Written Answers of 1 April 1998

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Civil Courts
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was(a) the total revenue raised by his Department through fees for civil work in each of the last two years and (b) the total expenditure of the court services for civil work in each of the last two years. [36437]

  Mr. Hoon
  (a) The total revenue raised through fees for csivil work in 1996–97 was £264.4m and in 1997–98 was £323.lm. This includes forecast revenue for March 1998, (b) the total expenditure of the Court Service for civil work in 1996–97 was £321m and in 1997–98 was £3 27m. This also includes forecast expenditure for March 98.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was(a) the target percentage of the costs of civil courts to be recovered through fees and (b) the actual percentage of the costs of the civil courts recovered through fees in each of the last two years. [36438]

  Mr. Hoon
  (a) The amount planned to be recovered through fees for 1996–97 was £260m (81 per cent. of the total cost) and for 1997–98 was £314m (96 per cent.); (b) the actual percentage of the costs recovered through fees in 1996–97 was 82 per cent. and in 1997–98 was 99 per cent. This includes forecast data for March 1998.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Airports (North-West)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visitors to Britain arrived through north-west airports during 1997. [36848]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  Data from the International Passenger Survey for 1996 shows that 767,000 overseas visitors to the UK used Manchester Airport. During the first three quarters of 1997, 606,000 overseas visitors used Manchester Airport, an increase of 19,000 on the same period in 1996. Figures for overseas visitors are not available for other airports in the North West.

  Shooting Organisations
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 1998,Official Report, column 322, what were (a) the level of membership of each of the shooting organisations listed and (b) the level of public funding in each of the last three years; and what is the projected funding for the next three years. [33543]
  516
  Mr. Banks
  The relevant governing body for England is the English Shooting Council (ESC) whose approximate 1997 membership stands at 18,000 and consists of 4 member organisations: the English Pistol Association; English XX(2) Club; the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association; and the English Small Bore Shooting Union.

  The UK-wide body is the Great Britain Target Shooting Federation (GBTSF), whose approximate 1997 membership is broken down as follows:

  Clubs

  Members

  National Pistol Association

  500

  100,000

  National Rifle Association

  1,000

  57,000

  British International Clay Target Shooting Federation

  700

  28,000

  National Small Bore Rifle Association

  18,000

  296,000

  The level of grant to each organisation is as follows:

  £

  English Shooting Council

  GB Target Shooting Federation

  1995–96

  11,000

  240,785

  1996–97

  10,000

  330,215

  1997–98

  18,000

  288,120

  1998–99

  6,500

  1239,370

  1999–002

  16,500

  not yet available

  2000–012

  4,500

  not yet available

  1 Planning figure subject to further discussion with the Federation.

  2 No firm projections can be made beyond 1998–99. The level of funding is subject to review.

  Sport Governing Bodies
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the total grant-in-aid made available by the Great Britain Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. [34253]

  Mr. Banks
  The information requested is set out in the table. Many governing bodies also benefited from a number of services and programmes provided by the Sports Council or organisations funded by them, and from the use of facilities and services provided by the six National Sports Centres.

  £000

  Year

  Grant-in-aid

  1992–93

  8,974

  1993–94

  9,603

  1994–95

  9,997

  1995–96

  10,956

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the total grant-in-aid made available by the English Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98; and what it is projected to be for the next three financial year [34264]
  517
  Mr. Banks
  The information requested is set out in the table. Projections have not yet been made for 1999–2000 and 2000–2001.

  £000

  Year

  Grant-in-aid

  1996–97

  11,574

  1997–98

  24,782

  1998–99

  35,535

  1 The English Sports Council became fully operational on 1 January 1997. The figure, therefore, covers the period 01–01–97 to 31–03–97. The total grant-in-aid made available to governing bodies by the GB Sports Council during the period 01–04–96 to 31–12–96 was £8.126m.

  2 Forecast outturn.

  3 Budget figure. From 01–04–98, the governing body budget will include funding for sport specific developments in the ESC regions which previously were included in the individual regional budgets. When the regional element is included, the total governing body budget for 1998–99 will be £6.2m.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid made available by the English Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [34268]

  Mr. Banks
  The information requested is set out in the table. The English Sports Council became fully operational from 1 January 1997. The United Kingdom Sports Council assumed primary responsibility for UK/GB governing bodies on the same date. The 1996–97 figures include grant-in-aid payments made by the GB, English and UK Sports Councils during 1996–97.

  £

  Governing body

  1996–97

  11997–98

  National Federation of Anglers

  25,000

  25,000

  National Federation of Sea Anglers

  30,000

  30,000

  Salmon & Trout Association

  17,500

  17,500

  Grand National Archery Association

  60,000

  20,000

  Football Association

  45,000

  45,000

  Amateur Athletics Association of England

  20,000

  10,000

  British Athletics Federation

  306,500

  50,000

  Badminton Association of England

  247,000

  262,000

  British Badminton Olympic Committee

  70,000

  0

  English Schools Badminton Association

  15,000

  0

  British Baseball Federation

  45,900

  16,000

  English Basketball Association

  296,500

  361,324

  British Bobsleigh Association

  100,000

  2—

  English Bowls Coaching Scheme

  22,000

  22,000

  Amateur Boxing Association

  108,500

  148,500

  British Amateur Boxing Association

  20,000

  0

  British Canoe Union

  320,000

  112,000

  National Caving Association

  23,750

  3,600

  England and Wales Cricket Board

  297,950

  207,750

  English Schools Cricket Association

  20,000

  5,000

  Women's Cricket Association

  32,500

  37,500

  Croquet Association

  21,000

  9,450

  British Curling Association

  40,000

  2—

  British Cycling Federation

  377,500

  52,500

  Cyclists Touring Club

  25,000

  2—

  British Cyclo-Cross Association

  77,500

  14,950

  British Cycle Speedway Council

  15,500

  12,900

  English BMX Association

  5,000

  0

  English Schools Cycling Association

  2,500

  2,000

  Road Time Trials Council

  10,000

  6,750

  British Paralympic Association

  178,000

  42,533

  British Blind Sport

  40,500

  2—

  British Deaf Sports Council

  55,000

  40,000

  Disability Sport England

  195,000

  195,000

  English Sports Association for People with Learning Disability

  111,500

  111,500

  UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability

  65,650

  2—

  518

  £

  Governing body

  1996–97

  11997–98

  British Equestrian Federation

  113,162

  12,930

  British Horse Society

  49,250

  39,000

  British Fencing Association

  175,000

  45,000

  British Gliding Association

  29,250

  12,000

  English Golf Union

  30,000

  32,500

  British Amateur Gymnastics Association

  403,500

  2—

  British Schools Gymnastics Association

  26,500

  2—

  British Handball Association

  18,910

  4,360

  British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

  70,000

  2—

  All England Women's Hockey Association

  185,000

  131,250

  English Hockey Association

  0

  164,300

  Great Britain Olympic Hockey Board (men & women)

  176,000

  2—

  Hockey Association

  195,000

  95,000

  British Ice Hockey Association

  37,500

  0

  National Ice Skating Association

  120,000

  24,750

  British Judo Association

  459,375

  9,375

  English Karate Governing Body

  67,500

  35,000

  English Lacrosse Association

  145,834

  150,000

  Royal Life Saving Society UK

  30,000

  2—

  British Model Flying Association

  15,000

  0

  Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain

  70,000

  9,000

  Auto Cycle Union

  10,125

  2—

  British Mountaineering Council

  216,250

  42,500

  English Amateur Dancesport Association

  7,500

  0

  English Folk Dance and Song Society

  20,000

  20,000

  Exercise Association of England

  75,000

  50,000

  Health & Beauty Exercise

  22,665

  20,335

  Keep Fit Association

  45,000

  31,250

  Margaret Morris Movement

  9,375

  14,375

  Medau Society

  26,750

  22,250

  All England Netball Association

  173,750

  270,000

  British Orienteering Federation

  124,750

  90,800

  British Parachute Association

  93,500

  18,700

  British Petanque Association

  21,000

  2,470

  Tennis and Rackets Association

  17,500

  20,000

  National Roller Hockey Association

  18,000

  0

  British Federation of Roller Skating

  28,000

  0

  National Rounders Association

  14,250

  15,000

  Amateur Rowing Association

  447,500

  89,500

  British Amateur Rugby League Association

  160,000

  160,000

  English Schools Rugby League

  7,500

  5,000

  Rugby Football Union

  0

  27,000

  Rugby Football Union of Women

  45,000

  45,000

  National Schools Sailing Association

  3,750

  7,500

  Royal Yachting Association

  457,000

  2—

  British Federation of Sand amp; Land Yacht Clubs

  23,085

  1,300

  English Shooting Council

  10,000

  18,000

  GB Target Shooting Federation

  330,215

  2—

  British Ski Federation

  200,000

  2—

  English Ski Council

  75,000

  70,000

  British Softball Federation

  17,000

  18,000

  Squash Rackets Association

  300,000

  240,000

  British Surfing Association

  25,000

  2—

  Surf Life Saving Association of GB

  38,250

  7,500

  Amateur Swimming Association

  154,000

  212,000

  Amateur Swimming Federation of GB

  162,500

  2—

  English Schools Swimming Association

  2,500

  0

  British Olympic Table Tennis Committee

  35,000

  2—

  English Schools Table Tennis Association

  3,500

  3,500

  English Table Tennis Association

  279,000

  279,000

  British Tenpin Bowling Association

  39,000

  17,000

  British Triathlon Association

  48,500

  3,000

  Tug of War Association

  9,375

  9,375

  British Volleyball Federation

  60,000

  2—

  English Volleyball Association

  215,000

  215,000

  British Water Ski Federation

  195,000

  29,700

  British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association

  145,000

  35,000

  British Amateur Wrestling Association

  45,833

  10,000

  English Olympic Wrestling Association

  4,000

  0

  1 Forecast outturn

  2 Governing bodies receiving grants from the UK Sports Council in 1997–98

  519
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid made available by the United Kingdom Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [34267]

  Mr. Banks
  The information requested for 1997–98 is set out in the following table. The figures do not include grants to governing bodies under the United Kingdom Sports Council's grant scheme for international representatives.

  The United Kingdom Sports Council became fully operational on 1 January 1997. The total amount of grant-in-aid made available by the GB, UK and English Sports Councils during 1996–97 is given in my other reply of today concerning the English Sports Council (PQ No-34268).

  £

  Governing body

  11997–98

  Grand National Archery Association

  109,000

  UK Athletics '98

  256,500

  British Baseball Federation

  22,790

  British Biathlon Union

  12,000

  British Bobsleigh Association

  100,000

  British Canoe Union

  240,500

  National Caving Association

  15,150

  Croquet Association

  18,000

  British Curling Association

  57,500

  British Cycling Federation

  273,750

  Cyclists Touring Club

  12,000

  British Cyclo-Cross Association

  40,500

  British Cycle Speedway Council

  800

  Road Time Trials Council

  1,000

  UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability

  65,500

  British Paralympic Association

  129,950

  British Blind Sport

  41,625

  British Deaf Sports Council

  45,000

  British Equestrian Federation

  113,908

  British Horse Society

  9,250

  British Fencing Association

  110,000

  British Gliding Association

  10,750

  British Amateur Gymnastics Association

  356,400

  British Schools Gymnastics Association

  23,400

  British Handball Association

  8,730

  British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

  63,000

  Great Britain Olympic Hockey Board

  119,750

  National Ice Skating Association

  120,200

  British Judo Association

  203,750

  Royal Life Saving Society UK

  17,500

  Great Britain Luge Association

  8,000

  Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain

  46,000

  Auto Cycle Union

  13,125

  British Mountaineering Council

  175,875

  British Orienteering Federation

  65,700

  British Parachute Association

  57,175

  British Petanque Association

  16,530

  Amateur Rowing Association

  179,500

  Royal Yachting Association

  411,300

  British Federation of Sand & Land Yacht Clubs

  11,438

  GB Target Shooting Federation

  288,120

  British Ski Federation

  150,000

  British Surfing Association

  18,000

  Surf Life Saving-Association of GB

  22,375

  Amateur Swimming Federation of GB

  143,500

  British Olympic Table Tennis Committee

  10,000

  British Tenpin Bowling Association

  9,000

  British Triathlon Association

  74,800

  British Volleyball Federation

  43,500

  British Water Ski Federation

  183,300

  British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association

  55,348

  British Amateur Wrestling Association

  30,000

  1 Forecast outturn.

  520
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid projected to be made available by the United Kingdom Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the next three financial years. [34251]

  Mr. Banks
  The information requested for 1998–99 is set out in the following table. The figures do not include grants to governing bodies under the United Kingdom Sports Council's grant scheme for international representatives. Projections have not yet been made for 1999–2000 and 2000–2001.

  £

  Governing body

  11998–99

  Grand National Archery Association

  30,000

  UK Athletics '98

  320,000

  British Badminton Olympic Committee

  40,000

  British Baseball Federation

  19,780

  British Biathlon Union

  12,000

  British Bobsleigh Association

  100,000

  British Amateur Boxing Association

  10,000

  British Canoe Union

  225,000

  National Caving Association

  15,641

  British Curling Association

  11,000

  British Cycling Federation

  270,000

  British Cyclo-Cross Association

  51,000

  British Cycle Speedway Council

  800

  Cyclists Touring Club

  14,000

  Road Time Trials Council

  1,000

  UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability

  65,500

  British Paralympic Association

  100,00

  British Blind Sport

  40,875

  British Deaf Sports Council

  45,000

  British Equestrian Federation

  110,431

  British Horse Society

  6,938

  British Fencing Association

  110,000

  British Gliding Association

  15,375

  British Amateur Gymnastics Association

  356,400

  British Schools Gymnastics Association

  23,400

  British Handball Association

  11,640

  British Gang Gliding and Paragliding Association

  63,000

  Great Britain Olympic Hockey Board

  118,250

  British Ice Hockey Association

  18,000

  National Ice Skating Association

  112,700

  British Judo Association

  250,000

  Royal Life Saving Society UK

  7,500

  Great Britain Luge Association

  8,000

  Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain

  50,000

  Auto Cycle Union

  12,000

  British Mountaineering Council

  119,125

  British Orienteering Federation

  150,000

  British Parachute Association

  70,000

  British Petanque Association

  12,350

  Amateur Rowing Association

  179,500

  Royal Yachting Association

  411,300

  British Federation of Sand and Land Yacht Clubs

  7,354

  GB Target Shooting Federation

  239,370

  British Ski Federation

  200,000

  British Surfing Association

  15,000

  Surf Life Saving Association of GB

  22,000

  Amateur Swimming Federation of GB

  150,000

  British Olympic Table Tennis Committee

  10,000

  British Triathlon Association

  90,000

  British Volleyball Federation

  25,000

  British Water Ski Federation

  149,000

  British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association

  55,348

  British Amateur Wrestling Association

  40,000

  1 Budget figures only.

  521
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid projected to be made available by the English Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the next three financial years. [34269]

  £

  Governing body

  11998–1999

  1999–2000

  2000–2001

  National Federation of Anglers

  18,750

  —

  —

  National Federation of Sea Anglers

  22,500

  —

  —

  Salmon and Trout Association

  18,750

  —

  —

  Football Association

  53,000

  33,750

  —

  British Athletics Federation

  40,000

  4,500

  2,250

  Badminton Association of England

  12,000

  —

  —

  British Baseball Federation

  14,000

  16,000

  16,000

  English Basketball Association

  386,500

  360,000

  360,000

  English Bowls Coaching Scheme

  10,000

  —

  —

  Amateur Boxing Association

  24,000

  —

  —

  British Canoe Union

  160,000

  160,000

  160,000

  England and Wales Cricket Board

  350,750

  352,050

  —

  Croquet Association

  14,550

  —

  —

  British Cycling Federation

  24,000

  —

  —

  British Cyclo-Cross Association

  10,750

  10,000

  10,000

  British Cycle Speedway Council

  5,625

  —

  —

  British Horse Society

  40,000

  40,000

  30,000

  British Fencing Association

  45,000

  —

  —

  English Golf Union

  17,500

  —

  —

  British Gymnastics

  88,780

  —

  —

  British Handball Association

  4,360

  —

  —

  English Hockey Association

  464,000

  460,000

  460,000

  National Ice Skating Association

  14,850

  19,800

  —

  British Judo Association

  12,900

  —

  —

  English Karate Governing Body

  35,000

  35,000

  20,000

  English Lacrosse Association

  135,000

  135,000

  —

  Lawn Tennis Association

  37,000

  —

  —

  British Mountaineering Council

  50,000

  50,000

  50,000

  English Folk Dance and Song Society

  17,000

  17,000

  17,000

  Exercise Association of England

  50,000

  50,000

  50,000

  Health and Beauty Exercise

  15,000

  7,500

  —

  Keep Fit Association

  8,750

  —

  —

  Margaret Morris Movement

  5,000

  —

  —

  Medau Society

  20,000

  15,000

  —

  All England Netball Association

  361,110

  —

  —

  British Petanque Association

  650

  —

  —

  Tennis and Rackets Association

  5,000

  —

  —

  National Rounders Association

  15,000

  18,000

  7,500

  Amateur Rowing Association

  3,000

  —

  —

  British Amateur Rugby League Association

  3,500

  —

  —

  Rugby Football Union

  28,500

  —

  —

  Rugby Football Union of Women

  45,000

  11,250

  —

  Royal Yachting Association

  22,750

  —

  —

  English Shooting Council

  6,500

  16,500

  4,500

  English Ski Council

  37,500

  —

  —

  British Softball Federation

  13,750

  11,250

  —

  Squash Rackets Association

  180,000

  60,000

  —

  English Surfing Federation

  5,000

  —

  —

  Surf Life Saving Association of GB

  5,625

  —

  —

  Amateur Swimming Association

  215,000

  280,000

  280,000

  English Table Tennis Association

  511,000

  470,000

  460,000

  British Tenpin Bowling Association

  5,000

  —

  —

  British Triathlon Association

  3,000

  —

  —

  Tug of War Association

  5,625

  5,625

  —

  British Water Ski Federation

  15,000

  —

  —

  British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association

  40,000

  40,000

  30,000

  British Amateur Wrestling Association

  10,000

  10,000

  7,500

  1 From 1 April 1998, the governing body budget includes provision for funding sport specific developments in the ESC regions, which previously were included in the individual regional budgets.

