Written Answers of 5 November 1997

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals there are to change the 1997–98 cash limit or running cost limit for the work of Her Majesty's Procurator-General and Treasury Solicitor. [14043]

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VIII, vote 6 will be increased by £433,000 from £7,003,000 to £7,436,000. The running costs limit is also increased by £712,000 from £25,742,000 to £26,454,000. The increases reflect the increased demand for services, machinery of Government changes and a transfer of an end year flexibility amount from the Crown Prosecution Service to take account of the costs of the CPS review falling on the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers. The increase in the cash limit will be charged to the Reserve and will therefore not be an addition to the planned total of public expenditure.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  British Railways Board
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has set the British Railways Board an external finance limit for 1997–98. [14922]

  Dr. Strang
  I have set the British Railways Board an external finance limit of £69.7 million for 1997–98.

  Transport Council
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 9 October. [14923]

  Dr. Strang
  The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 9 October. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council opened with a session of structured dialogue with Transport Ministers of the applicant central European countries—CECs. A report by the Commission on the recent Pan-European conference in Helsinki was followed by discussion of issues relating to market access. Three areas for future work were identified: the need to strengthen co-operation between the Community and the CECs; developing the mobility of citizens; and the need to take account of all modes of transport in negotiations in market access.
  194
  The Council discussed air transport negotiations with the US. The Commission's view was that, although Community discussions with the US on regulatory issues had been useful, further progress would not be made unless market access was brought within the scope of the negotiations. The UK noted that success in its current bilateral negotiations with the US would bring benefits for passengers from the UK and the rest of the EU. The UK and other member states expressed doubts about the Commission's approach. The presidency concluded that there should be further work by the Commission, and a report back to the December Council.

  The Council took note of the Commission's progress report on air transport negotiations with the CECs.

  The Council debated a draft directive on airport charges. The debate focused on two aspects of the directive: the use of charges for cross-subsidy of smaller regional airports; and the variability of charges to reflect environmental considerations. The Council invited the Committee of Permanent Representatives to continue its examination of the proposal.

  The Council reached unanimous political agreement on a directive on access to the occupation of road transport operator. This directive will raise the standards required of lorry, bus and coach operators in the Community.

  The Council agreed conclusions urging greater emphasis on the public-private partnerships approach to Trans-European Network projects.

  The Commission presented its White Paper on extension of the provisions of working time legislation to excluded sectors, including transport. It was noted that consultation with interested parties was still in progress. The UK, with some other member states, urged a case-by-case approach to the extension to transport, taking account of the needs of each form of transport.

  The Commission presented the case for a Community-wide blood alcohol limit of 50 mg per 100 ml. The UK expressed its determination to further reduce alcohol-related roads deaths, and noted that it was important to consider other ways of reducing drink-drive accidents as well.

  There was a discussion of weekend lorry bans in member states; the Commission undertook to produce draft legislation on this issue by the end of the year. The Commission also presented its draft regulation extending the Community's competition rules to air services to third countries.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13257]

  Angela Eagle
  For the Department and for non-departmental public bodies the information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. For agencies the figures are: 1995–96 Nil, 1996–97 £16,562 and 1997–98 (spend to date) £3,525.
  195
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13258]

  Angela Eagle
  One agency of the Department has used tax advisers to enable it to fulfil its statutory tax obligations rather than for tax avoidance purposes.

  Roads (Downland Design, Build, Finance and Operate Scheme)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what compensation payments are required to be made, and to whom, as a result of the decision not to proceed in July with the construction of the A27 Polegate bypass and associated works within the Weald and Downland DBFO scheme. [13776]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: We are currently considering whether the four consortia that submitted tenders for the Weald and Downland DBFO project should be compensated for their costs.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total cost to the Government of compensation in respect of the postponement of the Downland DBFO Scheme. [14204]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We are currently considering whether the four consortia who submitted tenders for the Weald and Downland DBFO project should be compensated for their costs.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to change the 1997–98 cash limit and net running cost limit for the Ordnance Survey. [14400]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary winter supplementary estimate for Ordnance Survey, the cash limit will be increased by a token of £1,000 from £6,759,000 to £6,760,000 and the net running cost limit increased from £3,025,000 to £3,026,000.

  This supplementary estimate reflects an increase in running cost expenditure of £2,001,000 from £73,970,000 offset by an increase in appropriations in aid of £2,000,000 from £78,180,000 to £80,180,000.

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change his Department's cash limits and running cost limits for 1997–98. [14401]

  Mr. Prescott
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, my Department's cash limits will change as follows:(i) the cash limit for class V, vote 1—Highways Agency—will be increased by £10,229,000 from £1,562,329,000 to £1,572,558,000. The increase in the cash limit reflects the take-up of £11,979,000 capital end year flexibility amount
  196
  as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–50, offset by an inter-vote transfer from this vote to class V, vote 2 of £1,750,000 for the ongoing motorway tolling project.
  (ii) the cash limit for class V, vote 2—Department of Transport: administration and transport services—will be increased by £3,625,000 from £158,075,000 to £161,700,000. The increase results from the take-up of £2,000,000 capital end year flexibility amount as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report columns 245–50 and inter-vote transfers from class V, vote 1 of £1,750,000 and from class V, vote 5 of £85,000 for mobility unit expenditure to be re-classified as running costs, offset by inter-vote transfers from this vote to class V, vote 5 of £60,000 for priority routes in London and to class XIII, vote 2 of £150,000 for the Edinburgh City Car Club research project. Running cost provision for this vote increases by £85,000 from £86,436,000 to £86,521,000.
  (iii) the cash limit for class V, vote 5—Roads and local transport—will be increased by £1,675,000 from £313,863,000 to £315,538,000. The increase reflects the take up of £2,100,000 structural funds end year flexibility amount as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report columns 245–50 and an inter-vote transfer from class V, vote 2 of £60,000, offset by an inter-vote transfer from this vote to class V, vote 2 of £85,000 and a reduction in the provision for licence fee refunds to goods vehicle and public service vehicle operators and drivers of £400,000.
  (iv) the cash limit for class V, vote 7—Passenger rail services—will be reduced by £51,000,000 from £1,516,385,000 to £1,465,385,000. The reduction reflects a £50,000,000 inter-vote transfer from this vote to class V, vote 3 for Metropolitan Railway Passenger Services Grant, and a £1,000,000 reduction in respect of reduced expenditure on consultants.
  (v) the DoT/LACAP (Local Authority Capital) non-voted cash limit will be increased by £7,150,000 from £349,193,000 to £356,343,000, to fund works associated with the rebuilding of Manchester city centre comprising of improvements to the Inner Relief Road, the development of a bus strategy and traffic management scheme and improved routes for pedestrians. The increase of £7,150,000 will be met by a call on the Reserve.
  As a consequence of the changes in (ii) above the gross running costs limit operating on class V, votes 1, 2, 4 and 6 will be increased by £85,000 from £373,274,000 to £373,359,000.
  (vi) the cash limit for class VI, vote 1—housing and construction, England—covering sections A, D to G, I, J and L of that vote, will be decreased by £3,325.000 from £599,708,000 to £596,383,000. An increase in the cash limit of £220,000 is offset by a decrease of £3,545,000. The increase is to meet residual additional administration costs the Housing Corporation is expected to incur in respect of the loan portfolio sale, funded from sale receipts. The decrease results principally from a reduction of £2,935,000 in homelessness grants current expenditure provision to fund an increase in rough sleepers initiative capital allocations through the Housing Corporation, which falls outside the cash limit. Of the remaining reductions, Estates Renewal Challenge Fund provision will be reduced by £500,000 to support registered social landlords' housing costs arising from the need to house people displaced from Montserrat as a result of volcanic activity on the island, and a reduction of £110,000 results from a reclassification of extra receipts recovered from homelessness grants, so that voted provision takes account of those receipts and is adjusted accordingly. The DETR/HC (Housing Corporation) cash limit will consequently be increased by £3,435.000 from £673,050,000 to £676,485,000.

  197
  (vii) a new DETR/CRI (Capital Receipts Initiative) cash limit will be introduced, subject to the passage of legislation, to cover the Government's initiative to release additional resources to support local authority spending on housing and housing associated regeneration. The limit on expenditure is set initially at £174,270,000.
  (viii) the cash limit for class VI, vote 2—regeneration and countryside and wildlife, England—will be increased by £36,116,000 from £1,480,168,000 to £1,516,284,000. An increase is required of £14,000,000 for the Urban Regeneration Agency (English Partnerships) to continue with works at Greenwich for the Millennium Exhibition and £7,230,000 for support for the regeneration of Manchester city centre; £8,000,000 for payments to be made for ERDF projects in advance of grant; £2,491,000 for the Teesside Development Corporation to meet a deficit as a result of judicial review; and £4,395,000 on three capital projects which had slipped from previous years. The increase will be met by a call on the Reserve of £17,991,000, the use of £10,125,000 end year flexibility amount as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report columns 245–50, offset in part by the surrender of £4,000,000 of receipts to the Exchequer and a transfer of £8,000,000 from the DOE/ERDF non-voted cash limit.
  (ix) the DETR/ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) non-voted cash limit will be reduced by £8,000,000 from £146,332,000 to £138,332,000. This reflects gross payments to be made for ERDF projects in advance of European Community receipts. As a consequence of (viii) above, there will be increases to external financing limits for the Urban Development Corporations of £1,427,000 from £199,784,000 to £201,211,00; for the Urban Regeneration Agency (English Partnerships) of £46,000,000 from £204,779,000 to £250,779,000 and for the Housing Action Trusts of £512,000 from £88,688,000 to £89,200.00.
  (x) the cash limit for class VI, vote 4—local government and planning, England—covering sections A to F of that vote, will be reduced by £321,000 from £30,987,957,000 to £30,987,636,000. This reflects savings on payments to meet the expenses of valuation tribunals in Section A (Valuation services), on grant in aid to the Local Government Residuary Body in Section B (Reorganisation of local government) and on the European Union Spatial Planning Initiative in Section D (Planning and minerals research). The saving will be used within vote 4, to cover residual payments of council tax transitional reduction grant in Section H (Council tax transitional reduction grant) and of special grant to authorities affected by the terrorist bombings of Docklands and Manchester and emergency financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme in section 1 (Other grants), which are outside the cash limit on the vote.

  The overall increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been given to Derbyshire county council and Derby city council in revenue support grant from central Government for 1997–98 [13753]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Derbyshire county council received £166.734 million and Derby city council received £84.507 million revenue support grant for 1997–98.

  Rent Officer Service
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what decision has been made in relation to the future of the rent officer service; and how many responses were received during the consultation period. [13479]

  Ms Armstrong
  I announced on 7 August that I had concluded that there was a strong case for the creation of a Next Steps Agency for the Rent Officer Service in England. I said then that before taking a final decision I would be consulting interested parties, including the Local Government Association, the trades unions representing rent officers and their support staff, and other interested parties. That consultation is now complete, and I am grateful for the 63 responses I received from individuals and organisations. I am placing a summary of these in the Library.

  There is general agreement that the current arrangements are unsatisfactory, but views differ on the solution. Many respondents favoured the Agency proposal, but support was also expressed for various alternative proposals. I have given very careful consideration to all the views which have been submitted, but have concluded that none of the alternative suggestions would tackle satisfactorily the inherent problems of the Service, which are caused by the unclear pattern of accountability and local inconsistencies of approach. I have therefore decided to proceed with the establishment of a Next Steps Agency for the Rent Officer Service in England.

  My Department will now go ahead, in consultation with interested parties, to make preparations for establishing the Agency. It will be necessary to ensure that the implementation costs can be contained within the available public expenditure provision. For this reason, and because of the amount of detailed planning yet to be done, I cannot yet say when the Agency will become operational, but it will be as soon as practicable.

  Waste Dumping at Sea
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the time scale for ending the dumping of wastes at sea. [13025]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom is a contracting party to the Oslo convention for the prevention of marine pollution by dumping from ships and aircraft and its successor, the convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic (the OSPAR convention) which is expected to come into force shortly. Under the OSPAR convention only the following may be considered for dumping.
  dredged material
  inert materials of natural origin, that is solid, chemically unprocessed geological material the chemical constituents of which are unlikely to be released into the marine environment;
  sewage sludge until 31 December 1998;
  fish waste from industrial fish processing operations; and
  vessels and aircraft until, at the latest, 31 December 2004.
  disused offshore installations and offshore pipelines.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Passports
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many passports were issued by the British embassy in Dublin in each of the last five years and how many were refused in each of those years specifying the most frequent reason for refusal. [13020]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The information is as follows:

  Passports issued

  Ineligible applications/refusals

  1993

  4,835

  12

  1994

  6,122

  24

  1995

  5,236

  17

  1996

  5,406

  20

  1997

  5,068

  11

  Total to date

  26,667

  84

  These figures do not include extensions, child additions or amendments. Entitlement to British passports is a matter of law. Passports are refused when the applicant is unable to prove identity or his or her claim to British nationality.

  Belarus
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made through diplomatic channels to the State of Belarus about the suspension of parliamentary democracy within that country. [13101]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We regularly make clear to the Belarus authorities our concerns over the constitutional and human rights situation in Belarus. Our ambassador in Minsk reiterated these concerns to Foreign Minister Antanovich at a meeting in September and officials from this Department made similar points to Deputy Foreign Minister Martynov in London in September.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts there have been between Her Majesty's Government and the state of Belarus. [13100]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Following the disputed constitutional referendum of November 1996, the EU General Affairs Council adopted Conclusions in February 1997, in accordance with which we have had no Ministerial contacts with Belarus. Officials from this Department made clear to Deputy Foreign Minister Martynov in London in September our concerns about the constitutional and human rights situation.

  Commonwealth Summit (Bananas and Sugar)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with representatives of Commonwealth Governments at Edinburgh concerning(a) the World Trade Organisation judgment on trade in bananas and (b) the consequential effects of such judgment on the Lomé agreement, with particular reference to its protocol concerning sugar. [13390]
  200
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met representatives of Caribbean Commonwealth Governments and discussed, among other things, their concerns about the implications of the World Trade Organisation ruling. He made clear that the UK would work for a new EC banana regime which was consistent with WTO rules and which took account of our obligations under the Lomé convention. He did not discuss the potential effects of the ruling on other preferential effects of the ruling on other preferential trading arrangements provided for under the Lomé convention. The Edinburgh economic declaration notes our support for the legitimate interests of the African Caribbean and Pacific banana producers and our resolve to work for a successor arrangement to the Lomé convention which gives the ACP adequate transitional arrangements.

