Written Answers of 7 April 1998

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Stolen Art Treasures
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the procedures used by national museums and galleries in relation to stolen art treasures; and if he will review those procedures. [37279]

  Mr. Fisher
  The national museums and galleries take the greatest care to ensure that objects being acquired for their collections have not been stolen. I have no reason to believe that their procedures need to be reviewed. However, if the hon. Member has evidence to the contrary, I would be grateful if he would write to me about this.

  Creative Industries
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the total annual contribution of cultural activities to gross domestic product in each of the last three years. [37129]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]The current total revenues of the UK creative industries are estimated at over £55 billion. There are no reliable historic data on the contribution of the creative industries to gross domestic product. In 1995, the last year for which such information is available, the contribution net of inputs ("valued added") was around £25 billion, approaching 4 per cent. of gross domestic product.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those organisations responsible for awarding National Lottery grants, indicating the categories of grant they cover and their contact telephone numbers and addresses. [37253]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The National Lottery etc. Act 1993 established five areas to benefit equally from the Lottery: sports, the arts, heritage, charities and projects to mark the year 2000 and the beginning of the third millennium. The responsibility for distributing these proceeds rests with a number of independent distributing bodies. These are the four national Arts Councils, the four national Sports Councils, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the National Lottery Charities Board and the Millennium Commission.

  The Arts Councils aim to help people across the UK enjoy, and take Part in, broadest Possible range of arts activities. Arts Lottery money is being spent on a wide range of capital projects, including the renovation and
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  re-equipping of arts venues. The Arts Councils also fund revenue Projects designed to enable more people to Participate and take part in arts activities and to encourage more new plays, music and other work. The addresses ofthe Arts Councils are:

  The Arts Council of England

  14 Great Peter Street

  London

  SW1P 3NQ

  Tel: 0171 312 0123

  The Arts Council of Wales

  9 Museum Place

  Cardiff

  CF1 3NX

  Tel:01222–388288

  The Scottish Arts Council

  12 Manor Place

  Edinburgh

  EH3 7DD

  Tel: 0131–226–6051

  The Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  MacNeice House

  77 Malone Road

  Belfast

  BT9 6AQ

  Tel: 01232–667000.

  The Sports Councils fund capital sports projects for all designated sports. They also fund revenue programmes under the themes of coaching and leadership, talent identification and development. The addresses are:

  The English Sports Council

  16 Upper Woburn Place

  London

  WC1H 0QP

  Tel: 0345–649–649

  The Scottish Sports Council

  Caledonian House

  South Gyle

  Edinburgh

  EH12 9DQ

  Tel: 0131–339–9000

  The Sports Council for Wales

  Sophia Gardens

  Cardiff

  CFI 9SW

  Tel: 01222–300500

  The Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  House of Sport

  Upper Malone Road

  Belfast

  BT9 5LA

  Tel: 01232–382222.

  The aim of the National Heritage Memorial Fund's Heritage Lottery Fund is to Preserve, restore or acquire the nation's most treasured heritage which makes up the fabric of the Britain's history and culture.The Fund is

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  able to award funds to organisations and volunteers who care for the countryside, buildings, museums, industrial heritage, archives and parks. The address is:

  The Heritage Lottery Fund

  7 Holbein Place

  London

  SW1W 8NR

  Tel: 0171–591–6000.

  The National Lottery Charities Board distributes grants to help those at the greatest disadvantage in society and to improve the quality of life in the community. The Board distributes Lottery funds to both registered charities and organisations with a philanthropic aim and allocates funding on a themed basis. The initial rounds have been based on themes of poverty, youth issues and low income; health, disability and care; improving people's living environment; and voluntary sector development. The address is:

  The National Lottery Charities Board

  St. Vincent House

  16 Suffolk Street

  London

  SW 1 Y 4NL

  Tel: 0171–747–5300.

  The Millennium Commission supports projects to mark the year 2000 and the beginning of the third millennium. Millennium Commission awards fall into three categories: capital projects, the Millennium Awards scheme to assist individuals who help in the community and the Millennium Exhibition and festival. The Commission are supporting a nationwide programme of events which will take place throughout 2000. The aim is to bring communities together, while reflecting religious, ethnic and cultural groups. The address is:

  The Millennium Commission

  Portland House

  Stag Place

  London

  SWIE 5EZ

  Tel: 0171–880–2001.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to publish draft statutory directions to the National Lottery distributing bodies. [38115]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]I intend to publish to day drafts of the revised Policy Directions for the Arts Council of England, the English Sports Council, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland plan to publish drafts of revised Policy Directions for the Arts and Sports Councils of those countries at the same time. Drafts of revised Financial Directions for all existing Lottery distributors will be published in the early summer. I will publish drafts of Directions to the New Opportunities Fund for consultation with its board after Royal Assent to the National Lottery Bill but hope to make available a preliminary draft soon.

  Sport (UK Presidency)
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he has taken on sport during the United Kingdom Presidency. [38432]

  Mr. Banks
  I arranged a meeting with my counterparts from Luxembourg and Austria last Thursday. This was the first opportunity that I and my European colleagues have had to discuss the important contribution that sport can make to social and economic development within Europe.

  We agreed that the first ever Green paper on sport in the European Union should aim in particular to:
  identify a better model of coordination between all the agencies involved so that more resources are released and existing resources used more effectively;
  encourage and develop imaginative and practicable sports schemes aimed specifically at achieving measurable results against social exclusion;
  consider scope for using Eurathlon to support projects aimed at reducing social exclusion, as part of its review of the Eurathlon Programme;
  focus on youth unemployment and the ways of creating secure jobs in the sport sector, by stepping up the exchange of experience at national and local level; and examine the way European law is impacting on the day to day business of sports governing bodies.

  These proposals are a further example of the progress being made during the UK Presidency of the European Union.

  I am delighted that my Austrian colleague Dr. Peter Wittman has expressed his firm intention to pursue these issues during his country's Presidency in the second half of 1998. The European Commission is expected to publish its Green paper on sport around the turn of the year.

PRIME MINISTER

  Competition Bill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what factors he will take into account in reaching a decision on whether to seek to(a) reject and (b) amend those amendments to the Competition Bill [Lords] made in the House of Lords with regard to competition policy and media shareholdings. [37048]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]The new clause added to the Bill in the House of Lords is unnecessary because the Competition Bill already contains a prohibition of abuse of dominance which will apply across the economy and newspapers will not be exempt.

  Israel
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister which representatives of the British Government will be present at the celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of Israel. [37962]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are participating in a range of activities in Britain to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. We have not yet confirmed who will represent the Government at celebrations in Israel.

  Anthrax
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what communication Her Majesty's Government have had from the Government and Government agencies of Israel about information received by the Home Office about the threat of anthrax in the UK received on 5 March. [37328]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not the Government's policy to disclose the nature of discussions with other countries on intelligence matters.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the other members of the UN who have received threats pertaining to the spread of anthrax by Iraq. [37329]

  The Prime Minister
  It would be a matter for the countries concerned whether to disclose information of this kind.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on discussions between Scotland Yard and the CIA, FBI and agencies of the Department of Defense in Washington about the threat of the infiltration of anthrax spores into the United Kingdom. [37330]

  The Prime Minister
  The Metropolitan Police regularly discuss matters of shared interest with their counterparts in the United States, including the threat from weapons of mass destruction where appropriate.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Vehicle Registration Year Identifier System
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the arrangements for the introduction of the revised vehicle registration year identifier system, and the format of the succeeding systems; and if he will make a statement. [37286]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We hope to make an announcement soon.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the Eurostar traffic forecasts submitted to him by those organisations bidding to(a) construct the Channel Tunnel rail link and (b) run the Eurostar franchise. [37781]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No. These forecasts comprise information which is commercially confidential to the companies concerned.

  Recycling
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many(a) local authority collection schemes, (b) collection banks and (c) sorting and baling facilities are available in England and Wales for the recycling of plastic bottles; and how many properties have household or kerbside collection of plastic bottles; [37729]

  (2) how many collection sites there are in England and Wales for the recycling of plastic vending cups; [37730]
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  (3) how many banks there are in England and Wales for the collection of (a) glass bottles and (b) paper. [37728]

  Angela Eagle
  The provision of bring sites and separate collection for any recyclables is for each Waste Collection Authority to determine within the resources they have available. The latest available figures are from the 1995–96 Municipal Waste Management Survey, published in December 1997. These show that:Glass: there were 11,424 bring sites provided by local authorities and in addition 570 civic amenity sites also accepted glass for recycling; 265,647 tonnes of glass were collected for recycling from these sources.
  Paper: there were 6,344 bring sites provided by local authorities and in addition 410 civic amenity sites also accepted paper for recycling; 289,857 tonnes of paper were collected for recycling from these sources.
  Plastics: there were 1,058 bring sites provided by local authorities and in addition 127 civic amenity sites also accepted plastic for recycling; 2,457 tonnes of plastic were collected for recycling from these sources. No figures are available that show the number of separate household or kerbside collection schemes which collect plastics. In total in 1995–96, bring sites, civic amenity sites and separate collection schemes yielded 3,500 tonnes of plastics for recycling.

  No figures are centrally available on the number of sorting and baling facilities available for plastics. No central data of how many collection sites there are for the recycling of plastic vending cups are held.

  Agencies (Relocation)
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many Government agencies have relocated from London to the regions in the last 10 years. [38295]

  Angela Eagle
  In the last 10 years, the Marine Emergencies Organisation and the Surveyors General Organisation which together now form the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, were relocated from London to Southampton, and the Driving Standards Agency was relocated from London to Nottingham. A further four of the Department's Next Steps agencies have headquarters outside London.

  Civil Servants (RDAs)
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if civil servants transferred to the regional development agencies will retain their Civil Service status. [38303]

  Mr. Caborn
  In keeping with the majority of executive Non Departmental Public Bodies, Regional Development Agencies will not be Crown Bodies, and their staff will therefore not be Civil Servants.

  Nottinghamshire County Council (Structure Plan)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the present Nottinghamshire County Council Structure Plan was agreed by the Secretary of State; and what is the earliest date it could be reviewed. [38233]

  Mr. Caborn
  Following legislative changes introduced in 1991 the Secretary of State is no longer responsible for agreeing local authority development plans, other than
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  in very exceptional circumstances. The current Nottinghamshire Structure Plan Review was adopted by Nottinghamshire County Council in November 1996.

  Since the reorganisation of Nottingham City as a unitary authority on 1 April, any review of the plan and its timing is the joint responsibility of Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Council.

  Road Charging
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to undertake trials of the viability of an urban system of road user charging as a means of reducing urban congestion. [37861]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]Small scale trials involving volunteers are in progress in Leicester and Bristol. These are assessing behavioural responses to road user charging. Whether the Government consider commissioning further work will depend on the proposals for dealing with urban congestion that they set out in the forthcoming integrated transport White Paper. New primary legislation would be needed to enable trial or pilot schemes in which drivers were compelled to pay road user charges.

  Local Government Staff Commission
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Local Government Staff Commission for England will be wound up. [38435]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Local Government Staff Commission for England has completed its duties resulting from the 1992 Structural Review. Yesterday we laid before the House an Order winding up the Commission on 12 May. I am very grateful to the Commission for all the work it has done to safeguard the interests of local authority staff during the Structural Review.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his capping principles for 1998–99 and the list of authorities which he intends to designate; and if he will make a statement. [38517]

  Mr. Prescott
  Derbyshire County Council is the only authority (out of 433) for which I am proposing a cap limit, which would require it to reduce its budget requirement. Other authorities have set budgets and council taxes within the provisional limits which I set.

  I have proposed a cap for the Council which I consider, on the basis of all the information available so far, to be reasonable, appropriate and achievable in all the circumstances of the authority.

  The capping principles for 1998/99 are set out in the Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts 1998/99 (2 February 1998). They are subject to a general proviso that no authority is to be designated if its budget requirement is no more than £15,000 above the limit
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  implied by these principles. I have placed copies of this document in the Library of the House. The main points are:

  (i) The City of London, Inner London boroughs, and Shire Districts are able to increase their budget requirements by 1.5 per cent. or the increase in their SSAs for all non-police services, whichever is the greater;

  (ii) Outer London Boroughs, Metropolitan Districts, Unitary authorities and the Isles of Scilly and Shire Counties are able to increase their budget requirements by 3 per cent. or the increase in their SSAs for all non-police services, whichever is the greater;

  (iii) Fire and Civil Defence Authorities are able to increase their budget requirements by 4.5 per cent.;

  (iv) Police Authorities are able to increase their budgets by 3.2 per cent.

  Authorities budgeting more than 12.5 per cent. above SSA are subject to a cash freeze.

  In accordance with section 54 and 56 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, 1 have therefore decided to designate Derbyshire County Council. The amount that I am proposing should be the maximum amount calculated by that authority as its budget requirement for 1998/99 is £468.757 million.

  This decision demonstrates that we are taking our commitments on spending very seriously. The authority now has 28 days, starting today, in which to inform us whether or not it accepts its proposed cap. If it accepts, the cap will be confirmed by notice and the authority can set a revised lower budget. The budget we are proposing means £3.9 million reduced expenditure for Derbyshire so Band D council tax bills will be cut by around £17 million.

  If the authority challenges, it must propose an alternative amount together with its reasons for doing so and will have the opportunity to meet with Ministers to explain its case.

  Once we have considered all the available information we shall propose a final cap which will be included in an Order, a draft of which will be debated by the House of Commons. If the draft Order is approved, a final cap is set by notice and a revised budget and council tax must then be set by the authority.

  Electricity Industry (Swanwick)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the advantages of selling to the National Grid excess power generated at the New En Route Centre at Swanwick. [38391]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No. The New En Route Centre does not normally generate electricity, and relies on power supplied via the National Grid. It does have two standby generators, but for safety reasons these would be used only when the main power supply failed.

  Greater London Authority
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision has been made for expenditure in 1998–99 on preparing for the Greater London Authority; and when these resources will be spent. [38319]
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  Mr. Raynsford
  The Main Estimates published today include provision on Class VI, Vote 4 (Local Government and regional policy, England) of £2 million in 1998/99 for preparing for the Greater London Authority. This sum reflects the best forecast that can be made at this stage of the total costs in 1998/99 as a whole. No expenditure can be incurred before the Main Estimates are approved in July. No spending will take place unless Londoners vote in favour of the proposals for a Greater London Authority in the Referendum on May 7. There will be no significant expenditure on preparing for the Greater London Authority until Parliament has approved the principle of the legislation providing for the new authority's establishment.

  Spending Plans
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the spending plans of the(a) Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, (b) Ordnance Survey, (c) Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, (d) Office of the Rail Regulator and (e) Office of Water Services for 1998–99. [38518]

  Mr. Prescott
  Today I published the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Annual Report for 1998. It sets out in detail the outcome of the July 1997 and March 1998 Budget Statements, as it affects my areas of responsibility. The Report provides an overview of how my Department, Ordnance Survey, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Office of Water Services have discharged their functions over the past year. It provides a background to each spending programme and sets out our achievements to date with plans for the future for securing integration between the policies and services and functions of the two former departments.

TREASURY

  National Insurance
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the forward cost of raising employee's national insurance contributions threshold to £81 per week is not included in the Financial Statement and Budget report. [36082]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 24 March 1998]As the Chancellor made clear in his Budget Statement on 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1097–112, raising the employee's national insurance contributions threshold to £81 is a measure which he intends to bring forward in the future. As such, it would not have been appropriate to include this measure in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Road Fuel Duty
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the effective annual increase in road fuel duty following the July 1997 and March 1998 increases. [36357]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Following the March 1998 Budget, road fuel duty rates are 8.8 per cent. higher in real terms than the (volume weighted) average of the rates in 1997–98.
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  The above increase is additional to the increase in RPI, currently 3.2 per cent. per year.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on expenditure in the United Kingdom under European Communities budget line A-3501, Preparatory and Support Operations for the Achievement of Economic and Monetary Union. [36962]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Expenditure under this EC Budget line, which amounts to about £720,000 in 1998, is the Commission's own administrative expenditure. It does not involve expenditure in the United Kingdom. It covers support and evaluation studies and activities across the European Union relating to the implementation of economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the long-term effect of Economic and Monetary Union on the fiscal independence of Government policy for acceding states. [37567]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Fiscal policy will remain the responsibility of the Member States that participate in stage 3 of EMU, subject to the constraints of the Stability and Growth Pact.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the findings of the European Monetary Institute on the suitability of member states for inclusion in European economic and monetary union, in respect of future enlargement of the Union. [36547]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The convergence report of the European Monetary Institute was published on 25 March. The Government are now considering this report alongside the convergence report produced by the European Commission, and the European Commission's recommendation on which countries should proceed to stage 3 of Economic and Monetary Union. Once we have considered its findings we will report to Parliament in line with the usual scrutiny procedures.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future meetings to be held during the UK presidency of the EU concerning European Monetary Union. [36564]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Throughout the UK Presidency of the EU, the Ecofin Council will meet to consider preparations for Stage Three of EMU.

  The key decisions on which Member States will join the single currency will be taken over the first weekend in May. The Commission and EMI convergence reports and the Commission's recommendation will form the basis for these decisions.

  On 1 May Ecofin will assess which Member States fulfil the necessary conditions for the adoption of a single currency and will recommend its findings to Heads of State and Government (Article 109j(2) of the Treaty). On 2 May, Heads of State and Government will confirm, on the basis of the Ecofin recommendation, which Member States shall proceed to stage three of EMU.

  Mortgage Sales
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to review the effectiveness of the regulation of the sale of mortgages through the code of the Council of Mortgage Lenders. [36765]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have been considering how best we can carry forward our manifesto commitment for fair dealing in mortgages, the most significant transaction many ordinary people undertake.

  As part of a series of decisions on the future scope of regulatory reform, I am announcing today that the proposed legislation to establish the Financial Services Authority (FSA) as a single regulator will include powers enabling it to regulate mortgage business. We will be monitoring the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) Mortgage Code which was introduced in July 1997, to see if that, on its own, is capable of protecting mortgage borrowers to the standard the Government are determined to see achieved.

  The Treasury will be discussing the arrangements with the CML, but the main elements are likely to consist of:

  i. a baseline (verified by the Office of Fair Trading) against which to monitor the Code;

  ii. regular information and reports from CML;

  iii. independent information from other sources;

  iv. an on-going consultation process with CML itself about how the Code is working; and

  v. a formal review in 1999, then, if the Government decide not to legislate, an interim review in the year 2000, with reviews every two years after that—ie in 2002, 2004, and so on.

  The Government will be monitoring the Code's impact on the whole mortgage package, ie the mortgage itself, the tying-in products such as insurances, as well as repayment vehicles like endowments, even though the latter are already regulated by the FSA.

  Whether the reserve power is activated will depend upon a number of factors, including the extent to which the Code secures good quality advice for prospective borrowers; promotes good practice in lenders' dealings with borrowers in difficulty; and provides remedies for borrowers' legitimate grievances. The Treasury will ask the CML to report on the impact of the Code, and provide statistical background, before the legislation is brought into effect. The Treasury will also look to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading to monitor the guidelines for non-status market lenders and brokers, and agreements under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. In addition, the Treasury will look to the FSA for an assessment of the likely costs of activating the reserve power, to assess whether they would be commensurate with any potential benefits. Others with knowledge of the mortgage market would also be consulted before any decision is made.

  Fuel Tax (Rural Motorists)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of the increase in fuel tax on motorists in rural areas. [37073]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government recognise that many people, especially in the more isolated rural areas, have become increasingly dependent on car ownership. But all motorists must also make a contribution in tackling 150
  global warming caused by greenhouse gases. To help provide alternatives to the car, the Government are spending an extra £50 million a year on rural transport. They are also spending an additional £40 million to increase the rebate paid to bus operators.

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from what sources metals for the single currency coinage will be acquired; and what environmental impact assessment has been undertaken in respect of that acquisition. [37789]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The principal metals planned to be used for the euro coinage are steel and copper. As these metals are in plentiful supply, no significant environmental impact is expect to arise from the demand forecast to be generated by the euro coinage.