  522
  Mr. Banks
  The information requested is, where available, set out in the following table. The figures include the committed expenditure only for those governing bodies which have received an offer letter giving indicative planning figures for the remainder of their four-year plans.
  523

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the head office of the(a) National Lotteries Charity Board, (b) Lottery Sports Fund, (c) Arts Lottery Fund and (d) Heritage Lottery Fund; and for each of these bodies what percentage of (1) staff, (2) salary costs and (3) running costs are based in (A) London and (B) Scotland. [36127]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: All the following figures are for 1996–97 and relate to the organisations' Lottery opeations. Figures given for running costs include salary costs.

  (a) National Lottery Charities Board—Corporate Office (including UK-wide and International grants operations)

  Lottery operations

  (i) Location:

  London

  (ii) Running costs:

  £8,696,735

  (iii) Salary costs:

  £1,822,296

  (iv) Staff numbers:

  81

  Note:

  In addition to its London Corporate Office, the NLCB has nine regional offices in England, including one in London, and four country offices, including a Scotland one based in Edinburgh. Corporate Office costs include services that support all operating units. The costs include IT and telemarketing costs, and UK-wide and International grant making operations. Taking all offices into account, percentages of staff and costs of the whole organisation, regardless of function, based in London and Scotland are as follows:

  percentage

  (A) Based in London

  (B) Based in Scotland

  (1) Staff

  36.6

  5.9

  (2) Salary costs

  43.9

  4.7

  (3) Running costs

  55.2

  4.1

  (b) Lottery Sports Fund—Headquarters

  The English Sports Council distributes Lottery funds for expenditure on or in connection with sport in England, and the Scottish Sports Council with sport in Scotland. The organisations' Lottery operations are based wholly in London and Scotland respectively.

  Lottery Sports Fund

  (i) Location:

  London (English Sports Council)

  Edinburgh (Scottish Sports Council)

  (ii) Running costs:

  £4,980,000

  £8,40,000

  (iii) Salary costs:

  £1,100,000

  £503,000

  (iv) Staff numbers

  76

  21

  (c) Arts Lottery Fund—Headquarters

  The Arts Council of England distributes Lottery funds for expenditure on the arts in England, and the Scottish Arts Council on arts in Scotland. The organisations' Lottery operations are based wholly in London and Scotland respectively.

  Arts Lottery Fund

  (i) Location:

  London (Arts Council of England)

  Edinburgh (The Scottish Arts Council)

  (ii) Running costs:

  £14,719,000

  £1,347,000

  (iii) Salary costs:

  £918,000

  £267,000

  (iv) Staff numbers:

  40

  26

  524
  (d) Heritage Lottery Fund—Head Office

  The Heritage Lottery Fund covers the whole of the UK. It is based in London and does not have a regional structure or any office based in Scotland.

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  (i) Location:

  London

  (ii) Running costs:

  £11,143,000

  (iii) Salary costs:

  £2,293,000

  (iv) Staff numbers:

  99

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what specific changes to departmental transport arrangements have to date been implemented following the receipt of the green transport plan; [36651]

  (2) on what date he plans to introduce a green commuting plan. [36655]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions circulated to all Departments in September last year a "Guide to Green Transport Plans". My Department has started work on preparing green transport plans for key headquarters buildings.

  World Cup 1998
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tickets to Scotland's matches in World Cup 1998 have been obtained by his Department; and to whom these tickets have been distributed. [36805]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: None, nor do we intend to obtain any.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the regulation of the National Lottery. [37663]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  It is the Government's intention to ensure that the public has complete confidence in the operation and regulation of the National Lottery. To that end, the National Lottery Bill, which will shortly receive its Second Reading in the House, contains provisions to establish an advisory panel to help the Director General select the operator of the National Lottery.

  While this panel would bring collective expertise to the selection of the operator, the final decision would remain in the hands of an individual—the Director General.

  I have therefore been considering whether there is more we could do to broaden and strengthen the regulatory structure. I believe that there is a case for establishing a permanent collective body to bring a wider range of expertise and experience to the task of ongoing regulation as well as selection of the operator.

  I therefore plan to introduce amendments to the Bill to replace the post of Director General, and the advisory panel, with a National Lottery Commission. The Commission, which will have the same statutory functions

  525
  and duties as the Director General, will have five members and will be serviced by OFLOT. Its introduction will reduce the risk, actual or perceived, of conflicts of interest and regulatory capture, and remove the focus on an individual, while ensuring that a breadth of knowledge, experience and expertise is brought to bear on the regulation of the National Lottery. The necessary amendments will be introduced before the Bill is considered in Committee.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes he proposes to make to his Department's non-voted cash limit for 1997–98. [37664]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997,Official Report, columns 245–50, the DCMS/ERDF non-voted cash limit covering the payment of European Regional Development Fund grants, including supplementary credit approvals in respect of capital expenditure by local authorities, is eligible for an increase of £14,517,000 under the end year flexibility scheme for structural funds expenditure. The cash limit for 1997–98 has therefore been increased by £11,000,000 from £34,000,000 to £45,000,000 reflecting partial take up of the announced EYF amount to finance additional payments to approved projects.

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

  Mountaineering
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Minister for Sport has visited the national mountaineering centres at(a) Glenmore Lodge, (b) Plas-y-Brenin, (c) Tollymore and (d) Plas-y-Menai since 1 May 1997. [36620]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has not visited the national mountaineering centres at Glenmore lodge, Plas-y-Brenin, Tollymore and Plas-y-Menai.

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what procedures he will put in place to allow all sports access to the expertise in sports medicine and science of the UK Sports Institute. [36619]

  Mr. Banks
  The UKSI's mission is to put the UK at the top of world sport by providing quality services that athletes will want to use. This will require access to the best possible expertise wherever in the world people are located.

  All sports, including major spectator sports, will be able to connect into the support services throughout the UKSI network, locally, regionally and at the Headquarters.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the proposal by the English tourist board to set up an annual tourism conference from 1999, under their strategy Action 2000; and if he plans to attend the 1999 conference. [36849]
  526
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  I welcome the English Tourist Board's commitment to a partnership approach with the industry. I understand that they are now working on ideas for such a conference early next year and will soon be in a position to announce further details.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the UK's proposed target for carbon dioxide reductions under the Kyoto protocol before entering into negotiations with other European Union countries. [36383]

  Mr. Meacher
  The starting point for the sharing out with other European Union countries of the EU's legally binding 8 per cent. Kyoto Protocol target is the provisional agreement reached in March 1997, under which the previous Government committed the UK to a 10 per cent. reduction. We indicated before Kyoto that we were prepared to consider doing more than this as a legally binding target: but we would not do so simply to enable other EU countries to reduce their efforts.

  Separately from whatever legally binding target is agreed for the UK, we retain our aim of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO2 emissions.

  Railway Stations
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of railway stations that opened(a) nationally and (b) in Shropshire for each year since 1979. [36473]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The table gives the number of railway stations that the British Railways Board opened between 1979 and 1993. None were in Shropshire. Since 1994, the opening of new stations has been the responsibility of Railtrack. I understand that a total of 30 stations have opened in the last four years, but that Railtrack have no central record of station openings by year or by region.

  Year

  Stations opened (nationally)

  1979

  9

  1980

  5

  1981

  6

  1982

  9

  1983

  9

  1984

  15

  1985

  19

  1986

  4

  1987

  6

  1988

  23

  1989

  15

  1990

  20

  1991

  6

  1992

  15

  1993

  14

  527

  Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many prosecutions there have been for unlawful levels of emission for goods vehicles in each of the last 15 years; [36598]

  (2) how many local authority weighing stations for the checking of loading of goods vehicles are currently in operation; [36597]

  (3) how many prosecutions there have been for overloading of goods vehicles in each of the last 15 years. [36596]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from R. J. Oliver to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 1 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of local authority weighbridges currently in operation and also numbers of prosecutions for overloaded goods vehicles and goods vehicles with unlawful levels of emissions in each of the last 15 years.
  The Vehicle Inspectorate does not hold details of local authority weighbridges currently in operation. The Public Weighbridges Directory last published in 1991, and in the process of being updated by the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACOTS), lists all weighbridges publicly available for use by location. It is therefore not possible to identify those owned by local authorities currently in operation except at disproportionate cost.
  The Inspectorate is responsible for the operation of a network of 74 weighbridges throughout the country. These are either owned by us or operated by us on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The weighbridges are used by our staff and also by local authority Trading Standards Officers and the Police to carry out enforcement weighings. We have formal agreements to use four local authority owned weighbridges. We also use a range of other local authority weighbridges on an ad hoc basis and have agreements to use a number of weighbridges in private ownership.
  We are unable to supply details of overloading prosecutions over the last 15 years. The Inspectorate took over responsibility for Traffic Examiners from the Traffic Area offices in 1991 and Table 1 below details the number of prosecutions for overloading taken by us since 1993/94. Comparable figures prior to that date are not available. It should also be borne in mind that overloading prosecutions are also taken by other enforcement bodies such as the Police and Trading Standards.

  Table 1

  No. of overloading prosecutions

  1996/97

  4,422

  1995/96

  3,740

  1994/95

  3,696

  1993/94

  13,573

  1 Figures for Scotland not available

  Note:

  Full year figures not yet available for 1997/98.

  As regards prosecutions for unlawful levels of emissions for heavy goods vehicles, it is not the Inspectorate's policy to prosecute in these cases as this provides no assurance that the fault has been rectified. Our usual practice is to issue the vehicle with a prohibition. This provides an effective sanction as in order to remove the prohibition the vehicle is required to be presented for a re-inspection once the fault has been rectified. Details of prohibitions issued to licensed operators are also passed to the Traffic Commissioners to consider whether action against an operator's licence is warranted.
  528
  There have been instances in which we have prosecuted serial offenders, single extreme cases or illegal unlicensed operators who are not answerable to the Traffic Commissioners. There were 2 successful prosecutions for unlawful levels of emissions in 1995/96 and seven in 1996/97.

  In cases where light goods vehicles, which fall outside of the operator licensing scheme, are prohibited (for any defect including exhaust emissions), a caution is issued and a new MOT certificate must be obtained for the vehicle before the prohibition can be lifted. This is required to be submitted to the Police for cross checking. Failure to repair (or scrap) the vehicle results in prosecution for the original offence. Almost all owners provide proof that their vehicles have been repaired following the issue of a prohibition and very few prosecutions are necessary. It is not possible to break down the figures for prosecutions to identify those relating to emissions.

  Details of prohibitions issued to heavy goods vehicles at emission only spot checks are shown in Table 2 below. Data is only available from 1992/93 as prohibitions issued prior to that date cannot be linked with sufficient accuracy to the defect identified.

  Table 2

  No. of emission only spot checks

  No. of prohibitions issued

  1996/97

  13,687

  485

  1995/96

  11,405

  350

  1994/95

  12,959

  450

  1993/94

  10,589

  219

  1992/93

  5,706

  37

  Note:

  Full year figures not yet available for 1997/98

  Birds (Staffordshire Moors)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reverse the decline in bird populations on the North Staffordshire moors; and if he will make z statement. [36764]

  Angela Eagle
  In response to a decline in certain bird populations, the South West Peak Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), part of the North Staffordshire Moor, was set up in 1993. This ESA included management guidelines specifically aimed at birc protection by minimising the risk of disturbance and nest damage. The 1997 Quinquennial Review of the ESA considered a further range of options for habitat management and creation. As a result, further measures have been taken to encourage the regeneration of extensive pasture land and recreation of traditional meadows, as well as supplementary payments designed to encourage farmers to follow a drainage management plan This enables the creation of areas of wet land as suitable habitat for feeding and nesting birds.

  In addition, other areas of the moor are designated as Special Protection Areas under the EC Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the impact on bird life on the North Staffordshire moors of agricultural developments over the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [36763]

  Angela Eagle
  Declines in the populations of some species of birds in the North Staffordshire moorland area in particular ground nesting waders such as curlew and
  529
  lapwing, as well as the skylark and twite, have been shown by a number of surveys which have been carried out since 1984.

  The reasons for the declines may be linked to breeding failure caused by predation and changes in fanning practices. Measures have been put into place which may help to reverse the decline in the population of these bird species.

  Public Carriage Office
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 692, if he will instigate an independent appeals process over decisions taken by the Public Carriage Office not to allow advertisements on licensed taxi vehicles. [36823]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have no plans to change the present arrangements. However, I understand that the Public Carriage Office, and the Metropolitan Police of which they form part, are willing to discuss questions of taxi advertising with the agencies concerned, and that liaison meetings for that purpose are already planned.

  "Europe's Shared Environment"
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total cost of producing his Department's publication, "Europe's Shared Environment: The Work of the European Union in Environment Protection"; and what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of its size. [36803]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The total cost of the production (design and print) of 20,000 copies of the publication "Europe's Shared Environment: The Work of the European Union in Environment Protection" was £17,429. The A4 landscape format was selected for its attractiveness and to ensure that text was clear and uncramped. This did not affect the design or print costs.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for then Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by Government departments towards the target of improving energy efficiency by 20 per cent. in the nine years to 31 March 2000. [37355]

  Angela Eagle
  By 31 March 1997, energy efficiency in Government Departments had improved by just over 15 per cent. since 1990–91.

  Full details are given in tables, copies of which have been deposited in the Library. The overall improvement is shown in Table 4. The tables include revisions to figures for earlier years revealing better performance than previously reported. All results reported here relate to periods before this Administration took office. Energy management in individual Departments is a matter for those Departments and their Green Minister. The Government aim to be at the forefront of good practice to improve energy efficiency, and will be looking to ensure that momentum is maintained through the strengthened role of Green Ministers under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment. We
  530
  are also working on the development of new performance indicators which will, for the first time, enable comparisons with independent standards of good practice across the economy.

  The results for the former Department of the Environment in 1996–97 were affected by relocation and rationalisation of its accommodation in London and elsewhere. This resulted in the need to run a number of old and new buildings while changes took place. The Department's two new headquarters buildings at Eland House and Ashdown House will be fully occupied by the end of March 1998. Both include a number of energy efficient measures including a combined heat and power system and a displacement cooling system.

  Drive-through Restaurant (Cheam)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the planning application for a drive-through fast-food restaurant on the
  London Road, North Cheam. [37170]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 1 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about what representations have been received concerning the planning appeal for a drive-through fast-food restaurant on the London Road, North Cheam.
  At the local inquiry held on 10–12 February the Inspector heard representations on behalf of McDonald's, the London Borough of Sutton and the North Cheam Residents' Action Group—which includes the views you expressed. The Inspector is also considering all the written representations, which include some 150 letters from local residents and petitions submitted to the Council at the time of the planning application, and some 130 representations made to this office about the appeal. Since the inquiry closed there have also been over 12 further representations.
  I will see that you are sent a copy of the Inspector's decision letter when it is issued.

  Solvents
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce labelling for cleaning materials to identify their content for those who suffer from allergic
  reactions to certain solvents. [35806]

  Angela Eagle
  The current UK and EU law dealing with the labelling of chemicals, including cleaning products, obliges suppliers to assess whether the chemical will cause sensitisation by inhalation or skin contact. If a product has this property it has to be labelled with a warning symbol and written advice including the chemical identity of the active chemical. I have no plans to introduce more specific legislation of the type described.

  Regional Planning
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends the new approach to planning for future housing
  531
  requirements to be taken into account in existing reviews of regional planning guidance and development plans. [37596]

  Mr. Caborn
  The statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future", Cmnd 3885, points out, in paragraph 33, the need for an orderly transition from the old to the new policy. The new approach will be introduced, as soon as possible, through reviews of Regional Planning Guidance. We will discuss with the Regional Planning Conferences how far it will be possible to introduce the new arrangements into existing review processes, some of which are likely to be completed next year. In the meantime, where development plans are being replaced or altered, they should continue to have regard, inter alia, to existing regional guidance. However, in considering whether to object to proposals put forward in development plans, the Secretary of State will treat each case on its merits, taking account of national policy, including that in the statement. A more detailed note on the transitional position has been placed in the Library.

  Water Charging
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the Government's consultation paper following the review of water charging in England and Wales. [37660]

  Mr. Prescott
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are publishing today our water charging proposals. The driving principles behind our policy on water charging are to have a system which provides for fair water charges and gives customers more choice in the way they pay for water. That system has to look after vulnerable customers. It also has to help ensure that water is used efficiently. We propose four key measures:(i) Those who currently pay on an unmeasured basis and use water only for essential domestic purposes should be able to continue to do so in their present home.
  (ii) We should remove the threat of disconnection from domestic customers.
  (iii) Domestic customers should have the choice of a meter, free of charge, if it suits their needs.
  (iv) Targeted help should be available for consumers with special needs.

  For the foreseeable future, the majority of customers will pay their water charges on an unmeasured basis. We remain firmly of the view that customers should not, in future, be obliged to start paying for water in their present home on a measured basis, where they are not using significant amounts of water for non-domestic purposes like garden watering using a sprinkler. To allow this, we propose a change in the law to allow rateable value charging to continue beyond the year 2000.

  We also propose to remove the powers of water companies to disconnect domestic water supplies in the event of non-payment. This will be particularly reassuring to those who are most vulnerable. Access to water is essential to the maintenance of general good health and well being, and the water charging arrangements need to reflect that. Of course, water companies are entitled to be paid for the services they provide, but other debt recovery procedures are available to them. Our concern about public health demands that we maintain the flow of water supplies to households in all circumstances.
  532
  Measured charges may, in the right circumstances, encourage individual customers to use water efficiently. Some consumers, such as single people or pensioners in larger properties, will see an advantage in moving to a measured charging basis for their bills. We propose that in future customers should have the choice to have a meter fitted, free of charge. But those who choose a meter should also have the opportunity to revert to an unmeasured charging basis within a year if metering does not suit their needs.

  Companies should draw up imaginative new tariffs which increase customer choice. Those should bring benefits to customers who have not previously seen any point in being metered. And tariffs can also be designed to give customers strong incentives to economise on water for discretionary purposes without discouraging essential use. It must be for the companies to take the lead in developing such tariffs, but I look to the regulator to see that they do so. In particular, we see a strong case for ending standing charges for metered customers, which can be a particular problem for people on low incomes with low water use.