  European Treaties
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which person or body articles of ratification of the treaty of Amsterdam will be deposited; if there is any time limit on such action; and what obligations will be placed on any member state, other than those entered into in the current treaties, if they are unable to deposit such articles or other necessary documents. [13050]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: Instruments of ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam will be deposited with the Italian Government. No time limit has been set for ratifying the treaty. The treaty will only enter into force after all member states have ratified it and it will therefore impose no obligations on a state which does not ratify it.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish prior to consideration of the Bill enabling Her Majesty's Government to ratify the treaty of Amsterdam a consolidated version of the principal treaties of the European Community and Union combining the content of the treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam. [13054]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: The intergovernmental conference agreed to attach to the Final Act, for illustrative purposes, the texts of the treaty on European Union and the treaty establishing the European Community as they result from the amendments made by the Treaty of Amsterdam. These texts are set out in Cm 3780. They do not form part of the treaty of Amsterdam and do not themselves require ratification.

  Immigration Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters from hon. members have been received since May relating to immigration matters; how many were received in the same period last year; what percentage of replies to hon. Members are signed by a Minister; and what are the factors which determine that such replies are signed in this way. [13199]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: Between 1 May and 31 October 5,812 letters were received from Members; 4,321 were received in the same period last year; around 11 per cent. are signed by a

  201
  Minister. There are no set factors determining which letters are signed by a Minister; each case is considered individually.

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his Department's cash limits and running cost limits for 1997–98. [14286]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates the following changes will be made:

  The cash limit for class II, vote 1 (Overseas Representation) will be increased by £9,050,000 from £619,826,000 to £628,876,000. The increase is required to cover the costs of major conferences, specifically the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the EU Presidency and the Asia Europe Meeting, which total £9,000,000. There is also a transfer in of £50,000 from the Home Office for a contribution towards the fight against international drug trafficking.

  The gross running costs limit on class II, vote 1 will be increased by £9,050,000 from £525,763,000 to £534,813,000.

  The cash limit for class II, vote 2 (Other External Relations) will be increased by £12,600,000 from £217,215,000 to £229,815,000. The increase is required to cover UK contributions to certain OSCE, United Nations and WEU Missions of £12,000,000 and also for a transfer of £600,000 from the Home Office towards certain Overseas Drugs Assistance Programmes.

  In addition, the cash limit for class H, vote 3 (BBC World Service) will be reduced by £2,558,000 from £169,906,000 to £167,348,000. This reduction takes account of transfers to the Ministry of Defence of £3,444,000 and to the Cabinet Office of £327,000 to reflect the movement of the BBC World Service Monitoring Service to subscription-based funding. This is partially offset by the take-up of a capital end-year flexibility amount of £1,213,000 as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July, Official Report, columns 245–50.

  The increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve, and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations concerning abuses of human rights Her Majesty's Government have made to the Czech and Slovak Republics. [13491]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: We are aware of reports of incidents of discrimination against members of the Roma community in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We have been in contact with the Governments of the two countries, and do not consider these to be institutionalised abuses of human rights.

  Burma
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards democracy in Burma since 1 May. [14072]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) continue to repress pro-democracy and ethnic groups, and remain unwilling to enter into substantive dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders. Ministers have made several statements since 1 May condemning the SLORC' s policies, and have supported the introduction of tougher measures against the SLORC at both the national and EU level.

  Australia
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart concerning the arrangements being made for testing parliamentary and public opinion in Australia on whether that country should become a republic; and if he will make a statement. [14395]

  Mr. Fatchett
  None.

  Antarctic
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Japan concerning ratification of the Antarctic treaty. [14218]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Officials have discussed the ratification of the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty with their Japanese counterparts several times in the past few months and have used these occasions to encourage Japan to ratify it at the earliest opportunity.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the signatory nations to the Antarctic Environmental protocol; and when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the siting of the secretariat. [14219]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  There have been no further discussions since the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in New Zealand in May this year when the Consultative Parties were unable to reach consensus on the location of the Secretariat. The next ATCM will be in May 1998.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Girocheques (Reissues)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage increase in 1996 of reissues of girocheques(a) in total and (b) by social security office that involved losses to her Department; and if she will make a statement. [13021]

  Mr. Worthington
  Responsibility for the subject has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Chris Thompson. I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.
  203
  Letter from Chris Thompson to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 31 October 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the percentage increase, in 1996, of re-issues of girocheques.
  The percentage increase in 1996–97 of re-issued girocheques to benefit customers in Northern Ireland which led to losses to the Department of Health and Social Services was 16.9 per cent. This percentage excludes 234 re-issues in 1995–96 and 982 re-issues in 1996–97 which are still under investigation. The percentage change for each Social Security Office is given in the attached table.
  The main reason for the increase between 1995–96 and 1996–97 is that from November 1995, procedures in the Social Security Agency were brought in line with those of the Benefits Agency in Great Britain to reflect the legal position.
  Case law in Great Britain on the treatment of claims and payments places the burden of proof on the Department to show that the customer has received benefit from an instrument of payment which has been lost or stolen. This means that the Social Security Agency cannot delay in making a replacement payment, for example, to await the trace encashment of the original girocheque. Within this procedure, all reasonable practical precautions are of course taken before a payment is reissued.
  The Agency attaches much importance to the prevention of fraud and the use of taxpayers' money and, taking account of the concern expressed, is reviewing its existing procedures.
  I hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require.

  Number of girocheques re-issued with losses

  Issuing office

  1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 Loss

  1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 Loss

  Increase/decrease

  Percentage

  Antrim SSO

  25

  32

  +7

  +28

  Armagh SSO

  24

  23

  -1

  -4

  Ballymena SSO

  34

  60

  +26

  +76·4

  Ballymoney SSO

  8

  15

  +7

  +87·5

  Ballynahinch SSO

  4

  5

  +1

  +25

  Banbridge SSO

  4

  12

  +8

  +200

  Bangor SSO

  36

  64

  +28

  +77·8

  Carrickfergus SSO

  19

  67

  +48

  +252·6

  Coleraine SSO

  40

  60

  +20

  +50

  Cookstown SSO

  7

  18

  +11

  +157·1

  Downpatrick SSO

  41

  24

  -17

  -41·5

  Dungannon SSO

  30

  34

  +4

  +13·3

  Enniskillen SSO

  19

  36

  +17

  +89·5

  Foyle SSO

  178

  213

  +35

  +19·7

  Headquarters

  58

  57

  -1

  -1·7

  Kilkeel SSO

  1

  4

  +3

  +300

  Larne SSO

  12

  16

  +4

  +33·3

  Limavady SSO

  36

  35

  -1

  -2·8

  Lisburn SSO

  35

  30

  -5

  -14·3

  Lisnagelvin SSO

  28

  47

  +19

  +67·9

  Lurgan SSO

  22

  23

  +1

  +4·5

  Magherafelt SSO

  3

  10

  +7

  +233·3

  Newcastle SSO

  14

  6

  -8

  -57·1

  Newry SSO

  82

  73

  -9

  -11

  Newtownards SSO

  43

  38

  -5

  -11·6

  Omagh SSO

  24

  40

  +16

  +66·7

  Portadown SSO

  31

  33

  +2

  +6·5

  Strabane SSO

  35

  54

  +19

  +54·3

  Andersonstown SSO

  138

  195

  +57

  +41·3

  Casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks

  Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults

  Casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings

  Total casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks

  Attribution

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Total

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Total

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Total

  Dates

  20 January 1997 to 19 July 1997

  42

  47

  89

  26

  14

  40

  68

  61

  129

  20 July 1997 to 28 October 1997

  18

  14

  32

  9

  3

  12

  27

  17

  44

  204

  Number of girocheques re-issued with losses

  Issuing office

  1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 Loss

  1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 Loss

  Increase/decrease

  Percentage

  Corporation Street SSO

  241

  242

  +1

  +0·4

  Falls Road SSO

  157

  144

  -13

  -8·3

  Holywood Road SSO

  79

  58

  -21

  -26·6

  Knockbreda SSO

  32

  32

  0

  0

  Newtownabbey SSO

  30

  49

  +19

  +63·3

  Shaftesbury Square SSO

  95

  69

  -26

  -27·4

  Shankill Road SSO

  89

  132

  +43

  +48·3

  Total

  1,754

  2,050

  +296

  +16·9

  Southern Health and Social Services Council
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which members of the Southern health and social services council belong to(a) the SDLP, and (b) the Ulster Unionist party; how many of these appointments were recommended by representatives of the Irish Government; and if she will make a statement. [13012]

  Mr. Worthington
  Monitoring information on the political activity of appointees to the Health and Social Services Councils has only been collected since July 1996. Of the 10 places, out of a full membership of 24, reserved on the Southern Health and Social Services Council for District Council nominees, five are held by SDLP members and five are held by members of the Ulster Unionist Party. The monitoring information held by the Department indicates that no political activity has been undertaken by the other members in the last five years.

  None of the members of the Southern Council were recommended for consideration for appointment by representatives of the Irish Government.

  Paramilitary Beatings
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list all recorded instances of paramilitary beatings in the period since the Provisional IRA ceasefire of July 1997, indicating in each instance whether the event was carried out by loyalist or republican groups and giving the equivalent figures of the preceding six months. [13856]

  Mr. Ingram
  The table illustrates the number of paramilitary style assaults and paramilitary shootings attributed to Loyalist and Republican groups since the Provisional IRA ceasefire on 20 July 1997 and equivalent figures for the previous six months.

  Forest Service
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has for the future organisation of the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. [14838]

  Majorie Mowlam
  As my colleague the Minister with responsibility for this matter, Lord Dubs, announced in another place on 16 October in reply to a question from baroness Nicol,Official Report, House of Lords, column 200, following consideration of a Prior Options Study, which was announced to Parliament on 7 March 1995, the Government have decided that the Forest Service should become a Next Steps Agency and that preparations should proceed with a view to agentisation with effect from 1 April 1998.

  Retained deficits of HPSS boards Northern Ireland

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Board

  Deficit (£ million)

  Percentage of budget

  Deficit (£ million)

  Percentage of budget

  Deficit (£ million)

  Percentage of budget

  EHSSB

  1·986

  0·37

  —

  —

  5·15

  0·95

  SHSSB

  —

  —

  1·582

  0·62

  5·2

  0·2

  WHSSB

  1·139

  0·53

  2·653

  1·16

  1·02

  0·44

  NHSSB recorded a surplus in each of the three years.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the(a) actual deficits and (b) projected deficits of each health trust as a percentage of their budgets for the last three years. [14271]

  Retained deficits of HSS trusts (Northern Ireland)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Trust

  Deficit (£ million)

  Percentage of income

  Deficit (£ million)

  Percentage of turnover

  Deficit (£million)

  Percentage of turnover

  BCH

  0·997

  1·22

  0·586

  0·69

  2·406

  2·66

  CAH

  0·191

  0·45

  0·344

  0·76

  1·288

  2·82

  Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

  0·086

  1·22

  —

  —

  0·01

  0·05

  UNDAH

  1·014

  1·94

  0·32

  0·56

  1·857

  3·21

  RGH

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·225

  0·9

  Green Park

  —

  —

  1·118

  2·34

  0·519

  1·04

  Mater

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·007

  0·38

  Craigavon/Banbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·088

  0·27

  Newry/Mourne

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·25

  0·58

  North and West Belfast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·839

  0·99

  Causeway

  —

  —

  0·378

  0·8

  —

  —

  Altnagelvin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·109

  0·23

  Armagh/Dungannon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·092

  0·16

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Dispute Resolution
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how he intends to promote greater use of alternative dispute resolution in place of civil litigation. [13312]
  206
  The Forest Service is responsible for the implementation of Government forestry policy within Northern Ireland and performs broadly the same functions as the Forestry Commission in Great Britain. Agency status will give the service more flexibility in its commercial operations and in the delivery of Government forestry objectives.

  Health Authority Budgets
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the(a) actual deficit and (b) projected deficit of each health authority as a percentage of its budget for the last three years. [14464]

  Mr. Worthington
  The following schedule gives(a) the actual deficit for each of the HSS Health Boards in Northern Ireland for the years 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 as per the audited accounts and (b) the deficit expressed as a percentage of each board's budget figure.

  Mr. Worthington
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The schedule gives (a) the actual deficit for each of the HSS trusts in Northern Ireland for the years 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 as per the audited accounts and (b) the deficit figure expressed as a percentage of each trust's total income.

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor has recently approved pilot schemes for alternative dispute resolution at Bristol county court and in the Court of Appeal. A mediation pilot scheme has been running at Central London county court since May 1996. Before deciding the next steps, the Lord Chancellor will consider the outcome of research on the Central London scheme. The initial report is expected early next year.

  EU Regulations
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to ensure the up-to-date publication of all amendments to the current United Kingdom law occasioned by European Union regulations. [13387]

  Mr. Hoon
  Queen's Printer's copies of all newly enacted Acts of Parliament and of Statutory Instruments implementing amendments to current United Kingdom law occasioned by European Union regulations are published promptly by The Stationery Office Limited. The text is also made available on the Internet. The explanatory note at the end of each Statutory Instrument which implements a European Union obligation will identify and cite the relevant European Union instrument.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department is setting up a statute law database to ensure publication of up to date amended text of United Kingdom Public General Acts of Parliament. Amendments made to those Acts by United Kingdom legislation in implementation of European Union obligations will be duly incorporated. It is not at present intended that the statute law database should include amended text of Statutory Instruments.

  Living Wills
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to amend the law relating to living wills; and if he will make a statement. [13146]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Law Commission report on mental incapacity published in 1995 includes recommendations relating to advance statements (sometimes referred to as living wills). As I indicated in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Hope) on 28 October,Official Report, column 787, the Government do not consider that it would be appropriate to legislate on the basis of these recommendations without fresh public consultation. It is hoped that a consultation paper will be issued by the end of the year.

  Magistrates Courts Committees (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from magistrates in West Yorkshire over the work of the joint magistrates committees; and if he will make a statement. [13398]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have received a letter from one magistrate from West Riding Metropolitan Magistrates Courts Committee which questioned the necessity for a magistrates courts committee for the area. I have also received a letter from the chairman of the Wakefield bench of that MCC concerning the committee's proposals to reallocate duties from the deputy clerks to an increased number of justices clerks and to remove the post of deputy clerk.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Tourism
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list his Department's priorities in relation to tourism during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union. [12972]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  We believe that the main aim for the Tourism Unit in the Commission should be to ensure that, across the range of Commission responsibilities. account should be taken of the impact on tourism of decisions and actions, and that the employment and other opportunities represented by tourism should be recognised.

  We shall be announcing specific events for the British presidency relating to the Department's various responsibilities in due course.

