projected per capita 346
  consumption estimates were not separated from estimates of supply pipe leakage for the years in question. There are no published figures for 1977 and 1987. The average domestic water consumption per capita for 1996–97 in each water undertaker's area in litres per day is:

  Litres per day

  Water and sewerage companies

  Anglian

  152.0

  Dwr Cymru

  145.6

  North West

  136.4

  Northumbrian

  143.4

  Severn Trent

  136.4

  South West

  151.9

  Southern

  156.4

  Thames

  158.7

  Wessex

  143.1

  Yorkshire

  131.0

  Water only companies

  Bournemouth and West Hampshire

  164.3

  Bristol

  155.9

  Cambridge

  148.1

  Chester

  154.4

  Essex and Suffolk

  160.3

  Folkestone and Dover

  156.7

  Hartlepool

  152.3

  Mid Kent

  166.1

  Mid Southern

  167.5

  North Surrey

  160.2

  Portsmouth

  161.6

  South East

  165.0

  South Staffordshire

  146.5

  Sutton/South East

  169.5

  Tendring Hundred

  145.7

  Three Valleys

  170.6

  Wrexham

  148.8

  York

  142.4

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the quantity of extra water resources required to meet the demand of the projected 44 million extra households up to the year 2016. [20342]

  Angela Eagle
  The latest household projections show the need for 4.4 million additional households between the years of 1991 and 2016. It is for water companies to quantify and provide the water supplies required. This is a normal part of the planning process.

  VDU Users (Eye Tests)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many visual display unit users have exercised their legal right to have their eye tests paid by their employer since 1993. [20479]

  Angela Eagle
  Exact information on eye tests under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 is not available, as there is no requirement for employers to report the number of tests provided. However, a survey commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive estimated that by mid-1995, nearly a million users had received eye tests provided by their employer since the Regulations were introduced in January 1993.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that employers are
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  meeting their legal obligations under the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 on eye tests for employees. [20459]

  Angela Eagle
  The Health and Safety Executive is revising its guidance booklet "Working with VDUs" for publication early next year, which will help make both employers and their workforce more aware that employers have a duty to provide display screen users with eye tests on request. HSE and local authority inspectors will continue to advise employers how to comply with all aspects of the Regulations.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the number of workplace inspections made by Health and Safety Executive inspectors and (b) the number of prohibition notices that were issued for each of the last four years. [20404]

  Angela Eagle
  HSE inspectors carry out a range of different types of workplace inspections, for example proactive or planned inspections; visits associated with special projects; visits connected with enforcement matters; and advisory visits. During their visits, inspectors may issue a prohibition or "stop" notice on a dangerous activity if the circumstances warrant it. Over the past four years HSE inspectors made the following numbers of planned inspections:

  1993–94: 156,233;

  1994–95; 146,330;

  1995–96: 124,010;

  1996–97: 115,728.

  Over those years inspectors issued the following numbers of prohibition notices:

  1993–94: 4,105;

  1994–95; 4,296;

  1995–96: 3,467;

  1996–97: 3,627.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of factories that were revealed not to be registered with the Health and Safety Executive following visits by HSE inspectors in each of the last four years. [20405]

  Angela Eagle
  I regret that the information requested is not recorded by the Health and Safety Executive and cannot therefore be supplied. Not all occupiers of workplaces for which HSE enforces health and safety are required to register with HSE. HSE's primary concern is with conditions in workplaces, regardless of how they came to its attention. To identify those factories which were first recorded following visits by HSE inspectors would involve a disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement regarding increases in budget provision of the Health and Safety Executive in this Parliament. [21391]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced its spending priorities for 1998–99 on Tuesday 16 December 1997,Official Report, column 158–59, which include an extra £4.5 million for health and safety. This budget increase
  348
  reflects the Health and Safety Commission's estimates of the amount required to maintain direct field activity at 1996–97 and 1997–98 levels, to reinforce activity on railways and major hazards, and to start work on other agreed priorities, including increased promotion of occupational health (especially further action on stress and asbestos), continuing initiatives directed towards small firms, and protection of homeworkers.

  Provision for future years will be announced in the summer, following the completion of the Government-wide Comprehensive Spending Review and discussion of priorities.

  Mox Plutonium Fuel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Minister for Transport replied to the letter sent to him on 5 November by the President of the Nuclear Control Institute concerning the use of roll-on/roll-off ferries to transport mox plutonium fuel; and what reply he gave. [20766]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Nuclear Control Institute is an American pressure group that has taken an anti-nuclear stance on a number of occasions. Officials replied to its letter on 2 December. Official replies are confidential to the recipient and cannot be divulged without their express prior permission.

  Carbon Monoxide
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the current standard for carbon monoxide alarms. [20758]

  Angela Eagle
  The current British Standard entitled "Carbon Monoxide detectors (electrical) for domestic use" (BS 7860) for carbon monoxide alarms was published in March 1996. The aim of monitors meeting this standard is to save lives by detecting high levels of carbon monoxide; it is not intended to detect carbon monoxide levels that may give rise to chronic illness.

  My Department and the Department of Health jointly commissioned a comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with exposure to carbon monoxide in the home. This report is to be published next year. We will review the need for additional action in light of this assessment and the information from the Carbon Monoxide Support's research.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to establish the prevalence of long term exposure to carbon monoxide in the home and in the workplace; and what steps he is taking to increase public awareness of this issue. [20757]

  Angela Eagle
  My Department and the Department of Health jointly commissioned the Medical Research Council's Institute for Environmental Health to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with exposure to carbon monoxide in the home. This assessment has been endorsed by the Department of Health's Advisory Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP) and is to be published in the New Year. My Department is now considering what further measures should be taken in light of this report.
  349
  In 1997, the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Working Group on the Assessment of Toxic Chemicals endorsed the Health and Safety Executive's risk assessment of occupational exposure to carbon monoxide, which includes an assessment of repeated exposure. A proposal to reduce the occupational exposure standards will be considered by HSC's Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances and, if they agree, will be subject to public consultation in May 1998.

  My Department and other Government Departments will continue to highlight the dangers of acute poisoning by carbon monoxide through public information campaigns. These include the leaflet"Gas Appliances: Get them checked, keep them safe" (Health and Safety Executive) which is available in English and Welsh and has recently been published in five Asian languages and mailed to relevant community organisations. Also, the Department of Trade and Industry is to circulate information to all gas users warning the public of the dangers of faulty gas appliances. We are also considering a separate leaflet publicising the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning from solid fuels.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1997,Official Report, columns 202–03, if he will list the known quantities of low-level radioactive waste deposited at each of the disposal sites. [20779]

  Angela Eagle
  There is no legal requirement for landfill operators, or those disposing of radioactive waste, to inform the Environment Agencies of each disposal. They must, however, maintain records of the quantities of radioactive waste disposed and make these available for inspection by the Environment Agencies. The information requested is therefore not available centrally.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what legislation currently governs the use of untreated sewage on agricultural land. [20669]

  Angela Eagle
  The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/588) prescribe as industrial waste sewage disposed of in or on land (other than within a sewage treatment works) and sewage removed from a privy or cesspool. The effect of this is to apply the waste management controls of Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to the recovery or disposal of these wastes.

  The use of sewage sludge (a by-product of the sewage treatment process), including untreated sewage sludges, is controlled under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1263).

  Kyoto Conference
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives his Department is supporting in central and eastern Europe to assist in the collection, storage and analysis of reliable data on atmospheric pollution levels and climate 350
  change indicators; and on what occasions these matters were discussed at the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto. [20769]

  Angela Eagle
  No such initiatives are being supported by my Department; neither were such matters discussed formally in Kyoto.

  Lead in Water
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many dwellings are considered to be unfit for human habitation because the drinking water contains lead in excess of 50 µg/l due to the presence of lead pipework in the dwelling; and if he will make a statement. [21257]

  Angela Eagle
  On the basis of information up to 1995, it is estimated that about 700,000 dwellings then had a water supply with a lead concentration exceeding 50 µg/litre. Measures have been taken by water companies since then in many areas to reduce the ability of water to dissolve lead, and this may have reduced the number of dwellings affected.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of dwellings which will be considered to be unfit for human habitation when the standard for lead in drinking water at the tap is 10 µg/l by the proposed Directive on Drinking Water; and if he will make a statement. [21258]

  Angela Eagle
  The standard of 10 µg/l in the proposed EC Drinking Water Directive would not apply until 15 years after adoption of the Directive, and would apply to water as supplied to the property, not at the tap. Water companies will be expected to comply with the new limit by the due date.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many dwellings were considered unfit for human habitation in(a) the 1991 and (b) the 1996 English House Condition Survey due to the presence of lead pipework and the plumbosolvent nature of the water supplies; and if he will make a statement. [21256]

  Angela Eagle
  This information is not available from the English House Condition Survey. Though surveyors were asked to record the presence of lead pipework, they were instructed to exclude it from any assessment of unfitness as it is not practical to measure the concentration of lead in the water supply during the physical survey.

  Roads (M66)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the M66 Denton to Heaton Park motorway to be open; which contracts for it are running late and by how much; which contracts have been granted extensions and for what reasons; which contracts have overrun their cost estimates by how much and for what reasons; and when the number 3 Audenshaw reservoir will be back in use. [21102]
  351
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The M66 extension from Denton to Middleton is programmed to be open to traffic in the year 2000. Construction is split into 4 Contracts, each of which needs to be complete before the scheme can be fully open to traffic.

  Work is either under way or complete on 3 of the contracts and were are currently seeking tenders for the fourth; we hope to start work on this one early next summer with a two year contract period.

  The contracts let so far have been in the traditional form of civil engineering contracts published by the Institute of Civil Engineers. This form of contract allows for payment to be made for the actual work undertaken, rather than an estimate at the time of tender, so where additional work becomes necessary, costs will rise.

  So far, we know that the tender prices for the three contracts will be exceeded but we cannot yet say by exactly how much because we have not settled final accounts.

  The contracts also allow for extensions of time for completion of the works in certain circumstances. On this scheme, the contract periods have so far been extended on Contract 1 by 46 weeks, on Contract 2 by 35 weeks and Contract 4 by 37 weeks to allow for unforseen ground conditions such as the extent of contaminated land and difficulties with statutory undertakers plant. Work has also been delayed by bad weather.

  Contract 1 is now expected to be complete in February 2000. Contract 2 was contractually completed this month.

  The traditional form of contract can provide good value for money when things work out as planned. There are difficulties, however, and the Highways Agency has been reviewing its procurement strategy and in the future will make use of alternative forms of contract which pass more risk to the contractor. The Agency is also keen to encourage a partnering approach on its contracts. In line with that approach the latest contract is being tendered on the basis of design and build.

