Written Answers of 13 November 1997

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Director-General of Water Services
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that independent reporters used by the Director General of Water Services in his 1999 Review to challenge the cost and investment estimates of the water companies have no contractual arrangements with the water companies on which they are reporting. [14491]

  Angela Eagle
  The arrangements for reporters used by the Director General of Water Services in carrying out his statutory duties are a matter for him.

  The Director has consulted widely on the arrangements for reporters, firstly in his open letter ("MD126") issued on 20 March 1997 and more recently in his consultation paper about the business planning process for the 1999 Periodic Review. Both documents are in the Library. He has asked for comments on his proposals by Friday 14 November.

  Household Evictions
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many household evictions from(a) local authority and (b) housing association properties involved (i) children and (ii) one or more children who were statemented as having special needs in each of the last three years; [14821]

  (2) how many households were evicted from (a) local authority and (b) housing association properties in each of the last three years; [14823]

  (3) how many household evictions for (a) local authority and (b) housing association properties, were as a consequence of (i) rent arrears, (ii) anti-social behaviour, (iii) criminal activities and (iv) other causes in each of the last three years; [14820]

  (4) how many households were accepted for re-housing under the terms of the Children Act 1989 in each of the last three years; and how many such acceptances followed evictions from (a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private rented accommodation. [14817]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Town and Country Planning
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received about the(a) Town and Country Planning (General Permitted
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  Development) Order 1995 and (b) Town and Country Planning (Demolition-Description of Buildings) Direction 1995. [15157]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have received representations seeking amendments to both the General Permitted Development Order and the Demolition Direction so that a planning application can in future be required to demolish various types of sports facilities. The Government are concerned to prevent the unnecessary loss of sports facilities, particularly where there are no clear proposals for redevelopment, and we will review the need for amendments to the relevant legislation once the courts have reached their decision on Robert Coppen and others v. Edward Ram and another, 20 January 1997.

  A449
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the safety of the A449 between Worcester and Kidderminster. [15603]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Luff, dated 13 November 1997:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about plans to improve the safety of the A449 between Worcester and Kidderminster.
  The Highways Agency is very concerned about the continuing accident problem on this section of the A449. Earlier this year we commissioned our agents, Hereford and Worcester County Council, to undertake a study to identify ways in which we could prevent specific types of accident and improve safety generally.
  Their report should be available before the end of the year. As soon as the report is available, I will write to you again to inform you of its recommendations, our response to them and the next steps.

  Right-to-roam Legislation
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often and on what dates he has met representatives of a(a) the Countryside Commission, (b) English Nature, (c) English Heritage, (d) the Ramblers Association, (e) the Country Landowners Association and (f) the National Farmers Union when the Government's proposals on right-to-roam legislation were discussed. [15324]

  Angela Eagle
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any meetings with these organisations to discuss the Government's proposals on right-to-roam legislation. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment discussed the Government's proposals with the Countryside Commission on 9 July and 30 October, with the Ramblers Association on 23 June and 12 September, and with the Country Landowners Association on 14 July. He and I discussed the proposals with the National Farmers Union on 22 July.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the impact of climate
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  change on (a) natural habitats and wildlife, (b) water resources and water management and (c) coastal and estuarial flooding and erosion; and if he will make a statement. [15591]

  Angela Eagle
  From time to time the Government receive representations on the impacts of climate change on a wide range of sectors.

  The Government are concerned to understand better the potential impacts of climate change on all sectors. In this regard, they draw on the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and their own Climate Change Impacts Review Group. My Department has also established an office at the Environmental Change Unit at the University of Oxford to co-ordinate research on the impacts of climate change in the UK.

  All child pedestrians aged 0-14 killed

  All pedestrians killed

  Country

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Great Britain

  210

  170

  153

  147

  120

  1,496

  1,347

  1,241

  1,124

  1,038

  United Kingdom

  221

  177

  161

  162

  129

  1,541

  1,394

  1,283

  1,169

  1,085

  Austria

  18

  19

  20

  18

  19

  260

  240

  202

  225

  200

  Belgium

  31

  39

  14

  21

  —

  280

  233

  199

  197

  —

  Denmark

  17

  8

  8

  6

  11

  141

  111

  133

  94

  118

  Finland

  4

  16

  7

  9

  8

  130

  116

  86

  87

  72

  France

  164

  132

  108

  109

  96

  1,446

  1,270

  1,195

  1.190

  1,086

  Germany

  185

  154

  132

  138

  138

  1,918

  1,767

  1,580

  1,469

  1,336

  Greece

  28

  30

  28

  36

  23

  461

  452

  485

  467

  469

  Ireland

  23

  17

  17

  15

  —

  114

  115

  136

  121

  —

  Italy

  82

  60

  47

  69

  —

  1,241

  1,148

  997

  1,024

  —

  Netherlands

  26

  21

  16

  15

  24

  67

  56

  48

  41

  46

  Norway

  10

  3

  9

  8

  5

  144

  152

  146

  123

  142

  Portugal

  120

  87

  88

  59

  67

  797

  694

  699

  564

  598

  Spain

  105

  74

  93

  72

  77

  1,371

  1,208

  1,104

  1,008

  1,000

  Sweden

  7

  14

  6

  13

  6

  125

  138

  94

  86

  71

  Cycling
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he is making available for the promotion and improvement of cycling facilities(a) nationally, (b) in Staffordshire and (c) in Stoke-on-Trent. [15643]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In the current financial year a sum of £4 million has been allocated to the London Cycling Network; £79 million has also been allocated to local authorities outside London in 1997–98 for their integrated transport packages. Virtually all the packages include measures to promote cycling, but it is not possible to say how much local authorities will spend on cycling-related matters from their package allocations.

  A total of £800,000 has been allocated to the North Staffordshire package in 1997–98. Staffordshire County Council has received £124,000 of this total and the City of Stoke-on-Trent £676,000.

  The Department will continue to support these initiatives in future, as far as resources allow. It is not possible at this stage to predict the levels of funding that will be available in 1998–99 or in later years.
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  The Government are playing a key role in working for a successful international agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the forthcoming negotiations on climate change in Kyoto.

  Pedestrian Fatalities
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) child and (b) total pedestrian fatalities there were in the United Kingdom and in each EU member state in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [15652]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is shown in the following table. It shows the improvement in child pedestrian fatalities in 1995 in the United Kingdom relative to other EU Member States. in 1995 the rate of child pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 population in United Kingdom was similar to that for all EU Member States.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce orange badge parking permits for people temporarily disabled by accidents or operations. [15858]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mercury
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his letter of 8 October (MR/PSO/10894/97), what action is being taken in response to the call from Arctic countries for new international controls on mercury; and what progress is being made on a protocol concerning Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution. [14469]

  Angela Eagle
  There are already a range of measures in place to reduce emissions of mercury in the UK. Because of these and the fact that wider international action is required to deal with the problem, no specific UK response to the call from the Arctic countries is envisaged. The UK is, however, actively participating in the negotiations to develop a protocol under the UNECE's Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution
  607
  to reduce European emissions of mercury and other heavy metals. Negotiations are at an advanced stage. It is expected that the protocol will be opened for signing at the Fourth Pan-European Conference of Environment Ministers on "Environment for Europe" in Aarhus, Denmark from 23 to 25 June 1998.

  Regions White Paper
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the White Paper on the Regions. [15830]

  Mr. Caborn
  We are aiming to publish a White Paper on the English Regions within the next few weeks.

  Household Growth
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is pursuing to reduce growth in the number of households in England and Wales.[15768]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Household growth reflects demographic factors, changes in age structure and deep-seated social trends. There is therefore little scope for the Government to influence the numbers even if they believed it was appropriate to do so.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received contesting his Department's projections for household growth set out in Command Paper 2901. [15770]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Command 2901, the last Administration's Housing White Paper, did not contain household projections. I assume that the question refers to my Department's document "Projections of Households in England to 2016", published in 1995. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) on 3 November,Official Report, column 56.

  Zoos
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to update the British zoo licensing system; and if he will make a statement.[16049]

  Angela Eagle
  British zoos have a deservedly high reputation for their progressive approach; the way in which their animals are kept and cared for; and the contribution they make to the conservation of endangered species through scientific research and captive breeding programmes. They have also played an important part in increasing public awareness of, and interest in, species conservation issues. It is now more than 10 years since the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 came into operation, and we believe it is time to update the system to reflect the changes in the role management of zoos which have taken place during this time, and to ensure that consistently high standards are maintained in all British zoos.

  We have therefore undertaken a review of the Act. Having considered the views of a wide range of organisations concerned with zoos, we have concluded
  608
  that the system is fundamentally sound and generally working well. However, we believe that there are some areas in which improvements can be made.

  We propose to make a number of changes to modernise the system. The main elements are:
  a review of the Secretary of State's standards of modern zoo practice, with a view to encouraging greater efforts by zoos to promote conservation;
  closer monitoring of local authorities' performance and strengthened advice from central government to local councils and zoo operators;
  the establishment of a broadly-based Zoos Forum to oversee the zoo licensing system and advise Ministers. We propose that the Forum should comprise representatives of local authorities, voluntary bodies, and independent animal welfare and public safety experts;
  more flexible zoo inspection teams (though we believe that the requirement for teams to include a veterinary expert and one other inspector appointed by the Secretary of State should remain, and there would be no change to the frequency of inspections);
  tightening the inspection arrangements by encouraging local authorities to use their existing powers to undertake informal, unannounced inspections at least annually,
  supporting measures to improve the zoo standards throughout the European Community.

  This is balanced package which will improve the level and consistency of standards throughout British zoos, strengthen their role in wildlife conservation, and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. They will enable us to make a system which is already good even better, and by promoting greater openness and wider consultation, should help to increase public confidence in the zoo licensing system as a whole.

  We now want to seek the views of those directly involved with or interested in zoos before finalising our package of improvements, and we have today issued a consultation paper setting out our proposals in more detail.

  I would hope that all those with a concern for standards in our zoos will feel able to contribute, and we will certainly consider carefully all comments and proposals which we receive.

  Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the House of Commons and House of Lords libraries.

  Highway Code
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to consult appropriate organisations on the text of the draft revision of the Highway Code. [16170]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have today in accordance with section 38(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 sent copies of the draft revision of the Highway Code for consultation to representative organisations, requesting responses by 31 January 1988. We shall welcome constructive comments on the style and the content of the draft. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  New Housing
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has set targets for the proportion of new housing to be built on brown land within existing conurbations and settlements; and if he will make a statement. [15769]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The current target for England is for 50 per cent. of new housing to be built on previously used sites, most of which will be in existing settlements.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  E-mail
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Council pursuant to the answer of 10 November from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,Official Report, column 441, if she will list the e-mail addresses of herself and her senior officials. [15870]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The Director of the Central Drugs Co-ordination Unit is able to receive e-mail at the following address: cdcu@gtnet.gov.uk. No other of my officials has an external e-mail facility, nor do I have one myself.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Environmental Audit Committee
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Council when she plans to move to establish an Environmental Audit Committee; and if she will make a statement. [15565]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  I am pleased to inform the hon. Gentleman that this was moved on Monday 10 November.

  In addition the Members were announced yesterday.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee pursuant to the answer of 10 November from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,Official Report, column 441, if he will arrange for all ministers' e-mail addresses to be included in the House of Commons telephone directory or made available to Right hon. and hon. Members in some other form. [15846]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The question of whether or not Ministers' e-mail addresses are made publicly available is not a matter for the Committee.

CABINET OFFICE

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio, how much has been spent so far on(a) consultants and (b) advertisers in relation to the Millennium Dome at Greenwich; and if he will make a statement. [13278]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: The New Millennium Experience Company has employed, and continues to employ, a range of consultants in a number of specialist fields appropriate to a project of this scale and nature, including engineering, planning and transport. In all cases the procedures adopted
  610
  with such companies, including advertising agents, meet the requirements which apply to all non-departmental public bodies for the purchase of goods, services and equipment. Details of individual contracts are commercially confidential but the NMEC has been involved in 51 (completed and current) contracts with third parties to date.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will estimate how much has been spent on policing the Millennium Dome site in each month since the start of construction; what is the projected expenditure for the remaining months prior to completion; and if he will make a statement. [14235]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 7 November 1997]: In June 1997, and after open competition, the New Millennium Experience Company contracted with a local Greenwich company to provide security on the Millennium Experience site. The terms of the contract are commercial in confidence. The site security work has recently been the subject of a new competitive tender exercise following normal procedures for contract renewal. NMEC is now completing its consideration of the bids. English Partnerships have separate contract arrangements to fulfil their responsibilities for security to the whole peninsula site during the construction stage.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  National Railway Museum
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many locomotives at the National Railway Museum in York are still capable of running; and if he will encourage the exhibition of them in use. [15486]

  Mr. Fisher
  There are seven locomotives at the National Railway Museum in York still in full running order and two under repair, and twelve other locomotives from the national collection currently operating elsewhere. It is for the Trustees of the Museum to decide how best to display these engines, but it is their policy to retain a proportion of the National Railway Collection in full running order for public demonstration.

  Opera and Ballet (London)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he made of the total number of performances in London by English National Opera, English National Ballet, the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera before making his proposal that all these companies should share one venue. [15607]

  Mr. Fisher
  In the 1996–97 financial year the total number of performances in London by the English National Opera, English National Ballet, the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera was as follows:

  Company

  Performances in London 1996–97

  English National Opera

  185

  English National Ballet

  62

  Royal Opera

  143

  Royal Ballet

  111

DEFENCE

  Army Storage
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the rationalisation of the Army's storage estate. [16281]

  Dr. Reid
  Work has now been completed on a study, initiated by the previous Administration, on the potential for further rationalisation of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency's storage estate. The analysis has show that there are likely to be some increases in aspects of the Army storage task, for example some equipment and stores return from Bosnia, but the overall balance of factors, including the likely impact of the new Government's Strategic Defence Review, indicates that there will be significant reductions in ABSDA's future storage requirement. This reflects the need to drive down the overall size of the Army storage inventory to reflect changes in Defence planning assumptions and to reduce the costs of our storeholdings. Obtaining greater efficiency from Defence spending is a central part of the Strategic Defence Review. All support activities are being rigorously scrutinised against the benchmark of value for money and the need to ensure that we retain only those assets that are essential for Defence needs.

  I have, therefore, decided to accept, as the basis for consultation with the Trades Unions and other interested parties, the recommendation that the ABSDA sub-depots at Thatcham in Berkshire, and Old Dalby in Leicestershire, should close. This would realise savings of some £35 million in net present value terms over a ten-year period. I also intend to suspend the ABSDA stores division CFQ study for the time being.

  Final decisions will be taken in the light of representations made during the consultation period. A copy of the Consultation Document is being placed in the library of the House.

  Pay and Pensions
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are being made for the future delivery of pay, pensions and personnel administration services for the armed forces. [16282]

  Dr. Reid
  My predecessor announced on 20 February this year,Official Report, column 720 that the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency was to be launched as a tri-Service organisation on 1 April, and that plans were in hand to appoint a commercial partner to deliver most of the Agency's services on its behalf. AFPAA was launched on the due date, and the necessary evaluation and approval processes for its partnering contract have now been completed. I have agreed that the contract should be awarded to Electronic Data Systems (Defence) Ltd.

