Written Answers of 8 April 1998

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Listed Sporting Events
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 368, on the Advisory Group on Listed Events, what is the cost of the group to public funds; how many witnesses have been called by the group, and if he will list them; and which member of the group was an expert on Rugby League Football. [37846]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Chairman and members of the Advisory Group on Listed Events were unpaid. Their expenses incurred in travelling to the meetings of the Group were paid from public funds at a cost of £1,499.78. The group heard oral evidence from the following:

  Independent Television Commission:

  Ms Sheila Cassells

  Ms Sarah Thane

  Major Spectator Sport Division, Central Council for Physical Recreation:

  Lord Alexander of Weedon

  David Glencross QC

  Mr. Maurice Lindsay

  Nr. Nigel Hook

  The England and Wales Cricket Board:

  Lord McLaurin of Knebworth

  Mr. Terry Blake

  The BBC:

  Mr. Will Wyatt

  Mr. Jonathan Martin

  Mr. Dominic Morris

  BSkyB:

  Mr. Vic Wakeling

  Mr. Ray Gallegher

  Mr. Jonathan Sykes

  Mr. Phillip Jenner.

  The members of the Advisory Group were appointed not for their knowledge of particular sports but to represent the interests of the general viewing public. All of the members did, however, have a good, general knowledge of sporting issues and were provided with appropriate background information on specific sports events.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to make a final decision on the listing of A and B grade sporting events for terrestrial television [37917]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Advisory Group on Listed Events announced its recommendations to me on 20 March. These recommendations included the proposal 230
  that the list maintained under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996 should be made up of Group A and B events, these classifications defining the extent of the protection for television coverage of these events on generally available, terrestrial channels. I shall make my final decisions on this proposal, and on the events to be included on the list, when I have fully considered the implications of the Group's report. I hope to do so around the middle of May.

  Lyric Theatre
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Eyre review of the future of lyric theatre in London will be made public. [38845]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have been informed by Sir Richard Eyre that his review of the future of lyric theatre in London will be submitted to me by mid-May; the slight slippage on the original timetable is due to Sir Richard's work commitments. I have undertaken to publish the report shortly after I receive it. Publication will then be followed by consultation.

  Children's Television Programmes
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the current regulatory regime governing advertising during children's television programmes. [38302]

  Mr. Fisher
  The Independent Television Commission maintains and enforces a code of advertising standards and practice for commercial broadcasters, which includes detailed guidance on advertising and children. This guidance is reviewed by the Commission from time to time taking into account representations and available research as appropriate. The most recent review was conducted in 1997.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Criminal Cases (Inland Revenue)
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration the Crown Prosecution Service has given to the implications of the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in R v W and another; and what arrangements exist for liaison with the Inland Revenue about criminal cases with a tax aspect. [38837]

  The Attorney-General
  In the proceedings to which my hon. Friend refers the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) examined the respective of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Inland Revenue to pursue criminal proceedings. It confirmed that the Inland Revenue's common law power to prosecute is ancillary to, supportive of and limited by their duty to collect taxes. In contrast, the Crown Prosecution Service's statutory duty to take over and conduct criminal proceedings is free-standing, unconfined (for the purposes of the particular case) and reflects much wider public interest concerns and objectives. Accordingly, there is no logical inconsistency in the Crown's position if the Crown Prosecution Service prosecute in circumstances where the Revenue have decided not to.
  231
  This ruling accorded with the existing understanding of the Crown Prosecution Service and Inland Revenue as to their respective roles in relation to criminal investigation and prosecution and does not require any change of policy or practice on the part of either. Nor does it affect the position of those individuals who co-operate with the Inland Revenue on what is commonly referred to as `the Hansard practice' or otherwise. Primary responsibility for investigation and prosecution in relation to alleged tax evasion rests with the Inland Revenue; proceedings brought by the Crown Prosecution Service will ordinarily encompass charges relating to tax evasion only in circumstances where that is incidental to allegations of non-fiscal criminal conduct. In such circumstances the Crown Prosecution Service and Inland Revenue liaise closely together. The arrangements for such liaison have recently been strengthened by the establishment of the 'Convention between Prosecuting Authorities to provide arrangements for ensuring effective co-ordination of decision making and handling in related cases which are the responsibility of different authorities'. Both the Crown Prosecution Service and Inland Revenue became signatories to that Convention when it was established on 11 February 1998. A copy of the Convention has been lodged in the Library of the House.

  In R v W and others the applicants were charged on 27 July 1995 with offences of conspiracy to obtain property by deception (later changed to conspiracy to defraud) and conspiracy to commit false accounting in connection with the affairs of companies with which they were associated. The proceedings were transferred to the Crown Court on 6 November 1995. The prosecution case at this stage was that the motive for the alleged false accounting was partly to conceal the removal of company funds for purposes other than tax and partly the evasion of tax. The case in relation to false accounting was subsequently narrowed to allege only tax evasion. The Inland Revenue had, prior to the institution of the criminal proceedings, decided that its own inquiries should be pursued in relation to unpaid tax. This in turn led, in 1997, to a negotiated settlement of unpaid tax with the companies concerned.

  The negotiation between Inland Revenue and the companies concerned was quite independent of the criminal proceedings although all parties were aware of their existence. Lord Justice Rose said in giving the judgment of the Court of Appeal:
  "In any event we reject the suggestion that, because the prosecution case against both applicants on false accounting was previously based partly, but is now based solely, on tax evasion, this constitutes such a change that [the applicant], at the time of settlement by the companies was misled".

  Audit Commission (Data Protection)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General if the provisions in the Audit Commission Bill[Lords] relating to studies into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of bodies subject to audit by the Commission permit (a) medical files containing health personal data processed by an NHS body to be used as part of a study into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness, (b) data matching
  232
  studies with respect to any personal data held by a local authority and (c) medical files from one NHS body to be studied (i) in conjunction with similar files from another NHS body and (ii) in relation to files from a local authority. [38171]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Audit Commission Bill [Lords] consolidates the existing legislation on the Audit Commission. Auditors and the Commission have a power to obtain access to all such information including medical files, as they may reasonably require for the performance of any of their statutory functions, including studies into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of bodies subject to audit. They must comply with Data Protection legislation, and the Commission has drawn up and published a Code of Data Matching Practice, endorsed by the Data Protection Agency, which it and auditors follow when data matching techniques are used.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 505, what is the status of the assurance given by his Permanent Secretary that an employment guarantee would be provided for five years for CSL staff relocating from Norwich to York; and what contingent liability his Department has assumed is needed to fund this commitment. [37988]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Permanent Secretary has not given such an assurance. However, in the event of relocation of the CSL Norwich to York, consideration would be given as to whether medium term assurances of continued employment should be offered to staff who transferred. The level of resulting contingent liabilities would be one of the factors considered before giving such assurances.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Central Science Laboratory(a) scientists and (b) non-scientists in Norwich are in (i) mobile and (ii) non-mobile grades. [37955]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The information requested on staff based at the Central Science Laboratory in Norwich is as follows:

  Scientists

  Non-scientists

  Mobile

  78

  4

  Non-mobile

  31

  24

  Total staff

  109

  28

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many food research projects submitted to his Department for funding by the Central Science Laboratory in (1) 1996–97 and (2) 1997–98 which were (i) commissioned, (ii) deemed by the independent
  233
  appraisal panel to be of sufficient quality to merit departmental funding and (iii) not deemed to be of sufficient quality to merit such funding were based primarily at (a) Sand Hutton, York and (b) Colney Lane, Norwich. [37957]

  Research proposals submitted to MAFF by CSL for funding

  Proposals for funding in 1996–97 (submitted to MAFF in 1995)

  Proposals for funding in 1997–98 (submitted to MAFF in 1996)

  Short-term research (applied)

  Long-term research (strategic)

  Short-term research (applied)

  Long-term research (strategic)

  Total number of CSL proposals considered

  45

  46

  43

  24

  CSL Norwich

  22

  22

  40

  19

  CSL Torry

  22

  23

  3

  3

  CSL Slough

  1

  1

  0

  2

  CSL York

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Number of CSL proposals commissioned

  15

  14

  12

  10

  CSL Norwich

  13

  11

  12

  8

  CSL Torry

  2

  3

  0

  0

  CSL Slough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  CSL York

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Number deemed by an independent Appraisal Panel to be suitable for MAFF funding

  n/a

  25

  n/a

  23

  CSL Norwich

  n/a

  12

  n/a

  18

  CSL Torry

  n/a

  12

  n/a

  3

  CSL Slough

  n/a

  1

  n/a

  2

  CSL York

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  0

  Number deemed by an independent Appraisal Panel to be unsuitable for MAFF funding

  n/a

  12

  n/a

  1

  CSL Norwich

  n/a

  8

  n/a

  1

  CSL Torry

  n/a

  4

  n/a

  0

  CSL Slough

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  0

  CSL York

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  0

  Notes:

  1. Where n/a appears in the tables above, projects were appraised within MAFF with independent advice sought where necessary. These proposals were not considered by the independent Appraisal Panels. This is the case for all short term (applied) research proposals submitted to MAFF.

  2. Proposals were not submitted from CSL York until 1997 (for funding in 1997–98), once staff had completed moves to CSL York from CSL Tony and CSL Slough.

  Organophosphates
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the Government have spent in the last five years on research into the effects of pesticides based on organophosphorus compounds on the health of(a) cattle and (b) those working in the farming and horticulture industries. [38201]

  Mr. Rooker
  Applications for authorisations for veterinary medicines and pesticides are assessed against statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes the health and welfare of the treated animal and the user of the product. Research required to satisfy these criteria forms part of the information submitted by applicants and is paid for by them.

  No MAFF-funded research has been carried out into the effects of organophosphorus (OP) compounds on the health of cattle.

  In the past five years, the Government have commissioned work costing £3.6 million into the effects of OP pesticides on the health of those working in the farming and horticulture industries. In addition to this, the Institute of Occupational Medicine has been awarded £500,000 funded jointly by MAFF, the Department of
  234
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The information requested, relating to research proposals submitted by the Central Science Laboratory to my Department, for funding in 1996–97 and 1997–98, is detailed.

  Health and the Health and Safety Executive to research the possible long-term human health effects of OP sheep dips. Additional work on the effects of OP pesticides has been carried out separately by Research Councils.

  Vitamin B6
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take into account the views of the American National Academy of Science prior to proceeding with restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6. [38103]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government issued for consultation their draft proposals for restrictions on the retail sale of food supplements containing vitamin B6 on 2 April 1998. The consultation period ends on 26 June 1998. If further data on the safety of vitamin B6 become available during the consultation period, including information from the US National Academy of Sciences, those data will be taken into account by the Government.

  Salmon And Freshwater Fisheries Review Group
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the membership and
  235
  terms of reference of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group announced on 7 July 1997; and if he will make a statement. [38516]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have appointed Professor Lynda Warren, Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Wales, to chair the independent Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group. In addition, Dr. Nick Giles, Mr. John Golding, Dr. Keith Hendry, Mr. Derek Heselton MBE, Mr. David Hodgkiss, Mrs. Jean Howman, Mrs. Jane James, Dr. Mike Ladle, Mr. Frank Lythgoe, Mr. David Moore, Mr. Mervyn Mountjoy, Mr. Pat O'Reilly, Mr. Stanley Payne, Dr. Anne Powell, Professor Kerry Turner and Mr. John Williams have been appointed members.

  The terms of reference for the Review Group are:
  `To review existing policies and legislation in England and Wales concerning the management and conservation of salmon, trout, eels and freshwater fish and make recommendations. The review and recommendations should take particular account of:
  the need to maintain, and where appropriate enhance, biodiversity;
  the need to maximise the economic, social and recreational benefits derived from salmon and freshwater fisheries, taking account both of the interests of local communities and local factors and traditions;
  the need for management of fisheries to be on a fully sustainable basis, taking account of the precautionary approach.

  The review should also consider other factors that may affect the development and sustainability of these fisheries.

  The review should examine the institutional arrangements for the regulation and management of these fisheries (including the role of the public sector, the need to involve all interested parties, and arrangements in tidal and coastal waters) and how best such arrangements can be funded.'

  Members have been appointed in an independent capacity on the basis of their individual knowledge and expertise of fisheries and/or related conservation issues. We believe the Group is well suited to making recommendations for the future management and conservation of salmon and freshwater fish and look forward to receiving its report in late 1999.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what impact the establishment of the Food Standards Agency will have on the role of the food safety activities of the Central Science Laboratory. [38347]

  Mr. Rooker
  The White Paper "The Food Standards Agency: a Force for Change": (Cmd 3830) proposes that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) should take the lead in commissioning research on food safety. It will be for the FSA to determine its own priorities and procedures for future research once it is established. However, the Government anticipate that the FSA will continue to commission research competitively, and that the Central Science Laboratory would compete for FSA research contracts, along with other research establishments.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he will make to ensure co-ordination of the relevant work of the Central 236
  Science Laboratory with that of the Institute of Food Research following the establishment of the Food Standards Agency. [38348]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Central Science Laboratory already collaborates with the Institute of Food Research and with many other research institutes and universities. This ensures that respective scientific expertise is effectively applied.

  Measures are in hand to strengthen the links between the Central Science Laboratory and the Institute of Food Research including the intention to develop a collaborative framework agreement.

  Consumer Education
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects which received funding in the United Kingdom in 1997 under European Communities budget line "B5–102, Consumer Education"; and what was the role of his Department in the determination of such projects. [36952]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  UK bodies bid for Commission funding for specific projects. We do not yet have details of projects funded under budget line B5–102 in the UK during 1997. It is for the Commission to determine how to allocate funds within budget line B5–102 in accordance with Community rules.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Projects (Environmental Assessments)
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations she has made to the European Commission about the environmental impact assessment of aid projects; [38406]

  (2) what representations she has made to the European Commission about consultations with project beneficiaries and local communities in LDCs about the environmental impact of development co-operation programmes; [38407]

  (3) what plans she has to bring about reform of the environmental assessment of EU aid during the current United Kingdom Presidency. [38408]

  Mr. Foulkes
  During the Presidency this Department's officials are continuing, through dialogue with Commission officials in Brussels and in delegations, and through our participation in the Commission's Management Committees, to encourage the Commission to integrate fully environmental considerations into the design of its projects, to improve environmental impact assessments and to promote the development of adequate stakeholder participation and consultation, including on the environmental impact of development projects.

  An important element of this will be to monitor the Commission's implementation of the recommendations of a recent independent evaluation of environmental performance of EC-funded programmes in developing countries. This evaluation highlighted the need to improve the performance of the Commission in assessing and integrating environmental considerations in their

  237
  development programmes, including through training and guidance for staff and through better consultation with beneficiaries. Further to the evaluation, the Commission has contracted UK consultants to improve environmental assessment and consultation procedures in their programmes to Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. We will monitor progress closely. We have also seconded a Social Development adviser to the Commission to help them to promote stakeholder participation and consultation in development programmes.

  South Africa
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress her Department has made towards negotiating a bilateral trade and development agreement including a free trade area with the Republic of South Africa; and if she will make a statement. [38337]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The UK Presidency is working for early conclusion of a Trade and Co-operation Agreement between South Africa and the European Union which best meets the needs of South Africa and her neighbours as well as the EU. Both sides hope for an agreement by mid-year. Negotiators from the European Commission and South Africa will hold the next round of discussions later this month.

  Development Assistance
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of United Kingdom net development assistance has been(a) bilateral and (b) channelled through multilateral development institutions, the EU and the Commonwealth in 1997–98; and what will be the comparable figure in 1998–99. [38379]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Expenditure data for 1997–98 are still being brought to account. Detailed analysis will be provided in British Aid Statistics later in the year. We estimate though that in 1997–98 50 per cent. of development assistance will be spent through bilateral channels and 50 per cent. through multilateral institutions. Around 31 per cent. of development assistance will be spent through the EC.

  In 1998–99, on present plans, we estimate that 46 per cent. will be spent through bilateral channels and 54 per cent. through multilateral institutions. Around 35 per cent. of development assistance will be channelled through the EC.

  Know How Fund
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in respect of which countries Know How Fund support will be(a) reduced or(b) discontinued in 1998–99. [38192]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Know How Fund is managed with some flexibility between country programmes within financial years. Levels of expenditure will depend partly on emerging needs and speed of project implementation. Our aim is to reduce expenditure over time on the countries most advanced in transition. Support is not being discontinued in any country in 1998–99.

  Community Aid
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what effect the establishing of the joint service for the implementation of community aid to developing countries will have on her Department's aid management. [38339]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The establishment of the Joint Service is formally an internal management issue for the Commission but this Department has a strong interest in the effectiveness of the new arrangements. We are in close contact with the Commission about the restructuring and will seek to establish effective relations with the new structure when it becomes operational later this year. Other than this, the new structure will have no direct effect on the Department's aid management procedures.

  Southern Africa
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her counterparts in Southern African countries other than the Republic of South Africa about the proposed trade and development agreement and free trade area. [38336]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The proposed EU/South Africa trade and co-operation agreement will be discussed at next month's ACP-EU Council meeting in Barbados, which the Secretary of State will co-chair. We want an agreement which takes account of the concerns of South Africa's neighbours.

  Direct Budget Aid
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to her EU counterparts about converting Community funding into direct budget aid. [38338]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made no such representation.

  Afghan Donors Group
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the oral answer of 25 March 1998,Official Report, column 489, what are the date and agenda for the next meeting of the Afghan Donors Group. [37712]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The date of the next meeting of the Afghan donors group is 5 May 1998. The provisional agenda is as follows:

  Human rights and gender

  The political and security situation in Afghanistan

  Strategic Framework and international assistance strategy

  Drugs control

  Any other business.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the oral answer of 25 March 1998,Official Report, column 489, what is the composition of the Afghan Donors Group. [37711]
  239
  Mr. Foulkes
  The Afghanistan Donor Support Group is an informal grouping of donors. Representatives of the following countries and organisations attended the last meeting, held in New York, and have been invited to the London meeting:

  Australia, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States;

  United Nations

  Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (formerly Department of Humanitarian Affairs)

  Department of Peace Keeping Operations

  Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women

  Department of Political Affairs

  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation

  United Nations Special Mission for Afghanistan

  United Nations Children's Fund

  Food and Agriculture Organisation

  World Health Organisation

  World Food Programme

  United Nations Development Fund for Women

  United Nations Drug Control Programme

  United Nations Population Fund

  United Nations Staff College

  World Bank

  International Committee of the Red Cross

  Agency for Co-ordinating Afghan Relief

  International Organisation for Migration.

  Belarus and Ukraine
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects are currently being pursued to assist the economic development of(a) Belarus and (b) Ukraine. [37368]

  Mr. Foulkes
  In Belarus we are supporting the development of small and medium enterprises, for example through the creation of small business centres in Brest, Gomel and Grodno. We are also providing training for Trade Union members through the Jim Conway Foundation and plan to look for further opportunities to work with the NGO sector. In Ukraine we are supporting a wide variety of projects in the following sectors: agriculture, energy, financial services, small and medium enterprise development and good government.

SCOTLAND

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of how many of those refusing to pay tolls on the Skye Bridge a decision was taken not to prosecute. [37562]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Procurator Fiscal at Dingwall has decided to take no proceedings against 133 individuals in respect of 188 charges of an alleged refusal to pay the tolls.
  240
  In addition, 138 people (some of whom may also be included in the figure of 133 above) were prosecuted for refusing to pay the tolls. The charges against these people were contained in 324 summary complaints. The Procurator Fiscal decided to take no further proceedings in relation to 177 of those complaints.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to public funds arising from the legal action taken against those refusing to pay tolls on the Skye Bridge. [37560]

  Mr. McLeish
  Expenditure has been incurred by various Government Departments in relation to the prosecutions of those persons refusing to pay tolls on the Skye Bridge.

  The Scottish Court Service incurred additional costs for the provision of temporary shrieval cover amounting in total to £15,000. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service engaged casual administrative and legal staff at a cost of approximately £11,500. Expenses were also incurred in respect of civilian witnesses who attended to give evidence at the trials. The cost of the expenditure on these witnesses could not be made available without disproportionate cost.

  The Northern Constabulary have incurred costs of £6,661 in relation to releasing police constables to attend at trials to give evidence.

  The Scottish Legal Aid Board have paid out £1,708.03 in settlement of legal aid accounts. Further accounts totalling £12,500 have been submitted and are under consideration.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were(a) prosecuted, (b) fined and (c) imprisoned for refusing to pay tolls on the new Skye Bridge. [37561]

  Mr. McLeish
  In the period to 8 April 1998 138 people were prosecuted for refusing to pay tolls on the new Skye Bridge. The charges against them were contained in 324 summary complaints. 128 of those prosecuted were fined.

  No one has been imprisoned for refusing to pay tolls on the Bridge.

  Solway Firth (Fishing)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish his conclusion on mechanisms to maintain the present fishing arrangements on the Solway Firth; and what plans he has to introduce legislation on this matter. [37603]

  Mr. Macdonald
  It has long been recognised that fishing rights within the Solway can give rise to jurisdictional difficulties. Local discussions were held in autumn 1997 with a view to protecting existing fishing rights in the event of a fixed jurisdictional boundary being established. The Government are still considering how this protection might best be achieved.

  Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Government will review the legislation relating to the Environment Agency and Scottish
  241
  Environment Protection Agency in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. [38773]

  Mr. Dewar
  I am today setting in hand a review, jointly with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It will examine the legislation relating to the Environment Agency in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, with a view to identifying any barriers preventing the Agencies from taking an integrated approach to the environment. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommended in its nineteenth report (Cm 3165) that such a review should be carried out within 3 years of the Agencies' taking up their functions in April 1996.

  The terms of reference of the review are:
  To investigate the possible rationalisation of the regulatory mechanisms with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency operate, and the opportunities for integrating regulatory regimes which currently operate on a similar basis but under different legislation, so as:
  to identify any significant barriers to integration within each of the Agencies, whose removal would improve the quality of regulation by producing worthwhile improvements in environmental protection and enhancement, customer service and business efficiency;
  to establish whether such barrier could be overcome by administrative means or management action by the Agencies; and
  insofar as this is not the case, to recommend legislative changes to enable them to be removed.

  The review is not intended to consider the integration of the philosophical approaches underlying the different regulatory regimes, which are often bound up with European Union legislation. Nor is the review considering integration of the Agencies themselves.

  The review will be carried out by the relevant Government Departments and the Agencies. Interested bodies will be invited to contribute their views at an early stage. We envisage that the review will take about a year to complete.

  Any legislative changes in England and Wales arising out of the review would be considered by Parliament. Since the results of the review will be submitted around the time of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, it would fall to Scottish Ministers to consider whether to put corresponding proposals to the Scottish Parliament.

TREASURY

  Savings (Taxation)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was received(a) through taxes on savings and (b) taxes on savings on people over retirement age in each of the last three years. [36825]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]Available estimates of the income tax liability on returns from savings are given in the table. These are based on projections of the 1995–96 Survey of Personal Incomes and other statistical sources in line with the economic assumptions of the Financial Statement and Budget 242
  Report, March 1998. The main components of savings income are bank and building society interest and dividends. Taxpayers over retirement age include women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over.

  Full year yield from taxing savings income

  (£ billion)

  All taxpayers

  Taxpayers over retirement age

  1996–97

  5.9

  2.1

  1997–98

  6.7

  2.4

  1998–99

  7.0

  2.6

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the financial impact of his Budget measures for motorists in receipt of mobility allowances. [37251]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]There were no specific measures in the Budget targeted at motorists in receipt of mobility allowances. Some motorists in receipt of Disability Living Allowance will benefit from the freeze in Vehicle Excise Duty, as well as the new reduced rate of £100 for the smallest and least polluting cars that will be introduced from next year. The uprating of bus fuel duty rebate, and the £500 million additional funding for public transport, will help provide affordable alternatives to the car for all motorists. In line with the Government's existing commitment, road fuel duties were increased by at least 6 per cent. in real terms on Budget day. These increases are expected to save 1.7 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010, and all motorists will be affected by these changes.

  Child Care Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the combined marginal withdrawal rate faced by someone who is receiving partial help with childcare costs under the proposed tax credit scheme and who is also(a) paying basic rate tax and NICs or (b) paying basic rate tax and NICs, and receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit. [36026]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 24 March 1998]The Working Families Tax Credit will provide substantially more financial support than is available at present under Family Credit and hence will significantly improve the reward for working. For example a two-child family with an after income tax of £250 and £60 a week in childcare costs will receive £36.70 more a week in WFTC than under FC.

  All those above the income threshold and still receiving the WFTC, including the childcare tax credit, will face marginal deduction rates of:

  (a) 69.85 per cent. if they are paying basic rate tax and NICs (reduced from 79.9 per cent. at present); or

  (b) 95.48 per cent. if they are paying basic rate tax and NICs, and receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit (reduced from 96.99 per cent. at present).

  However, due to the increased income from the Working Families Tax Credit, very few families will face the combined tapers of WFTC, housing benefit and council tax benefit. About 20,000 families, 0.1 per cent.

  243
  of those paying tax or NICs will face combined marginal deduction rates greater than 90 per cent. Less than 2 per cent. of families on WFTC will face all three tapers.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential for UK firms to benefit from increased international business as a result of their expertise in the management of Private Finance Initiative projects. [38240]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The Treasury has received numerous visits and expressions of interest regarding the PFI from countries worldwide keen to learn of our experiences, and UK firms would of course be entitled to bid for PFI contracts abroad just as foreign companies are entitled to bid for contracts let here. PFI "practitioners" in the private sector too have reported heightened overseas interest.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has evaluated into the relative efficiency of the PH against other forms of Government funding. [38221]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  Government departments assess the relative efficiency of the PFI option, which itself relies on a competitive bidding procedure, against possible alternative forms of funding prior to the procurement of each service required. We have not yet done any general post-contract research into the value for money savings that have been achieved by proceeding via the PFI route, though the NAO has recently published four reports on the outcomes of PFI procurements in specific areas.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 March 1998,Official Report, column 567, if he will make a statement amending paragraph 3.32 of the Red Book to reflect those ranges of weekly earnings in which employers will pay higher employer's NICs in respect of employees earning between £81 and £450 a week.[36441]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 March 1998]It is estimated that employer's national insurance contribution will rise in respect of approximately 2.1 million employees earning between £81 and £450 a week.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the total amount of tax relief lost from(a) general PEPs and (b) single PEPs as of 5 April 1999 under the Budget decision to allow them continue in terms of (i) Capital Gains Tax relieved and (ii) dividend income tax relieved based on (A) the current rate of 20 per cent. and (B) the proposed new rate of 10 per cent. [36329]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: All PEPs held at 5 April 1999 can continue to be held as PEPs, outside the new savings account, but with the same tax advantages as the new account. The Exchequer cost of tax relief for these PEPs is estimated at around £900 million for 1999–2000, which includes a cost of £425 million for capital gains tax, and £475 million for
  244
  income tax, of which some £200 million relates to the payment of tax credits at 10 per cent. on dividends on shares in UK companies, and £175 million is higher rate relief. Payment of tax credits at 20 per cent. would raise the cost by around £200 million. Estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty, since they are dependent on a range of assumptions including the level of take up, stock market performance and interest rates.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the total amount of tax relief forgone through the operation of ISAs in each of the 10 years of their intended lifespan, in terms of(a) Capital Gains Tax relieved, (b) dividend income tax relieved and (c) income tax on deposit interest relieved. [36325]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: The total Exchequer cost of tax relief for the new savings accounts, including PEPs held at 5 April 1999 and remaining TESSAs, is estimated at around £1.6 billion for 1999–2000, which includes a cost of £425 million for capital gains tax, and £1,150 million for income tax, of which £225 million relates to the payment of tax credits on dividends on shares in UK companies and £250 million is higher rate relief. The total cost 2000–01 is estimated at some £1.8 billion, which includes a cost of £475 million for capital gains tax, and £1,325 million for income tax, of which £225 million relates to the payment of tax credits on dividends and £275 million is higher rate relief.

  In future years the Government intend to continue spending broadly as much on the new savings accounts as would have been spent on PEPs and TESSAs. Estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty, since they are dependent on a range of assumptions including the level of take up, stock market performance and interest rates.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the additional cost to the Exchequer of introducing the individual savings account in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02, (d) 2002–03 and (e) 2003–04. [36397]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The Red Book shows an estimated yield of £30 million in 1999–2000, and an estimated cost of £30 million in 2000–01, compared with the cost of PEPs and TESSAs continuing with their current tax reliefs. The Government intend to continue to spend broadly as much on the new savings accounts in later years as would have been spent on PEPs and TESSAs.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if effective bed and breakfasts from a personal holding into a PEP account held by the same beneficiary will be admissible under Budget changes to the Capital Gains Tax rules. [36802]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The new CGT matching rule applies only to disposals and acquisitions undertaken by a person in the same capacity. Shares acquired by an individual through

  245
  a PEP manager will be acquired in a different capacity to shares sold by the taxpayer outside the PEP. So the new matching rule will not apply.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many countries in Europe operate a capital gains tax system which involves 18 or more different rates of capital gains tax [36788]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: None. They either have a single rate or a small number of rates, as in the United Kingdom which presently, for individuals, has 3 rates and will continue to do so under the reforms proposed in the Budget.

  Budget Green Book
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason no green book was published with this year's budget. [37520]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The Financial Statement and Budget Report released on 17 March contained an environmental assessment of the Budget measures which will have a significant effect on the environment. The inclusion of the assessment within the Financial Statement and Budget Report demonstrates the Government's commitment to put the environment at the heart of the Government policy, and ensure that all environmental considerations are given full weight when formulating policy.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government plans to take to implement its policy of a stable and competitive exchange rate. [37759]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The Government believe in the value of a stable and competitive exchange rate over the medium term, consistent with the objective of price stability. The Government are pursuing sound, long-term macroeconomic policies, which is the only sure path to exchange rate stability.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if people obtaining the disabled person's tax credit will be entitled to the same benefit payments as recipients of the disability working allowance. [37842]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The changes to tapers and thresholds announced in the Budget mean that most people will receive more from the Disabled Person's Tax Credit than they would have received from the Disability Working Allowance for a given level of pay, and no-one will receive less.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to begin consultation on his proposals to reform vehicle excise duty; what form the consultation will take; and if he will make a statement. [37285]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A consultation document seeking views on the options for reforming vehicle excise duty will be published shortly. The aim is to introduce a system 246
  which provides for a £50 reduction in vehicle excise duty for smaller, cleaner cars next year. In the meantime, vehicle excise duty rates are being frozen.

  Customs and Excise (Tendering Contracts)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what basis the choice of law clauses and exclusive jurisdiction clauses relating to English law and the English courts have been inserted into tendering contracts by H. M. Customs and Excise for civil recovery services. [34409]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer March 1998]: Civil recovery services undertaken in Scotland are governed by Scots Law. The strategy adopted by Customs in stipulating that the civil recovery services contracts, including the contract in Scotland, would be governed by English law was based on legal and practical grounds which are set out.
  Under contract law, the proper law of the contract is that which the parties stipulate;
  Due to the complexity of these contracts, the need to establish uniformity and the fact that a single service provider may provide services in two countries eg England and Scotland, a policy decision was taken to stipulate that the contracts will be governed by English Law;
  The aforementioned was influenced by the fact that the majority of the service requirement under the contracts would fall within English law; and
  The overall contract management and policy responsibility for civil recovery services in Customs is located in England.

  However, there is an opportunity for tenderers to register any disagreement with the General Conditions of Contract as an integral part of the tender process. The resolution of any disagreements would be a matter for post tender negotiation between Customs and the successful tenderer before award of Contract. Customs will not object to a request that the Contract be governed by Scots Law, if the service provider is based in Scotland.

  Gaming Duty
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the casino industry on the proposed increase in gaming duty. [38110]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has received several representations from the casino industry about the impact of the gaming duty changes, mainly on the larger London clubs.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the impact on the profitability of British casino companies of the increase in gaming duty announced in the Budget; [38108]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the increase in gaming duty announced in the Budget. [38109]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Overall the casino industry is undertaxed compared to most other betting and gaming sectors when looked at in terms of the effective rate of tax on the net consumer spend (broadly equivalent to the house winnings). In determining the changes to the duty
  247
  rates and thresholds careful consideration was given to the overall profitability of the industry as well as the likely impact on casino companies, taking account of their turnover, profitability, location and ability to bear the cost of the increase. The increase in gaming duty will raise £25 million in the first full year.

  MI5
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's policy towards the publication in the press of disclosures by former MI5 officers. [37925]

  Mr. Darling
  The Government's policy in this area is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further progress has been made towards resolving cases of personal pensions mis-selling. [38751]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Today, I have placed in the Library a table showing what progress has been made by the 41 firms the Government have been monitoring in the period up to 31 March 1998. The table shows that,

  Progress by pension firms in completing reviews of personal pensions mis-selling in the period to the end of March 1998

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  Under 25 per cent. of cases resolved:

  DBS

  3,392

  128

  222

  68

  154

  105

  3

  9

  25–50 per cent of cases resolved:

  Gan

  11,369

  867

  4,417

  556

  3,861

  2,927

  26

  38

  Financial Options

  353

  108

  36

  19

  17

  14

  4

  40

  Lincoln National

  13,326

  1,483

  5,556

  1,042

  4,514

  2,881

  22

  41

  Burns Anderson

  1,080

  276

  178

  102

  76

  61

  6

  41

  Countrywide

  4,759

  1,875

  262

  165

  97

  77

  2

  44

  Windsor Life

  9,475

  2,837

  1,958

  276

  1,682

  1,402

  15

  48

  50–75 per cent. of cases resolved:

  Standard Life

  6,947

  677

  3,305

  919

  2,386

  2,110

  30

  53

  Abbey Life

  17,354

  4,251

  6,200

  912

  5,288

  4,183

  24

  54

  Friends Provident

  6,876

  979

  3,259

  493

  2,766

  2,428

  35

  57

  CIS

  43,039

  3,640

  25,973

  12,897

  3,076

  8,448

  20

  58

  Canada Life

  5,528

  307

  3,447

  549

  2,901

  2,354

  43

  58

  Colonial

  8,242

  2,238

  3,205

  360

  2,845

  2,219

  27

  58

  London and Manchester

  8,255

  1,154

  4,073

  511

  3,562

  3,175

  38

  59

  Royal & Sun Alliance

  15,753

  2,350

  7,980

  941

  7,039

  6,020

  38

  59

  IFA Network

  267

  54

  107

  76

  31

  29

  11

  60

  Hill Samuel

  6,026

  791

  3,234

  623

  2,611

  2,191

  36

  60

  Sun Life of Canada

  26,969

  7,594

  10,330

  1,988

  8,342

  6,886

  26

  61

  National Westminster

  14,637

  4,162

  6,277

  1,040

  5,237

  4,076

  28

  63

  Allied Dunbar

  18,867

  3,358

  10,735

  3,149

  7,586

  6,066

  32

  67

  Albany Life

  2,931

  587

  1,799

  161

  1,638

  1,253

  43

  68

  United Assurance

  12,962

  1,061

  9,993

  1,927

  8,066

  5,891

  45

  69

  Britannic

  19,120

  4,740

  10,423

  2,638

  7,785

  5,809

  30

  69

  Equitable Life

  7,384

  1,693

  3,761

  1,460

  2,301

  2,024

  27

  70

  Sedgwick

  15,669

  7,818

  3,719

  1,459

  2,260

  1,996

  13

  72

  Berkeley Independent

  143

  87

  18

  14

  4

  3

  2

  73

  Guardian

  8,976

  1,160

  6,081

  932

  5,149

  4,547

  51

  74

  Over 75 per cent of cases resolved:

  Legal & General

  36,726

  14,568

  16,131

  1,590

  14,541

  11,390

  31

  75

  M&E Network

  302

  167

  65

  24

  41

  37

  12

  75

  Lloyd's TSB

  49,062

  10,840

  28,883

  6,093

  22,790

  20,371

  42

  76

  Commercial Union

  7,747

  1,246

  5,137

  767

  4,370

  3,969

  51

  77

  Godwins

  1,478

  109

  1,229

  441

  788

  611

  41

  79

  Royal London

  12,355

  1,112

  9,590

  1,404

  8,186

  7,281

  59

  79

  248
  in line with the trend established in recent months, firms have continued to make progress, with some 69 per cent. of their priority cases now completed.

  The Government continue to look to firms for their ongoing commitment to deliver the priority targets. I hope they will also work constructively with the regulators on the second phase of the review, building on the consultation launched by the Financial Services Authority and the Personal Investment Authority last month. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has set the right tone at the start of the process, and I hope that its pragmatic approach to the issues raised by phase 2 of the review will continue over the months ahead.

  I have raised in this house on a number of occasions my concern that all pension firms, not just the large firms I am monitoring, must get on with the personal pensions review. Ultimately, responsibility for conducting the reviews rests with the firm concerned—be it a large company or a small IFA. However experience does show that cooperation and collaboration between firms can lead to progress in finding solutions to technical problems which are widely encountered. Recently, ABI announced an initiative to assist and to encourage IFAs to carry out their reviews. These proposals give welcome recognition to the fact that each and every firm's good name is dependent on the reputation of the industry as a whole, and I hope that early implementation of the proposals is achieved.
  249

  Progress by pension firms in completing reviews of personal pensions mis-selling in the period to the end of March 1998

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  Wesleyan

  4,173

  255

  3,285

  956

  2,329

  2,103

  50

  79

  Pearl

  46,213

  3,430

  38,760

  5,572

  33,188

  29,987

  63

  82

  Norwich Union

  7,389

  2,233

  4,619

  728

  3,891

  3,261

  44

  84

  Prudential

  72,010

  19,432

  52,563

  3,866

  48,697

  37,519

  52

  84

  Barclays

  16,981

  6,197

  9,411

  2,169

  7,242

  6,265

  37

  86

  Hogg Robinson

  2,084

  821

  1,102

  386

  716

  593

  28

  86

  AXA Equity and Law

  3,943

  774

  2,817

  600

  2,217

  2,070

  52

  87

  Midland

  4,840

  498

  4,243

  631

  3,612

  3,334

  69

  92

  A: Cases identified as requiring review.

  B: Of A, cases where investor was informed that information gained during assessment excluded cases from review.

  C: Number of assessments completed.

  D: Cases where the investor has been informed that no redress is due.

  E: Cases where redress has been offered.

  F: Cases where redress has been accepted.

  G: Cases where redress has been accepted as a percentage of cases identified for review ((F/A)x 100).

  H: Cases completed, including exclusions, as a percentage of cases identified for review (((B+D+F)/Ax100).