  For new homes, and those substantially altered since 1990, there are no rateable values. We do not believe that any of the unmeasured charging options for these homes are attractive. We therefore propose that metering should continue to be the normal charging method. But we will consider constructive proposals for alternative charging options which consultees wish to put forward, including possible unmeasured options for new houses.

  A particular concern of this Government is the position of vulnerable customers. So we propose that households on low incomes, particularly large families, and those with special medical needs who live in houses with a metered supply should have the right to opt for a charge based on average use rather than their actual meter reading. This should provide targeted and effective assistance to the groups who could be most disadvantaged as a result of metering.

  Copies of the Government's consultation paper 'Water Charging in England and Wales—A New Approach', on which responses have been requested by 14 May, have been placed in the Library.

  Concrete (Thaumasite)
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the problems associated with the thaumasite form of sulphate attack on concrete. [37704]

  Mr. Raynsford
  During recent strengthening operations on two of the older overbridges on the M5 in Gloucestershire, an unexpected deterioration was noted in some of the concrete columns below ground level. Consultations with BRE identified this as the thaumasite form of sulphate attack. Foundations on a further three bridges were examined and were found to be exhibiting similar deterioration.

  The Highways Agency's view is that this does not pose a threat to the structural stability of the bridges, nor is there any risk to the safety of road users. The Agency are drawing up a programme to identify which bridges might be subject to this form of problem and to investigate those bridges.
  533
  BRE has been conducting research into this form of sulphate reaction since 1990 for my Department. But until the cases on the M5 were discovered last week, only three such incidents of damage to concrete foundations had previously been identified in the UK. It appears that compliance with standard design guidance on protection against sulphate attack does not guarantee protection of concrete against the thaumasite form of reaction. At present, BRE are undertaking both laboratory and long-term field studies into this phenomenon. These studies have led them to the conclusion that this form of sulphate reaction can only occur when there is a combination of:

  (a) A source of sulphates, a commonly found in clay soils;

  (b) Very wet, cold conditions; and

  (c) A source of calcium carbonate in the concrete (limestone aggregate in the cases investigated).

  The expert independent advice received from the BRE is that, while they believe that their initial findings indicate the need for wider study, they are strongly of the view that any damage to buildings would be gradual and there is no danger to people in buildings.

  In the light of the problems discovered on the M5, I have today appointed Professor Leslie Clark to chair an expert group to study the phenomenon further and to report to me as soon as possible. The Group will develop guidance and advice on any implications for existing buildings and structures and on the design and specification of new construction.

  Mining
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to lay the regulations under section 58 of the Environment Act 1995 for mine operators to notify the Environment Agency before abandoning a mine or part of a mine. [37705]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am today laying before the House, together with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths), The Mines (Notice of Abandonment) Regulations 1998. The Regulations will come into force on 1 July 1998. On 4 March, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) made the necessary Commencement Order to bring the remainder of section 58 and 60 of the Environment Act 1995 into force on 1 July. This period of notice will allow mine operators time to put in place the necessary steps to avoid a criminal liability for failing to notify the Agency of proposed abandonment.

  These Regulations are being introduced following extensive consultation with interested parties. Copies of the responses received are available from the Departments' libraries. The Regulations will help the Environment Agency ("the Agency") avoid an unexpected minewater breakout resulting in serious contamination of controlled waters by enabling the Agency to identify appropriate action to prevent pollution or treat minewaters when a mine or part of a mine is abandoned.
  534
  The Regulations require mine operators to notify the Agency at least six months before abandoning a mine or part of a mine and to publish a notice in at least one local newspaper where the mine is situated. They set out the precise contents of both the notice to be given to the Agency and the public notice in a local newspaper. The notice for the Agency requires the operator to give an opinion as to the consequences of the proposed abandonment with relevant supporting information. Variations to the timing of the notice will apply where abandonment follows an emergency, and in some cases of insolvency. Where a phased programme of abandonment is planned, this could be notified to the Agency and published in local newspaper at one time, so as to reduce the burdens on the operator.

  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has also brought into effect the remainder of section 60 of the Environment Act 1995. This removes the statutory defence against prosecution from the owners and former operators of mines abandoned after 31 December 1999, where a polluting discharge is "permitted" to flow from an abandoned mine or part of a mine.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visa Applicants (Security Risks)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are taken to ascertain the accuracy of information supplied by another country suggesting that an individual applying for a visa to enter the United Kingdom may be a security risk to that other country; and what account is taken of such information in determining an individual's visa application. [36851]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Any information supplied by another government in relation to a United Kingdom visa application at the respective British Mission would be carefully evaluated, including against the background of the information available on the visa application. Any information would be given appropriate weight when deciding the application under the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

  Moldova
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign
  and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to(a) establish permanent diplomatic representations in the Republic of Moldova or (b) move Moldavian accreditation from Moscow. [37210]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are no plans to open a British Embassy in Moldova. We have no plans to transfer accreditation from the British Embassy, Moscow. We are however hoping to appoint an Honorary Consul in Chisinau by the end of this year. The question of diplomatic coverage of Moldova is kept under regular review.

  People's Europe Project
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose and (b) budget of the People's Europe Project. [37072]
  535
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The aim of the People's Europe 98 conference is to promote and widen public debate on the challenges facing Europe; in this way to help make the EU more open and closer to the citizen; and to provide a means to promote the views of civic society within the European Union. The budget for the project is the responsibility of the organisers. My Department is providing £70,000.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what European Communities funding will be available to support the People's Europe Project. [37096]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The European Commission intends to provide about £70,000 from the EC budget toward the cost of the People's Europe 1998 conference. The European Parliament is likely to make a further, smaller contribution. It is possible that EC funds may be available to Non-Governmental Organisations that are contributing to the conference.

  Diplomatic Immunity
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of the European Commission based in London possess diplomatic immunity [37165]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Under the 1965 Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities, 26 members of staff at the European Commission based in London enjoy Diplomatic Immunity. This is only in respect of acts carried out in their official capacity.

  UNICEF
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contribution the UK has made to UNICEF in each of the last five years. [37060]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I have been asked to reply.

  Total UK contributions to UNICEF were as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1993–94

  12

  1994–95

  25

  1995–96

  27

  1996–97

  22

  1997–98

  110

  1 Provisional

  Refugee Children
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) projects and (b) financial aids are provided to help reunite refugee children with their families in areas of conflict. [37054]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department for International Development (DFID) supports a number of organisations which help to reunite refugee children with their families. Prominent among these is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who work in most of the world's crisis affected countries and whose mandate includes protection and tracing. We have recently agreed a core contribution of
  536
  £15 million (1997/98 financial year) for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). We support and work closely with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), whose mandate is the protection of children's rights: in 1996/97 DFID provided a core contribution of £8.5 million. We have also contributed a sum of £200,000 in support of the work of the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to ensure protection, healing and rehabilitation of war affected children.

  Additionally, DFID supports bilaterally a number of NGOs who work with refugees. Many of these projects are aimed at the most vulnerable members of the community and often have children as major beneficiaries. For instance we have given specific support to the UK NGO Children in Crisis to fund an orphan reunification project in Afghanistan. We are also funding a Save the Children programme in Liberia which aims to assist unaccompanied children, family tracing and reunification/rehabilitation work.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the animal tests for cosmetics in 1996 were for non-legislative purposes. [36424]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1996, there were 101 animal tests for cosmetics involving a total of 2,803 individual procedures on 2,791 animals. Of these, one test (1 per cent.) was for non-legislative purposes. It involved 45 rats (1.6 per cent. of the total number of animals). The test was carried out because of doubts about the safety of an ingredient which was to be used in trials involving human volunteers.

  The figures given are not consistent with the figures in table 11 of the report "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1996" which was published in July 1997. The "All species" row in table 11 indicated that 620 cosmetic testing procedures had been carried out for non-legislative purpose. Inquiries since the statistics were published showed most of these procedures were, in fact, carried out to comply with health and safety or consumer protection legislative requirements.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline his proposals relating to animal experimentation during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union. [36428]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The United Kingdom has used its Presidency of the European Union to seek agreement for the European Commission, and those member states which have not done so, to conclude by January 2000 the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. This will allow the United Kingdom to ratify the Convention, to which it has been a long-standing signatory. We have also clearly signalled our support for the Commission in its approach to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for a review
  537
  of its requirements for safety testing (including the LD50 test) and to pursue a vigorous policy over the use of non-human primates in the European Union.

  In addition, the Home Office is collaborating with other Government Departments to organise a workshop in May. This will be jointly funded by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods and the United Kingdom Government. The aim is to explore advances in safety testing which will allow refinement of existing tests or a reduction in the number of animals used.

  My noble Friend, the Lord Williams of Mostyn, is also to visit the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods to explore the possibility of setting up a European database to promote the use of alternatives to animals in scientific experiments.

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of(a) heroin and (b) cocaine seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 20 per cent., (b) 20 to 30 per cent., (c) 30 to 40 per cent., (d) 40 to 50 per cent., (e) 50 to 60 per cent. and (f) 60 per cent. and above: and what quantity was seized in each band. [36480]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1997 where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of heroin and cocaine, the purities were as follows:

  Heroin purity

  Percentage of cases

  Cocaine purity

  Percentage of cases

  Less than 5

  Less than 5 and

  and 5–10

  2

  5–10

  2

  10–20

  12

  10–20

  4

  20–30

  21

  20–30

  10

  30–40

  23

  30–40

  12

  40–50

  23

  40–50

  13

  50–60

  15

  50–60

  13

  More than 60

  5

  More than 60

  43

  Note:

  Figures are rounded

  The quantity seized in each band is not available. The seemingly high percentage of cases involving purity of cocaine of more than 60 per cent. is probably skewed by the inclusion of some crack cases. The overall average purity for heroin was around 35 per cent. and for cocaine around 52 per cent.

  Where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of Customs seizures, the average purity on importation in 1997 of heroin was around 34 per cent. and cocaine around 70 per cent. More detailed information on purity on importation is not available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of amphetamines seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of(a) less than 5 per cent., (b) 5 to 10 per cent., (c) 10 to 20 per cent., (d) 20 to 30 per cent., (e) 30 to 40 per cent., (f) 40 to 50 per cent., (g) 50 to 60 per cent., (h) 60 to 70 per cent. and (i) 70 per cent. and above; and what quantity was seized in each band. [36479]
  538
  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1997, where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of amphetamine, the purity was as follows:

  Purity

  Percentage of cases

  Less than 5

  36

  5–10

  24

  10–20

  17

  20–30

  10

  30–40

  6

  40–50

  3

  50–60

  2

  60–70

  2

  More than 70

  1

  Note:

  Figures are rounded.

  The quantity seized in each band is not available. The overall average purity was around 14 per cent. although the typical (modal) purity was around 5 per cent.

  Where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of Customs seizures, the average purity on importation in 1997 was around 40 per cent. More detailed information on purity on importation is not available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the average potency per unit seized in the last twelve months of(a) LSD and (b) ecstasy. [36481]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1997, the Forensic Science Service was not asked by the police or Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to determine the drug content of any LSD seizures.

  In 1997, where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for drug content in police seizures (22 cases), the average content of MDMA tablets was 66 milligrams; the average content for MDEA tablets and tablets containing a mixture of MDMA and MDEA was around 80 milligrams.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children are currently held in detention in connection with asylum applications; what are their nationalities; how many have been held for more than two months; and if he will list the detention establishments where they are held; [36587]

  (2) how many children who made applications for asylum at the port of entry in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997 were subsequently detained; [36589]

  (3) how many children made applications for asylum at the port of entry in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [36588]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is our policy not to detain persons under the age of 18 save only in exceptional circumstances, such as when an unaccompanied minor arrives at a port of entry late at night and the Immigration Service is unable to make immediate contact with the local social services, or when the child's parent is detained, usually immediately prior to removal. The normal procedure is to grant temporary admission/release wherever possible, either into the care of a close relative or friend, or into the care of social services.
  539
  The available information relating to persons detained under sole Immigration Act powers in immigration detention centres is that, as at 28 February 1998, there were two persons known to be aged under 18 years who were present in Immigration Service detention accommodation as the dependants of a detained asylum seeker. In addition, one unaccompanied minor asylum seeker, whose age was in dispute on 28 February 1998 but who was later found to have been 17 years of age, was held in detention on that date. The nationalities of the persons involved were Kenyan and Syrian; they were held at Tinsley House and Harmondsworth detention centres; and none had been in continuous detention for more than two months.

  Cases do inevitably arise where the exact age of an individual is in dispute. All age-disputed unaccompanied minor cases are referred, without prejudice, to the Refugee Council's Panel of Advisers for Unaccompanied Children. I regret that no central record is held of the numbers of unresolved age-disputed cases.

  The numbers of persons recorded as being aged under 18 years when they applied for asylum at a United Kingdom port of entry, were: 580 in 1995; 650 in 1996; and 740 in 1997. These data relate to principal asylum applicants only and therefore exclude those whose only claim to asylum was as the dependant of another person.

  I regret that reliable information on the numbers of persons recorded as being aged under 18 years when they applied for asylum at a United Kingdom port of entry and who were subsequently detained is available only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of persons who have claimed asylum in the United Kingdom in each of the last six months. [36996]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, September 1997 to February 1998

  Number of principal applicants

  1997

  September

  2,850

  October

  2,990

  November

  2,345

  December

  3,120

  1998

  January

  2,860

  February

  2,650

  1 Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who are claiming asylum have been convicted of criminal offences, other than motoring, in the last 12 months. [36995]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Regrettably, the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  The available information, relating to persons who had applied for asylum at some stage is that, in 1997, 11 such persons were recommended for deportation by a court,
  540
  and a further four were issued with notices of intention to deport on grounds conducive to the public good, following conviction for a criminal offence. The data are provisional and may include persons who have been convicted of motoring offences.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds in the last week for which figures are available in respect of those currently claiming asylum in the United Kingdom. [36994]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 13 November 1997,Official Report, column 652, which gave the available information for 1996. More recent information from the Department of Social Security is not yet available. The Department of Health has estimated that, in 1997/98, grants to local authorities are likely to be in the region of £40 million for single adult asylum seekers and £28.5 million for families with children.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims have been made in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years; how many have been determined; and how many are outstanding. [36993]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  During the period 1 January 1998 to 28 February 1998, approximately 278,000 asylum applications, excluding dependants, were lodged in the United Kingdom. In the same period in the order of 207,000 initial decisions were made.

  As at 28 February 1998, there were estimated to be 50,960 asylum applications, excluding dependants, awaiting an initial decision.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees in Campsfield House have been transferred to prison establishments in each month since January 1997. [37106]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The numbers of detainees transferred from Campsfield House to Prison Service establishments in each month since January 1997 are given in the table. These figures include transfers to the dedicated Immigration Service detainee accommodation at Her Majesty's Holding Centre at Haslar, and the detention wings at Her Majesty's Prison Rochester. The figures for August 1997 include those transferred as a result of the disturbance.

  Number

  1997

  January

  2

  February

  12

  March

  1

  April

  7

  May

  9

  June

  1

  July

  4

  August

  69

  September

  2

  October

  1

  November

  4

  December

  0

  Total

  112

  541

  Number

  1998

  January

  2

  February

  2

  March (to date)

  5

  Young Offender Institution, Colchester
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken(a) to identify good practice at Colchester YOI and (b) to disseminate it to other YOIs; [36703]

  (2) when he expects the reconviction rate for Colchester YOI to be ascertained; and what provisional estimate he has made of it; [36708]

  (3) what is his estimate of when the research carried out by Dr. Kate Painter of Cambridge University into the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offender Institution will be published; [36709]

  (4) what research his Department has commissioned or evaluated on the number of former inmates at Colchester YOI obtaining employment following the completion of their sentence; [36706]

  (5) how many incidents of absconding have taken place at Colchester YOI; [36707]

  (6) how many incidents of self-harm have been reported from the Colchester Young Offender Institution; [36710]

  (7) what assessment he has made of (a) the inculcation of discipline and (b) the participation in constructive activity at (i) the Colchester YOI and (ii) other YOIs; [36704]

  (8) what proportion of young offenders at Colchester YOI have (i) taken part in and (ii) obtained certificates acknowledging competence in the short courses in (a) painting, (b) bricklaying, (c) motor mechanics, (d) animal husbandry, (e) carpentry and (f) other subjects offered as part of the regime. [36705]

  Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Colchester: courses attended by young offenders

  Course

  Number of young offenders that attended the course

  %

  Number of young offenders that obtained certificates1

  %

  Painting

  23

  35

  21

  32

  Brick laying

  23

  35

  7

  11

  Motor mechanics (garage skills)

  23

  35

  23

  35

  Animal husbandry

  30

  30

  2

  3

  Carpentry (home maintenance)

  16

  24

  16

  24

  Computers

  2

  3

  0

  0

  Computer self study

  11

  17

  2—

  2—

  Basic literacy and numeracy

  66

  100

  366

  3100

  Resettlement education programme

  44

  67

  2—

  2—

  1 The certificates awarded for Animal Husbandry are nationally recognised. Certificates awarded for all other courses were locally produced to recognise attendance and participation. They are not nationally recognised or accredited qualifications.

  2 Certificates not awarded for course

  3 Attendance for assessment was mandatory for all young offenders

  542
  Ms Quin
  (i) Colchester Young Offender Institution has been closely monitored by all those involved in the project, either directly or indirectly. Ministers have been regularly updated on progress, and I have had the opportunity to visit both Colchester and Thorn Cross to see their operation at first hand. The Prison Service is currently reviewing regimes for young offenders, and this will incorporate the learning from good practice identified at Colchester. The outcome of the review will be disseminated to all establishments.

  (ii) Preliminary reconviction data should be available at the end of 1998. No provisional estimate of the reconviction rate has been made.

  (iii) An evaluation report containing a qualitative analysis of the Colchester experiment should be available in the autumn. A further report, including reconviction data will be produced when the data are available.

  (iv) The offenders' supervising probation officers record information on employment; this will be assessed as part of the evaluation process.

  (v) There have been no reported incidents of absconding from Colchester, but one prisoner did breach a temporary release licence by failing to return from a community visit. This prisoner was taken back into custody after two days.

  (vi) There have been no reported incidents of self-harm.

  (vii) The Colchester evaluation includes an assessment of attitude and behaviour changes among young offenders during their time at Colchester. This includes measures relating to discipline. The regime was highly structured with constructive activities and full participation was a basic requirement.

