Written Answers of 27 October 1997

CABINET OFFICE

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio how long the millennium dome will remain in place. [12597]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The millennium experience dome will have a greatly enhanced lifespan following the decision to use PTFE-coated glass fibre for the roof. The Government are now considering its potential long-term uses.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio (1) what representations he has received about the use of PVC in the millennium dome; [12737]

  (2) what additives the PVC coating of the millennium dome will contain. [12739]

  (3) what discussions have taken place with the European Commission about the use of PVC for the coating of the millennium dome; [12598]

  (4) what evidence he has evaluated on PVC as an environmentally suitable material for use in coating the millennium dome; [12596]

  (5) what examination has been carried out of the restrictions on the use of PVC in other European countries; [12595]

  (6) where the PVC coating of the millennium dome will be manufactured. [12738]

  Mr. Mandelson
  On 22 August 1997, the New Millennium Experience Company—NMEC—announced its decision to change the roofing material of the Millennium Experience dome from PVC—coated polyester to PTFE—coated glass fibre. The reason for the change was to give the dome a greatly enhanced lifespan, thereby assisting delivery of the Government's aim to ensure an enduring legacy from the millennium experience. The extra longevity and durability of the dome's roof covering as a result of the change to PTFE—coated glass fibre will increase significantly the legacy options which can be considered.

  As part of its earlier considerations about PVC—coated polyester, the NMEC required a full environmental review, taking account of all available information in the UK, Europe and elsewhere, of the material's manufacture and disposal. The NMEC was satisfied that the material met all UK and EU environmental requirements. The company had no discussions with the European Commission but did receive representations about the use and safety of PCV from members of the public, from environmental groups including Greenpeace, and from companies involved in the chemical industry. PTFE—coated glass fibre, which is widely used across the world on large tensile roof structures, does not contain plasticising additives and also meets all UK and EU environmental requirements.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will assess the implications for the legal system of the United Kingdom of ratification of the treaty of Amsterdam, with particular reference to likely changes in court and legal procedures. [12812]

  Mr. Hoon
  Ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam will not affect court procedures in the United Kingdom. Under the treaty, civil judicial co-operation is transferred to the Community pillar, but it will not involve the United Kingdom unless we specifically choose to opt into a particular measure or measures.

  European Human Rights Convention
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the effect on(a) legal precedents, (b) procedures and (c) the operation of the common law in the United Kingdom of (i) the adoption of the European convention on human rights by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and (ii) the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam; and if he will make a statement. [12839]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have set out our proposals on the incorporation of the European convention on human rights into United Kingdom law in the White Paper, "Rights Brought Home," published on 24 October. The White Paper explains the provisions of the Human Rights Bill introduced in another place on 23 October. As regards the treaty of Amsterdam, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to question No. 198N, UIN 12812.

  Gazumping
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he is taking to combat gazumping. [12495]

  Mr. Hoon
  A number of Government Departments are co-operating closely to investigate the whole of the house buying process. My own Department is concentrating on the problem of gazumping with the help of the various institutions whose members provide professional services in the housing market. The various strands of work are being co-ordinated by a ministerial working group comprising Ms Hilary Armstrong, Minister for Local Government Housing, Mr. Nigel Griffiths, Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs, myself as Chairman and key officials from our Departments.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Tourism
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the(a) total number of people employed in the United Kingdom tourism industry and (b) financial contribution to the United Kingdom economy of the tourism industry. [12525]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The latest available figures show that there are around 1.7 million people employed in tourism-related industries in Great Britain. The revenue
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  generated by tourism in the United Kingdom is estimated to be £40 billion for 1996. This is equivalent to approximately 5 per cent. of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to develop a strategy for further development of the United Kingdom tourism industry. [12519]

  Mr. Clarke
  The Government believe that the further development of tourism can best be achieved by working in full partnership with the industry, local authorities, tourist boards and others. On 10 October we therefore announced an expanded role for the Tourism Forum and the creation of a new forum working group on strategic planning.

  Television Reception (Wales)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of households in Wales which can receive(a) HTV, (b) BBC Wales transmissions and (c) both. [12548]

  Mr. Fisher
  Responsibility for the transmission arrangements for television services in the United Kingdom rest with the BBC and the Independent Television Commission. I have been advised that, at present, 98.3 per cent. of the population of Wales has access to television signals from a Welsh transmitter, an English transmitter, or both, which constitute a technically adequate service according to the technical standards agreed by the broadcasters. A total of 96.8 per cent. of the population of Wales can receive HTV, 97.2 per cent. BBC1 Wales and 96.8 per cent. can receive both services.

  Tennis Clubs
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of voluntary-managed tennis clubs in England and Wales; [12708]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of voluntary-managed tennis clubs in England and Wales which are tenants of (a) local authorities, (b) private landowners and (c) public companies. [12709]

  Mr. Banks
  My Department has made no estimate of the number of voluntary-managed tennis clubs in England and Wales or the type of tenure they might have. However, I am pleased that the Lawn Tennis Association is carrying out a comprehensive survey which should address these issues. The results will be available next year.

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12565]
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  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has purchased the Integra Accounting package from GC McKeown Ltd. to perform the processing of payments for goods and services.

  The work to process the payments is undertaken by the Department with some functions outsourced to CSL Managed Services Ltd. It has no co-operative arrangements with other Departments. The Department orders the goods and services, certifies the invoices and enters the information into the computer system. CSL arranges for payment either by payable order, banker's automated clearing service or clearing house automated payment service on behalf of the Department. The cost of implementing the new system during 1996–97 was £112,609 including the cost of some sub-contractors, whilst the cost of the work performed by CSL during 1996–97 was £101,850.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12563]

  Dr. David Clark
  For this purpose, I have responsibility for the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of Public Service and its agencies, and the Central Office of Information.

  In my Department the functions relating to the payment of goods and services are generally performed by integrated accounting services supplied either by a bureau or by in-house development, using either bespoke or package accounting software.

  During the year ending March 1997 the functions of the Cabinet Office, core OPS and the Civil Service College were supplied by the Chessington computer centre. Other arrangements were as follows:

  Agency

  COI

  software package

  Computer Associates

  SAFE

  software package

  Tetra

  GCDA

  software package

  arrangement with SAFE

  CCTA

  software package

  Systems Union

  TBA

  bespoke system

  supported by the Unisys

  PACE

  bureau service

  supplied by the DOE

  Although there were no specific sub-contractual arrangements the COI system is run on hardware supplied and maintained by Hewlett Packard and SAFE has a similar contract with Connectivity Plus. CCTA has a maintenance contract with Touchstone Computers and a management arrangement with Chessington Computer Services.

  The total costs of these systems and services during the year ending March 1997 was £334,093, excluding VAT. However, the Cabinet Office, core OPS and the Civil

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  Service College have now replaced the Chessington bureaux service with new package software supplied by Systems Union.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the number and proportion of(a) Asians and (b) Afro-Caribbeans in each grade in the civil service. [11103]

  align="center">Staff in post at 1 April 1996 grade level by ethnic origin

  Grade level

  Afro-Caribbean

  Per cent. Caribbean

  Afro-Asian

  Per cent. Asian

  Total respondents

  SCS (1 to 5)

  13

  0.34

  43

  1.13

  3,819

  6

  18

  0.42

  91

  2.10

  4,325

  7

  82

  0.55

  216

  1.45

  14,906

  SEO

  68

  0.33

  263

  1.28

  20,500

  HEO

  553

  0.84

  736

  1.12

  65,839

  EO

  1,494

  1.54

  2,280

  2.35

  96,929

  AO

  4,275

  2.97

  5,873

  4.08

  144,099

  AA

  2,212

  3.47

  2,684

  4.20

  63,837

  Other

  5

  0.33

  8

  0.53

  1,505

  Summary information

  8,720

  2.10

  12,194

  2.93

  415,759

  1. Percentages refer to total respondents in grade.

  2. Source MANDATE/Departmental returns.

  3. MANDATE is the Office of Public Service's database of information about civil service personnel.

  It. covers most Government Departments and agencies, those not included in MANDATE are required to complete a manual return for the information.

  4. The figures include both non-industrial and industrial staff.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Drugs Tsar
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Council how many names were selected as a result of the first sift of applicants for the position of drugs tsar. [12932]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The recruitment and assessment service performed an initial sift of all 202 applications for the post of UK anti-drugs co-ordinator. This resulted in the identification of 57 particularly strong candidates. Ministers considered these applications very carefully before interviewing the seven strongest candidates.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Council how many individuals applied for the post of drugs tsar, broken down by main occupational category of applicant. [12931]

  Mrs. Taylor
  A total of 202 applications for the post of UK anti-drugs co-ordinator were received from a very diverse range of candidates by the deadline of 5 September. A breakdown by occupational category cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  VAT
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the(a) procedure and (b) financial effect of VAT base capping in respect of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Union general budget for 1998. [12283]

  Mrs. Liddell
  VAT capping was first introduced for the EC budget in 1988, at a rate of 55 per cent. of 1 per cent. of each member state's gross national product.
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  Dr. David Clark
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 July 1997, c. 314–15.]: Information on the ethnic origin of civil servants is collected using a voluntary, self-classification, confidential questionnaire. The number and proportion of Asian and Afro-Caribbean civil servants, by grade equivalents, who have submitted a questionnaire, as at 1 April 1996, is set out in the table.

  Under the current own resources decision the VAT capping rate is being reduced progressively from 55 per cent. in 1994 to 50 per cent. in 1999. The 50 per cent. rate has applied to Greece, Spain, Ireland and Portugal since 1995. The VAT capping arrangements are broadly neutral for the UK because any change resulting from the application of the capping mechanism is offset a year in arrears by an equal but opposite change to our abatement.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what legislation he plans to introduce for the implementation of value added tax at the point of origin for intra-European Union imports and exports; [12532]

  (2) what proposals he has relating to trans-European Union harmonisation of VAT. [12485]

  Dawn Primarolo
  None. The current EC VAT system, with tax accruing in the member state of consumption for intra-Community transactions, remains in force in the absence of unanimous agreement to change it. The European Commission has yet to produce legislative proposals for changes to the current system, and so discussions on the merits or otherwise of a move to an origin-based system have not even begun. The Government, while supportive of efforts to simplify and modernise the current EC VAT system, is opposed to further unnecessary harmonisation at the Community level.

  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the system of value added taxation in relation to cereal bars, morning bars, and similar products; and if he will make a statement. [12543]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Cereal bars and similar products, other than cakes, are liable to VAT at the standard rate. I have no plans to change their taxation.

  EU Budget
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the correction of budgetary imbalances as experienced in the preliminary draft European Union budget for 1998, and its effect on the United Kingdom contribution to the European Union budget. [12511]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The sterling value of the United Kingdom (UK) abatement contained in the 1998 preliminary draft budget—2,066 mecu—will be determined by the pound/ecu exchange rate which applies at the end of this calendar year. If the rate were to remain at the level it was at on 30 September—£1 = 1.4501 ecu—the reduction to the UK's contribution due to the abatement would be £1,425 million in 1998.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the actual and projected European Union budgets for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; what are the gross and net contributions from the United Kingdom (i) in sterling, (ii) in ecus and (iii) as a percentage of all national contributions in each year; and if he will make a statement. [12290]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The European Community budgets on a calendar year basis.

  The table sets out the information requested in respect of the United Kingdom's gross contribution before abatement for the calendar years 1996, 1997 and 1998.

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total contributions by Member States

  72,160 mecu

  77,372 mecu

  82,313 mecu

  UK gross contribution, before abatement,

  11,000 mecu

  11,332 mecu

  13,631 mecu

  and percentage of total contributions

  15.25 per cent.

  14,65 per cent.

  16.56 per cent.

  UK gross contribution, before abatement, (sterling)

  £8,825 million

  £8,355 million

  £9,400 million

  Sources:

  Figures for total contributions and UK gross contribution before abatement (mecu) taken from: 1996 Supplementary and Amending Budget; 1997 draft Supplementary and Amending Budget: 1998 Draft Budget. The sterling equivalent of the UK figures have been derived by converting at the following exchange rates:

  1996 £1 = 1.2467 ecu; 1997 £ = 1.3564 ecu; 1998 £ = 1.4501 ecu.

  The UK's net contribution for 1996, expressed in sterling and based on the cash transactions which took place during the year, was £2,352 million. The current estimate on the same basis for 1997 is £1,342 million. These net contribution figures include adjustments and corrections made in respect of our VAT and GNP-based contributions, of our abatement and of Community spending for earlier years. The figures are thus not directly comparable to the gross revenue raised in respect of particular Community budgets.

  As is usual, the Government will provide an estimate of the net contribution for the Community budgetary year 1998 in the annual White Paper "Statement on the Community Budget", once the Budget for that year has been adopted and when the revenue and spending requirements for the year are known.
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  The figures in the table and the amounts for the net contribution demonstrate the wide fluctuation to which the UK's contributions to the EC budget are subject. These fluctuations are principally due to a range of technical factors such as the timing of our payments and receipts, adjustments and corrections to our contributions in earlier years, exchange rate movements and changes and corrections in the value of the UK's abatement.

  Single European Currency
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission studies on the impact of a single currency on the number and variety of wholesale trade and retail enterprises in the United Kingdom. [12528]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have established a business advisory group to consider the practical implications of economic and monetary union for businesses, whether or not the United Kingdom were to join the single currency. A wide range of organisations, including those representing shops and small firms, are represented on the advisory group and working parties reporting to it.

  Sterling Coinage
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his Department's proposals for dealing with sterling coinage going out of circulation over the next five years. [12518]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The 50p piece, introduced in October 1969, is the only coin which is currently planned to be withdrawn from circulation over the next five years. It is due to be phased out of circulation and will cease to be legal tender on 28 February 1998. It is being replaced by a smaller and lighter version which was introduced into circulation on 1 September 1997.

  EMU (Publicity)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU funding his Department has sought in relation to publicity in respect of the introduction of European monetary union; in respect of which projects or publications such funding was sought; which bodies produced such publicity; and what control his Department exercised over the content of any publicity. [12968]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have applied for financial assistance to meet half the costs of producing and distributing a guide, "EMU Practical Information for Business". This amounts to around £21,000. The guide was produced entirely by Her Majesty's Treasury to help raise awareness in British business of the practical and strategic implications that the euro would have for their operations whether or not the United Kingdom were to join. Copies of the guide are available in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total expenditure budget on(a) official expenditure and (b) overseas travel by Ministers and officials by his Department in the current Session. [12586]
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  Mrs. Liddell
  Between 1 May and 20 October spending on official hospitality by Ministers and officials amounted to £11,400; and £317,100 has been spent on overseas travel and subsistence.

  Monetary Policy Committee
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 229–30, what guidelines the Monetary Policy Committee has adopted in respect of public comments by its members. [12352]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee meetings record the votes of individual members. Members of the MPC are free to discuss their views in public speeches or comments to the press, but are not permitted to disclose the content of unpublished minutes of the MPC.

  The Committee has, moreover, adopted some guidelines on public comments by members which are designed, inter alia, to avoid confusion around the time of MPC meetings. In particular, the Committee has decided that members should avoid giving speeches and contact with the media for a period of eight days from the Friday before the MPC meeting to the Friday after the announcement of the decision on interest rates. In the months when the inflation report is published, this period extends until publication of the report—typically the following Wednesday. The Committee decided that this arrangement should cover public discussion of the UK economy and the decisions and processes of the MPC, but not other issues which are outside the work of the Committee.

DEFENCE

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals took part in the service volunteers programme at the chemical defence establishment during 1996. [12201]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the numbers of service volunteers as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  During 1996 forty two service volunteers took part in various studies as part of service volunteers programme run by the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) scientific journals and (b) other open publications in which staff from the medical division of the chemical defence establishment published papers in 1991 and 1992 arising out of their work and research, indicating the date of publication. [12202]
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  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about scientific journals and open publications in which staff from the medical division at Porton Down have published papers as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  Available databases show that during the years 1991 and 1992 staff from the medical division of the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down published papers in the following scientific journals.
  In 1991:- Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Review; International Journal of Experimental Pathology; Human Experimental Toxicology; British Journal of Plastic Surgery; Proceedings of the British Toxicology Society; York, England, UK, September 20–21 1990 published in Human Experimental Toxicology; Journal of Biomechanics.
  In 1992:- British Journal of Surgery; Human Experimental Toxicology; Clinical Intensive Care; Psychopharmacology; Journal of Audiovisual Media in Medicine; Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons England.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what concentrations of the chemical agent CN the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has assessed that the long-term clinical effects occur; and when this assessment was made. [12184]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about concentrations of the agent CN assessed by DERA as causing long-term clinical effects as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  CN, chloracetophenone, belongs to a group of agents referred to as tear gases; these cause sensory irritation to the eyes, nose and skin.
  DERA has not assessed the concentrations of CN that cause long term clinical effects. Most of the information concerning long-term effects in man are based on case reports from the United States, following widespread use during the 1960s Civil Rights Riots. These reports contain no reliable information regarding the concentrations of CN that produced such effects.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what doses of mustard gas have been assessed by DERA as causing scarring of the conjunctiva and permanent damage. [12185]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about doses of mustard gas assessed by DERA as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

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  The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA has not assessed the dose levels of mustard gas which cause scarring of the conjunctiva and permanent damage.
  However DERA is aware of case reports from the United States which suggest that doses of between 400 and 800 milligrams per cubic metre per minute of mustard vapour result in corneal damage with ulceration and scarring of the conjunctiva.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out at the chemical defence establishment into a sensory irritant known as 1-methoxycycloheptatriene since 1967; what was the object of this research; when this research was carried out; and what was the conclusion of this research. [12177]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about research into the sensory irritant known as 1-methoxycycloheptatriene (MCHT) as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down investigated MCHT in the period between 1974 and the mid-1980s. The studies were intermittent and designed to investigate the sensory irritancy and safety of the compound.
  The studies concluded that the advantages of using 1-methoxycycloheptatriene compared to conventional sensory irritants such as CS were not significant.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical defence establishment's assessment of the effect on human health in(a) the short-term and (b) the long-term of one-off exposure to oleoresin capsicum; what research has been carried out by the chemical defence establishment into oleoresin capsicum since 1967; what was the purpose of this research; when this research was conducted; and what was the conclusion of this research. [12181]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the effects of and research into oleoresin capsicum as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  Oleoresin capsicum (OC) is a natural oil of the chilli pepper. Chemically, it is a complex mixture of over one hundred volatile compounds, in which capsaicin is a principle compound. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down has not conducted any practical research on oleoresin capsicum, but it has used capsaicin as a positive control in a number of animal tissue studies designed to evaluate the relative sensory irritancy of a number of compounds.
  As far as the effects of oleoresin capsicum on human health are concerned, it is reported in the technical literature that short term exposure causes pain and irritation of the membranes lining the eyes, nose and mouth. Blistering and a rash have been shown to occur after chronic or prolonged exposure of the skin. Ingestion of capsicum may cause acute stinging of the lips, tongue and mouth,
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  and may lead to vomiting and diarrhoea with large doses. Inhalation of the vapours may also cause significant irritation of the airways and prolonged cough.
  In the long-term, a single acute exposure to OC may affect the temperature regulatory mechanisms of the body and can affect the neurological system producing long-term insensitivity to pain.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical defence establishment's evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to mustard gas. [12175]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understood he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to mustard gas as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  Mustard gas, (bis (2-chloroeythyl) sulphide), belongs to a group of chemical warfare agents known as vesicant or blistering agents.
  DERA's evaluation, based on historical evidence including casualty reports from the First World War and more recent nursing of Iranian patients in the UK in the mid-1980s, indicates that short term exposure to mustard gas affects the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Additionally, the evidence available from literature and practical studies is that the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive organs and bone marrow are affected if high doses are absorbed into the body. The effects on the skin consist of reddening followed by blistering; similar effects are seen at the other affected areas. Once the blisters rupture, ulceration of the skin follows; these injuries take a long while to heal. The effects on the eyes, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract are similar to those seen in the skin. Initially the tissues become inflamed and swollen. Eventually, the protective membranes break down and areas of ulceration result.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical defence establishment's evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite. [12179]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  Lewisite is one of a group of chemical warfare agents known as vesicants or blistering agents.
  The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA's evaluation based on US human studies from the 1940s and continuing Porton Down animal studies of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite are that both liquid and vapour forms result in chemical burns to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Lewisite injuries are immediately painful. The potential for widespread damage to the internal organs is significant.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out at the chemical defence establishment into perfuoroisobutene
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  since 1967; what was the object of this research; when this research was carried out; and what was the conclusion of this research. [12178]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about research into perfluorisobutene as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  Since 1967 some research into perfluorisobutene has been undertaken at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down to assess whether its use as a chemical weapon would pose a potential hazard to the UK Armed Forces. This research encompassed: material producibility, material toxicity, an assessment of material dispersion, the performance of UK CBD protective equipment in providing protection against this material and possible methods of providing pretreatment and treatment against poisoning.
  The bulk of this research was conducted during the 1980s with some research on protective measures had medical treatment still ongoing. It has been concluded that this material does have potential as a possible chemical weapon agent and that it does pose a potential hazard to UK Armed Forces. As a consequence of this research certain equipment modifications have been introduced.

  Porton Down Staff Newsletter
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current security classification of the newsletter produced for the staff of the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down; how often this newsletter is produced; and when this newsletter was first produced. [12182]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the staff newsletter at Porton Down as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  Internal newsletters at Porton Down have been produced in many different forms over the years. They are not usually classified but are not generally circulated outside the MOD.
  CBD News was first produced in its current format in February 1995. It is usually published monthly, although there has recently been a three month gap between editions. It is not classified but is only distributed to staff at Porton Down and a small number of staff elsewhere in DERA and MOD.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12564]
  662
  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Bills Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Mr. I. S. Elrick to Mr. Mark Todd, dated 27 October 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about payment for MOD goods and services as, in the main, this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Bills Agency.
  The Defence Bills Agency is the Primary bill payment authority for MOD but the Meteorological Office, Hydrographic Office and Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) also undertake specified bill payment action. Set out below is the information you requested for each operating system.
  The Defence Bills Agency operates a bespoke system, developed in-house, which integrates contract control functionality with the bill payment system. Certain support functions are provided using systems supplied by AVCO Systems Ltd and ROCC Computers Ltd. During 1996–97 the system was operated on an ICL 3965 Dual Node Mainframe. The operating platform has been uprated in 1997–98 to an ICL SX 485–20 to cope with the additional requirements arising from the introduction of Resource Accounting. The operating cost of the system in 1996–97 was £2.4 million (excluding VAT).
  During 1996–97 the Meteorological Office used a Ross purchase ledger run on a VAX machine. DERA assisted in implementing this system and supported both hardware and software. The operating costs of the systems and processes was £222,000 (excluding VAT).
  The Hydrographic Office used Prophecy Version 2 running on a DEC Alpha box under UNIX. Software supply, maintenance and development was provided by Radius Computer Systems Ltd. The operating cost of the bill payment systems and processes was £66,000 (excluding VAT) during 1996–97.
  During 1996–97 DERA used Digital Equipment Company VAX hardware running Ross Classic software. No sub-contractors were used in developing or operating the system during 1996–97. The operating cost of the systems and processes was £1.8 million (excluding VAT).

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Ministry of Defence Police agency for 1997–98. [12580]

  Dr. Reid
  The following key targets have been set for the Ministry of Defence Policy agency:Crown Prosecution Service files: to exceed the provincial Home Department police forces' 74 per cent. average rate of compliance with the time limits set for the preparation of CPS files.
  To determine a benchmark for satisfaction from victims of crime in the service provided by MDP.
  To meet and maintain the national 1996 British crime survey standard of 80 per cent. for public satisfaction with the MDP's policing and security services.
  By 1 April 1998 to have achieved the standard of Investors in People.
  By 31 March 1998 to have reduced the force complement to a level at or below 3,750 officers.
  By 31 March 1998 to implement the additional area policing teams approved by Ministers.
  To achieve the level of efficiency savings of 2.5 per cent. prescribed within Departmental and efficiency plans.

  Overseas Security Forces (Training)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards are in place to ensure United Kingdom troops are not involved in training overseas security forces later used in internal repression. [12347]

  Dr. Reid
  The provision of training for overseas security forces is a valuable tool in furthering the Government's defence and foreign policy objectives. Requests for training are considered on a case-by-case basis. Close contact is maintained between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and training would not be provided where we considered it would contribute to human rights violations. Even where human rights is not specifically covered, training provided by our military forces supports Government human rights policy by exposing overseas students to human rights standards and helping them develop an understanding of how armed forces operate in a democratic society.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training United Kingdom troops have given to the Kenyan army and security forces. [12348]

  Dr. Reid
  It has been the practice in the past not to release details of military assistance provided to other countries on the grounds that this information is confidential between Governments and disclosure would risk damaging our international relations. This practice is now being reviewed against the background of the Government's commitment to openness. I will write to my hon. Friend once the review is complete.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training of members of the Colombian police force in Colombia is being undertaken by the SAS. [12846]

  Dr. Reid
  Any comment on such matters could cause harm in terms of one or more of the defence, security or international relations exemptions in the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".

  Energy and Environmental Education
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to review its relationship with non-governmental organisations involved in energy and environmental education. [12546]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department's relationships with non-governmental organisations involved in energy or environmental training has extended to contracting for such training when required. We have introduced more in-house environmental training, which includes energy education, to meet most of our current needs. There will nevertheless be a continuing requirement for specialist NGO training to meet the needs of staff in key environmental protection and energy appointments.

  Exports (Indonesia)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the normal offset arrangement for Indonesia for purchases above 500 million rupiahs; and what percentage offset was required as part of the deal to export Hawk trainers to Indonesia. [12341]
  664
  Mr. Spellar
  For contracts over 500 million rupiahs, a 100 per cent. obligation is incurred. The contracts signed in 1993 and 1996 for the export of Hawk trainers to Indonesia were both in excess of 500 million rupiahs.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential benefits from use of the private finance initiative in his Department's projects in Northern Ireland. [12959]

  Dr. Reid
  I have given approval for two pilot PFI projects to be run to explore the feasibility of the Army making use of the private finance initiative in Northern Ireland. One involves the provision of families quarters in Ballymena, Antrim and Lisburn areas and the other the provision of living and working accommodation and facilities management in Lisburn. A briefing day for firms interested in the families quarters project was held on 20 October 1997 but it is too early to assess the potential benefits if the PFI proves practicable.

