Written Answers of 2 December 1998

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the £19 billion allocated to education as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be(a) direct Government grant and (b) a permission for LEAs and other sector providers to borrow or raise funding from other sources; and if he will make a statement. [61806]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The £19 billion figure relates to the UK. The table gives the resources for my Department's areas of responsibility as published in the Comprehensive Spending Review White paper, split between central government and Education Standard Spending, which is the support for recurrent spending on education by local authorities in England.

  £billion

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  DfEE and OFSTED

  15.5

  17.3

  18.6

  Education Standard Spending

  20.5

  21.7

  23.1

  Of the central government resources, credit approvals to local authorities for schools capital work will be set at £454m in 1999–00, compared with £376m in 1998–99. These will be supplemented by PFI credits of £350m in 1999–00, compared with £130m in 1998–99. Decisions on the deployment of schools capital resources between grant and credit approvals for 2000–01 and 2001–02 will be taken during 1999 in the light of consultation on the schools capital strategy and on decisions by schools on their status within the new schools framework.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he has given to principals and vice-chancellors during the current academic year on the collection of fees from non-UK EU students. [61811]

  Mr. Mudie
  No specific advice has been given to principals and vice-chancellors on the collection of fees from non-UK EU Students.

  Research Funding
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will change the system of funding research at universities to encourage more co-operation between different institutions. [61544]

  Mr. Mudie
  The funding of research at universities by the higher education funding bodies is informed by ratings of research quality through the Research Assessment 170
  Exercise (RAE). I welcome the recognition by the higher education funding bodies, in their planning for the next RAE to be held in 2001, of the importance of ensuring that the arrangements for making submissions do not deter research collaboration. The funding bodies are currently considering further how to facilitate the submission of collaborative research in the RAE in the light of recent consultation on this and other issues.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the(a) Investors in People Standard, (b) Management Charter Initiative, (c) Management Standards and (d) Management NVQs for SMEs; and if he will make a statement; [61549]

  (2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) reviewed into the take up of competence-based management qualifications within SMEs; [61550]

  (3) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) reviewed into the link between management training and performance in SMEs. [61551]

  Mr. Mudie
  DfEE commissioned a three-year evaluation of the effectiveness of Investors in People which was carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies at the University of Sussex. The following reports were published: "Evaluation of Investors in People in England and Wales" (1994); "Evaluation of Investors in People in England and Wales, 1994–1995" (1995); and "The Return on Investors" (1996). All are available in the House of Commons Library. A review of the Management Charter Initiative was carried out for DfEE by DTZ Pieda Consulting and published as DfEE Research Report 67 in July 1998. It is also available in the Commons Library. Management Standards and NVQs were included in a review of all NVQs and SVQs which took place from 1996 to 1998 and identified improvements needed for SMEs which will be fed back to the relevant lead bodies and awarding bodies.

  DfEE has not commissioned any research specifically into the take-up of competence-based management qualifications in SMEs, although gaining of qualifications by owner-managers of SMEs was included in a report for the Department on small firms' training needs, practices and difficulties by Professor James Curran et al. This was published in 1996 in DfEE's Research Studies series and is available in the House of Commons Library.

  MCI (on behalf of DfEE and DTI) commissioned a review of research by Durham University Business School into the role of management development in the growth of high growth SMEs which was published in 1997. SMEs were also included in two research studies published by DfEE: "The business benefits of competence-based management development" by J and R Winterton (Research Studies 16, 1996) and "Evaluation of the business benefits of management development" by DTZ Pieda Consulting (Research Report 66, 1998). Both reports are in the Library.

TREASURY

  Exchequer Income
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated current net income to the Exchequer for the operation of(a) National Air Traffic Services, (b) student loans, (c) residual debt in British Energy plc, (d) the radio spectrum, (e) Belfast Port, (f) the Commonwealth Development Corporation, (g) the Royal Mint and (h) the Tote. [61424]

  Mr. Byers
  Details of the income and expenditure of the five public corporations listed (National Air Traffic Services; Belfast Port, one of the Northern Ireland Public Trust Port Authorities; Commonwealth Development Corporation; Royal Mint; and the Tote) can be found in the relevant annual report.

  Information on loans to students and repayments of them can be found in Chapter 2 of the Department for Education and Employment's departmental report (Cm 3910), and details of the income and expenditure of the Radiocommunications Agency in Chapter 14 of the Department of Trade and Industry's departmental report (Cm 3905).

  Details of interest income from the Government's residual debt holdings in British Energy plc are published annually in the Appropriation Accounts (Volume 16: Class XVI, Vote I).

  Self-assessment
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure and what was the breakdown of the expenditure on(a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail incurred by his Department and agencies on the self-assessment public information campaign; and if he will make a statement. [61686]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Since the launch of the Self Assessment public information programme in June 1995 about £21 million has been spent informing taxpayers of changes. Within this expenditure, £718,000 has been spent on public opinion research, £13 million on television, radio and newspaper advertising and £750,000 on direct mail. All these figures are exclusive of VAT and are costs to date (30 November 1998).

  EU Tax Harmonisation
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers he has over veto of the harmonisation within the European Union of(a) company taxes, (b) personal taxes and (c) excise duties; and if he will make a statement. [61714]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Decisions on these matters are subject to unanimity.

  Tax Policy Co-ordination
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to seek to co-ordinate savings and corporate taxation across European Union nations; and if he will make a statement. [61071]
  172
  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: The UK is taking an active part in discussions on the draft Directive on taxation of savings, but we have made it clear that we will not agree to any course of action which would seriously damage the UK and other European financial markets. There are no proposals for the coordination of corporate taxation in the European Union.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to promote an OECD-wide approach to tax policy co-ordination; and if he will make a statement. [61072]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: The UK takes an active part in the work of the OECD which is consistent with our aims of promoting economic growth through the development of international trade and investment.

  EU National Budget Deficits
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that there should be reporting of European Union national budget deficits to distinguish between(a) borrowing for net investment purposes and (b) borrowing to fund current expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [61068]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: Council Regulation 3605/93 sets out the budgetary reporting requirements for Member States. In assessing the national budget deficits, Article 104c(3) of the Maastricht Treaty states that the level of government investment expenditure should be taken into account.

  European Growth and Stability Pact
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to oppose amendments to the(a) interpretation and (b) implementation of the European Growth and Stability Pact promoting greater flexibility towards budget deficits which result from high levels of net public sector investment; and if he will make a statement. [61066]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: The Government are not aware of proposals by Member States to amend the Stability and Growth Pact. The Pact supports sound public finances which are vital for macroeconomic stability and the success of EMU.

  Duty Free
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place at Ministerial level over the last six months about the future of duty free and the tax regime following its abolition. [61882]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: I discuss these questions regularly both with colleagues in Government and in Europe.

  Dividend Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much it would cost to exempt pensioners from the abolition of the dividend tax credit for the years(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; [61839]
  173
  (2) if he will list by region in Great Britain the number of pensioners who will lose money, and the amounts involved, as a result of the abolition of the dividend tax credit. [61842]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: It is estimated that the cost of exempting those aged over 65 from the abolition of payable tax credits on dividend income would be about £25 million in each full year. I regret that no estimates are available on a regional basis for either the number of pensioners affected or the amounts of money involved.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total taxation went towards military expenditure in the last year for which figures are available. [61737]

  Mr. Byers
  Defence spending in 1997–98, the last year for which figures are available, amounted to 6.64 per cent. of the government's current receipts.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to introduce a right conscientiously to object to paying taxes for military spending. [61740]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have no plans to do so.

  Universities and Colleges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce tax incentives for companies giving money to fund universities and colleges. [61543]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A number of tax reliefs are already available for companies giving money to universities and colleges.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Modernising Justice White Paper
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if his Department intends to publish a White Paper on modernising justice. [62352]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor has today laid before Parliament a White Paper on Modernising Justice. Copies of the White Paper and accompanying Press Notice have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Rights of Audience
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what responses the Government have received to their consultation paper, Rights of Audience and Rights to Conduct Litigation in England and Wales: the Way Ahead. [62353]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government received 100 responses to the consultation paper. Of these 64 were in favour of the Government's proposals, 12 were opposed, 11 were neutral or did not comment, and 13 were mixed. Copies 174
  of the responses have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the Supreme Court Library, with the exception of 6 responses which were made in confidence. The responses were carefully analysed and taken into account in the development of our proposals on rights of audience which are contained in the Modernising Justice White Paper published today.

  The Respondents are listed (those who responded in confidence are not listed):

  Those involved in the current statutory procedure:

  Lord Justice Potter, Chairman, on behalf of ACLEC

  The Director General of Fair Trading

  Professor Lee Bridges (member of ACLEC)

  The Judiciary

  The Lords Justices of Appeal

  The Justices of the High Court

  The Council of HM Circuit Judges

  The Association of District Judges

  The Lord Ackner Lord Justice Buxton

  Mr. Justice Holland

  Mr. Justice Sedley

  Mr. Justice Carnwath

  Mr. Justice Lloyd

  HH John Gower QC

  Members of Parliament

  Austin Mitchell MP

  The Bar

  The General Council of the Bar

  The Council of the Inns of Court

  The Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry

  The Employed and Non-Practising Bar Association

  The London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association

  The Official Referees Bar Association

  The Personal Injuries Bar Association

  The South Eastern Circuit

  The North Eastern Circuit

  Barristers in private practice, or unspecified

  David Blunt QC

  Martin Edwards

  Nicholas Forwood QC

  Richard King

  Stuart Lovering

  Liam Murchin

  Chris Purnell

  Alec Samuels

  Robert Spicer

  Robert Wright QC

  Employed or non-practising barristers

  James Birkin

  Edward Bowles (Crown Prosecutor)

  Robert Christie Angela Delbourgo

  Richard Hill Keith Loney

  Anne Moore-Williams (Law Commission)

  Jeremy White

  175

  Solicitors

  The Law Society

  The Law Society Group for Solicitors with Disabilities

  The London Solicitors Litigation Association

  The Solicitors' Association of Higher Court Advocates

  The Young Solicitors' Group and the Trainee Solicitors Group

  The London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association

  Solicitors' Firms

  Clifford Chance

  Geoffrey Parker Bourne

  Herbert Smith

  Lovell White Durrant

  Norton Rose Slaughter and May

  Thompsons

  White Dalton

  Individual Solicitors

  Christopher Bright (Linklaters)

  Hardeep Singh Nahal (Herbert Smith)

  Gary Summers (Magrath and Co.)