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Miller
  to ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes he proposes to make to his Department's cash limit and running cost limit for 1997–98.[14011]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 1 will be increased by £6,100,000 from £867,853,000 to £873,953,000 and the running costs limit reduced by £746,000 from £30,091,000 to £29,345,000. This is to provide for an increase in provision for the British Library St. Pancras project; to provide for additional maintenance expenditure for the British Library; an increase in provision for the refurbishment of Somerset House for the housing of the Gilbert Collection; transfers from the Department of Trade and Industry (class IV, vote 1) for Sector Challenge funding of tourist and media projects and for sponsorship of the music industry; and a transfer to the Home Office (class VII, vote 1) for voluntary services.

  The increases will be offset by transfers, savings and charges to the Reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the Cabinet Office: Security and Intelligence Services cash limits for 1997–98. [14278]

  The Prime Minister
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 2 will be increased by £5,606,000 from £713,307,000 to £718,913,000. The running costs cash limit will be increased by £5,606,000 from £362,082,000 to £367,688,000. The increase in running costs is needed to take on board transfers from OPS to the FCO and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals there are to change the 1997–98 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote. [14308]
  209
  The Prime Minister
  The cash limit for Cabinet Office: other services (class XVIII, vote 1) will be increased by £1,291,000 from £36,153,000 to £37,444,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £1,291,000 from £42,803,000 to £44,094,000.

  This is to reflect a transfer of £168,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (class II, vote 3) for the BBC World Service Monitoring Service, which is moving to subscription based funding. The vote is also eligible for a running costs cash limit increase of £1,123,000 in respect of end year flexibility arrangements, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–250.

  The increase will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers living in the London borough of Barnet have had(a) a final determination of their asylum application made adverse to them and (b) how many of (a) above have been moved into deportation areas and have not yet left the country; and what is the cost to the London borough of Barnet and to central Government of supporting such persons, in total and on average. [13119]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information requested is not available centrally. Information on where asylum seekers are living is not available centrally: we cannot therefore give any information on asylum seekers in the London borough of Barnet.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many unsuccessful asylum seekers are currently awaiting deportation from England and Wales; [13769]

  (2) how many unsuccessful asylum seekers are currently awaiting deportation from Scotland.[13770]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information is not available separately for England and Wales, or for Scotland.

  The available information relates to asylum seekers whose initial decision was a refusal, who have subsequently had a deportation order signed and who have not yet left the United Kingdom. As at 30 September 1997, there were 1,510 such persons. That figure is provisional and excludes persons treated as illegal entrants or subject to port refusal procedures.

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 1997–98 cash and running costs limits within his responsibilities.[14066]

  Mr. Straw
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary token supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VII, vote 1 (Home Office administration, police,210
  probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) will be reduced by £510,000 from £4,729,171,000 to £4,728,661,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £5,251,000 from £1,887,680,000 to £1,892,931,000.

  The changes in the cash limit are the net effect of the following:
  A transfer of £490,000 from the non voted cash limit HO/LACAP to fund expenditure on the National Crime Squad Headquarters. The transfer will reduce the HO/LACAP cash limit from £89,546,000 to £89,056,000.
  Transfers to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £50,000 for the International Drugs Co-ordinator post and £600,000 in respect of inter-departmental drugs prevention projects in Pakistan and Colombia. A transfer to the Department of Health of £350,000 in respect of the Drugs Challenge Fund.
  The increase in the running costs limit is the net effect of payments relating to the transfer of responsibility for voluntary services from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport of £771,000; £30,000 for a payment from Cabinet Office in respect of the Government Information Service Head of Profession; £4,500,000 due to increased demand for passports and a transfer to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £50,000 for the International Drugs Co-ordinator post.

  The increases will be offset by transfers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Derbyshire Police Authority
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been given to Derbyshire county council through the revenue support grant for the county's police authority in each of the last three years. [13755]

  Mr. Michael
  The Derbyshire Police Authority is independent from the county council, an arrangement which was consequent on the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is the Police Authority which is responsible for setting the budget. The budget is made up of police grant, revenue support grant, non-domestic rates (the business rate) and the police authority precept raised through the council tax. Providing the revenue support grant figure on its own would be uninformative and I have therefore provided a table which shows how the total spending power was made up in the three years referred to in the question.

  Derbyshire Police Authority

  £ million

  Year

  Home office grant

  Revenue support grant

  Non-domestic rates

  Police precept (Council tax)

  Total spending power

  1995–96

  43.76

  13.71

  17.8

  13.02

  88.3

  1996–97

  46.36

  13.14

  19.7

  13.3

  92.5

  1997–98

  48.09

  14.09

  18.89

  15.28

  96.3

  Mr. Jonathan Aitken
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is to complete his investigations into the alleged perjury of Mr. Jonathan Aitken during his High Court action against The Guardian; and if he will make a statement. [13768]

  Mr. Michael
  This investigation is an operational matter for the Commissioner. The Commissioner informs me that the investigation is continuing and is being pursued as expeditiously as possible. At this time the Metropolitan Police do not have a date for the conclusion of the investigation. When the investigation is complete a report will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all(a) secondary, (b) other delegated legislation and (c) all deregulation orders his Department made during the summer adjournment. [14374]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

  Police Forces (Staff)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of(a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff, in each police force on (i) the last day for which figures are available and (ii) 1 May for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [13724]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: The latest date for which figures are available are those for 31 March 1997. Since 1995, police numbers are collected only twice a year. The strength figures for 1995 and 1996 are therefore those at 31 March. Prior to April 1995, they were collected every month. Police strength figures for 1992, 1993, and 1994 are therefore those for 30 April. Between 30 April 1992 and 30 March 1997, the number of police officers fell by 536. During the same period, the number of civilian support staff increased by 5,568. The information is set out in tables which have been placed in the Library.

  Police Act 1997
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when part V of the Police Act 1997 will be brought into force. [14174]

  Mr. Michael
  We are currently reviewing the provisions of part V of the Police Act 1997 in the light of our top priority in this area which is the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

  Immigration
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria which govern the granting of exceptional leave to remain. [14207]
  212
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The criteria governing the granting of exceptional leave to remain depend on the particular exercise of discretion outside the Immigration Rules from which a person seeks to benefit. In addition, the Home Secretary may permit any foreign national to remain in the United Kingdom.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures he proposes to take to protect the community from sex offenders who pose a risk to the public. [14703]

  Mr. Straw
  I have published today a consultation paper on community protection orders. Copies are available in the Library.

  I propose that the chief officer of police will have the power to apply for an order in the civil courts if the behaviour of a person who has been convicted or cautioned for a sex offence, whether in this country or abroad, poses a risk of serious harm to the public.

  The order will require the defendant to register under the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 1997, if he is not already required to do so. The court may also impose other prohibitory conditions as are necessary to protect the public.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the final report of the Community Fire Safety Task Force. [14547]

  Mr. Straw
  I have received the report of the Community Fire Safety Task Force and made arrangements for it to be published on 3 November. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  The task force was asked last November to propose a five year strategy to reduce the number of fires and fire casualties in dwellings. It has highly commended the enthusiasm with which fire safety and prevention work is already undertaken by some brigades. It wants to build on their success by putting community fire safety at the centre of both policy and action. It recommends a more integrated and business like approach to community fire safety, with the establishment of a national centre to co-ordinate activity and an increased role for Her Majesty's Fire Service inspectorate to support brigades in the delivery of imaginative, well targeted messages. It also recommends that community fire safety should be made a statutory duty of the fire service.

  I am grateful to task force members, who came from both the public and private sectors, for delivering an imaginative report in less than a year. I share their high regard for the enthusiasm and expertise of the fire service. It is a high performing service with an excellent record to which I pay tribute.

  We must, however, all be concerned by the rising trend in domestic fires, deaths and casualties and the task force therefore makes a strong case for an increased and co-ordinated emphasis on community fire safety. Community safety is not solely about reducing crime. It is about our wider responsibilities to make our

  213
  communities safe and confident. This report is an important contribution to that overall aim and I note that it strongly endorses the multi-agency approach.

  Before I take any decisions on the details of the strategy, I want to hear the views of chief officers, fire authorities and unions who have a crucial role to play in translating the strategy into action. We will therefore be consulting interested parties over the next few months before deciding how to respond to the report.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13261]

  Mr. Straw
  Expenditure by the Department, its agencies and non departmental bodies (NDPBs), on tax consultants and other tax advice for the three years in question is:

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  £

  £

  £

  (a) Departmental

  (i) Tax Consultants

  —

  —

  —

  (ii) Other

  49,688

  30,550

  16,450

  (b) Agencies

  (i) Tax Consultants

  —

  —

  —

  (ii) Other

  —

  25,000

  —

  (c) NDPBs

  (i) Tax Consultants

  11,268

  45,543

  4,000

  (ii) Other

  42,475

  36,672

  38,070

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement.[13262]

  Mr. Straw
  The Department's policy is not to use tax advisers for tax avoidance purposes. Such advisers may be used to assist the Department in meeting its statutory tax obligations.

  Remand (Juveniles)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for implementing court-ordered secure remand for juveniles. [14548]

  Mr. Michael
  At present, when juveniles—aged 10 to 16 years—are charged and not released on bail after a court appearance, they are remanded to local authority accommodation. The local authority may, if it can satisfy certain strict conditions, return to the court and seek a secure accommodation order to place the juvenile in local authority secure accommodation. Separate arrangements exist for 15 and 16-year-old boys who may be remanded direct to prison, again if strict conditions are met. The courts have no power to require any juvenile in this age group to be remanded directly to local authority secure accommodation.
  214
  There are, however, existing provisions on the statute book but not yet brought into force which would allow this to happen. Section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 contains provision for the abolition of prison remands for 15 and 16-years-old boys, and gives courts a power to remand these boys. as well as 15 and 16-year-old girls, directly to local authority secure accommodation. Section 20 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides for the extension of court-ordered secure remands to 12 to 14-year-olds but only once the provision in section 60 of the 1991 Act has been implemented for 15 and 16-year-olds.

  Before the Government can implement section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and the provisions in the 1994 Act, there must be available a sufficient number of places to meet the expected demand. This is not the case at the moment. Whilst a building programme was put in place to provide 170 new secure places in local authority accommodation for this purpose, the number of juveniles remanded in custody has increased significantly since the building programme began and prison remands now typically stand within the 250 to 300 range. The demand from this group alone would significantly outstrip the capacity of the local authority secure estate even once the building programme has been completed.

  The Government are keen to begin implementation of those provisions and have decided to do so in stages. The Government will, therefore, implement the provision in relation to 12 to 14-year-olds as soon as practicable.

  The Government, therefore, propose:

  (a) that court-ordered secure remands for 12 to 14-year-olds and 15 and 16-year-old girls will be implemented as soon as practicable; and

  (b) that the courts should be able to remand the most vulnerable 15 and 16-year-old boys direct to local authority secure accommodation rather than to prison, subject to certain criteria and if a place has been identified in advance.

  Under the existing legislation court-ordered secure remands for 12 to 14-year-olds cannot be implemented without first doing the same for 15 and 16-year-olds. The Government intend to use this Session's Crime and Disorder Bill to make the necessary legislative changes; Royal Assent is unlikely before summer 1998. The Government remain committed to implementing the provisions in full and will keep the position under review, but we believe that our current approach is the most practical and effective way forward.

  As part of the Government's comprehensive spending review, we are also conducting a study of the whole range of secure accommodation for young people, including the local authority secure units. The Government wish to ensure that the assets and other resources employed in the accommodation and care of accused, convicted and other juveniles who need secure accommodation are used to best effect, including in meeting their educational needs and, where relevant, in tackling their offending behaviour. We will want to see how the proposed court-ordered remands and the associated accommodation fit into our plans for coming to grips with the present range of facilities which make up the juvenile secure estate. Our aim is to press on with this work as quickly as possible.
  215
  On 15 October, Directors of Social Services in England and Wales and the representative bodies of the local government associations and the directors of social services were informed of the Government's decision to implement these existing provisions. It was also suggested that there should be a meeting to discuss these proposals and the study of the juvenile secure estate. It is hoped that this meeting will take place shortly.

  Raves
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to prevent the use of motorway service stations for rave parties; and if he will make a statement. [14315]

  Mr. Michael
  There are already powers available to the police to deal with the problem of illegal rave parties. Sections 63–67 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 empower the police to direct persons assembling on land to leave where it is believed that a large-scale gathering—of 100 or more—will take place and would cause serious distress to the inhabitants of the locality by the playing of amplified music during the night. Furthermore, in order to assist the police in preventing such events from taking place, the Act provides them with pre-emptive powers to direct people to leave the land where they reasonably believe that those people are preparing or gathering for such an event. The police also have powers to stop persons proceeding to a rave, or an intended rave, within a radius of five miles of its site.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police man-hours were spent on the policing of rave parties in the last financial year in(a) England and Wales and (b) Cheshire; [14314]

  (2) what was the total cost of policing rave parties in the last financial year in (a) England and Wales and (b) Cheshire. [14316]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is not held centrally. The costs of specific activities carried out by the police is a matter for chief officers but police forces do not routinely hold information about the time spent on or the costs of individual operations. However, I understand from the Chief Constable of Cheshire that there were two rave parties in the last financial year at the M62 motorway service station at Burtonwood. A total of 220 officer hours was used in the policing of these events at a cost of approximately £3,600.

  David Shayler
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the injunction against The Mail on Sunday remains in force following the publication of further disclosures from David Shayler on 2 November. [14900]

  Mr. Straw
  Yes. The purpose of the injunction which the High Court granted against The Mail on Sunday was to prevent it from publishing any further material which could damage national security. The terms of the injunction restrained the newspaper from publishing any information provided by Mr. Shayler, but expressly did not apply to the publication of any material in respect of which the Crown serves written notice that it does not seek to restrain publication. The Editor of The Mail on Sunday provided me with a draft of the article which he
  216
  proposed to publish well in advance of the publication date. This enabled me to obtain an assessment from the Director General of the Security Service, who advised me that the article would not cause damage to national security if it were published. Notice was therefore given that we would not seek to restrain publication. The fact that the article was substantially wrong is another matter. The issue here is not necessarily whether a story is true or false as it is quite possible to conceive circumstances in which false accusations might nevertheless cause damage to national security.

  This is entirely consistent with the position which the Government have adopted all along. Our concern is to ensure that nothing is published which is likely to damage national security. Former members of the Security and Intelligence Services are in a position to make disclosures which intentionally or unintentionally can cause real damage to national security. The Government cannot stand by and let that happen. We have, however, never sought to suppress criticism of the Security Service—even where that criticism is misguided or inaccurate—provided that national security is not damaged.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to change the 1997–98 cash limit or running cost limit for the Office of Public Service. [14158]

  Dr. David Clark
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service (Class XVII, Vote 1) will be increased by £17,760,000 from £141,061,000 to £158,821,000 and the gross running cost limit will be decreased by £52,000 from £80,475,000 to £80,423,000.