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security implications of non-civil service arrangements for the work presently carried out in his Department by Building Management (Northern Ireland). [12958]

  Dr. Reid
  Management, construction and maintenance of the Defence estate in Northern Ireland is carried out by a combination of commercial firms, MOD civil servants and service personnel. We are currently reviewing the headquarters Northern Ireland estate organisation, including the Building Management (Northern Ireland) element. As part of this we shall be taking into account the financial and personnel, as well as security, implications of any proposals for change.

  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for replacing civilian workers with Army personnel in his Department's establishments in Northern Ireland. [12960]

  Dr. Reid
  The hon. Gentleman will understand that the military and civilian manpower mix in MOD establishments in Northern Ireland is kept under review to provide the most efficient and cost effective use of personnel.

  Higher Education Sponsorship
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of(a) women and (b) men in full-time higher education receive financial aid or sponsorship from the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force. [12923]

  Dr. Reid
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Parliament Buildings
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations
  665
  his Department has made on the financing of new buildings for the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. [12510]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We have consistently pressed for value for money and sound financial practice in all European institutions. Overall ceilings for expenditure are set by the Council, but within that, spending by the European Parliament on building and other programmes is a matter for the Parliament in the first place, subject to scrutiny of its spending by the European Court of Auditors. We have not made separate representations.

  European Courts
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) those functions of final decision that will lie within the competence of the European Community Court of Justice in Luxembourg in respect of (i) criminal and (ii) civil cases and (b) those functions concerning human rights that will be within the competence of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, following the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam. [12848]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will continue to have jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions of Community law in cases referred to it by courts or tribunals of a member state pursuant to article 177 of the treaty establishing the European Community. It will also acquire jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions relating to certain instruments adopted under the revised title VI of the treaty on European Union—police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters—in cases referred to it by courts or tribunals in any member state which, by a declaration, accepts that jurisdiction. We do not intend to accept that jurisdiction.

  The treaty of Amsterdam does not affect the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is governed by the European convention for the protection of human rights and freedoms, and the protocols thereto.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which(a) criminal and (b) civil matters relating to the European Community and Union will come within the competence of the European Community Court of Justice either as direct jurisdiction, by case law, or after consultation by national court subsequent to the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam. [12866]

  Mr. Henderson
  The European Court of Justice will continue to have jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions of Community law in cases, whether criminal or civil, which may be referred to it by courts or tribunals in a member state pursuant to article 177 of the treaty establishing the European Community. It will also acquire jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions relating to certain instruments adopted under title VI of the Treaty on European Union as revised by the treaty of Amsterdam—police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters—in cases referred to it by courts or tribunals in any member state which, by a declaration, accepts that jurisdiction. We do not intend to accept that jurisdiction.
  666
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which matters concerning human rights will be determined by(a) the Court of European Human Rights in Strasbourg and (b) the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, following the coming into force of the treaty of Amsterdam. [12867]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The treaty of Amsterdam does not affect the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is governed by the European convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the protocols thereto. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will have jurisdiction in the field of fundamental rights only with regard to action of the Community institutions, in so far as the Court has jurisdiction under the treaties establishing the European Communities and under the Treaty on European Union.

  EU Funding (Political Groups)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much European Communities funding was made available to the(a) PSE, (b) PPE, (c) ELDR and (d) EdN groups of the European Parliament in the last year for which figures are available. [12291]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The total amount of EU funding made available to the political groups in the European Parliament in 1995 was 12.055 mecu—£17.5 million. The 1997 budget allows for 12.5 mecu—£18 million.

  We are awaiting figures broken down against individual political groups. I will write to the hon. Member when this information is received.

  European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, columns 90–91, what aspects of culture will be monitored by the European monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia. [12331]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  It will be for the centre itself to decide on its work programme. The monitoring centre must, however, carry out its tasks within the limits of Community competence.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Agenda 2000 applicant countries will be expected to treat membership of the Western European Union as acquis communautaires. [12529]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No. Membership of the European Union does not require membership of the Western European Union, which is a separate organisation.

  European Commission (Special Advisers)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers
  667
  are employed at the European Commission; for which commissioners they work; what is their nationality; what is their total pay; and if he will make a statement. [12327]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Each Commissioner is entitled to appoint one paid special adviser. Special advisers are not full-time employees of the Commission. They are consulted ad hoc, and paid per day worked. Total pay for all special advisers in 1996 was 165,000 ecu. They are not selected on the basis of nationality.

  Turkey
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Treasury over the cost of the measures proposed by the European Commission to deepen European Union relations with Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [12344]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My Department is in regular contact with the Treasury about the European Commission's proposals for deepening relations with Turkey. The UK supports the Commission's view that these should be financed from existing resources under the customs union protocol agreed by the Council in 1995 and the MEDA regulation.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Commission's proposal to increase co-operation between the EU and Turkey(a) on the environment, (b) on social development, (c) on justice and home affairs and (d) on humanitarian issues. [12328]

  Mr. Henderson
  We welcome the European Commission's proposal to increase co-operation in the above areas, which would benefit EU member states and Turkey.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy on the accession of Cyprus to the EU. [12530]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We support Cyprus' accession to the EU. We hope that this will be on the basis of a settlement, leading to the accession of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. This will bring benefits to both communities on the island.

  European Union (Co-operation)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on increasing co-operation in the European Union at the consular and diplomatic level; and if he will make a statement. [12316]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The obligation on diplomatic and consular missions of Member states to co-operate in implementing common measures adopted by the Council was created by article J.6 of the Maastricht Treaty. That obligation is relocated but unchanged in article J.10 of the draft Amsterdam treaty. We are committed to ensuring effective implementation of agreed EU policies.

  Prince Programme
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the Prince programme funding has been spent in the United Kingdom since the programme's inception; on what it has been spent; what plans he has in respect of further projects; what safeguards he has put in place to prevent its use for promotional purposes; and if he will make a statement. [12343]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Total prince spending in the UK in 1996—the first full year of the programme—was around 450,000 ecu. Of this, around 400,000 ecu was spent on Citizens First and 50,000 ecu on information about the Intergovernmental conference.

  We are committed to raising the profile of Citizens First in the UK as we fully support its aim of informing people about their rights and opportunities in the EU. We will be helping to publicise the second phase of the programme over the next few months.

  We have also applied for funding from Prince to meet half the costs of our "EMU: Information for Business" guide. The guide was produced by HM Treasury to help raise awareness in British business of the practical implications of EMU for their operations whether the UK were to join or not.

  We believe that the British people have a right to accurate information about the EU, whether from Government Departments or from the Community institutions.

  EU (Estonian Accession)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of provisions relating to a common foreign and security policy in the draft Amsterdam treaty on the accession of Estonia to the EU. [12537]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Nothing in the CFSP provisions in the draft Amsterdam treaty will affect Estonia's eligibility to join the EU. Estonia, like every other applicant, would be expected to take on all the obligations in the treaty.

  EU Citizenship
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the recommendations contained in the second report from the Commission on citizenship of the Union (EC Cons Doc 8856/97). [12476]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We welcome the report's recommendation that the EU improve citizens' awareness of their rights within the Union. In support of the aim, we are working to raise the profile of the Citizens First programme in the UK. We also agree with the need to ensure that citizen's rights are enforced.

  The report claims that EU citizens will not have tangible evidence of the full effects of the internal market without the elimination of border controls. The UK's position is clear: our border controls are not incompatible with the proper functioning of the internal market,

  669
  including the free movement of persons. We do not intend to eliminate the UK's border controls, which are guaranteed in the treaty of Amsterdam.

  Child Trafficking (West Africa)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet representatives from(a) anti-slavery and child welfare organisations, (b) the United Nations and (c) west African Governments to discuss the trafficking of children in west Africa; and if he will make a statement. [12895]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We deplore the practice of child trafficking. We have given strong support to the work of the United Nations, including the special rapporteur on the sale of children, in monitoring and combating it. We will continue to work for an end to the practice with relevant Governments and non-governmental organisations concerned with the issue.

  Dependent Territories
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for consultation with the Governments of dependent territories during the current review of their status. [12961]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have begun consultations with the Governments of the dependent territories. The Government of Gibraltar was already considering proposals for constitutional change before we announced this review. We will therefore be looking at these proposals separately.

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by section those aspects of the Amsterdam treaty which will require primary legislation to amend any United Kingdom Act of Parliament. [12849]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  It will be necessary to amend section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 to give effect in domestic law to those provisions of the treaty of Amsterdam and those protocols adopted at Amsterdam which will form part of the Community legal order. These are articles 2 to 9, article 12, and the other provisions of the treaty so far as they relate to those articles; as well as the protocols adopted at Amsterdam other than the protocol on article J.7 of the treaty on European Union.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what copies of the provisional draft treaty of Amsterdam were available in the United Kingdom between its publication and 2 October; when and by whom the substantive text of the treaty, as signed on 2 October, was published in the United Kingdom; what significant changes in the text were made between the provisional and signatory versions of the treaty; and if he will place in the Library a full list of such changes. [12811]

  Mr. Henderson
  Copies of the following versions of the draft treaty of Amsterdam were sent to Parliament on these dates:

  CONF/4001: 18 June

  CONF/4002: 16 July

  670

  CONF/4004: 7 August

  CONF/4005: 26 September

  The final version of the treaty—CONF 4007—was sent to Parliament on 10 October, and will be published shortly as a command paper. No major changes were made in the text of the treaty between the provisional version and the treaty as signed. There were a number of declarations made which do not form part of the treaty.

  Colombia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministerial visits have been made to Colombia since 1 August; and if Ministers visited camps containing displaced peasant farmers forced from their lands by paramilitary groups. [12786]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I am the only member of the Government to have visited Colombia since 1 August. I did not visit any of the camps containing displaced people, although I met and discussed the issue with their representatives.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Colombian Government about the situation of internally displaced peasant farmers in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [12804]

  Mr. Lloyd
  The plight of the displaced people of Colombia is a symptom of the internal conflict in that country. During my visit to Colombia last month, I raised with the Colombian Government our concerns about a variety of humanitarian problems resulting from the internal security situation, including that of displaced people.

  Official Functions and Conferences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) official entertainment functions and (b) conferences which have been held at (i) Chevening and (ii) 1 Carlton Gardens since May 1997. [12921]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The following official functions have taken place at Chevening:

  Conference organised by the Department of Social Services;

  British German Economic Committee;

  Conference arranged by the Department of Trade and Industry;

  FCO Board of Management;

  Conference for GCHQ.

  In the majority of these cases these discussions required participants to stay overnight.

  At 1 Carlton gardens the following functions have been held:

  21 May: Dinner for the governor of Hong Kong

  24 May: Lunch for the Japanese Foreign Minister

  12 June: Dinner for the Crown Prince of Nepal

  7 July: Lunch for the Omani Foreign Minister

  10 July: Lunch for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group

  21 July: Dinner for the Amir of Qatar

  23 July: Lunch for the French Foreign Minister

  8 September: Dinner for the American ambassador

  10 September: Dinner for the Luxembourg Foreign Minister

  671

  11 September: Lunch for the Austrian Foreign Minister

  12 September: Lunch for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group

  12 September: Tea for the Italian Foreign Minister

  20 October: Tea for the Belgian Foreign Minister

  21 October: Lunch for the American ambassador

  22 October: Lunch for the chief executive of the Hong Kong special administrative region.

  OSCE Vienna Conference
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he wrote to the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee inviting him to nominate a member to attend the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe conference in Vienna on politico-military aspects of security. [12802]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I wrote to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 30 July. I invited the Committee to nominate a representative to join the UK delegation to the conference on the code of conduct on politico-military aspects of security in Vienna from 22 to 24 September.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons an invitation for a particular parliamentarian to attend the OSCE conference on politico-military aspects of security was addressed to the Foreign Affairs Committee and not to the OSCE delegation. [12803]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The conference in Vienna from 22 to 24 September to review the code of conduct on politico-military aspects of security was the first such conference since the code's adoption in December 1994. I addressed the invitation to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, rather than the UK delegation to the OSCE parliamentary assembly, because the democratic control of the military in Europe is a subject of wider, foreign affairs interest.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12566]

  The Attorney-General
  The position in relation to the Department for which I am responsible is as follows:

  The Crown Prosecution Service
  The Crown Prosecution Service has 13 geographical areas, a central case work group and a national headquarters. Each area has its own accounts section which is responsible for handling invoices for goods and services received and claims from prosecution witnesses in respect of expense claims for attendance at court.
  In 1996–97 the CPS employed Chessington Computer Services Ltd. to process and make payments to suppliers and to witnesses. The software used by Chessington Computer Services Ltd. was the management accounting information system, MAISY. The cost of this service was £723,894.
  672
  There are no sub-contractors involved in making payments. The internal process costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Serious Fraud Office
  The Serious Fraud Office use a payment processing package known as Purchase Ledger supplied by CEDARDATA.
  The majority of payments are made through Paymaster by payable order or, if to another Government Department, by transfer. No sub-contractors are involved.
  The cost of processing payments in 1996–97 is estimated at £32,500.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department
  All payments for goods and services supplied to Treasury Solicitor's Department and my own office are processed by the Treasury Solicitor's Department's financial accounting and information system, FAIS, which uses Image software supplied by TABS Ltd.
  The majority of payments are made through Paymaster by payable order or, if to another Government Department, by transfer. In addition, the Department has recently implemented a facility which enables payments to be made via the bank automated clearing system. No sub-contractors are involved.
  The cost of processing payments in 1996–97 is estimated at £109,000.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will assess the advantages of the Crown Prosecution Service consulting victims of crime about the progress and status of their cases. [12478]

  The Attorney-General
  The victim's charter, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, sets out 27 standards of service that victims of crime can expect from criminal justice agencies including the Crown Prosecution service. These include best endeavours by the police to keep victims informed of significant developments in their case and asking about any fears the victim may have about further victimisation and details of loss, damage or injury. The Crown Prosecution service will taken this information, together with other known views of the victim, into account when making their decisions. Direct consultation between the CPS and victims is not normally appropriate since the victim will in most cases also be a prosecution witness.

  Two schemes aimed at improving arrangements for keeping victims informed of progress in their case and ensuring that their interests are taken into account are at present being evaluated. In addition, the independent review of the Crown Prosecution Service will also consider ways to enable the Crown Prosecution Service to inform victims of crime about prosecution decisions.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schools (Parental Choice)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appeals have been made by parents on the grounds of non-admission of their child to the school of their choice, in each local education authority, in the latest year for which figures are available. [12795]
  673
  Mr. Byers
  The information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the following tables. More statistical details on admission appeals are in a departmental press notice published on 15 October. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  align="center">Number of admission appeals heard in maintained primary and secondary schools by local education authority area

  England

  1995–96

  Number of appeals heard

  Local Education Authority Area

  Primary

  Secondary

  England

  18,794

  25,206

  North-east

  652

  605

  Hartlepool3

  0

  15

  Middlesbrough3

  2

  0

  Redcar and Cleveland3

  0

  41

  Stockon on Tees3

  9

  65

  Durham

  297

  102

  Northumberland

  6

  66

  Gateshead

  48

  18

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  130

  141

  North Tyneside

  16

  2

  South Tyneside

  55

  26

  Sunderland

  89

  129

  North-west and Merseyside

  3,608

  4,433

  North west

  3,216

  3,353

  Cheshire

  62

  154

  Cumbria

  167

  49

  Bolton

  168

  178

  Bury

  150

  230

  Manchester

  486

  342

  Oldham

  37

  150

  Rochdale

  190

  87

  Salford

  135

  128

  Stockport

  94

  149

  Tameside

  105

  289

  Trafford

  139

  207

  Wigan

  87

  120

  Lancashire

  1,396

  1,270

  Merseyside

  392

  1,080

  Knowsley

  17

  0

  Liverpool

  186

  620

  St. Helens

  78

  43

  Sefton

  63

  123

  Wirral

  48

  294

  Yorkshire and Humber

  1,313

  2,942

  East Riding of Yorkshire3

  41

  163

  City of Kingston upon Hull3

  162

  160

  North East Lincolnshire3

  27

  81

  North Lincolnshire3

  14

  22

  City of York3

  7

  97

  North Yorkshire3

  85

  356

  Barnsley

  40

  31

  Doncaster

  28

  52

  Rotherham

  32

  82

  Sheffield

  85

  156

  Bradford

  156

  1,055

  Calderdale1

  62

  179

  Kirklees

  78

  86

  Leeds

  408

  388

  Wakefield

  88

  34

  East Midlands

  599

  853

  Derbyshire

  199

  193

  Leicestershire

  86

  193

  Lincolnshire

  83

  246

  674

  align="center">Number of admission appeals heard in maintained primary and secondary schools by local education authority area

  England

  1995–96

  Number of appeals heard

  Local Education Authority Area

  Primary

  Secondary

  Northamptonshire

  68

  161

  Nottinghamshire1

  163

  60

  West Midlands

  2,829

  3,331

  Hereford and Worcester

  31

  100

  Shropshire

  488

  247

  Staffordshire1

  44

  329

  Warwickshire

  313

  199

  Birmingham

  1,129

  1,503

  Coventry

  258

  271

  Dudley

  239

  203

  Sandwell

  242

  45

  Solihull

  41

  222

  Walsall

  10

  113

  Wolverhampton

  34

  99

  Eastern

  1,132

  1,691

  Bedfordshire

  134

  234

  Cambridgeshire2

  0

  104

  Essex

  252

  414

  Hertfordshire

  628

  821

  Norfolk

  53

  57

  Suffolk

  65

  61

  London

  5,383

  6,907

  Inner London

  1,354

  1,828

  City of London

  0

  4—

  Camden

  62

  252

  Greenwich

  159

  131

  Hackney

  140

  179

  Hammersmith and Fulham1

  18

  15

  Islington

  86

  91

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  23

  Lambeth1

  207

  101

  Lewisham

  303

  247

  Southwark

  162

  118

  Tower Hamlets

  101

  255

  Wandsworth

  105

  231

  Westminster

  11

  185

  Outer London

  4,029

  5,079

  Barking and Dagenham

  134

  91

  Barnet

  201

  426

  Bexley

  391

  88

  Brent

  62

  138

  Bromley

  223

  393

  Croydon2

  35

  134

  Ealing

  185

  154

  Enfield

  177

  812

  Haringey

  173

  248

  Harrow

  315

  47

  Havering

  166

  282

  Hillingdon

  213

  133

  Hounslow

  70

  358

  Kingston upon Thames

  58

  149

  Merton

  169

  41

  Newham1

  92

  244

  Redbridge

  371

  337

  Richmond upon Thames

  240

  199

  Sutton1

  220

  281

  Waltham Forest

  534

  524

  South-east

  1,705

  2,870

  Berkshire

  259

  736

  Buckinghamshire

  73

  501

  East Sussex

  100

  158

  Hampshire

  179

  148

  675

  align="center">Number of admission appeals heard in maintained primary and secondary schools by local education authority area

  England

  1995–96

  Number of appeals heard

  Local Education Authority Area

  Primary

  Secondary

  Isle of Wight

  5

  86

  Kent

  138

  602

  Oxfordshire

  121

  130

  Surrey

  719

  392

  West Sussex

  111

  117

  South-west

  1,573

  1,574

  Bath and NE Somerset3

  101

  175

  City of Bristol3

  294

  175

  North Somerset3

  35

  12

  South Gloucestershire3

  322

  267

  Cornwall

  174

  71

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  Devon

  117

  173

  Dorset

  195

  250

  Gloucestershire

  93

  256

  Somerset

  203

  63

  Wiltshire

  39

  132

  1 LEA maintained county and voluntary controlled and grant-maintained schools only.

  2 Grant-maintained schools only.

  3 From 1 April 1996.

  4 No schools of this type.

  Departmental Publications
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 17 July,Official Report, column 310, how much public money was spent by the Stationery Office in printing the White Paper "Excellence in schools". [12774]

  Mr. Byers
  None. The Stationery Office Limited is a private company, which printed "Excellence in Schools" at its own expense.

  Assisted Places (South Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils resident in South Gloucestershire unitary authority are in receipt of assisted places in the current financial year; and what estimate he has made of the cost of those places. [12829]

  Mr. Byers
  Information about the local education authority area from which assisted pupils originate is not collected centrally. One school, Tockington Manor school, situated in the South Gloucestershire unitary authority area participates in the assisted places scheme with four assisted pupils at an estimated total cost of £16,812 in academic year 1997–98.

  Jean Monnet Projects
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the(a) cost and (b) criteria are for selection of Jean Monnet projects in the United Kingdom; which chairs and professorships are
  676
  funded in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [12505]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The EC programme, "Jean Monnet: European Integration in University Studies", was established in 1989 on the initiative of the European Parliament. It is implemented by the European Commission without direct involvement on the part of EU member states.

  The Commission does not publish details of funding allocations to member states under this programme. The 1997 programme vademecum published by the European Commission lists the following criteria for selection:
  "The proposed project must deal specifically and entirely with the issue of European integration.
  All teaching activities carried out within the framework of a Jean Monnet Chair must fulfil this requirement.
  It must be an entirely new initiative, set up for the first time at the beginning of the 1997–98 academic year.
  Priority will be given to compulsory courses of study (this applies to the "Jean Monnet Chairs" and permanent courses) and to those reaching a wide audience.
  The proposed project should be clearly inserted into the university's teaching programme and correspond to the academic criteria of quality and feasibility.
  Priority will be given this year to the creation of new Jean Monnet Chairs and to the development of complementary initiatives which, in the framework of the 1990–92 Jean Monnet Chairs, will lead to the setting up of European centres of excellence.
  Selection will be made according to the applications submitted (all applications submitted will be taken into consideration) on the basis of the recommendations of the European University Council for the Jean Monnet Project."

  A list of Jean Monnet projects from 1990–97 published by the European Commission includes the following Jean Monnet Chairs in UK universities:

  University of Aberdeen

  European integration studies

  Robert Gordon University

  European public policy

  University of Wales Aberystwyth

  European integration

  University of Bath

  Politics of the EC

  European political union

  European integration and international business

  Queen's University Belfast

  European social policy

  History of European integration

  University of Birmingham

  European economics

  Constitution and administrative law of the EC

  Political economy of European integration

  University of Bradford

  European integration studies

  University of Sussex

  European studies

  The economics of European integration

  Contemporary European studies

  University of Bristol

  European Community studies

  677
  University of Cambridge

  European studies

  European Community law

  University of Kent at Canterbury

  Politics of European integration

  University of Wales—College of Cardiff

  Political economics with special reference to the European Community

  The politics of European economic integration

  University of Essex

  European politics

  European economic integration

  European Union law

  European political integration

  University of Ulster

  European law (2 Chairs)

  Coventry University

  European studies

  University of Warwick

  Law and politics of European integration

  University of Dundee

  European energy, environmental and economic law

  University of Durham

  European Community law

  University of Edinburgh

  European Community law

  Economics

  European law

  University of Glasgow

  European politics

  University of Strathclyde

  European law

  European public policy

  Economics of European integration

  University of Hull

  European integration

  EC social law

  Kingston University

  European law

  Lancaster University

  European Union law

  University of Leeds

  European Parliamentary studies

  European Union studies

  European law and integration

  European integration and international business management

  Leeds Metropolitan University

  European Community legal studies

  University of Leicester

  European Community law

  European economics studies

  European integration

  De Montfort University

  European economy

  University of Lincolnshire and Humberside

  European economic integration

  University of Liverpool

  European Union law

  London School of Economics and Political Science

  European Community politics

  Economics of the EC

  Queen Mary and Westfield College, London

  History of contemporary Europe

  678
  South Bank University

  The history and theory of European integration

  Thames Valley University

  Community studies

  University College London

  European economics and integration

  University of Greenwich

  Political economy of European integration

  University of North London

  European integration studies

  University of Westminster

  European integration studies

  Loughborough University of Technology

  European politics (2 Chairs)

  University of Manchester

  Politics of the new Europe

  Economics of European integration

  University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  European community law and policy

  University of Northumbria at Newcastle

  The law and policy of the European Community

  University of East Anglia

  European integration

  University of Nottingham

  European law

  University of Oxford

  European institutions and politics

  University of Paisley

  European integration and public policy

  University of Glamorgan

  European Community law

  University of Portsmouth

  European Community studies

  University of Reading

  The international dimension of European integration

  University of Salford

  History, politics and culture of the EC

  University of Sheffield

  Political science

  University of Southampton

  European integration

  Economics

  University of St Andrews

  European integration studies

  University of York

  European economics

  Student Grants
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the annual saving to his Department from the abolition of mandatory student grants; and if these sums will be applied to higher education. [12688]

  Dr. Howells
  Under the proposals announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 23 July, mandatory student grants will be replaced with increased loans. In the short term, therefore, public expenditure on student support will not be reduced and there will be no savings on the basis of current accounting rules. Savings will be realised in the longer term as graduates begin to
  679
  make repayments and will be used to improve quality, standards and opportunities for all in further and higher education.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what training for persons working with special needs children in the classroom is recognised by his Department. [12483]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department's new standards for trainee teachers mean that all newly-qualified teachers will understand their responsibilities under the special educational needs code of practice, be capable of identifying children with SEN and be able to differentiate teaching practice appropriately.

  An additional qualification, approved by the Secretary of State, is mandatory for teachers of classes of visually-impaired and hearing-impaired children. The Green Paper on SEN, published last week, will address further issues about the professional development of teaching and non-teaching staff.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has evaluated into potential regional variations in provision for special needs children. [12482]

  Ms Morris
  The Department is aware, from its contact with parents, teachers, schools, voluntary organisations, local education authorities, and other service providers, that there are wide variations in the access to and the quality of provision available to pupils with special educational needs. That is why the Green Paper on SEN, "Excellence for All Children: meeting Special Educational Needs", which was published on 22 October, announced the Department's intention to:"work to secure a continuum of provision across the country, so that no matter where pupils live and what their needs, an appropriate level of support is available".

