Written Answers of 23 April 1998

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Waste Disposal
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what volume of non-inert waste was disposed of by each local authority in the North West in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the volumes to be disposed of in 1998–99. [38469]

  Angela Eagle
  The following figures represent Environment Agency site return data for all non-inert waste in tonnes disposed of to landfill within each waste disposal authority in the north west region over the last three years.

  1995–96

  1996–97

  11997–98

  21998–99

  Greater Manchester

  927

  1,247

  n/a

  1,100

  Merseyside

  850

  846

  n/a

  725

  Cheshire

  2,576

  2,684

  n/a

  1,800

  Cumbria

  645

  780

  n/a

  800

  Lancashire

  1,976

  1,731

  n/a

  1,850

  1Available June 1998

  2 Estimates

  The estimate has been made by the Environment Agency on the basis of a 2% growth in the number of households.

  Traffic Noise (A13)
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to protect residents in the Canning Town area from increased noise pollution as a result of changes to the A13; [39262]

  (2) how much money has been made available for noise insulation for homes in the Canning Town area to protect them from increased traffic flows; [39263]

  (3) what are the projected increased noise levels in the Canning Town area as a result of the improvements to the A 13; [39264]

  (4) how many homes in the Canning Town area will benefit from noise insulation offered by the Highways Agency to protect them against traffic-induced noise. [39265]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
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  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, dated 23 April 1998:
  The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson has asked me to reply to your recent questions about traffic noise levels arising from the A13 Ironbridge to Canning Town improvement as these are operational issues for the Highways Agency.
  No financial limit has been set for providing traffic noise insulation to homes in the area. Offers of noise insulation will be made to all occupiers of dwellings that qualify in accordance with the Noise Insulation Regulations.
  We have estimated that up to 650 dwellings will qualify and a list will be published in due course.
  Noise levels immediately adjacent to the scheme have been calculated to increase by between 1 and 4 db(A) in 2011 as a result of increased traffic flows and speeds.
  However, to mitigate the effects, we are planning to put barriers alongside the new carriageways. 2 metre high barriers, 700 metres long are proposed on the new bridges over the River Lea and the Canning Town Flyover, and a 3 metre high screen, 160 metres long will be provided on the new road adjacent to Portree Street, to protect properties there. The benefits of these barriers for individual properties would depend on the type of property and its location.

  Contaminated Land
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress his Department has made in respect of the publication of technical guidance arising out of provisions of the Environment Act 1995 relating to contaminated land. [39354]

  Angela Eagle
  Various technical reports are being prepared which will be relevant in the operation of local authorities' planning and building regulation functions, as well as in their future operation of the regulatory regime for contaminated land under the Environment Act 1995. These reports cover issues including guideline values for the assessment of the potential threats to human health posed by contaminants and model procedures for the management of contaminated land, from identification of the problem through the selection of the remediation option to assurance that the problem has been successfully dealt with. The Department expects these reports to be ready for publication in the autumn.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the Driving Standards Agency. [39489]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are set out in its Business Plan, which include management objectives, performance indicators and key tasks. Copies of the Business Plan have been placed in the Library. The key targets are as follows:achieve an average annual return on capital employed (ROCE) on statutory activities of 6% of net assets over the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2002;

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  increase the weighted average of fees by no more than RPI in each of the three years during the period 1 April 1997 to 1 April 2000 and by no more than RPI minus 1% in each of the following two years;
  achieve a national average waiting time for car practical tests not exceeding 6 weeks and make appointments available within 10 weeks at 99% of permanent test centres;
  aim to keep 99.5% of all practical test appointments which are in place 2 days prior to the appointment date;
  answer practical test booking office telephones so that:
  4 and 5 calls will be answered on their first dialling attempt;
  90% of calls will be answered by a human voice within 30 seconds after completion of handling by the automatic answering system; and
  an average of no more than 4% of calls in the queue will be abandoned before being answered;
  ensure 95% of theory test candidates obtain a test booking at their preferred test centre and test session within 2 weeks of their preferred date; and

  Fatal casualties from fires in buildings, by cause of death, 1995 and 1996 United Kingdom

  Number1

  Year

  Total

  Burns

  Overcome by gas or smoke

  Burns and overcome by gas or smoke

  Physical injuries

  Shock only

  Precautionary check up

  Other specifed

  Unspecifed

  All buildings

  1995

  599

  138

  291

  112

  0

  13

  0

  21

  24

  1996p2

  629

  149

  315

  98

  4

  1

  1

  10

  51

  Dwellings

  1995

  553

  119

  276

  105

  0

  11

  0

  20

  22

  1996p2

  594

  134

  304

  92

  4

  1

  1

  10

  48

  1Includes additional "late" call and heat and smoke damage incidents.

  2The figures for 1996 are likely to be revised downwards closer to those for 1995 as later information becomes available.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Broadcasting
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the progressive lifting of the broadcast entertainment restrictions affecting BT and other public telecommunications operators; and if she will make a statement. [39839]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Government have considered the options for fulfilling their commitment carefully, and I am today publishing our conclusions. A copy of the document setting out the Government's approach has been placed in the Library of the House. In summary, we have concluded that:

  (i) Public Telecommunications Operators (PTOs) along with all other operators should immediately have the option to compete in the provision of broadcast entertainment to the 17% of UK homes currently outside cable franchise areas;

  (ii) PTOs and others should be allowed to compete in the provision of broadcast services, if they so wish, throughout the whole country from 1 January 2001.

  We are following through on our commitment. We need to remove the uncertainty, created by the previous Government, over when and how the restrictions they placed on BT and other PTOs might be lifted. It has become increasingly damaging for all operators—including cable. All operators need greater certainty and clarity about the regulatory position as they plan long-term investments for advanced digital services.
  672 ensure theory test booking office telephones are answered so that:incoming lines will not be engaged for more than 30 minutes in any week; and 95% of calls received will be answered by a human voice within 10 seconds after completion of handling by the automatic answering system.

  Fire Deaths
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many deaths were caused by fires in buildings in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996; [39294]

  (2) how many building fire deaths were caused by toxic smoke and fume inhalation in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [39295]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The readily available information is given in the table.

  We want to restore confidence for all market players and enable the benefits of new technologies to be delivered throughout the country.