  In other Young Offender Institutions assessment of needs and participation in appropriate regime activities is part of young offenders' sentence management. Discipline and behaviour are regularly monitored as part of the incentives and earned privileges scheme which determines the inmates' level of privileges.

  (viii) There have been 66 young offenders at Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Colchester. The table lists the proportion and numbers who attended courses and obtained certificates.
  543

  Young Offenders (Accommodation Costs)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will assess the(a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of transferring the cost of remand places for juveniles facing criminal charges from local authority social services departments to his Department's budget; [37028]

  (2) if he will assess the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of transferring the cost of secure accommodation places for young offenders from local authority social services departments to his Department's budget; [37027]

  (3) if he will assess the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of transferring the funding for remand places for juveniles facing criminal charges from local to central Government; [37026]

  (4) if he will assess the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of transferring the funding for secure accommodation places for young offenders from local to central Government. [37025]

  Mr. Michael
  Juveniles held in custody on remand or sentenced can be placed in secure accommodation provided by the local authority, within its secure estate, or by central Government in Prison Service facilities, Secure Training Centres or in the Youth Treatment Centre.

  At present, when juveniles—that is those between the ages of 10 and 16—are charged and not released on bail they have to be remanded to local authority accommodation under section 23 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. The local authority may, if it can satisfy certain strict conditions, return to court and seek a secure accommodation order under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 to place the juvenile in local authority secure accommodation. The cost of such remands in these circumstances is met by the local authority and there are no proposals to change these payment arrangements.

  Currently there are also special arrangements for 15 and 16-year-old boys who may be remanded to prison if the strict conditions set out in section 23 of the 1969 Act are met. The costs for these prison remands are met centrally and there are no proposals to change these payment arrangements.

  The Government intend to add to the existing remand powers so that courts will have the power to remand certain juveniles direct to local authority secure accommodation. Powers are contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill which will allow for the process of implementing the Government's commitment in this area to begin. This process will be implemented in stages with priority concentrated on the youngest and most vulnerable juveniles, because there is a limited number of available local authority secure places. The powers will apply, in the first instance to 12 to 14-year-olds, 15 to 16-year-old girls and some 15 and 16-year-old boys who are adjudged by the court to be vulnerable and where a local authority secure place has been identified. The costs of such secure remands once implemented will be met centrally.

  The costs of all sentenced juveniles and young offenders, irrespective of where they are held, are met centrally and there are no proposals to change these arrangements.
  544
  We have been reviewing the provision of secure accommodation for remanded and sentenced juveniles, including the funding arrangements. The outcome of the review will be known shortly.

  Illegal Entrants
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people in the last 12 months he estimates have entered the United Kingdom illegally via Eurostar; [36997]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of persons entering the United Kingdom illegally in each of the last six months. [37011]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is no estimate of the total number of persons who enter the United Kingdom illegally since, by the very nature of the problem, it is not possible to establish that a person is here illegally until they have been traced and interviewed.

  The available information, relating to the total number of persons detected and served with papers as illegal entrants in 1997, is given in the table. I regret that information concerning the numbers of illegal entrants detected who had arrived, or had claimed to have arrived, via the Eurostar service, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records.

  Persons served with papers as illegal entrants1 by month papers served, 19972

  Month

  Number of persons2

  January

  1,410

  February

  1,200

  March

  1,130

  April

  1,180

  May

  1,080

  June

  1,060

  July

  1,100

  August

  1,100

  September

  1,160

  October

  1,280

  November

  1,340

  December

  1,110

  Total

  14,150

  1 Covers persons served with papers and dealt with as illegal entrants as defined in section 33 (1) of the Immigration Act 1971.

  2 1997 figures are provisional and rounded.

  Police Constables
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of police constables in(a) the West Mercia Constabulary and (b) the Shrewsbury Division; and if he will make a statement. [36757]

  Mr. Michael
  Ministers have no direct control over police numbers or their deployment. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force, within the total resources available to them. For 1998–99, West Mercia Constabulary will be able to increase its spending by £4.1 million, or 3.8 per cent. giving it a total spending power of £112.2 million.
  545
  The West Mercia Constabulary had 2,031 officers in September 1997—three fewer than in March 1992.

  I understand from the Chief Constable that the Shrewsbury Division had 305 officers in March 1998— two more than 12 months ago. Included in this total are 239 constables—one more than 12 months ago. The Chief Constable has no immediate plans to change the disposition of his resources.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of cases of domestic violence prosecuted by the police in the last 12 month period in the West Midlands Region. [36978]

  Mr. Michael
  Information collected centrally on court proceedings is not held in sufficient detail to distinguish domestic violence from other violent offences. The four police forces within the West Midlands region (Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands) do not maintain counts of prosecutions involving domestic violence.

  Police Information Technology Organisation
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets will be transferred to the Police Information Technology Organisation on its establishment as a non-departmental public body under the Police Act 1997. [37555]

  Mr. Michael
  Under the provisions of Article 4(1)(a) of the Police Act 1997 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1998, I have given notice to the Police Information Technology Organisation that certain Crown assets will be transferred to it, with effect from 1 April 1998, to coincide with its establishment as a Non-Departmental Public Body. The transfer will be free of charge. The assets concerned comprise:

  £000

  Assets

  Estimated value

  Hendon Data Centre

  12,023

  Information Technology (IT) equipment and software associated with the Police National Computer

  21,287

  Other office IT equipment and software

  2,277

  Furniture and miscellaneous items of office equipment

  742

  Vehicles

  23

  Total

  36,352

  NCIS Service Authority
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets will be transferred to the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service on its establishment as a body corporate under the Police Act 1997. [37556]

  Mr. Michael
  Under the provisions of Article 4(1) of the Police Act 1997 (Commencement Number 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1998, I have given notice to the Service Authority for the National Criminal 546
  Intelligence Service that certain Crown assets will be transferred to it, with effect from 1 April 1998. The transfer will be free of charge. The assets comprise:

  £000

  Assets

  Estimated value

  Information technology and communications equipment

  3,147

  Vehicles

  1,049

  Furniture and miscellaneous items of office equipment

  313

  Technical equipment

  208

  Total

  4,717

  In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has given notice to the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service that he will transfer to it, on the same day and free of charge, vehicles with an estimated value of £301,000.

  Detention Centres
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timescale he has agreed with the Chief Inspector of Prisons for the publication of reports following a visit to(a) a prison and (b) a detention centre. [37120]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: On 29 September 1997, my right hon. Friend announced a new protocol for dealing with the publication of inspection reports on Prison Service establishments by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. The protocol procedures seek to ensure expedited publication of the Chief Inspector's inspection reports 10 weeks after the inspection of a Prison Service establishment is completed, and once any issues of factual accuracy have been resolved between the Prison Service and the Chief Inspector.

  These procedures do not extend to the inspection reports of Immigration Service detention centres. However, the Government would look to the early publication of such reports once any issues about factual inaccuracy have been resolved.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons to Featherstone Prison in 1996 was not published. [37124]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector withdrew his draft report of the 1996 inspection of Featherstone Prison because of delays in agreeing a publication date. At the time the Chief Inspector submitted his report, it was the practice of the Prison Service to provide Ministers with full and detailed advice on all aspects of an inspection report prior to its publication. This process could take a number of months and, on occasions, led to a delay in publication.

  In order to expedite matters and ensure transparency in the process, my right hon. Friend announced, on 29 September 1997, a new protocol for handling the publication of the inspection reports. The protocol seeks to ensure the publication of the reports ten weeks after the inspection of an establishment, unless there are

  547
  unresolved issues of factual accuracy raised by the Prison Service. The protocol has the full agreement of the Director General of the Prison Service and the Chief Inspector.

  World Cup
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information the French authorities have provided to him about the proportion of tickets which will be checked against identification at the turnstile during the forthcoming World Cup. [37166]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: We are assured by the French authorities that supporters attending matches during France '98 will be subject to a range of security checks by police authorities and stewards before entering stadiums to ensure that they hold valid tickets, and to further checking following entry to the ground. This will include stewards conducting checks on the validity of tickets prior to entry to the ground and again before the person takes up his or her seat. All ticket holders will be subject to a search outside the stadium by the police or gendarmerie, providing a further opportunity to check on the validity of tickets.

  The French authorities have not stated that any specific proportion of tickets will be checked against identification. That is an operational matter for the French authorities. They have indicated that checks against identity will be carried out in any circumstances which give rise to suspicion. Verification checks will also be carried out on a random basis.

  There is strict ticketing legislation in place in France and the authorities have undertaken to apply this rigorously.

  Firearms
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been made for increased compensation payments to former owners of handguns handed in under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and how many(a) have been settled and (b) are outstanding. [37294]

  Mr. Michael
  The levels of compensation under Options A and B of the compensation scheme and the evidence required in support of claims under Option C are prescribed in the scheme booklet approved by Parliament. There is no provision for making increased payments outside the terms of the scheme, and so the question of claims for such payments does not arise.

DEFENCE

  Military Aircraft
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the regulations covering military aircraft breaking the sound barrier above(a) urban and (b) other areas. [36406]
  548
  Mr. Spellar
  The following regulations, which are an extract from Military Flying Regulations, apply to supersonic flying by military aircraft in UK airspace:In the United Kingdom Flight Information Region (FIR), all medium and high level supersonic flights are to be made over the sea. Aircraft heading directly out to sea may accelerate to supersonic speed when at least 10 nautical miles (nm) out to sea and along a flight of at least 20° divergent from the mean line of the coast; the angle of dive is not to exceed the minimum necessary. Supersonic flights with the aircraft pointing towards the land, turning or flying parallel to the coast are to take place at least 35nm from the nearest coastline.
  Supersonic flying at low level over the sea within UK FIR may take place provided that the above rules are followed and that, in addition, a radar/visual search is maintained in order to avoid the following by the margins indicated:
  (a) Shipping and fixed or mobile oil and gas installations: 3nm.
  (b) Civilian or military transport aircraft: a minimum of 6nm.
  (c) Helicopter main routes and corridors: 6nm.
  With the exception of Air Defence missions, operating authorities are to notify the appropriate radar station of all planned supersonic flights in advance. Radar stations are to maintain a permanent record of supersonic flights carried out under their control.
  If any captain knows or suspects that his aircraft has inadvertently made a supersonic flight he is to enter details in the Flight Authorisation Book. In addition, it is the responsibility of the station concerned to notify the appropriate radar station of the flight within 30 minutes of the aircraft's landing. The radar station is to maintain a special record of all such occurrences.

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will contact the customers using the facilities at the firing ranges operated by DERA before coming to a decision on the transfer of work from Shoeburyness to Eskmeals. [36389]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: As part of the DERA land ranges rationalisation study, customers were and continue to be consulted about their future requirements for test and evaluation capabilities, the likely volume of the work, and the funding available for this work over the next five years. Once the current consultation phase has finished, all contributions will be considered openly and fairly before a decision is made on how best to meet the needs of the Department in the most cost effective way.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the future reductions in spending which will arise at DERA in Shoeburyness in consequence of the management reorganisations. [36386]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: The land ranges rationalisation study recommends changes that, in a full financial year, will produce savings in operating costs at Shoeburyness of some £8.9 million per year.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure involved in operating the DERA range facility at Shoeburyness in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what savings in annual administrative costs have accrued from management reforms in respect of the facility and from the changes introduced in consequence of the first stage of the reorganisation of the ranges. [36387]
  549
  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: The cost of operating the Shoeburyness site in FY 1996–97, the last year for which full figures are available, was £21.1 million. The forecast cost for FY 1997–98 is £20 million. The changes made in staff numbers during October 1997, along with other efficiency measures at the site, will reduce operating costs by approximately £2 million per year. The level of saving achieved from October 1997 to date is consistent with this.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the(a) percentage and (b) total amount of grant in aid awarded by his Department to museums and galleries in (i) London, (ii) England and (iii) Scotland. [36131]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: The total amount of Grants in Aid estimated to be paid to Museums and Galleries by the Ministry of Defence during 1997–98 is £9,625,000 which represents about 0.05% of the Defence budget.

  Of the total, £6,878,000 (71%) is paid to the National Army and Royal Air Force Museums in London; £2,747,000 (29%) is paid to the Royal Air Force, Royal Marine, Royal Navy, Royal Navy Submarine and Fleet Air Arm Museums in England (Hampshire, Shropshire and Somerset); and none is paid in Scotland.

  In addition to Grant in Aid, the Ministry of Defence also funds Regimental and Corps Museums, in partnership with the Trustees of the Regimental and Corps Associations. The total funding provided by the Ministry of Defence in 1997–98 is £2,021,000, which represents about 0.1% of the Defence budget.

  Of the total, £286,000 (14%) is paid to museums in London; £1,411,000 (71%) to museums in England; and £160,000 (8%) to museums in Scotland.

  Hydrographic Survey Squadron
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to use the Public Private Partnership to procure new vessels for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of such procurement for front-line vessels; [37206]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the procurement of new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; [37207]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact of the delay in procuring new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron on the Squadron's operational affectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [37208]

  Mr. Spellar
  Plans to replace the surveying capability currently provided by vessels of the Hydrographic Survey Squadron include the possibility of a Private Finance Initiative, PFI, solution to the requirement. We are nearing completion of the evaluation of PFI proposals, which includes an assessment of the operational implications of procuring an Oceanographic and Hydrographic capability through such Private Partnership arrangements rather than through direct procurement of survey vessels by the MOD. A decision should be made on the preferred 550
  procurement route within the next few months. In the meantime, although limited by age and weather, the current ships continue to carry out their tasks effectively.

  Type 42 Destroyers
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what negotiation he has had with the US Government on replacements for the Type 42 destroyers; and what plans he has for their future. [37238]

  Mr. Spellar
  No negotiations have been held with the US Government regarding replacement of the capability currently provided by the Type 42 destroyers. It is currently planned that the Type 42 capability will continue until replaced early in the next century by the Common New Generation Frigate.

  Jaguar and Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on upgrades and enhancements to Jaguar aircraft in Royal Air Force service in each of the last 10 years. [36445]

  Mr. Spellar
  Details of expenditure on upgrades and enhancements to Royal Air Force Jaguar aircraft for the last four financial years are provided below. Before that time expenditure was minimal, and retrieval and collation of the relevant information could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

  Financial year

  £ million VAT included

  1994–95

  1.89

  1995–96

  24.25

  1996–97

  27.07

  1997–98

  18.59

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average cost per flying hour of operating in Royal Air Force service(a) Jaguar aircraft and (b) Tornado GR1 aircraft. [36447]

  Dr. Reid
  The average cost, (at current prices) per flying hour of operating a Royal Air Force Jaguar is approximately £13.3K and for a Royal Air Force Tornado GR1 is approximately £23.3K. This includes the variable flying costs and the apportionment of the station's fixed costs and overheads.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of maintenance man-hours per flying hour in Royal Air Force service(a) Jaguar aircraft and (b) Tornado GR1 aircraft. [36448]

  Mr. Spellar
  The average number of maintenance man-hours per flying hour recorded for Jaguar and Tornado aircraft in Royal Air Force service is as provided. The figures include work which is carried out by the RAF at 1st, 2nd and 3rd line, but do not include maintenance work undertaken by industry which is not calculated in man-hours:

  (a)Jaguar—12.24 maintenance man-hours per flying hour.

  (b)Tornado GRl/la/lb—17.00 maintenance man-hours perflying hour.

  551
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department intends to spend in the current financial year and in the next two financial years on upgrades and enhancements to Jaguar aircraft in Royal Air Force service. [36446]

  Mr. Spellar
  Expenditure on upgrades and enhancements to Royal Air Force Jaguar aircraft in the current financial year, and that proposed for the next two financial years, is around £60 million inclusive of VAT.

  Army Storage Sites
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the specialistvehicle storage site at Ludgershall, Wiltshire; and what forecasts he has made of future employment levels at the site. [37250]

  Dr. Reid
  The future of the site which formerly contained the Army's Base Vehicle Depot at Ludgershall is under consideration as part of the Strategic Defence Review, and it would not be appropriate to make predictions on future employment levels at the site while the Review is still ongoing.

  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the upgrade of technical facilities required at the Ashchurch site as a result of the transfer of responsibilities for armoured vehicles has been completed; [37248]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the performance against targets of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency at its Ashchurch site in respect of armoured vehicle work previously carried out at Ludgershall. [37262]

  Dr. Reid
  These are matters for the Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from P. D. Foxton to Mr. Michael Wills, dated 1 April 1998:
  I am replying to your recent questions you tabled to the Secretary of State for Defence for those matters that fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA). You asked; had the technical facilities at Base Vehicle Depot (BVD) Ashchurch had been upgraded as a result of the transfer of responsibilities for armoured vehicles and the performance against targets at Ashchurch in respect of armoured vehicle work.
  The upgrade of the technical facilities has not yet been completed. However, a Project Manager has already been appointed and a submission for final approval has been made to Quartermaster General, the Top Level Budget holder, to make funds available that will allow construction to begin. I am confident approval will be granted in the near future. I wish to point out that the armoured vehicle maintenance is being carried to the same exacting standards demanded by the Army's Equipment Managers, as was the case when armoured vehicles were stored at BVD Ludgershall.
  BVD Ashchurch is meeting all but one of it's Performance Targets in respect of the routine issue of Armoured vehicles. This target is being missed due to awaiting spares (Ashchurch is given a low priority on spares issue compared to operational units) and the current restricted workshop space, but this is not affecting operations as BVD Ashchurch has met all operational Armoured vehicle demands placed upon it within or higher than the set times. This is a record of which the depot staff and myself are justifiably proud.
  I trust I have answered your questions fully.
  552

  Defence Communications Service
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Defence Agency status for the Defence Communications Service. [37665]

  Dr. Reid
  On 1 April 1998 the Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA) will be established as a Defence Agency. The DCSA will be responsible for the provision of end to end wide area information transfer services to meet defence needs. It will enable the MOD's requirements for national and international information transfer services to be focused on one primary provider. The DCSA's Chief Executive will be Major General A. J. Raper CBE and its headquarters will be at Corsham, Wiltshire. The Agency will employ 899 military and 618 civilian staff at locations in the UK and Germany.