  We recognise that not all LEAs will be able to provide the full range of support needed to achieve this aim. The Green Paper proposes, therefore, the development of regional planning arrangements for some aspects of SEN provision. We shall be consulting widely on this and other proposals contained in the Green Paper throughout the autumn. In the meantime we are supporting a project, co-ordinated by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, which is examining ways of securing effective regional co-ordination for certain aspects of SEN provision.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances parents with severely disabled children have the right to choose a non-mainstream education establishment outside the relevant local education authority area. [12484]

  Ms Morris
  Children with severe disabilities would normally be given a statement of special educational needs by their local education authority. The LEA must invite the parents of such children to name their preferred 680
  school when they are served a copy of the child's draft statement. The LEA is required to name the parents' preferred school—whether it is a mainstream or a special school—in the statement, provided it is appropriate to the child's age, ability, aptitude, and special educational needs, and is compatible with the interests of other children already in the school and with the efficient use of resources. If the parents' preferred school is maintained by another LEA, the home LEA must consult both the school governing body and the maintaining LEA of the school before naming the school in the statement. The school named in a child's statement is required to admit the child.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional resources he plans to put into higher education for each year of the planning period. [12577]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 23 September, a package of measures which will allow an extra £165 million to be spent on higher education in 1998–99. The level of funding for the higher education sector in 1999–2000 and beyond will be decided in the light of the Government's current comprehensive expenditure review.

  Universities (Tuition Fees)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what mechanism he plans to introduce to ensure that universities are not financially disadvantaged by accepting students who are exempt from tuition fees. [12603]

  Dr. Howells
  There will be no disincentive to universities to accept students who are assessed as not having to contribute to tuition. For 1998–99 local education authorities will conduct an assessment of income to determine how much students or their parents should contribute to the £1,000 tuition fee. The local education authority will pay the public contribution to the fee directly to the university or college where the student is enrolled. The university or college will be responsible for collecting the contribution from the student. Universities and colleges will retain these funds. The administrative arrangements for later years are still under consideration and will be announced later.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he plans to take in respect of the introduction of tuition fees to ensure that the resources provided to universities reflect the average tuition costs of the courses they provide relative to the national average, with particular reference to medicine. [12576]

  Dr. Howells
  Under our preferred funding option, full-time undergraduates will contribute up to £1,000 a year in tuition fees, depending on family income, with the balance being met from public funds. The maximum payable—£1,000—represents around a quarter of the
  681
  average annual cost of undergraduate courses. The remainder will be met from public funds through the teaching grant for universities and colleges allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council. The funding council's teaching grant allocations reflect each institution's student numbers and the relative average costs of providing courses in broad subject categories. Universities and college which provide medical courses will receive considerably more in teaching grant per medical student than the national average per student across all subjects.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average class size(a) in maintained schools in England and Wales, (b) for five, six and seven-year-olds in maintained schools in England and Wales, (c) for maintained primary schools in England and Wales and (d) for maintained secondary schools in England and Wales at (i) 1 May, (ii) 1 June and (iii) 1 July. [12569]

  Mr. Byers
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The average class size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary and secondary schools in England in January 1997 were 27.5 and 21.7 respectively; the equivalent figure for key stage 1 classes in primary schools was 26.9.

  Information on class sizes in Wales is the responsibility of my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12562]

  Dr. Howells
  Information on the functions relating to payment for goods and services supplied for which the Secretary of State's Department is responsible, the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Parenthood Courses
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to promote courses in parenthood. [12481]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  As stated in the White Paper, "Excellence in Schools" published on 7 July, the Government intend that all secondary schools should have a role in teaching young people the skills of good parenting, both formally and through contact with good adult role models. The Department will be considering 682
  with teachers and others how this might best be achieved and what parenting education programmes should contain.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 25 July,Official Report, columns 768–69, on training and enterprise councils, how many starts were made for the two categories in each TEC area in each of the last three years. [12302]

  Dr. Howells
  Information for(a) the proportion endorsed as having special training needs on entering youth training, and (b) the proportion reporting that they had a disability on entering training for work, for each TEC area in England is given in the following tables.

  align="center">Proportion of starts with disabilities/special training needs on Youth Training and Training for Work

  align="right">Per cent.

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  YT1

  TfW2

  YT1

  TfW2

  YT1

  TfW2

  Bedfordshire

  19

  11

  17

  15

  9

  24

  CAMBSTEC

  30

  19

  15

  17

  16

  24

  North Derbyshire

  32

  17

  25

  18

  27

  27

  South Derbyshire

  23

  15

  21

  16

  19

  18

  Leicestershire

  3

  18

  2

  17

  2

  32

  Lincolnshire

  18

  20

  21

  16

  15

  23

  Norfolk and Waveney

  23

  9

  20

  18

  22

  25

  Northamptonshire

  24

  20

  24

  26

  22

  26

  Greater Nottingham

  19

  14

  17

  18

  16

  23

  North Nottingham

  16

  14

  19

  14

  20

  26

  Greater Peterborough

  23

  13

  16

  24

  17

  23

  Suffolk

  12

  16

  12

  19

  8

  27

  Co. Durham

  33

  20

  32

  15

  34

  19

  Northumberland

  27

  17

  27

  18

  23

  19

  Teesside

  30

  11

  31

  10

  31

  14

  Tyneside

  29

  11

  25

  14

  24

  17

  Sunderland City

  37

  76

  31

  71

  26

  18

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  24

  9

  26

  13

  20

  18

  Bradford and District

  28

  18

  27

  15

  24

  17

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  20

  15

  22

  16

  23

  20

  Humberside

  25

  14

  23

  14

  28

  18

  Leeds

  20

  17

  14

  16

  27

  25

  Rotherham

  27

  20

  14

  17

  19

  24

  Sheffield

  27

  12

  19

  14

  18

  20

  Wakefield

  22

  16

  29

  23

  18

  31

  North Yorkshire

  16

  20

  28

  23

  36

  24

  Bolton/Bury

  17

  18

  19

  15

  16

  17

  NORMIDTEC

  27

  11

  26

  14

  23

  15

  South and East Cheshire

  39

  18

  15

  17

  12

  20

  Cumbria

  29

  15

  25

  17

  29

  17

  ELTEC

  16

  15

  16

  18

  26

  23

  LAWTEC

  19

  19

  22

  15

  30

  22

  Manchester

  18

  15

  17

  16

  18

  18

  Merseyside

  33

  11

  38

  11

  32

  13

  Oldham

  31

  16

  28

  13

  27

  14

  Rochdale

  31

  15

  23

  18

  28

  19

  St. Helens

  34

  7

  26

  9

  26

  13

  Stockport and High Peak

  15

  19

  12

  15

  12

  19

  METROTEC(Wigan)

  20

  14

  17

  14

  28

  14

  CEWTEC

  14

  11

  13

  13

  16

  17

  Birmingham

  20

  19

  15

  11

  12

  16

  Central England

  21

  17

  14

  23

  13

  32

  Coventry and Warwick

  23

  16

  23

  16

  22

  23

  Dudley

  7

  14

  10

  16

  10

  21

  HAWTEC (Hereford and Worcester)

  21

  20

  18

  20

  12

  29

  Sandwell

  16

  15

  15

  16

  15

  17

  Shropshire

  21

  21

  18

  19

  17

  25

  Staffordshire

  17

  15

  16

  13

  20

  20

  Walsall

  7

  11

  6

  16

  11

  24

  Wolverhampton

  16

  9

  13

  11

  16

  17

  WESTEC

  19

  12

  14

  13

  13

  25

  Devon and Cornwall

  n/a

  17

  n/a

  22

  n/a

  25

  Dorset

  23

  14

  24

  16

  24

  22

  683

  align="center">Proportion of starts with disabilities/special training needs on Youth Training and Training for Work

  align="right">Per cent.

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  YT1

  TfW2

  YT1

  TfW2

  YT1

  TfW2

  Gloucester

  10

  19

  9

  22

  9

  28

  Somerset

  21

  17

  24

  22

  28

  23

  Wiltshire

  14

  18

  12

  21

  9

  30

  Essex

  7

  11

  7

  17

  7

  16

  Hampshire

  16

  12

  20

  14

  20

  19

  Heart of England

  9

  12

  10

  13

  11

  17

  Hertfordshire

  16

  13

  9

  16

  7

  22

  Wight Training and Enterprise

  26

  15

  26

  9

  26

  29

  Kent

  11

  16

  10

  19

  13

  22

  Milton Keynes

  22

  17

  18

  18

  18

  34

  Surrey

  14

  11

  11

  17

  8

  22

  Sussex

  10

  12

  6

  18

  5

  21

  Thames Valley

  11

  14

  7

  10

  9

  9

  AZTEC

  15

  7

  13

  11

  10

  14

  North London

  17

  12

  22

  7

  25

  9

  North West London

  21

  9

  16

  7

  17

  11

  CILNTEC

  34

  5

  28

  8

  31

  20

  CENTEC

  35

  5

  41

  7

  37

  11

  London East

  24

  8

  22

  10

  18

  16

  SOLOTEC

  24

  12

  23

  13

  24

  17

  West London

  31

  11

  14

  14

  15

  15

  South Thames

  4

  6

  47

  50

  0

  0

  CENTEC (South Thames)

  29

  12

  43

  8

  60

  17

  SOLOTEC (South Thames)

  10

  4

  20

  9

  n/a

  n/a

  CENTRIC

  n/a

  n/a

  9

  0

  1

  10

  England

  24

  15

  22

  16

  23

  19

  Notes:

  1. Those endorsed as having special training needs on entering Work Based Training for Young People.

  2. All people with disabilities entering Training for Work.

  Source:

  YT/TfW Trainee databases.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the annual cost of providing a child with five full days per week in a nursery school. [12690]

  Mr. Byers
  The 1995–96 estimated unit cost per full-time equivalent pupil in a maintained nursery school in England is £3,640.

  Students
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his target for the expansion of student numbers during the next five years; and what proportion of this target he expects to be achieved through part-time enrolment. [12578]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has made clear that the Government intend to set a target for an extra 500,000 people to enter further and higher education by 2002. We expect that part-time enrolment will contribute significantly to this total.

  Teachers' Salaries
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average salary of a teacher with five years' experience in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools. [12691]

  Mr. Byers
  The average salary at 31 March 1996 for teachers in England and Wales with five years experience 684
  was £19,750 in maintained nursery and primary schools and £20,430 in maintained secondary schools.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received concerning the effects on part-time students of the reduction in permitted study hours from 21 to 16 per week to maintain jobseeker's allowance entitlement; and if he will make a statement. [12298]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have not received representations on this specific issue although my colleagues and I receive correspondence on a range of issues relating to the jobseeker's allowance rules.

  The Job seeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 introduced a definition of part-time students. Part-time study had not previously been defined in social security legislation. What is regarded as part-time depends on the type of course and where it is provided. In England and Wales, courses which are funded or part-funded by the further education funding councils of no more than 16 guided learning hours per week are regarded as part-time. This reflects the way in which the sector operates its part-time courses.

  We will be reviewing the job-seeker's allowance rules on education and training in the light of the jobseeker's allowance workskills pilots, which we expanded in September this year, and early experience of new deal measures for the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many claimants had their jobseeker's allowance reduced during 1996–97 for(a) two weeks and (b) four weeks for not attending or failing to complete (i) jobplan workshops, (ii) restart courses, (iii) workwise and worklink, (iv) 1-2-1, (v) project work and (vi) non-prescribed Government programmes where referral was under a jobseeker's direction. [7733]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1997, c.558]: Unfortunately not all relevant data was included in the reply provided by Leigh Lewis, chief executive of the Employment Service.

  The third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of the reply should have read as follows:
  "Unfortunately, information is not available in the form you request. However, it may be helpful if I explain that a total of 17,477 sanction decisions and opinions were given in 1996–97 for:
  refusal of a place on a training scheme or employment programme;
  failure to attend a place on a training scheme or employment programme;
  giving up a place on a training scheme or employment programme;
  losing a place on a training scheme or employment programme through misconduct; and,
  neglect to avail of a place on a training scheme or employment programme.

  685
  Schemes and programmes included in this definition are jobplan Workshops, Restart Courses, Workwise, Worklink, 1-2-1, and Project Work. Employment Service statistics do not identify the number of sanctions relating to each programme, nor do they differentiate between two and four week sanctions.
  The total number of sanction decisions and opinions given in 1996–97 for refusal or failure to carry out a Jobseeker's Direction was 225. It is not possible to say whether any of these related to employment programmes."

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 24 July,Official Report column 731, if she will list for each overseas visit the name of the Minister involved, the country visited and the dates of the visit. [11239]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 29 July 1997]: The information requested is as follows. This includes updated information relating to visits since 2 May and details of a few visits inadvertently omitted from the earlier list.

  Minister

  Country of visit

  Date

  Visits made since 2 May 1997

  Lord Clinton Davis

  USA

  16–19 May

  South Africa

  14–19 June

  Thailand/Malaysia

  21–27 June

  France

  20–21 July

  Ireland

  24–25 July

  Mrs. Roche

  Brazil

  15–19 June

  Mr. Griffiths

  Greece

  25–30 June

  Mr. Battle

  Azerbaijan

  1–3 June

  Visits planned for the remainder of 1997

  President

  Australia/India

  n/a

  Lord Clinton-Davis

  Chile/Argentina

  Korea/Japan

  France

  Poland/Czech

  Republic/Hungary

  Spain

  Dubai/Yemen

  Visits undertaken by ministers in the year ending 1 May 1997

  President

  Russia

  27–30 May

  China/Bahrain

  30 August to 8 September

  Mexico/USA

  12–18 October

  India

  8–14 January

  Paris

  24–26 January

  Mr. Nelson

  Sweden

  6–7 May

  USA

  3–6 June

  Singapore

  8–11 July

  Canada

  9–12 September

  Taiwan

  22–26 September

  Oman

  10–15 October

  Germany

  23–25 October

  Zimbabwe

  4–8 November

  Yemen

  14–17 November

  Brazil/Argentina

  24–29 November

  Hungary/Poland

  16–17 January

  India

  12–17 March

  Germany

  13–14 April

  686

  Minister

  Country of visit

  Date

  Lord Fraser

  USA/Mexico

  5–11 May

  Qatar

  17–20 May

  Argentina/Brazil

  12–19 June

  Czech Republic

  10–12 July

  SE Asia

  16–26 September

  Peru/Bolivia

  4–8 October

  Turkey

  21–23 October

  Azerbaijan

  28–30 January

  Norway

  5–9 February

  Qatar/Bahrain

  25–27 February

  Australia

  10–16 March

  Tunisia

  14–15 April

  Mr. Ian Taylor

  Korea

  28 September to 3 October

  India

  22–29 October

  Mr. Page

  USA

  1–9 September

  Mr. John Taylor

  Mauritius

  21–28 November

  Political and Special Advisers
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list(a) the names, (b) the salary, (c) the previous occupation and salary and (d) the terms and conditions of each political and special adviser in her Department; and what was the selection process used to appoint these persons. [2421]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 6 June 1997]: Sheila Watson, formerly deputy director and consultant economist at the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, and Dan Corry, formerly senior Economist at the Institute for Public Policy Research, are paid special advisers in accordance with schedule 1—part 1—of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. They are both paid within a range of £24,349 to £73,484. Their salaries are negotiated individually and are confidential within this range. Details of this and of previous salaries are not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  Lord Hollick, chief executive of United News and Media plc—UNM—is an unpaid special adviser, also in accordance with schedule 1—part 1—of the model contract, but excluding all those issues having implications for companies in the UNM group, notably in the broadcasting, publishing and exhibition industry given his continuing role as chief executive of UNM, and also excluding until 1 September issues affecting the aerospace sector given his previous position as a non-executive director of British Aerospace plc.

  All three appointments are personal appointments following consultation with the permanent secretary of my Department and the Prime Minister.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are placed on the issues her Department's special advisers are permitted to handle and the papers they can see. [10982]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 28 July 1997]: Sheila Watson and Dan Corry are special advisers on the whole range of DTI business in accordance with schedule 1—part 1—of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers", a

  687
  copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Lord Hollick is an unpaid special adviser, who advises on a range of issues also in accordance with schedule 1—part 1—of the model contract, but excluding all those issues having implications for companies in the UNM Group, notably in the broadcasting, publishing and exhibition industry given his continuing role as chief executive of UNM, and also excluding until 1 September issues affecting the aerospace sector given his previous position as a non-executive director of British Aerospace plc.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the special advisers in her Department, the Minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in her Department in the year up to 1 May. [5367]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Sheila Watson and Dan Corry are special advisers to me on the whole range of DTI business in accordance with schedule 1—part 1—of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Lord Hollick is an unpaid special adviser who advises on a range of issues also in accordance with schedule 1—part 1—of the model contract, but excluding all those issues having implications for companies in the UNM Group notably in the broadcasting, publishing or exhibition industries given his continuing role as chief executive of the United News and Media plc, and also excluding until 1 September issues affecting the aerospace sector given his previous position as a non-executive director of British Aerospace plc. There was one special adviser in the DTI in the year up to 1 May.

  Environmental Assessments
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will make a statement on current Government environmental assessment requirements; [11970]

  (2) what guidance from her Department in respect of environmental impact assessments applies to (a) the Fionaven and Schiehallion fields operated by BP and (b) any proposed future development at the Atlantic Frontier; and if she will make a statement; [11974]

  (3) if she will list the existing independent arbitration arrangements to monitor environmental impact assessments in respect of development at the Atlantic Frontier; [11971]

  (4) what plans she has to conduct further environmental impact assessments in respect of development at the Atlantic Frontier; [11972]

  (5) pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor), Official Report, 23 July, column 627, if she will set out the procedures currently in place to oversee environmental impact assessments in respect of future development at the Atlantic Frontier. [11969]

  Mr. Battle
  I will write to my hon. Friend very shortly and place a copy of the letters in the Library of the House.

  Arms Industry
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will conduct a survey of the revenue, employment and economic impact accruing from the United Kingdom arms industry. [11824]

  Mr. Battle
  I will write to the hon. Member very shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the premiums paid by United Kingdom defence companies in each of the last 10 years in respect of ECGD cover for defence exports from the United Kingdom. [10304]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 24 July 1997]: Premium earned in the defence sector for capital good and projects in the last 10 years is as follows:

  Year

  Premium earned £ million

  1986–87

  18.7

  1987–88

  8.9

  1988–89

  24.2

  1989–90

  13.1

  1990–91

  17.0

  1991–92

  10.7

  1992–93

  40.4

  1993–94

  37.7

  1994–95

  10.0

  1995–96

  23.7

  Figures are not yet available for 1996–97.

  Figures are not readily available for defence business on short terms of credit insured by ECGD prior to the privatisation of its Insurance Services Group in 1991.

  Technology-based Small Firms
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response her Department made to the Bank of England's October 1996 report on the financing of technology-based small firms. [12237]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe, Lord Simon of Highbury, welcomed the Bank of England's report as a very useful contribution to pinpointing the issues associated with the financing of technology-based small firms when speaking in the House of Lords on 19 June 1997 in the debate on the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's report "The Innovation-Exploitation Barrier".

  The Government are now discussing with the Bank of England the recommendations for action in the report.

  Engineering (West Midlands)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she plans to take to increase
  689
  employment opportunities in engineering in the west midlands. [10324]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 24 July 1997]: A key factor in increasing employment opportunities in the west midlands, as elsewhere, is a stable, long-term economic framework in which business can plan ahead. That is what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already begun to provide. I also expect the consultation process I have launched with business as part of the Competitiveness UK initiative to help identify a range of ways in which engineering and other manufacturing business can improve their competitiveness for instance in the area of innovation, exports and the supply chain. The Government office for the west midlands will be participating fully in this with local partners.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action the Council of Ministers will take to enable it to judge whether proposed legislation will hold back the creation and development of small and medium enterprises under article 118 of the treaty of Amsterdam; and if she will make a statement. [11401]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 30 July 1997]: The article will place a legal obligation on the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to ensure that directives adopted under it
  "avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium-sized enterprises".
  If the Parliament and Council ignored this obligation when adopting a directive, the European Court of Justice could, on application, hold the directive to be invalid.

  Gas Installers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce a requirement for gas installers to have public liability insurance. [5434]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The Government do not believe that a requirement for public liability insurance by gas installers would be effective in safeguarding consumers. Compulsory insurance would not, of itself, ensure that installers have the necessary skills, competence and hardware to enable them to carry out their duties effectively and safely, which is the first line of defence for consumers. Gas safety legislation requires all gas installers to be registered with the Council of Registered Gas Installers and requires all gas transporters to ensure that their staff undertaking gas safety work meet appropriate standards.

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if a public assessment of the impact of the multilateral agreement on investment and its impact on other Government policies will be carried out before the agreement is signed. [11863]

  Mrs. Roche
  I stressed in the Adjournment debate on the MAI on 23 July that there may be a role for a broad 690
  assessment of the impact of the MAI on the environment. Provided that any such proposal will be effective, we will be willing to support it. More broadly, the Government will be happy to participate in discussions on the impact of the agreement.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what oversight Parliament will have over the multilateral agreement on investment and its ratification. [11862]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 June 1997,Official Report, column 484.

  Motor Insurance Directive
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current status of proposals for a fourth EU motor directive on motor insurance. [12512]

  Mrs. Roche
  The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a fourth Council directive on motor liability insurance and transmitted it to the Council and the European Parliament on 14 October 1997. The proposal is intended to assist people making claims for compensation for injury or loss arising from a road accident in another EU member state. It will be deposited in the House for Scrutiny in the normal way.

  Development Areas (State Aids)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures are currently in force, and what additional procedures are under review, in order that she can discharge her overall responsibility for state aids in development areas under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972. [12978]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Under section 7 of the Industry Act, regional selective assistance is provided, on a discretionary basis, to investment projects which help to create or safeguard jobs in the designated assisted areas of Great Britain. No additional procedures are under review.

  Biotechnology
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the patenting of human genes and tissues. [12840]

  Mr. Battle
  Interpretation of these criteria is based on jurisprudence.

  This Department is also currently undertaking a wide-ranging consultation on the EC's proposed directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions, which could harmonise and clarify national laws on the patenting of biotechnological inventions, so reducing current uncertainty in this area of law in Europe. It is an important initiative in an area where issues of research, ethics and business all need to be taken into account.

  Travel Industry
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to make a decision on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry into(a) the

  691
  proposed merger between P and O and Stena and (b) vertical integration in the travel industry. [12988]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade gave her on 2 July,Official Report, column 181. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the proposed merger between P and O and Stena will be published as soon as is practicable. I cannot comment on the likely publication date of the MMC report or its contents, which remain confidential until publication. Consultation is taking place with the European Commission.

  The MMC is required to report to the President of the Board of Trade on the travel trade by 6 November. The report will be published as soon as is practicable.

  Retail Newsagents
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from retail newsagents relating to their current trading conditions. [12535]

  Mr. Battle
  Representations have been received from a number of sources including the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and the Multiple Newsagents Association. My hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs has seen the NFRN, and I have also agreed to see it.

  Ministerial Endorsements
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances Ministers in her Department are entitled to endorse particular products and services. [12475]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  In pursuit of Ministers' policy objectives, the DTI provides support to individual companies in a variety of ways, for example those seeking particular major business overseas, or through its small firms merit award for research and technology—SMART—to innovators. The DTI also makes use of a large number of contractors and advisers in the course of discharging its responsibilities. The existence of these arrangements, while not conferring a ministerial endorsement on the firms in question, is normally a matter of public record and the firms concerned routinely refer to them in their own publicity and promotional material.

  Patents (Engineering Products)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures she is taking to prevent the import into

  Average annual household standard credit gas bills1,2: real 1995 prices3 including VAT

  £

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  British Gas supply zones5

  Main zone

  347

  322

  272

  310

  356

  418

  412

  404

  398

  378

  North

  323

  298

  256

  295

  352

  413

  407

  400

  395

  373

  Midlands

  317

  290

  250

  289

  349

  407

  402

  397

  391

  370

  692
  Britain and Europe of copies of British engineering products, made in breach of World Patent Organisation rules. [12756]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The importation into the European Union of goods which infringe trade marks, copyright and design rights is prohibited by virtue of Council Regulation 3295/94 provided that the relevant right holder has lodged an application for action with Customs and Excise, which is responsible in the UK for enforcement. The regulation fulfils the obligations of the UK and the EU under the World Trade Organisation—general agreement on tariffs and trade—formerly GATT agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights but its coverage of "counterfeit and pirated goods" does not embrace patent infringements.

  Trade Agreements
  Angela Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures her Department is taking to ensure consistency in Government policy towards international development within(a) bilateral trade agreements and (b) multilateral trade agreements. [12282]

  Mrs. Roche
  My Department works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and others to ensure that UK development policies are adequately reflected in bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.

  Imports (Codes of Conduct)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has on codes of conduct for British companies importing produce from developing nations. [12314]

  Mrs. Roche
  My Department is keen to work constructively with companies to establish voluntary codes of conduct with their suppliers both to improve the working conditions under which their products are made and to minimise any adverse impact on the environment. I welcome the moves many of our companies are making towards taking a more ethical stance in business and private sector initiatives such as the ethical trading initiative, which is supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Gas Bills
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the real level of average household bills for gas in Great Britain as a whole and for each region of Great Britain in each year since 1978. [12830]

  Mr. Battle
  The data are given in the table.
  693

  Average annual household standard credit gas bills1,2: real 1995 prices3 including VAT

  £

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Competitive regions

  Phase 1 (all customers)6,7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Phase 2a (all customers)6,7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Phase 2b (all customers)6,7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Great Britain average

  335

  309

  263

  302

  354

  414

  408

  402

  397

  375

  £

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  41997

  British Gas supply zones5

  Main zone

  351

  343

  341

  345

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North

  349

  343

  341

  345

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Midlands

  349

  343

  341

  345

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Competitive regions

  Phase 1 (all customers)6,7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  316

  301

  Phase 2a (all customers)6,7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  320

  308

  Phase 2b (all customers)6,7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  320

  306

  Great Britain average

  351

  343

  341

  345

  334

  309

  315

  327

  320

  309

  Source:

  Published tariffs.