  Electronic Cash
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the creation of electronic cash, and on the criteria for bodies to be allowed to operate electronic cash systems. [37765]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The Government see electronic cash having enormous potential in a wide range of areas. But as that potential is still underdeveloped and the technologies involved are undergoing continuous change, it would be premature to lay down criteria now for the sorts of bodies who are likely to participate in this market.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue's definition of millennium conversion expenditure, with particular reference to whether the definition includes the development of new systems. [37581]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The Inland Revenue's expenditure on its Year 2000 project covers all capital, manpower (management and technical) and running costs necessary to review, convert and test the computer systems which support its business.

  Since the start of the Year 2000 project all new systems are being developed to be fully millennium compliant and their costs are not included in the Year 2000 project costs.

  All the Department's expenditure on Year 2000 conversion, including the Year 2000 project and work to deal with embedded technology, is being met from within existing funding limits.

  Pensioner Taxpayers
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of taxpayers who are pensioners. [38067]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]It is estimated that in 1998–99 there are 3.3 million individuals aged 65 and over who pay income tax.

  Lloyd's of London
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the United States' authorities regarding litigation in the United States of America relating to Lloyd's of London. [38180]

  Mrs. Liddell
  None. However, my officials have regular contacts with state insurance commissioners in the United States to discuss a range of issues relating to Lloyd's. An official from the British Embassy in Washington has also met in the last year with the Securities and Exchange Commission to discuss matters relating to Lloyd's.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances papers held by his Department in relation to Lloyd's could be released to a grand jury in the United States of America investigating the affairs of Lloyd's of London. [38181]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The disclosure of confidential information provided for regulatory purposes is restricted by European and domestic legislation. Whether or not disclosure would be permitted would depend on the specific circumstances of the case. However, disclosure to a Grand Jury in the United States would not generally be permitted without the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained, and where different, any person to whom it relates.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Securities Exchange Commission in the United States of America regarding Lloyd's of London since 1 May 1997. [38179]

  Mrs. Liddell
  None.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future scope of regulation by the Financial Services Authority. [38430]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As has already been announced, we propose to publish for consultation this Summer draft legislation to reform the structure of financial services regulation. This will bring together regulation of investment business, deposit-taking and insurance business under a single regulator, the Financial Services Authority. The legislation presents an opportunity to ensure that the Financial Services Authority has the powers it needs to regulate effectively, and to provide for the scope of statutory regulation to be extended to new activities in the event that self-regulatory mechanisms fail to deliver the standards that the Government and consumers expect.

  The Government have been considering how best we can carry forward the Government's manifesto commitment for fair dealing in mortgages, the most significant transaction many people undertake.

  I have decided that the proposed legislation to establish the Financial Services Authority as a single regulator will include powers for the Treasury to extend the scope of activities regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The activities that could if necessary be regulated will include mortgage business. The case for regulating
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  mortgage business will be regularly reviewed by Ministers. The first review will take place before the Bill comes into force.

  In the meantime the Treasury will monitor the Code introduced by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in July 1997 to see whether it can deliver the Government's objectives without statutory intervention. The Council of Mortgage Lenders is currently bringing intermediaries within the Code's scope, and introducing appeals arrangements. It is too soon to decide whether the Code, on its own, is capable of protecting mortgage borrowers to the standard that the Government are determined to see achieved.

  Whether statutory mortgage regulation is introduced will depend upon a number of factors, including the extent to which the Code secures good quality advice for prospective borrowers and provides remedies for borrowers' legitimate grievances. The Treasury will ask the Council of Mortgage Lenders to report on the impact of the Code, and provide statistical background. The Treasury will also look to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading to monitor the impact of recent changes in the guidelines for non-status market lenders and brokers, and the upper limit to which these consumer credit agreements apply from £15,000 to £25,000. In addition, the Treasury will look to the Financial Services Authority for an assessment of the likely costs of activating the reserve power, to assess whether they would be commensurate with any potential benefits. Others with knowledge of the mortgage market would also be consulted before any decision is made.

  The draft Bill will also make it possible to extend statutory regulation to include the conduct of retail banking and non-life insurance business. We have no plans at present to extend the scope of regulation in these areas, but standards of conduct and the risks faced by consumers will be kept under review. Regulation would be extended only after consultation, including an appraisal of the costs and benefits.

  The Government have also decided to consult on the future of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council. A consultation paper has been published today by the Treasury. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Financial Services Authority's rule-making powers. [38431]

  Mrs. Liddell
  We intend that the draft legislation will give the Financial Services Authority wide enabling powers to make rules. The rules will have the force of law, and be capable of imposing binding obligations upon firms. The rule-making power will enable the Financial Services Authority to lay down requirements anywhere along the spectrum from broad principles to detailed requirements.

  The Financial Services Authority will also be able to issue guidance on the interpretation of its rules and other regulatory matters.

  The rule-making power will be exercisable for the purpose of protecting the interests of customers of financial services businesses. Consistent with the need for differentiated levels of regulation for wholesale and retail

  153
  business, the Financial Services Authority will be required to ensure that its rules take account of the fact that rules appropriate to business conducted with some classes of investor may be inappropriate in the case of others.

  We also intend that the Financial Services Authority will be able to impose financial resources rules, supplemented by additional requirements on individual entities by means of administrative notifications.

  The Financial Services Authority will be able to grant waivers, to disapply its rules on a case by case basis (subject to tests similar to those in the Financial Services Act 1986). The Financial Services Authority will be under an obligation to publish waivers, subject to considerations of commercial or regulatory confidentiality.

  We intend that a right of action for damages for private persons will attach to the Financial Services Authority's rules, except financial resources rules and others specified by the Financial Services Authority. The draft legislation will create a presumption that the rules confer no right of action for damages on non-private persons, unless the Financial Services Authority were to stipulate otherwise.

  We intend that the power to make rules will be reserved to the Board of the Financial Services Authority. The Financial Services Authority will be obliged to consult on any proposed rules unless the delay created would be prejudicial to the interests of existing and potential investors, policyholder or depositors. The Financial Services Authority will be obliged to publish cost benefit appraisals of its proposals and other options as part of the consultation exercise unless the Financial Services Authority reasonably believes that the proposals on which it is consulting will reduce the costs of compliance incurred by those to whom the proposals will apply or are neutral in terms of such costs or that any increase in compliance costs will be of marginal significance only. More generally, we intend that exercise of the Financial Services Authority's rule-making powers will be informed by its statutory objectives.

  The Financial Services Authority has today published a consultation document with initial proposals concerning the exercise of these powers. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Benchmarking Project
  Mrs.Organ
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he ill make a statement about the pulblic sector benchmarking project [38515]

  Dr.David Clark
  I am launching today a new phase of the Public Sector Benchmarking Project,designed to help public bodies share best practice more systematically with each other, with the Private sector and,ultimately, with the most successful government bodies in other countries. This Project uses the widely recognised European Business Excellence Model. Self-assessment asgainst the Model Promotes continuous improvement and customer focus,and facilitates benchmarking with the wide variety of other organisations using the Model.
  154
  I have placed copies of the evaluation report on the first two years of the project in the Libraries of the House and it is also available on the Cabinet Office Internet site, at www.gtnet.gov.uk/co/cohome.htm. It is clear from the report that participation has brought great benefit to the 100 organisations involved in the project so far, and has enabled comparison particularly with the private sector in a way which was previously impossible. Six organisations involved have already achieved a score of over 450 points against the Model, which is comparable to those achieved by winners of the several regional quality awards. 60 organisations have already expressed interest in participation in this new phase, even before details could be circulated.

  The project has so far primarily targeted Next Steps executive agencies and the larger non-departmental public bodies. Experience with a range of other public bodies has demonstrated that the Model can be of equal value in other sectors. The new phase is therefore open to any organisation in the wider public sector, and my officials will be working closely with other departments and representative bodies to encourage uptake of the project, for example among police forces, local government, and the health and education services. We will develop and emphasise the clear links between the Business Excellence Model and agencies' ministerial targets; with other quality schemes used in the public sector, particularly Charter Mark, Investors in People and ISO 9000; and with the White Papers and guidance recently or shortly to be published on Better Government, Best Value, market testing and contracting out in central government, Opening Up Quangos, The New NHS, and Excellence in Schools.

  There has been considerable international interest in the project. I am keen to promote this and build on the work already done, so that we can share best practices between national public sectors. My officials will work with their counterparts abroad and in the European Commission to facilitate international comparisons, and with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in its setting up of an International Benchmarking Network for the public sector.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of alkylphenolic substances was discharged by the offshore oil and gas industry in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the reliability of the figures. [32387]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 5 March 1998]Data on discharges of alkylphenolic substances for the years 1993 and 1997. Discharges for those years are as follows:

  Year

  Tonnes

  1993

  34.35

  1994

  32.18

  1995

  25.20

  1996

  48.09

  1997

  54.36

  155
  The figures are supplied by the oil and gas industry to Government under the provisions of the Offshore Chemical Notification Scheme. Both industry and Government make every effort to improve the accuracy of the data supplied and it is possible that one reason for the apparent increase in recent years is as a result of these efforts. In addition, my offshore inspectors make spot checks of chemicals held and used offshore.

  Calor Gas
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) for what reasons the price of calor gas is not regulated; [33743]

  (2) if she will seek to regulate the price of calor gas. [33744]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 12 March 1998]Given the level of competition in LPG supply generally, I see no need to regulate prices.

  The Director General of Gas Supply regulates the supply of gas "through pipes". The supply of LPG in cylinders and tanks does not come within this definition.

  The Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for keeping this industry, along with others not subject to specialist oversight, under review in order to detect monopolies and exploitation of market power.

  OFT reviewed the price increases in LPG supply last Winter to see if they were an indication of such exploitation. It was concluded that they were not.

  OFT is currently negotiating with the LPG supply industry, with DTI encouragement, with a view to establishing code of conduct covering charges for the removal of rented tanks. This would make switching by consumers easier.

  Offshore Chemicals
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the application and implementation of the harmonised mandatory control system for the use and reduction of the discharge of offshore chemicals with particular reference to the operation of the CHARM model. [35903]

  Mr. Battle
  Over 500 products have been assessed by the UK under the provisions of the harmonised notification format, and of these more than 100 have been

  Table 1:Commodity codes for which all goods contain some chrysotile asbestos

  Commodity code

  Description

  Imported by UK in 1997?

  Produced in UK in 1996?

  Fabricated asbestos fibres; asbestos mixtures articles of such mixtures or of asbestos, whether or not Classification heading 663.81)

  6812 1000

  Fabricated asbestos mixtures; mixtures with a basis of asbestos or with a basis of asbestos and magnesium carbonate

  Yes

  Yes

  6812 3000

  Cords and string, Whether or not plaited

  Yes

  6812 4000

  Woven or knitted fabric

  Yes

  6812 5000

  Clothing, clothing accessories, footwear and headgear

  Yes

  6812 2000

  Yarn and thread

  Yes

  Yes

  6812 6000

  Paper, millboard and felt

  Yes

  Yes

  6812 9010

  Other, for use in civil aircraft

  No

  6812 9090

  Other

  Yes

  6812 7000

  Compressed asbestos fibre jointing, in sheets or rolls

  yes

  yes

  156
  assessed using the CHARM model. The model promotes informed decisions on the use of offshore chemicals by quantifying the combined hazard and risk associated with their use and discharge. In collaboration with other contracting parties to the Oslo and Paris Convention, the UK has identified that some modifications will be required before full implementation of the CHARM model will be possible.

  The trial period for the Harmonised Mandatory Control System will be reviewed in 1999 as agreed by the Oslo and Paris Commissions.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the tonnage of asbestos imported into the European Union from Canada in each of the last three years. [36147]

  Mrs. Roche
  Data on EU imports of asbestos from Canada are given in the table.

  EU1 imports of asbestos2 from Canada

  Year

  Tons

  1994

  71,355

  1995

  71,744

  1996

  46,087

  January-July

  1997

  13,617

  1EU 15 countries throughout.

  2Code 278.4 of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3.

  Source:

  Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what specific products containing chrysotile asbestos are(a) imported into the United Kingdom and (b) manufactured in the United Kingdom; what is the annual tonnage of asbestos incorporated in such products; and if she will make a statement. [36748]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]Some of the commodity codes used in official statistics do not distinguish products containing asbestos from those containing potential replacement materials. That is, they cannot be distinguished from potential substitute products.

  Table 1 shows the position for those commodity codes where there is no ambiguity; all goods contain some chrysotile asbestos.
  157
  Table 2 shows the position for commodity codes which can include both goods containing chrysolite asbestos and goods containing alternative materials.

  Table 2: Commodity codes within which goods may contain some chrysotile asbestos

  Tariff code

  Description

  Imported by UK in 1997?

  Produced in UK in 1996?

  Articles of asbestos cement, of cellulose fibre-cement or the like (Standard Industrial Trade Classification heading 661.83)

  6811 1000

  Corrugated sheets

  Yes

  Yes

  6811 2011

  Sheets, not exceeding 40 x 60 cm, for roofing or walls

  Yes

  6811 2080

  Panels, tiles and similar articles

  Yes

  6811 3000

  Tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings

  Yes

  Yes

  6811 9000

  Other articles

  Yes

  Yes

  Friction material and articles thereof, not mounted, for brakes etc. with basis of asbestos, cellulose or other mineral substances, whether or not combined with textile or other materials (Standard Industrial Trade Classification heading 663.82)

  68131010

  Brake linings and pads, for use in civil aircraft

  Yes

  Yes

  68131090

  Other brake linings and pads

  Yes

  6813 9010

  Other, for use in civil aircraft

  Yes

  Yes

  6813 9090

  Other

  Yes

  In some cases, the sales information on which the final column is based is collected only for combinations of products. Goods sold without being subjected to any manufacturing process have been excluded in deriving this column.

  Information on the detailed composition of products imported or manufactured is not available.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade from which countries chrysotile asbestos fibres imported into the United Kingdom originate and what was the total annual tonnage of chrysotile asbestos fibres imported into the United Kingdom from each country in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement. [36747]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]Chrysotile asbestos is not separately identified in the system under which United Kingdom trade is recorded. However, since 1986, trade in all other forms of asbestos has been prohibited. The figures in the table, therefore, relate to chrysotile asbestos.

  UK imports of asbestos1 1993–97

  Tonnes

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Austria

  73

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  21

  39

  26

  0

  0

  Brazil

  0

  23

  0

  0

  0

  Canada

  8,348

  8,767

  8,519

  6,134

  3,915

  Irish Republic

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Slovakia

  0

  20

  0

  0

  0

  Germany

  15

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Japan

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Africa

  360

  450

  553

  602

  496

  Switzerland

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  USA

  123

  51

  84

  20

  149

  Zimbabwe

  740

  2,117

  980

  342

  261

  Totals

  9,681

  11,466

  10,164

  7,099

  4,820

  1 Asbestos is defined as code 278.4 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revision 3, (SITC Rev 3). This does not include asbestos cement and manufactures containing asbestos.

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise
  158
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which United Kingdom owned companies are engaged(a) in the mining of amphibole asbestos fibres and (b) in the manufacture of products containing such asbestos fibres; and if she will make a statement. [36740]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]I am not aware of any United Kingdom owned companies engaged in mining of amphibole asbestos fibres or engaged in the manufacture of products containing amphibole asbestos fibres.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total annual tonnage of chrysotile asbestos fibres incorporated into products sold by United Kingdom companies in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement. [36739]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]Information on the detailed composition of products is not collected.

  Trade Fairs
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list (i) the companies involved in and (ii) the locations of trade fairs or exhibitions(a) supported and (b) organised by her Department in 1996–97. [36189]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]In 1996–97 there were 8,972 participants from UK firms and organisations at 342 trade fairs and exhibitions throughout the world under the terms of the Trade Fair Support Scheme (TFSS). Lists of participants and events have been deposited in the Library of the House. Details of which participants were subsidised are commercially confidential. The TFSS is open to all UK companies; Scottish Trade International, the Welsh Office and the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland offer support under different terms.

  In addition at least 173 companies have benefited from DTI support under other schemes. Full information is available in the Library of the House.

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list ECGD exposure in each of the last five years for(a) China, (b) Indonesia, (c) Nigeria, (d) Saudi Arabia, (e) Turkey, (f) South Africa, (g) India, (h) Iraq, (i) Philippines, (j) Vietnam, (k) Pakistan, (l) Qatar, (m) Iran and (n) Algeria; if she will list the value of defence business supported in each case; and if she will make a statement. [37010]

  Mrs. Roche
  ECGD is not in a position to provide such detailed figures for exposure for past years, because of disproportionate cost.

  ECGD's current exposure in these markets is as follows:

  £ million

  Current exposure

  Of which defence equipment

  China

  2,621

  0

  Indonesia

  1,773

  654

  Nigeria

  1,657

  0

  Saudi Arabia

  986

  975

  Turkey

  742

  255

  South Africa

  695

  0

  India

  503

  0

  Iraq

  625

  0

  Philippines

  731

  0

  Vietnam

  64

  0

  Pakistan

  206

  0

  Qatar

  704

  402

  Iran

  120

  1

  Algeria

  229

  96

  British Standards Institution
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations she has received relating to the role of the BSI; [37477]

  (2) if she will undertake a full review of the functions and activities of the BSI; [37475]

  (3) when (a) she and (b) her Ministers last met representatives of (i) the BSI and (ii) the standards certification industry apart from BSI. [37476]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]I have received a number of representations concerning the role of the BSI. These have been mainly from the standards certification industry. They have mostly been related to the proposed amendments to the BSI's constitution.

  The Department does not intend to undertake a full review of the functions and activities of the BSI. BSI is independent of Government. The Department recently co-ordinated a cross Government consultation with regard

  Region

  Company

  Payment of grant1

  Ownership

  North West

  Vauxhall

  £1,000,000—August 1997

  USA (GM)

  West Midlands

  Rover

  £6,000,000—December 1997

  Germany (BMW)

  West Midlands

  Jaguar

  £5,500,000—March 1998

  USA (Ford)

  £1,500,000—September 1997

  £5,000,000—March 1997

  £400,000—June 1995

  West Midlands

  Peugeot

  £400,000—September 1997

  France

  £500,000—October 1996

  1 Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)—applicable to UK assisted areas

  160
  to proposed amendments to the BSI constitution. I support the amended constitution that was overwhelmingly approved by BSI's members at an Extraordinary General Meeting on 27 February convened for the purpose.

  I met representatives of BSI on 17 February. I have not met representatives from the standards certification industry apart from the BSI, but my officials are in regular contact.

  Petrol Prices
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what statistics her Department collates relating to petrol prices throughout the United Kingdom; what analysis it makes of regional trends; and if she will publish this information. [38381]

  Mr. Battle
  National petrol, and diesel, price data are collected and published by my Department monthly in Energy Trends one month in arrears. Provisional estimates, for the previous month, are published earlier at the beginning of each month in the Advance Energy Statistics Press Notice. Longer runs of data and information relating to duty rates are published annually in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. The very localised nature of petrol pricing means that meaningful regional analyses has to be based on very small regions. As such it is not cost effective for my Department to collect and publish such detailed information. My Department does, however, monitor the top level regional data produced by private sector organisations.

  Leaded Fuels
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards setting a British standard for(a) additived lead replacement fuels and (b) over-the-counter additives for use when leaded fuels are phased out. [37990]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The British Standards Institution started working to develop a British Standard for lead replacement petrol in 1996. No British Standard is proposed for over-the-counter additives.