  As part of the modernisation of our Armed Forces for the 21st Century, this public-private partnering contract is the beginning of a comprehensive programme of improvement and redevelopment in the delivery of pay, pensions and personnel administrative services. It will bring new skills and technology to this area of work, and, importantly, it will provide the necessary capital, under private finance arrangements, at a level which could not be expected from the Defence budget. The contract will
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  run for up to 12 years at an estimated cost of over £30 million. The effective date for transfer of responsibility to EDS, including staff and capital assets, is planned for 1 January next year. About 900 civilian staff will move permanently to EDS, with 100 military personnel being placed with the company in the first instance.

  In about three years' time, elements of the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow will come under AFPAA's responsibility. This will mean the transfer of a further 500 civilian staff to EDS. There are no plans to relocate these jobs from Glasgow and any proposals would need Ministerial approval.

  Contingency and Operational Procurement Exhibition
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department plans to send inspectors to COPEX events which are eligible for Government joint venture support; [14369]

  (2) if he will list the visits to the visits to the 1997 Contingency and Operational Procurement Exhibition by Ministry of Defence inspectors; and what criteria were used to assess the types of equipment and services. [14368]

  Mr. Spellar
  Because COPEX 1997 was held on Ministry of Defence land, two MOD inspectors visited the exhibition while it was being set up and during the first open day to assess the suitability for export of the equipment and services on offer. The criteria used were those announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29.

  The MOD plays no part in the organisation of COPEX exhibitions and has no plans at the present time to send inspectors to future COPEX events.

  Military Exhibitions
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the support provided by his Department and DESO to private military, security and police exhibitions in the last year.[14364]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence has provided the following support for defence equipment exhibitions organised by private companies during the past year, all of which attracted host Government support:

  Exhibition

  Dates

  Type of support

  IMDEX Asia 97, Singapore

  6 to 9 May 1997

  Attended by the Military Deputy to the Head of Defence Export Services. HM Ships Richmond and Illustrious also visited, and DESO had its own exhibition stand.

  Paris Air Show

  10 to 18 June 1997

  Attended by the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Procurement, and the Head of Defence Export Services. DESO also had its own exhibition stand.

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  Exhibition

  Dates

  Type of support

  IDEF 97, Turkey

  23 to 26 September 1997

  Attended by the Head of Defence Export Services. DESO also had its own exhibition stand.

  IMDEX 97, Greenwich

  7 to 10 October 1997

  Opened by the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. Keynote address given by the Chief of Defence Procurement. HMS Lancaster also visited.

  Discrimination
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the list of names of employers who have been found to have breached the anti-discrimination legislation at an industrial tribunal and the amount of compensation awarded. [15014]

  Dr. Reid
  Figures for industrial tribunal applications are held centrally only for those brought by members of the Armed Forces. Figures for cases brought by civilian employees of the Department are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  All cases brought before an industrial tribunal name the Ministry of Defence as the main respondent but separate figures for each of the Armed forces can be identified. The cost of awards made by industrial tribunals against the Armed Forces for discrimination, excluding those made to women who received compensation arising out of their unlawful dismissal on grounds of pregnancy, are as follows:

  £

  Royal Navy

  65,000

  Army

  Nil

  Royal Air Force

  10,000

  In addition, the Ministry of Defence has settled a number of claims either prior to or during industrial tribunal hearings as follows:

  £

  Royal Navy

  191,000

  Army

  777,300

  Royal Air Force

  31,944

  In the case of those women unlawfully dismissed from the Services on grounds of pregnancy the average award was £11,445. The overall figures were as follows:

  £

  Royal Navy

  13,898,746.38

  Army

  21,760,119.65

  Royal Air Force

  21,612,724.84

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library the background note that accompanied the draft answer to the question by the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent, 11 July,Official Report, column 436, on organophosphate pesticide use; [14764]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the fax dated 18 July 1994, sent by the Department of Entomology at the Royal Medical College, London to the Department of Health concerning insecticides used in the Gulf war cited in his Department's recent memorandum relating to provision of advice to Ministers between 1994 and 1996 on organophsphate pesticide use during the Gulf War. [14708]

  Dr. Reid
  No. The information contained within these documents is advice to Ministers and as such is covered by exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. On an exceptional basis, the information from these documents relating to organophosphate pesticides has already been made available in the Further Memorandum on the provision of advice to Ministers on the use of OP pesticides during the Gulf War, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Offset Exhibition
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the Ministry of Defence and its agencies gave to the organisers of the Offset exhibition at the North Wales Centre, Aberconwy; and what was the cost to public funds. [15295]

  Mr. Spellar
  Officials attended this exhibition in the course of their normal duties, but the Ministry of Defence gave no financial support to the organisers.

  Defence Exports (Ethical Code)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence companies have sought his Department's assistance over the Government's ethical code on defence exports.[15543]

  Mr. Spellar
  As part of their normal daily business, officials in the Defence Export Services Organisation provide advice to defence companies on the criteria used by the Government in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. It is not practical to identify every company that has sought this advice.

  Information Warfare
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence budget in(a) cash and (b) percentage terms is allocated to information warfare. [15335]

  Dr. Reid
  Information warfare is a broad term which covers all aspects of the security of information and communications systems from front line weapons to office IT equipment. Measures to counter information warfare are integral features of most systems and it is not therefore possible to identify their costs separately.

  Non-lethal Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce non-lethal disabling weapons for peacekeeping and battlefield use.[14415]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 7 November 1997]: Research is conducted into non-lethal weapon technologies to assess technical options to meet endorsed military capability requirements, but we have no present plans for the procurement of further NLWs.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the cost of the Eurofighter programme to the United Kingdom and to the participating states as a whole; and how many aircraft are due to be ordered by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) participating states. [14679]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 10 November 1997]: The latest estimated procurement cost of the Eurofighter programme is £42.8 billion, £15.9 billion of which is the estimated cost to the UK. The participating nations have declared a total requirement for 620 Eurofighter aircraft, 232 of which are for the UK.

  US Defence Trade Report
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the medium-term implications of US Commerce Department report "Offsets in Defense Trade 1997".[15294]

  Mr. Spellar
  The US Department of Commerce report "Offsets in Defense Trade 1997" is still under consideration by the Ministry of Defence. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

PRIME MINISTER

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a current list of all(a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers to Ministers. [14837]

  The Prime Minister
  The following are employed as paid Special Advisers:

  Appointing Minister

  Name of appointee

  The Prime Minister

  Jonathan Powell

  Alastair Campbell

  Anji Hunter

  Kate Garvey

  Tim Allan

  Hilary Coffman

  David Miliband

  Roger Liddle

  James Purnell

  Derek Scott

  Robert Hill

  Geoff Mulgan

  Geoffrey Norris

  Pat Macfadden

  616

  Appointing Minister

  Name of appointee

  Peter Hyman

  Liz Lloyd

  Roz Preston (part-time)

  Fiona Miller (part-time)

  Chief Whip

  Tom Greatrex

  Kieran Simpson

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Cathy McGlynn Tim Walker

  Tim Walker

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Julian Eccles

  (Part-time)

  John Newbiggin

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Bernard Gray

  Alasdair McGowan

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment 1

  Conor Ryan

  Hilary Benn

  Sophie Linden

  (part-time)

  Lisa Barclay (part-time)

  Deputy Prime Minister

  Joe Irvin

  Paul Hackett (part-time)

  Joan Hammell

  Darren Murphy

  (Part-time)

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  David Clark

  Andrew Hood

  Secretary of State for Health

  Joe McCrea

  Simon Stevens

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Ed Owen

  Norman Warner

  Ruth Allen (part-time)2

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Jessica Crowe

  Daniel Harris

  Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords

  Marianne Morris

  Damien Welfare

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Anna Healy

  Nigel Warner

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Andrew Lappin

  James Cornford

  President of the Council3

  Ian McKenzie

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Wendy Alexander

  Murray Elder

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Juhn McTernan

  Liz Kendall

  President of the Board of Trade

  Dan Corry

  Sheila Watson

  Minister of Transport

  Kate Davies

  Tony Grayling

  Chancellor of the Exchequer4

  Ed Balls

  Charles Whelan

  Chief Secretary

  Andrew Maugham

  Edward Miliband

  Secretary of State for Wales

  John Adams

  Huw Roberts

  617

  Appointing Minister

  Name of appointee

  The following have been appointed as unpaid Advisers:

  Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  Dennis Stevenson

  Deputy Prime Minister

  David Taylor

  President of the Board of Trade

  Lord Hollick

  Minister without Portfolio

  Benjamin Wegg-Prosser

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  David Mathieson

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Sue Nye

  1In addition, Professor Michael Barber has been appointed as Standards and Effectiveness Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

  2Appointment is time limited to the life of the Task Force on Youth Justice.

  3In addition, the President of the Council has appointed Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator (from 5 January 1998) and Michael Trace as the Deputy UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator on special adviser terms.

  4In addition the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Chris Wales and Paul Gregg as members of the Council of Economic Advisers on special adviser terms.

  Monitor Consultancy
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list(a) the nature and value of contracts his office has entered into and (b) discussions Ministers or officials have held with the Monitor Consultancy since 1990. [14944]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 November 1997]: For this purpose my Department is the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 11 November 1997, Official Report, columns 463–64.

  Fair Trade (Coffee and Tea)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development,Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if he will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in his Office. [15487]

  The Prime Minister
  No. Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire, taking into account the Government's policy of seeking value for money for the benefit of the taxpayer. However, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made clear, the Government are also committed to promoting and supporting ethical trading wherever possible.

  Anglo-French Summit
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost, including incidental expenses, of preparing and furnishing the rooms in Canary Wharf used for the Anglo-French Summit; and if he will break this down into the main items of expenditure. [15658]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 November 1997]: Canary Wharf was provided for the Summit free of charge. Final figures for the cost of other items are not yet available.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has collated on the number of live animals exported since 1 May; and if he will make a statement. [13964]

  Mr. Rooker
  The most up-to-date information available to the Department is recorded on the Animal Movement electronic data system. From May to October 1997 inclusive, approximately 263,00 sheep/goats and 93,900 pigs were exported from Great Britain to other EU Member States. This information is provisional and subject to change. There was a significant increase in the number of sheep exported from August to October. This is consistent with normal trade patterns.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live sheep were exported in each of the five years up to 1997; how many have been exported so far this year; what was their final destination; and if he will make a statement. [13968]

  Mr. Rooker
  Official Overseas Trade Statistics show that the following number of sheep were exported from the United Kingdom:

  Number

  1992

  1,422,000

  1993

  830,000

  1994

  989,000

  1995

  756,000

  1996

  547,000

  January-July 1997

  53,000

  These figures are provisional and subject to amendment. Certified destinations were principally France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the Republic of Ireland.

  Fair Trade (Coffee and Tea)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the oral statement by the Secretary of State for International Development,Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if he will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in his Department. [15502]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which the Prime Minister has given today. All procurement decisions in the Department are based on the Government's policy of value for money.

  Rothamsted Experimental Station
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to continue the long-term experiments at Rothamsted Experimental station. [15854]

  Mr. Rooker
  Rothamsted is one of the three research sites making up the Institute of Arable Crops Research. MAFF is a major customer for research at IACR and will spend over —7 million in the current year. Rothamsted runs several long-term experiments, some of which have contributed information to the main MAFF research
  619
  programmes at the site dealing with nutrient loss, soil organic matter and biodiversity. However, this core long-term work is funded by BBSRC and other funders and is not the direct responsibility of MAFF.

  Farmland Birds
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter of 8 October concerning the agri-environment programme and farmland birds (108634), when he expects to respond to the three-year BTO project interim report. [14468]

  Mr. Rooker
  I expect to respond when final results of the British Trust for Ornithology project, due in October 1998, are available and have been assessed.

  Meanwhile, steps taken to help reserve the decline in farmland birds were outlined by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 27 October, Official Report, column 715.

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his plans for the incineration of meat and bone meal produced from the cull of animals under the over 30-months-scheme. [15766]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government are considering a number of options for the disposal of meat and bone meal arising from the over 30-months-scheme. Revelant elements of the Intervention Board's on-going tender exercise have been suspended to allow time for reflection on the full range of options presenting themselves. While some MBM is being burnt in a high temperature waste incinerator at Fawley, no decision has yet been taken on any other disposal option, or options, for the stored material, including burning MBM for energy recovery in power stations. In reaching a decision, full weight will be given to the protection of human health and the environment.

WALES

  Military Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met representatives of Welsh business to explain the Government's policy on the sale and supply of military, security and police equipment to oppressive regimes. [15298]

  Mr. Hain
  No. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, which sets out the Government's policy on this subject.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the significance to the Welsh economy of the manufacture, sale and supply of military, security and police equipment; and if he will place a copy of his assessment in the Library. [15292]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department of Trade and Industry has been studying the value of the defence industry to the UK but its emphasis has been national and has not included production of detailed figures on a regional basis.
  620
  A copy of "The Study of the Value of the Defence Industry to the UK Economy" of December 1995 was placed in the Library of the House.

  US Defence Trade Report
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the medium-term implications of US Commerce Department report, "Offsets in Defence Trade 1997". [15293]

  Mr. Hain
  The US Department of Commerce report "Offsets in Defence Trade 1997" is under consideration by the Ministry of Defence.

  Cycling
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to encourage the use of bicycles as an alternative to cars in Welsh cities and towns; and if he will make a statement.[15304]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government are considering the role of cycling, alongside that of all transport modes, as part of their development of an integrated transport policy to be set out in a White Paper next year. I intend to publish a Welsh Transport Policy Statement at around the same time.

  I have already taken one practical step to give local authorities more scope to promote cycling through the changes to the Welsh Transport Grant regime which I announced in June. These will allow support to be given in future to "integrated transport packages" which can, among other things, include measures to promote cycling.

TREASURY

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate in cash terms in 1995–96 prices the changes for 1997–98 and 1998–99 in NHS expenditure between(a) the 1996 budget plans and (b) the Government's latest plans. [13189]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: In the July Budget an additional £1.2 billion was allocated for the NHS in 1998–99, and on 14 October a further package of £300 million was announced for patient care in 1997£98. These figures can be converted into 1995–;96 prices using the current forecasts for the GDP deflator which are 2.76 per cent. for 1996–97, 2.75 per cent. for 1997–98 and 2.75 per cent. for 1998–99.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on the number of people of working age who face combined marginal rates of withdrawal of tax, national insurance contributions and means-tested benefits of(a) under 50 per cent., (b) 50–59 per cent., (c) 60–69 per cent., (d) 70–79 per cent., (e) 80–89 per cent. and (f) 90 per cent. or above of introducing a lop starting rate of income tax on (i) the first £1,000, (ii) the first £1,500 or (iii) the first £2,000 of taxable income. [14016]
  621
  Dawn Primarolo
  The effect of introducing a 10p tax rate on marginal deduction rates, and on disposable income, would depend on what other changes were made to the tax and benefit system at the time of its introduction.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Departments overspent their allocated budget in financial year 1996–97; by how much each overspent its allocated budget; which Departments have had to reduce their budgets in financial year 1997–98 as a consequence; which Departments were allowed a claim on the reserve for all or part of their overspend; and how much each Department was allowed to claim from the reserve. [14026]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: The Ministry of Defence breached its overall cash limit for 1996–97 by £246 million. It was the only Department to do so. No claim on the Reserve was agreed in respect of the overspend in 1996–97, but the overspend did increase the control total outturn for 1996–97. Following an investigation into the causes of the breach it was decided that the Ministry of Defence should reduce its overall cash limit for 1997–98 by £168 million.