  Notes:

  1 Based on equivalent of standard tariffs of British Gas and other supply companies. Based on an annual consumption of 17,600 kWh.

  2 Bills relate to the total bill received during the year which for credit consumers covers consumption in Q4 of the previous year to Q3 in year in question and includes all tariff changes and rebates.

  3 Real prices are cash prices adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP market price deflator.

  4 1997 bills are provisional in that they only include tariff changes announced up to August 1997 and therefore may be subject to revision if tariff changes occur. The 1997 deflator is an estimate and as such revisions may lead to changes in the real terms bill.

  5 Supply zones are defined as Main: Scottish, North Thames, South Eastern, Eastern, Southern, Wales and South Western; North: North Eastern, North Western and Northern; Midlands: East and West.

  6 Bills for the various trial competition regions are calculated so as to include the fact that those customers who switched supplier would have received their gas, prior to switching, from British Gas and charged BG tariffs for this gas. For example, the Phase 2a and 2b bills are based on the assumption that customers who switched in Phase 2a received gas supply from the new supplier from 10 February 1997, and for Phase 2b from 7 March 1997. Prior to these dates the customers are taken to be on British Gas tariffs (e.g. national or main zone).

  7 Phase 1 covers Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, Phase 2a covers the County of Avon and Dorset and Phase 2b covers Kent and East and West Sussex.

  Electricity Bills
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the real level of average

  Average annual household standard credit electricity bills1,2,3,4: real 1995 prices5 including VAT

  £

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Eastern Electricity

  n/a

  n/a

  346

  n/a

  338

  321

  312

  306

  298

  n/a

  East Midlands Electricity

  n/a

  n/a

  335

  n/a

  338

  329

  320

  317

  316

  n/a

  London Electricity

  n/a

  n/a

  383

  n/a

  384

  364

  355

  342

  322

  n/a

  MANWEB

  n/a

  n/a

  364

  n/a

  369

  350

  342

  339

  334

  n/a

  Midlands Electricity

  n/a

  n/a

  346

  n/a

  354

  336

  327

  325

  316

  n/a

  Northern Electric

  n/a

  n/a

  355

  n/a

  354

  336

  329

  323

  312

  n/a

  NORWEB

  n/a

  n/a

  339

  n/a

  351

  333

  325

  322

  316

  n/a

  SEEBOARD

  n/a

  n/a

  350

  n/a

  351

  340

  330

  325

  312

  n/a

  Southern Electric

  n/a

  n/a

  337

  n/a

  347

  326

  317

  306

  298

  n/a

  SWALEC

  n/a

  n/a

  359

  n/a

  369

  350

  342

  334

  325

  n/a

  SWEB

  n/a

  n/a

  364

  n/a

  371

  348

  338

  333

  316

  n/a

  Yorkshire Electricity

  n/a

  n/a

  344

  n/a

  354

  333

  324

  320

  316

  n/a

  Hydro-Electric

  n/a

  n/a

  311

  n/a

  310

  295

  294

  289

  286

  n/a

  Scottish Power

  n/a

  n/a

  304

  n/a

  309

  293

  294

  290

  287

  n/a

  Great Britain average8

  n/a

  n/a

  348

  n/a

  352

  335

  325

  322

  313

  n/a

  694
  household bills for electricity in Great Britain as a whole and for each region of Great Britain in each year since 1978. [12833]

  Mr. Battle
  The available data are given in the table.
  695

  £

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  19966

  1997

  Eastern Electricity

  291

  278

  280

  289

  297

  288

  275

  291

  282

  279

  East Midlands Electricity

  300

  287

  289

  297

  306

  298

  296

  300

  276

  258

  London Electricity

  311

  298

  301

  313

  318

  299

  304

  302

  290

  275

  MANWEB

  325

  311

  314

  322

  329

  321

  313

  323

  313

  288

  Midlands Electricity

  306

  293

  295

  304

  309

  297

  282

  294

  284

  267

  Northern Electric

  307

  294

  301

  315

  325

  302

  315

  308

  296

  279

  NORWEB

  300

  288

  290

  298

  304

  296

  291

  277

  273

  255

  SEEBOARD

  304

  291

  294

  303

  310

  300

  288

  289

  275

  259

  Southern Electric

  299

  287

  290

  299

  306

  298

  294

  294

  286

  260

  SWALEC

  318

  306

  314

  331

  337

  327

  330

  337

  325

  306

  SWEB

  319

  307

  313

  325

  333

  320

  326

  322

  309

  280

  Yorkshire Electricity

  308

  296

  300

  305

  309

  298

  284

  297

  277

  248

  Hydro-Electric

  280

  270

  276

  282

  289

  285

  285

  289

  284

  268

  Scottish Power

  280

  271

  276

  281

  285

  277

  290

  295

  289

  269

  Great Britain average8

  304

  291

  294

  303

  310

  298

  294

  298

  286

  269

  Source:

  Electricity Association—1980 to 1988; DTI—1989 to 1997, based on published tariffs and rebates from Public Electricity Suppliers.

  Notes:

  1 Based on an annual consumption of 3,300kWh.

  2 Bills from 1989 include all tariff changes and rebates but exclude discounts offered by some companies for prompt payment.

  3 Data from 1989 relates to the total bill received during the year, which for credit consumers covers consumption in Q4 of previous year to Q3 in year in question. Specific bills based on tariffs at 1 April are used pre 1989.

  4 Data pre 1989 and post 1988 are calculated on different basis and so are not directly comparable, but do reflect the overall trend.

  5 Real prices are cash prices adjusted for the effects of inflation as measured by the GDP market price deflator.

  6 1996 bills exclude the National Grid Discount. Customers in England and Wales received a one—off rebate of £54.60 (including VAT) during Q1 1996, following the flotation of the National Grid Company.

  7 1997 bills are provisional in that they are based on tariffs as at end August 1997. Information for the year may change (for example with rebates) further changes will occur as revisions are made to the current estimate of the 1997 GDP deflator.

  8 From 1989, averages are weighted by the number of domestic customers in 1994–95, prior to which data for each year are used.

  Telephone Bills
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the real level of average household telephone bills in Great Britain as a whole and for each region of Great Britain in each year since 1978. [12832]

  Mrs. Roche
  The first table gives an index of BT's telephone charges for the period of 1978–79 to 1988–89, since values for these years are not readily available. From 1988–89, BT started providing values for the median residential bill, which unlike the first set of figures relates to actual use and provides the most accurate view of an average bill. Values for these for 1988 to 1996 are shown in the second table. Statistics for each region of Great Britain are not available. Figures for other operators are not available.

  1. Index of quarterly telephone charges including VAT for the period 1978–79 to 1988–89

  Year

  Great Britain

  1978–79

  100

  1979–80

  92.6

  1980–81

  102.4

  1981–82

  110.9

  1982–83

  110.2

  1983–84

  105.6

  1984–85

  104.9

  1985–86

  105.3

  1986–87

  106.5

  1987–88

  104.4

  1988–89

  99.1

  696

  2. Quarterly median residential bill. Value in £ since 1989–90, excluding VAT, deflated by the all items retail prices index and expressed in 1995–96 prices

  £

  1989–90

  47.64

  1990–91

  48.15

  1991–92

  48.44

  1992–93

  48.99

  1993–94

  49.38

  1994–95

  50.55

  1995–96

  48.67

  1996–97

  47.69

  The above figures make it look as if prices have not changed in real terms since the late 1980s. These figures do not however take account of increased use of the telephone throughout the period.

  Supply Teachers
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will instigate an investigation into the businesses that supply supply-teaching staff. [12868]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My Department's employment agency standards inspectorate is responsible for regulating businesses providing supply teaching staff under the terms of the Employment Agencies Act 1973. In addition to investigating complaints, proactive checks of standards in this and other sectors of the industry are conducted from time to time. Any information about suspected breaches of the legislation should be brought to my Department's attention.

  Footwear Imports
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans he has to impose anti-dumping duties on footwear imported from(a) Thailand, (b) Indonesia and (c) China; [12345]

  (2) what action the Government plan to take over the dumping in the United Kingdom of footwear from China, Indonesia and Thailand. [12288]

  Mrs. Roche
  Definitive anti-dumping measures may be imposed only by the Council of the European Union, acting on a recommendation from the European 698
  Commission and by a simple majority of member states. They then apply to all imports of the product from the countries concerned into the EU.

  In the case of leather and synthetic footwear from China, Indonesia and Thailand, it seems likely that the Council will agree to a minimum price regime in November. The duty payable would be equivalent to the difference between a minimum price and the import price, where the import price is lower.

  In the case of footwear with textile uppers from China and Indonesia, the Commission has put forward a proposal for duties on which discussions continue.

SCOTLAND

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of staffed beds projected in the published Lothian health acute strategy for(a) all hospitals in the Lothian health board area, (b) the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh trust and (c) the West Lothian NHS trust. [12748]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Lothian health board's 1993 public consultation document on the acute services strategy indicated that following implementation of the proposals there were expected to be 2,042 acute hospital beds—excluding obstetrics, special care baby unit, geriatric assessment and elderly continuing care beds—within the new royal infirmary, Western general and St. John's hospitals.

  Total projected bed numbers—excluding only continuing care elderly beds—for the new royal infirmary and St. John's hospital were 942 and 654 respectively.

  Since consultation, Lothian health board has continued to refine and revise its plans in consultation with the trusts, and relevant clinicians.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of staffed beds by specialty for the latest date for which information is available for(a) all hospitals in the Lothian health board area, (b) the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh trust and (c) the West Lothian NHS trust. [12747]

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

  NHSIS—Average available staffed beds; Lothian Health area: Quarter ending 30 June 19971

  Lothian Health area

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS trust

  West Lothian NHS trust

  All specialties

  4,928

  1,027

  842

  General Medicine

  407

  146

  101

  Cardiology

  56

  35

  —

  Communicable Diseases

  —

  —

  —

  Dermatology

  19

  19

  —

  Endocrinology and Diabetes

  3

  —

  —

  Gastroenterology

  45

  22

  2

  Geriatric Medicine

  1,143

  110

  161

  Medical Oncology

  18

  —

  —

  Medical Paediatrics

  115

  37

  30

  Nephrology

  33

  33

  —

  Neurology

  35

  —

  —

  Rehabilitation Medicine

  84

  —

  —

  Respiratory Medicine

  87

  56

  —

  Rheumatology

  14

  —

  —

  General Surgery

  98

  —

  56

  General Surgery (excluding Vascular)

  174

  106

  —

  Vascular Surgery

  38

  38

  —

  Anaesthetics

  29

  10

  4

  Cardiothoracic Surgery

  33

  33

  —

  Thoracic Surgery

  26

  26

  —

  Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)

  37

  24

  6

  Neurosurgery

  48

  —

  —

  Ophthalmology

  21

  20

  —

  Orthopaedics

  222

  172

  38

  Plastic Surgery

  51

  10

  32

  Surgical Paediatrics

  24

  —

  —

  Urology

  60

  —

  4

  Oral Surgery

  1

  —

  —

  700

  NHSIS—Average available staffed beds; Lothian Health area: Quarter ending 30 June 19971

  Lothian Health area

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS trust

  West Lothian NHS trust

  Paediatric Dentistry

  —

  —

  —

  GP Other than Obstetrics

  32

  —

  11

  Gynaecology

  69

  30

  17

  Obstetrics

  164

  83

  44

  General Psychiatry (Mental Illness)

  643

  —

  201

  Child Psychiatry

  —

  —

  —

  Adolescent Psychiatry

  6

  —

  6

  Forensic Psychiatry

  34

  —

  —

  Psychiatry of Old Age

  708

  —

  123

  Learning Disability (Mental Handicap)

  252

  —

  —

  Diagnostic Radiology

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical Oncology

  52

  —

  —

  Haematology

  28

  —

  4

  Unspecified2

  19

  16

  2

  1 Provisional

  2 Beds allocated as "unspecified" are not allocated to any particular specialty, and are lent to specialties, on demand.

  Lothian Health Board (Acute Services)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has assessed in respect of changes to the Lothian health acute services strategy; when proposed revisions will be made available for public consultation; and when the acute services strategy will be implemented in full. [12751]

  Mr. Galbraith
  It is estimated that Lothian health board's acute services strategy will be implemented in full once the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh is operating, currently expected to be in 2003. Scottish Office officials are in regular contact with Lothian health board and the relevant trusts so that they are aware of any revisions to the original proposals within the acute services strategy. I would be informed of, and assess appropriately, any revisions which substantially affected the objectives or implementation of the strategy.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will make available a detailed analysis of the costs associated with specific projects of all proposed health service PFI contracts in Scotland. [12749]

  Mr. Galbraith
  NHS trusts responsible for individual PFI projects account for the costs they incur in pursuing them. The Scottish Office management executive estimates that costs should not be more than 1.5 per cent. of the capital value of the project.

WALES

  Devolution
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of
  701
  sending literature to every home in Wales on the Government's devolution proposals. [12722]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The cost was under £164,000.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the net cost of producing the White Paper on the Government's proposals for a Welsh Assembly. [12717]

  Mr. Davies
  The net cost was £77,480.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants currently work in the Welsh Office; and how many he estimates will work in the Welsh Office after the implementation of his devolution proposals. [12689]

  Mr. Davies
  The Welsh Office currently employs 2,224 full-time equivalent staff. This figures includes 140 casual staff.

  My estimate of the number employed by the Welsh Office after establishment of the Welsh Assembly is set out in paragraph 4.45 of the White Paper "A Voice for Wales", copies of which are available in the Vote Office.

  align="center">MRSA and tuberculosis1

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales2

  North Wales

  85

  69

  75

  64

  53

  60

  Dyfed Powys

  27

  17

  25

  28

  15

  27

  Morgannwg

  112

  104

  90

  141

  124

  110

  Bro Taf

  210

  202

  196

  196

  185

  89

  Gwent

  40

  44

  64

  94

  52

  49

  Wales

  474

  436

  450

  523

  429

  335

  Notifications of tuberculosis3

  North Wales

  —

  6

  9

  3

  5

  8

  Dyfed Powys

  3

  6

  6

  3

  —

  1

  Morgannwg

  6

  4

  5

  —

  1

  —

  Bro Taf

  7

  6

  8

  6

  1

  18

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  Wales

  16

  22

  28

  14

  8

  28

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales (CDSC).

  1 Data for recent months are provisional.

  2 Patients identified with MRSA (ethicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus); only a proportion of these will have clinical illness. Screening and reporting practices may differ from hospital to hospital. The date is the date specimen was received by the hospital. The health authority is the area of residence of the patient or area of reporting laboratory if area of residence of patient is not known.

  3 Electronic reports to CDSC Wales.

  Performing Arts (Welsh Language)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to promote the use of the Welsh language in the performing arts; and if he will make a statement. [12914]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I am pleased that both the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Language Board support productions in Welsh—the Arts Council of Wales through its drama programmes, community touring scheme and

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12568]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The functions of the Welsh Office for which payments are made are set out in the Department's supply estimates and appropriation accounts—class XIV, votes 1 to 5. Payments for all functions are handled centrally and the cost of the central finance payment processing for 1996–97 is estimated at £492,000.

  MRSA and Tuberculosis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of(a) Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and (b) tuberculosis have been recorded in each health authority district in Wales in each month since April 1997. [12910]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information is given in the following table:

  other activities; the Welsh Language Board through support for the national eisteddfod of Wales and the Urdd national eisteddfod.

  Health Trusts (Deficits)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of(a) the current deficits and (b) the projected deficits of each health trust as a percentage of their budgets; and if he will make a statement. [12963]
  703
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  As at August 1997, the following trusts were reporting either a current and/or projected end of year deficit position(s):

  Current £000s

  Projected £000s

  Carmarthen

  (441)

  (1,659)

  Ceredigion

  (414)

  (1,401)

  East Glamorgan

  (142)

  (342)

  Glan y Mor

  (10)

  0

  Glan Hafren

  (265)

  0

  Gwent Community

  (473)

  66

  Llandough Hospital and Community

  (690)

  (1,648)

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  (447)

  (1,095)

  Morriston

  (1,309)

  (3,159)

  Nevill Hall and District

  (156)

  (509)

  North Glamorgan

  657

  (737)

  Pembs/Derwen

  (1,122)

  (2.697)

  Powys

  (646)

  (1,403)

  UHW Healthcare

  (954)

  (6,000)

  Wrexham

  (715)

  (737)

  The position of some trusts may improve as contract negotiations are completed, and these deficits project worse case scenarios. My officials are in discussion with trusts to ensure that these problems are being dealt with.

  It is not possible to provide the figures as a percentage of their budget, as most trusts have not yet reached contract agreement with all their purchasers.

  Transplants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many(a) kidney, (b) heart, (c) lung, (d) heart and lung, (e) liver and (f) other transplants have been carried out in Wales in each of the last 10 years, broken down into health authority district; and if he will make a statement; [12912]

  (2) how many transplants involving artificial organs have been carried out in Wales in each of the last 10 years, broken down into health authority district; and if he will make a statement. [12913]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on the number of transplants performed on Welsh residents by area of residence is not readily available. The number of transplants carried out in Wales as a whole is shown in the following table. Transplants of organs not listed in the table are not carried out in Wales. It should be noted that kidney transplants for residents of north Wales are normally carried out in Liverpool. No data are available centrally concerning artificial organ transplants.

  align="center">Organ transplants carried out in Wales

  Kidney

  Kidney/pancreas

  Whole pancreas

  Cornea

  1987

  71

  —

  3

  26

  1988

  70

  1

  2

  26

  1989

  65

  1

  1

  53

  1990

  62

  1

  —

  83

  1991

  79

  3

  —

  61

  1992

  65

  8

  —

  98

  1993

  65

  1

  —

  94

  1994

  94

  2

  —

  104

  1995

  81

  2

  —

  95

  1996

  90

  —

  —

  98

  Source:

  United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority.

  Organ Donors
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate how many and what percentage of people in Wales (i) carry a donor card and (ii) are registered on the NHS organ donor register. [12911]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The number of people carrying organ donor cards is not known centrally. There were 390 thousand Welsh residents on the NHS organ donor register at 18 October 1997, about 13 per cent. of the population.

  Health Authorities (Finance)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of(a) the running costs of and (b) the remuneration paid by each health authority in Wales in the current financial year.[12964]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  This information is not presently available.

  Health authorities' costs and the remuneration paid to their chairmen, non-executive and executive directors in 1996–97 were as shown in the following table:

  align="right">£000

  Health authority costs

  Directors' remuneration

  Bro Taf

  11,807

  316

  Dyfed/Powys

  5,530

  394

  Gwent

  5,792

  310

  Morgannwy

  5,024

  413

  North Wales

  6,879

  400

  Total

  35,032

  1,833

  Source:

  Health authorities annual accounts.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Exports (South Africa)
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total percentage reduction agreed since August 1996 by the European Commission in the level of beef export refunds to South Africa. [12332]

  Mr. Rooker
  The level of export refund EU beef exports received is dependant not only on the destination, but also the type of cut. Since August 1996, the level of export refunds on beef exports to South Africa has fallen by between 35 per cent. and 43 per cent.

  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the report on the effects of EU beef export subsidies on the Southern African livestock economy commissioned by the South African Government from Natal university. [12333]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are aware of the report and have noted its contents. As mentioned in my reply to my hon. Friend's previous question, there has already been a large reduction in the level of refunds paid on beef exports to South Africa. We believe however that it is still too early to assess the full impact of these reductions.
  705
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when will the EU Council of Ministers next debate beef export subsidies to South Africa; and if he will make a statement. [12334]

  Mr. Rooker
  We know of no current plans to discuss beef export refunds to South Africa in the Agriculture Council.

  EU-Senegal Fisheries Agreement
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the nationality of the fishermen and their projected generated financial gain covered in the European Union-Senegal fisheries agreement; what is the cost to the European Union; what is the financial share of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's position regarding fishing rights held by the European Union in third-party waters. [12500]

  Mr. Morley
  The fishing opportunities available under the EC-Senegal fisheries agreement are allocated mainly to fishermen from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece who have traditionally fished in Senegalese waters. However, new pelagic fishing opportunities obtained under the new protocol have not been allocated to specific member states. We have no information on the projected financial gain by individual fishermen.

  The cost of the agreement to the EU budget is 12 mecu per annum. The UK contributes some 15 per cent. of this amount.

  The Government consider fisheries agreements with third countries to be important in safeguarding traditional fishing grounds for EU fishermen. The agreements with Norway and other North Atlantic countries, for example, are important to the UK distant water fleet. However, the Government wish to ensure that fisheries agreements as a whole provide value for money, promote sustainable fisheries and are coherent with general EU development policy.

  Dietary Supplements
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the reports which he received from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Goods and the Environment and the Food Advisory Committee before he made his decision of 4 July to limit the level of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements. [12310]

  Mr. Rooker
  The statements from the Committee on Toxicology of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment and the Food Advisory Committee have been placed in the Library of the House. They have been available in the public domain since 4 July.

  Fishing Fleet
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the integration of Agenda 2000 countries into the European Union on the United Kingdom fishing fleet. [12526]
  706
  Mr. Morley
  It will not be possible to carry out a detailed assessment of the impact on the UK fishing fleet of integrating new countries into the EU until we know which countries are to be admitted and the accession terms proposed. However, those applicant countries which have marine fishing interests generally fish in areas, such as the Baltic sea, where the UK fleet is not active. Previous new entrants have, as part of their accession terms, been allocated quotas reflecting the areas and stocks for which they have historic track records. The Government will wish to ensure that similar conditions apply to further new entrants.

  Scientific Committees
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department approved the establishment of additional scientific committees as announced in European Union document ip/97/679; how those committees will co-ordinate their work with committees responsible to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [12744]

  Mr. Rooker
  The European Commission has recently transferred all of its advisory scientific committees to Directorate General XXIV which deals with consumer policy and consumer health protection. It is now in the process of restructuring the committees, the six existing committees being replaced by eight new committees which will deal respectively with food; animal nutrition; animal health and animal welfare; veterinary public health; plants; cosmetic products and non-food products intended for consumers; toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment; and medical products and medical devices. A restructured overarching committee, the Scientific Steering Committee, is also being set up, the membership consisting of the chairmen of the eight scientific committees and eight additional scientists.

  The reorganisation of the committee structure is entirely a matter for the European Commission, but in so far as the intention is to provide a more effective advisory system we are in support, though it remains to be seen how the new arrangements will operate in practice. Advice on food safety issues in the UK continues to be provided by the UK advisory committees, although increasingly legislation on food safety is based on agreements reached in Brussels.

  Officials have been in touch with officials in DG XXIV and will continue working to ensure that there is effective interchange of information between the EU and ourselves. We also keep in close touch with day to day developments in the EU scientific committees via the UK contact points, and EU committees will be well aware of the conclusions reached in UK discussions.

  EU Expenditure
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give a breakdown of expenditure by country under European Union document 9201/97. [12593]

  Mr. Rooker
  Document 9201/97 concerns a Commission proposal to augment funding for the quality beef promotion scheme by up to 20 mecu. However, as this proposal has not yet been agreed by the Council, expenditure has not yet been allocated. Should the
  707
  proposal be adopted, it is expected that a breakdown of expenditure by sponsoring member state and by the implementing trade or inter-trade organisation, will be available in due course. Organisations may, however, operate in more than one member state.

  Aerial Spraying
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the regulations governing the aerial spraying of bracken to ensure the maximum safety and convenience of residents. [12761]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986 include general requirements for the use of pesticides, including aerial spraying, and were updated earlier this year. The amending regulations introduced a specific requirement on all users of pesticides to confine the application of the pesticide to the land, crop, structure material or other area intended to be treated. These regulations place obligations on the aerial spray operator to give notice of the intended aerial application to the chief health officer for the district; hospitals, schools and other institutions within 150 m of the intended flight path; and occupants or their agents of all property within 25 m of the boundary of the land to which the pesticide is to be applied.

  These requirements will be emphasised in the revised code of practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings which will be published early in the new year.

  BSE
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures to show the incidence of BSE(a) in mainland Britain and (b) in the Channel Islands among (i) Jersey cows and (ii) other breeds. [12764]

  Mr. Rooker
  The number of confirmed cases of BSE in Jersey and non-Jersey cattle in Great Britain as at 21 October 1997 are as follows:

  Number

  Jersey

  1,472

  Jersey cross breeds

  147

  Non-Jersey

  167,640

  Total

  169,259

  These figures include cases reported before the 1988 BSE order.

  Channel Islands authorities compile their own BSE statistics, which they supply to MAFF. My Department receives only cumulative figures of confirmed cases, the most recent being:

  Number

  As at

  Jersey

  132

  10 October 1997

  Guernsey

  648

  19 October 1997

  Alderney

  2

  26 June 1995

  708
  For logistical reasons not all suspects slaughtered on Guernsey have been subjected to laboratory confirmation of disease. Some have been confirmed solely on the basis of clinical signs.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instigate a new public inquiry into the BSE affair. [12967]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government are considering the question of a public inquiry into BSE very carefully and will make an announcement when they have reached a conclusion.

  Factory-farmed Produce
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that factory-farmed produce is identifiable by package labelling; and if he will make a statement. [12930]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government have no plans at present to make such information a mandatory part of the food label, but we are consulting interested parties on the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendation for compulsory labelling of egg production systems.