  We want to encourage competition which will drive down prices, enhance innovation and encourage private sector investment—to the benefit of the consumer—in all areas of the market; in services and in networks. A competitive market in network provision will underpin sustainable competition in services for the long term.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Public Analyst Services
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the review of public analyst services in England and Wales. [39885]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government undertook to initiate a review in response to a recommendation in Professor James' report on the Food Standards Agency. I have today announced the terms of reference of the review, which will be undertaken by an independent Review Team under the chairmanship of Mr. Alan Turner, OBE. Interested parties are invited to submit written evidence to the Review Team. I hope the review will be completed before the end of the year.

  Fishing Limits
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many square miles of sea there are between(a) the baseline and the six mile limit where the six mile limit applies, (b) the baseline and the 12 mile limit where the 12 mile limit applies and (c) the baseline and the 200 mile limit or the median line where applicable. [38167]

  Mr. Morley
  Information is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only by means of a survey at disproportionate cost. The Hydrographic Unit of the Ministry of Defence has, however, supplied the following information. The approximate area of sea between the low water line and the 12 mile limit is 49,473 square nautical miles. From the low water line to the 200 mile limit covers an area of approximately 211,130 square nautical miles. Both figures include areas of water inside the baselines.

  Fishery Restructuring
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate(a) the proportion of fishing fleet cutbacks required for United Kingdom receipt of EU restructuring funds for the industry which could be achieved through national repurchase of quota hopping vessels and licences and (b) the estimated cost of such repurchases. [37565]

  Mr. Morley
  A scheme aimed at compulsorily purchasing vessels and licence entitlements owned by non-UK interests would not be permissible under Community law. Nor would it be permissible to prevent any non-UK interests who have previously left the industry from re-investing in the UK fleet. Such a scheme could not therefore be used to help achieve the UK's outstanding fishing fleet reduction targets which, along with levels of non-UK ownership, vary considerably from segment to segment of the fleet. All UK registered fishing vessels have been eligible to apply for decommissioning, regardless of ownership.

  Green-top Milk
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to make an announcement on the future sale of green-top milk in England. [39260]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 1 April 1998,Official Report, column 582. We are still taking stock of all the points raised in the consultation and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons he has not yet replied to the letters from the Chief Executive of Devon County Council dated 16 December 1997 on the impact of the latest BSE measures and 9 March on the agricultural sector in Devon; and when he expects to reply to them. [36809]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 1 April 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I sent to the Chief Executive dated 8 April 1998, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Local Government
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to strengthen the ethical framework for local government. [39843]

  Mr. Dewar
  I believe the public must be able to rely on the highest standards of conduct from its elected representatives. I also believe that there must be provision for swift and authoritative investigation of complaints of misconduct against councillors. That is why I have today published a consultation paper on the proposed new ethical framework for local government which would provide for clearer standards of conduct for councillors and stronger means of investigating and punishing misconduct. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

  Permanent Secretaries
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the recruitment and appointment of permanent secretaries; in what circumstances open competition is used; and if he will make a statement. [37915]

  The Prime Minister
  Policy on the recruitment and appointment of permanent secretaries and on the use of open competition continues to be based on the checklist proposed in the Oughton Report on Career Management and Succession Planning published in November 1993 and endorsed by the last Government: namely is it necessary to fill the vacancy at all or at this level?
  if so, what is the nature of the job now and in the future?
  what qualifications, qualities, skills, experience and achievement record will a future job holder require?
  is there a sufficient field of candidates already within the department, or in order to get a strong field is it necessary to extend the search to the wider Civil Service or to full open competition?
  are there wider reasons in the departmental interest or the corporate interest of the Civil Service as a whole to provide the opportunity for new blood to be brought into the department or the Civil Service through this vacancy?

  Ministerial Accommodation
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1998,Official Report, columns 19–20, concerning ministerial accommodation, if he will list the Government ministers in official accommodation on (a) 1 April 1997 and (b) 1 April 1998. [38448]

  The Prime Minister
  The Ministers with official Government residences on 1 April 1997 were:

  The Prime Minister

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  The Home Secretary

  The Secretary of State for Defence

  The Secretary of State for Scotland

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

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  In addition, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other Northern Ireland Ministers had the use of accommodation in Hillsborough Castle while on duty in Northern Ireland.

  At 1 April 1998, the following Ministers were in official Government residences:

  Myself

  The Deputy Prime Minister

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer

  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  The Secretary of State for Defence

  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  The Secretary of State for Scotland

  The President of the Board of Trade.

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other Northern Ireland Ministers also have the use of accommodation in Hillsborough Castle while on duty in Northern Ireland.

  No. 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those who worked in No. 10 Downing Street, giving their job titles, on(a) 1 April 1998 and (b) 1 April 1997. [38474]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 April 1998]: Those working in No. 10 Downing Street on the dates referred to were as follows:

  1 April 1998

  1 April 1997

  Private Secretaries, appointments and honours staff

  25

  21

  Policy Unit

  16

  9

  Press Office

  11

  10

  Strategic Communications Unit

  8

  -

  Support staff (including administrative, secretarial, messengerial, custodial, switchboard staff and drivers)

  85

  82

  Political Office

  7

  8

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 72, if he will identify the precise references in the Ministerial Code to partners and officials. [38571]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 April 1998]: The Ministerial Code seeks to lay down general principles. The key principle governing Ministerial travel was set out in my answer to the right hon. Member on 3 February 1998, Official Report, column 72.

  Security Vetting Appeals Panel
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the members of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel indicating the criteria governing their appointment. [38868]
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  The Prime Minister
  The members of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel are as follows:

  Sir Anthony May (Chairman)

  Dame Janet Smith DCB (Deputy Chairman)

  Sir John Blelloch KCB

  Sir Peter Woodward KCB

  Mr. Peter Jones

  Dr. George Gray.