  Civil Registration System
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve public access to the Civil Registration System. [36828]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Phil Woolas, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics(ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on improving public access to the civil registration system.
  The public access the civil registration system in many ways. The newly established Family Records Centre (FRC) in Islington provides improved facilities for people who wish to search the indexes of birth, marriage and death in England Wales since 1837. Certificates of these events can be purchased via the FRC or by post, phone or fax. Whilst service developments are planned, some significant improvements (such as access to the records themselves or computerisation of the indexes) require legislative change or significant investment.
  At a local level, the public register births and deaths and use the civil marriage facilities in Register Offices and Approved Premises. Local Authorities are responsible for the provision of Register Office facilities and are increasingly upgrading them. They are also increasingly tailoring the service provision to their local circumstances. The Registrar General provides advice to Local Authorities and monitors the standard of the local services.

  Lloyd's of London
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net contribution of Lloyd's of London to the United Kingdom balance of payments over(a) the period 1 January 1988 to 1 January 1992 and (b) 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1997. [38178]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 7 April 1998]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  250
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Philip Hammond, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the net contribution of Lloyds of London to the United Kingdom balance of payments.
  Information relating to the contribution to the current account of the Balance of Payments of Lloyd's of London from 1988 to 1997 can be derived from data available on the ONS database, which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. The estimates for underwriting services (series HCCZ) include receipts for management services provided to overseas members of Lloyd's syndicates. Estimates for earnings on portfolio investment overseas (series HCPB) include income on funds which are held overseas to support business underwritten in those countries. This income is net of earnings distributed to Lloyd's overseas members.

  Labour Market Statistics
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what further action is being taken to improve the accuracy and reliability of Labour Market Statistics; and if he will make a statement; [38370]

  (2) what plans he has to increase the frequency and coverage of the Labour Force Survey; and if he will make a statement. [38369]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Andrew Love, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions on the accuracy and reliability of labour market statistics and the Labour Force Survey in particular.
  On 3 February, I announced major improvements to labour market statistics. As part of the package of proposals, I announced that greater prominence than previously would be given to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and to the integration of these results with data from other sources.
  From April 22nd 1998 data from the LFS for the latest 3 months will be published every month. Coverage of the LFS results will be extended to the UK. The case for a larger LFS capable of providing reliable estimates for each single month is being considered in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  251
  These improvements to the way ONS publishes its labour market statistics are being supported by a great deal of work in improving the methods of data collection, getting more out of the data, and reconciling the different sources. In parallel with improvements in other ONS surveys, methodological improvements in the LFS will be put in place. More information about these improvements is available in the February 1998 edition of Labour Market Trends, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Teenage Mothers
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children were born to teenage mothers in the Wakefield District(a) in 1980 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available. [38281]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your question on children born to teenage mothers.
  The numbers of livebirths in 1980 and 1996 to mothers aged under 20 who were resident in Wakefield Metropolitan County District were as follows:
  496 in 1980
  360 in 1996.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the perinatal death rate of children born to teenage mothers(a) living in the Wakefield District and (b) in England as a whole. [38323]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the perinatal death rate of children.
  The perinatal death rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths of children born to teenage mothers in 1993–1996 (combined) was (a) 11.0 in Wakefield Health Authority, and (b) 11.1 in England as a whole.

  Capital Transfer Tax
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what arrangements exist for the enforcement of access to(a) heritage land, (b) property, (c) works of art and (d) chattels in respect of items which have been the subject of exemption from capital transfer tax; [37498]

  (2) what arrangements exist for the policing of assets and payment of capital transfer tax in the case of assets which have been the subject of heritage status capital transfer tax exemption and which are subsequently sold by the beneficiaries of legacies or their trusts;[37499]

  (3) what arrangements are made for access to (a) heritage land, (b) property, (c) works of art and (d) chattels by the general public where such access forms part of the agreement for exemption of such items from capital transfer tax. [37497]
  252
  Dawn Primarolo
  Owners' compliance with their undertakings relating to tax exempt land and buildings is regularly monitored on behalf of the Inland Revenue by the appropriate heritage advisory agency. As part of this monitoring, owners have to submit annual reports which include matters regarding the provision of public access, and there are on-site inspections every five years. In addition, the Inland Revenue separately review all cases at five yearly intervals.

  Public access and other conditions relating to exempt works of art and chattels are monitored directly by the Inland Revenue. Each case is reviewed every five years and there is an annual selective audit of objects to which public access is only by prior appointment.

  Any material failure by an owner to comply with the undertakings results in a tax charge on the current value of the asset.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the definition of heritage land for the purposes of capital transfer tax exemption; [37490]

  (2) what is the definition of heritage property for the purposes of capital transfer tax exemption; [37491]

  (3) what is the definition of heritage works of art for the purpose of capital transfer tax exemption; [37492]

  (4) what is the definition of heritage chattels for the purpose of capital transfer tax exemption. [37493]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Under existing law (section 31 Inheritance Tax Act 1984) conditional exemption may apply to the following assets:pictures, prints, books, manuscripts, works of art or scientific collections of national, scientific, historic or artistic interest;
  land of outstanding scenic or historic or scientific interest;
  building of outstanding historic or architectural interest, and any land essential for the protection of their character and amenities;
  any objects historically associated with a qualifying building.

  A number of changes to the exemption scheme were announced in the recent Budget. An Inland Revenue press release on Budget Day set out the proposed changes.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Inland Revenue's arrangements for valuing(a) land, (b) property, (c) works of art and (d) chattels for capital transfer tax purposes. [37494]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The value of an asset is not a relevant factor in deciding a claim for conditional exemption from inheritance tax (or its predecessor, capital transfer tax). When an asset ceases to be conditionally exempt, tax is charged on its market value at that time. For this purpose, the Valuation Office Agency advises on the value of land and buildings, and the Heritage Section of the Capital Taxes Office deals with valuation of works of art and other chattels.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of the exemption to capital transfer tax in the case of(a) heritage land, (b) property, (c) works of art and (d) chattels in each of the last five years.[37495]
  253
  Dawn Primarolo
  The information is not available in the form requested. The estimated cost to the Exchequer of conditional exemption from inheritance tax (and its predecessor, capital transfer tax) is as follows:

  £ million

  Amount of relief

  Year

  Land & Buildings

  Chattels1

  1992–93

  2negligible

  40

  1993–94

  2negligible

  40

  1994–95

  2negligible

  55

  1995–96

  5

  25

  1996–97

  5

  30

  1Includes works of art

  2 Negligible means less than £3 million

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to review the arrangements for the exemption from capital transfer tax of(a) heritage land, (b) property and (c) chattels; and if he will make a statement. [37496]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In his recent Budget my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced changes to strengthen the conditions of inheritance tax (and its predecessor capital transfer tax) exemptions for heritage assets. An Inland Revenue press release on Budget Day set out the proposed changes.

  "Financial Statement and Budget Report"
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will expand Table B24, page 136, in the FSBR, March 1998, to give the relevant figures for(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03, using the assumption of 0.75 per cent. real growth in public spending after 1998–99. [36375]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The Government have not published spending plans beyond 1998–99. However, figures for the years 1999–2000 to 2002–2003, based on real growth in public spending of 3/4 per cent. a year from 1999–2000 onwards, can be calculated as follows:

  Projections for General Government Receipts (GGR), General Government Expenditure (GGE) and the Control Total as a percentage of GPD from 1999–2000 to 2002–2003 are set out in tables B8 and B12 of the FSBR (March 1998). Revised forecasts for "net taxes and NICs" were published in table B8 on 27 March 1998, Official Report, column 348.

  Table B5 of the FSBR contains medium-term forecasts of the public sector current balance, borrowing requirement and general government financial deficit on a UK national accounts basis. As these projections exclude windfall tax receipts and associated spending and the UK definition of GGFD is slightly different from the Maastricht version, the following small adjustments are necessary to produce figures on a consistent basis to those set out in Table B24: the current balance should be adjusted downwards by 0.1 per cent. of GDP throughout; the PSBR should be adjusted upwards by 0.2 per cent. of GDP in 1999–2000 and 0.1 per cent. of GDP in later years; and GGFD should be adjusted upwards by 0.2 per cent. of GDP in 1999–2000, 0.1 per cent. of GDP in 2000–01, 0.2 per cent. of GDP in 2001–02 and 0.1 per cent. of GDP in 2002–03.
  254
  Medium-term projections of the public sector financial deficit can be derived by adjusting the PSBR slightly to exclude financial transactions Financial transactions are 0.1 per cent. of GDP in 1999–2000 and in 2000–01, 0.3 per cent. of GDP in 2001–02 and zero in 2002–03.

  GGE (X) can be derived from GGE by excluding privatisation proceeds, lottery-financed expenditure and interest and dividend receipts. These amounted to 0.8 per cent. of GDP in 1999–2000 and in 2000–01 0.7 per cent. of GDP in 2001–02 and in 2002–03.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would the RPI indexation factor be for capital assets held over the next 10 years based on a comparable rate prevailing over the last 10 years. [36789]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: The RPI indexation factor for the 10 years to February 1998 is 0.546.

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual tax relief saving to the Treasury from the phasing out of retirement relief from April 2003. [36791]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: If the present retirement relief thresholds of £250,000 and £1 million applied in 2003–04 and assuming unchanged taxpayer behaviour it is estimated that the cost of retirement relief would be about £200 million.

  Cross-border Shopping
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the independent report on cross-border shopping. [37982]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Following my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's announcement of a review of alcohol and tobacco fraud in his Budget of 2 July 1997 I asked Customs to undertake the review consulting widely with the trade, and other public bodies and interested parties.

  As to the publication of the outcome of the review, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 25 March 1998, Official Report, column 202.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made in the development of legislation on fire safety. [38835]

  Mr. George Howarth
  On 28 November, the Government published a consultation document entitled "Fire Safety Legislation for the Future", copies of which are in the Library. The consultation period closed on 28 February 1998 and between the Home Office and the Scottish Office, we have received around 450 responses.
  255
  We have decided to proceed with a thorough overhaul of fire safety legislation along the lines set out in the consultation document. However, some difficult areas such as Houses of Multiple Occupation and licensed premises need more detailed discussion and consideration before we can take a decision on them and we will need to tie in with other separate aspects. We will now work up detailed proposals in close co-operation with interested parties. Subject to clear evidence of cost effectiveness of the proposals, we will aim to legislate as early as practicable.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the European Commission has issued a letter under Article 169 of the Treaty of Rome challenging the United Kingdom's implementation of the general fire safety provisions of the European Framework Directive.[38836]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I can confirm that such a letter has been received from Commissioner Flynn on behalf of the Commission.

  To avoid prejudicing any legal proceedings that might result, the detail of the letter and the reply to it must remain confidential between the Commission and Her Majesty's Government. However, I can say that, in broad terms, the Commission's concerns relate to the need to justify the exceptions we have made from the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, (among them, one for fire certificated premises). They are also concerned that the duties placed on employers by these Regulations should fully reflect the unconditional nature of the responsibilities and obligations imposed on employers by the Framework Directive.

  The Government have decided that they will take the necessary steps to address the Commission's concerns about meeting the terms of the Directive in full. Such steps should be consistent with the emerging findings of the recent consultative exercise, "Fire Safety Legislation for the Future". The steps would involve making changes to the 1997 Regulations. Officials will begin to consult interested parties immediately upon the implications of this and the best way to proceed.

  Immigration
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to strengthen immigration legislation to tackle abuse of the United Kingdom's immigration control. [38843]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that those who seek to migrate to the United Kingdom, but have no grounds for doing so under the Immigration Rules, are prevented from coming here. We have today by Order extended the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 to Eurostar services arriving from Brussels to reduce the large numbers of inadequately documented passengers using this route over recent months.

  The Order as drafted does not extend to SNCF (the operators of services from France) because of their current position under French law. But we have agreed with the French Government measures to enhance operational co-operation until a longer term solution can be found.
  256
  From 0001 hours on Friday 10 April we will require nationals of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia to obtain Direct Airside Transit Visas to come to the United Kingdom even when they intend to remain airside while in transit through the United Kingdom. We have taken this action following evidence of abuse of the Transit Without Visa concession by such nationals.

  Prison Inspections
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set for the interval between a prison visit being made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons and a report being published. [37452]

  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 April 1998,Official Report, column 546.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 19 March[38844]

  Mr. Straw
  I chaired the Council on behalf of the Presidency. My hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) represented the United Kingdom. The main matters dealt with were as follows.

  The Council agreed a number of 'A' points, including a Council Decision on sharing the cost of preparing film masters for the uniform format of residence permits; Council conclusions on the G8 recommendations on organised crime and terrorism, and on the G8 principles on high tech crime; instruments on the exchange of information in immigration and asylum matters and on dealing with missing persons and unidentified corpses; reports on the Europol Drugs Unit's activities for 1997 and its work programme for 1998; and rules governing certain aspects of Europol's operation, in preparation for when the Europol Convention comes into force. These rules covered the Europol computer system, receipt of information from third states and third bodies, and confidentiality for the information held by Europol.

  In addition, the Council agreed as 'A' points a number of joint actions enabling Community funding of Third Pillar activity. The Odysseus programme will support training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum, immigration and the crossing of external borders. The Falcone programme will support exchanges, training and co-operation in the fight against organised crime. Community funding will also be available to support projects in favour of displaced persons, asylum seekers and refugees.

  The Council agreed Presidency proposals designed to improve openness and transparency in justice and home affairs, in particular by making details of proposals available more easily and earlier, providing more frequent and more detailed information for the Press, and having open debates on particular topics from time to time. A Council decision to publish a comprehensive public register of Council documents was also agreed as an `A' Point.
  257
  The Council had a full discussion of the justice and home affairs implications of the enlargement process on the basis of a Presidency paper. The Council re-affirmed the need for Justice and Home Affairs Ministers (JHA) in the member states, and national experts, to be fully involved in the enlargement process, and underlined the importance of effective monitoring of the progress made by the applicant states in taking on and implementing the JHA acquis. Ministers agreed that enlargement should feature as a standing item on future JHA Council agendas.

  The draft Convention on driving disqualification was discussed, and provisional agreement reached on the text. However, some further work is still needed on a small number of outstanding issues.

  The draft Joint Action to establish a European Judicial Network was discussed. The text has now been agreed by all but one member state, which was not prepared to lift its reserve at the Council. The Presidency will pursue bilateral contacts with the member state concerned. Another Joint Action concerning participation in a criminal organisation was agreed subject to one minor reserve, and should be formally adopted shortly.

  The draft Convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was discussed, and considerable progress made on a number of outstanding points.

  The Council received a progress report on ratification of the Europol Convention. This showed that only three member states have yet to complete the necessary procedures for ratifying the Europol Convention, and hope to do so before the end of the United Kingdom Presidency. The Council also agreed in principle to advance the date when Europol's mandate with regard to terrorism will become effective.

  The Council reviewed implementation of the action plan on the influx of migrants from Iraq, taking note of a report of a recent visit by the Presidency to Turkey, which is a major country of transit for migrants.

  The Council also considered the current state of negotiations on the Eurodac Convention on fingerprinting of asylum seekers. It was clear from the discussion that a number of issues remain to be resolved and that further work will be required on this important instrument.

  Implementations of the Dublin Convention was also discussed. This Convention, which has only recently come into force, establishes the state responsible for deciding asylum applications. The Council took note of ongoing work to draw up a programme of action aimed at ensuring effective implementation of the convention.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners are currently serving sentences for(a) cannabis offences, (b) other illegal drug offences and (c) murder; and what is the average annual cost for each category of prisoner. [38383]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There were 51,580 sentenced prisoners in England and Wales at the end of February 1998, including 3,190 (6 per cent.) individuals serving life sentences for murder and 7,970 (15 per cent.) serving sentences for drugs offences. Information on the numbers of prisoners serving sentences for drugs offences 258
  involving cannabis were published in "Statistics of drug seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1995 Supplementary tables", a copy of which is available in the Library. These statistics show that on 30 June 1995 (the latest available estimate) 33 per cent. of persons under sentence for drugs offences in England and Wales were held for cannabis offences.

  The Prison Service does not hold information centrally on the costs of prisoners based on type of offence. The average cost of a prison place for all prisoners in the financial year 1996–97 was £24,271.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of new prisons which will need to be built in the next 20 years and of their total construction costs. [38364]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend announced on 19 June 1997 that the Government would proceed with the prison building programme to deliver 2,400 new places at four contractually managed, privately financed prisons by 1999–2000.

  The Government are taking a fresh look at Prison Service spending after 1998–99, including the long-term need for new prisons, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibilities the Police Information Technology Organisation has for ensuring millennium compliance in all national IT and communication systems and local IT systems. [38321]

  Mr. Michael
  The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) provides national information services to all forces through the Police National Computer (PNC). The PNC is expected to be millennium compliant by early 1999.

  Individual chief officers are responsible for ensuring that their local force Information Technology (IT) and communications systems continue to operate beyond the millennium. At the request of chief officers, PITO is supplying advice and guidance to forces to help them in the discharge of that responsibility.

  In addition, PITO is responsible for co-ordinating the development and delivery of local IT systems under the National Strategy for Police Information Systems. Three such systems—the HOLMES 2. Custody and Case Preparation applications—will be available by March 1999. A number of forces are expected to take delivery of these applications as replacements for existing non-compliant systems.

  Polling Stations (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to monitor the facilities made available for the disabled to vote in the local government elections in May; [38344]

  (2) what new guidelines he has issued to returning officers in relation to improving disabled access at polling stations. [38345]
  259
  Mr. George Howarth
  We are developing a voluntary national standard on access to polling stations for disabled voters and guidance will be issued on this in due course. The Society of Local Authority Chief Executive Officers is also reminding its members to pay particular attention to this matter at the May local elections in the light of recent recommendations by organisations such as SCOPE. We will not, however, be carrying out a specific monitoring exercise this year.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for offences related to domestic violence were undertaken in the last year for which figures are available. [37830]

  Mr. Michael
  Information collected centrally on court proceedings is not held in sufficient detail to distinguish domestic violence from other violent offences. Information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings database does not record the relationship between defendant and victim. In some circumstances, this may be implicit through legislation, for instance the offence of infanticide under the Infanticide Act 1938, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of offences connected with domestic violence were prosecuted in the West Midlands Region; and in how many cases a conviction was achieved in the last 12 months for which figures are available [38071]

  Mr. Michael
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 1 April 1998,Official Report, column 545.

  Voluntary Sector
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1998,Official Report, column 16, which of the recommendations of the Deakin Commission report he plans to implement; and if there will be any divergence from the Government response outlined in "Raising the Voltage". [36571]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government recognise the valuable contribution of the Deakin Commission Report to the debate about the relationship between the Government and the voluntary sector. The majority of the Report's recommendations were directed not to the Government but to others, particularly voluntary organisations themselves. The document, "Raising the Voltage", published in November 1996, was the previous Government's response to the Deakin Commission Report. It rejected a key recommendation that a 'concordat' between central Government and the voluntary sector should be drawn up, as a code of good practice, for future relations.

  The conclusions of the Deakin Commission Report helped inform the policies contained in the document, "Building the Future Together", published in March 1997 by this Government when in Opposition. "Building the Future Together" proposed the establishment of a compact as a framework for future relations between Government and the voluntary sector. Policy towards the voluntary sector will be developed within that framework.

  MI5
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what briefings Treasury Ministers have given on the funding of MI5; what meetings have taken place between Treasury Ministers and journalists at which MI5 was discussed; and which journalists were involved. [37671]

  Mr. Straw
  This is not a matter for me.

  Circus Animals
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 February 1998,Official Report, column 536, on circus animals, if he will list the species of the animals concerned. [37913]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings database concerning offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. Performing Animals (Regulations) Act 1925 and the Protection of Animals Act 1934 does not identify the species involved.

  Departmental Budget
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the real terms change in his Department's budget between 1996–97 and 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [38286]

  Mr. Straw
  In real terms (at 1996–97 prices), the total budget for the Home Office and Charity Commission has increased from £6,486 million in 1996–97, to £6.525 million in 1998–99. This is an increase of £39 million or 0.6 per cent. The Home Office Annual Report 1998 (CM 3908), published on 6 April, gives further information on these budgets.

  Altcourse and Parc Prisons
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prisoners at Her Majesty's Prison Parc, Bridgend, are normally resident in England. [38287]

  Ms Quin
  No information is available centrally regarding the principal address of those committed to custody in England and Wales. Information provided by Parc prison shows that 18 per cent. of prisons currently held at the prison are recorded as resident in England.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the last day for which figures are available, how many and what percentage of prison places at (i) Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse and (ii) Her Majesty's Prison Parc were occupied; if he has updated his assessment of the cost incurred in respect of unused places since the prisons opened; and if he will make a statement. [38285]

  Ms Quin
  Altcourse prison held 631 prisons on 3 April 1998, 5 per cent. above the normal full occupancy of 600 prisoner places.

  Parc prison held 753 prisoners on 3 April 1998, 5.9 per cent. (47 places) below the full occupancy figure of 800 available places payable under the contract.

  For Altcourse, the total value of unoccupied places during the build-up period was £102,000, but based on recent estimates of the cost of overcrowding in local

  261
  prisons, the actual cost of holding prisoners elsewhere would have been £15,000. In addition, a reduction of £142,000 against the price for places delivered on schedule was negotiated with the contractor for places used earlier than planned.

  The value of unused places at Parc, from opening date to 3 April 1998, is –1.2million. The actual cost to the Prison Service of holding the balance of prisoners elsewhere in local prisons is substantially less. Based on recent estimates of overcrowding costs in local prisons it is estimated to be –257,000.

  Feltham Young Offenders Unit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Education and Employment on the educational needs and funding of remand prisoners under school leaving age in Feltham Young Offenders Unit.[38145]

  Ms Quin
  None. Feltham provides under school leaving age remand prisoners with at least 15 hours' education per week. This equates to the hours it is required to provide, under the Young Offender Institution Rules, to convicted inmates aged younger than 17.

  All education delivered in Prison Service establishments is based on a core curriculum of basic educational skills, basic Information Technology skills and life and social skills. The Prison Service is now working on a new model regime for Young Offender Institutions. This will provide a broader curriculum and more hours of education for Young Offender Institution inmates, both on remand and convicted. It will take account of the National Schools Curriculum, but will be tailored to the needs of the majority of such young offenders, whose schooling histories are usually poor.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long a prisoner in receipt of a licence including a curfew condition under sections 86 and 87 of the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords], as amended on report in the House of Lords, will spend in custody when sentenced to a sentence of imprisonment of (a) three months, (b) four months and (c) eight months. [38164]

  Ms Quin
  The sliding scale which determines the point at which prisoners may be granted a home detention curfew licence is set out in the Bill.

  Prisoners sentenced to three months' imprisonment may be released after 30 days and then be subject to a home detention curfew licence until the half-way point of their sentence; prisoners sentenced to four months' imprisonment may be released after serving one quarter of that term and then be subject to a home detention curfew licence until the half-way point of their sentence; and prisoners sentenced to eight months' imprisonment may be released after serving half the term less 60 days which they will then spend subject to a home detention curfew licence.
  262
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 465, if he will make a statement on the exceptional circumstances in which a prisoner convicted of an offence to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies will be given early release from their sentences subject to a home detention curfew. [38187]

  Ms Quin
  In recognition of the particular type of risk posed by such offenders, my right hon. Friend has decided that prisoners who are convicted of an offence to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies, should not be included on the home detention curfew scheme save where there are exceptional circumstances. Each case will be considered on its merits to determine whether there are exceptional circumstances, in the light of our overall objective of protecting the public.

  CS Spray
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist on the decontamination of the area in the vicinity of use of CS spray. [38172]

  Mr. Michael
  CS spray is bio-degradable and does not require any special decontamination procedure. Normal ventilation will remove CS from the environment in approximately 45 minutes, although this might take a little longer depending upon the amount of CS spray used and the level of ventilation. Normal washing of clothing will be sufficient to remove CS from it, although sometimes it may take several washes depending upon the amount of CS used.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidance to all forces in England and Wales on this subject. As part of their training in the use of CS spray, all officers are aware that the above advice should be given to all occupants of premises or vehicles where CS spray has been used.

  Data Protection Bill
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons persons responsible for safeguarding national security need protection from the offence identified in Clause 54(5) of the Data Protection Bill[Lords] as provided for in the provisions in Clause 27(1) of that Bill. [38190]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Because actions taken for the purpose of safeguarding national security might otherwise be treated as criminal offences.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in respect of Clause 28(1)(c) of the Data Protection Bill[Lords], he will list examples of impositions which are similar to a tax or duty; if the provision is intended to apply to (a) council tax and (b) parking fines; and if he will make a statement. [38189]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In the Government's view
  "any imposition of a similar nature"
  is likely to include national insurance contributions and the council tax but not fines.
  263
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in respect of the Data Protection Bill[Lords], the (a) national insurance number and (b) NHS number fall within a general identifier as defined in Schedule 1, Part II, paragraph 4; and if he will make a statement. [38191]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The scope of the general identifier category is a matter for secondary legislation.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in respect of the Data Protection Bill[Lords], he will make a statement concerning the restoration of the exemption in Clause 28(4). [38188]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government are reconsidering the extent of the need for subject information and non-disclosure exemptions; and how they might best be dealt with.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last five years indicating the approximate value of each item stolen. [37979]

  Mr. Straw
  A list of equipment reported stolen from my Department in the last five years, with the approximate value of each item stolen is:

  £

  Item

  Value

  1997–98 (latest available reported data)

  Laptop computer

  6,000

  Laptop computer

  3,000

  Laptop computer

  3,000

  Laptop computer

  3,000

  Laptop computer

  3,000

  Laptop computer

  2,000

  Laptop computer

  2,000

  Laptop computer

  1,500

  Laptop computer

  1,500

  Personal computer

  1,550

  Personal computer

  1,005

  Personal computer

  434

  Personal computer

  100

  Computer printer

  1,593

  Computer printer

  329

  Computer monitor

  500

  Computer keyboard

  40

  Computer mouse

  22

  Computer mother board

  150

  Fax modem

  130

  Mobile phone

  118

  Video camera

  1,500

  Video camera

  800

  Video

  300

  Tools

  500

  Tools

  131

  Field gates

  240

  Pressure washer

  3,317

  Armoured cable

  200

  Desk fan

  41

  Desk fan

  40

  1996–97

  Laptop computer

  5,400

  Laptop computer

  2,000

  Laptop computer

  1,000

  Laptop computer

  1,800

  264

  £

  Item

  Value

  Laptop computer

  2,100

  Laptop computer

  1,800

  Laptop computer

  2,500

  Laptop computer

  2,000

  Laptop computer

  1,500

  Personal computer

  3,888

  Personal computer

  2,800

  Personal computer

  3,400

  Personal computer

  1,450

  Personal computer

  1,199

  Personal computer

  1,000

  Personal computer

  65

  Personal computer

  40

  Personal computer

  300

  Personal computer

  800

  Personal computer

  911

  Personal computer

  80

  Computer monitor

  300

  Computer monitor

  492

  Computer base unit

  800

  Computer printer

  1,341

  Computer printer

  300

  Computer printer

  750

  Computer printer

  1,120

  Computer keyboard

  33

  Computer keyboard

  35

  Computer keyboard

  20

  IT equipment

  417

  Computer software

  1,010

  Computer chip

  160

  Computer chip

  130

  Encryptor

  2,000

  Video equipment

  644

  Video equipment

  1,580

  Video camera

  75

  Ansaphone

  80

  Ansap

  hone

  80

  Vehicle

  1,200

  Vehicle

  9,200

  Vehicle

  16,337

  Vehicle

  10,150

  Vehicle

  5,400

  Vehicle

  6,100

  Electric drill

  69

  Tools

  177

  Tractor

  1,480

  Brush cutter

  370

  Fax machine

  450

  Petrol strimmer

  150

  Battery

  100

  Lawnmower

  505

  Dictaphone

  70

  Dictaphone

  86

  1995–96

  Laptop computer

  500

  Laptop computer

  2,624

  Laptop computer

  3,000

  Laptop computer

  3,000

  Laptop computer

  2,000

  Laptop computer

  500

  Laptop computer

  1,000

  IT equipment

  3,700

  Computer equipment

  55,000

  Computer equipment

  5,700

  Computer chips

  8,000

  Computer chips

  8,000

  Computer chips

  350

  Computer chips

  100

  Computer chips

  1,500

  Personal computer

  800

  Computer base unit

  5,300

  265

  £

  Item

  Value

  Computer base unit

  3,000

  Computer base unit

  6,672

  Printer cartridges

  280

  Laser printer

  1,000

  Colour printer

  3,500

  Computer printer

  920

  Computer printer

  1,000

  Power tools

  800

  Power washer

  2,800

  Pressure washer

  1,344

  Livestock trailer

  3,000

  Vehicle

  10,000

  Ansaphone

  70

  Equipment

  722

  Equipment

  3,055

  Camcorder

  600

  TVNideo

  1,000

  1994–95

  Personal computer

  779

  Personal computer

  3,000

  IT equipment

  22

  IT equipment

  1,200

  IT equipment

  800

  IT equipment

  850

  IT equipment

  1,050

  IT equipment

  747

  IT equipment

  569

  IT equipment

  1,200

  IT equipment

  2,000

  IT equipment

  3,000

  IT equipment

  300

  Equipment

  3,500

  Equipment

  100

  Equipment

  746

  Equipment

  746

  Equipment

  100

  Office equipment

  80

  1993–94

  IT equipment

  2,500

  IT equipment

  1,127

  IT equipment

  5,000

  IT equipment

  5,000

  IT equipment

  1,500

  Trailer

  2,473

  Garden tools

  740

  Garden tools

  2,389

  Garden tools

  486

  Garden tools

  259

  Power washer

  525

  Telephone

  23

  Volatile Substance Abuse
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had with(a) retailers, (b) manufacturers, (c) local authorities, (d) police, (e) voluntary organisations and (f) other Government departments with regard to the banning of the sale of butane gas products to under 16-year-olds;[38144]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of a ban on butane gas products sales to under 16 year olds on the mortality and prevalence rates of volatile substance abuse. [38147]
  266
  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government are currently considering the desirability and practicality of introducing a 16 year age limit on the sales of gas lighter refills. The consultation process is at an early stage, and no full assessment of the effects of such a measure has yet been made; but Home Office officials have recently met representatives from local authorities, and have sought the views of other government departments on the proposal. Consultation with other interested bodies will take place shortly.

  Criminal Investigations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal investigations have been running for longer than 12 months at the latest date for which figures are available. [38209]

  Mr. Michael
  There are no centrally held statistics about criminal investigations which are still in progress or which have not been resolved or concluded. It is not clear to me what purpose would be served by any such statistics.

  Birds Of Prey
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1998,Official Report, column 705, how many prosecutions have been mounted and convictions secured for the illegal persecution of the hen harrier since
  1988. [38211]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings database concerning offences against birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, does not identify the species involved.

  However, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' annual report for 1996 shows that three hen harriers were known to have been killed illegally in that year.

  Pop Music and Criminal Behaviour
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research on the effects of pop music on criminal behaviour. [38174]

  Mr. Michael
  I have no plans to do so. If my hon. Friend has specific concerns, I would be willing to consider any information she wishes to send to me.

  Prison Education
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent educational achievements are taken into account when considering the early release of prisoners; and what plans he has to incorporate a compulsory educational element into some sentencing. [38283]

  Ms Quin
  The primary concern when considering the early release of offenders is risk to the public. While educational achievements in prison may suggest that an offender is making an effort to equip him/herself for life in the community, they will play only a small part in the assessment of the level of risk which early release may pose. Among the proposals in the Crime and Disorder Bill is a Detention and Training Order for juvenile offenders. One of the features of the Order is the provision for early
  267
  (or late) release from custody to reflect the young person's progress against their sentence plan. The plan will be designed to prevent further offending and will include addressing the educational needs of the young offender.

  Tobacco Sales
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been collected in fines from independent retailers for selling tobacco to those aged under 16 years in each year since 1979. [38307]

  Mr. Michael
  Information is not collected centrally by the Home Office on the amount of moneys received for fines imposed for specific offences.

  The table shows the number and amount of fines imposed on offenders convicted for offences relating to the sale of tobacco to persons aged under 16.

  Number of offenders fined and amount of fines for offences relating to the sale of tobacco to persons aged under 161,1979–1996

  England and Wales

  Year

  Total number fined

  Amount of fine(£)

  Average fine(—)

  1979

  11

  130

  12

  1980

  10

  145

  15

  1981

  15

  200

  13

  1982

  7

  93

  13

  1983

  27

  610

  23

  1984

  39

  1,635

  42

  1985

  24

  990

  41

  1986

  13

  405

  31

  1987

  12

  510

  43

  1988

  22

  1,410O

  65

  1989

  59

  4,355

  74

  1990

  56

  4,715

  84

  1991

  79

  8,695

  110

  1992

  36

  3,935

  109

  1993

  85

  13,496

  159

  1994

  75

  17,065

  228

  1995

  124

  28,465

  230

  1996

  101

  22,810

  226

  1Offences under Section 7 of the Children & Young Persons Act 1933 as amended by Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Maze Prison
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to protect the lives of prisoners in the Maze prison. [36898]

  Mr. Ingram
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to the House on the Narey Inquiry report on 2 April 1998.

  Mr. Narey has made 59 recommendations, many of them relating to the personal security of prisoners. It is our intention to take forward as many of these as possible now that the report is published, but other recommendations require detailed consideration and project teams are being put in place to address these.
  268
  In addition my right hon. Friend has asked the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham, for an assessment of the regime at Maze in so far as it impacts on prisoner safety. We will consider his recommendations on receipt of the report.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the current prospects for the tourist industry in the Province. [36900]

  Mr. Ingram
  Given an uncertain political situation, which has a considerable impact on tourism, it is difficult to make projections for tourism revenue and numbers of visitors to Northern Ireland. However, forecasts for 1998 suggest modest growth in terms of revenue to £215 million and overall visitor numbers are anticipated to increase to 1.45 million.

  "Partnership for Equality"
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses she has received to the Government's White Paper, "Partnership for Equality". [36901]

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses she has received to the Government's White Paper, "Partnership for Equality". [36917]

  Mr. Worthington
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Greenock and Inverclyde (Dr. Godman) and for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty).

  Small Firms
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the impact the Budget proposals on small firms will have on the Northern Ireland economy. [36902]

  Mr. Ingram
  The budget's measures for small firms, which include a reduction in Corporation Tax rate and generous first year capital allowances will encourage growth and investment by small firms in Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK. They are, however, particularly welcome in Northern Ireland where small firms represent a greater proportion of the economy.

  Democratically Elected Institutions
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what ways the proposed democratically elected institutions will differ from the district councils in Northern Ireland; which powers the Government intend to transfer to these bodies; and if she will make a statement.[36904]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following agreement in the talks the proposed Assembly for Northern Ireland could exercise devolved executive and legislative responsibility over at least the responsibilities of the six Northern Ireland Government Departments.

  Income Support
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion and number of children aged under 16 years live in families receiving income support. [36905]

  Mr. Worthington
  The latest information available shows that 21.4 per cent., or 89,090, of children in Northern Ireland are living in families receiving income support.

  Multi-party Talks
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to admit representatives of the Conservative party to the peace talks. [36906]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress in the multi-party talks in Northern Ireland. [36908]

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress in the multi-party talks. [36912]

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the prospects of agreement in the multi-party talks. [36914]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. McDonnell).

  Child Care
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the impact of the Budget proposals on child care in Northern Ireland. [36907]

  Mr. Worthington
  I welcome the additional assistance for families with young children which the Chancellor has announced in the Budget. I am considering how a range of affordable quality child care can be secured throughout Northern Ireland. I intend to issue a Northern Ireland child care strategy for consultation before the summer.

  Irish Constitution
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have been held during the current peace talks on the policy of the Irish Government towards the repeal of those articles in their constitution which relate to a territorial claim over Northern Ireland. [36909]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  When the British and Irish Government presented their propositions on Heads of Agreement in the talks on 12 January, they confirmed that as part of any settlement they envisaged balanced constitutional change, based on commitment to the principle of consent in all its aspects, including changes to Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution as well as in British constitutional legislation. Discussions are continuing in the light of these propositions.

  Grammar Schools
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the position of grammar schools in Northern Ireland. [36910]

  Mr. Worthington
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 March 1998,Official Report, column 249.

  Peace Process (Referendum)
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what preparations she is making for a referendum on the outcome of the peace process. [36911]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  It remains our firm goal to hold a referendum on May 22 1998, following agreement in the all party talks in Belfast. The necessary legislation to enable us to hold the referendum will be introduced after Easter.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the Northern Ireland Economic Council's report on the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [36913]

  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the Northern Ireland Economic Council report on the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [36916]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Northern Ireland Economic Council is a useful and comprehensive survey of the extent and nature of low pay in Northern Ireland. It has been submitted to the Low Pay Commission which I am sure will find it very helpful. 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.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each year since 1988(a) the number of road deaths, (b) the number of serious injuries on the roads and (c) the increase in traffic volumes. [36915]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Road deaths

  Serious injuries

  Traffic volumes (billion kilometres)

  1988

  178

  1,969

  -

  1989

  181

  2,014

  -

  1990

  185

  1,993

  -

  1991

  185

  1,648

  12.53

  1992

  150

  1,841

  12.83

  1993

  143

  1,725

  13.22

  1994

  157

  1,648

  13.65

  1995

  144

  1,532

  14.08

  1996

  142

  1,599

  14.25

  1997

  144

  1,548

  -

  271
  Surveys of traffic volume were not carried out prior to 1991. The figures for 1997 are not yet available.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the establishment of an electricity interconnector with Scotland. [36918]

  Mr. Ingram
  This private sector project is principally a matter for NIE and Scottish Power. Consent for the Scottish leg of the project was granted by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, on 13 October 1997.

  My noble Friend, the Minister for the Environment (Northern Ireland), announced on 26 March 1998 his decision to approve the revised outline planning application submitted by Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) for the siting of the converter station at

  Death causes Northern Ireland 1988–1996

  Total deaths

  Substance

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  (a) Heroin

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  (b) Temazepan

  3

  2

  1

  1

  -

  3

  1

  2

  -

  (c) Cocaine/Crack

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  (d) LSD

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  (e) Solvents

  7

  12

  9

  9

  9

  11

  6

  5

  4

  (f) Amphetamine

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  (g) Ecstasy

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -—

  2

  -

  (j) Khat

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  (k) Alcohol

  51

  41

  75

  70

  57

  56

  84

  96

  87

  (m) Cannabis

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths of people aged over 60 years in Northern Ireland resulted from(a) over-medication, (b) suicide and (c) other misuse of medicinal drugs in each of the past 10 years. [38351]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The number of deaths of people aged over 60 years as a result of drug misuse including suicide are set out in the table. Deaths in Northern Ireland are recorded by date of registration and not by date of occurrence.