  The new dam for Audenshaw No. 3 reservoir is being constructed as part of Contract 1. Completion is expected in 1999 when the dam will be handed over to the North West Water who will decide when it will be back in use.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate how many homes could be assisted under the home energy efficiency scheme for £380 million over two years. [21254]

  Angela Eagle
  £380 million would be sufficient to pay up to 2.3 million grants to householders under this scheme, assuming that the average grant value remained at its present level and that the scheme's infrastructure could cope with such a volume within a two year period. I intend to review the scheme as soon as possible to find out if it is helping the right people in the most effective way.

  Road Haulage
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will 352
  restrict movements of heavy and wide loads to off-peak periods. [21494]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Proposed movements of vehicles and loads in excess of 80 tonnes and those in excess of 2.9 metres in width are required to be notified to the police. The timing of the movement is at the discretion of the Chief Officer(s) of police in the area(s) in which the movement is to take place. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has recommended to Police Forces that abnormal loads should, where possible, be moved at off-peak periods, including, where it is safe to do so, the hours of night. In timing the movement of such loads, it must be recognised that large loads frequently require police escort. This places considerable demands on resources and the Police service generally finds it difficult to provide a flexible escort service because other operational policing requirements frequently have to take priority at short notice. This can mean that Police Forces are sometimes left with no alternative but to escort loads at busy periods.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the movement of heavy and wide loads on the motorway network. [21493]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The movement of heavy and wide loads on all types of roads is governed by either the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, the Special Types General Order 1979 or in the case of loads greater than 150 tonnes or wider than 6.1 metres by Order made under Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 issued by my Department. Movements of any load in excess of 5.0 metres is also subject to the agreement of my Department. Vehicles and loads in excess of 38 tonnes are required to be notified to the highway and bridge authorities on the proposed route. Those over 80 tonnes in weight and those in excess of 2.9 metres wide are required to be notified to the police areas in which the route passes.

  Commuter Journeys
  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of daily commuting journeys(a) to London, (b) to Birmingham and (c) to Bristol in (i)1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) the latest year for which figures are available. [21772]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The average number of journeys to work per weekday in London was just under 3 million for the period 1992 to 1996. Data are not available for other years, or for Birmingham or Bristol.

  Source: National Travel Survey.

  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of daily commuting journeys in England, of(a) up to 10 miles, (b) 10 to 25 miles, (c) 25 to 50 miles and (d) over 50 miles, for (i) 1975, (ii)1980, (iii) 1985, (iv) 1990 and (v) the latest year for which figures are available. [21779]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Figures for the average number of journeys to work per weekday, for residents of England, are available only for the years shown:
  353

  Total weekday journeys (millions)

  1985–86

  1989–91

  1994–96

  Up to 10 miles

  15.3

  15.1

  13.3

  10 to under 25 miles

  2.5

  2.9

  2.9

  25 to under 50 miles

  0.6

  0.7

  0.8

  Over 50 miles

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  All journey lengths

  18.6

  19.0

  17.3

  Source:

  National Travel Survey.

  Wheel Loss Survey
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the results of the wheel loss survey completed on 30 April will be published. [21782]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The results of the survey looking into the number of incidents of wheel loss from commercial vehicles are currently being finalised. We expect to make these results known by the end of January 1998.

  Housing Developments
  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has had from, and what discussions Ministers have had with, the Environment Agency, regarding the impact of current and future new housing development on(a) sustainable water resources and supply, (b) problems of additional loading in sewage treatment works, (c) flood risk protection and (d) sustainable natural uses of flood plains in (i) England, (ii) the south-west region and (iii) Somerset. [21773]

  Angela Eagle
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations from, or held discussions with, the Environment Agency on these matters. The issue of flood risk protection is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The position in respect of residential development is that water companies have a statutory duty to provide supplies of water sufficient for domestic purposes and this duty extends to all new premises. Current planning guidance requires local authorities to consult with infrastructure providers, such as water suppliers, when drawing up their development plans.

  Vehicle Safety
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport. and the Regions what is the timetable for consultation on the EU Directive relating to special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers with more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat and amending Directive 70/156/EEC. [21632]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  During the development of this proposed directive both the manufacturers and operators have been consulted extensively. The Government's position on the Commission's proposal has been described in an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum which was submitted on 30 September and to which a corrigendum, number 9734/97, has since been issued on 11 November. The Commission's proposal will now be subject to detailed discussions by Member States and we will 354
  continue to consult interested parties throughout the negotiations. It is not possible to give a precise timetable for the completion of these negotiations.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received from the Franchising Director on the performance of the West Coast main line since privatisation. [22093]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I met the Franchising Director on 15 December to discuss current West Coast performance issues and future investment plans. In addition to that, the Franchising Director has regular liaison meetings with my officials. Key performance issues are routinely discussed at these meetings, including the performance of the West Coast Main Line since privatisation. The Franchising Director publishes quarterly bulletins of performance information against Passenger's Charter targets for all Train Operating Companies, and an annual report; these documents are in the Library of the House. The West Coast Main Line franchise was taken over by Virgin Trains on 9 March 1997. Performance of these services is slightly better than it was under British Rail but is still well below Virgin's committed target of 90 per cent. punctuality by March 1998.

  Asia Pacific Airlines
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what negotiations he is currently undertaking with Asia Pacific airlines with a view to providing greater competition for the proposed BA-AA alliance on the transatlantic route; and if he will make a statement. [21644]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None. The competition aspects of the proposed BA-AA alliance are being considered by the relevant authorities.

  Saudi Arabian Airlines
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that Saudi Arabian Airlines can operate in summer 1998 in line with the slots allocated to them at the recent schedule co-ordination conference. [21697]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department hopes to hold bilateral air services discussions with the Saudi Arabian authorities early next year. However, the terms of the current bilateral arrangements already make it possible for Saudi Arabian Airlines to operate all the slots which I understand they have been allocated for the summer 1998 season.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Minister for Local Government and Housing expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for East Yorkshire, relating to a meeting with the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden
  355
  (Mr. Davies), the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Cran) and the hon. Member for East Yorkshire. [21953]

  Ms Armstrong
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 18 December.

  Regional Airports
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the Additional bilateral air service rights for UK and foreign airlines to serve UK regional airports negotiated during 1997. [21696]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Bilateral negotiations during 1997 either enabled or increased the possibility of services between UK regional airports and the following countries:Argentina, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Yemen.

  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the occasions in the last three years when a full regional economic impact analysis, using all the factors identified in the CAA Paper, CAP 638, has been carried out in connection with bilateral air service negotiations involving routes to regional airports; and if he will name the routes involved. [21698]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Since the publication of CAP 638, the full regional economic impact analyses have been carried out by the CAA for bilateral talks on air services with Australia, India, Pakistan, Canada (in respect of fifth freedom rights to India), Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore and United Arab Emirates.

  There have been other occasions on which the CAA's economic analyses have looked at the effects of granting additional rights from regional airports, but where full regional economic analyses have not been undertaken.

  EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards implementing the requirements of the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (97/11/EC). [22217]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government's broad proposals for implementing the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive were set out in an initial consultation paper issued on 30 July. In the light of the responses to that paper, I am pleased to announce today the start of a second, more detailed consultation exercise on the thresholds to be used by planning authorities and others as filters in assessing whether a particular project is likely to have significant effects on the environment and so warrant environmental assessment.

  The proposed thresholds would apply to a range of projects covered by the Town and Country Planning and other consent systems in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  356
  Copies of the consultation paper have been sent to other Government Departments and to a wide range of business, government and environmental organisations. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Comments on the Government's proposals should be made to my Department, the Scottish Office or Northern Ireland Office as appropriate by 27 February 1998.

  EU Transport Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 10 and 11 December. [22250]

  Dr. Strang
  The Transport Council met in Brussels on 10 and 11 December. My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council reached agreement on mandates for the Commission to negotiate Community shipping agreements with India and China. Member States will continue to be involved in the negotiating process and the agreed negotiating mandates reflect this.

  The Council agreed an amendment to the EC Directive on Port State Control. This amendment will add the International Safety Management (ISM) code to the list of international safety conventions with which ships must demonstrate compliance when they enter EU ports.

  The Council took note of a progress report on discussions following the Commission's communication on maritime external relations, which was considered at the Transport Council in June.

  There was discussion of the recent Commission Decision extending application of the Community Regulation (3577/92) on maritime cabotage to the European Economic Area (EEA).

  Following a statement by Sweden on the inquiry report into the Estonia disaster, the Commission said it would consider whether new proposals would be required in the light of this and other reports.

  The Commission called on the Council for a commitment to decide at the March 1998 Council on a mandate for Community-level negotiations with the US on market access in air transport. A number of Member States, including the UK, questioned the Commission's approach and opposed setting a deadline. There will be a further discussion at the March Council. Commissioner Kinnock underlined his disappointment with this outcome, and said that the Commission would now be pursuing legal action against certain Member States.

  The Council agreed that further work preparing for the establishment of a European Aviation Safety Authority should be carried out, on the working hypothesis that the new authority would be set up as an international organisation.

  There was a progress report to the Council on preparations for Community membership of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL); there were also progress reports on the proposed directives on airport charging and on cabin crew training.
  357
  The Council (with Germany abstaining) approved an agreement under which the Community will cooperate with EUROCONTROL and the European Space Agency (ESA) on the development of the European segment of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

  The Council adopted conclusions calling on Russia to end the levying of excessive charges for overflight of Siberia.

  The Council had a further discussion of the proposed directive on heavy goods vehicle taxation and charging (the "Eurovignette" directive), but was unable to reach agreement.

  The Commission reported on negotiations with Switzerland on land transport. It was agreed that negotiations should continue.

  The Council agreed conclusions noting the Commission's intention to produce proposals on working time in road transport and on driver training. A number of Member States commented on the conclusions, which were prompted by a French initiative. The UK accepted the conclusions, stating that it supported the need for decent working conditions for commercial drivers, including working time, but the treatment of working time in Community law needed careful study.

  The Council reached agreement on a Directive harmonising vehicle registration documents.

  The Council discussed lorry blockades and the Commission suggested ways of facilitating freedom of movement during disputes.

  The Commission reported on progress on a proposal to clarify and harmonise weekend and night-time lorry bans; there was also discussion of harmonised Community driving licences.

  Ecolabelling Board
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about a financial, management and policy review of the UK Ecolabelling Board. [22355]

  Mr. Meacher
  As part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly financial management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies, my Department has now begun a thorough review of the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board (UKEB).

  The first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study, which I expect to be completed by March 1998. This study will assess the extent to which UKEB's functions are necessary and consider both the existing arrangements and possible alternatives for handling these functions.