  The membership of the panel has been drawn up to reflect a range of interests. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman are senior members of the judiciary, currently a Lord Justice of Appeal and a High Court Judge respectively. The other Panel members have a background, at a senior level, in the Civil Service, the Armed Forces, the trades unions and industry, and related experience in security matters.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Stormont
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what areas of the Stormont estate have been taken over for(a) building and (b) paving since 1 January 1993; for what purposes and what planning permission was sought; what buildings are temporary; and how many car parking spaces are provided on the Stormont estate. [37160]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Since 1 January 1993, 3.31 acres in total of the Stormont Estate have been used for the sites of new temporary buildings (2.782 acres) or paving (.526 acres). The requirement for additional accommodation was brought about as a consequence of the fire in Parliament Buildings, the need to relieve overcrowding in other buildings in the Estate and to make provision for the political negotiations at Block B, Castle Buildings, which also required the creation of new car parking facilities elsewhere.

  While the Crown is not bound by planning legislation, there is a procedure by which the Planning Service is consulted before Crown development proceeds. This consultation procedure was not followed in relation to the erection of a number of temporary buildings in the Stormont Estate because they were urgently required, namely:
  6 Temporary Buildings in Main Castle Buildings Car Park
  Temporary building at Block B for press and catering
  Temporary accommodation within walled garden at Stormont Castle
  Temporary building at Massey Avenue.

  Other buildings erected after 1 January 1993, namely a temporary building at Craigantlet Buildings and a temporary store at Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, followed consultation procedure with the Planning Service.

  There are presently 2,261 parking slots in the Stormont Estate.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make it her policy to support the creation of an all-Ireland tourist authority. [37978]
  677
  Mr. Ingram
  The creation of an all-Ireland tourist authority will be a matter for consideration by the representatives of the proposed Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas meeting to consider this and other matters under the auspices of the proposed North/South Ministerial Council.

  However, it should be noted that Bord Failte (Irish Tourist Board) and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) already co-operate closely in taking forward "Tourism Brand Ireland", a major all-Ireland promotional campaign launched in Autumn 1996.

  Number of nurses who left and joined each trust between 1995–1998

  Leavers

  Joiners

  Trust

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997 April-December1

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997 April-December1

  Belfast City Hospital

  29

  26

  22

  45

  37

  25

  Down and Lisburn

  15

  60

  20

  60

  62

  40

  Green Park Trust

  11

  10

  9

  46

  43

  34

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital

  14

  1

  6

  29

  39

  35

  North Down and Ards

  4

  3

  3

  39

  24

  22

  North and West Belfast

  9

  8

  19

  57

  39

  50

  Royal Group Hospital Trust

  43

  27

  21

  134

  105

  72

  South and East Belfast

  54

  21

  14

  19

  2

  34

  UNDAH Trust

  19

  30

  52

  82

  77

  47

  Causeway

  7

  17

  14

  68

  59

  43

  Homefirst Community3

  20

  20

  7

  26

  21

  25

  United Hospitals Group3

  15

  22

  15

  65

  69

  80

  Armagh and Dungannon3

  8

  9

  9

  30

  37

  15

  Craigavon Area Hospital

  3

  29

  6

  53

  17

  44

  C'avon/B'bridge Community

  1

  6

  2

  3

  4

  7

  Newry and Mourne

  3

  19

  12

  68

  59

  40

  Altnagelvin HSS Trust3

  15

  6

  25

  68

  69

  78

  Foyle HSS Community Trust3

  5

  9

  12

  45

  72

  29

  Omagh and Fermanagh

  44

  2n/a

  2n/a

  65

  2n/a

  2n/a

  Sperrin Lakeland Trust3

  2n/a

  11

  9

  2n/a

  52

  51

  1 Figures for 1997–98 are available for the first 9 months only

  2 Not available

  3 These Providers did not obtain Trust status until 1996–97

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Reviews
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1998,Official Report, columns 507–10, on departmental reviews, if the inter-departmental review of the Treatment of Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses announced on 13 June 1997 has been completed; and if he proposes to publish its findings. [39377]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 22 April 1998]: My right hon. Friend and I are currently considering how to take forward the final report of the inter-departmental working group on vulnerable or intimidated witnesses which we received recently.

  Remand Prisoners (Drugs and Alcohol)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners were assessed to have(a) a drug abuse problem and (b) an alcohol abuse problem on admission, by region, for each of the past five years. [39369]

  Nurses
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nurses were recruited by each trust and how many nurses left each trust(a) through retirement, (b) to work for a nursing agency and (c) for other reasons in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [39303]

  Mr. Worthington
  Details of the number of nurses recruited and the number of nurses who left each trust in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 are set out in the table. The reasons for leaving are not held centrally.

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Poverty
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the results of the study commissioned by her Department into a rights-based approach to poverty elimination. [39345]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development has not commissioned a study on a rights-based approach to poverty elimination. However, we have funded the production of a paper by the NGO Rights and Humanity, on a Human Rights Approach to Development, which will be published shortly. I will arrange for a copy to be sent to the right hon. Gentleman.

  Sustainable Development
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress she has made with her European counterparts in submitting a draft decision to the Commission on Sustainable Development
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  to take forward the UN General Assembly Special Session decision on national sustainable development strategies; and if she will make a statement. [39344]

  Clare Short
  Under the UK Presidency, the EU has agreed a position to promote national sustainable development strategies which has been formally submitted to other countries and which is currently being pursued at the session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in New York.

  Emergency Aid
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she has taken to review the co-ordination arrangements between Whitehall departments involved in emergency aid interventions. [39346]

  Clare Short
  Emergency aid interventions are co-ordinated by the Department for International Development in consultation with other Whitehall departments as necessary. These arrangements are kept

  Project title

  Project purpose

  Institutional location

  Swaziland Water Services Corps Phase I & II

  To improve water supply and sewerage services in urban areas through the creation of an efficient parastatal organisation

  Ministry of Housing & Urban Development1

  Assistance to Buildings Branch

  To expedite the Public Sector Building programme in an efficient cost effective manner, to reduce costs, improve quality and delays in construction

  Ministry of Public Works

  Primary Education project

  Strengthening of the primary education system

  Ministry of Education1

  Public Sector Management Programme

  To assist the Government of Swaziland to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its civil service

  Ministry of Finance1

  Police Development Project

  To assist the RSP in producing a Police Development Plan and produce an action plan to implement it. Then to assist in the implemetation

  Prime Ministers Office1

  Support to Swaziland Environmental Authority

  To enable the SEA to more effectively address and resolve emvironemntal concerns in Swaziland