  Northern Ireland: deaths

  Cause of death

  Year

  Over medication

  Suicide

  Other misuse of medical drugs

  1987

  -

  2

  -

  1988

  2

  6

  -

  1989

  1

  6

  -

  1990

  2

  5

  -

  1991

  1

  4

  -

  1992

  2

  7

  -

  1993

  2

  4

  -

  1994

  -

  6

  -

  1995

  2

  5

  -

  1996

  2

  3

  -

  272
  Islandmagee. This is conditional on the acceptance by NIE of the Notice of Opinion to approve the application, which will be subject to appropriate conditions.

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths in each of the past nine years in Northern Ireland resulted from the use of(a) heroin, (b) temazepam, (c) cocaine/crack, (d) LSD, (e) solvents, (f) amphetamines, (g) ecstasy, (h) paracetamol, (i) co-proxamol, (j) khat, (k) alcohol, (l) tobacco and (m) cannabis. [38354]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information requested is set out in the table. Deaths in Northern Ireland are recorded according to date of registration and not by date of occurrence. Deaths involving paracetamol and co-proxamol are not available separately being included in a wider category of "aromatic analgesics". Deaths involving tobacco are classified according to the underlying cause of death, eg lung cancer, heart disease, etc.

  Security Forces (Collusion Allegations)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations she has received on alleged collusion between the security forces and paramilitary forces in Northern Ireland. [37887]

  Mr. Ingram
  Sinn Fein passed to the Government a report containing allegations of alleged collusion, which has been passed to the RUC. I also receive letters from time to time which mention allegations of collusion.

  Inward Investment
  Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the tax incentives for companies setting up in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland. [36899]

  Mr. Ingram
  The competitiveness of Northern Ireland's financial incentive package and the overall attractiveness of the business opportunity, including taxation aspects, is regularly reviewed. Repeated investments in Northern Ireland by companies such as Nortel, Fujitsu and Emerson reinforce the continuing competitiveness of the Northern Ireland business opportunity.

  Orange Order Parade
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons police recommendations to charge a number of Republicans for obstructing an Orange Order annual church parade at Mountfield in County Tyrone were rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions; how many recommendations had been made; and if she will make a statement. [37819]

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  On 7 October 1997 the Royal Ulster Constabulary submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland) a police investigation file relating to 30 persons with a view to possible prosecution for offences arising out of events at Mountfield, County Tyrone on 22 June 1997. An interim direction issued to the Chief Constable on 16 October 1997 to arrange a consultation with the investigating officer and a number of police witnesses and for certain additional inquiries to be made. A second consultation was held on 18 December 1997 with investigating police and other senior officers. It was concluded that, in respect of the persons reported, the evidence was insufficient to afford a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction. Accordingly, a direction for no prosecution was issued to the Chief Constable on 22 December 1997.

  Criminal Trials
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Attorney-General in how many cases between 1985 and 1995 the Attorney-General's representative was asked to present the Crown's case at a criminal trial in Northern Ireland; in what circumstances the DPP was not represented; and in what capacity Mr. Brian Kerr appeared during the trial of Mr. Brian Nelson. [37805]

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have taken my hon. Friend's reference to "the Attorney-General's representative" to mean senior Crown counsel appointed by the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland. Senior Crown counsel were instructed by the DPP(NI) to prosecute on three occasions during the period 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1995, the only period for which complete records are available. This includes the conduct by Mr. Brian Kerr QC (as he then was) of proceedings against Brian Nelson. When the DPP(NI) initiates, undertakes or carries on criminal proceedings, he is always represented either by counsel or professional staff.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 8 April. [37886]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Prime Minister today is in Northern Ireland where he is involved in the peace talks.

DEFENCE

  Britannia
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the former Royal Yacht Britannia. [38772]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I have decided that Britannia should be preserved in Edinburgh, in the Port of Leith. Subject to a satisfactory conclusion to negotiations, the former Royal Yacht will be sold to an independent charitable trust being promoted by Forth Ports plc. The trust will take responsibility for the preservation of Britannia, and for running the Yacht as a visitor attraction and as a venue for conferences and other functions. Both Forth Ports and the Manchester Ship Canal Company offered very good ideas; either would have allowed Britannia to be preserved successfully and with dignity. It has been a difficult choice, but a good outcome for Britannia. I am grateful to both for having put forward such excellent proposals.

  Britannia is expected to leave Portsmouth in the next few weeks, and, following essential work to adapt her to her new role, will be open to the public later this year.

  Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the Key Targets set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for the Financial Year 1998–99. [38841]

  Dr. Reid
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency has been set the following Key Targets for the Financial Year 1998–99:

  Key Targets 1
  To establish a mechanism and baseline to enable subsequent measurement of improvements in the range of Material provided.
  Key Targets 2
  To exceed 5 per cent. increase of the number of items procured by Direct Supply.
  Key Targets 3
  To exceed 90 per cent. of Customers' perceived satisfaction of requirements.
  Key Targets 4
  To exceed 80 per cent. of underlying availability of Material.
  Key Targets 5
  To exceed 5 per cent. improvement in commodity management process cycle times.
  Key Targets 6
  To establish unit costs per output data to enable the setting of realistic efficiency targets for subsequent years.

  Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the Key Targets set for the Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency for the Financial Year 1998–99. [38842]
  275
  Dr. Reid
  The Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency has been set the following Key Targets for the Financial Year 1998–99:

  Key Target 1
  To exceed 95 per cent. satisfaction for the processing of Consumers' authorised demands.
  Key Target 2
  To meet the Customers' agreed requirements for the provision of ammunition Units of Space (UOS) and ammunition processing facilities.
  Key Target 3
  To exceed 95 per cent. of Consumers' perceived satisfaction of the Agency.
  Key Target 4
  To exceed 90 per cent. of meeting Consumers' authorised demands within Supply Chain Processing Time (SCPT) Depot Processing Time (DPT).
  Key Target 5
  To exceed a one day improvement in receipts processing cycle times.
  Key Target 6
  To establish unit costs per output baseline to enable subsequent measurement of efficiency improvements.

  Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency for the financial year 1998–99. [38776]

  Dr. Reid
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency has been set the following key targets for the Financial Year 1998–99:

  Key Target 1:
  To achieve a 2 per cent. improvement in the range of postal and courier services provided.
  Key Target 2:
  To achieve independent assessment of DPCSA using the British Quality Foundation (BQF) Business Excellence Model (BEM) by 31 March 1999, to enable subsequent measurement of business improvements.
  Key Target 3:
  To exceed an average 95.85 per cent. satisfaction of Customers' postal and courier requirements.
  Key Target 4:
  To exceed an average 2 per cent. improvement in unit costs per output.

  Defence Transport and Movements Executive
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive for the financial year 1998–99. [38775]

  Dr. Reid
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive has been set the following key targets for the Financial Year 1998–99.

  Key Target 1:
  To exceed 90 per cent. of customers' perceived satisfaction of requirements.
  Key Target 2:
  To establish the baseline for the quality of the Unaccompanied Baggage Service, to enable subsequent measurement of improvements.276
  Key Target 3:
  To exceed 90 per cent. satisfaction of customers' requirements.
  Key Target 4:
  To establish unit costs per output data to enable the setting of realistic efficiency targets for subsequent years.

  Army Storage
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decision he has made on the implementation of the recommendations in the Army's storage rationalisation study. [38839]

  Dr. Reid
  The consultation process on the conclusions of the Army's storage rationalisation study, which recommended the closure of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA) sub-depots at Thatcham in Berkshire and Old Dalby in Leicestershire, has now ended. A number of representations were received from the trades unions, local councils, individual employees and hon. Members. Having considered these representations very carefully, I am satisfied that no issues have arisen which would call into question the study's recommendations. I intend, therefore, to proceed to implement these recommendations with the objective of ceasing operations at the sub-depot at Old Dalby by 1 April 1999 and that at Thatcham by 1 April 2000.

  Reservists
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to continue to call out reservists to support military operations. [38840]

  Dr. Reid
  A new call-out order has been made under Section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. This will allow us to continue calling out members of the reserve forces in support of operations in Yugoslavia and in the region of Iraq. The order will cease to have effect on 31 March 1999. All reservists called out are volunteers.

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 1998,Official Report, column 192, what is the total acreage, excluding foreshore, of the Pendine range. [37966]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: 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 my hon. Friend.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence and Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), I have been asked to reply to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the area of the Pendine range.The total acreage, excluding foreshore, of the Pendine range is 2519 acres.I hope that this information is helpful.
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list(a) the contracts awarded to COMAX by DERA, (b) the length of each contract, (c) the cost of each contract and (d) the number of staff employed on each contract; [37905]
  277
  (2) if he will list the contracts undertaken by COMAX at DERA Pendine, the number of staff employed on each contract and the cost of each contract in 1997–98 and 1998–99. [37906]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: 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 my hon. Friend.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence and Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), I have been asked to reply to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about contracts awarded to COMAX by DERA and about contracts undertaken by COMAX at DERA Pendine.All DERA's business with Comax is awarded under a single "Umbrella Contract" which was placed on 25 April 1997. Most of the business is spread over 12 Service Level Agreements, nine of which are based on geographical regions and three of which are for pan-DERA services, as shown in the following table:

  £ million

  Service level agreement

  Period (from 25 April 1997)

  Cost

  1. Farnborough Site Cluster

  4 years 9 months

  19.2

  2. Boscombe Down Site Cluster

  4 years 6 months

  7.8

  3. Porton Down Site Cluster

  4 years

  6.1

  4. Fort Halstead Site Cluster

  5 years

  7.3

  5. Chertsey Site Cluster

  3 years

  8.3

  6. Portsdown West Site Cluster

  5 years

  7.0

  7. Malvern Site Cluster

  3 years 6 months

  7.0

  8. Ranges Site Cluster

  4 years 3 months

  10.3

  9. Financial Services

  5 years 3 months

  7.7

  10. Information Services

  5 years 3 months

  27.2

  11. Supply Services

  5 years 3 months

  4.0

  12. Farnborough Aerodrome

  Until 31 December

  2000 unless sooner terminated by DERA by 6 months notice to expire on or after 31 December 1998

  3.1

  Total

  115

  Under the same Umbrella Contract, catalogued goods and services (for example, reprographics, car hire, consumable etc) were ordered totalling £13.1M. Separate contracts were also placed totalling £5.7M. These figures cannot easily be reconciled to the SLA locations. COMAX employs circa 1300 staff under the single Umbrella Contract.As far as DERA Pendine is concerned, COMAX provides contract services under the Service Level Agreement for the Ranges Site Cluster that covers 16 DERA ranges. The value of the Pendine element is approximately £1M. DERA has also placed a separate contract for demolition at Pendine valued at £104K. I understand that COMAX employs 14 direct staff on the Pendine site.I hope that this information is helpful.
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the central administration costs allocated to DERA Pendine(a) for 1996–97, (b) for 1997–98 and (c) projected for 1998–99; [37907]

  (2) what were the total central administrative costs of DERA in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and what are the projected costs for 1998–99. [37914]
  278
  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: 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 my hon. Friend.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 8 April 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence and Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), I have been asked to reply to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the central administrative costs of DERA and the central administrative costs allocated to DERA Pendine.The central administrative costs of DERA charged to business sectors are as follows:

  £ million

  1996/97

  45.7

  1997/98

  37.2

  1998/99

  37.9

  These costs include corporate management functions, services provided centrally such as finance, security, health and safety, personnel, contracts, marketing, quality, intellectual property and information systems, and charges incurred centrally on behalf of the whole Agency such as insurance, subscriptions and audit fees. The costs for 1996/97 also include those for divisional management (Defence Research Agency, Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation, Protection and Life Sciences Division and Centre for Defence Analysis) which were abolished as a result of the reorganisation on 1 April 1997.The amount of the DERA central administration charge allocated to Pendine for each year is as follows:

  £000

  1996/97

  258.9

  1997/98

  274.6

  The allocation in the budget for 1998/99 is £169.3K.
  As well as these central administrative charges, there are additional administrative charges allocated by the Ranges Sector itself, as follows:

  £000

  1996/97

  103.6

  1997/98

  1142.6

  1998/99

  2213.0

  1Based on the forecast for accounting period 11

  2 Budget

  I hope that this information is helpful.

  Alcoholism (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on alcoholism in the armed forces; and if he will place the results in the Library. [38177]

  Dr. Reid
  All three Services run comprehensive education packages to combat alcohol misuse. In addition, each of the Services have in place arrangements for treating and rehabilitating those who display signs of alcohol dependency. These measures are kept under review and amended and re-focused as necessary. To this end, the individual Service authorities are free to initiate or commission research as necessary. The most recent such commission was made by the Army in late 1995 when a pilot study was undertaken by a civilian company into the use and misuse of alcohol. A fuller study was
  279
  subsequently conducted by the same company during 1996–97. The study found that the incidence of problems of alcohol misuse among Army personnel was broadly similar to that experienced by an equivalent section of society of the same demographic and socio-economic make up. The report highlighted areas where improvements could be made in education and awareness and these are being addressed. The report is an internal management document and is being used in the development of alcohol policy and awareness training; the interviews on which its conclusions are based were given in confidence. There are therefore no plans to publish the report.

  Military Research and Development
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those civil developments which he assesses to have resulted from Government-funded military research and development since 1990. [38332]

  Mr. Spellar
  The transfer of technology from military research and development into civil markets is promoted by the Ministry of Defence, in support of the wider Government objectives of increasing wealth creation within the UK industry.

  An exhaustive list of civil developments resulting from Government-funded military research and development would be difficult to compile; however, recent examples include:
  Uncooled infrared thermal imaging technology, which enables clear sight in total darkness or even through smoke, is now in use in helmet-mounted cameras for fire-fighters and hand-held cameras for security, law enforcement, drug interdiction, industrial thermography and wildlife protection worldwide.Light, strong casing technology, designed for the LAW-80 antitank rocket, has been adapted for use in torus-shaped compressed air containers which are shortly to be tested by the Health and Safety Executive. These could be a major improvement over current cylindrical designs, due to their reduced weight for the same air pressure and volume.Research into damping vibrations in military helicopters led to the discovery of a thin, flat structure with excellent sound radiation properties. This technology, which will allow flat panel loudspeakers for wall mounting or mobile public address systems, has been licensed to a civil firm for development and production.
  The scope for DERA's dual use activities is under consideration, both as part of the Strategic Defence Review, and with the publications of the Defence Diversification Green Paper on 5 March 1998.

  Export Organisations
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the different roles of the Defence Export Services Organisation and the Export Opportunities Service (Defence and Security). [38331]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Defence Export Services Organisation, DESO, is a part of the Ministry of Defence. Its role is to provide British defence exporters with the best possible Government support, within the framework of our defence, security and foreign policies. This includes the following activities:
  the bringing together of overseas customers and UK suppliers;the co-ordination of industrial sales activities to provide an integrated national approach to markets;280 the administration of Government to Government defence contracts;the development, with industry of a five year strategic plan which identifies key markets and the priority campaigns within these markets;the disposal of surplus MOD equipment;the provision of professional military assistance in support of defence exports;the organisation and hosting of visits to the UK by senior Government and military personnel from overseas;the provision of advice on export project finance;the co-ordination of MOD advice to DTI on export licence applications.
  Unlike DESO, the Export Opportunities (Defence and Security) Service, EO(DS)S, is a commercial venture operated by the Defence Manufacturers Association and the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers. Consequently, its activities do not fall within the responsibility of the MOD. However, I understand that EO(DS)S, which has been established with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry under the Sector Challenge Scheme, has a narrower role to that of DESO. It is principally concerned with the establishment of a system for the collation and dissemination of up to date market intelligence information to British industry.

  While the EO(DS)S has only recently been established, the MOD will support any initiative which is aimed at assisting the British Defence industry within the framework of our defence, security and foreign policy objectives.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event. [35115]

  Dr. Reid
  Major events planned for April and May, attended by Ministers and funded by my Department are:

  Date

  Location

  Purpose

  Cost(£)

  21 April

  Edinburgh

  ¾Power Armament Directors Dinner

  2,000

  27 April

  London

  Visit by Norwegian Defence College

  4,500

  It is not, however, possible to provide a comprehensive estimate for total expenditure on Ministerial hospitality as the majority of events and meetings will not be finalised until nearer the time.

  Newsletters
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of(a) the RAF Police, (b) the Royal Naval Regulating Branch and (c) the Royal Marines Police; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. [35362]

  Mr. Spellar
  The RAF Police produce two publications, both of which are unclassified. The Provost Parade magazine is published twice per year and has been in circulation continually since 1947. The Provost

  281
  Marshal (RAF)'s Standards Unit (PMSU) Bulletin is published quarterly and has been in circulation since 1990.

  The regulating Branch Newsletter is published three times per year, is unclassified and first appeared in 1987. The Royal Marines Police do not publish a Service Police newsletter.

  Ordnance Disposal School
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he received the report of the study on the possible relocation of the Ordnance Disposal School at Chattendon to the Horseshoe Barracks or an adjacent site in Shoeburyness; and when he plans to make a decision on the report. [37703]

  Dr. Reid
  The report is yet to be completed. I expect it to be complete and to be able to announce a decision on its recommendations before the summer recess.

  Force Research Unit
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many officers and soldiers were attached to the Force Research Unit; [37814]

  (2) what was the annual cost of (a) the Force Research Unit and (b) its replacement in each year of their operation. [37813]

  Dr. Reid
  I am withholding this information under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Brian Nelson
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to the Exchequer in each year of his Department's financial arrangements with Mr. Brian Nelson. [37816]

  Dr. Reid
  I am withholding this information under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

  NATO
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make available further information on NATO and NATO enlargement. [38711]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Government have undertaken to provide time for debates in both Houses on the proposed accession to NATO of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland before they ratify the accession protocols, which have today been laid before the House together with explanatory memoranda. The Government have as always co-operated fully with the Defence Select Committee in its inquiry on NATO enlargement and given it access to appropriate documents. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement on 9 July 1997 on the outcome of the Madrid NATO Summit and the Government have regularly responded to questions on this topic. In addition, a briefing note on the studies of the costs of NATO enlargement was placed in the Library of the House last month, and I am pleased to announce that 282
  today the Ministry of Defence has published documents and information on NATO and NATO enlargement on its World Wide Web site at http:/.www.mod.uk.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27668]

  Mr. Spellar
  It has been the policy of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his Ministers to read personally, letters from hon. Members on constituency matters. Where, however, the matter is the responsibility of a Chief Executive of a Defence Agency, the letters are transferred to him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Hon. Members, nevertheless, retain the right at any time to ask for a Minister to deal with the correspondence.

  Devonport
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the budget for the refurbishment of facilities at Devonport; and if he estimates the work will be completed within budget. [30568]

  Dr. Reid
  The contracted target price range for the provision of refitting and refuelling facilities for nuclear submarines at Devonport is £335 million-£359 million. The figures relate both to the refurbishment of existing facilities and the provision of new facilities for Trident submarines. Under the terms of the contract Devonport Management Limited (DML) is incentivised to keep the costs as low as possible. The project is not due to complete until early next century, but there is no reasons to suppose that it will not be completed within budget.

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the possible causes of Gulf War syndrome. [36278]

  Dr. Reid
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1998, c. 48]: It has been brought to my notice that one sentence, relating to the further epidemiological study funded by the US Department of Defense, was ambiguous and open to misinterpretation. For convenience the full text of the answer, appropriately amended, is set out below.

  Since returning from the Gulf War in 1991, some UK veterans have become ill. Many believe that this ill-health is unusual and directly related to their participation in that conflict. However, there is still no medical or scientific consensus on this subject and important research is still in progress.

  The Government are funding two major epidemiological studies to investigate the health of Gulf veterans and their families. A further epidemiological study into UK Gulf veterans is being funded by the US Department of Defense. In addition, the Government are funding a programme of clinical tests on a group of randomly selected Gulf veterans and also a research programme to investigate the possible adverse health effects of the combination of vaccines and tablets which were given to British troops in the Gulf to protect them against the threat of biological and chemical warfare.
  283
  It would be premature to speculate on the possible causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses before the results of these research programmes become available. We currently expect that preliminary results from some of these studies will appear during 1999.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of radioactively-contaminated land there are on sites and bases owned or operated by his Department(a) in the UK and (b) abroad; if he will list the sites; what is being done to restore the land; and what is his estimate of the cost. [37837]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information required to provide the lists requested is not available. However, my Department is undertaking a programme of Land Quality Assessments (LQA) across the Defence Estate to identify contaminated land, including radioactively contaminated land. Priority is given to sites identified or being considered for disposal and sites in environmentally sensitive areas where a known threat of potential contamination exists, or is strongly suspected. Initial results from these surveys indicate that few MOD sites are affected by radioactive contamination but only some of the highest priority sites have been assessed to date.

  Where radioactive contamination is identified in a LQA, the need for clean up and remediation is determined, taking into account the future use of the site, on a case by case basis. The steps required to remediate a site will depend upon the circumstances, but in all cases such work is carried out in accordance with relevant legislation. Contaminated material arising from the remediation procedure is subsequently disposed of in accordance with letters of agreement issued by the environment agencies.

  Storm Shadow Missiles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 1998,Official Report, column 261, on Storm Shadow missiles, how many are to be procured; what proportion of the related work will be carried out in UK based facilities; and if the costs of aircraft integrated are included in the estimated programme cost. [35356]

  Mr. Spellar
  The quality of Storm Shadow missiles being procured is currently classified and I am therefore, withholding this information under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I have, however, asked for this position to be reviewed, and will write to the hon. Member when that review is complete. The cost of integration on Tornado and Harrier is included in the total Storm Shadow programme cost. The cost of integration on Eurofighter is included within

  Acceptance

  Current Status

  Total

  Full

  Partial

  Not accepted

  Open

  Closed

  1990–95

  713

  533(75%)

  57

  123

  14

  699

  1995

  41

  28(68%)

  8

  5

  6

  35

  1996

  40

  25(62%)

  12

  3

  15

  25

  Total

  794

  586(74%)

  77

  131

  35

  759

  Note:

  Recommendations that are still 'Open' for further action include those requiring long term investigation or research.
  284
  the overall Eurofighter programme costs. The proportion of Storm Shadow related work that will be carried out in UK based facilities is equivalent to some 80 per cent. of the total contract value.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Air Safety
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of safety recommendations made over the past 10 years by his Department's Air Accidents Investigation Branch have led to changes to requirements relating to(a) procedures and (b) design. [37856]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The majority of AAIB recommendations are addressed to the Civil Aviation Authority. Although the CAA are required to report whether or not they accept a recommendation, they do not record centrally the extent to which a recommendation leads to a change in requirements. The information requested could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many United Kingdom-registered aircraft were inspected by the Federal Aviation Administration whilst in the United States of America; which airlines were involved; and what defects were found in the last year for which figures are available. [37922]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We are not generally informed of FAA inspections on UK registered aircraft.

  I understand that the FAA are required to carry out a minimum of one ramp check on each foreign airline operating to the US.

  They are not under any obligation to inform the CAA of ramp checks carried out on UK registered aircraft, but may do so if a ramp check raises a particular issue. The CAA do not hold a central record of any such approaches from the FAA.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of safety recommendations made over the past 10 years by his Department's Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been accepted by the Civil Aviation Authority. [37855]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Since 1990 the CAA has produced an Annual Progress Report to the Secretary of State on the status and progress of its responses to the Recommendations made to the Authority by the AAIB. These reports are also published and copies are available in the House of Commons library. The figures from the latest progress report are set out.

  Piracy
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures are available(a) to British seafarers to protect themselves against piracy and (b) to the Government to protect seafarers against piracy; and what plans he has for further measures. [38329]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Advice to seafarers on how to protect themselves against acts of piracy is available from:
  The Piracy and Armed Robbery Merchant Shipping Notice (No. 1517) which is being revised and re-issued shortly. This gives practical advice on how to deter and deal with acts of piracy and armed robbery and will be widely disseminated throughout the industry and to seafarers.The Marine Safety Agency's Code of Safe Working practices for Merchant Seamen which is also being revised and re-issued and includes counter piracy advice.Information on piracy incidents is now made widely available to seafarers so that they may take appropriate counter measures and the FCO includes incident information in Travel Advice Notices.
  The Government have always considered the best and most sensible way to combat the problem is through concerted international action through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and we will be supporting any appropriate counter piracy initiatives that are put forward there.

  We have agreed to contribute financially to a series of counter piracy seminars being organised by the IMO; and are considering whether we might be able to send experts to problem areas overseas to offer advice.

  The Government share the concerns of the shipping industry and seafarers and accept that piracy is a problem, particularly in some areas of the world where attacks continue and British ships and seamen are at risk. I raised this concern at the Ministerial Conference on Port State Control held in Vancouver at the end of last month and was supported by the delegates from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, the European Commission, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and the IMO.

  Environmental Decision Making
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the UK delegation to the 10th session of the negotiations for a UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention concerning public participation in environmental decision making, held in Geneva on 3 to 6 March, did not support provisions giving the same rights for the public to participate in decisions relating to GMOs as for other proposed environmental activities; and if he will make a statement. [37249]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 1 April 1998): The Government are committed to a policy of increased transparency and enhanced public participation in decision making in relation to the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms and, as such, supported the inclusion of a provision applying the requirements of the Convention in this context. Our current legislation has such provisions. The drafting of the Convention provision was the subject of considerable debate during the negotiations and the UK was concerned, particularly in view of our role as EU Presidency, to secure a workable
  286
  provision which provides a basis for further development. For that reason, we support a proposal for the first meeting of the Convention Parties to develop the application of the Convention in this field, taking into account work under the Convention on Biological Diversity to develop a protocol on biosafety, in which the United Kingdom is playing a leading role. The provisions of the Convention will be taken into account when the EU revises its own Directive on deliberate releases to the environment later this year.

  We do not, however, consider that public participation is practical in all decisions on contained use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). There are estimated to be 20,000 contained use activities underway in GB, in about 450 notified premises. The vast majority of these (estimated to be about 95 per cent.) employ non-pathogenic organisms, such as disabled bacteria or yeasts. The remaining 5 per cent involve work with potentially harmful organisms, such as genetically modified pathogens, and work with these must all be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

  Contained use activities are typically small scale (often in volumes of 100–200 millilitres) and short lived (research projects are often of between 6 months and 3 years duration). These activities are highly controlled and contained using tried and tested methods. The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 require that physical barriers, supplemented as necessary with biological and chemical barriers, are used to limit the contact of GMOs with the environment and the general population.

  Although it would be disproportionately cumbersome to the scale, nature and large number of contained use activities to include them in the Convention, it is clearly important that information be available to the public. In addition to requiring the HSE to keep a public register of information relating to notifications of proposed activities, the legislation also has provision for disclosure of information by HSE when requested to do so.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many organisations have been approached to submit nominations to the regional development agencies; if he will list them; and how the nominations will be dealt with. [37533]

  Mr. Caborn
  Nominations for Regional Development Agency boards have been sought from over 1500 organisations. All applications received will now be considered in accordance with the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. I will write to my hon. Friend shortly with a full list of these organisations.

  Jet Skis
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safety regulations apply to the use of jet skis. [37376]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Jet Ski is a trade name for one of a variety of personal watercraft (PWC). There are no safety regulations which apply to the use of personal watercraft but consideration is being given to the results of consultation on ways in which the safety of such craft
  287
  and other non-regulated pleasure vessels can be improved. A decision on the way forward will be made in the next few months. At the International Boatshow in January, I helped to launch the Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) Personal Watercraft User Training Initiative. The Scheme aims to encourage more users to undertake training courses run by the RYA and to raise awareness of safety issues.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations(a) his Department and (b) the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority have received from the Kent Fire Service regarding proposals to replace fire crews from Kent by crews from Eurotunnel at the Channel Tunnel; [37709]

  (2) if (a) his Department and (b) the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority have been consulted by Eurotunnel regarding its proposal to replace fire crews from the Kent Fire Brigade with Eurotunnel fire crews at the Channel Tunnel; and if he will make a statement; [37707]

  (3) if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between Eurotunnel and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority relating to the replacement of Kent Fire Brigade crews by Eurotunnel fire crews at the Channel Tunnel. [37708]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No proposal has been received from Eurotunnel to replace fire crews from the Kent Fire Brigade with Eurotunnel fire crews at the Channel Tunnel. If such a proposal is made, it will be considered by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority who will advise the Intergovernmental Commission. Any such correspondence between the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and Eurotunnel is covered by Clause 33.3 of the Channel Tunnel Concession Agreement of 1986.

  Eurotunnel has employed a consultant, Dawsons International, to assist in conducting a review of the staffing of the First Line of Response (FLOR) teams. We understand Eurotunnel has given notice of termination to the current providers of its FLOR personnel—Kent Fire Brigade and the Sapeurs Pompiers of Calais—as a precautionary contractual measure which would take effect only if the results of the study into the staffing of FLOR teams conclude that it would be better to have directly employed labour.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 1998,Official Report, column 261, on what basis clause 33.3 was initially included in the Channel Tunnel Treaty. [38154]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This clause was originally included in the 1986 Channel Tunnel Concession Agreement, at the request of the Concessionaires, to protect commercially sensitive material.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions his Department has had with Central Railways about the possible construction of a freight line from the Midlands to the Channel Tunnel; [38105]
  288
  (2) what representations his Department has had from Central Railways about the possible construction of a freight line from the Midlands to the Channel Tunnel. [38106]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have received a number of representations from Central Railways about this scheme. My officials have had one recent meeting with the promoters, who wished to discuss wider transport policy issues. There was no substantive discussion of Central Railways' plans.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that the renegotiation of the Channel Tunnel rail link to London includes a requirement for a continuous fast and direct through-link to Stratford, St. Pancras and the West Coast main line for both passengers and freight, and that the complete link is built as one project. [37678]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 27 March 1998,Official Report, columns 295–96, in which my right hon. Friend made it clear that the Government require the whole of the rail link to be built. Any revised proposals from London and Continental Railways and Railtrack must establish an incentive to ensure this.

  The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Stratford Station and Subsidiary Works) Order which was approved in principle by the House last year, seeks to enable direct services between the West Coast main line and Stratford and the Channel Tunnel. Following the public inquiry, the Inspector's Report is currently with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Subject to my right hon. Friend's decision concerning the making of that Order, the provision of those services would be a commercial matter for Eurostar (UK) Ltd, a subsidiary of London and Continental Railways.

  Local Authority Notices
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority section 19B notices he has lifted since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement on the lifting of such notices. [37780]

  Mr. Raynsford
  None. Individual applications to vary or revoke directions given under Section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 will be considered on their merit, principally their contribution to providing competitive local services.

  Transport Expenditure
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much public money was spent per head of population in each county on(a) public transport and (b) road repairs in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997. [37785]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This information is not available in the format requested. I will write to the right hon. Member and provide available data.

  Motor Vehicle Registration Fee
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the legislative base for the £25 registration fee which is to be paid on the first registration of a motor vehicle as from 1 April. [37803]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Section 21(3) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (inserted by section 19, Schedule 4, paragraph 33, of the Finance Act 1995).

  Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to bring roads which do not have 40 mph or less speed limits within the provisions of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. [38325]

  Angela Eagle
  We have no plans to bring roads which have a speed limit of more than 40mph within the provisions of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.

  London Underground
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the budget for London Underground's current radio advertising campaign. [37857]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand that they are currently running a Family Travelcard promotion on the radio, the total cost of which is £80,780.

  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of whether the total cost of the proposed arrangements for the funding of London Underground set out in his oral statement of 20 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1539–42, will be greater or less than the cost of continuing public support. [38143]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We believe that our proposal for a public-private partnership will offer better value for money than continued reliance on public sector funding, and will mean that London Underground's investment needs will be addressed more quickly, and at less cost to the public purse, than would otherwise be possible. The need for ongoing subsidy, if any, will be established only when bids have been received and evaluated.

  Audit Commission
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the accuracy of information supplied by local authorities to the Audit Commission; and if he will make a statement. [38112]

  Mr. Raynsford
  It is the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that information provided to the Audit Commission is reliable. In publishing local authority performance indicators, the Audit Commission have to rely on this information. We have no reason to doubt the accuracy of this information in the majority of cases. Indeed, more is done to confirm that the systems in place for collecting this information are sufficiently robust than for many other nationally available sources of information.
  290
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to undertake a fundamental review of the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38311]

  Ms Armstrong
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretaries of State for Health and Wales have agreed to set up today a financial management and policy review of the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales, as part of a programme of reviews of non-departmental public bodies.

  The review will be conducted in two stages. The first will be a "prior options" study focusing on whether the functions carried out by the Audit Commission are needed and, if so, whether those functions are best undertaken by the Audit Commission or some other body. Subject to the outcome of this first stage, the second stage will consist of a more detailed review of the Audit Commission's structure, funding, financial management and methods of operation.

  I have appointed Paul McQuail, a retired senior civil servant in the former Department of the Environment, to lead a small team to undertake the prior options study. To oversee the review, I am establishing an Advisory Group, on which we are inviting representatives from the Audit Commission and the health and local government sectors to join representatives from central Government.

  In carrying out the study it is intended that the review team will consult with a wide range of interested parties and would welcome written representations from anyone who has views on the Audit Commission and its work.

  Brown-field and Green-field Sites
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what definition his Department uses of(a) brown field and (b) green field sites. [37876]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There is, as yet, no specific definition of 'brown field' land, but it is usually taken to mean land previously developed for urban uses, as defined for the Department's Land Use Change Statistics. These uses include residential, transport and utilities, industry and commerce, community services, previously developed vacant land and derelict land. There is also no specific definition of 'green field' land. However, it is usually interpreted as 'land not previously developed'. This includes the Land Use Change 'rural uses' categories, such as agriculture, forestry, open land, water, minerals and landfill, outdoor recreation, defence together with vacant land in urban areas that was not previously developed.

  On 23 February the Government published Planning for the Communities of the Future, which contains their main proposals for how household growth should be managed through the planning system. The document committed the Government to the publication of a discussion paper on regional recycling targets, which will also look at 'brownfield/greenfield' definitional issues, before a draft revised PPG3 is issued for consultation in the summer.
  291
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the cost of decontaminating brown-field land will be met where such land is made available for housebuilding. [38386]

  Angela Eagle
  The cost of decontaminating brownfield land made available for housebuilding is borne by the developer in the overall costs of the development. However, it is common for the costs relating to the decontamination to have been taken into consideration in the price paid for the land.

  In some circumstances, developers or purchasers of land may be able to secure assistance with the cost of decontaminating brownfield land through English Partnerships or their equivalents in Wales and Scotland.

  £million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Anglia Railways

  26.0

  22.1

  15.0

  13.0

  8.6

  Cardiff Railways

  18.1

  17.1

  15.8

  15.0

  14.3

  Central Trains

  122.9

  109.0

  103.4

  99.9

  96.9

  Virgin Cross Country

  95.1

  82.2

  73.9

  67.8

  50.5

  Gatwick Express

  –7.9

  -9.8

  -10.7

  -11.5

  -12.0

  Great Eastern

  14.0

  8.1

  2.8

  -0.3

  -5.1

  Great Western Trains

  53.9

  47.8

  41.4

  34.0

  27.3

  Great North Eastern Railway

  36.3

  16.5

  5.2

  2.0

  0.1

  Virgin West Coast

  68.4

  56.1

  53.7

  52.3

  -3.9

  Island Line

  1.9

  1.8

  1.8

  1.0

  -

  LTS Rail

  25.1

  23.4

  21.9

  20.6

  19.3

  Merseyrail Electrics

  6.5

  5.9

  5.7

  5.4

  5.5

  Midland Main Line

  2.4

  0.9

  -0.8

  -2.6

  -4.4

  Connex South Central

  54.8

  46.9

  43.4

  38.3

  35.9

  Silverlink

  35.5

  29.5

  26.4

  23.0

  20.0

  North Western Trains

  89.8

  81.6

  74.9

  71.7

  69.0

  Regional Railways North East

  122.9

  109.5

  102.3

  97.3

  93.7

  Scotrail Railways

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Wales & West Railway

  120.5

  114.0

  106.9

  100.3

  95.2

  South West Trains

  62.2

  57.4

  51.4

  47.5

  44.0

  Thames Trains

  60.8

  55.7

  50.5

  45.2

  35.7

  Thameslink Rail

  24.8

  17.0

  13.5

  7.6

  3.8

  Chiltern Railway

  -8.7

  -16.2

  -22.5

  -23.2

  27.0

  Connex South Eastern

  12.8

  9.9

  5.7

  4.7

  3.3

  West Anglia Great Northern

  85.1

  61.1

  49.1

  40.4

  32.6

  Total

  34.7

  25.4

  13.1

  4.3

  14.6

  Total with gross PTE costs

  1,162.7

  973.0

  847.0

  753.4

  588.9

  Total with net PTE costs

  1,575.7

  1,352.3

  1,203.3

  1,092.0

  915.2

  Counterfeit Aircraft Parts
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 696, how many counterfeit parts have been found on foreign-registered aircraft operating to or from the United Kingdom in the last five years. [37920]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We do not hold this information. It is the responsibility of the State of Registry of an aircraft to ensure that only approved parts are used on it.

  Aircraft Inspections
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of ramp checks undertaken on(a) United Kingdom-registered aircraft and (b) foreign-registered
  292
  In 1997–98, the English Partnerships Investment Fund supported schemes to reclaim and/or service 1,800 hectares of vacant, derelict and contaminated land.

  Rail Subsidies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the next five years the Government subsidy to be paid to(a) Railtrack and (b) each train operating company. [37919]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Railtrack receives no subsidy direct from the Government. Subsidy to the railway is paid to train operating companies. The table provides details of payments which the Government plan to make to, and receive from, each train operating company for the five years 1998–99—2002–03, at February 1997 prices.

  aircraft by the Civil Aviation Authority, indicating the airlines involved and the defects found in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [37921]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer to my answer of 26 February 1998,Official Report, columns 325–26. Since then a ramp check has been carried out on an aircraft from each of the following foreign airlines: Biman, Ghana Airways, Azerbaijan Airlines and Uzbekistan Airlines.