  The review also provides an opportunity to explore what other activities might help improve the provision of environmental information for consumers. My Department will consult widely with organisations which have an interest in this field. As well as issues connected with the delivery of the present EU ecolabelling scheme, views will be invited on the case for a national award scheme and the mechanisms needed to raise the standard of environmental claims generally.
  358

  Discharges to Water
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many offences against section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991 were identified by the Environment Agency for each month of 1996 and 1997 to date; and for the same period how many prosecutions were brought; how many have been successful; and how many are outstanding; and what penalties have been applied. [20647]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: This information is not available in the form requested. Of the 20,158 substantial pollution incidents recorded for 1996, which in over 90 per cent. of cases were minor and resulted only in localised environmental impacts, the Environment Agency brought 121 prosecutions under section 85(1). Of these, 117 were successful. One custodial sentence was imposed. The maximum fine was £15,000. A further 111 prosecutions relating to incidents in 1996 have been brought to date in 1997. Of these, 108 were successful. The maximum fine imposed was £15,000. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman about the number of outstanding prosecutions which have been brought by the Agency for offences in 1996 and 1997 under section 85(1).

  As regards 1997, data for the number of pollution incidents are not yet available. However, 36 prosecutions have been brought to date for incidents which occurred this year. All were successful. The maximum fine imposed was £7,000.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many discharges to water in excess of permitted limits have been identified by the Environment Agency for each month in 1997 to date; how many prosecutions have resulted; how many have been successful; how many are outstanding; and what penalties have been applied. [20649]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: Compliance data are collected quarterly by the Environment Agency. The number of discharges which have exceeded their consented limits in each of the first three quarters of 1997 are as follows:

  Numbers

  January-March

  1,447

  April-June

  1,023

  July-September

  966

  (The second and third quarter totals do not include figures for the Environment Agency's South West region.) Most dischargers, on being notified of a failed sample, take prompt action to remedy matters.

  The Agency has brought seven prosecutions under section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 for breaches of consent which have occurred this year. Five were successful. The fines imposed ranged from £750 to £10,000. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with details of the number of outstanding cases where the Agency has brought prosecutions in respect of such offences.
  359
  Further to my answer to the hon. Gentleman on 8 December 1997, Official Report, column 422, thirteen prosecutions were taken in 1997 under section 85(6) in respect of breaches of consent which occurred in 1996 in addition to the prosecutions taken in 1996.

  Fertilisers and Pesticides
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has, as a way of protecting the rural environment, further to tax fertilisers, pesticides and other products applied to the land. [21105]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The consultation document, "Economic Instrument for Water Pollution", issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 27 November, invited responses on a number of options to reduce water pollution. One of these options is a tax or charge on pesticides or fertilisers.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Departmental Information
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will place in the Library a copy of the internal departmental guidance on the dissemination of information; and if she will make a statement. [16304]

  Number and percentage of customers currently in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Industrial Disablement Benefit (IIDB) and Incapacity Benefit (IB)

  DLA—as at 31 August 19971

  IIDB—as at 30 March 19962

  IB—as at 31 May 19973

  Number of customers in Great Britain

  1,924,360

  244,798

  1,732,740

  Per cent.

  3.0

  0.4

  3.0

  Number of customers in Wansbeck

  4,340

  n/a

  n/a

  Per cent.

  7.0

  n/a

  n/a

  Number of customers in Northumberland (Northumbria District)

  11,860

  966

  12,040

  Per cent.

  4.0

  0.3

  3.9

  1. Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  1 Figures based on a 5 per cent, sample of customers in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at 31 August 1997.

  2 Figures based on a 10 per cent, sample of all IIDB assessments.

  3Figures based on a 5 per cent, sample of customers in receipt of Incapacity Benefit at 31 May 1997. This includes the rates of Incapacity Short Term (Lower), Short Term (Higher) and Long Term. This figure excludes a small number of clerically processed cases.

  The percentage figure is calculated by dividing the number of customers in receipt of the benefit by the population estimate for the corresponding area. The population estimate has been provided by the Office of National Statistics and General Registrar of Scotland, population estimate at 1996.

  n/a = not available.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of each of the main disability benefits have had their benefits(a) reduced and (b) stopped, as a result of the Benefits Integrity Programme; and what proportion of these recipients are over pension age. [21521]

  Mr. Denham
  One of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. We need to focus on those who are properly entitled to benefit. This is why we have set up the Benefit Integrity Project.

  The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  360
  Mr. Field
  A copy of the current guidance on the dissemination of information used by DSS Headquarters has been placed in the Library. The Department's Executive Agencies issue separate guidance for their staff.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of people are currently in receipt of(a) disability living allowance, (b)
  industrial disablement benefit and (c) incapacity benefit (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in the Wansbeck parliamentary constituency. [19276]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of social security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Denis Murphy, dated 18 December 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many and what percentage of people are currently in receipt of (a) Disability Living Allowance (DLA),(b) Industrial Disablement Benefit (IIDB), and (c)Incapacity Benefit (IB), (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in the Wansbeck parliamentary constituency.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics for DLA, IIDB and IB are available for Great Britain. Statistics for IIDB and IB are kept for Benefits Agency (BA) Districts and not by parliamentary constituency. The BA's Northumbria District serves the Wansbeck area.
  Such information as is available is shown in the attached table.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 18 December 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding how many recipients of each of the main disability benefits have had their benefits reduced and stopped as a result of the Benefits Integrity Programme (BIP), and what proportion of these recipients are over pension age.
  As at 30 November 1997, the BIP has looked at 27,511 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) awards. Of these awards 2,339 were reduced, 1,152 were disallowed entirely, 23,363 left unaltered and 657 increased. In addition staff working on the BIP have dealt with 5,979 renewal claims of which 1,080 have been disallowed, 1,541 renewed at a lower rate, 3,174 renewed at the same rate and 184 renewed at a higher rate.

  361
  The age distribution of the awards changed as a result of the BIP is not available in the format requested. However, the proportion of DLA awards to people over pension age which were looked at, inclusive of the renewal claims dealt with by BIP staff is 10,371. Of these 762 were reduced, 310 were disallowed entirely, while 265 were increased.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average weekly mortgage interest of homebuyers in receipt of family credit; and how many have weekly mortgage interest costs of (i) up to £9.99, (ii) £10–£19.99, (iii) £20–£29.99, (iv) £30–£39.99, (v) £40–£49.99, (vi) £ 50–£59.99, (vii) £60–£69.99, (viii) £70–£79.99 and (ix) £80 or above. [21785]

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

  According to the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS) the average weekly mortgage interest cost to homebuyers in receipt of Family Credit (FC) was £31 (rounded to nearest £1).

  Counts of FC receipt derived from the FRS do not match administrative sources. Therefore the requested figures for homebuyer FC recipients by mortgage band are shown in the table as percentages rather than grossed up counts. In addition, the requested mortgage interest bands resulted in counts too low to be reliable. Therefore it has been necessary to enlarge the mortgage interest bands used.

  Weekly mortgage interest cost

  Homebuyers in receipt of Family Credit—percentages within each mortgage interest band

  Up to £19.99

  33

  £20 to £39.99

  40

  £40 to £59.99

  21

  £60 or above

  6

  Notes:

  1. The estimates are based on sample counts which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which control for region, Council Tax Band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non response.

  2. The total count of homebuyers given is based on adult owner occupiers with a mortgage where the benefit unit to which the adult belongs is in receipt of Family Credit. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children.

  Source:

  The figures are based on information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995–96 survey is the latest for which data are available.

  DSS Estates
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement about recent developments concerning the DSS Estates. [22354]

  Ms Harman
  To support our aims for an active modern service and further to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney) on 31 July 1997,Official Report, columns 591–94, I have today authorised the signing of a contract with Partnership Property Management Limited, which will own and
  362
  provide the Department with serviced accommodation throughout the country, except for the Tyneside area, which is covered by a separate project. The contract will start on 1 April 1998. This is an imaginative and innovative form of partnership with the private sector which will bring specialist expertise to the management of the estate; deliver improved value for money; result in more investment in our buildings; and allow us to share in gains realised by property developments. It gives us more flexibility to adjust the buildings we occupy to meet our changing service needs, while retaining control over location of our offices. This project, PRIME, has been a major Government procurement. It is a pathfinder project which puts this Department at the forefront of the way in which the public sector manages property.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the rates of improvement in Key Stage 1 SAT results in(a) English and (b) maths (i) for the schools maintained by the City of Birmingham and (ii) nationally between 1991 and 1997. [18580]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The national results for Key Stage 1 in English and mathematics of pupils at level 2 and above are as follows:

  Percentage

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  English

  78

  77

  n/a

  179

  180

  179

  180

  Mathematics

  78

  78

  n/a

  81

  78

  82

  84

  1 Teacher Assessment results as there is no overall test level.

  The Department has not published Key Stage 1 results by local education authority (LEA) since 1992. LEAs can, if they wish, publish the Key Stage 1 results for their schools alongside the 1997 Key Stage 2 results they are publishing in January 1998. The Government plan to publish 1997 Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 results for each LEA early next year.

  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list local education authorities in order of performance in terms of(a) percentage points of improvement between 1996 and 1997 based on pupils' achievement at level 4 and above in Key Stage 2 curriculum tests in English, mathematics and science (i) separately and (ii) taken together, and (b) their actual average scores at Level 4 and above in each of those subjects in each year. [18579]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The national figures for pupils at level 4 show improvement between 1996 and 1997 as follows:

  Percentage point improvement from 1996 in:

  Teacher assessment

  Test

  English

  3

  5

  Mathematics

  4

  8

  Science

  4

  7

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  The 1996 Key Stage 2 results by local education authority (LEA) area were published in March 1997 and copies placed in the Library. Each LEA will be publishing the 1997 Key Stage 2 results for schools in its area in January 1998. The Government plan to publish 1997 Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 results for each LEA early next year.

  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list local education authorities in rank order of deprivation, on the basis of the DoE index of deprivation, and providing for each their position in Key Stage 2 results for summer 1997. [18568]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions produces several deprivation indexes, including an Additional Educational Needs (AEN) index which is used to estimate the cost of providing a standard level of education service. The AEN index for each Local Education Authority (LEA) for 1998–99 is listed below. Each LEA will publish 1997 Key Stage 2 results for schools in its area in January 1998. The Government plan to publish 1997 Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 results for each LEA early next year.