  Legal Executives

  The Institute of Legal Executives

  Individual Legal Executives

  Miss C. Abbs

  Stuart Blake

  Jeremy Chaplin

  Private Individuals

  Marion Heath

  Arthur Oakes

  John Randall

  Anthony Zachary

  Companies employing lawyers

  James R. Knowles

  KPMG Tax Advisers

  Teachers of Law

  Committee of Heads of University Law Schools (Professor S.H. Bailey)

  Nottingham Law School (Professor Peter Jones and Professor Philip Knott)

  The Association of Law Teachers (John Hodgson)

  The College of Law (Professor Nigel Savage)

  Inns of Court School of Law (Susan Blake)

  Alistair Kelman

  Alan Taylor

  Legal Organisations

  The Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors

  The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

  The British Legal Association

  The Civil Court Users Association

  The Crown Prosecution Service

  The Justices' Clerks' Society

  The Legal Action Group

  The Legal Services Ombudsman

  Other Organisations and Bodies

  The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents

  The Consumers' Association

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants

  The Institute of Credit Management

  The Joint Committee for Ethnic Minorities in Wales

  176

  The Metropolitan Police

  The National Federation of Consumer Groups

  The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

  The Trades Union Congress.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners currently receive a concessionary television licence under each criterion for each region in Great Britain. [61152]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 27 November 1998]: Regional statistics on the concessionary television licence scheme do not distinguish between pensioners and other beneficiaries, or according to the criteria under which individuals qualify. The number of concessionary licences currently on issue in the United Kingdom, by country, is (to the nearest thousand):

  Number

  England and Wales

  555,000

  Scotland

  53,000

  Northern Ireland

  12,000

  Television Licence Evasion
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on what plans there are in place to reduce the level of television licence evasion in Chelmsford. [61889]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system. TV Licensing, which carries out the day to day administration and enforcement as agent for the Corporation, adopts all appropriate measures to minimise evasion throughout the United Kingdom. Standard enforcement procedures are complemented by targeting pre-determined areas for higher levels of enforcement activity. It is contrary to TV Licensing's policy to publish details of areas due to be targeted; to do so would give comfort to evaders in other parts of the country.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Mine Clearance
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list Government expenditure on mine clearance for each year since 1992, broken down by country. [61794]

  Clare Short
  Government expenditure on mine clearance projects, including integrated mine awareness activities, is set out in the table.
  177

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99up to30.11.98

  Afghanistan

  —

  1,188,900

  916,131

  1,233,087

  1,025,000

  1,050,000

  2,106,500

  499,900

  Angola

  —

  —

  —

  1,847,527

  1,003,570

  —

  —

  —

  Cambodia

  60,000

  206,337

  1,461,100

  1,693,425

  1,305,369

  1,058,700

  689,686

  1,632,287

  Egypt

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500,000

  87,308

  —

  Georgia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  220,781

  N. Iraq

  —

  —

  200,439

  15,315

  444,750

  785,000

  658,972

  740,000

  Laos

  —

  —

  —

  —

  543,386

  148,307

  101,250

  500,000

  Mozambique

  —

  —

  574,586

  414,832

  471,000

  408,900

  487,500

  362,500

  Rwanda

  —

  —

  —

  30,000

  —

  —

  —

  Somalia

  300,000

  373,540

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yemen

  —

  —

  —

  100,000

  —

  47,772

  —

  —

  Former Yugoslavia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  275,000

  —

  —

  Global/Regional

  —

  —

  —

  —

  165,082

  —

  1200,000

  2375,000

  1 Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded activities

  2 Value of surplus equipment re-deployed by DFID and MOD to mine clearance projects

  Note:

  Expenditure by Department for International Development unless otherwise stated

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Clare Short: The Government have provided grants International Development if she will list the organizations for humanitarian mine clearance activities to the to which the Government have given money for the purpose following organisations: of mine clearance in each year since 1992; and in each case the amount received by each organisation. [61793]

  £

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  The HALO Trust

  60,000

  388,786

  1,267,859

  1,913,898

  1,592,688

  1,417,600

  1,092,000

  1,751,468

  UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance for Afghanistan (UNOCHA)

  —

  1,000,000

  500,000

  1,000,000

  750,000

  500,000

  2,000,000

  —

  Rimfire

  300,000

  373,540

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

  —

  —

  251,064

  1,038,944

  2,361,387

  1,033,307

  951,908

  2,204,000

  Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) (via UNDP)

  —

  —

  1,133,333

  1,000,000

  500,000

  —

  —

  —

  UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) (Angola)

  —

  —

  —

  226,029

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Government of Egypt

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500,000

  87,308

  —

  UN (Rwanda)

  —

  —

  —

  30,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  UN Voluntary Trust Fund

  —

  —

  —

  600,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  UN Mine Action Centre (UNMAC) (Sarajevo)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  220,000

  —

  —

  UN Development Programme (UNDP) (Laos)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  89,000

  —

  —

  —

  Government of Yemen (Via UN Development Programme) (UNDP)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  47,772

  —

  —

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the amount spent on(a) humanitarian mine clearance, (b) commercial mine clearance, (c) military initiative mine clearance,

  £

  Year

  (a) Humanitarian mine clearance1

  (b) Commercial mine clearance2

  (c) Military initiative mie clearance3

  (d) Mine awareness

  (e) Research and development 4

  1991–92

  5360,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1992–93

  51,762,326

  —

  —

  6,451

  —

  1993–94

  53,152,256

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1994–95

  55,863,652

  —

  —

  —

  104,928

  1995–96

  54,828,473

  —

  —

  15,230

  —

  1996–97

  54,288,860

  —

  —

  70,000

  —

  1996–97

  665,082

  —

  —

  —

  —

  178
  Clare Short
  The Government have provided grants for humanitarian mine clearance activities to the following organisations:

  (d) mine awareness and (e) research and development for mine clearance by Her Majesty's Government in each year since 1992. [61792]

  Clare Short
  Disbursements are set out in the table.
  179

  £

  year

  (a) Humanitarian mine clearance1

  (b) Commercial mine clearance2

  (c) Military initiative mine clearance3

  (d) Mine awareness

  (e) Research and development4

  1997–98

  54,149,642

  —

  —

  —

  376,673

  1997–98

  6200,000

  —

  —

  6250,000

  —

  1998–99

  53,990,468

  —

  205,000

  —

  548,343

  at 30 November 1998

  6250,000

  —

  7125,000

  —

  —

  Expenditure by Department for International Development (DFID) unless otherwise indicated.

  1 Includes clearance of anti-personnel landmines and other unexploded ordnance.

  2 DFID has not funded commercial mine clearance. There are no records of UK commercial demining activities currently available in Department of Trade and Industry.

  3 Activities funded from Ministry of Defence (MOD) budget. Military initiative Mine Clearance since 1992 has taken place only in Bosnia, where it is a part of the wider military operation since November 1992. Activities have including training and supervision of mine clearance programmes (conducted by the Entity Armed Forces) as well as the provision of Mine Awareness training to over 15,000 school children. The MOD has also continued to monitor and maintain the minefields in the Falkland Islands. Again, this work is one part of the duties of those involved and it would not be possible to cost it.

  4 MOD-funded applied research into military clearance technology has increase significantly over the past three years and is expected to remain high for the next five years at least. The department currently spends approximately £3m per annum on research into counter-mine technologies. The MOD does not have a remit to fund research into purely humanitarian demining, as opposed to operation de-mining (which has differing requirements); however, it is only comparatively late in a programme that the specific utility of a technology is identified. A separate focal point of post-conflict mine clearance research has been established at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's (DERA) facilities at Chertsey in Surrey to complement the research being conducted in support of operational mine clearance.

  5 Includes integrated mine awareness activities.

  6 Payment made from Foreign and Commonwealth Office funds.

  7 Value of surplus equipment re-deployed to mine clearance projects.

  DFID also commission DERA direct for specific advice and assignments.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of recent development in Zimbabwe's land resettlement programme on the provision of aid by her Department. [61891]

  Clare Short
  The land resettlement programme is one of the factors being considered in the development of a New Country Strategy for Zimbabwe. We are consulting widely in the preparation of the Strategy. I will place a copy of the Country Strategy Paper in the Library of both the Houses when it is published.

  Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to develop its approach to sustainable development and environmental protection. [62355]

  Clare Short
  We published a policy statement on the environment "Eliminating World Poverty: Why The Environment Matters" on 1 December. This follows up the White Paper on International Development and explains our approach to environmental protection and sustainable development. The statement invites comments on our approach. I will place copies in the Library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

  United Kingdom Delegations (WEU and COE)
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are in the composition of the United 180
  Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union. [62511]

  The Prime Minister
  The hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Allan) has been appointed as a Substitute representative in place of Lord Steel of Aikwood.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his most recent discussions with President Clinton on Iraq, in relation to the precise objectives of potential military action. [61461]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  David Shayler
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister who appointed David Shayler to the Security Services; and if he will make a statement on the procedure by which he was recruited. [61940]

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Shayler was recruited by the Security Service, using its normal selection and vetting procedures. These were similar to the procedures in use throughout the Civil Service at the time.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  ENTRUST
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) waste minimisation projects and (b) projects to help with the remediation of contaminated land have been supported by ENTRUST; and at what value. [60872]
  181
  Mr. Meale
  According to ENTRUST, the relevant figures to date are:(a) Waste Minimisation Projects
  134 projects have been approved by ENTRUST, with a total value of £14,573,200. Of these, 35 projects have been implemented, with a value of £2,069,740.
  (b) Projects to help with the Remediation of Contaminated Land
  139 projects have been approved by ENTRUST, with a total value of £21,388,140. Of these, 33 projects have been implemented, with a value of £1,252,400.

  Recycling
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to encourage the development of secondary markets for recyclables; and if he will make a statement. [61497]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government believe recycling is critical to the task of making our waste management more environmentally acceptable, and we are committed to a substantial increase in the role it plays in this country. We are currently reviewing our national waste strategy and will publish a draft in Spring 1999, at which point further comments will be invited from all parties. The final version of the new waste strategy will be published as a Command Paper, and adopted by the Government, before the end of 1999.

  My Department is considering the measures that could be taken to enhance the markets for recycled materials, including new or extended use of economic instruments, and whether Government and other high profile organisations should take more of a lead in specifying high recycled content and environmental standards for the products they purchase.

  As part of this work, we have commissioned a research project to investigate market failures in the demand for secondary materials. In addition, we have set up a Market Development Group to identify the barriers to expanding the markets for recycled materials and to develop practical proposals to help overcome them. Advice from the research project and the report of the Market Development Group will feed into the draft new waste strategy in Spring 1999.

  Razor Wire Fencing
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has commissioned into the safety of the use of razor wire as a fencing material and its possible dangers to humans and animals; and if he will make a statement. [61480]

  Mr. Meale
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not commissioned any studies into the safety of the use of razor wire.

  Countryside Agency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has engaged recruitment consultants to advise him on suitable candidates for appointment as Chair of the new Countryside Agency; and what criteria will be employed to assess potential candidates. [61648]
  182
  Mr. Meacher
  My Department employed recruitment consultants primarily to ensure that details of the post were made known as widely as possible. Their work supplemented advertisements in the national press and requests for nominations from a wide range of public and private sector organisations. The consultants also dealt with the issue and receipt of application forms, and made an initial categorisation of applications.

  The sift of applicants was carried out in accordance with the Nolan procedures by a panel comprising officials from my Department and an independent member. Advice from the recruitment consultants was also available to them. In carrying out the sift, the panel were looking principally for a knowledge of, and demonstrated commitment to, countryside and rural issues, excellent communication skills, and managerial ability, both to lead and motivate the commissioners and staff of a large organisation and to ensure that the two existing agencies were successfully brought together.

  Synthetic Riding Surfaces
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will prohibit the use of PVC waste for synthetic riding surfaces and its importation for such purposes. [61485]

  Mr. Meale
  The import and export of waste are governed by European Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259–93, the 'waste shipments' Regulation. PVC is included on the Regulation's Green list of wastes which do not require prior authorisation when traded for recovery, providing they are not contaminated with hazardous substances. There is no evidence that either clean, uncontaminated PVC waste or recovered PVC products are harmful to human health or the environment. There are therefore currently no plans to prohibit the import of such waste or products recovered from it.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the advantages of enabling receipts from landfill tax to be invested in the recycling infrastructure in the United Kingdom. [61835]

  Mr. Meale
  The review of landfill tax by Customs and Excise for the 1998 Budget revealed strong support for the Environmental Bodies Credit Scheme. Following this, the Government are currently considering if the Environmental Bodies Credit Scheme, which is funded from receipts from the landfill tax, might be enhanced, in particular with a view to encouraging recycling. A decision on the extent of any changes to the existing arrangements has yet to be made.

  Train Operating Companies
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the incentives available to train operating companies to provide services above the minimum standards set by their franchise. [61896]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The minimum level of service an operator must plan to provide is set out in the Passenger Service Requirement (PSR), which forms a key part of the contract. Train operating companies have commercial
  183
  incentives to operate additional services and attract more passengers. The Franchising Director has powers to enforce compliance with the PSR and failure to comply could lead to termination of the franchise.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the levels of air pollution around United Kingdom airports which can be ascribed to pollution from(a) aircraft and (b) motor vehicles. [61893]

  Mr. Meale
  Detailed estimates of polluting emissions have been prepared for 11 areas of the United Kingdom (London, Manchester, West Midlands, Merseyside, Glasgow, Bristol, West Yorkshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, Swansea and Port Talbot and Middlesbrough). Emissions from a wide range of sources are calculated for each 1km by 1km grid square within the areas for which these inventories have been produced. The sources examined include both aircraft and motor vehicles. The emissions estimates are available in a series of reports prepared by the London Research Centre on behalf of my Department. Copies of the reports will be sent to the hon. Member shortly.

  Further information on emissions from aircraft and road transport is available from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, which can be accessed through the Department's web site at http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk/airq/aqinfo.htm. The web site also includes links to the London Research Centre's site which contains some of the relevant information from the local inventories.

  Railways
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the companies which currently discharge responsibilities undertaken by British Rail prior to privatisation. [61899]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Ownership of many of the successor companies has changed since they were franchised or sold, and the information requested is no longer collected on a comprehensive basis.

  Strategic Rail Authority
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responsibilities the shadow Strategic Rail Authority will have in respect of(a) train path allocation and (b) national timetables. [61895]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Railtrack allocates train paths in accordance with access rights which the operators hold and with the operators' bids for paths. Railtrack is also responsible for the national timetable. Railtrack will retain these responsibilities when the shadow Strategic Rail Authority is established next Spring. However, we envisage that the new organisation will assess at a strategic level network capacity, future demand and the balance between passenger and freight operations.

  Animals (Illegal Trafficking)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to help prevent the extinction of(a) the Tibetan antelope and (b) the gold snub-nosed monkey. [61900]

  Mr. Meale
  The Tibetan Antelope(Panthalops hodgsonii) and the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey (Pygathrix roxellana) are listed on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Annex A of the EC Wildlife Trade Regulation which implements CITES within the European Union. International trade in these species is effectively banned. However, there is evidence that illegal trafficking in Tibetan Antelopes' wool (shahtoosh) is linked to smuggling in products from another Appendix 1, and critically endangered, species—the tiger. Last year the Metropolitan Police seized 138 shahtoosh shawls from a shop in Mayfair, the biggest seizure in the world so far. In October this year, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister received further information about this illegal trade during his visit to China. Next year, as Chair of the CITES Standing Committee, the UK will lead a mission to tiger range states and consumer countries to assist all concerned in their efforts to crack down on illegal trade by strengthening enforcement, raising public awareness of the threats to these species and gathering further information useful in tackling international wildlife crime.

  Rail Freight
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he still expects to receive a grant application shortly from Railtrack in respect of the piggyback rail freight scheme. [61634]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Minister of Transport had a useful introductory meeting with the Chief Executive of Railtrack on 15 November. A range of issues were discussed, including the piggyback scheme and other rail freight proposals, all of which, in Railtrack's view, would require significant amounts of Government grant. However, no formal proposals or grant application have been received from Railtrack, and the timing of any application was not discussed.

  Waste Exports and Imports
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste. [62524]

  Mr. Meacher
  The UK policies on exports and imports of waste are set out in the "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of waste", which was published on 16 May 1996. The Plan came into effect on 1 June 1996.

  Under the Plan, imports of waste from European Community Member States, with the exception of Ireland and Portugal, for disposal by high temperature incineration are being progressively phased out under an annual quota. This arrangement is intended to allow Member States time to develop their own high temperature incineration facilities, and is consistent with the long-standing United Kingdom policy that developed countries should be self-sufficient in disposing of their own waste. The quota is due to expire on 31 May 1999.
  185
  The Government have received a request from the high temperature incineration industry to extend the quota by at least a year. After careful consideration of the industry's representations, the Government have decided not to extend the quota. Any such extension of the quota would undermine the UK policy on self-sufficiency in waste disposal by developed countries.

  However, it has become apparent that the Plan requires clarification on one minor, but important, point. There is, at present, an apparent inconsistency over whether waste imported under the quota needs to be disposed of, or simply imported into the UK, by 31 May 1999. The Government intend to clarify the situation by confirming that the waste must arrive at the appropriate disposal facility by 31 May 1999. This carries no cost implications.

  My Department has therefore today published, for consultation, details of the proposed change. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Orton Pit
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will submit Orton Pit to the European Commission as a candidate special area of conservation. [62525]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have decided that Orton Pit should be submitted to the European Commission as a candidate SAC on account of its important population of Great Crested Newts. This will happen in the next few days.

  Composting Development Group
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what response he received to the consultation on the Composting Development Group report; and if he will make a statement. [62526]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Composting Development Group Report was published in July as a consultation paper. The response was overwhelmingly positive with widespread support for its recommendation.

  The Government welcome the Report as a significant step forward in the development and promotion of composting. We consider that its conclusions are sound and we endorse the thrust of its recommendations, which successfully address the major barriers to marketing compost and identify practical ways forward to help overcome them. We broadly accept those recommendations directed specifically at Government Departments, though we need to consider carefully how best to implement them. I commend the other recommendations to the relevant organisations and bodies which the Report identifies and urge them to make every effort to implement them.