  Genetically Engineered Food
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has undertaken into the allergenic potential of genetically engineered food; and if he will make a statement. [12896]

  Mr. Rooker
  The EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) introduced an EU wide pre-market approval system for genetically modified foods. In the UK the independent Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes assesses the safety of such foods paying particular attention to their allergenic potential. This Department funds research work worth some £1 million per year, to underpin the ACNFP's safety assessment procedures. It is standard practice to encourage the publication of results from such research.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Bull Bars
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will advocate an EU-wide ban on bull bars during the British presidency of the Council of Transport Ministers in January 1998. [12321]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The UK has already made its opposition to aggressive bull bars very clear to our European partners, and has strongly supported the Commission's proposal for tackling them through an amendment to the external projections directive. However, the opposition to this initiative from certain member states has demonstrated that if we are to tackle the bull bar problem quickly we will have to take action at a national, rather than a European, level.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he intends to take to control the use of bull bars. [12322]
  709
  Ms Jackson
  We have concluded that we must look seriously at tackling aggressive bull bars at a national level. We are currently consulting widely on options for action with the aim of identifying a way forward that is both practicable and effective.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if, in assessing housing properties for compulsory competitive tendering purposes, the 4,000 de minimis threshold will apply to properties managed via management agreements, by(a) estate management boards, and (b) tenant management organisations. [12008]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Minister for Local Government and Housing announced on 25 July that the proposed de minimis threshold for housing management compulsory competitive tendering should be stock based at 4,000 properties. There are no proposals to make any changes to the current definition of a local authority's housing stock. The definition as it stands includes most stock which a local authority provides under part II of the Housing Act 1985. Only hostels and flats which have been bought under the right-to-buy scheme are excluded. Therefore any properties which are managed by either estate management boards or tenant management organisations will count towards the de minimis calculation.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to end the capping of local authority spending. [12009]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We remain committed to the abolition of crude and universal capping as soon as possible. We are now working on a wide range of proposals to improve local accountability which will allow us to fulfil this commitment.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has(a) to exclude supplementary credit approvals under the Local Government Finance (Supplementary Credit Approval) Bill from capping rates and (b) to allow SCAs to be used in respect of private housing stock. [12010]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Ministers have yet to take decisions on capping arrangements for 1998–99. We anticipate making an announcement later in the year.

  Guidance to local authorities on expenditure under the capital receipts initiative was issued on 2 October. This sets out how the additional resources released under the initiative can be applied. In the first instance, it will be for individual local authorities to identify local needs and priorities and to draw up strategies to tackle them. Where private sector renewal is such a priority, capital receipts initiative resources will be available to support remedial works.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to allow the private finance initiative to 710
  be used for housing purposes; and what account is taken of private finance initiative projects in relation to the capping of local government expenditure. [12011]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local authorities are already developing pilot schemes for the provision of non housing revenue account housing under PFI. My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Housing recently agreed to the launch of a pathfinder project for the use of the PFI in housing revenue account housing during the third reading of the Local Government Contracts Bill.Official Report, 8 July, column 831. In the context of the 1997–98 capping round, the previous Administration adjusted the capping regime to allow amounts of revenue support stemming from private finance credits to be spent. We will announce capping guidelines for 1998–99 later in the autumn. In the longer term, we have repeated our commitment to end crude and universal capping as soon as possible.

  European Environment Agency
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the definition of(a) media-oriented and (b) source-oriented monitoring as named as an element of the 1997 work programme for the European Environment Agency; what the projects involved are; how much has been allocated to each; and if he will make a statement. [12508]

  Angela Eagle
  In the context of the European Environment Agency's work programme, media-oriented monitoring concerns the assessment of the state and trends of the environment by looking at the quality of the various areas of the environment—air, water, nature and soil. Source-oriented monitoring provides an assessment of the pressures on the environment by way of measuring the levels of pollution by source.

  The EEA's work programme for 1997 gives an estimated total budget allocation of 2.75 million ecu for the media-oriented monitoring projects, and 800,000 ecu for the source-oriented monitoring projects. The two tables provide a more detailed breakdown by project. A number of UK organisations are partners in some of the consortia carrying out elements of this work programme.

  align="center">Media oriented monitoring. Assessment of the state and trends of the environment

  Project number

  Project title

  Budget 000 ecu

  MW3

  Design of a freshwater monitoring network

  540

  MW4

  European freshwater monitoring network and databases

  MW5

  Water resources evaluation

  MW6

  Information on coastal and marine water quality

  340

  MW7

  Coastal pressure and state indicators

  MA2

  European air quality monitoring network and databases—establishment and maintenance

  390

  MA3

  Harmonisation in the use of models for ambient air quality and pollution dispersion/transport

  MA4

  Ambient noise levels and exposure

  50

  MN2

  State and trends of biodiversity in Europe

  590

  MN3

  Support to NATURA 2000 network

  MN4

  Landcover—ecological monitoring

  390

  MN5

  Forest conditions—monitoring network and databases

  60

  711

  align="center">Media oriented monitoring. Assessment of the state and trends of the environment

  Project number

  Project title

  Budget 000 ecu

  MS2

  Soil characteristics, monitoring and mapping

  390

  MS3

  Methodologies for inventories of contaminated sites

  Total

  2,750

  align="center">Source oriented monitoring. Assessment of pressures

  Project number

  Project title

  Budget 000 ecu

  SG1

  Common tools for emissions and waste integrated inventories

  50

  SA2

  Air emissions inventories '90 and '94

  400

  SW1

  Emissions to water—general approach and assessment

  DGXI funded

  SWS2

  Waste—pilot projects for further assessments of inventories and analysis of main flows

  350

  Total

  800

  A43
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the average daily flow of traffic on the A43 through Silverstone over each of the last 10 years; what proportion of this flow is represented by heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [12262]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Highways Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 27 October 1997:
  The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to reply to your recent question about traffic on the A43 through Silverstone over the past ten years.
  The annual average daily flow at Silverstone in 1996 was 20,500 vehicles with 17 per cent. commercial vehicles including buses. Traffic is regularly monitored on A43 between Wood Burcote turn and the A413 (Annex A). Figures for that site are shown at Annex B.
  A comparison of the 1996 figures show that the flow at the monitoring site is some 17 per cent. higher than the flow through Silverstone.

  align="center">Ten year average daily traffic flow figures. A43 through Silverstone

  Year

  AADF

  Per cent. commercial AADF

  1987

  17,400

  18

  1988

  19,200

  —

  1989

  19,700

  —

  1990

  21,100

  16

  1991

  18,400

  15

  1992

  23,400

  —

  1993

  22,700

  16

  1994

  22,200

  —

  1995

  22,300

  —

  1996

  24,100

  15

  Broadcasting Masts
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued to local authorities in connection with the determination of planning applications for broadcasting masts and transmitting stations. [12494]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Current planning policy guidance on broadcasting masts and transmitting stations is set out in planning policy guidance note 8—PPG8 revised December 1992. That guidance reflects the importance we attach to keeping to a minimum the number of broadcasting and telecommunications masts, and of sites for such installations, while ensuring that there is an effective national broadcasting and telecommunications network.

  Conservation Areas
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the creation of conservation areas and nature reserves in Britain; and what proposals he has to encourage local authorities towards the creation and management of such sites. [12498]

  Angela Eagle
  Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 the conservation agencies have powers to declare national nature reserves. There are now 188 NNRs in England. English Nature, the Government's scientific adviser, has been actively seeking to involve local authorities and other approved bodies in the management of NNRs. It has also assisted local authorities in increasing the number of local nature reserves from 288 in 1991 to 566 in 1997.

  Motability (Fuel Tax Exemptions)
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a fuel tax exemption for those disabled people who have motability vehicles. [12299]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are no plans to introduce a fuel tax exemption for those disabled people who have motability vehicles. Such a measure would be administratively expensive and impractical, and there are better ways of assisting disabled people with their transport costs. The main way is through the Government's provision of the disability living allowance which was introduced in 1992 to help people with the extra costs which arise from their care and mobility needs. DLA is increased every year, by law, by the rate of inflation, as measured by the movement in the retail prices index which takes account of the cost of petrol as well as the cost of taxi fares and other motoring costs.

  Road Bridges
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those requirements of European legislation on axle weights which require strengthening of road bridges; and the cost of strengthening road bridges to the required standard. [12461]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  When the United Kingdom's derogation from certain of the European Community weight limits in directive 96/53/EEC, previously
  713
  85/3/EEC, expires on 31 December 1998, we will allow an increase in the drive axle weight limit for vehicles on international journeys form 10.5 to 11.5 tonnes.

  For the trunk road network the Highways Agency has an assessment and strengthening programme aimed at ensuring all the bridges meet or are brought up to meet modern standards. The latest estimate of the cost of this programme is £450 million and includes some additional costs for meeting the slightly higher requirements of European legislation. Figures are not available to estimate this additional cost.

  Until local authorities have completed the assessment of their bridge stock, it will not be possible to determine accurately the cost of strengthening bridges on local roads to enable them also to carry the heavier 40 tonne lorries. It has, however, been made clear to local authorities that not all bridges on all roads need to carry such vehicles.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the possibility of using redundant North sea oil and gas drilling platforms in the construction of new road bridges. [12286]

  Ms Jackson
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Highways Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Bob Blizzard, dated 27 October 1997:
  The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question on the possibility of using redundant North Sea oil and gas drilling platforms in the construction of new bridges.
  Most new bridges are constructed of steel, (steel) reinforced concrete, or a combination of both. The exact type of bridge is usually dictated by cost, aesthetics, the road geometry and the loads that the bridge will have to carry. To achieve the most effective design, the shape and strength of the various components are specifically designed and it is not often that "second hand" components can be incorporated without significant cost. However, second-hand materials can often be used quite economically after they have been recycled. For example, all the steel bars produced in the UK for reinforced concrete are made from recycled scrap steel.
  Crushed concrete can be used again as an aggregate for concrete but generally it is not suitable for making the high strength concrete needed in bridges. Recycled concrete from drilling platforms is also likely to be contaminated with salt which will cause the steel reinforcement to corrode unless special measures are taken.
  It is therefore difficult to see how steel or concrete from redundant North Sea oil and gas drilling platforms could be used economically, directly in new bridges. However, salvaged steel from North Sea platforms has already been used in temporary works and we are continuing to carry out research into finding more ways of using recycled materials including concrete.

  EU Life Environment
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what United Kingdom projects are funded by European Union Life Environment moneys; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [12506]

  Angela Eagle
  Since the inception of the European Union LIFE programme in 1992, Life Environment, which is administered by the European Commission, has supported 70 projects in the United Kingdom, providing total funding of around 35 million.
  714
  Under Phase 2 of the LIFE programme, which began last year and runs until 1999, 16 United Kingdom projects have so far successfully applied for funding. Theses projects, and the Community funding they have been awarded, are as listed.

  Proposer

  Title of project

  Ecu

  1996

  Dorset County Council

  Coastal Zone Management: development of a strategy for an open coast

  199,361

  BIP Group Ltd

  The use of a novel biological treatment for reductio of VOC emissions to air

  149,377

  University of Ulster

  Implementing alternative strategies for sustainable beach and dune management

  630,403

  City of Edinburgh

  The Forth Estuary: a demonstration of effective integrated costal zone management

  143,617

  Buckinghamshire College

  Tourfor: integrated tourism with the development of forest resources

  325,122

  BOC Plc

  The sanitisation and recirculation of water in the processing of poultry

  228,097

  Isle of Wight Council

  Demonstration project on integrated costal zone management

  151,809

  1997

  Arun District Council

  An investigation into the survival of sewage indicating organisms discharged to the marine environment 159,883

  London Borough of Southwark

  Local Indicators to Monitor Urban Sustainability (LITMUS)

  498,966

  London Borough of Camden

  'Plusbus Interactive'—a scheme for access and availability of special transport for all

  937,443

  Subterra Ltd

  An environmentally friendly repair system for leaking sewage or rainwater/surface drainage pipes

  274,546

  SATRA

  Recycling of waste leather from footwear and other industries

  411,861

  Highland Council

  Area sustainability strategies for peripheral rural areas

  492,458

  BIP Group Ltd.

  The use of a novel absorption process for the reduction of VOC emissions to air

  296,275

  Isle of Wight Council

  Coastal change, Climate and Instability

  610,124

  Broads Authority

  New Wetlands Harvest—sustainable wetlands management

  491,910

  Asbestos
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to encourage the replacement of asbestos in industrial applications. [12285]
  715
  Angela Eagle
  All uses of blue and brown asbestos and certain uses of white asbestos are prohibited. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987, as amended in 1992, require that employers substitute safer alternatives instead of using asbestos where it is practicable to do so.

  The Government are determined to make current legislation more effective and to introduce new measures, including extending the present bans. The advice of the Health and Safety Commission is being sought on all these matters.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will strengthen protection and conservation measures for sites of special scientific interest. [12499]

  Angela Eagle
  We are actively taking forward the commitment to increase protection for wildlife and have proposed a review of the mechanisms for protection and maintaining SSSIs. Officials are currently undertaking preliminary discussions on this important issue.

  Birds
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to reverse the decline of previously common hedgerow, woodland and farmland species of bird life. [12497]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government have taken positive steps to help reverse the decline in common hedgerow, woodland and farmland bird species. They include:A biodiversity steering group report, published in December 1995, contained costed action plans for bird species, including the song thrush and skylark, and costed habitat action plans for cereal field margins, lowland wet grassland and other important bird habitats. Further costed action plans for other important bird habitats and song bird species are being prepared.
  The Government are working with conservation and farming organisations to improve the efficiency and targeting of agri-environmental schemes which encourage environmentally sensitive farming.
  MAFF has commissioned research into the relationship between farming practices over the last 20 years and populations of farmland birds. MAFF also funds research on establishment and maintenance of hedgerows and has large programmes to support agri-environment schemes and to help promote minimisation of the use of pesticides.
  A comprehensive literature review, recently published, considered the possible indirect effect of pesticides on farmland birds. Further research is planned in this area.
  An approval system is in place for new pesticides, and existing pesticides are subject to an EU review programme. Older pesticides are therefore reviewed against modem standards.
  A pesticide's forum, including agricultural, environmental, food and other groups, has recently published an action plan for the responsible use of pesticides.
  A group has been set up to recommend ways of strengthening the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, so that they give better protection for hedgerows. The group is working towards making its recommendations by the end of December this year.

  Railtrack (Radio Aerial Masts)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he had made of the advantages and disadvantages of Railtrack retaining its exemption from planning controls with particular reference to radio aerial masts. [12531]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department is aware of concerns which have been expressed about the use of permitted development rights by statutory undertakers such as Railtrack. Last year we commissioned research to establish the extent to which statutory undertakers rely on permitted development rights and to consider whether any changes are needed. The research project is now complete and we are considering the findings.

  European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose and (b) annual budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. [12527]

  Angela Eagle
  The purpose of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is to promote improvements in health and safety by collecting and disseminating available technical, scientific and economic information, of relevance to health and safety, throughout the Community and more widely.

  The annual budget for the agency for 1997 is 4 million ecu, around £2.9 million.

  Work-related Casualties
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents at work; and if he will make a statement on the factors underlying recent increases in work-related casualties. [12479]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government share concern about the recent increase in workplace accidents. The reasons for the increase are not straightforward and the Health and Safety Commission is conducting further analysis to identify the main causes and influences. The HSC's plan of work for 1997–98 sets out what the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive are doing to promote health and safety. But the main responsibility lies with employers and others in industry—they have a legal obligation to manage health and safety properly and they need to do better.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) employees and (b) self-employed people (i) were killed or (ii) received major injuries at the workplace in each year since 1993. [12809]

  Angela Eagle
  The table shows the total number of fatal and major injuries to employees and self employed people reported to enforcing authorities between 1992–93 and 1996–97—years commencing 1 April.
  717

  Year

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Fatal injuries

  1992–93

  276

  63

  1993–94

  245

  51

  1994–95

  191

  81

  1995–96

  209

  49

  1996–971

  210

  77

  Major injuries

  1992–93

  16,938

  1,115

  1993–94

  16,705

  1,274

  1994–95

  17,041

  1,313

  1995–96

  16,568

  1,166

  1996–971

  227,360

  21,311

  1 Provisional. Finalised figures will be available in April 1998.

  2 Definition of major injury extended when The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 came into force on 1 April 1996.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications, by region, have been referred to the Sports Council for England under the terms of the General Development Procedure Order 1995 as amended with effect from 5 August 1996. [12707]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Between 5 August 1996 and 31 July 1997, 288 applications were referred to the English Sports Council as a statutory consultee. The English Sports Council has provided the following breakdown of this total, based on their regions:

  Number

  East

  42

  East Midlands

  42

  Greater London

  34

  North

  20

  North-West

  49

  South

  25

  South-East

  11

  South-West

  34

  West Midlands

  17

  Yorkshire

  14

  Planning Legislation
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the operation of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 and the Town and Country Planning (Demolition-Description of Buildings) Direction 1995; and if he will make a statement. [12706]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are no immediate plans for a review of the operation of either the order or the direction. However, we keep under consideration the need for amendments to these documents in the light of representations received on various issues. Any changes which we proposed introducing to either the permitted development order or the demolition direction would be the subject of consultation.

  Energy and Environmental Education
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his 718
  Department has to review its relationship with non-governmental organisations involved in energy and environmental education. [12545]

  Angela Eagle
  We propose to develop the constructive relationship we have with the many non-governmental organisations involved in energy and environmental education. In particular we look forward to improving co-ordination of initiatives through the panel on sustainable development education which we are setting up.

  PVC
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the suitability of PVC for use in construction of publicly funded buildings. [12594]

  Mr. Raynsford
  One of the potential problems with the use of PVC materials in construction is the possibility of rapid fire spread, and guidance is given on this aspect in Approved Document B (Fire Safety) to the Building Regulations 1991. These regulations make no distinction between publicly funded buildings and any other buildings.

  In the case of fire, building regulations are intended to ensure that a reasonable standard of safety is provided. The protection of property, including the building itself, may require additional measures which are the responsibility of either the building owner or insurers to specify on an individual basis and would be dependent on the particular risk associated with the proposed use of the building.

  The approved document recognises that the choice of materials for walls and ceilings can significantly affect the spread of a fire and its rate of growth, even though they may not be the materials first ignited. Guidance is therefore given in the approved document on both the location and spacing of thermoplastic and other materials that do not satisfy the performance criteria of British Standard fire tests.

  With regard to the general use of PVC in the construction of buildings my Department has consulted with the Department of Health, the Health and Safety Executive and the Building Research Establishment. It was concluded from this consultation that there are no known serious hazards to human health or the environment associated with the use of PVC.

  Road Repairs
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to raise the minimum acceptable standards of repair for private contractors digging up roads in the United Kingdom in order to lay pipes and cables. [12573]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The standards to be followed by undertakers when reinstating the highway on completion of their works in the street are set out in a national specification published under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The undertaker concerned is fully responsible for carrying out the work in compliance with
  719
  the specification, and failure to comply with the reinstatement standards is a criminal offence which can attract a penalty of up to £1,000.

  The reinstatement specification is currently under review by the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee, which represents the main practitioners. The Government will give very careful consideration to any recommendations which the committee makes.

  Planning Appeals (Tennis)
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning appeals have been dealt with by his Department during the last 10 years in respect of housing or commercial development on land in use or formerly in use for tennis or in connection with tennis; how many such appeals were allowed; and whether there was a net gain or net loss in the land available for tennis. [12705]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's chief executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 27 October 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about planning appeal decisions during the last 10 years for housing or commercial development on land previously used for, or in connection with, tennis.
  The Inspectorate only records details of proposed land uses, not those in, or previously in, existence when an appeal is received. Therefore, the information requested is regrettably not available.

  Oil Pollution
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statutory obligations will be placed on local authorities to achieve proper compliance with the International Maritime

  System purchased

  Function

  Name of sub-contractors

  Co-operative arrangements

  Cost in last financial year (£000)

  DETR

  Finest

  Accounting, purchasing and invoicing

  Software AG WS Atkins Information Technology

  None

  n/a

  Environment Agency

  McKeown

  Accounting, purchasing and invoicing

  None

  None

  n/a

  Health and Safety Executive

  McKeown

  Accounting, purchasing and invoicing

  None

  None

  576

  Rural Development

  CFACS

  Purchasing and invoicing

  Cedardata

  None

  52

  Planning Inspectorate

  Sunsystem

  Accounting, purchasing and invoicing

  None

  None

  16

  Highways Agency

  SunBusiness invoice register

  Invoicing

  Thompson Systems

  None

  11

  Full costs for all systems cannot be obtained due to disproportionate costs.

  Council Tax Arrears
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will bring in legislation to exclude imprisonment as an option at magistrates' disposal when they consider cases of poll tax and council tax arrears. [12719]
  720
  Organisation' s convention on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation, with particular reference to articles 3 and 6; and what resources will be provided to assist them in meeting any such obligations. [12702]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None. Regulations to implement the oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation convention, covering harbour authorities, operators of oil handling facilities and operators of offshore installations, are expected to come into force early next year. They will place no obligations on local authorities. However, the current review of the national contingency plan is considering, amongst other matters, the issue of local authorities' responsibilities for oil pollution, preparedness and response.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to issue implementation rules in relation to the United Kingdom's treaty obligations under the International Maritime Organisation' s convention on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation. [12696]

  Ms Jackson
  Regulations implementing the oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation—OPRC—convention are expected to come into force early next year. The Coastguard Agency's marine pollution control unit has recently gone out to public consultation on the draft regulations.

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12561]

  Angela Eagle
  The following functions and systems have been purchased.

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have no plans to do so. Committal remains an important tool for local authorities in their efforts to recover unpaid council tax and community charge, but it is used as a last resort and a debtor can be imprisoned only where a magistrate is satisfied that failure to pay has been due to wilful refusal or culpable neglect. However, the Department has recently issued a consultation paper on the enforcement of council tax debts which, amongst other things, invites views on giving magistrates powers to impose a community service order as an additional enforcement option.

  Sports Clubs
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the maximum length of tenancy a court may grant to a sports club under the terms of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. [12704]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 enables courts to order the renewal of business tenancies—including sports club tenancies—for a maximum of 14 years. The Law Commission has recommended increasing this to 15 years. Other than considering this recommendation, we have no plans to review the maximum length of tenancy courts may grant when considering applications for renewals of leases under the 1954 Act.

  I know there is concern over the circumstances in which landlords may be able to frustrate applications by sports clubs for the renewal of their leases. We are considering this point.

  Energy Education
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve co-ordination between different Government Departments and their agencies when preparing educational material on energy; and if he will make a statement. [12547]

  Angela Eagle
  A co-ordinating group of Government Departments with an interest in sustainable development education in England, including energy education, has been established to ensure that Government action is well co-ordinated.

  Substances Regulation Working Group
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the European working group on substances regulation to report; what recommendations were submitted from the United Kingdom through(a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the Department of the Environment; and if he will make a statement. [12806]

  Angela Eagle
  This question has been taken to relate to the existing substances regulation. The Committee, composed of representatives of the member States and chaired by the European Commission, awaits the outcome of detailed technical discussions underway in working groups, which will form the basis of any recommendation for measures to be taken in relation to substances covered by the Regulation. The UK has the lead on 13 of the 78 substances on the first and second priority lists. The assessments on 30 substances are currently under discussion; Nine submitted by the UK. Some are at a more advanced stage than others but the nine UK assessments should complete the technical review stage over the next six months before progressing to Committee stage.

  The Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, and environment directorates within the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions
  722
  co-operate closely, submitting joint assessments to working groups.

  Trichloroethylene
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise occupational exposure limits for trichloroethylene; and if he will make a statement. [12805]

  Angela Eagle
  The Health and Safety Commission has no immediate plans to revise the current maximum exposure limits for trichloroethylene. The Health and Safety Executive and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions have prepared a comprehensive risk assessment document on trichloroethylene under the EU existing substances regulation. This document is still being discussed by member states. Decisions on any further risk reduction measures will be made after these discussions are concluded.

  Disabled People (Parking Permits)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the arrangements for issuing orange badge parking permits to disabled people. [12759]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have no plans at present to change either the criteria for issuing orange badges or the parking concessions granted to badge holders under the scheme. However, the Government have agreed, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, to a European Commission proposal for a recommendation to member states for a standard design for national parking badges to facilitate their mutual recognition. If finally agreed, the new design would be introduced in the United Kingdom over the normal three-year replacement cycle from 1 January 2000.

  Housing Association Rents
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total gross revenue from housing association rents in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of this is met by housing benefit. [12834]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The latest information available on gross revenue from housing association rents is for 1995–96 and covers 95 per cent. of the housing stock owned by associations. In England during that year the gross revenue produced by this stock was around £2,048 million. The amount of housing benefit paid to the tenants of all housing association stock in England during 1995–96 is estimated to have been around £1,395 million.

  Weald and Downland Roads Project
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what extent the impact on employment(a) in Hastings and (b) Tunbridge Wells was taken into account in the decision not to allow the Weald and Downland design, build, finance and operate to proceed. [12783]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The impact on employment of the DBFO project was one of the many issues assessed
  723
  under the five criteria—accessibility, safety, economy, the environment and integration—when the decision not to proceed with the DBFO project as a whole was taken.

  London Underground
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on London Underground's Project Prestige. [12880]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Prestige project, which will provide London Transport with a new ticketing system for both London Underground and London Transport Buses, is currently under negotiation between London Transport and Transys, a private sector consortium. It is hoped that negotiations will be completed in the near future.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make an announcement on the future funding arrangements for London Underground. [12980]

  Ms Jackson
  The Government are urgently considering a range of options for the future funding of London Underground, but it is too early to say when an announcement will be made.

  Transport Select Committee Reports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the former Government's responses to the Transport Select Committee's reports on(a) United Kingdom airport capacity—HC644 of Session 1995–96—and (b) the adequacy and enforcement of regulations governing heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches—HC54 of Session 1996–97. [12971]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government will be taking fully into account the helpful reports of the Select Committee in developing policy on(a) aviation related matters within the proposed "Integrated Transport" White Paper and (b) enforcement of heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches.

  Cycling
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the actions taken by his Department since 1 May to increase provision for cyclists and increase cycle use. [12991]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have given our endorsement to the national cycling strategy which aims to quadruple cycle use by 2012. The NCS has a common ownership, having been established by consensus involving a wide range of bodies. I have chaired two meetings of the national Cycling Forum to discuss a range of issues involved in taking the strategy forward. We are now working actively with others to implement it. The Department also provides technical advice to local authority practitioners who play a significant role in developing initiatives at a local level. In July we hosted a regional seminar aimed at traffic engineers and planners to promote the NCS. And in August we published two traffic advisory leaflets outlining results of research on cycle-related issues.
  724
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to develop a strategic cycle lane network throughout London; and if he will make a statement. [12897]

  Ms Jackson
  The Government are supporting the London Cycle Network which is a 2,500 km strategic network of routes being developed by 33 London boroughs. Approximately 30 per cent. of the network exists already. Whilst the boroughs total estimated cost is £67 million, some £45 million is sought through the transport policies and programme funding, with additional sources of funding coming from the Traffic Director for London—on red routes—the Highways Agency—on trunk roads—and the Millennium Commission as well as the boroughs themselves. Now in its third year of implementation the LCN has so far received TPP allocation of £10.55 million.