  Additional Educational Needs (AEN) index

  LEA

  Index

  Tower Hamlets

  2.7903

  Hackney

  2.6827

  Lambeth

  2.4684

  Newham

  2.4456

  Haringey

  2.4343

  Souithwark

  2.4230

  Islington

  2.4146

  Camden

  2.2352

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2.2278

  Lewisham

  2.1486

  Brent

  2.1484

  Manchester

  2.1281

  Knowsley

  2.1032

  Liverpool

  1.9476

  Westminster

  1.9335

  Waltham Forest

  1.8859

  Greenwich

  1.8530

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1.8230

  Wandsworth

  1.8164

  Nottingham City

  1.7907

  Birmingham

  1.7692

  Ealing

  1.7531

  Leicester

  1.6644

  Middlesbrough

  1.6272

  Hounslow

  1.5880

  Slough

  1.5854

  Blackburn

  1.5810

  City of London

  1.5808

  Barking and Dagenham

  1.5362

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1.5351

  Luton

  1.5057

  Enfield

  1.5005

  Wolverhampton

  1.4960

  Salford

  1.4941

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  1.4888

  Sandwell

  1.4778

  Bradford

  1.4654

  Coventry

  1.4053

  Rochdale

  1.4041

  Croydon

  1.4020

  South Tynside

  1.3803

  Wirral

  1.3567

  Halton

  1.3510

  Oldham

  1.3473

  Southampton

  1.3141

  Redbridge

  1.3117

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  Additional Educational Needs (AEN) index

  LEA

  Index

  Brighton and Hove

  1.3066

  Sunderland

  1.2985

  Derby

  1.2978

  Peterborough

  1.2942

  Hartlepool

  1.2805

  City of Bristol

  1.2786

  Portsmouth

  1.2736

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1.2650

  Barnet

  1.2629

  Merton

  1.2614

  Gateshead

  1.2427

  Walsall

  1.2275

  Blackpool

  1.2213

  Torbay

  1.2193

  Sheffield

  1.2116

  North-east Lincolnshire

  1.2059

  Southend

  1.1983

  Doncaster

  1.1962

  Reading

  1.1892

  Bolton

  1.1846

  Kirklees

  1.1743

  Stockton on Tees

  1.1718

  Sefton

  1.1708

  Harrow

  1.1681

  St. Helens

  1.1587

  Bournemouth

  1.1538

  Stoke on Trent

  1.1465

  The Wrekin

  1.1426

  Calderdale

  1.1368

  Leeds

  1.1357

  Hillingdon

  1.1291

  Plymouth

  1.1189

  Tameside

  1.1133

  North Tyneside

  1.1106

  Barnsley

  1.0914

  Thurrock

  1.0879

  Rotherham

  1.0855

  Darlington

  1.0710

  Milton Keynes

  1.0525

  Isle of Wight Council

  1.0426

  Trafford

  1.0339

  Durham

  1.0147

  Lancashire

  1.0076

  Rochester and Gillingham

  1.0004

  Bexley

  0.9804

  Wakefield

  0.9762

  Sutton

  0.9734

  Bury

  0.9473

  Wigan

  0.9367

  North Lincolnshire

  0.9275

  Bromley

  0.9115

  East Sussex

  0.9110

  Thamesdown

  0.9083

  Dudley

  0.8998

  Kent

  0.8947

  Havering

  0.8866

  Solihull

  0.8790

  Cornwall

  0.8784

  Kingston upon Thames

  0.8725

  Stockport

  0.8691

  Northampstonshire

  0.8669

  Warrington

  0.8438

  York

  0.8360

  Poole

  0.8316

  Norfolk

  0.8303

  Northumberland

  0.8284

  Nottinghamshire

  0.8266

  Essex

  0.8245

  Richmond upon Thames

  0.8112

  Lincolnshire

  0.8041

  Cumbria

  0.8040

  Bath and North East Somerset

  0.7850

  Bedfordshire

  0.7850

  365

  Additional Educational Needs (AEN) index

  LEA

  Index

  Hertfordshire

  0.7831

  Devon

  0.7808

  Gloucestershire

  0.7574

  Cheshire

  0.7573

  West Sussex

  0.7512

  Worcestershire

  0.7381

  Suffolk

  0.7348

  Somerset

  0.7297

  Warwickshire

  0.7296

  Derbyshire

  0.7244

  Herefordshire

  0.7232

  Oxfordshire

  0.7194

  Bracknell Forest

  0.7122

  North Somerset

  0.7077

  Staffordshire

  0.6913

  Cambridgeshire

  0.6880

  Hampshire

  0.6820

  Dorset

  0.6797

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  0.6733

  Buckinghamshire

  0.6725

  Wiltshire

  0.6609

  South Gloucestershire

  0.6550

  Surrey

  0.6450

  North Yorkshire

  0.6416

  Shropshire

  0.6337

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  0.6320

  Leicestershire

  0.5990

  Newbury

  0.5614

  Isle of Scilly

  0.5360

  Wokingham

  0.5041

  Rutland

  0.4565

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the income derived from tuition fees from medical students will be made available for medical school education. [20967]

  Dr. Howells
  Universities and colleges will retain the contribution to fees which they collect from students; and also the part of the fee they receive from local authorities, where the student is assessed as paying less than the £1,000. It is for universities with medical schools to decide how much of this income and of the grant received from the Higher Education Funding Council should be made available for medical school education.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the revenue raised through the introduction of tuition fees wil be used entirely to fund further and higher education by allowing the institutions which collect the money to spend it. [21847]

  Dr. Howells
  We have made it clear that the savings from the introduction of tuition fees will be used to improve quality, standards and opportunity for all in further and higher education.

  For 1998–99 we have already announced that the introduction of private contributions to tuition fees for higher education will mean an extra £125 million for higher education institutions, plus £4 million to allow for a modest increase in students on sub degree courses mainly in FE colleges. In addition some £15 million of the higher education savings has been allocated to the further education sector to contribute to meeting the Government's priorities for reducing social exclusion and increasing employability.
  366
  Provision for later years is being considered in the comprehensive expenditure review.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which body will be responsible for means-testing EU applicants to United Kingdom universities in order to determine the level of their contribution to the tuition fees; how this will be administered; and how much it will cost. [21848]

  Dr. Howells
  In England and Wales, local education authorities will handle applications for mandatory awards from all new entrants to higher education in 1998–99. The Department intends to offer them substantial practical assistance in handling applications from EU nations. The arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what mechanisms will be put in place to enable grant-maintained schools to re-enter the local authority-maintained sector. [21593]

  Mr. Byers
  The School Standards and Framework Bill will establish a new framework for the organisation of schools. All existing legal categories of mainstream maintained school—including the grant-maintained category—will be replaced by three new categories: community, foundation and voluntary. All three will be maintained by local education authorities.

  Special Educational Needs
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of research on the underlying reasons for the increase in statements of special educational need over the last five years. [21508]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The number of pupils with statements has risen from 161,000 in 1992 to 233,000 in 1997. Our Green Paper, "Excellence for all children: meeting special educational needs" draws on the views of members of the National Advisory Group on special educational needs and on discussions with schools, local education authorities and voluntary groups. It suggests that the reasons for the increase may include financial and other differential effects of statements. While confirming the continuing importance of statements for children with complex disabilities, the Green Paper seeks views on the case for helping schools to meet the needs of more children without recourse to expensive statutory statementing processes.

  Maintenance Grants
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors underlay the decision to reject the recommendations of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education to retain maintenance grants for students. [21849]

  Dr. Howells
  We agree with the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education that the Government should continue to provide support towards students' living costs, but we do not believe that general grants for maintenance are the answer to ensuring a modern student
  367
  support system. Instead, students' living costs should be met out of their future earnings and—in the case of better-off students—by their parents. Compared with those without degrees, graduates on average see their earnings rise by as much as £4,000 for every £20,000 of earnings within about ten years of graduation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Building (PFI)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the public sector comparator against which the Prison Service has calculated whether the prisons to be built and managed under the Private Finance Initiative at Bridgend and Fazakerley will result in cost savings; what assumptions the comparator includes; if he will publish those calculations; and if he will make a statement. [18092]

  Ms Quin
  The public sector comparator is the estimated discounted cost of alternative procurement and operation of a prison which will be designed, constructed, managed for 25 years and financed under a private finance initiative contract.

  The principal assumptions made in calculating the comparators for the prisons at Bridgend (Her Majesty's Prison Parc) and Fazakerley (Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse) were:

  (i) design and construction using public finance;

  (ii) operation by a private sector contractor;

  (iii) delays and cost overruns at a rate consistent with other recent public sector prison building projects;

  (iv) wage inflation at historical average annual rates (2 per cent. above movements in the retail price index);

  (v) an additional price increase at the end of the fifth year of the operating contract; and

  (vi) the annual cost of public finance would be six per cent. in real terms.

  The detailed calculations are not available in publishable form, but the estimated contract costs and savings against the public comparators (in Net Present Value terms) were as follows:

  Contract value (£m)

  Savings against public sector comparator, per cent.

  Bridgend 319

  17.0

  Fazakerley 248

  0.4

  Overall savings for both prisons

  10.0

  In 1996, the public sector comparator for Fazakerley was re-calculated to take account of improved efficiency within the public sector, with two significant changes to the principal assumptions. These were:

  operation by the public sector with costs reducing in line with the Prison Service's target of 5.7 per cent. in 1997–98 and salary increases at 0.5 per cent. above the retail price index after that; and

  no delays or cost overruns.

  As a result, the contract value for Fazakerley was estimated to be 1 per cent. less than the public sector comparator.
  368
  These comparators were examined in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report on the Private Finance Initiative Contracts for Bridgend and Fazakerley Prisons (HC 253 of session 1997–98).

  Voluntary Redundancy
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many provisional applications for voluntary redundancy have been received from junior official grades at(a) the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, (b) the Prison Service and (c) the other agencies and parts of his Department in the last six months; what assessment he has made of morale within his Department; and if he will make a statement. [20617]

  Mr. Straw
  In October, staff in the grades Administrative Assistant, Administrative Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer working in Home Office offices in Croydon and Greater London were invited to make provisional applications for a possible voluntary redundancy scheme. A total of 1,002 provisional applications were received: 517 from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, 177 from the Prison Service and 308 from the centrally managed Home Office offices.

  A number of surveys of staff opinions and attitudes have been carried out in the central Home Office, the Prison Service and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in recent years. I shall place copies of the Home Office Staff Survey Report 1997 in the Library.

  In addition, I have had two formal meetings with the Home Office Trade Union side this year.

  Huntingdon Life Sciences
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will suspend the licence granted to Huntingdon Life Sciences to breed beagles. [21333]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Ms Kingham) on 18 December 1997,Official Report, columns 262–63.

  The care and accommodation for the dogs meet the requirements of the codes of practice and there are no legitimate grounds on which to suspend the Certificate of Designation.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his visit to Northfields, Leicester. [21873]

  Mr. Straw
  I was very impressed by the work carried out by Inspector Donaghy and his team to address the problems on the Northfields Estate. This multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood disorder fits well with the proposals in the recent Crime and Disorder Bill. The enthusiasm of the Northfields' residents in addressing local problems was particularly striking.