  Ministry of Tourism & Environment1

  Assistance to the Ministry of Finance

  Assist the Ministry of Finance of reduce its budget deficit throught strengthening policy and planning, and revenue collection, and provision of management advice

  Ministry of Finance1

  Enterprise Development

  Consultancy & advisory support to assist the establishment and operation of the Swaziland Enterprise Fund

  Ministry of Enterprise & Employment1

  Poverty Alleviation Programme

  Preparatory workshop and funding to local NGOs to implement poverty focused projects in the rural areas of Swaziland

  Swaziland Council of NGO's1

  King's Office

  Technical Co-operation adviser for the King of Swaziland

  Kind's Office1

  Institutional Strengthening of the Public Enterprise Unit

  To ensure that the PEU has a full complement of trained staff and is appropriately resoured to implement the PEU Act without reliance on Donor Support

  Ministry of Finance1

  680
  under continuous review to ensure their effectiveness. Whenever appropriate, formal co-ordination mechanisms are established for specific emergency situations.

  Swaziland
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will list those projects funded either in part or whole in Swaziland in each of the past three years, identifying each project by(a) name, (b) location and (c) purpose; [39393]

  (2) if she will list the (a) name, (b) location and (c) purpose of projects currently funded, either solely or in partnership, in Swaziland. [39394]

  Clare Short
  The UK-Swaziland development partnership concentrates on tackling poverty and public sector reform. Bilateral expenditure in the last financial year was over £2.5 million (provisional) and we expect to spend a similar amount in the current financial year. The table lists current projects and those funded during the past three financial years.
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  Project title

  Project purpose

  Institutional location

  Surveyor General's Department (Phase I-III)

  Establish sustainable capacity within the Surveyor General's Department to develop and implement Business plans to complete the process of localisation of ODA supported posts

  Ministry of Natural Resources & Energy1

  TCO Education Co-ordinator

  Co-ordinate education projects in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland

  Ministry of Education

  Land Resource Management Consultancy

  To advise on the institutional structures for land administration

  Ministry of Natural Resources & Energy

  Constitutional Review Commission

  To assist in the process of the review of the Constitution of the kingdom of Swaziland

  Prime Ministers Office

  Development of a national lands policy

  The development of an acceptable national lands policy for Swaziland

  Ministry of Natural Resources & Energy1

  Aids Readers

  To educate young Swazis about the danger of Aids

  Ministry of Health

  Community Dams Project

  To ensure a constant water supply for the communities served by "Nsaliteje" and "Site 9" community dams in the South East of Swaziland

  Swaziland Farm Development Foundation

  Yonge Nawe project

  To increase understanding of environmental concerns and conservation practices among children

  Skillshare Africa2

  Swaziland Women's Centre

  To increase the profitability and extent of small scale enterprise undertaken by rural women

  Skillshare Africa2

  Women's Financial Trust

  To provide practical services to meet need for financial and technical assistance

  Skillshare Africa1,2

  Hospice at Home

  To improve the health and economic status of Swazi families with members suffering from AIDS and other terminal illnesses

  Skillshare Africa1,2

  Support for CBO's

  To support the ability of Community Based Organisations to organise themselves to initiate and implement projects

  World University Service1,2

  Funding for Core Projects

  To advocate for enabling legislation and formulation of policies for the development, protection and welfare of children

  Save the Children Fund2

  1 Projects funded during the current 1998–99 financial year

  2 Projects funded by the Joint Funding Scheme

  Maternal Mortality
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the rate of maternal mortality from(a) acute respiratory infection, (b) diarrhoeal disease and (c) measles, as a proportion of total mortality in those refugee camps to which her Department provides assistance. [38643]

  Clare Short
  Maternal mortality is defined by the World Health Organisation as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy from causes related to or aggravated by pregnancy. The leading global causes of maternal mortality are severe bleeding, infection, unsafe abortion, eclampsia and obstructed labour. It is estimated that there are 585,000 such deaths throughout the world per year. However, the death of a682
  woman due to causes such as acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea disease and measles is classed as an adult death and we do not have data on adult female mortality for these causes.

  Nuclear Smuggling
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aspects of the support her Department gives under the(a) Tacis, (b) Phare and (c) other assistance programmes to Eastern European and former states of the Soviet Union, are aimed at combating the smuggling of nuclear materials from these countries to (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the EU. [38724]

  Clare Short
  The Phare and Tacis programmes (to which we contributed about 14.6 per cent. of their total
  683
  expenditure of 1,750 mecu in 1997) contain nuclear safety programmes which have been used to provide advice to countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the safe handling and storage of nuclear materials, including specific provision of a nuclear materials accountancy system in the region. Assistance from Phare and Tacis has also helped to improve border controls in the region, and should have had an indirect effect on smuggling of nuclear materials into the EU. Other multilateral institutions, such as the EBRD, to whom we contribute, have some activities in the nuclear safety sector; details are not immediately available to us. Assistance in this sector is not a priority for my Department's bilateral programme of technical assistance.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Conferences
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his officials attended conferences(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas; and how many and what percentage made (i) oral and (ii) written contributions to the matters under discussion in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [31181]

  Government expenditure on health and personal social services (England)

  £ million

  199–95 outturn

  199–96 outturn

  1996–97 outturn

  1997–98 estimated outturn

  1998–99 plans

  Cash growth over previous year

  1,812

  1,332

  910

  1,526

  1,828

  Percentage growth over previous year (cash)

  6.1

  4.2

  4.5

  5.2

  Dead Patients
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist concerning the length of time for removing a body from a bed in a public general ward when a patient is believed to have died. [39371]

  Mr. Milburn
  This is a matter for local determination. However, I would expect deceased patients to be removed from public general wards sensitively and as soon as possible.

  Nurses
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were recruited by each NHS trust and how many nurses left each trust(a) through retirement, (b) to work for a nursing agency and (c) for other reasons in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [39302]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information about the numbers of nurses joining and leaving National Health Service trusts is collected by the Office of Manpower Economics. A summary of the results of the Office of Manpower
  684
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  In the period 1 March 1997 to 28 February 1998, 113 of my officials attended conferences in the UK, with 18 attending conferences overseas. Forty four made oral contributions and 17 made written contributions.