  Motor Car Companies (Inward Investment)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the payments which have been made to foreign motor car companies to encourage inward investment in the last five years, the size and timing of such payments and the regions which have benefited. [37570]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The number of aid payments made by DTI to foreign owned UK motor car manufacturers in support of investment over the last 5 years was as follows:

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, under the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, initiatives in one local authority area will be considered discriminatory against investors in that area if similar initiatives are not in place elsewhere. [37351]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]No. Policies towards investments, including local authorities' policies, may vary from area to area for legitimate reasons. Provided that a local authority's initiative does not disadvantage investors of one country compared with those of another in similar circumstances, it will not be considered discriminatory.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans she has to promote the target for the installation of solar roof and facade systems in the EU set out in the European Commission draft White Paper on Renewable Energy; and if she will make a statement; [37903]

  (2) what plans she has to promote the adoption of the European Commission draft White Paper on Renewable Energy; and if she will make a statement; [37902]

  (3) what plans she has to ensure that the renewable energy target for the EU set out in the European Commission draft White Paper on Renewable Energy is developed into achievable goals for each member country. [37904]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have welcomed the European Commission's Renewable Energy White Paper. The UK Presidency is currently working towards a positive Council Resolution on the White Paper which can be agreed by all Member States. Although there are a number of reservations about the White paper, all Member States appear to recognise the need to prepare positive, practical and workable plans to provide a substantial increase in the use of renewables. I am optimistic that this will be reflected in a Council Resolution.

  The UK is currently reviewing its renewables policy, examining what needs to be done to achieve the aim of 10% of the UK's electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010 and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reduction commitments. The Review is considering all forms of new and renewable energy, including solar power. I am expecting officials shortly to present me with a number of options. I will make an announcement later this year. In the meantime my Department will continue with its assessment of different solar PV systems in a variety of buildings, under its New and Renewable Energy Programme. We are also supporting the Foresight SCOLAR programme, which aims to put a variety of PV arrays into 100 schools and colleges across the country.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the recent TUC forecast of the level of job losses in the manufacturing industry. [37700]
  162
  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The TUC calculation is based on an assumed relationship between output growth and employment. The prospects for manufacturing and the precise relationship between output growth and employment will depend on a range of factors.

  This Government are committed to providing an environment in which all businesses can prosper. We are pursuing policies to deliver a high and stable level of employment over the long term.

  Energy Sources Review
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the cost of employing International Mining Consultants Ltd. to review energy sources. [37697]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The work being undertaken by International Mining Consultants is on the basis of a fixed price. That price is a commercial matter for the company.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the review of energy sources was not conducted by the Energy Division of her Department. [37698]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The review is being carried out by a team within my Department's Energy Policy and Analysis Unit.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors underlay the delay in the appointment of consultants to review energy sources for power generation. [37699]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]Consultants have been appointed to provide expert input on specific topics covered by the review. They were appointed when the particular matters had been identified on which independent expert advice was required.

  Gas Pipes
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what formula is used by Transco to assess the need to replace gas pipes; and if she will make a statement. [37379]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]Transco' s pipeline replacement strategy is principally aimed at ensuring that their gas distribution system continues to operate safely, and meets the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive's Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996. I understand that Transco's methodology for replacing gas mains is based on a points system, building on principles developed by the Institution of Gas Engineers, and that this methodology is currently under review by Transco.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's response to the European Commission's proposals for the reform of the European structural funds. [36551]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 2 April 1998,Official Report, columns 662–63.
  163
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations her Department has made to the European Commission over reform of EU structural funds. [36537]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have met Commissioner Wulf-Mathies twice to discuss reform of the EU Structural Funds, on 8 January in London and 19 March in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has met Mrs. Wulf-Mathies four times, on 13 October 1997 in Brussels, 8 January 1998 in London, 25 February in Brussels and most recently on 26 March in London. Officials are also in regular contact with the Commission. In all these meetings, we have pressed the Government's position that the Structural and Cohesion Funds should be affordable, durable and fair.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the European Commission's proposals to reform the European structural funds. [36535]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 2 April 1998,Official Report, columns 662–63.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when regulations will be made to implement the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive as it applies to the offshore oil and gas industry. [38556]

  Mr. Battle
  I have today laid Regulations to implement the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC) as it applies to the offshore oil and gas industry. The Regulations will come into effect on 30 April 1998.

  Iraq
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of the pathogen strains that Iraq purchased from the United Kingdom between 1985 and 1989 had origins in the British biological weapons programme. [34847]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  I undertook on 2 April 1998, Official Report, column 1445, to look into a number of points raised by the hon. and learned Member about the possible supply of UK origin anthrax spores to Iraq via the US, and will provide such information as is available in answer to this question in my reply.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Annual Results
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the hon Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the significance of the Commissioners' 1997 annual results for the wider Church. [38519]

  Mr.Stuart Bell
  For the fourth successive year the total return on the Commissioners' investments has exceeded the independent benchmark. Provisional figures 164
  for 1997 show the total return on the Commissioners' assets was 19.7% against the WM All Funds benchmark of 16.5%. This reflects sound strategic and tactical investment choices as well as the current high market values of UK equities. The value of the assets at 31 December 1997 was £3,481 million (£2,976 million in 1996). Income was £135 million (£146 million in 1996) which represented an underlying increase after taking into account special dividends and other one-off items of £3.9 million in 1997 compared to £15.1 million in 1996. The Commissioners' total expenditure in 1997 in support of the Church was £130.6 million (136.2 million in 1996).

  With the support and cooperation of the rest of the Church and, in particular, because of the generosity of the parishes, the Commissioners have been able to restore a balance between assets and distribution levels. They have also been able to rebalance their investment portfolio towards long term total return with a broader spread of risk. Both these factors have underpinned the strong investment performance of recent years.

  A six year programme of reducing distribution levels was completed in 1997 and parishes now bear a greater responsibility for the financial support of their clergy. Parishes now meet 62% of the clergy pay bill (£160 million in 1997) with the Commissioners meeting only 15%. Parishes started to contribute towards clergy pensions from 1 January 1998 following the introduction of the new pensions arrangements made possible by the Pensions Measure which was passed by this House last year.

  This continuing acceptance of responsibility and extra generosity from the parishes will enable the Commissioners to continue to fulfil their core responsibility of supporting the Church's ministry in poorer areas of the country for this and successive generations.

SCOTLAND

  Surplus Property and Land
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the properties and land owned by his Department which he has identified as surplus to requirements, giving in each case their estimated value. [30326]

  Mr. Dewar
  (holding answer 23 February 1998]The list is set out in the table.

  Department/Agency

  Property

  Estimated value (£)

  Scottish Prisons Service

  1.025 ha of land at Barlinnie

  70,000

  Scottish Prisons Service

  0.6 ha of land at Noranside

  20,000

  Scottish Prisons Service

  4.42 ha of land at Polmont

  620,000

  Scottish Office Home Department

  0.77 ha of land at Clovenfords

  60,000

  Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department

  1.0 ha of land at Auchincruive

  10,000

  Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department

  2.44 ha of land at Stonehouse

  400,000

  Scottish Office Accommodation Division

  56 High Street, Lossiemouth

  25,000

  Scottish Office Development Department

  12.185 hectares of land at Rosyth

  72,000

  165

  Department/Agency

  Property

  Estimated value (£)

  Scottish Office National Roads Directorate

  13 properties

  179,639

  Scottish Office National Roads Directorate

  c400 areas of land at various locations1

  1c1,700,000

  Scottish Office Home Department

  Disused Civil Defence bunker at Cultybraggan

  17,500

  Scottish Office Home Department

  Former depot at Stirling

  340,000

  1As at 1 April 1997.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pulblish the estimated costs of the options for the temporary housing of the Scottish Parliament after it is elected in 1999. [34280]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 13 March 1998]: In preparing assessments of options for interim accommodation for the Scottish Parliament,my officials made outline estimates of the comparative capital and running costs of solutions based on the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall on the Mound, Edinburgh; and the former Glasgow High School complex at Charing Cross, Glasgow. These estimates included capital costs of necessary upgrading of the buildings and rent and rates over a two year period. The costs covered office accommodation required by the Parliament. For the

  NDPD

  Places

  Places currently unfilled

  Resigntions since 1/5/97

  Retirements since 1/5/97

  Contracts not renewed since 1/5/97

  Number remaining in place since 1/5/97

  Number appointed since 1/5/97

  Executive

  The Accounts Commission for Scotland

  15

  0

  0

  2

  0

  13

  2

  Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes:

  Hannah Research Institute

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  15

  1

  0

  1

  0

  14

  0

  Moredun Research Institute

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Rowett Research Institute

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  14

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  3

  Crofters' Commission

  8

  1

  1

  0

  0

  7

  0

  Deer Commission for Scotland

  13

  0

  0

  0

  0

  13

  0

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  6–12

  0

  0

  4

  0

  8

  4

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland

  11

  0

  0

  1

  0

  10

  1

  National Galleries of Scotland

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9

  3

  National Library of Scotland

  1—

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  National Museums of Scotland

  15

  1

  0

  0

  0

  14

  0

  Parole Board for Scotland

  18

  1

  0

  3

  0

  14

  6

  Royal Botanic Garden

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9

  0

  Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

  10

  0

  0

  1

  0

  9

  1

  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

  5

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  1

  Scottish Arts Council

  14

  1

  0

  0

  0

  13

  0

  Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  0

  Scottish Community Education Council

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  4

  Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  0

  Scottish Council for Education Technology

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Scottish Enterprise

  8–12

  0

  1

  0

  0

  9

  2

  Scottish Environment Protection Agency

  12

  2

  2

  0

  0

  10

  0

  Scottish Further Education Unit

  7

  1

  1

  1

  0

  3

  3

  Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

  15

  0

  1

  3

  0

  1

  1

  4

  Scottish Homes

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  0

  Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust

  10

  1

  0

  0

  0

  8

  1

  Scottish Legal Aid Board

  13

  0

  1

  0

  0

  12

  1

  Scottish Medical Practices Committee

  6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  12

  0

  1

  2

  0

  9

  3

  166
  Assembly Hall option, the office accommodation element was based on buildings currently occupied by the City of Edinburgh Council at George IV Bridge and Parliament Square. The respective estimated costs were as follows:

  £ million

  Old Royal High School, Edinburgh

  5

  Assembly Hall

  6

  Charing Cross, Glasgow

  3

  The estimates did not include heating, lighting, security or other building-related services.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish(a) the number of places on each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies, (b) the number of places that are currently unfilled on each non-departmental public body, (c) the total number of members that have resigned since 1 May 1997, (d) the total number that have retired since 1 May 1997, (e) the total number that have not had their contracts renewed since 1 May 1997, (f) the total number that have remained in place since 1 May 1997 and (g) the total number that have been appointed since 1 May 1997. [35279]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 19 March 1998]The information is set out in the table. The figures relate to Ministerial appointments only; a few appointments are made by others.
  167

  NDPD

  Places

  Place currently unfilled

  Resignations since 1/5/97

  Retirements since 1/5/97

  Contracts not renewed since 1/5/97

  Number remaining in place since 1/5/97

  Number appointed since 1/5/97

  Scottish Qualifications Authority

  20

  2

  2

  0

  0

  18

  0

  Scottish Screen

  13

  0

  0

  0

  0

  13

  0

  Scottish Sports Council

  12

  0

  0

  2

  0

  10

  2

  Scottish Tourist Board

  7

  1

  0

  2

  0

  5

  1

  Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council

  8–12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  1

  Advisory

  Advisory Committee on Dental Establishments

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9

  2

  Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People

  2—

  9

  0

  2

  0

  8

  1

  Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest

  7

  0

  0

  3

  0

  2

  5

  Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  4

  Building Standards Advisory Committee

  14

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  0

  Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace (Scotland)

  18

  0

  0

  0

  0

  18

  0

  Extra Parliamentary Panel

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20

  0

  General Teaching Council for Scotland

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Health Appointments Advisory Committee

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Hill Farming Advisory committee for Scotland

  16

  0

  0

  1

  0

  16

  0

  Historic Buildings Council for Scotland

  12

  0

  0

  2

  0

  10

  2

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  Local Government Property Commission

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Police Advisory Board for Scotland

  5

  0

  0

  2

  0

  3

  2

  Post Qualification Education Board for Health Services Pharmacists in Scotland

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  0

  Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse

  19

  1

  1

  0

  0

  18

  0

  Scottish Advisory Committee on the Medical Workforce

  17

  0

  1

  0

  0

  15

  2

  Scottish Agricultural Consultative Panel

  15

  0

  0

  0

  0

  15

  0

  Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20

  0

  Scottish Crime Prevention Council

  12

  1

  1

  0

  0

  11

  0

  Scottish Economic Council

  31

  0

  2

  7

  0

  23

  8

  Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board

  12

  3

  0

  3

  0

  9

  0

  Scottish Police College Board of Governors

  18

  0

  0

  2

  0

  16

  2

  Scottish Records Advisory Council

  12

  1

  1

  1

  0

  11

  1

  Scottish Standing Committee for the Calculation of Residual Values of Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  Scottish Studentship Selection Committee

  10

  0

  0

  3

  0

  7

  3

  Scottish Valuation and Rating Council

  11

  0

  1

  0

  0

  8

  3

  Secretary of State for Scotland's Advisory Group on Sustainable Development

  2—

  0

  1

  0

  0

  9

  0

  Secretary of State's Advisory Panel of Economic Consultants

  2—

  0

  0

  2

  0

  5

  4

  Secretary of State's (Electricity) Fisheries Committee

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  0

  1Life appointments

  2 Not specified.

  Fish Farming Colleges
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Drumbeat report and addendum into the future of the Seafield Centre fish farming college at Kishorn, Ross-Shire; if he will list all those industry companies consulted over its compilation; and if he will make a statement; [37882]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the projected annual balance sheet of the Seafield Centre fish farming college at Kishorn, Ross-Shire; and if he will make a statement. [37883]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Drumbeat Report was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I understand that it is already publicly available and will make arrangements to place copies in the Libraries of both Houses.
  168
  The Seafield Centre is a faculty of Inverness College. The latest audited annual accounts for Inverness College are for 1996–97. The college budget for 1998–99 is still in preparation.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those facilities approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority in marine aquaculture; what plans he has in respect of the fish farming college at Kishorn, Ross-Shire, Dunstaffnage, Argyll and the North Atlantic Fisheries College at Scalloway, Shetland; and if he will make a statement. [37884]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Scottish Qualifications Authority approves the following centres to deliver education and training leading to qualifications in various aspects of marine aquaculture.

  Aberdeen College

  Angus College

  The Barony College

  Banff and Buchan College of Further Education

  169

  Borders College

  Dumfries and Galloway College

  Dundee College

  Elmwood College

  Lews Castle College

  Inverness College

  Shetland College of Further Education

  Fish Industry Training Association

  Marine Harvest McConnell

  North Atlantic Fisheries

  Rural Pursuits Ltd

  Scottish Aquaculture Training Association

  Shetland Fisheries Training Association.

  Responsibility for the Seafield Fish Farming Training Centre at Kishorn rests with the Board of Management of Inverness College. The Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory

  Numbers and rate per 100,000 of new cases, aged under 16 years, where a diagnosis of Legg-Calves-Perthes Syndrome was recorded, by area of residence, 1991–1995

  Numbers of discharges

  Rate per 100,000

  Health board of residence

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Argyll and Clyde

  6

  5

  11

  4

  4

  6.7

  5.6

  12.3

  4.5

  4.5

  Ayrshire and Arran

  8

  8

  5

  7

  11

  10.3

  10.3

  6.4

  9.0

  14.2

  Borders

  1

  3

  1

  1

  1

  5.1

  15.2

  5.0

  5.0

  4.9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1

  3

  6

  1

  3.5

  3.5

  10.3

  20.5

  3.4

  Fife

  8

  9

  4

  4

  8

  11.2

  12.6

  5.6

  5.5

  11.1

  Forth Valley

  0

  3

  4

  1

  2

  -

  5.5

  7.3

  1.8

  3.6

  Grampian

  3

  3

  4

  2

  2

  2.9

  2.8

  3.7

  1.8

  1.8

  Greater Glasgow

  20

  19

  12

  21

  24

  11.0

  10.4

  6.6

  11.4

  13.1

  Highland

  5

  2

  5

  2

  2

  11.4

  4.5

  11.3

  4.5

  4.5

  Lanarkshire

  10

  10

  7

  5

  9

  8.3

  8.3

  5.8

  4.2

  7.5

  Lothian

  11

  7

  8

  7

  11

  7.9

  5.0

  5.7

  4.9

  7.6

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Tayside

  5

  0

  3

  2

  3

  6.6

  -

  3.9

  2.6

  3.9

  Western Isles

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  31.9

  -

  -

  16.3

  -

  Scotland

  80

  70

  67

  63

  78

  7.6

  6.8

  6.5

  6.1

  7.5

  Source

  ISD Scotland

  Futher and Higher Education
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February 1998,official Report, column 578, What discussions he has had with individual principals of Scottish(a) universities,(b)colleges and(c)further education colleges regarding the possibility of increasing the proportion of non-Scottish United Kingdom students who are given direct entry into second year; what conclusions were reached; what estimate he has made of the cost to Scottish educational institutions of the reultant reduction in annual full-time equivalent places; and if he will make a statement. [38340]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have not met the Principal of any Scottish university, higher or further education college specifially to discuss the possibility of increasing the proportion of non-Scottish UK-domiciled students who are given direct entry into second year

  The Report of the Scottish Committee of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the 'Garrick Report')recommended to higher education providers that they should clearly specify their requirements for combinations of A levels which will lead to entry with
  170
  is funded and managed by the Natural Environment Research Council and the North Atlantic Fisheries College is managed by an independent charitable trust. I have no locus to intervene in the future plans for any of these facilities.

  Legg-Calves-Perthes Syndrome
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of new cases of Legg-Calves-Perthes syndrome in each of the Scottish health board areas for each of the last five years, indicating the percentage of the population which each of these figures represent. [36812]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The latest available information by Health Board area, on the number and rate per 100,000 of population of new cases, under 16 years, of Legg-Calves-Perthes Syndrome for each year from 1991 is provided in the table.

  advanced standing within the new qualifications framework. In our response to the Garrick Report, published on 25 February and available from the Library of this House, we welcomed this recommendation. The Government believe that higher education providers should give more consideration for entry into second year for candidates with appropriate combinations of A levels and, in due course, Advanced Highers. However, as this is for the institutions themselves to consider and take forward, no estimate has been made of the cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drug Abuse
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what programmes and funding are being made available this year by the Government to provide education in schools on the dangers of drug abuse; and if he will indicate the respective contributions of his Department and the Department for Education and Employment. [37367]
  171
  Mr. George Howarth
  The National Curriculum sets out the minimum requirements for drugs education in schools. Beyond this, it is for individual schools to decide on their drugs education programmes in the light of their needs and circumstances.

  The Department for Education and Employment is making £7 million of support available to all local education authorities in England in 1998–99, through the Standards Fund programme, to assist primary and secondary schools and the youth service to deliver effective education about drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. In addition, as part of its £1.9 million annual grants programme, the Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative is supporting work in a limited number of schools in developing their drugs education programmes. The results of this work will be disseminated nationally over the course of this year.

  Youth Justice
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the responses received(a) to the draft Crime and Disorder Bill and (b) from local authorities on the proposed duty to produce a youth justice plan. [37365]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government's proposal to place a duty on local authorities with social services and education responsibilities, to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan covering the provision of youth justice services and youth offending teams, was set out in the consultation paper "New National and Local Focus on Youth Crime", published in October. Sixteen local authorities commented specifically on the proposal for a youth justice plan. Overall, they gave a broad welcome to the proposal and commented on the need for proper links between youth justice plans and other local plans, in particular, the children's services plan drawn up by local authorities and the policing plan issued by police authorities. A summary of the responses to the consultation paper was placed in the Library on 15 December 1997.

  The proposal for a youth justice plan was reflected in the White Paper "No More Excuses—A New Approach to Tackling Youth Crime in England and Wales", published in November, and is now contained in clause 37 of the Crime and Disorder Bill.

