Written Answers of 2 April 1998

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Travelcards
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the future of London Transport travelcards, with particular reference to full-time students; and if he will make a statement. [35522]

  Dr. Strang
  The Government have received a number of representations about the future of the London Transport Travelcard, including some from the University of London Union, which were specifically about discount schemes for full-time students. I understand that a recent trial revealed that, while a discount scheme would be workable, it would only be partly self-funding. In the light of this, London Transport (LT) were not sufficiently persuaded of the benefits to proceed.

  Fares and ticketing, including student tickets, are the statutory responsibility of London Transport. On 4 January 1998, LT introduced a new ticket, providing a 30% discount for all 16 and 17 year olds on period LT cards, which can be used on Underground, LT Buses and Docklands Light Railway services.

  Railway Maintenance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safety procedures are required during railway line maintenance; and what measures are taken to ensure that they are enforced. [35540]

  Dr. Strang
  All those involved in the maintenance of the railway throughout Great Britain must comply with their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 and the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994. Work on Railtrack's network must comply with the requirements of their Rule Book and the Railway Standards (the provisions of which are mandatory on Railtrack PLC and its contractors by virtue of Railtrack's Railway Safety Case and related contractual arrangements).

  Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate are responsible for enforcing legal requirements relating to health and safety on the railways, including the detailed requirements of the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994.

  Road Traffic (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made of future growth in road traffic within the Greater London area. [36583]
  594
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Forecasts using the Department's strategic multi-modal transport model, known as "LTS", suggest that traffic volumes in the peak periods will be around 15% higher by 2011 within the Greater London area. For the inter-peak period, traffic is estimated to grow by 20%. These forecasts take no account of policies that will follow the Government's forthcoming White Paper on Integrated Transport.

  A3, Hindhead
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding traffic congestion on the A3 at Hindhead; and if he will make a statement. [36579]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  During the course of the Government's Roads Review consultation, we received over 60 written responses about Hindhead issues. I also responded to an adjournment debate on 19 January 1998 about the A3 at Hindhead and two Parliamentary Questions on the same subject.

  The Government's strategic review into highway improvement schemes presently taking place is aimed at determining the role which roads will play in an integrated transport policy, and developing a strategy which will address the problems of congestion and pollution and improve the environment in which we live. The conclusions of the review will be announced later this year.

  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cars pass through the single carriageway stretch of the A3 at Hindhead per day, in each direction. [36577]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Michael Mates, dated 2 April 1998:
  The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson has asked me to reply to your recent question about the A3 at Hindhead.
  Recent traffic flow figures recorded at the A3/A287 signal controlled junction in Hindhead show that over an average week day about 13,600 vehicles travelled on the northbound approach to the junction and about 12,800 on the southbound approach.
  The Highways Agency is aware of the problems in Hindhead, particularly on the approaches to the signal controlled junction between the A3 and A287. For the short term we are actively seeking ways of improving the performance of the signals in conjunction with Surrey County Council and the Transport Research Laboratory, with the aim of increasing flows through the junction.

  Planning Applications (Crown Land)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the(a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of giving local planning authorities the power to determine planning applications on Crown land when the land for development (i) is in the Green Belt, (ii) is in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty and (iii) would conflict with policies in adopted structure or local plans; and if he will make a statement. [37029]
  595
  Mr. Raynsford
  This Government believe that it is usually most appropriate for local planning authorities to determine planning applications, whether such applications come from the Crown or from any other body. That is why we shall remove the Crown's immunity from statutory planning controls as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

  In the mean time, the Secretary of State, when determining disputes which arise when a local planning authority objects to a notice of proposed development issued by a Crown body in accordance with the provisions of DOE Circular 18/84, will continue to have regard to the adopted local plan, and such other matters as the need to protect the green belt and other areas of outstanding natural beauty. Applications for planning permission under s299 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 which the Crown may be required to make to local planning authorities will continue to be determined in the usual way.

  Driving Instructors
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if Northern Ireland will be included within the remit of his Department's research project into how driving instructors are(a) trained and (b) tested. [36813]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The operation of the register of Approved Driving Instructors in Northern Ireland has not been included in terms of the research project we have recently commissioned. However, the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency will, I understand, look closely at whether the study's findings could be applied in Northern Ireland. The research project will be completed in 2000.

  Agenda 21
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which have produced local Agenda 21 strategies. [37214]

  Angela Eagle
  We have been working closely with the Local Government Association (LGA) to encourage all local authorities in England to produce and review their Local Agenda 21 strategies by 2000 to meet the Prime Minister's target. When launching in January with the Prime Minister, the joint document showing why and how to produce such strategies, the Chairman of the LGA asked all authorities to send him a copy of their first or revised strategy by 15 December 2000. We believe it is right for the LGA rather than central Government to take the lead in monitoring the production of such strategies and encouraging the sharing of good practice.

  Waste Disposal
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications his Department has had with Cheshire County Council about the future of 3C Waste. [37080]

  Angela Eagle
  My department has had no recent correspondence with Cheshire about their Local Authority Waste Disposal Company (LAWDC) 3C Waste. Cheshire completed divestment of their waste disposal facilities and functions to 3C on 1 February 1993. 3C is still 100 per cent. owned by the County Council but I596
  understand that they are considering transferring it to private sector ownership. This is entirely compatible with current legislation.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications his Department has had with Cheshire County Council about local waste disposal policy. [37082]

  Angela Eagle
  Officials in my department commented on Cheshire's draft Waste Local Plan in November last year. It appeared to conform with the most recent statement of Government policy on waste management, the 1995 White Paper Making Waste Work. The Council are now considering these and others' comments. I understand that the Deposit Waste Local Plan will be published later this year. A six week public consultation period and a public local inquiry chaired by a independent inspector will follow as normal.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy towards(a) incineration, (b) landraising and (c) landfill, as a method of waste disposal. [37083]

  Angela Eagle
  This Government are aiming for more sustainable waste management with high standards of environmental protection. Incineration with energy recovery is, in principle, and in accordance with the waste management hierarchy, preferable to landfilling (including landraising). However, which option is employed for a particular waste stream and in a particular area depends on the Best Practicable Environmental Option.

  On 13 January 1998, Official Report, column 160, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced a review of sustainable waste management policies which will culminate in a statutory waste strategy. A consultation paper will be issued in May.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications his Department has had with North West local authorities about options for future waste disposal in the Mersey Belt; and if he will make a statement. [37084]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government Office for the North West have asked local authorities through the North West Regional Association (Regional Planning Conference) to provide a report on the facilities for the disposal of waste in the North West Region. According to RPG13, the region should seek to provide a network of waste management facilities located, wherever possible, in close proximity to the source of the arisings and that these should be identified in Development Plans. The NWRA are preparing the report and will forward it to the Regional Office in due course.

  In addition, officials from the Government Office for the North West regularly attend Local Authority Recycling Officers forums and the North West Central Region recycling forum, to discuss waste and recycling issues with officers from all of the authorities in the area.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what health and safety regulations apply to landfill sites. [37151]
  597
  Angela Eagle
  Health and safety regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 generally apply to landfill sites where there is employment. Regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed, and others, in relation to the management of health and safety and risks arising from, for example machinery, processes and work activities. The application of specific regulations made under that Act will depend on the nature of the work activity.

  In addition, the following legislation, which has some health and safety impact, may also apply: the Environment Protection Act 1990; the Fire Precautions Act 1971; and the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, if pesticides are used.

  Drinking Water Quality
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 13 February 1998,Official Report, column 419, concerning lead in water, what steps he will take to encourage the removal of potential lead contamination stemming from the pipework within a property. [37228]

  Angela Eagle
  Lead pipework within a house is the responsibility of the owner. We want to be able to take informed decisions on whether they need to replace their lead pipes and on what other action they can take to reduce exposure to lead.

  Unroadworthy Vehicles
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives are being pursued to reduce the number of vehicles that are not legally roadworthy used on Welsh roads. [37055]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are two main elements to the enforcement of vehicle roadworthiness in Wales, as in the rest of Great Britain. Almost all vehicles are required to pass an annual roadworthiness test to confirm that key safety and environmental standards are met. Vehicles are also subject to random enforcement checks by examiners from the Department's Vehicle Inspectorate and the police. The Inspectorate prohibits the use of vehicles found not to comply with construction and use or lighting requirements until the defects have been rectified (almost 15 per cent. of vehicles checked during 1996–97 in the South Wales Area were given prohibitions). The police assist the Inspectorate but also carry out enforcement under their own initiatives.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what instruction or guidance his Department has given to the Housing Corporation on the attribution by housing associations of service charges to(a) tenants in service accommodation and (b) other tenants. [37115]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: Under Section 36(3) of the Housing Act 1996, draft guidance prepared by the Housing Corporation on the management of housing accommodation by registered social landlords (mostly housing associations) is approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions before being
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  issued by the Corporation. Under Section 36(2) of the Act, guidance may include the principles upon which rents should be determined.

  Following consultation, my right hon. Friend approved management guidance issued by the Housing Corporation in December 1997 which included guidance on rents and service charges. This advises registered social landlords that they should endeavour to charge rents that are below equivalent market rent levels, are affordable to those in low paid employment and that do not increase each year by more than the guideline limit of the increase in the Retail Price Index plus 1 per cent.

  I have asked the Housing Corporation to contact the hon. Member to answer any specific concerns about service charges.

  Planning Inspectorate
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets he proposes to set for the Planning Inspectorate Agency for the financial year 1998–99. [37604]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have today set new performance targets for the Planning Inspectorate Agency under which it will be expected to achieve significantly improved handling times for its work whilst preserving the impartiality and quality for which it is deservedly highly respected, and whilst seeking also to improve efficiency. The targets are as follows:

  Timeliness

  (a) 80% of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined in 18 weeks;

  (b) 80% of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined in 24 weeks;

  (c) 80% of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined in 36 weeks;

  (d) to provide an Inspector for local plan inquiries in at least 80% of cases on the date requested by a local authority provided that the objection period has ended and at least 6 months' notice has been given;

  (e) to deliver 90% of Inspectors' reports on local plan inquiries to local authorities according to timescales agreed under service agreements.

  Financial

  (a) Unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £839;

  (b) recover 80% of receipts due within 8 weeks of invoice date.

  Efficiency
  Generate a 3% efficiency improvement in the use of running costs compared with 1997–98.

  Quality
  To satisfy the Advisory Panel on Standards, and thus the Secretaries of State, annually and following rigorous monitoring that the quality of the Inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard, with 99% of its casework free from justified complaint.

  Information and Guidance
  To carry out a customer survey of public satisfaction with the Inspectorate's handling of planning appeals dealt with by the written representations procedure.

  Environmental Appraisals
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will publish policy guidance on policy appraisal and the environment. [37719]

  Mr. Meacher
  We are determined to ensure that environmental issues are considered in the development of all Government policies to deliver an improved and lasting quality of life. Today, we publish new guidance to remind policy makers when and how to consider potential environmental impacts as part of the appraisal of specific policies and programmes. The guidance reminds staff of the need to incorporate environmental considerations into policy appraisals where the impact on the environment might be significant, and to set out the steps that ought to be taken in doing so.

  I am placing copies of the guidance in the Library.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which projects, not related to the year 2000 compliance problem, are being(a) restricted and (b) terminated in order to free information technology resources. [37484]

  Angela Eagle
  For DETR Central, priority projects have been identified, including existing commitments for projects already under-way and provision for Y2000 compliance work. Other projects require further work before needing an allocation of resources, but we may be able to accommodate these in the IT Investment Programme later in the year. At this early stage in the year, no projects have been specifically restricted or terminated. The IT investment programmes in the Department's Agencies are also in this position.

  Asbestos
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what health consequences, expressed in terms of numbers of mesotheliomas or lung cancers in smokers and non-smokers per million persons exposed, are assumed to result from occupational exposure to chrysotile asbestos at airborne fibre concentrations of (i) 0.6, (ii) 0.5 and (iii) 0.3 fibres/millilitre for 40 hours per working week for 20 years; and if he will make a statement; [36744]

  (2) what health consequences, expressed in terms of numbers of mesotheliomas or lung cancers in smokers and non-smokers per million persons exposed, are assumed to result from environmental exposure to chrysotile asbestos at airborne fibre concentrations of (i) 0.01, (ii) 0.001 and (iii) 0.0001 fibres/millilitre for 140 hours per week for (a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 40 years; and if he will make a statement. [36745]

  Angela Eagle
  Whilst the risks to health of white asbestos are scientifically established, there is considerable quantitative uncertainty about the health consequences of exposure to chrysotile asbestos. This is illustrated by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates shown in the following tables, based on two key occupational cohorts: the Quebec chrysotile mines, and 600
  an asbestos textile plant in Carolina. The estimates are extrapolated from observations made at very much higher exposure levels.

  Average lifetime risk of lung cancer per million men exposed to chrysotile

  Duration of exposure (years)

  Cohort study used to estimate risk

  Exposure scenario

  Textiles

  Mining

  Per week

  10.00

  500.00

  25.00

  140 hours per week at 0.01 f/ml

  20.00

  1,000.00

  50.00

  at 0.01 f/ml

  40.00

  1,750.00

  90.00

  40 hours per week at 0.6 f/ml

  20.00

  17,500.00

  850.00

  Average lifetime risk of mesothelioma per million men exposed to chrysotile

  Duration of exposure (years)

  Cohort study used to estimate risk

  Exposure scenario

  Textiles

  Mining

  Per week

  10.00

  35.00

  6.00

  140 hours per week at 0.01 f/ml

  20.00

  55.00

  8.00

  at 0.01 f/ml

  40.00

  60.00

  9.00

  40 hours per week at 0.6 f/ml at 0.6 f/ml

  20.00

  900.00

  125.00

  The risks are average estimates from working populations with a mixture of smokers and non-smokers. Smoking does not affect the risks for mesothelioma but smokers are estimated to have a 50 per cent. higher risk of lung cancer than shown in the table and non-smokers a risk about ten times lower. Based on past smoking patterns, women's average risk will be about half the average male risk.

  Risks at exposure concentrations other than those shown can be estimated pro-rata, although this may be an overestimate at very low exposures.

  The environmental risk from asbestos has been examined in a report commissioned by Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions from the Medical Research Council's Institute for Environmental Health—'Fibrous Materials in the Environment'. The report identifies background ambient levels of respirable asbestos fibres may range from 0.000001 to 0.0001 f/ml. Most indoor air concentrations of asbestos are below 0.0002 f/ml which rises to around 0.0005 f/ml in buildings which contain asbestos in good condition. At these low levels of exposure, there is no significant risk of mesothelioma or lung cancer. Cigarette smoking remains the major cause of cancer.

  I am pleased that Health and Safety Commission (HSC) will be issuing a consultative document on asbestos within the next four weeks proposing a wide range of additional legislation to protect workers. The current occupational exposure control limit for chrysotile is 0.5 f/ml (averaged over any continuous four hour period) and HSC propose

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  to lower this limit to 0.3 f/ml and to impose duties on employers to ensure that exposure is controlled as far below this level as is reasonably practicable.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account the decision not to implement a total ban on the importation and use, or re-use, of chrysotile asbestos took of the relative risks to health associated with chrysotile asbestos and possible substitutes; and if he will make a statement. [36746]

  Angela Eagle
  The decision of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) to delay consultation on further restrictions on the use of chrysotile asbestos was taken in the light of an interim opinion by a European Commission Scientific Committee. This Committee concluded that insufficient evidence had been provided to justify a conclusion that substitute fibres are safer than chrysotile. The Government's resolve to pursue further necessary restrictions on chrysotile asbestos remains. HSC is expediting the presentation of further scientific justification for the use of substitutes to the European Commission.

  IT Staff
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the current shortfall in established information technology staff, consultant and contractor support posts within his Department; and if he will list the posts by grade indicating for each post how long it has been vacant and when it is expected to be filled. [37485]

  Angela Eagle
  For DETR Central, there are currently no IT posts which are unfilled, this is primarily because the merger of DOE and DOT has enabled some economies of scale in IT staff.

  Most of the work involved in the development of new information systems is undertaken by commissioning IT consultancy services. We are beginning to see some signs of the industry having some difficulty in responding to the demand.

  The Department's Agencies report two vacancies in total. The Vehicle Inspectorate have had one Executive Officer (EO) vacancy for three months which will be filled in May. The Planning Inspectorate have had one EO vacancy for two months which will be filled in June.

  Special Waste Regulations
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the Special Waste Regulations 1996. [37720]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Special Waste Regulations, which came into force on 1 September 1996, implement the EC Hazardous Waste Directive (91/689/EEC) which covers the most difficult and dangerous wastes. The Regulations provide for movements of hazardous ("special") waste to be pre-notified to the Environment Agencies and to be tracked through a system of consignment notes.

  With some 18 months having elapsed since these Regulations came into force, it is clear that some fine-tuning is desirable, in the light of operational experience by the Environment Agencies and of representations from industry. My Department, the
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  Scottish Office and the Welsh Office have therefore today issued a public consultation paper proposing a number of changes to the Regulations. These include certain relaxations to the procedures under which multiple loads can be moved for a single fee, designed to assist small businesses, including those involved in recycling lead acid batteries; minor changes to the format of the consignment note to assist monitoring and enforcement; and technical changes to ensure that island communities are not penalised by the fees system.

  We are also proposing a small number of adjustments to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1056, as amended) aimed at encouraging the recovery/recycling of waste, particularly waste affected by the revised definition of 'Special waste' contained in the 1996 Special Waste Regulations.

  I have placed copies of the consultation paper and association draft Regulatory Appraisal in the libraries of both Houses.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Sport Governing Bodies
  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 Great Britain Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. [34265]

  Mr. Banks
  Information on funding for governing bodies, paid by the then GB Sports Council in 1994–95 and 1995–96 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Similar information for 1992–93 and 1993–94 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information on funding by sport for these years has also been placed in the House Libraries.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the budgeted figure for expenditure under acceptances of works of art as property in lieu of inheritance tax for(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000. [36773]

  Mr. Fisher
  Under the arrangements announced in the Spring Budget, no acceptances in lieu will in future require expenditure by the Department. Instead, the Revenue will forgo taxes without seeking reimbursement from the Secretary of State.

  At present we are aware of about £52 million of offers which are fairly advanced in the pipeline. However, the level of acceptances depends on whether offering estates wish to maintain that offer, whether Ministers agree to acceptance and whether the Commissioners of Inland Revenue accept the offered property in lieu of the capital taxes applying. Therefore this figure can be only a very broad approximation and it is difficult to give a reliable estimate of how amounts might fall into any single financial year.

  Performing Arts
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the contribution of the performing arts to inward tourism into the United Kingdom. [36852]

  Mr. Fisher
  The performing arts in the United Kingdom are of outstanding quality, and are undoubtedly an important incentive for overseas visitors to visit the United Kingdom. In a recent survey of overseas leisure visitors to Britain, 18 per cent. of those sampled cited the performing arts as a stimulus to visit.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made towards achieving equality of opportunity in the Civil Service. [37893]

  Dr. David Clark
  I have today published two reports on equal opportunities in the Civil Service:Equal Opportunities in the Civil Service—A Progress Report 1995–97 and Equal Opportunities in the Civil Service. Data Summary 1997. Copies of both reports have been placed in the libraries of the House and will be made available on the Internet.