  The changes reflect the take up of end-year flexibility of £9,000,000 under the end-year flexibility scheme announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–250; an increase of £10,000,000 for gross provisions for opportunity cost rents; and transfers to the Department of Trade and Industry (Class IV, Vote 1) £300,000 and the Employment Service (Class IX, Vote 3) £940,000.

  The increase will be offset by transfers or charge to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all(a) secondary, (b) other delegated legislation and (c) all deregulation orders his Department made during the summer adjournment. [14379]

  Dr. David Clark
  A full list of statutory instruments laid before the House, whether under the affirmative or the negative procedure during the summer adjournment, is contained in the House of Commons Votes and Proceedings dated Monday 27 October 1997, which has been publicly available since Tuesday 28 October 1997.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Beef Refreshment Department
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what were the countries of origin of beef served in the Palace of Westminster in each of the last three months; and if he will make a statement as to the percentage of beef supplied from each country. [13962]

  Mr. Turner
  All beef served by the House of Commons Refreshment Department during the last three months was of British origin.

  Parliamentary Groups
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps he is taking to ensure the compliance of all parliamentary groups and committees to be recognised and listed with the rules and undertakings required of them, with particular reference to those referring to membership. [12540]

  Mrs. Roe
  [holding answer 27 October 1997]: At its meeting on 4 November, the Administration Committee considered whether any amendments to the existing regulations concerning All Party and Parliamentary Groups might be appropriate. The Committee determined that the current regulations, approved by the House on 20 March 1997, were adequate, and did not consider that further revision was necessary. However, I would expect any hon. Member to draw to my attention any incidences of where they consider the regulations might have been breached.

HEALTH

  Pharmaceutical Industry
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what formal discussions he has held with pharmaceutical industry leaders. [13921]

  Ms Jowell
  My noble Friend, the Minister for Health holds the main ministerial responsibility for the pharmaceutical industry. She met representatives of their trade association, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, on 17 June. A further meeting is planned for 26 November. Both she and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health have also had a number of informal meetings with representatives of individual companies.

  Officials also keep us in touch with matters of concern to the industry through the joint industry/government Industry Strategy Group, a forum which meets regularly to discuss issues of mutual interest.

  Child Labour
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to implement the remainder of European Council directive 94/22/EC on the Protection of Young People at Work on child employment, following its consultation with local authorities and others. [13912]
  218
  Mr. Boateng
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will announce in due course proposals further to safeguard the interests of young people at work.

  NHS Charges Certificates (Stockton)
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS charges certificates (AG3) were awarded in the area of Stockton borough council or the related local DSS offices; and what plans he has to improve the quality of information available to the public in respect of the use of the certificates. [13744]

  Mr. Milburn
  National Health Service low income Scheme charges certificates AG3 were replaced by HC3 from 1 June 1997. The new version was introduced following consumer testing and provides clear information to the user. During the period 1 December 1996, when computer records were introduced, to 31 May 1997, when the AG3 was replaced, 2,855 AG3s were sent to people providing a Stockton postcode ("TS") with their low income scheme claim.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits of his Department in 1997–98. [13695]

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits of his Department in 1997–98. [14054]

  Mr. Dobson
  Subject to parliamentary approval, the cash limit for class XI, vote 1 (hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) will be increased by £3,982,000 (from £29,349,456,000 to £29,353,438,000). This allows for a transfer of £2,457,000 from class XI, vote 2 (Department of Health administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) for the Medical Device Evaluation Service and an increase of £2,000,000 for the Drugs Challenge Fund made up of a claim on the Reserve (£1,000,000) and by transfers from class VII, vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) (£350,000), class IX, vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) (£300,000) and class XI, vote 2 (£350,000). The overall increase is partially offset by transfers of £367,000 to class XIV, vote 4 (Hospital, community health, family health services and other health services (part), Wales) for Cuyler Declaration, on rebasing of funds between central budgets and health authorities; £8,000 to Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland for the National Poisons Information Service and £100,000 to class XI, vote 2 for the Xenotransplantation Interim Authority.

  The cash limit for class XI, vote 2 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England) will be reduced by £2,987,000 (from £998,724,000 to £995,737,000). This reduction allows for transfers of £2,737,000 for the Medical Device Evaluation Service made up of transfers to class XI, vote 1 (Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) (£2,457,000), class XIV, vote 4 (Hospital, community health, family health

  219
  services and other health services (part), Wales) (£187,000) and to the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland (£93,000); and a transfer of £350,000 to class XI, vote 1 for the Drugs Challenge Fund. The overall reduction is partially offset by a transfer of £100,000 from class XI, vote 1 as mentioned above.

  The non-voted cash limit for supplementary credit approvals or personal social services (DoH/LACAP) in England is to be increased by £429,000 from (£14,700,000 to £15,129,000) in respect of the take up of the end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–250.

  The Department's gross running cost limit will be reduced by £800,000 from £260,929,000 to £260,129,000. This reflects a reallocation for the NHS Health Advisory Service.

  All increases will either be offset by savings, increased receipts or transfers to or from other votes or charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13267]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have spent the following on

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  £

  £

  Estimated £

  (i) Tax consultants:

  (a) Department of Health

  nil

  nil

  15,000

  (b) DH Agencies

  nil

  nil

  nil

  (c) NCPBs

  26,000

  19,000

  13,000

  (ii) Other external tax advice: One NDPB uses a telephone Pay As You Earn advisory service at a cost of £180 per annum.

  This expenditure has been to provide advice on the proper interpretation of tax law.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13268]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department has used tax advisers to enable it to fulfil its statutory tax obligations rather than for tax avoidance purposes.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his assessment on the effect of the delivery of NHS services over the next two years of the need to 220
  divert moneys from within his budget to deal with the millennium computer compliance problem in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [13250]

  Mr. Milburn
  The likely cost to the National Health Service of ensuring that systems are millennium compliant is difficult to forecast accurately. Guidance has recently been issued to chief executives outlining the action they are expected to take to deal with the millennium problem. Much of the work required is likely to be funded from budgets already allocated to supporting NHS information management and technology needs.

  Cold-related Illnesses
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate as the main or contributory cause of death, took place in England and Wales in(a) 1994, (b) 1995, (c) 1996 for (i) all age groups, (ii) people aged 65 years and over and (iii) people aged 80 years and over. [14258]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 5 November 1997:
  I have been asked to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the numbers of deaths in England and Wales where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate as the main or contributory cause of death in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
  The information requested is shown in the table below:

  Deaths with a mention of hypothermia, England and Wales 1994–96

  All ages

  Age 65 and over

  Age 80 and over

  1994

  345

  286

  186

  1995

  338

  283

  192

  1996

  414

  356

  244

  Deaths
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths were registered in England and Wales between(a) 1 April 1996 and 30 September 1996 and (b) 1 October 1996 and 31 March 1997, for people aged (i) 60 to 69 years, (ii) 70 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years and (iv) in total. [14256]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 5 November 1997:
  I have been asked to reply as Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many deaths were

  221
  registered in England and Wales between (a) 1st April 1996 and 30th September 1996 and (b) 1st October 1996 and 31st March 1997, for people aged (i) 60 to 69 years, (ii) 70 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years and (iv) in total.
  The information requested is shown in the table below:

  Deaths registered in England and Wales

  Age

  1 April 1996 to 30 September 1996

  1 October 1996 to 31 March 19971

  60-69 Years

  36,823

  39.891

  70-9 Years

  74,241

  85,340

  80 and over

  115,932

  146,033

  All ages

  258,596

  304,804

  1Data for 1997 are Provisional.

TREASURY

  European Single Currency
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what communication on the subject of the European single currency has taken place between his special adviser Ms Sue Nye and Mr. Gavyn Davies of Goldman Sachs. [13411]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  None.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what applications the Government have made for EU funding to inform or persuade the public about the single European currency.[13187]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: I refer to the answer that I gave to the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 27 October, Official Report, column 656.

  Application for funding is to inform businesses about the implications of the single currency, whether or not we join. It is a condition of the rules governing the EC funds that information measures must not be regarded as propaganda.

  Government Debt
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of debt issued by the Government each day between 25 September and 18 October. [13380]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government issued £1.5 billion of 8 per cent. 2,021 stock on Thursday 25 September, and £150 million of index-linked stock on Thursday 2 October.

  Government Bonds
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what changes took place in the price of Government bonds between noon and the closing of the financial markets on Thursday 25 September; [13402]

  (2) what changes took place in the price of Government bonds between the opening and closing of the financial markets on Thursday 25 September. [13404]
  222
  Mrs. Liddell
  The movement in the price of gilts (UK government bonds) on Friday 17 October are shown in the following table:

  Price of benchmark gilts

  7 per cent.2002

  7.25 per cent. 2007

  8 per cent.2021

  Opening price

  101-06

  104-21

  117-13

  Closing price

  101-06

  104-22

  117-10

  Change from previous day's close

  +0-01

  +0-02

  -0-01

  Day's high

  101-11

  104-02

  117-25

  Day's low

  101-00

  104-10

  116-23

  Prices quoted in 32nds.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes took place in the price of Government bonds between the opening and closing of the financial markets on Friday 17 October. [13403]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The movement in the price of gilts (UK Government bonds) on Friday 17 October are shown in the following table:

  Price of benchmark gilts

  7 per cent. 2002

  7.25 per cent. 2007

  8 per cent. 2021

  Opening price

  101-15

  105-09

  117-17

  Closing price

  101-19

  105-18

  118-07

  Change from previous day's close

  -0-01

  0-00

  +0-05

  Day's high

  101-21

  105-22

  118-14

  Day's low

  101-08

  104-29

  117-05

  Price quoted in 32nds.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what disciplinary action has been taken against his special adviser Mr. Charlie Whelan for discussing market sensitive information in a public place; [13406]

  (2) which Minister in his Department authorised his special advisers to brief The Times and other newspapers on the subject of the Government's policy towards European monetary union on Friday 17 October; [13407]

  (3) at what locations his special adviser, Mr. Charles Whelan, conducted press briefings containing market sensitive information by mobile phone on 17 October. [13984]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The terms under which special advisers work are set out in their contracts, a model copy of which is available in the Library. These build upon the rules in force under previous Administrations.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has(a) received and (b) requested advice on the subject of EMU from Mr. Gavyn Davies, chief economist of Goldman Sachs. [13410]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Since 1 May, and following the publication of the Lord Currie reports on EMU, Treasury Ministers and officials have received representations and information from a wide range of people, including Mr. Gavyn Davies.
  223
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal actions his Department is pursuing against newspapers regarding reports relating to trading in the period before the publication of Government briefing on EMU. [13408]

  Mrs. Liddell
  None.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government have notified their European partners that the United Kingdom will not move to the third stage of economic and monetary union on 1 January 1999. [14898]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Following my statement to the House on 27 October,Official Report, columns 583–88, and in accordance with paragraph 1 of Protocol (No. 11) of the Maastricht Treaty, the Government formally notified the Council of the European Union on 30 October 1997 that the United Kingdom does not intend to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union on 1 January 1999. The Treaty enables the United Kingdom to reverse this notification after the beginning of the third stage.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the Government's intention to rejoin the European exchange rate mechanism two years prior to entering the third stage of EMU. [13775]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: The Government have no intention of joining the ERM.

  Gilts Futures
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the trading in gilts futures in the period before the Financial Times story of 26 September.[13409]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This is a matter for the regulatory authorities and their supervisors.

  Registry of Friendly Societies
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash limit of the Registry of Friendly Societies in 1997–98. [14753]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Subject to approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for the Registry of Friendly Societies Class XVI, Vote 9 will be increased by £775,000 from £3,767,000 to £4,542,000. The additional provision is required for capital expenditure arising out of the late completion of the Department's relocation project. The increase is partially funded by the take up of £189,000 carried forward under the end year flexibility scheme for capital, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July,Official Report, cols 245–50. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Cash Limits and Running Costs
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limit of Her Majesty's Treasury in 1997–98. [14754]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the running costs limit for Class XVI, Vote 1 will be increased by £1,051,000 224
  from £55,509,000 to £56,560,000 and the cash limit will be increased by £1,901,000 from £61,286,000 to £63,187,000. The increases are necessary to provide for the partial take up of running costs end year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July, Official Report, columns 245–50, to meet various new commitments (net of offsetting savings and changes in receipts); to provide for a grant in aid to the Private Finance Taskforce which succeeds the Private Finance Panel; and to give effect to the Chancellor's commitment to pay over to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund a sum equivalent to VAT paid on "Candle in the Wind".

  The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Reserve
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the size of the current reserve for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [13188]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 30 July 1997, Official Report, column 347.

  Departmental Expenditure Ceilings
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he has made to departmental expenditure ceilings within the controlled total for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 since the budget. [13186]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: The 1997–98 Summer Supplementary Estimates reallocated £65 million within the public expenditure control total. Of this £13 million was met from within existing departmental programmes and £52 million charged to the Reserve. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 14 October that £300 million would be reallocated to the NHS for patient services in 1997–98; £30 million of this would be offset by administrative savings in the health budget, £102 million from reductions in the external financing limit for BNFL and £168 million from a reduction in the MOD cash limit.

  For 1998–99 the departmental expenditure ceilings within the control total remain as at the July Budget.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of general Government expenditure for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99 taking account of recent changes to the gross domestic product deflator and other factors. [13185]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: The Government's estimates for general Government expenditure were set out in the FSBR in July. They were £309.0 billion for 1996–97, £319.4 billion for 1997–98 and £331.3 billion for 1998–99. These reflect the Government's plans for the cash control totals and the latest forecasts for other spending.

  Legal Action (Public Funding)
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public funding has been provided for to fund legal action currently being undertaken by his special adviser, Mrs. Sue Nye. [13983]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: None.