  The preparation of youth justice plans and their relationship with other local plans will be addressed in guidance to local authorities and the other relevant local agencies.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom the proposed youth offending teams will be accountable. [37363]

  Mr. Michael
  Clause 36 of the Crime and Disorder Bill places the responsibility for establishing youth offending teams on the local authority with education and social services responsibilities in the area. Youth offending teams will therefore be accountable to that local authority for the way they discharge their statutory duties.

  In practice, we expect youth offending teams to be accountable to a group of chief officers from the local authority and from those agencies placed under a duty by clause 36 to co-operate with the local authority in
  172
  establishing a youth offending team. They are the police, the probation service and the health authority. This group will in turn account to the local authority, the police authority, the probation committee and the health authority. It is expected that where there are two tiers of local authority, there would be consultation with the District Authorities and to ensure coherence with the work of Crime Prevention Partnerships and the work of Drug Action Teams.

  Clause 37 of the Bill also places a duty on local authorities, after consultation with the police authority, probation committee and health authority, to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan covering the provision of youth offending teams and youth justice services. This plan will be published and submitted to the Youth Justice Board established under clause 38, which will be able to hold the local authority and the other agencies to account for the arrangements for teams and services in their area.

  Security Industry
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to regulate the security industry; and if he will make a statement. [37526]

  Mr. Michael
  We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry as soon as possible but pressures on Parliamentary time constitute an obstacle to early legislation, as we warned would be the case when we pressed the last Government for early legislation before the election. We have recently completed a consultation exercise with the industry and others on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system for the whole of the private security industry. It is clear from the responses that there is general support for our approach from the industry itself, as well as from other respondents, and we hope to put forward firm proposals for regulation later this year. Our aim is to build a consensus behind legislative proposals in order to be able to move more quickly and effectively as soon as Parliamentary time becomes available.

  Airline Liaison Officers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training or guidance is currently received by airline liaison officers; and how this is provided. [37724]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Airline liaison officers are selected from within an Immigration Service management grade (Chief Immigration Officer) on the basis of experience and suitability against well defined criteria. After selection and before posting, airline liaison officers attend a training course devised and run by the Immigration Service Carriers Liaison Unit, the office responsible for managing the airline liaison officer network. They are also provided with a manual which contains operational guidance and instructions. Airline liaison officers are instructed to contact the Carriers Liaison Unit for advice and guidance whenever necessary.
  173
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airline liaison officers are currently in post overseas; and in which countries they serve. [37722]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office currently has five airline liaison officers based overseas at the British High Commissions in Ghana (Accra), Kenya (Nairobi), India (New Delhi), Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Bangladesh (Dhaka).

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost is of maintaining airline liaison officers overseas; and what assessment he has made of this expenditure in terms of value for money. [37723]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The budget, including the initial costs of providing the necessary support services for the network of five airline liaison officers, is £925,000 in the first year of operation and £575,000 annually thereafter. The estimated annual saving to the United Kingdom after the first full year of operation is just under £19 million.

  Passports (Children)
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on passports for children. [38434]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Following a policy review, I have accepted the Passport Agency's recommendation that, on the grounds of improved security, of making child abduction more difficult, of facilitating travel and of maintaining the Agency's efficiency and effectiveness, all children should be required to hold their own passport. This change in policy will take effect from 5 October 1998, when the Agency plan to begin introducing a new, more secure British passport. Children already included on their parents' passports will not be affected by this change until the passport is changed.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people are currently detained by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; how many have been detained in each of the last five years; and at what annual cost; [38163]

  (2) how many of the people detained by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have been detained for longer than three months in each of the last three years. [38165]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]Information on persons detained under sole Immigration Act powers in the United Kingdom for longer than three months is available only for the position as at 31 March 1998. As at that date, 350 such persons were recorded as having been detained continuously for over three months.

  The available information relating to all persons detained under Immigration Act powers in immigration detention centres and prisons in the United Kingdom at given points in time, is contained in table 1.
  174
  The annual costs of detention to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are given in table 2.

  Table 1: Persons recorded as being detained1 solely under Immigration Act powers in immigration detention centres and prisons in the United Kingdom2

  As at:

  Detained in immigration detention centres

  Detained in person establishments

  28 February 1998

  3,4373

  5496

  31 December 1997

  383

  465

  31 December 1996

  4493

  6487

  31 December 1995

  4371

  6532

  31 December 1994

  7n/a

  6445

  31 December 1993

  7n/a

  6545

  1Persons recorded as being detained under Immigration Act powers on the dates given.

  2 Data exclude persons detained in police cells.

  3Data exclude persons detained at Dover.

  4Data exclude persons detained at Harwich.

  51998 prisons data are provisional.

  6Data exclude persons detained in prisons in Northern Ireland.

  7Data are not available.

  Table 2: Annual costs to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of detention1,2 1992–93 to 1996–97

  Year

  Cost1 (£ million)

  1992–93

  4.57

  1993–94

  7.46

  1994–95

  11.35

  1995–96

  13.12

  1996–97

  17.8

  1Costs are net costs calculated on an accruals accounting basis. They include staff, accommodation, overheads and full running costs, and take account of depreciation of fixed assets.

  2The data exclude costs to the Prison Service.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the daily average cost to public funds of detaining a person by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [38162]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The current average daily cost of detaining a person within the Immigration Service detention estate is £76. Some immigration detainees are held in Prison Service accommodation where the average daily cost in 1996–97 was £68, although these costs are not passed on to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The quoted costs include headquarters overheads.

  Immigration Advisory Service
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what factors underlie the number of staff at the Immigration Advisory Service, Scottish Office; [38158]

  (2) what factors underlie the proposed reduction in the number of staff at the Immigration Advisory Service, Scottish Office. [37910]

  Ms Quin
  The staffing arrangements of the Immigration Advisory Service are a matter for the Trustees.
  175
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum cases are dealt with in the Immigration Advisory Service Office based in(a) Birmingham, (b) Cardiff, (c) Central London, (d) Gatwick, (e) Glasgow, (f) Hounslow, (g) Leeds and (h) Manchester. [37911]

  Ms Quin
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Asylum appeals disposed of by the Immigration Advisory Service, by office

  March 1997-February 1998

  Birmingham

  53

  Cardiff

  8

  Central London1

  423

  Glasgow

  19

  Hounslow

  536

  Leeds

  10

  Manchester

  48

  1Includes Detention Unit

  There is no Immigration Advisory Service office at Gatwick.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the availability of free advice on immigration and asylum law in Scotland. [38159]

  Ms Quin
  The Immigration Advisory Service receives a grant from the Home Office under section 23 of the Immigration Act 1971. It is open to appellants in Scotland to seek free advice from the Immigration Advisory Service or from any other voluntary organisation.

  Internet Watch Foundation
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1998,Official Report, column 516, who will undertake the review of the Internet Watch Foundation; what arrangements are being made to allow interested parties to submit their views to the review team; and if the report will be published. [37142]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The review will be undertaken by outside consultants. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has the lead in taking forward the review in view of that Department's responsibility for regulation of the industry, and has the full support of the Home Office. DTI officials will be meeting representatives from the Home Office, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and National Children's Homes (Action for Children) after Easter to discuss the finer details of the review. However, it is envisaged that the review will focus on:Progress on the removal of illegal material, including the number of reports received, time taken to turn them around, compliance of Internet Service Providers with IWF advice and the possibility of establishing a system to provide more reliable feedback on results;
  Structure of the IWF and representation of interested parties.
  Next priorities for IWF—a broader focus than child pornography. New priorities might include adult pornography, racism, breaches of copyright and protection from legal but potentially harmful material;
  176
  Awareness of the Internet industry and consumers of the IWF and or rating and filtering tools for self protection and how far this awareness translates into usage.

  Once the full specification of the review has been agreed, applications will be invited from interested parties who may wish to carry out the review. It will be open to anyone who wishes to do so to submit views to the team which is appointed. The report of the review is likely to be published in the Autumn.

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1998,Official Report, column 516, if he will extend the review of the operations of the Internet Watch Foundation to include an assessment of the effectiveness of the current procedures of (a) the Metropolitan Police, (b) other police forces and (c) the National Criminal Intelligence Service, in responding to reports on potentially illegal child pornography from the IWF. [37141]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The focus of the review announced by the Government on 3 March will be the work of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), its structure and composition, the effectiveness of its arrangements for dealing with reports of potentially illegal material, extension of its priorities for action and promoting awareness of its work.

  The review will look at the effectiveness of the administrative procedures for passing on information about potentially illegal material to individual police forces and for collating information about the use to which the information has been put, including resulting prosecutions. Any procedural difficulties will be highlighted in the report. The operational effectiveness of the Metropolitan Police, other police forces and the National Criminal Intelligence Service in responding to reports which they receive from the IWF on potentially illegal child pornography is beyond the scope of the current proposals.

  The efficiency of the police response to the information received from IWF is a matter for the force concerned.

  British Horseracing Board
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the British Horseracing Board. [37745]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]My right hon. Friend has not met the British Horseracing Board (BHB). The Home Office has regular contact with the BHB at official level. I expect to be meeting Board members soon and I have had several informal contacts with members of the Board.

  Fraud
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Law Commission to review the law on fraud. [38520]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the law on fraud. The terms of reference for this review are:"As part of their programme of work on dishonesty, to examine the law on fraud, and in particular to consider whether it
  is readily comprehensible to juries;

  177
  is adequate for effective prosecution;
  is fair to potential defendants;
  meets the need of developing technology including electronic means of transfer;
  and to make recommendations to improve the law in these respects with all due expedition. In making these recommendations to consider whether a general offence of fraud would improve the criminal law."

  Fire Safety
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report of the Community Fire Safety Task Force in relation to fire safety in England and Wales. [38521]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I am pleased to announce today that the Government have accepted all the main recommendations of the Community Fire Safety Task Force.

  We have pledged quite clearly our determination and commitment to providing safer communities. The fire service has a vital role to play in helping to achieve a safer society, not just by "fighting fires, but by reducing the number of fires, deaths and casualties.

  The Community Fire Safety Task Force were established to advise on a new strategy for England and Wales to reduce significantly the incidence of fire in the home. The report they produced last November was welcomed as an enormous opportunity both for the Government and the fire service to reduce the pain and suffering caused by dwelling fires.

  I made it clear when the report was published that we wanted to hear the views of chief officers, fire authorities and the Unions, all of whom have a crucial role to play in translating the strategy into action. I am pleased to say that the response to the Task Force report has provided a strong mandate for almost all of their key proposals and for a refocusing of effort towards prevention and safety.

  I am writing to those same organisations today to explain how we intend to take the strategy forward. In particular, I want to see the efforts of Government, fire authorities and other local agencies integrated and co-ordinated as the Task Force recommended, so that the whole effort achieves more than the sum of its parts. We shall be taking steps to put these arrangements in place shortly. I also accept, with the strong endorsement of the fire service, the recommendation that community fire safety should be made a statutory duty.

  Community Fire Safety must become a core activity of the fire service, and we must work in partnership with other agencies and with business to eliminate preventable fires. The success of this approach will mean a safer society for us all.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publish a Management Statement for the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [38522]

  Mr. Michael
  The Management Statement for the Criminal Cases Review Commission has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. The Statement sets out the mission and objectives of the 178
  Commission, its accountability to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and, through my right hon. Friend to Parliament, and the division of responsibilities between the Commission and the Home Office. The Management Statement is a key document for any non-departmental public body, and I commend that for the Commission to the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Firearms
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to ban handguns in Northern Ireland. [32572]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 2 April 1998,Official Report, column 608.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she will publish legislative proposals arising from the review of the Firearms (NI) Order 1981. [32811]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 11 March 1998]I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 2 April 1998,Official Report, column 608.

  Irish Medium Education
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council has discussed Irish-medium education; and if she will make a statement. [33593]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Education and Culture Sub-Committee of the Anglo Irish Intergovernmental Council regularly discusses Irish-medium education. At its meetings on 7 February, 8 May and 14 November, it discussed the inclusion of the Irish language in the National curriculum in English schools.

  The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference has discussed Irish- medium education at 6 meetings since the beginning of 1995. The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference was established under the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council.

  Housing Development
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on her policy with respect to(a) building on green belt land and (b) the proportion of brownfield sites to be used for future housing. [37161]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Policy on buildings on green belt land in Northern Ireland is set out in the publication "A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland", published in September 1993, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  The draft Regional strategic Framework will be issued for public consideration within the next few months and this document will address, among other matters, the question of the use of recycled land.

  Staff Appointments
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which staff appointments in(a) her Private Office, (b) the Northern Ireland Office and (c) the Northern Ireland Civil Service are subject to her personal choice. [37164]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Appointments made in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Civil Service are made on the basis of merit and through fair and open competition.

  As Secretary of State I do not engage in the process by which staff in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Civil Service are selected for appointment. However, my approval is obtained before some selections for appointment are finalised. These posts include those at NI Permanent Secretary level, some in my Private Office (as recommended by Dr. Maurice Hayes in his 1997 report on "Staff Deployment in the NICS"), where the nature of the work and the working relationship involved make it appropriate to do so.

  The post of Head of the NI Civil Service and the three most senior posts in the NIO are subject to approval by the Prime Minister.

  Incomes
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the average(a) annual income and (b) hourly rate of pay in Northern Ireland. [37264]

  Mr. Ingram
  In 1996–97 the average annual income in Northern Ireland was £9,530. The latest earning figures available are for April 1997 at which date the average hourly rate of pay for adult employees (both full and part-time) was £7.58.

  Source:
  Incomes—Northern Ireland Family Expenditure Survey 1996–97
  Earnings—Northern Ireland New Earnings Survey, April 1997.

  Mr. öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those employed in Northern Ireland earn less than £4 per hour; and if she will make a statement. [37265]

  Mr. Ingram
  The latest figures available are for April 1997 at which date 17.8 per cent. of adult employees (both full and part-time) earned less than £4.00 (excluding overtime) per hour.

  Source:
  Northern Ireland New Earnings Survey, April 1997.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the impact of a minimum wage in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [37266]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government have appointed the Low Pay Commission to gather evidence, assess it and make recommendations in relation to the National Minimum Wage. The Commission visited Northern Ireland in October for that purpose. My Department has also contributed fully to the UK-wide Government evidence presented to the Commission. The Commission has received the recent NIEC report on the extent and nature 180
  of low pay in Northern Ireland. The report shows Northern Ireland to be significantly more affected by low pay than other UK regions. The National Minimum Wage will therefore have particular importance for Northern Ireland.

  Peace Line, Belfast
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will take measures to reinstate those sections of the peace line in north and west Belfast which have been taken down in recent months; and if she will make a statement. [37784]

  Mr. Ingram
  No sections of the peaceline in north and west Belfast have been taken down by the security forces in recent months. Any sections removed or damaged by unauthorised persons are repaired immediately.

  Housing
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the Housing Executive's capital programme each year since 1987–88 has been spent on accommodation in(a) Catholic/nationalist and (b) Protestant/unionist areas. [37783]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Housing Executive capital schemes are developed on the basis of targeting those in greatest need through an objective assessment of housing requirements. No information is recorded on a religious apportionment of those programmes.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive dwellings in Belfast are currently unoccupied by tenants to whom the Housing Executive has let these properties; and if she will make a statement. [37782]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose Chief Executive has advised me that, at 31 March 1998, the Executive is aware of 93 properties let to tenants, but unoccupied. Of these 72 are temporarily unoccupied while major improvements are carried out. The remaining 21 are the subject of Abandonment Notices, the Executive having evidence that the properties are not being used by the tenant as their main home. Abandonment Notices are served following a thorough investigation and are the culmination of a legal process to recover the property.

  Paramilitary Activity (Collusion Allegations)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will seek the advice of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Legal, Summary and Arbitrary Executions on the conduct of an investigation into allegations of collusion between members of the security forces and paramilitary groups. [37740]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  No. We have national experts well placed to offer any necessary advice and to make recommendations on the issues that a UN Rapporteur would be likely to cover.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average RUC call out and response time over the past four years for each category of reported incident. [37807]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is not currently available. However the Command and Control system is designed to provide such information; its installation is ongoing and should be completed province-wide by October 1998.

  Referendum Campaign
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she plans to sanction her Department's Director of Information's proposals relating to a possible referendum campaign, with particular reference to the involvement of the Archbishop of Armagh; if she will place a copy of the proposals in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [37820]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The proposals drawn up in relation to a possible referendum campaign will be considered in the light of events. If a referendum is to be held, some of the proposals will be implemented and others will be considered.

  However, as I have made clear, Dr. Eames had no knowledge of the communications document. I have also assured Archbishop Eames that at no stage was there any intention or suggestion that anyone in the NIO was seeking to bring any pressure on him or any other church leader in terms of what they might say about the talks process or anything else. I greatly respect Dr. Eames and his independence as a Church leader as I do his integrity and that of the other Church leaders.

  The main point of the paper was to develop a strategy for informing the Northern Ireland public about the content of any agreement so that individual voters can make up their own minds. A public information telephone line has already been set up for this purpose.

  As the leaked document was an internal working paper I do not intend to place it in the Library of the House.

  Mediation Network
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 23 March 1998,Official Report, column 27, what evaluation she made, prior to granting funding to Mediation Network, of evidence that one of its advisers is a member of a United States religious sect. [37822]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  None.

  "Women Seen and Heard"
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place a copy of the document "Women Seen and Heard" in the Library. [37178]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]I have made arrangements to have copies of this Report placed in the Library.

  Life Sentence Prisoners
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the reasons for the revocation of licences for each of the 18 former life sentence prisoners for whom this is applicable. [37181]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]Statute provides that the licence of an indeterminate sentence prisoner can be revoked at any time by the Secretary of State. In each case, the overriding reason for licence revocation was for the protection of the public.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the members of the Life Sentence Review Board, indicating their profession, qualifications and perceived religious/community background and the declarations of interest each has registered. [37175]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The Life Sentence Review Board is not a statutory body and there is no formal registration requirement on its members.

  The Life Sentence Review Board is chaired by the Permanent Under Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office, Mr. Joe Pilling, and includes among its members senior Northern Ireland Office officials, a psychologist and a medical officer of the Department of Health and Social Services. The Chief Probation Officer and a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist attend the Board in a professional advisory capacity. The Governors of HMP Maze and HMP Maghaberry also attend.

  The identities of the members of the Board, with the exception of the Permanent Under Secretary, are not made public for security reasons. The members of the Board are all full-time civil servants drawn from both the Home Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Their membership is by virtue of the posts they hold within the Northern Ireland Office, including the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

  It would be inappropriate to disclose the perceived community background of the individual members of the Review Board. The confidentiality of monitoring information is protected under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.

  As already indicated, among the members of the Board, are a professionally qualified Psychologist and medical practitioner.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates the two life-sentence prisoners released on licence were subsequently reconvicted for scheduled offences; and what their present position is as regards sentence. [37180]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]Of the two prisoners re-convicted for serious terrorist offences, one was sentenced on 17 December 1993 and the other on 18 May 1995. Following licence revocation each has resumed the status of an indeterminate sentence prisoner. The stage at which each case will be reviewed by the Life Sentence Review Board will be determined by means of periodical review in accordance with normal life sentence review procedures.
  183
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times, and on what dates, the Life Sentence Review Board has met in the last three years; and how many cases it has considered on each occasion. [37174]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]The Life Sentence Review Board meets five times per year. The other information requested is set out in the table.

  Date of meeting

  Number of cases

  7 February 1995

  5

  4 April 1995

  10

  6 June 1995

  9

  17 October 1995

  9

  12 December 1995

  8

  20 February 1996

  7

  23 April 1996

  5

  11 June 1996

  12

  22 October 1996

  13

  10 December 1996

  10

  18 February 1997

  7

  29 April 1997

  6

  9 June 19971

  8

  14 and 15 October 19971

  19

  9 December 1997

  12

  1 One individual case was considered at two successive meetings during 1997 as the Board requested additional information.