  The Department received 75 responses. A list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House; copies of individual responses may be obtained through the DETR Library.

DEFENCE

  Defence Council Instructions
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of unclassified Defence Council Instructions which have been issued since 1 February. [62044]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am today placing a copy of this list in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to oppose German proposals put to the December meeting of the North Atlantic Council that NATO should adopt a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement. [61736]

  Mr. George Robertson
  No member country has proposed to NATO that it adopt a policy of No First Use of nuclear weapons. In conducting the Strategic Defence Review we concluded that such a policy would be incompatible with our and NATO's doctrine of deterrence, and that it would not further nuclear disarmament. We see no need to change NATO nuclear policy as expressed in the Alliance Strategic Concept.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the figures were for military spending broken down into(a) nuclear and (b) non-nuclear spending in the most recent available year. [61739]

  Mr. George Robertson
  It is not possible to divide military spending neatly into nuclear and non-nuclear because many force elements have a variety of roles which may include support to nuclear and non-nuclear tasks, as I set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffat) on 2 November 1998,Official Report, columns 349–50.

  Figures have been published in the annual UK Defence Statistics document and in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper, which also contains further detail. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Chemical Warfare
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the defence budget is dedicated to research in chemical warfare in the current financial year. [61738]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence funds research into defence against both chemical and biological warfare agents at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down. The information sought is not readily available in the format requested, but in the current financial year, the total expenditure on chemical and biological defence research is estimated at £33.6m. This research is focused solely towards providing UK armed forces with safe and effective protection against the effects of chemical and biological warfare agents.

  Defence Diversification Agency
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the Defence Diversification budget was spent on non-military research in the most recent year for which figures are available. [61742]
  187
  Mr. Spellar
  There has in the past been no Defence Diversification budget as such. Funding for my Department's research programme is provided for military purposes, although the resultant technologies can often have civil benefits. The modest costs arising from the creation of the Defence Diversification Agency at the end of this month will therefore be a departure from past practice, which we hope will enable the more widespread exploitation of our technology in the civil sector.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the Defence Diversification Agency in the current financial year. [61741]

  Mr. Spellar
  As we announced on 16 November 1998,Official Report, column 326, the estimated operating budget of the Defence Diversification Agency is expected to be some £2 million a year. Accordingly, a sum of £400,000 has been set aside to cover the costs of the Agency from its creation at the end of this month to the end of the current financial year.

  RN Warships (Chile)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what commission has been paid to agents for the sale of Royal Navy warships to Chile in the last 10 years. [62054]

  Mr. George Robertson
  In line with long-standing Departmental policy, no commissions of any kind were or are paid to agents for Government to Government sales for ex-Royal Navy ships to Chile or any other country.

  Equipment Sales
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what examination is made of the credentials of agents of(a) foreign Governments and (b) arms-purchasing companies who deal with the Armed Services over the sale of equipment. [62058]

  Mr. Spellar
  While they are sometimes called upon to provide foreign buyers with advice on, or demonstrations of, the capabilities of military equipment, the Armed Services do not deal with agents of(a) foreign governments and (b) arms purchasing companies on the sale of such equipment. This applies equally to the sale of surplus defence equipment by the Disposal Sales Agency.

  Commemorative Information (Websites)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website search facilities have failed to allow access to inquirers. [62066]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Commission launched the Debt of Honour Register on the Internet on 9 November to give access to the commemorative information on 1.7 million of the Commonwealth's war dead beyond that provided to 50,000 inquirers annually by letter and telephone.

  The Internet site was developed by Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) and during the first two weeks of operation a technical defect limited access to the site. The defect manifested itself only after the service was experiencing full-load conditions. However, during this period approximately 230,000 of the several million, who have visited the site, have interrogated the database.
  188
  As of 1 December the service has been stabilised and its reliability improved. Further diagnosis and rectification work is being urgently undertaken by CCTA.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contract with CCTA for the construction of a memorial search facilities website, indicating penalty clauses applicable. [62067]

  Mr. Spellar
  A contract to develop and maintain an Internet site for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was let to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) on 29 July 1998. Penalty clauses were not applicable in the agreement for the development work undertaken.

  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission launched the Debt of Honour Register on the Internet on 9 November to give access to the commemorative information on 1.7 million of the Commonwealth's war dead beyond that provided to 50,000 inquirers annually by letter and telephone.

  VC10 Fleet
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the reason for replacement and (b) the cost of the new body panels purchased for the CIK RAF VC10 fleet. [62094]

  Mr. Spellar
  The original body trim panels, used to convert the interior of the RAF VC10 CMk1 for its passenger carrying role, were over 20 years old, did not conform to current fire, smoke and toxicity regulations and were becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. The precise cost of the interior trim panels is "commercial in confidence" and I am, therefore, withholding it under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts with AIM Aviation (Jecco) Ltd. which included(a) furnishings and (b) other equipment. [62092]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence contract database lists 34 active contracts with AIM Aviation (Jecco) Ltd. This does not include local purchase orders, raised by units for items valued at under £5,000, for which no central record is held. Detailed information about the equipment or furnishings ordered under the contracts is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of the contract placed with AIM Aviation (Jecco) Ltd which included bed-settees for the RAF VC10 fleet; how many bed-settees at what cost were included in the order; on what date the order for the bed-settees was placed with AIM Aviation (Jecco) Ltd; and if he will place a copy of the contract in the Library. [62091]

  Mr. Spellar
  The decision to replace the existing bed settees was made by the RAF under the previous administration in February 1997. A contract for six divan bed-settee units was awarded to AIM Aviation (Jecco) Ltd. on 20 August 1997 following a competition. No other items were included in the contract. The cost of equipment
  189
  procured from industry under contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence is "commercial in confidence" and consequently, I am withholding the information under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I will not be placing a copy of the contract in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the orders for VIP equipment for the RAF VC10 fleet which have been cancelled since 1 May 1997, indicating the contents of the orders. [62093]

  Mr. Spellar
  There is no record of any order for VIP equipment for the RAF VC10 fleet being cancelled since 1 May 1997.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he has had with police concerning levels of policing for New Year's Eve 1999 and the following week; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Millennium Bug on policing needs for that period. [61176]

  Women prisoners removed from mother and baby units

  Removed

  1998

  1997

  1996

  Holloway

  1 (violent and disruptive behaviour)

  2 (bullying)

  1 (psychotic incident)

  New Hall

  0

  1 (unable to care for baby)

  1Not known

  Styal

  0

  2 (violent behaviour)

  2 (drug offences)

  Askham Grange

  0

  0

  1 (charged with a section 1 offence under the Children and Young Persons Act 1993)

  1 records not available

  Extradition
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities there are for arranging the transfer of a person arrested abroad in an EC country to face charges in a United Kingdom court; what legal aid facilities are available to such persons; and if he will make a statement. [61664]

  Kate Hoey
  There are two ways in which a person may be brought back to face criminal charges. The United Kingdom's extradition arrangements with most European countries are governed by the European Convention on Extradition. Where a person living in a Convention country stands accused in the United Kingdom of an extraditable offence, there is provision for an extradition request to be made. If the request is granted, the person concerned will be surrendered to stand trial in this country.

  Provision also exists for the voluntary repatriation to this country of convicted prisoners serving sentences in European Community countries. Such transfers take place in accordance with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984. Any outstanding charges could be brought against a prisoner
  190
  Mr. Boateng
  Police staffing levels are an operational matter, to be determined by individual chief officers. Equally, it is for each force to assess the likely impact of the Millennium Bug, both on policing needs during the celebrations and on their own police Information Technology systems.

  Central guidance is being issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Millennium Co-ordinating Committee (MCC), chaired by John Evans (Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall) who will be ACPO president during the Millennium. He has met with the Prime Minister's adviser to discuss the issues. I understand that ACPO are advocating a multi-agency approach to dealing with public order and public safety issues over the Millennium. Forces will be establishing contingency plans and liaising with local agencies and organisations accordingly.

  Prison Mother and Baby Units
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were removed from each of the four prison mother and baby units in (i) 1998, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1996; and for what reasons. [61019]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information is given in the table.

  who had consented to be repatriated to this country, once they returned here.

  Legal aid is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. I am advised, however, that it would be open to a person so facing charges to apply in the usual way for criminal legal aid, once he had been returned to the United Kingdom, and that any such application would be considered under Part V of the Legal Aid Act 1988.

  Traffic Police
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic police officers were deployed(a) five years ago and (b) at the latest available date in (i) each of the Metropolitan Police divisions, (ii) Surrey, (iii) Thames Valley and (iv) the United Kingdom. [61723]

  Kate Hoey
  The information for England and Wales is set out in the table. The numbers of traffic police officers in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. Within the Metropolitan Police, traffic officers are deployed at an area level, rather than at divisional level.