  The reduction in 1997–98 is less than the overspend for two reasons. The first is that the Ministry of Defence received £40 million of extra receipts in 1996–97 which could not be appropriated in aid of the Ministry's Votes, because no provision had been made for them in the Estimates presented to Parliament. These receipts had to be surrendered by the Ministry directly to the Consolidated Fund, and so they could not be included in calculating the Ministry's overspend against the cash limit on its votes. Allowance was made for this in determining the size of the reduction in the cash limit in 1997–98. Secondly, allowance was also made for certain technical adjustments made during the course of 1996–97 in connection with the sale of the married quarters estate. These amounted to £38 million.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the action plan, due by 1 October 1997, for resolving the computer millennium problem in his Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which he is responsible; if such was fully completed on time; and if he will make a statement; [13562]

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the total cost of resolving the computer millennium problem in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies for which he is responsible; if he will state in each case (i) expenditure incurred to date, (ii) expenditure planned for 1997–98, (iii) expenditure planned for 1998–99 and (iv) expenditure planned for 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [13563]

  Mr. Liddell
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The majority of my Departments and agencies have submitted their costed plans to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency on schedule. Those that have not will be doing so shortly.
  622
  The plans will be analysed by the Central Information Technology Unit and the CCTA and the conclusions reported to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who will then inform Parliament. The Plans will be exempted from disclosure under the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which permits non-disclosure prior to an announcement. However, once the announcement has been made the plans will be available to the public.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department, its agencies and other public bodies for which he is responsible completed the millennium computer compliance audits of systems; and if he will make a statement. [13565]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: Year 2000 system audits and inventories were completed by my departments and agencies as follows:

  Date

  Treasury

  September 1996

  Inland Revenue

  November 1996 (January 1997 for Valuation Office agency)

  Customs and Excise

  December 1996

  Royal Mint1

  September 1997

  National Savings

  July 1997

  Office for National Statistics

  September 1997

  1Systems are regularly reviewed. Date given is for last review.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which(a) Minister and (b) civil servant has overall responsibility for ensuring millennium computer compliance in his Department and its associated public bodies. [13566]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: In view of the importance we are giving to the Year 2000 issue, I will be taking overall responsibility for ensuring that my departments' and agencies' IT systems are compliant. At official level, those with overall responsibility are as follows:

  Responsibility

  Treasury

  Head of IT services

  Inland Revenue1

  Deputy Director for the Business and Management Services division

  Customs and Excise

  Head of Corporate Development group

  Royal Mint

  Head of IT

  National Savings

  Director of Operations

  Office for National Statistics

  Director of Survey and Statistical Services division

  1Includes Valuation Office.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy for 1997–98 and 1998–99 that savings achieved in one Department can be switched to another Department; and if he will make a statement. [13645]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 5 November 1997]: The Government are committed to holding to the Control Totals for 1997–98 and 1998–99. Within that it may be appropriate on occasions to find savings from one

  623
  Department to cover increases in another as was done with the NHS this year. Minor transfers will continue in the normal course of business-for example, to meet the costs of new policy initiatives which fall outside the originating Department.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make further allocations of expenditure to the National Health Service in 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [13292]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no plans to make further allocations of expenditure to the National Health Service in 1997–98. An extra £300 million for patient care this winter was announced on 14 October 1997, which has been made available by a reallocation of £270 million from other Department's budgets, plus £30 million in new administrative savings identified within the NHS in England.

  Departmental Spending Totals
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that the existing departmental spending totals for 1998–99 will be adhered to; what is his policy on the transfer of expenditure savings from one Department to another for 1998–99; and if he will make a statement.[13286]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: The Government are committed to holding to the Control Total for 1998–99. Departments known their baselines for 1998–99 and are planning spending accordingly. There are no current plans to reallocate spending between Departments but it may be appropriate on occasion to find savings from one Department to cover increases in another as was done with the NHS this year. Minor transfers will continue in the normal course of business—for example, to meet the cost of new policy initiatives which fall outside the originating Departments.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional annual revenue which would accrue to the Treasury if the inheritance tax threshold was returned to the former rate of £150,000. [14704]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The full-year effect in 1997–98 of lowering the inheritance tax threshold from £215,000 to £150,00 is estimated to be an increase of £575 million in inheritance tax liability.

  Casinos
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what differences in taxation methods apply between bets placed in(a) casinos and (b) betting shops; and if he will make a statement. [14911]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The gross gaming yield duty of a casino is liable to gaming duty. The gross gaming yield consists of the total value of stakes, minus players' winnings, on games in which the house is banker and participation charges on games in which the bank is shared by players.
  624
  Gaming duty is a tiered duty which ranges from 2½ per cent. to 33⅓ per cent. It is charged on each set of premises at which dutiable gaming takes place. The present charging structure for each set of premises is shown below.

  Part of gross gaming yield

  Rate (per cent.)

  The first £450,000

  2½

  The next £2,250,000

  12½

  The next £2,700,000

  25

  The remainder

  33⅓

  Bets placed with a bookmaker in a betting shop are liable to general betting duty. Duty is due on the total amount staked by betters on all off-course bets. The rate of general betting duty is currently 6;¾ per cent.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the system of taxation of casinos. [14912]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Gaming duty replaced gaming licence duty on 1 October 1997. A post-implementation review will be conducted after 12 months to evaluate the impact of the changes.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current licence fee paid by casinos; and if he will make a statement. [14913]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The requirement for a revenue gaming licence for casinos was removed when gaming duty replaced gaming licence duty on 1 October 1997.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was, in each of the last three years(a) the total amount taken by the casino industry across gaming tables and (b) the total amount paid by the casino industry by way of gaming licence duty in (i) Greater London and (ii) the United Kingdom excluding Greater London. [14914]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs do not record gaming licence duty receipts in a manner which allows for regional analysis. The annual receipts for the last three years are shown below.

  Gaming licence duty receipts

  (£'000s)

  Number

  1994–95

  72,263

  1995–96

  84,087

  1996–97

  79,407

  Unemployment
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people becoming unemployed cease to be unemployed within a year(a) in total and (b) broken down into (i) under-25s, (ii) those aged 25 to 44 and (iii) those over 44 years. [14939]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  625
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Willetts, dated 13 November 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent question on the proportion of people who become unemployed that cease to be unemployed within one year, broken down by age groups.
  The ONS measure of unemployment, derived from the quarterly Labour Force Survey, is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and counts as unemployed people who are: a) without a paid job; b) available to start work within the next two weeks and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.
  ONS also publishes the monthly claimant court, which is based on the administrative system which records all people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Jobseekers Allowance or National Insurance credits) at Employment Service offices on the day of the monthly count, who on that day had signed on as unemployed and available to do any suitable work.
  The information requested can only be derived from the claimant count, as the Labour Force Survey is unable to track individuals over time. The results are shown in the attached table.

  Proportion of joiners to the claimant count in the 12 months to October 1996 who left the count within 12 months, by age

  Age of claimant at start of claim

  Proportion of joiners that left within 12 months Per cent.

  Under 25

  90.5

  25 to 44

  87.3

  Over 44

  86.8

  All ages

  88.4

  Source:

  JUVOS 5 per cent. cohort file (October 1997).

  Fair Trade (Coffee and Tea)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development,Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if he will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in his Department. [15499]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  I refer to the answer which the Prime Minister has given today. All procurement decisions in the Treasury are based on the Government's policy of value for money.

  VAT (Energy-saving Materials)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury review on reducing VAT on energy-saving materials will be published. [15620]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs have completed their review and are now preparing their report.

  Exchange Rates
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measurements of currency of invoice he makes in assessing the short-run impact of exchange rates changes on the economy; and if he will publish the data for the last five years. [15457]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: Publication of regular data on currency of invoice ceased in 1988. Data for 1984–88 were provided to the
  626
  hon. Member on 4 November 1997, Official Report, columns 101-02 in response to previous questions and the available evidence suggests that use of foreign currency is fairly stable over time.

  These data are used to inform the Treasury's assessment of the short-run impact of exchange rate changes on the economy.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made for receiving observations on the document "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests"; and if he will publish a document containing the comments and conclusions of her Majesty's Government to any material received by them in relation to potential advantages and disadvantages of economic and monetary union. [15747]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Observations on the document in question can be addressed to Treasury Ministers. The Treasury has already published a report on the pros and cons of EMU by David Currie. There are no plans to publish a further document containing comments and conclusions on that report or on the assessment of the five economic tests. The Chancellor has said that a period of preparation is needed now, to address the practical steps that government and business will need to take before a final decision to join the single currency.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Trent Engine
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made on Rolls-Royce's application for launch aid for the new Trent engine. [16392]

  Mr. Battle
  I am pleased to announce that the Government have agreed to provide a long-term investment of up to £200 million over the next four years to Rolls-Royce plc. towards the design and development of its important new range of Trent engines. This will extend the Trent family to enable it to power all the world's new large aircraft. For example, the Trent 500 has been selected by Airbus Industrie as the powerplant for the new A340-500/600, in a privileged partnership announced at the Paris Air Show in June 1997.

  The Government's support reflects the importance of this project to the UK economy and the clearly established need for public funds to enable it to go ahead. The agreement with Rolls-Royce embodies the Government's commitment to public-private partnerships and is a marked departure from the previous administration's approach to the civil aviation industry.

  The investment is genuinely commercial, and reflects the risk that the taxpayer has been asked to share. The Government and Rolls-Royce will share, as partners, in the future rewards from this engine programme. The Government intend that this approach will inform the consideration of any future applications for support from the civil aviation industry.
  627
  Rolls-Royce is the 10th largest UK investor in research and development and much of its technology is diffused to other sectors of the Uk economy. The Trent engine has already demonstrated its technical excellence and these new developments will help to ensure that Rolls-Royce remains a world leader in aero-engine technology and continues to provide a centre of excellence in the United Kingdom. Success in this new Trent range will bring wider benefits to the many companies which supply Rolls-Royce, and increase competition for worldwide sales of aero-engines to the advantage of UK airlines and airline passengers.

  My Department will be discussing this investment with the European Commission.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Government Departments have now reported on their preparedness for the year 2000 problem; and when the results will be published. [14994]

  Mr. David Clark
  I have been asked to reply.

  Within Government itself, Departments and Agencies are responsible for their own systems. The Central Information Technology Unit, through its agent the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency supports the public sector. As part of that support CITU and CCTA have identified a programme of action to ensure that Government's response to the year 2000 problem is co-ordinated and coherent. This involves each Government Department providing me with detailed and costed plans for dealing with the year 2000 date change problem as soon as possible after 1 October 1997.

  I am awaiting an analysis and report on these plans from the CITU and the CCTA so that I can form an overall picture of progress, costs and future plans. Once I have done so I will inform Parliament.

  US Defence Trade Report
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the medium-term implications of US Commerce Department report "Offsets in Defence Trade 1997 [15290]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply as responsibility for the subject matter falls to the Ministry of Defence.

  The US Department of Commerce report "Offsets in Defence Trade 1997" is still under consideration by the Ministry of Defence. I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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.[13263]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 5 November 1997]: Expenditure on external tax advice is undertaken in accordance with Treasury guidance. Information relating
  628
  to expenditure on specific external advice is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Chief Executives of the Department's Executive Agencies have been asked to respond separately.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 13 November 1997:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about expenditure on tax consultants and other external tax advice.
  This Agency has not made any use of such consultants during the years in question and our expenditure has therefore been nil.

  Letter from Ian Jones to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 13 November 1997:
  You tabled a Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade, for named day reply on 5 November, about expenditure by her Department, its agencies and non departmental bodies on tax consultants and other external tax advice. I have been asked to reply in respect of the Employment Tribunals Service.
  The Employment Tribunals Service has not incurred any expenditure in either of the areas you asked about.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 13 November 1997:
  I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade about the cost of tax consultants and external tax advice.
  The Patent Office has made no payments in this respect in 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/98 to date. No such transactions are expected in the remainder of 1997/98.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 13 November 1997:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about expenditure by The Insolvency Service on tax consultants and other external advice in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98.
  Its expenditure has been as follows:

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Tax Consultants

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  External tax advice

  Nil

  £800

  Nil

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 13 November 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question to the President of the Board of Trade concerning i) tax consultants and ii) tax advice and comment as follows:
  (i) Companies House has expended the following amounts on tax consultants:

  1995–96: £282

  1996–97: £141

  1997–98: Nil

  ii) No other external tax advice has been engaged.
  629
  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 13 November 1997:
  Mrs. Roche, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade and Industry, has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Question about Agency expenditure on tax consultants and other external tax advice.
  The Agency has been advised on PAYE matters by Fraser Russell during the relevant period and the actual and estimated expenditure details are as follows:

  (1) 1995–96: £3,150.00

  (2) 1996–97: £2,800.00

  (3) 1997–98: £2,852.00 (estimated).

  All figures exclude VAT, which is recoverable by the Agency.

  Investment (Multilateral Agreement)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in pressing for the Multilateral Agreement on Investment to include a legal requirement for parties not to lower environmental or labour standards in order to attract foreign investment.[15474]

  Mrs. Roche
  Draft text on this issue has been discussed at the negotiations of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment in Paris. The UK is at the forefront of widespread but not universal support for such a legal requirement. We will continue to press the case up to the conclusion of the negotiations in April 1998.

  Animal Testing (Product Labelling)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to make the use of animal testing a criterion for product labelling; and if she will make a statement. [13688]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The only animal testing issues for which my Department is responsible arise from regulations governing the supply of cosmetic products. This legislation, the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, requires that where claims are made about the animal testing status of cosmetic products they should state clearly whether the tests carried out involved the product itself or its ingredients.

  The Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC), which the Regulations implement, is unsatisfactory in its treatment of animal testing issues. In particular, the ban on using ingredients which have been tested on animals (currently deferred until 30 June 2000) does not in any case apply to finished products which may have been tested on animals. I intend to press the Commission to bring forward proposals to amend the Directive and would expect other related issues, such as compulsory labelling of animal testing, to be raised by animal welfare groups at the same time. I shall, of course, consult the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and other interested parties.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the number of export licences refused in respect of defence exports in each of the years 1979 to 1996. [15181]
  630
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 10 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 3 September to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Faber) pursuant to my answer to him of 31 July, Official Report, column 627. A copy of that letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  This answer should be read in the context of my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  Nuclear Safety (Former Soviet Union)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the safeguards training assistance currently being conducted by British Nuclear Fuels in the former Soviet Union. [14716]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department has in recent years funded a range of collaborative activities designed to help improve nuclear safeguards and nuclear materials accountancy and control arrangements in the former Soviet Union. Details have been provided in papers presented at a number of international safeguards symposia, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Work involving safeguards experts from BNFL and their counterparts from the Mayak reprocessing plant in Russia has been a particularly important aspect of these activities. This has yielded improvements in nuclear materials accountancy practices at Mayak and also recommendations on further work necessary to bring these practices into line with those at more modern reprocessing plants. The substantial funding necessary to implement fully the recommended programme of nuclear materials accountancy improvements at Mayak is being sought from the European Union's TACIS programme.

  China
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current level of trade between Britain and China. [14692]

  Mrs. Roche
  The latest information on the level of trade between the UK and China is given in the table.