  Motor Vehicle Insurance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of introducing a requirement for displaying insurance certificates in motor vehicles. [12801]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Such a requirement could give some assurance that an insurance policy for the vehicle was in force; accompanying provisions to prevent the display of certificates for policies which had been cancelled would also be needed. Display of a certificate would however provide no assurance that the driver was covered by an insurance policy or was complying with policy conditions. The value of a requirement to display would therefore be less in this country than in those countries which have vehicle-related insurance systems, under which cover is taken out for a particular vehicle regardless of who drives it. Although the Government have not discarded the possibility of a requirement to display evidence of insurance, it appears at present that other measures, such as a computerised insurance database, would offer a better approach to the problem of dealing with the irresponsible minority of drivers who fail to take out insurance. The nation-wide introduction of wheelclamping for vehicles for which vehicle excise duty has been evaded will also provide a significant knock on benefit for enforcement of the compulsory insurance requirements.

  Integrated Transport Strategy Seminars
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons hon. Members have not been invited to attend seminars on the development of an integrated transport strategy being organised by the Government office for the south-east; and if he will make a statement. [12875]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government office has held a number of seminars with local authorities, transport operators, users and environmental groups and others to discuss transport policy. To be effective, numbers attending had to be limited and so it was not possible to invite the region's 83 Members of Parliament. The Department did, however, send all hon. Members copies of the consultation documents on the role of the trunk
  725
  road network in England and on developing an integrated transport policy: and would welcome any contributions which Members of Parliament might wish to make.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will meet representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the occurrence of near misses between aeroplanes in flight; and if he will make a statement. [12898]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Both Ministers and senior officials have discussed these issues with representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services Limited, and will continue to do so.

  Regional Airports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those regional airports which have lost their direct air links to Heathrow or Gatwick airports over the last five years. [12992]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Regional airports in the UK that have lost their direct air services to Heathrow and Gatwick since 1992, are as follows:

  To Heathrow

  To Gatwick

  Birmingham

  Birmingham

  East Midlands

  Cardiff

  (Inverness)1

  East Midlands

  Liverpool

  Liverpool

  Newquay2

  Plymouth2

  1 British Airways have announced that they intend to transfer the Inverness service from Heathrow to Gatwick with effect from 17 November 1997.

  2 Newquay and Plymouth are now served from Gatwick.

  Integrated Transport Policy
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those organisations that have responded to date to the consultation exercise on an integrated transport policy. [12973]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Some 20,000 copies of the consultation document on developing an integrated transport policy have been sent out to members of the public and organisations. So far, around 4,000 responses have been received and officials are now entering details of these on to a database so that they can be properly analysed. The great bulk of responses received to date are from individuals and it is likely that most organisations such as business and local authorities will contribute nearer the closing date of 14 November.

  A full report on the consultation exercise will be published with the White Paper.

  Drivers (Eyesight)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research his Department has evaluated into the awareness of drivers of poor eyesight. [12863]
  726
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In 1995 the Department commissioned Professor W.N. Charman of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to undertake a thorough review of the research on driver vision standards.

  The Department published his report earlier this year and it is available as "Road Safety Research Report No. 2 vision and Driving—A Literature Review and Commentary". I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's estimate of the number of drivers in the United Kingdom who are unaware that their eyesight is below the safe minimum standard. [12793]

  Ms Jackson
  A survey carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory 1992 found that about 2.5 per cent. of drivers did not meet the statutory requirement of being able to read a number plate in good light from a distance of 20.5m with glasses or contact lenses if worn. A subsequent survey commissioned by others has suggested a higher figure. It would clearly be difficult to establish how many of the drivers concerned were unaware that their eyesight had fallen below the required standard. The Department strongly advises drivers to check themselves against the number plate standard regularly. Where eyesight is below the required standard, the normal remedy will be to obtain new glasses or contact lenses. Drivers who cannot meet the standard must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency immediately and stop driving; otherwise they are committing a criminal offence. Drivers who require glasses or contact lenses in order to meet the standard must wear them whenever driving.

  Rented Housing
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the gross cost to the public sector if all local authority rents were to be cut by 10 per cent.; and what would be the cost net of savings in housing benefits. [12836]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A 10 per cent. reduction in guideline rents in 1998–99 for housing revenue account local authorities in England would have the following estimated effects:

  Present value (discounting to 1996–97) of effects from 1998–99 to 2027–28

  1996–97 prices discounting to 1996–97

  Effect

  Present value (£ million)

  Loss of gross rental income

  5,819.6

  Savings in rent rebates

  4,378.2

  Saving in public expenditure linked to the RPI

  1,341.4

  Net public expenditure cost

  100.0

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what increase in subsidy to housing associations would be necessary to produce a reduction of 10 per cent. in the average level of housing association rents. [12835]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Rent subsidies are not paid to housing associations. Social housing grant is a capital grant paid
  727
  on new housing association development, but any changes in the grant rate for new development would not directly affect rents on existing housing association stock.

  Minerals (Carriage by Rail)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend the regulations for the carriage of minerals by rail in order to secure the same control on dust emission as is required by road transport. [12760]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Local authorities already have adequate powers to control dust emissions from minerals carried by rail. They can impose planning conditions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and take enforcement action under the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley), of 21 July,Official Report, column 430, on how many occasions an inquiry into a strategic or unitary development plan has proposed large-scale releases of green belt land for housing; and if he will list those which he or his predecessors have called in or have requested modifications. [12974]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the direct cost to public funds of the local government review process in England between April 1992 and March 1997. [12941]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The cost of the Local Government Commission, which undertook the structural review of local government during those years, is as follows:

  Year

  Total expenditure £ million

  1992–93

  2.056

  1993–94

  5.146

  1994–95

  7.913

  1995–96

  4.047

  1996–97

  2.099

  Working Time Directive
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps are being taken to extend the scope of the European Union working time directive to cover transport workers. [12879]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The European Commission published a White Paper in July on proposals for extending the provisions of the working time directive to 728
  the excluded sectors. We are currently considering this and will reply to the Commission in due course.

  Congestion Charging
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities currently piloting congestion charging schemes; and what plans he has for extending such trials. [12990]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  An experiment funded by my Department is under way in Leicester. This is a research project using volunteers. Compulsory charging could not be undertaken, even on a trial basis, without new primary legislation. Whether to introduce such legislation, and whether to facilitate further experimental schemes, are issues that the Government are considering as part of the preparation for the integrated transport policy White Paper.

  Gas Power
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Rio II treaty on United Kingdom policy towards gas power. [11102]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply

  The United Nations General Assembly special session on 23 to 27 June 1997 did not result in any treaty commitments. However, in considering applications for gas-fired and other forms of power stations, we will ensure consistency with the wider objectives of secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices and meeting environmental targets.

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what analysis the Government have carried out on the environmental labour and development impact of the multilateral agreement on investment. [11864]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are committed to safeguarding the international environment, to eliminating abusive labour practices and to promoting sustainable development in both developing and industrialised countries. We would not want to see an agreement which undermined our environmental, labour or development policies.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations she has received from asylum seekers relating to their living standards. [11656]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We have received approximately 40 letters about the benefit position of asylum seekers from hon. Members, members of the public and asylum
  729
  seekers' representatives. We have also received a copy of the report, "Past Misery, Present Muddle" from the charity the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture.

  As part of the Home Office's comprehensive spending review, an interdepartmental review is currently considering all aspects of arrangements for asylum seekers, including the provision of accommodation and support.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps she will take to co-ordinate activities between the Child Support Agency and the Benefits Agency to combat benefit fraud; and if she will assess the advantages of measures to deal with deliberate evasion of child maintenance by absent parents. [12489]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Children are entitled to the support of both parents wherever they live. It is not acceptable that parents should seek to avoid their responsibilities and one of our key aims for the Child Support Agency is to ensure that more absent parents pay the maintenance they owe.

  Benefit

  Rate when introduced £

  Date of introduction

  Current rate £

  Value if increased in line with prices since date introduced £

  Value if increased in line with earnings since date introduced £

  Income support

  5

  April 1988

  5

  7.35

  8.50

  10

  October 1996

  10

  10.25

  10.40

  15

  April 1988

  15

  22.05

  25.60

  Jobseeker's allowance

  5

  October 1996

  5

  5.15

  5.20

  10

  October 1996

  10

  10.25

  10.40

  15

  October 1996

  15

  15.40

  15.65

  Housing Benefit

  5

  April 1988

  5

  7.35

  8.50

  10

  April 1988

  10

  14.75

  17.10

  15

  April 1988

  15

  22.05

  25.60

  15

  April 1988

  25

  22.05

  25.60

  Housing benefit child care disregard

  40

  October 1994

  60

  43.05

  44.75

  1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 p at each uprating date.

  2. The retail prices index (all items) less rent, local taxes and mortgage interest payments has been used in this table.

  3. Jobseeker's allowance replaced income support for the unemployed in October 1996.

  4. The £15 disregard for housing benefit was increased for lone parents to £25 in October 1990.

  5. The £40 child care disregard on housing benefit was increased to £60 in April, 1996.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will investigate the level of accuracy of the CSA assessments. [12487]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We are looking closely at all aspects of the Child Support Agency to ensure that it provides an efficient and effective service.

  The receipt of regular maintenance is a key part of the Government's strategy for helping lone mothers into work. All the indicators currently in place show a continuing improvement in the accuracy of assessments. We expect this trend to be maintained both as the result of continued efforts by the agency's staff and as the provisions contained in the Social Security Bill are implemented in due course. These provisions will improve and simplify the decision-making process.
  730
  The Child Support Agency and the Benefits Agency have established liaison arrangements to ensure that the two agencies work effectively together in providing an improved level of service for their joint customers. These include the shared use of common information or allegations made by the public to detect and prevent benefit fraud and the stationing of fraud liaison officers at Child Support Agency centres. Questions about child support are now included in the income support claim form to allow the maintenance process to begin as soon as benefit is claimed. And, from April 1998, parents with care will be helped to complete a maintenance application form when visited by Benefits Agency staff at the start of their income support claim.

  Earnings Disregards
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the current value of earnings disregards under income support, housing benefit and jobseeker's allowance if they had been increased(a) in line with prices and (b) in line with earnings since April 1988. [12284]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is in the table.

  Social Protection
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will place in the Library a copy of the full correspondence between her Department and European Commissioner Flynn on the European Union discussion document on social protection. [12509]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  In March the European Commission published, "Communication on Modernising and Improving Social Protection in the European Union", with the invitation that recipients submit observations on the range of issues covered.

  A copy of the letter sent to Commissioner Flynn on 17 July has been placed in the Library. This response welcomed a well structured discussion in Europe of Key issues in social protection, but ruled out direct involvement of the EU in decisions which remain the

  731
  responsibility of member states. It also gave an outline of the Government's priorities and thinking on modernising social protection.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to review the all work test for incapacity benefit. [12488]

  Mr. Denham
  We are reviewing all aspects of the social security system. We will assess whether sickness and disability benefits are consistent with our overall aims to encourage work, savings and honesty. A key aim is to help people focus on their capacity for work rather than their disability and provide a climate which will help them achieve independence and play a fuller part in society.

  As part of this we will be looking at a number of eligibility issues including those surrounding the all work test, and will be seeking to ensure the test provides a fair assessment of incapacity for benefit purposes.

  Benefit Overpayment
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures apply in respect of individuals seeking the return of money they have repaid for benefit overpayment subsequently determined by an adjudicating officer as not requiring repayment. [12490]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  All overpayments of benefit are looked at individually and their recoverability decided upon on the basis of the facts and circumstances of the case as known at the time of the decision. However, where the decision to recover an overpayment is subsequently reversed, this will affect only the balance of the overpayment still outstanding.

  Correspondence Unit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many letters have been passed on to her Department's correspondence unit in each month since May 1997; and if she will make a statement; [12936]

  (2) how many and what percentage of correspondence answered by her Department's correspondence unit receives a full response in (a) a week or less, (b) one to two weeks,(c) two to three weeks,(d) three to four weeks, (e) between one and two months, (f) over two months and (g) over six months; and if she will make a statement; [12934]

  (3) how many and what percentage of correspondence answered by her Department's correspondence unit receives a holding reply prior to a full response; [12933]

  (4) how many people are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in her Department's correspondence unit; [12937]

  (5) under what circumstances correspondence sent to her Department is passed on to the correspondence unit; and if she will make a statement. [12935]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
  732
  During the period May to September 1997, departmental Ministers received around 25,000 letters from hon. Members, members of the public and others. This compares with around 15,000 letters received by Ministers during the same period last year. The figures for each month are as follows:

  align="center">Total letters received

  1996

  1997

  May

  3,244

  4,124

  June

  3,003

  5,458

  July

  4,043

  6,948

  August

  2,149

  4,374

  September

  2,897

  4,136

  Total

  15,336

  25,040

  A correspondence section attached to Ministers' offices, which has 13 full-time staff, receives all correspondence and seeks advice from officials, including those in the policy correspondence unit. Other units and officials elsewhere in the Department also deal with correspondence.

  Our target is to reply to all letters within 20 working days. Ministers reply personally to about 30 per cent. of letters. The target response time has been achieved for 42 per cent. of letters in the last five months. Detailed figures are shown in the table:

  Ministerial replies issued

  align="right">Number of days

  Up to 20

  21–40

  40+

  May

  Number

  68

  0

  0

  Per cent.

  100

  0

  0

  June

  Number

  278

  58

  0

  Per cent.

  83

  17

  0

  July

  Number

  556

  525

  76

  Per cent.

  48

  46

  6

  August

  Number

  485

  569

  214

  Per cent.

  38

  45

  17

  September

  Number

  349

  629

  368

  Per cent.

  26

  47

  27

  1. Figures for turn around times of correspondence answered by officials are not available.

  2. Figures for the number of holding replies are not kept but all letters are acknowledged shortly after receipt.

  We remain committed to answering all correspondence within 20 working days and are taking active measures to reduce turnaround times.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list for the most recent available period,(a) the number of claimants of one-parent benefit in the United Kingdom and each region and nation, (b) the estimated number of claimants of one-parent benefit for the same areas who are (i) working and (ii) working and receiving family credit, (c) the number of claimants of one-parent benefit who are also receiving

  733
  lone-parent premium for the same areas and (d) the number of new claimants in each area over the most recent 12 month period. [12979]

  Country/region1

  One parent benefit (OPB) recipients2

  Lone parents receiving family credit3

  OPB receipients receiving lone parent premium in income support/jobseeker"s allowance4,5

  OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in housing benefit5,6

  OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in council tax benefit5,6

  New claims to OPB7

  Great Britain

  1,027,000

  326,000

  388,000

  109,000

  89,000

  165,000

  England

  874,000

  263,000

  335,000

  91,000

  75,000

  n/a

  South-east (including London)

  n/a

  n/a

  140,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North

  n/a

  n/a

  23,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  n/a

  n/a

  28,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  East Midlands

  n/a

  n/a

  21,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  East Anglia

  n/a

  n/a

  10,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  South-west

  n/a

  n/a

  23,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  West Midlands

  n/a

  n/a

  32,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North-west

  n/a

  n/a

  58,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Scotland

  104,000

  45,000

  35,000

  14,000

  11,000

  n/a

  Wales

  50,000

  19,000

  18,000

  4,000

  3,000

  n/a

  1 Standard statistical English regions.

  2 As at 31 December 1996. Based on 1 per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.

  3 As at 31 December 1996. Represents the maximum number of such lone parents that could potentially be in receipt of OPB. Based on 5 per cent. sample of family credit records.

  4 Income support as at November 1996, based on Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. Excludes 6,000 jobseekers"s allowance (Income based) cases which cannot be split by country/region.

  5 Excludes OPB recipients receiving income support/jobseeker"s allowance/housing benefit/council tax benefit but not receiving a lone parent premium because they receive a higher value premium e.g., disabled child premium.

  6 Housing benefit/council tax benefit recipients not also in receipt of IS/JSA, as at May 1996. Based on HB/CTB Annual Statistical Enquiry. There is an overlap as most people receive both HB and CTB.

  7 For year ending 31 December 1996. Based on per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 30 July,Official Report, column 364, what estimate she has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of income support in each of the next three financial years. [12822]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The latest estimates of the number of lone parents in receipt of income support in each of the next three financial years are shown in the table. Unfortunately revised estimates will not actually be available until publication of the 1998 social security departmental report next Spring.

  Lone parents in receipt of income support

  Thousands

  1997–98

  1,054

  1998–99

  1,044

  1999–00

  1,054

  1. Figures are consistent with those given in tables 6 and 7 in the 1997 Social Security Departmental Report and are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  Backdating
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for benefit made in the last year were eventually backdated(a) up to one month, (b) at least one month but less than three months, (c) at least three months but less than 12 months and
  734
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table:

  (d) at least 12 months for each of the major social security benefits. [12818]

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

  Number of claimants affected as a result of changes to the backdating rules from April 1997 and June/October 1998

  Full-year estimates

  Claims

  Over 1 month, up to 3 months

  Over 3 months

  Retirement pension

  Negligible

  40,000

  Incapacity benefit

  5,000

  10,000

  Invalid care allowance

  20,000

  30,000

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit

  2,500

  2,500

  Contributory jobseeker's allowance

  1—

  Negligible

  Income support/income based jobseeker's allowance

  105,000

  30,000

  Child benefit/one parent benefit

  2—

  65,000

  Housing benefit (HB)/council

  HB 5,000/

  HB 45,000/

  tax benefit (CTB)

  CTB 15,000

  CTB 100,000

  Other benefits

  Negligible

  Negligible

  Total

  155,000

  325,000

  1 Information not available.

  2 Information not readily available.

  Information is based on a small ad-hoc survey of benefit claims undertaken during early 1996.

  Figures may not sum due to rounding.
  735
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the main reasons why individuals claim benefits late; and if she will make a statement. [12819]

  Mr. Bradley
  An ad hoc survey of a small number of Benefits Agency local offices was undertaken in early 1996 to provide information on the extent of backdating and, in those benefits where it was possible to identify, the reason for backdating.

  This information was used in deciding on the range of exceptions provided in the current regulations.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the time-table for the implementation of limits on the backdating of benefits to one month. [12953]

  Mr. Bradley
  We intend to implement the new backdating rules in June 1998 for all benefits except housing benefit and council tax benefit which will be implemented in October 1998.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Custodial Sentences
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the deterrent effects of custodial sentences. [11667]

  Ms Quin
  The Home Office research and statistics directorate has recently commissioned a literature review of the deterrent effect of the various sentencing options which will be completed early next year.

  Crime (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives he intends to take to reduce crime in rural areas. [11673]

  Mr. Michael
  Our comprehensive strategy against crime includes a new statutory duty on local authorities and the police to develop local partnerships to prevent crime and promote community safety. This will benefit all parts of the country: rural as well as urban and inner city by targeting the specific problems and needs of each area.

  Criminal Justice
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce delays in the criminal justice system. [11678]

  Mr. Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to tackle delays in the criminal justice system. [11681]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government are committed to tackling delay throughout the criminal justice system and have pledged to halve the time taken to deal with persistent young offenders. We have accepted proposals from the review of delay in the criminal justice system which are designed to enable straightforward guilty plea cases to be dealt within days of charge, improve case 736
  management in magistrates courts and start indictable-only cases in the Crown Court. The Crime and Disorder Bill will contain the necessary measures and, to underpin them, will make provision for statutory time limits which will be tougher for young offenders than for adults, and tougher still for persistent young offenders. Our proposals for legislation to speed up youth justice were published in a consultation paper, "Tackling Delay in the Youth Justice System", on 15 October when we also published comprehensive guidance for youth justice agencies on tackling delays within the existing statutory framework.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the incorporation of the European convention on human rights. [11679]

  Mr. Straw
  We have made rapid progress on this. We introduced the Human Rights Bill in another place last Thursday and we published the White Paper "Rights Brought Home" last Friday.

  Private Security Industry
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the statutory regulation of the private security industry. [11680]

  Mr. Michael
  We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry as soon as possible. As we warned in opposition, we will not be able to bring forward legislation in our first year of office, but as is shown by our consultation exercise, we are already working with the industry and others to achieve a consensus on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system of regulations.

  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the statutory regulation of the private security industry. [11694]

  Mr. Michael
  We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry as soon as possible. We will not be able to bring forward legislation in our first year of office, as we warned before the election, but we have recently completed a consultation exercise with the industry and others on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system. We want to look beyond the narrow proposals put forward by the previous Government which focused only on criminal record checks for the contract guarding sector of the industry. In opposition we welcomed the recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee on regulation. However, the Committee did not offer a detailed blueprint and in the light of the responses received to the consultation exercise we will consider the industry as a whole to decide what action is needed.

  Rural Police Officers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to recruit more police officers in rural areas. [11682]
  737
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that police authorities have the resources to enable more police officers to be recruited in rural areas. [11688]

  Mr. Michael
  I recognise that people in rural communities have different policing needs from those who live in urban areas, but the Government have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in each force having regard to the resources available to them.

  We are working with the police to reduce administrative burdens and to increase civilianisation which will allow chief constables to put more officers on the beat. We also intend to introduce legislation which will place a statutory duty on all local authorities and the police jointly to develop partnerships to reduce crime. Local communities will be able to identify their needs and the strategies to tackle them.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to recruit more police officers in rural areas. [11658]

  Mr. Michael
  People in rural communities have different policing needs from those in urban areas, but the Government have no direct control over police numbers in either. Under legislation passed by the previous Government, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in each force, having regard to the resources available to them and their deployment.

  We are working with the police to reduce administrative burdens and to enable chief constables to put more officers out into the community. We also intend to introduce legislation which will place a statutory duty on all local authorities and the police jointly to develop partnerships to cut crime in rural and urban areas alike.

  Crime Prevention (Local Authorities)
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to give local authorities statutory powers for crime prevention. [11683]

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will introduce to increase the involvement of local authorities in combating crime. [11690]

  Mr. Michael
  Details of our proposals were set out in the consultation document, "Getting to Grips with Crime—a new framework for Local Action", which we published on 17 September. It is our intention to require local authorities and the police service together to conduct an audit of local crime and disorder problems, to draw up a strategy for tackling them and to publish targets for delivering the strategy. This process must be conducted on the basis of full consultation with local people and a wide range of other key partners.

  Crime (EU Discussions)
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met his European counterparts to discuss crime levels. [11684]
  738
  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend and I met all the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of the European Union on 9 and 10 October and, most recently, on 20 and 21 October my right hon. Friend met the French Justice and Interior Ministers. On both occasions, a useful discussion on a number of crime-related issues took place.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage the voluntary sector to participate in offering opportunities for young people convicted of crimes. [11685]

  Mr. Michael
  Through the new deal for unemployed 18–24-year-olds, we are encouraging voluntary organisations to come forward with a wide range of programmes and opportunities which will address the employability needs of young unemployed people, including those convicted of crimes, as well as doing useful work for the community.

  In addition, the voluntary sector, in partnership with probation and prison services and other statutory agencies, delivers a range of programmes for young offenders, including drug and alcohol counselling, advice on employment, training and education opportunities, accommodation provision and developmental programmes.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to introduce more severe penalties for young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [11676]

  Mr. Michael
  Our proposals for reform of the youth justice system have been set out in three consultation papers published in the last five weeks. Our aim is a faster, more efficient youth justice system with a clear focus on preventing re-offending. A new final warning scheme will end multiple cautions and ensure that firm action is taken quickly when young people offend. A new court order will require young people to make reparation to victims. We will strengthen community penalties and ensure effective custodial sentences for the most serious and persistent young offenders.

  Anti-social Behaviour
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the relationship between anti-social behaviour and crime. [11686]

  Mr. Michael
  The British crime survey has demonstrated a link between disorder or low-level misbehaviour and the levels of more serious crime in an area.

  Anti-social behaviour also causes alarm and distress and heightens the fear of crime. Tackling this sort of conduct and preventing its escalating into more serious criminal behaviour is a central element in our policy towards making our communities safer. Proposals in the Crime and Disorder Bill which we will introduce later this year will address this directly and we are working with the police on ways to identify and target anti-social behaviour.

  Prisons (Capacity)
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of places in prisons. [11687]

  Ms Quin
  To help with the current population pressures, the Prison Service was allocated a further £43 million in July for this year and next. In total, these resources will create 290 new places on top of those to be provided by the existing building programme and will provide additional staffing and fund regime activities to support the placing of a further 1,830 prisoners in existing accommodation.

  The existing building programme will provide 8,600 additional places over this year and the next two years through a combination of expanding existing prisons and building new prisons.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to CCTV schemes. [11689]

  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of CCTV in combating crime. [11693]

  Mr. Michael
  I strongly support closed circuit television schemes, which can be effective in preventing crime and the fear of crime. They can make a contribution to community safety in general, especially as part of a wider crime prevention strategy. I am currently considering, linked to our review of existing expenditure programmes, how to encourage the appropriate use of CCTV in the fight against crime.

  Corruption
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government plans to create a single offence of corruption. [11691]

  Mr. Michael
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published on 9 June a statement on reform of the corruption statutes for consultation. A copy is available in the Library. The Law Commission will also be producing proposals for reform of the law in this area.

  My right hon. Friend will consider carefully the results of these exercises, together with any further recommendations the Nolan committee may make in relation to the criminal law.

  My right hon. Friend expects to make a further statement on the reform of the law in this area early next year.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislation is currently being 740
  discussed at the European Union level for the standardisation of member states' legislation pertaining to the combating of corruption by officials; and if he will make a statement. [12315]

  Mr. Michael
  In September 1996, European Union member states adopted a protocol to the 1995 Convention on the Protection of the Financial Interests of the European Communities. The protocol requires all member states to establish a certain minimum level of protection against damage to the Communities' budget by reason of corruption which makes similar provision in the case of corruption of or by national or Community officials. In May 1997, the member states adopted a separate convention on corruption of or by national or Community officials which is not linked to damage to the Communities' budget. These instruments do not cover the corruption of officials from third countries, but member states have, in recent weeks, adopted two common positions under title VI of the treaty on European Union supporting on-going negotiations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Council of Europe on conventions which address this aspect.