  Traffic policing does not necessarily occur independently of other police work, and the number of officers deployed to the traffic division is not indicative

  191
  of the money spent on traffic policing. A large part of traffic officers' time is spent dealing with ordiary crime. It is an advantage that traffic officers deal with matters

  Total police assigned to the traffic function

  Forces

  Year 1993–94

  Year 1994–95

  Year 1995–96

  Year 1996–97

  Year 1997–98

  Metropolitan Police—1 Area

  153

  123

  130

  120

  119

  Metropolitan Police—2 Area

  117

  165

  153

  195

  139

  Metropolitan Police—3 Area

  89

  272

  211

  225

  225

  Metropolitan Police—4 Area

  79

  131

  131

  124

  122

  Metropolitan Police—5 Area

  162

  261

  292

  252

  218

  Metropolitan Police—6 Area

  140

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police—7 Area

  119

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police—8 Area

  95

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan Police HQ

  55

  51

  0

  6

  0

  Total Metropolitan Police

  1,009

  1,003

  917

  922

  823

  Surrey

  209

  192

  198

  199

  176

  Thames Valley

  345

  335

  288

  268

  273

  England and Wales Total

  8,657

  8,421

  8,078

  8,142

  7,951

  Note:

  The Metropolitan Police moved from having 8 Areas in 1993–94 to 5 Areas from 1994–1995 onwards

  Traffic Offences
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made by the Metropolitan Police in respect of(a) speeding, (b) dangerous driving, (c) drunken driving and (d) defective vehicles in each of the last five years. [61615]

  Kate Hoey
  The information is set out in the table:

  Prosecutions

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Speed limit offences

  14,376

  13,226

  12,629

  12,997

  14,348

  Dangerous Driving

  964

  1,406

  1,310

  1,254

  987

  Driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  17,319

  18,312

  18,800

  18,699

  18,043

  Vehicle or part in dangerous or defective condition

  14,374

  18,636

  22,138

  23,092

  19,791

  Figures for 1997 are not yet available.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths occurred in each of the Metropolitan Police divisions in each of the last five years arising from(a) murder and (b) road traffic accidents. [61724]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner has provided the following information:

  Murder

  Area

  11993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1 Area—Central

  —

  22

  13

  20

  20

  2 Area—North West

  —

  55

  44

  32

  45

  3 Area—North East

  —

  31

  34

  27

  45

  4 Area—South Ease

  —

  27

  38

  19

  27

  5 Area—South West

  —

  26

  30

  35

  18

  Total

  147

  161

  159

  133

  155

  1 Breakdown by area not available for 1993

  192
  unrelated to traffic and that beat officers will also deal with traffic offences, thus contributing to more efficient ways of policing.

  Road traffic accidents

  Area

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1 Area—Central

  26

  28

  25

  21

  30

  2 Area—North West

  64

  72

  48

  76

  67

  3 Area—North East

  73

  68

  55

  61

  65

  4 Area—South East

  75

  58

  50

  52

  45

  5 Area—South West

  63

  65

  56

  54

  69

  Total

  301

  291

  234

  264

  276

  Firearms Compensation
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate for the total compensation paid under Category C of the Firearms Compensation Scheme. [61684]

  Mr. Boateng
  Around £11,850,000 has so far been paid to claimants under Option C of the compensation scheme for large-calibre handguns and the ex-gratia payment scheme for small-calibre pistols. No payments have yet been made under Option C of the separate statutory compensation scheme for small-calibre pistols. The final total of Option C payments will not be known until all claims have been examined, but we expect this to be contained within the overall compensation figure of around £120 million previously announced.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department intends to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Ashford of 16 July, 3 September, 14 October and 22 October on Category C firearms compensation. [61629]

  Mr. Boateng
  A reply was sent on 27 November. Because the emphasis is on processing compensation claims, I am afraid it is not always possible to respond promptly to inquiries about the progress of individual claims. We have, however, kept the House informed of progress on the compensation schemes generally, most
  193
  recently in my reply to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 28 October 1998, Official Report, columns 179–80.

  Speed Cameras
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many speed cameras have been installed in(a) the Metropolitan Police area, (b) Surrey and (c) Thames Valley in each of the last five years; and how many prosecutions have resulted from evidence from them in each area. [61617]

  Kate Hoey
  In November 1998, there were 258 sites for speed cameras in the Metropolitan Police area, 15 in Surrey and 250 in Thames Valley. Comparable information for 1993–1997 is not available. Cameras are rotated around a number of sites to maximise their use as a deterrent.

  The table gives the figures for prosecutions for speeding where the offences were detected by automatic cameras:

  The majority of speeding offences detected by cameras are dealt with by fixed penalty. The table gives the number of fixed penalty notices given, and paid, for speeding where the offences were detected by automatic cameras:

  Police authority

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Metropolitan Police

  283

  3,225

  1,658

  6,075

  9,426

  Surrey

  —

  —

  —

  18

  —

  Thames Valley

  —

  1,196

  4,102

  2,908

  2,716

  The majority of speeding offences detected by cameras are dealt with by fixed penalty. The table gives the number of fixed penalty notices given, and paid, for speeding where the offences were detected by automatic cameras:

  Police authority

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Metropolitan Police

  —

  3,804

  5,126

  15,910

  22,564

  Surrey

  —

  —

  —

  1,011

  8,883

  Thames Valley

  —

  11,547

  36,987

  36,923

  36,608

  Motoring Accidents
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motoring accidents resulting in(a) death, (b) serious injury, (c) less serious injury and (d) vehicle damage but not injury were recorded in each Metropolitan Police district in each of the last five years. [61616]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner has provided the following information:

  Area

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Fatal accidents

  1-Central

  26

  28

  25

  21

  30

  2-North West

  64

  72

  48

  76

  67

  3-North East

  73

  68

  55

  61

  65

  4-South East

  75

  58

  50

  52

  45

  5-South West

  63

  65

  56

  54

  69

  Total

  301

  291

  234

  264

  276

  194

  Area

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Serious injury accidents

  1-Central

  705

  745

  548

  626

  642

  2-North West

  1,172

  1,137

  1,398

  1,545

  1,545

  3-North East

  1,389

  1,215

  1,313

  1,513

  1,523

  4-South East

  1,166

  1,209

  1,345

  1,211

  1,344

  5-South West

  1,484

  1,374

  1,551

  1,287

  1,433

  Total

  5,916

  5,680

  6,155

  6,182

  6,487

  Less serious injury

  1-Central

  3,735

  3,701

  3,677

  3,922

  3,840

  2-North West

  8,253

  8,542

  8,421

  7,878

  7,854

  3-North East

  7,625

  7,573

  7,503

  7,796

  7,626

  4-South East

  7,505

  7,556

  7,137

  7,097

  7,247

  5-South West

  7,460

  7,496

  7,166

  7,312

  7,260

  Total

  34,578

  34,868

  33,904

  34,005

  33,827

  Note:

  Figures for accidents involving damage but no injury are not collected

  Police Act 1997
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable for implementation of Part V of the Police Act 1997; and if he will make a statement. [61614]

  Mr. Boateng
  As we have made clear in the past, we have decided to implement Part V of the Police Act 1997 and to establish the necessary arrangements to issue the three forms of certificate provided for under the Act. The timetable for implementation will be influenced by the very large number of certificates likely to be required. We are therefore giving careful consideration to the phasing in of certificates with priority given to the protection of children.

  Police (Unclassified Papers)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a list of unclassified papers produced in(a) the special interest series by the Police and Reducing Crime Unit, and (b) the technical series of papers from the Police Scientific and Development Branch since January 1997, indicating (a) the title of each paper and (b) the date on which it was produced. [62045]

  Mr. Boateng
  There have been two unclassified special interest series papers published by the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit, and eighteen unclassified papers produced in the technical series of reports by the Police Scientific Development Branch since January 1997. A list of these will now be placed in the Library.

  Police Grant
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the allocations of police grant for individual police authorities in England and Wales for 1999–2000. [62483]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today put a copy of my proposals for the allocation of police grant for 1999–2000 in the Library. I intend to implement these proposals, subject to consideration of any representations I receive about them.
  195
  I announced in July, following the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, that spending overall on the police service in England and Wales would be increased by £1.24 billion in the years 1999–2002. The increases will be 2.67 per cent. in 1999–2000, up to a further 2.8 per cent. in 2000–01, and up to an extra 4 per cent. in 2001–02. These sums represent a real terms' increase, albeit small, in police spending, as explained in my reply to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 31 July 1998, Official Report, columns 829–30.

  The police service has indicated its support in principle for the continued distribution of police grant in accordance with a needs-based formula. I am therefore proposing to continue to allocate the greater part of police grant according to the police funding formula.

  I am, however, proposing several changes to the formula to reflect the latest data now available, and in response to the representations I have received. The principal changes I propose are: (a) to reduce from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent. the share of funding allocated on the basis of forces' past establishments; and (b) to increase from 13.2 per cent. to 14.5 per cent. the proportion of funding allocated on the basis of forces' pensions commitments.

  I am proposing that the Metropolitan Police should continue to receive additional funding in recognition of its distinct national and capital city functions. It has proved very difficult for the principal formula appropriately to take account of these special circumstances. I have proposed, therefore, that a special payment of grant will be made to the Metropolitan Police over and above that available through the principal formula. I have set the amount of this special payment at £176 million.

  In addition, I am proposing to make special payments of grant to the following police authorities in 1999–2000 in recognition of the additional costs which will be incurred in preparation for the proposed changes to the Metropolitan Police District boundaries:

  Essex—2 million

  Hertfordshire—3 million

  Surrey—7 million.

  Other police funding proposals within the local government finance system are being announced today by my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Wales. These proposals, and mine, would increase Total Standard Spending on the police in England and Wales by 2.67 per cent. or around £186 million over 1998–99.

  The settlement also takes account of my commitment to improve police efficiency. I have set a target of 2 per cent. efficiency gains year on year for the police service from 1999–2000. By achieving these targets, police authorities can re-invest the savings to help meet front-line priorities.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission have published extensive advice to chief officers and to police authorities on many ways in which the efficiency and effectiveness of the police service can be improved within available resources. A detailed circular on this from my Department has recently been issued which, among other subjects, gives guidance
  196
  on savings to be secured in the areas of training, estate management, procurement, sickness and early retirements on medical grounds.

  Over the next three years, the Government will also be spending £250 million on their targeted crime reduction programme, £217 million on tackling drugs and £85 million on the Youth Justice Board's development fund.