  UK trade with China—current prices, balance of payments basis

  £ million

  Goods

  Services

  Exports

  Imports

  Total trade

  Exports

  Imports

  Total trade

  1990

  451

  539

  990

  197

  67

  264

  1991

  311

  651

  962

  187

  74

  261

  1992

  420

  883

  1,303

  142

  82

  224

  1993

  748

  1,272

  2,020

  163

  126

  289

  1994

  861

  1,582

  2,443

  180

  152

  332

  1995

  826

  1,829

  2,655

  200

  160

  360

  1996

  740

  2,087

  2.827

  225

  150

  375

  Source:

  United Kingdom Balance of Payments, The Pink Book, 1997, ONS. Information on UK trade in services is only available for our major trading partners.
  631
  More up to date figures, for trade in goods only, are available on an Overseas Trade Statistics basis (the main difference between these and the figures on a Balance of Payments basis is that imports, on an OTS basis, include the costs of freight and insurance.

  UK trade in goods—current prices, overseas trade statistics basis

  £ million

  Janaury to September

  Exports

  Imports

  Total trade

  1996

  645

  1,611

  2,257

  1997

  523

  1,787

  2,309

  Source:

  Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, ONS.

  The main commodities traded in 1996 were as follows:

  £ million

  Top 5 UK exports to China

  Specialised industrial machinery

  112.4

  General industrial machinery

  98.0

  Telecommunications and sound equipment

  91.5

  Power generating machinery

  73.2

  Electrical machinery nes1

  38.5

  Top 5 UK imports from India

  Articles of apparel and clothing accessories

  341.4

  Electrical machinery nes1

  154.4

  Telecommunications and sound equipment

  130.8

  Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, nes1

  115.6

  Manufactures of metal nes1

  112.1

  Office machines and automatic data processing equipment

  99.3

  1 Not elsewhere specified within the Standard International Trade Classification.

  Information on UK trade in services with individual countries is only available annually.

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs and Excise.

  Yemen
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current level of trade between Britain and Yemen. [14973]

  Mrs. Roche
  The latest information on the level of trade between the UK and Yemen is given in the table.

  UK trade in goods with Yemen—current prices, overseas trade statistics basis

  £ million

  Goods

  Exports

  Imports

  Total

  1990

  70·8

  36·2

  107·1

  1991

  65·2

  16·8

  82·0

  1992

  78·4

  56·9

  135·3

  1993

  85·5

  16·1

  101·5

  1994

  74·6

  5·1

  79·6

  1995

  66·8

  4·1

  70·9

  1996

  74·2

  8·4

  82·6

  Source:

  United Kingdom Balance of Payments, the Pink Book, 1997, ONS. Information on UK trade in services is only available for our major trading partners.
  632
  More up-to-date figures, for trade in goods only, are available on an Overseas Trade Statistics basis (the main difference between these and figures on a Balance of Payments basis is that imports, on an OTS basis, include the costs of freight and insurance):

  UK trade in goods—current prices, overseas trade statistics basis

  £ million

  January to September

  Exports

  Imports

  Total

  1996

  52·7

  6·8

  59·4

  1997

  54·5

  4·6

  59·1

  Source:

  Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, ONS.

  The main commodities traded in 1996 were as follows:

  £ million

  Top five UK exports to Yemen

  Paper, paperboard and articles of paper pulp

  7.5

  Power generating machinery and equipment

  4.5

  Chemical materials and products nes1

  4.4

  Professional, scientific and controlling instruments

  3.4

  General industrial machinery

  3.0

  Top five UK imports from Yemen

  Professional, scientific and controlling instruments

  4.5

  Power generating machinery and equipment

  2.4

  Telecommunications and sound recording equipment

  0.6

  Specialised industrial machinery

  0.3

  Transport equipment excluding road vehicles

  0.2

  1 Not elsewhere specified within the Standard International Trade Classification.

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs and Excise.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of claims for disability living allowance have been(a) refused and (b) granted after appeal in each month since April 1996 in (i) Great Britain and (ii) each region. [14737]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 7 November 1997]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Disability Living Allowance statistics do not distinguish between reviews and appeals relating to first claims, and reviews and appeals relating to existing awards. A claim may be successful on review or appeal for a variety of reasons, for example because additional information has been received or the claimant's condition has deteriorated.
  633

  Disability living allowance: claims reviews and appeals1,2

  Initial claims decided

  Reviews decided

  Appeals decided

  total

  refusals

  Total

  successful

  total

  successful

  April 1996

  41,533

  22,255

  22,461

  9,224

  2,542

  1,648

  May 1996

  45,576

  24,234

  27,253

  11,352

  2,769

  1,744

  June 1996

  41,969

  22,360

  29,381

  12,109

  2,964

  1,784

  July 1996

  46,049

  24,949

  34,119

  14,036

  3,013

  1,811

  August 1996

  41,791

  21,937

  31,781

  12,700

  2,900

  1,731

  September 1996

  43,219

  22,869

  26,231

  10,578

  2,899

  1,720

  October 1996

  50,536

  26,930

  32,078

  12,923

  3,766

  2,227

  November 1996

  45,754

  24,302

  32,429

  12,786

  3,366

  1,946

  December 1996

  34,822

  18,515

  24,151

  9,461

  2,660

  1,595

  January 1997

  43,750

  23,235

  37,924

  14,871

  3,558

  1,979

  February 1997

  40,603

  22,317

  32,603

  12,521

  2,746

  1,521

  March 1997

  40,193

  22,223

  28,923

  11,194

  2,368

  1,358

  April 1997

  43,133

  24,121

  32,757

  12,712

  3,200

  1,761

  May 1997

  36,489

  19,706

  27,895

  10,533

  2,620

  1,465

  June 1997

  41,696

  23,139

  21,458

  8,022

  3,054

  1,705

  July 1997

  46,259

  25,756

  33,513

  12,854

  3,300

  1,898

  August 1997

  37,621

  20,610

  32,152

  11,976

  2,724

  1,503

  September 1997

  41,453

  22,489

  33,354

  12,454

  3,201

  1,605

  October 1997

  43,697

  23,945

  37,095

  12,972

  3,183

  1,560

  1Reviews were made by adjudication officers in the Benefits Agency. Claimants dissatisfied with reviews can appeal to the Independent Tribunal Service.

  2Both the reviews and appeals figures for a given month will feature initial claims decided in an earlier month.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the timetable for extending the Government's new deal for lone parents to the west midlands. [15478]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Phase 1 of the New Deal for Lone Parents is already available in parts of the West Midlands, offering a comprehensive package of back-to-work help for lone parents—including advice with jobsearch, training, childcare and benefits. In the West Midlands the New Deal for Lone Parents is available in Atherstone, Bedworth, Halesowen, Dudley, Kenilworth, Kidderminster, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stourbridge, Stourport on Severn and Stratford on Avon.

  The New Deal for Lone Parents will be extended to all remaining parts of the West Midlands when it is rolled out across the country from October 1998.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what investment is being made to ensure that there are satisfactory levels of child care support under the new deal for lone parents. [15479]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Government recognise the importance of good quality affordable child care for all working parents, particularly for lone parents who have to cope with bringing up children alone. That is why, when we launched the New Deal for Lone Parents in July this year, additional funds were made available to meet the child care expenses of lone parents who are undertaking jobsearch activities.

  New Deal advisers can offer up to £60 per week to each lone parent to help them pay for child care while they attend job interviews or training. New Deal advisers also have access to information on local child care services so that they can help lone parents find the most suitable child care for their children while they are at work.
  634
  The first phase of the Government's New Deal for Lone Parents, operating in eight areas, has allocated £314,000 for child care during jobsearch in the current financial year 1997–98. Half of this sum has been put aside for these items for the remainder of the first phase, from 1 April to 30 September 1998. For the national programme, estimated costs being used for planning purposes are in the region of £2.5 million for child care during jobsearch for 1998–99, with increased sums for following years. In addition a further £50 million during the lifetime of the Parliament will be set aside to extend help with child care costs through the in-work benefits.

  Lone parents in phase one of the New Deal for Lone Parents—including in the West Midlands—are already benefiting from this measure.

  Mortgage Interest Payments
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will calculate what the standard rate for mortgage interest payments for people on benefits would be on the basis of including bank mortgage rates equally with main building society rates. [15078]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The standard rate for mortgage interest payments for people on benefits would currently be 7.66 per cent. if bank rates had been included equally with the main building society rates.

  Note:
  The revised Financial Statistics Table 7.1L gives the composite building society and bank rate produced by the Building Societies Commission and the Bank of England. The rate of 7.66 per cent. is for the same point in time as the current Standard Interest Rate (7.57 per cent.).

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if former building societies are included in the weighted average basic rates for calculating the standard rate for mortgage interest payments for people on benefits; and if she will make a statement. [15079]
  635
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The standard rate for mortgage interest payments for people on benefits does not take account of basic mortgage rates of the Halifax or Alliance and Leicester, but currently does take account of basic mortgage rates of the Woolwich and Northern Rock.

  Pensions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the planned timetable for the development of stakeholder pensions. [15480]

  Mr. Denham
  We will be making an announcement about the publication of a consultation document on Stakeholder Pensions shortly.

  Following consultation we plan to publish more detailed proposals for Stakeholder Pensions alongside our proposals for the long-term framework for pension reform, in the first half of 1998.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the names, qualifications and experience of the members of the panel reviewing war pensions for noise-induced hearing loss. [13115]

  Mr. Denham
  The Chairman and members of the review team are:

  Chairman:

  Sir Kenneth Calman KCB, MD, FRCS, FRSE

  Chief Medical Officer

  Members:

  Professor Adrian Davis BSc, MSc, PhD

  Head of Epidemiology, Public Health and Clinical Section

  Medical Research Council, Institute of Hearing Research

  Nottingham.

  Professor Linda Luxon BSc, FRCP

  Professor of Audiological Medicine

  University College London Medical School.

  Professor Mark Lutman BSc, MSc, PhD

  Professor of Audiology

  Institute of Sound and Vibration Research

  University of Southampton.

  Dr. Guy Lightfoot BSc, MSc, PhD

  Senior Audiological Scientist

  Department of Clinical Engineering

  Royal Liverpool Hospital.

  Member and Secretary:

  Dr. Elizabeth Braidwood BSc, MBChB, MRCP(UK), MRCGP

  War Pensions Medical Policy Adviser.

  Earnings Disregards
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate what the level of all earnings disregards under income support, family credit and housing benefit would be had they been uprated in line with earnings since 1988. [12779]
  636
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is set out in the table.

  Benefit

  Rate when introduced

  Date of introduction

  Current rate

  Value if increased in line with earnings since date introduced

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  (£)

  Income support

  5

  April 1988

  5

  8·50

  10

  October 1996

  10

  10·40

  15

  April 1988

  15

  25·60

  Family credit

  51·45

  April 1988

  77·15

  87·70

  Family credit

  40

  October 1994

  60

  44·75

  child care

  disregard

  Housing benefit

  5

  April 1988

  5

  8·50

  10

  April 1988

  10

  17·10

  15

  April 1988

  15

  25·60

  15

  April 1988

  25

  25·60

  Housing benefit child care disregard

  40

  October 1994

  60

  44·75

  child care

  disregard

  Fair Trade (Coffee and Tea)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary State for International Development,Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if she will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in her Department. [15498]

  Mr. Field
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Prime Minister has given today. All procurement decisions in this Department are based on the Government's policy of value for money.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Tax Advice
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of his Deparmtent on the purchase of tax avoidance advice; and if he will make a statement. [13260]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 November 1997]: A non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department sought external advice in 1995–96,1996–97 and 1997–98 to enable it to comply with its statutory tax obligations. This Department has in 1997–98 sought limited external advice on issues arising under another country's tax laws. In neither case was this advice sought for tax avoidance purposes.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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.[13259]
  637
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 November 1997]: Spending by this Department, its executive agency, and non-departmental public bodies on tax consultants and other external tax advice was as follows:

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (a) FCO

  (i) Consultants

  0

  0

  0

  (ii) Other

  0

  0

  1£7,000

  (b) Agency

  (i) Consultants

  0

  0

  0

  (ii) Other

  0

  0

  0

  (c) NDPBs

  (i) Consultants

  0

  £5,827

  £2,702

  (ii) Other

  0

  0

  0

  1 Estimate.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the resolution to be considered by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons. [14721]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are committed to the goal of nuclear disarmament and continue to hold the International Court of Justice in high regard. We have said that we will press for multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons and, when satisfied with progress, will ensure that British nuclear weapons are included in multilateral negotiations. We will, however, vote against the resolution because of its selective quotation of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the threat or use of nuclear weapons, and its unrealistic call for time-bound multilateral negotiations.

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) his Department's policies and initiatives designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) the departmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce other greenhouse gases; if he will estimate for each the annual reduction in tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions achieved in the most recent year for which figures are available compared to those for 1990; and what estimate he has made of further reductions, or increases, predicted for 2000 and 2010, assuming continuation of current policies. [15543]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom's Second Report under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which was published in February 1997. It reports the UK's progress in implementing its programme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gives a projection of what the programme is expected to deliver by 2000. The report projects forward what the current programme is expected to achieve to 2020.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Belarus
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the support the United Kingdom is giving to the Republic of Belarus in respect of the effects of the Chernobyl disaster on Belarussian children. [15824]

  Clare Short
  The Untied Kingdom is providing support through the European Commission and other international agencies such as the World Health Organisation for a range of programmes in Belarus designed to ameliorate the effects of the Chernobyl disaster. We have previously provided support directly through our own Environmental Know How Fund for post-Chernobyl programmes, including food screening for radioactive contamination.

  Southern Sudan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will extend short-term emergency aid to the people of the Western Equatorial region in Southern Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [14830]

  Clare Short
  We are ready to consider proposals put to us to help alleviate the suffering of victims of short-time emergencies in the Western Equatorial region in Southern Sudan. We have already supported three non-governmental Organisation projects in the region this year.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Gender Awareness Training (Judiciary)
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will establish gender awareness training for all the judiciary. [15022]

  Mr. Hoon
  Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), which is a non-departmental governmental body. It has held a number of sessions in both induction and continuation training on equal treatment, including gender awareness, and is considering how training in this area might be developed.

  Lay Magistrate training is delivered by Magistrates' Courts' Committees but the JSB has a role is setting the syllabus. Lay Magistrates already address the issue of equal treatment for all in the light of their judicial oath and the JSB has recently begun a study to identify the skills and knowledge required by Lay Magistrates to ensure equality of treatment for all who appear in their courts.

  Fair Trade (Coffee and Tea)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development,Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if he will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in his Department. [15494]
  639
  Mr. Hoon
  I refer to the answer which the Prime Minister has given today. All procurement decisions in my Department are based on the Government's policy of value for money.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Service
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Annual Report and Accounts for the Prison Service. [16411]

  Mr. Straw
  I am pleased to report that I have today published the Prison Service Report and Accounts for 1996–97, along with those for 1995–96. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  In future, we will aim to publish Prison Service Annual Reports and Accounts within six months of the end of the financial year.

  Lottery Draws
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to prevent frequent lottery draws in pubs and other premises. [16435]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government have given careful consideration to the issues raised by frequent lottery draws in premises.

  The Gaming Board has expressed serious concern to the Government about plans by a company which runs lotteries on behalf of charities under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 to run frequent on-line lotteries in a range of outlets, including pubs and clubs.

  The 1976 Act did not contemplate on-line lotteries, and therefore does nothing to prevent them. The use of on-line technology would allow the promotion of successive large scale lottery draws, in a series running through the day, simultaneously in a large number of different outlets.

  Such rapid draw lotteries would thus have many of the characteristics of hard gambling. Their unrestricted availability to the public in high streets and neighbourhoods raises serious issues of gambling control.

  Such a development in pubs where, of course, alcohol is available, and other public places, would undermine the long-standing policy which this Government fully support, that the harder forms of gambling should be confined to premises specially licensed for gambling, and with appropriate controls.