  The creation of the Agency will improve defence communications by focusing on the delivery of customer services rather than simply communication systems. It will also offer scope for rationalisation and provide a clear line of accountability for service delivery. The DCSA's aim will be
  "To provide its customers with the optimum end to end wide area information services to meet defence needs".

  The Chief Executive has been set the following Key Targets for the first year of operation:

  1.To deliver communication services which achieve 100 per cent. of the systems output performance standards specified in the Baseline Service Document.

  2.To introduce a process by December 1998 for measuring the delivery of information services, assessing their effectiveness by surveying customer satisfaction and develop the criteria for establishing an output service efficiency Baseline in both areas.

  3.To plan the means of meeting customers' future requirements through the preparation of a Business Development Programme by March 1999.

  4.To achieve 2 per cent. cost savings through efficiency measures and seek to improve further the value for money of delivered services through the preparation of a Management and Efficiency Programme by March 1999 which plans for rationalisation, re-investment and savings following reviews of:

  inherited responsibilities and resources;

  business unit boundaries;

  Agency wide business processes;

  and takes account of outcomes from the Strategic Defence Review.

TREASURY

  Savings
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates tax relief would be reduced as a result of applying(a) annual and (b) overall limits of (i) £5,000 and (ii) £50,000 to PEPs and TESSAs using the same assumptions on how individuals would invest their capital as are used in calculating tax relief in the consultative document on ISAs. [34960]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The Exchequer effect would depend on a number of factors including how these limits would replace the current limits for PEPs and TESSAs, and in particular, whether there were separate limits on the amount which could be subscribed to, or held in, the TESSA.
  553
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if uninvested cash within the equity element of the ISA will qualify for interest payable to the investor. [36326]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: This aspect of the ISA scheme will be considered during the consultation on the Regulations in the next few months.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what facilities will be available after 5 April 1999 for general PEP holders who wish to transfer their investments from an underperforming fund manager within the tax-free framework of their PEP; [36327]

  Rate of excise duty

  (pence per litre)

  Date of change

  Unleaded petrol

  Super unleaded petrol

  Leaded petrol

  Diesel

  Ultra low sulphur diesel

  RPI increase (%)

  19 March 1991

  22.41

  —

  25.85

  21.87

  —

  —

  10 March 1992

  23.42

  —

  27.79

  22.85

  —

  4.0

  16 March 1993

  25.76

  —

  30.58

  25.14

  —

  1.9

  30 November 1993

  28.32

  —

  33.14

  27.70

  —

  1.7

  29 November 1994

  30.44

  —

  35.26

  30.44

  —

  2.6

  1 January 1995

  31.32

  —

  36.14

  31.32

  —

  0.5

  28 November 1995

  34.30

  —

  39.12

  34.30

  —

  2.6

  15 May 1996

  34.30

  37.62

  39.12

  34.30

  —

  2.1

  26 November 1996

  36.86

  40.18

  41.68

  36.86

  —

  0.7

  2 July 1997

  40.28

  43.60

  45.10

  40.28

  —

  2.3

  15 August 1997

  40.28

  43.60

  45.10

  40.28

  39.28

  0.6

  17 March 1998

  43.99

  48.76

  49.26

  44.99

  42.99

  0.6

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the inward investment projects located in intermediate status areas for which his Department permitted the higher development area job subsidy limit to apply between April 1992 and 1 May 1997 and the dates on which the permission was given. [35379]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Between April 1992 and 1 May 1997, the Treasury approved two offers of Regional Selective Assistance for inward investment into an intermediate status area where the cost per job ceiling for intermediate status areas was exceeded. These were for an investment in South Wales by LG, and an investment in the West Midlands by Rover Group Ltd. Treasury approval was given for both in 1996.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the child care tax credit within the working families tax credit in 1999–2000 assuming that it is fully used by families entitled to it, and also assuming take up of(a) 75 per cent. (b) 50 per cent. and (c) 25 per cent.; [36139]
  554
  (2) what facilities will be available after 5 April 1999 to holders of single company PEPs to change their investments within the tax free framework of their PEP. [36328]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: The Government do not envisage that the existing PEP rules allowing switching managers or investments will be changed.

  Fuel Excise Duty
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates and rates of each petrol and diesel fuel excise duty increase since 1992 and the increase in the RPI which occurred between each of those increases. [35514]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table sets out road fuel excise duty rates since 1991 together with the increases in RPI which occurred between changes.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the estimate by the Institute for Fiscal Studies relating to the cost of the proposed child care tax credit, assuming full take-up of the benefit. [36354]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 24 March 1998]: A number of the Government's policies will make profound changes to the availability and affordability of child care over the next few years. The £300 million of extra resources for out-of-school child care provision, the child care tax credit and the rest of the Working Families Tax Credit, the New Deals to help people into work, and the rest of the National Childcare Strategy will all help to make quality childcare available and affordable for more parents. In this context, estimates of the cost of the childcare tax credit are subject to a wider degree of uncertainty than usual.

  The Exchequer cost arising from replacing Family Credit with the Working Families Tax Credit is shown in line 1 of Table C.l of the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC620). The share of that cost accounted for by the childcare tax credit is £50 million in 1999–2000 and £250 million in 2000–01 (the first full year of the tax credit).
  555

  Growth Rate
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the change in growth rate over each of the next three years as a result of the measures contained in the Budget. [36593]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The Budget takes a broadly neutral fiscal stance. Consequently, there will be very little impact on growth in the short term. In the medium term, measures taken to address structural weaknesses in the economy, including the changes made to help work pay and promote enterprise, should increase the growth potential of the economy. This should allow faster growth and higher levels of employment in the future, consistent with meeting the inflation target.

  The ranges included in the Treasury's forecast of GDP growth for the next three years, published in the FSBR, reflect the potential impact of improved labour market performance on the economy.

  Credit Controls
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 2 March 1998,Official Report, column 453, on credit control, (1) if he will now use the reserve requirement to restrict the expansion of credit; [37229]

  (2) what assessment he has made of alternative monetary policy instruments. [37240]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The operational decisions necessary to meet the Government's inflation target are now taken by the Monetary Policy Committee.

  Oil Prices
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts he has made of the average price of crude oil in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000. [36777]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Prospects for oil prices are very uncertain. But the assumption made for the public finances projections in the March "Financial Statement and Budget Report" is that the oil price (Brent crude) is flat at $14½ per barrel in 1998, and constant in real term thereafter.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings Ministers in his Department held with coal industry representatives on 22 and 23 March; and if DTI(a) Ministers and (b) officials took part in these meetings. [36570]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: None.

  Standing Committee
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role and membership of the Standing Committee set up by the Memorandum of Understanding between Her Majesty's Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority. [37658]
  556
  Mr. Darling
  The Memorandum of Understanding states that the Standing Committee will meet on a monthly basis to discuss developments relevant to financial stability, including individual cases of significance. Meetings can be called at other times by one of the participating institutions if it considers there to be an issue which needs to be addressed urgently.

  The formal membership of the Committee is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Governor of the Bank of England and the Chairman of the Financial Services Authority. But the routine monthly meetings will normally be attended by Deputies, who are the Director of Financial Regulation and Industry at HM Treasury, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England with responsibility for financial stability and the Managing Director and Head of Financial Supervision at the Financial Services Authority.

  HM Treasury provides the secretariat for the Committee.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is he restimate of his Department's planned real level of expenditure on the National Health Service in 1995–96 prices in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, using (i) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the Financial Statement and Budget report 1997–98 and (ii) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the Financial Statement and Budget report for March 1998. [37134]

  Mr. Worthington
  Estimates of HPSS spending in Northern Ireland will be published shortly in the 1998 Northern Ireland Departmental Annual Report (Cm 3916), as part of a series of departmental reports (Cm 3902 to Cm 3920) which, accompanied by the document Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses (Cm 3901), present the Government's expenditure plans for 1998–99 Departmental reports are planned to be published 3–7 April 1998.

  Forest Service
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture as an executive agency. [37666]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Forest Service, currently a Division of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, will be established as an Executive Agency on 1 April 1998. It will continue to be known as the Forest Service.

  I have set a number of key performance targets for the Agency in its first year of operation. These are as follows:
  To achieve 800 hectares of new planting in public and private sectors combined
  To offer for sale 260,000 cubic metres of timber
  To maintain visitor numbers in charged areas at the average level achieved over the last 5 years
  To maintain the area of forest under sustainable management

  557
  To commission an analysis of the potential for private finance and private/public partnerships in Northern Ireland forest, to be completed by 31 December 1998
  To respond to 100 per cent. of written correspondence within 15 working days
  To approve or reject 90 per cent. of applications under the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme within 8 weeks of receipt of a properly completed application form
  Following planting, to pay 90 per cent. of grant claims within 8 weeks of receipt of a properly completed claim form
  To achieve an expenditure outturn which meets the targeted net cost of the forestry programme for 1998–99
  To achieve at least 3 per cent. DRC efficiency savings in the 1998–99 financial year
  To control DRC and programme expenditure to within 1 per cent. of the final control totals
  To market test or contract out 10 per cent. of direct costs of forest operations.

  Copies of the Framework Document, which sets out the terms within which the Agency will operate, will be placed in the Library, together with copies of the Agency's Corporate and Business Plans.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the revised Child Support Agency Northern Ireland Charter will be published; and if she will make a statement. [37668]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Northern Ireland Child Support Agency will publish its revised Charter today. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  The Charter aims to provide prospective and existing clients with information that will advise them of the Agency's commitment to providing a high quality service. The main aims of the Charter are to provide information about:

  the standards of service that parents and employers can expect.

  how to get further advice.

  how to make comments or complaints about the service.

  information on the current level of performance.

  The revised Charter promotes the Agency's commitment to continuously improving service standards and providing the best possible service to clients. The new service standards are based on the Agency's continued experience and listening to what people have to say. The Charter has been plain English tested and Crystal Mark approved.

SCOTLAND

  Local Authority Funding
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the funding of Scottish local authorities will be changed to a resource accounting basis. [34940]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 23 March 1998]: The introduction of Resource Accounting to central Government will not directly affect local authorities but decisions affecting the funding of local authorities will take place within the framework of the resource budgeting process when this is introduced throughout central
  558
  Government. Local authorities already account for their expenditure on an accruals basis, and already deal with their capital accounting on a basis which is broadly similar to the plans which are to be introduced in central Government through Resource Accounting.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total of(a) GAE, (b) AEF and (c) actual expenditure for each Scottish council for each of the last 10 years for (i) provision in respect of primary schools, secondary schools, special schools and support services, (ii) nursery education and (iii) community education; and in each case what is the budgeted figure for 1998–99. [36631]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Information on each Scottish local authority's GAE assessment for all services, including the relevant Education sub-services, is published by The Scottish Office annually in "Grant Aided Expenditure" (the Green Book). Copies are available in the House of Commons Library. (In 1988–89 and 1989–90 GAEs were known as Assessments of Relative Expenditure Need).

  AEF is a block grant and is not attributable to specific services.

  Actual expenditure figures for all services are published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in the "Rating Review Actual Income and Expenditure". For the years 1996–97 and 1997–98, the latest estimated information available is in the CIPFA publication "Rating Review Estimates of Income and Expenditure". Both publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Agri-environment Schemes
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers and crofters have entered(a) an environmentally sensitive area scheme and (b) the Countryside Premium Scheme; and in each case how many participants have taken up options relating to (i) arable field margins, (ii) beetlebanks, (iii) conservation headlands and (iv) extensive cropping since January 1997. [36699]

  Mr. Macdonald
  As at the end of February 1998, the number of farmers and crofters participating in the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme was 1,668 and for the Countryside Premium Scheme was 485. Information about participants taking up options for arable field margins, beetlebanks, conservation headlands and extensive cropping since January 1997 is set out in the following table.

  Options

  Number of CPS participants

  Number of ESA participants

  (i) Arable field margins

  1121

  2112

  (ii) Beetlebanks

  1—

  3—

  (iii) Conservation headlands

  88

  255

  (iv) Extensive cropping

  111

  3—

  1 Items (i) and (ii) are recorded as a single option under the CPS

  2 Included as part of wider prescription covering arable land

  3 Not directly applicable to ESA schemes

  559
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a schem available to land managers, irrespective of their agricultural status, to encourage biodiversity, access and amenity; and if he will make a statement. [36698]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Government have recently consulted on proposals to merge the existing agri-environment schemes into a single all-encompassing scheme for Scotland's farmers and crofters. We have no plans to extend eligibility to non-agricultural land. Support to land managers to achieve biodiversity, access and other natural heritage objectives is available through management agreements and a number of grant schemes operated by Scottish Natural Heritage.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of land managers in Scotland excluded from entering agri-environment schemes because they are not registered holders of agricultural land; and if he will make a statement. [36700]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Scottish Office has no information on the number of land managers who are not registered holders of agricultural land or the number of applicants excluded from entering agri-environment schemes for that reason. It is widely known that only legal occupiers of agricultural land are eligible.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if she will make a statement on his Department's response to the latest proposed eligibility criteria for European Structural Funds, with particular reference to those relating to Objective 1 funding; [36334]

  (2)if he will list the European Council of Ministers meetings he has attended since 1 May 1997 at which the future of structural funding and Objective 1 funding for the Highlands and Islands have been discussed; [36335]

  (3)if he will list the meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the European Commission to discuss structural funds and the future of Objective 1 Funding for the Highlands and Islands; [36336]

  (4)what recent representations he has made to the European Commission concerning the proposed eligibility for areas awarded Objective 1 status; if he will publish his Department's correspondence with the European Commission on this subject since 1 May; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the documentation he has provided to the European Commission with regard to the Highlands and Islands future Objective 1 status. [36337]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: The Government welcome the European Commission's draft Regulations and the objectives to contain the costs of the Funds and improve their administration and effectiveness. But the Government do not believe the proposals as they stand represent a fair basis for reform. We will work hard with the Commission and other Member States to ensure a fair deal for the UK and Scotland. The draft regulations published on 18 March propose that Objective 1 regions shall continue to be determined at NUTS level II on the basis of per capita GDP of less than 75 per cent. of the Community average. The Highlands and Islands are unlikely to qualify on that basis. However, the
  560
  Government have and will continue to press for the region to be treated in the same way as other areas of sparse population within the EU. It is important to note that the Commission proposals will now be subject to detailed scrutiny and negotiation by the Member States. What is finally agreed may vary somewhat from the draft Regulations.

  The Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues have supported the case for Objective I status for the Highlands and Islands at meetings and in correspondence with President Santer and European Commissioners. I myself met with President Santer on 18 September 1997, with Commissioner Wulf-Mathies on 8 January 1998 and 8 October 1997, and with Commissioner Flynn on 1 December. Discussion of European Structural funds formed part of the agenda on each occasion. The subject also formed part of the agenda at the Luxembourg European council in December 1997 and is likely to be discussed at the Cardiff Summit in June. Reform of the Structural Funds will be the subject of the second day of the Informal meeting of Ministers to be held in Glasgow on 9 June 1998 at which I will be present. There have been no other European Council of Ministers meetings at which the future of the Structural Funds has been discussed.

  Scottish Office officials are in regular contact with the European Commission regarding the implementation of the Structural Fund programmes and the Commission proposals for the next round. The Scottish Office is also in close consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry, who co-ordinate priorities for negotiations on Structural Fund reform on behalf of the UK as a whole.

  Ministerial colleagues have written to Commissioners in recent months in connection with the reform process. It is not normal practice to publish such correspondence. The Highlands and Islands European Partnership have produced substantive material in support of the case for continued Objective 1 status based on comparability with the existing Objective 6 areas. I will arrange for copies of the documentation to be placed in the Library.

  Summary Criminal Prosecutions
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to introduce emergency legislation to prevent summary criminal prosecutions being abandoned because of the holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned. [36868]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Yes. A Bill is being introduced today to address the implications of the High Court of Justiciary's recent decisions about the validity of orders made at intermediate diets held in certain circumstances in summary criminal proceedings.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary criminal prosecutions have been deserted, since 12 March, between the conviction and the sentencing of the accused, on account of the fixing or holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned. [36869]
  561
  Mr. Dewar
  Desertion is only one of a number of means by which a summary criminal prosecution can be brought to an end. However, between 12.3.98 and 27.3.98, eighteen (18) were deserted as a result of the decision in Vannet v Milligan.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary criminal prosecutions have been deserted, since 12 March, before the conclusion of a trial diet, on account of the fixing or holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned. [36870]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Desertion is one of a number of means by which a prosecution can be brought to an end. However, between 12 March 1998 and 27 March 1998, fifty three (53) summary criminal prosecutions were deserted as a result of the decision in Vannet v Milligan.

  Summary Criminal Convictions
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary criminal convictions recorded in each of the five years to 31 December 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 are susceptible to legal challenge because they followed upon the fixing or holding of more than one intermediate diet in the criminal proceedings taken against the accused concerned. [36871]

  Mr. Dewar
  No figures are available for the number of summary criminal convictions which may be affected by the decision in Vannet v Milligan. However the Crown Office has estimated that up to 1,000 current cases may be affected. Several thousand concluded cases may be involved as well.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of his Department's planned real level of expenditure on the National Health Service in 1995–96 prices in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, using (i) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the Financial Statement and Budget report 1997–98 and (ii) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator prices as contained in the Financial Statement and Budget report for March 1998. [37133]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Estimates of NHS spending in Scotland will be published shortly in the Scottish Office Departmental Report (Cm 3914), as part of a series of departmental reports (Cm 3902 to 3920) which, accompanied by the document "Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses" (Cm 3901), present the Government's expenditure plans for 1998–99.

  Sexual Consent
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of prosecutions of(a) heterosexuals below the age of 16 years and (b) homosexuals below the age of 18 years for breaching the legal age of sexual consent in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement. [36810]
  562
  Mr. McLeish
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Number of young persons proceeded against for selected offences in Scotland: 1993–1996

  Main offence

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Persons aged under 16 proceeded against under section 5 of the1995 Act1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Persons aged under 18 proceeded against under section 13(5)(c) of the 1995 Act2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 The Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995: Section 5—Sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16 years (including attempts), or equivalent earlier legislation.