  Two-pound Coin
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the delay in introduction of the £2 coin. [13365]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: The Government have decided to change the launch date of the £2 circulation coin from 3 November 1997 to March 1998 because of a potential problem with the "electronic signature" of the coin in vending and other machines. A further statement will be made when investigative work is completed.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Higher Education
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he intends to take to implement the Dearing Committee's recommendations on governing bodies in higher education; and if he will make a statement. [14061]

  Dr. Howells
  We are considering the responses to the consultation exercise undertaken following publication of the report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, including the views received on the recommendations on governing bodies in higher education, and will announce our response later in the year.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of 16 to 19-year-olds in Warrington, North constituency, broken down by ward, entered higher education in(a) 1996–97 and (b) in each of the last five years. [14060]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is not compiled centrally because, although the HESA data include the post code of each student, this is not routinely aggregated to below local authority level. The available HESA data show the number of students aged under 20 whose home LEA was Cheshire and who entered a higher education course in a UK higher education establishment (Warrington comprises around 19 per cent. of Cheshire in general population terms). The figures were 3,400 in 1994–95, 3,900 in 1995–96 and 4,300 in 1996–97. Comparable data for the years prior to 1994–95 are not readily available.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he intends to take to encourage higher education funding bodies to finance pilot projects which allocate additional funds to institutions which enrol students from particularly disadvantaged localities; and if he will make a statement. [14059]
  226
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will follow the recommendations of the Dearing report in respect of allocating funds for higher education to those institutions committed to widening participation; and what support he plans to offer to those universities to help plan and monitor admissions and participation levels. [14359]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government are committed to increasing and widening access to higher education. My hon. Friend recently announced an extra £165 million for higher education in 1998–99, which includes a £36 million access package, which will benefit part-time students and those facing particular hardship, as well as an extra £4 million to enable more students to participate in higher education.

  We welcome the recommendations of the Dearing report for widening access, in particular that additional funding for university places should be targeted at those institutions which put forward plans for widening access. We shall be following up these recommendations in the light of the responses to the consultation on the Dearing report.

  In the meantime, we welcome the decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to reconvene its Advisory Group on Access and Participation. The group will be considering the possibilities for further action, including the specific actions proposed by the Dearing Committee, and will advise the Council on its access and participation strategies, including joint activity with the Further Education Funding Council and other partners.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils living in(a) the Devon county council area and (b) the Torbay travel-to-work area have been funded by the assisted places scheme in each of the last three years. [13894]

  Mr. Byers
  Information about the county council or travel-to-work areas from which assisted pupils originate is not collected centrally. The numbers of assisted pupils in participating schools in Devon in academic years 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 were 793,817 and 942 respectively.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have been refused all jobseeker's allowance payments after interview; and what proportion this is of those interviewed. [14216]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 5 November 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many people have been refused all Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) after interview, and what proportion this is of those interviewed. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  227
  The Employment Service conducts many different types of interview with jobseekers. These start at the new claims stage and develop as unemployment lengthens. The new jobseeker's interview is important in establishing whether jobseekers meet the labour market conditions for receiving JSA. It is normally at this stage that a Jobseeker's Agreement is drawn up and jobseekers are made aware of their responsibilities in order to receive JSA. Thereafter, entitlement to JSA is reviewed at interviews every fortnight. We also use these opportunities to offer jobseekers further advice and help in their search for work. Jobseekers are also asked to attend a Restart Interview at regular six monthly intervals at which they are offered further advice and information about employment and training opportunities. Beyond this interviews may take place for a variety of other reasons.
  Questions about a jobseeker's entitlement to JSA could arise at any of the interviews referred to above. In these instances, there may be a reference to an independent Adjudication Officer for a decision on benefit entitlement.
  Statistics on the numbers and types of decisions given by ES Adjudication Officers on labour market questions are recorded in a quarterly summary, the 'Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions', a copy of which is held in the Library. As questions about a person's entitlement can arise during different types of interviews, it would be misleading to compare the total figures of disallowances with the total numbers of ES interviews in any given period. JSA claims can be disallowed on labour market grounds or because of failure to meet the conditions of benefit receipt. However, some broad indication of volumes can be given by comparing the total number of JSA new claims with the number of awards of "nil benefits". This means simply the number of JSA new claims that, following assessment by Benefits Agency who are responsible for JSA payment, result in no payment award. This could be for a wide variety of reasons for inadequate contributions, payments from previous employment, etc, to failure to meet the labour market conditions for receipt of JSA.
  In the period from 1 April 1997 to 30 September 1997, 1,571,325 claims to JSA were processed and there were 239,567 awards of nil benefits. These figures are based primarily on information held by the JSA Payments System. They include a small number of claims held on the earlier ISCS system because they linked back to an earlier Income Support claim.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13256]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department's policy on tax advice is that tax avoidance advice may be necessary where there are complex tax issues. However, the Department would not incur expenditure on advice to reduce tax liability where the reduction does not relate to the pursuit of real gains in efficiency.

  In practice, where particularly difficult tax issues arise, the Department consults the Inland Revenue or HM Customs directly. The Department has not purchased outside tax avoidance advice, and has no plans so to do.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non departmental public bodies on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13255]
  228
  Dr. Howells
  Neither the Department nor any of its agencies has incurred any such expenditure. Where difficult tax issues arise, the Department consults the Inland Revenue or HM Customs directly.

  Information relating to expenditure on tax advice by NDPBs can only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the differences in the level of proposed payments of higher education tuition fees between residents of the United Kingdom according to(a) the location of the institution at which they are studying and (b) their own place of normal residence; and what are the reasons for these differences. [14058]

  Dr. Howells
  Full-time undergraduate students will be required to contribute up to a maximum of £1,000 a year in tuition fees, depending on their parents', spouses' or own income. The requirement will apply to students resident in all parts of the United Kingdom and studying in publicly funded institutions throughout the UK, except for medical and dental students in the fifth and subsequent years of study.

  Students resident in Scotland and studying in Scottish institutions on honours degree courses that are a year longer than equivalent courses elsewhere in the UK will, however, have their fees paid in the final year of the course by the Scottish Student Awards Agency. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has decided to give special consideration to such students in the light of recommendations from the Dearing and Garrick reports and in recognition that many Scottish students have had only one year's education after statutory schooling before entering university, compared with the two years that students resident elsewhere in the UK have had.

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what changes are planned in cash limits and running cost limits on votes within his responsibility for 1997–98. [14450]

  Dr. Howells
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit or class IX, vote 1, Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services, and class IX, vote 3, Employment Department will be amended as follows:

  Existing cash limit

  Chance

  New cash limit

  Class

  Vote

  £

  £

  £

  IX

  1

  9,419,464,000

  85,613,000

  9,505,077,000

  IX

  3

  1,155,101,000

  80,376,000

  1,235,477,000

  229
  The cash limit for class IX, vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment) will be increased by £85,613,000 (of which £84,930,000 is in respect of the welfare-to-work programme and is outside the Control Total) from £9,419,464,000 to £9,505,077,000.

  This is the result of an increase in £83,500,000 in capital expenditure on schools and £1,330,000 in running costs in connection with the welfare-to-work programme, and £100,000 in current expenditure on millennium volunteers, all to be financed from the windfall tax as announced in the Budget on 2 July and outside the Control Total.

  The Department has also taken up part of end year flexibility amounts announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July, Official Report columns 245–50 of £1,602,000 under the capital scheme and £172,020,000 under the structural funds scheme. An increase of £1,019,000 in expenditure on specialist schools in Section T has been offset by a corresponding decrease in the DfEE/LACAP cash limit from £73,126,000 to £72,107,000; and £40,000 has been switched from Section 0 (a cash limited section) to Section P (a non-cash limited section) to support additional expenditure on school council pensions.

  A transfer of £300,000 has been made to class XI, vote 1 (Department of Health) for the Drugs Challenge Fund and £162,000 to class XIV, vote 2 (Welsh Office) in respect of National Vocational Qualifications. In addition, a transfer of £3,015,000 in running costs and £1,579,000 in appropriations in aid has been made to class IX, vote 3 (Employment Service) in respect of the lease for the 236 Grays Inn Road building in London. The opportunity has also been taken to transfer £600,000 from running costs to current expenditure in Section 0 to reclassify some expenditure on publicity.

  The cash limit for class IX, vote 3 (Employment Service) will be increased by £80,376,000 from £1,155,101,000 to £1,235,477,000. The increase results from the following: £78,000,000 in respect of the welfare-to-work programme of which £48,000,000 is running costs, £25,000,000 is capital provision, and £5,000,000 is current expenditure, all financed from the windfall tax; a transfer of £3,015,000 in running costs and £1,579,000 in appropriations in aid from class IX, vote 1 (DfEE) in respect of the lease for the 236 Grays Inn Road building in London; and a transfer of £640,000 in running costs and £300,000 in capital expenditure from class XVII, vote 1 (Cabinet Office) for the lease of Ebury House, Aberdeen.

  I also wish to take this opportunity to announce that the Office for National Statistics has advised that with immediate effect, Remploy Limited, should be classified as a public corporation in order to comply with the requirements of the 1995 european System of Accounts. This is a technical change only and will not affect Remploy's status as a non-Departmental Public Body, not its relationship with the Department.

  As a result of these changes, the running costs provision within the Control Total for class IX, vote 1 (DfEE) will be decreased by £3,577,000 from £255,564,000 to £251,987,000 whereas the running costs provision within the Control Total for class IX, vote 3 (Employment Service) will be increased by £3,655,000 from
  230
  £801,576,000 to £805,231,000. The overall running costs limit for the DfEE is therefore increased by £78,000 from £1,057,140, to £1,057,218,000.

  As a result of provision relating to the welfare-to-work programme, running costs provision outside the Control Total for class IX, vote 1 (DfEE) is £1,330,00 and for class IX, vote 3 is £48,000,000, giving a non-Control Total running costs limit of £49,330,000.

  The control total element of the increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

SCOTLAND

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he intends to make to the cash limits and running costs provision for 1997–98 within his responsibility.[14840]

  Mr. Dewar
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, I intend to make changes to nine voted cash limits, four non-voted cash blocks and seven running cost limits:The cash limit for class XIII, vote 1, Agriculture, fisheries and environmental services, Scotland, will be increased by £3,117,000 from £309,772,000 to £312,889,000. Within this total, the running costs provision has been increased by £617,000 to £29,826,000. This takes account of £305,000 take up of end year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July (Official Report: columns 245–50) for Agency running costs, and a transfer of £2,812,000 from vote 6 to provide additional grant in aid for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and additional running costs for the Fisheries Research Services Agency and Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 2, Local Government, Housing, Transport, Other Environmental Services and European Funds, Scotland will be increased by a net total of £10,301,000 from £5,473,575,000 to £5,483,876,000. The net increase reflects a transfer of £3,000,000 from SO/ERDF to cover expenditure on the empty homes and rough sleepers initiative; an increase of £1,350,000 from SO/ERDF to cover additional costs to local authorities as a result of implementation of the Pennington recommendations; a transfer of £150,000 from class V, vote 2 for the Edinburgh City car club project; an increase of £600,000 for the Council Tax District Equalisation Scheme and £1,586,000 for the Council Tax Collection scheme transferred from SO/ERDF and SO/LAI respectively; an increase to provision for Historic Scotland of £1,845,248 covering an increase in running cost provision of £1,390,248, and an increase of £455,000 in capital provision reflecting take up of end year flexibility entitlement in respect of capital; an increase in provision of £25,000 for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, offset by a matching reduction in class XIII, vote 6; a net increase of £1,245,000 for Roads and Transport (covering a gross increase in Roads capital of £8,620,000, an increase in the Northern Isles Ferry Services of £2,549,000 and an increase in Piers and Harbours Grant of £468,000 and offset by decreased Roads current expenditure of £5,000,000 and increased appropriations-in-aid of £5,392,000) reflecting the take up of end year flexibility; and the take up of end year flexibility for Caledonian MacBrayne (£300,000) and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (£200,000).
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 3, Education, industry, arts and libraries, Scotland, will be increased by £4,303,000 from £1,667,405,000 to £1,671,708,000. The increased cash limit

  231
  takes account of £7,435,000 in respect of end year flexibility arrangements for capital expenditure relating to the National Museums of Scotland, the Scottish Office Pensions Agency and inward investment. The increase also includes £360,000 in respect of end-year flexibility arrangements for running costs expenditure relating to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland and the Scottish Office Pensions Agency. The changes include transfers from class XIII, vote 6 totalling £300,000 in respect of both Agencies. The increase also includes a transfer of £275,000 from class IV, vote 1 in respect of support schemes and a transfer of £2,000,000 from SO/ERDF for Early Intervention. The Supplementary takes account of a transfer of £317,000 to class XIII, vote 6 in respect of software development and a reduction of £5,750,000 as a contribution towards increases in provision elsewhere in class XIII. Certain other transfers have taken place within the vote as a result of changes in Ministerial responsibilities.
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 4, Hospital, community health. family health, other health services and welfare food, Scotland, will be increased by a net total of £78,745,000 from £3,628,304,000 to £3,707,049,000. The increase includes £58,798,000 reflecting the take up of end-year flexibility; a transfer of £37,000 to class XIII, vote 6 for additional expenditure by the Mental Welfare Commission on information technology and some adjustments to reflect changes to anticipated appropriations-in-aid. The NHS Trusts' External Financing Limit has also been decreased by £16,447,000 from £–11,590,000 to £–28,037,000.
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 5 will be increased by £2,446,000 from £660,189,000 to £662,635,000. The increase includes the take up of end-year flexibility of £1,047,000 under the capital scheme and £699,000 under the HPSS scheme. £700,000 will be transferred from SO/ERDF to cover the advance vote 5 received from the Contingencies Fund for the referendum publicity costs. There will also be a number of minor transfers within the vote.
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 6, Scottish Office Administration, is being decreased by £81,000 to £150,074,000. Within this total the running cost provision for Scottish Office Administration is being increased by £2,257,000 to £136,142,000 as a result of the take-up of end-year flexibility, primarily to finance the taking forward of various new policy initiatives and inter-vote transfers. Provision for capital expenditure is being reduced by £2,608,000 to £13,305,000 as a result of various transfers, primarily one of £2,500,000 to class XIII, vote 1 for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Provision for other current expenditure is being increased by £270,000 to £8,968,000 as a result of the take-up of end-year flexibility for health expenditure to cover computer system costs at the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 7, General Register Office for Scotland, is being increased by £750,000 to £5,817,000. Within this total, the running costs provision for GRO(S) is being increased by £150.000 to £7,550,000 as a result of the take-up of end-year flexibility to finance preparatory work for the 2001 Census. The increase in capital provision results from the take-up of end-year flexibility to cover costs of continuing refurbishment work at New Register House. The reduction in appropriations in aid is in respect of an expected fall in receipts from running the NHS Central Register, caused by a reduction in the cost of GRO(S) of operating the Register being reflected in lower charges.
  The cash limit for class XIII, vote 8, Scottish Record Office, is being increased by £750,000 to £5,172,000. Within this total the SRO running costs provision is being increased by £300,000 to £4,745,000 as a result of the take-up of end-year flexibility to fund implementation of an internal reorganisation of the Department, which is aimed at delivering future efficiency savings. The increase in capital provision results from the take-up of end-year flexibility to cover costs of continuing refurbishment work at General Register House.
  232
  The cash limit element for class XIII, vote 9, Administration of justice, Scotland will be increased by a net figure of £1,700,000. This reflects an increase in capital provision of £3,000,000 to £15,700,000 offset by an increase in appropriations-in-aid of £1,300,000 to £17,341,000. Of the net figure, £1,055,000 will be met by the take up of capital end year flexibility and the remainder will be found by a reduction in running cost end-year flexibility entitlement of £645,000. The additional expenditure is required to meet the revised and higher costs of major building projects which are nearing their end-stage.
  The External Financing Limit for the East of Scotland Water Authority will be increased by £5,750,000 from £51,690,000 to £57,440,000. The increase will be offset by a matching reduction in the cash limit of class XIII, vote 3.
  The non-voted cash limit SO/LA1, which covers non-housing capital expenditure by local authorities, is to be increased by a net total of £22,012,830 from £389,428,000 to $411,440,830. The increase reflects the transfer of £1,586,000 to class XIII, vote 2 reflecting provision for the Council Tax Collection Scheme, and the transfer of £1,448,830 from class XIII, vote 5 in respect of CCTV scheme, and the take up of end year flexibility of £22,150,000.
  The non-voted cash limit SO/LA2 which covers housing capital expenditure by local authorities will be increased by a total of £4,298,000 from £179,928,000 to £184,226,000 in respect of the take up of end year flexibility.
  The non-voted cash limit SO/ERDF which covers European regional development fund expenditure in Scotland will be increased by £30,300,000 from £95,900,000 to £126,200,000. The increase takes account of the end year flexibility carried over from the financial year 1996–97.
  All increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.
  A new non-voted cash limit will be introduced for the Capital Receipts Initiative (SO/CRI), subject to the passage of legislation, to cover the Government's initiative to release additional resources to support local authority spending on new Housing Partnerships and Welfare to Work. The limit on expenditure is set initially at £12,470,000. This expenditure is classified as outside the Control Total.