  Under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, the then Secretary of State for National Heritage used his powers to direct the Director General of the National Lottery not to license games which encourage excessive participation. The Director General himself has made it clear that he does not consider that rapid play lotteries are an appropriate development for the National Lottery.

  However, the 1976 Act needs to be strengthened to give sufficient protection in the case of other lotteries.

  We therefore propose to introduce legislation to amend the 1976 Act to restrict frequent lottery draws. The measures, which will be introduced in Parliament as soon
  640
  as possible, will not interfere with existing conventional lotteries run for charitable or other purposes. It will only restrict new forms of rapid draw lottery.

  The Government recognise that these lotteries could raise additional money for charities but, given the social risks, we do not consider that the new type of lottery would be an acceptable development. Since this will be primary legislation, those with an interest will have every opportunity to put their points of view in Parliament on the principle and the detail. I am also proposing to publish the legislation in draft form to allow interested parties a few weeks in which to make any representations.

  I have placed in the Library an explanatory document which sets out the position in more detail.

  Winson Green Prison
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the detention of visitors to Winson Green Prison on 14 October; and how many children were detained. [15191]

  Ms Quin
  On the morning of 14 October 1997, the movement of all traffic and persons into and out of Birmingham prison was suspended for approximately two and a half hours to forestall a suspected escape attempt. This is in line with security procedures. As a result, 15 adult visitors to prisoners were required to remain in the prison until normal operational procedures could be resumed. There were no children among this number.

  Refreshment and toilet facilities were made available and the visitors were kept informed. The prison has apologised to the visitors who were inconvenienced.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimate of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15234]

  Mr. Straw
  The information requested is provided in the following table.

  Year

  Department £

  Agencies£

  Non-departmental public bodies £

  1990–91

  30,080

  —

  1,268

  1991–92

  28,094

  —

  1,122

  1992–93

  19,122

  36,529

  6,270

  1993–94

  15,233

  33,784

  4,427

  1994–95

  15,990

  11,478

  6,523

  1995–96

  22,060

  16,544

  11,959

  1996–97

  35,412

  26,358

  23,289

  1 May to 30 September 19971

  9,351

  17,296

  3,232

  1Provisional.

  Unfortunately, information on expenditure on official hospitality in 1980–81 and 1987–88 is no longer available. In addition, the figures for expenditure by the

  641
  Department's non-departmental public bodies prior to 1994–95 are incomplete because some of the bodies no longer retain the necessary information.

  The figures for expenditure by non-departmental public bodies exclude the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Horserace Totaliser Board because they are not funded by central Government.

  Publicity and Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the total expenditure on all forms of publicity and advertising by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1996–97, (v) the 1997–98, year to date, (vi) the 1997–98, full year estimate and (vii) the 1998–99 planned expenditure. [15237]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: The costs for publicity, including advertising, for my Department from 1993–94 to 1998–99 are as follows:

  Year

  £

  1993–94

  14,152,549

  1994–95

  14,102,358

  1995–96

  10,869,563

  1996–97

  8,327,916

  1997–98 (year to date)

  1,665,176

  1997–98 (forecast)

  4,923,000

  1998–99 (planned)

  4,447,000

  Expenditure on publicity including advertising by my Department's Agencies was as follows:

  Year

  £

  Prison Service

  1993–94

  206,900

  1994–95

  200,00

  1995–96

  565,014

  1996–97

  299,778

  1997–98 (year to date)

  136,828

  Minister

  Dates

  Destination

  Purpose

  Cost £

  Right hon. Jack Straw MP and Joyce Quin MP

  26-27 May 1997

  Brussel

  To attend Justice and Home Affairs Council

  5,350

  Joyce Quin MP

  9-11 June 1997

  Prague

  To attend meeting of Council of Europe Justice Ministers

  2,200

  Michael O'Brien MP

  28-30 June 1997

  Berlin

  To attend Oxford Forum tripartite conference with US and Germany on immigration and integration

  1,200

  Lord Williams of Mostyn QC

  15-19 September 1997

  Paris, Bonn, Dusseldorf and Oslo

  To assess investigation of suspicious deaths procedures, human rights issues and community sentences

  3,850

  Alun Michael MP

  16-19 September 1997

  New York

  To research voluntary sector issues

  10,000

  Joyce Quin MP

  17-18 September 1997

  Paris

  To attend meeting with French Minister of Justice

  1—

  Joyce Quin MP

  26-28 September

  Siena

  To address Anglo-Italian Conference

  300

  Right hon. Jack Straw MP and Joyce Quin MP

  9-10 October 1997

  Luxembourg

  To attend informal Justice and Home Affairs Council

  1,900

  642

  Year

  £

  1997–98 (forecast)

  200,000

  1998–99 (planned)

  not finalised—50,000+

  Fire Service College

  1993–94

  56,000

  1994–95

  35,000

  1995–96

  33,000

  1996–97

  29,000

  1997–98 (year to date)

  16,000

  1997–98 (forecast)

  28,000

  1998–99 (planned)

  not yet allocated

  Passport Agency

  1993–94

  79,945

  1994–95

  127,040

  1995–96

  94,814

  1996–97

  143,899

  1997–98 (year to date)

  12,500

  1997–98 (forecast)

  33,000

  1998–99 (planned)

  not yet allocated

  Forensic Science Service

  1997–98 (year to date)

  280,000

  1997–98 (forecast)

  387,000

  1998–99 (planned)

  not yet allocated

  Prior to 1997–98, under the Forensic Science Service Agency's framework document, publicity was provided by the Home Office and is included in the departmental spend.

  I shall write to the hon. Member, as happened when he last asked a similar question, with regard to expenditure on publicity by my Department's Non-Departmental Public Bodies. This information is not held centrally and will take some time to collate.

  Overseas Travel
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team since 2 May, specifying in each case(a) the participating Minister or Ministers, (b) the destination of the trip, (c) the purpose of the trip and (d) the cost of the trip; and if he will make a statement. [15236]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: The table gives the information requested including costs for the Ministerial delegation.
  643

  Minister

  Dates

  Destination

  Purpose

  Cost£

  Right hon. Jack Straw MP

  20-21 October 1997

  Paris

  To attend meetings with French Interior Minister and Minister of Justice

  2,800

  Joyce Quin MP

  20-21 October 1997

  Strasbourg

  To attend European Plenary Meeting

  2,000

  Joyce Quin MP

  4-6 November 1997

  Stockholm

  To assess prison and probation system

  2,900

  1 No expense incurred by Department.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on overseas travel for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–l91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96,

  (a)Department Related

  (b)Agencies Related

  (c)Non-departmental public bodies Related

  Year

  Travel £

  costs £

  Total £

  Travel £

  costs £

  Total £

  Travel £

  costs £

  Total £

  1994–95

  658,802

  823,914

  1,482,716

  168,372

  98,659

  267,031

  6,766

  2,179

  8,945

  1995–96

  993,768

  1,455,842

  2,449,610

  227,762

  122,312

  350,074

  17,067

  16,831

  33,898

  1996–97

  1,098,892

  1,495,522

  2,594,414

  128,018

  122,665

  250,683

  13,105

  6,298

  19,403

  1997–981

  363,919

  465,194

  829,113

  68,649

  42,582

  111,231

  4,872

  5,250

  10,122

  1 May to September.

  Information relating to 1980–81 is no longer held. That relating to 1987 to 1994, and a separate breakdown relating to air fares, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Parenting Classes
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he has to introduce minimum standards or qualifications for persons offering parenting classes; and if he will make a statement; [15278]

  (2) what proposals he has to set down minimum requirements for the content and duration of training and guidance sessions for parents as described in the consultation paper "Tackling Youth Crime"; and if he will make a statement. [15279]

  Mr. Michael
  Reform of the youth justice system is one of the Government's key priorities. At the heart of our approach to youth crime are a determination to reassert the importance of personal and social responsibility with more emphasis placed on making young offenders and their parents take more responsibility for their actions. Up to now, insufficient help or attention has been given to parents to change offending behaviour by their children. Action will include the introduction of a new parenting order which will help parents to accept their responsibilities for the behaviour of their children.

  The parenting order will contain two elements. There will be an element which allows the court to direct that parents exercise control over their children and an element which allows the court to impose a requirement on parents to attend training and guidance sessions. This latter element of the order can last up to three months and require the parent to attend for no more than one session in any one week. The order will be supervised by a responsible officer who will, in the short term, probably be a member of the Social Services Department. In the longer term, it is envisaged that following the
  644
  (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997; and if he will provide a breakdown to show (1) air fares and (2) other expenditure relating to overseas travel. [15235]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: The available information on overseas travel and related expenditure is as follows:

  establishment of Youth Offender Teams it will be a member from those teams. We intend to include proposals for the parenting order and the establishment of Youth Offender Teams in the forthcoming Crime and Disorder Bill.

  It is envisaged that a Responsible Officer will arrange for the provision of guidance sessions for parents. The introduction of Parenting Orders will be piloted. No decision has yet been made on how we will conduct the pilot exercise. The pilots will allow us to consider appropriate guidance on the best use of the Parenting Order and on standards to be met.

  Race Relations
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for section 11 funding; and what assessment he has made of their impact on education funding in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. [15694]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have made it clear that the previous plans which would have meant a reduction in the level of funding from £83 million this year to £43 million next year will not stand. This will be of special significance for Tower Hamlets, which is the largest single recipient of section 11 grant.

  We shall shortly let local authorities have more precise information about arrangements after August 1998, when current funding approvals are due to run out.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration detainees were held in immigration detention centres and HM prisons or other places of detention on the latest date for which figures are available, setting out the number of detainees at each named establishment and their national origin. [14584]
  645
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information on person held in detention under immigration powers as at 30 September 1997 by place of detention and nationality is given in tables 1 to 3.

  Table 1: Persons recorded as being in detention1 solely under Immigration Act powers, by immigration detention centre, as at 30 September 1997

  Establishment

  Total detainees

  Campsfield

  110

  Dover Harbour

  8

  Harmondsworth

  91

  Harwich

  0

  Heathrow's Queen's Building

  15

  Manchester Airport

  9

  Tinsley House

  149

  Total

  382

  1 Excluding persons detained in police cells.

  Table 2: Persons recorded as being in detention1 solely under Immigration Act powers, by prison establishment, as at 30 September 1997

  Establishment

  Total Detainees

  Aberdeen

  4

  Belmarsh

  9

  Birmingham

  7

  Blakenhurst

  2

  Bristol

  2

  Brixton

  14

  Bullingdom

  12

  Canterbury

  12

  Chelmsford

  3

  Doncaster

  3

  Durham

  3

  Elmley

  2

  Greenock

  5

  Haslar

  138

  High Down

  35

  Holloway

  21

  Leeds

  8

  Lewes

  3

  Liverpool

  5

  Longriggend

  2

  Manchester

  3

  Norwich

  3

  Pentonville

  5

  Reading

  2

  Rochester

  185

  Wandsworth

  10

  Winchester

  4

  Wormwood Scrubs

  14

  Others

  12

  Total

  528

  Table 3: Person recorded as being in detention1Solely under Immigration Act power, by nationality, as at 30 Septemper 1997

  Nationality

  Total Detainees

  Albania

  7

  Algeria

  69

  Angola

  9

  Bangladesh

  24

  Bulgaria

  8

  China

  41

  Columbia

  13

  646

  Table 3: Persons recorded as being in detention1 solely under Immigration Act powers, by nationality, as at 30 September 1997

  Nationality

  Total Detainees

  Cyprus

  14

  Ecuador

  7

  Egypt

  4

  France

  4

  Gambia

  14

  Ghana

  51

  Greece

  3

  India

  144

  Iran

  7

  Israel

  3

  Ivory Coast

  2

  Jamaica

  33

  Kenya

  14

  Lebanon

  6

  Liberia

  7

  Libya

  3

  Malaysia

  2

  Morocco

  6

  Netherlands

  3

  Nigeria

  129

  Pakistan

  70

  Poland

  9

  Romania

  9

  Sierra Leone

  2

  Slovakia

  4

  Somalia

  7

  South Africa

  6

  Spain

  2

  Sri Lanka

  17

  St. Lucia

  2

  Sudan

  4

  Tanzania

  5

  Tunisia

  3

  Turkey

  32

  Uganda

  3

  USA

  3

  Former USSR

  14

  Venezuela

  2

  Former Yugoslavia

  10

  Democratic Republic of Congo

  10

  Zimbabwe

  2

  Stateless2 and Nationality Doubtful

  8

  Other

  59

  Total

  910

  1 Excluding persons detained in police cells.

  2 Excluding Palestine and Hong Kong stateless persons.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department When he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Spelthorne dated 19 August relating to immigration issues raised by Mr.L.J.Pope of Shepperton. [15635]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I shall be writing to the hon. Member shortly, further to the reply sent on 30 October by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withihgton (Mr. Bradley)

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will give a substantive reply to the hon. Member's letters of 8 August 1997 and 17 October 1997 concerning the case of Shaukat Hayat, ref. DO 14448. [15862]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have written to my hon. Friend.

  Huntingdon Life Sciences Laboratory
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Huntingdon Life Sciences Laboratory is due to have its Animal Procedures Licence reviewed; if he will list the improvements required to prevent the licence form being revoked; and if he will make a statement. [15303]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The 16 conditions which the establishment had to meet before an application for a new Certificate of Designation could be considered were listed on 27 October in a reply to a question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock),Official Report, column 744. These conditions have been met and a new Certificate of Designation was granted on 29 September. The previous Certificate has been revoked.

  Polling Stations (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to ensure that polling stations are accessible to a disabled person wishing to vote independently. [15477]

  Mr. George Howarth
  District and London Borough Councils are statutorily required to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to the disabled. Acting returning officers may apply to the Home Office and Scottish Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps and specially adapted polling screens to make polling stations accessible for those disabled voters who wish to vote in person. There is no limit on the number of applications which they may make for grant assistance. The Government are also considering the report "Polls Apart 2" published by SCOPE to see what further advice might be provided to acting returning officers.

  Group 4
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Home Office Ministers, officials and Prison Service staff have taken paid employment with Group 4 Securitas after leaving his Department; how many of those employees were formerly responsible for overseeing, managing or inspecting contracts for private prisons; and if he will make a statement. [14466]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: Group 4 Prison and Court Services Limited have employed 20 former Prison Service employees. All were previously governor grades. Two had worked on private sector contracts whilst in the Prison Service.

  Two governor grades are currently awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Office to commence employment with Group 4.

  Information in respect of the employment of other officials and former Home Office Ministers is not available.

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) his Department's policies and initiatives designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b)s the departmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce other greenhouse gases; if he will
  648
  estimate for each the annual reduction in tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions achieved in the most recent year for which figures are available compared to those for 1990; and what estimate he has made of further reductions, or increases, predicted for 2000 and 2010, assuming continuation of current policies. [15537]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom's Second Report under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which was published in February 1997. It reports the United Kingdom's progress in implementing its programmes for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gives a projection of what the programme is expected to deliver by 2000. The report projects forward to 2020 what the current programme is expected to achieve.

  Emergency Communications Working Party
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the purpose of the ad hoc working party on emergency communications; who attends its meetings; how often it meets; on what dates it has met since 1993; when it was established; and if the papers of the working party are made available to the public. [15533]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The ad hoc working party on emergency communications (AWPEC) first met in 1985. It provides a forum for the exchange of information on emergency communications between the Home Office, other home departments and local authorities. It has met in March and September 1993, April and October 1994, April and December 1995, July 1996 and February 1997. The working party proceedings have not been made available to the public.