HEALTH

  Primary Care
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from GPs on the effect on the incomes of GPs of participating in primary care groups; and if he will make a statement. [39287]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have regular meetings with all primary health care representative bodies, and the income of general practitioners participating in primary care groups is just one among a number of issues discussed. These issues will continue to be discussed, and guidance on various financial matters will be issued in the summer. These professional bodies are supportive of this Government's initiative to develop a new National Health Service, modern and dependable.

  Public Spending
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the growth in public spending between 1997–98 and 1998–99 on health and social services in England relative to the previous three year period. [38259]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Economics survey is published each year in the report of the review body for nurses, midwives and health visitors, copies of which are in the Library.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the national roll-out of the New Deal. [38257]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Although it is early days, the national roll-out of the New Deal has seen an encouraging start. In the first week 2,435 Gateway interviews were held.

  A good indication of how New Deal has been received is that over 2,600 young people have asked for early entry. This builds on good results from the twelve Pathfinder areas.

  Government Funding (Essex)
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total amount of
  685
  Government funding allocated to Essex County Council for the purposes of education for 1998–99; and what amount the Council has budgeted to spend. [36486]

  Mr. Byers
  Government support for education spending is provided mainly through the education SSA system but these are not recommended levels of expenditure. Essex's education SSA for 1998–99 is some £497 million—an increase of some £27 million or 5.8 per cent. I understand that Essex budgeted to spend some £475 million on education in 1997–98, £5 million more than the SSA for education (allowing for local government reorganisation) and has budgeted to spend some £494 million in 1998–99 which is £3 million less than its education SSA.

  Training and Enterprise Councils (Greater London)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the economic development initiatives currently being funded by training and enterprise councils in Greater London from their accumulated reserves; and if he will make a statement. [38372]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is given in tables, copies of which I have placed in the Library.

  Students
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to amend the Social Security (Students) Regulations 1998 to allow students who for bona fide reasons take time out from their studies to have access to state benefits. [39021]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Financial support is already available for higher education students who take time out from their studies owing to illness. In England and Wales, the Mandatory Awards Regulations provide that when a student is ill, the Local Education Authority (LEA) must continue to make payments under the award for 28 days. If a student remains ill after 28 days, the LEA has discretion to continue payments. Where a student has been absent from the course through illness for 28 weeks, he or she may apply for Income Support. At this point, the LEA support would be expected to cease. In England and Wales, the LEA also has discretion to continue support for other bona fide reasons.

  In Scotland, students who are necessarily absent from their course owing to illness, but who intend to resume as soon as circumstances permit, may continue to receive maintenance from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) so long as they remain enrolled on the course.

  We are considering what further action we might take on support for students forced to take time out from their studies.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the expected debt on graduation of a student entering a three-year undergraduate course in the autumn of 1998 under(a) the Government's student tuition fees proposals and (b) the Dearing Committee's proposals assuming receipt of a full maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement. [39328]
  686
  Dr. Howells
  The maximum amount that a student can borrow will depend on the place of study, as well as the student's and his or her parents' or spouse's income. Under the Government's proposals, a student completing a three-year course outside London which began in 1998 and who took out the full loan available each year might expect to have borrowed a total of £9,355 in 1998 prices. The comparable figure under the Dearing Committee's proposals would be £8,083, assuming full implementation in 1998/99. Repayments under our proposed system will be made only when a graduate's income exceeds £10,000 a year and the level of repayments will then be linked directly to the individual's income above that amount. A graduate with an income of £7,000 per annum, for example, would make weekly repayments of about £12 a week.

  Students and their families will be expected to contribute no more up front to the costs of their higher education under our proposals than they would under the current arrangements. Our proposals will ensure that students have access to the funds which they need while they are studying while generating substantial additional resources for investment in higher and further education.

  Employment Action Plan
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place copies of the United Kingdom's Employment Action Plan in the Library. [39732]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Copies of the Employment Action Plan, which sets out the Government's policies for implementing the Employment Guidelines agreed at the Special European Council held in Luxembourg in November 1997, have been placed in the Library. The Plan contains the latest information on employment policy, including the announcements made by the Chancellor in his Budget on 17 March.

  Disability Rights Commission
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force on the role and functions of a Disability Rights Commission will be made available. [39842]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force on the role and functions of a Disability Rights Commission were provided before Easter. They are currently under consideration across Government. The recommendations may be accessed, as can other Task Force papers, via the Internet (on website www.disability.gov.uk). Copies of the recommendations have also been placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Treasury Grant
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her plans for the Treasury Grant. [38245]

  Mr. Denham: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 9 March 1998, Official Report, columns 88–90.
  687
  We have no plans to change the basis on which Treasury Grant is made available to the National Insurance Fund.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gardening Leave
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomatic staff members, in each grade, were on gardening leave on 31 March for each year since 1997; and for what reason staff were on gardening leave.[38952]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There are no officers on gardening leave, but the hon. Member may like to know that on 31 March 1997, 15 officers were on standby while awaiting a new assignment. On 31 March 1998 the figure was 8.

  Commonwealth Business Council
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made to set up the Commonwealth Business Council, as agreed at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. [39840]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The first meeting of the Commonwealth Business Council took place in London on 20 and 21 April under the chairmanship of Lord Cairns, with Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa as Vice-Chairman. It was attended by a number of leading business persons from throughout the Commonwealth. As agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, its objective is to promote greater private sector involvement in the promotion of trade and investment, and thus prosperity, throughout the Commonwealth. The British Government were pleased to provide £250,000 towards the Council's start-up costs. We hope that other Commonwealth Governments and the private sector will also want to contribute to this most valuable initiative.

  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Arms Embargo)
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps taken by the Government to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160 imposing an arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [39841]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The EU already imposes an arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The UK's interpretation of this embargo covers all goods and

  Departmental committees of inquiry

  Department

  Committee

  Date established

  Chairman

  Departmental Inquiries

  MAFF, DH, SO, WO, NIO

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Inquiry

  December 1997

  Lord Justice Phillips

  DFEE

  National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education

  February 1996

  Lord Dearing

  DFEE

  Literary Task Force

  May 1996

  Professor Michael Barber

  DETR

  Merchant Vessel Derbyshire

  September 1995

  Lord Donaldson

  DETR

  Review of the Area Cost Adjustment

  October 1995

  Professor Robert Elliot

  DETR

  Sea Empress Environmental Evaluation Committee

  March 1996

  Professor Ronald Edwards

  DH

  Utting Children's Safeguards Review

  June 1996

  Sir William Utting

  688
  technology in Part III of Schedule I to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended (the so-called "Military List").