  The Government have already announced their decision to abolish crude and universal capping of local authorities from April 1999. In previous years, the Government have announced capping limits on police authority spending at the time of provisional funding settlement. No such limits are being set for next year. Nevertheless, I expect police authorities in England and Wales to set budgets which are prudent and reasonable, and which do not impose an excessive increase in council tax next year. We shall be monitoring the position carefully.

  The effect of my proposals for each police authority for 1999–2000 is set out in the table. It also shows the allocation approved by Parliament for 1998–99.

  £ million

  Police Authority

  1998–99 Allocation1

  1999–2000 Allocation1

  English Shire forces

  Avon & Somerset

  164.3

  168.4

  Bedfordshire

  60.9

  61.4

  Cambridgeshire

  71.9

  74.8

  Cheshire

  104.7

  109.0

  Cleveland

  80.4

  81.5

  Cumbria

  59.0

  60.0

  Derbyshire

  97.7

  101.7

  Devon & Cornwall

  167.4

  174.4

  Dorset

  67.8

  70.1

  Durham

  78.1

  81.3

  Essex

  158.4

  163.0

  Gloucestershire

  61.5

  62.4

  Hampshire

  189.1

  194.6

  Hertfordshire

  94.1

  100.1

  Humberside

  110.6

  113.0

  Kent

  178.9

  183.2

  Lancashire

  174.9

  178.3

  Leicestershire

  99.1

  102.3

  Lincolnshire

  60.7

  63.4

  Norfolk

  80.9

  83.5

  North Yorkshire

  75.6

  77.6

  Northamptonshire

  62.8

  65.2

  Nottinghamshire

  123.0

  126.4

  Staffordshire

  111.1

  113.0

  Suffolk

  66.0

  68.7

  Surrey

  84.2

  92.0

  Sussex

  162.6

  166.4

  Thames Valley

  219.3

  224.6

  Warwickshire

  51.1

  52.0

  West Mercia

  110.0

  113.1

  Wiltshire

  63.4

  64.9

  English Metropolitan forces

  Greater Manchester

  364.8

  375.7

  Merseyside

  233.3

  236.3

  Northumbria

  205.4

  213.0

  South Yorkshire

  165.4

  171.3

  West Midlands

  371.9

  380.6

  West Yorkshire

  279.5

  286.3

  London forces

  Metropolitan police2

  1,715.3

  1,744.1

  City of London3

  57.1

  55.4

  English total

  6,682.6

  6,852.7

  197

  £

  Police Authority

  1998–99 Allocation1

  1999–2000 Allocation1

  Welsh forces

  Dyfed-Powys

  51.1

  51.5

  Gwent

  67.3

  69.3

  North Wales

  73.2

  75.1

  South Wales

  161.3

  163.1

  Welsh total

  353.0

  359.0

  Total

  7,035.5

  7,211.1

  1 Rounded to the nearest f100,000. The Allocation is the sum of: Police Grant, Transitional Grant, Police SSA, Capital Finance SSA, Reduction Grant and Central Support Reduction Grant.

  2 Figure for the Metropolitan Police does not include funding allocated to the Receiver under the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services SSA for school crossing patrols, Magistrates' Courts and the Probation Service. It does include its Special Payment.

  3 Figure for the City includes Police SSA, Grant and SSA Reduction Grant, but excludes other SSAs (eg Capital Financing) and Central Support Reduction Grant. These are allocated to the Common Council of the City of London as a whole in respect of all its functions.

  Confiscation and Money Laundering Legislation
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of courts enforcing confiscation and money laundering laws. [61553]

  Mr. Boateng
  The third report of the Home Office Working Group on Confiscation, published on 10 November, identifies significant weaknesses in the enforcement of confiscation orders, including a number relating to the roles of the courts. The Working Group makes recommendations for improving performance in this

  Table 1: Drug trafficking confiscation orders (England and Wales) 1992–1996

  Year

  Amount ordered to be confiscated

  Downward variation on appeal

  Default sentences(DTOA 1986)1

  Amount available for confiscation

  Amount remitted to consolidated fund

  1992

  9,129,863

  2500,000

  1,271,000

  37,358,863

  5,180,900

  1993

  9,678,118

  594,000

  579,000

  8,505,118

  5,380,000

  1994

  425,373,426

  489,000

  2,537,000

  422,347,426

  5,135,000

  1995

  18,337,490

  1,201,000

  848,000

  16,288,490

  5,343,000

  1996

  10,471,336

  1,643,000

  1,342,000

  7,486,336

  7,415,000

  Total

  72,990,233

  4,427,000

  6,577,000

  61,986,233

  28,453,900

  1 Default sentences served under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 served to expunge the debt owned by the defendant

  2 Estimate—no figures available for 1992

  3 Estimate based on 2

  4 Includes one confiscation order made by Chelmsford Crown Court for £15,314,000

  £

  Table 2: Proceeds of criminal conduct—confiscation orders made under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the 1988 Act as amended by the Proceeds of Crime Act 1995 (England and Wales) 1992–1996

  Year

  Amount ordered to be confiscated

  Downward variation on appeal

  Default sentences(unamended CJA)1

  Amount available for confiscation

  Amount remitted to consolidated fund

  1992

  1,354,000

  2—

  1,000

  1,353,000

  481,600

  1993

  412,000

  44,000

  156,000

  212,000

  266,000

  1994

  3,042,000

  17,000

  471,000

  2,554,000

  1,318,559

  1995

  3,653,000

  355,000

  513,000

  2,785,000

  1,024,000

  1996

  6,070,000

  217,000

  82,000

  5,771,000

  1,343,000

  Total

  14,531,000

  633,000

  1,223,000

  12,675,000

  4,433,159

  1Default sentences served under the unamended CJA 1988 served to expunge the debt owed by the defendant

  2No figures available

  198
  area, and for remedying perceived gaps in the money laundering legislation. The Government have announced a consultation period until the end of February, and will take account of the responses received before making decisions on the report's proposals.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the involvement of the police in enforcing current confiscation and money laundering laws; and if he will estimate the cost to each police force in 1997–98 of this activity. [61555]

  Mr. Boateng
  The police have a specific role under the confiscation legislation in conducting asset tracing investigations, and under the money laundering legislation in receiving reports of suspicious transactions from financial institutions and other sources. Suspicious transaction reports are normally made to the Economic Crime Unit at the National Criminal Intelligence Service, while every police force in England and Wales has a Financial Investigation Unit, responsible for identifying assets for confiscation and investigating suspected money laundering. Information on the cost of this activity to individual forces is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the costs borne by the police and other relevant authorities in implementing confiscation powers will be one of the factors to be included in the study which the Government plan to initiate of the possibility of establishing a confiscation agency.

  Criminal Confiscation Orders
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the value of assets seized from criminals by courts in each year since 1992. [61554]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information about criminal confiscation orders is set out in the tables.

  Working Group on Confiscation
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses he has received to the third report of the Home Office Working Group on Confiscation. [61552]

  Mr. Boateng
  None, but we would not expect to receive responses so soon after the report's publication. The consultation period will continue until the end of February. There have been a small number of letters from the public prompted by press coverage of the report.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he proposes to take on the allocation of visas to child refugees from Albania. [61628]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Applications for entry clearance have been received from Ms Sally Becker of Operation Angel for a total of 91 individuals, a third of which are in respect of children needing medical treatment. They have been referred to the Home Office from the British Embassy in Tirana.

  The applications fell to be considered under the Immigration Rules relating to persons seeking to enter the United Kingdom as visitors for private medical treatment or simply as visitors. Under these Rules, we have to be satisfied, among other requirements, that there is satisfactory evidence about the medical condition and its treatment, that the person will be able to maintain and accommodate himself or herself and any dependants without recourse to public funds and that the person intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the period of the treatment or visit. In the absence of satisfactory evidence from Operation Angel or any other source, we were certainly not satisfied that these requirements were met in the applications.

  We considered whether there were grounds for treating the application son a discretionary basis outside the Immigration Rules, but concluded that it would not be appropriate to do so. In reaching this decision, we took account of the fact that Ms Becker had not taken Government advice and guidance on how to bring such an evacuation within the recognised official procedures: she had not demonstrated the option of local treatment through the international agencies and had not made a proper case on medical grounds. We were also aware that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has in place a humanitarian strategy for former Yugoslavia (including Kosovo) and Albania. Furthermore, in the absence of adequate guarantees of funding from Operation Angel, we had to take account of the likely cost to the taxpayer in the almost certain event of recourse to public funds which, for a group of this size, would be of the order of £400,000 a year. We accordingly decided to refuse the applications. Ms Becker was notified of this decision by the British Embassy in Tirana on Friday 13 November.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  ME
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will grant core funding to the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association in Northern Ireland in 1999–2000. [61204]

  Mr. McFall
  I have received an application for core funding from the ME Association. No decisions have yet been taken in relation to voluntary sector funding for the next financial year. However, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I will look sympathetically at this request.

  Decommissioning
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives. [61206]

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives to begin. [61225]

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in securing the decommissioning of weapons. [61227]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Witney (Mr. Woodward), for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) and for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 865.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make it her policy that prisoner releases and the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives should proceed in parallel. [61223]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government's policy is to implement the Belfast Agreement in full. The accelerated release of prisoners and the decommissioning of illegally held arms are both integral parts of the Agreement and it is essential that they, like every part, are implemented in full. There is no direct linkage in the Agreement and the Government cannot rewrite the Agreement.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to review the conduct of specified organisations in co-operating with the International Commission on Decommissioning under section 3(9)(d) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. [61226]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The organisations currently specified under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 are INLA, Continuity IRA and the Real IRA. None of them are co-operating with the International Commission on Decommissioning.