  2 The Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995: Section 13(5)(c)—committing, or being party to the commission of, or procuring or attempting to procure the commission of a homosexual act with a person under the age of 18 years, or equivalent earlier legislation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Child-headed Households
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to child-headed households in developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [35204]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We recognise that many children and young people who are forced into heading households and having to care for their siblings are themselves victims of conflict or other disaster situations. The Department for International Development works together with UN agencies and the Red Cross, non-governmental organisations and partner governments to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who are most in need. Uppermost is of course the protection and promotion of human rights and the observance of humanitarian law. These aspects are integral to all our programmes of humanitarian assistance.

  China
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what applications for mixed credits for projects in China her Department is considering; and if she will make a statement. [36311]

  Mr. Foulkes
  No mixed credit proposals for projects in China are currently under consideration.

  Any mixed credits will be managed within agreed country strategies with the primary aim of helping to reduce poverty.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the People's Republic of China about the availability of mixed credits for development purposes; and if she will make a statement. [36844]

  Mr. Foulkes
  There have been no discussions at Ministerial level about the availability of mixed credits for development projects. As regards our general policy on mixed credit financing, I refer the right hon.
  563
  Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development gave him on 21 January 1998, Official Report, column 562. The Government of China are fully aware of the position.

WALES

  Oil and Gas Industries
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for the oil and gas industries in the waters around the coastline of Wales. [35735]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  In addition to the oil and gas fields currently in production in Liverpool Bay, exploration programmes are continuing in areas off the north and west coasts of Wales, both of which have proven hydrocarborn potential.

  New licences will be offered to the north of Wales in the 18th Seaward Licensing Round, which I hope to announce very shortly, and to the west of Wales in the following round. In both cases, the advice of interested departments and environmental authorities has been or will be taken as to the suitability of areas for licensing and unsuitable blocks will be excluded from offer. Further safeguards for the environment will be offered by the forthcoming introduction of regulations that will require appropriate assessments to be carried out on offshore petroleum projects that are likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

  Exploration does not always lead to discovery, nor discovery to development, but there are proven hydrocarbons off the Welsh coast and continuing work and new licensing opportunities will help to ensure that their economic potential is properly assessed and, where possible, exploited.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the cost of financing tuition fees for the fourth year of study for Wales-domiciled students studying(a) full-time and (b) part-time at Scottish universities; and if he will make a statement. [36196]

  Mr. Hain
  We estimate that the extra cost of financing tuition fees for the fourth year of study for Wales-domiciled students studying full-time for first degrees at Scottish higher education institutions would be some £45,000.

  There are no Wales-domiciled students studying part-time on the fourth year of first degrees at Scottish institutions.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will increase the grant offered to dentists to set up in areas lacking NHS provision; [36674]

  (2) what steps he is planning to take to encourage general dental practitioners to set up practice in areas of rural Wales where there is a shortage of NHS dentists. [36673]
  564
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The Welsh Office is doing all it can to assist Health Authorities to attract more dentists into those parts of Wales where they are most needed.

  The £3m dental initiative, first launched in 1995, has enabled Welsh Health Authorities to offer unprecedented levels of grant (up to £50,000 in some areas) to dentists for new or expanding practices, and to NHS Trusts to expand the Community Dental Service. In July 1997, and additional £250,000 was provided for continuation of the initiative.

  We are aware that there are particular problem associated with service provision in rural areas. The initiative is being reviewed and we are considering what more can be done to overcome those problems.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 733, what proportion of the £13 million budgeted receipts for the 1997–98 financial year of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation his Department assumed would accrue from Associated British Ports in its budget calculations prior to commencement of the present financial year.[37015]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Details of the make-up of the receipts in 1997–98 are an operational matter for the Corporation and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of his Department's planned real level of expenditure on the National Health Service in 1995–96 prices in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, using (i) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1997–98 and (ii) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for March 1998. 37132]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Estimates of NHS spending in Wales will be published shortly in the Welsh Office Departmental Annual Report (Cm 3915), as part of a series of departmental reports (Cm 3902 to Cm 3920) which, accompanied by the document "Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses" (Cm 3901), present the Government's expenditure plans for 1998–99. Departmental reports are planned to be published 3–7 April.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Agent 15
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what data she has(a) collated and (b) plans to obtain on whether British companies were responsible for selling Agent 15 or its constituents to Iraq since 1968; and what export licences have been issued for the sale of glycollates to Iraq. [29280]

  Mrs. Roche
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence set out in his statement to the House on 9 February 1998,Official Report, column 6, our

  565
  knowledge of Agent 15 is limited. It is one of a large group of chemicals called glycolates, which are esters of glycolic acid.

  The export to Iraq of any goods, unless under the authority of an export licence, is prohibited by the Export of Goods (Control) (Iraq and Kuwait Sanctions) Order 1990 [SI 1990/1640], which came into force on 9 August 1990.

  The Export Control Organisation's database has been interrogated and no licences were identified for the export to Iraq of glycolates. However, details of all the goods on an export licence are not always recorded on the database, so it is possible that licences covering glycolates might have been issued during the period. Any such licence could be identified only by examination of the paper records of all licences issued since 9 August 1990, which would entail disproportionate cost.

  Gas (Doorstep Sales)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to strengthen the rules covering doorstep sales methods by companies selling gas. [35099]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government believe that consumers who are sold gas contracts on the doorstep should have proper protection. Following concerns over the misleading marketing techniques adopted by some gas suppliers, the Office of Gas Supply introduced a new licence condition to regulate such activities at the end of January.

  Among other things, the new condition includes rules on the proper selection and training of sales staff who are in direct contact with domestic customers, auditing of sales activities, schemes for paying compensation, and a ban on gas suppliers using agents who ask for payment in advance of arranging a supply of gas.

  I am keeping the situation, including the need for further action, under review.

  Food Science Research Contracts
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the food science research contracts allocated by the BBSRC in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97, broken down by (i) length of contract, (ii) value of contract and (iii) institution securing the contract. [35407]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 20 March 1998]: The BBSRC awards an annual "competitive strategic grant" (CSG) to its Institute of Food Research (IFR). The figures for each of the three years in question were:

  1994–95: £749k

  1995–96: £769k

  1996–97: £818k.

  The IFR uses the CSG to fund research projects within the BBSRCs remit. A list of Projects started in each of the three years have been placed in the Library of the House. Typically, one third of the projects funded from the CSG change each year. Therefore, at the beginning of the period in question, the CSG was already being used to fund a large body of research initiated in previous years, details of which are not included.
  566
  In the period concerned, the IFR also won a number of BBSRC Realising Our Potential Awards ("ROPAs"). A list of the total amount awarded to the IFR each year, the projects and their duration, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, BBSRC awards grants for food research to higher education institutions, and occasionally some other bodies including its Institutes, through the usual, competitive, "responsive-mode" procedures. A list of these new awards in each of the three years have also been placed in the Library of the House.

  Trade Union Recognition
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate how many small companies employing(a) fewer than 25, (b) 50 to 100, (c) 100 to 150 and (d) over 150 employees recognize trades unions. [36840]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Data on union recognition are collected for workplaces rather than companies. According to the 1990 Workplace Industrial Relations Survey, the proportions of workplaces where unions were recognised are as follows:

  Percentage

  Employees

  All wokplaces

  Private sector workplace

  25–49

  47

  30

  50–99

  51

  40

  100–149

  78

  68

  All workplaces employing 25 and over

  53

  38

  Workplaces employing fewer than 25 employees were not included in the Survey, so no figures are available for this group.

  Electricity Generating Plants
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria he uses to assess the suitability of sites for the development of electricity generating plants; and what arrangements exist to involve the public in the planning process. [37088]

  Mr. Battle
  When assessing applications made under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 we will address local issues and ensure consistency with the wider objectives of secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices and meeting of environmental targets.

  When an application is made the applicant has to place notice of it in the local and national press. Such notice invites anyone who wishes to make representation on the application to do so to the President within a period of not less than 28 days.

  Price Waterhouse
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from British
  567
  industry about the proposed merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand; and if she will make a statement. [36241]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received a number of letters from British companies about competition issues relating to the proposed merger, which were considered by the UK authorities in formulating the UK's comments to the European competition authorities.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment she has made of the implications for competitive choice in the auditing field of the proposed merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand; [36240]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the level of independent auditing capacity available to British financial institutions following a Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand merger. [36242]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The proposed merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand is being considered by the European competition authorities. Member States have a formal role in EC competition investigations. Disclosure by the UK of its views or of the results of any work undertaken by the UK authorities would compromise the effectiveness and integrity of that investigation.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 1998,Official Report, column 234, what is the average length of time taken by the Export Control Organisation to process export licence applications that are circulated to other departments. [36702]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 23 February 1998,Official Report, column 103.

  Yemen
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures she is taking to promote British investment in the development of the port of Aden, Yemen. [36754]

  Mrs. Roche
  Officials in my Department have disseminated widely the opportunities for British companies in the port of Aden. The Department's promotional programme has enabled British companies to take advantage of this, and other, opportunities in Yemen.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions her Department has had with representatives of Tarmac pic in respect of bids to refurbish the port of Aden, Yemen. [36755]

  Mrs. Roche
  My Department has had no discussions with Tarmac plc in respect of bids to refurbish the port of Aden, Yemen. Tarmac has confirmed that it is pleased with the help it has received from my Department in pursuit of its interest in the refurbishment of the Aden refinery.
  568

  Unfair Dismissal
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to remove the statutory limit on compensation for unfair dismissal. [37204]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement I made to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation when moving the Draft Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 1998,Official Report, First Standing Committee on Delegate Legislation, 10 March 1998, column 4.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of energy consumed in the UK came from(a) nuclear power generation, (b) fossil fuels and (c) renewable sources for the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made for the percentage breakdown for (i) 2008 and (ii) 2018. [36881]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Provisional figures for 1997 show that 10 per cent. of United Kingdom inland energy consumption, on a primary fuel input basis, came from nuclear sources, 88 per cent. came from fossil fuels and 1 per cent. from renewable sources. Just under 1 per cent. came from imported electricity, which is mainly nuclear in origin.

  Energy projections for the UK, published by the previous administration as Energy Paper 65 in March 1995 gave forecasts under a variety of scenarios. The scenario, which combined the central assumption for GDP growth with low energy prices, projected primary energy consumption in 2010 to be as follows;
  fossil fuels 93 per cent., nuclear 5½ per cent., renewables 1 per cent. and imported electricity ½ per cent.,

  while in 2020 the percentages were projected as:
  fossil fuels 97½ per cent., nuclear 1 per cent., renewables 1 per cent. and imported electricity ½ per cent.

  Energy Paper 65 did not contain projections for 2008 or 2018.

  My department is working on a new set of projections which I intend to publish later this year.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to improve coordination with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and its agencies in connection with the regulation and support of the waste management industry. [36697]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Officials within the DTI already have regular contact with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions officials and with the Environment Agency on many waste issues, for example, the review of the waste strategy, aspects of waste management licensing, the Landfill Directive and waste shipments issues. JEMU, the Joint Environmental Markets unit, is composed of staff from both departments and promotes opportunities for the UK environment industry, including waste management companies.
  569

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she intends to develop and publish for consultation a definition of fuel poverty. [37130]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: My Department does not propose to develop a definition of fuel poverty. An interdepartmental group on which DTI is represented, led by the Department of the Environment, Transport, and the Regions is looking at the factors which contribute to fuel poverty and its effects, and considering the options for addressing them.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the current quantity of plutonium stockpiled in the United Kingdom; where it is stockpiled; and what assessment she has made of the quantities unaccounted for in the last 10 years. [37138]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker), on 13 February 1998,Official Report, column 372, which stated that details of the quantities of civil plutonium stored at United Kingdom nuclear facilities are published by my Department each year.

  Figures for civil nuclear material unaccounted for, including plutonium, have been published annually by the industry since 1977. Each year, the figures are subject to careful review by specialists in my Department, who remain satisfied that they are consistent with what would normally be expected and that there is no evidence to suggest that there has been any actual loss of material. Civil nuclear material in the UK is also subject to the independent oversight of international nuclear safeguards inspectorates and to rigorous physical protection measures by the nuclear operators.

  Domestic Heaters
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce measures to improve the safety of domestic heaters which emit potentially lethal gases. [36827]

  Mr. Battle
  The safety of new domestic gas appliances, including domestic heaters, is controlled by the Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 ("the Regulations") which implement into UK law the European Council's Gas Appliances Directive.

  To protect consumers against the hazards posed by combustion products, such as carbon monoxide, the Regulations require that:
  (a) appliances must be so constructed that, when used normally, flame stability is assured and combustion products do not contain unacceptable concentrations of substances harmful to health, and there is no accidental release of combustion products;
  (b) flued appliances must be so constructed that in abnormal draught conditions there is no release of combustion products in a dangerous quantity into the room concerned; and
  (c) independent flueless appliances and flueless instantaneous water heaters must not cause, in the room or space concerned, a carbon monoxide concentration likely to present a danger to the health of the persons exposed, bearing in mind the foreseeable duration of their exposure.
  570
  To ensure that gas appliances comply with these and other important safety provisions, manufacturers are required to submit their product to a third-party Notified Body for type approval before it may be placed on the market. Manufacturers must also appoint a Notified Body to undertake periodic surveillance of the production process in order to ensure that the product continues to conform to the type that was originally approved.

  The appropriate measures are in place and my Department therefore has no plans at this stage to introduce any further measures.

HEALTH

  Health Promotion
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the will make a statement on the proportion of the total health budget allocated to health promotion. [34014]

  Ms Jowell
  Health promotion is an integral part of the National Health Service and features in one form or another in nearly all contacts between patients and health care professionals. Much of this activity is not, however, separately or comprehensively identified in NHS accounts, nor separately allocated at the beginning of the year.

  Advice on healthy living and disease prevention is intrinsic to the activity of general medical and primary health care teams. Most consultations in primary care will include an element of opportunistic health promotion. The cash-limited and non-cash-limited total general medical services allocation for 1997/98 is £3,055 million.

  There is a centrally held budget for health education and promotion campaigns which is separately allocated. In 1997/98, the Department allocated £43.6 million to health promotion nationally, of which the Health Education Authority received £39.1 million.

  Health authorities and trusts do not receive a specific allocation for health promotion. Provisional figures for 1996/97, the most recent year available, show that expenditure by NHS trusts and health authorities on health education and promotion was £79.6 million, but this figure excludes those functions of health authorities and trusts which indirectly support health promotion.

  Alcohol Consumption
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which(a) medical organisations and (b) Government-funded expert organisations he consulted prior to the Portman Group launching its campaign on sensible drinking. [36485]

  Ms Jowell
  The Portman Group's sensible drinking campaign is their own initiative. It is intended to reflect the Government's sensible drinking message and to complement the alcohol health education campaign run on the Department's behalf by the Health Education Authority. The Portman Group consulted the Department to ensure that their campaign messages reflected accurately the Government's advice on sensible drinking.
  571

  Health Authority Funding
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the criteria being used to allocate the additional funding made available by the Government to health authorities. [36488]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State on 18 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1290–92.

  Private Health Care
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private hospitals have been visited by Ministers in his Department since 2 May 1997. [36466]

  Mr. Milburn
  One.

  Midwifery Courses
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the numbers of training places available in the South West Region for midwifery courses; and if he will make a statement. [36856]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is planned to increase the number of midwifery training places in the South and West Region from 424 in 1998–99 to 455 in 2000–01.

  Hospital Readmissions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 1998,Official Report, columns 46–48, concerning readmissions, how much readmissions cost the NHS (a) by region and (b) in total in each quarter since April 1996. [37171]

  Mr. Milburn
  Specific information on the cost of emergency readmissions to National Health Service hospitals for people aged 75 and over is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Admissions (Elderly Patients)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients aged 75 years and over were admitted into hospital for each quarter since April 1996(a) for each region and (b) in total. [37062]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information is not yet available from the hospital episode statistics (HES) in the form requested but should be available from July 1998. Provisional HES data for 1996–97 currently are not reliable because of significant shortfalls in coverage information which would affect any regional and England level figures.

  NHS Trusts (Pay Awards)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS trusts have reached agreement with staff over the local element of the national NHS pay awards for 1996–97(a) nationally and (b) in the Northern and Yorkshire Region; and what percentage of staff and trusts the agreements represent; [36990]

  (2) how many NHS community trusts have reached agreement with staff over the local element of the national NHS pay awards for 1996–97; and what percentage of staff and trusts the agreements represent. [36991]
  572
  Mr. Milburn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 10 November 1997,Official Report, column 434.

  Microbiological Research Agency
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capacity the Government have specifically commissioned since 1 April 1994 from the Microbiological Research Agency to respond to national emergencies. [37136]

  Ms Jowell
  Since 1 April 1994, the Department and the Public Health Laboratory Service have commissioned the Microbiological Research Authority to provide reference services to the National Health Service for the diagnosis of anthrax, and of infections caused by other exotic biological agents such as arbovirus, haemorrhagic fever viruses, and rickettsia. These services would form a key part of the co-ordinated response to any civil emergency which involved these organisms. The Department has paid the authority £0.5 million per annum to provide these services.

  Any other services which the Government require of the authority in a national emergency are for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence and for the Home Department to address.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the meetings he and his Ministers(a) have had and (b) propose to have with trust and health authority chairmen and chief executives to discuss reducing waiting lists; if people were invited on a regional basis; what is the estimated cost of these meetings including the costs of travel and subsistence of those summoned; and which Ministers (i) attended and (ii) will attend each meeting. [37261]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State invited the chairmen and chief executives of health authorities and trusts in England to meet Ministers to discuss the use of the additional resources obtained for the National Health Service in 1998–99 to reduce waiting lists. These meetings are being held on a region by region basis on 26, 30 and 31 March and on 7 April. The meetings are all being held in one of the buildings occupied by the Department and consequently the major costs are those of travel and subsistence for those attending the meetings. These are being met from the administration budgets of the individual health authorities and trusts. Information is therefore not available centrally on the total cost.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Inspections
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many primary schools with year two pupils were inspected by OFSTED in 1996–97; and in what proportion of them their year two pupils' standards of attainment were assessed by inspectors on OFSTED's scale one to seven in all 11 subjects of the primary national curriculum together in inspection judgment recording forms; [36491]
  573
  (2) in what proportion of primary schools with year two pupils inspected by OFSTED in 1996–97 their year two pupils' standards of attainment in information technology were assessed by inspectors on OFSTED's scale one to seven in inspection judgment recording forms; [36492]

  (3) in what proportion of primary schools with year six pupils inspected by OFSTED in 1996–97 their year six pupils' standards of attainment in information technology were assessed by inspectors on OFSTED's scale one to seven in inspection judgment recording forms; [36493]

  (4) how many primary schools with year six pupils were inspected by OFSTED in 1996–97; and in what proportion of them their year six pupils' standards of attainment were assessed by inspectors on OFSTED's scale one to seven in all 11 subjects of the primary national curriculum together in inspection judgment recording forms. [36494]

  Mr. Byers
  These are matters for HM Chief Inspector of Schools. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Teachers (Unions)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the proportion of teachers employed in the state sector in the United Kingdom who are affiliated to recognised trade unions(a) in total and (b) broken down by individual unions. [36767]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information is not held centrally.