  Following the adoption by the UN Security Council on 31 March of Resolution 1160 as a result of the recent violence in Kosovo, the Privy Council have made Orders in Council giving full effect to the action which the UK is required to take. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998; the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Dependent Territories) Order 1998; the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Channel Islands) Order 1998; and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Isle of Man) Order 1998 were approved by the Privy Council on 22 April, and will come into force on 24 April. As a result of these Orders a licence will be required to supply any goods on the Military List to the FRY, so bringing under control such supplies abroad by UK-registered companies or nationals.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Departmental Committees of Inquiry
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all departmental committees of inquiry which have been established since May 1995, indicating the date of establishment and name of the chairman; and if he will separately identify those departmental inquiries which have been set up by Ministers which have sought expert or lay opinion and which have been chaired by an individual outside Government. [35749]

  Dr. David Clark
  "Departmental Committee of Inquiry" is a term usually applied only to inquiries which have been set up by Ministers, which have sought expert or lay opinion, and which have normally been chaired by an individual outside Government. The following list details those inquiries established in this way since May 1995.

  The list excludes advisory committees established to provide on-going advice (such as those advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1997"), task forces and reviews set up since May 1997 to provide policy advice and recommendations (as listed in the Written Answer to a Question from Lord Chesham provided by my noble Friend Lord McIntosh of Haringey in the other place on 12 February 1998, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 231–44 and inquiries set up routinely in pursuance of responsibilities under a statutory requirement, for example public inquiries held under planning legislation.
  689

  Departmental committees of inquiry

  Department

  Committee

  Date established

  Chairman

  DH

  Committee, of Inquiry into the Personality Disorder Unit, Ashworth Special Hospital, Merseyside

  February 1997

  His Honour Peter Fallon QO

  DH

  Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines

  March 1997

  Dr. June crown

  DH

  Review of Cervical screening services in Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust

  June 1997

  Sir William Wells

  HO

  Inquiry into Legislation Against Terrorism

  December 1995

  Lord Lloyd of Berwick

  HO

  Assessment and Implication of Centrifuge Contamination in the Trace Explosive Section of the Forensic Explosives Laboratory at Fort Halstead

  May 1996

  Professor Brian Caddy

  HO

  Scrutiny of evidence relating to the Hillsborough disaster

  June 1997

  Lord Justice Stuart-Smith

  HO

  Inquiry under the police Act 1996 into matters arising form the death of Stephen Lawrence

  August 1997

  Sir William Macpherson of Cluny

  HO

  Review of Financial Regulation in the Crown Dependencies

  January 1998

  Mr. Andrew Edwards

  LCD

  Review of the law relating to profits of crime

  March 1997

  Professor Gareth Jones

  NIO

  The International Body

  November 1995

  Senator George Mitchell

  NIO

  Review of Northern Ireland Police Complaints System

  November 1995

  Dr. Maurice Hayes

  NIO

  Independent Review of parades and Marches for Nothern Ireland

  July 1996

  Dr. Peter North

  NIO

  The Steele Inquiry into incidents at HM prison Maze

  March 1997

  Mr. John Steele1

  NIO

  Victims of Violence

  October 1997

  sir Kenneth Bloomfield

  NIO

  The Narey Inquiry into incidents at HM Prison Maze

  December 1997

  Mr. Martin Narey1

  NICS

  Staff Deployment in the Northern Ireland Civil Service

  March 1997

  Dr. Maurice Hayes

  SO

  Inquiry into the Appointment Practices of Monklands District Council

  July 1995

  Mr. W. A. Nimmo Smith QC

  SO

  Inquiry into the Appointment of Chief Officers in North Lanarkshire Council

  December 1995

  Mr. D. I. K. MacLeod WS

  SO

  Severe Weather Working Party

  January 1996

  Mr. Stephen Hampson1

  SO

  The Pennington Group—report on the circumstances leading to the 1996 outbreak of infection with E. coli 0157 in Central Sctoland, the implications for food safety and the lessons to be learned

  November 1996

  Professor Hugh Pennington

  SO

  Review of an Eye Transplantation/CJD Incident in 1997

  November 1997

  Sir William Stewart FRS

  SO

  Inquiry Term Feedstock Supply Group

  January 1998

  Mr. Martyn Baker1 and Mr. David Saunders1

  Tribunals of Inquiry under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921

  NIO

  Tribunal into the Events of 30 January 1972 (the Bloody Sunday Inquiry)

  January 1998

  Lord Saville of Newdigate

  SO

  Inquiry into the Dunblane Shootings

  March 1996

  Lord Cullen

  WO

  Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Care in North Wales

  June 1996

  Sir. Ronald Waterhouse

  Royal Commissions

  DH

  Royal Commission on Long-Term Care

  December 1997

  Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland

  1 Civil Servant

WALES

  Economic Regulation Review
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the review of economic regulation in Wales to be published. [38805]

  Mr. Hain
  The Economic Strategy for Wales will be published in early summer. It will have no regulatory content.

  New Deal
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the Wales New Deal Advisory Task Force to report. [38926]

  Mr. Hain
  The Wales New Deal Advisory Task Force reports to Ministers at quarterly meetings. These are held alternately with the Task Force Chairman and with the full Task Force. The next such meeting is scheduled for 27 April.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways and by what amounts he has assisted the film industry in Wales. [39430]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Welsh Office does not provide direct support for the film industry but Sgrin, the new Media Agency for Wales which replaced the Wales Film Council and Screen Wales, receives a large part of its core funding from the Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and the Welsh Development Agency. The Arts Council has also awarded £2.2 million of Lottery money to 21 film projects in Wales.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the trust formed by the merging of the Maelor Hospital Trust and the Clwydian Community Trust to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [39437]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  If it is decided to proceed with the merger of the NHS trusts in this area, the new trust will become operational on 1 April 1999. However, this is subject to the outcome of the forthcoming public consultation exercise.