  Note:

  Some cases will, of course, have been considered more than once during this 3 year time span where the Board deferred them for periods of one or two years.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the cost of resolving the millennium computer problem in the National Health Service; how much money has been spent on this to date; and if she will make a statement. [37933]

  Mr. Worthington
  The cost of resolving the millennium computer problem in the Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Services currently stands at £5 million in respect of Information Management and Technology (1M&T) systems. No estimates are yet available for non-IT equipment.

  There are as yet no records of what has been spent to date. This will become clear in the next returns due from HPSS organisations in May 1998.

  The HSS Executive has been promoting awareness of HPSS Year 2000 issues since 1996. The HPSS programme is broadly in line with the GB timescale and the requirement for regular updates on progress will fall into line with GB from the next return date which is due in June 1998. It is not expected that compliance of all equipment will be achieved by the December 1998 target date. Preparations should however be complete in time for the millennium.

  Water Service
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the perceived religious affiliation breakdown of the persons who were 184
  interviewed by the last promotion board of the Northern Ireland Water Service for professional and technical staff; [38097]

  (2) how many persons appeared before the last promotion board for the Northern Ireland Water Service; and how many of those have since been promoted; [38138]

  (3) by how much she intends to increase water charges to each class of consumer; what sums she intends to raise in total; and for what purposes such sums will be used; [38083]

  (4) how many officers of each professional and technical grade are employed at Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters; [38096]

  (5) how many persons at what grades are employed in design in (a) the Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters and (b) in each division; and from where and by whom the persons working in the divisions are supervised; [38090]

  (6) if she will publish a table to show the religious affiliation breakdown of each grade of staff in each of the Northern Ireland Water Service divisions and at Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters; [38091]

  (7) what checks are carried out on claims made as to qualifications held by persons employed in each professional and technical grade and in each administrative grade in the Northern Ireland Water Service; [38092]

  (8) if she will publish a table to show for each of the Northern Ireland Water Service divisions the number of (a) professional and technical officers,(b) higher professional and technical officers and (c) senior professional and technical officers employed, indicating the equivalent figures for the administration in each division and giving the dates of the last promotion board for these posts; [38093]

  (9) what reports on the Northern Ireland Water Service have been published by (a) the Fair Employment Agency and (b) the Fair Employment Commission; [38094]

  (10) how many persons are employed at Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters; and at what grade. [38095]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Water Service under its chief executive, Mr. H. R. F. Plester. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from H. R. F. Plester to Mr. William Ross, dated 7 April 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about Water Service staffing and charging issues.
  I shall answer each in the order of their receipt, and because some are very closely interlinked and worded I think it is necessary, to ensure clarity, that I should set out the question in full before each answer.
  1. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what was the perceived religious affiliation breakdown of the persons who were interviewed by the last promotion board of the Northern Ireland Water Service for professional and technical staff.

  185
  Because of its duties of confidentiality to its staff the Department does not publish data on individual promotion competitions from which their religious affiliation could be deduced. Unauthorised disclosure of such information would constitute an offence under Section 19 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. However, aggregated information is available in the Sixth Report of the Equal Opportunities Unit. A copy of this is available in the House of Commons Library.
  2. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons appeared before the last promotion board for the Northern Ireland Water Service; and how many of those have since been promoted.
  Five people were interviewed for the post of Telemetry Operations, Supervisor Professional Technical Officer level within Northern Division and one has since been promoted into this post.
  3. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by how much she intends to increase water charges to each class of consumer; what sums she intends to raise in total; and for what purposes such sums will be used.
  The annual revision of the Water Service's metered water charges, paid by industrial commercial and agricultural users, and trade effluent charges paid by dischargers, has just taken place. The proposed new rates for 1998/99 are as follows:

  Metered Water Charges
  The proposed volumetric charge for 1998/99 is 72.34 pence per cubic metre. This is an increase of 6.28% on the 1997/98 charges of 68.13 pence. The standing charges for metered supplies have not been increased. They remain within the annual charge rate of £46 for a supply pipe of 15 mm or less, up to £1502 for a supply pipe greater than 100 mm.

  Trade Effluent Charges
  The proposed standard trade effluent charge for 1998/99 remains at the level for 1997/98. This is 37.06 pence per cubic metre. While the standard charge has not altered overall there has been re-adjustment of the components that make it up under the "Mogden Formula", which is the standard water industry methodology for calculating this charge. These charge components are reception and conveyance, volumetric treatment, biological treatment, sludge

  Grade 6

  PPTO

  SPTO

  HPTO

  PTO

  O'level trainee

  TG1

  Belfast

  1

  3

  5

  23

  15

  6

  ⋆2

  Ballymena

  1

  3

  3

  2

  Craigavon

  1

  1

  6

  4½

  2

  Londonderry

  1

  4

  3

  3

  ⋆Technical Grade 1

  6. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish a table to show the religious affiliation breakdown of each grade of staff in each of the Northern Ireland Water Service divisions and at Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters.
  Because of its duties of confidentiality the Department does not publish information at the level of disaggregation requested. However, information on composition by grade at Departmental level is available in the Sixth Report of the Equal Opportunities Unit, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to appointment and progression on merit.
  7. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what checks are carried out on claims made as to qualifications held by persons employed in each professional and technical grade and in each administrative grade in the Northern Ireland Water Service.
  Upon recruitment, or when gaining qualifications in-service, Water Service staff are required to submit for inspection the original certification relating to their qualifications.
  186
  treatment and disposal. These adjustments could affect the bills of trade effluent dischargers upwards or downwards depending upon the volume and strength of their effluents.
  It is estimated that the sums raised by these charges during 1998/99 will be approximately £30 million for metered water and £3.9 million for trade effluent. These charges are levied to ensure that those businesses using these facilities pay proportionately for the services they receive and that cross-subsidisation amongst consumers is reduced. A portion of the metered water charge increase is designed to continue the phased reduction of an historic element of cross-subsidy of metered water users by regional ratepayers.
  4. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officers of each professional and technical grade are employed at Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters.

  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  Grade 6

  3

  Principal Professional Technical Officer

  7

  Senior Professional Technical Officer

  18

  Higher Professional Technical Officer

  9

  Professional Technical Officer

  4

  Senior Principal Scientific Officer

  1

  Principal Scientific Officer

  3

  Senior Scientific Officer

  3

  5. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons at what grades are employed in design in (a) the Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters and (b) in each division; and from where and by whom the persons working in the divisions are supervised.
  Design staff are not grouped within Water Service Headquarters or within its operational Divisions. They all come under Water Service's Development Directorate and its senior level management. They are located on either a team or ½ team basis at 4 centres, Ballymena, Belfast, Craigavon and Londonderry. Each team, or½ team, is supervised by its senior officer at the location. Details of the staff by grade and location are tabled below.
  8.To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish a table to show for each of the Northern Ireland Water Service divisions the number of (a) professional and technical officers, (b) higher professional and technical officers and (c) senior professional and technical officers employed, indicating the equivalent figures for the administration in each division and giving the dates of the last promotion board for these posts.

  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Division

  PTO/executive officer 1

  HPTO/staff officer

  SPTO/deputy principal

  Northern

  54

  2

  19

  2

  7

  1

  Southern

  54

  2

  18

  2

  7

  1

  Eastern

  94

  4

  35

  3

  14

  11

  Western

  52

  2

  19

  2

  7

  1

  1 Vacant

  187
  The dates of the last promotion boards for these grades are as follows:

  Date

  SPTO Civil Engineer

  September 1996

  HPTO Civil Engineer

  June 1997

  PTO Civil Engineer

  September 1996

  SPTO Mechanical and Electrical

  August 1996

  HPTO Mechanical and Electrical

  June 1997

  PTO Mechanical and Electrical

  September 1996

  Deputy Principal

  May 1992

  Staff Officer

  May 1993

  Executive Officer I

  September 1993

  9. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what reports on the Northern Ireland Water Service have been published by (a) the Fair Employment Agency and (b) the Fair Employment Commission.
  The Fair Employment Commission, which succeeded the Fair Employment Agency in 1989, has advised that it does not produce reports on individual Departments or Agencies but takes the Northern Ireland Civil Service as a whole for monitoring purposes.
  10. To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons are employed at Northern Ireland Water Service Headquarters; and at what grade.

  The information requested is listed below:

  Professional and Technical

  Number

  Chief Executive

  1

  Grade

  5

  3

  Grade 6

  3

  Principal Professional Technical Officer

  7

  Senior Professional Technical Officer

  18

  Higher Professional Technical Officer

  9

  Principal Technical Officer

  4

  Senior Principal Scientific Officer

  1

  Principal Scientific Officer

  3

  Senior Scientific Officer

  3

  Administrative

  Number

  Grade

  5

  2

  Grade

  6

  0

  Grade 7

  6

  Deputy Principal

  8

  Staff Officer

  11

  Executive Officer

  1

  10

  Executive Officer

  2

  21

  Administrative Officer

  39

  Administrative Assistant

  17

  Support Grade Band 1

  2

  Support Grade Band 2

  4

  Typing Manager

  1

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  Personal Secretary

  3

  Typist

  6

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those promoted in each of the professional and technical grades since the last Northern Ireland Water Service promotion board fall into each religious affiliation category. [38137]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  For reasons of confidentiality, information on religious affiliation is not published at the level of disaggregation requested. However, aggregated information on the outcome of promotion boards by 188
  occupational group can be obtained from the Sixth Report of the Equal Opportunities Unit, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Parades Commission
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the names and addresses of the persons appointed as facilitators to aid the Parades Commission, indicating the level of payments to be made to them and the areas which have been allocated to them. [38087]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are currently 7 authorised officers acting in a part-time capacity on behalf of the Parades Commission. Their task is to gather information on disputes surrounding parades across Northern Ireland and to monitor developments within various locations. They will also assist with attempts to achieve local accommodation.

  The authorised officers are employed, trained and monitored by the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland and act on behalf of the Parades Commission, which is charged for this service. Their names are known to various groups in particular locations where they are currently assigned, but, given the sensitive nature of their work, I do not consider it appropriate to publish a list of their names and addresses.

  Authorised officers are currently working in the following areas:

  Belfast

  Pomeroy

  Bellaghy

  Dunloy

  Strabane

  Newtownbutler

  Roslea

  Armagh

  Keady

  Newry

  Lurgan

  Ballycastle

  Crumlin.

  Utilities (Charges)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the percentage by which the cost of(a) water, (b) household coal, (c) gas and (d) electricity for (i) domestic and (ii) industrial consumers in Northern Ireland varies from the average cost of (a) to (d) in Great Britain. [38084]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information is as follows:(a) The regional rate contribution to water and sewerage services for the average domestic ratepayer in Northern Ireland 1997–98 was approximately 4 per cent. higher than the equivalent average figure in Scotland and approximately 46 per cent. lower than the average for England and Wales.
  The charge to industrial consumers for metered water was 68.13p/m3 in Northern Ireland in 1997/98 compared with regional charges ranging from 38.5p/m3 to 109.15 p/m3 in GB.
  (b) An average figure indicating the percentage by which the cost of household coal in Northern Ireland varies from that in GB is not available.

  189
  (c) Domestic gas prices in Northern Ireland are approximately 8 per cent. higher than the corresponding average price in Great Britain.
  (d) Domestic electricity prices in Northern Ireland and approximately 22 per cent. higher than the corresponding average price in Great Britain.
  Comparisons of gas and electricity prices for industrial consumers are not possible as they are subject to confidential contracts between gas and electricity suppliers and consumers in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the IDB has taken persons and firms considering inward investment to Northern Ireland to(a) each parliamentary constituency and (b) each council area in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years or each of the last three financial years if more convenient. [38086]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information required to answer part(a) is not available and would incur disproportionate costs to extract. Visits arranged by IDB to Northern Ireland District Council Areas for potential inward investors in the years 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 are as follows:

  Visit to district council areas by potential inward investors

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Antrim

  26

  18

  34

  Ards

  5

  3

  10

  Armagh

  1

  1

  4

  Ballymena

  13

  3

  0

  Ballymoney

  3

  1

  3

  Banbridge

  2

  3

  1

  Belfast

  65

  55

  62

  Carrickfergus

  13

  7

  22

  Castlereagh

  1

  8

  6

  Coleraine

  5

  3

  7

  Cookstown

  4

  17

  10

  Craigavon

  12

  16

  15

  Derry

  18

  30

  32

  Down

  10

  2

  3

  Dungannon

  13

  9

  4

  Fermanagh

  3

  11

  15

  Larne

  6

  4

  1

  Limavady

  3

  2

  7

  Lisburn

  19

  41

  31

  Magherafelt

  3

  4

  0

  Moyle

  0

  0

  0

  Newry & Mourne

  15

  16

  9

  Newtownabbey

  17

  19

  22

  North Down

  4

  9

  3

  Omagh

  2

  6

  8

  Strabane

  2

  9

  10

  Total

  265

  297

  319

  CRISP Scheme, Dungiven
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of the CRISP scheme presently being carried out on Main Street, Dungiven; and how much of the total cost falls to(a) the IFI, (b) the DOE, (c) the Roads Service, (d) Limavady Council, (e) NIE and (f) BT. [38082]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  DOE's contribution from CRISP funds and its environmental improvement budget was £121,500. Roads Service costs were £25,000. The local group, who let the contract for the CRISP scheme,190
  negotiated contributions from IFI, Limavady Council, NIE and BT but the precise amounts contributed are for these bodies to disclose.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland hold a driving licence; what percentage this represents of all persons of the age of 17 years or over, broken down into those age bands used by the licensing authority. [38085]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to Driver and Vehicle Licensing of Northern Ireland, under its chief executive, Mr. Brendan Magee. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Brendan Magee to Mr. William Ross, dated 6 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question requesting information on the number of people in Northern Ireland holding driving licences.
  As at 3 April 1998 there were 1,082,936 licence holders on DVLNI's Driver Licensing computer system. This figure included provisional and full licences, individuals who have moved from Northern Ireland but where we have not been notified of the move, and some deceased where we have not been informed of their death.
  The figure of 1,082,936 represents 88.7% of the population of Northern Ireland who are over 17 years of age.
  The age bands used by DVLNI are above and below age 70. There are 987,466 licence holders aged below 70 and 95,470 above 70 years of age.

  Banks
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will investigate allegations of overcharging practices in Northern Ireland banks. [38088]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no plans to investigate such allegations. The Northern Irish bank, against which most of the allegations of overcharging have been made, has announced that it will carry out its own investigation and that it will make the results public. If evidence of overcharging is found it will take appropriate action and the customers involved will be compensated.

HEALTH

  Health Records (Access)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will assess the advantages of recommending a reasonable level of photocopy charges to be paid by patients seeking access to their records under the Access to Health Records Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [27827]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Access to Health Records Act 1990 requires that charges should not exceed the cost of making a copy and posting it, and guidance to National Health Service organisations has made it quite clear that the actual cost is the maximum that should be charged. The actual cost will differ from case to case and can be determined only by the specific organisation involved. Recommending a charge greater than the actual cost in
  191
  any particular case would contravene the requirements of the Act, and recommending charges consistently lower than actual costs would increase NHS costs. Therefore, the responsibility for determining reasonable charges must remain with individual organisations.

  Departmental Energy Use
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the quantity of(a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by his Department within the United Kingdom in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year. [36167]

  Ms Jowell
  Since 1990 the Department has monitored and recorded its energy consumption and costs on a basis agreed with the former Department of the Environment. The figures cover the majority of the administrative estate for which the Department has been directly responsible. They are reported annually to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and are set out in the table.

  Year

  Electricity kWh

  Gas kWh

  Oil kWh

  Total cost(£)

  1990–91

  7,733,992

  4,771,754

  7,427,420

  730,828

  1991–92

  12,397,391

  4,576,815

  11,525,359

  1,142,684

  1992–93

  8,304,219

  4,461,932

  6,904,257

  813,902

  1993–94

  18,351,290

  10,389,944

  2,972,420

  1,293,000

  1994–95

  16,917,569

  7,834,399

  3,236,470

  1,037,544

  1995–96

  12,358,600

  5,422,533

  1,732,100

  801,192

  1996–97

  11,781,418

  4,934,916

  1,371,640

  722,641

  Information for 1997–98 is not yet available.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases have been reported during each of the last three
  years. [37061]

  Mr. Boateng
  Neither condition is reportable under a system of statutory notification but several sources of data are available which are indicative of the numbers suffering from these diseases.

  The Department collects data in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) on the number of hospital admissions and day cases per year classified by disease. They will not accurately reflect the number of new cases in that year because some patients will have readmissions following diagnosis in earlier years, some have multiple admissions in a year, and some are treated as hospital out patients or may not go to hospital at all and so do not feature in HES data. The table gives information on hospital admissions and day cases for the three most recent years available for mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease.

  Additional data on new mesothelioma cases are available from the national cancer registration system which strives for complete case ascertainment. The most recent data available are for 1989–91.
  192

  Total number of new cases of mesothelioma, England and Wales, 1989–1991

  Year

  1989

  835

  1990

  855

  1991

  941

  Source:

  ONS

  The Department of Social Security has data on the number of new claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit made each year but they will exclude those who have these diseases but do not claim benefit.

  Figures of the numbers of diagnosed cases of asbestos-related diseases, made in connection with claims to industrial injuries disablement benefit are shown in the table:

  Year

  Mesothelioma

  Other asbestos-related diseases1

  1994

  583

  649

  1995

  685

  670

  1996

  642

  698

  1 For Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, it is accepted that, (apart from mesothelioma), the other asbestos-related diseases are pneumoconiosis (where the causative agent is asbestos), carcinoma of the lung and bilateral diffuse pleural thickening.

  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division) 100 per cent. count.

  Ordinary admissions and day cases: completed episodes primary diagnosis in NHS hospitals, England 1993–94 to 1995–96

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  ICD 9 code:

  158 Malignant neoplasm of:

  1588 Specified parts of peritoneum

  250

  213

  -

  1589 Peritoneum, unspecified

  204

  222

  -

  163 Malignant neoplasm of pleura

  1,906

  1,893

  -

  501 Asbestosis

  178

  186

  -

  England

  2,538

  2,513

  -

  ICD 10 code:

  J61 Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibres

  -

  -

  154

  J92.0 Pleural plaque with presence of asbestos

  -

  -

  61

  C45.0 Mesothelioma of pleura

  -

  -

  972

  C45.1 Mesothelioma of peritoneum

  -

  -

  74

  C45.2 Mesothelioma of pericardium

  -

  -

  3

  C45.7 Mesothelioma of other site

  -

  -

  178

  C45.9 Mesothelioma, unspecified

  -

  -

  944

  D19.0

  Mesothelial tissue of pleural

  -

  -

  29

  England

  -

  -

  2,415

  Note:

  Data in this table are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the availability of care for those suffering from mental illness. [37258]
  193
  Mr. Boateng
  We have established the independent reference group to consider long stay hospital closure plans to ensure no more hospitals are closed without proper or alternative services being available.

  Breast Screening
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many breast units using two view mammography at all breast screening rounds(a) reached and (b) failed to reach the national expected standard for breast cancer detection last year; [37527]

  (2) how many breast units using single view mammography at incident breast screening rounds (a) reached and (b) failed to reach the national expected standard for breast cancer detection last year. [37528]

  Mr. Boateng
  All of the eight breast screening units in the United Kingdom currently using two-view mammography at all breast screening rounds met the target standardised cancer detection ratio last year. Of the 87 breast screening units in the UK using single view mammography at incident breast screening rounds, 62 achieved the target standardised breast cancer detection ratio.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the cost per cancer detected of single view mammography at incident breast screening rounds last year; [37530]

  (2) what was the cost per cancer detected of two view mammography at incident breast screening rounds last year. [37532]

  Mr. Boateng
  The National Health Service breast screening programme has commissioned a study to look at the cost effectiveness of both single-view and two-view mammography. The results of this study are expected later this year.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of additional breast cancers which would be detected per year if two view mammography were undertaken at incident breast screening rounds in all breast units; [37529]

  (2) what plans he has to review national guidance on the use of two view mammography for breast screening. [37542]

  Mr. Boateng
  All breast screening units currently take two mammographic views of the breast at a woman's first visit to the screening programme, and it is open to them to use two-view mammography at subsequent screening rounds.