  Celebrating Europe Competition
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what categories of youth groups are eligible for the Celebrating Europe Competition. [36960]

  Dr. Howells
  All youth groups in the United Kingdom were eligible: local authority, voluntary, national and local groups.

  Curriculum
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to publish his consultative document on the new curriculum. [36858]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) will be advising the Government in April on the nature, scope and timing of possible future changes to the National Curriculum from the year 2000.

  Once we have considered this advice, QCA will consult teachers, parents, employers and others on the shape of the future National Curriculum. The precise dates for the consultation and the issue of related documents have not yet been determined, but it will take place during the 1998–99 school year.

  Education SSAs
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the 10 local authorities with the(a) smallest and (b) largest increases in education SSA for 1998–99. [37137]
  574
  Mr. Byers
  The following table sets out the information requested:

  percentage

  LEA

  Biggest increase

  LEA

  Smallest increase

  Croydon

  + 7.7

  City of London

  -6.7

  Bexley

  + 7.6

  Wandsworth

  + 2.2

  Isle of Wight

  + 7.5

  Hackney

  + 2.9

  Southampton

  + 7.4

  Camden

  + 3.0

  Blackpool

  + 7.4

  Rutland

  + 3.0

  Tower Hamlets

  + 7.4

  Bracknell

  + 3.1

  Lewisham

  + 7.0

  Plymouth

  + 3.2

  North Yorkshire

  + 7.0

  Westminster

  + 3.2

  Bromley

  + 6.9

  Hounslow

  + 3.6

  Portsmouth

  + 6.9

  Richmond

  + 3.7

  Labour Market Statistics
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what impact the introduction of the New Deal will have on labour market statistics, with particular reference to those for employment, unemployment and inactivity. [37706]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have written to the Chairman of the Employment Sub-Committee setting out how the New Deal will affect Labour Market Statistics. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the reserves held by each training and enterprise council on 31 March. [37293]

  Dr. Howells
  A list of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) and their accumulated reserves, as shown in their audited annual statutory accounts, at the end of the financial year 1996–97 is shown in the table. This is the most recent year for which information is available.

  Reserves are used by TECs to provide working capital and on activities in support of their corporate and business plan objectives which are agreed with the Government. Examples include the provision of additional opportunities within existing DfEE programmes, matching funding for European-funded projects and other training, enterprise or economic development initiatives designed to meet identified local needs.

  TEC/CCTE reserves 1996–97

  £

  North East

  County Durham and Darlington

  8,064.221

  Northumberland

  7,662,793

  Teeside

  8,330,000

  Tyneside

  4,988,000

  Sunderland City

  5,524,979

  34,569,993

  Merseyside

  Cewlec

  3,028,348

  Merseyside

  6,871,012

  St. Helens

  941,677

  10,841,037

  575

  TEC/CCTE reserves 1996–97

  £

  North West

  Bolton and Bury

  4,387,146

  Manchester

  97,89,534

  Wigan

  1,203,619

  Oldham

  1,888,527

  Rochdale

  1,934,038

  South and East Cheshire

  5,141,067

  Stockport

  2,865,819

  Cumbria

  3,475,049

  ELTEC

  2,136,508

  LAWTEC

  6,217,169

  NORMIDTEC

  4,400,280

  43,438,756

  Yorkshire and Humber

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  7,234,000

  Bradford

  3,225,679

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  2,183,796

  Humberside

  4,703,583

  Leeds

  5,768,719

  North Yorkshire

  5,939,000

  Rotherham

  3,449,699

  Sheffield

  3,683,000

  Wakefield

  4,011,189

  40,198,665

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  2,074,050

  Cambridgeshire

  1,782,921

  Essex

  6,102,000

  Peterborough

  1,542,810

  Hertfordshire

  4,286,000

  Norfolk and Waveney

  2,887,000

  Suffolk

  1,822,345

  20,497,126

  East Midlands

  Greater Manchester

  3,224,000

  Leicestershire

  4,849,102

  Lincolnshire

  3,194,822

  Northamptonshire

  3,503,012

  North Derbyshire

  1,373,553

  North Nottingham

  3,246,006

  South Derbyshire

  5,197,000

  24,587,495

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  4,685,000

  Central England1

  1,371,879

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  3,812,803

  Dudley

  979,553

  HAWTEC

  2,435,735

  Sandwell

  1,827,954

  Shropshire

  3,362,209

  Staffordshire

  7,177,000

  Walsall

  1,967,295

  Wolverhampton

  2,054,000

  29,673,428

  South West

  Westec

  2,323,000

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,123,000

  Dorset

  3,140,264

  Gloucestershire

  3,986,543

  Somerset

  2,427,201

  Wiltshire

  2,054,829

  19,054,837

  576

  TEC/CCTE reserves 1996–97

  £

  London

  Aztec

  4,921,964

  Centec2

  1,831,417

  Cilntec2

  2,896,907

  LETEC

  7,451,046

  North London

  2,812,295

  North West London

  2,925,496

  Solotec

  6,914,000

  West London

  2,748,996

  32,502,121

  South East

  Hampshire

  5,030,000

  Isle of Wight

  719,395

  Kent

  7,915,736

  Milton Keynes

  1,884,855

  Heart of England

  2,157,122

  Surrey

  2,013,557

  Sussex

  4,896,000

  Thames Valley

  5,027,201

  29,643,866

  Total reserves

  285,007,324

  1From 30/3/98 Central England TEC's operation was passed to Birmingham and Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCTEs.

  2CENTEC and CILNTEC merged in April 1997 to become Focus Central London.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food if he will list the engagements he undertook in the United Kingdom in the course of his duties during January indicating in each case which were accessed by(a) car, (b) train, (c) aeroplane and car,(d) aeroplane and train and (e) other means [28927]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: I undertook a number of official engagements in the United Kingdom during January, most of them in London. All involved use of a car at some stage. With the exception of my attendance at the Oxford Farming Conference, where the train timetabling was inconvenient, none was sufficiently far away to merit travel by rail, or to require me to take a plane. I did, however, take the train from Gatwick to Victoria on my return from visiting the Windward Islands.

  Agricultural Show
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food if he will visit the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show. [33912]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I thank my hon. Friend for the invitation. Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement that weekend, and so will not be able to attend.

  New Covent Garden Market
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many board members currently serve on
  577
  the New Covent Garden Market Authority Board; and what is the maximum number of board members permitted. [34979]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  Under the provisions of Section 1(2) of the Covent Garden Market Act 1961, as amended, the Authority must comprise a Chairman and between four and seven members. There are currently a chairman and four members.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the costs of compensating tenants if New Covent Garden Market were sold. [34982]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  Any compensation would be in accordance with the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the recent appointment of a Chairman of the New Covent Garden Market Authority was not conducted under the Nolan rules process. [34980]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  The recent appointment of a Chairman was conducted under the Nolan rules process, and the procedure was endorsed by the Ministry's "Nolan" panel.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which bodies and individuals his Ministry would be obliged to consult in any disposal of his interest in New Covent Garden Market. [34988]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  Any consultation would be full and open and include all those with an interest in the Market.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what ways his Ministry could dispose of its interests in New Covent Garden Market; which options he has evaluated; and if he will make a statement. [34987]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  These questions will be addressed when the necessary Bill is prepared.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances he will allow leases lasting beyond 2005 to be given to existing tenants of New Covent Garden Market. [34985]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  The length of leases will be considered when they come up for renewal.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his Ministry's current policy on the disposal of the New Covent Garden Market; [34989]

  (2) how long his Department proposes to retain ownership of New Covent Garden Market. [34986]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  We are maintaining the policy, announced by the previous Government in 1990, of disposal of the assets of Covent Garden Market Authority, when Parliamentary time permits.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances the current management of the New Covent Garden Market will be allowed under the present ownership arrangements to have more capital expenditure flexibility in order to attract new tenants. [34981]
  578
  Dr. John Cunningham
  The Covent Garden Market Authority is expected to ensure a net benefit from such expenditure within the life and terms of any new lease granted. The Authority already has flexibility concerning other decisions on capital expenditure but legislation constrains the nature of the businesses which new tenants may undertake.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to answer the questions of 27 February 1998 from the hon. Member for Teignbridge, reference 32064 and 32065, concerning his visits to the West Country and other counties. [34788]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to him on 18 March 1998,Official Report, column 656, and 19 March 1998, Official Report, column 728.

  British Cattle Movement Service
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he announced the site for the headquarters of the British Cattle Movement Service. [35000]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: My hon. Friend the Minister of State announced this on 30 July 1997, Official Report, column 310.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were his Ministry's projected start-up costs for the British Cattle Movement Service at Workington, Guildford and Manchester. [35002]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: At the time the decision on the site was taken, the specific accommodation costs for setting up the British Cattle Movement Service were estimated as follows:

  Workington £1.3 million

  Guildford £0.6 million

  Manchester £0.8 million.

  These estimates covered accommodation costs only, and not the whole costs of setting up the new service.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what were the estimated start up and running costs for the first year in(a) August 1997 and (b) March 1998 for the British Cattle Movement Service; and if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the component costs of each figure, indicating the factors underlying each cost variant; [35003]

  (2) if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the start up and first full year running costs of the British Cattle Movement Service. [34999]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: The British Cattle Movement Service will operate the computerised Cattle Tracing System (CTS) in Great Britain. The following estimates are for the CTS as a whole. In September 1997, the decision was taken to move the issue of cattle passports from Agriculture Department regional offices to the British Cattle Movement Service. This significantly increased the scope and set up costs of the CTS project, and means that the estimates are not strictly comparable.
  579
  In August 1997, the estimated costs of the Cattle Tracing System were as follows:

  Set up costs

  £ million

  Database development

  3.4

  Project Management

  1.7

  British Cattle Movement Service (accommodation)

  1.3

  BCMS/Agriculture Department regional offices (equipment, services and publicity)

  4.1

  Total

  10.5

  Running costs

  Detailed estimates were not available in August 1997, but following a feasibility study in 1996, running costs were expected to be of the order of £20 million to £25 million a year.

  In March 1998, the estimated costs of the Cattle Tracing System, including additional costs associated with the decision in September 1997 that the system should also be responsible for the issuing of cattle passports, are as follows:

  Set-up costs

  £ million

  Database development

  16.5

  Project Management

  3.7

  British Cattle Movement Service (accommodation)

  3.5

  British Cattle Movement Service (equipment, services and publicity)

  3.7

  Total

  17.3

  First year running costs

  Staff costs

  3.2

  Accommodation, administration and consumables

  2.9

  Common services and depreciation

  3.4

  Office supplies (including cost of 'freepost' system for reporting cattle movements and local call rate telephone system)

  5.9

  Inspection services

  3.6

  Total

  19.1

  1 Further enhancements costing up to £3 million may also take place.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the cost benefit study to determine the site for the British Cattle Movement Service was completed. [35001]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: An investment appraisal was carried out in August 1997 and updated in November 1997. Both the original and updated investment appraisal suggested that, over a fifteen-year period, Workington would be the cheapest option.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the West Cumbria Development Agency was asked to draw up cost estimates for the Workington site of the British Cattle Movement Service. [35023]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: The West Cumbria Development Agency provided information which assisted my Department to draw up estimates of the cost of using the Workington site of the British Cattle Movement Service in late July 1997.
  580

  Whitehall Place Offices
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what use is being made of his Ministry's former offices in Whitehall Place. [34994]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: The vacant space in 3–8 Whitehall Place is being used by MAFF officials dealing with the Lord Justice Phillips Inquiry and by other policy groups.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Ministry's former office in Whitehall Place remains approved for office use. [34996]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: Whitehall Place offices are occupied in accordance with a current Home Office fire certificate and are approved for continued office use.

  Cattle Tracing System
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proposals he received from non-Governmental sources to provide the cattle passport systems at sums below current estimates; [34998]

  (2) which (a) companies and (b) other organisations made approaches to his Ministry to run the electronic cattle passport scheme. [34997]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: During early 1997, certain livestock industry organisations (e.g. NFU and National Milk Records) suggested the computerised Cattle Tracing System could be developed by an industry-led consortium. However, these ideas did not include detailed costings and implementation timescales. A feasibility study for the Cattle Tracing System, carried out by independent consultants for the previous Government, and published in autumn 1996, recommended that an existing Government database should be used as the basis for the Cattle Tracing System.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the computerised cattle data base system will begin operation. [34964]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: I expect the computerised Cattle Tracing System to be operating by late summer 1998.

  Cattle Date-Based Scheme
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions his Ministry has had in 1998 with the EU Commission and the Standing Veterinary Committee about the introduction of the date-based scheme for cattle; and when he expects approval for this scheme. [35024]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: My officials are in regular contact with EU Commission officials on the progress of our proposals for a Date-Based Export Scheme. Officials representing the United Kingdom at the Standing Veterinary Committee will discuss the Date-Based Export Scheme when the Commission has prepared and tabled their proposal for consideration by the Committee.
  581

  Nobel House (Costs of Move)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 the costs relating to his Ministry's move to Nobel House under the headings (i) rent, rates,service costs, (ii) refurbishment for 3,000 square metres,(iii) removal costs for all moves, (iv) Nobel House alterations, (v) Nobel House security guarding car ramp,(vi) Eastbury House deficit, space, rent, rates, services for two floors of 600 square metres, (vii) Eastbury House refurbishment and (viii) contingencies, giving details of items covered. [34953]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: The figures are as follows (those in italics are forecasts).

  £

  Item

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Rent, rates, service costs1

  275,250

  367,000

  91,750

  Refurbishment2

  253,000

  —

  —

  Removal costs (all moves)3

  38,000

  —

  —

  Nobel House—alterations3

  240,000

  —

  —

  Nobel House—security guarding car ramp4

  —

  —

  —

  Eastbury House—"deficit" space, rent, rates service (two floors— 600m2)5

  97,500

  195,000

  195,000

  Eastbury House—refurbishment5

  92,000

  —

  —

  Contingencies6

  54,000

  —

  —

  Total

  1,049,750

  562,000

  286,750

  1The Department's Chief Scientist's Group (CSG) will stay in the decant building, St. Christopher House for a further year until MAFF's new Westminster building is ready in the summer of 1999. An earlier return to Whitehall Place early in 1998 would have meant a double move. The vacated space in Whitehall Place is being utilised by units servicing the Phillips Inquiry into BSE and other policy initiatives.

  Much of the charge for the decant building is an "opportunity cost rent". Whilst it is an additional cost to the Department, it largely substitutes for other costs previously borne elsewhere by the Exchequer. The only additional costs to the Exchequer from MAFF's occupancy are those for utilities and other office services.

  2 In all £369,000 was spent to refurbish 3,000m2 in St. Christopher House. Of this, £116,000 provided for staff displaced from Ergon House as a result of the co-location of the Joint Food Standards and Safety Group (JFSSG) in preparation for the establishment of the Foods Standards Agency.

  3 Actual costs were lower than initial estimates.

  4 No extra security measures were required for Nobel House.

  5 Extra space was taken in Eastbury House as a result of the co-location of JFSSG (see note 2 above), and is therefore not considered a direct consequence of the Secretariat move to Nobel House.

  6 Covers furniture and carpets for Ministers.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Nobel House move contingency fund is now fully allocated; and on what items of expenditure this money has been spent. [34995]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: The contingency budget for the move has now closed. £54,000 was spent from this for furniture and carpets for Ministers' new offices in Nobel House.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what hotel expenses were incurred by his Ministry in direct connection with the move to Nobel House. [34952]
  582
  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: None.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what items of expenditure on the MAFF estate have had to be reduced to help fund the move to Nobel House. [34993]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: By altering priorities within the 1997–98 Non Pay Running Cost budget for building maintenance, sufficient funding was identified to help fund the move to Nobel House.

  Desk (Cost)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the new desk ordered for his use; and for what reasons no existing desks within his Department were suitable. [34992]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 17 March 1998]: The cost was £4,085 plus VAT. Until my removal to new accommodation, I had been using a desk left behind by a retired official. This would not have been suitable for the new location and will remain in Whitehall Place for further use in that building. No other spare desks were available which would have met the need. On grounds of economy, we do not hold significant stocks of unused furniture.

  Unpasteurised Milk
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the outcome of his consultation exercise on unpasteurised milk. [35288]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 19 March 1998]: We are taking stock of all the points raised in the consultation, which ended on 24 February, and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consultees, and from which organisations, agreed with his proposals on unpasteurised milk. [35287]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 19 March 1998]: Fourteen organisations and companies agreed with the proposal to ban sales of raw cows' drinking milk. These were:

  British Medical Association

  British Veterinary Association

  Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

  Co-operative Union Ltd.

  Dairy Industry Federation

  Institute of Food Research

  Institute of Food Science and Technology

  Local Authorities' Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards

  Marks and Spencer PLC

  National Dairymen's Association

  National Institute for Research in Dairying

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  Royal College of Physicians

  Unigate.