  In the 12 months to the end of March 1998 the CAA carried out 75 ramp checks on UK aircraft from the following operators:

  Aeromega

  Air Hanson

  Alan Mann

  Bristows

  British Airways

  293

  British Midland Airways

  Burman

  Cabair

  Castle Air

  Cheqair

  Coventry Heli Centre

  Easyjet

  Elite Helicopters

  Fast Helicopters

  Flightline

  Gill Aviation

  Grampian

  Hi-line

  Hecray

  Isle of Scilly Skybus

  Looporder

  Lynton

  Manx

  Monarch

  National Grid

  Newquay Air

  Oxford Air Services

  PLM Dollar

  Sabre

  Sloane Helis

  Solent Helicopters

  Southernair

  Sterling

  Veritair

  Virgin Atlantic

  Yorks Heli Centre.

  Unlike the targeted ramp checks on foreign operators, ramp checks on UK operators are part of the normal oversight process and take place on a random basis. The defects found as a result of these ramp checks could be listed only at disproportionate cost.

  Motorcycle Licences
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will increase the time allowed for provisional motorcycle licence holders to pass their test, in respect of women who become pregnant before the expiry of the one year time limit. [37975]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Provisional motorcycle licences are issued with a two year validity period. A licence holder who has not passed the motorcycle test by the end of that period cannot obtain a replacement provisional motorcycle licence within the following 12 months. If there are medical or other reasons why a person would wish to suspend their learner rider status, such as pregnancy, the licence can be returned to the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, so as to preserve the remainder of the validity period.

  Footways
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list 294
  the disability organisations which will be consulted as part of the review of guidance to local authorities on the designation of footways as shared use facilities. [37826]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: We expect to consult formally with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee along with the Joint Committee on Mobility for Partially Sighted and Blind People as well as the Joint Committee on Mobility for Disabled People.

  Views will also be sought from local authorities and groups representing pedestrians and cyclists. Comments will be welcomed from all interested parties. The review process is just beginning, and detailed consultations are unlikely to be initiated before the end of this year.

  Millennium Dome
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much contaminated soil has been removed from the Millennium Dome site; to which site it was moved; and what consultations took place prior to its removal. [38126]

  Angela Eagle
  Around 200,000 tonnes of contaminated soil from the area of the Greenwich Peninsula which is to be leased to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has been disposed of off-site.

  Contaminated soil which cannot be reused on site is disposed of at licensed landfill sites. The contractors employed by English Partnerships operating under a duty of care in the waste handling chain, are responsible for selecting the location of the landfill sites and a number of different sites have been used.

  The disposal of soils which cannot be used on-site is part of the overall remediation strategy discussed and approved by both the Environment Agency and the London Borough of Greenwich, and is consistent with Government policy.

  New Housing
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 1998,Official Report, column 543, if he will lay down mandatory minimum useable floor areas for houses and flats. [38225]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have no plans to do so.

  Bus Employees Superannuation Trust
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Lock) of 20 January 1998,Official Report, column 462, what action he proposes to take following receipt of advice from Counsel in respect of the Statement of Claim brought by the Trustee of the Bus Employees Superannuation Trust against his Department; when he proposes to take action; and if he will make a statement. [38072]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  After consideration by Ministers of the advice received from Counsel, and all the relevant background, my Department will be responding to the Statement of Claim in the near future.
  295
  This is consistent with our hope that all outstanding legal matters concerning the former National Bus Company pension funds are satisfactorily resolved as soon as possible.

  Noise
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations are in place for limiting noise levels in public places with particular reference to places of entertainment. [38175]

  Angela Eagle
  Whilst there is no legislation setting specific noise limits for audience exposure to loud sound, employers and self employed persons are required under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their business activities do not expose persons not in their employment to risks to their health and safety. This would include protection against risk of damage to their hearing.

  MOT Certificates
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the procedures followed when a complaint is received alleging that a garage is issuing MoT certificates illegally; [38117]

  (2) what surveillance techniques are used in investigating garages suspected of irregularities in issuing MoT test certificates; and what training surveillance operatives receive. [38118]

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

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 8 April 1998
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about procedures followed in cases of complaints alleging that garages are issuing MOT certificates illegally; and what surveillance techniques are used to investigate garages suspected of irregularities in issuing MOT certificates and what training surveillance operatives receive.In cases where complaints are of a sufficiently detailed nature, the Inspectorate will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action against an MOT testing station. Police or Trading Standards Officers may also be involved in some cases, particularly if deception in vehicle sales is suspected. In other cases, complaints are used to target our advisory counselling or enforcement activities. These can include a visit from a Vehicle Examiner to examine documentation or an incognito test in which a Vehicle Examiner submits a vehicle for test as a member of the public and observes the test to ensure that the correct standards are applied.In cases where there is suspicion of irregularities, MOT testing stations may be observed from areas of public access or from surrounding premises to monitor vehicle movement and activities. The results of observations are compared with the issue of MOT certificates. The observation of vehicle movement at non-testing premises may also be linked to certificates issued from MOT testing stations. Staff involved in surveillance receive 'off the job' training on the requirements of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and 'on the job' training involving mentoring and sharing of best practice from managers and colleagues.The Inspectorate carries out continuous reviews of procedures for maintaining security arrangements for MOT documentation. These have included improvements in design and printing techniques to make forgery more difficult and the introduction of a stolen test certificate hotline. Reducing the market for stolen and forged test certificates is one of the objectives of the Inspectorate's MOT
  296
  computerisation project which involves setting up a computer network linking all MOT testing stations (some 18,500) with a central database containing details of every vehicle tested under the MOT scheme. The project is in its early stages and is anticipated to go live in the early years of the next decade.

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will propose measures to the EU Environment Council to reduce waste incineration to the same extent as the agreed reductions in landfill; and if he will make a statement. [38326]

  Angela Eagle
  No, I will not. The European Commission is responsible for proposing European legislation; and while Member States can encourage it to bring forward particular measures, we have no intention of doing so for a measure along the lines suggested by the hon. Member. A significant increase in capacity for incineration with energy recovery is likely to be necessary both to move towards a more sustainable waste management system and to meet the requirements of the draft landfill directive. However, we have made it clear that incineration with energy recovery needs to be considered within a framework that favours waste minimisation and recycling.

  The hon. Member may wish to be aware that the European Commission is currently working up a proposal for a new draft directive on emissions from waste incineration. It will replace the existing directives on incineration of municipal waste, with which full compliance has been achieved in England and Wales, and is likely to cover a broad range of other incineration plant. We support the need for strict emission standards for incinerations and welcome the consideration being given by the Commission to detailed issues.

  Motorway Service Station (Solihull)
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on planning application No. 98/0259 in respect of a proposed motorway service station at Ravenshaw in Solihull. [37942]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  A planning application for a motorway service area (MSA) at Junction 5 of the M42 at Ravenshaw has been submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. The Highways Agency has been consulted and has requested a traffic impact assessment so that it can consider the effect of the proposal on the operation and safety of the motorway. This is the second recent planning application for a new MSA in this area but, whatever the merits of the individual sites, no more than one signposted MSA would be permitted on this stretch of the M42.

  Planning for Communities
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations he has had with regional bodies regarding his Department's proposals on Planning for Communities. [38385]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In drawing up the proposals set out in the policy document "Planning for the Communities of the Future" the Department had regard to the responses to
  297
  the Green Paper issued by the previous Administration on "Household Growth: Where Shall We Live?". These included responses from several of the regional planning conferences.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of his Department's proposals on Planning for Communities on counties where the structure plan has already been settled. [38387]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck) on 1 April 1998,Official Report, columns 530–31.

  Recycled Land Task Force
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the membership of the taskforce, headed by Lord Rogers of Riverside, set up to look at the use of recycled land; and if he will make a statement on(a) its powers and (b) the relationship between the task force and (i) regional development agencies, (ii) Government regional offices, (iii) SERPLAN and (iv) county structure plans. [38388]

  Pedal cyclist casualties by vehicle type involved1 in accident, severity and age GB: 1992–1996

  0–15

  16–59

  60 & over

  All age 2

  Year

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Pedal cycle casualties in accidents involving a car

  1992

  35

  934

  65

  1,649

  23

  221

  123

  2,832

  1993

  29

  895

  48

  1,567

  29

  195

  107

  2,694

  1994

  29

  1,001

  35

  1,683

  25

  206

  90

  2,936

  1995

  34

  1,002

  63

  1,690

  26

  196

  123

  2,913

  1996

  32

  991

  56

  1,579

  21

  195

  109

  2,796

  Pedal cycle casualisties in accidents involving a goods vehicle3

  1992

  10

  96

  35

  254

  16

  36

  61

  397

  1993

  7

  85

  40

  225

  11

  30

  58

  343

  1994

  9

  76

  43

  243

  11

  36

  64

  357

  1995

  7

  96

  33

  206

  12

  35

  52

  342

  1996

  14

  78

  38

  232

  9

  28

  61

  343

  Pedal cycel casualities in accidents involving other cyclists

  1992

  0

  27

  5

  63

  0

  4

  5

  94

  1993

  3

  17

  1

  64

  0

  4

  4

  86

  1994

  1

  25

  5

  56

  0

  9

  6

  91

  1995

  4

  31

  4

  48

  1

  4

  9

  83

  1996

  1

  31

  3

  38

  1

  5

  5

  74

  Pedal cycle casualities in accidents involving TWMV4

  1992

  2

  24

  1

  39

  3

  5

  6

  70

  1993

  2

  26

  3

  45

  0

  8

  5

  80

  1994

  0

  22

  0

  52

  1

  5

  1

  80

  1995

  3

  25

  3

  38

  2

  3

  8

  68

  1996

  0

  27

  1

  16

  0

  4

  1

  47

  1 These categories are not mutually exclusive

  2 Includes age not reported

  3Includes LGV and HGV

  4Two wheeled motor vehicle (Mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles including combinations)

  Pedestrian Accidents
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many pedestrians aged(a) 0 to 15, (b) 16 to 59 and (c) 60 years and above have been (i) killed and (ii) seriously injured in accidents involving (1) cars, (2) goods vehicles,
  298
  Mr. Caborn
  The membership of the Task Force is currently being finalised. It will incorporate members with a range of backgrounds, including local authorities, the planning, architectural and development professions, interest groups and others with an interest in making the best use of previously developed land. The Task Force will be an advisory body, taking forward its objectives as set out in "Planning for the Communities of the Future". The role of the Government Offices for the Regions, SERPLAN and county structure plans, and the future role of Regional Development Agencies, will not be affected, although I hope that the work of the Task Force will assist these bodies in carrying out their responsibilities.

  Cyclist Accidents
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many pedal cyclists aged(a) 0 to 15, (b) 16 to 59 and (c) 60 years and above have been (i) killed and (ii) seriously injured in accidents involving (1) cars, (2) goods vehicles, (3) other cyclists and (4) motorcycles in each of the last available five years. [38542]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  (3) cyclists and (4) motorcycles in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [38541]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Only those pedestrians hit by the specified vehicle are included; other pedestrian casualties in the accident are excluded.
  299

  Pedestrian casualties hit by vehicle type, severity and age: GB: 1992–1996

  0–15

  16–59

  60 and over

  All ages 1

  Year

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Pedestrian casualties hit by a car

  1992

  146

  4,181

  360

  4,170

  491

  2,255

  1,000

  10,741

  1993

  121

  3,587

  326

  3,758

  431

  2,091

  880

  9,558

  1994

  122

  3,999

  311

  3,828

  381

  2,026

  822

  9,989

  1995

  107

  3,810

  271

  3,732

  379

  1,866

  763

  9,547

  1996

  108

  3,560

  297

  3,571

  331

  1,745

  740

  9,008

  Pedestriam casualities hit by a goods 2vehicle

  1992

  16

  306

  77

  467

  110

  250

  204

  1,034

  1993

  20

  241

  80

  358

  125

  221

  225

  836

  1994

  19

  254

  78

  375

  95

  218

  192

  872

  1995

  12

  221

  74

  330

  63

  191

  150

  754

  1996

  16

  226

  64

  319

  63

  147

  145

  702

  Pedestrian casualities hit by pedal cyclists

  1992

  0

  16

  0

  30

  3

  37

  3

  85

  1993

  0

  28

  1

  31

  3

  42

  4

  104

  1994

  2

  19

  0

  40

  2

  36

  4

  100

  1995

  0

  21

  0

  30

  4

  47

  4

  100

  1996

  1

  27

  0

  32

  1

  30

  2

  90

  Pedestrian casualities hit by a TMMV3

  1992

  8

  119

  11

  234

  32

  142

  51

  504

  1993

  4

  101

  11

  194

  37

  122

  53

  436

  1994

  6

  90

  8

  184

  26

  116

  41

  410

  1995

  5

  102

  7

  184

  33

  100

  45

  372

  1996

  2

  76

  11

  164

  28

  77

  41

  329

  1Includes age not reported

  2Includes LGV and HGV

  3 Two wheeled motor vehicle (mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles including combinations).

  Rate and Rent Arrears
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the figures for arrears to date in London boroughs of Hackney, Islington, Lambeth and Southwark in respect of(a) domestic rates, (b) community charge, (c) council tax and (d) rents; and what are the average figures for Inner London boroughs[38237]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Information on outstanding arrears with respect to domestic rates is not available.

  Information on community charge and cumulative council tax arrears for local authorities is not collected

  Rent arrears

  Community charge1 £000

  Council tax1£000

  Cumulative1£000

  As a percentage of rent roll foe 1996/97

  Hackney

  2,080

  27,395

  35,087

  30.1

  Islington

  n/a

  n/a

  16,854

  15.6

  Lambeth

  54,314

  41,426

  30,186

  26.0

  Southwark

  24,608

  13,508

  23,500

  16.7

  Total Inner London

  n/a

  n/a

  2163,913

  215.4

  1 Comparisons of amounts of arrears can be misleading as authorities' figures reflect decisions about when to write off arrears, and the amounts of debts debited.

  2 It would not be meaningful to attempt to provide an average rent arrears figures for the Inner London boroughs. We have instead provided the total cumulative rent arrears for all the Inner London boroughs, together with this figure expressed as a percentage of their rent roll.

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the annual rates of sickness absence for employees of the London boroughs of (i) Hackney, (ii) Islington,
  300
  centrally. However, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) regularly publish estimates for individual authorities. The information shown is provisional and relates to the position at 31 March 1997, and will be available in their Revenue Collection Statistics 1996–97 publication which is expected to be available from May 1998.

  The information on rent arrears is based on information provided by the London boroughs on their Housing Subsidy Claim returns.

  Average figures on community charge and council tax arrears for Inner London boroughs are not available as information has not been received from all inner London boroughs.

  (iii) Lambeth and (iv) Southwark in each of the years 1990 to 1997; and what were the average figures for Inner London boroughs for each of these years. [38238]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not available centrally.

  Tesco Planning Application
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Government Office for the South West issued an article 14 (General Development Procedure) Order in respect of the Tesco supermarket site application in Tetbury, Gloucestershire (Ref No. CT 0547/3/R); and what timescale is envisaged for determining this order. [38320]

  Mr. Caborn
  An article 14 directive was issued in order to allow the Secretary of State time to consider whether the application should be referred to him for his determination and to prevent permission being granted until he has done so. No timescale has been set but the decision will be taken as quickly as possible.

  Anthrax (King's Cross Station)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the presence of anthrax spores in King's Cross station, with particular reference to the implications for the proposed redevelopment of the building as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [38444]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Anthrax spores were found in the loft spaces over certain office buildings at King's Cross station in 1992. Railtrack undertake biannual airborne sampling tests at the station to monitor the situation and have introduced suitable safety procedures for contractors working in those areas affected. The latest tests in March 1998 found no anthrax spores present at the station. There is no planned redevelopment of King's Cross station as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project.

  Recycling
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to encourage the growth of United Kingdom recycling industries. [37936]

  Angela Eagle
  There is already a national recycling industry, based around 100 Material Recycling Facilities and a large number of reprocessors for glass, metal, plastics and paper.

  The Government are committed to an increased level of recycling and are therefore keen to see an expansion of this industry.

  We have introduced a number of measures to achieve this.
  an increase in the higher rate of landfill tax from £7 per tonne to£10 per tonne from April 1999;a review of the Packaging Regulations, to ensure that they meet their objective of doubling the recycling and recovery of packaging waste by 2001;publication of guidance to local authorities on revising and updating their recycling plans.
  We have initiated discussions with representatives of local authorities, the waste management industry, reprocessors, manufacturers and trade associations to ascertain what further measures can be taken by both industry and Government to increase recycling.
  302
  We and colleagues in the DTI are examining the progress of the Producer Responsibility initiatives in end of life vehicles, newspapers, electrical and electronic goods, tyres, and batteries and the extent to which this initiative might be extended. Most of these sectors are also the subject of proposed EC legislation.

  We shall review the waste strategy for England and Wales. A consultation paper is to be issued shortly. One of the main elements for the new strategy will be an examination of how we can improve our national performance on recycling.

  Other drives will have a positive effect on the recycling industry in the longer term. As well as the continuing effect of the packaging legislation, these include: further guidance my Department will be issuing to local authorities on good practice later this year, and consideration by local authorities of joint municipal waste strategies with neighbouring authorities.

  Rural Public Transport
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the assistance to public transport in rural areas announced in the Budget will be allocated to(a) the providers of bus services and (b) the operators of rail services. [38563]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Budget included provision for an additional £50 million a year across the UK for rural public transport. There is no specific provision for the operators of rail services. £45 million will be used to support additional bus services in rural areas. The rest will be made available for community-based transport schemes. Criteria will be developed to ensure a fair and comparable distribution process, and to make sure the money gets to where it is most needed.

  Rights of Way (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken(a) to preserve existing rights of way which are suitable for use by the disabled and (b) to increase the number of rights of way accessible to the disabled. [38565]

  Angela Eagle
  My Department, through the Countryside Commission, supports the valuable work of the Fieldfare Trust in promoting access to the countryside. The rights of way network is one means by which everyone can enjoy the countryside. We commend the recently published BT Countryside for All Good Practice Guide which contains standards and guidelines on access to the countryside which take disabled people's needs into account. Local authorities, which have statutory responsibilities for rights of way, should make themselves aware of the Guide. They should also be aware of their duties and responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

  Underground Workers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safety regulations are enforced by borough councils to protect council workers working underground, in(a) sewers (b) and other confined spaces. [38450]
  303
  Angela Eagle
  The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive to protect council workers in these workplaces.

  Sellafield
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for a re-evaluation of the risk calculations that underpin the current discharge authorisations at Sellafield. [38427]

  Angela Eagle
  The Environment Agency are currently considering an application to vary the discharge authorisations at Sellafield. The Agency will carry out an evaluation of risk as part of their consideration of the application.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he intends to take on the application for new discharge authorisations from Sellafield. [38582]

  Angela Eagle
  A number of requests have been made for the Secretary of State to call this application in for his own determination. These requests are under consideration.

  Multi-screen Cinemas
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the outcome of the public inquiry held in early 1997 regarding proposed multi-screen cinema developments in Sunderland. [38584]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Progress is being made in considering the Inspector's report. However, some of the issues are complex and there has been a significant amount of post-inquiry correspondence which needs careful examination. A decision will be issued as soon as this process is completed.

  Polling Stations (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ask the Audit Commission to make access to polling stations for the disabled a local authority performance indicator. [38343]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government are discussing with the Audit Commission how local authority performance indicators might be developed. We shall ensure that access for disabled persons to polling stations is included in those discussions. As required under the Local Government Act 1992, the Commission will consult widely on its proposals in the summer.

  Limestone Pavement
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions for destruction of limestone pavement there have been in each of the past five years. [38394]

  Angela Eagle
  I am not aware of any prosecutions.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by location the number of limestone pavement orders. [38392]
  304
  Angela Eagle
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to strengthen protection of limestone pavements. [38393]

  Angela Eagle
  We are presently considering ways of improving the protection and management of our special sites. There is likely to be consultation later this year.

  Photocopier Emissions
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to assess the possible effects upon users of continued exposure to(a) ozone emissions and (b) hazardous chemicals and pollutants produced by office (i) photocopiers and (ii) laser printers; and if he will commission research into the effects of long-term exposure to photocopiers and laser printers. [38567]

  Angela Eagle
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently reviewed in detail the scientific evidence on potential health effects of occupational exposure to ozone. The evidence was presented to the Working group on the Assessment of Toxic Chemicals (WATCH) committee, a tripartite committee of experts in occupational health, in 1995.

  WATCH agreed that the lead health effect of ozone is irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Based on the results of studies in human volunteers, WATCH recommended that an Occupational Exposure Standard (OES) of 0.2 ppm (15-minute reference period) should be established in the UK for ozone. This recommendation was endorsed by ACTS (Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances). Thus, within the UK there is now an OES for ozone of 0.2 ppm (15-min reference period).

  In relation to exposure to ozone from photocopier machines, short-term (i.e transient) exposures of far below 0.1 ppm occur in normal circumstances. At these levels there is no risk of development of any health effects in office workers in the vicinity of photocopier machines. However, if there is inadequate general ventilation, it has been estimated that exposures up to 0.5 ppm can occur. As long as photocopiers are situated in locations which have adequate general ventilation, ozone concentrations will remain far below the level at which there might be any risk of irritation in office workers.

  HSE has issued guidance on ozone (EH38 revised, published 1996), which indicates that working with photocopy and laser printer machines is a low risk activity. As long as there is adequate general ventilation, there will be no risks to health from emissions of substances from these machines.

  Photocopy toners are fine powders which have a faint plastic odour. There is an extensive body of experimental research results from studies conducted at a number of laboratories throughout the world, into the potential health effects of a range of 16 different commercial photocopy toners. This research has been evaluated within HSE. This evaluation indicates that photocopy toner dusts are lacking in any specific toxic properties.

  Occupational exposure to photocopy toner dusts has been assessed by HSE. This report indicated that even under worst-case scenario conditions (a print-shop operator working continuously for 8-hours and carrying

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  out two maintenance procedures during that time), the total exposure to respirable photocopy toner dust would only be 0.0014 mg/m3 (the term "respirable" indicates the airborne fraction which is capable of reaching the lungs).

  Overall, it can be concluded that working in close proximity to photocopy machines including carrying out maintenance procedures involving changing toner cartridges etc, will carry no risks of lung damage or other effects on human health in relation to the inhalation of toner dust.

  As with other forms of electrical machinery, frequent use generates heat. Thus, photocopy machines should be kept in well ventilated areas as a common sense precaution to prevent the build up of heat which might lead to discomfort in workers in close proximity to such machines.

  Emissions from laser-printers are anticipated to be similar to those from photocopy machines, and hence the information provided above should be of relevance in this regard.

  British Transport Police
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to amend the jurisdiction of the British Transport Police in respect of matters outside their immediate operating areas; [38419]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the status of the British Transport Police following the privatisation of the railways; [38421]

  (3) if he will review the powers of members of the British Transport Police when they are dealing with emergencies outside their immediate operating areas; [38420]

  (4) what assessment he had made of proposals to establish a police authority for British Transport Police and for that authority to be the employer of British Transport Police officers and civilian support staff; [38422]

  (5) what are the Government's plans for the future of the British Transport Police. [38424]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  A working group including officials from my Department, the Home Office, the British Transport Police (BTP) and the British Railways Board has been looking into these issues. I expect the group to complete its work and make recommendations to ministers shortly. The Home Office are about to undertake a consultation process with police staff associations on a limited extension of the BTP's jurisdiction.

  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons existing rail operators require a Police Service Agreement with British Transport Police in order to obtain a licence; and for what reasons no similar requirement is made of new operators. [38423]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Rail Regulator is not authorised to grant, without the approval of the Secretary of State, any licence (other than a network licence) which does not contain a condition requiring the licence holder to enter into an agreement approved by the Secretary of State with the British Transport Police for the provision to the licence holder of core police services.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the(a) effectiveness and (b) operational costs of the administration of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. [38543]

  Angela Eagle
  The Environment Agency in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland have a duty to monitor business compliance with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 ("the Regulations") and ensure that businesses have satisfactorily discharged their recovery and recycling obligations. The monitoring of the Regulations will be an ongoing process.

  A Compliance Cost Assessment (CCA) on the effects of the Regulations on business was included in the Consultation paper on the draft Regulations which was issued by the former Department of the Environment, in July 1996. A review of the Regulations is now underway and is to be finalised around the end of May when the Advisory Committee on Packaging will submit their recommendation to my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment. A regulatory appraisal (formerly CCA) will accompany any proposals for amendment.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will review the legislation relating to the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as recommended by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. [38774]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am today setting in hand a review, jointly with the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It will examine the legislation relating to the Environment Agency in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, with a view to identifying any barriers preventing the Agencies from taking an integrated approach to the environment. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommended in its nineteenth report (Cm 3165) that such a review should be carried out within three years of the Agencies' taking up their functions, in April 1996.

  The terms of reference of the review are:
  To investigate the possible rationalisation of the regulatory mechanisms which the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency operate, and the opportunities for integrating regulatory regimes which currently operate on a similar basis but under different legislation, so as:to identify any significant barriers to integration within each of the Agencies, whose removal would improve the quality of regulation by producing worthwhile improvements in environmental protection and enhancement, customer service and business efficiency,to establish whether such barriers could be overcome by administrative means or management action by the Agencies; and insofar as this is not the case, to recommend legislative changes to enable them to be removed.307
  The review is not intended to consider the integration of the philosophical approaches underlying the different regulatory regimes, which are often bound up with European Union legislation. Nor is the review considering integration of the Agencies themselves.

  The review will be carried out by the relevant Government Departments and the Agencies. Interested bodies will be invited to contribute their views at an early stage. We envisage that the review will take about a year to complete.

  Any legislative changes in England and Wales arising out of the review would be considered by Parliament. Since the results of the review will be submitted around the time of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, it would fall to Scottish Ministers to consider whether to put corresponding proposals to the Scottish Parliament.

  Private Hire Vehicles
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about London taxi fares and fees. [38778]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made an Order increasing London taxi fares by 3.67 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday 25 April 1997. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum charge of £1.40 (including a hire charge of £1.00) for the first 462 metres (505.4 yards) or 102 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 231 metres (252.7 yards) or 51 seconds until the fare exceeds £9.40 and 20p for each 154 metres (168.5 yards) or 34 seconds thereafter.

  The Secretary of State has also approved an increase in the London taxi driver licence fee for £87.00 to £103 (for a three year licence). There will be no increase this year in the fee for a London taxi vehicle licence which has stood at £78 since 1992.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to issue a revised circular on planning and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement. [38755]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department has today issued Circular 6/98: Planning and Affordable Housing, which replaces Circular 13/96. The Circular is intended to provide a clearer framework for preparing plan policies on affordable housing. It should help local planning authorities adopt a more consistent, plan-based approach, which will facilitate speedier and more effective negotiations and decisions on planning applications involving affordable housing.

  The Government wish to optimise the contribution that the planning system can make to the overall supply of affordable housing. However, they also want to ensure that affordable housing policies in development plans are consistent with Government guidance and that they are consistently applied.

  The new Circular lowers and further revises the existing thresholds, confirms a preference for providing affordable housing as part of the proposed development, and clarifies further the use of financial contributions in
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  lieu of on-site provision. It also clarifies that the policy in the Circular applies to all types of new housing proposals.

  The Circular revises the existing threshold arrangements so that local planning authorities should only seek an element of affordable housing in:

  (a) housing developments of 25 or more dwellings or residential site of 1 hectare or more, irrespective of the number of dwellings; and

  (b) in Inner London, in housing developments of 15 or more dwellings, or to residential sites of 0.5 hectare or more, irrespective of the number of dwellings.

  In settlements in rural areas with a population of 3,000 or fewer, the local planning authority should adopt appropriate thresholds. The new arrangements also provide, in exceptional circumstances, for local planning authorities in those areas where the higher threshold at (a) would apply to seek to adopt a lower threshold, through the local plan process. These threshold arrangements should be based on assessments which include local needs and available supply of land for housing, and adopted only through the local plan process.

  Where a local planning authority has not yet adopted its local plan or UDP it will have to have regard to Circular 6/98 in preparing its plan. However, PPG1 makes it clear that where development plans are very close to adoption at the time that new information (including guidance) becomes available, it may be preferable to adopt the plan and then start an immediate review. Therefore, in cases where plans are close to adoption (for example where a modifications stage has already been held and no further modifications on other issues are proposed by the local authority), it may be appropriate, in order to prevent further delay, for the local planning authority to adopt its plan and to prepare proposals for early alterations to the plan having regard to the policy guidance in Circular 6/98.

  Local planning authorities should prepare such proposals for alterations expeditiously and agree timetables for alteration with the Government Office for the Region. In cases where local planning authorities fail to take such action promptly, the Secretary of State may well consider it appropriate to direct them to prepare alterations to their adopted development plans within a specified period.

  All local planning authorities will have to take into account the policy guidance in the new Circular in determining application for planning permission.

  The Government will monitor the implementation of the affordable housing policy and intend to incorporate the advice in the new Circular in the future revision of PPG3: Housing.

  Single Vehicle Approval
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the arrangements for single vehicle approval due to come into effect on 1 May will be modified; and if he will make a statement. [38916]

  Dr. Strang
  I am laying regulations today that will amend the procedures for importing cars and light goods vehicles that have not been built (type approved) to
  309
  British or European standards. The new measures, which modify those already in place, will ensure that safety and environmental standards appropriate for use in Britain are met.

  The changes start to take effect from 1 May 1998. The main points are:
  Safety and environmental standards appropriate to British conditions will be determined by an inspection of the vehicle's design and construction prior to first registration in Britain—"Single Vehicle Approval" (SVA).The current definition of "personal import" will remain for the time being—ie where

  (a) the vehicle has been purchased outside the United Kingdom for the personal use of the individual importing it or his dependants;

  (b) the vehicle has been so used by that individual or his dependants on roads outside the UK before it is imported;

  (c) the vehicle is intended solely for such personal use in the UK, and

  (d) the individual importing the vehicle intends to remain in the UK for not less than twelve months from the time when application is made for a first licence for the vehicle under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.

  Vehicles up to 3 years old that are personally imported by individuals will have to pass the SVA test before they can be registered. There will be a 2 month transitional period during which individuals who have made arrangements to import vehicles under the existing personal import conditions may continue to do so.Manufacturers and independent dealers will be able to import and sell cars and light goods vehicles from outside Europe up to a cumulative maximum total of 50 examples of any one model in any one year. In such cases, vehicles up to 10 years old will be subject to SVA.I will consult on options for future arrangements for vehicle imports under the SVA scheme, in particular the question of numbers. This will be undertaken by 1 January 1999.From 1 May 1998, SVA will recognise overseas approvals if they are broadly equivalent to SVA requirements.Any motor caravan or ambulance may be imported by anyone and will not have to undergo SVA, although such vehicles (and any other light passenger car or light goods vehicle) may be volunteered for inspection. Similarly, the scheme will, from 1 May, be available to manufacturers of vehicles constructed using parts from a previously registered vehicle.Vehicles kept by members of Visiting Forces will be exempt from SVA; they will undergo comparable inspections by the Visiting Force.Cars that have been type-approved in Europe are not affected by these measures, nor is any vehicle that has been licensed and registered before 1 July 1998.SVA will apply to amateur-built vehicles registered on or after 1 July 1998.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Freedom of Information
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to publish the Freedom of Information Bill; and what factors underlie the length of time taken over its preparation. [38123]

  Dr. David Clark
  I expect to publish a draft Bill later in the year, which will continue the consultation process started with the White Paper "Your Right to Know". In 310
  the light of comments on this, a Bill will be introduced into Parliament as soon as the legislative timetable permits.

  The consultation period on the White paper formally ended on 28 February, although a significant number of responses came in after this date. I am now considering the main points arising from the consultation, and how we should best take account of them in preparing the draft Bill. Naturally, the exercise has added time to the overall process, however I strongly believe that it is time well spent, since consultation is vital if we are to develop legislation which is to make a genuine and lasting contribution to opening up government.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the new guidance on market testing and contracting out will be published. [38304]

  Dr. David Clark
  In the early summer.

  Prior Options Review
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the options which will be included in the prior options review of Government agencies. [38308]

  Dr. David Clark
  During the prior options reviews of their Next Steps agencies and agency candidates, departments must thoroughly examine the case for abolition; privatisation; contracting-out; market testing; rationalisation or merger with other areas of government; and agency or NDPB status. All of these options are available and there is no presupposition that any outcome is more favoured than another. The decision on future status is made with the aim of achieving the most appropriate and cost effective way of carrying out the functions so as to deliver best value for money and best service.

WALES

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for the steel industry in Wales. [36462]

  Mr. Hain
  The British Steel industry as a whole, like other parts of the manufacturing sector, is affected by the current strength of sterling. However, the Welsh steel industry, which is among the most competitive in the world is well placed to take advantage of the stable business environment which is being created by current Government policies aimed at securing low inflation and sound public finances. I am confident that it will continue to make a major contribution to the Welsh economy through exports and the provision of quality jobs.

  Road Surfaces
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of road surface have been laid with(a) whisper concrete and (b) porous asphalt since 18 May 1997. [37030]
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  Mr. Hain
  Nearly 14 miles of porous asphalt has been laid in Wales in the last five years although none since 18 May 1997.

  A contract for the first "whisper concrete" carriageway has been let, to be 7.5 miles in length, which will start to be laid next month.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints his Department has received relating to landfill sites in the last three years, separately identifying those relating to health hazards. [37058]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Complaints relating to landfill sites over the last three years have been received by a number of Welsh Office Divisions. Some of these have raised concerns relating to health issues. It is not possible to identify all these representations or those which specifically raise health issues.

  In the light of recent representations concerning the Nantygwyddon landfill site, my ministerial colleagues and I are considering commissioning research on levels of ill-health around landfill sites in the UK. Officials are currently considering the scientific feasibility of such a study.

  Suicides (Farmers)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers in Wales have committed suicide in the last five years. [37457]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The number of cases among farm owners and managers registered with the Office for National Statistics as occurring in the last five calendar years was:

  1993: 11

  1994: 12

  1995: 7

  1996: 5

  1997: 6 (provisional).

  Information Technology
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money is being provided by his Department to improve IT facilities for businesses in rural areas. [37373]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Rural Transport
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the Government intend to spend on improving public transport facilities in rural areas of Wales during the next year. [37371]

  Mr. Hain
  Local authorities have powers to promote public transport using the resources allocated to them. The level of support, which is a matter for local authorities, is currently running at around £18 million per annum, much of which will benefit rural areas. In addition, the Government will continue to support the provision of passenger rail services in rural areas. They have also set 312
  a budget for 1998–99 of £125,000 for the Rural Transport Innovation Grant scheme, and some £2.5 million will be made available for improved rural transport as part of the rural transport package announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to improve rural transport services; and if he will make a statement. [38128]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government are developing an integrated transport policy which will reflect our election Manifesto commitment to protect transport services in rural areas. The policy will be set out in a UK White Paper to be published later in the spring, together with a complementary transport policy statement for Wales. In line with the development of this policy, an additional £2.5 million is to be made available in 1998–99 for improved rural transport services in Wales, as part of the rural transport package announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement of 17 March.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to encourage the provision of bus services in rural Wales, with particular reference to Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [38460]

  Mr. Hain
  Local authorities have the powers to subsidise socially necessary bus services out of the resources allocated to them. In addition, some £2.25 million will be made available in 1998–99 to improve rural bus services in Wales, including Flintshire, as part of the Bus Partnership Fund announced in the Budget by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Substance Misuse (Gwynedd)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much Government money was spent in Gwynedd on substance misuse services and prevention in each of the last three years. [37788]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  North Wales Health Authority spent £392,000(i) in 1995/96, £440,000 in 1996/97 and £468,000 in 1997/98 on substance misuse services in the area of Gwynedd unitary authority.

  £142,000 was spent by Gwynedd County Council on alcohol or drug misuse in 1995/96, £25,000 by Gwynedd Unitary Authority in 1996/97 and the latest budget information suggests that the authority will have spent £64,000 on drug or alcohol misuse in 1997/98.

  This excludes indirect Government expenditure on substance misuse services in Gwynedd. The Welsh Drug and Alcohol Unit for example, which is funded by the Welsh Office, provides practical and administrative support throughout Wales to those involved in combating drug and alcohol misuse. The Welsh Office also provides grant funding to organisations such as Cyngor Alcohol Information Services which is based in Conwy but provides a range of information, counselling, residential and treatment services for persons in North Wales experiencing alcohol and drug related harm.

  Notes

  (i) Estimate due to boundary changes.

  Structural Funds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he(a) has taken and (b) plans to take, (i) on a European level and (ii) on a UK level to protect the current levels of entitlement to structural fund moneys in Wales under the current review of those funds. [37834]

  Mr. Hain
  On 26 March I met with Commissioner Wulf Mathies in London, and strongly recommended that the Commission consider the Welsh case for retaining structural fund support post-1999. I am confident that the Commissioner appreciates the strength of our case, and that we are committed to obtaining a fair deal for Wales.

  Welsh Office officials are closely involved in all aspects of the review and policy formulation, and form part of the UK delegation involved in detailed negotiations in Brussels. They are committed to ensuring that Wales continues to secure the maximum benefit from the funds after 1999.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he has taken to enhance road safety in Wales. [38133]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government are developing a road safety strategy for Wales which will work in conjunction with the integrated transport policy.

  Later this year, new road casualty reduction targets will be set for 2010. Specific measures and initiatives towards achieving the new target will be in the following broad policy areas:

  vehicle safety

  drink-drive

  safety engineering

  speed management

  walking and cycling strategy

  driver training and testing

  enforcement

  road safety education and publicity.

  A550
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce traffic congestion on the A550 at its intersection with roads at the English border; and if he will make a statement. [38131]

  Mr. Hain
  Maintenance activities are currently planned to minimise traffic congestion. The use of overnight and off-peak working whenever possible together with an embargo on all but essential works during Bank and school holiday periods ensures that full road capacity is available for peak flows. Future proposals include the provision of enhanced driver information and traffic management systems with longer term proposals for capacity enhancement improvements at critical points on the network. These proposals are being assessed as part of the ongoing review of the Welsh trunk road programme. Details of the strategy for and role of the programme will be included in the report on the roads review to be published later this year.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of inward investment for the year 1997. [38288]

  Mr. Hain
  For the 1997–98 financial year the Welsh Development Agency has recorded 128 inward investment projects which forecast 13,842 new and safeguarded jobs and capital investment of over £695 million.