  EU Conventions
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, columns 74–6, relating to two conventions of the European Community concerning extradition between its member states additional to those extant, by what means and on what dates each convention received parliamentary scrutiny; what consultation Ministers held with other bodies and persons affected by each convention; what notice was given to the public of the drafts of each convention; by what means the conventions will be ratified; when he expects to introduce legislation to amend the Extradition Act 1989; and what plans he has to publish explanatory memoranda prior to that date. [15566]

  Mr. Michael
  The right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), the previous Home Secretary, wrote to the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees on 3 March 1995 about the Convention on Simplified Extradition Procedure, enclosing a copy of the draft Council Act, a copy of the draft Convention and an Explanatory Note. He wrote to the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees on 3 April 1996 about the Convention Relating to Extradition Between Member States of the European Union enclosing a copy of the draft Convention, the draft Council Act and an Explanatory Note. He wrote again to the Chairman of the Select Committee on the European Communities on 7 May 1996. A further letter was sent to the Chairman of
  649
  Sub-Committee E, House of Lords, on 25 June 1996 in response to comments received by that Committee from Liberty, Justice and Fair Trials Abroad.

  Government consultation was carried out at official level with interested Whitehall Departments. During the course of negotiations, European Union conventions remain confidential between member states. Each member state is required to complete its own internal procedures to provide for ratification. In the case of the United Kingdom, this will require primary legislation to amend the Extradition Act 1989. I am not in a position to announce when this legislation might be introduced.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those Private Finance Initiative contracts entered into by his Department which transfer(a) volume risk, (b) risk of a return lower than one tied to movements in the retail prices index and (c) risk associated with ownership of the capital asset after the contract period; and if he will make a statement. [15593]

  Mr. Straw
  The following Private Finance Initiative contracts entered into by my Department transfer:

  (a) volume risk:

  Police National (telecommunications) Network

  Prison PABX system

  Immigration Caseworking project

  United Kingdom Passport Agency passport processing contracts

  Secure Training Centre, Cookham Wood

  Coldingley Prison Industries Workshop

  (b) risk of a return lower than one tied to movements in the retail
  price index:

  Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse

  Her Majesty's Prison Parc

  Her Majesty's Prison Lowcham Grange

  Secure Training Centre, Cookham Wood

  Police National (telecommunications) Network

  Immigration Caseworking project

  United Kingdom Passport Agency passport processing contracts

  Prison PABX system

  Gatwick Immigration Detention facilities

  Coldingley Prison Industries Workshop

  (c) risk associated with ownership of the capital asset after the
  contract period:

  Police National (telecommunications) Network

  Immigration Caseworking project

  United Kingdom Passport Agency passport processing contracts

  Prison PABX system

  Gatwick Immigration Detention facilities

  Coldingley Prison Industries Workshop

  All Home Office contracts are signed with value for money in mind.

  Transfer of volume risk is impractical for contracts for prison facilities, as the client has control over the level of business. In such cases, risk is transferred by payment in relation to the contractor's liability to ensure that contractually specified facilities are made available to the demanding contractual timetable and that the availability of the service is maintained at a high level thereafter.
  650
  Payments to contractors may fall below movements in retail price levels if service quality is below specified standards.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital assets his Department will acquire under signed Private Finance Initiative contracts; what is the value of those assets; if, in each case, his auditors have provided an opinion that the asset will be recognised by the private sector contractor for accounting purposes; and if he will make a statement. [15601]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department will obtain services, not assets, under the duration of signed Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts. Design, Construct, Manage and Finance prisons (Altcourse, Parc and Lowdham Grange) and the Secure Training Centre for young offenders (Cookham Wood) will automatically become the Department's assets at no capital cost at the end of the PFI contracts in 25 and 15 years respectively. The Home Office has an option to acquire assets of the Immigration Caseworking project, and of the United Kingdom Passport Agency's passport processing contracts, at the end of the initial contract, on terms specified in the contracts. Any decision by the Home Office on whether to take up the options will depend on circumstances at the time.

  It is not for the Department's auditors, the National Audit Office, to provide an opinion on whether assets will be recognised by the private sector for accounting purposes.

  Telephones
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the access overload control scheme was established; what is its aim; how many categories there are in the scheme; how many mobile phone companies are subject to the scheme; which agencies or Government Departments are authorised to put the scheme into practice; and how many times the scheme has been put into practice since it was established. [15535]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The access overload scheme was first established in November 1989. Its aim is to ensure that in an emergency, essential users at the scene of an incident will have priority access to cellular radio networks which might otherwise be congested by non-essential users.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the purpose of the Government telephone preference scheme; when it was established; how many categories there are in the scheme; how these categories are defined; and how many times the scheme has been put into practice since 1967. [15534]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The purpose of the Government telephone preference scheme (GTPS) is to provide assured access for essential users in an emergency, when there may be a heavy load placed on the public telephone network, or the network itself may have been damaged. It was established in the late 1950s when there was a threat of massive nuclear war destroying significant parts of the national infrastructure.
  651
  There are three categories in the scheme, the first category being that of essential users such as the emergency services or government response teams. The second category is public call boxes and some payphones, and the third is the general public.

  Records prior to 1987 are no longer available.

  Since 1987, the preference scheme was activated by British Telecom as follows:

  August 1987: Hungerford

  October 1987: South-east England

  January 1890: Southern England

  December 1990: Midlands

  February 1993: Welford upon Avon

  June 1993: Chadford.

  There are two categories in the scheme. First, public access in ten classes of equal status and, secondly, essential user access in three classes.

  The Police Incident Commander has the authority to request the invocation of the scheme or exceptionally, the Cabinet Office, in consultation with the lead Government Department for the incident.

  The scheme has been invoked on three occasions at Aintree, Crewe and Gatwick, all in April 1997.

  Prisons (Health Care)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison establishments in England and Wales have one or more trained health care managers on their staff; and what plans he has to increase the number of staff trained in health care management. [13196]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: Information is not collected centrally on the management qualifications of staff with managerial responsibility for the delivery of health care. All nurse qualified health care staff and doctors will have received some training in health care management, as part of their professional training.

  The Prison Service has an active education and training policy for health care staff, supported through central funds. Governors are encouraged to give priority to management training, particularly in relation to management National Vocational Qualifications for nurses and health care staff in managerial posts.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many health care managers working within the Prison Service have National Health Service experience; and what proportion of health care managers within the service this figure represents. [14508]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: Information is not collected centrally in the form requested. However, data from 122 establishments indicate that on 31 March 1997, 42 health care managers were registered nurses and, therefore, would have had National Health Service experience. This figure represents 34 per cent. of health care managers in those establishments.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the provision of false information to the immigration authorities with a view to obtaining political asylum or British citizenship; and if deportation orders against people providing such information carry rights of appeal. [14289]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  If false information were supplied in support of an application for asylum, this might have a bearing on the credibility of the applicant but would need to be considered as part of the totality of the evidence in determining whether the criteria in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees were met. If it came to light after a grant of asylum that information relevant to the grant had been given falsely, the decision would need to be re-assessed in the light of the totality of the evidence taking account of the new facts.

  Under legislation, all refused asylum seekers have a right of appeal before any removal to a country where they claim to fear persecution.

  As to British citizenship, it is an offence, contrary to section 46 of the British Nationality Act 1981, to make any false statement for the purpose of procuring anything to be done or not to be done under that Act. Where the Secretary of State is misled as to the applicant's identity, the grant of citizenship may be treated as a nullity.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in 1996(a) what was the total cost to the Government of supporting political asylum seekers, (b) how many of them were held in detention and how many subsequently deported and (c) how many illegal immigrants were deported; and what are the figures for the current year to date. [14231]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information regarding the direct cost to Central Government of supporting asylum seekers is given below. This relates to persons seeking asylum on political or other grounds of persecution. I regret that information about the other indirect costs to Central or Local Government is not available, such as the costs involved in providing medical treatment, education, housing and social work for asylum seekers.

  The estimated cost to the Department of Social Security of support for asylum seekers in 1996 was £300 million.

  This information is based on the February, May, August and November 1996 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, and the May 1996 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System. Information on the receipt of other Social Security benefits is based solely on those asylum seekers also claiming Income Support, as asylum seekers cannot be identified from other data sources.
  653
  The Department of Health has contributed to the costs of supporting those asylum seekers not eligible for Department for Social Security benefits, by providing three special grants to local authorities, which totalled £12.7 million in 1996–97. These grants were:
  The Persons from Abroad with Children grant (PFACG) for asylum seeking families— £4.1 million;
  The Asylum Seekers Accommodation grant (ASAG) for adults without children— £5.6 million;
  The Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children grant (UASC)— £3 million.

  Reliable information on the historical flow of persons placed into detention, and of those who were subsequently deported, can be obtained only through examination of individual case records. I regret that the information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost. However, as at 11 December 1996, the number of asylum seekers held in detention, solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971, was 754; the equivalent figure as at 30 September 1997 was 772.

  The provisional figure for the number of persons subject to enforcement action (i.e. served with illegal entry notices or where deportation proceedings had been initiated) removed from the United Kingdom between 1 January 1997 and 30 September 1997 is 4,949. This includes voluntary/supervised departures made after enforcement action had been initiated. The figure covers asylum and non-asylum enforcement cases but excludes persons removed as a result of port refusal procedures. Equivalent information for 1996 can be found in table 7.1

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Other ethnic origin

  Not provided

  Total

  Number of ethnic staff as percentage

  Male

  2,066

  81

  147

  37

  441

  2,772

  9·56

  Female

  2,017

  168

  355

  31

  314

  2,885

  19·20

  Total

  4,083

  249

  502

  68

  755

  5,657

  14·48

SCOTLAND

  Health Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by health care provider, for each of the last four years, the number of contracts each health authority had in place, indicating how many of these had been referred for arbitration within the NHS region; and how many were left unsigned by(a) the provider and (b) the purchaser at the end of the year to which they applied, and, for 1997–98, by the end of October 1997. [14612]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the numbers and status of contracts in place in the NHS in Scotland in the level of detail requested is not collected centrally. No contract disputes have been referred to The Scottish Office for formal arbitration in the last four years.

  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of per capita spending on health services in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available. [14920]
  654
  of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 1996", (Cm 3737). Copies of this publication are available in the Library.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners on remand who are mentally ill; and if he will make a statement. [13721]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: Research published last year by the Institute of Psychiatry following a survey of the prevalence of mental disorder among the remand prison population of England and Wales for the Prison Service considered that 66 per cent. of the adult males, 53 per cent. of the young men and 77 per cent. of the women could be diagnosed as suffering from some form of mental disorder, including harmful or dependent substance misuse.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of(a) the numbers and (b) the percentages of employees in the Immigration and Nationality Department according to (i) gender and (ii) ethnic origin. [14978]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) collects data on the ethnic origin of its staff on a confidential, self declaration and voluntary basis. Details of the breakdown of the ethnic origin and gender of staff in the Directorate is as follows:

  Mr. Galbraith
  Provisional figures indicate that in 1996–97, the level of per capita spending on health services in Scotland was £860.

  Sleep Laboratory
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the funding of the Scottish National Sleep Laboratory in Edinburgh. [14418]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 7 November 1997]: I understand that Health Boards and The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust are in discussion about funding for the Sleep Laboratory in Edinburgh which is a matter primarily for them.

  Monitor Consultancy
  Mr. MacShane
  to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the nature and value of contracts his Department has entered into and (b) discussions Ministers or officials have held with the Monitor Consultancy since 1990. [14949]
  655
  Mr. Chisholm
  [holding answer 7 November 1997]: The Scottish Office and associated agencies have no record of any contracts or discussions with the Monitor consultancy since 1990.

  Fair Trade (Coffee and Tea)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development,Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if he will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in his Department. [15497]

  Mr. Dewar
  I refer to the answer which the Prime Minister has given today. All procurement decisions in my Department are based on the Government's policy of value for money.

  Community Councils
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to encourage local authorities to increase the level of grant to community councils; [15440]

  (2) what has been the level of funding for the Association of Scottish Community Councils for the years 1993 to 1997; what is the projected funding for the year 1997–98; and how many community councils in Scotland are members of the association; [15439]

  (3) what plans he has to encourage the provision of training for community councillors, with special reference to planning and licensing issues. [15441]

  Mr. Chisholm
  Level of grant and other assistance to individual community councils is a matter for local authorities' discretion under Section 55 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. While the Government recognise the value of effective, adequately resourced community councils, they also recognise that local authorities have many competing calls on their available resources and are accountable to their local electorate for their decisions on spending. My right hon. Friend therefore has no plans to intervene in local authorities' consideration of spending priorities involving community councils.

  At a national level, the Scottish Office first awarded grant to the Association of Scottish Community Councils in 1996–97, to the sum of £36,000. Grant proposed for 1997–98 is £37,000. The purpose of the grant is to help the Association develop staff support, run a national office base, and produce a quarterly newsletter. Grant was initially envisaged for three years; grant each year depends on the association meeting relevant targets agreed with the Scottish Office. I understand that 470 community councils are members of the association, although its newsletter is sent to member and non-member community councils alike.

  I understand that training is one of the services that the association aims to facilitate. Local authorities also have the discretion to provide training services to community councils under Section 55 of the 1973 Act. In addition, the Scottish Office has granted £27,000 to Planning Aid Scotland over the last three years to train community councillors.

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) his Department's policies and initiatives designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) the departmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce other greenhouse gases; if he will estimate for each the annual reduction in tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions achieved inthe most recent year for which figures are available compared to those for 1990; and what estimate he has made of further reductions, or increases, predicted for 2000 and 2010, assuming continuation of current policies. [15541]

  Mr. Chisholm
  I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom's Second Report under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which was published in February 1997. It reports the UK's progress in implementing its programme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gives a projection of what the programme is expected to deliver by 2000. The report projects forward what the current programme is expected to achieve to 2020.

  Overseas Travel
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the expenditure by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on overseas travel for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (iv) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997; and if he will provide a breakdown to show (1) air fares and (2) other expenditure relating to overseas travel. [15247]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: Information on overseas travel in the Scottish Office and its agencies is not held separately. Air fares and other expenditure relating to overseas travel cannot be disaggregated from total expenditure on travel and accommodation in the Scottish Office and its agencies without disproportionate costs in staff time.

  Information on non-departmental bodies is not held centrally.

  Farmed Salmon
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Scottish Office will make a decision on whether to license the drugs cypermethrin and ivermectin for the general treatment of sea lice in farmed salmon. [14897]

  Mr. Chisholm
  [holding answer 12 November 1997]: Authorisation of veterinary medicines such as cypermethrin and ivermectin is a matter for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

  Requisite discharge consents enabling the use of ivermectin have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in a number of cases. Further use of this substance has been requested and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering whether to exercise his power of call-in under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
  657
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the financial impact of the lack of a suitable treatment for sea lice on the Scottish salmon farming industry; and what assessment he has made of the welfare implications of sea lice eating farmed salmon. [14803]

  Mr. Chisholm
  [holding answer 12 November 1997]: The cost to the industry of dealing with the problem of sea lice has been estimated to be of the order of £20 million to £30 million per annum. It is a major issue and one which, for welfare as well as economic reasons, requires a variety of solutions, not just medicinal ones. My officials continue to discuss the matter with industry representatives.