  Against a background of falling Civil Service numbers, progress continues to be made in this important area. For example, at HEO level, the representation of women has increased to nearly 30 per cent., from 28 per cent. in 1996; ethnic minority representation at first management level, Executive Officer, has risen to 4.8 per cent. from 4.4 per cent. in 1996; and the proportion of staff with disabilities now stands at 3.8 per cent.

  However, the reports counsel against complacency. They show that women are still under-represented at middle and senior management levels. Ethnic minority and disabled staff are still predominately concentrated in junior grades.

  To help increase the representation of these groups at all levels in the Service, the Progress Report recommends that Departments and Agencies concentrate on the following key areas: organisational commitment; action plans; monitoring and mainstreaming.

DEFENCE

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce ethnic monitoring in the reserve forces. [38100]

  Dr. Reid
  My Department is fully committed to promoting within the Armed Forces an environment which is free from harassment and racial discrimination. As part of our efforts to further that commitment, we have decided to begin monitoring the ethnic origin of members of the reserve forces. Monitoring began on 1 April, and will cover all those who are in service, and all those who join the reserve forces in future. Altogether, we expect 604
  around 68,000 members of the reserve forces to be included in the survey. The Services are writing to units and individuals to invite them to take a full part in it.

  The initiative we are taking underlines the commitment that the Armed Forces have made to ensure equal opportunities irrespective of race. The methodology we shall follow for monitoring the reserves is based closely on that which is already in use for the regular Armed Forces. The statistical information derived from monitoring will allow the reserve force managers to analyse recruitment, wastage and other trends; and it will enable them to develop and pursue policies which ensure that racial discrimination of any kind is eradicated from the reserves.

  The reserve forces involved are principally those which recruit directly from civilian life. Specifically they are: the Royal Naval Reserve; the Royal Marines Reserve; the Territorial Army; the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training); the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (University Air Squadron); and volunteers to the Royal Air Force Reserve.

  Because our reserves are recruited locally, and because many of them serve part time, we do not expect the first statistics from the survey to be available until towards the end of this year. Thereafter, the information will be available quarterly.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines exist for the monitoring of ethnic minority personnel in the armed forces; and what steps are in place to ensure that monitoring practices are continually updated. [36839]

  Dr. Reid
  On 25 March 1998, the MOD and Commission for Racial Equality signed a Partnership Agreement, which ensures that we shall continue to work together with them for a further five years to promote racial equality practices throughout the Services. Effective Ethnic monitoring is a key part of the Agreement to ensure that no policies or practices in the Services are racially discriminatory. We are determined that the quality of our ethnic monitoring of applicants, entrants and in-Service personnel continues to be improved. As well as looking at current and future analysis for emerging trends, and ensuring that sufficient resources are put into making any necessary changes, we will be looking more closely at areas such as performance across all ethnic groups and career progression as more information becomes available.

  A copy of the relevant extracts have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Army Technical Support Agency
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for the Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency for 1998–99. [38102]

  Dr. Reid
  The Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency has been set the following Key Targets for 1998–99.

  1. To influence equipment design by obtaining formal tasking from Project Managers/Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) Managers in influencing equipment design in at least 80% of appropriate ILS projects.

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  2. To recommend a 10% gross cost saving in Advanced Order Spares purchasing for appropriate non-ILS projects without reducing the equipment sustainability or availability.

  3. To provide a complete and accurate answer to 92% of ad hoc inquiries within 2 working days.

  4. To dispatch new and reprinted technical publications within the period from receipt of demand as follows:

  a. For priority demands, 90% within 5 working days.

  b. For routine demands, 90% within 24 working days.

  5. To complete 90% of Operational projects and 75% of Priority A projects before the agreed target date.

  6. To satisfy 90% of customers when undertaking technical projects.

  7. To provide a considered response to 90% of Equipment Failure Report (or equivalent) submissions within 10 working days from receipt.

  Cadet Forces
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average(a) numbers of pupils involved in and (b) cost of the Combined Cadet Force per school in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the percentage of a year's intake which goes on to join the regular forces. [36695]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: In FY 1996–97, 241 schools had contingents of the Combined Cadet Forces established within their premises, with 39,716 pupils who were cadets. Producing an average CCF pupil to school ratio could, however, be misleading since the size of individual contingents varies significantly.

  In the same period, the Ministry of Defence allocated £6.2M to these schools in support of the Combined Cadet Forces. I regret that my Department keeps no separate records detailing the overall costs attributable to individual schools. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Whilst my Department sets no annual recruiting targets for schools, the percentage of officer entrants into the Regular Forces during FY 1996/97, who had previously been members of the Combined Cadet Forces, were: Royal Navy 26.03%, Army 49%, Royal Air Force 26.45%. From a total intake of 18,737 ratings/soldiers/ airmen into the Regular Forces in FY 1996/97, 280 had former service in the CCF.

  Trident
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what legal advice he has obtained on whether the UK would be in contravention of the Non- Proliferation Treaty if it were to replace or upgrade Trident warheads; [36586]

  (2) if he has sought legal advice on whether the UK would be in contravention of the Non-Proliferation Treaty if it were to replace or upgrade Trident warheads. [36585]

  Mr. George Robertson
  There is nothing in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to prevent the recognised nuclear powers taking steps to ensure the effectiveness of their nuclear forces. The UK has, however, no current requirement or plans for any upgrade or improvement to the Trident warhead or missile.

  Guardsmen Wright and Fisher
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mark Wright and James Fisher, currently serving life imprisonment(a) have been dismissed from the British Army and (b) receive wages or other payments from the British Army; and whether his Department has provided transport assistance to their families travelling to visit them in prison. [37239]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: Guardsmen Fisher and Wright have not been dismissed from the Army. They are not, however, entitled to any pay during the term of their imprisonment. The families of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright have their flights to Northern Ireland paid for by the Scots Guards own charitable funds but the Department does provide transport to and from the Maghaberry Prison.

  Pesticides (Mental Health)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what action he is taking to assess the work of Ron Davies of Rydon House acute psychiatric unit in Taunton, on the effects on mental health of exposure to pesticides. [36811]

  Dr. Reid
  I have instructed my officials to assess the implications of the work of Dr. Davies when it is published in an appropriately peer-reviewed medical or scientific journal. We have not yet seen the results of his research and continue to await publication with interest.

  Dartmoor Ranges
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the figures contained in his letter of 20 March to the hon. Member for Totnes, relating to live firing on Dartmoor ranges. [37065]

  Mr. Spellar
  The advertised and actual number of days on which Army firing took place on the range areas of Dartmoor Training Areas for the year ending 31 December was as follows:

  Range

  Advertised

  Actual

  Okehampton

  81

  44

  Willsworthy

  129

  85

  Mervivale

  148

  98

  British Beef
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which the supply of(a) beef and (b) sheepmeat were sourced for each year that the NAAFI held the Ministry of Defence's public-funded messing contract. [28348]

  Mr. Spellar
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1998, c. 67]: I regret the answer given was incorrect because some information is held by NAAFI although not by individual years. They have advised that approximately 30 per cent. of beef by volume was sourced from the UK with some 70 per cent. from overseas mainly from Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. All lamb was sourced from overseas with approximately 70 per cent. of volume coming from New Zealand.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Freemasonry
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will introduce the rules for disclosure of Masonic membership of persons involved in the criminal justice administration of England and Wales proposed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the Northern Ireland criminal justice administration; and if she will introduce similar rules relating to membership of the (i) Orange Order and (ii) other similar organisations. [31621]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 27 February 1998]: I shall give very careful consideration as to the applicability to Northern Ireland of the recommendations in the Home Affairs Select Committee's report, "Freemasonry in the Police and Judiciary".

  Belfast International Airport
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will investigate the reasons why written terms of reference were not provided to the valuers for the privatisation valuation assignment on Belfast International Airport. [37162]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The sale of Belfast International Airport was the subject of a Public Accounts Committee hearing in December 1997. Matters relating to the valuation of Belfast International Airport were addressed at that hearing. The Government cannot comment on the sale until the Committee has reported.

  Mobile Phones
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will restrict the number of mobile phone base stations that can be mounted on one(a) mast, (b) building and (c) other structures. [37098]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  No. There are no plans to use planning controls to restrict the number of base stations in this way. The sharing of masts etc., reduces the overall numbers required, and their impact on the environment.

  Security Measures
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals she has for changes in security measures, including emergency legislation, following a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland. [37667]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  A sub-committee of the multi-party talks discussed the desire for a return to normality in Northern Ireland as soon as possible. The Government laid before the Parties a paper which set out our determination to return Northern Ireland to a situation where the police can resume normal policing duties, the Army can return to barracks and the need for emergency legislation is removed.

  Others have a part to play in ensuring all in Northern Ireland can live in peace without fear of threat or violence from paramilitary groups. The Government are keen to reduce the impact of security but not until it is safe to do so. A copy of the paper, entitled "Responding to a
  608
  changing security situation—the Government's Approach" has now been placed in the Library of the House.

  Handguns
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has for reforming the firearms legislation in Northern Ireland for the control of handguns. [37889]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have recently concluded a review of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 which was instigated by the previous Government in November 1995.

  The purpose of the review was to take a fresh look at the law to see whether it was relevant, effective and proportionate to today's conditions. It has been a wide-ranging examination with no topic excluded. The principal objectives were to maintain rigorous safety standards and sustain public confidence in the authorities' ability to enforce the law effectively while recognising the reasonable expectations of the responsible shooting community and firearms trade. I believe that the proposals for legislative reform which I am publishing today for wider consultation will meet those objectives. Copies of the Consultation Paper have been made available in the libraries of both Houses.

  On the particular issue of handgun controls, I have studied carefully the various recommendations made by Lord Cullen in his report into the terrible events at Dunblane, published in 1996. Although his Tribunal did not inquire into the control of firearms in Northern Ireland, it was only right that I should consider whether his Report contained any important lessons for the Province. I believe it does and my findings are explained at length in the Consultation Paper.

  After much thought, I am not persuaded of the need to prohibit the possession and use of target handguns in Northern Ireland. Nor do I believe it would be appropriate to prohibit the possession of handguns licensed by the Chief Constable, for the personal protection of those individuals under threat of attack and their families. I realise that my decision may disappoint some people who feel strongly, as do I, about firearms control and safeguarding the public. But I would ask them and others to consider carefully the far-reaching proposals for improving firearms safety and making the law more effective which I am publishing today, and let me have their views thereon.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Family Law Act
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to implement Part II of the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [37939]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government remain committed to implementing Part II of The Family Law Act 1996. A very extensive series of pilots testing a number of different models of information meetings will operate until at least March 1999. It would be wrong to anticipate
  609
  the results of these pilots. Given the timetable for the pilots, and the inevitable time that will be needed to establish a comprehensive system once a preferred model of information meeting is decided upon, it would be safe to assume that the Lord Chancellor will be unable to implement Part II until at least the end of 1999 or even early in the year 2000.

  Judgments (Enforcement)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the impact of measures set out in COM (97) 609 on domestic law. [37002]

  Mr. Hoon
  The European Commission's document COM (97) 609 contributes to work being carried on in the Council to make it easier for individuals and companies to enforce any Member State's civil judgments in any other Member State. The Government broadly support the principles underlying the Commission's proposed measures in part 1 of its document. If implemented, they would necessitate changes to the Brussels Convention of 1968 and the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982. Part 2 of the communication is intended to prompt debate on wider questions relating to the enforcement of judgments in the European Union, but it contains no legislative proposals. The Government will be submitting their comments before the 30 April deadline.

  County Courts
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which county courts are under review for closure. [36594]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor has agreed to public consultation on the proposed closure of Camborne and Redruth, Evesham, Hemel Hempstead, Poole and Shrewsbury county courts. Following public consultation I and the Lord Chancellor are currently considering whether to approve the closure of Holywell and Rochdale county courts. Managers in the Court Service are constantly reviewing the viability of the court network in the light of changing business needs and workload trends. Other courts may therefore be proposed for closure in the future.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those county towns in England which do not have county courts. [36595]

  Mr. Hoon
  The following county administrative centres do not have a county court within the town: Matlock, Dorchester and Northallerton.

SCOTLAND

  Hospitals
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds will be provided following the redevelopments at(a) Law Hospital and (b) Hairmyres Hospital. [36728]
  610
  Mr. Galbraith
  Law Hospital will have 613 in-patient beds (of which 336 will be acute beds) and 56 places for day surgery. Hairmyres Hospital will have 364 in-patient beds (all acute) plus 52 day surgery places.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the increase in travel time from East Kilbride to hospital in the case of an obstetric emergency following the transfer of services from Bellshill Hospital to Law Hospital. [36719]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The increased time requirement for emergency travel is estimated to be between 2–5 minutes on average. The Scottish Ambulance Service have also agreed that rapid access to specialist medical cover will be available 24 hours a day if emergencies arise.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cost of refurbishing and redeveloping(a) Law and (b) Hairmyres hospitals. [36727]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Neither hospital is suitable for refurbishment. The estimated construction costs for the new build Law and Hairmyres hospitals are £85 million and £67.5 million respectively.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about a potential increase in morbidity as a result of the relocation of obstetric services from Bellshill to Law Hospital. [36720]

  Mr. Galbraith
  None. However, Lanarkshire Health Board have received representations on this issue from individual obstetricians, paediatricians and midwives from Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust. The Board believe there is no reason to predict any increase in morbidity arising from the relocation of obstetric services.

  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the limitations on the height of the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary as a result of discoveries during the surveying undertaken there; [36722]

  (2) if the site of the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is undermined by old mine workings. [36724]

  Mr. Galbraith
  No limitations on the height of the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are required as a result of discoveries during surveying undertaken there. There is, however, a 3 storey height limit imposed upon the development by the planning authorities to protect sight lines from various vantage points around the site. The site of the new Royal Infirmary is not undermined by old mine workings.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the costs of building the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. [36726]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is being provided through the Private Finance Initiative and it is estimated that the capital cost of the building at current prices is £188.5m.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the cost of the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on primary health care funding in Edinburgh and the Lothians. [36723]
  611
  Mr. Galbraith
  The planned configuration of acute hospitals, including the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, in Edinburgh and the Lothians will result in an additional £10m per annum being invested in primary care and community services to improve the range and quality of services.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds are currently planned for the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. [36725]

  Mr. Galbraith
  869.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what specific changes to departmental transport arrangements have to date been implemented following the receipt of the Green Transport Plan; [36642]

  (2) on what date he plans to introduce a green commuting plan. [36660]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions circulated to all Departments in September last year a "Guide to Green Transport Plans". My right hon. Friend is considering its recommendations.

  Midwives
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trusts and health boards in Scotland have implemented the recommendation by the Management Executive of the Scottish Office that midwives should be placed on a minimum of Grade F of the clinical grading structure. [37225]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Current NHS in Scotland Management Executive guidance issued as NHS MEL (1995) 81 requires that"where the nurse clinical grading structure is used and a midwife has a defined caseload of women to whom he/she gives the full range of midwifery care the grades 'F' or 'G' will normally be appropriate".

  It is for employers to determine the appropriate grading in the light of local circumstances.

  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that the grading of midwives in Scotland is in line with that in other parts of the United Kingdom. [37224]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Comparable guidance taking account of the Scottish perspective was issued in Scotland in 1995 as NHS MEL (1995) 81.

  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many midwives in Scotland are currently employed on Grade D of the clinical grading structure. [37226]

  Mr. Galbraith
  There were 6 qualified midwives employed in the NHS in Scotland on Grade D at 30 September 1997, the latest date for which information is available centrally.
  612

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the Review into Eye Transplantation and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; and if he will make a statement. [37895]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Sir William Stewart submitted his report to me and my hon. Friends the Health Ministers for England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 27 February. I am grateful to him for the hard work he and his team put into the Report and for the conclusions he reached. I have placed a copy of the Report in the Library.

  Sir William reviewed the circumstances surrounding the use for transplantation of eye tissue from a donor who was later found to have been suffering from the classic form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. His Report clearly sets out the facts surrounding the occurrence, and makes 18 recommendations covering both specific improvements which should be made to procedures and more general issues arising from the Review. The Government welcome the recommendations and are considering them.

  Scotland Bill
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he or his Ministers authorised a written briefing for the Press on the subject of the debates on the Scotland Bill in Committee on 30 March that was issued prior to those debates; and if he will place a copy of the briefing in the Library. [37505]

  Mr. McLeish
  I briefed the Parliamentary lobby correspondents on 30 March on the background to the debates expected to take place on the last two days of the Committee Stage of the Scotland Bill. I am placing a copy of the written briefing note in the Library.

  Criminal Procedure (Intermediate Diets)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Crown Office was informed of a problem relating to the statutory basis for Intermediate Diets in Summary Criminal Procedure; and if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between the Crown Office and offices of the Procurators Fiscal bearing on the case of Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow), 1998 SCCR:790. [37232]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: The Crown Office was informed of the problem when the opinion of the court in Vannet v. Milligan was delivered on 12 March 1998, although it became aware of the potential problem when the decision of the court in Mackay v. Ruxton was delivered.

  Communications between the Crown Office and Procurators Fiscal are confidential. However, on 19 November 1997, when the decision in Mackay v. Ruxton was announced, immediate steps were taken by the Crown to minimise any potential effect arising from it.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of cases affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) which have already been determined. [37235]
  613
  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: On 19 November 1997, in the case of Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) 1998 JC 51, the High Court of Justiciary held that in Scotland, the fixing of an intermediate diet when a summary trial was adjourned was not what Parliament intended. In the case of PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan, decided on 12 March 1998, the court held that a Sheriff had no power, at an "unintended" intermediate diet, to adjourn the trial diet and by implication discharge a trial diet already fixed, and that the instance fell if the case was not called on the date originally fixed.

  No cases are directly affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) but the Crown Office estimate that around 1,000 current cases are likely to be affected by the subsequent decision of the court in PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan, decided on 12 March 1998. Several thousand concluded cases may be involved as well. However, the precise number of cases which may be affected by the decision in PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan cannot be established without disproportionate costs.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of those cases affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) which have already been determined(a) are outside the time limit for appealing by way of Stated Case in terms of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 section 176 and (b) have been affected by undue delay as currently understood where a Bill of Suspension might otherwise be brought; and what action the Crown will take in response to any appeal in respect of those cases. [37236]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: No cases are directly affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) but it has been estimated that several thousand cases may be affected by the subsequent decision of the court in the case of PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan, decided on 12 March 1998.

  Any application for stated case must be lodged within seven days of the final determination of the case, although there is provision for the time limit to be extended by the High Court of Justiciary.

  There is no time limit for bringing an appeal by Bill of Suspension, although delay in doing so may result in the appeal being refused on the ground of acquiescence. There is some doubt however whether such delay would be a bar to the bringing of an appeal based on fundamental nullity of the proceedings.

  The Crown will consider the merits of any appeal brought.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many of those cases affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) convictions followed upon pleas of guilty. [37237]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: No cases are affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) but the Crown Office estimate that up to 1,000 current cases may be affected by the court's subsequent decision in the case of PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan, decided on 12 March 1998. Several thousand concluded cases may be involved as well. However, the precise number of cases which may be affected by the decision in PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan cannot be established without disproportionate
  614
  costs. Accordingly it has not been possible to establish how many of the affected cases involved convictions following upon pleas of guilty.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the consequences of the judgments in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow), 1998, SCCR:790 and PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan, unreported; and if he will list the categories of offence affected by the problem identified in these judgments. [37233]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: The judgments may affect any crime prosecuted on summary complaint, including: assault; sexual crimes; dishonesty; drugs offences; and driving offences including disqualified dangerous and drunk driving.