  EU Funds
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the amount of European Union funds which would be lost to Alyn and Deeside in the event of the loss of Objective 2 Status. [38289]

  Mr. Hain
  Alyn and Deeside does not currently meet the eligibility criteria for Objective 2 or 5(b) funding. There will therefore be no financial loss to the area under the new Objective 2 criteria post-1999.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the provision of traffic calming measures in Wales. [38132]

  Mr. Hain
  A number of traffic calming trials have been implemented on the Trunk Road Network and the results will be available later this year. The results will allow decisions to be made on the implementation of traffic calming elsewhere on the network.

  We place strong emphasis on making residential areas safer for children and want traffic to adapt to the needs of all vulnerable road users. We are promoting a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists by encouraging, where appropriate, traffic calming schemes, 20 mph zones, safer routes to schools and alternatives to the car.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of council house sales receipts he has assumed for 1998–99 in Alyn and Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [38292]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The level of council house sales receipts has been estimated at £14 million, net of discount to tenants, in 1998–99 for Wales. For the purpose of estimating the requirement for Housing Revenue Account Subsidy in Wales, it has been assumed that Flintshire will receive £0.4 million, net of discount, in 1998–99.

  Travellers' Children
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local education authorities in Wales who applied for support to educate mobile children under section 488 of the Education Act 1996 indicating the amount granted for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [38059]

  Mr. Hain
  Details of the local education authorities in Wales which applied for funding under the section 488 grant scheme for the education of travellers'
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  children—including those from the Showman's Guild—and the amount of grant awarded in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, are shown in the following table:

  Local education grant funding in Wales between 1996–98 and 1998–99

  £

  Grant awarded

  Authority

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Methyr Tydfil/Bridgend

  7,613

  4,268

  4,268

  Torfaen/Blaenau Gwent

  21,400

  21,900

  21,900

  Cardiff

  51,000

  52,200

  52,200

  Pembrokeshire

  14,687

  15,032

  15,032

  Neath Port Talbot

  17,000

  17,400

  17,400

  Swansea

  17,000

  17,400

  17,400

  Wrexham/Denbighshire/Conwy/ Flintshire

  21,300

  21,800

  21,800

  Gwynedd

  -

  0

  -

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  -

  -

  0

  Total

  150,000

  150,000

  150,000

  In the case of the three joint projects shown above, grant is paid to Merthyr Tydfil, Torfaen and Wrexham as co-ordinating authorities.

  Public Bodies (Female Appointments)
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to increase the number of female appointments to public bodies in Wales. [38838]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have taken a strong policy line on the appointment of women in Wales. I have set a goal of increasing the proportion of women in public appointments to over 30 per cent. by the year 2001. I have put new procedures for public appointments based on open competition and appointment on merit in place.

  General practice is that appointments are now advertised publicly and widely, nominations are accepted from a variety of sources such as self nominations, professional and representative associations. I have personally ensured that all shortlists for appointments for which I am responsible include women candidates.

  My Department is developing a programme with representative organisations to increase the pool of good candidates from a variety of backgrounds. As part of this programme my Department has developed proposals for innovative public appointment pilot projects. I will be making an announcement about the detail of these pilot projects in June.

  Alongside of this my Department is constantly seeking ways to improve the public appointments process and to raise awareness with different representative groups of women. Greater media cover both in newspapers and the radio have already been put into place, and presentations being given to key audiences.

  My policy is already seeing results with a 2 per cent. increase of women in appointments from 26 per cent. to 28 per cent. since last year.

  Drugs Initiatives
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the costs of(a) anti-drugs education initiatives
  316
  and (b) other drugs reduction initiatives in each of the past 14 years; and what are the expected costs of similar campaigns in each of the next five years. [38359]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on expenditure on anti-drugs education and other drug reduction initiatives in each of the past 14 years is not held centrally. Similarly, the costs of any similar campaigns in each of the next five years are unlikely to be available from a central source.

  In 1997–98 the Department spent £1 million on combating drug and alcohol misuse, £500,000 of which was used to operate the Welsh Drug and Alcohol Unit, £100,000 to support Drug and Alcohol Action Teams and the remainder was used towards other drug and alcohol initiatives.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what anti-drugs education campaigns in Wales in the last 10 years resulted in a measurable reduction in drug use; how many people were involved; and over what period they were undertaken. [38360]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  This information is not available in the form requested. However, there is evidence that anti-drugs education campaigns are effective in reducing drug misuse. For example, positive results in delaying the onset of illegal drug use were demonstrated in "Project Charlie" (Home Office report). this used multi-faceted interventions which addressed knowledge, skills and attitudes within the context of a range of background factors such as price, availability, peer pressure, curiosity, incomes, unemployment, life events etc.

  In Wales we are now implementing a more multi-faceted campaign strategy which does not propose one message or concentrate on one drug. Rather, using the Strategic Prevention Action Plan launched in November and being implemented from April 1998, the campaign focuses on different target groups in a multitude of settings and incorporating the following new approaches:
  exploring relevant and appropriate messages for young people concerning health, social, legal and environmental risks;using up-to-date and bilingual materials which have been designed and field-tested to reflect local concerns and issues;proposing and supporting interventions for those who are considered 'at risk'.

  Medicinal Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many deaths of people aged over 60 years have resulted from(a) over-medication, (b) suicide and (c) other misuse of medicinal drugs in each of the past 10 years. [38353]

  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.

  Drug-related Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many deaths in each of the past nine years in Wales resulted from the use of(a) heroin, (b) temazepam, (c) cocaine/ crack, (d) LSD, (e) solvents, (f) amphetamines, (g) ecstasy, (h) paracetamol, (i) co-proxamol, (j) khat, (k) alcohol, (l) tobacco and (m) cannabis. [38356]
  317
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The following table, compiled by the Office for National Statistics, shows for each of the listed substances, the number of deaths of Welsh residents occurring annually from 1993. Comparable data for earlier years could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Deaths to residents of Wales, 1993–96

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  (a) Heroin1

  1

  1

  1

  3

  Alone

  1

  1

  0

  3

  With other drugs

  0

  0

  1

  0

  (b) Temazapam1

  4

  8

  10

  6

  Alone

  3

  5

  2

  3

  With other drugs

  1

  3

  8

  3

  (c) Cocaine/crack1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  (d) LSD1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  (e) Solvents2

  6

  1

  1

  n/a

  (f) Amphetamines1

  1

  0

  1

  2

  Alone

  0

  0

  1

  0

  With other drugs

  1

  0

  0

  2

  (g) Ecstasy1

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Alone

  -

  0

  0

  1

  With other drugs

  -

  2

  0

  0

  (h) Paracetamol13

  5

  19

  37

  21

  Alone

  6

  7

  9

  7

  With other drugs

  9

  12

  28

  14

  (i) Co-Proxamol1,3

  5

  0

  5

  3

  Alone

  4

  0

  4

  2

  With other drugs

  1

  0

  1

  1

  (j) Khat1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  (k) Alcohol4

  240

  244

  289

  294

  (l) Tobaccos5

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  (m) Cannabis1

  1

  2

  0

  1

  Alone

  0

  0

  0

  0

  With other drugs

  1

  2

  0

  1

  1 Number of deaths where the substance was mentioned on the death certificate. Where, for example, both heroin and cannabis are mentioned on a death certificate, the death will occur twice in the table, once under 'Heroin with other drugs' and once under `Cannabis with other drugs'.

  2 Data are supplied by St. George's Hospital Medical School and are those deaths involving all volatile substances, including solvents.

  3 Paracetamol is one of the ingredients in co-proxamol. When ONS quantifies deaths from paracetamol, they include deaths where co-proxamol and other paracetamol compounds are mentioned on the death certificate under 'paracetamol with other drugs'. Hence this method is used here and deaths attributed to co-proxamol are also included under 'paracetamol with other drugs'.

  4 Deaths certified as due to alcoholic psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, non-dependent abuse of alcohol, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and toxic effects of alcohol.

  5 The Health Education Authority estimates the number of deaths of people in the UK as a result of their own smoking in 1988 as 110,000 and in 1995 as 120,000. No sub-national breakdowns are available.

  Local Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many enterprise councils there are in Wales; what estimate he has made of the number of jobs they have (i) created and (ii) secured; and if he will make a statement. [38459]

  Mr. Hain
  There are 19 approved local enterprise agencies in Wales. The Welsh Office does not hold information on the number of jobs they have helped create 318
  or safeguard. However a recent report from Wales Enterprise Ltd. indicated that in 1996–97 the enterprise agencies had:

  assisted over 2,200 new businesses to start up;

  provided over 26,000 counselling sessions to firms; and

  helped over 3,000 enterprises with the development of business plans.

  The enterprise agencies in Wales are important partners within Business Connect, and as the above figures illustrate, play a very useful role in supporting new and established businesses.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to visit Meirionnydd Nant Conwy; and if he will make a statement. [38451]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have no diary commitments in Meirionnydd
  Nant Conwy at the moment.

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

  Millennium Experience
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) of 24 February 1998,Official Report, column 204, (a) what undertakings were given to the four founding partners in return for their agreement to be sponsors and (b) what further sponsors have been confirmed since 24 February. [37517]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 59. Further sponsors will be confirmed by the New Millennium Experience Company in due course.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what areas of the design of the large scale figure for the Millennium Experience have been finalised with particular reference to(a) its load bearing qualities, (b) emergency exits, (c) point of entry and (d) the provision of lavatory facilities. [31194]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will ensure that thorough and detailed calculations are made of the load bearing capacity of the large scale figure in the Body Zone. Load bearing capacity, entry and exit points, ventilation and visitor flow requirements are being fully taken into account as the design develops. Lavatory facilities will be situated in core service areas throughout the Dome.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make the housing being built on and around the Millennium Experience site available initially for the accommodation of visitors to the Experience. [31351]

  Mr. Mandelson
  There are no plans to make the housing being built on the Greenwich peninsula available for those visiting the Millennium Experience. However, there will be a number of options for those visitors requiring accommodation. London First has been working to ensure that 10,000 extra beds will be available in London by 2000. There are a number of hotels within
  319
  easy reach of the Millennium Experience and a bed-and-breakfast scheme is also being organised by Greenwich Council.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what consultations he has undertaken with(a) the Royal Society and (b) the British Academy on the content of the Millennium Experience. [34790]

  Mr. Mandelson
  No formal consultations have taken place with either body, though I am in regular touch with the Prime Minister's Chief Scientific Adviser on the content of the Experience.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has for the use of the Welsh language in the Millennium Dome. [35131]

  Mr. Mandelson
  There will be many opportunities to explore the rich diversity of the culture of all parts of the United Kingdom, including Wales, both within the Dome and through the UK wide Challenge programme of events and activities.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the role of(a) photography, (b) art, (c) popular music, (d) radio and (e) television in displays in the Millennium Experience. [35212]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The variety, scope and nature of the individual exhibits, and of the themes they will reflect, offer opportunities for a wide range of electronic, art and other media to play a role in the Millennium Experience.

  Millennium Dome (Covering)
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the arrangements for seeking a new supplier for the covering of the Millennium Dome; when the previous contractor was informed of his failure; and what assessment he has made of the degree of compliance with the provisions of the EU regulations on tendering. [37692]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The original competitive tendering process, in accordance with domestic and EU public procurement requirements, invited bids for both PVC and PTFE. Following the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) review of its options, after the letting of the PVC contract, both Koch Hightex's and Birdair's bids for PTFE were considered and both companies were given the opportunity to reconsider their original tender price. The NMEC acted according to EU requirements throughout.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if the original contract for the covering of the Millennium Dome is still valid. [37693]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The original contract for a PVC roof covering has been terminated by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) in accordance with the terms of that contract.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if the new contractor for the covering of the Millennium Dome is on schedule with his work. [37688]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: Birdair, the company putting the roof covering on the Dome, is due to complete its work by early summer. This is on schedule.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on levels of sickness in respect of workers involved in the construction of the Millennium Dome at Greenwich. [37993]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 7 April 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 6 April 1998, Official Report, column 78.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  High Court Judges, Birmingham
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases were tried by High Court judges in Birmingham in 1997; and how many such cases over-ran the time allocated by the Listing Department. [37935]

  Mr. Hoon
  High Court judges sitting at Birmingham Crown Court heard 163 guilty pleas and 73 trials during 1997. Time estimates are agreed between the judge and the parties. Figures on the number of those cases over-running are not collated and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many receptions have been held in his Department since he took office; how many people have attended; and what was the total cost of these events. [25145]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since 1 May 1997, Ministers in the Lord Chancellor's Department have hosted four receptions. These events were attended by 924 people at a cost of £12,029.20.

  Of this sum £10,638.94 was spent on an annual event which was attended by 830 people and which the serving Lord Chancellor hosts as head of the judiciary. The figure for the previous year was £10,099,26.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Balkan States
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visits to(a) Serbia, (b) Macedonia and (c) Albania; what assessment he made of the Albanian government's cooperation with the IMF and World Bank; and what representations he made regarding the treatment of Albanians in Kosovo and the Albanian minority in Macedonia. [31960]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I visited(a) the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 1–2 February, where I met FRY Foreign Minister Jovanovic and the Montenegrin President Djukanovic; (b) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 2–4 February, where I met President Gligorov, Prime Minister Crvenkovski, Foreign Minister Handziski and opposition leaders, and chaired an EU Political Dialogue meeting with the FYROM

  321
  Government; and (c) Albania on 4–5 February, where I held meetings with Prime Minister Nano, Foreign Minister Milo and the opposition leader Dr. Berisha.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited the FRY on 5 March in his capacity as Presidency of the EU and met FRY President Milosevic and Foreign Minister Jovanovic.

  I made a further visit to the region on 11 March as EU Presidency Special Representative. I visited (a) the FRY where I met Serbian President Milutinovic and FRY Foreign Minister Jovanovic; (b) the FYROM where I again met President Gligorov, Prime Minister Crvenkovski and Foreign Minister Handziski; and (c) Albania where I met Foreign Minister Milo and the Minister of State at the Prime Ministry Islami.

  The Albanian Government are implementing an emergency package agreed with the IMF to restructure Government finances. The pyramid schemes are being wound down under the auspices of a World Bank Trust Fund.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his meetings in Belgrade expressed the EU's clear condemnation of the Serbian Police actions in Kosovo which had resulted in the deaths of a number of civilians, including women and children. He urged all sides in the dispute to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence. During my own visit to Belgrade on 11 March I reiterated the EU's deep concern with the situation in Kosovo. In Tirana and Skopje I listened to the concerns of the Albanian and FYROM governments and welcomed their support for a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo issue.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event. [35119]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hosted a Dinner for ASEM Foreign Minister at Lancaster House on 2 April at a cost of approximately £3,000. Other events planned for the next two months include lunch on 29 April for the Gulf Co-operation Council Meeting (estimated cost £1,200) and on 30 April a lunch with businessman to foster trade with Latin America (estimated cost £300). It is not, however, possible to provide a comprehensive estimate on Ministerial hospitality as the majority of events and meetings will not be finalised until nearer the time.

  Military Exports
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the first annual report into military exports will be published; and what areas it will cover. [38116]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Work is in hand on an annual report on the state of the UK's strategic export controls and their application, and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Diplomats' Children (Education)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for 322
  the most recent year for which figures are available, the number of pupils, whose parents/guardians are employed by the diplomatic service, attending private schools at public expense; and if he will list in order of number of pupils attending the schools involved [37944]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  There are at present 610 children of employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attending private schools in the United Kingdom at public expense in order to provide them with continuity of education. A list of the schools in question and the number of pupils attending them follows.

  There are 1,005 children resident with staff who are on overseas postings. 166 of these children are in the pre-school age range of three to four years. The remaining 839 are of school age.

  Overseas, staff are encouraged where possible to use the State Education System in the country where they are posted. However where there is no suitable state school these children will attend private International schools who charge fees on an annual or termly basis. Since this is a matter of parental choice at post, we are unable to provide a list of the private schools abroad with the numbers of children attending each one without incurring disproportionate cost.

  List of boarding schools used by members of the Diplomatic Service—2 April 1998

  ID

  School

  Number of children

  1006

  Abberley

  1

  383

  Aberlour House

  2

  511

  Ackworth School

  1

  3

  Aldro

  2

  1036

  All Hallows

  2

  5

  Ampleforth College

  10

  1024

  Appleford School

  1

  6

  Ardingley College

  15

  8

  Ashdown House School

  12

  9

  Ashford School

  4

  10

  Badminton School

  4

  14

  Bearwood College

  1

  531

  Beaudesert Park

  1

  15

  Bedales School

  5

  17

  Bedford High School

  2

  16

  Bedford School

  5

  18

  Bedgebury School

  3

  285

  Bellerbys College Wadhurst

  1

  22

  Benenden School

  3

  25

  Berkhamsted School

  4

  26

  Berkhamsted School for Girls

  1

  1001

  Bilton Grange

  2

  317

  Bloxham School

  1

  33

  Bradfield College

  4

  38

  Bromsgrove School

  2

  39

  Bryanston School

  17

  40

  Burgess Hill School

  1

  1030

  Cambridge Centre for 6th Form

  1

  42

  Canford School

  1

  44

  Caterham School

  4

  45

  Charterhouse School

  4

  432

  Cheltenham College Junior School

  2

  49

  Cheltenham Ladies College

  6

  1028

  City of London Freemen's

  1

  53

  Clayesmore School

  4

  1013

  Cobham Hall

  1

  1040

  Coleg Llanymydofri

  1

  1039

  Cothill House

  2

  59

  Cottesmore School

  1

  61

  Cranleigh School

  8

  323

  List of boarding schools used by members of the Diplomatic Service—2 April 1998

  ID

  School

  Number of children

  63

  Cumnor House

  5

  64

  Dauntseys School

  4

  65

  Dean Close School

  3

  66

  Dollar Academy

  1

  550

  Dorset House School

  2

  67

  Dover College

  1

  70

  Dragon School

  11

  1041

  Duke of Kent School

  1

  72

  Dulwich College Preparatory School

  2

  71

  Dulwich College

  2

  1027

  Durham School

  1

  75

  Eastbourne College

  3

  76

  Edinburgh Academy

  1

  82

  Eton College

  11

  1022

  Falcon Manor

  9

  557

  Farlington School

  1

  431

  Felsted School

  2

  371

  Feltonfleet School

  2

  87

  Fettes College

  3

  90

  Framlingham College

  6

  1033

  Frensham Heights

  2

  334

  Giggleswick School

  3

  95

  Godstowe School

  4

  555

  Gordons School

  2

  331

  Gordonstoun School

  1

  363

  Great Walstead School

  1

  98

  Greshams School

  1

  437

  Haileybury Junior School

  1

  100

  Handcross Park School

  2

  101

  Hanford School

  1

  103

  Harrow School

  2

  102

  Harrowgate College

  2

  107

  Highfield School

  1

  108

  Holmewood House School

  1

  1008

  Holy Cross Convent

  1

  114

  Hurstpierpoint

  1

  360

  Hurtwood House

  1

  1023

  Hurtwood House, Holmbury

  1

  118

  Kent Col.

  3

  117

  Kent College

  7

  556

  Kimbolton School

  3

  119

  King Edward's School

  7

  123

  King's School (The)

  22

  122

  Kings School

  4

  540

  Knighton House

  2

  128

  Lambrook School

  1

  129

  Lancing College

  2

  1035

  Langley School

  1

  417

  Leighton Park

  2

  131

  Leys School

  2

  283

  Licen Victs School

  1

  1034

  Lincoln Minster

  2

  508

  Lockers Park

  3

  136

  Lomond School

  2

  548

  Malvern Col Junior School

  3

  139

  Malvern Girl's College

  1

  140

  Marlborough College

  5

  1038

  Micheal Hall

  2

  147

  Millfield School

  9

  1015

  Milton Abbey

  1

  148

  Moira House School

  6

  149

  Monkton Combe School

  4

  523

  More House School

  3

  1031

  Moreton Hall

  2

  155

  New Hall School

  2

  1

  Not allocated

  3

  162

  Oakham School

  4

  163

  Oratory School (The)

  6

  166

  Oundle School

  3

  168

  Pangbourne College

  1

  1021

  Parkwood School

  1

  324

  List of boarding schools used by members of the Diplomatic Service—2 April 1998

  ID

  School

  Number of children

  174

  Pilgrim's School

  2

  175

  Pipers Corner School

  3

  178

  Port Regis

  9

  370

  Princess Helena School

  1

  181

  Prior's Field School

  4

  182

  Queen Anne's School

  1

  1042

  Queen Ethelburga's College

  1

  184

  Queenswood

  4

  369

  Rannoch School

  1

  1026

  Ratcliffe College

  1

  405

  Repton Preparatory School

  3

  322

  Rickmansworth Masonic School

  1

  192

  Roedean School

  1

  197

  Royal Russel School

  7

  198

  Rugby School

  3

  1011

  Ruthin School

  1

  199

  Rydal School

  1

  349

  Sandroyd School

  6

  204

  Seaford College

  2

  524

  Sedbergh School

  2

  205

  Sevenoaks School

  16

  1032

  Shebbear College

  1

  206

  Sherborne School

  6

  207

  Sherborne School for Girls

  2

  211

  Sibford School

  4

  1043

  Skegness Grammar School

  1

  512

  St. Andrew's School

  2

  1017

  St. Aubyns School

  1

  1012

  St. Edward's School

  2

  518

  St. John's-on-the-Hill

  2

  248

  St. Mary's Hall School

  1

  513

  St. Mary's School

  8

  1020

  St. Teresa's

  1

  220

  St. Bede's School

  8

  221

  St. Catherine's School

  2

  222

  St. Christopher School

  4

  226

  St. Edmund's School

  1

  228

  St. Edward's School

  1

  233

  St. George's School

  2

  239

  St. Lawrence College

  3

  241

  St. Leonard's Mayfiels School

  5

  411

  St. Mary's Hall

  1

  251

  St. Peter's School

  1

  254

  St. Swithuns School

  2

  526

  St. Mary's School

  4

  256

  Stanbridge Earls School

  1

  259

  Stonyhurst College

  3

  262

  Stranthallan School

  4

  264

  Summer Fields School

  2

  267

  Swanbourne House School

  13

  269

  Temple Grove School

  1

  1037

  The Godolphin School

  1

  1044

  The Royal School, Surrey

  1

  1003

  Thornton College

  1

  273

  Tonbridge School

  5

  510

  Tudor Hall School

  2

  414

  Twyford School

  1

  413

  Uppingham School

  1

  501

  Ursulilne Convent School

  1

  284

  Vinehall School

  1

  552

  Walhampton

  2

  328

  Wellesley House

  1

  288

  Wellingborough School

  6

  289

  Wellington College

  2

  293

  Westbourne House School

  1

  1045

  Westminister Under School

  1

  297

  Winchester College

  4

  1007

  Winchester House

  3

  298

  Windlesham House School

  33

  299

  Wispers School

  1

  300

  Woldingham School

  5

  325

  List of boarding schools used by members of the Diplomatic Service—2 April 1998

  ID

  School

  Number of Children

  302

  Worth Abbey School

  5

  303

  Wycombe Abbey School

  4

  1029

  Wymondham College

  2

  534

  Wycliffe College

  4

  Total number of schools

  186

  Kenya
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he made of progress towards(a) multi-party democracy and (b) protection of human rights in Kenya (i) prior to and (ii) since the Kenyan elections in 1997; and if he will make a statement. [37985]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  (a) Following pressure, both internal and from the UK and other donors, the Kenyan Parliament approved reforms in late 1997, which among other things allowed 26 parties to stand in the elections in December 1997. The EU statement of 6 January made the point that these elections were a further step towards greater democracy but noted that there were still shortcomings. The results are still being contested. Ten parties are represented in the new Parliament. On 2 April, the Attorney-General announced a cross-party Committee to take forward the constitutional review process. We welcome efforts to ensure that this process remains broad-based and inclusive.

  (b) We receive reports from a variety of sources about human rights in Kenya. We are particularly concerned about evidence of persistent police brutality, torture and extra-judicial killings. The Kenyan Government are bound under international obligations to make progress in this respect. We will play a full part in ensuring that pressure for such progress is maintained, including ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to raise concerns over the rights of women with the Government of Afghanistan. [38330]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There is no authoritative government in Afghanistan. We have urged the Afghan factions to respect human rights, particularly those of women and girls.

  At our instigation, a new EU Common Position on Afghanistan was adopted on 26 January 1998. It states that the Afghan factions should end discriminatory policies and recognise, protect and promote the equal rights and dignity of men and women, including access to education and health facilities, employment outside the home, personal security and freedom from intimidation and harassment. It also ensures that support goes only to aid programmes which actively attempt to promote the
  326
  equitable participation of both men and women. The EU Common Position was communicated to the Taliban and the other factions in early February.

  International Criminal Court
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the procedure for reviewing prosecutions in cases where the International Court claims responsibility for determining the national location of a trial. [38314]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 7 April 1998]: The Treaty establishing the International Criminal Court is still being negotiated. There is no proposal that the Court should have the power to determine the location of trials other than those it conducts itself. We believe that the Court should have jurisdiction only in situations where national legal systems are unable or unwilling to act.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the arrangements for ministerial responsibilities in his Department for Gibraltar following the recent review of dependent territories. [38771]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his speech to the Dependent Territories Association on 4 February, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, is the Minister in the FCO with overall responsibility for the United Kingdom Overseas Territories. As Gibraltar is the only Overseas Territory within the EU, the bulk of the work on Gibraltar will continue to be handled by the European Departments reporting directly to me. However, my noble Friend Baroness Symons will be responsible for generic Overseas Territory issues which affect Gibraltar.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy concerning the situation of Moroccan workers originally invited to Gibraltar to work for the Ministry of Defence and subsequently made redundant. [38535]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  All Moroccan workers employed by the Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar and subsequently made redundant were entitled to redundancy packages on the same terms as colleagues recruited in Gibraltar itself.

  EU Funds
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the criteria used in determining those projects eligible for receipt of European Communities moneys under the Kaleidoscope Project; what projects are in receipt of funds in the United Kingdom for the promotion of the concept of a common European heritage; and what part his Department plays in the determination of such. [36968]

  Mr. Fisher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The criteria used to determine EC funding under the Kaleidoscope project are set out in the Official Journal of the European Communities, 19.8.97, C253/4–7. There is no funding under this project specifically for the

  327
  promotion of the concept of a common European heritage; Kaleidoscope supports events and cultural projects carried out in partnerships or in networks of organisations from at least three Member States involving creative work for display or performance, or intended to help or promote cultural exchanges and public access, as well as larger projects with a European dimension. A representative of my Department sits on the Kaleidoscope management committee, which co-operates with the Commission in deciding on which projects to fund.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the criteria used in determining those projects which are eligible for receipt of European Communities moneys under B3–2003, European Cultural Development Policy; what projects are in receipt of funds in the United Kingdom for raising the profile of the European Union; and what part his Department plays in the determination of such. [36967]

  Mr. Fisher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The criteria used to determine EC funding under budget line B3–2003 are set out in the Official Journal of the European Communities, 10.1.98, C6/18–20. There are no projects under this line for raising the profile of the European Union; this funding supports cultural and artistic projects with a European dimension, projects to enhance public awareness and give wider access to the cultural heritage, European co-operation projects carried out through networks or in partnership, and European umbrella organisations active in the arts, culture and the cultural heritage. My Department plays no part in decisions under this line.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the purpose of consumer measures funded from European Communities budget line B5–100; if he will list the measures supported in the United Kingdom in 1997; and what was the role of his Department in the determination of such. [36953]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  The purpose of budget line B5–100 is to fund European Commission activities which support and supplement the policy pursued by Member States to protect the health, safety and economic interests of consumers and to provide adequate information to them, in accordance with Article 129a of the Treaty. UK bodies bid for Commission funding for specific projects. We do not yet have details of projects funded in the UK in 1997. It is for the Commission to determine how to allocate funds within budget line B5–100 in accordance with Community rules.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the purpose of information and training measures for workers' organisations funded from European Communities budget line B3–4002; which United Kingdom organisations were so funded in 1997; and what was the role of his Department in the determination of such. [36954]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have been asked to reply.

  Budget line B3–4002 is intended to cover information and training measures for workers' organisations in connection with the implementation of Community action on the social dimension of the internal market.
  328
  I understand from the Commission, who have sole responsibility for the allocation of funds under this EU budget line, that the only UK organisation which was funded under it in 1997 was the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the expenditure under European Communities budget line B3–1010, Youth for Europe; which organisations received funding for 1997 in the United Kingdom; what criteria determine which organisations receive awards; and what role his Department played in determining the awards. [36964]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  Youth for Europe III is a European action programme which was agreed in 1995 and will run until the end of 1999. Copies of a list of the UK organisations that received funding in 1997 have been placed in the Library. In the UK, grants are awarded by the Youth Exchange Centre, the national agency for Youth for Europe III, according to published criteria. The criteria cover eligible countries, the age range of participants, group size, programme content and the duration of exchanges. The Government part-fund the Youth Exchange Centre but play no direct part in determining the awards.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the expenditure of European Communities budget line B3–1000, Preparatory Measures for Reinforcing Cooperation in the Field of Education; which organisations received funding for 1997; what is the purpose of the meeting of the Parliaments Representing the Youth of Europe; who selects the United Kingdom representatives; and what role his Department played in determining the awards. [36950]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  Expenditure under B3–1000 of the General Budget of the European Union, "Preparatory measures for reinforcing co-operation in the field of education", is administered by the European Commission without reference to the EC Council of Ministers or to the Member States. One of the organisations that the Commission supports under this budget line is the European Youth Parliament (EYP). EYP currently receives an annual grant of £65,000, supplemented by private and local government sponsorship. The Government play no part in determining awards, or in the selection of participants.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the criteria used in determining what projects are eligible for receipt of European Communities moneys under the Raphael project; which projects are in receipt of funds in the United Kingdom; what part his Department plays in the determination of such projects; and how much is available for support of Europe Day in the United Kingdom. [36951]

  Mr. Fisher
  I have been asked to reply.

  Decision No. 2228/97 established the criteria for the Raphael programme and was published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Communities L305/31 of 8 November 1997. The criteria for the calls for proposals for 1997 were published in OJ C219 of 18 July 1997. Two

  329
  officials from my Department represent the UK on the Raphael management committee. Projects must involve partners from two or more Member States and are selected by the European Commission, after consultations with a panel of internationally renowned independent experts. There has been no funding under Raphael for the support of Europe Day in the UK. A list of the 1997 project partnerships which have been funded and include UK partners, is as follows:

  Project reference

  Brief description

  C219/01

  1.1

  A workshop on the restoration and conservation of film

  1.3

  A workshop linked to the creation of a digital library for Greco-Byzantine manuscripts

  1.4

  A seminar on ancient mural painting

  1.5

  A conference on architectural heritage: dangers and threats

  1.6

  An exhibition on Viking maritime heritage

  1.7

  A pilot study on the cathedrals of mediaeval Europe

  1.8

  A network of museums of ethnography and anthropology

  1.9

  A conference on the origins of European ethnic groups

  1.11

  A research project on building crafts and construction in Northern Europe

  1.13

  A network of museums promoting preventive conservation

  1.14

  A seminar alerting young people to heritage preservation

  1.20

  A seminar on artisan skills on historic inland waterways

  1.21

  A symposium for companies working on the restoration of the architectural heritage

  1.24

  A project to recreate in virtual-reality form seven European parks and gardens

  1.25

  A research project into European military architecture

  1.26

  A project to put the Icelandic sagas on the World-Wide Web

  1.27

  A symposium on "facadism"

  1.28

  A workshop for young people on architectural heritage

  1.30

  A conference on underwater archaeology

  1.31

  A project on the use of information technology by museums

  1.32

  A project on the urban planning requirements of cultural heritage conservation

  1.36

  A conference on the role of culture in sustaining European cities in the future

  1.37

  A project on establishing an integrated approach to conserving the city of Kadista, Greece

  1.39

  A project to improve the quality of conservation work and the competence of conservators

  1.41

  A project on mining heritage

  C219/02

  2.1

  A project on seafaring textiles

  2.3

  A symposium on inventions in railways

  2.4

  An interactive sound experience involving museums of musical instruments

  2.5

  A study on the invention of automata

  2.8

  A project to raise awareness of the threat to European heathland

  2.11

  A project on tombs of the bronze and iron ages

  330

  Project reference

  Brief description

  C219/03

  3.1 A project to initiate a north/south dialogue in Europe in conservation and restoration methods

  3.2

  A programme to encourage historic garden specialists to consider issues of access for disabled people

  3.6

  A training course linked to the archaeological site of Villarejo de Salvares, Spain

  3.7

  A training course on the production of traditional building materials

  3.9

  A training programme on the inventory and documentation of the architectural heritage

  3.11

  A training network for professionals concerned with the cinematic heritage

  3.13

  A course on the use of laser technology in art conservation

  3.14

  A field course on the archaeological heritage of the Randor Valley, Wales

  C219/04

  4.7

  The restoration of the "Barco" in Italy and linked studies

  4.10

  The restoration of the decorated plaster façade of the palazzo, Viterbo, Italy

  C219/05

  5.4

  The restoration of four water mills

  5.6

  The restoration of a hydraulic complex at Agorregi, Spain

  5.12

  A project to study and conserve ancient buildings of wood

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects which received funding in the United Kingdom in 1997 under European Communities budget line B5–300, Strategic Implementing Measures; and what was the role of his Department in the determination of which projects received funding. [36959]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have been asked to reply.

  This Department, along with others which have specific policy or sectoral responsibilities, contribute to discussions with the European Commission on proposals for expenditure on Internal Market measures. It is for the Commission to allocate funds within this budget line, in accordance with Community rules. The Commission does not publish a list of measures supported in individual Member States.

  Electro-shock Batons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell of 1 July 1997 concerning electro-shock batons. [28999]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have been asked to reply.

  The matters to which the hon Gentleman referred in his original letter involved a number of issues which have required detailed investigation. I expect to reply shortly after Parliament reassembles following the Easter Recess.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances school standard numbers may be set on the basis of class sizes of over 30 in respect of those age ranges for which the Government have set targets for class sizes below 30. [37511]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Standard numbers are set on the basis of the capacity of the school as a whole. The organisation of pupils within a school is a matter for LEAs, governors and headteachers. This may mean that a school is able to adapt to class size policy without needing a reduction in standard number. The measures we are taking in the School Standards and Framework Bill will require each Authority to produce a statement setting out how they intend to implement limits on class sizes including the need for any variation to standard numbers. The Bill also provides that in deciding a proposal to reduce the standard number at a primary school the School Organisation Committee shall have regard to any limits imposed on class sizes. It further provides for the Secretary of State to suspend for a specified period the requirement to recruit up to the standard number for the purpose of enabling any limit on class sizes to be met.

  Failing Schools
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have been designated as failing schools in the last(a) four and (b) five years, in each LEA area. [37680]

  Mr. Byers
  The following table lists the number of schools found to be failing by LEA area over the past 4 and 5 years to 31 March 1998. The table also shows the number of schools which have been closed or which no longer require special measures within the LEA area.

  LEA

  Number of schools failing in 4 years to 31 March 1998

  Number of Schools in 5 years 31 March 1998

  Schools removed from special measures or closed

  Barking & Dagenham

  0

  0

  0

  Barnet

  0

  0

  0

  Barnsley

  2

  2

  0

  Bath & NE Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  Bedfordshire

  4

  4

  1

  Berkshire

  4

  4

  2

  Bexley

  0

  0

  0

  Birmingham

  12

  12

  1

  Bolton

  2

  2

  1

  Bournemouth

  0

  0

  0

  Bradford

  8

  8

  3

  Brent

  6

  6

  2

  Brighton & Hove

  3

  3

  0

  Bristol

  7

  7

  0

  Bromley

  4

  4

  1

  Buckinghamshire

  2

  2

  0

  Bury

  1

  1

  1

  Calderdale

  4

  4

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  4

  4

  0

  Camden

  3

  3

  0

  Cheshire

  3

  3

  1

  Cornwall

  1

  1

  0

  332

  LEA

  Number of schools failing in 4 years to 31 March 1998

  Number of schools in 5 years to 31 March 1998

  Schools removed from special measures or closed

  Corporation of London

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  4

  4

  0

  Croydon

  7

  7

  2

  Cumbria

  8

  8

  2

  Darlington

  0

  0

  0

  Derby City

  0

  0

  0

  Derbyshire

  9

  10

  2

  Devon

  10

  10

  3

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  Dorset

  5

  5

  1

  Dudley

  2

  2

  0

  Durham

  0

  1

  1

  East Riding of Yorks

  1

  1

  0

  Ealing

  1

  1

  0

  East Sussex

  4

  4

  1

  Enfield

  2

  2

  0

  Essex

  19

  19

  0

  Gateshead

  2

  3

  1

  Gloucestershire

  6

  6

  2

  Greenwich

  7

  7

  2

  Hackney

  9

  9

  3

  Hammersmith & Fulham

  3

  3

  2

  Hampshire

  7

  7

  1

  Haringey

  8

  8

  2

  Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  0

  Havering

  2

  2

  0

  Hereford & Worcester

  4

  4

  0

  Hertfordshire

  7

  7

  0

  Hillingdon

  3

  3

  0

  Hounslow

  2

  2

  0

  Isle of Wight

  2

  2

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  Islington

  6

  6

  0

  Kensington & Chelsea

  0

  0

  0

  Kent

  17

  17

  0

  Kingston Upon Hull

  7

  7

  2

  Kingston Upon Thames

  1

  1

  0

  Kirklees

  4

  4

  1

  Knowsley

  2

  2

  0

  Lambeth

  14

  14

  6

  Lancashire

  22

  22

  2

  Leeds

  11

  11

  4

  Leicester City

  9

  9

  1

  Leicestershire

  3

  3

  1

  Lewisham

  6

  6

  1

  Lincolnshire

  7

  7

  3

  Liverpool

  15

  15

  4

  Luton

  2

  2

  0

  Manchester

  10

  10

  1

  Merton

  1

  1

  0

  Middlesbrough

  2

  2

  0

  Milton Keynes

  4

  4

  1

  N Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  0

  NE Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  Newcastle

  3

  3

  1

  Newham

  8

  9

  2

  Norfolk

  16

  16

  7

  North Somerset

  2

  2

  0

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  4

  4

  0

  Northamptonshire

  5

  5

  1

  Northumberland

  3

  3

  0

  Nottingham

  13

  13

  3

  Oldham

  4

  4

  2

  Oxfordshire

  9

  9

  1

  333

  LEA

  Number of schools failing in 4 years to 31 March 1998

  Number of schools failing in 5 years to 31 Mach 1998

  Schools removed from special measures or closed

  Poole

  0

  0

  0

  Portsmouth

  1

  1

  0

  Redbridge

  1

  1

  1

  Redcar & Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  2

  2

  1

  Rotherham

  1

  1

  0

  Rutland

  1

  1

  0

  Salford

  5

  5

  0

  Sandwell

  10

  10

  1

  Sefton

  0

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  11

  11

  2

  Shropshire

  4

  4

  1

  Solihull

  3

  3

  1

  Somerset

  5

  5

  2

  South Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  0

  South Tyneside

  3

  3

  0

  Southampton

  2

  2

  0

  Southwark

  6

  6

  2

  St. Helens

  1

  1

  0

  Staffordshire

  7

  7

  2

  Stockport

  3

  3

  0

  Stockton-on-Tees

  2

  2

  0

  Stoke-on-Trent

  6

  6

  1

  Suffolk

  2

  2

  0

  Sunderland

  3

  3

  0

  Surrey

  9

  9

  2

  Sutton

  3

  3

  1

  Swindon

  0

  0

  0

  Tameside

  2

  2

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  5

  5

  1

  Trafford

  1

  1

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  0

  Walsall

  4

  4

  0

  Accepted applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in the UK, by social class (home domiciled, all ages)

  1985

  1990

  1991

  1995

  for entry in autumn: Admissions service 1

  UCCA

  PCAS

  UCCA

  PCAS

  UCCA

  PCAS

  UCAS

  Social class2

  I Professional (A)

  14,644

  n/a

  17,475

  n/a

  18,567

  7,950

  38,719

  II Intermediate (B)

  33,588

  n/a

  44,718

  n/a

  48,114

  30,813

  103,404

  IIIn Skilled non-manual (C1)

  7,285

  n/a

  9,838

  n/a

  10,945

  8,710

  30,271

  IIIm Skilled manual (C2)

  8,889

  n/a

  10,651

  n/a

  11,463

  11,883

  42,541

  IV Partly skilled (D)

  4,628

  n/a

  5,685

  n/a

  6,166

  6,529

  19,780

  V Unskilled (E)

  808

  n/a

  866

  n/a

  919

  1,187

  5,039

  Unknown

  6,339

  n/a

  10,144

  n/a

  10,543

  27,393

  25,782

  Total

  76,181

  n/a

  99,377

  77,539

  106,717

  94,465

  265,536

  1Universities & Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) in operation since 1994. Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) existed 1961 to 1993.Polytechnics and Colleges Admissions Services (PCAS) existed 1986 to 1993.