  Public Health
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to introduce health action zones in Wales. [38365]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), on 22 April 1998,Official Report, column 806.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the link between poverty and ill health in Wales. [38367]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The Chief Medical Officer's 1996 Annual Report examined the links between Health, Work and the Economy (Chapter 5). Overall, the report concluded that the excess of people who are economically inactive in Wales is due, firstly to a higher prevalence of limiting long-term illness, and secondly to a higher proportion of the long-term ill not working. There is evidence to suggest a correlation between poor living and working conditions and illness and disease. For example, the Welsh Health Survey (1995) found that people doing unskilled work have higher than average levels of heart disease, respiratory disease, mental illness, arthritis and pain.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the advantages to the health of the people in Wales of a closer working relationship between health services and social services. [38366]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Effective joint working between health services and social services is essential if vulnerable people are to receive high quality care which meets their needs and provides good value for money.

  The recent Audit Commission report 'Coming of Age' demonstrated that improved joint planning and investment by health and local authorities is needed. The Welsh
  692
  Office has therefore issued guidance seeking better collaboration at a local level to improve the quality and range of services provided for vulnerable and older people. I have agreed a programme of follow up action to support this process and ensure that priority is given to securing strategic operational change in this vital area. There is a clear agenda for health and local authorities to address together which will have significant benefits when fully implemented.

  Nurses
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses were recruited by each trust and how many nurses left each trust(a) through retirement, (b) to work for a nursing agency and (c) for other reasons in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [39301]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information is not held centrally. However, data on the number of qualified nurses recruited by each Trust and the overall number leaving each Trust in the years 1996–97 and 1997–98 are being collected but they will not be available until later in the year. I will write to the hon. Member when the data become available.

  Gwent Tertiary College
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what report on the position of the College in respect of European funding the Corporation of Gwent Tertiary College received at their June 1997 meeting; what was the substance of that report; and what action they took in response to it; [39440]

  (2) how much Gwent Tertiary College estimates that they will have to repay to the European Union; and how much ESF money has been withheld by the EU to date for projects already agreed to; [39441]

  (3) what is the surplus projected by Gwent Tertiary College for 1997–98; and what account has been taken of (a) moneys withheld by and (b) sums required to be repaid to the EU. [39442]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible. Detailed questions of this kind are largely matters for the college itself or for the Department for Education and Employment but, as he is aware, I am anxious that he receives all the information I can provide for him on this matter.

DEFENCE

  Aircraft Repairs
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future arrangements for the in-house deep repair of aircraft. [39844]

  Dr. Reid
  The deep repair and overhaul of aviation equipment are currently provided in the Ministry of Defence facilities (known as Third Line) and by Industry (known as Fourth line). Third Line work is currently undertaken by two separate Defence Agencies, the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO) for helicopters and the RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency (RAF MGDA) for fixed wing aircraft.
  693
  We now propose to bring together Third Line repair in a single management structure, which would be known as the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA). I will be setting work in hand immediately in order to launch the DARA as a new Agency on 1 April 1999 with a view to moving the organisation to Trading Fund Status as soon as practicable thereafter.

  The aim is to recruit a Chief Executive for the DARA by open competition to take forward this challenging task. The Agency will be overseen by an Owner's Board chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings of sub-group E on chemical and biological defence of the Technical Co-operation Programme have taken place since 1 January 1995; which countries took part in these meetings; where these meetings were held; and who represented the British Government at each meeting. [38612]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Technical Co-operation Programme, TTCP, involves collaboration between the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. In 1997, the TTCP structure was reorganised and the former Sub-group E was renamed the Group on Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defence.

  Since 1 January 1995, the Group has met annually in June. The 1995 meeting took place in Melbourne, Australia and was attended by Director CBD Porton Down as UK National Leader. In 1996, the meeting was held at the Chemical and Biological Defence sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, at Porton Down in the United Kingdom and was attended by Director CBD Porton Down as Executive Chairman plus an assistant and Chief Scientist, CBD Sector as UK National Leader. The 1997 meeting was held at Edgewood in the United States and was attended by MD Science, DERA as Executive Chairman, together with an assistant and Director CBD Sector as UK National Representative. All British attendees were MOD staff.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many International Task forces have been established under the 1980 Memorandum of Understanding on chemical and biological defence between Britain, the United States of America and Canada since 1 January 1995; and what subjects each of these task forces cover. [38610]

  Mr. Spellar
  Seven International Task forces have been established under the 1980 Memorandum of Understanding on chemical and biological defence between Britain, the United States of America and Canada since 1 January 1995. They cover collaboration between the three nations to address defences against chemical and biological agents of concern. I am unable to give the individual topics as these are classified and I am therefore withholding these details under exemption 1 of Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the technical panels and action groups which have been active under sub-group E on chemical and biological defence of the Technical Co-operation Programme since 1 January 1995. [38613]
  694
  Mr. Spellar
  The Technical Co-operation Programme, TTCP, involves collaboration between the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. In 1997, the TTCP structure was re-organised and the former sub-group E was renamed the Group on Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defence.

  The technical panels active since 1 January 1995 are:

  Biological warfare countermeasures;

  Chemical and biological hazard assessment;

  Biological agent detection;

  Low burden individual protective clothing.

  The action groups since 1 January 1995 are:

  Gene probes;

  Medical countermeasures against vesicant agents;

  Absorbents;

  Decontamination of chemical and biological hazards;

  Treaty analytical methodologies;

  Gene probes II;

  Radiological hazards.

  Death Penalty
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of removing the death penalty from military law; and if he will make a statement. [39220]

  Dr. Reid
  During the passage of the Armed Forces Act 1996 it was suggested that the death penalty, in the Service context, should be abolished. As a result the previous administration undertook to carry out a fundamental review of the need to retain the death penalty as a maximum punishment for certain offences under Service law. This work is in progress. I will advise the House of the outcome as soon as possible.

TREASURY

  Gaming Machines
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from working men's clubs regarding the effect of the Budget on gaming machines. [38263]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has received one representation from the National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs.