  Health Authority Budgets
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) actual deficit and (b) projected deficit of each health authority as a percentage of its budget for the last three years. [14465]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The only cash deficits in health boards in the years 1994–95 to 1996–97 are as follows:

  Percentage

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Orkney

  0.01

  0.05

  0.05

  Lanarkshire

  —

  0.01

  —

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non departmental public bodies on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13251]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Department and its agencies have recorded no expenditure on external tax advice in 1995–96.
  233
  My Department spent £17,625 on external tax advice in 1996–97 and expects to spend £16,500 in 1997–98.

  The agencies of my Department spent £252,000 on external tax advice in 1996–97. The agencies have not reported any plans to pay for external tax advice in 1997–98.

  The information for non departmental public bodies is not held centrally.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13252]

  Mr. Dewar
  It is the policy of my Department to obtain such advice as is necessary to ensure that the correct amount of tax is paid on its activities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect on hill farmers of reductions in the hill livestock compensatory allowances. [14181]

  Mr. Rooker
  The autumn review of the economic conditions in the hills and uplands is in progress. Rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances will be determined in the light of that review and announced to the House shortly. On the day of that announcement, the economic data which form the basis of the review will be placed in the Library of the House.

  BSE
  Jacqui Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to institute a full inquiry into(a) the links between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and (b) the handling of this issue by Government. [14093]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy) on 3 November,Official Report, column 5.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made towards lifting the export ban on British beef with UK European partners; and if he will make a statement. [13895]

  Mr. Rooker
  In accordance with the procedure laid down in the Florence agreement, the Commission is working on a proposal for an export certified herds scheme for consideration by the Standing Veterinary Committee. This reflects the most recent opinion for the Scientific Veterinary Committee on the UK papers. The Commission has said it expects its proposal to be presented within weeks.
  234
  We have submitted a second proposal to the Commission for a date-based export scheme which would permit export of meat from animals born after 1 August 1996. We are presenting this to be considered by the relevant scientific committees as soon as possible.

  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food maintain regular contact with President Santer, Commissioners Bonino and Fischler and members of the European Parliament to emphasise the importance we attach to rapid progress on lifting the export ban.

  Organic Conversion Grants
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the levels of organic conversion grants in each European Union Member state. [13795]

  Mr. Morley
  Full details of organic conversion grants in the member states are contained in the paper "The impact of EC Regulation 2078/92 on the development of organic fanning in the European Union" by Dr. Nicholas Lampkin of the Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the Government's White Paper on proposals for a Welsh Assembly. [12385]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have received representations in the form of letters both to me personally and to the Welsh Office, telephone calls to the Assembly information line, and e-mails to the Assembly website.

  The great majority of the communications were requests for factual information, for example about absent voting arrangements in the referendum. Of the rest, there was generally a balance between those in favour of the Government's proposals, those neutral and those against.

  Among the specific issues raised have been:

  the powers of the Assembly

  the use of Welsh language in the Assembly's work costs

  the qualities required of Assembly members

  the location of the Assembly.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who will speak on behalf of Wales in the House if a Welsh Assembly is set up; and if that person will be authorised to speak on behalf of that body. [12392]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Secretary of State for Wales will continue to represent Welsh interests in this House. The holder of that office will need to take account of the Welsh Assembly's views on various issues.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of the referendum on a Welsh Assembly. [12394]
  235
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the result of the referendum on the Welsh Assembly. [12400]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I refer my hon. Friend's to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Banbury, (Mr. Baldry).

  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the administrative cost of setting up the Assembly and of running it for the next five years.[12398]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have placed full details of the estimated set-up and running costs of the Welsh Assembly in the Library of the House, as part of the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Swansea West on 23 July this year,Official Report, column 638.

  Referendum Campaign
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the expenditure by his Department on the referendum campaign. [12386]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Total expenditure on Referendum information and publicity was some £575,000. Of this, about £300,000 was accounted for by the costs of the White Paper and associated information material.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways Welsh Office Ministers were involved in the referendum campaign in Wales. [12387]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Alongside our official duties, I and my Ministerial colleagues campaigned vigorously and wholeheartedly for a YES vote.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next expects to meet his European counterparts to discuss Welsh agricultural matters. [12388]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  My right hon. Friend is visiting Brussels next week and he will be having discussions on Welsh agricultural matters with the Commission.

  Agri-environmental Scheme
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has received from farming organisations and environmental interest to his announcement of an all-Wales, whole-farm, agri-environmental scheme. [12389]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  A number of farming and environmental organisations have welcomed my right hon. Friend's announcement and have written to him and to the Department about implementation of the scheme.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from students regarding tuition fees. [12390]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department has received some 14 representations from students about tuition fees. Some have come from the National Union of Students and others have come from individual students.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he will be taking to reduce NHS waiting lists in Wales before the end of 1997. [12391]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I am determined to reduce the waiting lists inherited from the previous Administration.

  I have just announced a further £9.5 million of new money this year to tackle the pressures of winter emergency admissions. This is in addition to the £1.747 million also being provided this year to improve cancer services in Wales.

  Roads Programme (Review)
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made on the review of the roads in Wales programme; and when he expects to make an announcement on the outcome. [12393]

  Mr. Hain
  The consultation period on the review of the trunk road programme ended on 31 October. Two hundred trunk road representations have been received and these are being assessed. It is too early to say when I will be in a position to make an announcement on the outcome of the review.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the funding of nursery education for children who attend nurseries outside their local authority area. [12396]

  Mr. Hain
  The authority securing provision, whether within or outside its area, is responsible for funding it.

  Economic Development (North Wales)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to visit north Wales to discuss economic development with local authorities, business and trade unions.[12397]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend and I have no such plans at present. Pressure of business in the House will restrict the extent to which it is possible for us to undertake such visits. However, during the recess, I and my right hon. Friend and I have taken the opportunity to visit North Wales on many occasions and discussed economic development issues with numerous organisations, including the North Wales Economic Forum.

  NHS (Cynon and Merthyr Valleys)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for the NHS in the Cynon and Merthyr valleys. [12395]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  It is the responsibility of Bro Taf Health Authority to assess the health needs of people in these areas, and to plan and prioritise health care services within the resources they have available. They should do this in consultation with service providers, local authorities, the Community Health Councils and other interested parties. However, I am continuing to take a close interest in health care provision in these valleys.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of the Cardiff bay barrage project. [12399]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  A full assessment of the environmental impact was undertaken before work on the Barrage began. A copy of an Environmental Statement which supported the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill is available in the Library of the House.

  Details of the environmental implications of the regeneration strategy are operational matters for the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, which is responsible for producing environmental statements for specific projects and complying with environmental legislation.

  Inward Investment (Newport)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to visit Newport to discuss inward investment. [12401]

  Mr. Hain
  While I do not have any immediate specific plans to visit Newport, I am keen to see the area build on its enviable inward investment success and to see the benefits of this spread throughout Wales, not just through the encouragement of inward investment but through the growth of indigenous business too.

  Windfall Tax (Hydwr)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made regarding the effect on ability to reinvest in infrastructure of Hydwr, formerly Welsh Water and Electricity, of the imposition of the windfall tax in the Budget. [12402]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made it clear that the Government does not expect the windfall tax to have any adverse impact on investment.

  The company has also stated publicly that it remains committed to its current programme of discretionary capital expenditure.

  Parliamentary Constituencies
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the future number of parliamentary constituencies in Wales. [12403]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of local government in Wales to discuss local authority funding for 1998–99. [12404]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I chaired a meeting of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance on 27 October 1997.

  Arms Trade
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines his Department has given to the Welsh 238
  Development Agency with regard to sponsoring or otherwise supporting conferences in Wales aimed at encouraging trade in arms. [13325]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department issued guidelines covering each of the Agency's programmes in March 1995. Copies of the guidelines were placed in the Library of the House. Sponsorship and support for conferences, seminars and exhibitions is covered by the Agency's marketing guidelines. They do not specifically cover the Agency's involvement in activities related to defence industries. However, the Agency is aware of the Government's policy announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary which requires defence exporters to take account of ethical considerations.

  Countryside Council for Wales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he took to assess the experience and suitability of Mr. Bryan Riddleston of Celtic Energy before appointing him to serve on the board of the Countryside Council for Wales; and what other candidates he considered for the position. [13752]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I followed the procedures set out in the code of practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments whereby applicants are considered by a panel with independent membership. This panel recommended the appointment of Mr. Riddleston. Mr. Riddleston was one of 14 candidates interviewed. A total of 167 applications were received for membership of the Countryside Council for Wales.

  University Students
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of university funding per student in Wales in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97 and (d) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13226]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: Information on higher education funding per student in Wales for the financial years requested is as follows:

  1994–95: £4,915

  1995–96: £4,760

  1996–97: £4,789

  1997–98: £4,634

  Countryside Council
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the status of the Countryside Council for Wales will be under his proposals for the Welsh Assembly. [14190]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Government's intentions are explained in its White Paper "A Voice for Wales". The Assembly will be able to review a number of non-departmental public bodies, and have the power to reduce their number further or merge them. However, the Countryside Council for Wales will not be subjected to this power in order to maintain its independence and its ability to meet the UK's European and other international obligations in nature conservation. The Assembly will, however, assume all the Secretary of State's responsibilities, including those of funding and appointment, in respect of the Council.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he is proposing to make to the voted and non-voted cash limits for his Department and the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales in the current financial year. [14221]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, I intend to make the following changes. The cash limit on class XIV, vote 1 will be reduced by £750,000 from £53,462,000 to £52,712,000 as a result of lower than expected claims for local authority coast protection schemes.

  The cash limit on class XIV, vote 2 will increase by £13,594,000 from £785,732,000 to £799,326,000. This increase results mainly from the take-up of end-year flexibility entitlements for the Welsh Development Agency (3,400,000); the Grant Maintained and Voluntary Aided Schools captial programmes (£2,720,000), an increase to the provision for Regional Selective Assistance of £1,710,00 and a transfer of £577,000 from class IV in respect of the Competitiveness Fund. The increase also includes the £5,025,000 extra resources announced in the July Budget for schools capital. (This expenditure forms part of the Welfare to Work programme and is outside the Control Total).

  The cash limit on class XIV, vote 3 will be increased by £4,074,000 from £437,196,000 to £441,270,000, (including an increase in the Department's running costs limit of £1,862,000 from £72,035,000 to £73,897,000). This increase is mainly a result of the take-up of end-year flexibility amounts for the Central Government Roads Programme (£1,545,000), IT costs (£603,000) and central administration (£2,161,000).

  The cash limit on class XIV, vote 4 will be increased by £28,102,000 from £1,979,708,000 to £2,007,810,000. This increase results mainly from the take-up of end-year flexibility amounts of £8,000,000 for NHS Trusts and £10,000,000 mainly for GP Fundholders and the £9,548,000 additional resources recently announced for the NHS. The external finance limit for NHS Trusts has been increased by £8,000,000 from £44,914,000 to £52,914,00.

  The cash limit on class XIV, vote 5 will be increased by £200,000 from £2,340,554,000 to £2,340,754,000 to enable the Valuation Office Agency to deal with the higher than expected demand for council tax and business rate appeals.

  The cash limit on class XIV, vote 6 will be reduced by £400,000 from £10,105,000 to £9,705,000 as a result of lower than expected expenditure on Nursery place inspections.

  There is also an increase to the non-voted local authority capital cash limit, WO/LACAP. This cash limit has been increased by £10,682,000 from £422,680,000 to £433,362,000 as a result of the take-up of end-year flexibility amounts, mainly to cover slippage on the Strategic Development Scheme and Capital Challenge projects.

  All increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.
  240
  A new non-voted cash limit will be introduced for the Capital Receipts Initiative (WO/CRI), subject to the passage of legislation, to cover the Government's initiative to release additional resources to support local authority spending on housing and housing associated regeneration. The limit on expenditure is set initially at £9,540.000. This expenditure is classified as being outside the Control Total.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13366]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  My Department does not purchase tax advice.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if he will make a
  statement. [13373]

  Mr. Hain
  Neither my Department nor its agency, Cadw, purchases external tax advice. Details of any such expenditure by those non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department are not held centrally; it is wholly a matter for them to determine as part of the day-to-day management of their affairs.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cash and Running Cost Limits
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to the cash and running cost limits for her Department, the Office of Telecommunications, the Office of Gas Supply and the Office of Electricity Regulation for 1997–98 and to the external financing limit of BNFL for 1997–98. [14899]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 1–Department of Trade and Industry: programmes and administration-will be increased by £4,656,000 from £1,344,410,000 to £1,349,066,000. This net increase results from:(i) the take up of running costs and capital end-year flexibility (0,783,000) as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997 (Official Report, cols 245–250);
  (ii) the transfer of £300,000 from the Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service (Class XVII Vote 1) to the Department's accommodation budget;

  offset by:
  (iii) a net reduction of £852,000 in the Local Competitiveness budget as a result of transfers to the Scottish and Welsh Offices;
  (iv) an increase of £575,000 in fee income from the supervision of insurance companies.