  2 The classification system to assign social class to applicants is that used in the National Census—the Standard Occupational Classification published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. (A), (B), (C1), (C2), (D), (E) are the institute of practitioners in advertising (IPA) equivalent definition of social class.

  Note:

  n/a = indicates information not collected by the admissions service in that year.

  Celebrating Europe Competition
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have submitted entrants for the Celebrating Europe competition; and how many prizes are available. [36957]
  334

  LEA

  Number of schools failing in 4 years to 31 March 1998

  Number of schools in 5 years to 31 March 1998

  Schools removed from special measures or closed

  Waltham Forest

  7

  7

  3

  Wandsworth

  5

  6

  1

  Warwickshire

  3

  3

  0

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  Westminster

  3

  3

  0

  Wigan

  3

  3

  2

  Wiltshire

  4

  4

  2

  Wirral

  1

  1

  0

  Wolverhampton

  6

  7

  2

  York

  0

  0

  0

  The figures include grant-maintained schools and independent schools, but exclude schools which have been inspected but await the publication of the Ofsted report. Some schools are now in different local education authorities after local government reorganisation.

  Undergraduates
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the numbers of full-time and sandwich undergraduates by socio-economic groups A to E in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1995. [37548]

  Dr. Howells
  The data held centrally on full-time undergraduate students by social classes A to E is provided in the following table. It shows the numbers of accepted applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses who apply through the admissions services for universities and colleges; however not all full-time undergraduate students enter through these services.

  Dr. Howells
  312 schools in the United Kingdom submitted entries for the Celebrating Europe competition. 10 awards with a value of £5,000 each are available to the winners, six of which are for primary, secondary and special schools and four for colleges and youth organisations. There will also be some runners-up awards.

  Schools (New Books)
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many schools have not taken up their entitlement under the scheme to provide £1,000 for new books which he announced on 29 January; [37701]

  (2) what is his current estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of the scheme to provide £1,000 for each school for new books which he announced on 29 January. [37702]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 April 1998]: The total grant available for new books in 1997–98 was £23m, including £1m for grant-maintained schools, found from savings with existing Departmental budgets. LEA-maintained schools have received grant through the Standards Fund, paid via their LEA. So far 97 per cent. of the Standards Fund grant offered has been claimed by authorities. The final figure for take up will be known in the autumn. The Funding Agency for Schools has allocated the £1m for GM schools. Expenditure figures for individual schools are not held centrally.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the Equal Opportunities Commission review to be complete. [36847]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We understand the EOC are hoping to submit its recommendations to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, this summer.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Martin Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 18 February 1998,Official Report, column 741, which three of the four proposals were part of the draft of the Green Paper on special educational needs when it was presented to the National Advisory Group on 2 September; which was generated by the Advisory Group itself; and if the three proposals in the pre-2 September draft were included at the insistence of the Audit Commission. [37384]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  All papers of the National Advisory Group on Special Educational Needs (SEN), including the draft Green Paper considered by the Group on 2 September 1997, are confidential. I am however currently considering whether both the notes of meetings and papers of the Group might generally be published in future.

  The Audit Commission has at no stage made representations in relation to the SEN Green Paper. The proposals on which we consulted were options for making progress towards the objectives set out in the Labour Party's consultation paper of March 1997, "Every Child is Special".

  Higher Education
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his oral statement of 16 March 1998,Official Report, column 962, what was the source of the statistics on participation in higher education in various constituencies. [37549]

  336
  Dr. Howells
  The data quoted by the Secretary of State on 16 March was derived from the 1991 Census and was published by the Office for National Statistics in the "New Parliamentary Constituency Monitor" series. These do not measure participation in higher education; these data show the proportion of people with higher education qualifications in each constituency. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his Department (i) maintains and (ii) requires local education authorities to maintain a register of approved providers for the teaching of dyslexics. [37343]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department maintains a list of non-maintained special schools and independent schools approved as suitable for children with special education needs. The Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexia (CReSTeD) maintains a register of schools that help dyslexic children. The majority of children with dyslexia will be educated in their local maintained school with appropriate additional support.

  Education Reform Booklet
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a booklet for parents relating to education reforms introduced since 1 May 1997. [37465]

  Mr. Byers
  We have yet to take final decisions on the details of the Department's advertising and publicity strategy for the year ahead. But we certainly intend to reflect in it the importance of helping parents to take decisions about the education of their children and to work in partnership with schools.

  New Deal (Stoke-on-Trent)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from (i) employers, (ii) trades unions, (iii) non-Governmental groups and (iv) individuals in Stoke-on-Trent, North in respect of the New Deal. [37195]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Employment Service have worked closely with a very wide range of partners to deliver New Deal in Stoke-on-Trent as elsewhere. Discussions have taken place with employers, trade unions, local authorities, voluntary organisations, other non-governmental groups and individuals.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the number of people in the Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency who are eligible for the New Deal for (i) 18–24 year olds, (ii) lone parents, (iii) people with a disability or long-term illness and (iv) adults over 25 years who have been unemployed for two years or more; and if he will make a statement. [37192]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have placed in the Library a list of the client planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young unemployed people aged 18 to 24. The table shows that the planning assumptions for
  337
  the Staffordshire unit of delivery, which includes the Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency, is that 3,530 young people could be eligible to join the New Deal in 1998–99. We have yet to finalise planning assumptions for participation in the other New Deal groups.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) interviews with unemployed young people have been completed, (b) jobs have been pledged and (c) employers have signed up to the new deal in Stoke-on-Trent North. [37194]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The New Deal in the Staffordshire unit of delivery, which includes Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency, does not start until 6 April. As a result no interviews have yet taken place. Employers have backed New Deal in Staffordshire as they have throughout the country, and pledges and Employer Agreements will follow as New Deal gets under way.

  Environmental Task Force
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many non-Governmental groups have expressed an interest in participating in the Environment Task Force within Stoke-on-Trent, North to date. [37191]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  North Staffordshire Training and Enterprise Council have formed a consortium to deliver the Environment Task Force option in the North Staffordshire area. Nine voluntary organisations are involved in the consortium which may offer projects in the Stoke-on-Trent, North area and there are five other organisations whose involvement is under consideration.

  Employment Service
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the training available to Employment Service staff to equip them to operate the New Deal from 6 April. [37193]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  In all, the Employment Service (ES) expects to deliver over 50,000 training days to equip its staff to operate New Deal in addition to established training provision. The main recipients of training will be ES New Deal Personal Advisers but a variety of other training is taking place including coverage of marketing, vacancy taking, team leadership and processes.

  Welfare to Work
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 1998,Official Report, column 201, on Welfare to Work, when he expects the results of the first year pilots to be completed; if they will be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement. [34445]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 13 March 1998]: We expect that the first results of the pilots starting in October this year will be available by end of 1999. As part of the New Deal for Disabled People we will also be developing a programme of research and evaluation to increase our understanding of the client group and to determine the effect of our initiatives. The results of the research will be made available to all those with an interest in promoting employment opportunities for
  338
  disabled people and people with long-term health problems. This is in keeping with the Government's continuing policy of openness.

  National Disability Development Initiative
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many projects have been funded under the National Disability Development Initiative; how many have started; and what monitoring and evaluation is taking place. [36351]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  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. Jim Fitzpatrick, dated 8 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of projects which have been funded under the National Disability Development Initiative; how many have started; and what monitoring and evaluation is taking place. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.I regret that I am unable to provide you with exactly the information you have requested as currently no contracts have been awarded under the National Disability Development Initiative. However, I can confirm that nine preferred tenders have been selected by the National Disability Development Initiative Board, and that contract negotiations are at an advanced stage. I can also confirm that the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities hopes to make an announcement about the successful projects towards the end of April.I hope this is helpful.

  New Deal
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are eligible to sign up to the New Deal; how many people have signed up to the New Deal; how many businesses have signed up to support the New Deal; and what is the New Deal's total investment in the South West Hertfordshire constituency. [38342]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 7 April 1998]: I have placed in the Library a list of the client volume planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young people aged 18 to 24. The table shows that the planning assumption for Hertfordshire unit of delivery, which includes the South-West Hertfordshire constituency, is that 1585 young people could be eligible to join the New Deal in 1998–99.

  In Hertfordshire unit of delivery 460 clients have been invited to enter the Gateway.

  To date, more than 4,500 employers have signed nationally of which 42 are in this delivery unit. This number will rise significantly as New Deal is fully operational in this area from 6 April.

  It is not possible to state exactly the total investment in New Deal in the area as New Deal is a client led initiative and sufficient funds will be made available to meet the needs of all those eligible.
  339
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are eligible to sign up to the New Deal; how many businesses have signed up to support the New Deal; and what is the New Deal's total investment in the Hexham constituency. [38166]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have placed in the Library a list of the client volume planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young people aged 18 to 24. The table shows that the planning assumption for Northumberland unit of delivery, which includes the Hexham constituency, is that 1,588 young people could be eligible to join the New Deal in 1998–99.

  To date, more than 4,500 employers have signed nationally of which 7 are in this delivery unit. This number will rise significantly as New Deal is operational in this area from 6 April.

  It is not possible to state exactly the total investment in New Deal in the area as New Deal is a client-led initiative and sufficient funds will be made available to meet the needs of all those eligible.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in the constituency of Wellingborough will be eligible for assistance through the New Deal in the current financial year. [36435]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have placed in the Library a list of the client volume planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young unemployed people aged 18 to 24. The table shows that the planning assumption for the Northamptonshire unit of delivery, which includes the Wellingborough constituency, is that, 1968 young people could be eligible join the New Deal in 1998–99.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) men and (b) women are registered disabled in England and Wales. [36581]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 repealed the registration provisions of the 1944 Disabled Persons (Employment) Act. Access to the programmes offered by my Department for people with disabilities does not depend on any process of registration.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the indicators that will be used to measure the targets for(a) an increase in the number of disabled people able to work and (b) a reduction in discrimination against disabled people as proposed in the green paper. [37995]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Setting out proposed success measures and inviting debate on them is an unprecedented break with the past and a key step forward. The Government have phrased them in broad terms initially to generate a wide debate. We would welcome views on how they should be refined.

  Departmental Staff (Scotland)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many staff are employed in Scotland by his Department, or executive agencies responsible to his Department; and where those staff are located; [36626]

  (2) how many staff are employed in Scotland by executive agencies responsible to his Department; and where those staff are located. [36628]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of these questions 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. Brian Donohoe, dated 8 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions regarding the number of staff employed in Scotland by his Department, or Executive Agencies responsible to his Department; and where those staff are located. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.I can confirm that the only Department for Education and Employment staff employed in Scotland are staff from the Employment Service. These staff are spread across 130 Jobcentres, 15 District Offices and our Office for Scotland.I attach a breakdown of the number of staff per District and the number of staff working within the Employment Service Office for Scotland.I hope this is helpful.

  Employment Service staff in post/Scotland as at March 1998

  District

  Total

  Ayrshire North

  157

  Borders East & Midlothian

  118

  Edinburgh

  250

  Fife

  186

  Forth Valley—Lothian West

  224

  Glasgow Central and South

  301

  Glasgow North East & East Dunbarton

  228

  Glasgow West Oban & West Dunbarton

  263

  Grampian Orkney & Shetland

  190

  Highlands North West & Stornoway

  70

  Lanarkshire

  301

  Renfrewshire Inverclyde & South Argyll

  194

  Ross-Shire Inverness & Moray

  145

  South West Scotland

  184

  Tayside

  249

  Office for Scotland

  340

  Grand total

  3,400

  School Standards
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is his Department's calculation of the proportion of all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils first inspected in each school year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 that had statistically significant greater point increases in their pupils' average total GCSE point scores compared with their average in the school year immediately preceding that of their inspection than the national average point increase for all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils for the same corresponding periods by(a) 1994, (b) 1995, (c) 1996 and (d) 1997, as applicable, and for each annual group of

  341
  schools and each period, what was the average total point score of all their pupils for each school year from that immediately preceding that of inspection to 1997; what were the average point increases in all their pupils' scores for each of the four periods as applicable; how many schools there were in each group and what were their total number of 15-year-old pupils in each of the five years involved; and what was the national average GCSE point increase for all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils in each of the (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1993 to 1995, (iii) 1993 to 1996 and (iv) 1993 to 1997, with all point scores stated to one decimal place; [27301]

  (2) what is his Department's calculation of the proportion of all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils first inspected in each school year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 that had point increases in their pupils' average total GCSE point scores compared with their average in the school year immediately preceding that of their inspection that were not statistically significantly different from the national average point increase for all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils for the same corresponding periods by (a) 1994, (b) 1995, (c) 1996 and (d) 1997, as applicable, and for each annual group of schools and each period, what was the average total point score of all their pupils for each school year from that immediately preceding that of inspection to 1997; what were the average point changes in all their pupils' scores in each of the four periods as applicable, with all point scores stated to one decimal place; and how many schools there were in each group and what were their total number of 15-year-old pupils in each of the years involved; [27302]

  (3) what is his Department's calculation of the proportion of all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils first inspected in each school year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 that had statistically significant lesser point increases in their pupils' average total GCSE point scores compared with their average in the school year immediately preceding that of their inspection than the national average point increase for all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils for the same corresponding periods by (a) 1994, (b) 1995, (c) 1996 and (d) 1997, as applicable; and for each annual group of schools and each period, what was the average total point score of all their pupils for each school year from that immediately preceding that of inspection to 1997; what were the average point changes in all their pupils' scores in each of the four year periods as applicable, with all point scores stated to one decimal place; and how many schools there were in each group and what were their total number of 15-year-old pupils in each of the years involved; [27303]

  (4) what were the national Key Stage 2 SAT test average point scores, stated to one decimal place, of all maintained Year 6 pupils in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997 in each of English, maths and science, and also of their totals for all three subjects together, when each pupils' subject score is calculated by awarding the same number of points as the National Curriculum level they attained; and what was the total number of pupils in each case; [27304]

  (5) for all those maintained primary schools with Year 6 pupils that had not been inspected by Ofsted for the first time since 1 September 1992 in each school year (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97, what is his Department's calculation of the averages of the joint total English, maths, and science national Key
  342
  Stage 2 SAT test point scores, stated to one decimal place, of all the pupils in each of these annual groups of schools for each school year from 1994–95 to 1996–97, as applicable, when each pupil's subject score is calculated by awarding the same number of points as the National Curriculum level attained; and what were the total numbers of schools in each group and of all their Year 6 pupils in each year since 1993–94 inclusive; [27305]

  (6) for all those maintained primary schools with Year 6 pupils inspected by Ofsted for the first time since 1 September 1992 in each school year (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97, what is his Department's calculation of the averages of the joint total English, maths, and science national Key Stage 2 SAT test point scores, stated to one decimal place, of all the pupils in each of these annual groups of schools for each school year from 1994–95 to 1996–97, as applicable, when each pupil's subject score is calculated by awarding the same number of points as the National Curriculum level attained; and what were the total numbers of schools in each group and of all their Year 6 pupils in each year since 1993–94 inclusive; [27306]

  (7) what is his Department's calculation of the proportion of all maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils first inspected in each school year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 that had statistically significant absolute declines in their pupils' average total GCSE point scores compared with their average in the school year immediately preceding that of inspection by (a) 1994, (b) 1995, (c) 1996 and (d) 1997, as applicable; for each annual group of schools and each period, what was the average total point score of all their pupils for each school year from that immediately preceding that of inspection to 1997; what were the average point declines in all their pupils' scores in each of the four year periods as applicable, with all point scores stated to one decimal place; how many schools there were in each group; and what were their total number of 15-year-old pupils in each of the five years involved; [27307]

  (8) what is his Department's calculation of the proportion of all maintained primary schools with Year 6 pupils first inspected in each school year 1995–96 and 1996–97 that had point changes in the average of the totals of their pupils' point scores in their English, maths and science Key Stage 2 SAT tests together compared with their average for the school year immediately preceding that of their inspection that were not statistically significantly different from the national average point increase for all maintained Year 6 pupils (a) by 1996 and (b) by 1997 for the same corresponding periods as applicable, when each pupils' subject score is calculated by awarding the same number of points as the National Curriculum level they attained; for each annual group of schools and each period, what was the average total point score of all their pupils together for these three subjects for each school year from that immediately preceding that of inspection to 1997; what were the average point changes in all their pupils' scores in each period as applicable; how many schools there were in each group; and what were their total numbers of Year 6 pupils in each of the three years involved; [27308]

  (9) what is his Department's calculation of the proportion of all maintained primary schools with Year 6 pupils first inspected in each school year 1995–96 and 1996–97 that had point increases in the average of the

  343
  totals of their pupils' point scores in their English, maths and science Key Stage 2 SAT tests together compared with their average for the school year immediately preceding that of their inspection that were statistically significantly less than the national average point increase for all maintained Year 6 pupils (a) by 1996 and (b) by 1997 for the same corresponding periods as applicable, when each pupils' subject score is calculated by awarding the same number of points as the National Curriculum level they attained; for each annual group of schools and each period, what was the average total point score of all their pupils together for these three subjects for each school year from that immediately preceding that of inspection to 1997; what were the average point changes in all their pupils' scores in each period as applicable; how many schools there were in each group; and what were their total numbers of Year 6 pupils in each of the three years involved; [27309]

  (10) what was the absolute point increase in the average total GCSE point score per pupil per maintained school with 15-year-olds between 1993 and 1997; and what assessment his Department has made of the relationship between these figures and the amount of time between 30 June 1997 and the date of first being inspected by Ofsted after 1 September 1993 for each such school; [22850]

  (11) for all those maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils first inspected in school years (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97, what were the average total GCSE point scores per pupil of each of these groups of schools in each year from 1992 to 1997; and what were the numbers of schools and 15-year-old pupils in each group; [22855]

  (12) for all those maintained schools with 15-year-old pupils that had not been inspected for the first time since 1 September 1993 by the end of the school years (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97, what were the average total GCSE point scores per pupil of each of these groups of schools in each year from 1992 to 1997; and what were the numbers of schools and 15-year-old pupils in each group; [22856]

  (13) what were (a) the annual point increase in the average total GCSE point score per pupil per maintained school with 15-year-olds in each July to July school year in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96 and (iv) 1996–97 and (b) the amount of time measured in school days between the date of being inspected by Ofsted and 30 June in each of these years for each such school that was first inspected after 1 September 1993 in that year; and what assessment his Department has made of the degree of correlation between the two; [22857]

  (14) what percentage of 15-year-old pupils, excluding those in special schools, gained (a) at least five GCSEs at grades A⋆ to C, (b) at least five GCSEs and (c) at least one GCSE in 1997. [22858]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 14 January 1998 and 3 February 1998]: The information is shown in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  School Exclusions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the recent Audit Commission report on children who are excluded from school. [38185]
  344
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Audit Commission report, "Misspent Youth", noted that a significant proportion of juvenile offenders had been excluded from school. We believe that the figures for permanent exclusions from schools are too high and are reviewing our approach to this issue in the light of the Education and Employment Select Committee's report, "Disaffected Children (Fifth Report, 1997–98)" and the forthcoming report of the Social Exclusion Unit.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the level of school exclusions in the West Midlands. [38184]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  None.

  Early Years Development Plans
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to announce funding for Early Years Development Plans. [38777]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Allocations are being announced this week. 120 LEAs and their partners will receive funding totalling £6 million for a wide range of projects to create additional childcare places for pre-school children and 4-year-olds in full-time education.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 4 March 1998,Official Report, column 638, if she will make a statement on the cost per job limits on regional selective assistance imposed by the Government indicating any (a) regional variations and (b) variations according to development area status. [38227]

  Mrs. Roche
  Cost per job is a useful means of assessing value for money against the objective of the RSA scheme to create or safeguard jobs. Each case is judged on its merits and there is no fixed rate of grant per job. The cost per job ceiling is higher in Development Areas than Intermediate Areas.

  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 1998,Official Report, column 235, if she will list the average levels of regional selective assistance by region for (a) full and (b) intermediate development areas as a percentage of the project's capital cost. [38210]

  Mrs. Roche
  This information is provided in the Industrial Development Act 1982 Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many exceptions were made in 1997 to cost per job limits on regional selective assistance; and if she will list these exceptions. [38228]

  Mrs. Roche
  One exception was made for a project by the Rover Group to build a new engine plant in the West Midlands.

  Airlines (Predatory Pricing)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she is taking to investigate the use of predatory pricing in the airlines industry; and if she will make a statement. [38376]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Under UK competition legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for investigating allegations of anti-competitive and monopolistic behaviour.

  In addition, if the behaviour fell under EC competition law, the Competition Directorate of the European Commission has the powers to gather the information necessary to assess a given case, and to terminate any infringements.

  Complaints about alleged anti-competitive practices should therefore be forwarded to the Director General or the European Commission as the case may be.

  Spammers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on action against junk E-mailers, known as spammers. [37579]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The EU Telecommunications Data Protection Directive, which must be implemented by October this year, provides protection from unsolicited calls for direct marketing purposes. The Government will be consulting on the implementation of the Directive, which may include e-mail, later this year.

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

  Export Licences
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for licences for the export of(a) paramilitary, (b) security and (c) police equipment to Indonesia have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) revoked since 13 November 1997; and of those separate totals, if she will state the individual export licence category for each of them. [35719]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows. Between 14 November 1997 and 6 March 1998 inclusive, 29 Standard Individual Export Licences were issued to export to end-users or consignees in Indonesia goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List"), and none was revoked; two applications for such Licences were refused. This information is summarised below, broken down according to the entries in the Military List under which the goods on each licence are controlled (known as their rating). It could not be broken down in the manner requested as the equipment covered by most entries in the Military List could be used by military, paramilitary or police end-users. Standard Individual export licences can cover a range of goods, controlled under several entries 346
  in the legislation. Where this is so the licence is included in the Table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.

  No Open Individual Licences for such exports were issued or revoked in this period, and no applications for such licences were refused. This does not include Media OIELs, which are Open Individual Export Licences authorising the export to any destination of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists when working in areas of conflict.

  Standard individual export licences

  Rating

  Licences issued

  Application refused

  ML1

  3

  1

  ML2

  2

  0

  ML4

  1

  0

  ML1O

  11

  0

  ML 11

  8

  0

  ML 13

  4

  0

  ML14

  3

  0

  ML 15

  2

  0

  PL5017

  0

  1

  The information should be considered in light of my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), on 30 October 1997, Official Report, Columns 870–71.

  In addition to the above, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Indonesia during the period concerned under various Open General Export Licences. Copies of all such licences are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what armaments have been licensed for export to Indonesia since 13 November 1997. [38127]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) today.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what impact the criteria set out in the written answer of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, have had on the (a) number and (b) proportion of export licences circulated to other departments by the Export Control Organisation. [36758]

  Mrs. Roche
  The criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs are intended to ensure that arms transfers are managed responsibly and that they do not contribute to internal repression or international aggression. Therefore, the announcement did not result in any change to the arrangements by which DTI circulates applications. Irrespective of whether or not they have to be circulated, the number of applications received by the Department at any time is affected by many factors, and any change could not be ascribed to any one factor alone.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list(a) all United Kingdom arms exports and (b) all arms export deals for which licences have been (i) refused and (ii) cancelled since I May 1997. [28717]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Department of Trade and Industry does not compile records of exports to any destination.
  347
  The Export Control Organisation's databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows.

  Decision reached between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998

  Refused in full

  Revoked

  Standard individual export licences

  23

  8

  Open individual export licences

  3

  0

  The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. Individual export licences often cover a range of goods, controlled under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so the application or licence is included in the Table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.

  Applications for individual export licences refused in full between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998 covering goods on the Military List

  Number of applications refused in full covering goods with this rating

  Standard individual export licences

  Open individual export licences

  ML1

  8

  0

  ML2

  2

  0

  ML3

  3

  1

  ML4

  0

  2

  ML6

  3

  0

  ML7

  1

  0

  ML9

  2

  0

  ML11

  2

  0

  ML13

  1

  0

  ML14

  1

  0

  PL5001

  1

  0

  PL5002

  1

  0

  PL5017

  1

  0

  PL5031

  1

  0

  Individual export licences revoked in full between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998 covering goods on the Military List

  Number of licences revoked in full covering goods with this rating

  Standard individual export licences

  Open individual export licences

  ML1

  4

  0

  ML2

  2

  0

  ML3

  1

  0

  PL5001

  1

  0

  PL5018

  1

  0

  PL5021

  1

  0

  This information should be considered in light of my answer to my hon Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  Internet
  Mrs. May
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Commission's stance on the United States proposal to exempt international trade on the Internet from customs duties; and if the Government will be pursuing this issue through the World Trade Organisation. [37584]
  348
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The EU and the US agreed a joint statement on electronic commerce at their summit last December. This included an agreement to work as soon as possible toward a global understanding that there would continue to be no customs duties on electronic transmissions. This remains the Government's policy. The treatment of electronic commerce in the World Trade Organisation is currently being pursued by the Government in discussion with the European Commission and other EU Member States.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations she has received from trade officers in British embassies in(a) Japan, (b) Germany, (c) South Korea and (d) the USA, on the impact of the current level of the sterling exchange rate and its effects on (i) British exports to that country and (ii) inward investments from that country to Britain. [36343]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The Government are aware, through information from our posts abroad and other sources, of the difficulties being faced by exporters, particularly in Europe and East Asia, as a result of the current level of sterling. The Government's aim is for a stable and competitive pound over the medium term, and to achieve this they are committed to delivering a stable macroeconomic framework in which businesses can plan and invest for the long term.

  Partnerships
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list each(a) scheme, (b) initiative and (c) programme funded by (i) her Department, (ii) the Office of Science and Technology and (iii) the research councils, which have as an objective the building of partnerships between industry and academia. [38284]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Below are listed activities involving the collaboration between industry and academia which are funded by the DTI (including OST) and the Research Councils. They aim to encourage sustained partnerships between academia and industry through mechanisms such as joint technology development projects and technology transfer activities which include academics working in industry.

  Cross Government schemes co-ordinated by OST

  LINK initiative (Government funding from DTI, OST, EPSRC and 10 other Research Councils and Government Departments)

  Foresight LINK Awards (Government funding from DTI and OST through Research Councils)

  Foresight Programme (trans-departmental initiative managed by OST)

  Joint DTI and Research Council Initiatives

  Teaching Company Scheme (also includes other Government Departments)

  Innovative Manufacturing Initiative

  Postgraduate Training Partnerships (with EPSRC only)

  Schemes funded by the DTI

  College Business Partnerships

  Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (DTI provides funding for the programme)

  349

  Schemes funded by OST

  President's Partnership Prize

  Schemes funded by Research Councils

  Realising Our Potential Awards (ROPAs)

  Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE), Industrial CASE, CASE Plus

  Industry Fellowships (with the Royal Society and Rolls Royce)

  PPARC Industrial Programme Support Scheme (PIPSS)

  Integrated Graduate Development Scheme

  Engineering Doctorate (EPSRC only)

  Faraday Partnerships (EPSRC only)

  CONNECT (NERC only)

  Joint Research Equipment Initiative (JREI) (with Higher Education Funding Councils and industry)

  MRC Collaborative Centres

  WILLOWS (BBSRC only)

  ACTIN (BBSRC only)

  New Entrepreneurs Prize (BBSRC only)

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has held with EU partners in relation to the problems associated with millennium computer compliance. [25357]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: The Millennium Bug was discussed at the Tele-communications Council on 26 February and the Internal Market Council on 30 March and will continue to be discussed in the Council of Ministers at all suitable opportunities. My Department is also organising a high level Presidency conference in London on 8 May for Millennium Bug experts from all Member States. the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry has raised the issue in meetings with her French, German and Swedish counterparts and will continue to do so in meetings with her EU colleagues as the opportunity arises.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received in the last fortnight about the Millennium Bug Hotline. [32682]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 3 March 1998]: None.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will pass questions tabled to her Department regarding Action 2000 to Action 2000; and if she will request them to reply to hon. Members. [29747]

  Mrs. Roche
  My practice is to consult Action 2000 on Questions which relate to their activities before replying.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce measures to regulate the charging activities of consultancies that market services for dealing with millennium compliance. [38530]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have no plans to do this. Action 2000 and the Business Links are tasked with signposting businesses to the best available help.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she estimates the regulators for gas, water, telecommunications and electricity will confirm that their utilities will be millennium compliant; and if she will make a statement. [37489]
  350
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 2 April 1998]: Ofgas is already monitoring the preparations which members of the gas industry are making to ensure millennium compliance. Reports received to date indicate that most companies will have achieved millennium compliance for critical systems by January 1999. Ofgas will be following-up shortly with the remaining gas companies who have not yet responded.

  Ofwat can confirm that it expects water and water and sewerage companies to be millennium compliant. It has required all companies to supply details of their plans to achieve compliance before 1 January 2000. It intends to hold a seminar with the companies shortly to discuss the issues, including contingency plans. In addition, it will be visiting a number of companies.

  Oftel is satisfied that most network operators are making adequate preparations and Oftel is continuing to take an active role in monitoring these preparations. Most operators plan to confirm that their equipment is millennium compliant in the first half of 1998. Oftel plan to write to all operators again in June to get an update on progress.

  Offer recently wrote to all licensees and other bodies in the electricity supply industry to seek information about their approach to the millennium issue. They wish to ensure that IT problems will not significantly affect electricity supplies. A reply by 30 April was requested.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on progress to date made by the Action 2000 group and their programme for the next six months. [32285]

  Mrs. Roche
  On 22 January 1998, Don Cruickshank, Chairman of Action 2000, launched the Millennium Bug campaign. the initial activities included: promoting the importance of the issue and sign posting help, identifying practical help and guidance, investigating measures to redress the current shortage of IT skilled people, making available information on tools and services, assessing the current extent of the problem and monitoring progress.

  On 26 February the Chairman announced a second programme of action, which includes specific advice on embedded systems, advising on product compliance and software testing, and producing a set of Millennium case studies.

  Action 2000's outline plan for the coming months includes:
  updating and improving the Hotline service, website and Information material,
  working with the Departments for Education and Employment and Trade and Industry on the Training for 20,000 "Bug Fixers" as announced by the Prime Minister on 30 March 1998, Official Report, columns 374–76,
  providing a toolkit to help Business Links work with businesses,
  implementing a programme of training for the Personal Business Advisers and Special Advisers in Business Links and their equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,
  developing a database of information on software support contractors and available diagnostic packages,
  developing a questionnaire and benchmarking process acceptable across all business sectors,

  351
  implementing a communications programme to ensure all business are made aware of the significance of the problem and sign-posting sources of help, and,
  participating in a project to identify the particular risks across the public sector.

  Exports
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the export per capita of each of the standard regions in(a) 1979, (b) 1987 and (c) the latest available year. [38120]

  Mrs. Roche
  Data on exports by regions are not available.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of exports to India in each of the last 20 years. [38121]

  Mrs. Roche
  Information on UK exports to India in each of the last 20 years is given in the following table:

  UK Exports to India 1978–97

  £ million

  Goods

  Services

  Goods and Services

  1978

  348

  n/a

  n/a

  1979

  456

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  531

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  637

  n/a

  n/a

  1982

  806

  n/a

  n/a

  1983

  803

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  780

  n/a

  n/a

  1985

  896

  n/a

  n/a

  1986

  941

  n/a

  n/a

  1987

  1,088

  n/a

  n/a

  1988

  1,114

  250

  1,364

  1989

  1,383

  282

  1,665

  1990

  1,264

  296

  1,560

  1991

  1,017

  258

  1,275

  1992

  946

  305

  1,251

  1993

  1,131

  347

  1,478

  1994

  1,313

  397

  1,710

  1995

  1,684

  391

  2,075

  1996

  1,706

  390

  2,096

  1997

  1,576

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  Information on UK exports of services are only available from 1988. Data for 1997 will be available in August 1998. Figures for exports of goods are on an Overseas Trade Statistics (OTS) basis. Figures on exports of services are on a Balance of Payments (BOP) basis.

  Source:

  Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics (MRETS), ONS UK Balance of Payments (The Pink Book), ONS.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the present value of United Kingdom exports to(a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Indonesia. [38119]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1997, UK exports of goods to India were worth £1,576 million, Pakistan £269 million, and Indonesia £701 million.

  Information for exports of services in 1998 is not yet available.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulations cover clean-up and decontamination operations involving the removal by 352
  high-pressure water hoses of radioactively-contaminated bird droppings from buildings not located on licensed nuclear facilities. [37836]

  Mr. Battle
  Protection of workers and the public from any work involving ionising radiation is covered by the provisions of the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985 and is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive. The disposal of any radioactive materials, whether from licensed nuclear sites or elsewhere, is subject to the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. In addition, the disposal of any radioactivity, liquids or material resulting from such work is regulated by the Environment Agency.

  A number of bodies, including the Environmental Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Health and Safety Executive, the Department of Health and the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), are closely involved in the work to remove the contaminated bird droppings from the house in Seascale and to ensure that it is undertaken in compliance with all the relevant health, safety and environmental regulations, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974.

  Departmental Energy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of her Department's energy usage was from (i) renewable energy and (ii) combined heating in each year since 1989–90. [36166]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Department purchases electricity from commercial suppliers. These suppliers obtain their electricity from a number of sources including renewables and combined heat and power.

  Institute of Food Research
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when she expects to publish the Atkinson report on the future of the Institute of Food Research; what were the terms of reference; and if she will make a statement on the Government's response to its recommendations; [38350]

  (2) what impact the establishment of the Food Standards Agency will have on the role of the Institute of Food Research; [38346]

  Mr. Battle
  The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) set up a working group, chaired by Professor Bernard Atkinson, with the following terms of reference:to assess the extent to which the programme of work at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) contributes to the need for underpinning food research identified by BBSRC, the food industry and others;
  to examine the effectiveness of the present two-site operation, and the strengths and weaknesses of alternative arrangements, including the strengthening of organisational links between the IFR laboratories and their respective universities;
  to make recommendations as appropriate for the organisational structure of the IFR and to identify any additional management and scientific skills required to ensure its future effectiveness.

  It is for the BBSRC Council to take decisions on the future of the IFR, and subsequent action as necessary. The Council considered the working group's report on 10 February, and issued a press release the following day giving details of its conclusions to date.
  353
  I understand that the report was in the nature of advice to the Council and Chief Executive, and contained commentary that would be commercially damaging if published, as well as references to individuals. The BBSRC is therefore not inclined to publish the report. However, once final decisions are taken in the light of the further analysis of options for the future development of the IFR, currently being undertaken by the Chief Executive, BBSRC intends to publish the rationale for those decisions.

  The White Paper "The Food Standards Agency: A Force for Change" made it clear that basic and strategic research into food would continue to be funded by the Research Councils and carried out by Research Council institutes, other institutes and universities as at present. The Institute of Food Research (IFR) will continue to be sponsored and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

  The Food Standards Agency will be responsible for determining its own research needs and commissioning research where it thinks best. I understand that the BBSRC working group, chaired by Professor Atkinson, recommended that a new strategic plan should be established in close partnership with the major users and beneficiaries of the IFR's research, and in particular that discussions should begin as soon as possible with the Agency to ensure that the IFR's research effectively underpins the Agency's work. The BBSRC Council agreed that the future development of the IFR and its scientific programme should be considered in the light of this and other recommendations from the working group, and the further analysis is proceeding accordingly.

  Bilderberg Group
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the operations and influence on world trade of the Bilderberg Group. [37923]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Department has made no such assessments.

  Newsprint
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the implications for the newsprint industry of the regulations increasing the contents of recycled paper in newsprint. [38525]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Private Member's Bill on the recycled content of newsprint, which is now before the House, has a number of implications for the newsprint industry. These, and others relating to trade, competitiveness and the environment are all currently being assessed by the Government. Newsprint manufactured in the UK last year contained an average of 92% recycled paper.

  Paper Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the effects of the strength of sterling on the competitiveness of the paper industry. [38527]
  354
  Mrs. Beckett
  The Government clearly understand the worries of exporters and manufacturers in the paper industry and elsewhere at the rise in the pound. However, we are determined not to pursue policies leading to cycles of boom-bust. That is why the Government have taken the necessary decisions to secure a long-term economic framework, based on low inflation and sustainable public finances which will deliver a stable and competitive pound.