  The hon. Member will be aware that a Bill was introduced to the House yesterday in order to address the implications of the High Court's judgments.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of cases affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) which have not yet been determined in(a) the district courts and (b) the sheriff courts; what percentage involve (i) statutory offences and (ii) common law offences; and in respect of those involving statutory offences, in how many of them is the Crown time-barred from raising fresh complaints. [37234]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: No cases are directly affected by the decision in Mackay v. PF (Linlithgow) but the Crown Office estimate that up to 1,000 current cases may be affected by the court's subsequent decision in the case of PF (Glasgow) v. Milligan, unreported.

  It is not possible however to establish precise figures by reference to court or offence, without disproportionate costs.

  In some cases affected it may be possible for the Crown to bring fresh proceedings. The extent to which the Crown will do so may depend on any time-bar which applies to the individual charges. For the reason given, no figures are available for the number of cases in which the Crown would be time-barred from raising fresh complaints.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Glidewell report on the Crown Prosecution Service is to be published; what is the cost to the CPS of the retention of Crown Communications to represent that service; and if he will make a statement. [37710]

  The Attorney-General
  Sir Iain Glidewell was unable to finalise his report in March as he had hoped. He informs me that he has a small amount of further work to complete but finalisation will be dependent largely on the time taken to complete the necessary consultation.

  The Crown Prosecution Service has explored the use of suitable consultants to assist with internal communications as part of the change management associated with

  615
  implementation of those recommendations of the CPS Review Team which are accepted by the Government. Crown Business Communication Ltd. have been identified as the most suitable but no contract has yet been signed and there is no commitment to any specific expenditure. The extent and value of any work which that company may be asked to undertake will be dependent on decisions to be taken in the light of the report of the CPS review team once it is received.

  Prosecution Terminations
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Attorney-General what guidance is given to judges for dealing with applications to terminate prosecution cases on the basis that the lapse of time since the alleged offence was such that it would not be possible to have a fair trial. [36942]

  Mr. Hoon
  There has been no such guidance issued to judges.

TREASURY

  Gaming Duty
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount was received by the Treasury from taxes and duties on the casino industry in the last year for which figures are available. [36826]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: The level of revenue in 1997 from Gaming duty was £90 million. Separate figures are not available for other taxes such as VAT and Corporation tax.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the top rate of gaming duty is in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) Belgium, (e) the Netherlands and (f) the Republic of Ireland. [36186]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 25 March 1998]: Gaming Duty is not levied in exactly the same way in each of these countries but information, taken mainly from the latest version of the "Inventory of Taxes levied in the Member States of the European Union" (16th Edition), shows that, at 1 January 1996, the situation was as follows:

  (a) In the United Kingdom, the highest current rate of gaming duty is 33; per cent.

  (b) In France, the takings of gambling clubs and houses are subject to a progressive rate on their annual takings. The rates are not specified, but previous information suggests that the top rate has been 80 per cent.

  (c) In Germany, bets on the results of horse and greyhound races, lotteries, bingo and similar games of chance and football pools are subject to a tax on the amount of the bets or prizes of 16; per cent. Separate information suggests that this has been supplemented by a special casino fee charged at up to 80 per cent. of gross gaming yield.

  (d) In Belgium, the maximum rate on the gross gaming yield is 40 per cent., except in the Flemish community where it is 44 per cent.

  (e) In the Netherlands, a duty of 33; per cent. is levied on all the gross gaming winnings of a casino.

  (f) Casinos are prohibited in the Republic of Ireland.

  Continence Products
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 671, concerning the VAT Tribunal and continence products, if he will list (a) the cases when VAT relief applied and (b) the cases where VAT relief did not apply. [37168]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: The VAT Tribunal in Molnlycke Ltd. examined four contracts. It decided that supplies of continence products under the contracts with Aylesbury Vale Community Health Care Trust and Chester and Halton Community NHS Trust for patients in their own homes were zero-rated. However, it ruled that supplies of those goods for residents under the contract with Westgate House Nursing Home and for the majority of patients of Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust were standard-rated.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 671, concerning the VAT Tribunal decision in respect of continence products, for what reasons he decided to reimpose VAT in each case where the tribunal had ruled that relief should apply. [37169]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: The VAT relief for continence products was used by several NHS Trusts, which entered into contractual arrangements with a third party to gain a tax advantage. As NHS Trusts are funded for the VAT they cannot recover, the tax advantage amounted to double funding. We therefore introduced a change of law to restore the status quo.

  Government Offices
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate a study on the transfer of Government offices from London. [35817]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: There are no plans for such a study. The Government's policy on relocation is not centrally directed. The respective departmental minister will need to evaluate each decision on its merits considering best value for money, operational efficiency, impact on local labour markets and available resources.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in estimating the cost to the Exchequer of the proposed children's tax credit, what was the assumed take-up rate. [36249]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him and the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 1 April 1998, Official Report, column 554.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of extra people who will be persuaded in each year to 2002 to move from dependency on out of work benefits into jobs by the changes in family credit/working families tax credit announced in the Budget. [36367]
  617
  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: The Government expect that their programme of tax and benefit reform to make work pay will, like their New Deals, help people move off welfare and into work.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of working families tax credit which will be paid direct to non-employed mothers. [36391]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: No such estimate has been made. Couples will have the choice whether the Working Families Tax Credit is paid to the man or the woman.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extra costs incurred in the introduction of the disabled person's tax credit. [36410]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: Additional annual costs are likely to be £7 million to £10 million by the years 2001/2002. These costs reflect the higher earnings thresholds and lower tapers of the Disabled Person's Tax Credit, as well as the expected increase in recipients.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there will be a childcare tax credit within the disabled person's tax credit. [36411]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: Yes.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the disability working allowance will cease to be paid. [36409]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: When it is replaced by the Disabled Person's Tax Credit in October 1999.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level the disabled person's tax credit will be paid. [36414]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: The rates at which the Disabled Person's Tax Credit will be paid will be the same as for the Disability Working Allowance (DWA) which it will replace in October 1999. Where it differs is in having higher earnings thresholds of £70 for a single person and £90 for a couple, compared with £57.85 and £77.15 respectively in the DWA; a lower taper of 55 per cent. compared with 70 per cent. for the DWA; and in the childcare credit that replaces the present disregard, which will meet 70 per cent. of childcare costs up to £100 for families with one child and £150 for families with two or more children.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people expected to benefit from the new disabled person's tax credit. [36415]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: The Disabled Person's Tax Credit will benefit the 14,000 people currently receiving Disability Working Allowance. In addition, we would expect that the changes to the structure of the provision will cause the caseload to increase by a further 10 per cent. to 15 per cent.

  However, we would expect this and the New Deal for disabled people will enable many more sick and disabled people to move into work.
  618
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to introduce the disabled person's tax credit. [36413]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]: October 1999.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the expenditure on the(a) working families tax credit, (b) childcare tax credit, (c) disabled persons' tax credit, and (d) other newly introduced tax credits in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01, (iv) 2001–02 and (v) 2002–03; and for each of these years, what is the related reduction in other social security expenditure as a consequence of the introduction of the new tax credits. [36451]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Estimates of the net Exchequer cost of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit were given in lines one and five of Table C.l of the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC620). These estimates take account of the ending of Family Credit. The cost of the childcare tax credit within the WFTC was given in a reply to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 1 April 1998, Official Report, column 554.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the numbers of(a) new recipients of social security benefits and (b) new recipients of tax credits who were not previously claiming family credit in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [36376]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Estimates of the caseload for the various Social Security benefits will appear in the Department of Social Security's departmental report on 7 April.

  The Government estimate that, in its first full year of operation (2000–01), about 400 thousand more families will be entitled to the Working Families Tax Credit that were entitled to Family Credit.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the additional net costs of the working families tax credit compared to family credit for(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [36395]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The relevant factors are the higher withdrawal threshold, the lower taper, the increase in the child tax credits and the increase in the amount of support for childcare provided by the childcare tax credit.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update table 1.2 in the Red Book allowing for the Control Total for public spending to grow at 0.75 per cent. in real terms after 1998–99. [36449]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The information requested for the PSBR, the GGFD and the Current Balance—all based on the 1998 Budget—can be calculated from Section A of table B5 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report and the projections for money GDP contained in table Bl. The effects of Budget

  619
  measures and the effect of forecasting changes are unchanged by the assumption. Therefore, the PSBR in the 1997 Budget can be derived as the residual.

  Public Sector (Current Balance)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cyclically adjusted public sector current balance in cash terms for(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01, (d) 2001–02 and (e) 2002–03. [36453]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The information requested can be calculated from the estimates of the cyclically adjusted public sector current balance as a percentage of GDP in table B6 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report and the projections of money GDP in table Bl.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what date he plans to introduce a green commuting plan; [36669]

  (2) what specific changes to departmental transport arrangements have to date been implemented following the receipt of the Green Transport Plan. [36654]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [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". The Treasury is considering how to respond to its recommendations and is currently preparing draft green transport plans.

  Marginal Deduction Rates
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve work incentives by tackling high marginal deduction rates resulting from housing support mechanisms; and if he will make a statement. [36377]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The Budget tackled high marginal reduction rates faced by people receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in two ways. First, it will change disregards so as to remove instances where people could be worse off if they increased their earnings. Second, the Working Families Tax Credit will mean that 50 thousand families will no longer face penal marginal rates as a result of being on both the WFTC taper and Housing Benefit taper. And all people on the Family Credit taper will find that their return from working increases by one half: half a million families will see the return from increase in their earnings rise by one-half.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the planned social security expenditure as a percentage of GDP in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, on the basis of (i) the pre-Budget estimates and (ii) the post Budget estimates, assuming that expenditure on the tax credits introduced in the Budget counts against social security spending; and if he will make a statement. [36394]
  620
  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: Total DSS expenditure in 1996–97 was equivalent to 12 per cent of GDP. Forecasts for DSS expenditure published in the recent Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1997–98 and 1998–99 show that this ratio is expected to fall to 11½ per cent. in both years. The effect on these figures of policies announced in the Budget is negligible.

  Spending plans for future years will be announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Windfall Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the percentage of the total revenue from the windfall tax which will be spent on the New Deal for the young unemployed over the period 1997 to 2002; and if he will make a statement. [36454]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The allocation of the revenue from the windfall tax is set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report, March 1998 (House of Commons No 620). Table 3.1: Funding Welfare to Work indicates that, over the period 1997 to 2002, £2.62 billion is allocated to the New Deal for the young unemployed programme. This represents just over 50 per cent. of the £5.2 billion expected revenue from the windfall tax.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account has been taken of recent rulings outlawing the pre-authorisation of financial products by the EU in the Government's proposals for a voluntary benchmarking system of life insurance-based savings products within the ISA. [36800]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The prohibition in the Third Life Directive will not apply since the proposed benchmark standards will be voluntary and will not involve either prior approval or systematic notification of insurance ISAs before they can be marketed. The Treasury will issue a consultation document on benchmarking ISAs in the next few weeks.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the cost to the finance industry of new computer systems required to deal with the new ISA product from April 1999. [36776]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: As stated in Budget Press Release, Inland Revenue 2, published on 17 March, a compliance cost assessment will be published when draft regulations for the new account are issued for consultation around the beginning of May.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to begin consultation on his proposals for reforming company car tax; what form the consultation will take; and if he will make a statement. [37287]

  Dawn Primarolo
  People are invited (Budget 98 Press Release Inland Revenue 6) to send comments to the Inland Revenue on the case for replacing the existing business mileage discounts with discounts for driving
  621
  fewer private miles in company cars. It would be helpful if they could send in initial views by around the end of April. In the light of the views expressed and proposals in the forthcoming Integrated Transport White Paper, we will then decide how to proceed.

  Resuscitation Training Models
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue will be raised by the levying of VAT on resuscitation training models in 1998–99. [36603]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: Resuscitation training models have been subject to the standard rate of VAT since the introduction of the tax in 1973. Customs and Excise are unable to identify separately the VAT yield from these particular goods.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was derived from VAT on resuscitation dummies in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [37268]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The standard-rated status of resuscitation training models has remained unchanged since the introduction of VAT. Customs are unable to identify the VAT yield of these particular goods.

  Fuel Tax (Charities)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt charitable organisations offering door-to-door transport services to people with extra mobility needs, operating under section 19 licences, from fuel tax increases. [36591]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The tax on road fuel is charged on a broad base with no exemptions for particular user groups or individuals. It would not be appropriate to exempt charitable organisations.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of fuel tax increases on charitable organisations, operating under section 19 licences, offering door-to-door transport services to people with extra mobility needs. [36590]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No such assessment of the effect of fuel tax increases on charitable organisations has been made.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the VAT reduction on energy saving materials for use in certain schemes, announced in the Budget, applies to energy efficiency schemes for social housing provided under the Electricity Regulator's Standards of Performance Initiative. [37205]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Yes. To the extent that 'Standards of Performance' moneys are used, through targeted grant funding schemes, to pay for the installation of certain energy efficiency measures in the homes of the less well off, the relief will apply.

  Environmental Green Book
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral answer from the Financial Secretary of 10 July 1997,Official Report, column 1062, when he
  622
  intends to publish an environmental green book setting out the impact of policy changes contained in the financial Red Book. [36400]

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a green book in respect of the Budget; and if he will make a statement. [36983]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The Financial Statement and Budget Report, released on 17 March, contains an environmental assessment of the Budget measures which will have a significant effect on the environment. The inclusion of the assessment within the Financial Statement and Budget Report demonstrates the Government's commitment to put the environment at the heart of Government policy. The assessment shows that the Budget measures will help to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and improve local air quality.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what actions he will propose to the EU Meeting of Ministers in Birmingham in May to relieve the heavily indebted poor countries of their debt by the year 2000. [37090]

  Mrs. Liddell
  At the G8 summit in Birmingham in May, the Government will promote the speedy and effective implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative along the lines that the Chancellor set out in his Mauritius Mandate statement last September.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the £5 million reporting figure for acceptances of works of art as property in lieu of inheritance tax is subject to the 1984 Gowrie Agreement that no figure should be treated as a limit or a target. [36772]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have not set any limit or target for acceptances in lieu.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to page 78 of the Red Book what estimate he has made of(a)the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions which will result from the reduced VAT rate on the installation of energy saving materials under certain grant schemes and (b) the impact on local air quality. [36857]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Our reduced VAT rate relief for energy saving materials is primarily a social measure, allowing less well-off people to stay warmer. Nevertheless, the measure will have small environmental impact.

  Any estimate of environmental impact is subject to significant margins of uncertainty, but the likely impact is that between about 3,000 and 7,000 tonnes of carbon will be saved each year, assuming that 40,000 extra

  623
  households have basic energy efficiency measures undertaken as a result of this new relief. By the year 2010, the total annual carbon saving will be between about 35,000 tonnes and 80,000 tonnes.

  This measure is not aimed at improving local air quality, but there may be some small benefit as a result of lower fuel consumption. A range of other measures in the Budget will have a much greater impact in terms of local air quality—for example, the duty rises for standard diesel, and vehicle excise duty discounts for clean lorries and buses.

  National Savings
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about National Savings. [37937]

  Mrs. Liddell
  National Savings, which has a key role in helping to fund the Government's borrowing requirements as efficiently as possible, has been carrying out a wide ranging programme to modernise the organisation against a background of a fast-moving and highly competitive retail savings market. This has included the evaluation of a public-private partnership for back office services delivery. After detailed consideration and discussion with those involved, I have today given National Savings Board the authority to proceed to the Invitation To Negotiate stage in the process. From a list of four companies who responded to the Information Memorandum, the two companies who have been shortlisted to the next stage are Siemens and EDS.

  I do not expect to make a decision as to whether to conclude a public-private partnership, and if so with which bidder, until some time later in the year. My decision will be based on value for money and will also bear closely in mind the best interests of customers and of National Savings staff.

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1998 departmental reports to be published. [37938]

  Mr. Darling
  Publication dates for the 1998 departmental reports will be as follows:

  Friday 3 April

  Department for Education and Employment

  Department of Culture, Media and Sport

  Department of Health

  Treasury and Chancellor's smaller Departments

  Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses

  Monday 6 April

  Home Office

  Customs & Excise

  Inland Revenue

  Tuesday 7 April

  Ministry of Defence

  Foreign & Commonwealth Office

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Department for International Development

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions

  624

  Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments

  Department of Social Security

  Welsh Office

  Northern Ireland

  Cabinet Office

  Thursday 9 April

  Scottish Office.

WALES

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he plans to make for the inspection of Government-funded vocational training and the Careers Service. [37661]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government will shortly be proposing new clauses for the Teaching and Higher Education Bill which would extend the functions of the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools (OHMCI) to include inspection of vocational training and the careers service in Wales.

  We wish to make use of OHMCI's reputation for quality and independence to bring to the inspection of Government-funded training the same rigour that applies to education. This is in line with the Government's broader strategy to promote standards of post-16 education and training. OHMCI already carries out inspections of further education colleges in Wales and, given the links between work-based vocational training and that carried out in colleges, it makes sense for the same body to arrange the inspection of both aspects. As for schools and colleges, the purpose of inspection is to raise standards, stimulate the improvement of training delivery, generate more openness and transparency in provision and offer more informed customer choice.

  The extension of OHMCI's remit to cover the careers service would streamline arrangements and end the current arbitrary division of inspection responsibilities between careers education carried out in schools and colleges and the work of the careers service. It is also in line with the Welsh Office's objective of achieving greater rationalisation and co-operation between all education, training and careers providers.

  We envisage a non-statutory framework of inspection implemented in both cases through contracts with the organisations to be inspected; and, if the legislation is enacted, we will be consulting with those involved prior to implementation.

  Lifelong Learning
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for lifelong learning in Wales. [37662]
  625
  Mr. Hain
  We have today published 'Learning Is For Everyone', our Green Paper for Wales on lifelong learning. The Green Paper will invite comment, and stimulate debate, on the Government's challenging agenda for learning post-16 in Wales.

  Unemployment (Alyn and Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of(a) male and (b) female (i) long-term and (ii) young unemployed in the constituency of Alyn and Deeside. [36682]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Number

  1Long-term unemployment

  2Youth unemployment

  Male

  278

  291

  Female

  40

  131

  1 Claimant unemployed for more than 52 weeks

  2 Unemployed claimants under the age of 25

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Low Pay Commission
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence has been submitted by his Department to the Low Pay Commission; and if he will make a statement. [36461]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government's evidence to the Low Pay Commission was published on 30 January. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of a minimum wage in Wales. [36463]

  Mr. Hain
  The National Minimum Wage will benefit low paid workers and prevent them from being exploited; it will be especially advantageous in Wales where low pay is widespread.

  New Deal (Local Education Authorities)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways he expects local education authorities in Wales to participate in the New Deal. [36680]

  Mr. Hain
  Local Education Authorities are actively involved in the New Deal Strategic Partnerships established in all Employment Service Districts in Wales. These partnerships are planning the delivery of the New Deal for young people to meet the needs of local communities and will also have an important role in monitoring its implementation and in identifying and disseminating good practice.

  The Local Education Authorities in Wales have been involved in considering the arrangements for the Full-time Training and Education Option and have been particularly helpful in bringing together the quality providers required to meet the needs of the more disadvantaged New Deal participants.
  626
  This is another example of how the New Deal is an advancement on previous Government schemes— partnership at every level, with each collaborator bringing their own expertise to the table to ensure that our young unemployed people get the high quality opportunities they deserve.