  The Government strongly support measures to penalise corruption, whether by or of national or Community officials or in the private sector. To that end, they intend to take forward next year, during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union, recommendation 6 of the European Union action plan on combating organised crime, which was endorsed by the Amsterdam European Council. This requires the development of a comprehensive Union policy on corruption covering first and third pillar measures and applying to public sector officials and to the private sector.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of prisoners on 1 May; and if he will make a statement. [11692]

  Ms Quin
  The prison population on 1 May was 60,088.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the amount of time prisoners spend(a) in working and (b) on education schemes. [11849]

  Ms Quin
  The Government recognise the difficulties faced by the Prison Service in dealing with the exceptional rise in the prison population, but remain committed to ensuring that prisoners are provided with constructive regimes.

  We expect the Prison Service to seek to expand work opportunities for prisoners by developing its ability to attract work from the private sector and by improving the organisation of prison regimes so as to maximise the time that prisoners can spend in purposeful activity, including work.
  741
  Invitations to tender for new contracts to deliver education in prisons, to be issued shortly, will aim for contracts which, in delivering the prison core curriculum, maximise efficient use of resources and offer a dynamic ability to meet the needs of particular prison establishments.

  Provision for regime facilities is included in the extra £43 million over this year and next which has been made available to the Prison Service to help cope with overcrowding pressures.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to accommodate the rise in the number of prisoners; and what is his policy on early release. [12264]

  Ms Quin
  To help with the increasing population pressures, the Prison Service was allocated a further £43 million in July for this year and the next. In total, these additional resources will create 290 new places on top of those to be provided by the existing building programme. These funds will also provide additional staffing and funding for regime activities to support the placing of a further 1,830 prisoners in existing accommodation.

  The existing building programme will provide 8,600 additional places over this year and the next two years, through a combination of expanding existing prisons and building new prisons.

  Early release arrangements are set out in part II of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The Government have no plans to review these. As regards executive release, the Government have no plans to use these powers. Executive release from prison is designed to be used as a last resort.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards, prisoners having television in their cells; and if he will make a statement. [12265]

  Ms Quin
  The Government are reconsidering policy in this area, including examining the case for in-cell television as an earned privilege, but we have not yet taken final decisions. Meanwhile, no action has been taken either to extend the privilege of in-cell television or to withdraw sets from those establishments that currently allow them.

  The all-party Home Affairs Committee, then with a Conservative majority, recommended in March 1997 a rethink of policy and stressed the potential of television as a means of contributing to good order in a prison.

  The Learmont report in 1995 recommended that in-cell television should be made widely available and pointed to its potential benefits as an information as well as a recreational medium.

  UK Border Controls
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the retention of United Kingdom border controls with the rest of the European Union. [11848]
  742
  Ms Quin
  We intend to retain the United Kingdom's system of frontier controls. In the treaty of Amsterdam we have obtained legal confirmation of the right to maintain controls at our frontiers with other member states of the European Union.

  Gambling (Arbitration Body)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the advantages of establishing an independent body to arbitrate in disputes between people making wagers and bookmakers. [12516]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Horserace Betting Levy Board has recently considered this and other related matters. It concluded that the current arrangements for settling disputes—the Tattersalls' committee and the green seal service—were effective in most cases.

  I will be discussing the issues with the levy board shortly.

  Greyhound Racing
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) proportion and (b) number of greyhound races shown in betting shops are from racecourses owned by the major off-course betting companies. [12304]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Of the 9,646 greyhound races shown in betting shops in the year to 31 October 1997, 4,108–42.6 per cent.—will be from tracks owned by major off-course betting companies.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated shortfall in revenue to the British greyhound racing fund since 1992 resulting from certain bookmaking companies failing to contribute to the fund. [12311]

  Mr. Howarth
  The British Greyhound Racing Board estimates that the fund should have received £22 million since 1992 but has actually received £13.4 million, leaving a shortfall of £8.6 million in contributions.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bookmaking companies currently pay the agreed 0.4 per cent. contributions to the British greyhound racing fund. [12306]

  Mr. Howarth
  We understand that up to September 1996 the fund had received contributions from 97 bookmakers.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) proportion and (b) number of greyhound races shown in betting shops. [12313]

  Mr. Howarth
  In the year 1 November 1996 to 31 October 1997, 9,646 afternoon greyhound races will be transmitted from greyhound tracks into betting shops.

  In 1996, 74,343 races were staged by National Greyhound Racing Club member tracks; 13 per cent. of these were shown in betting shops.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the contracting process between the bookmakers' afternoon greyhound services and the greyhound racecourses. [12303]
  743
  Mr. Howarth
  We have no plans to review the contracting process between Bookmakers' Afternoon Greyhound Services and greyhound tracks. This is a commercial matter between them.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many National Greyhound Racing Club greyhound racecourses are currently in operation; and how many are owned by major off-course betting companies. [12312]

  Mr. Howarth
  Of the 32 National Greyhound Racing Club greyhound tracks currently in operation, four are owned by major off-course bookmakers.

  Off-course Betting Shops
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bookmaking companies currently operate off-course betting shops in the United Kingdom. [12305]

  Mr. Howarth
  An estimated 1,793 off-course bookmaking companies currently operate in the United Kingdom.

  Primary Purpose Rule
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received regarding the changes made in the primary purpose rule on 5 June. [12346]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There has been much support for the abolition on 5 June of the primary purpose rule.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing changes in the primary purpose rule. [11657]

  Mr. O'Brien
  The primary purpose rule was abolished on 5 June. A review of outstanding appeal cases has now been completed.

  Huntingdon Life Sciences
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the revocation of the certificate of designation at Huntingdon Life Sciences involves both the company's sites; [12307]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newark (Ms Jones) of 24 July, Official Report, column 680, if the baboons at Huntingdon Life Sciences are wild caught; [12465]

  (3) how many project licences have been revoked at Huntingdon Life Sciences as a result of the Home Office investigation; [12296]

  (4) what problems relating to the care, treatment and handling of animals at Huntingdon Life Sciences were found in animal departments other than the dog toxicology unit as a result of his Department's investigation. [12464]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have written to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon.744
  Member for Newark (Ms Jones) of 24 July, Official Report, column 68, what are the 16 stringent conditions his Department has set Huntingdon Life Sciences. [12466]

  Mr. Howarth
  The 16 conditions were:

  (i) That a report be submitted to the Home Office setting out what changes have been introduced to the line management for and the responsibilities of the proposed certificate holder, to ensure that these arrangements do not compromise animal welfare.

  (ii) That the applicant for a new certificate of designation has successfully completed module 1 of a Home Office accredited training course.

  (iii) That summary findings of the Department of Health good laboratory practice scrutiny be disclosed by the establishment to the Home Office with confirmation that any process problems have been corrected.

  (iv) That a written submission be made outlining how each of the standard conditions attached to all certificates of designation would be effectively and fully implemented.

  (v) That adequate provision has been made for regular and effective means of communication between those entrusted with responsibilities under the Act.

  (vi) That the applicant be required to satisfy the Home Office that line management arrangements for all animal care staff are effective. Specifically:

  (a) that line managers are qualified by experience or training and informed of their responsibilities and the need for welfare related problems to be notified to an appropriate level within the company;

  (b) that only trained and competent staff are entrusted with responsibility for the care and welfare of animals;

  (c) that measures are in place to ensure that the certificate holder will be properly informed of conditions and practices within the designated areas.

  (vii) That the applicant demonstrates that the staff appraisal reporting system for animal care staff ensures that concerns relating to animal welfare are properly identified and resolved and makes provision for periodic assessment that basic competencies have been maintained.

  (viii) That the applicant supplies the Home Office with a general "process map" with overviews of the methods and resources to be used to ensure that reduction, refinement and replacement are adequately addressed in the design of animal studies performed at the establishment.

  (ix) That, for new studies, a system is in place which ensures that adequate numbers of appropriately trained and licensed technical staff will be available.

  (x) That a system is established to determine the nature, frequency and duration of visits by the named veterinary surgeon to the designated areas.

  (xi) That a suitable named person for the dog facility is nominated.

  (xii) That the applicant submits an enforceable code of conduct for the control of dogs, coupled with an effective means of reporting misconduct to an appropriate level within the organisation. This should be accompanied by evidence that all dog unit animal care staff have received appropriate training.

  (xiii) That the applicant demonstrates that systems are in place to ensure that staff training in the handling and care of dogs ensures that structured training is delivered, that competence is demonstrably assessed and that only competent persons are entrusted with responsibility for animals' health and welfare.

  745

  (xiv) That the applicant submits standard operating procedures and protocols for the dog facilities relating to the housing, husbandry, care, restraint and performance of regulated procedures, with evidence that staff have successfully completed appropriate, structured training. This should include:

  (a) a protocol for the group exercising of dogs which specifies the minimum daily exercise period per dog, defines the minimum amount of staff time to be used to socialise with the dogs and identifies the type of area provided for the exercise to take place:

  (b) protocols for the restraint of dogs to enable intravenous dosing and sampling and the proper production of haemostasis thereafter. Evidence should be supplied that animal care staff have been appropriately trained or re-trained.

  (xv) That the company has determined by internal benchmarking the principles which will determine and minimise the daily period for which pair-housed dogs will be held singly.

  (xvi) That the applicant details any other measures which have or will be taken to provide environmental enrichment and a better quality of life for animals.

  The company has now met these conditions and a new certificate of designation was issued on 29 September.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Association of Convenience Stores concerning a proposal for mandatory identity cards for young people; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement. [12289]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Association's chief executive wrote to my right hon. Friend on 27 May asking the Government to introduce compulsory identity cards to assist retailers in determining the age of customers. I discussed this proposal with representatives of the association at a meeting on 18 June.

  I subsequently wrote to the chief executive on 17 July, sending him a copy of the statement issued that day by the ministerial group on alcopops, which set out the Government's position on identity cards in the context of the Government's initiative on alcohol misuse by young people.

  The statement made clear that the Government are considering the issues raised by national identity cards, but that these go wider than questions relating to sales of products to those under age. In any event, the introduction of national identity cards would require legislation and would not represent a short-term solution to concerns about the sale of alcohol to young people.

  The statement welcomed the commitment of the association and other retail and liquor industry interests to expanding the existing Portman Group proof of age card scheme to tackle sales of alcohol to the under-18s.

  I have just received a further letter from the association, which I am considering.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publish a consultation document regarding the introduction of an identity card scheme. [12844]
  746
  Mr. George Howarth
  We have no present plans to issue such a document.

  North Yorkshire Police
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assist with the provision of radio communications for North Yorkshire police. [12338]

  Mr. Michael
  The police information technology organisation in the Home Office has provided assistance and advice to North Yorkshire police on its radio communications planning, prior to the implementation of the next generation of digital radio communications systems from 1999 onwards. This advice and assistance will continue.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average times for processing criminal injuries compensation claims. [12515]

  Mr. Michael
  Claims under the criminal injuries compensation scheme vary greatly in their complexity. The straightforward ones may be determined in a matter of weeks, but those in which there are evidential difficulties or where the medical diagnosis or prognosis is uncertain may take several years to bring to a conclusion. Some will also be subject to an appeal. There is accordingly no meaningful average time for processing all cases. However, the victims charter sets a standard of 12 months from receipt of a claim to the issue of a first decision. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advises that, under the new tariff-based scheme, that standard has been met in 90 per cent. of claims received on or after 1 April 1996.

  Alcohol Sales (Fundraising Events)
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the advantages of allowing charities and community groups to pay a single annual fee to register as entitled to sell alcohol at fundraising events. [12784]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The licensing laws were amended earlier this year to allow charities and other bodies to apply for more occasional permissions to sell alcohol at fundraising events.

  We are willing to examine any specific proposals for further change which are put to us.

  Algerian Nationals
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Algerian nationals have been granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom in the past 12 months; [12790]

  (2) how many Algerian nationals were refused asylum in the United Kingdom in the past 12 months; [12789]

  (3) how many Algerian nationals have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in the past 12 months. [12791]
  747
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Decisions on applications1 2 for asylum in the United Kingdom from Algerian nationals, excluding dependants, in the 12 months between October 1996 and September 1997

  Number of principal applicants

  Asylum applications

  590

  Total decisions3

  1,090

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum

  60

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain4

  10

  Refusals

  1,020

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest five.

  2 Provisional figures.

  3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the period.

  4 Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Algerian nationals are being held in detention centres in the United Kingdom. [12788]

  Mr. O'Brien
  As at 16 October 1997, a total of 23 Algerian nationals were detained in immigration detention centres. This figure excludes those detained under Immigration Act powers in prison establishments or in prison cells.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Algerian nationals are currently being held in custody in the United Kingdom for non-immigration offences. [12792]

  Ms Quin
  The latest available information is for 30 September 1997. On that date there were 25 Algerian nationals held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for non-Immigration Act offences. information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is available from the respective Secretaries of State.

  Old Documents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 July,Official Report, column 391, if the review of the oldest document retained in the Home Office has been completed. [12865]

  Mr. Straw
  The review has been completed and I am pleased to say that the papers will be transferred to the Public Record Office and made available for public inspection later this year, subject to minor extractions. The extractions are intended to protect the identities of individual informants who put themselves at risk in the service of the state. It would not be in the public interest to reveal the identities of such individuals, since to do so might deter potential informants from assisting the authorities today. Of course, all the agents named in these records have long since died, but in many cases members of their families will still be alive and particularly in the context of Ireland, where memories can be deep and bitter, publication of the names cold cause unnecessary and gratuitous distress or worse.

  Road Traffic Act 1988
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the enforcement of section 154 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if he will make a statement. [12798]

  Mr. Michael
  No representations have been received during the period of this Parliament.

  Section 154 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that a person against whom a motor insurance claim is made must on demand provide particulars of their insurance cover to the claimant. It is a criminal offence not to do so.

  Police policy regarding the enforcement of section 154 is an operational matter for individual chief officers. The traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers has recently considered this issue and takes the view that there should be a readiness to treat every allegation under section 154 on its merits before deciding what, if any, police action might be taken.

  Immigration Rules
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what weight attaches to whether a child was conceived within a lawful marriage overseas in determining right of entry to the United Kingdom to join a parent who is a British national. [12491]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None. A child may join a parent or parents who are present and settled in the United Kingdom provided the requirements of the immigration rules are met. It is not a requirement that the child was conceived within a lawful marriage.

  Alcopops
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the ages of the purchasers of alcopops. [12309]

  Mr. George Howarth
  As the Government's announcement on 17 July made clear, we are concerned about the misuse of all kinds of alcohol by those under age. There is a range of existing research and regular surveys which already cover various aspects of under-age drinking. We are looking carefully at whether additional research is required.

  Community Sentences
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders who withheld their consent from community sentences received custodial sentences in the most recent year for which figures are available. [12716]

  Mr. Michael
  Information is not collected centrally and no national data are available. However, the indications are that the number of offenders withholding consent to a community sentence is very small. For example, a recent survey of pre-sentence reports by Teesside probation service found that consent was withheld in only four of 854 cases. For those who do refuse consent, custody is the most likely sentence.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for new community sentences. [12715]
  749
  Mr. Michael
  This Government plan to increase the effectiveness of community sentences and the range of options available to the courts.

  On 1 October, new provisions came into effect allowing courts to impose an attendance centre order on fine defaulters who are aged under 25. Other provisions of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 will be piloted in Norfolk and Greater Manchester from January next year. These include provisions allowing for the imposition of a community service order or curfew order on fine defaulters and persistent petty offenders, disqualification of offenders from driving regardless of the offence committed and the imposition of curfew orders of up to three-months duration on offenders under the age of 16.

  We are also studying other community sentence options which will reinforce the sentencing armoury, particularly with regards to youth crime. Our proposals for young offenders were set out in the consultation paper "Tackling Youth Crime" published in September. We will introduce an action plan order—which will be a focused and intensive intervention. There will also be a new reparation order which will require young people to make reparation to victims.

  Policemen (Salaries)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average salary of a policeman with five years' service. [12692]

  Mr. Michael
  Police pay in England and Wales is based on national pay scales. Pay rates are negotiated each year by the Police Negotiating Board and approved by the Secretary of State. The national salary for a constable with five years' service, with effect from 1 September 1997, is £19,434.

  Sentences
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 30 July,Official Report, column 257, if the explanation of what a sentence means in practice will be communicated to the victims of the crime concerned who are not present in court at the time sentence is passed. [12726]

  Mr. Michael
  The victims charter already provides for victims to be told, if they want to be, the final result of their offender's trial. Pilot projects to test how best this might be achieved have been running for several months and a full evaluation should be available by next spring. Before then, we will consider whether it might be practicable to include additional information about what the sentence means in practice.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 30 July,Official Report, column 257, if he will state what new bail conditions he proposes to introduce. [12713]

  Mr. Michael
  We propose to introduce two new bail conditions to deter bailed defendants from failing to appear in court or from failing to take the necessary steps to enable the case to proceed. The first measure will allow for the greater use of securities, to provide a stronger incentive for defendants to surrender to the custody of the court. The second measure will allow the courts to impose a condition of bail requiring a defendant to attend an 750
  interview with a legal representative in advance of a court hearing. Failure to obtain legal advice is one of the most common reasons for delay, resulting in ineffective first hearings and routine adjournments.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1), pursuant to his statement of 30 July,Official Report, column 257, what plans he has to assess the level of public confidence in his proposals for the courts to explain sentence lengths; [12602]

  (2) if (a) courts will be required to explain sentences and (b) the period of a sentence served in custody will relate more closely to the lengths of sentence passed under his proposals for honesty in sentencing. [12718]

  Mr. Michael
  Our proposal that the courts should spell out what each sentence really means in practice was a manifesto commitment which was endorsed by the electorate. The proposal is to enable the public to know how long an offender will spend in prison, the period of supervision after release, and the period during which he may be recalled to prison.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences covered by sentencing guidelines from the Court of Appeal. [12728]

  Mr. Michael
  It is difficult to draw up a definitive list of offences for which sentencing guidelines are currently available, since the form and content of sentencing guidelines differ and the Court of Appeal also provides guidance on the treatment of offences through its more general cases. However, guidelines providing general guidance to the courts on the treatment of particular criminal offences, and in some cases suggesting starting points for sentences, have been provided by the Court of Appeal for a number of categories of offences, including: most sexual offences, including rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, incest, indecent assault and buggery; drugs offences involving class A and class B drugs; robbery, theft and benefit fraud; public order offences, including riot, violent disorder and affray; and explosives offences.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 30 July,Official Report, column 257, (1) if the sentencing guidelines to be prepared by the Court of Appeal will operate in the lower courts in the same way as the sentencing guidelines which have already been laid down; [12703]

  (2) how the sentencing guidelines to be prepared by the Court of Appeal will affect the Magistrates' Association guidelines on sentencing; [12714]

  (3) if he will list those offences which will be covered by sentencing guidelines from the Court of Appeal. [12601]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government are committed through their manifesto to placing a duty on the Court of Appeal to ensure there are sentencing guidelines for all the main offences. We are currently considering how best to take forward this commitment.
  751
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the Attorney-General's power to refer sentences to the Court of Appeal for review. [12729]

  Mr. Michael
  We are in discussion with colleagues about the best way to implement our manifesto commitment to extend the Attorney-General's powers to refer cases to the Court of Appeal for review where it appears to him that the sentence is unduly lenient.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals, apart from those of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, he has to ensure stricter punishment for serious repeat offenders. [12712]

  Mr. Michael
  Mr right hon. Friend's proposals were set out in his statement of 30 July to the House.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which year since 1967 the largest percentage increase in recorded crimes of violence against the person occurred. [12733]

  Mr. Michael
  The largest percentage increase was between 1968 and 1969 when violence against the person rose by 25 per cent.

  Stephen Lawrence
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will invite the former Attorney-General to make available to the Macpherson inquiry notes of the meeting with two hon. Members and the Crown Prosecution Service following the withdrawal of proceedings against persons accused of murdering Stephen Lawrence; [12589]

  (2) if the Macpherson inquiry will be provided with details of earlier attacks thought to be connected with persons accused of murdering Stephen Lawrence. [12590]

  Mr. Michael
  The judicial inquiry will have powers under section 49 of the Police Act 1996 to summon any person to give evidence, to require the production of documents and to take evidence on oath. It is therefore a matter for Sir William Macpherson, the chairman of the inquiry, to decide which documents the inquiry requires.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an award in the memory of Stephen Lawrence. [12591]

  Mr. Michael
  When my right hon. Friend met Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence on 24 June, he told them that they would have his support if they wished to establish some form of memorial to their son Stephen.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average annual percentage change in recorded crime, excluding criminal damage valued at £20 and under between(a) 1967 and 1979 and (b) 1979 and 1996. [12734]

  Mr. Michael
  The average annual percentage change was 3.5 per cent. between 1967 and 1979 and 4.3 per cent. between 1979 and 1996.

  Crime (Sentences) Act 1997
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg) of 30 July,Official Report, columns 261–62, if he will set out the timetable for his review of section 4 (Minimum Sentences for Persistent House Burglars) of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. [12743]

  Mr. Michael
  We have no plans to review section 4 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement on criminal justice on 30 July,Official Report, column 354, our position is the same as that announced by the previous Government in their White Paper, presented to the House in April 1996, which said:
  "The Government's objective is to implement the various proposals, taking account of the Parliamentary timetable, the need to provide additional prison places and the resource implications".

  It is not a question of a review, but of whether and when it is appropriate to take action, bearing in mind those considerations.

  Prisoners (Costs)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost of keeping a prisoner in custody in(a) a high security prison, (b) a normal security prison, (c) an open prison and (d) a young offenders institution in the last year for which figures are available. [12721]

  Ms Quin
  In the financial year 1996–97 the average cost for keeping a prisoner in custody was as shown in the table:

  Type of prison

  Cost per prisoner (£)

  Dispersals

  36,601

  Category B

  19,284

  Category C

  —

  Local

  —

  Open

  16,865

  Young offenders institution

  19,273

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12556]

  Mr. Straw
  In the non-agency Home Office payments are made both centrally and locally. Central payments are processed by the Department's business accounting strategic system, BASS, which uses Ross Renaissance software; 98.31 per cent. of payments by value are processed via the bank automated clearing system. The
  753
  cost of processing central payments is estimated at £144,800. Payments to other Government Departments are made via Paymaster.

  Payments may also be made locally by cheque or, exceptionally, by cash. Information on the cost of processing local payments is not available.

  The Forensic Science Service is self accounting and is responsible for paying all of its suppliers for the services and goods it consumes. All payments are processed using the Systems Union accounting package, SUN. Of the payments made, 65.5 per cent. are via BACS the remainder being made by cheque. Any payments to other Government Departments are made by cheque. The cost of processing these payments is estimated at £48,000.

  Within the United Kingdom Passport Agency, payments are made centrally by cheque, using SUN accounting software supplied by Systems Union. This includes payments to all other Government Departments. Operation of the payment function of the SUN system, including staff costs, was approximately £34,250 in 1996–97.

  In the Prison Service payments are made both centrally and locally. Central payments are processed by the Prison Service's finance outstations and central unified system, FOCUS, which uses Tetra Chameleon software; 92.5 per cent. of payments by value are processed via BACS. The cost of processing central payments is estimated at £83,000; 98 per cent. of payments to other Government Departments are made via Paymaster.

  Payments are also made locally at establishments by cheque or, exceptionally, by cash. Information on the cost of processing local payments is not available.

  All Fire Service College payments are made locally at the college by cheque, except for expense claims under £10 which are paid in cash. All cheque payments are processed by the College's purchase ledger department, which uses CEDARDATA financial software; 89.2 per cent. of payments by value are paid by cheque, and payments to Her Majesty's Paymaster General in respect of loan interest is paid by Lloyds bank funds flow. The cost of processing all payments is estimated at £32,850.

  If my hon. Friend is interested in particular aspects of our payment processing systems, perhaps he would write to me with further details.