  The conduct of organisations, specified and not specified, is under continual review to ensure that those organisations which have not established or are not maintaining a complete and unequivocal ceasefire remain specified. All relevant factors, including the four factors set out in section 3(9) of the Act, are taken into account.

  School Examination Results
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of school exam results in Northern Ireland relative to the rest of Great Britain. [61207]

  Mr. McFall
  The Department of Education in Northern Ireland routinely compares school performance in examination with those in England and Wales. Comparisons with Scotland are difficult because of the different examination system. Standards in Northern Ireland have been improving each year and compare very favourably with the other regions. I offer my congratulations to pupils and teachers on their achievements.

  Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to reform the working of the Industrial Development Board. [61208]

  Mr. Ingram
  The structure of the industrial development bodies in Northern Ireland, including the Industrial Development Board, are being considered as part of the Economic Development Strategy Review.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the latest position in the peace process. [61209]

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress following the Belfast agreement. [61217]

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects final implementation of the arrangements contained in the Belfast agreement. [61219]

  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the Belfast agreement; and if she will make a statement. [61221]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Considerable progress has been made in implementing the Belfast Agreement. Intensive consultations continue with a view to reaching early agreement on the number of Ministerial offices and on areas for North/South co-operation. I look forward to the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement and to the launch of the various new institutions early in 1999.

  Parades Commission
  Mr. Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will abolish the Parades Commission. [61210]

  Mr. Ingram
  No.

  The Parades Commission retains the complete confidence of the Government in its ability to operate in an independent, impartial and even-handed way in the best interests of all the people of Northern Ireland.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to encourage inward investment in Northern Ireland from(a) the United States and (b) elsewhere. [61211]

  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to encourage inward investment in Northern Ireland from(a) the United States and (b) elsewhere. [61213]

  Mr. Ingram
  During October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State together with the right hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble) and the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) led a major initiative in North America. Through a series of executive briefings they very successfully promoted Northern Ireland as a world class investment location, building on the political progress following the Good Friday agreement. Similar briefings have been undertaken in Europe and are being considered for Asia Pacific.

  Farming (Government Support)
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support the Government are giving to farmers in Northern Ireland in the current financial year. [61212]

  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support the Government are giving to farmers in Northern Ireland. [61224]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Government announced on 16 November 1998 a special aid package for United Kingdom farmers amounting to about £120 million. This package is likely to be worth some £19 million to Northern Ireland farmers. A total of just over £1 million was paid earlier under a one-off Pig Welfare Slaughter Scheme and to suckler cow producers whose herds were badly affected by BSE.

  Victims of Violence
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions she is taking to help people who have been victims of violence in Northern Ireland. [61214]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following the publication of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report "We Will Remember Them", we undertook an extensive consultation to seek the views of those affected by the violence in Northern Ireland. I have already announced a number of significant initiatives to address the needs of victims, and others will be introduced when the outcome of the consultation is assessed.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff are currently employed by(a) Ulsterbus and (b) Northern Ireland Railways. [61215]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Ulsterbus currently employs 2,151 members of staff and Northern Ireland Railways employs 663.

  Prisoners (Early Release)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received concerning the early release of terrorist prisoners. [61216]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have received a number of representations from various political parties, groups and individual members of the public concerning the early release of prisoners.

  Nursery Places
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to increase the number of nursery school places. [61218]

  Mr. McFall
  The first year of our Pre-School Education Expansion Programme has increased preschool education provision by 20 per cent. and provided places for an additional 2,200 children. We expect to make further substantial progress over the next 3 years towards our long-term aim of providing a year of pre-school education for every child.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress with the Government's anti-drugs strategy in Northern Ireland following the appointment of the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator. [61220]

  Mr. Ingram
  The current strategy for tackling the drug problem in Northern Ireland was published in 1995. With the appointment of the UK anti-drug Co-ordinator and the production of a new 10 year strategy for tackling drug misuse, that strategy is currently being reviewed. A new strategy document is expected early in 1999.

  Security Situation
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [61222]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) and for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 870.

  Port of Belfast
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure incurred by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on consultancy advice, to assist in its consideration of Belfast Harbour Commissioner's proposal to transfer the Port of Belfast to the private sector, will be funded. [62345]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Belfast Harbour Commissioners have brought forward their proposal to transfer the Port to the private sector under the terms of the Ports (NI) Order 1994. The legislation does not, however, empower the Department to incur expenditure in considering that proposal.

  Parliament's approval for expenditure on consultant's fees associated with this proposal in the current financial year will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for
  204
  Department of the Environment Vote 1 (Roads, Transport and Ports). Pending that approval, expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.

  St. Angelo's Airport
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how planned expenditure incurred by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on the runway strengthening and provision of storage facilities at St. Angelo's Airport, Co. Fermanagh will be funded. [62346]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  This was one of a number of projects to benefit from the Chancellor's Fund announced on 12 May 1998. Parliament's approval for the planned expenditure in the current financial year will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for Department of the Environment Vote 1 (Roads, Transport and Ports). Pending that approval, expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund.

HEALTH

  Adoption
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the recommendations of the September report of the British Agencies of Adoption and Fostering; and if he will make a statement. [61028]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have taken note of the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering Action Plan which will help inform its own strategic plans for adoption, to be taken forward in the "quality protects" programme to improve children's services, announced on 21 September 1998.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps will be taken to ensure that local authorities implement recent ministerial guidance on adoption practices. [61026]

  Mr. Hutton
  "Adoption—Achieving the Right Balance" was published on 28 August 1998 under Local Authority Circular (98)20 and addressed to members and directors of local authorities and directors of voluntary adoption societies. The guidance raised a number of important issues for improving the adoption service including better strategic planning, avoiding delay in placing children for adoption and the introduction of measures to avoid children drifting in the care system. This guidance was prepared as part of our initiative "quality protects"; within this context therefore, we will be working closely with local authorities for the improvement of services for children, including adoption. The Department will monitor progress carefully to ensure that effective measures for achieving improvements have been introduced.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given by his Department on appropriate maximum charges for home studies for inter-country adoption. [61023]

  Mr. Hutton
  Fees charged by local authorities and adoption agencies are expected to cover the cost of preparing and assessing prospective adopters, submitting a report on the applicant concerning their suitability to
  205
  become adoptive parents of children living abroad and any administrative costs. The Department has given no guidance about a maximum fee.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what criteria countries are selected for negotiating bilateral agreements for inter-country adoptions. [61021]

  Mr. Hutton
  Bilateral adoption agreements are essentially formal arrangements to enable citizens of the United Kingdom to adopt children from countries overseas meeting the requirements of the United Kingdom and the particular country concerned. Agreements are proposed by the Department in regard to countries which have little experience of intercountry adoption, with the aim of ensuring that the Department submits applications only for prospective adopters approved by the proper authorities in the UK. Also, the UK responds to requests for an adoption agreement where a country makes it a condition absolute before UK citizens are permitted to apply to adopt children from that country.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are employed by the(a) Department of Health and (b) Social Services Inspectorate in cases where they have rejected local authority home study assessments for overseas adoption. [61027]

  Mr. Milburn
  In its consideration of overseas adoption applications which are supported by a local authority or approved intercountry adoption agency, the Department, acting on advice of the Social Services Directorate, applies the same standards and criteria as are applied for domestic applications. Since 1993, the Department has been unable to support 6 applications out of a total of approximately 1,100. In addition, the Department will not support applications which do not meet the requirements of the applicants' country of choice.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest estimate available of the number of children entering the UK for adoption following approval by his Department in the financial year 1997–98. [61025]

  Mr. Hutton
  Based on the number of adoption applications supported by the Department, the number of children entering the United Kingdom in the financial year 1997–98 for the purposes of adoption was approximately 220.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps(a) have been taken to date and (b) are planned, to involve public interest and advisory groups in discussion of future adoption legislation. [61024]

  Mr. Hutton
  A comprehensive review of adoption law culminated in the publication in March 1996 of the consultative document "Adoption—A Service for Children". We will consult widely on any proposed adoption legislation which differs substantially from the 1996 proposals.

  Food Provision (Homeless People)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to co-ordinate food provision for, and establish healthy eating initiatives among, homeless people. [61016]
  206
  Ms Jowell
  Local and voluntary schemes are best placed to meet the needs of this vulnerable but very mobile group.

  Proteus Syndrome
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) children and (b) adults are currently suffering from Proteus syndrome; what is their age profile; and what training is given to paediatricians and others in the NHS to recognise and treat the condition. [61619]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not held centrally. Paediatricians are initially in the lead in diagnosing this rare disorder and in working through the options available for treatment—which can range over a number of specialist services depending upon the severity and manifestation of individual cases. Diagnosis and treatment options for Proteus syndrome form part of paediatricians' education and training.

  Anti-convulsant Drugs
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the safety of epilim and other anti-convulsant drugs for use by pregnant women; and if he will make a statement. [61623]

  Ms Jowell
  Epilim and other anticonvulsant drugs, as for all marketed medicines, are assessed by the Department to determine their safety for use by pregnant women. Available relevant research is assessed at the time of granting a Marketing Authorisation for a product and continues to be evaluated on an ongoing basis by the Medicines Control Agency. Risks to the foetus are recognised for anticonvulsant therapies and information about whether and how to use medicines in pregnant patients can be found in the authorised product information for health professionals and patients. The risks of loss of epileptic control need to be weighed against the risks to the foetus of these treatments. General prescribing advice on the use of antiepileptic therapy in pregnancy can be found in the British National Formulary.