  Acklington Prison
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects to implement the
  369
  recommendations of H.M. Chief Inspector of Prisons relating to (a) the provision of extra work places for prisoners, (b) additional funding for evening classes, (c) weekend drug testing and (d) additional places on drug-free wings at HM Prison, Acklington. [21622]

  Ms Quin
  Weekend drug testing has already been introduced.

  The report was published on 11 December and the governor will produce an action plan within 30 working days of this date which will address all the Chief Inspector's recommendations. Those mentioned in the Question require funding, and bids are currently being considered. These will have to be prioritised against other demands.

  Community Protection Orders
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses to the consultation paper "Community Protection Orders" were received during the consultation period; and if he will make a statement. [22248]

  Mr. Straw
  92 responses were received. A list of the respondents and a summary of the main points raised can be found in the Library in a document entitled "Responses to the Home Office Consultation Document on Community Protection Orders".

  Community Penalties and Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the pilot projects to test the new community penalties introduced by sections 35, 37, 39, 40 and 43 of the new Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 and electronic monitoring as a condition of bail will begin. [22249]

  Ms Quin
  The pilot projects will start on 2 January 1998 in Norfolk and in Manchester City Magistrates' Court. The remaining courts in Greater Manchester will be included in the pilot scheme from 1 April 1988. The trials of electronic monitoring as a condition of bail will begin in Norwich Magistrates' Court and Norwich Crown Court on 1 April 1998 and in Manchester City Magistrates' Court and Manchester Crown Court on 1 July 1998.

  Freemasonry
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to respond on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the Home Affairs Committee's recommendations on freemasonry in the police and the judiciary. [21816]

  Mr. Straw
  I had hoped to be in a position to do so by the end of November, but our consideration of the issue is not yet completed. I now expect to be able to reply to the Home Affairs Committee in the new year.

  Private Sector Employment
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 1997 to the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed (Mr. Beith),Official Report, column 647, if he will make a statement on the Cabinet Office clearance procedure for
  370
  former officials of his Department who wish to take employment with private sector contractors; and how many individuals are currently awaiting clearance. [21584]

  Mr. Straw
  The Business Appointment Rules and associated procedures are set out in full in Annexes A and B to Chapter 4.3 of the Civil Service Management Code, a copy of which is in the Library.

  One application by a Prison Service member of staff, for permission to take up an offer of employment from a private sector contractor, is currently awaiting a decision under the rules.

  Prisons (Health Care)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 1997,Official Report, column 651, how many (a) nurses and (b) other health care staff within the prison service are currently undertaking national vocational qualifications in health care management. [20408]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 December 1997]: Detailed information on course content is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Strip Searches
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how many times Brian McHugh has been strip searched while on remand in HMP Belmarsh. [20336]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 16 December 1997]: It is not possible to provide accurate figures on the number of times Brian McHugh has been strip searched whilst on remand at Belmarsh Prison. As a High Risk prisoner, Mr. McHugh is subject to a searching policy appropriate to his security category. In particular, he will be strip searched before and after visits, on entry to and exit from the prison and on entry to and exit from the court. These routine strip searches are not recorded since they are a mandatory requirement of Prison Service security policy.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip-searches have taken place in each of the London prisons since 1 January. [21379]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 17 December 1997]: This information is not available since prisons do not keep records of all strip searches. However, the Prison Service is reviewing searching and I have asked them to make recommendations on the monitoring of strip searches.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the projected (i) untried and (ii) convicted unsentenced remand prison population on 1 January 1998. [21537]
  371
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: The number of untried male prisoners is expected to be 8,100 on 31 December 1997, the nearest date to 1 January for which projections are made. The number of convicted unsentenced male prisoners is expected to be 3,000 on 31 December. Female remand prisoners are expected to number 570 on 31 December. The projections do not separate female remand prisoners by whether they are convicted or not.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Soil Erosion
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration the Government have given to the recommendation in section 5.41 of the report on the sustainable use of soil from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in 1996 on soil erosion control; and if he will make a statement. [20513]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government believe that the provision of soundly based guidance to farmers should continue to be the centrepiece of public policy on the protection of agriculture soils. For this purpose, Agriculture Departments have made available a wide range of advice about the protection of soil. In particular, the MAFF/WOAD Soil Code provides farmers with comprehensive advice about the impact of agricultural practices on soil condition. This includes advice on preventing or minimising erosion. In addition, this Department published an advisory booklet during 1997, "Controlling Soil Erosion", which gave farmers further help in dealing with soil erosion problems.

  The Department has also commissioned a step by step guide to help farmers plan erosion control systematically. The draft guide will be trailed over the winter in certain areas of England with soils at high risk of erosion by water.

  Olestra
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the licensing of the dietary additive Olestra. [21001]

  Mr. Rooker
  A number of representations have been received recently from branches of the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations asking for Olestra to be restricted to medical use only.

  This fat replacer cannot, however, be used as a food ingredient in Europe until such time as it has been approved under the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97). To date, no application for approval of Olestra under this regulation has been received.

  Krebs Report
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will make a statement on the outcome of the Krebs report. [21099]
  372
  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Charlotte Atkins) on 16 December 1997,Official Report, columns 136–37.

  Fishing
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at which meetings of the fisheries and management committees were(a) proposals and (b) decisions made relating to the minimum size of legally caught plaice; and for what purposes these proposals and decisions were made. [20970]

  Mr. Morley
  A proposal to revise the minimum landing size for legally caught plaice was made by the European Commission in June 1996 as part of a package of technical conservation measures. The size of 17 cm proposed was that at which plaice are retained and killed by 80 mm nets. The revised minimum size was intended to reduce the discarding of dead fish that could not otherwise be landed.

  On 30 October 1997, the Fisheries Council decided to increase the minimum size from 17 cm to 22 cm as part of a compromise package. This new size will apply from 1 January 2000 and is intended to take account of the fact that plaice are often targeted with nets exceeding 80 mm minimum mesh size.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) discards and (b) legally landed catches for each member state of the European Union in (i) tonnes and (ii) numbers of fish in each of the years 1992 to 1996. [20971]

  Mr. Morley
  Data on discarding are not generally available and specific information is not reported by Member States. For information on catches, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given to him today. No data are collected on numbers of fish landed.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the approximate weight and value of(a) the total fish catch of member states of the European Community, (b) fish consumption by member states, (c) total imports of fish from third nations and (d) exports of fish to third nations in each year from 1990 to 1996; and for each year what percentage (a) was of (b). [20972]

  Mr. Morley
  The available information, which has been produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and Eurostat, is set out in the tables.

  For parts (a) and (b) data have been given for years 1990 to 1995; data for 1996 are currently unavailable from FAO.

  Data are given for all years even though not all the current 15 Member States have been part of the European Community for the whole of this period.

  The information requested relating to the value of the total fish catch of Member States of the European Community and fish consumption by Member States is not available.
  373

  Part A: The total fish catch

  Figures refer to all fishing areas

  Metric tons in live weight (thousands)

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Austria

  4.8

  4.5

  4.1

  4.6

  4.5

  4.5

  Belgium

  42.0

  40.7

  40.0

  36.9

  35.1

  36.4

  Denmark

  1,517.7

  1,793.3

  1,996.3

  1,655.8

  1,916.4

  2,041.1

  Finland

  160.4

  147.4

  169.7

  173.8

  181.0

  184.8

  France

  869.4

  819.1

  821.0

  860.4

  852.8

  793.4

  Germany

  390.7

  303.4

  307.2

  316.4

  272.8

  298.0

  Greece

  146.4

  156.8

  179.2

  199.1

  223.4

  198.2

  Ireland

  239.3

  264.9

  275.7

  308.1

  319.2

  412.7

  Italy

  525.5

  552.2

  558.3

  564.7

  576.0

  609.8

  Netherlands

  507.2

  458.8

  487.1

  532.9

  529.6

  521.4

  Portugal

  323.1

  325.9

  299.6

  293.7

  269.8

  265.5

  Spain1

  1,304.0

  1,273.0

  1,260.0

  1,255.0

  1,372.0

  1,320.0

  Sweden

  260.1

  245.0

  314.7

  347.8

  394.2

  412.2

  United Kingdom

  810.2

  851.5

  869.9

  929.0

  963.6

  1,003.7

  Note:

  1 FAO forecast.

  Source

  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

  Part B: Total consumption of fish and other marine resources— FAO estimates

  Metric tons in live weight (thousands)

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Austria

  71.0

  72.2

  80.1

  77.9

  n/a

  n/a

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  196.0

  194.1

  202.9

  187.2

  202.0

  215.0

  Denmark

  100.5

  105.0

  109.8

  103.3

  n/a

  n/a

  Finland

  163.8

  163.4

  164.8

  163.4

  172.0

  168.7

  France

  1,737.1

  1,696.3

  1,654.4

  1,592.4

  1,582.3

  1,537.2

  Germany

  1,046.4

  981.7

  1,026.5

  987.2

  1,060.4

  1,052.3

  Greece

  213.0

  218.6

  232.4

  245.9

  279.4

  254.4

  Ireland

  57.6

  53.2

  60.4

  64.2

  69.7

  n/a

  Italy

  1,223.3

  1,298.1

  1,255.1

  1,225.6

  1,230.1

  1,245.0

  Netherlands

  162.5

  155.3

  202.8

  210.0

  215.3

  222.7

  Portugal

  582.4

  605.8

  570.7

  584.8

  575.2

  572.7

  Spain

  1,351.1

  1,339.2

  1,373.5

  1,407.0

  1,457.2

  1,445.7

  Sweden

  233.5

  230.4

  229.0

  234.7

  248.1

  n/a

  UK

  1,107.5

  1,082.5

  1,111.7

  1,099.8

  1,121.6

  1,113.0

  Note:

  n/a= no data available.

  Source:

  Food and agriculture Organisation of the united Nations.

  The total fish catch as a percentage of fish and other marine resources consumption

  Percentages

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Austria

  6.8

  6.2

  5.1

  5.9

  n/a

  n/a

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  21.4

  21.0

  19.7

  19.7

  17.4

  169

  Denmark

  1,510.1

  1,707.4

  1,817.6

  1,603.5

  n/a

  n/a

  Finland

  97.9

  90.2

  102.9

  106.4

  105.3

  109.5

  France

  50.0

  48.3

  49.6

  54.0

  53.9

  51.6

  Germany

  37.3

  30.9

  29.9

  32.1

  25.7

  28.3

  Greece

  68.7

  71.7

  77.1

  81.0

  80.0

  77.9

  Ireland

  415.5

  498.2

  456.8

  479.5

  458.2

  n/a

  Italy

  43.0

  42.5

  44.5

  46.1

  46.8

  49.0

  Netherlands

  312.1

  295.4

  240.2

  253.8

  246.0

  234.1

  Portugal

  55.5

  53.8

  52.5

  50.2

  46.9

  46.4

  Spain

  96.5

  95.1

  91.7

  89.2

  94.2

  91.3

  Sweden

  111.4

  106.3

  137.4

  148.2

  158.9

  n/a

  UK

  73.2

  78.7

  78.2

  84.5

  85.9

  90.2

  Note:

  n/a = no data available.