  Housing Development (Brownfield Sites)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many brownfield sites he has identified in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [36527]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information requested is not collected centrally. However, Planning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy, May 1996, makes clear that it is for local planning authorities to take account of the scope and potential for rehabilitation, conversion, clearance and redevelopment of land in their areas. In particular, local authorities should take account of the contribution reclaimable or reclaimed urban land can make to the overall provision of land for housing. Local authorities are able to identify suitable sites via the development plan process.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was allocated to Wales from the EU's structural funds in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [36460]

  Mr. Hain
  The information is not held in the annualised form requested. However, the overall amount allocated for combined structural fund programmes (ERDF, ESF and, where appropriate, EAGGF and FIFG) in Wales covering the period since 1990 is £793.7 million. The breakdown between the programmes is as follows:

  £ million

  Programme

  Allocation

  1987–91

  Dyfed Gwynedd Powys Integrated Development Operation

  83.2

  1989–91

  Clwyd Integrated Development Operation

  23.6

  Industrial South Wales Integrated Operations Programme

  71.6

  1990–93

  Rechar 1 Programme for Industrial South Wales

  21.7

  1992–93

  Clwyd Operational Programme

  21.8

  Dyfed Gwynedd Powys Operational Programme

  25.7

  Industrial South Wales Operational Programme

  74.1

  Leader 1 Programme

  2.3

  1993

  Konver 11

  0.8

  1993–95

  Retex l2

  0.5

  1994–96

  Industrial South Wales Single Programming Document

  111.5

  627

  £ million

  Programme

  Allocation

  1994–99

  Rural Wales Single Programme Document

  126.9

  Community Initiatives

  Interreg

  9.4

  Konver II

  1.9

  Leader II Programme

  7.3

  Pesca

  0.8

  Rechar II

  17.4

  Resider II

  10.8

  Retex II

  1.9

  SMEs Programme for Wales

  1.6

  Urban Programme

  3.9

  1997–99

  Industrial South Wales Single Programming Document 1997–99

  175

  Total:

  793.7

  1 The grant allocation of some £16 million for Konver funding was made at the UK level. Wales received £0.8 million in grant.

  2 The grant allocation of some £4.4 million for Retex funding was made at the UK level. Wales received £0.5 million in grant.

  In the case of the national ESF Programmes, such as Objective 3 and the Human Resource Community Initiatives, which have either hitherto been, or continue to remain, the sole responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, I have requested the information and will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Football Association of Wales
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to provide public money to support the work of the Football Association of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [36679]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Central Government funding for sport is channelled through the Sports Council for Wales. In 1997–98, the Sports Council's grant to the Football Association of Wales is £48,477. This will increase to £52,727 in 1998–99.

  Football is also benefiting greatly from the National Lottery. Since the Sports Council began distributing funds in 1995, over £1.9 million has been awarded to 26 community-based schemes throughout Wales.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to support the work of the Football Association of Wales Football in the Community Charitable Trust in the future; and if he will make a statement. [36678]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None. Welsh Office support for sport is channelled through the Sports Council for Wales, who are better placed to decide priorities for funding.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial provisions he will make to assist the Football Association of Wales to complete the works required by the Taylor report in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [36676]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Welsh Office has no funds available to complete Taylor-related work in Wales. Wales's three Football League clubs, will, however, be 628
  able to apply to the Football Trust for funding to assist them in implementing the recommendations of the Taylor Report.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what public money was given in 1997–98 and in each of the three previous years to the Football Association of Wales to support the work of the Football Association of Wales Football in the Community Charitable Trust; and if he will make a statement. [36677]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce bursaries for dental students on condition that such students agree to provide NHS services to areas of need for a set period after they have qualified; and if he will make a statement. [36675]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  No. Such an arrangement would be highly speculative and difficult to enforce. The Department continues to make available generous financial support for dentists establishing or expanding practices in areas of need in Wales and 61 grants have already been made.

  Road Improvements
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department will spend on road improvements in Wales during the next year; and if he will make a statement. [37455]

  Mr. Hain
  Plans for expenditure on roads and transport in 1998–99 will be included in the Welsh Office's Departmental Report to be published shortly. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House. Details of the strategy for and role of the Welsh trunk road programme will be included in the report on the Welsh Trunk Roads Review to be published later this year.

  Crickhowell House
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 1998,Official Report, column 734, if he will make a statement on the contract let to Gooch and Wagstaff; if it was (a) advertised and (b) let by competitive tender; what part Gooch and Wagstaff played in advising his predecessor on the original lease of Crickhowell House; what is the approximate value of the contract; and which company has been awarded the other contract. [37468]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Gooch & Wagstaff were selected following a limited external competition where 4 specialist firms were invited to submit bids to provide independent professional property advice in respect of the 2 sites shortlisted for the National Assembly for Wales. They were selected because of their specialist knowledge, their previous experience with PFI schemes and their fee structure which offered the best value for money. The value of their contract will depend upon the time spent preparing their report, but is not expected to exceed £25,000.
  629
  Gooch & Wagstaff were previously appointed by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority (WHCSA) in 1991 to advise WHCSA and to negotiate with Grosvenor Waterside the original lease of Crickhowell House.

  In addition to Gooch & Wagstaff, AYH Partnership, Chartered Surveyors have been appointed to review the likely construction costs for both options.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Public Opinion Research
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent public opinion surveys the Government have carried out into public perceptions of EU membership; what organisation conducted them; how much they cost; how large in each case was the sample size; what was the date of the field work; if he will place a copy of the findings in the Library; and what further surveys he plans to undertake. [25332]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: We commissioned a survey on attitudes to Europe in November 1997. The contract was won by GGC/NOP following a tender process. The cost was between £20,000 and £30,000. The fieldwork was conducted from 12 to 21 December. The sample size was 1,001 people. A copy of the results have been placed in the libraries of the House. There are at present no plans to repeat the survey, though a repeat is not ruled out.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure has been incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies(a) in 1996–97 and (b) since 1 May 1997 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each; and if he will make a statement. [26660]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]:

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  £

  1996–97

  Since 1 May 1997

  Opinion polling

  1,216,000

  326,000 (plus VAT)

  Focus groups

  —

  —

  Other market research

  4,5,630,000

  —

  1 Survey of Canadian attitudes to the UK. For public diplomacy strategy.

  2 Survey of Mexican business attitudes to the UK. For export promotion and inward strategy.

  3 Survey to get a snapshot of attitudes in the UK towards the EU and current EU issues in the context of the UK's EU Presidency.

  4 To assess the coverage and effectiveness of the "UK Today" film series.

  5 To assess the coverage and effectiveness of the London Correspondents Service.

  6 To assess the UK image in India.

  The FCO's agency incurred no expenditure of this type in the periods in question. One FCO NDPB spent £2,056 in 1996–97 and £4,112 (est.) since 1 May 1997 on other market research in the normal course of business.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts for public opinion research his Department has awarded since 630
  1 May; if he will indicate the (a) purpose, (b) cost, (c) value and (d) duration of each contract; and which companies (i) bid for and (ii) were awarded each contract. [28875]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: We have awarded one contract for public opinion research since 1 May 1997. Its purpose was to survey attitudes in the UK towards the EU and current EU issues in the context of the UK's EU Presidency.

  The cost was £26,000 excluding VAT. The results will contribute to the formulation of policy. The contract was for a single round of polling which was carried out between 12 and 21 December 1997.

  Four companies were invited to bid for the research: MORI, RSGB (Research Services of Great Britain) GGC/NOP, (Gould, Greenberg, Carville/National Opinion Poll) and BMRB (British Management Research Bureau). The contract was awarded to GGC/NOP.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27671]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  It has been my policy and that of other FCO Ministers to read letters from hon. Members on constituency matters and that will remain the case. The exception is visa matters, where aside from particularly sensitive cases, the practice is and has been for replies to be sent by officials.

  People's Europe Project
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the criteria for the issuing of invitations to attend the People's Europe Conference in June; if he will list the(a) organisations and (b) individuals approached to contribute to the Executive Committee; if he will list those invited to speak to date; and what measures are being taken to ensure a balanced variety of viewpoints amongst those participating. [37095]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  It is the intention to invite representatives of a wide range of civic society from EU and associated countries, including NGOs, small and medium enterprises, local government, voluntary organisations, trade unions, youth groups and the public. The Executive Committee includes representatives of the CBI SME Unit, the TUC, Local Government International Bureau, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, European Movement, Chadiam House, Green Alliance and the office staff. A wide range of speakers from across Europe have been invited. The organisers are seeking to ensure a variety of viewpoints and backgrounds are represented, as well as to ensure geographical balance. They have sought contributions to the event from a wide range of organisations and the main UK political parties, which are represented on the Conference's Advisory Committee.

  Convention Against Torture
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent signing by Bahrain of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [37716]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We welcome the news of any country ratifying the core human rights instruments. The recent ratification of the Convention Against Torture by the State of Bahrain is to be welcomed. We look forward to continued improvements in human rights in Bahrain. We have indicated to the Government of Bahrain that we will assist them, in whatever way possible, to achieve this objective.

  EU General Affairs Council
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held on 30 and 31 March in Brussels. [37717]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The A Points and EP Resolutions were approved.

  The morning of 30 March was devoted to the launch of the Accession Process with the 11 candidates. The meeting demonstrated the all-inclusive nature of enlargement.

  In parallel, EU trade ministers discussed preparations for the meeting in Geneva of WTO ministers.

  On Agenda 2000, President Santer presented the draft regulations published on 18 March. The Foreign Secretary outlined UK Presidency plans for handling the Agenda 2000 package before Cardiff. The 27 April General Affairs Council will consider the proposals in more detail.

  The Council discussed the Middle East Peace Process and endorsed the approach which the President of the Council adopted during his visit to the region. Ministers looked forward to the visit of the Prime Minister in April. The Council agreed to the publication of the Executive Summary of the Settlements Watch for the period September to December 1997, drawn up by EU Missions in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Council reiterated its concern at the continued deadlock in the Peace Process and reaffirmed the EU's determination to play a full part in any constructive new initiative: it hoped the US would soon come forward with proposals as a basis for renewed negotiations.

  The Council had a further discussion on the enhancement of political contacts with Iran and agreed that the EU should renew dialogue with Iran on the basis of the 23 February General Affairs Council Conclusions, that is to say a comprehensive dialogue covering both areas of mutual interest and of concern. The Council invited the Presidency to liaise with the Iranian government over the arrangements for the first meeting.

  The Council reviewed implementation of the Action plan dealing with migrants from Iraq and the neighbouring region. Ministers agreed that this was proceeding satisfactorily.

  There was support from within the EU for the contact group stance on Kosovo. Partners are clear that the key is for Belgrade to open an effective dialogue on the status
  632
  of Kosovo with the Albanian community. The Council also reaffirmed its view that Croatia must do more to comply with its international obligations.

  The Council considered a Presidency report on the progress made in preparing a draft mandate for negotiations of a successor to the Lome Convention. Discussion focused on the trade issues. It was agreed that the ultimate objective should be the progressive integration of ACP states into the world economy and their full participation in a liberalised trading system. Further work was needed on the new trade arrangements, which should at least maintain current market access for the ACP and be WTO-compatible. The trade regime for Least Developed Countries should be improved in accordance with Council Conclusions of 2 June 1997.

  The Commission reported on the state of negotiations with South Africa on a Trade and Co-operation Agreement. The Council noted the progress made at the last negotiating round in March and expressed the wish to complete negotiations soon. The Council invited the Commission to report back after the next negotiating round this month.

  The Council took note of a presentation by Sir Leon Brittan of the Commission's Communication on the New Transatlantic Marketplace. COREPER will examine the Communication and report to a future meeting of the General Affairs Council.

  The Presidency reported on the state of preparations for the second Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 2) to be held in London on 3–4 April. The Presidency also informed partners of preparations for the first EU/China Summit which will be held on 2 April.

  The General Affairs Council agreed, based on a UK Presidency paper, that the new CFSP Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit should concentrate on forward planning, including crisis prediction and policy planning aspects of conflict prevention and produce policy options for decision by Member States in the Council. Provision has been made for a staff of up to 20, most of whom will be secondees from Member State Foreign Ministries. There will also be one Commission and one WEU secondee. HMG is thus delivering on our Presidency objective of taking forward implementation of the new CFSP structures agreed at Amsterdam.

  The Council agreed that Ministers representing Troika should visit the Great Lakes region to assess the current situation and discuss with regional leaders the contribution the EU can make. The Council agreed a new common position on Rwanda setting out the criteria on which the EU will base the major contribution it makes to international support for reconstruction and reconciliation in Rwanda. The Council reiterated EU support for efforts by regional states neighbouring Burundi to promote political dialogue. Such a dialogue is the only basis for achieving a durable solution to Burundi's problems.

  There was a discussion of recent developments in Russia.

  On the morning of 31 March the UK chaired six individual Inter Governmental Conferences to open accession negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

  European Council
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for April and list the major European Union events for the next six months. [37718]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The following Councils are scheduled:

  Monthly forecast of business for April 1998

  Date

  Location

  Council

  April 7

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  April 20–21

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  April 21

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  April 23

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Affairs Council

  April 24–26

  Chester

  Environment & Transport (Informal)

  April 27–28

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  April 30

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  April 7: Social Affairs Council

  National Employment Action Plans (taken with ELMC 1998 Work Programme): Political debate.

  European Community Statute: Political debate.

  Protection of workers from asbestos: Adoption of Council Conclusions.

  Fundamental Review of Regulation 1408/71 (Social Security): Political debate.

  Action Plan against Racism and Xenophobia: Presentation.

  Working time: Excluded Sectors: Presentation.

  Report of the High-level Group on Industrial Restructuring: Presentation.

  Protection of workers from Carcinogens: Presentation.

  Directive on protection of workers from Chemical Agents: Possible A point.

  Modifications to Regulation 1408/71 (Social Security)— miscellaneous amendments: Possible A point.

  April 20–21: Agriculture Council

  Agenda not yet available.

  April 21: ECOFIN Council

  EIB lending to Bosnia.

  Access to Capital.

  Preparation of Stage 3 of EMU.

  Package of measures for SMEs.

  April 23: Consumer Affairs Council

  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees: Common position.

  Effective application and enforcement of the Community consumer legislation: Debate.

  European Home and Leisure Accidents Surveillance System (EHLASS): Exchange of views on the state of work.

  Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers: Presentation by the Commission and (possible) exchange of views.

  634

  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the distance selling of financial services: Presentation by the Commission.

  (possible) Evaluation report by the Commission on priorities for consumer policy: Presentation by the Commission.

  Commission Action Plan on the extrajudicial settlement of consumer disputes: Presentation by the Commission of the state of work.

  April 24–26: Environment & Transport (informal)

  No formal agenda.

  April 27–28: General Affairs Council

  Agenda 2000 (possible item).

  Lomè.

  Transatlantic Relations—Preparation of EU/US Summit and EU/Canada Summit.

  ASEM II: Report.

  Switzerland.

  South Africa Agreement.

  Turkey (possible item).

  Euromed (possible item).

  Egypt (possible item).

  Middle East Peace Process.

  Western Balkans.

  Ukraine (possible item).

  World Trade Organisation: Ministerial meeting in Geneva (possible item).

  Russia.

  April 30: Health Council

  Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action 1999–2003 on rare diseases within the framework for action in the field of public health: Common position.

  Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on injury prevention in the context of action in the field of public health: Political debate.

  Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on pollution-related diseases in the context of action in the field of public health: Common position.

  Proposal for a Council Recommendation on suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood in the European Community: Adoption.

  Integration of health protection requirements in Community policies: Report by the Commission, (possible) Council conclusions.

  (possible) State of health in the European Union: Report by the Commission on migrant health.

  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies based on Commission Services Working Paper and Commission communication following receipt of EP report on BSE: (possible) Council conclusions.

  (possible) Political debate and conclusion on future health challenges to be taken into account in the development of a framework for Community action in the field of public health in the first part of the 21st century: (possible) Presidency conclusions.

  Proposal for a Council Recommendation on non-ionising radiation: Presentation by the Commission.

  635
  The following calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

  European Calendar: April-September 1998

  Date

  Location

  Event

  April

  1–3

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  2–4

  London

  ASEM II

  3–5

  Leeds Castle

  G8 Environment Ministerial

  6–7

  London

  DTI Enterprising Europe Conference

  6–8

  Birmingham

  Audiovisual Conference

  6–8

  Birmingham

  Culture Committee

  7

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  7

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  16

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  20–21

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  21

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Affairs Council

  24–26

  Chester

  Environment & Transport (informal)

  27–28

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  29–30

  Brussels

  European Parliament

  30

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  May

  1–3

  Brussels

  ECOFIN & Special EMU Council

  5

  Brussels

  Political Committee (t.b.c.)

  5–6

  Belfast

  EU Ministers Women's Forum (informal)

  7

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  8–9

  London

  G8 Foreign & Finance Ministerial

  10–12

  Newcastle

  Agriculture (informal)

  11

  Brussels

  Energy Council (t.b.c.)

  11

  Brussels

  Euro-Med Energy Ministerial

  11–15

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  12

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  14

  London

  EU/Canada Summit

  14–15

  London

  Innovative Partnerships for Competitiveness Conference

  14–16

  London

  Conference on Culture and Employment

  15–17

  Birmingham

  G8 Summit

  18

  London

  EU/US Summit

  18

  Brussels

  Development Council

  18

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  18–20

  Northern Ireland

  Regional Affairs Committee

  19

  Brussels

  Telecoms Council

  19

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  20

  London

  EU Public Administration Ministers meeting

  25–26

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  25–26

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  27–28

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  28

  Brussels

  Culture and Audiovisual Council

  28–29

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs Council

  June

  2

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  4

  Luxembourg

  Education & Social Affairs Council

  5

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  8

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  8–9

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

  8–9

  Glasgow

  Regional Policy/SpatialPlanning Ministers' informal

  15–16

  Cardiff

  European Council

  15–19

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  16–17

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  636

  European Calendar: April-September 1998

  Date

  Location

  Event

  17

  Luxembourg

  Joint Environment & Transport Council

  18

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  19

  Glasgow

  Energy & Environment Conference

  22

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  22–23

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  25

  Brussels

  Presidency Biotechnology Round Table

  29–30

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

  July

  1–2

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  6

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  6–7

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  8–10

  Innsbruck

  Employment/SocialAffairs/Women (informal)

  13

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  13–14

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  17–19

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council (informal)

  20–21

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  27

  Luxembourg

  Budget Council

  August

  There are no Councils scheduled for this month.

  September

  3

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  5–6

  Salzburg

  Foreign Ministers (informal)

  7–8

  Brussels

  Special Committee on Agriculture

  11

  Brussels

  Culture Council

  14–15

  Brussels

  Special Committee on Agriculture

  19–22

  St. Wolfgang, Austria

  Agriculture Council (informal)

  24

  Brussels

  Justice & Home Affairs

  24

  Brussels

  Internal Market

  28

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  28–29

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the membership of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee. [37894]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Mr. Arden Bhattacharya has been appointed as the new chair to the Complaints Audit Committee to succeed Miss Diana Rookledge who retired at the end of March. Mrs. Janet Whitaker has been appointed as a member to succeed Mr. Karamjit Singh who left the Committee to take up another appointment. They join Mr. Blair Greaves whose appointment runs until the end of this year.

  Prime Minister (Security)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the alleged breach of the Prime Minister's security reported in The Sunday Times on 29 March. [37896]
  637
  Mr. Straw
  The planning application regarding my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's home contained details which should not have been made public for security reasons. When we were alerted to the situation, I acted immediately to ensure that such details were no longer accessible.