  England

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  A. Total number of leg amputation (OPCS4R:X09)

  6,403

  6,504

  6,813

  6,842

  6,890

  6,679

  B. Leg amputation with a primary diagnosis of gangrene (ICD9:785.5) (include in A above)

  761

  714

  667

  738

  684

  553

  C. Leg amputations with gangrence mentioned as a secontary diagnosis (ICD9:785.5) include in A above)

  1,268

  1,141

  1,260

  1,249

  1,286

  1,265

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Currently the cost of this Procedure is not collected centrally and therefore an average cost is unavailable.

  Question relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, For Wales and for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Paracetamol
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health what research he has(a) Commissioned and (b)evaluted into safe paracetamol. [14281]

  Ms Jowell
  We have not commissioned any research into Paracetamol. Paracetamol taken at the recommended dosage is safe. However. Paracetamol is available in combination with the antidote methionine where there is a danger of overdose. Data on the safety of products containing Paracetamol with methionine have been evaluated by the Lincensing Authority and its expert advisory bodies when considering applications for marketing authorisations submitted to the Medicines Control Agency (MCA). Following grant of a marketing authorisation, the MCA continues to monitor safety for all authorised medicinal Product, including those containing Paracetamol and Paracetamol with methionine.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the secretary for Health, Pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson) of 20 May, official Report, column 498, on the subject of multiple Sclerosis, when the report on the way in which health authorities are implementing his Department's Guidelines will be completed; and what consultation his Department undertook with the Multiple Sclerosis Society relating to the implementation of the guidelines. [14471]

HEALTH

  Leg Amputation
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health how many leg amputations caused by gangrene there were in the United Kingdom between 1977 and 1997; and what is the average cost of such operations to the National Health Service. [12740]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information available on the number of leg amputations carried out in National Health Service hospitals in England where gangrene is mentioned as a primary or secondary cause, is set out in the table.

  Mr.Boateng
  Official have collected details about how health authorities are implementing the guidance. The Department has kept in touch with the Multiple Sclerosis Society about the implementation of the guidance the past year.

  Social Service
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the report, "Removing Barriers", Published by the Local Government Association; and if he will make a statement. [14585]

  Mr. Boateng
  We welcome the Local Government Association report, "Removing Barriers: the case for a New Deal for Social Service and Social security". Both my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Social Security are ensuring that it is taken into account in looking at the interface between the social security and social service systems as part of our comprehensive spending reviews.

  Myodil
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health for what reasons Glaxo was granted a lincence for Myodil; and what assessment he has made of overseas evidence that the drug is unsafe. [14608]

  Ms Jowell
  Myodil has been in use since the 1940s and was granted a Product Licence of Right (PLR), when the Medicines Act 1968 came into force . PLRs were reviewed by the Committee on Review of Medicines, which issued advice to the Licensing Authority. Applications for reviewed PLRs were assessed on the basis of the safety, quality for Myodil was granted in 1987 . However, Myodil was taken off the market by Glaxo for commercial reasons later in 1987. The safety of all licensed medicines is kept under continuous review by the committee on safety of Medicines and Medicines Control Agency. Safety data from all sources, including overseas, are included in this process.

  Press Releases (Internet)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health within what time Period his Department's press releases are placed on the Central Office of Information Internet services; and for what reasons press releases are not Placed on the Internet at the same time as they are issued to the media. [14593]

  Ms Jowell
  All the Department's Press releases, other than operational notes solely for the attention of the media, are placed on the central Office of Information's (COI) government press release Internet site at approximately 10.30 am one working day after their issue to the media. COI will shortly be improving their Internet site, as a consequence of which press releases will be available to the public on the same day that they are issued to the media. At present, all Government press releases are updated on the Internet the next working day, in large batches manually. The individual tasked with this then, has other duties to perform at COI. If press releases were placed on the Internet immediately at the time of issue, one dedicated person would have to be deployed for this task. COI have commissioned software specifically designed for them to enable press Releases to be updated and placed on the Internet at regular intervals during the day. This will achieve the same day service.

  Cannabis
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has Commissioned on the use of cannabis and its safety; what the cost of this research was; and where and when it will be Published. [14992]

  Mr. Boateng
  Department of Health officials, including Professionals, are Keeping the available research into the risks and medical use of Cannabis under review. Since 1996, expenditure on this activity through the Policy Research Programme has amounted to £10,705. The Department has not recently commissioned basic research in this area. Misuse of drugs legislation allows for research involving cannabis under Home Office licence. Any Proposed clinical trial would have to be submitted to the Medicines Control Agency in accordance with the Medicines Act 1968. Any application for a licence or a certificate, or both, would be considered in the normal way.

  Meningitis (Southampton)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the extent of the outbreak of meningitis in Southampton; how many persons(a) have died and (b) are under observation; if vaccine is available for all student at (i) Southampton Institute and (ii) Southampton University; and if he will make a statement. [14729]

  Ms Jowell
  There have been six confirmed cases of meningitis in the Southampton area since 1 October. Three Patients have died;three have recovered, and been discharged From hospital. One Patient is under observation for suspected meningitis.

  At Southampton University vaccine has been given to all first year students, all staff and all those resident or working in the halls of residence. The University has now made vaccine available to all students. A programme of vaccination for all first year students and all students
  660
  living in halls of residence at Southampton Institute started on 10 November and is expected to be completed by 14 November.

  Renal Services (Lancashire and Cumbria)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the provision of renal services in the Lancashire and Cumbria health districts. [14766]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have no plans at this time to review renal services in the Lancashire and Cumbria health districts. However, my hon. Friend may wish to refer to the National Renal Services Review, completed and published in 1996, which reported on reconfigurations of renal services throughout England.

  Accident and Emergency Services
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of accident and emergency services in Gloucestershire. [14906]

  Mr. Boateng
  The future pattern of accident and emergency services in Gloucestershire is a matter for Gloucestershire Health Authority. The health authority is currently undertaking public consultation on "Health Gloucestershire: A five year strategy for health and health services"; the strategy does not propose any changes to the current pattern of accident and emergency services in the health authority area at this stage.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the average size of population in the catchment area of a general hospital needed to sustain a full accident and emergency service. [15503]

  Mr. Boateng
  Health authorities and National Health Service trusts should provide an accident and emergency service which meets the needs of local people. The size of the population served by accident and emergency departments will therefore vary according to local circumstances.

  There is evidence that seriously ill and injured patients do better in larger departments where a high proportion of care is offered by consultant staff, with access to backup from a range of specialist departments. In May 1995 the Department of Health published the "Review of Literature on Accident and Emergency Departments and Clinical Outcomes copies of which have been placed in the Library."

  Advocacy Services (Children)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advocacy services are available to children on a national basis; What support they receive From public Funds; what national standards of operation apply to such services. [15039]

  Mr. Boateng
  Many local authorities and voluntary organisations Provide advocacy and voluntary organisations Provide advocacy services to children. This year the Department of Health has contributed a total of £93, 163 to help some voluntary organisations provide information and advocates for them. This includes recent Funding to assist the development of national standards of advocacy.
  661
  These are unlikely to be implemented fully for a further two years. Advocacy services are not required to be inspected by local authority Inspection units; and the Department of Health has not undertaken any monitoring via its Social Services Inspectorate.

  NHS Purchasing
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next intends to market-test the central purchasing function of the NHS. [15083]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are no plans to market test the central purchasing function of the National Health Service Supplies Authority.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the care and services available for cystic fibrosis sufferers and their families. [15053]

  Ms Jowell
  Over the past 20 years or more there has been progressive improvement in the care of people with cystic fibrosis, reflected in the increasing numbers who survive into adulthood. A follow up study by the Clinical Standards Advisory Group of access to, and availability of, specialist services, completed in 1996, found that access to such services for patients with cystic fibrosis had been improved in most regions since the original study three years earlier. The follow-up report was sent to health authorities and trusts in December 1996 with a request that they consider carefully the suggestions for action, and in particular the need for continuing innovation in contracting. We shall continue to work with health professionals and all those with an interest to improve the care of people with cystic fibrosis and their quality of life.

  Chiropody and Podiatry
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the guidelines that are issued and health needs assessments that health authorities undertake to ensure the availability of chiropody and podiatry services to meet the needs of the local population. [15364]

  Mr. Boateng
  A joint Department of Health/National Health Service task force conducted a review of NHS chiropody services in 1994. Its report, "Feet First", provides guidance to the NHS on planning and delivering chiropody services. As with other health care services, local health authorities determine the quantity and scope of the chiropody services they are able to provide for their residents. They have to take into account the total resources available to them and bear in mind local priorities and circumstances.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to safeguard the provision of chiropody on the NHS. [15431]

  Mr. Boateng
  Chiropody is one of the range of National Health Service services provided to meet the needs of the population. The quantity and scope of chiropody services is determined by individual health authorities and general practitioner fundholders in the light of local priorities and resources.
  662
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the number of(a) face-to-face contacts and (b) initial contacts, with chiropody and podiatry staff for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1994–95. [15363]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information for 1996–97 is not yet available. The numbers of reported patient contacts with the chiropody service in the last three years in England are as follows.

  Thousands

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Total face-to-face contacts1

  8,005

  8,270

  8,328

  Initial face-to-face contacts2

  1,006

  975

  951

  1 A contact is any face-to-face meeting between a member of chiropody staff and an individual patient or patient's proxy, where treatment or advice is given.

  2 An initial contact is the first in an episode of care with a service provider. An episode of care may he initiated by a referral to the chiropody staff from a hospital, general practitioner or other health service professional.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the NHS expenditure on NHS chiropody and podiatry in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1994–95. [15370]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is contained in the table:

  Total expenditure on community chiropody services England— 1994–95 to 1996–97

  Chiropody £000s

  1994–95

  90,122

  1995–96

  96,674

  1996–97

  99,647

  Note:

  Figures for 1996–97 are provisional.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the budget for each health authority or health board allocated for chiropody and podiatry services in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1995–96. [15369]

  Mr. Boateng
  Health authorities are not normally allocated budgets for particular services or individual client groups. Information on local spending decisions or particular services is not collected centrally. It is for authorities to make their own decisions about the level of resources required in each case on the basis of an assessment of local needs and priorities, and taking into account the national priorities set by Government.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health authorities which have notified his Department of(a) reductions or increases in chiropody services in 1996–97 relative to 1995–96 and (b) planned reductions or increases in chiropody services in 1998–99. [15371]

  Mr. Boateng
  Health authorities are not required to notify the Department of changes in activity in particular services. Although the Department wishes to see health authorities and general practitioner fundholders provide the full range of National Health Service services including chiropody, detailed planning decisions on levels of provision are taken locally according to the needs of the population served.

  Lariam
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were taken into account by the Malaria Advisory Committee when recently recommending that travellers to any part of the world for two weeks or less should not take Mefloquine (Lariam); and what assessment he had made of the need for guidance for those travelling for more than two weeks but less than six months. [15450]

  Ms Jowell
  The "Guidelines for the prevention of malaria in travellers from the United Kingdom", which were published in September this year, give full details of the issues considered and references used by the group of experts who compiled them. The guidelines are comprehensive and cover periods of travel of varying lengths, including advice for travel more than two weeks but less than six months. The guidelines advise that the prophylactic regimen of choice will depend on a variety of factors such as the level of risk from malaria which exists in the country to be visited, the length of stay, the activities the traveller will be engaging in, the traveller's medical history, the effectiveness of each prophylactic regimen and the potential adverse effects of the regimen. The guidelines do recommend mefloquine for trips shorter than two weeks if the risk of highly chloroquine resistant malaria is high.

  Organ Donation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the letter of 7 October from the Minister of State (POH/6/5437/13), what was the outcome of the meeting with Robert Johnson and Dr. N. J. Evans, about opt-out organ donation. [14470]

  Mr. Boateng
  Ministers have met with a number of organisations in the transplant field, including Mr. Robert Johnson, transplant surgeon and President of the British Transplantation Society, and Dr. N. J. Evans, Chairman of the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority about opt-out organ donation. These meetings have been most helpful and have contributed to our current consideration of options for the way forward in transplantation.

  Thalidomide
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) evaluated into the use of thalidomide in the treatment of (i) leprosy, (ii) tuberculosis and (iii) AIDS-related wasting and mouth ulcers; and if he will make a statement. [15009]

  Ms Jowell
  Thalidomide is not used in the United Kingdom in the treatment of tuberculosis. It has an important place in the management of some patients with leprosy as set out in the Departments "Memorandum on Leprosy". The Department has considered studies carried out on the use of thalidomide in the treatment of leprosy but has not undertaken research in this area. Copies of the latest edition of the Memorandum, issued in August of this year, are available in the Library. Thalidomide has been used for treating AIDS related wasting and mouth ulcers but the Department has not undertaken or evaluated any research on this topic. As thalidomide is not licensed for such treatments it is only available on a "named 664
  patient basis" and the use of the drug is a matter for clinicians and patients to discuss and agree according to individual circumstances.

  Antioxidants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) evaluated into the risk posed to cancer patients by the consumption of antioxidants; and if he will make a statement. [15010]

  Mr. Boateng
  No research has been undertaken or evaluated by this Department into the risk posed to cancer patients by the consumption of antioxidants. The Medical Research Council, the main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research, provided support in 1995–96 for the following projects in the general area of antioxidants and the development of cancer, although these projects addressed the question of the anticarcinogenic effect of antioxidants rather than the effect of antioxidants on cancer once established:Mechanisms of modulation of carincogenesis by antioxidants: genetic control of the anticarcinogenic response in mice (MRC Toxicology Unit, Leicester);
  Prospective markers of antioxidant status in relation to future cardiovascular disease, lung and stomach cancer (MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit in Cambridge). This study was funded by the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme;
  the European Prospective investigation of Cancer (EPIC) which is a prospective study to identify dietary factors and dietary profiles which modify the risk for a range of chronic diseases including cancer. This takes the form of both direct support to the MRC Biostatistics Unit and grant support to participants;
  a human study at the MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit of an individual's lifetime nutritional habits and their relative risk of developing cancers of the breast and bowel.

  Xenotransplantation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a National Standing Committee to oversee the development of xenotransplantation; and if he will make a statement. [15011]

  Mr. Boateng
  The establishment of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority was announced on 16 January 1997 in response to the recommendations of the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation. Its membership was announced on 14 March 1997. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 27 October at columns 764–65.

  Gene Therapy and Artificial Organs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase investment in research into the development and application of gene therapy and artificial organs; and if he will make a statement. [15012]

  Ms Jowell
  Research into these areas is being conducted internationally. In some cases industry is in the lead. Within the United Kingdom, the Government will continue to encourage research relevant to these areas according to the scientific quality of proposals and to competing priorities. Much of this research will continue to be taken forward by the Research Councils.

  Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what conditions or restrictions are placed on the Clinical Director of the Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust in relation to his contract with the Nuffield Hospital; [15832]

  (2) when the existing contract for the holder of Clinical Director of the Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS trust expires. [15831]

  Mr. Milburn
  Trusts are free to set terms and conditions of employment as they think fit. Those of Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals Trust (B&THT) are in line with the Whitley Council. We are advised that the Medical Director of the B&THT has no contract with the Nuffield Hospital.

  Each of the executive directors of the B&THT, including the medical director, are employed on rolling 18-month contracts; they have as such no termination date. The executive directors' contracts are subject to regular review by the trust's remuneration committee.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for tuition fees for higher education. [14339]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State plans to require most new entrants to full-time undergraduate courses from autumn 1998 to contribute up to a maximum of £ 1,000 a year to tuition fees, depending on their parents', spouses' or own income. Tuition will continue to be free for students from low-income families.