  Source:

  Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
  374

  Sea Defences
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department plans to reduce the proportion of sea defence expenditure funded by public funds. [21030]

  Mr. Morley
  Allocations for MAFF grants and credit approvals to operating authorities for capital flood and coastal defence works in 1998–99 are at the same level as plans proposed last year by the previous Government. Also, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has recently announced that Revenue Support Grant allocations for 1998–99, which cover residual costs of local authorities' schemes that are not covered by grant aid, will be almost 5.1 per cent. higher than actual expenditure in 1997–98. For future years the level of funding will depend on the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  International Fund for Animal Welfare
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial support his Department(a) has given and (b) plans to give to IFAW. [21028]

  Mr. Morley
  None.

  BSE
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the development by Enfer Scientific of a test for BSE antibodies in tissue samples taken from dead animals. [21845]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have asked this company if they would provide us with sufficient technical information to enable us to assess the test, but they have so far declined to do so. We continue to be in contact with them and hope that they will feel able to provide us with the necessary information in future.

  Waste Cattle Bones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department has given to butchers and local authorities responsible for waste collection on the disposal of waste cattle bones from butchers' shops following the ban on the sale of beef on the bone. [21139]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 16 December 1997]: In response to inquiries from butchers and local authorities, the Department's officials have advised that bones are not classified as Specified Risk Material (SRM) under the Beef Bones Regulations 1997, and can be disposed of in accordance with Part II of Schedule I to the Animal By Products Order 1992. Arrangements for actual disposal are a commercial matter between individual butchers and those who collect their waste.

  Animal Carcases
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the backlog of animal carcases awaiting incineration; and what action the Government are taking under the Over Thirty Months Scheme to expedite the processing. [21497]
  375
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: There is no backlog of the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) carcases awaiting incineration. On average 15,000 animals a week are presented for the scheme, of which around 1,500 cattle, mostly on-farm casualties, are directly incinerated in appropriately authorised incinerators. The remainder are rendered and the remains securely stored pending disposal. Following a tender held last year, the amount of direct carcase incineration capacity available to the scheme is expected to increase to around 5,000 animals a week by spring 1998, subject to the successful companies obtaining the necessary planning and environmental consents. Much of this increase will be in respect of incinerators that are associated with scheme abattoirs, thus providing an integrated disposal solution.

  Beef
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what external advice he sought when SEAC's recommendations were first notified to him. [21610]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: When SEAC's advice was notified to my right hon. Friend, and having taken into account the views of the Chief Medical Officer, he announced his intention to consult widely on proposals to prohibit the sale of beef on the bone from animals aged over six months. My right hon. Friend has received a large number of comments which were taken into account before he introduced legislation in this House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the voluntary grammar schools which have preparatory departments; and if she will make a statement on the enrolments of these preparatory departments at each school. [20696]

  Mr. Worthington
  Nineteen of Northern Ireland's 54 voluntary grammar schools have preparatory departments. The most recent year for which enrolment figures are available is 1996–97 and the table shows the enrolment figure at each school.

  Voluntary grammer schools preparatory departments

  Name of school

  Number of pupils

  Armagh Royal

  49

  Ballymena Academy

  90

  Ballymoney Dalriada

  104

  Bangor Grammar

  121

  Belfast Bloomfield Collegiate

  93

  Belfast Campbell College

  189

  Belfast Hunterhouse College

  91

  Belfast Methodist College

  555

  Belfast Royal Academical Institution

  237

  Belfast Royal Academy

  291

  Belfast Strathearn

  171

  Belfast Victoria College

  161

  Dungannon Royal

  35

  Holywood Sullivan Upper

  189

  Larne Grammar

  48

  Lisburn Friends

  190

  Lisburn The Wallace

  196

  376

  Voluntary grammar schools preparatory departments

  Name of school

  Number of pupils

  Londonderry Foyle College

  51

  Magherafelt Rainey Endowed

  52

  Total

  2,913

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the costs of the current DENI capital building programme for(a)the controlled,(b)the maintained,(c)the integrated and (d) the voluntary grammar school sector; and in each case if she will list the approved schemes and their values. [21032]

  Mr. Worthington
  The details of my Department's major capital building programme are set out in the table. In addition, four school projects are being pursued under the Private Finance Initiative—St. Genevieve's High School, Wellington College, Balmoral High School (all Belfast) and Drumglass High School, Dungannon. The estimated capital cost of these projects is just over £31 million.

  School

  Scheme

  Estimated cost School £ million

  Controlled Schools

  South Lisburn Primary

  New School

  1.3

  Glaskermore Primary, Banbridge

  New School

  1.2

  Belmont Primary, Belfast

  New School

  1.3

  Muckamore House Special

  New School

  3.6

  Drumahoe Primary

  New School

  1.1

  Ballykeel Primary, Ballymena

  New School

  3.5

  Grosvenor Grammar

  Extension/Refurbishment

  4.4

  Limavady Grammar

  Extension/Refurbishment

  6.4

  Moira Primary

  New School

  1.8

  Newtownabbey Community High

  Extension/Refurbishment

  3.3

  Total

  27.9

  Maintained Schools

  St. Dallen's Primary, Warrenpoint

  New School

  4.0

  St. Bride's Primary, Belfast

  Conversion/Refurbishment

  1.0

  St. Patrick's High, Keady

  New School

  12.4

  St. Malachy's High, Castlewellan

  New School

  12.8

  Holy Trinity Primary, Cookstown

  Extension/Refurbishment

  3.0

  Mullanaskea Primary

  New School

  1.0

  Gaelscoil na bhFal Primary, Belfast

  New School

  2.0

  Total

  36.2

  Integrated Schools

  Oakgrove Integrated Primary, Londonderry

  New School

  2.6

  Hazelwood College, Belfast

  Extension/Refurbishment

  9.9

  Total

  12.5

  Voluntary Grammar Schools

  Lumen Christi College, Londonderry

  Extension/Refurbishment

  5.1

  St. Columb's College, Londonderry

  Extension

  11.5

  Total

  16.6

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of state for Northern Ireland if the funding of administration costs of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools will be
  377
  subject to the same economies and constraints as are applicable to the headquarters costs of education and library boards. [21265]

  Mr. Worthington
  The administration costs of the Council will be subject to economies and constraints but the level of constraint will be determined after consideration of the Council's individual circumstances.

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the controlled primary schools in the North Down constituency, specifying in each case the spare capacity in terms of pupil numbers. [21424]

  Mr. Worthington
  The following controlled primary schools are within the North Down constituency:

  Name of School

  Spare capacity at November 1997 (places)

  Dundonald Primary Schools are within the North Down constituency

  None

  Gilnahirk Primary School

  None

  Holywood Primary School

  None

  Crawfordsburn Primary School

  12

  Ballyholme Primary School

  None

  Clandeboye Primary School

  82

  Bangor Central Primary School

  None

  Redburn Primary School

  189

  Glencraig Primary School

  59

  Bloomfield Road Primary School

  95

  Conlig Primary School

  61

  Tullycarnet Primary School

  265

  Grange Park Primary School

  19

  Kilcooley Primary School

  389

  Rathmore Primary School

  176

  Towerview Primary School

  77

  Kilmaine Primary School

  140

  Ballymagee Primary School

  64

  The above list does not include Groomsport Primary School which was damaged by fire in 1966.

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to consult parents concerning preparatory schooling funding; and if she will make a statement on the consultation undertaken and the amount of correspondence received to date. [21426]

  Mr. Worthington
  A consultative letter was issued on 8 October to all schools with preparatory departments. It was then a matter for each school to consult with and take the views of parents. The Department of Education has to date received approximately 900 responses during the consultation process.

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of preparatory school pupils attend establishments that are not categorised as Catholic for fair employment statistical purposes. [21425]

  Mr. Worthington
  100 per cent.

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account was taken of the Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment guidelines in the decision to review Preparatory Department funding; and if she will make a statement. [21427]
  378
  Mr. Worthington
  A Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment analysis will be carried out concurrent with the analysis of all the comments received during the consultation process. This analysis will be an integral part of the final decision-making process.

  Cottonmount Landfill Site
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the implications of phase 2 of the Cottonmount landfill site for re-cycling measures in Northern Ireland; [20783]

  (2) if an environmental impact study was carried out on phase 1 of the Cottonmount landfill site; [20786]

  (3) if an environmental impact study will be carried out before any decision is taken on phase 2 of the Cottonmount landfill site; [20787]

  (4) to what extent she will take the draft EC Directive on the Landfill of Waste into account before a decision on phase 2 of the Cottonmount landfill site is made; [20788]

  (5) if the minimum separation distance from site boundaries to residential and recreational areas of phase 2 of Cottonmount landfill site is less than the draft EC directive's general requirements; [20782]

  (6) what assessment she has made of the Newtownabbey Borough Council independent environmental study into the effects of phase 1 of Cottonmount landfill site on local residents.[20784]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T. W. Stewart to Kate Hoey, dated 19 December 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the Cottonmount landfill site at Mallusk Belfast.
  There are no direct implications of Phase 2 of the Cottonmount landfill site for recycling measures in Northern Ireland. The new Waste Management and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997 includes a requirement that a Northern Ireland Waste Strategy be prepared. Work is already under way on the Strategy which will inter alia promote the hierarchy of waste management options which range from waste minimisation, through re-cycling to landfill at the bottom of the list. The recycling measures which flow from the Order together with the landfill tax all mitigate against landfill. However, there is likely to be an on-going need for landfill sites for materials which are not recyclable and, for example, residues from incineration.
  The application to landfill Phase 1 of the Cottonmount site was submitted on 31 May 1988 prior to the introduction of the Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989 on 1 March 1989. A formal environmental statement could not therefore have been sought for that application. An

  379
  environmental statement was requested, submitted and carefully considered with the current application for Phase 2 prior to the Notice of Opinion to approve issuing.
  The EC Directive has been in preparation for a number of years and a previous draft was rejected by the European Parliament in May 1996. Article 18 of the EC directive states that Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 30 June 2000. While the draft EC Directive is a material consideration, only limited cognisance can be taken of it.
  Annex 1 of the draft Directive states that the separation distance from the boundary of the site to residential areas should be a minimum of 500 metres in the case of municipal waste landfills and 2 kilometres in the case of hazardous waste landfills. In Phase 2 of the Cottonmount site residential and recreation areas are closer to the boundary than currently stated in the draft EC Directive.
  Newtownabbey Borough Council has appointed independent consultants to consider the landfilling practices of the operators and to investigate particularly the causes of odours generated by Phase 1 of Cottonmount. As work on the study has not yet commenced no account can be taken of it. The Department however, consulted Newtownabbey Borough Council for advice on the environmental health issues when processing the current application and took account of the advice when reaching an opinion as to how the application should be determined.
  I hope this clarifies the position.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visas
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitors visas to the United Kingdom were received in the last 12 months at Lagos; and how many of these applications were refused. [21332]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The number of applications for visitors visas to the United Kingdom and number of applications refused in Lagos in the last 12 months were:

  Applications received

  Refusals

  December 1996

  2,785

  n/a

  January 1997

  2,604

  736

  February 1997

  2,366

  569

  March 1997

  3,366

  441

  April 1997

  3,189

  507

  May 1997

  3,930

  774

  June 1997

  3,923

  866

  July 1997

  4,986

  1,033

  August 1997

  4,365

  727

  September 1997

  3,383

  735

  October 1997

  2,885

  762

  November 1997

  3,119

  861

  na = not available.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many infringements of Cyprus air-space by Turkish military aircraft have been reported in 1997 to date; and if he will make a statement. [21397]
  380
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We have no independent statistics on infringements. We continue to support efforts to encourage the parties involved to agree a sustained moratorium on military overflights.