  The cancer screening evaluation unit, which is funded by the Department, is currently reviewing the advantages of two view mammography for all screening rounds. This review is due to be completed later this year. We will assess the case for requiring all units to take views at every screening round in the light of the findings of this review. This assessment will also take account of the outcome of research currently being carried out into other changes that might be made to improve the quality of the service offered to women. This research covers extending
  194
  the breast screening programme to invite women aged 40–50, routinely inviting women aged 65 and over, and reducing the interval between screens.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlie the higher standardised detection ratio for the first round of breast screening relative to subsequent rounds. [37832]

  Mr. Boateng
  The breast screening programme was introduced in 1988, and so far it has greater experience of taking and reading mammograms at a woman's first screen than at subsequent screens. In addition, since August 1995 all breast screening units have been required to take two mammographic views of the breast at a woman's first screen. Both these factors are likely to underlie the higher standardised detection ration for the first round of screening relative to subsequent rounds.

  NHS Heating Fuel
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of expenditure on heating fuel in the NHS for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [37839]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department's National Health Service Estates agency collects information on fuels used for energy in the NHS. This includes gas, oil, coal and electricity used to provide NHS trusts total energy requirement for lighting, heating and ventilation, power etc. Information is not collected separately on heating fuel.

  The estimated cost of energy for NHS trusts in England for 1997–98 is £190,220,554. For 1998–99 it is £184,042,841.

  Community Hospitals
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the community hospitals which are currently the subject of a consultation process with a view to their closure. [37849]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is difficult to define comprehensively what is meant by "community" or "cottage" hospital. They differ from place to place in the scale, range and volume of services they offer. What characterises nearly all is that they provide a local service and admit patients under the care of a general practitioner.

  The following community hospitals are currently the subject of a consultation process:

  Anglia & Oxford

  Burford and Wallingford/Watlington Community Hospital, Oxfordshire

  Bartlett Hospital, Felixstowe

  North Western

  None

  North Thames

  William Julian Courtauld Hospital (part of Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust)1

  Northern & Yorkshire

  None

  South Thames

  None

  195
  South & West

  Winsford Hospital

  Fowey Hospital2

  Edward Hain Hospital, St. Ives2

  St. Barnabas Hospital, Saltash2

  Poltair Hospital2

  Trent

  Bourne Hospital, Bourne3

  Horncastle War Memorial, Horncastle3

  Johnson Hospital or Welland Hospital, Spalding3

  West Midlands
  None.
  1This hospital is proposed to close but a new one, going by the same name would be built on a different site.
  2Part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority proposals.
  3Have been the subject of formal public consultation which has now ended, although the Health Authority is still consulting local Community Health Councils about the final details.

  Abortion
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many medical students undertaking training in obstetrics and gynaecology have refused to be involved in abortion procedures on grounds of conscience in each year since 1990; [37800]

  (2) how many general practitioners have refused to be involved in referrals for abortion on grounds of conscience in each year since 1990; [37801]

  (3) how many consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology have refused to take part in abortion procedures on grounds of conscience in each year since
  1990. [37799]

  Ms Jowell
  This information is not collected centrally. We have no reason to believe that the current arrangements for conscientious objections are not in general working well. We have received very few complaints about the operation of the conscience clause, which indicates that the issue is being dealt with sensitively and sensibly.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions general practitioners with a conscientious objection must take to fulfil their duty of care when a patient requests referral for abortion. [37802]

  Ms Jowell
  In 1991 the General Medical Services Council of the British Medical Association issued guidance to general practitioners through local medical committees, reminding them of their obligations under their terms of service. This guidance remains extant and general practitioners who have a conscientious objection to abortion should refer the patient to another doctor as soon as possible.

  Children
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend guidance under the Children Act 1989 on care plans and reviews applied to children placed in respite care services, with particular reference to disabled children; and what recent research on such issues his Department has evaluated. [37673]
  196
  Mr. Boateng
  The Children Act and guidance set out local authorities' responsibilities in respect of drawing up care plans for, and reviewing the care of looked after children, including disabled children. In August 1995 the Department announced easements to the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991 which govern a series of short-term respite care placements. The easements address the frequency of reviews, the timing of the first visit, and the number of placement days allowed in any 12 month period.

  The safeguards review of children living away from home stresses the importance of care planning and review and emphasises the particular vulnerability of disabled children. The Government have established a Ministerial Task Force to consider issues raised by the report and will take account of current research on related areas.

  The Department has received the following research studies relevant to care plans and reviews for disabled children:
  Robinson, C., Weston C. and Minkes J. (1995) Making progress: change and development in services to disabled children under the Children Act 1989, Bristol, Nora Fry Research Centre;
  Grimshaw, R. and Sinclair, R. (1997) Planning to Care: Regulation, procedures and practice under the Children Act 1989, London, National Children's Bureau;
  Morris, J. (1998) Still Missing?, London, Who Cares? Trust.

  New Variant CJD
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if all the victims of nv-CJD have the same genetic change in the prion protein. [37871]

  Ms Jowell
  In all cases of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD) where a genetic analysis has been carried out, the prion protein gene has the same genetic make-up. The significance of the genetic make-up in relation to susceptibility to disease, to the length of incubation period or to the changes seen in the brain on histopathological examination is not yet known.

  All nvCJD cases tested share the same protein-subtype. It is not known whether this is related to the genetic make-up of the person affected. It may be related to the strain of the infectious agent.

  Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of the new appointees to the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, giving their(a) political affiliation and (b) remuneration. [38099]

  Mr. Milburn
  The names of the chairman and non-executive appointees to the Northumbria Healthcare National Health Service Trust will be announced shortly.

  Non-executive directors of NHS trusts and health authorities are entitled to remuneration of £5,000 a year. The chairman of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust is entitled to £19,245 a year.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who were the members of the Northumbria NHS Trust Project Board when it chose the name which it is proposed should be used by the new trust. [38315]
  197
  Mr. Milburn
  The Northumbria National Health Service Trust Project Board comprised the chairmen, chief executives and medical directors of the three merging trusts: Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust, North Tyneside Healthcare NHS Trust and Northumberland Community Health NHS Trust.

  Hospital Consultants
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the system of hospital consultants' merit bonus awards; and if he will make a statement. [38089]

  Mr. Milburn
  I met the chairman and medical director of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (ACDA) on 2 April. We had a constructive and wide ranging discussion regarding the Government's concerns about imbalances in the distribution of awards and other aspects of the existing scheme. I welcomed the action that had been taken to date to address these imbalances and ACDA's commitment to continued action in this area. We discussed what more could be done to address the Government's concerns. The chairman and medical director agreed to submit their detailed proposals on further action to ensure fairness, greater transparency of process, and better recognition of the achievement of service goals. I also asked the chairman and medical director to consider whether any changes in the size and composition of ACDA might be necessary to make it more effective, and to discuss this with the Academy of Royal Colleges in the first instance. We will consult fully with representatives of the professions and other relevant interests before any decisions on changes to the existing scheme are taken, with a view to implementing any such changes in the 1999 awards round.

  Cholesterol (Treatment)
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), of 23 March 1998,Official Report, columns 49–50, on cholesterol treatment, what estimate he has made of the additional cost of general practitioners following the instructions contained in the executive letter on lipid-limiting drugs and the health care bulletin. [36792]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The overall expenditure on the statins group of drugs by general practitioners in 1997 was £115 million, compared with £20 million in 1993. It is currently rising at the rate of approximately £3 million each quarter. Expenditure on all lipid-lowering drugs totalled some £136 million in 1997.

  The Executive Letter, accompanying statement and table gave advice, inter alia, on the use of the statin group of drugs in people with, or at high risk of developing, symptoms of coronary heart disease. Estimates of the additional general practitioner prescribing costs resulting directly from the issue of the Executive Letter are not available as it is difficult to differentiate between these and increased costs which would have been incurred anyway as more trial results became available and were published in the professional press.

  However, the best information available suggests that the total cost could reach £240 million by 2002. This estimate depends on the degree of patient compliance, as
  198
  well as on the particular product which is prescribed and the dosage. It also depends on the outcome of further trials currently in progress which may affect the applications for which these drugs may be used. This figure excludes lipid-lowering drugs prescribed by doctors other than general practitioners.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Arms Sales
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his revised proposals for an EU code of conduct on arms sales. [36548]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are engaged in negotiations with EU partners on a draft text. Holding these discussions in public would not improve our chances of reaching agreement on an effective Code. We will of course publish the Code once it has been adopted.

  Ethical Foreign Policy
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what systems of measurement he has introduced against which to assess the implementation of his ethical foreign policy. [36549]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Our commitment to an ethical foreign policy is clear from the many things we have already achieved. The best system of measurement comes from transparency and accountability. We have therefore committed our performance to the scrutiny of public, Parliament and NGOs with an Annual Report on Human Rights.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part the Government's ethical foreign policy has played in the Strategic Defence Review.[36556]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As the Government made clear in their manifesto, the Strategic Defence Review is foreign policy led. The FCO Mission Statement made it clear that the security of the United Kingdom and its Dependent Territories was a principal benefit which the Government would pursue through their foreign policy and that an ethical content was a key part of that policy.

  Syria
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Syria. [36550]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I had useful discussions on regional issues with President Asad and Foreign Minister Shara'a. We agreed on the need for movement on all tracks of the Middle East Peace Process.

  Iraq
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet his United States counterparts to discuss matters relating to the Basra enclave. [36553]
  199
  Mr. Fatchett
  We keep in constant touch with all Security Council Members, including the United States, about the implementation of Security Council Resolutions.

  Exports
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote British exports. [36554]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams).

  Indonesia
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK relations with Indonesia. [36555]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have a bilateral relationship with Indonesia which enables us to discuss a range of economic and political issues.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding the situations of Pius Lustrilanang and Desmond J. Mahesa in Indonesia. [37503]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have received a letter from the Indonesian Human Rights Campaign (TAPOL) and three notes from Amnesty International about Pius Lustrilanang and Desmond J. Mahesa.

  Common Foreign and Security Policy
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goals remain to be attained in the area of the EU CFSP under the British presidency. [36557]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Making the Common Foreign and Security Policy more effective and operational remains a key Presidency objective. Under our Presidency lead, the EU has responded rapidly to crises, including in Algeria and Kosovo; has agreed balanced policies on China and Iran; and raised the EU' s profile and input into the Middle East Peace Process. Important outstanding goals include agreement to an EU Code of Conduct on arms exports.

  Middle East
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the EU has contributed to support the middle east peace process since 1993. [36558]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The EU has contributed £464 million (700.95 million ecu) to support the Middle East Peace Process since 1993. In addition, Member States have also contributed a substantial amount of bilateral aid.

  Under the UK Presidency, the EU has agreed to extend the current aid package when it expires at the end of 1998.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for progress in the peace process in the middle east. [36562]
  200
  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson).

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on recent efforts to promote the peace process in the middle east. [36567]

  Mr. Fatchett
  During my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's visit to the Middle East on 15–18 March, he met with the key players in the region. These included President Mubarak and Foreign Minister Moussa of Egypt, PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Mordechai of Israel, Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan, PM Hariri and Foreign Minister Bouaz of Lebanon, President Assad and Foreign Minister Shara of Syria and President Arafat of the Palestinian Authority. He discussed with them ideas for ways in which the EU can play a more prominent role in reinvigorating the Middle East Peace Process.

  Since his return, he has met a number of interested parties, including the Israeli Ambassador to London and the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. We look forward to the Prime Minister's visit later this month.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Kosovo. [36559]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are deeply concerned by the potential for further violence in Kosovo. The use of excessive force by the Serbian police in recent weeks against Kosovar Albanians will have widened support for the terrorists. We call on President Milosevic to act quickly to launch the meaningful dialogue necessary to strengthen the hands of moderates on both sides.

  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of Albania and Macedonia about the situation in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [36560]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Fo0reign Secretary chaired a meeting in Bonn on 25 March of Contact Group, EU Troika and regional countries including Albania and Macedonia, at which the situation in Kosovo was discussed. My right hon. Friend also had a separate bilateral meeting on this occasion with Prime Minister Nano. We remain in close touch with Albania and Macedonia.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take to protect the Albanian community in Kosovo. [38182]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The United Kingdom has played a leading role in the concerted international response to the violence in Kosovo in recent weeks. We shall continue to work with our international partners to underline that repression in Kosovo will not be tolerated and to encourage meaningful dialogue without preconditions on the future status of the province.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences of the decision of the Contact Group
  201
  to postpone the implementation of the recommendations set out in its statement of 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [38183]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Members of the Contact Group have already implemented measures against Belgrade in accordance with their agreement in London on 9 March. In addition the European Union decided on 19 March to continue its arms embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), not to supply repressive equipment, to introduce a visa ban against certain named individuals and to apply a moratorium on export credits to Serbia. The United Nations Security Council adopted a comprehensive arms embargo against the FRY on 31 March.

  Contact Group Ministers meeting in Bonn on 25 March urged Belgrade to engage in a meaningful dialogue without preconditions with the Kosovar Albanian leadership. They agreed that the Contact Group would meet again after four weeks to review progress and consider the need for additional measures.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make reform of the CAP his priority for the Heads of Government meeting in Cardiff in June. [36561]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  CAP reform is a major priority for the Government, and we will continue to work hard to achieve radical reform. Now that the Commission has tabled draft regulations, the UK Presidency will seek to make as much progress as possible before Cardiff.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the Nigerian Government to hand over to civilian rule by October this year. [36565]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill), and assure the House that we take every opportunity to reiterate our concerns to the Nigerian regime.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new proposals he has to improve relations between the United Kingdom and the Baltic states. [36532]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We have good bilateral relations with the Baltic States. We shall continue to work to strengthen trade, security and cultural links and to help these countries meet the criteria required for membership of the European Union.

  Revolving Credit Fund
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the UN Revolving Credit Fund, proposed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, as part of his UN reform proposals. [33302]
  202
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 11 March 1998]: A Revolving Credit Fund could help to ease the UN's severe cashflow problems, and the Government will consider the idea carefully. But a long term solution requires that all member states pay their contributions promptly and in full.

  EU Funds
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those European Communities budget lines from which funding may be applied for in respect of information projects in the United Kingdom relating to(a) Economic and Monetary Union and (b) the European Communities. [36956]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Title B3–3 of the Community Budget covers information and communication. The Commission also makes grants to certain European organisations under Chapter A-30 of the budget, which may include support for information activities.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants, pursuant to European Communities budget lines A-3024 and A-3104, are available for Projects Organised By Associations and Federations of European Interest operating in the United Kingdom; which bodies received awards in the last financial year; what activities are intended for targeted support under the category Reflection at European Level on the Ethical and Spiritual Foundations of European Integration; what part his Department plays in the awards; and if he will make a statement. [36948]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In 1998 a total of 1.35 mecu is available under Community budget lines A-3024 and A-3104 for projects organised by federations of European interest. This budget is not broken down by Member State. Criteria and decisions on awarding grants are a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what activities are undertaken by the Our Europe Association listed in the European Communities budget, lines A-3020 and A-3100; what is that body's remit in the United Kingdom; what role his Department plays in determining its remit; and if he will make a statement. [36888]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Our Europe association is a study and research group which sponsors and organises seminars on European issues. My Department has no role in determining its remit, which is Europe-wide.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to European Communities budget lines A-3029 and A-3109, what grants are available for support of non-Governmental youth organisations; what criteria govern qualification; which bodies in the United Kingdom received awards over the last financial year; what input his Department provided on their selection; and if he will make a statement. [36969]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In 1998 a total of 1.1 mecu is available under the Community budget lines A-3029 and A-3109 to support international non-governmental youth organisations. This budget is specifically for international
  203
  bodies and is not broken down by Member State. Criteria and decisions on awarding grants are a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to European Communities budget lines A-3037 and A-3117, what grants are available for the European Women's Lobby; what is the purpose of that organisation; what role his Department plays in the determination of direction of funding; and if he will make a statement. [36949]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In 1998 a total of 600,000 ecu is available under Community budget lines A-3037 and A-3117 to support the European Women's Lobby, an organisation which lobbies on issues of concern to women in Europe. How this money is directed is a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to European Communities budget lines A-3025 and A-3105, what grants are available for the project Journalists in Europe; what is the purpose of that organisation; what input his Department has into its running; how many journalists from the United Kingdom have taken part over the past financial year; for which newspapers they work; and if he will make a statement. [36970]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In 1998 a total of 250,000 ecu is available under Community budget lines A-3025 and A-3105 to support Journalists in Europe. This organisation runs an annual training programme for young journalists from around the world, focusing on the EU and on political, economic and social developments in Europe. My Department has no role in determining the activities of this organisation and we have no information about which UK journalists have taken part.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the purpose of projects undertaken under European Communities budget line B3–302, Information Programmes for Non-Member Programmes; what are the target audiences; which countries are concerned; and what input his Department provides. [36965]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Projects under Community budget line B3–302 are intended to inform people outside of the EU about the Union's work and to promote understanding of the EU's role, in particular, as a provider of aid and as a trading partner. Information activity is not limited to any particular countries, but there is a focus on states which have association agreements with the EU. Programmes under this budget line are run by the Commission.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants, pursuant to European Communities budget lines A-3021 and A-3101, are available to Organisations Advancing the Idea of Europe operating in the United Kingdom; which bodies received awards in the last financial year; and what criteria are used by his Department in awarding grants. [36974]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In 1998 a total of 2 mecu is available under Community budget lines A-3021 and A-3101 to support organisations advancing the idea of 204
  Europe. This budget is not broken down by Member State. Criteria and decisions on awarding grants are a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the information outlets in receipt of funds in the United Kingdom for 1997 under European Communities title B3–301 for 1997; what role his Department plays in the supply of information to such outlets; and if he will make a statement on the purpose of the International Federation of Europe Houses. [36961]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The following information outlets in the UK receive funding from Community budget line B3–301. European Document centres in university libraries (45); European Information Centres providing business intelligence on operating in the EU (21); rural carrefours providing information for the rural community (6). The information held in these various centres generally includes UK Government publications, as well as EU documents and academic and commercial literature and databases.

  The International Federation of Europe Houses is an umbrella grouping of Europe Houses, which provide a one-stop-shop for information about the EU in some countries.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects in receipt of funds in the United Kingdom for 1997 under title B3–300, General Information and Communication Work Concerning the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the part his Department plays in the determination of such. [36966]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Community budget line B3–300 covers a range of information measures including opinion polling, impact assessments, sponsored visits, publications, TV productions and internet sites. This budget is not broken down by Member State.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what activities are undertaken by the European Union Youth Forum under European Communities, Budget lines A-3022 and A-3103; what is that body's remit in the United Kingdom; what role his Department plays in determining its remit; and if he will make a statement. [36940]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The European Youth Forum is an umbrella grouping of national youth organisations. It lobbies on EU issues affecting young people and organises various conferences and events. My Department has no role in determining the Forum's activities.

  Prince Programme
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the redirection of the Prince Programme after ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. [36955]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The PRINCE programme currently provides for information activities on citizens rights under the single market, on the single currency and on the future shape of the European Union—"Building Europe Together". Building Europe Together is currently focused on the Amsterdam Treaty, but it also covers
  205
  information on the future enlargement of the EU. The existence and priorities of PRINCE are reviewed every year under the annual budgetary procedure.

  EU Information Projects
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money is available from European Union budget lines for information projects on the European Union in applicant countries; and if he will deposit in the Library a list of those projects in operation. [37559]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Essen European Council of December 1994 agreed on the"need among member states of the EU and the associated countries to have a better knowledge of each others' societies. Therefore expansion and deepening of information efforts are necessary."

  Much of this work forms an integral part of the European Union's technical assistance programme for Central Europe (Phare).

  In addition to these integrated activities, there is also a specific programme for 1998 of 6.6 mecu for an information strategy among the applicant countries. This is designed to stimulate greater interest and understanding of EU affairs among the general public in these countries.