  583
  In addition, 22 individual food authorities and 6 individual consumers wrote in support of the proposed ban.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what barriers remain to be lifted before the ban on British beef exports to Europe can be ended. [36807]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: We have fulfilled all of the pre-conditions for the resumption of beef exports laid down in the Florence Agreement. We have secured the lifting of the bank from Northern Ireland beef from Export Certified herds. To enable the resumption of beef exports from the UK as a whole we are now engaged in discussions with the European Commission on our Date-based Export Scheme proposal. This scheme will have to be adopted by the European Union member states, either in the Standing Veterinary Committee or the Agriculture Council, before beef exports from Great Britain can begin.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which member states of the European Union he has communicated with since the agreement to lift the beef ban for Northern Ireland was agreed, to establish in each case what that members state's current objections are to the lifting of the beef ban for the remainder of the United Kingdom. [36808]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: I regularly have discussions with my European Union counterparts in which the Date-based Export Scheme is covered. The European Commission have yet to put their proposal to member states in the Standing Veterinary Committee. My officials are discussing the UK's proposals with the Commission in order to deal with any potential objections.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to ensure that at the next meeting of the Agriculture Council, an item will appear on the Agenda enabling a discussion to take place on a timetable of actions that will lead to the lifting of the beef export ban for Scotland, England and Wales. [36806]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: Steps towards the resumption of UK beef exports are set out in the Florence Agreement which also specifies the procedures to be applied to each step. Consequently, my officials are currently developing plans for a Date-based Export Scheme in consultation with the European Commission. The Commission will then draw up a proposal to put before the Standing Veterinary Committee in line with the procedure set out in the Florence Agreement. The Agriculture Council would become included in this process if the Standing Veterinary Committee do not adopt the proposal.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Advertising
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her Department's advertising budget for the current financial year. [34016]
  584
  Mr. Field
  The Department does not allocate an annual budget specifically for advertising. Any expenditure on advertising is included in the Publicity budget.

  For the current financial year the total estimated forecast spend on Publicity for the Department, including its Agencies, is £14,550,520.

  This figure includes the cost of publications such as benefit leaflets etc (which this year will cost approximately £6,550,000), research, advertising, marketing, exhibitions, film and video.

  Separate figures are not available for the proportion spent on advertising.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she has discretion to backdate war pensions for those who applied for backdating before a given date; [34454]

  (2) when was the last time she exercised discretion to backdate a war pension; and on how many occasions she has so acted since 1 May 1997; [34347]

  (3) on what basis, and according to what criteria, she has the discretion to backdate war pensions; [34348]

  (4) what was the date and nature of the change in Government policy in respect of the discretion to backdate war pensions. [34346]

  Mr. Denham
  Before 7 April 1997, Article 65 and Schedule 3 to the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983 provided the Secretary of State with a discretionary power to backdate an award of war pension in respect of any particular case or class of case, prior to the date of claim, whenever it was considered reasonable to do so. All cases were considered on their individual merits.

  Normal policy was to exercise the discretion to backdate a war pension in a number of different circumstances. An example was where the claimant had suffered a mental or physical illness or disablement for a continuous period up to the date of claim and that illness or disablement was of such a nature or severity as to prevent the person claiming earlier or instructing someone to do so on their behalf.

  The law on backdating was amended from 7 April 1997 as part of a package of measures to simplify administration. Following full consultation with the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and other ex-Service organisations, the criteria for the commencement date of an award of war pension, and the limited circumstances in which it may be backdated, were defined precisely. The full details are to be found in Schedule 7 of the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Amendment Order 1997 (1997 No.286), which substituted a new Schedule 3.

  Information is not kept on the number of occasions on which war pensions are backdated and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  585

  Income Support
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make it her policy to pay increases in income support child personal allowances on the child's 11 and 16 birthday. [35722]

  Mr. Field
  When a dependant child reaches age 11 or 16, the increase in the Income Support child personal allowance in respect of this age change is payable from the first Monday in September which follows the 11th or 16th birthday. We have no plans to change this arrangement.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will review, in conjunction with disabled groups, the forms and letters issued under the Benefit Integrity Project; [35229]

  (2) if she will provide disability awareness training to adjudication officers involved in the Benefit Integrity Project; [35230]

  (3) if she will establish refresher training courses on disablement issues for visiting officers involved in the Benefit Integrity Project. [35231]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 23 March 1998]: Following discussion with organisations representing disabled people, we have established a programme of incremental improvements to the Benefit Integrity Project, including the key issues raised.

  We intend to re-consider the literature issued to claimants as part of the Project, in order to make it clearer and more specific. In addition, we will be working with groups of and for disabled people to review our training programme for Visiting and Adjudication Officers.

  The Benefits Agency is committed to carrying out the work of this Project in a sensitive and considerate manner. The review work to be carried out over the next few weeks confirms our determination to be fair, and to be seen to be fair.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors determine which method of payment is used for the winter fuel payment. [37126]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. A total of £400 million has been committed over the next two years (1997–98 and 1998–99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay. This is the first time any Government have provided additional help with heating costs to all pensioners living in the United Kingdom who receive a Retirement Pension or one of a number of other qualifying benefits.

  The making of this year's payments has been an enormous and unprecedented exercise. In order to establish all eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data in around 15 million computer records, involving 15 qualifying benefits, across
  586
  nine computer systems. Overall, almost 10 million pensioners, in over 7 million households, have received a payment.

  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 31 March 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what factors determine which method of payment is used for the winter fuel payment.
  The making of winter fuel payments to almost ten million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of March 1998 has been a challenging task for the Benefits Agency. This will have been achieved whilst maintaining normal benefit business.
  Around one and a half million of the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, received their payment of £50 during January. A further 8.3 million eligible pensioners received a payment of £20 or £10 during March. Where they live alone, are the only eligible pensioner in a household, or are of no fixed abode, they are entitled to £20; otherwise, they are entitled to £10.
  Three different methods of payment have been used to make the payments to all eligible pensioners. A number of factors were taken into account in determining the appropriate method. The factors included: the normal method of payment used by the customer to receive their benefit; the ability of the relevant benefit system to make one-off payments by a number of different methods; the speed in which payments could be made; and, the cost and timescales required to introduce new methods of payment to individual computer systems. Payments have been made by the three routes as follows:
  —Automated Credit Transfer (ACT) direct to the pensioner's bank or building society account where the qualifying benefit is paid in this way (except where the qualifying benefit was Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, an industrial injury benefit, or one administered by the War Pensions Agency);
  —Payable order sent to the pensioner's home address, where the qualifying benefit is Invalid Care Allowance, an industrial injury benefit, or one administered by the War Pensions Agency; otherwise,
  —Girocheque sent to the pensioner's home address or the Post Office where the pensioner collects their qualifying benefit.
  The decision to send girocheques to the pensioner's Post Office was based on the fact that these customers represented by far the largest qualifying group and this was considered the most secure method of payment for them.
  Thank you for the opportunity to explain the position.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Child Support Agency can pursue maintenance payments from parents who are illegal immigrants. [36985]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Child Support Act 1995 applies only where both parents and the child are habitually resident in the UK. Where both parents and the child have addresses in the UK they are normally assumed to be habitually resident unless there is evidence to the contrary. In such a case, the child support officer would decide on the evidence available whether that person should be treated as habitually resident for child support purposes. An individual's immigrant status is decided by the Home Office. The Home Office decision on whether an individual can stay in the country will be key for the
  587
  child support officer in deciding whether they are habitually resident and therefore whether the Child Support Agency has jurisdiction.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations she has received from hon. Members on CSA matters in each month since 1 May 1997; and how many representations the Chief Executive has received in the same period. [36987]

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

  The number of letters received from hon. and right hon. Members about the child support scheme for each month since May 1997

  Month

  Ministerial

  Chief Executive

  May 1997

  58

  411

  June 1997

  185

  698

  July 1997

  241

  928

  August 1997

  162

  581

  September 1997

  184

  549

  October 1997

  217

  837

  November 1997

  245

  713

  December 1997

  202

  634

  January 1998

  173

  687

  February 1998

  222

  739

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what steps he has taken to ensure a full environmental assessment has been carried out in respect of(a) the land on which the Dome is to be built, (b) the construction process of the Dome and (c) the operation of the Dome. [35930]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 24 March 1998]: An environmental statement was submitted to the London Borough of Greenwich as part of the Millennium Experience planning application in October 1996. The subsequent approval of the application was conditional upon the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) establishing procedures to ensure that environmental issues properly inform the decision making process both for construction and operation. A draft environmental plan to meet this condition has been submitted to the London Borough of Greenwich and consultations on it are underway. The NMEC has also commissioned assessments which address a wide range of environmental matters including the health and safety of employees and visitors. Together with English Partnerships, the NMEC is undertaking an audit of the remediation work that has been done to prepare the site for the Millennium Experience.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the conclusions he has drawn from the consultation on his freedom of information proposals. [35816]
  588
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what responses he has received to the White Paper on open government. [35826]

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on freedom of information. [35829]

  Dr. David Clark
  Consultation on "Your Right to Know" drew over 550 responses. The overall reaction to our proposals was very positive, as the hon. Members will see if they study the material in the Library. I am considering detailed points from the consultation in preparing a draft Freedom of Information Bill.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his proposed date for the introduction of Freedom of Information legislation. [35823]

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the Freedom of Information Bill. [35824]

  Dr. David Clark
  I expect to publish a draft Bill later in the year, which will continue the consultation process started with the White Paper Your Right to Know. In the light of comments on this, a Bill will be introduced into Parliament as soon as the legislative timetable permits.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what response he has received to the consultation exercise he held on the Government White Paper, Your Right to Know. [37659]

  Dr. David Clark
  I am delighted to say that the consultation exercise on the Government's Freedom of Information White Paper,Your Right to Know, received a very good response with some 557 replies received from a wide variety of individuals and organisations, as shown in the breakdown in the table. The great majority of the comments we received, even where they suggested changes or expressed disagreement with some aspects, were in favour of the fundamental content and broad direction of our proposals. This shows the wide support that exists for legislation of the sort proposed in our Manifesto, and set out in detail in the White Paper.

  Although the consultation period formally ended on 28 February, many responses were still coming at the stage and, in the interests of full inclusiveness and fairness, we have included in our analysis as many replies as possible which were received after the end of February.

  I am pleased to report that 172 (or 31 per cent.) of the replies were made by e-mail and 48 of these replies came via the Internet site set up for an open discussion of the proposals by UK Citizens' Online Democracy (UKCOD) with the support of the Cabinet Office. This shows the important role information technology can play in consultation exercises of this type.

  I am today placing in the libraries of the House a list of those who responded (except where they requested anonymity) and copies of the responses received (except for those respondents who wished their comments to remain confidential). The apparently substantial number of replies requesting anonymity or confidentiality very largely consists of responses concerning the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 made by licence holders under the Act. Replies of this sort made up 100 of the 117 responses in these categories.
  589
  In addition to being placed in the libraries of the House, the responses are also being placed on the Internet and will shortly be available for viewing and downloading on the Internet. There is a direct link from the FOI Unit homepage—http://www.open.gov.uk/m-of-g/foihome.htm — to the UKCOD site where the submissions are posted— http://foi.democracy.org.uk.html/submissions.index.html. A paper copy of the full set of responses is available from the Cabinet Office.

  The consultation exercise has been extremely valuable in focusing public attention on our proposals for Freedom of Information. I am now considering the main points arising from the consultation, and how we will need to take account of them in preparing a draft Bill for publication later this year. That publication will, in itself, mark a further major stage in the consultation process.

  The breakdown of responses by category is:

  Total number of responses

  Responses by e-mail

  On-line discussion

  Individuals

  160

  103

  38

  Business

  65

  11

  2

  Media

  6

  1

  0

  Academics

  59

  14

  0

  Charities, Lobby Groups and Campaign Group

  82

  21

  4

  Members of either House

  5

  0

  0

  Public Authorities

  152

  15

  1

  Members of the European Parliament

  0

  0

  0

  Others

  28

  7

  3

  Totals

  557

  172

  48

  Ministerial Residences
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent in total to refurbish official residences and offices of members of the Cabinet since 1 May. [35819]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is not responsible for expenditure on all Government Ministers' residences and offices. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear, on 9 February, the cost of maintaining and refurbishing Ministerial residences for 1997–98 which is estimated at £1.1 million. Information on the cost of refurbishing departmental offices of Cabinet Ministers is not held centrally.

  Arms Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if information on the United Kingdom suppliers of the components of chemical and biological weapons exported to Iraq would be available under his proposed freedom of information legislation. [35820]

  Dr. David Clark
  All requests for information falling within the scope of the proposed Freedom of Information Act will be considered against the access provisions of the Act.
  590

  Departmental Efficiency
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to increase efficiency in Government Departments. [35821]

  Dr. David Clark
  We are working to the target that, by 2002, one quarter of the public's dealings with government can be done electronically—through television, telephone or computer. This should result in better quality, more cost effective government services.

  European Commission Documents
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to press for the greater use of plain language in European Commission documents during the United Kingdom presidency. [35822]

  Dr. David Clark
  Using plain language is important if the European Commission is going to communicate effectively with the citizens of Europe. British linguists in the Commission's translation service are holding a 'Fight the Fog' campaign to encourage the use of plain language by the Commission's authors and translators. The UK Government are fully supporting this work. Plain language is also vital in legislation so that citizens and business can know what is required of them. As Presidency, the UK is working with the Commission, European Parliament and other Member States on an initiative to improve the quality of drafting of EU rules.

  Print Media
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next proposes to meet the civil servants' unions to discuss the Government's relationship with the print media. [35825]

  Dr. David Clark
  I met the General Secretaries of the Council of Civil Service Unions on Wednesday 25 March as part of a regular series of meetings to discuss key issues affecting their members. The Government's relationship with the print media is not an issue that has been raised.

  Electronic Information
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to permit individuals to supply information electronically to Government. [35827]

  Dr. David Clark
  I intend to publish later this year a White Paper on Better Government, which will set out in more detail ways in which IT will enable individuals to supply information to the Government electronically. As a prelude to this, last December I launched the Intelligent Form project, which converts what were once six paper forms on notification of self-employment into one electronic form, and in so doing enables individuals to supply several departments with information simultaneously via the Internet.

  Regulatory Process
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from his European counterparts on the reform of the regulatory process. [35828]
  591
  Dr. David Clark
  When I took the UK seat at the Cambridge informal meeting of Internal Market Ministers on 13 February, many EU Ministers present spoke enthusiastically in favour of regulatory reform at European level. As a result of this support, I hope to see the launch under the UK Presidency of a pilot European Business Test Panel. The purpose of the panel will be to help regulators understand better the impact of new rules on business by consulting firms of all sizes on legislative proposals in advance of their becoming law. The UK will be a leading player in this pilot.

  Better Government Programme
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on his better government programme. [35830]

  Dr. David Clark
  I have received many positive and interesting contributions on my Better Government programme. In addition to individual letters and meetings, I have held a series of seminars with a wide range of participants from academia, local government, the public, private and voluntary sectors, and user and staff representatives. The Parliamentary Secretary has also held a series of workshop with front-line staff, around the UK, to feed in their ideas.

  Access Business Initiative
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress of the access business initiative. [35801]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  On 5 March, we launched the Enforcement Concordat, which sets a blueprint for better enforcement practice throughout the country. Among several other projects, the group is also helping to develop an IT system that enables local authorities to provide a single point of advice on various regulatory matters.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many special advisers are currently employed within the civil service. [35818]

  Dr. David Clark
  At 1 April, there are 61 full-time and six part-time Special Advisers in post. In addition, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has appointed Professor Michael Barber as an adviser on Standards and Effectiveness, the President of the Council has appointed Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and Michael Trace as the Deputy UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Chris Wales and Paul Gregg as members of the Council of Economic Advisers.
  592

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was(a) the estimated average fuel consumption and (b) the total mileage of ministerial cars travelling on official business in each of the years since 1989–90 for each Government department. [36159]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I cannot answer for all cars used by Ministers. However, for those run by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, responsibility has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. Andrew Stunell, dated April 1998:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car Service (GCS) to reply to your Parliamentary Question about (a) the estimated average fuel consumption and (b) the total mileage of ministerial cars travelling on official business in each year since 1989–90.
  In my letter to you of 3 February I explained that information on the ministerial use of the GCS before 1 April 1997, when GCDA was set up as a separate agency, was not readily available, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  For 1997/98, the estimated average fuel consumption of GCS cars allocated to Government departments for the use of Ministers is 25 miles per gallon. For the same period the estimated mileage of GCS cars allocated to departments, based on the most up-to-date information available, is as follows:

  Department

  Estimated mileage

  Prime Minister and Cabinet Office

  69,400

  Department for Education amp; Employment

  165,700

  Ministry of Defence

  7,000

  Department of Social Security

  77,800

  Department of Health

  55,100

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  124,000

  Foreign amp; Commonwealth Office

  174,200

  Home Office

  60,900

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries amp; Food

  64,100

  Northern Ireland Office

  58,500

  Scottish Office

  52,700

  Department of Trade amp; Industry

  147,700

  Law Officers' Departments

  15,200

  HM Treasury

  65,900

  Welsh Office

  28,100

  Privy Council Office

  6,400

  Department for International Development

  37,000

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  39,200

  Department for Culture, Media amp; Sport

  54,400

  As you may know, some departments may use other providers of cars and drivers for use by their Ministers.
  As I also explained in my earlier letter, cars and drivers are allocated for the use of Ministers and their offices, and the above estimates may include some non-Ministerial use, such as the transportation of documents or use by officials.

  Peru: Population Control Programme
  Peru: Population Control Programme
  Association of Chief Police Officers for Scotland
  Association of Chief Police Officers for Scotland
  Angola
  Angola
  EU Structural Funds and CAP: Reform
  EU Structural Funds and CAP: Reform
  Khat
  Khat
  Animals Kept for Experiments: Reports
  Animals Kept for Experiments: Reports
  NCIS Service Authority: Assets
  NCIS Service Authority: Assets
  Police Information Technology Organisation: Assets
  Police Information Technology Organisation: Assets
  Four Year-olds: Teacher Qualifications
  Four Year-olds: Teacher Qualifications
  Defence Communications Services Agency
  Defence Communications Services Agency
  Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes: Fees Increase
  Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes: Fees Increase
  Geriatric Beds
  Geriatric Beds
  Ministerial Letters: Writing Paper
  Ministerial Letters: Writing Paper
  Mines (Notice of Abandonment) Regulations 1998
  Mines (Notice of Abandonment) Regulations 1998
  M.6 Motorway: Speed Limit
  M.6 Motorway: Speed Limit
  Genetically Modified Crops
  Genetically Modified Crops
  Concrete Deterioration
  Concrete Deterioration
  Housing Planning
  Housing Planning
  Water Charging
  Water Charging
  Government Departments: Energy Efficiency
  Government Departments: Energy Efficiency