  Turkey
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government conduct their relationship with Turkey on the basis that it is their policy to support Turkey in its application to be a member state of the European Union. [21705]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Our relationship with Turkey is conducted on the basis that Turkey is a candidate to join the EU; that major changes (including in the human rights field) will be required before accession negotiations can begin; but that, if over time the necessary wide-ranging reforms are made, we will welcome Turkey into the EU.

DEFENCE

  Low Pay
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the hourly rates payable to full-time employees in his Department in the range £4.03 an hour to £3.36 an hour; and how many people receive each hourly rate of pay as specified, in each region defined by the regional government offices. [20606]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: Details of the pay rates of most MOD staff are not held by geographical area. The table therefore shows the total number of staff (all non-industrials) receiving the hourly rates of pay specified across the department as a whole.

  MOD staff receiving the specified hourly pay rates

  Hourly rate

  Number of staff

  £3.36

  525

  £3.38

  1

  £3.39

  17

  £3.42

  21

  £3.43

  1

  £3.47

  20

  £3.48

  1,299

  £3.50

  2

  £3.51

  3

  £3.53

  9

  £3.54

  1

  £3.55

  5

  £3.56

  23

  £3.57

  4

  £3.58

  134

  £3.59

  6

  £3.60

  19

  £3.61

  118

  £3.62

  22

  £3.63

  18

  £3.64

  89

  £3.65

  4

  £3.66

  12

  £3.67

  144

  £3.68

  18

  £3.69

  11

  £3.70

  91

  £3.71

  29

  £3.72

  38

  381

  MOD staff receiving the specified hourly pay rates

  Hourly rate

  Number of staff

  £3.73

  27

  £3.74

  15

  £3.75

  15

  £3.76

  40

  £3.77

  18

  £3.78

  18

  £3.79

  29

  £3.80

  18

  £3.81

  11

  £3.82

  136

  £3.83

  22

  £3.84

  27

  £3.85

  25

  £3.86

  12

  £3.87

  19

  £3.88

  62

  £3.89

  18

  £3.90

  10

  £3.91

  22

  £3.92

  18

  £3.93

  9

  £3.94

  8

  £3.95

  35

  £3.96

  42

  £3.97

  11

  £3.98

  18

  £3.99

  10

  £4.00

  23

  £4.01

  30

  £4.02

  8

  £4.03

  5

  Total staff

  3,445

  In the case of the Armed Forces, pay is based on recommendations made by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) and published annually. The 1997 AFPRB Report (Cmnd 3537) is in the Library. The Armed Forces pay is based on daily, not hourly rates, with no regional variations in basic pay.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 December 1997,Official Report, column 177, if he will list by regions defined by the regional government offices, the number of civilian staff paid at an hourly rate of (a) £3.36,(b) between £3.50 and £3.75 and (c) between £3.75 and £4. [20653]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 1997]: Details of the pay rates of MOD non-industrial staff are not held by geographical area. The following list below therefore shows the total number of staff (all non-industrials) in the specified bands across the department as a whole.

  MOD civilian staff with hourly pay rates in the following bands

  £3.36: 525

  £3.50–3.75: 857

  £3.76–4.00:661.

  Smart Procurement
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the working parties he has established on smart 382
  procurement through the National Defence Industries Council, including the terms of reference on each one, its chairman and members together with their companies or organisations; and when each working party (a) first met and (b) will report to Ministers. [21125]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are no NDIC groups dealing solely with Smart Procurement. However, following the meeting of the NDIC on 17 July a sub group was established and tasked with producing a paper reflecting industry's views on industrial aspects of the Strategic Defence Review, including Smart Procurement.

  The Strategic Defence Review Sub Group formally met for the first time on 24 September. This meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief of Defence Procurement (Support).

  The Strategic Defence Review Sub Group presented the results of their work to ministers at the NDIC meeting on 29 October.

  The trade associations represented on the sub group are the Defence Industries Council, the Defence Manufacturers Association, the British Naval Equipment Association, the Federation of Electronics Industries, and the Society of British Aerospace Companies.

  A wide range of companies were also represented including BAe, Cobham, Fairey Hydraulics, Rolls-Royce, FR Aviation, GKN, Racal, Smith's Industries, Computing Devices (UK), GEC, GEC-Marconi, TI/Messier-Dowty and Vickers.

  Defence Industry
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the policy framework within which the United Kingdom defence industry can make decisions on how to restructure. [21127]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is for defence companies themselves to take the lead on determining the future structure of the industry. However, we recognise that Governments, who are the only legitimate buyers of defence equipment, can have a major constructive influence. Accordingly, the UK, France and Germany have been working together to set a baseline position for the restructuring of the European aerospace and defence industries. These discussions culminated in the issue of a statement by the three Heads of Government on 9 December. The clear message of the statement is that the three Governments, whose industries form the bulk of the European defence industrial base, are now working together to facilitate the process of change.

  A programme of work to resolve practical issues falling mainly within the sphere of Defence Ministers has been agreed and is being taken forward by the National Armaments Directors of the three nations.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with(a) United Kingdom defence companies, (b) foreign-owned defence companies based in the United Kingdom, (c) foreign defence companies, (d) foreign governments and (e) the European

  383
  Commission on the Government's role in facilitating international agreements to allow mergers or joint ventures to proceed. [21126]

  Mr. Spellar
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence meets a wide range of defence companies, both UK and foreign, on a regular basis. Where appropriate, discussions at these meetings cover defence industry restructuring and the Government's role in facilitating this.

  The Governments of the UK, France and Germany have been working together to establish a baseline position for the restructuring of the European aerospace and defence industries. These discussions culminated in the issue of a statement by the three heads of Government on 9 December.

  There have been no discussions as yet with the European Commission.

  Royal Ordnance, Bridgwater
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of Royal Ordnance, Bridgwater. [21123]

  Mr. Spellar
  The production of military explosives at Royal Ordnance, Bridgwater would cease if Royal Ordnance pic and the French company Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs (SNPE) were to form the joint venture that the companies have expressed an intention of forming in the field of ammunition and military explosives.

  If pursued, such a joint venture would need to be considered by the appropriate regulatory authorities and in consultation with the French Government. The strategic implications of any proposal would be examined with great care as part of that consideration.

  Anti-personnel Mines
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future anti-personnel scatterable mine project. [21570]

  Mr. Spellar
  On 3 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development signed the Ottawa Convention which will ban the use, stockpiling, import, export, transfer and manufacture of anti-personnel mines. Accordingly, the United Kingdom will not procure any new anti-personnel mines; we will therefore not proceed with the Future Anti-Personnel Scatterable Mine project.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there has been any modification of the contract to supply 29 volcano vehicle launched scatterable mine systems and associated equipment and munitions, due to enter service in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [21571]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  384

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the effect on the overseas sales potential of Eurofighter of the questions put to the Minister for Defence Procurement by the BBC at the Dubai Air Show and broadcast on "Panorama".

  Mr. Spellar
  None. As my noble Friend made clear at Dubai, the Eurofighter programme is proceeding well and the aircraft has significant export potential.

SCOTLAND

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department's estimates of the total costs of resolving the millennium compliance problem include costs relating to the embedded chip problem; and if he will make a statement. [21569]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: My Department's estimates of the total costs of resolving the millennium compliance problem do not specifically include costs relating to the embedded chip problem. However, initial investigative work suggests that these costs are unlikely to be substantial and can be met from within existing budgets.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what millennium compliance problems have occurred to date in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) other public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [21568]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: To date there have been no reported millennium compliance problems in my Department or its Agencies. Action by other public bodies in Scotland is a matter for them as separate corporate entities, although my Department monitors Year 2000 compliance activity in the public sector in Scotland generally; no compliance problems have been reported to date. My Department has taken steps to ensure that public sector organisations in Scotland are aware of the actions necessary to address the problem and will continue to monitor progress.

HEALTH

  Tobacco Consumption
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what percentage tobacco consumption in the United Kingdom has changed up to 1996 since (i) 1975, (ii) 1978, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1993. [19707]

  Ms Jowell
  Information about cigarettes released for home consumption in the United Kingdom is shown in the table. The data include home produced and imported cigarettes, but exclude cigars, hand rolling tobacco and other tobacco products.
  385

  Cigarettes released for home consumption

  United Kingdom, 1975 to 1996

  Thousand million

  11975

  21977

  1978

  1990

  1993

  1996

  Cigarettes released

  132.6

  124.9

  125.7

  97.8

  95.2

  83.3

  Percentage change up to 1996

  -37

  -33

  -34

  -15

  -13

  —

  Note

  The figures do not include cigarettes where UK duty has not been paid.

  Sources

  1 1975—Sales data from Tobacco Advisory Council (TAC), now Tobacco Manufacturers Association (TMA) cited in Wald & Nicolaides-Bouman: UK Smoking Statistics.

  2 1977 onwards—HM Customs & Excise.

  Prevalence of cigarette smoking

  Great Britain, 1992 to 1996

  Percentages

  1992

  28

  1994

  27

  1996

  28

  Note:

  1. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole figure.

  Source:

  ONS General Household Survey Analysis by DH (SD2D).

  Cigarettes released for home consumption

  UK, 1992 to 1996

  Billions

  1992

  85

  1993

  95

  1994

  93

  1995

  80

  1996

  83

  Notes:

  Based on calendar years.

  Data rounded to the nearest billion.

  Source:

  HM Customs & Excise.

  Analysis by DH (SD2D).