  Sterling
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages to Britain of a weaker pound; and if he will make a statement. [38265]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Government have made clear that we have taken the decisions that are important for creating a stable and competitive pound over the medium term. The best thing the Government can do to help British industry is to ensure businesses have the stability to plan and invest with confidence, avoiding a return to the boom and bust past which damaged prosperity and destroyed jobs.
  695
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he is having with the Governor of the Bank of England concerning the level of the pound sterling. [38279]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I have regular meetings with the Governor at which a range of matters are discussed.

  International Debt
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Church leaders on his policy to reduce the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38266]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have made considerable progress in securing international agreement to the Mauritius Mandate and will continue to press for its speedy and determined implementation. Since his Mauritius Mandate statement to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers last September, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has held a number of meetings with religious leaders and NGO heads to discuss the issue of debt relief and keep them informed of progress.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38269]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government are fully committed to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative that was launched by the IMF and World Bank in September 1996. In his speech to Commonwealth Finance Ministers in Mauritius last year, the Chancellor called on the international community to commit itself to dealing with the problem of unsustainable debt burdens faced by the world's poorest countries once and for all. He urged creditors and debtors to undertake action in order to ensure that at least three-quarters of the twenty countries, initially identified by the World Bank and IMF as probably needing debt relief under the HIPC initiative, have had decisions on the size and timing of their relief by the year 2000.

  The Chancellor also encouraged all countries identified under the initiative to embark on the process of securing debt relief by the millennium.

  The Government have made considerable progress towards securing international commitment to implementing the Mauritius Mandate. The Government will continue in their efforts to ensure that the Mauritius Mandate targets are met.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his policy to reduce the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38275]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Chancellor has recently given evidence to the International Development Committee of this House, and has attended the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings in Washington.

  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Church leaders in relation to reducing the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38276]
  696
  Mrs. Liddell
  Since his Mauritius Mandate statement to Commonwealth Finance Ministers last September, the Chancellor has held a number of meetings with religious leaders and NGO heads to discuss the issue of debt relief.

  Income Tax (Derbyshire)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the percentages of income tax payers paying the higher rate in(a) Derbyshire and (b) the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [38267]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In 1995–96, the latest year for which there is comparable information, 5 per cent. of taxpayers in Derbyshire paid income tax at the higher rate, compared with 8.1 per cent. in the United Kingdom. It is not possible to provide a reliable breakdown below the United Kingdom level for 1998–99.

  Budget (Work Incentives)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Budget measures to increase the financial incentive to work. [38268]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Budget contained a comprehensive set of measures to help ensure that work pays, including the Working Families Tax Credit and reform to National Insurance Contributions.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the definition of the public sector borrowing requirement. [38272]

  Mr. Darling
  The public sector borrowing requirement measures borrowing by the whole public sector from the private sector and overseas.

  Mr. White
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the definition of the public sector borrowing requirement used in other European Union countries; and what plans he has for changes to the UK's PSBR definition. [38277]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Other EU Member States use a range of definitions of government borrowing. There will be a number of small technical changes to the definition of the PSBR later this year resulting from the construction of national accounts according to the definitions in the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95). These changes were set out in Annexe B of the March 1998 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Advance Corporation Tax
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue will be raised in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 by the abolition of advance corporation tax and the introduction of quarterly payments of corporation tax. [38273]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the March 1998 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" Table C.1 and paragraph C.87.

  Pensioners' Fuel Bills
  Mr. Darvill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from pensioners' organisations on his tax and benefit changes to reduce pensioners' fuel bills. [38274]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The payments of £50 to pensioner households on income support and £20 to all other pensioner households have been generally welcomed.

  Savings Ratio
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the savings ratio, in the latest year for which figures are available; and what is his forecast for the savings ratio for(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01. [38278]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The personal sector saving ratio was 11 per cent. in 1997. A modest cyclical fall in the saving ratio is expected over the next three years. But over the longer term the introduction of ISAs and policies to promote economic growth and stability will increase the incentive to save for investment.

  EU Deficits
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many EU member states have deficits of less than 3 per cent. of gross domestic product. [38280]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  According to the Commission's Convergence Report, 14 Member States had a government balance in 1997 which was better than or equal to the Maastricht reference value for the deficit of 3 per cent. of GDP.

  Duty-free Sales
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from companies operating from Newhaven on the impact of the abolition of duty-free sales. [38270]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have received a number of representations from companies located throughout the United Kingdom about the abolition of intra-European union duty free sales in June 1999. However, no records are held which would readily identify the geographical locations of those companies. Obtaining the information cannot be undertaken except at disproportionate cost.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his proposals for a working families tax credit. [38271]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Working Families Tax Credit has been welcomed by a wide range of individuals and organisations.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the(a) range of fluctuation and (b) average exchange rate of sterling against the deutschmark in (i) the period May 1996-May 1997 and (ii) the period since May 1997. [39317]

  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. Austin Mitchell, dated 23 April 1998:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the exchange rate of sterling against the Deutsche Mark.
  The figures are shown below and are drawn from observations of indicative middle-market (mean of spot buying and selling) rates as observed by the Bank of England Foreign Exchange Desk in the London interbank market during late afternoon trading.

  Range of fluctuation and average rate of sterling against Deutsche Mark

  Lowest

  Highest

  Average

  May 1996-May 1997

  2.2795

  2.8202

  2.5242

  May 1997 to date

  2.7915

  3.0970

  2.9429

  Information on exchange rates of sterling against other currencies is published in Table 7.1A of the ONS monthly publication Financial Statistics, and on the ONS database, which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. The data is produced by Bank of England.

  Planning Policy Guidance
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to develop economic instruments to support planning policy guidance.[38999]

  Mr. Darling
  In his Budget statement, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor referred to the ongoing work on the potential of a tax on the extraction of aggregates. Other economic instruments that could be used to further the Government's planning policies are being kept under review.

  OECD: International Development Strategy
  OECD: International Development Strategy
  House of Lords Divisions: Display on House of Commons Annunciators
  House of Lords Divisions: Display on House of Commons Annunciators
  Tuition Fees
  Tuition Fees
  St. Dunstan's
  St. Dunstan's
  Driving Standards Agency: Key Targets
  Driving Standards Agency: Key Targets