  Energy Research
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount (i) in actual terms and (ii) in terms of the percentage of public expenditure on energy research and development will be spent in 1997–98 on research and development for(a) nuclear fission, (b) nuclear fusion, (c) fossil fuel generation and (d) renewable energy sources. [36882]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 30 March 1998]: My Department's estimated energy programme expenditure in 1997–98 was £222.2 million. The detailed expenditure figures requested, which reflect commitments inherited from the previous Administration, are as follows (percentage in brackets):

  nuclear fission: nil

  nuclear fusion: £17.1 million (7.7%)

  fossil fuel generation: £3.7 million (1.7%)

  renewables: £11.1 million (5.0%).

  Food Science Contracts
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the food science research contracts allocated by the BBSRC in 1997–98 broken down by(a) length of contract, (b) value of contract and (c) institution securing the contract. [37950]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The BBSRC awards a competitive strategic grant (CSG) to the Institute of Food Research (IFR) annually. The figure for 1997–98 was £8,617k, including additions for superannuation, and reductions for MAFF transitional arrangements.

  Unfortunately, in answer to my hon. Friend's previous question on 1 April 1998, Official Report, Columns 565–566, the figures for the BBSRC competitive strategic grant to the Institute of Food Research for 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 were wrongly stated. The correct information is:

  l994–95: £7,497k

  1995–96: £7,697k

  1996–97: £8,187k.

  The CSG is used by the Institute to fund research projects within BBSRC's remit. A list of projects started between April and August 1997 have been placed in the Library of the House; the length of each project is also provided. Typically one third of the projects funded from the CSG change each year; at 1 April 1997 therefore the CSG was already being used to fund a large body of research, details of which are not included in this answer.

  In 1997–98, IFR also won a number of BBSRC ROPA awards. The total amount awarded, the projects and their duration have been placed in the Library of the House.
  355
  In addition BBSRC awards grants for food research to universities and other higher education institutions through the usual Research Council responsive mode procedures. A list of new awards in 1997–98 have been placed in the Library of the House; the lists show the total amount awarded by institution, and the titles and duration of the individual projects.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the food science research contracts allocated by(a) the Economic and Social Research Council, (b) the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (c) the Medical Research Council and (d) the Natural Environment Research Council in (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96, (iii) 1996–97 and (iv) 1997–98, broken down by (1) length of contract, (2) value of contract and (3) institution securing the contract. [37948]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: A list of the grants awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the area of food science has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) awarded 43 grants starting in the period 1/4/94 to 31/3/98 relevant to the food and drink industries and a list of these has also been placed in the Library of the House.

  The Medical Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council do not fund research into food science.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the private sector partnerships currently being undertaken in her Department and its agencies. [38305]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The following PFI/public private partnerships are currently in procurement within DTI and its agencies:

  (i) The Radiocommunications Agency IT Strategic Partnership;

  (ii) Electronic Government through Administrative Re-engineering;

  (iii) The Teddington site re-development (National Physical Laboratory).

  EU Structural Funds
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will make a statement on the Government's response to the latest proposed eligibility criteria for European Structural Funds with particular reference to Objective 1 funding; [36338]

  (2) what recent representations she has made to the European Commission regarding the proposed eligibility criteria for areas awarded Objective 1 status, with particular reference to proposals on population density. [36339]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 27 March 1998]: We have now seen the draft regulations for Structural and cohesion Funds—which are part of the wider Agenda 2000 reform package. The regulations must now be agreed by all fifteen Member States and approved by the European Parliament.
  356
  I and Ministerial colleagues have pressed the Commission, and will continue to push, in respect of Objective 1, for flexibility around the 75 per cent. GDP threshold to allow for margins of error and for equal treatment of areas of sparse population like the Highlands and Islands, together with consideration for the special circumstances of Northern Ireland.

  Job Creation
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the basis of her Department's calculations of the costs per job created in cases where Government support is sought. [37867]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: For RSA grants, the basis of the Department's cost per job (CPJ) calculation is the value of the grant divided by the number of full time equivalent (FTE) jobs directly created or safeguarded by the project. The definition of a full time equivalent job is 30 hours per week or more. Two part-time jobs of 15 or more hours per week count as equivalent to 1 full time job.

  Supermarket Closures
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will limit the powers of a commercial company to close a supermarket on financial grounds if its closure would adversely affect the amenities of the local community. [36420]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Commercial decisions are matters for the company. Assessing the needs of local communities is the responsibility of local council.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to make it compulsory for employers to provide life insurance cover for workers in the offshore oil and gas industry. [32036]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 2 March 1998]: This is also a matter for the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions. The Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires employers, with some exceptions, to insure their liability to employees for bodily injury or disease (including death arising from such injury or disease) sustained during their employment. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that funds are available to pay any compensation awarded where an employee (or dependant) has been successful in a civil action brought to establish an employer's liability for the injury or disease suffered by the employee. It is not the Government's policy to require employers to provide insurance cover for injury or disease where no such liability is established.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of individual or total pthalates 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. [32388]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 5 March 1998]: No products containing pthalates are known to have been discharged offshore in the last 5 years. No products containing pthalates are currently listed in the Offshore Chemical Notification Scheme.

  Coal Miners Pension Fund
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans the Government have to transfer money from the staff pension scheme of British Coal workers; what consultations she has undertaken concerning those proposals; and if she will make a statement. [28993]

  Mr. Battle
  Following wide consultation in 1993/94 in the run-up to coal privatisation, arrangements were put in place to safeguard the interests of members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS). In exchange for providing a comprehensive guarantee that pension and deferred pension entitlements will rise at least in line with the retail prices index (RPI), the BCSSS Trustees agreed that the Government should receive 50% of any surpluses identified at periodic Scheme valuations.

  The payments which the Government receive from surpluses in the BCSSS and its sister scheme, the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, should be viewed against the backdrop of the deficiency contributions which the taxpayer has made to the Schemes. In the last 20 years alone these have totalled some £3 billion. In providing guarantees to the two Schemes, the Secretary of State is underwriting a liability the value of which is some £13.5 billion.

  Post Office
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with(a) management and (b) trades unions over her plans to give greater commercial freedom to the Post Office. [38142]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Following my announcement last May of a review of options for granting the Post Office greater commercial freedom, I have consulted a wide range of interested parties, including the management and unions of the Post Office. I last met both management and union representatives on 6 April.

  I and my officials will continue to have discussions with both management and unions during the next phase of the review, the terms of which were announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) on 6 April 1998, Official Report, column 63

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of Post Office Counters' policy of increasing agency arrangements with multiple retailers at the expense of sole traders; and if she will make a statement. [38533]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Decisions relating to individual post office agency appointments are the operational responsibility of Post Office management. I understand from Post Office Counters Ltd. that they do not operate any policy of preferring multiple retailers to sole traders in making agency appointments and that each case is judged on its merits in the light of established criteria and interviews.

  Car Prices
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she will take to put pressure on the 358
  European Commission to reduce discrepancies between prices for cars in the United Kingdom and other EU countries. [38064]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: I am determined to ensure that UK consumers are able to buy cars at the lowest possible prices. The European Commission, in January, announced its decision to fine Volkswagen ECU 102 million (about £67 million) for prohibiting its Italian dealers from selling cars to buyers from Germany and Austria, who wished to take advantage of the lower prices in Italy. DTI officials are currently discussing with the Commission what the implications of this case are for UK consumers wishing to buy right-hand drive cars at the lowest possible cost.

  At the Government's initiative, the Commission are also undertaking studies of price differentials in EU markets, and the Government are keen for this work to be pushed forward.

  Corporate Governance
  Mr. Love
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to introduce minimum standards of corporate governance; and if she will make a statement. [38375]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made it clear when announcing the Government's plans for a major review of company law on 4 March 1998,Official Report, columns 636–37, that, while she did not rule out legislating to improve standards of corporate governance, she was in the first instance looking to companies and institutional investors to deliver improvements based on the best practice recommendations made by Cadbury, Greenbury, Hampel and others. The text of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's speech, which was made at a conference organised by Pensions Investment Research Consultants Limited (PIRC), is available on my Department's web site at http://www.dti.gov.uk/Minspeech/pircfin.htm.

  Advertising Standards Authority
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce legislation to replace the Advertising Standards Authority with a statutory body. [38301]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  No.

  Toys (Safety)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the current regulatory safeguards on the use of PVC in toys for small children. [38300]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  There is no evidence that products have been marketed in the United Kingdom which breach the internationally accepted levels for phthalates. Under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 and the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 suppliers are under a statutory obligation to supply safe toys and other products intended for children and action can be taken against a supplier of such articles found to release unacceptable levels of phthalates.
  359
  I am most concerned to ensure that our children are not exposed to dangerous childcare articles and toys. The UK is therefore taking a lead in Europe in seeking to produce a more satisfactory test method for the release of phthalates.

  Coalminers (Lung Disease)
  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the former coalminers suffering from lung disease are likely to receive compensation following the recent High Court decision against the British Coal Corporation. [38924]

  Mr. Battle
  On 6 March the Department complied with a Court Order giving it four weeks to send detailed proposals to solicitors acting on behalf of the plaintiffs to settle the over 20,000 current claims and thousands more which are expected. We believe these proposals are fair and sensible and provide the quickest way of ensuring valid claims are settled. At a further hearing on 27 March the solicitors acting for the plaintiffs requested a three month adjournment which the Court granted, to allow for further discussions to take place with the Department's agents to seek to agree settlement arrangements.

  We welcome this opportunity to further refine our proposals and hope that agreement can be reached quickly so payments can begin. However, we are also conscious that a further 3 month delay may be unwelcome to some claimants, particularly those who are severely disabled. We have therefore offered to make interim payments of £2,000 to a minimum of 5,000 elderly claimants currently in receipt of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for chronic bronchitis and emphysema. We will begin making such offers as soon as the claimants' solicitors, whose co-operation we require, are able to submit evidence of receipt of the benefit. I am sure they will do all they can to assist this process to ensure that payments can be make quickly to their injured clients.

  Some of the claims are expected to be from those miners who suffered from chronic bronchitis, alone. We are seeking to agree sensible payment arrangements also for those in this group. However none of the lead cases included in the judgment provided clear guidance on an appropriate level of damages for this condition.

  Therefore, if it is not possible to reach agreement, it may be necessary, while accepting the liability established by the Court, for a further case to be run to establish a level of damages against which other similar claims can be assessed. We believe that such a case could, if need be, be brought to trial quickly and we would do everything possible to ensure that this happened.

  I have said already that we have a duty to deal promptly with valid claims that stem from British Coal's previous activities and actions over many years. We are actively meeting that duty. We hope the plaintiffs' solicitors work with us to agree sensible arrangements to allow relevant claims to be processed systematically, and valid claims to be settled as soon as is practicable.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from retailers of fireworks following the recently introduced prohibitions; and if she will make a statement. [38411]
  360
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The DTI has received some 60 identically styled letters from retailers with information about stocks of fireworks which may no longer be sold to the general public following the introduction of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997. These letters relate mainly to one particular brand of fireworks.

  Retailers have been informed that, following discussions between the DTI and the Health and Safety Executive, the latter has issued a Certificate of Exemption to facilitate the safe return to suppliers of stocks of the prohibited fireworks which have been taken out of their original transport packaging. The trade associations representing retailers and the firework industry have been informed that an Exemption Certificate has been issued.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to prohibit the sale of further categories of fireworks; and if she will make a statement. [38412]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 which I made in September 1997 introduced firework safety measures in two stages.

  From October 1997 the minimum age for people who can be sold fireworks was raised from 16 to 18 and large bangers, flash bangers, Chinese Crackers, fireworks with erratic flight, aerial shells, maroons and other large fireworks were banned from sale to the public.

  Further measures came into effect on 31 December 1997. These included:
  prohibiting the sale to the public of all other types of bangers and mini-rockets;
  limits on the size of fireworks such as Roman Candles which can be sold to the public;
  a new age use warning on packets of sparklers.

  The measures taken since the election have contributed to the largest fall in fireworks injuries for 23 years.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the level of fireworks stocks currently held by retailers in the United Kingdom which fall within the recently banned categories; and if she will make a statement. [38410]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Precise details of stocks of fireworks which may no longer be sold to the general public are not available. The proposals for safety regulations to prohibit certain fireworks were published in mid-June 1997 and sent to a wide range of companies, as well as to organisations representing retailers and other interests. The proposals, which received widespread publicity in the national press and on television, were also sent direct to all major firework suppliers to ensure that they were in a position to offer advice about possible changes in the law before deliveries of fireworks commenced for the 1997 firework season.

  EU Internal Market Council
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what topics were discussed at the EU Ministerial Council on the Internal Market on 30 March; and what matters were voted upon. [38769]
  361
  Mrs. Beckett
  My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe chaired the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 30 March. My hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs occupied the UK seat.

  The Council held a debate on three key issues of the Single Market Action Plan; implementation of the Plan, the state of transposition, application and effective implementation of internal market legislation, and the functioning of the principle of mutual recognition, on which it agreed formal conclusions. The Council also assessed progress on the initiative "Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market" (SLIM) and endorsed Commission proposals to establish Business Test Panels through which business will be consulted about selected new EU draft legislation.

  The Council held an extensive exchange of views on the proposal for a Regulation creating a Commission intervention mechanism for the elimination of certain obstacles to trade. The Council expressed its resolve to find, urgently, an effective solution to the problem.

  The Council took note of the progress achieved on the draft Regulation on the Statute for a European Company and gave its support to continuing work along the present lines.

  The Council heard presentations from the Commission on: the proposed Directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the Information

  Society, the Communication on Public Procurement, the Communication on Commercial Communications, and The Year 2000 Computer Problem.

  The Council took note of the Memorandum "Creating a European Community and international environment to develop electronic commerce" presented by the French delegation.

  No voting took place at this Council.

  Working Time and Young Workers Directives
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in implementing the EC directives on working time and young workers. [38770]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have today issued a consultation document which contains draft regulations to implement the Working Time Directive and the Young Workers Directive as far as it relates to adolescents.

  The measures will create protection for workers from being required to work over an average of 48 hours a week; the entitlement to paid annual leave and daily, weekly and in-work rest periods; limits on night working; and special protections for young people.

  The consultation period will last until 5 June. We will then consider the responses before drafting any changes to the regulations. A new order will then be laid before Parliament. We aim to have the measures in place by 1 October.

HEALTH

  London Lighthouse
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future of London Lighthouse. [38433]

  Ms Jowell
  We are aware of the decision by the London Lighthouse Council of Management to recite the Lighthouse's day care and other support services for people with HIV and AIDS in new premises from September 1998 and that this will involve the closure of its residential unit and the sale of its Lancaster Road building. This option was identified following extensive discussions between London Lighthouse and Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority to identify a viable option for restructuring the Lighthouse's services in view of the financial difficulties it faces. The Lighthouse, like many other HIV and AIDS voluntary organisations, has been responding to changes in service requirements for people with HIV and AIDS which have been identified through local needs assessment and the need to maximise value for money, and, more recently, taking into account the effects of combination therapies, results from which so far are very encouraging in delaying the progression of HIV and the onset of AIDS.

  I have met twice with the London Lighthouse to be advised about its position and I welcome the work which the London Lighthouse has done with Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority to identify an option which seeks to safeguard the London Lighthouse's day care and other support services. Work is in hand to identify the practical implications of this option. Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster have agreed in principle to provide transitional funding to support the option, subject to public accountability requirements and a robust business case which meets the necessary financial conditions.

  The Lighthouse has made a valuable contribution over the years to raise awareness and change attitudes to HIV and AIDS, and has continued to play a national role in the development of policy and services for people with HIV and AIDS in changing circumstances created by new treatments. I have agreed in principle to repeat its grant of £150,000 for 1998/99, bringing the total financial support provided by the Department over the years to the Lighthouse to more than £4 million.

  NHS Trust Appointments
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments he announced to NHS trusts in North East England excluding Yorkshire in the week ending 3 April; how many of those appointed were declared to be present or past Labour councillors or Labour activists; and how many were councillors or activists of any other party. [38537]

  Mr. Milburn
  Full details of the people appointed to National Health Service trusts boards in the north east in the week beginning 3 April 1998 were made public in a press release issued by the NHS Executive Northern and Yorkshire Regional Office on 31 March 1998. Copies of the press release have been placed in the Library.

  Adoption
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he plans to ratify the Hague Convention on adoption; [25805]

  (2) what funds have been made available to agencies specialising in intercountry adoption in line with the Hague Convention. [25813]

  Mr. Boateng
  No funds have been made available by the Department of Health to voluntary adoption societies to provide intercountry adoption services.

  The 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of intercountry Adoption will be ratified as soon as the necessary legislation is enacted and implemented.

  The approval of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State will be recommended for societies who meet the standards and criteria set out by the Department and which encompass the principles underpinning the 1993 Hague Convention on intercountry adoption.

  Private Health Care
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimates he has made of(a) the number of patients treated privately each year and (b) the impact of this on the size of NHS waiting lists; [36730]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of patients treated privately in each of the last three years. [36467]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information for in-patient treatment in National Health Service hospitals is as follows. Information shown is based on finished consultant episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants. There are known shortfalls and data quality problems in the provisional 1996/97 data which are currently being investigated.

  Ordinary admissions and day cases combined: completed episodes (FCEs) of private patients treated in NHS hospitals

  Year

  FCEs

  1993–94

  93,048

  1994–95

  99,359

  1995–96

  107,182

  1996–97

  89,831

  Notes:

  Data for 1993–94 to 1995–96 are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  Data for 1996–97 are provisional and are derived from ungrossed HES data.

  Information on the number of patients treated in the independent sector is not collected. Professor Brian Williams looked at the activity of short stay independent hospitals in 1992–93. The results of his survey were published in the British Medical Journal on 25 June 1994 (BMJ 1994;308:18699–701).
  364
  We have made no estimate of the impact on NHS waiting lists. This will depend on how far patients treated privately would otherwise have been accepted for treatment under the NHS.

  Frozen Embryos
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many frozen embryos are currently in storage in the United Kingdom. [37272]

  Ms Jowell
  This figure is not available. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 requires clinics to notify the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) when embryos are stored or used. There are some embryos which were stored before the 1990 Act came into force. Clinics were not required to notify the HFEA of these.

  According to the most recent verified information held by the HFEA between 1 August 1991 to 31 March 1996 the number of embryos put into frozen storage during the course of an IVF treatment cycle was 105,317. The number of female patients who stored embryos from IVF cycles during that period was 17,254.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts to reduce waiting lists for essential medical care. [37259]

  Mr. Milburn
  In reducing waiting lists we remain committed to the principles that the National Health Service must retain the capacity to respond promptly and effectively to emergencies and that clinical priority and the urgency of a patient's condition are the main factors which should determine how long patients on waiting lists wait for treatment. We have set the target that by April 1999 there will be fewer patients awaiting admission to hospital in England than the 1.16 million we inherited after the election. This will be the stepping stone to meeting our election pledge to reduce waiting lists to 100,000 below the level we inherited by the end of the present Parliament. £320 million of the extra £500 million for the NHS announced in the Budget will be spent directly on cutting waiting lists. Every health authority and trust will have to play their part and will be set an individual, challenging waiting list target to meet by 31 March 1999.

  General Practitioners (Sunderland)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of general practitioners in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement. [37864]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have introduced a number of national policy measures to improve the recruitment of general practitioners which Sunderland Health Authority has been
  365
  implementing locally. The health authority has recently introduced a career start scheme and has successfully recruited two salaried GPs to commence work in the near future. It also intends filling two additional GP posts under this initiative later this year. The Priority Healthcare Wearside National Health Service Trust has employed a salaried GP under the NHS (Primary Care) Act 1997 Pilot scheme to provide personal medical services to the residents of the Pennywell area. A third out-of-hours centre to provide GP services through the night also became operational in January 1998.

  £

  Derv

  Unleaded

  4 star

  Total

  1997–98

  Bulk purchases

  Litres

  12,787,000

  669,000

  1,270,000

  14,726,000

  Average price1

  49.87

  49.85

  54.67

  -

  Total cost

  6,376,800

  333,500

  694,300

  7,404,600

  Total cost inc. VAT

  7,492,700

  391,900

  815,800

  8,700,400

  Retail purchases

  Litres

  6,000,000

  6,000,000

  3,000,000

  15,000,000

  Average price1

  62.49

  62.38

  68.30

  -

  Total cost

  3,749,400

  3,742,800

  2,049,000

  9,541,200

  Grand total cost all purchases

  11,242,100

  4,134,700

  2,864,800

  18,241,600

  1998–99

  Bulk purchases

  Litres

  12,787,000

  669,000

  1,270,000

  14,726,000

  Average price1

  53.98

  53.30

  58.57

  -

  Total cost

  6,902,400

  356,600

  743,800

  8,002,800

  Total cost inc. VAT

  8,110,300

  419,000

  874,000

  9,403,300

  Retail purchases

  Litres

  6,000,000

  6,000,000

  3,000,000

  15,000,000

  Average price1

  67.68

  66.37

  72.97

  -

  Total cost

  4,060,800

  3,982,200

  2,189,100

  10,232,100

  Grand total cost all purchases

  12,171,100

  4,401,200

  3,063,100

  19,635,400

  1Pence (p).

  Notes:

  In addition to the above figures, NHS Supplies' Wholesaling Division's transport fleet spent approximately £1.33 million on fuel costs (almost exclusively Derv) in 1997–98 and estimate this will rise to £1.47 million in 1998–99.

  The figures for bulk are for England and Northern Ireland, but the retail figures are for England only. This said the element in the bulk figures relating to Northern Ireland is small.

  Retail purchase costs above include VAT as transactions are made at commercial petrol stations.

  All figures have been rounded.

  There are several issues that make estimates difficult for 1998–99. These are:
  budget duty changes will have an effect on demand
  oil is a commodity traded in US$ and, as such, is subject to global supply/demand fluctuations as well as currency fluctuations
  oil companies, despite being nationally recognised names, are becoming increasingly regionalised around their terminals eg Esso in the far south, Total in Yorkshire and Humberside and so on. In the supply of bulk, this regionalisation can be clearly seen and it is likely to become increasingly obvious in the retail sector as well. This regionalisation will have an effect on costs across the country. There were also a number of oil company partnerships and take overs last year and this trend is expected to continue.

  New Variant CJD
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has evaluated into the

  NHS Road Fuel
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of expenditure on road fuel in the NHS for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [37840]

  Mr. Milburn
  The available information covers expenditure on the road fuel usage covering approximately 90 per cent of the National Health Service. This is in the table.

  correlations between the genetic changes in the prion protein of humans and the various routes of prion infection. [37870]

  Ms Jowell
  Apart from cases of iatrogenic Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease linked to medical interventions, the route of infection for human prion diseases is not known. There are currently no research findings to link directly the route of infection with the type of prion protein seen in human prion diseases.

  The National CJD Surveillance Unit investigates the make-up of the prion protein gene in individuals affected by all types of CJD in parallel with their detailed surveillance activities. This work is ongoing and designed to give as much information as possible about potential routes of transmission and the genetic make-up of all individuals affected by the various types of CJD.
  367
  The most significant research into identifying different strains of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) published so far are:
  "Molecular analysis of prion strain variation and the aetiology of new variant CJD" (Collinge et al, Nature 383, 24 October 1996)
  "Transmission to mice indicate that "new variant" CJD is caused by the BSE agent" (Bruce et al, Nature, 389, 2 October 1997)
  "The same prion strain causes nvCJD and BSE" (Hill, Collinge et al, Nature 389, 2 October 1997).

  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee considered the two sets of findings published in Nature on 2 October 1997 and concluded that they provided convincing evidence that the agent which causes nvCJD is the same as that which causes BSE. However the findings do not tell us anything about the mechanism by which nvCJD patients contracted the disease.

  East Kent Health Authority
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many East Kent patients, and at what cost, were referred for treatment outside East Kent during 1997(a) in total and (b) by each of the district general hospitals; [38196]

  (2) for the last full year for which data is available, if he will itemise expenditure outside East Kent by East Kent Health Authority according to the particular specialism or treatment category; [38198]

  (3) what was the total cost of referring East Kent patients for treatment outside East Kent in each year since East Kent Health Authority was set up; and what allowance has been made for the (a) current and (b) future years. [38197]

  Mr. Milburn
  This information is not held centrally and should be requested directly from East Kent Health Authority.

  Healthy Living Centres
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways voluntary sector organisations will be involved in the operation of healthy living centres. [38202]

  Ms Jowell
  There will be the opportunity for voluntary sector organisations to play a significant role in delivering the healthy living centres initiative. Centres will be able to involve a range of partnerships at local level, for example the voluntary, public and private sectors working with each other, local general practitioners and local people. The scheme is designed to be flexible so that projects can be specifically tailored to meet the different needs of different communities.

  Private Beds
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) total number of beds and (b) number of private beds in each health authority in the North Thames region of the NHS. [38374]

  Mr. Milburn
  The number of beds in each health authority in the North Thames region is shown in the table.
  368
  Information on the number of private beds is not collected. The last year of collection of any information on private beds was in 1990/91 and was collected from district health authorities and special health authorities.

  Average daily number of available beds in wards open night and day (i.e. 24 hours) by health authority in the North Thames Regional Office area for the financial year 1996–97

  Health Authority1

  Average daily number of available beds2 (all ward classes)

  Barking & Havering

  1,705

  Barnet

  1,487

  Brent & Harrow

  1,520

  Camden & Islington

  3,526

  Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow

  2,628

  East London & The City

  3,232

  Enfield & Haringey

  1,686

  Hillingdon

  684

  Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster

  2,812

  North & East Hertfordshire

  1,299

  North Essex

  3,365

  Redbridge & Waltham Forest

  2,346

  South Essex

  2,025

  West Hertfordshire

  1,998

  1 Health authority figures have been created from trust figures where the trust's main site is located within the health authority. The information on the main site of the trust and its health authority is based upon NHS organisation codes, derived from trust information. Some trusts have hospital sites which cross health authority boundaries. Therefore, the figures will not reflect the true position for the number of beds within each health authority area.

  2 Figures exclude neonatal cots in maternity wards and beds in residential care, but include paediatric intensive care beds.

  Source:

  KHO3 Bed availability and occupancy 1996–97. Trust location—National Health Service organisation codes.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) total number of beds and (b) number of private beds, in each region of the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [38373]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on National Health Service beds is set out in the table. Information on the number of private beds in NHS hospitals was last collected from district health authorities and special health authorities in 1990/91 when there were 2,956 authorised private beds in NHS hospitals.

  Average daily number of available beds in wards open night and day (i.e. 24 hours) by regional office area for the financial year 1996–97

  Regional office area

  Average daily number of available beds1 (all ward classes)

  Northern & Yorkshire

  28,461

  Trent

  19,957

  Anglia & Oxford

  19,607

  North Thames

  30,314

  South Thames

  25,126

  South & West

  26,374

  West Midlands

  20,308

  North West

  28,810

  England

  198,958

  1Figures exclude neonatal cots in maternity wards and beds in residential care, but include paediatric intensive care beds.

  Source:

  KHO3 Bed availability and occupancy 1996–97.

  Midwives
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include midwives in the recommended structure of primary care groups. [38194]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have made clear in the White Paper The New NHS and in the guidance we have issued on establishing primary care groups, that we expect all community nurses and general practitioners to work together in partnership if the new arrangements are to succeed. Community nurses will also be represented in the governing arrangements of the primary care groups but it is a matter for community nurses locally, working with their health authority and general practitioners, to decide exactly how they will be represented.

  Hearing Damage
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government have taken to study the extent of damage to people's hearing from loud music in public places. [38176]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have commissioned no research into damage to people's hearing from loud music in public places. However, the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research is currently carrying out a study entitled "hearing in young adults" which shows that for young people aged 18–25, leisure noise has increased by 200 per cent. since the 1980s. There is no evidence yet that the hazard is leading to a direct reduction in hearing function, but there is an increase in tinnitus.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department will take to remove cash disincentives to breast units achieving breast cancer screening rates of more than 10 per cent. in women aged over 65 years; [38149]

  (2) what rate of take-up of breast cancer screening in women aged over 65 years current levels of funding can support; [38155]

  (3) if the Government makes additional resources available to breast screening units when uptake in the over 65 years age group exceeds 10 per cent. locally. [38539]

  Ms Jowell
  The National Health Service breast screening programme invites women aged 50–64 for screening by mammography every three years, with screening for older women available three-yearly on request.

  When the breast screening programme was set up, funding was provided centrally. Subsequently, the money for breast screening was included in general allocations to health authorities and it is therefore for health authorities to make available the necessary resources for this service.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the uptake rate for breast cancer screening in women aged over 65 years; [38153]

  (2) what plans the Government have to increase the uptake rate for breast cancer screening in women aged over 65 years. [38148]
  370
  Ms Jowell
  The Government are keen to encourage women aged 65 and over to request free three-yearly mammograms, and their entitlement to do so is widely publicised. In particular, the National Health Screening breast screening programme is working with Age Concern to encourage older women to request screening. They have produced a leaflet called "65 or over: You are still entitled to breast screening", which is widely available from general practitioners surgeries, clinics, some post offices and some shops. In addition, women who have already been screened through the programme are informed of their right to request free three-yearly screening after the age of 64.

  The number of women aged 65 and over being screened has risen from 39,000 two years ago to over 57,000 last year. We are delighted that more and more women are making use of this important service.

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what functions are ascribed to the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting under section 6(1)(e) of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997; and if the Board received funding in respect of those functions. [38712]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Board is required to provide a careers service (Statutory Instrument 1993/629). Funding for this is not authorised by statute and is the subject of separate approval by the Treasury until March 1999, after which new arrangements will be introduced.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics his Department collates in respect of the caseloads of community psychiatric nurses. [38170]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information on the caseloads of community psychiatric nurses is not collected centrally. The Department does collect the full-time equivalent totals of qualified nurses working in community psychiatry by National Health Service trust, as well as the number of first contacts per year. The ratio between the two gives the average number of patients seen per qualified nurse working in community psychiatry per year for each trust.

  Smoking
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the take up rate of smoking amongst young women. [38224]

  Ms Jowell
  In 1998/99 the Government are funding a Health Education Authority run adult smoking education campaign costing £5.5 million, which identifies 5 key target groups, two of which are women and pregnant women aged 16 -24, and also fund a teenage smoking campaign costing £1 million which especially focuses on teenage girls (ages 11– 15).

  We are currently considering ways in which to reduce tobacco consumption and our conclusions will form part of the Tobacco Control White Paper, which will be published later this year.
  371
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions his Department has taken to increase public awareness of the short-term and long-term effects of passive smoking on health. [38223]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department recently published (on 11 March 1998 by Press Conference) a report by the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health. The report describes the major issues considered by the committee, including the health effects of exposure of non-smokers to environmental tobacco smoke and lists the committee's conclusions and recommendations.

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Library and copies are available from the Stationery Office.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate smoking in public places. [38222]

  Ms Jowell
  We are currently considering what measures might be included in the Tobacco Control White Paper to be published later this year.

  New Deal (Training)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance, in terms of extra resources and preparatory training, will be given to National Health Service trusts when recruiting new employees through the New Deal. [37998]

  Mr. Milburn
  Employees recruited through the new deal will receive the same induction and training as any new employee in the National Health Service. Employers participating in the scheme will receive a weekly subsidy for six months. A £750 allowance to support training, leading to a recognised qualification is also available. In addition the Employment Service offers practical help, advice and support to employers involved in new deal and aims to fill vacancies quickly, efficiently and appropriately when a job and person specification have been placed with them.

  I wrote to health authority and NHS trust chairmen on 11 March in a joint letter with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Disability Rights telling them of the benefits of the schemes and encouraging NHS employers to support the welfare to work programmes. The NHS Executive is issuing further guidance on the scheme and the benefits to the NHS.

  Prescription Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the percentage of the over 60 years population who are regularly taking(a) one prescription drug, (b) two to four drugs, (c) five to six drugs, (d) seven to eight drugs and (e) nine or more drugs each week; [38362]

  (2) if he will estimate the percentage of the over 60 years population who are found on admission to hospital to be regularly taking (a) one prescription drug, (b) two to four drugs, (c) five to six drugs, (d) seven to eight drugs and (e) nine or more drugs each week. [38361]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on patients' medication handed in on admission to hospital is not available. There is no readily available information on the number of 372
  prescription drugs people take regularly. The available information from the health survey for England in 1996 is given in the table.

  Number of prescribed medicines by age

  percentage

  Age 65–74

  Age 75 and over

  One

  20

  17

  Two

  17

  18

  Three

  14

  16

  Four or more

  22

  31

  Prozac
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of the population have been prescribed prozac in each of the past five years; and if he will estimate the figures for the next five years under present trends. [38363]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on the number of people who have been prescribed prozac over the past five years is not available. The number of prescription items dispensed in England for prozac for the period 1992 to 1996 and an estimate for 1997 to 2001 is shown in the table. Under present trends it is estimated that prozac dispensing will increase by about 0.5 million prescription items per year.

  Number of prescription items dispensed for Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) for 1992 to 1996 and an estimate for 1997 to 2001 England

  Year

  Prescription items (millions)

  1992

  0.6

  1993

  1.0

  1994

  1.4

  1995

  2.0

  1996

  2.5

  1997

  3.0

  1998

  3.5

  1999

  4.0

  2000

  4.5

  2001

  5.0

  Notes:

  The figures for 1992 to 1996 are based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in England in the community, ie by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.

  The estimates for 1997 to 2001 are based on current trends.

  Post-traumatic Stress
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that those traumatised through the death of a relative in a road crash are offered professional support to help treat post-traumatic stress. [38349]

  Mr. Boateng
  A range of services, including those which specialise in the treatment of post-traumatic stress, are available within the National Health Service. Decisions concerning the treatment required for particular patients remain the responsibility of the medical practitioner. Decisions are taken on the basis of a thorough and individual assessment, combined with evidence of the effectiveness of treatment.

  Private Health Work
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the revenue generated by private work and (b) the proportion of the trust's annual revenue generated by private work in each year since 1990 by NHS trust. [37131]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 31 March 1998]: The first National Health Service trusts were established in 1991. Information for each year from 1991–92 to 1996–97 has been placed in the Library.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of his Department's planned real level of expenditure on the National Health Service in 1995– 96 prices in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, using (i) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the Financial Statement and Budget report 1997–98 and (ii) the estimates of spending and of the GDP deflator as contained in the Financial Statement and Budget report for March 1998. [37135]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: Figures on real terms expenditure on the National Health Service can be found in the Departmental Report, copies of which are available in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list, for each financial year since the CSA began its operations, how many parents with care have ceased to claim(a) income support, (b) income-based job-seeker's allowance, (c) family credit and (d) disability working allowance as a result of CSA activity; and for each of the above benefits if she will list how many claims ceased because of (i) established benefit fraud, (ii) fraud was suspected but not proved and (iii) the claim ceased, but no reason was investigated for the termination of the claim. [38403]

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

  Number of parents with care who have ceased to claim Income Support within four weeks of CSA activity (or eight weeks if the question of the parent with care's requirement to apply for maintenance is under consideration)

  Number

  1993–94

  141,000

  1994–95

  60,226

  1995–96

  52,848

  1996–97

  43,658

  1997–98

  235,588

  1Estimated.

  2 To the end of February 1998.

  No information is available about the number of such cases where fraud was involved.

  The information requested for parents with care ceasing to claim income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance is not available.
  374
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much parents with care on income support, whose claims predate April 1993, have(a) not been contacted by the CSA and (b) were contacted and whose case forms part of the CSA backlog; and by how many cases these numbers of claimants have been reduced in the financial year 1997–98.[38404]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. David Bendel, dated 8 April 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency cases that pre-date April 1993.
  Some 340,000 cases were deferred in December 1994 where the client was in receipt of Income Support prior to April 1993 and where there had been no Agency contact, and a further 16,000 cases deferred in January-March 1995 where a maintenance application form had been issued before July 1994 and either had not been returned or lacked the necessary information.
  The Agency recommenced take on of these cases in November 1995, in line with the agreement made with the Secretary of State to recommence take on by December 1995.
  It is not possible to give an exact figure for the number of deferred cases still outstanding. To obtain this a clerical examination of all the deferred cases would have to be made to find those appropriate for action and this would incur disproportionate cost. In November 1997, it was estimated that the number outstanding had reduced to around 150,000 cases.
  This reduction is due to a number of reasons. The recommencement of take on mentioned above; also, in some cases where Income Support has ceased and the parent with care has made a fresh application for benefit, the Agency will have become involved and these cases will have been taken on; in other cases the parent with care will have requested that the Agency take on the case and this will have been done; finally, some clients will no longer be claiming Income Support.
  Where the Agency has taken-on cases, the length of time taken to complete a maintenance assessment is measured, and cases which exceed 52 weeks are considered to be a backlog; this backlog currently stands at approximately 113,000 from 225,000 at 31 March 1997.
  The Agency has developed and is now implementing a strategy for meeting its undertaking to clear its backlogs. All Business Units have put in place operational plans which will guide them towards the achievement of our stated objective of clearing backlogs by 31 March 1999.
  The Agency is tackling the backlog of cases. However, we must balance the demands placed on us—to deliver Secretary of State targets, to continue to improve performance and improve customer service—and clearance of the backlogs.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints were received in 1997 against the workings of the Child Support Agency. [36701]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We expect the Child Support Agency to provide a consistent, fair and efficient service to all its clients throughout the Child Support assessment process. In 1997 the number of complaints recorded by customer service managers of the Child Support Agency was 26,364. Correspondence received by Ministers in this
  375
  Department and by the Chief Executive of the Agency is not categorised to show the proportion that relates to complaints. However, in 1997 Ministers received 1,179 letters from hon. and right hon. Members concerning the operations of the Child Support Agency. Over the same period the Chief Executive of the Agency received 8,187 such letters.

  We are looking closely at all aspects of the Child Support scheme to see where improvements can be made and we expect to bring forward a consultation paper on our proposals later this year.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of outstanding child maintenance debt, broken down according to debt considered(a) collectable and (b) uncollectable, giving reasons for such categorisation. [38397]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  It is not right that so many absent fathers should seek to avoid paying the maintenance which their children are due. An extra £15 million is to be invested in the Child Support Agency this year and next, specifically aimed at increasing the amounts of maintenance which are paid.
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. David Rendel, dated 8 April 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about child maintenance debt.
  The amount of child support full maintenance assessment debt outstanding as at the 31 March 1998, was £691,416,505.67. This has increased from the amount reported as outstanding at 31 March 1997 in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 1996–97 which was £513,029,000. The increase in the amount of maintenance debt is largely a result of the rise of the Agency's live and assessed caseload, which has risen from 585,220 at 31 March 1997 to 758,580 at 31 March 1998.