  Speech Impediments
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in the United Kingdom who are(a) physically unable to speak and (b) have serious speech impediment. [19657]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: Estimates of this kind vary because of the wide range of conditions involved and the different criteria used. However, a study by Enderby and Davies (1989) suggested that the number of individuals unable to speak or with significant difficulty in doing so may be classified as follows:

  Per 100,000 population

  Cerebral Palsy

  20

  Parkinson's Disease

  23

  Multiple Sclerosis

  10

  Muscular Dystrophy

  2

  Motor Neurone Disease

  1.2

  Myasthenia Gravis

  0.5

  Huntingdon's Chorea

  0.2

  Friedrich's Syndrome

  0.7

  386
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioner fundholders have purchased communication aids for use by people physically unable to speak in the last year. [19659]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: General practitioner fundholders have been able to purchase communication aids for their patients since 1995. They were also given a leaflet containing expert advice on the subject at this time. We do not have information about the percentage of them who have purchased these aids.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who are(a) physically unable to speak and (b) have serious speech impediments have been provided with a communication aid by the National Health Service in the last year. [19658]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: The number of communication aids provided is not collected centrally. The Department has sought to reduce the burden of data collection on the National Health Service and the collection of additional information of this kind would not be in line with this policy.

  Tobacco Sponsorship
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria determined his choice of the Minister for Public Health to lead the Tobacco Review. [16746]

  Mr. Dobson
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health is responsible for policy on tobacco. Work on the Tobacco Review forms part of these duties.

  Public Health
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for taking forward European Union public health issues during the forthcoming United Kingdom presidency of the EU. [22251]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government's main priority in the public health sphere during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union will be to demonstrate the practical relevance of the EU in promoting better health.

  There is already a substantial agenda for the Health Council which will meet on 30 April 1998 and which I shall chair. The main topics for the Health Council during the UK Presidency will be:
  Communicable diseases
  The European Parliament is due to adopt in January its opinion on the Council's common position on the proposal to establish a Community network for the surveillance of communicable diseases. The UK Presidency will seek to reach agreement on a final version of the decision. We will also arrange for the Council to review progress by the European Union-United States task force which is considering how to establish a global network for communicable disease surveillance.
  Tobacco
  The UK Presidency will take forward as appropriate any new proposals for the Community action which the Commission may bring forward to follow up its communication on combating tobacco consumption. The European Parliament will be considering the Council's common position on the

  387
  proposal for a Directive banning tobacco advertising and the UK Presidency will stand ready to facilitate adoption of a final version of the Directive.
  Rare diseases, pollution-related diseases and injury prevention
  The UK Presidency hopes that the European Parliament will deliver its opinion on these three proposals for new public health programmes in time for the Council to adopt common positions at the Health Council meeting on 30 April.
  Screening of blood donors and donations
  We will take forward consideration of the Commission's proposal for a Council recommendation on the screening of blood donors and donations. Although a recommendation is not binding on Member States, its adoption will signal their commitment to coordinate measures across the EU to secure blood safety.
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)
  The UK Presidency will ensure the Council keeps under review developments in understanding of the causes and routes of transmission of the agent responsible for new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
  Discussion on the future of public health in the EU
  The UK Presidency hopes to hold a discussion on Community action in the field of public health after 2001 taking into account the new European Treaty agreed in Amsterdam in June, should this be ratified, and the forthcoming enlargement of the Union.
  The discussion could also focus on how Health Ministers of the 15 EU Member States might establish effective working relationships with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus to ensure that public health policy matters are properly considered in their plans to join the European Union so that an enlarged Union is able to continue to provide a high level of health protection for its citizens. In this context, the Council would clearly need to take account of the work already being done in the field of public health by the World Health Organisation and in particular its European Region and by the Council of Europe.

  The Government also intend using opportunities outside the formal EU institutional framework to raise the profile of the EU public health agenda and to consider how it can contribute in practical ways to better public health across the Union. The Department of Health is discussing with, among others, the British Medical Association and the Royal college of Nursing about conferences planned for the UK Presidency to build on the discussions started in the Health Council about the future of public health in the EU in the next century. These events will provide further evidence of the Government's determination to demonstrate how the EU public health machinery can be made to work towards achieving a better quality of life for the people of Europe.

  Primary Care Data
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if primary care will continue to receive funding to collect activity data. [21362]

  Mr. Milburn
  Primary Care Groups will receive financial support to fulfil their management functions.

  Payment for data collection beyond normal primary care duties will continue to be considered on a case by case basis.

  "The New NHS"
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to paragraph 5.19 of the White Paper "The New 388
  NHS" (Cm 3807) how the prescribing budget will relate to the unified budget; and if he will make a statement on the setting of the budget. [21363]

  Mr. Milburn
  The prescribing budget will form one of the elements within the unified budget, but the Primary Care Group will be able to choose how its total budget is deployed, and no individual element will be artificially capped.

  All elements of the health authority's and Primary Care Group's unified budget will have fair, target, shares set by a weighted capitation formula. Practice level prescribing budgets will be set using similar methodologies to those used now.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the impact of proposals in the White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807) on the numbers of health authorities in isolated areas. [21365]

  Mr. Milburn
  We expect to see fewer health authorities covering larger areas. As the White Paper makes clear, however, there will be no central blueprint for health authority mergers: local decision rather than national edict will determine the numbers and location of health authorities.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposals contained in the White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807) on geographical equity of access to(a)fertility treatments, (b) contraception and (c) abortion services. [21366]

  Ms Jowell
  The White Paper "The New NHS" outlines a number of steps which the Government will be taking to improve the consistency of service provision throughout the National Health Service. We will challenge and address variations which are not based on the health needs and wishes of local people. We will aim for maximum consistency while still allowing appropriate local and individual responsiveness.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to paragraph 3.9 of the White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807) if the single unified budget will be capped. [21367]

  Mr. Milburn
  Yes. Primary Care Groups which take devolved responsibility for the single unified budget will be responsible for managing services within a cash limit, as health authorities and general practitioner fundholders currently are.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807) how freedom of referral according to patient need and choice will be maintained. [21370]

  Mr. Milburn
  The White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807) is fully consistent with general practitioners' freedom of referral. Primary Care Groups will be able to develop long term agreements with National Health Service trusts that reflect the views of all local GPs and are sensitive to their referral choices. The arrangements to replace the internal market system of extra contractual referrals, substituting adjustments to allocations for the former bureaucratic invoicing system, will cover the freedom to refer outside these agreements in special cases, combining the freedom to refer with the ability to fund.
  389

  NHS Direct
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures will be followed in circumstances where the advice given by the proposed 24-hour telephone advice line, NHS Direct, is contrary to advice given by other 24-hour services funded by his Department. [21364]

  Mr. Boateng
  Advice from the National Health Service Direct 24-hour telephone advice lines will have the same status as any other clinical advice in the NHS. NHS Direct will be staffed by qualified nurses trained in giving telephone advice and who will have access to medical support when needed.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the legal responsibility for advice given over the proposed 24-hour telephone advice line will lie. [21368]

  Mr. Boateng
  National Health Service bodies providing the NHS Direct advice lines will have a duty of care towards callers, as they do towards the users of the other services they provide.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which budget the resources to fund the proposed 24-hour telephone advice line will come. [21369]

  Mr. Boateng
  The three pilot helplines, due to start in March 1998, will be funded centrally. Decisions about the longer term funding of the National Health Service Direct-24 hour telephone advice lines will be made in due course when the pilots have been evaluated.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy not to implement the regulations which reduce from 24 months to 15 months the dental registration period. [21645]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 2) Regulation 1996 SI 1996/2051, which implemented the changes to the registration period, were laid before Parliament on 6 August 1996, and came into force on 1 September 1996.

  We have no plans to review this policy, which will improve value for money by focusing payments to dentists on those patients receiving active care from them.

  Any savings generated will be put back into the General Dental Service, in a targeted way to achieve better oral health for the population.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the numbers of people who will be deregistered from dentists' lists in 1998 as a consequence of the implementation of the regulations reducing the dental registration period from 24 months to 15 months. [21647]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 24 November 1997,Official Report, column 423.

  NHS (50th Anniversary)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds will be made available to celebrate the 390
  50th anniversary of the National Health Service; and if he will ensure that the maximum proportion of such funds is used in ways which promote patient care. [21703]

  Mr. Milburn
  Ministers have decided that the special occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service should be marked with events and initiatives that reflect the Service's achievements and, equally important, herald its further development over the coming years. The Service has been issued with guidance that emphasises that the main focus should be at local level, with the active participation of staff and patients, and should reflect the caring ethos of the Health Service.

  The guidance also emphasises that events should be low cost, sponsored or self financing so that resources are not diverted from patient care.

  Resource Allocation
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the new Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation introduces a factor to take account of particular problems faced by islands. [21371]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have asked the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation to consider whether further investigation in this area would be useful.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria the Government use to measure the adequacy of NHS funding. [21372]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government have made a commitment in our election manifesto to raise spending on the National Health Service in real terms every year so that we can deliver our manifesto commitments and produce a health service that is modern and dependable.

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding the Government have allocated to research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [21433]

  Mr. Boateng
  Priorities for funding research in the Department are set very carefully, based on the burden of disease and other criteria. Bids for conducting research into chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are therefore always considered on that basis. The Department continues to fund research into the management and treatment of CFS/ME through the National Health Service Research and Development Programme. It is currently funding an on-going research project, costing about £60,000, which is looking at whether general practitioners are best placed to manage CFS/ME patients. A recently completed research project, costing over £65,000, considered whether a particular type of psychological treatment was effective in reducing disability in CFS/ME patients. The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The Council currently provides support for one Small Project Grant in the area of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome entitled "The role of noradrenaline in the neuropsychological pathogenesis of the chronic fatigue syndrome". The total amount awarded was £37,000.
  391

  University Hospital, Birmingham
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the levels of bed occupancy in the University Hospital Trust PFI scheme in Birmingham; [21428]

  (2) what is the forecast case mix of the new University Hospital Trust PFI scheme in Birmingham; [21430]

  (3) if he will estimate (a) the capital cost and (b) the revenue cost of the new PFI scheme at University Hospital Trust in Birmingham. [21432]

  Mr. Milburn
  No Private Finance Initiative scheme has been submitted by the University Hospital Birmingham Trust to the Department of Health at this time.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlie the acute bed admission assumptions 392
  made by the University Hospital Trust in Birmingham for the next year. [21429]

  Mr. Milburn
  Assumptions will be based on projected activity resulting from contracts placed by health authorities and general practitioners with the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust which will decide what level of services will be required for next year. It is anticipated that activity will be broadly the same as this year.

  Dr. Brand
  to ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of acute beds at the University Hospital Trust in Birmingham for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [21431]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are currently 1,100 beds in the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust. There are no plans to alter this number significantly. There may be fluctuations around 1,100 either up or down based on the time of year or commissioning requirements.