  The security arrangements at my right hon. Friend's home have been very thoroughly tested and are fully effective.

  When major changes to the homes of public figures are planned on security grounds, it is important that local residents who may be inconvenienced by building work are properly consulted so that their concerns can be taken into account. However, a balance needs to be struck between ensuring that local people have their say about major changes to any property and ensuring that the security of public figures is not compromised.

  The Home Office, the Security Facilities Executive (SAFE) and Sedgefield Borough Council acted in good faith but the security implications of the planning documents were not fully identified and acted upon. The Home Office and SAFE have introduced new procedures to ensure that this cannot happen in any future case. In addition, other planning authorities which have similar residences have been contacted to ensure that any such risks to security may be avoided.

  Campsfield House Detention Centre
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract specification for the running of Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre. [37450]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The contract specification for the running of Campsfield House Detention Centre is Commercial in Confidence. I regret that it cannot be disclosed.

  Vivisection
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the breeding of cats at Hillgrove Farm, Witney, Oxfordshire, for the vivisection industry. [37254]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 19 January 1998,Official Report, column 383 and to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 3 March 1998, Official Report, column 518.

  I have nothing to add to those replies at this time.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of seizures of amphetamines involved amounts of(a) 200 mg or under, (b) 200 to 500 mg, (c) 500 mg to 1 gram, (d) 1 to 5 grams, (e) 5 to 10 grams, (f) 10 to 50 grams, (g) 50 to 300 grams, (h) 300 grams to 1 kg, (i) 1 kg to 10 kg, and (j) 10 kg and over, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the total quantity seized in each category; [36519]
  638
  (2) what proportion of seizures of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine involved amounts of (a) 50 mg or under, (b) 50 to 100 mg, (c) 100 mg to 200 mg, (d) 200 to 500 mg, (e) 500 mg to 1 gram, (f) 1 to 5 grams, (g) 5 to 10 grams, (h) 10 to 50 grams, (i) 50 to 300 grams, (j) 300 grams to 1 kg, (k) 1 kg to 10 kg, and (l) 10 kg and over, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the total quantity seized in each category; [36520]

  (3) what proportion of seizures of cannabis involved amounts of (a) 1 gram or under, (b) 1 to 5 grams, (c) 5 to 10 grams, (d) 10 to 50 grams, (e) 50 to 300 grams,(f) 300 grams to 1 kg, (g) 1 kg to 10 kg, (h) 10 kg to 100 kg, (i) 100 kg to 1 tonne, and (j) over 1 tonne, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the total quantity seized in each category. [36521]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on the number of seizures of amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine and heroin by various amount bands is routinely published in the annual Home Office bulletin "Statistics of Drug Seizures and Offenders Dealt With, United Kingdom", and supplementary tables volume. Copies are available in the Library.

  The amount bands given in the tables provide much of the information requested in terms of weight categories, and further breakdowns could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Football World Cup
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, columns 885–86, if he raised the question of the 1998 FIFA World Cup knife at the seminar in Blackburn earlier this year, on policing the World Cup. [37350]

  Mr. Straw
  A range of issues was discussed at the European Union Presidency Seminar in Blackburn at the end of February. It was an enormously successful event and illustrated the high level of liaison and co-operation we have established with our European partners in the fight against football hooliganism.

  We first raised the issue of these knives with the French authorities well in advance of the Blackburn seminar. They can be in no doubt about our concern.

  I am pleased to inform the right hon. Member that, following my Oral Answer to the House on 30 March, FIFA announced that afternoon that they intended to withdraw the knives carrying the France 1998 logo from sale in France.

  I have also written to my French counterpart registering our concern that these knives should have ever been endorsed by France 1998. I have sought his assistance in ensuring that they are withdrawn from sale and that any other officially endorsed memorabilia do not constitute a risk to the safety and security of others.

  Asylum Seekers
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many third world nationals have come to the United Kingdom from EU nations seeking admission or asylum over the past two years; how
  639
  many such persons have been admitted to the United Kingdom; and what arrangements have been made for those not accepted. [37353]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the section of the Dublin Convention which prevents Her Majesty's Government from returning to EU nations illegal immigrants who have come to the United Kingdom from such countries; and if he will make a statement. [37352]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Dublin Convention provides a set of criteria for determining which member state should be responsible for considering an asylum application made in the European Union. Where it can be shown in accordance with these criteria that a member state other than the one where the application was made is responsible for considering the application, the applicant may duly be returned to that member state. In all other circumstances, Article 8 of the Convention provides that the first member state with which the application for asylum is lodged shall be responsible for considering it.

  The Dublin Convention has made the return of asylum seekers to European Union member states a more complex and time-consuming process. In particular, it is often difficult to obtain sufficient evidence to show that another member state is responsible for an application according to the criteria in the Convention. As Presidency of the European Union, we are taking forward a range of measures designed to improve the operation of the Convention.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has introduced to prevent illegal entry to the United Kingdom of persons travelling on Eurostar. [36998]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Foreign nationals travelling on Eurostar services are subject to examination by United Kingdom Immigration Officers. We liaise with French and Belgian authorities to ensure that this control is effective, and are currently examining with Eurostar and both French and Belgian authorities ways of ensuring that document checks in both Paris and Brussels are carried out as effectively as possible.

  Firearms (South Yorkshire)
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with the South Yorkshire Police about the suspension of officers of the Firearms Branch of the force over recent weeks; [36478]

  (2) how many and what percentage of firearms compensation claims are outstanding in the South Yorkshire area. [36477]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Office is in regular contact with the South Yorkshire Police about the progress of their investigation into potential fraud involving compensation claims. Decisions on suspension are a matter for the Chief Constable but the latest information is that a further two 640
  police officers in the Firearms department were suspended on 13 March, bringing the total number of staff suspended to six. Around 240 claimants in the South Yorkshire area have not yet received payment under Options A and B of the compensation scheme, around 38 per cent of the total. Payments on claims returned by the police after checking are expected to resume this week.

  The investigation has resulted in some delays in payments but every effort is being made to keep delays to a minimum, as I explained in my letter to my hon. Friend and the other South Yorkshire Members on 20 February immediately after the problem had been drawn to my attention. As a result of the inquiries, the South Yorkshire police have returned about 100 claims to the Firearms Compensation Section (FCS) after checking them against the surrendered goods. About half of these have not yet been paid. There are a number of queries arising on the claims and the FCS is considering these against our normal checking criteria. Where it is not possible to clear all items in a claim, a part payment will be considered. Payments on those items which are satisfactory began this week. A second batch of 100 claims is expected shortly under the arrangements agreed with the police for returning claims on a regular basis after they have been examined.

  Firefighters
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average retirement age for a firefighter; [37087]

  (2) what has been the average cost of invalidity pensions paid to firefighters in the last three financial years. [37085]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Clarke) on 31 March 1998,Official Report, columns 466–67 about proposals to modernise the police and fire service pension schemes. The consultation document on the review of the fire service pension scheme, which has been placed in the Library, provides information on pension costs and average ages of retirement. This shows, on the basis of the data currently available, that the average age of firefighters retiring with a full pension after 30 years' service is 53.3 years. The average age of retirement on ill-health grounds is 44.8 years and with an injury on duty award is 44.3 years.

  The firefighters' pension scheme is administered locally by fire authorities and information about the average cost of invalidity pensions is not held centrally.

  Police Officers
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average retirement age for a police officer; [37086]

  (2) what is the average age at which police officers retire on invalidity pensions. [37284]

  Mr. Michael
  Information on the age at which police officers retire is not collected routinely. The average retirement ages in the table are based on a study carried
  641
  out in 1992 of police officers in forces in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who retired from the service with an immediate pension in 1991.

  Retirement age of police officers who retired in 1991, United Kingdom

  All retirements

  Ordinary retirements

  Ill-health retireents

  Average retirement age (to nearest year)

  47

  53

  43

  Prisoners
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners per 1,000 population there were in England during each of the years 1968 to 1995. [37013]

  Ms Quin
  The available information is for England and Wales and is given in the table.

  Average prison population per 1,000 population in England and Wales, 1968–1995

  Year

  Prisoners per 1,000 population1

  1968

  0.67

  1969

  0.71

  1970

  0.8

  1971

  0.81

  1972

  0.78

  1973

  0.74

  1974

  0.75

  1975

  0.8

  1976

  0.84

  1977

  0.84

  1978

  0.85

  1979

  0.85

  1980

  0.87

  1981

  0.88

  1982

  0.88

  1983

  0.88

  1984

  0.87

  1985

  0.93

  1986

  0.94

  1987

  0.98

  1988

  0.99

  1989

  0.96

  1990

  0.90

  1991

  0.90

  1992

  0.90

  1993

  0.87

  1994

  0.95

  1995

  0.99

  1Includes prisoners held in police cells

  Muzzle-loading Firearms
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has obtained as to the misuse of muzzle-loading firearms. [37091]

  Mr. Michael
  Criminal statistics record the principal types of weapon used in the commission of crime but do not differentiate between muzzle-loading firearms and other types of gun.

  The Government are not aware of any incidents over the past ten years involving the serious misuse of muzzle-loading firearms, though the Forensic Science Service have identified the occasional use of guns of this kind in serious crime in previous decades.
  642
  At present, the Government have no plans to introduce any further legislation on firearms controls but will keep under close scrutiny the way in which muzzle-loading weapons are used.

HEALTH

  Stephen Daggett
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Stephen Daggett will be moved to a medium secure unit. [31089]

  Mr. Boateng
  I shall write to my hon. Friend on this matter.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost to his Department of(a) consultants and (b) contractors engaged to address millennium computer compliance problems; and he if will list the consultants and contractors. [32310]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 3 March 1998]: For budgetary purposes, the Department does not differentiate between consultants and contractors. The core Department, excluding its agencies, has spent £0.8 million (excluding VAT) to date and anticipates a further £2.2 million (excluding Value Added Tax) expenditure on consultants/contractors employed to address millennium compliance. The main organisations used to provide consultant/contractor services are Parity Solutions Ltd, Computer People and Alexander Consulting for business systems and ICL-CFM for the information technology infrastructure.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and which NHS organisations failed to present their plans and budgets for year 2000 computer compliance by 5 pm on 31 March. [37488]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested will be made available when those returns received by the due date have been checked for completeness.

  Cosmetic Surgery Clinics
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that intimate examinations undertaken in cosmetic surgery clinics are carried out only by medically qualified staff. [33927]

  Mr. Boateng
  Any such requirement would exclude nursing staff and other health care professionals from examining patients. Staff who carry out any examination, in any setting, need to be able to demonstrate appropriate clinical expertise, or they may be exposing themselves to the risk of civil, and possibly criminal, liability, and/or to professional proceedings for misconduct.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information persons employed in cosmetic surgery clinics are obliged to give potential clients concerning the qualifications and experience of all staff engaged in the medical and psychological assessment and examination of clients and those who carry out surgical procedures. [33928]
  643
  Mr. Boateng
  There is no specific requirement for staff to give information about their qualifications or experience. However, anyone who attempted to carry out a procedure or an examination that they were not competent to do could expose themselves to the risk of civil, and possibly criminal, liability, and/or to professional proceedings for misconduct.

  Consultants
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the use of public relations consultants to his Department since May 1997. [36630]

  Ms Jowell
  The functions which are identified as public relations are normally carried out within the Department by its press and publicity division. The division has not incurred costs from external consultants on public relations work since May 1997.

  Investing in Dentistry
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the applications received for funding from Investing in Dentistry have been successful; and what has been the amount of each grant awarded. [37157]

  Mr. Milburn
  Since the investing in dentistry initiative was announced in September last year, 110 funding requests had been approved by the end of March this year. The table gives details of successful bids by region and the amounts awarded.

  £

  Region

  Amount approved

  Anglia & Oxford

  10,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  15,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  15,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  50,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  12,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  20,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  75,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  25,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  10,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  15,000

  Anglia & Oxford

  26,000

  North Thames

  40,000

  North Thames

  19,000

  North Thames

  18,400

  North Thames

  40,000

  North West

  25,000

  North West

  50,000

  North West

  25,409

  North West

  30,287

  North West

  40,000

  North West

  35,000

  North West

  21,341

  North West

  40,000

  North West

  32,176

  North West

  20,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  82,200

  Northern & Yorkshire

  2,790

  Northern & Yorkshire

  20,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  24,200

  Northern & Yorkshire

  20,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  25,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  50,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  47,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  30,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  25,000

  Northern & Yorkshire

  50,000

  South & West

  20,000

  South & West

  2,500

  644

  £

  Region

  Amount approved

  South & West

  30,000

  South & West

  50,000

  South & West

  20,000

  South & West

  38,000

  South & West

  50,000

  South & West

  50,000

  South & West

  6,000

  South & West

  25,000

  South & West

  1,000

  South & West

  36,011

  South & West

  15,000

  South & West

  25,000

  South & West

  20,000

  South & West

  50,000

  South & West

  2,500

  South & West

  10,000

  South & West

  35,000

  South & West

  35,000

  South & West

  13,000

  South & West

  40,000

  South & West

  27,000

  South & West

  15,000

  South & West

  15,000

  South & West

  20,000

  South & West

  32,693

  South & West

  9,500

  South & West

  26,000

  South & West

  24,750

  South & West

  40,000

  South & West

  30,000

  South & West

  15,000

  South & West

  15,000

  South & West

  8,150

  South & West

  40,000

  South & West

  15,000

  South & West

  55,000

  South & West

  13,265

  South & West

  40,260

  South & West

  50,000

  South & West

  25,000

  South & West

  9,654

  South & West

  59,796

  South & West

  16,000

  South & West

  23,500

  South & West

  30,000

  South Thames

  40,000

  South Thames

  50,000

  South Thames

  40,000

  South Thames

  8,500

  South Thames

  10,000

  South Thames

  5,000

  South Thames

  40,000

  South Thames

  28,725

  South Thames

  37,125

  Trent

  12,600

  Trent

  12,000

  Trent

  60,400

  West Midlands

  40,000

  West Midlands

  42,000

  West Midlands

  16,000

  West Midlands

  16,800

  West Midlands

  48,000

  West Midlands

  45,000

  West Midlands

  57,000

  West Midlands

  32,000

  West Midlands

  16,000

  West Midlands

  24,000

  West Midlands

  11,500

  West Midlands

  3,250

  West Midlands

  40,000

  West Midlands

  25,000

  West Midlands

  30,000

  645
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the funding made available for Investing in Dentistry for 1997–98 has been allocated. [37158]

  Mr. Milburn
  £3,106,282 of the £9 million investing in dentistry funding in the financial year 1997–98, had been allocated by 31 March 1998. This excludes the cost of treatment fees arising from the investing in dentistry projects.

  Physiotherapy Services (Schools)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding is available from his Department for physiotherapy services for schools; [37218]

  (2) what guidance he has given to health authorities on the provision of physiotherapy services in schools. [37216]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department has not given specific guidance to health authorities on the provision of physiotherapy services in schools. The detailed provision and funding of such services is a matter for health commissioners in light of the health needs of their local populations. The Department recognises the essential contribution therapists make to the assessment, development, education and treatment of children with health needs and disabilities. Officials from the Department and the Department of Education and Employment are currently examining ways to facilitate collaboration between the National Health Service and local education authorities, following the response to the Green Paper, Excellence for all Children: Meeting Special Educational Needs.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned and evaluated on the numbers of children in schools requiring physiotherapy and occupational therapy to assist with physical problems. [37217]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department's policy research programme and the central National Health Service research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research on the numbers of children in schools requiring physiotherapy and occupational therapy to assist with physical problems, due to pressure of other priorities.

  Diazepam
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions are placed on the prescribing of diazepam. [37156]

  Ms Jowell
  Diazepam is classified as a prescription-only medicine under the Medicines Act 1968.

  The British National Formulary (BNF), which is funded by the Department and is provided free to doctors twice a year, provides guidance on the prescribing of diazepam. It also sets out specific advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  The BNF also includes general advice on prescribing drugs which are likely to cause dependence, suggesting that the prescriber should prescribe small amounts initially and take care to ensure that doses are not gradually increased to the point where dependence becomes more likely.
  646
  Advice on the management of anxiety and insomnia by doctors is given in Medicines Resource Centre and Drug and Therapeutics Bulletins, which are supplied free of charge to all doctors.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria will need to be satisfied by proposals for primary care groups which span health and local authority boundaries. [37105]

  Mr. Milburn
  Guidance will be issued shortly on the configuration and establishment of primary care groups. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  Management Consultations
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money NHS trusts spent on management consultations in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97. [37464]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on management and other consultants is not separately collected but is included in information on external contract staffing and consultancy costs. The amounts spent by National Health Service trusts on external contract staffing and consultancy were £68,326,031 in 1994–95; £89,369,228 in 1995–96 and £107,151,978 in 1996–97.

  NHS Administrators (Termination of Contract)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many administrators in the National Health Service have had their contracts terminated since May 1997; what resources have been released by those terminations; and if he will make a statement. [37220]

  Mr. Milburn
  In May 1997, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a programme of measures to reduce management costs by £84 million in England in 1997/98. There will be a further reduction of £80 million in 1998/99.

  The information on individual staff is not held centrally.

  Hospital Readmissions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 1998,Official Report, columns 46–49, on readmission rates, when the figures for the final quarter of 1997–98 will be available. [37349]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information will be available after it has been tabled at the National Health Service Executive board meeting on 5 June 1998.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral answer of 2 March 1998,Official Report, column 690, how many of the 170 places in local authority secure accommodation proposed by the previous administration are now in use; and on what date those places not now in use are expected to be in use. [37550]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 12 February 1998,Official Report, columns 351–52.

  Mesothelioma
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds the Government are currently spending on medical research for the management, treatment and cure of mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement. [36742]

  Mr. Boateng
  The main agency through which the Government support bio-medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC does not currently support any research specifically on the management, treatment or cure of mesothelioma. However, the MRC does provide support for more basic research in related areas which may provide insights into the aetiology of mesothelioma and have an impact on treatment in the future. For example, the MRC Toxicology Unit at Leicester has been working on projects to better understand the cellular mechanisms by which the lung responds to certain toxic materials. These include many toxins that circulate throughout the body and yet cause selective injury to particular types of lung cell as well as inhaled mineral fibres such as asbestos and zeolites.

  In addition, the MRC's Committee on Toxic Hazards in the Environment and Workplace produced a report in 1995 (ISBN 1 899110 03 8) entitled "Natural and man-made mineral fibres: UK research priorities"—this was based on workshops organised by the Institute for Environmental Health. This report considers, inter alia, mesothelioma. It is obtainable from the Institute of Environment and Health, University of Leicester, PO Box 138, Lancaster Road, Leicester LEI 9HN (Phone 0116 252 5530 or Fax 0116 252 5146).

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual cost of treating those suffering from(a) mesothelioma, (b) lung cancer and (c) asbestosis- related illnesses in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [36743]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information about the costs of treatment classified by disease is not routinely collected locally, hence there is no collation of such data centrally. Mesothelioma is incurable with a prognosis of 12–18 months. The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 5.5 per cent.; surgery and/or radiotherapy offers the best chance of cure.

  People with asbestos-related conditions may live some years, dependent on the type of condition which they have. Patients will require a number of investigations and symptomatic treatment to reduce the symptoms from this irreversible condition. Palliative care is the most significant part of treating both mesothelioma and lung cancer.