  Examination Assessors
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what checks are made on the competence of assessors of A-level and GCSE scripts in England and Wales. [14340]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Responsibility for ensuring that A-level and GCSE examiners maintain standards from year to year and across syllabuses lies with the GCE and GCSE Examining Boards, in collaboration with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales. The Boards follow detailed Codes of Practice, agreed annually with the QCA and ACCAC. New examiners are appointed only if they have the relevant qualifications and experience, and the performance of existing examiners is closely monitored.

  Out-of-School Learning and Homework Centers
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made on the development of out-of-school learning and homework centres. [14341]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have made significant progress. last summer Literacy School ran as a Pilot Scheme last summer and 500 will be Supported next year. Study support centres will open shortly at a number of 666
  Premier League football clubs. We will consult shortly on a National Framework for Motivating Pupils outside the Classroom and will continue to work with colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on proposals for Lottery funding to be available for out-of-school hours activities.

  Further and Higher Education (Enrolment)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the number of students entering further and higher education. [14343]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that the Government are setting a target for an extra 500,000 people to enter further and higher education by the year 2002.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the numbers of students entering higher education from neighbourhoods currently with the lowest participation rates; and if he will make a statement. [14344]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government are committed to increasing and widening access to higher education. We will want to follow up the Dearing Report's recommendations for widening access and we are currently analysing the responses to the consultation on the Report. We will make an announcement in due course.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects that every child aged between five and seven years will be taught in a class of 30 pupils or fewer. [14346]

  Mr.Byers
  We shall honour the pledge given before the election and shall have reduced class sizes to 30 pupils or fewer for every five, six and seven-year-old by the end of this Parliament.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new plans he has for the inspection service for establishments caring for the under fives. [14347]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department, jointly with the Department of Health, will be consulting early in the new year on establishing a more uniform regulatory and inspection regime for early years settings providing day care and nursery education.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding he plans to allocate to environmental education. [14348]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Decisions as to what funds to allocate to environmental eduction are for individual schools. Schools manage their own budgets under Local Management of Schools. Also, they can use the funds we have made available under the School Effectiveness Grant, which totals £130.1 million in 1997–98.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations his Department has received about problems created by the admission policies of grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement. [14349]

  Mr. Byers
  Responses to our White Paper "Excellence in Schools" demonstrated very strong support for our aim of ensuring that all admission authorities in an area work together effectively, for the benefit of all parents. The new Code of Practice will set out national guidelines to apply to all LEA and school admission authorities.

  New Deal
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the response of employers to the new deal for young unemployed people. [14350]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate).

  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if young people entering the Gateway phase of the new deal will be able to gain some work experience without losing benefits entitlement. [14351]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  People claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance are able to benefit from work experience as part of an employment or training programme without losing benefit entitlement. This includes young people in the Gateway phase of the New Deal.

  Literacy
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's literacy strategy. [14352]

  Mr. Byers
  Our National Literacy Strategy is an ambitious programme for achieving our target of 80 per cent. of 11-year-olds reaching the expected standard for their age in English by 2002. The strategy will guarantee every primary schools teach the opportunity to learn about the most effective methods of teaching literacy, so that all pupils can achieve their full potential. We shall be investing £50 million next year in training for teachers and in providing books for schools.

  School Applications
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the subject of improving the organisation of applications to schools in England. [14353]

  Mr. Byers
  Our proposals for school admissions have stressed the importance of the development, through local admissions forums, of helpful and timely information for parents and of common timetables for applications. This has been widely welcomed.

  "Excellence in Schools"
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he has responded to the consultation on the White Paper "Excellence in Schools". [14354]

  Mr. Byers
  We received approximately 8,000 responses to the full and summary versions of the White Paper and are considering them all carefully. In response, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already announced a strengthening of the proposed new framework for the organisation of schools, designed to enable schools to remain firmly focused on raising standards. These changes illustrate this Government's commitment to genuine consultation. Further policy announcements in response to the White Paper will be made as appropriate.

  National Grid for Learning
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the national grid for learning. [14355]

  Dr. Howells
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the consultation paper "Connecting the Learning Society" which was launched by the Prime Minister on Tuesday 7 October. This document is available in the Library.

  Early Years Education
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of his new formula for resource allocation for early years education. [14356]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  A copy of the guidance recently issued to local education authorities setting out the arrangements for early years education has been placed in the Library. Funds will be provided to support the Government's policy of providing an education place for all four-year-olds whose parents want it. Details of the funding formula and its impact for individual local authorities will be announced in due course as part of the local government finance settlement.

  School Governors
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to promote a greater awareness of the contribution of school governors. [14357]

  Mr. Byers
  Our White Paper "Excellence in Schools" makes it clear that school governors have a special role as partners in the education service. They provide a vital link between the school and the community, and we propose to strengthen that link by increasing the number of parent governors. We are most grateful to the 300,000 school governors in England who give their time so generously. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has personally written twice to every governing body emphasising the vital role we hope they will play in improving school performance. We are also making available specific training support to help governing bodies in their main task of raising standards in our schools.

  Tennis
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Eduation and Employment (1) if he will estimate the number of tennis courts which have been sold off during the last 10 years by schools and sixth form colleges for housing re-development schemes; [15152]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of (a) schools and (b) sixth form colleges with tennis courts within their grounds, indicating the total number of such courts in (i) 1987 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [15153]

  Mr. Byers
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Higher Education Funding
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount each educational institution funded by the Higher Education Funding Council received from(a) the HEFC, (b) the research councils and British Academy and (c) sources other than the pubic sector for the last year figures are available specifying the amount under (d) received from the institutions endowment. [14626]

  Dr. Howells
  Information on the funding allocated to institutions by the Higher Education Funding Council for England for the academic year 1997–98 is contained in a circular (reference HEFCE Circular 6/97), a copy of which is in the Library. Higher education institutions also receive fees paid via LEAs for students holding mandatory awards.

  The latest information on the funding allocated to institutions by the research councils is contained in a number of tables, copies of which have today been placed in the Library. Comparable information on the funding allocated by the British Academy is not available.

  We do not collect information on income received by institutions from sources other than public funds. The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 specifically debars Government, through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, form having regard to private income in distributing public funds.

  Schools Funding
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the average level of grant per child received by each authority for the provision of primary and secondary school education. [15028]

  Mr. Byers
  Revenue Support Grant for local authorities is provided through the standard spending assessment formula, but it is up to each authority to decide how to fund primary and secondary school education. The following table sets out for 1997–98 the primary and secondary SSA per pupil figures for each local education authority.

  LEA

  1997–98 primary SSA per pupil £

  1997–98 secondary SSA per pupil £

  City of London

  3,017

  7,245

  Camden

  2,975

  3,740

  Greenwich

  2,810

  3,679

  Hackney

  3,179

  4,330

  670

  LEA

  1997–98 primary SSA per pupil£

  1997–98 secondary SSA per pupil£

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,955

  3,827

  Islington

  2,999

  4,026

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,711

  3,630

  Lambeth

  3,107

  4,403

  Lewisham

  2,936

  3,889

  Southwark

  3,029

  4,029

  Tower Hamlets

  3,217

  4,261

  Wandsworth

  2,779

  3,670

  Westminster

  2,789

  3,578

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,429

  3,213

  Barnet

  2,300

  2,975

  Bexley

  2,206

  2,888

  Brent

  2,648

  3,578

  Bromley

  2,180

  2,839

  Croydon

  2,361

  3,125

  Ealing

  2,480

  3,330

  Enfield

  2,399

  3,131

  Haringey

  2,762

  3,721

  Harrow

  2,267

  3,000

  Havering

  2,176

  2,853

  Hillingdon

  2,262

  2,968

  Hounslow

  2,440

  3,154

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,168

  2,825

  Merton

  2,314

  3,030

  Newham

  2,752

  3,618

  Redbridge

  2,323

  3,036

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,126

  2,728

  Sutton

  2,219

  2,866

  Waltham Forst

  2,563

  3,399

  Birmingham

  2,240

  2,960

  Coventry

  2,123

  2,786

  Dudley

  1,954

  2,559

  Sandwell

  2,139

  2,808

  Solihull

  1,961

  2,540

  Walsall

  2,071

  2,701

  Wolverhampton

  2,150

  2,848

  Knowsley

  2,381

  3,177

  Liverpool

  2,295

  3,022

  St. Helens

  2,045

  2,695

  Sefton

  2,038

  2,662

  Wirral

  2,100

  2,763

  Bolton

  2,042

  2,674

  Bury

  1,972

  2,558

  Manchester

  2,359

  3,138

  Oldham

  2,102

  2,732

  Rochdale

  2,114

  2,806

  Salford

  2,139

  2,814

  Stockport

  1,939

  2,547

  Tameside

  2,025

  2,648

  Trafford

  1,993

  2,603

  Wigan

  1,969

  2,572

  Barnsley

  2,038

  2,687

  Doncaster

  2,116

  2,782

  Rotherham

  2,037

  2,655

  Sheffield

  2,068

  2,725

  Bradford

  2,151

  2,845

  Calderdale

  2,050

  2,689

  Kirklees

  2,066

  2,718

  Leeds

  2,041

  2,680

  Wakefield

  1,988

  2,603

  Gateshead

  2,074

  2,736

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,171

  2,846

  North Tyneside

  2,015

  2,664

  South Tyneside

  2,121

  2,780

  671

  LEA

  1997–98 primary SSA per pupil £

  1997–98 secondary SSA per pupil £

  Sunderland

  2,089

  2,744

  Isles of Scilly

  3,576

  4,701

  Bath and North East Somerset

  1,933

  2,483

  Bristol

  2,093

  2,784

  North Somerset

  1,942

  2,552

  South Gloucestershire

  1,902

  2,496

  Hartlepool

  2,098

  2,754

  Middlesbrough

  2,199

  2,935

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2,105

  2,739

  Stockton on Tees

  2,066

  2,707

  Kingston upon Hull

  2,159

  2,834

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  1,961

  2,561

  North East Lincolnshire

  2,077

  2,728

  North Lincolnshire

  2,039

  2,673

  North Yorkshire

  2,006

  2,602

  York

  1,946

  2,565

  Bedfordshire

  2,055

  2,696

  Luton

  2,244

  2,958

  Buckinghamshire

  2,064

  2,712

  Milton Keynes

  2,133

  2,813

  Derbyshire

  1,952

  2,564

  Derby

  2,085

  2,747

  Dorset

  1,963

  2,565

  Poole

  1,943

  2,539

  Bournemouth

  2,033

  2,650

  Durham

  2,043

  2,685

  Darlington

  2,037

  2,683

  East Sussex

  2,094

  2,753

  Brighton and Hove

  2,173

  2,847

  Hampshire

  2,007

  2,630

  Portsmouth

  2,163

  2,831

  Southampton

  2,179

  2,888

  Leicestershire

  1,905

  2,504

  Leicester

  2,208

  2,898

  Rutland

  1,942

  2,466

  Staffordshire

  1,935

  2,533

  Stoke on Trent

  2,043

  2,692

  Wiltshire

  1,988

  2,602

  Thamesdown

  1,979

  2,600

  Berkshire

  2,103

  2,759

  Cambridgeshire

  2,019

  2,650

  Cheshire

  1,976

  2,581

  Cornwall

  2,057

  2,698

  Cumbria

  2,022

  2,644

  Devon

  2,031

  2,663

  Essex

  2,119

  2,781

  Gloucestershire

  1,977

  2,584

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,978

  2,591

  Hertfordshire

  2,135

  2,788

  Isle of Wight Council

  2,166

  2,840

  Kent

  2,103

  2,758

  Lancashire

  2,046

  2,686

  Lincolnshire

  2,041

  2,675

  Norfolk

  2,042

  2,675

  Northamptonshire

  1,999

  2,620

  Northumberland

  2,016

  2,638

  Nottinghamshire

  2,052

  2,695

  Oxfordshire

  2,047

  2,669

  Shropshire

  2,027

  2,650

  Somerset

  1,996

  2,620

  Suffolk

  1,983

  2,599

  Surrey

  2,109

  2,763

  Warwickshire

  1,960

  2,572

  West Sussex

  2,043

  2,674

  England

  2,130

  2,782

  Dance and Drama
  Mr.Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to respond to the Dearing Committee recommendations on the funding of students of dance and drama; and if he will make a statement. [15835]

  Dr. Howells
  Our response of 23 July to the Dearing Inquiry report made it clear that we would review what arrangements might be put in place for providing financial support for dance and drama students when the current scheme expires. This work is being taken forward by officials from this Department and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his Department has lead responsibility for the funding of students of dance and drama. [15836]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department for Education and Employment funds dance and drama courses in public further and higher education institutions through grants to the FEFC and HEFCE. Some students on these courses will be eligible for support through mandatory and discretionary awards and student loans. In addition, the Department will be contribution a minimum of £9 million of new funds to the interim bursary scheme over the four academic years the scheme will run.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the funding of training for dance and drama; and if he will make a statement. [15834]

  Dr. Howells
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has received a number of representations on the subject from various interested bodies.

  Church Schools
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church on the relationship between church schools and local education authorities; and if he will make a statement. [14332]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson).

  Performing Arts Students (Grants)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the discretionary grant system for higher and further education with particular reference to students of the performing arts; and if he will make a statement. [15833]

  Dr. Howells
  We intend to abolish discretionary awards under section 1(6) and section 2 of the Education Act 1962, amended. We are now considering with LEAs and others what new arrangements for post-16 discretionary support might be put in place, including arrangements for students of the performing arts.

  National Curriculum Tests
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve results in the National Curriculum tests for seven, 11 and 14-year-olds in the coming year. [14319]
  674
  Mr. Byers
  On 7 July we published a White Paper, "Excellence in Schools", which set out our agenda for raising standards in schools. A copy of the White Paper is available in the Library.

  Commonwealth Centre: Programme
  Commonwealth Centre: Programme
  UN Arms Register
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  General Affairs Council, Brussels, 10 November
  General Affairs Council, Brussels, 10 November
  The Horse: EU Classification
  The Horse: EU Classification
  Climate Change Convention
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  Mr. Mohammed Sarwar, MP
  Mr. Mohammed Sarwar, MP
  Gulf War: BTx Anti-toxin
  Gulf War: BTx Anti-toxin
  Army Base Storage Estate: Study
  Army Base Storage Estate: Study
  Armed Forces: Personnel Administration
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  Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi
  Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi
  Gulf War: Chemical Agent Detection
  Gulf War: Chemical Agent Detection
  Gulf Veterans and Ill-Health
  Gulf Veterans and Ill-Health
  NATO Defence Procurement: Expenditure
  NATO Defence Procurement: Expenditure
  Per Capita Income and Energy Consumption in the EU
  Per Capita Income and Energy Consumption in the EU
  Perinatal Mortality in the EU
  Perinatal Mortality in the EU
  Invest in Britain, Welsh Development Agency and Locate in Scotland: Roles
  Invest in Britain, Welsh Development Agency and Locate in Scotland: Roles
  Extradition Arrangements
  Extradition Arrangements
  Prison Service: Report and Accounts
  Prison Service: Report and Accounts
  Rapid Draw Lotteries: Proposed Legislation
  Rapid Draw Lotteries: Proposed Legislation
  British Zoo Licensing System
  British Zoo Licensing System
  "Highway Code": Draft Revision
  "Highway Code": Draft Revision
  Hedgerows: Definition
  Hedgerows: Definition
  "Goodwin" Judgment
  "Goodwin" Judgment
  European Court of Justice: Referrals
  European Court of Justice: Referrals