  Within this total, the gross running costs limit for the Department of Trade and Industry will be increased by £5,244,000 from £366,693,000 to £371,937,000. This change comprises the take-up of running costs end-year

  241
  flexibility and includes payment of £25,000 to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in respect of the transfer of responsibility for music sponsorship.

  The take up of the Department's running costs and capital end-year flexibility (£5,783,000) will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class IV Vote 8—Office of Telecommunications—will be increased by £353,000 from £10,408,000 to £10,761,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £353,000 from £9,993,000 to £10,346,000. These changes reflect extra resources required for work on numbering administration and give effect to the end-year flexibility carry-forward of £280,000 announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–50. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Also, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class IV Vote 9—Office of Gas Supply—will be increased by £1,053,000 from £10,075,000 to £11,128,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £950,000 from £11,412,000 to £12,362,000. These changes reflect the extra resources required for the extension of competition in the domestic gas market, and give effect to the end-year flexibility carry-forward of £103,000 on capital announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–50. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Additionally, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class IV Vote 10—Office of Electricity Regulation—will be increased by £2,000,000 from £13,950,000 to £15,950,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £2,000,000 from £14,635,000 to £16,635,000. An increase in receipts to the consolidated fund of £2,000,000 is expected as a consequence of the increase in running costs. These changes reflect the extra resources required by the Director General of Electricity Supply to fulfil his obligations under the Electricity Act 1989, and to meet the deadlines set for deregulation of the franchised electricity supply market. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  In addition to these changes, the External Financing Limit of BNFL has been adjusted from — £67,000,000 to — £169,000,000 to reflect an improved trading performance since the External Financing Limit was set in the 1996 budget.

  Airfares
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action her Department is taking to ensure that full and inclusive pricing is introduced for airfares. [12984]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The practices of some operators in quoting prices for airfares may be misleading, in breach of Part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
  242
  The Advertising Standards Authority Council are due to meet on 7 November to deliberate on whether certain airfare advertisements are in breach of the British Code of Advertising and Sales Promotion.

  I have made clear to the airline and travel industry my concern that consumers must have clear and transparent pricing information.

  Arms Sales
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the value of Export Credits Guarantee Department coverage has been provided for arms sales in each of the last three years; and what was the total coverage provided for arms sales in each of those years. [12724]

  Mrs. Beckett
  From Information readily available on ECGD's files the details requested are as follows:

  Financial year

  Value of ECGD cover provided for defence business £ million

  Value for cover for defence business as a percentege of total cover

  1994–95

  725

  21.4

  1995–96

  1,013

  22.9

  1996–97

  384

  16.3

  These figures include all ECGD covered business with defence buyers, including sales of non-lethal equipment.

  Bananas
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library those parts of the world trade agreement relevant to its recent finding in respect of bananas together with a copy of the full finding or judgment, stating where, when and in what manner it was made and to whom it was addressed in the first instance. [13391]

  Mrs. Roche
  A copy of "The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations", which includes the agreements relevant to the recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on the European Community banana regime, is currently in the Library of the House. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body ruling was sent to H.E. Mr. Roderick Abbott, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the European Communities to the WTO on 9 September 1997 and was adopted at the WTO Dispute Settlement Body meeting of 25 September 1997. Copies of both Panel and the Appellate Body rulings have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what persons, and from which national or community body, represented United Kingdom interests in the course of proceedings at the World Trade Organisation concerning the arrangements of trade in bananas; what was the nature of the negotiating mandate given to that person and by whom; and to what body, other than Her Majesty's Government were (i) the nature of such a mandate and (ii) its existence communicated. [13389]

  Mrs. Roche
  A World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel was established in May 1996 to consider a complaint against the European Community's banana regime, following unsuccessful consultations with the complainant countries (the United States, Guatemala,
  243
  Mexico, Ecuador and Honduras). Since the European Community (EC) has competence in external trade matters, United Kingdom interests in the subsequent proceedings at the WTO were represented by officials from the Commission Legal Services. The EC defended its policy and the United Kingdom supported the Commission's defence of this policy. A negotiating mandate was not required in this case. The framework for the conduct of the EC's common commercial policy is set out in Article 113 of the EC Treaty.

  Retail Newsagents
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors underlay her decision not to refer the concerns of the retail newsagents to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.[13192]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The decision on whether or not to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

  The Director General is considering a number of detailed submissions from interested parties in the industry arguing for and against another reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, and will announce his decision in due course.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects the EC draft directive on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers to be adopted; and if she will make a statement. [14102]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  This will depend on the rate of progress in the conciliation procedure between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The first meeting of the Conciliation Committee is scheduled for 6 November.

  Fibreboard
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the total volume in each of the last five years of the sales of wood products whose construction involved medium-density fibreboard. [13893]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 3 november 1997]: No. This information is not available from official statistics.

  Photocopier Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to request a further inquiry into the photocopier industry by the Director General of Fair Trading. [13041]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 29 October 1997]: As I informed the right hon. Member in my letter of 6 October
  "My Department has received complaints about current business practices in the industry. These are being passed to the Director General of Fair Trading who will take any decision on whether these complaints relate to general practices in the industry which might require him to reopen his investigation into the photocopying industry, or are against particular consumer credit licence holders and can be addressed under his licensing powers."

  Ministerial Interests
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs has advised Copywatch UK not to use his name in promotional literature. [13049]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 29 October 1997]: Copywatch have never claimed to be an advisor to me in my ministerial role. They previously advised me of malpractices in the photocopying industry as opposition spokesman for consumer affairs.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on what funding provision has been made to accommodate the expenditure needed to resolve the computer millennium problem; and if she expects to have sufficient funding to pay for the work necessary to achieve complete millennium compliance by 1 January 2000. [13584]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The DTI plans to allocate £2.7 million to the resolution of this problem within the core Department. Agencies are pursuing their own programmes of work and have planned their own allocations.

  The Department expects to have sufficient funding available to achieve compliance within existing PES provision.

  Mr. Malcom Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the action plan, due by 1 October 1997, for resolving the computer millennium problem in her Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which she is responsible; if such was fully completed on time; and if she will make a statement. [13582]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The DTI did provide a costed plan for dealing with this problem within the Department to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency by 1 October as requested. Agencies are pursuing their own programmes of work which include the preparation of such plans. Related public bodies have been advised to prepare plans for their own computer systems and officials are seeking confirmation that this work is in hand. Once the costed plans have been analysed by the Central IT Unit and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will then inform Parliament. The plans will then be available to the public.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when her Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which she is responsible completed the millennium computer compliance audits of systems; and if she will make a statement. [13585]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The millennium compliance audit within core DTI was completed in October 1996. Chief Executives of next steps agencies and other public bodies are responsible for programmes within their own organisations which include such audits.

  European Information Technologies Research Project
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she will take to ensure that the ESPRIT programme of the European Union maintains political impartiality in schools; and if she will make a statement on the experimental schools environment project.[13851]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding reply from 30 October 1997]: The ESPRIT Programme, the European Information Technologies research programme, is impartial in its content and management. All European Union Member States contribute to the development of the Programme's technical scope through a range of technical, industrial and academic experts. The funds are allocated to proposals from collaborative European consortia through a competitive selection process, using published criteria. This process has been designed to avoid any bias whether political, national or commercial. My Department will continue to represent UK interests in the management of the ESPRIT programme, assuring impartiality for all participants. The Experimental Schools Environment is an initiative within ESPRIT, calling for proposals to research new kinds of Information Technology based tools or environments designed to enable new approaches to learning for young children in the age range of 4 to 8 years. Further information is in the ESPRIT Information Pack in the Library of the House.

  Coal Mining Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many coal pits have closed since 1 May. [13554]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: The closure of two deep mines have been announced since 1 May; Asfordby Colliery in Leicestershire, owned by RJB Mining and Baddesley Drift in Warwickshire, owned by New Baddesley Coal Ltd.

  Defence Sales
  Sir George Young
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of export credits has been used to support defence sales since 1994. [13790]

  Mrs. Beckett
  From data readily available, the information requested is as follows:

  Financial year

  Value of ECGD cover provided for defence business as a percentage of total cover

  1994–95

  21.4

  1995–96

  22.9

  1996–97

  16.3

  These figures include all ECGD covered business with defence buyers, including sales of non-lethal equipment.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the monetary value of export credit sales used to support defence sales since 1994. [13791]
  246
  Mrs. Beckett
  From data readily available, the information requested is as follows:

  Financial year

  Value of ECGD cover provided for defence business £ million

  1994–95

  725

  1995–96

  1,013

  1996–97

  384

  These figures include all ECGD covered business with defence buyers, including sales of non-lethal equipment.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Supported Housing
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has for consultation on the long-term funding arrangements for supported housing; and if she will make a statement. [14901]

  Ms Harman
  Securing stable, sustainable long-term funding arrangements for supported housing will take time. The Government are keen to take the views of those working in the field before making any decision. I am therefore setting out our objectives for the long term. These are:A Government-wide approach
  Clarifying responsibilities for controlling, targeting, and prioritising public expenditure on services supporting people in their homes—avoiding gaps and overlaps between budgets
  Ensuring the funding system can respond to individuals' needs and enable support to be provided in different types of accommodation and tenures
  Avoiding the possibility that accommodation choices may be distorted by the availability and interaction of different funding (this may result from the inter action of demand-led and cash-limited funding streams)
  Encouraging coherent and transparent planning, funding and accountability arrangements—at the appropriate level—for support services in the context of wider community care and related programmes
  Compatibility with the Government's wider social policy objectives
  Encouraging the most cost effective approach across all sectors which takes account of all public expenditure costs; group and wider funding responsibilities, and links with other changes that authorities face
  Practicality—identifying solutions that are workable at central and local levels which could be implemented reasonably simply, considering what transitional arrangements might be necessary.

  Departmental officials will be contacting over two hundred individuals and organisations who responded to last year's Social Security Advisory Committee consultation. The Committee's report was published last week. We shall now ask respondents for their views on how best to translate these objectives into a modern, practical and sustainable funding system for this valuable social provision. Others who may wish to contribute to the debate are welcome to do so. Representations will be taken up to 5 December 1997.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the policy of her Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if she will make a statement.[13270]

  Mr. Field
  The Department of Social Security follows the guidance and advice issued to Government departments by HM Treasury. It does not purchase any advice on tax avoidance.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the expenditure by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on (i) tax consultants and (ii) other external tax advice in (1) 1995–96, (2) 1996–97 and (3) 1997–98; and if she will make a statement. [13269]

  Mr. Field
  Approximately £10,000 has been spent in 1997–98 by the War Pensions Agency. Consultants were employed to review the procedures used by the Agency to account for VAT. This enabled under-deducted VAT to be identified and resulted in revised procedures being introduced. This will ensure that the Agency correctly reclaims those amounts that are due in future accounting periods within the statutory entitlements.

  Inflation (Public Funding)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her estimate of the additional expenditure by her Department, its agencies and other non-departmental public bodies in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 as a consequence of higher uprating for inflation than was assumed at the time of the November 1996 Budget; if increases will be financed from the contingency reserve; and if she will make a statement. [13246]

  Mr. Field
  Higher inflation than expected in the 1996 Budget has no effect on 1997–98 benefit spending. 1998–99 benefit rates will be announced shortly. Increases in line with prices would mean an increase in benefit spending of about £600 million above that assumed in the 1996 Budget. The Government are committed to staying within their overall spending plans.

  Index-linked Pensions
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to which of the retail prices indexes pensions are linked; and on what basis the calculation is made. [13110]

  Mr. Denham
  We intend to honour our commitment to increase pensions at least in line with prices.

  The all items Retail Prices Index for September will be used as a basis to increase Retirement Pension from 6 April 1998. The new rate of benefit will be calculated by uprating the current rate by the increase in the index and rounding the resulting sum to the nearest 5p. The value of the basic pension is being considered as part of our pensions review.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time taken by her Department to give full answers to letters received from hon. Members.[13954]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 3 November, Official Report, column 5.

  Information for 1997 is not yet available.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the review panel looking into war pensions for noise-induced hearing loss will report. [13116]

  Mr. Denham
  The review of the science of the assessment of noise induced sensorineural hearing loss for the purposes of claims to war pensions is already under way. Sir Kenneth Calman the Government's Chief Medical Officer and the chairman of the review, requested written comments from the team members by 27 October 1997.

  A meeting of the team is due to take place on 19 November 1997. The review team will report as soon as possible after that date once they have fully considered the scientific issues under review.

  The outcome of the review will be made public.

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which her Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12570]

  Mr. Field
  The majority of this Department's payments for goods and services are generated via integrated computerised accounting systems, either by bank transfers (CHAPS and BACS) or as system generated payable orders. All invoices are the subject of specific checks and authorisations in accordance with standard Government accounting practice, with responsibilities for verification and certification separated from the actual process of payment.

  The Department's primary accounting system is FAMIS (Financial Accounting Management Information System) and amounts due for payment are picked up overnight via the Central Payments Package and issued accordingly. The FAMIS system is based on Millennium software, substantially modified to meet Departmental needs.

  The Department does not use sub-contractors for payment work although a number of private companies providing facilities management for Departmental accommodation receive invoices and undertake their initial processing prior to authorisation and payment through Departmental systems. The Department does not

  249
  provide payment services to other Government Departments except where it is the major occupier of accommodation, when, under established service agreements, it may meet the initial costs and recover any balance due. The Department does not use payment systems provided by other Government Departments except where it is a minor occupier under the arrangements described above.

  A variety of circumstances can apply to individual payments each of which impact on the administrative cost, but high level information collected by the Department indicates that the total administrative cost of making each payment varies between £2.30 and £5.95. The accounts payable and cashier applications which support departmental payments form elements of much wider accounting packages and specific capital and development costs are therefore not readily available.

  Means-tested Benefits (Pensioners)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are(a) receiving at least one means-tested benefit and not paying income tax, (b) not receiving a means-tested benefit and not paying tax, (c) not receiving a means-tested benefit and paying tax and (d) receiving a means-tested benefit and paying tax; and if she will break down each category into five-year age bands identifying within each age group the number of (i) single male pensioners, (ii) single female pensioners and (iii) married pensioners. [12823]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is in the tables and is based on estimates for 1997–98 of numbers of pensioner benefit units in each of the groups.