  NHS Trusts (Vacancies)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the maximum amount of time vacancies for NHS trust boards can remain unfilled. [37401]

  Mr. Milburn
  There is no statutory time limit on how long vacancies on trust boards may remain unfilled. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would expect posts to remain vacant for no longer than is necessary.

  NHS Trusts (Mergers)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if NHS trust boards have to endorse proposals to merge NHS trusts; and what powers they have to block these proposals. [37400]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is for Ministers, not National Health Service trusts, to decide whether or not trusts should merge. Full public consultation will be held on any such proposals.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to hospital trusts on their obligation to inform hon. Members of the(a) amalgamation and (b) closer integration on NHS trusts. [37397]

  Mr. Milburn
  Any proposals for mergers between National Health Service trusts or for substantial changes to services are subject to full public consultation which as a matter of course will include those hon. Members whose constituents are affected by the changes.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the procedures for the reappointment of NHS trust board members when mergers between trusts occur. [37398]

  Mr. Milburn
  Serving non-executive directors of merging National Health Service trusts may be considered for appointment to the merged body alongside other candidates. All appointments are made on merit and in accordance with the Department's published procedures, copies of which are in the Library.

  Preston NHS Trust
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the vacancies on Preston NHS Trust will be filled. [37402]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Preston acute hospitals trust currently has two vacancies for non-executive directors. Arrangements are now in hand to identify suitable candidates from amongst those recently nominated by hon. Members and local authorities and those who responded to the recent national advertisement. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to receive recommendations from the regional chairman for filling these vacancies towards the end of April.

  NHS Trust Boards
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers he has to ensure that all geographical regions in an area are represented on NHS trust boards. [37399]

  Mr. Milburn
  The published criteria for the appointment of non-executive directors to the boards of trusts and health authorities make clear that those appointed should be able to demonstrate a commitment to the needs of the local community and should live in the area served by the body involved.

  Drugs (Clinical Effectiveness)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the proposed National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness will assess the effectiveness of existing drugs where there is controversy over clinical effectiveness. [37469]
  649
  Ms Jowell
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will need to consider the clinical and cost-effectiveness of existing drags when developing clinical guidelines. All licensed medicines should be efficacious under the conditions of use covered by their licensing. We will be consulting about the work of National Institute for Clinical Excellence shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

  Rupert Murdoch
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 378, for what reasons it is not his policy to specify who initiated the telephone conversation between him and the Italian Premier, Mr. Prodi. [37471]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 1 April 1998,Official Report, column 1250.

  Press Secretary
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he approved the memoranda from his Press Secretary to the Secretary of State for Social Security and the Minister of State for Social Security and Welfare Reform of (i) 1 January admonishing those Ministers for their actions in relation to the media and (ii) 26 February requiring an explanation of why their interviews had not been cleared through his office; [37393]

  (2) what powers he has given to his Press Secretary to control the responses by Ministers to inquiries from the media; and if he will make a statement; [37394]

  (3) if Ministers are required to clear statements to the media, including the timing of such statements, through the office of his Press Secretary before their issue; [37395]

  (4) pursuant to his oral answer of 1 April 1998, Official Report, column 1252, if he will make a statement on the responsibility of his Press Secretary for party political activities. [37989]

  The Prime Minister
  My Chief Press Secretary operates in accordance with the framework on the presentation of Government policy as set out in the Ministerial Code, and within the terms of the Special Adviser contract.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list those newspaper(a) proprietors and (b) editors who have received official hospitality at 10 Downing Street; [37473]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998, Official Report, column 378, if he will provide such information relating to hospitality to newspaper proprietors as can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. [37472]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave in the House to the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) on 1 April 1998,Official Report, column 1253.

  Nuclear Deterrence
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that nuclear deterrence is an essential guarantee of peace and security. [35661]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 24 March 1998]: Yes, in the present strategic circumstances. But we are also working towards multilateral disarmament world wide.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list grammar schools in England in order of performance at(a) GCSE and (b) A level for each year since 1987. [35613]

  Mr. Byers
  Information from the 1992 to 1997 secondary school performance tables has been placed in the Library. Comparable information prior to 1992 is not centrally available.

  Dry Stone Walling
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to encourage the development of dry stone walling skills. [36052]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government are recognising a range of National Training Organisations (NTOs) to review and address skill needs in their sectors and occupations.

  Through LANTRA NTO Ltd., the proposed NTO covering dry stone walling interests, the industry will be able to ensure a developing skills and training base for the future.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much and what percentage of the total public expenditure on education in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 was or is expected to be distributed by Central Government after a competitive bidding process by local authorities or other bodies. [36221]

  Dr. Howells
  A significant proportion of the Department's expenditure on education is allocated on the basis of competitive bidding by local authorities and other bodies. Some of the principal examples are:

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  New Deal for Schools

  83.5

  185.4

  Standards Fund1

  21.3

  109.9

  FE Collaboration Fund2

  10.5

  25.5

  HE recurrent funding and research

  220

  190

  1Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) in 1997–98. 1998–99 figure includes £50m for the National Grid for Learning, funded from the New Deal for Schools.

  2 FE Competitiveness and Development Fund 1997–98.

  651
  Expenditure for 1999–2000 has yet to be announced. The bulk of funding for schools is channelled through local education authorities, and is unhypothecated.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of personnel his Department employs of the measures contained in the School Standards and Framework Bill. [37063]

  Mr. Byers
  We have assessed the impact of the School Standards and Framework Bill on Departmental staffing, and expect a reduction of approximately 50 posts over time as a result of the introduction of local decision making on school organisation issues. But there may need to be some additional support for the new Adjudicators on school organisation and admissions. The precise numbers of staff required will depend upon the volume of cases referred to the Adjudicator.

  Learning Cards
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Learning Cards have been printed; and what was the cost to public funds of printing and distributing them. [37064]

  Dr. Howells
  700,000 cards have been produced to ensure that all young people in England who are in their final year of compulsory education receive their Learning Card, explaining their entitlement to learning options after age 16 and the careers guidance and information available to support their choice. The cost of printing and distributing the Learning Card and its accompanying leaflet amounts to around £67,000.

  New Deal (Long-term Unemployed)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans to enable long-term unemployed adults over the age of 25 years to benefit from the New Deal. [37139]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The New Deal for adults who have been unemployed for two years or more will start in June this year and will offer the opportunity to take up a subsidised job or to study towards a work-related qualification whilst remaining on benefit. In addition, we are making available an extra £100 million to pilot an extension to the type of approach used in the New Deal for the young unemployed; up to 70,000 unemployed people of 25 and over from November this year will be eligible. These pilots will provide individually tailored help and support for adults in the pilot areas who have been unemployed for 18 months or more and, in some areas, for 12 months or more.

  School Sixth Forms>
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local authorities involved in the pilot projects to base the financing of school sixth forms on the Further Education Funding Council funding methodology; and if he will make a statement on the way in which the project will proceed. [37140]
  652
  Dr. Howells
  A group of local authorities, shown in the list, is looking at alternative approaches to the funding of school sixth forms, based on principles similar to those used in further education (funding for recruitment, programme delivery and achievement). Ministers expect to receive a progress report in June, which will help to inform them on how they wish to proceed.

  The local authorities involved are:

  Barnet

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Croydon

  Devon

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  East Sussex

  Dudley

  Gloucestershire

  Haringey

  Kent

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  Lewisham

  Liverpool

  North Somerset

  North Yorkshire

  Sefton

  Somerset

  St. Helens

  Tower Hamlets

  Wandsworth

  Warwickshire

  City of York.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which projects, not related to the year 2000 compliance problem, are being(a) restricted and (b) terminated in order to free information technology resources. [37480]

  Dr. Howells
  In laying its plans for IT projects during 1998–99 and 1999–2000, the Department took account of the amount of work which it would need to do in order to make its existing systems Year 2000 compliant. As a consequence, none of the Department's projects have been restricted or terminated in order to free information technology resources.

  Within the Employment Service a small number of less important developments, such as changes to management information systems, have been postponed in order to assure compliance of major systems.

  IT Staff
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the current shortfall in established information technology staff, consultant and contractor support posts within his Department; and if he will list the posts by grade indicating for each post how long it has been vacant and when it is expected to be filled. [37481]
  653
  Dr. Howells
  There is no shortfall in information technology staff, consultant or contractor support posts within the Department.

  Employment Service (Targets)
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what targets he has set the Employment Service for 1998–99. [37768]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I am today announcing the Employment Service Annual Performance Agreement (APA), which sets out a new Aim and Objectives for the Employment Service (ES) and the targets which I expect the ES to achieve in 1998–99. The ES is a key player in our Welfare to Work strategy and has lead responsibility for the effective delivery of the New Deal. The new Aim of the ES reflects its mission of contributing to individuals leading rewarding working lives, by helping people without a job to find work and employers to fill their vacancies. Special attention is focused on helping those at a disadvantage in the labour market move from welfare into work.

  The new APA, and the new ES Aim and Objectives, are the result of an extensive consultation. The APA includes eight targets which will focus ES efforts on three key priorities: helping people into work, ensuring claimants are committed to active job search, and achieving high standards of customer service delivery.

  Copies of the ES APA have today been placed in the Library. Further details are contained in the ES Operational Plan which will be placed in the Library by the end of April.

  Employment Schemes
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what schemes are available in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland, to help people to return to work, who are aged between (i) 50 and 55, (ii) 55 and 60, and (iii) 60 and 65 years; and how many people in each group he estimates have gained employment (1) directly and (2) indirectly through these schemes in each year between 1994 and 1997. [36306]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The schemes available throughout England and Wales and Scotland, to people aged 50 or more between 1994 and 1997 are as follows:

  1–2-1

  Jobclub

  Jobfinder

  Jobfinder's Grant

  Jobplan

  Job Interview Guarantee

  Job Review Workshop

  Job Search Seminar

  Job Search Plus

  Restart Courses

  Travel to Interview Scheme

  Work Trials.

  654
  Statistics on outcomes from the above ES programmes are not collected by age and have not been estimated by the Department.

  Statistics on Training for Work for England and Wales are shown in table 1. Similar statistics are available for Business Start-up and Learning for Work, for England and Wales, but for 1994 only. These are shown in table 2. Statistics for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Table Training for Work

  Age

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1. Number of Training for Work starts in England and Wales are as follows:

  305,500

  227,200

  229,100

  197,200

  2. The proportion of Training for Work starts in England and Wales by age are as follows:

  50–54

  5.7%

  6.1%

  6.5%

  7.0%

  55–.59

  3.0%

  3.2%

  3.5%

  3.6%

  60–64

  0.3%

  0.4%

  0.4%

  0.3%

  3. The proportion of Training for Work leavers in England and Wales in employment1 by age are as follows:

  50–54

  37%

  38%

  41%

  242%

  55–59

  33%

  31%

  36%

  238%

  60–64

  36%

  37%

  41%

  245%

  1 In employment = in full-time, part-time or self-employment 6 months after leaving TfW. Because of the nature of the information collected, it is not possible to say whether employment was directly or indirectly as a result of the training received.

  2 January—June

  Sources:

  1 TEC Management Information returns and the Welsh Office

  2. TfW Trainee Database

  3 TfW Follow-up survey

  Table 2: Business Start-up and Learning for Work 1994

  Age

  Business Start-up

  Learning for Work

  1. Number of starts in England and Wales are as follows:

  27,500

  2,000

  2. The proportion of starts in England and Wales by age are as follows:

  50–54

  9.2%

  6.9%

  55–59

  5.7%

  3.6%

  60–64

  1.6%

  0.1%

  3. The proportion of leavers in England and Wales in employment by age are as follows:

  50–54

  183%

  220%

  55–59

  183%

  222%

  60–64

  181%

  220%

  1The proportion of businesses still operational at the end of the period of support.

  2In full-time, part-time or self-employment 6 months after leaving Learning for Work. Because of the nature of the information collected, it is not possible to say whether employment was directly or indirectly as a result of the training received.

  Sources:

  1.Business Start-up and Learning for Work participant databases

  2.Business Start-up and Learning for Work participant databases

  3.Business Start-up participant database and Learning for Work follow-up survey

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to promote organic farming; and if he will make a statement. [37892]

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to promote organic fanning; and if he will make a statement. [34256]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I am keen to encourage organic farming as a sustainable farming system that can contribute to environmental objectives and can, in particular, deliver real benefits to biodiversity, while producing a product that the consumer wants and is prepared to pay a premium for. To this end, I commissioned a review of the rates and structure of aid to farmers converting to organic farming. Copies of that review have been placed in the Library of the House. Decisions on the recommendations will be taken in the context of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review but, in the meantime, I am introducing a number of measures to help organic farming.

  Firstly, I do not want farmers to be discouraged from early conversion by the prospect of a revised scheme. Subject to approval by the European Commission, farmers whose agreements are approved on or after today's date will be allowed, but not required, to switch to any revised scheme introduced as a result of this review. The total length of the agreement will remain unchanged and any switch will take place on the anniversary of the agreement. Thus, for instance, a participant might receive the year 1 payment due under the existing scheme and the year 2 to 5 payments due under a revised scheme.

  Secondly, I wish to help the cash flow of those in the Organic Aid Scheme. I intend that the full annual payment will be made at the end of the first quarter of each year of the agreement. This is an improvement on the current system where the majority of payments are made quarterly in arrears. I shall be laying a Statutory Instrument before Parliament that will allow greater flexibility in the timing of payments and, subject to their approval, I hope it will be possible to introduce this change from 1 August 1998.

  If organic farming in this country is to expand, it needs a sound research base. I wish to strengthen our programme of organic R&D. I have asked the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) to provide advice on priorities and we will be reviewing our R&D programme in May. In the interim, we are increasing our spend by about 30 per cent. to nearly £1.5 million for 1998–99. In preparation for future work we will be commissioning additional work to: review animal husbandry techniques for maintaining animal health within organic farming; assess the causes of different profitability on organic farms; and identify the implications for organic farmers of cross contamination with pollen from genetically modified crops.
  656
  I also consider it important that organic farmers should be encouraged to maximise the environmental benefits on their farms and to participate in relevant agri-environment schemes. I intend that, when considering applications for Countryside Stewardship, land registered as organic or in conversion will normally be given extra points, and hence priority over comparable conventional land. This will be introduced for the main Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 1998 (closing date 31 May 1998) and for Arable Stewardship in 1999 (closing date 31 March 1999).

  If organic farming is to expand, farmers will need advice on conversion relevant to their own circumstances. A telephone help-line and free farm visits are already available through the Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS). For 1998–99 I intend to increase the resources available to OCIS to meet an anticipated increase in demand.

  If organic production expands, there will be a need for increased funding for the sector bodies who are involved in implementing and checking the Organic Aid Scheme. We will be discussing with the sector bodies the resources needed to compensate them for their roles in the scheme and expect to provide additional help in 1998–99 to enable them to prepare themselves for increased demand.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library an economic impact study of the effects on each sector of UK agriculture of the EU Commission's latest CAP reform proposals under Agenda 2000. [35632]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  The Government are currently assessing the detailed implications of the Commission's proposals and will comment on them as necessary.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what resources his Department has(a) paid and (b) intends to pay directly to the Central Science Laboratory in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99 in respect of the Microbiology Group, without going through the research tender and appraisal system. [36038]

  Mr. Rooker
  The resources committed for work on food microbiology at the Central Science Laboratory, without going through the research tender and appraisal system are provided in the table.

  £

  Research resoures

  Non-research resources

  1997–98

  York laboratory

  0

  150,000

  Norwich Laboratory

  0

  80,000

  1998–99

  York laboratory

  170,000

  150,000

  Norwich Laboratory

  0

  80,000

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department collates statistics on the numbers of meetings(a) requested and (b) held with (i) Labour and (ii) Conservative Members. [36471]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  My Department does not collate these statistics.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 728, how many meetings were requested with Ministers by (a) Labour and (b) Conservative hon. Members in February; and how many were granted. [36472]

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

  Stickler Cow Payments
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons 1996 has been used as the basis for the 1998 suckler cow payments. [37092]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are required by EU rules to make payments of agrimonetary compensation on the basis of past production. Since the first of the revaluations concerned here took place in January 1997, compensation

  UK exports of flour, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal (inc. tankage) unfit for human consumption

  units: tones

  Country

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  EC Countries

  Netherlands

  1,826

  6,099

  7,380

  1,089

  814

  156

  1,223

  3,445

  2,006

  1,777

  France

  7,222

  15,674

  1,148

  20

  94

  —

  156

  802

  455

  142

  Irish Republic

  2,555

  900

  234

  485

  232

  279

  356

  400

  1,745

  3,824

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  274

  1,605

  1,131

  740

  13

  1

  42

  24

  47

  747

  Italy

  38

  89

  130

  128

  139

  1,785

  456

  883

  566

  0

  Germany

  559

  578

  14

  5

  5

  5

  0

  23

  0

  423

  Denmark

  —

  60

  34

  248

  180

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  18

  —

  10

  36

  202

  22

  Greece

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  101

  148

  —

  —

  Portugal

  80

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  44

  10

  EC Total

  12,553

  25,005

  10,072

  2,720

  1,494

  2,226

  2,343

  5,761

  5,065

  6,945

  Non-EC

  Indonesia

  —

  —

  —

  1,620

  13,847

  20,061

  10,947

  6,961

  806

  1,609

  Israel

  92

  2,718

  3,677

  9,816

  7,265

  4,008

  1,486

  945

  447

  1,503

  India

  —

  —

  —

  400

  200

  278

  3,625

  1,547

  6,098

  13,226

  Thailand

  —

  —

  1,574

  6,239

  4,408

  2,157

  1,688

  1,184

  1,309

  1,746

  Taiwan

  —

  200

  1,143

  2,023

  280

  87

  —

  42

  823

  214

  Philippines

  —

  —

  —

  —

  145

  105

  733

  482

  553

  2,144

  Russia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  453

  2,646

  885

  Saudi Arabia

  5

  3,462

  357

  —

  —

  —

  —

  80

  —

  —

  Sri Lanka

  121

  20

  —

  693

  1,242

  1,417

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Iceland

  —

  —

  —

  48

  133

  246

  30

  498

  367

  1,725

  Singapore

  —

  —

  —

  801

  —

  —

  —

  —

  687

  321

  South Korea

  —

  —

  1

  220

  1,010

  103

  —

  20

  —

  —

  Switzerland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  218

  0

  1,054

  Malta

  299

  220

  267

  182

  119

  58

  40

  43

  23

  —

  Morocco

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  525

  645

  Kenya

  —

  342

  100

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  381

  181

  Sweden

  76

  —

  652

  6

  —

  64

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Egypt

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  781

  Br Ind Oc Ten-

  —

  —

  —

  —

  105

  —

  645

  —

  —

  —

  China

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  108

  237

  364

  Jordan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50

  231

  212

  107

  —

  —

  Romania

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  466

  —

  —

  Lebanon

  60

  80

  —

  —

  175

  99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  658
  relates to the 1996 Suckler Cow Premium year. This applies only to agrimonetary compensation payments, not to the normal 1998 suckler cow payments, which will be made as usual on the basis of 1997 claims.

  Meat and Bonemeal
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of meat and bonemeal has been exported in each of the past 10 years; and to which countries. [36689]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: UK Overseas Trade Statistics are not separately available for the export of meat and bonemeal. These products are included under the heading of "Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or offal, unfit for human consumption; greaves". Exports in each of the last 10 years of materials which fall under this heading are as follows. These figures are taken from the Official Overseas Trade Statistics.