  European Commission
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the (i) role and (ii) current budget of a European commissioner's cabinet; what guidelines exist as to its composition and function; and if he will list the special advisers currently working in the Commission. [37770]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to the hon. Member in due course. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  European Voluntary Service (Mr. Hans Koschnick)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of Mr. Hans Koschnick, as a special adviser to the European Commission in connection with the European Voluntary Service. [37932]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My answer to the hon. Member of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 457, based on information from the European Commission, recorded that Mr. Hans Koschnick was not employed by them. However, I now understand from the European Commission that, although Mr. Koschnick is not their permanent employee, he has been working under contract as an adviser to DG XXII (Education, Training, Youth) with activities in the field of the European Voluntary Service.

  We understand that his remit includes developing voluntary service projects and establishing links between voluntary service organisations in different Member States.

  We recommend that the hon. Member ask the European Commission if he requires further details of Mr. Koschnick's role.

  Turkey
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government; and if he will make a statement.[36533]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. McCabe).

WALES

  Social Service and Health Departments (Co-operation)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the quality of co-operation between social service departments and health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [36459]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Evidence available to the Welsh Office suggests that following Local Government re-organisation good progress is being made in establishing effective joint working between Social Service Departments and Health Authorities.

  I attach the greatest importance to good joint working and, indeed, discussed this with representatives of the Welsh Local Government Association on 16 March. My officials are working closely with colleagues in other Health Departments on initiatives to tackle this UK-wide issue and are also taking forward action with authorities in Wales.

  The Welsh Office is funding a project through the North Wales Health Authority to identify good practice in collaborative working with social services departments. The report of this work will be made available for wider dissemination. In October 1997 I announced an additional £9.548 million to tackle the pressures of emergency hospital admissions and to reduce delays in discharging patients. The management of these additional resources has meant that health authorities and social services have needed to work more closely together to address local priorities and improve joint planning and co-ordination of service delivery.

  In the light of the Audit Commission report "Coming of Age" the Welsh Office has recently issued advice to health and local authorities, seeking better collaboration at a local level to improve the quality and range of services provided for vulnerable and older people. This will be followed up by meetings with joint Health and Local Authority teams on the progress being made in implementing the report's recommendations.

  I expect authorities to work towards effective joint planning arrangements which will include improvement in multi-disciplinary assessment procedures and the development of health and social care services to enable vulnerable people to optimise their independence through timely recuperation and rehabilitation opportunities.

  Out-of-town Developments
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce an automatic rate review for town centre shops whose trade is affected by out of town developments. [37024]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Ratepayers have the right to make a proposal to the valuation officer to alter the rateable value of their property if there has been a material change in circumstances which they believe affects the value of the property. Local authorities can also make proposals to take account of changes they believe to affect property values.

  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many out-of-town supermarkets have been given planning permission in Wales since 1 May 1997.[37031]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information requested is not held centrally. However, during the period 1 May 1997 to 1 March 1998 my right hon. Friend received details of 18 retail applications comprising 9 calls in requests, 2 departure references, and 7 shopping direction referrals. Of these 1 case was called in for the Secretary of State's own determination.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints have been registered by children in care regarding the way that they are treated, in the last three years. [37056]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on the number of complaints prior to local government reorganisation is not available. However, we are aware of 55 complaints since 1 April 1996. A breakdown is as follows:

  Number of complaints since 1 April 1996

  Local Authority

  Anglesey

  0

  Blaenau Gwent

  0

  Bridgend

  1—

  Caerphilly

  2

  Cardiff

  3

  Carmarthenshire

  1

  Ceredigion

  1—

  Conwy

  0

  Denbighshire

  1

  Flintshire

  5

  Gwynedd

  10

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1

  Monmouthshire

  0

  Neath Port Talbot

  1

  Newport

  7

  Pembrokeshire

  1

  Powys

  1

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  3

  Swansea

  3

  Torfaen

  0

  Vale of Glamorgan

  10

  Wrexham

  6

  1Information currently not available

  Substance Misuse
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being pursued to educate young people in Wales about substance misuse. [37370]
  208
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  "Forward Together", a five-year strategy to combat drug and alcohol misuse in Wales, has been in place since 1996. A Welsh Advisory Committee on Drug and Alcohol Misuse advises the Secretary of State on the implementation of the strategy. The Welsh Drug and Alcohol Unit, on contract to the Welsh Office, assists in the implementation of the strategy. The Unit provides practical and administrative support to those involved in combating drug and alcohol misuse.

  Within the framework of "Forward Together", a Strategic Prevention Action Plan (SPAP) has been developed and widely disseminated in Wales. The SPAP will raise awareness and increase the level of preventive action for the population as a whole as well as targeting specific groups such as parents, young people and children. All schools, drug and alcohol agencies and other relevant organisations have been encouraged to work to support the Plan.

  As part of the overall strategy several free bilingual resources are being distributed to those working in the field of prevention with young people. These include "50/50"—a bilingual magazine designed for young people and their parents; "The A Files"—a CD size alcohol leaflet for young people; and "Let's Talk"—a series of collectable postcards with a complimentary poster for young people.

  The Department has issued circular guidance to Schools, "Drug Misuse: Prevention and Schools" (Ref 54/95). In partnership with health and social services, police and the community, schools have a responsibility to consider their response to drug misuse through appropriate education, including the teaching of certain aspects as part of National Curriculum, and through appropriate management of incidents on school premises. In support of this work, the circular guidance advocates that each school should have a drug prevention policy, to ensure that young people know and understand the risks of drug taking and alcohol misuse and have the knowledge and skills to resist.

  Hospital Services (Porthmadog)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the health care implications for people in the Porthmadog area of the provision at Bangor of accident and emergency services for them. [37677]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  None. The planning of healthcare for people in North Wales is a management issue for the North Wales Health Authority and its provider units.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he estimates construction of the community hospital at Porthmadog will(a) begin and (b) be completed. [37598]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  No progress can be made on this scheme until the North Wales Health Authority has considered the outcome of its review of community hospital provision.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in respect of the construction of the new community hospital in Porthmadog. [37602]
  209
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Since 1 May 1997 we have received 12 letters on the subject and I have met with the right hon. Member and the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd).

  Welsh Language Courses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce the drop-out rate among adults on Welsh language courses. [37600]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Welsh language provision is an integral part of my proposals for lifelong learning in Wales as set out in the Green Paper"Learning is for Everyone" which I published on 2 April. Individual further education institutions are responsible for monitoring student retention/completion rates on Welsh for Adults courses and for taking any necessary action. Student retention/completion will continue to be monitored in the context of all quality assessments, and during 1998 a specific study will be undertaken by OHMCI on behalf of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales.

  Community Hospitals
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new community hospitals have been built in Wales since 1992; and if he will list them. [37675]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Six community hospitals have been built since 1992. They are:

  Barry Neighbourhood—The Vale of Glamorgan

  Cefni—Llangefni, Isle of Anglesey

  Deeside—Flintshire

  Ebbw Vale—Blaenau Gwent

  Torfaen—Pontypool

  Penrhos Stanley—Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey.

  Blood Donation Service
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to encourage blood donation in Wales. [37601]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  It is the responsibility of the blood transfusion services to recruit blood donors. However, the Welsh Office has assisted the Welsh Blood Service in the production of publicity material and previously taken part in national publicity campaigns.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has met representatives of water authorities; and if he will make a statement. [38130]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Both my right hon. Friend and I have met representatives of the water industry in Wales on several occasions and will continue to do so as appropriate.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the new National Health Service trusts to begin their work; and if he will make a statement. [38290]
  210
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Project teams have been established to support local consultation on the proposals which I announced on 30 March. These teams will also do whatever is necessary to make contingent planning arrangements for the establishment of the new trusts. Subject to the outcome of consultation and detailed consideration, my right hon. Friend expects to announce his final decisions in the autumn. Board level appointments procedures and detailed planning will then commence to enable trusts to become operational on 1 April 1999.

  Badgers
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what records are maintained of the number of non-target species caught in snares set for badgers under his Department's tuberculosis control scheme. [38056]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The tuberculosis control policy for Great Britain is operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister responsible for food safety, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), on 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 406.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of the proposed badger culling experiment broken down to show each constituent element for(a) 1998 and (b) each subsequent year of the proposed experiment. [38055]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister responsible for food safety, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), on 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 406.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many badgers were trapped under his Department's tuberculosis control scheme in each year since 1985 by(a) snares and (b) cage traps; and if he will indicate the number of animals which suffered injuries in (a) and (b). [38057]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The day to day operational control for bovine tuberculosis is undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister responsible for food safety, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 503.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on developing vaccines to prevent bovine tuberculosis since 1985; and how much investment is planned for each of the next five years. [38054]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  None. In the UK funding for the development of vaccines to prevent bovine tuberculosis in animals is provided by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister responsible for food safety, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), on 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 502.

  Hospital Beds
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by hospital the number of beds(a) made available since 1 May 1997 and (b) removed between 1 January 1992 and 1 May 1997. [38069]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on financial support to small scale abattoirs in rural Wales. [38077]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The provision of grant aid to abattoirs is prohibited by EC State Aid restrictions except under certain specific conditions, including the abandonment of 125 per cent. of existing capacity in the same region. This effectively means that it is very difficult for the Government to provide financial support to small scale abattoirs in rural areas.

  Officials (Regional Knowledge)
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to encourage Welsh Office officials(a) to visit and (b) to acquire further knowledge of the regions of Wales. [38079]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Many of my officials visit various parts of Wales in the course of their duties and are encouraged to do so. Staff are based not only in Cardiff but in Llandrindod Wells, Carmarthen, Caernarfon, Colwyn Bay and Aberystwyth.

  Awareness of Wales and Welsh issues will form an increasingly important part of the Welsh Office Training and Development Programme.

  Agricultural Subsidies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce measures to offset the reduction in payments in agricultural subsidies due to the increase in the value of the green pound. [37880]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The rules for agrimonetary compensation apply across the European Community and separate arrangements could not be introduced in Wales.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he is going to consult about possible changes to the local government capital finance arrangements in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38436]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Copies of a consultation paper on local authority capital have been placed in the Library of the House today. This is the third consultation paper in the series "Modernising Local Government in Wales". Consultation papers on other aspects of the local government finance system and the new ethical framework will follow soon.

  Osteoporosis
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many health authorities have an osteoporosis strategy in place; and if he will list them. [37308]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1998, c. 104]: I regret that the following paragraph was inadvertently omitted from the answer, and should have read:
  Typically these are based on the Barlow Report 1994 which contained wide ranging recommendations on such key issues as prevention, scanning, hormone replacement therapy and improved co-operation between the professionals delivering the service.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [37595]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I chaired the fourth meeting under the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers on 31 March in Brussels. My noble Friend the Lord Donoughue, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the farming and food industry, represented the United Kingdom. The Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths), was also present.

  I convened the Council expressly to consider the Commission's proposals, published on 18 March, for changes to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the framework of Agenda 2000. The Council debate on this vital issue was held in open session, and was thus available in full to the media and to other interested parties. There was also an important political dimension to the debate: reforming the CAP in tandem with changes to the EU' s future financing provisions and to its regional and structural policies are essential steps to prepare for further enlargement of the European Union. It is significant that the formal opening of the enlargement negotiations with six applicant countries took place in Brussels on the same day.

  A wide range of views on the Commission's CAP reform proposals was expressed in the Council. No Minister denied that there was a need for reform to take place, or that the process should begin forthwith. I was able to conclude that the UK Presidency would now begin an intensive programme of technical examination of the Commission's proposals, leading to a further discussion in the Agriculture Council in late May.

  I was also able to establish, as President of the Council, that there was unanimous agreement amongst Member States to defer until 1 January 1999 implementation of last July's Commission Decision on Specified Risk Materials. During this period measures taken by Member States on a national basis to protect the health of their populations will be maintained.

  Over-thirty-months Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the latest
  213
  figures for (a) the number of cattle slaughtered under the over 30-months-scheme, (b) the amount of brown granular dust produced by the rendering of those cattle, (c) the number of carcases incinerated without rendering and (d) the amount of meat and bone meal awaiting incineration at the latest available date. [37571]

  Mr. Rooker
  Up to 29 March 1998, just under 2.2 million animals had been slaughtered under the Over-Thirty-Month Scheme (OTMS), of which some 128,000 were directly incinerated. The majority of cattle presented for the scheme are being rendered to produce two products, meat and bone meal (MBM) and tallow, which are being safely and securely stored pending destruction. To date, some 325,000 tonnes of MBM has been produced as a consequence of the rendering of OTMS animals, of which some 314,000 tonnes is currently in store, the remainder having been incinerated.

  Organophosphates
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commenced and (b) evaluated on the number of farmers who have contracted illness as a result of exposure to organophosphate pesticides. [38230]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) considers all investigated incidents where the use of a pesticide (controlled under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986) may have affected the health of the user or a member of the public nearby. The Panel is chaired by a doctor, its members being drawn from the HSE, the Department of Health, and the National Poisons Information Service.

  PIAP assesses all information from investigations by HSE and local authorities, with any additional material from the National Health Service or others involved. The incidents are classified according to the likelihood of the ill-health being linked to the pesticide exposure and an annual report is published.

  The Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) is a voluntary reporting scheme for monitoring animal and human suspected adverse reactions (SARs) to all veterinary medicinal products. Farmers, doctors, veterinary surgeons and members of the public are encouraged to report any SAR involving a veterinary medicine to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Marketing authorisation holders are required to send reports of SARs to the VMD. Human SARs are considered by the Appraisal Panel for Human Suspected Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicines and reported to the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC). The reports of the Appraisal Panel are published and copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Bilderberg Group
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the influence of the Bilderberg group on world agricultural prices. [37924]

  Mr. Rooker
  No such representations have been received.

  Canadian Pedigree Friesians
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy to allow meat from Canadian pedigree friesians into the United Kingdom food chain. [38065]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: Provided the meat originates from approved establishments in Canada, is accompanied by the necessary official certification and is not rejected following completion of veterinary checks at a border inspection post, meat from Canadian pedigree fresians, and other bovine animals, will be allowed to enter the European Community. The sale of beef for human consumption from animals originating in Canada which are over 30 months old at the time of slaughter is, however, prohibited by the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for the Central Science Laboratory sites at(a) Sand Hutton, York and (b) Colney Lane, Norwich the proportion of Central Science Laboratory work and income generated in 1997–98 from (a) research and development, (b) policy advice and surveillance and (c) technical support. [37946]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: Information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am however able to provide the following analysis:

  £ million

  CSL York

  CSL Norwich

  Total

  MAFF R&D

  9.8

  2.6

  12.4

  Other MAFF

  7.0

  2.4

  9.4

  Commercial

  2.4

  1.4

  3.8

  Total

  19.2

  6.4

  25.6

  These figures are subject to financial year end reconciliation.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 504, what assumptions his Department has made of the redundancy costs for staff in non-mobile grades currently employed by the Central Science Laboratory in Norwich, if the Norwich laboratory were to be closed. [37987]

  Mr. Rooker
  (holding answer 6 April 1998]: In the previous relocation exercise, to initially occupy the Sand Hutton site, the Central Science Laboratory was successful in the redeployment of non-mobile staff at the various sites vacated. In the event of a decision to relocate the work undertaken at the Norwich laboratory to York every effort will be made to redeploy those non-mobile staff not relocating and it is not anticipated that there would be significant compulsory redundancies.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average cost of redundancy of a Central Science Laboratory, Norwich employee in a non-mobile grade; and by whom that cost will be borne. [37952]
  215
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: In the previous relocation exercise, to initially occupy the Sand Hutton site, the Central Science Laboratory was successful in assisting non-mobile staff to secure employment elsewhere. On this basis it is not envisaged that there would be significant compulsory redundancies should the decision be made to relocate the work undertaken at the Norwich laboratory to York. However, the average cost of redundancy for a non-mobile employee based at CSL Norwich would be £5,500 and such costs would be borne by the Department.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 March 1998, Official Report, column 597, if he will list for the Central Science Laboratory sites at (a) Sand Hutton, York and (b) Colney Lane, Norwich the total office and laboratory floor area which his Department considers not capable of practical use. [37984]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998): The total area of a building is usually assessed as the "Gross Internal Area". The usable space within a building is normally assessed as the "Net Internal Area". The former is a measurement of each floor plate whereas the latter is a measurement which excludes such areas as plant rooms, toilets, stairwells, corridors, internal structural walls and columns, and some other related service facilities.

  The estimated Gross Internal Area of laboratories and offices at the Central Science Laboratory in York is 26,500 square metres. The estimated Net Internal Area is 18,400 square metres. The usable space figure of 15,600 square metres given in my answer of 3 March 1998, Official Report, column 597, was the estimated Net Internal Area of laboratories and offices less some 2,800 square metres of additional very specialist facilities.

  An estimate of the Gross Internal Area of laboratories and offices at Colney Lane, Norwich is not available and obtaining one would involve disproportionate cost. However, the estimated Gross Internal Area for the whole Colney Lane site is 5,000 square metres. The figure of 2,200 square metres given in my answer of 3 March was the estimated Net Internal Area of laboratories and offices.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons his Department did not accept the view of the Prior Options Review, and the study by independent consultants, as set out by his Department on 9 December 1996, that consolidation of the Central Science Laboratory in York was likely to lead to(a) a breaking of beneficial scientific links with the Institute of Food Research and (b) a loss of business previously based at Central Science Laboratory, Norwich. [37945]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The Central Science Laboratory collaborates with institutes and universities in this country and within the EU. This demonstrates that geographical proximity is not a necessary requirement for productive collaboration.

  Previous experience has shown that the impact on income from MAFF customers, the wider public sector and the private sector, as a result of relocation, is minimal in the short term. In the longer term benefits have been realised from an increase in the customer base.
  216
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the net cash allocation initially agreed by his Department for the Central Science Laboratory for 1997–98 together with the final outcome cash allocation. [37941]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998): The net cash allocation originally agreed for 1997–98 for the Central Science Laboratory was £1.526m. This figure is subject to amendment throughout the year with approval from the MAFF Management Board. Financial year end reconciliation is presently in progress and the final outcome is not yet available.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) current and (b) anticipated private sector tenants of the Central Science Laboratory at Sand Hutton, York, together with the annual rent payable. [37947]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: There are no current leases but a lease is presently being negotiated with the Centre for Biomedical Accelerator Mass Spectrometry for occupation of a small part of the Sand Hutton site. There are no immediate plans to lease accommodation to other private sector tenants.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1998,Official Report, column 728, what estimates he has made of the average downtime for scientific staff relocated from Norwich to York, including time spent decommissioning, moving and recommissioning equipment. [38151]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: I have no reason to believe that the estimated down time would differ significantly from previous experience detailed in the answer to which my hon. Friend refers. The earlier major relocation to the new Central Science Laboratory site near York included the relocation of sophisticated analytical chemistry equipment similar to that at Norwich. The average down time for that relocation exercise was three weeks for each scientific team.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff, and how many scientists, were employed by the Central Science Laboratory at Torry, Aberdeen, in January 1995. [37767]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: A total of 108 staff were employed by the Central Science Laboratory at Tony in January 1995. Of these, 67 were scientists.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 25 March 1998,Official Report, column 188, on the Central Science Laboratory, how many non fee-earning scientists are employed by the Central Science Laboratory at (a) Sand Hutton, York and (b) Colney Lane, Norwich. [37827]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: There are 28 non fee-earning scientists employed at the CSL York laboratory and 2 at the Norwich laboratory. These staff are employed in management roles and support functions.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 1998,Official Report, column 656, if he will set out the reasons

  217
  for his Department's commitment of £170,000 of research resources to the York Laboratory of the CSL in 1998–99; and for the absence of any commitment for similar research to (a) York in 1997–98 and (b) Norwich in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99. [38382]

  Mr. Rooker
  £170,000 was committed to CSL York as an interim arrangement following the relocation of the Microbiology Group from the Tony Research Station, Aberdeen. The purpose was to ensure continuing expertise at CSL York, delivering work of value to the Ministry, whilst CSL York secured additional sources of external funding. No such commitment was sought by York in 1997–98, or Norwich in 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Food Science Research
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the food

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  11997–98

  Payments to producers

  37

  20

  10

  904

  439

  Aid to slaughter sector

  0

  0

  0

  82

  0

  Aid to renderers

  0

  0

  0

  87

  65

  Aid to hide industry

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Total

  37

  20

  10

  1,077

  504

  1Provisional.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reasons advanced by the UK's EU partners for the maintenance of intervention in discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy. [37594]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: In discussions on the original Agenda 2000 proposals, the Agriculture Council agreed in November last year that maintaining the status quo in the CAP could lead to an increase in intervention stocks. In view of this, the Council called upon the European Commission to frame formal legislative proposals which would, amongst other things, reduce price-support measures. This would reduce the importance of intervention as a management tool, which is its main purpose.