  Pensioners receiving a means tested benefit and not paying income tax

  000s

  Single male

  Single female

  Pensioner couples

  Total

  60-64

  90

  140

  170

  400

  65-69

  80

  220

  170

  480

  70-74

  80

  360

  160

  600

  75-79

  70

  370

  150

  590

  80+

  120

  570

  130

  820

  Total

  440

  1,660

  780

  2,880

  Pensioners not receiving a means tested benefit and not paying income tax

  000s

  Single male

  Single female

  Pensioner couples

  Total

  60-64

  30

  30

  110

  170

  65-69

  40

  130

  270

  440

  70-74

  40

  210

  310

  560

  75-79

  40

  200

  200

  430

  80+

  50

  310

  150

  510

  Total

  200

  880

  1,040

  2,110

  250

  Pensioners not receiving a means tested benifit and paying income tax

  000s

  Single male

  Single female

  Pensioner couples

  Total

  60-64

  90

  170

  840

  1,100

  65-69

  110

  140

  520

  770

  70-74

  100

  160

  350

  610

  75-79

  60

  100

  190

  360

  80+

  80

  120

  140

  340

  Total

  440

  690

  2,040

  3,170

  Pensioners receiving a means tested benefit and paying income tax

  000s

  Single male

  single female

  Pensioner couples

  Total

  60-64

  10

  30

  20

  70

  65-69

  10

  20

  10

  40

  70-74

  20

  20

  10

  40

  75-79

  10

  20

  1—

  30

  80+

  10

  20

  1—

  30

  Total

  60

  110

  40

  210

  Notes:

  1Less than 5,000.

  1. Pensioner benefit units are defined as being any benefit unit containing at least one person aged over 59.

  2. Pensioner couples are allocated to age bands according to the age of the oldest partner.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  Source:

  1995–96 Family Resources Survey.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the system for disability living allowance claimants to ensure claimants are properly informed at each stage of the review process as to the steps they need to take and what they are expected to prove. [12850]

  Mr. Denham
  We are reviewing all aspects of the Social Security system. One of our key aims is to improve the service provided to claimants and other customers.

  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 4 November 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about servicing the review system for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to ensure claimants are properly informed at each stage of the review process as to the steps they need to take and what they are expected to prove.
  The Disability Benefits Directorate (DBD) have no specific proposals to review this system at present. We are, however, always willing to listen and respond to feedback from our customers and representatives as appropriate.
  When the DBD receive a request for a review, an acknowledgement is issued to the customer explaining that the department will contact them within 6 weeks. The review request and case papers are passed to an Adjudication Officer (AO) who considers all the evidence available and whether further information is required in order to make a decision. Further information could include clarification of the level of needs arising from the customer's condition and is often obtained by issuing a DLA 434 (Review pack) or asking for information from the GP or Carer.

  251
  On receipt of the information the AO will reconsider all of the evidence available and if a decision can be made a notification, informing the customer of the outcome will be issued.
  In cases where a decision cannot be made within 6 weeks a review progress letter is issued. The letter advises the customer that the review request will be dealt with as quickly as possible and that the Agency will be in contact again as soon as further information is available.
  The Agency is conscious of the need to provide an efficient service to all customers. They are not asked to prove their case but to provide a full and clear picture of their needs in order that the AO can decide the appropriate entitlement.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of operational low flying took place in each of the Borders and Northern Scotland areas in(a) the period 1 January to 31 December 1996 and (b) the period 1 January to 31 July 1997.[14009]

  Mr. Spellar
  The numbers of hours of operational low flying (OLF) flown in the Tactical Training Areas (TTAs) are as follows:

  Borders

  Northern Scotland

  Central Wales

  1 January to 31 December 1996

  311

  257

  61

  1 January to 31 July 1997

  116

  116

  19

  The figures reflect the measures announced in August 1996 to redistribute the activity more equitably across the three TTAs, in proportion to their areas.

  Military Equipment
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the legality of joint weapons purchases through the West European Armaments Organisation and the Organisme Conjoint de Cooperation en Matière d'Armaments; and if he will make a statement. [13787]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am aware that questions regarding the legality of these organisations were raised in recent media reports. I have no reason, however, to doubt that the arrangements envisaged are based on a sound legal footing.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of delivered military equipment between 1993 and 1996. [13788]

  Dr. Reid
  Statistics relating to payments for delivered equipment, as distinct from payments for work in progress on equipment contracts, are not available centrally. "Defence Statistics 1997", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, shows that total expenditure on equipment, including research and development, over the period was as follows:

  1993–94: £9,200 million

  1994–95: £8,819 million

  1995–96: £8,537 million

  1996–97: £8,460 million1

  1Estimate—full details of final outturn are not yet available.

  252
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of offset agreements concluded to support military export sales between 1990 and 1996. [13792]

  Mr. Spellar
  Most offset agreements are concluded by British companies and the Ministry of Defence does not hold comprehensive records of their value.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary for Defence what is the value of current military equipment export orders. [13789]

  Mr. Spellar
  In 1996—the last year for which information is available—British companies won defence export orders worth £5·1 billion.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of offset agreements concluded as a result of United Kingdom purchases of foreign military equipment between 1990 and 1996. [13793]

  Mr. Spellar
  The value of UK offset, normally referred to as Industrial Participation, agreements concluded as a result of UK purchases of foreign military equipment between 1990 and 1996 is £4·4 billion.

  WEU (Weapons Procurement)
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if further extension of the Western European Union's authority to procure weapons will require renegotiation of the 1948 Brussels treaty. [13786]

  Mr. Spellar
  No.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of his Department on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13266]

  Dr. Reid
  The Ministry of Defence does not employ tax advisers for the purpose of tax avoidance. Occasional use is made of tax consultants to advise on compliance with and the implications of tax regulations.

  Cash and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Alan Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of changes to the class 1 cash limits and the Defence operating costs limit for 1997–98.[14187]

  Dr. Reid
  Following the recent announcement by the Government that the Defence budget for 1997–98 is to be reduced by £168 million on account of overspending its 1996–97 cash limit, the class 1 cash limits will change as follows:

  £000s

  Class 1 vote

  Current cash limit

  Change

  Revised cash limit

  1

  10,145,386

  -49,256

  10,096,130

  2

  4,806,637

  -52,300

  4,754,337

  3

  6,175,530

  -63,000

  6,112,530

  Defence

  21,127,553

  -164,556

  20,962,997

  253
  The reduction of £168 million has been offset by £3.444 million to reflect the transfer of PES provision from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Ministry of Defence to meet the costs of the Department's annual subscription to the BBC World Service Monitoring Service on the organisation's move to subscription based funding in 1997–98. The costs fall to vote 1.

  The impact of the reduction in the class 1 cash limits on the Defence operating costs limit will be as follows:

  £000s

  Class 1 vote

  Current operating costs limit

  Change

  Revised operating cost limit

  1

  10,139,854

  -49,256

  10,090,598

  2

  4,806,637

  -52,300

  4,754,337

  3

  735,976

  —

  735,976

  Total

  15,682,467

  -101,556

  15,580,911

  COPEX
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to accept bookings for future COPEX events to take place on his Department's land. [14215]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department would consider any such request on a case-by-case basis. I understand, however, that the 1998 exhibition has already been planned in a non-Defence establishment at Wembley.

  Western European Armaments Organisation
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the legal status of the Western European Armaments Organisation. [13901]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO) was established on 19 November 1996 when the Western European Union (WEU) Council of Ministers, meeting in Ostend, adopted the WEAO Charter, thereby granting the Organisation the status of WEU subsidiary body, in accordance with Article VIII(2) of the Modified Brussels Treaty. The WEAO constitutes an integral part of the WEU and, as such, shares in the legal personality of the WEU.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the benefits to the United Kingdom of membership of the Western European Armaments Organisation, indicating the partnership projects and the countries with which these are undertaken. [13903]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Western European Armaments Organisation (WEAO) was established on 19 November 1996. Participants are the 13 nations, including the UK, of the Western European Armaments Group. Since 1 April 1997, the organisation has provided essential support to a pre-existing co-operative defence research programme known as EUCLID (European Co-operation for the Long Term in Defence). The UK is an active member of this programme, currently participating in over 40 co-operative research and technology projects. As yet, no partnerships have been established within the WEAO.

  Officer Training Corps
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the membership of the Officer Training Corps in each institution in which it operates. [13757]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of Officer Cadets, for which each Officer Training Corps (OTC) is established, is shown in the table. The actual number of Officer Cadets fluctuates through the year according to the academic calendar. The OTCs recruit above their established strength at the start of the academic year, to take account of the normal wastage rate, so that actual membership numbers level down to the established figure later in the year.

  Number

  Aberdeen

  168

  Belfast

  168

  Birmingham

  168

  Bristol

  168

  Cambridge

  224

  East Midlands

  168

  Edinburgh

  168

  Exeter

  168

  Glasgow

  168

  Leeds

  168

  Liverpool

  168

  London

  364

  Manchester

  168

  Northumbria

  168

  Oxford

  224

  Sheffield

  168

  Southampton

  168

  Tayforth

  168

  Wales

  168

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the Officer Training Corps in the most recent year for which figures are available. [13758]

  Dr. Reid
  The total indentifiable cost of the Officer Training Corps (OTC) for Financial Year 1996–97 was £16.7 million, which includes staff and running costs as well as property management of the OTC estate.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of members of the Officer Training Corps subsequently join the regular forces. [13756]

  Dr. Reid
  In the academic year 1995–96, the most recent year for which complete figures are available, a total of 260 members of the Officer Training Corps were commissioned into the regular forces. Broken down by Service, one commission was into the Royal Navy, seven into the Royal Marines, 250 into the Army and two into the Royal Air Force. The overall figure of 260 represents approximately 7.5 per cent. of the total Officer Training Corps establishment.

  Eurofighter
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the common air defence requirements specified in the European staff requirement for development agreed in 1987 indicating any subsequent amendments. [13861]
  255
  Mr. Spellar
  The original European Staff Requirement for Development of Eurofighter (ESR-D) was shaped by the context of the cold war, when the requirement was for an aircraft to counter massed raids of bombers under fighter escort. Following a major review, the ESR-D was reissued in January 1994 having been rewritten to reflect the radically changed political and military situation in Europe since 1987. The review took into account the dangers of regional instability, noting that a potential enemy may still have highly capable fighter aircraft; and that Eurofighter still needs to be capable of performing multiple roles on deployed operations. The aircraft offers a significant contribution to our defence capabilities.

  Future Large Aircraft
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the numbers of C130Js or future large aircraft required by the Royal Air Force. [13137]

  Mr. Spellar
  In addition to the 25 C130J already ordered, the FLA Request for Proposal (RFP) is seeking information on orders of 40–50 aircraft to meet our Hercules Rolling Replacement requirement. The Strategic Defence Review is considering our future aircraft requirement, and the final decision on the number of aircraft the UK will buy will depend on the conclusions reached by the review and the responses to the RFP.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the earliest in-service date for a future large aircraft with any European air force. [13138]

  Mr. Spellar
  The future large aircraft is expected to be available early next century.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the costs to the RAF of maintaining both C130J and FLA transport aircraft in-service simultaneously.[13140]

  Mr. Spellar
  A preliminary assessment of the costs of meeting our future air transport requirements was made before the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 31 July 1997,Official Report, column 466, that we would join partners in issuing a Request for Proposals for the future large aircraft and would be encouraging our partners to join us in seeking competing bids from other aircraft manufacturers. This assessment indicated that there was merit in exploring the purchase of the future large aircraft to operate alongside C130Js which were ordered in 1994.

  We will make a further detailed assessment, which will include an analysis of the costs of in-service support, after we have received the responses to the Request for Proposals and any competing bids. This analysis, and the conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review, will inform the final procurement decision.

  RAF Transport Fleet
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will invite tenders for the replacement of the next tranche of the RAF's transport fleet. [13134]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Request for Proposals was issued on 4 September 1997 to Airbus Industrie, Turkish Aerospace Industries and Alenia on a provisional basis pending the formation of Airbus Military Company (AMC). We are 256
  still discussing with partner nations how a competition between AMC and other aircraft manufacturers might be organised.

  Hercules C130J Aircraft
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Lockheed Martin has been required to pay compensation for the late delivery of Hercules C130J aircraft. [13142]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Department will be seeking to claim liquidated damages from the company, which will be used to offset the additional costs incurred by the Department, as they become due.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current anticipated in-service date of the Hercules C130J. [13141]

  Mr. Spellar
  On current plans the Department will receive delivery of the first C130J for test and evaluation in the spring of 1998, and the first aircraft is expected to enter service by the end of 1998.

  Royal Clarence Yard, Gosport
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the cost of relocating the activities currently undertaken at the 9.5 acres of land at Royal Clarence yard, Gosport, which are currently scheduled for retention by the Ministry of Defence; [13099]

  (2) if his Department will release for sale the 9.5 acres at Royal Clarence yard, Gosport, which is currently occupied as a furniture store. [13098]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from D. J. Stevens to Mr. Peter Viggers, dated 5 November 1997:
  I am replying to your two Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the release for sale of land at Royal Clarence Yard. Gosport and the cost of relocating the activities, as this falls within my area of responsibility.
  The 9.5 acre enclave retained by the MOD within Royal Clarence Yard primarily provides security for the oil pipe and working space to operate and service the facilities on the Oil Fuel Jetty. The waterfront provides essential berthing space for minor vessels while the major jetties within the Naval Base are being refurbished. It is not feasible to relocate these tasks in the area and therefore no figures on costs of relocation are available. In addition, the enclave provides car parking for entitled RN personnel quartered in Gosport but working on the other side of the harbour. The cost effectiveness of this was accepted by Minister (AF) (in the previous administration) as part of the submission to release the major part of the Royal Clarence Yard for sale.
  Only 1·4 acres of the enclave are occupied by the furniture store. If this area of the site were released for sale, it is estimated that it would add no more than £300,000 to the sale value of Royal Clarence Yard. The cost of relocating the furniture store on Crown owned land on the Gosport peninsula has been investigated and found to be in excess of £500,000. The alternative of leasing a commercial storage facility in the area is estimated at in excess of £50,000 a year. In the current financial climate neither option would be cost effective for MOD or the taxpayer.
  The retained enclave will be the minimum required to meet MOD's needs and if future opportunities were to allow the MOD to relocate any or all of the above facilities in a cost effective manner. further areas would be released for sale.

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Cash Limits
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Cash Limits
  Sex Offenders:Community Protection Orders
  Sex Offenders:Community Protection Orders
  Juveniles: Secure Remand
  Juveniles: Secure Remand
  Animals: Use in Scientific Procedures
  Animals: Use in Scientific Procedures
  Mr. Reginald Buckland
  Mr. Reginald Buckland
  Vitamin B6: Dosage
  Vitamin B6: Dosage
  Economic and Monetary Union
  Economic and Monetary Union
  Economically Significant Work
  Economically Significant Work
  Building Societies: Treasury Supervision
  Building Societies: Treasury Supervision
  Transport Council, 9 October
  Transport Council, 9 October