  The data will be subject to a degree of statistical error. The overall level of errors will be low but these errors will have a much greater proportional effect on countries with small values or volumes of trade.

  The hon. Member will be aware that since the adoption of Commission Decision 96/239/EC on 27 March 1996, it has been illegal to export from the UK meat meal, bonemeal and meat and bonemeal derived from mammals. Exports after 27 March 1996 may, however, have included non-mammalian meat and bonemeal.
  659

  UK exports of flour, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal (inc. tankage) unfit for human consumption

  units: tones

  Country

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Sierra Leone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  280

  129

  2

  —

  —

  Turkey

  —

  —

  —

  380

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Japan

  —

  —

  132

  62

  43

  31

  64

  0

  1

  —

  Cyprus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  230

  0

  6

  —

  87

  Faroe Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  162

  118

  Hong Kong

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  237

  3

  —

  —

  Norway

  —

  —

  —

  11

  37

  144

  5

  3

  7

  18

  Poland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  55

  122

  —

  —

  Canada

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30

  22

  31

  42

  10

  Haiti

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  108

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nigeria

  —

  100

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Cayman Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  86

  —

  Finland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21

  10

  29

  —

  —

  —

  USA

  —

  20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  37

  South Africa

  5

  50

  —

  —

  —

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pakistan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43

  —

  —

  Papua New Guinea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43

  US Oceania

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43

  —

  —

  —

  Iran

  —

  —

  —

  20

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  21

  Malaysia

  —

  —

  19

  —

  —

  —

  20

  0

  —

  —

  Ghana

  16

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Bulgaria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22

  —

  —

  Colombia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Malawi

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Brunei

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  —

  —

  —

  Burma

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  —

  —

  Austria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Mayotte

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Canary Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Togo

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gibraltar

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Liberia

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Namibia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Czech Republic

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Tajikistan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Abu Dhabi

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Falkland Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Curacao

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bangladesh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Australia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  —

  Brazil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Tanzania

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  —

  Non-EC Total

  674

  7,215

  7,926

  22,539

  29,121

  29,779

  20,044

  13,418

  15,201

  26,737

  Grand Total

  13,228

  32,220

  17,998

  25,259

  30,615

  32,005

  22,387

  19,179

  20,266

  33,682

  Notes:

  0 = small values which round down to zero

  1996 and 1997 data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Cereal Feed
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the use of British cereal feed in the UK. [37101]

  Mr. Rooker
  The use of UK grown cereals in animal feed rations is a matter for commercial decision by farmers and animal feed manufacturers.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what percentage of imports of cereal feed comes from the USA; and if he will make a statement; [37103]

  (2) how many tonnes of British cereal feed were consumed in the UK in each of the last five years. [37100]

  Mr. Rooker
  Only a small proportion of cereals used as animal feed in the UK are imported—on average
  660
  around 5 per cent. Imports from the USA of cereals for feed use are not differentiated from imports of other cereals, but the quantities used for feed are thought to be small.

  Cereal usage for animal feed is calculated on a crop year basis. Crop years run from the beginning of July to the end of June. In the last five crop years, the tonnage of cereals used for animal feed, which were produced and used in the UK, was:

  Thousand tones

  1992–93

  7,776

  1993–94

  8,233

  1994–95

  8,662

  1995–96

  8,607

  1996–97

  9,031

  Potatoes
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of(a) early potatoes and (b) maincrop potatoes were grown in the UK in (i) 1997, (ii) 1987 and (iii) 1977; what was the average yield for each type in each year; and how many tonnes of each were (1) imported and (2) exported in each year. [37301]

  Mr. Rooker
  Figures for the area, yield and production of UK early and maincrop potatoes are given in the following tables.

  Calendar year

  1977

  1987

  1997

  Early potatoes

  Area (000 hectares)

  22.4

  16.6

  16.2

  Yield (tonnes per hectare)

  18.0

  23.5

  23.8

  Production (000 tonnes)

  402.1

  390.6

  385.9

  Maincrop (including seed) potatoes

  Area (000 hectares)

  210.1

  161.0

  149.4

  Yield (tonnes per hectare)

  29.5

  39.2

  45.1

  Production (000 tonnes)

  6,194.6

  6,313.4

  6,739.3

  The following table, based on information provided by the British Potato Council, provides details of imports and exports of raw and processed potatoes, splitting, where reliable information is available, between early and maincrop.

  Overseas trade in raw and processed potatoes

  (000 tonnes)

  Calendar year

  1977

  1987

  11997

  Supplies from Channel Islands (early)

  39

  44

  61

  Total imports

  839

  1,001

  937

  of which:

  Early

  359

  210

  132

  Maincrop

  217

  364

  96

  Processed2

  252

  397

  693

  Seed

  11

  30

  16

  Total exports

  102

  274

  350

  of which:

  Raw (mostly maincrop)

  10

  110

  161

  Processed2

  18

  59

  114

  Seed

  74

  105

  75

  1 Provisional.

  2 Raw equivalent. Mostly maincrop.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the average annual per capita consumption of(a) whole potatoes, (b) chips, (c) other processed potatoes and (d) crisps, for (i) 1997, (ii) 1987 and (iii) 1977. [37302]

  Mr. Rooker
  Per capita consumption of fresh potatoes, chips, crisps and other processed potatoes in Great Britain 662
  as measured by purchases for consumption at home is given in the following table.

  Grams per person per week1

  Purchases of:

  1977

  1987

  1997

  Fresh potatoes

  1,155

  1,071

  745

  Chips2

  35

  97

  133

  Crisps and potato snacks

  13

  33

  49

  Other processed potatoes3

  8

  7

  14

  1 Product weight

  2 Includes fresh and frozen chips and other frozen potato products

  3 Excludes potato included as an ingredient in other foods

  Data on the consumption of potato products outside the home is available from 1994 onwards. Per capita consumption of potato products outside the home in Great Britain for the last two years is given in the following table.

  Grams per person per week1

  Purchases of:

  1996

  1997

  Chips

  69

  68

  Crisps and potato snacks

  9

  8

  Boiled, mashed, roast and other potato products2

  45

  51

  1 Product weight

  2 Excludes potato included as an ingredient in other foods. Includes a small element of other foods e.g. fillings in jacket potatoes.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Telecommunications Industry
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much revenue will be raised from the telecommunications industry as a result of the Wireless Telegraphy Act; and when she plans to bring the legislation into effect. [35974]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Wireless Telegraphy Act received Royal Assent on 18 March and is aimed at improving management of the radio spectrum. The first of a series of fee regulations under the Act is planned to come into effect in July. The income generated under the new powers will depend on the result of ongoing discussions and consultations.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of the impact of the current level of interest rates on British industry. [35986]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England is responsible for setting interest rates at the level necessary to meet the Government's inflation target. British industry needs economic stability based on low inflation in order to allow firms to plan and invest with confidence.

  EU Structural Funds
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about her Department's priorities for the reform of EU structural funds. [35992]
  663
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the reform of EU structural funds. [36008]

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the proposed reform of EU regional aid. [36010]

  Mrs. Roche
  We welcome publication of the draft regulations for Structural and Cohesion Funds—which are part of the wider Agenda 2000 reform package. The regulations must now be agreed by all fifteen Member States and approved by the European Parliament.

  Our overriding concern in the long negotiations ahead is to ensure that these draft regulations are affordable, durable and fair overall, particularly to the UK.

  The UK, like other Member States, would like to see fair and effective criteria which address local needs. This is the starting point of the negotiations. We will be working hard, with other Member States and the Commission, to improve these draft regulations and to reach a fair and affordable outcome.

  Manufacturing (East Midlands)
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the effect of the current value of the pound on manufacturing exporters in the East Midlands. [35993]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Government appreciate the difficulties that the level of the pound is causing exporters in the East Midlands and elsewhere in the country. But exporters will not benefit from a return to the boom and bust policies of the past. Industry wants, and this Government are delivering, a stable macroeconomic environment.

  Export Promotion
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she proposes to promote United Kingdom multimedia expertise in export markets. [35994]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Department is aware of the economic contribution at home and abroad of the United Kingdom' s dynamic, creative sectors including those based on multimedia expertise. By greater attention to sector needs in exports, including the setting up of a Creative Industries Export Group and a new approach to support for small companies, a boost will be given to promotion of the exports of these industries.

  Pyramid Selling
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further action is being taken to tackle pyramid selling. [35995]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Since 1 May 1997, the DTI has successfully petitioned for the winding up of 11 companies involved in schemes which have abused the public. In addition, last month I issued a warning to people to think carefully before paying money to participate in schemes that offer easy money for little work.

  Engineering
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to address the difficulties experienced by companies suffering from skilled labour shortages in the engineering sector. [35996]

  Mr. Battle
  The recently completed, but not yet published, comprehensive Labour market survey by the Engineering and Marine Training Authority, covering over 22,000 companies from whom over 4,500 replies were received will report that the engineering sector is not suffering from a general shortage of engineering skills.

  However, shortages are emerging in particular sectors and to particularly high skilled and multi-skilled areas of work. The Government are participating in initiatives to address the shortages, such as a manufacturing skills task force for the automotive sector in the West Midlands, the radio frequency engineers' scheme and a skills analysis in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration sector. The Department is also supporting research into availability of skills in the chemicals and shipbuilding sectors.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assurances she has sought from Indonesia that it will not default on ECGD payments. [35997]

  Mrs. Beckett
  None. I would expect the Indonesian authorities to meet their obligations in respect of any payments due to or guaranteed by ECGD as they have done up to now.

  Exports
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations she has received on the prospects for British exports. [35998]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I regularly receive representations from British industry on a wide range of issues, including the prospects for exporting.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action her Department is taking to support the programmes of the European Space Agency. [35999]

  Mr. Battle
  Conducting space research through ESA lies at the centre of UK space policy. On 16 March, I was very pleased to announce new commitments to ESA programmes totalling £21 million. These programmes will develop Earth observation (EO) and communication technologies. I will be discussing the Government's priorities in ESA and in space policy more generally with the UK space sector at a seminar in Leeds tomorrow.

  Minimum Wage
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she last met the Chairman of the Low Pay Commission to discuss the minimum wage. [36000]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade last met Professor George Bain, Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, on 11 February 1998 and expressed her admiration for the
  665
  progress the Commission has made in undertaking the consultation exercise. And she was informed they are on course to produce their findings by the end of May.

  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she last met the chairman of the Low Pay Commission to discuss progress on the implementation of the national minimum wage. [36002]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade last met Professor George Bain, Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, on 11 February 1998 and she was informed that the Commission are on course to produce their findings by the end of May.

  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made toward the formulation of the national minimum wage. [36005]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  We are on target to fulfil our commitment to introduce minimum wage legislation within the first session of this Parliament. The National Minimum Wage Bill completed its passage through the House on 9 March and Second Reading in another place took place on Monday 23 March. The Low Pay Commission has completed the information gathering stage of its consultation exercise and will produce its recommendations on the level at which the minimum wage might be set by the end of May.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the work of the Low Pay Commission. [36007]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Low Pay Commission has completed the consultation state of its work. I have nothing but admiration for the stamina displayed by Professor George Bain, the chairman, and his colleagues on the Commission, who have visited all parts of the United Kingdom to discuss the national minimum wage and take oral evidence from a broad cross-section of employers, employees, their representatives, and other interested parties. In addition, they have received over 500 written submissions. I now look forward to reading their recommendations which are due to be produced by the end of May.

  Trade Union Recognition
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received recently concerning trade union recognition rights; and if she will make a statement. [36001]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Since the TUC and CBI published their joint statement on union recognition in December last year, the Government have received many representations from trade unions, employer organisations and other interested parties. The Government will announce their proposals on union recognition in the forthcoming White Paper on fairness at work.

  Small and Medium Companies
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures her Department has taken to encourage small and medium companies to expand their export business. [36003]
  666
  Mrs. Roche
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Mr. Darvill).

  Fraud
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to tighten regulations to combat business fraud. [36004]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government are strongly committed to tackling business fraud. Last year, the UK played a leading role in bringing the negotiations on the OECD Convention on combating bribery in international business transactions to a successful conclusion. The UK is also playing an active role in negotiations on anti-corruption measures within the European Union and at the Council of Europe. Domestically, a new hotline has been set up to catch disqualified directors and undischarged bankrupts who flagrantly flout the law and, when Parliamentary time allows, my Department intends to introduce legislation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the procedure for disqualifying unfit company directors. My Department is also working closely with HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority in their reform of Financial Services regulation, and a working party is reviewing the current state of regulation in the insolvency profession.

  "Competitiveness UK" Initiative
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about the progress of her Department's Competitiveness UK Initiative. [36006]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Competitiveness UK lies at the heart of my Department' s drive to help companies improve their performance. Under this initiative, a wide range of business people have been working directly with my Ministerial team in developing practical proposals to enhance UK competitiveness. This new partnership between Government and business will lead to policies for sustainable wealth creation, based on a high skill, high investment, innovative, modern economy.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations she has received from the British steel industry. [36009]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have a continuing dialogue with the British steel industry. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I have had numerous meetings with representatives of the industry and MPs who have a constituency interest in the industry. I have also been to see steel manufacturing processes first-hand and to meet some of those working in the industry. My officials have frequent and wide-ranging contacts at all levels.

  Unfair Contract Terms
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases the Director General of Fair Trading has taken action against companies for breaches of the unfair contract terms regulations, in each of the last three years. [36011]
  667
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I understand that, between 1 July 1995 and 31 December 1997, the Director General of Fair Trading took action in 1,659 cases, as follows:

  2nd Half 1995: 252

  1996: 637

  1997: 770.

  Petroleum Act 1987
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many abandonment programmes have been approved under the terms of Part 1 of the Petroleum Act 1987, in each of the last eight years. [36012]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to Appendix 12 of the Energy Report 1997 Volume II. A copy of the Report is available in the Library of the House.

  Since publication of the Energy Report 1997, the President has approved an abandonment programme in respect of the Donan floating production installation and its associated pipe-lines.

  Shell have submitted a draft revised abandonment programme for the Brent Spar offshore storage and loading buoy.

  Iran
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the level of current United Kingdom trade with Iran. [35982]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1997, total trade in goods between the United Kingdom and Iran was worth £432 million.

  Innovation
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the role of her Department in promoting innovation in British industry. [35981]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase) earlier today.

  Research and Development
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards encouraging research and development in British companies. [35976]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) earlier today.

  European Structural Funds
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to ensure that Merseyside will retain Objective 1 status with funding levels comparable with other Objective 1 regions of Europe. [36490]

  Mrs. Roche
  On the basis of the Commission's proposals and the latest Eurostat statistics, it appears likely that Merseyside will be eligible for Objective 1 from 2000. The Commission has not made proposals on funding levels for individual regions. When they do, we will want them to be fair and affordable.

  Home Shopping
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received on regulation of the home shopping market. [36316]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I have received no representations on regulation of the home shopping market as such. I have, however, received a number of inquiries from businesses about how the European Union Distance Selling Directive will be implemented.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage by(a) tonnage and (b) value of ships completed by UK shipbuilding yards have had as their prime competition an EU shipbuilding yard over the last five years. [37116]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: The information requested is not available. UK Shipyards are not required to identify the European competition when applying for Shipbuilding Intervention Fund support and do not always know against whom they are competing.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department has made of the cost per job of the SIF subsidies for UK shipbuilding over the last two years. [37118]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: Assessments undertaken by my Department indicate that the cost per direct shipyard job of Shipbuilding Intervention Fund grants over the last two years ranged between £3,000 and £4,000. Exact figures depend upon assumptions made on the length of the build-cycle for individual orders and the exact numbers of employees in each yard over that time. The increasing use by yards of external sub-contractors (who are not considered recorded as employees) for many tasks would also reduce this cost, as would the inclusion of employment in the suppliers to the yards.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of(a) official tonnage figures and (b) official figures for the value of sales of completed ships in the UK are attributable to oil-rig construction over the last two years. [37119]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: This information is not available. Although the Office for National Statistics collects information on the value of completions of "floating or submersible drilling or production platforms", which would include rigs, as part of the PRODCOM (Products of the European Community) inquiry, the figures cannot be released because they would identify particulars of an individual undertaking, which are confidential under Section 9 of the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947. Tonnage figures are not collected for these products.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department has made of the effect on UK shipbuilders of a cessation of all shipbuilding aids in the EU(a) in the absence of ratification by the USA of the OECD shipbuilding agreement and (b) in the presence of such ratification. [37117]
  669
  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: The UK shipbuilding industry has been telling the Department for many years that the best way to improve its competitiveness is to remove the market distortions caused by subsidies. We agree with this assessment and our policy has been to achieve this, particularly through ending contract aid, as quickly as possible. Our preference is to work through the OECD Shipbuilding Agreement but, failing that, we believe that the Commission's contingency measures will provide a good basis for developing a more viable shipbuilding sector as they will eliminate contract aid and provide similar support on measures for improving the competitiveness as other sectors enjoy. Both the OECD Agreement and the EU proposals improve the market framework but this is only one of many factors affecting the industry, whose success ultimately depends on its ability to win orders.

  Nuisance Telephone Calls
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received in relation to nuisance calls, originating from telephone-sales organisations in possession of equipment that allows them to make multiple calls; and if she will make a statement. [37114]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: Ministers in this Department have received one representation concerning nuisance calls from telephone-sales organisations in possession of equipment that allows them to make multiple calls since taking office last May. Under the Telecommunications Act 1984, companies using automatic calling equipment are subject to a class licence which contains measures aimed at limiting the nuisance which can be caused by unsolicited calls. Anyone using automatic calling equipment for sending multiple calls must do so only to those who have given their consent in writing, or face possible enforcement action by Oftel, including the removal of their right to operate a telecoms system.

  Jersey
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she has been consulted by(a) the States and (b) the Government of Jersey about the Draft Limited Liability Partnerships (Insolvent Partnerships) (Jersey) Regulations and its repercussions for British accountancy firms. [37531]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have received no such approach.

  Internet
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to stop unsolicited e-mail being sent out across the Internet. [37052]

  Mrs. Roche
  The EU Telecommunications Data Protection Directive, which must be implemented by October this year, provides protection from unsolicited calls for direct marketing purposes. The Government will be consulting on the implementation of the Directive.

  The Data Protection Registrar has been working on a proposal to prevent people receiving unsolicited e-mails through the insertion of suppression markers in their Internet addresses and the Direct Marketing Association are working on ideas for an e-mail preference scheme.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the likely increase in domestic energy consumption resulting from the introduction of digital television. [35725]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend for Blanenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 20 March 1998,Official Report, column 763.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate is produced by her Department's Policy Simulation Model of the number of people in each income decile who are currently building up second tier pension entitlements by means of(a) occupational pension schemes, (b) other private second tier pensions and (c) SERPS; how many of each group are paying income tax at the (i) 40 per cent., (ii) 23 per cent., (iii) 20 per cent. and (iv) 0 per cent. rate; and what is the mean and median contribution in each case for each type of second tier provision. [36484]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department's Policy Simulation Model is not suitable for answering this question as it is based on data from the Family Resources Survey which does not contain reliable information on pensions. Such information as is available from the 1996 General Household Survey is set out in the table.