  The Commission's proposals for reform, which were presented to the Agriculture Council on 31 March, included cuts in the beef, cereal and dairy support prices and the abolition of intervention for the beef sector. While accepting the need for reduced price support, some Member States have argued that, without full compensation, some of these price reductions go too far.

  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has made to the European Commission concerning reform of the CAP and the structural funds. [36566]

  Mr. Rooker
  Proposals for the reform of the CAP were presented to the Agriculture Council by the European Commission on 31 March. The Government will progress discussion of these proposals as far as possible during the 218
  science research contracts allocated by his Department in 1997–98, broken down by length of contract, value of contract and institution securing the contract. [37965]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The very extensive list of the food science research contracts allocated by the Department in 1997–98, broken down by length of contract, value of contract and institution securing the contract, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  BSE (Compensation)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1998,Official Report, column 499, what was the total amount of compensation paid in relation to BSE in the last five financial years; and if he will provide a breakdown of compensation payments by each sector of the food industry. [37681]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The information requested is as follows:

  UK Presidency and will seek to negotiate an outcome which reflects UK priorities. The same applies to reform of the structural funds.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement.[38313]

  Mr. Rooker
  The European Commission presented its formal legislative proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to the Agriculture Council on 31 March. In most respects, these proposals go very much in the direction that the Government have advocated. The Government will progress discussion of these proposals as far as possible during the UK Presidency and will thereafter seek to negotiate an outcome which reflects UK priorities.

  Pig Farming
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on the competitiveness of UK pig farming in Europe of the UK ban on farrowing crates. [37575]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: None, the use of farrowing crates is not banned in the UK. Sow stalls and tethers will be banned in the UK from 1 January 1999. While no assessment has been made of the impact of this ban, it does present the UK pig sector with marketing opportunities emphasising high welfare standards.

  Sheep Dips
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department gives farmers on the disposal of sheep dip, with particular reference to that containing organophosphates. [38341]

  Mr. Rooker
  Advice is given in the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water and the "Sheep Dipping" leaflet, AS29, copies of both of which are in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which other EU countries dipping sheep for the treatment or prevention of scab is compulsory. [37844]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information available to the Department is that no other EU member state makes it compulsory to dip sheep for the prevention of scab. It is understood that some Member States require infested sheep to be treated but not necessarily by dipping.

  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when(a) Australia, (b) New Zealand and (c) the United States made the dipping of sheep for the prevention of scab compulsory. [37845]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is understood that there is no sheep scab in Australia, New Zealand or the United States and consequently no need for compulsory treatment, whether or not by dipping.

  US Visiting Forces
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the total number of US Visiting Forces based in the UK; and where they are located; [31917]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1998, Official Report, column 490, how many of his Department's personnel are based at (i) Abbey Wood, (ii) RAF Alconbury, Molesworth and Upwood, (iii) RAF Bentley Priory, (iv) Boscombe Down, (v) RAF Bracknell, (vi) RAF Brampton, (vii) RAF Brize Norton, (viii) RAF Coltishall, (ix) RAF Cranwell, (x) RAF Croughton, (xi) RAF Digby, (xii) RAF Daws Hill, Hythe and West Ruislip, (xiii) Eastcote, (xiv) RAF Fairford, (xv) RAF Farnborough, (xvi) RAF Fylingdales, (xvii) RAF High Wycombe, (xviii) RAF Honnington, (xix) RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell, (xx) RAF Leuchars, (xxi) Landwater, (xxii) RAF Lyneham, (xxiii) RAF Morham, (xxiv) RAF Menwith Hill, (xxv) RAF Mildenhall, (xxvi) RAF Oakhanger, (xxvii) RAF Spadeadam, (xxviii) RAF Uxbridge, (xxix) RAF Valley, (xxx) RAF Waddington, (xxxi) Waterbeach, (xxxii) RAF Wittering, (xxxiii) RAF Wyton, (xxxiv) Ipswich and (xxxv) London. [33574]

  Dr. Reid
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1998, c. 490]: I regret to inform the hon. Gentleman that the information provided was incorrect. Accurate data are as follows: There are in the region of 13,500 members of the United States Visiting Force permanently based at some 30 locations in the UK. Precise information on personnel assignments is not held centrally. However, on the basis of the data that are available, total numbers of United
  220
  States Service and civilian personnel as at 20 March are listed against the sites where they are located, together with details of MoD personnel located at the same sites.

  Location

  US personnel

  MoD personnel

  RAF Alconbury/Molesworth/Upwood

  1,012

  308

  RAF Croughtori/Barford St John

  443

  203

  RAF Daws Hill/West Ruislip/Eastcote/USN London

  770

  76

  RAF Digby

  38

  970

  RAF Fairford/Welford

  214

  249

  RAF Feltwell

  132

  3

  RAF Fylingdales

  1

  257

  RAF Hythe

  5

  13

  RAF Lakenheath

  5,294

  655

  RAF Menwith Hill

  1,407

  373

  RAF Mildenhall

  3,858

  583

  Northwood

  16

  1,712

  RAF Oakhanger

  1

  255

  RAF Spadeadam

  4

  174

  RAF St Mawgan

  295

  803

  RAF Uxbridge

  1

  182

  Total

  13.491

  6,816

  In addition to the above, there are approximately 200 US service personnel present in the UK, mainly serving in singleton posts at a wide variety of locations who are either participating in UK/US exchange programmes or engaged in specific bilateral projects or operational posts.

  Officer Training Corps
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the membership of the Officer Training Corps in each institution in which it operates; [13757]

  (2) what percentage of members of the Officer Training Corps subsequently join the regular forces. [13756]

  Dr. Reid
  [pursuant to his replies, 5 November 1997, c. 254 and 24 November 1997, c. 394]: I regret to inform my hon. Friend that the figures for membership of the Officer Training Corps in Oxford and Cambridge were incorrect. They should be amended to read the following:

  Officer Cadets:

  Oxford: 192

  Cambridge: 192.

  The establishment figures remain unchanged at 224 for both institutions.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost to the armed forces of dealing with the millennium computer problem, including the embedded chip problem; how much has been spent to date; if he will break these figures down to distinguish between costs to(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [37994]

  Mr. Spellar
  The predicted cost to MOD of dealing with the Year 2000 date change problem is £200 million. This is the same figure as that reported in November 1997 and includes the cost of addressing the embedded chip problem. The cost estimate for the problems found so far
  221
  is £150 million, but is expected to rise to £200 million as the remaining systems are assessed and rectification work on them costed.

  Some £4.4 million has been expended to date. This reflects only the cost of work so far completed. It does not include expenditure which has been contractually committed but not yet paid.

  The year 2000 cost figures are collected within MOD on a budget holder basis and not by Service. The costs provided include the total for all of MOD's budget areas.

  RAF Fast Jet Aircrew
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (i) actual and (ii) peacetime establishment RAF fast jet aircrew are allocated to(a) Tornado GR, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Jaguar and (d) Harrier. [37934]

  Dr. Reid
  The information requested, as at 3 April 1998, is set out in the table:

  Aircraft

  Fast jet aircrew

  Total aircrew1

  Tornado GR 1

  Peacetime establishment

  294

  Actual strength

  274

  Tornado F3

  Peacetime establishment

  265

  Actual strength

  250

  Jaguar

  Peacetime establishment

  60

  Actual strength

  55

  Harrier

  Peacetime establishment

  73

  Actual strength

  73

  1As at 3 April 1998

  Uranium Shells
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how (1) how many depleted uranium shells have been fired at the MOD/DERA base at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire, in each of the years since such firing started; [37611]

  (2) how many of the depleted uranium shells fired at the MOD/DERA base at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire, have subsequently been recovered. [37612]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Alasdair Morgan, dated 7 April 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency I have been asked to reply to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about depleted uranium shells at Kirkcudbrightshire.
  The number of depleted uranium rounds fired at the Kirkcudbright range each year since the start of the CHARM programme are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1982

  9

  1983

  56

  1984

  179

  1985

  152

  1986

  118

  1987

  151

  1988

  272

  222

  Year

  Number

  1989

  434

  1990

  795

  1991

  666

  1992

  781

  1993

  982

  1994

  472

  1995

  280

  1996

  147

  1997

  749

  1998

  12

  Total

  6,255

  During this period four of the CHARM penetrators fired have been recovered.
  I hope this information is useful.

  Low Flying Training
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 414, if the military exercises were carried out over the Sheffield area; what regulations govern (a) military and (b) other aircraft breaking the sound barrier; and if the sonic booms detected by Edinburgh University Seismology Unit above Sheffield, on 24 March 1997 were the result of aircraft breaking the sound barrier. [37991]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is not possible, twelve months after the date in question, to state precisely where military aircraft activity was being carried out. Records kept show only that aircraft were booked to carry out low flying over the Peak District between 2030 and 2107 hours local time on the evening of 24 March 1997. No low level flying is permitted over the Sheffield urban area, or any other major conurbation. Records of flying at medium level—between 2,000 and 24,000 feet—are not maintained so it is possible that there were aircraft in the area at medium level.

  The regulations governing military aircraft flying at supersonic speeds are contained in the Joint Service Publication entitled 'Military Flying Regulations', an extract of which was provided in the answer I gave her on 1 April 1998, Official Report, columns 547–48. The regulations which apply to civil aviation are a matter for my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  As for the sonic event detected by the British Geological Survey at Edinburgh University, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 30 March 1998, Official Report, columns 414–15.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of incapacity benefit are suffering from pneumoconiosis and emphysema in the areas covered by the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency offices. [37909]
  223
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of Incapacity Benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Cummings, dated 6 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, asking how many claimants of Incapacity Benefit are suffering from pneumoconiosis and emphysema in the areas covered by the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency (BA) offices.
  Information is not available in the format requested. As at 31 August 1997, there were approximately 20 people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit (IB) for emphysema in the area covered by the Peterlee office and none for pneumoconiosis. No customers were in receipt of IB for either condition in the area covered by the Seaham office.
  Source DSS Analytical Services Division, based on a 5 per cent. sample of IB cases.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Focus Groups
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the companies he has commissioned to undertake focus group research indicating the individual projects they are undertaking and the companies that tendered for each contract. [38218]

  Mr. Field
  The Department publishes a Research Yearbook which contains details of contracts awarded in the relevant financial year.

  Organisations commissioned to undertake focus group research for the Department and the title of each contract are as follows:
  Newchurch and Company—Child Support Agency customer and compliance research.
  Market Opinion Research International—Attitudes towards welfare reform.
  Market Opinion Research International—Attitudes to disability benefits.
  British Market Research Bureau International—Attitudes towards housing benefits.
  Institute for Employment Studies—People management in DSS Headquarters.
  Social and Community Planning Research—On-going contract for qualitative research on welfare reform issues.
  Social and Community Planning Research—Survey of women; development work.
  Social and Community Planning Research—Preparation for Women's Juries.
  Social and Community Planning Research—Work Incentives and Intermediaries.
  Social and Community Planning Research—Take up of Income Support amongst Older Citizens.
  Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University—Earnings Top Up Staff Panel.
  Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University—Invalidity Benefit and the Contributory principle.
  Alan Hedges—Pensions and Retirement Planning.
  Alan Hedges—Behavioural Response to the evidence requirements.
  Andrew Irving Associates—Counter fraud publicity.
  Research Surveys of Great Britain—Awareness of counter fraud activity—benchmarking exercise.
  224
  One World—New Deal for Lone Parents: development of publicity work.
  Navigator—Fraud: attitudes to national benefit fraud hotline publicity.
  Reflexions—Fraud: reporting changes in circumstances.
  Michael Herbert—Pensions: approaches to information material.

  Research contracts are normally let by competitive tender, though the department also makes use of the Central Office of Information's framework agreement with approved suppliers. Single tender may be used for example where a supplier has special expertise or experience, is the sole supplier or has sole access to records or data, or in cases of extreme urgency. Details of organisations who have tendered unsuccessfully for contracts is commercial in confidence.

  Lone Parents
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will publish a leaflet informing lone parents what help they can expect, and when, if they obtain paid work. [38234]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  There are already leaflets available which give information on the benefits payable to families in work with low incomes, including lone parents. Leaflet NI261 is a guide to Family Credit and leaflet RR2 is a guide to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Leaflet LP15 on the New Deal for Lone Parents outlines the help available for lone parents trying to get into work and gives a summary of the help available through benefits once the lone parent has obtained work.

  Benefits Agency staff and New Deal for Lone Parents personal advisers are also available to give information on the precise amount of benefit available in each individual's circumstances. In the New Deal for Lone Parents, that advice is a component of the package of tailored help and advice provided for individual participants.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 2 March 1998,Official Report, column 505, on lone parents, if she will update her earlier answer to cover the period from 23 July 1997 to 28 February 1998. [37593]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Information on the operation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is available up to and including 28 February 1998.

  As at 28 February 1998:
  22,127 lone parents have been contacted.
  5,249 initial interviews have been arranged, and 4,395 lone parents have attended interviews.
  3,936 lone parents have agreed to participate in the programme following initial interviews.
  1,289 lone parents have found jobs following agreement to participate in the programme.

  A full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is being undertaken, to report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme in helping lone parents move into employment.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Primary Schools Funding
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the funding rules for primary schools whereby income is lost due to a transfer of parents from income support to family credit. [34236]

  Mr. Byers
  There are no plans at present to change the funding rules for primary schools in this respect. Under Local Management of Schools, Local Education Authorities are responsible for devising and revising the formula used to allocate funds to schools. Some Authorities use pupils' entitlement to free school meals, which is triggered when a parent is in receipt of income support or income-based job seekers allowance, to allocate additional funding to schools. Families transferring from income support to family credit lose their entitlement to free school meals. Authorities may therefore need to consider whether their formulae should reflect this.

  However, I understand that Oldham LEA's LMS formula uses entitlement to clothing grant rather than free school meals as the proxy for distributing additional funding to schools. Pupils from families in receipt of family credit or income support are automatically entitled to clothing grant. The change in benefit entitlement should not therefore affect Oldham schools' funding.

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list applications to run education action zones received from(a) local education authorities and (b) other organisations; [36068]

  (2) if he will list the private sector organisations which have applied to run education action zones; [36069]

  (3) if he will list applications to run education action zones where the proposed zone crosses local education authority boundaries. [36070]

  Mr. Byers
  We have received 60 applications and intend to announce details of those which have been approved in due course.

  Child Labour
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the International Labour Organisation to eradicate child labour. [36541]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government strongly support the International Labour Organisation's proposal for a new Convention to eliminate the most intolerable forms of child labour. The UK will be actively involved in negotiating the new instrument during the ILO Conferences in 1998 and 1999. The UK has already committed £200,000 to the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) to finance work in Asia to combat trafficking of women and children. The Government will announce further contributions to this worthwhile programme in the coming weeks.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are his plans for funding the activities of job clubs over the next three fiscal years; and how these have been affected by the New Deal programme. [37470]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 2 April 1998): Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 7 April 1988:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question on the funding of Jobclubs over the next three fiscal years and how this has been affected by New Deal. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.Our planned expenditure on Jobclubs will be £24 million in each of the next three fiscal years.In some areas we have also been looking at the advantages of combining some of our programmes, such as Jobclub and Jobplan, and delivering them through Programme Centres, which provide a one stop shop with greater scope for the more efficient use of resources and individualised packages of help for people.The funding allocated to Jobclubs and Programme Centres reflects the likely demand among those people aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for six months or more. This takes account of the fact that many young people who might previously have depended on this provision will now be able to take advantage instead of the much more extensive extra help provided by New Deal.My District Managers have recently undertaken a consultation exercise with local New Deal partners, with regard to our mainstream programmes, to determine which types of provision will be most effective to meet the needs of each locality. Where local partnerships decide that Jobclub or Programme Centre places should form part of the New Deal Gateway, they can purchase additional places on these programmes using New Deal funding.I hope this is helpful.

  Open Access Project
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to widen the scope of the open access project; and within what timetable. [37582]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 7 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question concerning the plans to widen the scope of the open access project; and within what timetable. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  The Employment Service is currently piloting ten open access kiosks in Jobcentres in Newcastle, South Manchester and Wiltshire, and we will be evaluating the use of the kiosks over the next few months. We will be making a decision on the future use of open access kiosks in the light of our evaluation of the pilot schemes and the availability of resources. The Employment Service is keen to use new technology to improve its services, and I expect the open access pilot to make a key contribution to this.
  I hope this is helpful.

  School Inspections
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how the random sample of schools inspected in 1994–95 and to be re-inspected in autumn 1998 was chosen by Ofsted; what advice was given to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector on how to ensure a random, balanced sample of schools; and by whom that advice was given; [37683]

  (2) how many primary schools in England and Wales which were last inspected in 1994–95 are being inspected in autumn 1998; and what estimate he has made of the total cost of those inspections. [37684]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: These are matters for HM Chief Inspector of Schools. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the library.

  Literacy Strategy
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the external bodies involved in the drafting of the literacy strategy; and if he will publish details of the research work on which the(a) concept and (b) details of the literacy strategy are based; [37762]

  (2) if he will list the external bodies who were consulted prior to the development of the literacy strategy. [37763]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The literacy strategy is based on recommendations of the Literacy Task Force, established in may 1996 by the then Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment. Its membership was as follows: Professor Michael Barber (Chair), University of London Institute of Education; John Botham, Headteacher, Greenwood Junior School, Nottingham; Ken Follett, Novelist; Simon Goodenough, Chair of Governors, Queen Elizabeth Community College, Devon; Mary Gray, Retired Headteacher, Fair Furlong School Bristol; David Pitt-Watson, Deloitte & Touche; David Reynolds, Professor Education, University of Newcastle; Anne Waterhouse, Headteacher, Asmall County Primary School, Lancashire; and Diane Wright, a parent.

  The Task Force drew widely on evidence of what works in this and other countries and took account of evidence from inspection reports and surveys from OFSTED. It consulted very widely before recommending
  228
  that the National Literacy Project offered the best model for urgently achieving the improvement in literacy needed in our schools.

  Job Vacancies (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number of job vacancies in the(a) West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency and (b) Chelmsford Local Authority area in each of the last six months for which figures are available. [37877]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 7 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question in which you asked for a list of the numbers of job vacancies in the West Chelmsford Parliamentary constituency area and the Chelmsford Local Authority area in each of the last six months for which figures are available. This is something that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  Vacancy data is only available by Jobcentre areas. West Chelmsford Parliamentary constituency and Chelmsford Local Authority area are both served by Chelmsford Jobcentre.

  Vacancies notified to this Jobcentre were:

  September 1997: 734

  October 1997: 587

  November 1997: 782

  December 1997: 584

  January 1998: 248

  February 1998: 591

  I hope this is helpful.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the annual cost to(a) higher education and (b) further education of the changes in employers' national insurance contributions announced in the Budget. [38316]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department is currently discussing estimates of these costs with the relevant Funding Councils. I will write to the hon. Member when these discussions have been completed.

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