  Crime Clear-up and Conviction Rates
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the crime clear-up and conviction rates for each policy authority area in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [12588]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is given in the tables. These figures are not on a comparable basis 754
  because the clear-up data relate to the number of offences and the conviction rate date relate to the number of offenders.

  align="center">Table 1: Clear up rates for notifiable offences by police force area 1995 and 19961

  Police force area

  1995

  1996

  Avon and Somerset

  23

  24

  Bedfordshire

  22

  33

  Cambridgeshire

  19

  24

  Cheshire

  31

  34

  Cleveland

  25

  24

  Cumbria

  40

  36

  Derbyshire

  20

  21

  Devon and Cornwall

  27

  30

  Dorset

  28

  27

  Durham

  30

  30

  Essex

  33

  29

  Gloucestershire

  27

  23

  Greater Manchester

  24

  17

  Hampshire

  28

  28

  Hertfordshire

  28

  30

  Humberside

  19

  20

  Kent

  26

  32

  Lancashire

  34

  33

  Leicestershire

  29

  31

  Lincolnshire

  39

  42

  London, City of

  23

  27

  Merseyside

  27

  29

  Metropolitan Police

  25

  23

  Norfolk

  31

  32

  Northamptonshire

  28

  34

  Northumbria

  23

  24

  North Yorkshire

  23

  25

  Nottinghamshire

  23

  28

  South Yorkshire

  24

  23

  Staffordshire

  32

  34

  Suffolk

  34

  33

  Surrey

  31

  29

  Sussex

  28

  29

  Thames Valley

  23

  25

  Warwickshire

  25

  24

  West Mercia

  28

  26

  West Midlands

  24

  23

  West Yorkshire

  21

  24

  Wiltshire

  32

  29

  England

  26

  26

  Dyfed Powys

  57

  58

  Gwent

  50

  50

  North Wales

  32

  33

  South Wales

  29

  32

  Wales

  34

  37

  England and Wales

  26

  26

  1 Per cent. of recorded crimes cleared up by police.

  align="center">Table 2: Conviction rates1 for indictable offences by police force area 1995 and 19962

  Police force area

  1995

  19962

  Avon and Somerset

  61

  55

  Bedfordshire

  61

  65

  Cambridgeshire

  61

  61

  Cheshire

  72

  71

  Cleveland

  65

  61

  Cumbria

  70

  70

  Derbyshire

  65

  62

  Devon and Cornwall

  64

  63

  Dorset

  65

  65

  755

  align="center">Table 2: Conviction rates1 for indictable offences by police force area 1995 and 19962

  Police force area

  1995

  19962

  Durham

  66

  66

  Essex

  66

  64

  Gloucestershire

  63

  65

  Greater Manchester

  69

  69

  Hampshire

  68

  68

  Hertfordshire

  63

  66

  Humberside

  73

  69

  Kent

  83

  83

  Lancashire

  67

  65

  Leicestershire

  55

  59

  Lincolnshire

  74

  70

  London, City of

  56

  62

  Merseyside

  60

  62

  Metropolitan Police

  65

  65

  Norfolk

  88

  83

  Northamptonshire

  58

  59

  Northumbria

  64

  64

  North Yorkshire

  74

  70

  Nottinghamshire

  62

  61

  South Yorkshire

  67

  69

  Staffordshire

  62

  61

  Suffolk

  67

  65

  Surrey

  69

  69

  Sussex

  69

  66

  Thames Valley

  60

  61

  Warwickshire

  64

  66

  West Mercia

  68

  67

  West Midlands

  62

  61

  West Yorkshire

  62

  60

  Wiltshire

  78

  86

  England

  65

  65

  Dyfed Powys

  57

  57

  Gwent

  64

  61

  North Wales

  70

  68

  South Wales

  60

  61

  Wales

  62

  62

  England and Wales

  65

  65

  1 Number of offenders convicted at all courts as a proportion per cent. of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts.

  2 Provisional.

  Fire Service Pensions
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish the review of fire service pensions; and if he will make a statement. [12741]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have undertaken to publish the review as a basis for consultation with fire service interests on the future arrangement for fire service pensions. It will be issued as soon as is practicable.

HEALTH

  Huntingdon Life Sciences
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many experimental studies at Huntingdon Life Sciences have been invalidated as a result of his Department's investigation; and what was the fate of the animals involved. [12297]

  Ms Jowell
  The United Kingdom's Good Laboratory Practice Monitoring Authority has investigated Huntingdon Life Sciences. The authority decided that five 756
  toxicity studies within the dog toxicology unit did not meet good laboratory practice standards. The authority has required the company to notify each study's sponsors accordingly.

  On completion of the studies, the dogs will be put down humanely in accordance with normal practice.

  Abortion Act 1967
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the working of the Abortion Act 1967. [12579]

  Ms Jowell
  Data on all terminations of pregnancy and the non-national health service places which provide abortion continue to be monitored by the Department.

  Hospital Beds (Reopening Costs)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost of reopening a bed in a general ward of a hospital. [12693]

  Mr. Milburn
  The costs would depend on a number of factors including geographical location, the level of staffing required to open the bed, when the bed was required—weekend or overnight.

  Nurses' Salaries
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average salary of a nurse with five years' experience. [12694]

  Mr. Milburn
  Nurses' salaries are dependent on a wide range of factors such as grade and length of service. It is therefore not possible to provide the average salary of a nurse with five years' experience. However, current salary rates are published in advance letter (NM) 1/97, copies of which are available in the Library. Additionally, new earnings survey figures for 1996 show that the average gross weekly earnings of a full-time nurse on adult rates was £325.70.

  Operation Costs
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost of(a) a hip replacement operation, (b) a cataract operation and (c) a heart bypass operation in the last year for which figures are available. [12723]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information is given in the following table:

  align="center">Average costs

  Operation

  In-patient case £

  Day case £

  Hip replacement1

  primary

  3,290

  —

  revision

  4,330

  —

  Cataract2

  900

  475

  Coronary artery by-pass graft

  5,930

  —

  1 1996–97

  2 1994–95

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total expenditure on official hospitality by his Department to date in the current session. [12582]

  Mr. Milburn
  Expenditure on hospitality for the period 1 May 1997 to 30 September 1997 is as follows.

  £

  Department

  41,803

  Agencies

  7,159

  Total

  48,962

  Goods and Services (Payments)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12558]

  Mr. Milburn
  The process for making payments for goods and services forms the latter part of the purchasing process. The Department of Health has developed procurement procedures based upon guidance issued by Her Majesty's Treasury and those procedures are designed to ensure probity and fairness in procurement decisions. The processing of payments and the issue of payable instruments form part of the Department's accounting systems. The procedures for both placing orders and making payments to suppliers requires the necessary certification and authorisation that ensures an adequate separation of duties, thus conforming with Government accounting.

  The Department does not use sub-contractors for payment work nor have co-operative arrangements with other departments for the payment of goods and services. The payment of welfare foods benefit does involve both the Benefit Agency in the issue of welfare milk tokens and a contractor to authorise payments against surrendered tokens. The Benefits Agency also authorises payments on the Department's behalf in respect of European Economic Area medical costs.

  The Department's accounting system is based on a proprietary accounting package—Sun Accounts—amended by departmental staff to meet specific needs. The Department makes some 180,000 payments a year, which include payments to health authorities, local authorities, non-departmental public bodies and voluntary organisations. Payments to other Government Departments and health authorities are made by means of transfers. Whenever possible, other payments are made by means of bank automated clearing system and the remainder are paid by payable order.

  The accounts payable and cashiering applications which support departmental payments form part of the accounting system and specific capital and development costs of the computer systems are not therefore readily available. The salary costs of providing a cashiering service are estimated to be £216,000 for 1997–98.
  758
  The Department has four executive agencies and the following table summarises the position of each.

  Medicines Control Agency

  Medical Devices Agency

  NHS Estates Agency

  NHS Pensions Agency

  Contracting arrangements for payments

  None

  None

  None

  The payment of medical fees to independent advisers form part of the total service provided

  Co-operative arrangements with other government departments

  None

  None

  None

  None

  Estimated costs of making payments

  £105,000

  £30,000

  £40,000

  £15,000

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the independent review panel considering the future of St. Bartholomew's hospital will be allowed a fully day for visits and discussions at the hospital. [12294]

  Mr. Milburn
  The review panel visited the Royal Hospitals NHS trust on 4 September 1997 for a full day. This included visits to the St. Bartholomew's hospital and Royal London hospital sites. The members of the panel also made further visits to the London chest hospital, St. Bartholomew's and other London sites later that month.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the arrangements made by the Royal Hospitals NHS trust for the independent review panel to visit St. Bartholomew's hospital. [12293]

  Mr. Milburn
  Ministers have not been involved in the detailed arrangements made for visits by the independent review panel, but we understand that the arrangements for the panel's visit to the Royal Hospitals NHS trust on 4 September 1997 were satisfactory.

  Liverpool Blood Services
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be announcing his decision about the future of the Liverpool blood transfusion service; and if he will make a statement. [12287]

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received(a) directly and (b) indirectly from clinicians and their professional associations since 1 May in respect of the proposals to remove blood processing and testing from the Liverpool blood centre; and if he will publish those representations. [12295]
  759
  Mr. Boateng
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has announced the setting up of an independent review into clinical concerns raised about the proposals for the transfer of bulk processing and testing of blood from Liverpool to Manchester. Professor John Cash, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and former director of the blood transfusion service in Scotland, is leading that review.

  On 8 September, Professor Cash submitted an urgent interim report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in which he advised that, given that the original plans were then largely implemented, and in particular the run-down of experienced and skilled staff in the Liverpool centre,
  "it is now in the best interests of patients in Merseyside and the surrounding area that the transfer of bulk blood processing and testing to Manchester goes ahead as planned on 19 September."
  On 9 September, the Secretary of State announced his reluctant acceptance of that recommendation on grounds of patient safety.

  However, the Secretary of State also made it clear that that was not the end of the matter. Professor Cash is to make a final report in November, when he will advise on how blood services can be developed to meet the needs of people in Merseyside and the surrounding areas as well as the requirements of local clinicians. Meanwhile, two steps have already been taken to aid that development. In line with the interim recommendations made by Professor Cash, the Secretary of State announced in September the appointment of two experts, Professor Alistair Bellingham and Dr. Ian Gilmore, to two critical new posts. Their respective roles are transition director of the Liverpool blood centre, and chair of a Merseyside and area clinical user group set up to monitor the quality of blood services in Merseyside and north Wales. Both Professor Bellingham and Dr. Gilmore have an important part to play in working with local clinicians to ensure the safety and the reliability of the supply of blood components to local hospitals.

  We shall decide what further measures may be required when we have seen Professor Cash's final report.

  As regards the number of representations which Ministers have received from clinicians on this issue, as I said in my reply to a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) on 1 July, column 145, separate records are not kept of the particular categories of people who make such representations. We estimate, however, that we have received around 24 representations from different clinicians or their professional associations since 1 May 1997. Copies have been passed to Professor Cash for him to consider as part of his review. They will not be published separately.

  Dental Access Fund
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government proposes to repeat the provision of the dental access fund for 1997–98. [12755]

  Mr. Milburn
  No. On 9 September, we announced the "Investing in Dentistry" initiative, which makes available up to £9 million in 1997–98 to help dentists expand 760
  existing or set up new practices in areas of the country where there are particular problems with the availability of national health service dental services.

  NHS Trusts (Board Meetings)
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health what steps he took to consult NHS trusts before issuing his instructions to hold board meetings in public. [12797]

  Mr. Milburn
  In reaching his decision, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health took account of the fact that all health authorities and a significant proportion of national health service trusts already hold board meetings in public.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from NHS trust boards following his instructions to hold board meetings in public; and if he will publish the content of these submissions. [12796]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has received a number of letters about trust board meetings, both in favour and against. It is for those making the representations to decide whether they should be published.

  Ambulance Service Personnel
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health how many ambulance service personnel have taken early retirement on health grounds in each of the last five years; and what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the subject; and if he will make a statement. [12775]

  Mr. Milburn
  In the five-year period up to 24 February 1997, the national health service pension scheme awarded ill-health retirement benefits to 2,576 ambulance personnel retiring from NHS ambulance trusts in England and Wales. A year-on-year breakdown is not available.

  In the last five years, the Department of Health has not commissioned any research on ambulancemen retiring early from the NHS on health grounds.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of items prescribed to individuals aged 65 years and over in each year since 1985. [12794]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is available in the statistical bulletins,Statistics of prescriptions dispensed in the Family Health Service Authorities: England 1985 to 1995, (statistical bulletin in 1996/17 July 1996) and Statistics of prescriptions dispensed in the community: England 1986 to 1996, (statistical bulletin 1997/15 July 1997), both of which are available in the Library. Before 20 October 1995, the term "elderly people" meant women aged 60 years or over and men aged 65 and over. Since then, however, men aged 60 and over are also included in this group, but the population figures for 1995 are still for men aged 65 years and over and women aged 60 and over. The 1985 to 1990 prescription data are based on fees, while 1991–1995 prescription data are based on items.

  H. Pylori
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reimburse general practitioners for testing for H. pylori. [12780]

  Mr. Milburn
  Under the terms of a general practitioner's cost plus contract, all expenses incurred in the delivery of general medical services are reimbursed either directly to the general practitioner who incurs the cost or indirectly, at the average for the profession as a whole, through fees and allowances.

  General practitioners are free to use any of the test kits for H. pylori if they feel it clinically appropriate, and the profession will receive reimbursement for their costs through fees and allowances.

  The Government have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom resulted from contaminated implements during surgical procedures. [12493]

  Ms Jowell
  In the United Kingdom two incidents involving a total of three patients are known where Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is presumed to have been transmitted by neurosurgical instruments. Both incidents occurred in the 1950s.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's latest figures for trends in suspected and confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom. [12492]

  Ms Jowell
  The latest figures on the number of cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, including new variant CJD, in the United Kingdom were published in a Department of Health press release on 6 October 1997, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  The fifth annual report of the national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit published on 15 September 1997 showed that there has been an increase in the number of cases of classic sporadic CJD recorded in England and Wales for the period 1970 to April 1996, with the greatest increase reported in those over the age of 75. Substantial increases in the reported incidence of classic CJD have also been observed in other countries which monitor the disease, including countries where bovine spongiform encephalopathy is rare or absent. These increases are most likely to reflect improved case ascertainment, especially in the older age groups, rather than a real increase in the disease.

  GP Fundholder Budget Allocations
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the outcomes of the appeals process for fundholder budget allocations for the past five years by regional office, showing how many appeals found in favour of(a) GP fundholders and (b) regional offices for each area. [12486]

  Mr. Milburn
  When a fundholding practice receives its proposed budget offer for the coming year, the regulations require it to notify the health authority whether or not it 762
  accepts the offer. Although this is not a formal appeals process established by regulations, in practice most rejections are treated as appeals by regional offices. Similar procedures were followed before April 1996, when regional health authorities were responsible for budget offers.

  Information is available on the results of such "appeals" in respect of budget proposals for 1996–97 and 1997–98. A table summarising this information is as follows.

  align="center">Summary of representations on GPFH/Regional Office budget allocations 1996–97–1997–98

  1996–97 Principally in favour of

  1997–98 Principally in favour of

  GPFH

  RO

  GPFH

  RO

  Northern and Yorkshire

  2

  8

  10

  31

  Trent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Anglia and Oxford

  —

  1

  1

  7

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  2

  3

  South and West

  1

  11

  8

  16

  North Thames

  3

  6

  1

  1

  South Thames

  5

  27

  1

  38

  North West

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Total

  12

  54

  23

  98

  These figures are not strictly comparable between regions due to different methods of dealing with likely problems in the setting of budgets. Some regions have a policy of addressing differences between the policy of the health authority and the fundholder to resolve disputes before a formal offer is made. In addition where a multifund (where a larger number of fundholders join together to apply the budget) have appealed en-masse, this might be counted as one appeal, or as individual appeals.

  Often an appeal has no definite resolution for either side—elements of both arguments my be accepted, and the decision does not, in reality, come down one way or another. However, where a decision by the RO has been largely in favour of the GPFH this is reflected in the table.

  Source:

  NHS Executive Regional Offices

  Maternity Services (North Staffordshire)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what changes in procedures to maternity services have been introduced in north Staffordshire in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [12350]

  (2) if he will investigate staffing levels at the North Staffordshire maternity unit during holiday periods, weekends and between 5 pm and 9 am weekdays; and if he will make a statement; [12351]

  (3) what investigations have been undertaken into maternity services and procedures in north Staffordshire. [12766]

  Ms Jowell
  Following concerns expressed by staff working within the trust, North Staffordshire Hospital NHS trust conducted a management review of maternity services, which reported in May 1997. As a result of this review, a number of improvements have been implemented by the trust to both procedures and staffing arrangements, including the introduction of a new model of woman-centred care, additional staff in community midwifery, and improved cover arrangements at labour suites. There are no reductions in staffing at weekends or on bank holidays. All these changes are aimed at improving maternity services for patients.

  Brain-damaged Babies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of babies were born with brain damage in North Staffordshire in each of the last five years; [12349]

  (2) if he will publish figures on the incidence of babies born with brain damage in north Staffordshire in each of the last five years. [12765]

  Mr. Boateng
  The estimate, from the latest available data, of the percentage of babies born in North Staffordshire reported as having infantile brain damage is as follows:

  Percentage

  1989–90

  0.3

  1990–91

  0.4

  1991–92

  0.6

  1992–93

  0.4

  1993–94

  0.1

  1994–95

  0.5

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Note:

  Infantile brain damage is defined using the following International Classification of Diseases Codes Ninth Revision (ICD 9).

  Infantile cerebral palsy: 343.0 to 9.

  Birth trauma:

  767.0 Subdural and cerebral haemorrhage.

  779.0 Convulsions in newborn.

  779.1 Other and unspecified cerebral irritability in newborn.

  779.2 Cerebral depression, coma and other abnormal cerebral signs.

  Corticosteroids
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines his Department issues to GPs prescribing systemic corticosteroids to patients who(a) have not been exposed to chickenpox and (b) are pregnant; and if he will make a statement; [12924]

  (2) if he will estimate how many and what percentage of people using corticosteroids carry a steroid treatment card; and if he will make a statement. [12926]

  Mr. Milburn
  Guidance on prescribing issues, including the use of systematic corticosteroids, is available to general practitioners from a variety of sources. Publications funded by the Department include the British National Formulary, which is regularly updated and provides advice for all doctors on the choice and safe use of corticosteroids. Copies of the BNF are available in the Library.

  No information is available on the number of people using corticosteroids who carry steroid treatment cards.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died from chickenpox in each of the last five years, indicating those cases in which the deceased had been using systematic corticosteroids when infected; and if he will make a statement. [12925]
  764
  Ms Jowell
  The number of deaths from chickenpox in England and Wales reported to the Office for National Statistics are given in the following table:

  Mortality for chickenpox in England and Wales 1992–96

  Year

  Number of persons

  1992

  27

  1993

  30

  1994

  23

  1995

  22

  1996

  39

  Since 1993, ONS codes all the diseases, injuries, drugs, operations and external causes mentioned on death certificates by the certifying doctor or coroner, in addition to the underlying cause of death. Only one of the 114 deaths certified as due to chickenpox, from 1993 to 1996 inclusive, explicitly mentioned the use of corticosteroids. The timing of the drug treatment in relation to the date of infection is not available.

  Iproniazid
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the link between iproniazid use and fatal liver damage; and if he will make a statement. [12908]

  Ms Jowell
  There are no current United Kingdom marketing authorisations for iproniazid. We are not aware of any research being undertaken in the UK into iproniazid.

  The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Council. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The council is not funding any research into iproniazid and fatal liver damage, and its scientific advisors are not aware of any other research on the topic.

  Xenotransplantation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the members of the Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority and(a) their qualifications, (b) their other paid or voluntary employment and (c) their other current appointments; [12900]

  (2) on what date membership of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority was finalised; and if he will make a statement. [12901]

  Mr. Boateng
  The membership of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority was announced through a Department of Health press release on 14 March 1997. No further appointments to the authority have been made. Details of its members,
  765
  including their qualifications, their main paid employment and their membership of other Government committees are as follows:

  CHAIRMAN
  The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Lord HABGOOD of Calverton MA PhD
  Retired, former Archbishop of York.

  MEMBERS
  Mr John DARK MB BS, FRCS (Edin), FRCS (Eng)
  Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Director (Cardio-Pulm, Transplants)
  Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.
  Professor Herb SEWELL MB ChB, BDS, MSc, PhD, FRCP (Glas), FRCPath
  Professor of Immunology Nottingham University.
  Formerly a Member of the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation
  Professor George GRIFFIN BSc (hons), PhD, MBBS
  Professor of Infectious Disease, St. George's Hosp. Member of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, Member of the Public Health Laboratory Service Board.
  Dr Maggy JENNINGS BSc, PhD
  Head of Research Animals Department, RSPCA
  Dr Janet M DEWDNEY OBE, BVSc, MRCVS, PhD, FI Biol, FRC Path
  Chairman, AdProTech plc.
  Professor Sheila MCLEAN LL B, M Litt, PhD, FRSE, FRSA
  Professor Law and Ethics in Medicine, Glasgow University. Member, Scottish Higher Education Council, Secretary of State Appointee to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Appointed to undertake a Review of the current provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, "Consent and the Law".
  Mrs Jean GAFFIN OBE, JP, BSc, MSc
  Executive Director of the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Service.
  Dr David COOK MA, Phd
  Director, Whitefield Institute, Oxford. Fellow and Chaplain, Green College, Oxford.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations his Department has received(a) supporting and (b) against xenotransplantation during the consultation period on his Department's advisory group on the ethics of xenotransplantation report; and if he will make a statement. [12902]

  Mr. Boateng
  Following the publication of "Animal Tissue into Humans", the report of the advisory group on the ethics of xenotransplantation, a consultation exercise was held which asked for submissions on several aspects of xenotransplantation, including the science and its 766
  regulation. Some 51 responses have been received. These contained detailed analysis of the issues raised by the report and cannot be classed as being either for or against xenotransplantation. Copies of all those responses not made in confidence will be placed in the Library in due course, following consideration of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority's advice. In addition to the responses to the consultation exercise, we have received around 15,000 postcards registering opposition to xentransplantation on both medical and ethical grounds.

  Artificial Organ Transplants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many transplants involving artificial organs have been carried out in each of the last 10 years, broken down by health authority district; and if he will make a statement. [12907]

  Mr. Boateng
  There have been several small trials of artificial organs as alternatives to organ transplantation, but, so far, none of the available artificial organs offers a satisfactory alternative.

  Novelty Condoms
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the health risk posed by the availability of novelty condoms from vending machines in entertainment venues and public lavatories; and if he will make a statement; [12916]

  (2) what plans he has to restrict the availability of novelty condoms from vending machines in entertainment venues and public lavatories; [12917]

  (3) if he will meet representatives from the medical profession and AIDS charities to discuss the risk posed by the availability of novelty condoms in vending machines in entertainment venues and public lavatories; and if he will make a statement. [12918]

  Ms Jowell
  Novelty condoms are not recommended for use as a barrier to HIV-AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases or as a contraceptive. The Department of Health advises the public to use only condoms which carry either the British Standards Institute kitemark or the European CE mark. As novelty condoms are not classed as medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations 1994, they should not carry the CE mark, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health cannot use his enforcement powers under these regulations to restrict their availability. However, any confusion and risk to health caused by novelty condoms being mistaken for genuine condoms would come within the scope of the General Product Safety Regulations 1994, which are enforced by local authority trading standards officers, if there is a significant risk that a novelty condom could be confused with the genuine article and give rise to the transmission of disease then, in the absence of adequate warnings about the hazard, the product could be deemed to be unsafe under the regulations.
  767
  We have not received any representations from the medical profession or AIDS charities to discuss novelty condoms, but we would be happy to consider such a request if approached.

  Asbestosis
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the diagnostic features in the classification of asbestosis recognised by his Department. [12943]

  Mr. Boateng
  Diagnosis is a professional issue and we would look to the health care professions to provide guidance on it.

  Organ, Blood and Bone Marrow Donation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on introducing an opt-out scheme allowing the surgical removal of organs unless the deceased has registered an objection in advance; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement. [12909]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Ms Jowell) gave my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 20 May 1997 at columns 504–05.

  Ministers have met interested members of the medical profession and voluntary organisations involved in organ donation and transplantation to discuss this and other issues. Ministers have also received four letters on this subject from hon. Members and a number of letters from the public generally, in every case, our response has been that all views will be considered carefully before reaching a decision but that any steps taken must command public confidence.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate(a) how many and (b) what percentage of people in England (i) carry a donor card and (ii) are registered on the NHS organ donor register. [12903]

  Mr. Boateng
  Organ donor cards have been distributed freely by many organisations over the last 25 years. No record has ever been kept of who may possess them. However, public opinion surveys show consistently that around 30 per cent. of the population claim to carry an organ donor card.

  At 18 October 1997, there were 3,685,000 English residents on the national health service organ donor register—7.6 per cent. of the population.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a scheme of paid leave entitlements for those donating bone marrow; and if he will make a statement. [12869]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government have no plans to introduce a scheme of paid leave entitlements for those donating bone marrow. There are two bone marrow donation registers in this country; the British bone marrow register which recruits from blood donors and is funded 768
  through the national health service, and the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register which is funded and run by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Both registers meet all reasonable expenses of donors, including travelling and accommodation expenses and compensation for loss of earnings.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to encourage people to(a) carry donor cards, (b) register on the NHS organ donor register (c) give blood and (d) donate bone marrow; and if he will make a statement; [12904]

  (2) if he will estimate how much has been spent on promoting (a) the use of donor cards, (b) the NHS organ donor register, (c) blood donation and (d) bone marrow donation in each of the last 10 years. [12905]

  Mr. Boateng
  No information is available on Department of Health publicity campaigns before 1989–90. No information is available about the sums spent on promoting bone marrow donation over the last 10 years, but some associated costs may be contained within the blood publicity budget. The information available is provided in the table. Within the organ donation publicity budget, it is not possible to identify separately the amounts spent on individual campaigns.

  There are continuing campaigns to encourage positive attitudes towards tissue donation. During this year, the Department is promoting a wide range of measures designed to increase the number of regular blood donors through raising awareness of the need to maintain supplies of blood to hospitals. This includes the launch this year of a new three to five year publicity strategy, designed to increase the current donor base and thereby reduce the need for emergency appeals, and the development of an information pack for secondary schools, for use in association with the national curriculum, which we hope will help to secure the future donor base.

  The over-riding aim of organ donation publicity campaigns is to encourage people to discuss their donation wishes with their families. Knowing the views of the deceased in advance makes it easier for relatives to agree that organs may be donated. People are also encouraged to register their wishes by joining the computerised NHS organ donor register, established in 1994. This register builds on earlier work to promote organ donor cards, which are still distributed with the NHS organ donor register leaflets. We are considering how best to use publicity monies to encourage donation.

  Bone marrow donors are recruited through two organisations. The British bone marrow register is funded through the NHS and recruits from blood donors at blood donation sessions. The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust is a charity funded by voluntary giving and recruits donors from the general public through local and national publicity campaigns.
  769

  align="right">£000

  National blood publicity

  Organ donation

  1989–90 outturn

  641

  252

  1990–91 outturn

  731

  228

  1991–92 outturn

  1,032

  211

  1992–93 outturn

  983

  1,992

  1993–94 outturn

  1,578

  1,313

  1994–95 outturn

  1,145

  1,579

  1995–96 outturn

  1,345

  1,653

  1996–97 outturn

  1,199

  1,225

  Total

  8,654

  8,453

  1997–98 (estimate)

  1,218

  996

  Smoking
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he plans to introduce to dissuade children from taking up smoking; and if he will make a statement. [12927]

  Ms Jowell
  The rise in smoking by young people, particularly teenage girls, is a grave concern. Measures directed at reducing children's smoking will be set out in the White Paper on tobacco control to be published next year.

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