  Estimated numbers of people in Great Britain in 1996 aged between 16 and State pension age in each income decile who (a)were members of their current employer's occupational pension scheme and (b) had a personal pension to which contributions were being made at the time of interview

  millions

  Income decile

  Occupational pension

  Personal pension

  1

  0.1

  0.1

  2

  0.1

  0.1

  3

  0.3

  0.1

  4

  0.4

  0.2

  5

  0.7

  0.3

  6

  1.0

  0.4

  7

  1.6

  0.6

  8

  1.8

  0.8

  9

  2.2

  0.7

  10

  2.2

  1.0

  Notes:

  1. All estimates are given to the nearest 0.1 million.

  2. Income decile 1 is comprised of the 10 per cent. of the Great Britain population aged between 16 and State pension age who had the lowest incomes with income levels in each decile rising until decile ten, which is comprised of those 10 per cent. who had the highest incomes.

  3. The income distribution is based on gross unequivalized income.

  4. Estimates have been calculated using proportions reporting pension scheme membership in the 1996 General Household Survey, and population projections from the Government Actuary's Department.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps her Department plans to take to uprate disability living allowance to take account of road fuel tax increases; and if she will make a statement. [36854]

  Mr. Denham
  There are no plans to uprate Disability Living Allowance to take account of road fuel tax increases. Disability Living Allowance is not intended to meet specific costs associated with disability, nor is it, of course, aimed solely at people who are dependent on their car.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what analysis her Department has made of the medical basis for claims for disability living allowance; and what advice she has received based on that analysis. [36766]

  Mr. Denham
  Two reports were published recently which include information on the assessment of claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA): "A Study of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance Awards" published by the Department's Analytical Services Division; and "The Future of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance—A Discussion Paper" published by the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAB), an independent statutory body.

  These reports provide a valuable insight into the workings of DLA and AA. They highlight some problems with the current adjudication process, in particular, the evidence used to support a claim and the DLAAB have suggested that more use should be made of medical evidence.

  Both reports were discussed with organisations representing disabled people at a seminar hosted by my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 27 March. We have not drawn any conclusions from the reports at this stage. The Green Paper, "New ambitions for our country: a new contract for welfare reform", makes it clear that there will be full consultation on any proposals for changes to DLA and AA.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the amount of state benefits paid out to injured claimants, which was recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit from legally aided defendants during each of the last three years. [37012]

  Mr. Denham
  No such assessment has been made since neither the plaintiff nor the defendant in injury compensation cases, where State benefits are recovered, are required to notify the Department if they have been granted legal aid.

  IT Staff
  Mrs. Giltan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the current shortfall in established information technology staff, consultant and contractor support posts within her Department; and if she will list the posts by grade indicating for each post how long it has been vacant and when it is expected to be filled. [37487]
  672
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Department has to fill 64 vacancies to achieve the 1998/99 Information Technology requirements. This represents 2 per cent. of the current workforce in the Department's Information Technology Services Agency which will be filled by ongoing and planned resourcing activity over the next three months. The vacancies are 7 staff at grade C5 (SEO), 34 staff at grade C6 (HEO) and 23 staff at grade D7 (EO).

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which projects, not related to the year 2000 compliance problem, are being(a) restricted and (b) terminated in order to free information technology resources. [37486]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Department's arrangements for Year 2000 compliance were planned well in advance and it has not been necessary to "restrict" or "terminate" any planned work because of the Year 2000 date change problem.

  Prime Minister's Press Secretary
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she is required to clear statements to the media, including the timing of such statements, through the office of the Press Secretary to the Prime Minister before their issue. [37392]

  Mr. Field
  This Department, like all other Departments, complies with the Ministerial Code published by the Cabinet Office last July entitled "A Code of Conduct and Guidance on Procedures for Ministers", a copy of which is in the Library. Paragraph 88 refers.

  Departmental Employees (Scotland)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff are employed in Scotland by her Department, or executive agencies responsible to her Department; and where those staff are located. [36208]

  Mr. Field
  The number of staff located in Scotland who work for the Department, and its Executive Agencies, are given in the tables. ITSA have no staff working in Scotland.

  Location and numbers of staff in the Department of Social Security and its executive agencies

  Location

  Number of staff

  Headquarters

  Edinburgh

  6

  Glasgow

  3

  Contributions Agency

  Aberdeen

  35

  Ayr

  5

  Dundee

  15

  Edinburgh1

  72

  Falkirk

  11

  Fort William

  1

  Galashiels

  2

  Glasgow

  102

  Hamilton

  11

  Inverness

  7

  Kirkcaldy

  5

  Oban

  1

  Wick

  6

  673

  Location and numbers of staff in the Department of Social Security and its executive agencies

  Location

  Number of staff

  War Pensions Agency

  Glasgow

  10

  Edinburgh

  6

  Dundee

  2

  Aberdeen

  2

  Child Support Agency

  Aberdeen

  12

  Campbeltown

  1

  Clydebank

  4

  Cowdenbeath

  8

  Dumfries

  5

  Dundee

  12

  Edinburgh

  40

  Elgin

  4

  Falkirk

  949

  Galashiels

  4

  Glasgow

  77

  Greenock

  14

  Hamilton

  18

  Inverness

  3

  Irvine

  17

  Kirkcaldy

  1

  Leven

  5

  Lothian West

  9

  Oban

  1

  Perth

  16

  Peterhead

  6

  Renfrew

  4

  Stirling

  9

  Stranraer

  1

  Wick

  12

  Benefits Agency

  Aberdeen

  5

  Ayr

  208

  Bathgate

  277

  Clyde Valley

  378

  Coatbridge

  177

  Cumbernauld

  120

  Cumnock

  6

  Dunfermline

  100

  Dumfries

  105

  Dundee

  274

  Edinburgh

  1,169

  Falkirk

  170

  Fife

  305

  Forth Valley

  139

  Glasgow

  3,163

  Grampian and Shetland

  386

  Greenock

  209

  Highlands and Islands

  392

  Irvine and Kilmarnock

  276

  Lomond and Argyll

  233

  Lothian West

  31

  Paisley

  311

  Tayside

  113

  1 Includes 11 staff working in the Civil Recovery section.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total value of benefits, allowances and other payments made to those suffering from asbestosis-related diseases in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement. [36741]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Information is available only in respect of certain diseases for which Industrial Injuries 674
  Disablement Benefit can be paid. These diseases are Diffuse Mesothelioma (prescribed disease D3), Carcinoma of the lung (prescribed disease D8) and Diffuse Pleural Thickening (prescribed disease D9).

  The expenditure of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for the three asbestos-related diseases above is estimated at £3.826 million for 1994/95; £5.593 million for 1995/96 and £5.991 million for 1996/97.

  Notes:

  1. These figures have been based on a 10 per cent. sample of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit assessments in Great Britain, including an adjustment for assessments recorded in the following year.

  2. Sufferers from asbestosis may get benefit in respect of prescribed disease DI (Pneumoconiosis), but information is not collected separately for the different conditions covered by the term pneumoconiosis.

  3. No information is available on people who are receiving other benefits and who suffer from asbestos related diseases.

  Executive Agencies (Performance Targets)
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance targets she has set the Department's agencies for 1998–99; and if she will make a statement. [37890]

  Ms Harman
  The targets we have set the Department's Executive Agencies for 1998/99 are given.

  Social Security customers have a right to expect good quality, responsive services. The eighth principle set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper states that the system of delivering modern welfare should be flexible, efficient and easy for people to use. In line with this, we have set targets that focus effort on building an active modern service, which helps as many people as possible fulfil their potential and achieve independence.

  Further information on the Agencies' plans for 1998/99 is contained in their individual business plans which have been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The targets for 1998/99 are:

  BENEFITS AGENCY

  Active Services

  By October 1998 the Benefits Agency (BA) will have worked with the Employment Service to implement nationally the New Deal for Lone Parents.

  From April 1998 BA will provide ongoing support by means of advising Employment Service colleagues of changes in legislation and procedures, by help with customer queries and by handling fast path claims to Family Credit.

  Customer focused services

  During April to September 1998 the Agency will undertake trials to test methods for encouraging pensioners to take advantage of the benefits to which they are entitled. The Agency will provide information on the outcome of these trials in October 1998 to enable Ministers to decide the way forward.

  From April 1998 the Agency will provide a more integrated BA and Child Support Agency service to lone parents when BA visiting staff will discuss child support issues at their New Claim Visit, and assist with completion of the Maintenance Application Form, where appropriate.
  675
  By March 1999 the Agency will have worked towards supporting future implementation of the Social Security Bill, currently scheduled for Autumn 1999, including arrangements to produce new guidance and develop new monitoring arrangements to measure the standard of decision making.

  Transforming services

  By March 1999 the Agency will have worked with local authorities, following evaluation of pilots, to implement improvements in the way information is shared using automated links. This will include, as and when practicable, the use of Remote Access Terminals which will allow local authorities access to BA information.

  Integrity, through secure and accurate services

  By 31 August 1998 all mainframe computer systems used by BA will be ready to cope with the Year 2000 issue, with the exception of the Jobseeker's Allowance Payment System, which will comply by 30 November 1998. All other BA systems, including desk top devices, will be made Year 2000 compliant by 31 March 1999.

  In order to protect public expenditure, the Agency is committed to reducing the number of payments made on fraudulent claims. In addition to this, the Agency will recover benefits which have been overpaid. In 1998/99 the Agency aims to save £2.3 billion in weekly benefit savings terms from activity against fraudulent claims and to recover £135 million from claims where benefit has been overpaid.

  Accurate payment of benefit is of key importance to Ministers. The targets for 1998/99 are to achieve the following levels of payment accuracy:

  87 per cent. of Income Support claims

  87 per cent. of Jobseeker's Allowance claims (in partnership with Employment Service)

  91 per cent. of Family Credit claims

  94 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit claims

  96 per cent. of Disability Living Allowance claims

  Our aim is to continue to improve the accuracy of benefit payments year on year.

  Valuing and developing staff

  The Agency will achieve Investors in People status for the BA as a whole by April 1999.

  The Agency will continue to make the BA a more family friendly organisation by setting up, by March 1999, a further 10 holiday playschemes. A further 40 playschemes will be in place by March 2001.

  Efficient services

  The Agency will, during 1998, develop proposals for improving the measurement of Agency performance these will be introduced from April 1999.

  CONTRIBUTIONS AGENCY

  Note: The level of accuracy for all targets is 98 per cent.

  1 Records Maintenance

  To set up and maintain accurate National Insurance (NI) accounts by delivering:

  New accounts properly registered for:

  95 per cent. of juveniles in advance of their 16th birthday.

  90 per cent. of adults without NI accounts within 8 days of receipt of correctly completed application forms.

  Unsolicited customer generated changes to personal details properly recorded, completing 92 per cent. of cases within 15 days.
  676
  NI contributions properly recorded for:

  98 per cent. of appropriate notifications from employers in respect of Class 1 contributors by 31 December 1998, or within 30 days if not completed by 31 December or received after this date.

  90 per cent. of Class 2/3 contributors following investigation within 5 days of receipt of payment.

  NI details properly recorded following investigation for:

  90 per cent. of cases by 31 March 1999, where there are inaccurate submissions by employers.

  85 per cent. of cases in 90 days, where contributors/others identify an inaccuracy.

  The speedy investigation and resolution of 25,000 cases involving discrepancies, and arising out of data integrity process exercises, by 31 March 1999.

  2 Information Provision

  To provide NI related information to Agency customers by replying fully and accurately to:

  95 per cent. of requests from Government Agencies and Departments within:

  3 days where there is no clerical involvement.

  10 days where there is clerical involvement.

  45 days with detailed investigation.

  92 per cent. of requests from pension providers and scheme administrators within 25 days.

  95 per cent. of customer inquiries and complaints within 20 days.

  3 Conformance

  To ensure conformance with NI related legislation to secure timeous collection of contributions to the NI Fund by delivering:

  £3.581 billion collected for the NI Fund.

  £176 million of arrears identified and reference made to the Inland Revenue for collection.

  To deliver the system of contracting-out of State Earnings Related Pensions Scheme ensuring conformance with legislation, to ensure proper use of contracting-out rebates.

  National Insurance rebates accurately paid to Pension Providers, with 98 per cent. of cases completed within one calendar month after the recording of an accurate End of Year return.

  Contracting-out certificates properly issued, clearing 99 per cent. within 5 days.

  Variation and surrender action properly completed, clearing 96 per cent. within 10 days.

  Initiative investigation action within 5 days, where schemes are in breach of contracting-out conditions.

  4 Milestones

  Customer satisfaction

  To improve its service to complainants the Agency will:

  (i) introduce the first management check of complaints by the end of July 1998 (covering the first quarter of 1998/99)

  (ii) reduce "upheld" cases by the Adjudicator's office to 50 per cent by April 1999 (currently 80 per cent-1997 report). Measure to be the Adjudicator's Report 1999.

  New National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2)

  To complete the replacement of the NIRS1 IT system and decommission it. To plan, monitor and support implementation of the replacement NIRS2 system in a way which gives customers and staff confidence, minimises impact on DSS and external

  677
  stakeholders, and maintains the business and contractual relationship with the PH supplier. To plan and prepare for Releases 2 and 3 by April 1999, with a pre-implementation review of readiness completed by January 1999.

  Joint Working

  To work closely with the Department's policy and Inland Revenue colleagues in order to implement successfully changes announced in the Budget and the smooth transfer of the Contributions Agency to the Inland Revenue in April 1999.

  Employer's Helpline

  To improve the service provided by the Employer's Helpline by March 1999 ensuring that 80 per cent. of callers are connected and answered at the first attempt (currently 73 per cent.).

  To complete a review by October 1998 into the Employer's Helpline service with the aim of establishing the percentage of UK employers who are assisted annually by the Helpline and to make recommendations for extending the scope of this service.

  Carrying out business by electronic means

  The Agency will continue to participate in the Cabinet Office led public and private sector partnership which is investigating the potential of the Internet as a means of doing business with customers. Our eventual aim is that we meet the Prime Minister's target that 25 per cent. of our business will be capable of being transacted through electronic means by the year 2002. We will extend the electronic form "CWF1" pilot in June 1998 to include Barclay's Bank SMART card holders and will also identify additional suitable candidates for this pilot that month.

  The Agency will complete a review of its Internet web site by July 1998 with the aim of extending the information services it provides and developing the means of accepting information direct from customers.

  CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY

  Child maintenance collected and arranged

  £750 million of child maintenance to be collected or arranged for direct payment from the absent parent to the parent with care.

  Maintenance assessments

  65 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 22 weeks and on 31 March 1999 there are to be no applications over 52 weeks old.

  Reviews

  Where a client is dissatisfied with a Child Support Officer's decision and requests a review; or a change of circumstances requires a review; 80 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks.

  Payments

  97 per cent. of payments made to the parent with care to be made within 10 working days of receipt from the absent parent.

  Accuracy

  The cash value of all assessments checked in the year to be correct in at least 75 per cent. of cases.

  Milestone targets

  Review the first six months of closer working with the Benefits Agency, taking into account the views of stakeholders and produce a report by 31 December 1998.

  By 30 June 1998 formalise national and local consultation arrangements with stakeholders with a view to improving customer service.
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  WAR PENSIONS AGENCY

  Assessment and payment of war pensions

  To clear 75 per cent. of war disablement claims in 145 days.

  To clear 90 per cent. of war widows' claims within 65 days.

  As at 31 March 1999, to have no more than 23 per cent. of outstanding appeals more than 260 days old.

  To clear 6,000 appeals during 1998/99.

  For 90 per cent. of all claims to meet the quality criteria.

  By 28 February 1999, to introduce an independent element to the complaints procedure.

  Provision of welfare support to war disablement pensioners and war widows through the War Pensioners' Welfare Service

  To visit recently bereaved widows within 15 days of a request being made.

  Management of the Ilford Park Polish Home

  To achieve an average occupancy rate of 95 per cent. during the year.

  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AGENCY

  Delivering Active Modern Service

  (i) Take a leading role in the development and support of the key Information System/Information Technology (IT) products and services necessary to achieve the implementation of Active Modern Services including:

  delivery of the agreed IT work programme to support Modern Service Programme projects in prototyping more efficient customer focused service delivery approaches.

  the progression of the ACCORD project meeting agreed milestones relating to budget, timescales and quality.

  co-ordination of the Department's contribution to electronic government with the Central IT Unit (CITU) and other government departments.

  (ii) Deliver agreed IT work programme for support of existing systems to budget, time and quality to the satisfaction of customers, including progression of the programme for Customer Accounting Payments Strategy, and meeting agreed milestones on the implementation of major releases of Jobseeker's Allowance Release 5 and Social Fund Release 9.

  (iii) Lead the Year 2000 Programme within the Department to ensure that all business critical DSS products, services and estates are Year 2000 compliant to agreed timetable.

  Customer Service Targets

  (iv) Measure Customer Satisfaction using the Business Excellence Model (BEM), an industry wide standard, and achieve a 10 per cent. improvement on the 1997/98 ITSA BEM score for customer satisfaction.

  (v) Support and enable the timely and accurate delivery of Social Security administration by delivering 95 per cent. of IT services to the level of service agreed with our Departmental and external customers.

  Financial Targets

  (vi) Manage the Agency's income and expenditure (derived from normal trading activities), as presented on audited accruals accounts, so that the Agency recovers its full economic costs through receipts from customers within a tolerance of plus or minus 2 per cent.

  (vii) Manage the ITS Gross Vote so that the Agency's expenditure outturn is in line with allocations and estimates.

  (viii) Reduce unit costs and prices to deliver an overall business efficiency improvement of 5 per cent.

  Baltic States and Russia: Aid
  Baltic States and Russia: Aid
  European Council: Forthcoming Business for April
  European Council: Forthcoming Business for April
  General Affairs Council, 30 and 31 March
  General Affairs Council, 30 and 31 March
  Bahrain: Ratification of Convention against Torture
  Bahrain: Ratification of Convention against Torture
  Bahrain: Children's Rights
  Bahrain: Children's Rights
  Bahrain: Committee for Popular Petition
  Bahrain: Committee for Popular Petition
  Bahrain: Independence of Lawyers and Judiciary
  Bahrain: Independence of Lawyers and Judiciary
  Bahrain: Opposition Detainees
  Bahrain: Opposition Detainees
  Bahrain: Military Equipment
  Bahrain: Military Equipment
  Rent Restriction: Impact of Changes
  Rent Restriction: Impact of Changes
  Engineering Steels: Unfair Trading
  Engineering Steels: Unfair Trading
  Tamil Tigers and Drug Trafficking in UK
  Tamil Tigers and Drug Trafficking in UK
  Association of Chief Police Officers
  Association of Chief Police Officers
  Firearms Compensation Payments
  Firearms Compensation Payments
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee
  European Union: Educational Material
  European Union: Educational Material
  Class Size Pledge for 5–7 year-olds
  Class Size Pledge for 5–7 year-olds
  Family Law Act 1996: Part II Implementation
  Family Law Act 1996: Part II Implementation
  Cigarette Prices: Deterrent Effect
  Cigarette Prices: Deterrent Effect
  Children at Nursery School: LEA Information Gathering
  Children at Nursery School: LEA Information Gathering
  Disabled Civil Servants
  Disabled Civil Servants
  Special Waste Regulations 1996
  Special Waste Regulations 1996
  Policy Appraisal and the Environment Guidance
  Policy Appraisal and the Environment Guidance
  Planning Inspectorate Agency: Performance Targets
  Planning Inspectorate Agency: Performance Targets
  Severn Rail Tunnel: Emergency Train
  Severn Rail Tunnel: Emergency Train
  Falkland Islands and South Atlantic: British Naval Presence
  Falkland Islands and South Atlantic: British Naval Presence