  The Agency undertakes a Debt Analysis exercise at the end of each financial year, which estimates the collectability of the amounts outstanding. The results as at 31 March 1997 for 1996–97 are shown in the table attached, with definitions of the classifications. A similar exercise will be undertaken for 1997–98 and the results will be published in the Agency's 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts in July 1998.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Child support debt: 31 March 1997

  Analysis of debt

  Value of debt(£ million)

  Percentage of dept

  Collectable

  230.7

  44.9

  Possibly Uncollectable

  81.3

  15.9

  Probably Uncollectable

  195.0

  38.0

  Deferred debt

  6.0

  1.2

  Total

  513.0

  100

  Collectable—amount outstanding which the Debt Analysis exercise revealed is likely to be collected. This takes into account factors such as regular contact with the absent parent, where regular payments are being made or an arrears agreement has been set up. Possibly Uncollectable—amount outstanding which the Debt Analysis exercise revealed some uncertainty over whether it will be collected. The amounts are considered doubtful where, for example, payments have been infrequent or it has not been possible to establish an arrears agreement or impose a deduction of earnings order.
  376
  Probably Uncollectable—amount outstanding which the Debt Analysis exercise revealed is likely to be very difficult to collect due, for example, to the lack of contact with or the personal circumstances of the absent parent. In many of the latter cases the Agency has suspended recovery action until such time as the individual's circumstances change.
  Deferred Debt—amount outstanding which the Agency has been able to defer indefinitely, provided absent parents meet certain conditions on payment of regular maintenance and any remaining debt.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list for each CSA division the name and location of each field office, indicating those(a) closed and (b) subject to staff reduction since April 1997; and what plans there are to (i) close and (ii) reduce the number of staff in each remaining office in the financial year 1998–99. [38396]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We are looking for substantial and sustained operational improvements from the Agency, in particular on getting more maintenance paid, reducing the backlog and improving customer service.

  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the Chief Executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. David Rendel, dated 8 April 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency Field Offices.
  I have placed a list of Agency offices by region, showing the information you have requested for the period from April 1997 in the library.
  As I am sure you are aware, the Agency is in the process of reviewing its organisation to improve the service that we deliver. Our plans for re-organising are fully in line with the Government strategy of modernising the delivery of public services and reinforce more effectively parental responsibility. We believe our plans will increase compliance and the regularity of payment of maintenance and play an important part in helping lone parents return to work. It may help to explain some details of our current organisation to show how we plan to improve our accessibility to the public substantially.
  The Agency currently has approximately 2900 staff working in Field offices throughout the country. In excess of 95% of those staff are engaged on backroom paper processing work so they do not have any face to face contact with the public at all and are no more accessible than those in the major processing centres. The number of staff years which are devoted to face-to-face contact is currently 120 which in many locations equates to fewer than one interview per day. We feel that this is not sufficient. Our restructuring will allow us to offer significantly more face to face contact on a peripatetic basis in a greater range of locations in conjunction with the Benefits Agency (with whom many of our clients are also concerned). At the same time we need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of other forms of contact with customers. We also need to improve our overall cost-efficiency sufficiently to keep pace with increases of 50% in our workloads over the next 3 years.
  We know that many of our customers who are working prefer to deal with us by 'phone rather than be visited at home or interviewed in one of our offices. We are developing proposals on how we might re-focus our resources to cope with an increasing workload while at the same time seeking to increase and improve both our telephone and our face to face contact. Our current thinking is that we can move processing work into the Child Support Agency Centres and larger local centres to provide economies of scale and much better value for money. Processing paper in small offices is significantly more expensive and our restructuring will allow us to increase our overall range of customer contact, as well as keeping pace with workloads.

  377
  While we may not retain a permanent presence at all our present sites we will provide interview facilities at a larger range of local outlets. We know that a proportion of our customers will want to have face to face contact with us for a number of reasons although not necessarily at a DSS office. We are exploring a number of options which will include for example Citizens Advice Bureaux or other Government facilities to increase our accessibility to the public.
  I hope this is helpful.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 13 March 1998,Official Report, column 394, what rate of real increase in average earnings is assumed in her estimate that Class 1 National Insurance contribution rates would stay constant if pensions and linked benefits were uprated by earnings in April 1999. [35925]

  Mr. Denham
  The analysis used an assumption based on data and evidence available at the time of the Pre-Budget Report. Although the extra cost of uprating in line with earnings would be £260 million, the rounding conventions used to calculate National Insurance contributions mean that the difference between the earnings assumption and the price assumption leads to a cost which is insufficient to trigger a change in the National Insurance contribution rate for April 1999.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have paid employees' national insurance contributions in each of the last 20 years; and what information she has on the likely numbers paying in each of the next 20 years. [37547]

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

  The Department makes no estimates of the number of employees who are likely to pay National Insurance contributions in future years. However, the Government Actuary undertakes a Quinquennial Review of the operation of the Social Security Acts to estimate the rates of contribution likely to be required in future years to meet the costs of benefits provided for under the National Insurance Scheme. The assumed number of future contributors in his Report on the Third Quinquennial Review under Section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975 published on 31 January 19951 was, in an average week, 22.7 million for the year 2000, 24.0 million for 2010 and 24.0 million for 2020.

  The estimates for future years in the Government Actuary's report are based on a number of underlying economic and demographic assumptions. These include projections of the number of employees and self-employed people, assumptions about earnings and the level of the lower earnings limit and the level of unemployment. From these assumptions the Government Actuary derives the estimated average number of contributors in any week for future years. However, these estimates are not directly comparable with those for previous years given in the table. The figures in the table
  378
  show the actual number of employees who paid some contributions during the tax year, and will therefore be higher than figures which show the weekly average.

  Number of employees in Great Britain who paid National Insurance Contributions in each tax year, from 1978–79 to 1995–96

  000

  Tax year

  Number of contributors

  1978–79

  23,684

  1979–80

  23,911

  1980–81

  23,074

  1981–82

  21,991

  1982–83

  21,502

  1983–84

  21,376

  1984–85

  21,431

  1985–86

  21,702

  1986–87

  21,908

  1987–88

  22,426

  1988–89

  22,961

  1989–90

  23,246

  1990–91

  23,180

  1991–92

  22,376

  1992–93

  21,894

  1993–94

  21,749

  1994–95

  22,022

  1995–96

  22,151

  Notes:

  1. Report by the Government Actuary on the Third Quinquennial Review under Section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975 (HC 160).

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Includes all employees who have paid Class 1 not-contracted out, contracted out and married women's reduced rate contributions in each tax year.

  Source:

  DSS: Lifetime Labour Market Database which contains a 1 per cent. sample from the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) taken at February 1997.

  Family Credit
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of providing(a) milk tokens and (b) free school meals to family credit recipients (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total family credit budget.[36245]

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

  Cash 1997–98 (£ millions)

  As a percentage of the Family Credit budget

  Cost of providing milk tokens to Family Credit recipients

  50

  Less than 0.5

  Cost of providing free school meals to Family Credit recipients

  200

  Less than 1

  Notes:

  1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £50 million. The heavy rounding of the figures reflects uncertainties as to the exact cost of the provision, future take-up, and estimates of the numbers entitled.

  2. No account has been taken of the fact that Family Credit recipients already receive the equivalent of milk tokens partly through an addition to their Family Credit benefit rates for purchasing liquid milk and partly through being able to purchase infant formula at NHS clinics at a reduced rate. In addition, provision is made in Family Credit for the replacement cash value of free school meals.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps the Government are taking to maximise take-up by eligible pensioner households of winter fuel payments; [36474]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of pensioner households which will take up their entitlement to winter fuel payments. [36470]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically without the need to claim, therefore take up is not an issue. Almost 10 million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households, have been identified from Departmental records. Each of these eligible pensioners should now have received a payment, at a total cost of around £200 million.

  The award letter which accompanies the payment clearly explains the entitlement conditions and informs anyone who receives a £10 payment, but satisfies the conditions for a £20 payment, to contact the Benefits Agency Office which deals with their pension, or to telephone the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline, and request the balance. Requests for a review of the original decision to pay £10 are being dealt with as a matter of priority.

  Similarly, where someone believes that they are entitled to a payment, but have not received one, they are advised in the Winter Fuel payment leaflet "Some extra layers to help keep pensioners warm this winter" to contact their local benefits Agency office to check. They may also contact the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for what reasons Dr. and Mrs. Michael Norris of Broom Knolls, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex, were paid two winter fuel payments; and if she will make a statement; [35383]

  (2) how many households have received winter fuel payments in excess of their entitlement; and what measures are being taken to recover excess payments. [35384]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in winter. A total of £400 million has been committed for this winter and next, to help pensioners with fuel bills to a pay. This is the first time any Government have provided additional help with heating costs to all pensioners receiving a Retirement Pension or one of a number of other qualifying benefits.

  The making of this winter's payments has been an enormous and unprecedented exercise. In order to establish all eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data in around 15 million computer records, involving 15 qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems. Overall, almost ten million payments will have been made to over seven million pensioner households by the end of March.

  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  380
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 8 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions asking for what reasons Dr. and Mrs. Michael Norris of Broom Knolls, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex, were paid two winter fuel payments; and how many households have received winter fuel payments in excess of their entitlement; and what measures are being taken to recover excess payments.
  The making of almost ten million winter fuel payments to over seven million pensioner households before the end of March 1998 has been a challenging task for the Benefits Agency. This will have been achieved whilst maintaining normal benefit business.
  Around one and a half million of the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, received their payment of £50 during January.
  Other eligible pensioners are entitled to a payment of £20 or £10. Where they live alone, are the only eligible pensioner in a household, or are of no fixed abode, they are entitled to £20; otherwise, they are entitled to £10.
  In order to establish other eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to match around fifteen million computer records, involving fifteen qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems. Where only one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £20 was made. Where more than one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £10 was made.
  Where official Departmental records are not correct or incomplete, it is possible that the amount of some payments may not correspond with the actual circumstances. For example, where two eligible pensioners live at the same address but in separate households. In such cases, each eligible person will have been sent a payment of £10 when they should have received £20. The award letter which accompanies the payment clearly explains the entitlement conditions and informs anyone who receives a £10 payment, but satisfies the conditions for a £20 payment, to contact the Benefits Agency Office which deals with their pension, or to telephone the Winter Fuel Helpline, and request the balance. Requests for a review of the original decision to pay £10 are being dealt with as a matter of priority.
  Where two eligible pensioners live at the same address and in the same household, but the address details held on the relevant benefit computer records are incorrect or incomplete for either or both of them, the matching exercise may not identify more than one eligible person at the address recorded. In accordance with the provisions of the legislation each are entitled to a payment of £20. There is no overprovision in such instances, but any voluntarily offer to repay any amount would be accepted. When an erroneous payment has been made or payment issued for an incorrect amount, appropriate action will be taken regarding the excess/over payment.
  In the case to which you refer, we have not been able to identify the couple named. However, we have identified two people with a similar name to those given who were not identified as living at the same address in the matching process due to differences on their computer records. We have no record of making any payments to the named persons you have asked about, but I will investigate further and reply separately on this matter.
  So far, fewer than 10,000 of the £50 payments made during January have been identified as being incorrectly made. I am unable at present to provide you with information which takes into account payments of £20 or £10 made incorrectly. This is due to the fact that these payments are still in the process of being issued. It is anticipated that this information will be available some time after the end of April. I will provide the information on excess entitlement once it is available.
  Thank you for the opportunity to explain the position.
  381
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner couples erroneously received two cold weather payments; and how many have repaid the extra amount. [37838]

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

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

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, dated 8 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recently parliamentary question asking how many pensioner couples erroneously received two cold weather payments; and how many have repaid the extra amount.
  The making of winter fuel payments to almost ten million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of March 1998 has been a challenging task for the Benefits Agency. This will have been achieved whilst maintaining normal benefit business.
  Around one and half million of the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, received their payment of £50 during January. Other eligible pensioners are entitled to a payment of £20 or £10. Where they live alone, are the only eligible pensioner in a household, or are of no fixed abode, they are entitled to £20; otherwise, they are entitled to £10, including each person in a pensioner couple if they are both in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
  In order to establish other eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data in around fifteen million computer records, involving fifteen qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems.
  Where only one eligible person was identified as living at an address, a payment of £20 was made. Where more than one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £10 was made.
  Where official Departmental records are incorrect or incomplete, it is possible that some payments may not correspond with actual circumstances. For example, there are cases where two eligible pensioners live at the same address and in the same household, but the address details held on the relevant benefit computer records are incorrect or incomplete for either or both of them. In such cases, the data correlation exercise may not have identified more than one eligible person at an address and, in accordance with the provisions of the legislation, each are entitled to a payment of £20. There is no overprovision in such instances, but any voluntarily offer to repay any amount would be accepted. When an erroneous payment has been made or payment issued for an incorrect amount due to fraudulent intent, recovery of the excess/over payment will be considered.
  382
  I am unable, at present, to provide you with information on the number of incorrect payments and will write to you again once it is available.
  Thank you for the opportunity to explain the position.

  Incapacity and Disability Benefits
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled people living in the Greater London area were awaiting appeals against reductions in(a) incapacity benefit and (b) disability living allowance on 1 March. [36582]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is not available.

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will instruct the Independent Tribunal Service to respond to the inquiries from the hon. Member for Chorley made by fax on 20, 23 and 24 March on behalf of a constituent; [36943]

  (2) what percentage of telephone calls are answered by the Independent Tribunal Service within three minutes; [36945]

  (3) if she will make a statement on the time taken by the Independent Tribunal Service headquarters to respond to requests for assistance on benefits matters from (a) the public and (b) hon. Members; [36944]

  (4) how many complaints she has received concerning response times of the Independent Tribunal Service in Nottingham in the last year. [36946]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The operation of the appeals system is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS).

  ITS report that a response to my hon. Friend's fax was sent by its Nottingham office on Friday 27 March 1998.

  The time taken to respond to inquiries varies according to the nature and complexity of the individual enquiry. All inquiries, from whatever source, are answered normally within two weeks.

  Information regarding the percentage of telephone calls answered within three minutes are not kept and information about the number of complaints received regarding response times is not available.

  We are determined to reduce the current delays and complexity in the appeals system. The Social Security Bill, which paves the way for modernising the delivery of Social Security, including the handling of appeals, is currently being debated in Committee in the House of Lords. We shall assume responsibility for the administration of the appeals system. We shall set and publish demanding targets for the administration of appeals and report on the results.

  Vaccine Damage
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the benefit entitlements of persons who have significant savings only as a result of receiving compensation for vaccine damage as children. [37093]
  383
  Mr. Denham
  Any lump-sum payment made in consequence of a personal injury—which would include a vaccine damage payment—can be ignored providing it is held in a Trust. The normal rules on deprivation of capital do not apply to a person who puts money from such an award into a Trust. The treatment of payments from Trusts depends on the terms and nature of the Trust itself and the purpose and use of the payments. For example, a regular payment from a discretionary Trust can be fully disregarded provided it is intended and used for items other than normal day-to-day living expenses. These rules enable personal injury awards to be used for the benefit of the injured person without affecting income-related benefits. More generally, we will keep the operation of the income and capital rules under review as we develop the principles announced in the Welfare Reform Green Paper.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how she will ensure in reforming housing benefit that claimants are not exposed to the combination of high rents and low benefit. [37346]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We are reviewing rent and Housing Benefit policy as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review on Housing and in line with our welfare reform objectives. Our aim continues to be to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the cost of housing benefit payments in each of the last 15 years(a) in total and (b) per tenant for (i) council tenants, (ii) housing association tenants and (iii) private tenants.[37543]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Information is not available on the cost per tenant in each year, and is therefore expressed in terms of average weekly benefit per tenant.

  Total housing benefit expenditure, Great Britain

  £millions

  Year

  Rent rebate expenditure (council tenants)

  Total rent allowance expenditure1

  Estimated rent allowance expenditure (Housing association tenants)2

  Estimated rent allowance expenditure (Non-HA private tenant)2

  1982–83

  1,777

  351

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  1,980

  536

  n/a

  n/a

  1984–85

  2,145

  687

  n/a

  n/a

  1985–86

  2,296

  881

  n/a

  n/a

  1986–87

  2,419

  996

  n/a

  n/a

  1987–88

  2,506

  1,030

  n/a

  n/a

  1988–89

  2,718

  1,055

  n/a

  n/a

  1989–90

  2,940

  1,359

  n/a

  n/a

  1990–91

  3,368

  1,779

  n/a

  n/a

  1991–92

  4,068

  2,426

  n/a

  n/a

  1992–93

  4,617

  3,284

  730

  2,554

  1993–94

  5,025

  4,188

  991

  3,197

  384

  Total housing benefit expenditure, Great Britain

  £ millions

  Year

  Rent rebate expenditure (council tenants)

  Total rent allowance expenditure1

  Estimated rent allowance expenditure (Housing association tenants)2

  Estimated rent allowance expenditure (Non-HA private tenant)2

  1994–95

  5,246

  4,874

  1,333

  3,541

  1995–96

  5,440

  5,445

  1,603

  3,842

  1996–97

  5,636

  5,887

  1,959

  3,928

  Sources:

  1. Public Expenditure White Papers (PEWP).

  2. Departmental Reports.

  3. Housing Benefit Management Information System.

  Notes:

  1Includes Supplementary Benefit Component for 1982–83.

  2 Based on Housing Benefit Management Information System 1 per cent. sample.

  Average weekly housing benefit expenditure per tenant,Great Britain

  £ per week

  Year

  Rent rebate (council tenants)

  Rent allowance (Private tenants including HA

  Rent allowance (housing association tenants)

  Rent allowance (other private tenant)

  1982–83

  9.56

  7.94

  n/a

  n/a

  1983–84

  10.22

  10.18

  n/a

  n/a

  1984–85

  11.04

  12.26

  n/a

  n/a

  1985–86

  11.93

  14.76

  n/a

  n/a

  1986–87

  12.48

  16.23

  n/a

  n/a

  1987–88

  13.12

  16.54

  n/a

  n/a

  1988–89

  15.85

  18.78

  n/a

  n/a

  1989–90

  17.36

  21.06

  n/a

  n/a

  1990–91

  19.80

  25.45

  n/a

  n/a

  1991–92

  22.76

  32.57

  n/a

  n/a

  1992–93

  26.46

  38.45

  32.24

  41.07

  1993–94

  28.94

  43.61

  35.75

  46.14

  1994–95

  30.74

  47.28

  39.52

  51.54

  1995–96

  33.09

  50.49

  43.10

  52.42

  1996–97

  34.56

  52.41

  45.29

  56.91

  Source:

  1. Public expenditure white papers (PEWP).

  2. Departmental reports.

  3. Housing benefit management information system.

  4. 1988 onwards, DSS housing benefit management information system 1 per cent. sample.

  Notes:

  1. No separate estimate of Housing Benefit expenditure for Housing Association and Other Private Tenants are available before the 1992–93 financial year as this tenure type was not separately collected before May 1992.

  2. The rent rebate figures include new town tenants as well as council tenants.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her estimate of the cost of housing benefit fraud in the most recent year for which figures are available. [37544]

  Mr. Denham
  The first Housing Benefit review, in 1995, estimated the overall cost of incorrectness in Housing Benefit to be around £1 billion: this estimate includes confirmed and suspected fraud, as well as claimant and official error. The Department is currently conducting a further review to update that estimate.
  385
  Together with local authorities, we have taken significant steps to tackle Housing Benefit fraud, but more needs to be done. We made it clear in our Green Paper "New ambitions for our country: A contract for welfare reform" that rooting out fraud is an essential part of welfare reform. We have set up a fundamental review of the Department's counter-fraud strategy and are looking to strengthen each part of it, through earlier prevention, more effective deterrence, better detection.

  Benefits System
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what part she intends that local authorities will play in the development of the modernised benefits system. [37345]

  Mr. Field
  We want to develop a Social Security system that promotes the wider aims of welfare reform: work for those who can; security for those who cannot. Local authorities have an important part to play in this process and we are consulting them on our proposals in the Green Paper—"New ambitions for our country: a contract for welfare reform".

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many beneficiaries there are currently receiving industrial injuries disablement benefit. [37513]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows. At 5 April 1997, it is estimated that there were 262,300 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit assessments in payment. This figure will include some people who receive benefit for more than one injury or disease.

  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total payment of industrial injuries disablement benefit over the last 12 months. [37512]

  Mr. Denham
  Expenditure on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in 1996–97 was £685 million.

  The latest estimate for expenditure on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in 1997–98 is £695 million.

  The figures for 1996–97 are consistent with the appropriation accounts for that year and those for 1997–98 have been taken from the 1998 Social Security Departmental Report.

  State Pension
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total cost of the state pension in each of the last 20 years; and if she will estimate on future costs for each of the next 20 years assuming they continue to be uprated in line with prices as at present and inflation at 2.5 per cent. [37545]
  386
  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Total cost of state pension in each of the last 20 years

  £billion

  Retirement pensions

  1978–79

  7.6

  1979–80

  8.9

  1980–81

  10.6

  1981–82

  12.2

  1982–83

  13.6

  1983–84

  14.7

  1984–85

  15.3

  1985–86

  16.6

  1986–87

  17.8

  1987–88

  18.7

  1988–89

  19.3

  1989–90

  20.7

  1990–91

  22.7

  1991–92

  25.6

  1992–93

  26.7

  1993–94

  28.2

  1994–95

  28.8

  1995–96

  30.0

  1996–97

  32.0

  1997–98

  33.5

  1998–99

  35.6

  1. The figures have been taken from 1998 Social Security Departmental Report and earlier publications in the series.

  2. Estimates are in £billion in cash prices.

  3. This table contains the only short-term forecasts currently available. Detailed Government expenditure plans for future years (1999–2000 to 2001–2002) will be published after the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review

  Estiamted future costs

  £billion

  2000–1

  2010–11

  2020–21

  Retirement Pension expenditure in 1998–99 benefit rates

  38.2

  47.2

  51.8

  Retirement Pension expenditure(uprated at 2.5 per cent per annum) in cash

  40.2

  63.5

  89.2

  Notes:

  1. The most recent long-term estimates are based on the Government Actuary's Department Quinquennial Review (HC 160) and Report on the Financial Provisions of the 1994 Pensions Bill (Cmnd.2714). Therefore they do not take account of subsequent changes or more recent information.

  2. Within the relevant period the report gives estimates only for those years shown above.

  3. The estimates are in £billion.

  4. These estimates assume a 1.5 per cent. a year growth in real earnings. See Quinquennial Review for details of assumptions.

  5. When the estimates are expressed in 1998–99 benefit rates, the rate of inflation is of no consequence.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the number of people in receipt of the state pension in each of the last 20 years; and what numbers are predicted to qualify in each of the next 20 years. [37546]

  Mr. Denham
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.
  387
  Forecasts for each of the next 20 years are not available. A short-term forecast is published in the 1998–99 Departmental Report and long-term forecasts were published in 1994–95 by the Government Actuary's Department.

  Historical numbers and 1998–99 forecast of number in receipt of any components of State Pension

  '000

  Year

  Numbers

  November 1977

  8,620

  November 1978

  8,776

  November 1979

  8,945

  November 1980

  9,118

  November 1981

  9,301

  September 1982

  9,395

  September 1983

  9,493

  March 1984

  9,532

  September 1985

  9,724

  September 1986

  9,859

  September 1987

  9,943

  September 1988

  9,998

  March 1989

  9,997

  September 1990

  10,173

  September 1991

  10,227

  September 1992

  10,271

  September 1993

  10,269

  September 1994

  10,297

  September 1995

  10,411

  September 1996

  10,564

  September 1997

  10,709

  1998–99

  10,661

  1. Historical information is based on administrative data on the payment of pensions.

  2. The 1998–99 forecast is taken from the "1998 Social Security Department Report" and is an average across the year. Short-term forecasts for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 will be published after the completion of the Government Comprehensive Spending Review.

  3. Estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Long-term forecasts of numbers in receipt of basic State Pension

  '000

  Year

  Estimated numbers

  2000–01

  10,950

  2010–11

  12,360

  2020–21

  12,370

  1. These estimates are taken from the Government Actuary's Department Quinquennial Review (HC 160) and Report on the Financial Provisions of the 1994 Pensions Bill (Cmnd.2714), which includes the effects of equalisation of State Pension Age. The former should be consulted for full details of underlying assumptions. Subsequent data have not been taken into account.

  2. Within the relevant period the report gives estimates only for those years shown above.

  3. Estimates are rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what(a) the original savings assumptions were and (b) the current savings assumptions are there for the Benefit Integrity Project in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000; [37930]

  (2) what factors were taken into account in the revision of savings assumptions, for the Benefit Integrity Project for (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [37929]
  388
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The original savings estimates show that for an investment of £11.5 million in each of the three years covered by the 1996 Public Expenditure Survey, savings were assumed as £27 million in 1997–98, £40 million in 1998–99 and £35 million in 1999–2000.

  These savings estimates comprise £20 million/ £30 million/£28 million from the targeted review and renewal activity undertaken by the Benefit Integrity Project and £7 million/£10 million/£7 million as a result of fraud detection activity in Disability Living Allowance generally.

  The latest savings estimate for the Project alone is £5/40/40 million, and this is the figure included in the Department's Memorandum to the Social Security Select Committee. The estimated savings for the Project have fallen from £20 million to £5 million in the first year, largely because live running has shown that processing performance has been considerably slower than expected. Estimated savings for years two and three are higher than anticipated as a result of higher than expected average savings per case coupled with cases being pushed forward from year one. The original assumption was that 220,000 cases would be processed in each of the first two years. Monitoring data up to the end of December 1997 suggests that 60,00 cases will have been processed by the end of year one. The latest estimate is also based on the expectation that the Project will process 220,000 cases in year two.

  The latest estimate does not take account of the impact of the additional safeguard introduced on 9 February on further evidence gathering. Nor does it include additional changes which Secretary of State and Baroness Hollis have decided to implement following consultation with the disability organisations. We will continue to work with the disability organisations and will monitor the effects of improvements.

  A revised savings estimate for 1997–1998 and subsequent years will be produced when all the information up to the end of March has been received. These may need further revision as monitoring continues.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list, from October 1999, the marginal tax rates which will apply to lone parents receiving(a) working families tax credit, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit for those with gross weekly earnings of (i) up to £49, (ii) £50 to £99, (iii) £100 to £149, (iv) £150 to £199, (v) £200 to £249, (vi) £250 to £299 and (vii) £300 and above. [38400]

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

  percentage

  Weekly gross earnings (£s)

  Working families tax credit (WFTC)only

  WFTC and housing benefit (HB)

  WFTC, HB and council tax benefit

  25

  0.00

  65.0

  85.0

  75

  10.0

  68.5

  86.5

  125

  68.5

  89.0

  95.3

  175

  69.9

  89.4

  95.5

  389

  percentage

  Weekly gross earnings (£s)

  Working families tax credit (WFTC) only

  WFTC and housing benefit (HB)

  WFTC, HB and council tax benefit

  225

  69.9

  89.4

  95.5

  275

  69.9

  89.4

  95.5

  300

  69.9

  89.4

  95.5

  1. All benefits have been uprated to 1998–99 prices.

  2. The following assumptions have been made:

  (a) The benefit unit is defined as being a lone parent with 2 children under the age of 11 working full-time.

  (b) Given that Marginal Deduction Rates can vary within the specified income bands a mid-point for a measure of gross weekly earnings has been used.

  (c) In order that the benefit unit is still entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at gross weekly earnings in excess of £300, housing costs at £90 per week and council tax liability at £28 per week have been used in the calculations.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many lone parents with children(a) under 11, and (b) aged 11 years and above, working more than 16 hours per week after 1 June 1998 will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in November 1998 by (i) up to £2.50, (ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.51 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above; and how many will remain unaffected; [38398]

  (2) how many lone parents with children (a) under 11 and (b) aged 11 years and above, working more than 16 hours per week after 1 June 1998 will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in April 1999 by (i) up to £2.50,(ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.51 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above; and how many will remain unaffected. [38399]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is set out in tables:

  Number of lone parents with children under 11, and aged 11 years and above, working more than 16 hours per week after 1 June 1998 who will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in November 1998

  Gain

  Numbers lone parents with children under 11

  Number of lone parents with no children under 11

  Unaffected

  110,000

  260,000

  (i) up to £2.50

  190,000

  0

  (ii) £2.51 to £5

  60,000

  0

  (iii) £5.01 to £7.50

  10,000

  0

  (iv) £7.50 to £10

  5,000

  0

  (v) over £10

  negligible

  0

  Source:

  1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1998–99 earnings, prices and benefit levels. Caseload information reflects the position at the end of 1998–99, and their gains at that date.

  Notes:

  Numbers rounded to the nearest 5,000.
  390

  Number of lone parents with children under 11 and aged 11 years and above, Working more than 16 hours per week after 1 June 1998 who will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in April 1999

  Gain

  Numbers of lone parents with children under 11

  Numbers of lone parents with no under 11

  Unaffected

  265,000

  180,000

  (i)up to £2.50

  110,000

  75,000

  (ii)£2.51 to £5

  0

  0

  (ii)£5.01 to £7.50

  0

  0

  (iv)£7.50 to £10

  0

  0

  (v)over £10

  0

  0

  Source:

  1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1998–99 earnings, prices and benefit levels. Caseload information reflects the position at the end of 1998–99, and their gains at that date.

  Notes:

  1.Numbers rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  2. Other Budget changes being implemented in April 1999, in particular changes to National Insurance and Married Couples Allowance, have not been included in the analysis.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many lone parents with children(a) under 11 and (b) aged 11 years and above, claiming income support after 5 April 1998 will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in November 1998 by (i) up to £2.50,(ii) £2.51 to £5, (iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.51 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above; and how many will remain unaffected; [38401]

  (2) how many lone parents with children (a) under 11 and (b) aged 11 years and above, claiming income support after 5 April 1998 will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in April 1999 by (i) up to £2.50, (ii) £2.51 to £5,(iii) £5.01 to £7.50, (iv) £7.51 to £10 and (v) £10.01 and above; and how many will remain unaffected. [38402]

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

  Number of lone parents with children under 11 and aged 11 years and above, Claiming income support after 5 April 1998 who will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in November 1998

  Gain

  Numbers of lone parents with children under 11

  Numbers of lone parents with no under 11

  Unaffected

  0

  35,000

  up to £2.50

  135,000

  0

  £2.51 to £5

  65,000

  0

  £5.01 to £7.50

  20,000

  0

  £7.50 to £10

  5,000

  0

  over £10

  1,000

  0

  Source:

  Longitudinal modelling based on successive Income Support QSEs.

  Notes:

  1. Information based on the stock of Lone Parent to Income Support after 5 April 1998at the end of 1998–99.

  2. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
  391

  Number of lone parents with children under 11 and aged 11 years and above, claiming income support after 5 April 1998 who will be better off as a result of the changes announced in the Budget and due to take effect in April 1999

  Gain

  Numbers of lone parents with children under 11

  Numbers of lone parents with no under 11

  Unaffected

  0

  0

  up to £2.50

  225,000

  35,000

  £2.51 to £5

  0

  0

  £5.01 to £7.50

  0

  0

  £7.50 to £10

  0

  0

  over £10

  0

  0

  Source:

  Longitudinal modelling based on Successive Income Support QSEs.

  Notes:

  1. Information based on the stock of new claimants at the end of 1998–99 and the value of their gains at the date.

  2. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Child Maintenance
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list for the last year for which figures are available the number of parents with care whose income exceeded their applicable amount through the receipt of child maintenance causing them no longer to be eligible for income support. [38395]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  In 1996–97, the last full year for which figures are available, the child maintenance assessment was sufficient to move 2,083 parents with care off Income Support.

  Housing Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much housing benefit fraud was detected in each London borough in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (f) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97; and if she will make a statement.[35210

  Mr. Denham
  We have made it clear in our Green Paper "New ambitions for our country: A Contract for Welfare" that rooting out fraud is an essential part of welfare reform. Our principle is that the benefits system should encourage openness and honesty and that the gateways to benefit should be clear and enforceable. We have inherited a system which is seriously afflicted by fraud. As the Report by the Committee of Public Accounts on Housing Benefit fraud has shown, the old ways of tackling fraud do not work on their own. That is why we are completing a fundamental review of the Department's counter-fraud strategy and are looking to strengthen each part of it: earlier prevention, more effective deterrence, better detection. In the longer term, we can prevent fraud by designing benefit systems which minimise the scope for fraud.

  Together with local authorities, we are already taking significant steps to address Housing Benefit fraud through, for instance: new powers for local authorities to tackle landlord fraud, and providing financial support for a special pilot local authority team in London which is already at work to root out organised landlord fraud across London borough boundaries; supporting new visiting drives by local authorities to root out fraud—over
  392
  £1 million is being provided to London boroughs this year which is expected to generate more than 200,000 extra visits; a new framework of guidance being introduced this year, backed up with extra financial support, to help authorities check claims better and so prevent fraud; the new Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, whose inspection programme which has started recently will help raise standards in local authorities and the Department; and improved liaison arrangements and systems between the Benefits Agency and local authorities.

  Data on the amount of Housing Benefit fraud detected by local authorities were not collected centrally before 1993–94. Tables showing (i) the amount of weekly benefit savings claimed in respect of Housing Benefit fraud and (ii) identified incorrect payments of Housing Benefit due to established fraud for the years 1993–94 to 1996–97 for each London local authority have been placed in the Library.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans her Department has to tackle benefit fraud in the London Borough of Hackney. [38409]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department has a wide range of measures in place for tackling benefit fraud nationwide, including in Hackney. We have set out in the Green Paper "A New Contract for Welfare" our three pronged approach to fraud consisting of improved detection, more effective deterrence, and better prevention. To that end we are reviewing our strategic objectives governing counter fraud work, and we expect to be in a position to announce the outcome of the Review shortly.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much housing benefit fraud has been detected in the London boroughs of (i) Hackney, (ii) Islington, (iii) Lambeth and (iv) Southwark; what is the estimated level of undetected housing benefit fraud in each borough; and what are the averages for fraud(a) detected and (b) undetected in Inner London boroughs. [38236]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Total weekly benefit savings claimed in respect of Housing Benefit Fraud in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Islington, Lambeth and Southwark

  £

  Year

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Hackney

  1,430,361

  2,578,064

  3,169,833

  ⋆4,143,503

  Islington

  590,141

  2,789,116

  3,880.685

  3,847,251

  Lambeth

  938,690

  ⋆3,374,674

  ⋆3,395,282

  n/a

  Southwark

  623,957

  1,410,541

  2,872,114

  ⋆2,681,445

  393

  Identified incorrect payments of housing benefit due to established fraud in the London boroughs of Hackney, Islington, Lambeth and Southwark

  £

  Year

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Hackney

  366,008

  927,374

  2,659,693

  ⋆3,707,881

  Islington

  440,355

  381,667

  283,758

  ⋆225,035

  Lambeth

  ⋆1,645,499

  ⋆2,610,149

  ⋆2,156,130

  n/a

  Southwark

  233,856

  622,486

  902,125

  ⋆1,040,053

  1. The figures quoted in the above tables are taken from each local authority's certified Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit final subsidy claim. For some claims, qualifications raised by the auditor remain outstanding. The figures denoted by an asterisk are those where such qualification exists and which thus remain under scrutiny by the Department. A certified claim for the London Borough of Lambeth for the year 1996–97 remains outstanding.

  2. Data on the amount of Housing Benefit fraud detected by local authorities were not collected centrally prior to 1993–94.

  3. Weekly benefit savings are an estimate of the value of fraudulent payments which would have continued had the fraud not been detected.

  n/a = not available.

  Average Weekly Benefit savings claimed in respect of Housing Benefit fraud and average identified incorrect payments of Housing Benefit due to established fraud in the Inner London Boroughs

  £ million

  Year

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  (a) average weekly benefit savings 0.952

  1.778

  2.209

  2.613

  (b) average identified incorrect payments

  0.408

  0.697

  0.858

  1.004

  1. The Inner London Boroughs comprise the Boroughs of Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster, and the Corporation of the City of London.

  2. Averages have been calculated using figures taken from each local authority's certified Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit final subsidy claim; in some cases the figures used remain subject to qualification by the auditor.

  3. The averages quoted are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  The first Housing Benefit review, in 1995, estimated the overall cost of incorrectness in housing benefit to be around £1 billion: this estimate includes confirmed and suspected fraud, as well as claimant and official error. The Department is currently conducting a further review to update that estimate.

  Claimants (Medical Examinations)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the total sum paid in each of the last five years to doctors for examining DSS claimants and appellants;[37534]

  (2) What remuneration is paid, and how it is calculated, to doctors who examine claimants for DSS benefits and appeals; and if she will make a statement. [37535]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
  394
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Marshall, dated 7 April 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what remuneration is paid, and how is it calculated, to doctors who examine claimants for DSS benefits and appeals, and what is the total sum in each of the last five years to doctors for examining claimants and appellants.
  Doctors who conduct examinations for Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance are paid £47.00 per home visit. Doctors conducting examinations for Incapacity Benefit/Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance are paid £30.70 per hour if the medical is performed at a BA Medical Centre, and £37.90 per one and a half hours if the medical is performed by the visit to the customer's address. In addition, doctors are paid £37.90 per one and a half hours for War Pension medical examinations at the customer's home.
  Information on the cost of the fees paid to doctors in each of the last four years is contained in the table below:

  Year

  Total costs (£)

  1997–98

  118,664,242

  1996–97

  20,593,749

  1995–96

  16,788,556

  1994–95

  12,762,000

  1993–94

  n/a

  1Up to February 1998.

  n/a = Information not available.

  I hope that this is helpful.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the sums paid in housing benefit to asylum seekers in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98. [37971]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 6 April 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Estimate of sums paid in Housing Benefit to Asylum seekers

  £ million

  Financial year

  Estimated housing benefit expenditure

  1993–94

  160

  1994–95

  150

  1995–96

  140

  1996–97

  120

  Sources:

  1. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample of claimants also in receipt of Income Support, at the end of May for each year shown.

  2. Departmental Report.

  Notes:

  1. The information requested is not available for May 1992 and is not yet available for May 1997.

  2. Expenditure figures are estimates and have been calculated using the Housing Benefit Management System 1 per cent. sample and Departmental Reports. Estimates are based only on cases recorded on the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry as being asylum seekers. They therefore exclude other claimants in receipt of Urgent Case Payments who may in fact be asylum seekers, but are not identified as such. They also exclude any asylum seekers, in receipt of Housing Benefit who are not in receipt of Income Support, although the number of these cases is thought to be very small.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five million pounds.

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