  Overhead Power Lines
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the health effects of emissions from overhead power lines, with particular reference to (i) electric and (ii) magnetic fields. [61465]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has been supporting, in part, the United Kingdom childhood cancer study, which is expected to report next year. This large study is designed to investigate childhood cancer in relation to various possible causes including exposure to electric and magnetic fields. The Department is also funding a complementary study co-ordinated by the childhood cancer research group, in Oxford, investigating cancer incidence near power lines. Other work being supported by the Department are at Bristol University, on the effect of electric fields on pollutant aerosols, and a laboratory study at Brunel University. The Department is also contributing to the World Health Organisation electromagnetic fields project.

  The Department obtains advice on the health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields primarily from the National Radiological Protection

  207
  Board (NRPB). The NRPB's advisory group on non-ionising radiation conducted an extensive review of the subject in 1992 and concluded that there was no firm evidence of a carcinogenic hazard from exposure that might be associated with residence near major sources of electricity supply. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment has endorsed the advisory group's report. Supplementary reports in 1993 and 1994 were published by the NRPB to take into account the results of new epidemiological studies from Scandinavia, France and Canada. Copies of the advisory group's report and the supplementary documents are available in the Library. A further comprehensive review by the advisory group is under way and will be published on completion of the UK childhood cancer study.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into aspects of exposure to pollutants under power lines, with particular reference to the work of Professor Henshaw and his colleagues at Bristol University. [61464]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department is supporting several studies of the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields. One of these studies by Professor Henshaw, investigating aerosol pollutants under power lines, has been under way for a few months. No evaluation has yet been undertaken.

  Vitamins and Herbs
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Medicines Control Agency has to review the guidance in Medicines Act Leaflet Number 8; and what is the status of that leaflet. [61618]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency will review its Guidance Leaflet (Medicines Act Leaflet 8: "A Guide to What is a Medicinal Product") to reflect any changes to medicines legislation which are approved by Parliament following the conclusion of its present consultation exercise on proposals to place the classification process for "borderline products" on a statutory basis. The leaflet is for guidance only.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a manufacturer of a blend of herbs and vitamins which is assessed by the Medicines Control Agency as medicinal by presentation is given the opportunity to review the presentation of that product prior to enforcement action being taken. [61639]

  Ms Jowell
  When notifying a manufacturer that it has determined a product is a medicine because it is presented for treating or preventing disease, the Medicines Control Agency requires compliance with the law by withdrawal of the product. The manufacturer may subsequently be able to comply with the law by placing the product on the market in a way which does not present it as treating or preventing disease.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans officials in(a) his Department and (b) the
  208
  Medicines Control Agency have to meet manufacturers of vitamin and herb blends to discuss the licensing of their products as medicines in the United Kingdom. [61669]

  Ms Jowell
  Officials of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), an executive agency of the Department, regularly meet the associations representing manufacturers of these products. When necessary, officials of the MCA also meet individual manufacturers to discuss the licensing of their products.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what criteria the Medicines Control Agency assesses whether a blend of herbs and vitamins is medicinal by(a) function and (b) presentation; and if a manufacturer whose products are so assessed is given a written statement of the reasons for that decision. [61638]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) assesses products against the definition of a medicinal product in European Commission and United Kingdom law. It also has regard to legal precedent and its own published guidance (Leaflet MAL 8: "A Guide to What is a Medicinal Product"). Broadly, the assessment of a product's functionality focuses on the pharmacological effect of its ingredient(s) on human physiology, while the assessment of a product's presentation considers a whole range of factors, including any claims made for the product in promotional material or on its labelling and packaging (whether explicit or implied), its name, the form, and the consumers targeted. The MCA also considers the opinion of the product's purpose an averagely well informed consumer would gain from its ingredient(s) and presentation. It is normal practice for the MCA to explain to the manufacturer the grounds for a classification decision.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Medicines Control Agency consults independent scientific experts when considering whether a herb and vitamin blend is medicinal by function; and if the manufacturer of such a product is able to have access to expert advice obtained by the agency. [61637]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) generally relies on the objective and expert advice of its own medical and pharmaceutical assessors. However, there are occasions when taking advice from external experts is appropriate. The MCA informs manufacturers of the impact of expert advice when classifying their products.

  Vaccines
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requests he has made to the manufacturers of MR and MMR vaccines for data on the possible side-effects of their products. [61612]

  Ms Jowell
  Since 1988 the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has requested information from the manufacturers of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine about aseptic meningitis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

  Manufacturers have an ongoing obligation to provide to the MCA all serious suspected adverse reactions within 15 days of receipt, and to provide periodic safety update reports at specified intervals.
  209
  In addition, manufacturers may be requested at any time to provide further information necessary for the evaluation of the risks and benefits of a medicine.

  Medical Negligence
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical negligence cases have been settled out of court in each of the last three years; and how many of the medical practitioners who have accepted medical negligence through an out of court settlement have been referred to the General Medical Council. [61799]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Cardiac Disease
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with cardiac disease or illness in each of the last five years; and how many of those people have died as a result of that disease or illness. [61945]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of people diagnosed with cardiac disease or illness is not available. The Health Survey for England 1994 showed that, overall, 23.7 per cent. of men reported suffering from a cardiovascular disorder, as did 25.7 per cent. of women. However, this could include a wide range of conditions such as raised blood pressure, heart murmurs or irregular rhythms, angina, strokes and heart attacks.

  The numbers of Finished Consultant Episodes (which record how many people are admitted to hospital within each specialty) for cardiac illness in 1994–95 were as follows:

  Specialty

  Ordinary admissions

  Day cases

  Total

  Cardiothoracic surgery

  63,224

  3,066

  66,290

  Cardiology

  121,212

  27,757

  148,969

  Totals

  184,436

  30,823

  215,259

  The first national service framework on coronary heart disease includes the management of patients with all forms of heart disease. The emerging findings report, which was published on 20 November, contains draft standards which include the care of heart patients in hospital and in the community. The numbers of people who have died from heart diseases in the last five years are as follows: The data are presented for persons of all ages, in England (only).

  (a) Deaths from coronary heart disease (ICD-9 410–414)

  Year

  EASR1

  Deaths

  1990

  207.4

  138,154

  1991

  206.0

  139,961

  1992

  197.9

  136,118

  1993

  195.5

  136,160

  1994

  179.3

  125,962

  1995

  173.6

  123,886

  1996

  167.3

  120,792

  1997

  157.7

  114,849

  210

  (b) Deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke (ICD-9 410–414 and 430–438)

  Year

  EASR1

  Deaths

  1990

  292.9

  200,728

  1991

  292.3

  204,244

  1992

  279.9

  198,244

  1993

  270.1

  193,423

  1994

  250.3

  180,837

  1995

  244.2

  179,594

  1996

  237.6

  176,884

  1997

  225.0

  168,995

  (c) Deaths from all circulatory disease (ICD-9 Ch.VII)

  Year

  EASR1

  Deaths

  1990

  351.7

  242,205

  1991

  348.8

  244,778

  1992

  334.4

  237,982

  1993

  334.0

  240,609

  1994

  310.5

  225,561

  1995

  305.1

  225,511

  1996

  297.7

  222,695

  1997

  283.7

  214,104

  1 European Age Standardised Rate per 100,000 population (EASR) is the most meaningful illustration. However it helps to know what this represents in actual bodies so we have included numbers of deaths

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidelines to all health authorities requiring that patients should not be removed from waiting lists at the time that they are booked for an operation. [61843]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: Waiting lists should include both patients who have been given a date for admission and those waiting to be notified of one. This is set out clearly in NHS Waiting Times Guidelines for Good Administrative Practice, issued to health authorities and trusts in January 1996. Copies are available in the Library.

  Elderly Patients (Emergency Readmissions)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the first and second quarter figures for 1998–99 for the number of patients aged 75 years and over who were readmitted to hospital as an emergency within 28 days of discharge. [61872]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The number of patients aged 75 and over who were readmitted as an emergency within 28 days of discharge in the first two quarters of 1998–99 is shown in the table. The table also shows this figure as a percentage of people over 75 who have been discharged from hospital in the previous 90 days.

  The number of patients aged 75 and over who were readmitted as an emergency within 28 days of discharge during 1998–99

  Number of readmissions

  As a % of discharges

  Q1

  29,506

  8.6

  Q2

  29,076

  8.1

  Source:

  NHS Executive Quarterly Monitoring Activity data 1998–99.

  VAT (Medicines)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the(a) financial and (b) other effects of the VAT order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs and on pharmaceutical products by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes. [61939]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The financial effect of the Value Added Tax Order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs was estimated at £3.5 million per annum. The Order is not being implemented for these items until 1 April 1999, when the increased funding available to the NHS will be in place.

  The effect of the VAT Order on the supply of prescribed items by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes would be to make such items subject to VAT at the standard rate. However, there would be significant problems in altering NHS systems to comply with the Order and, as a result, Her Majesty's Treasury has decided not to implement this aspect of the Order.

  There are no other effects of the VAT Order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs and on pharmaceutical products by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes.

  Electro-convulsive Therapy
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding electro-convulsive therapy; and if he will make a statement. [62012]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have received a number of representations about electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and, in conjunction with the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all National Health Service trusts and consultant psychiatrists in September reminding them of the need to ensure ECT is properly administered in accordance with the College of Psychiatrists' procedures and guidance described in the ECT handbook.

  Personal Social Services
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital resources he is making available to local authorities for the personal social services in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. [62351]

  Mr. Dobson
  Capital resources of £61.9 million will be made available to local authorities as follows:

  £million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Secure accommodation grant

  6.2

  6.2

  6.2

  Basic credit approvals

  37.0

  37.0

  37.0

  Supplementary credit approvals:

  Mental Health

  15.6

  15.6

  15.6

  AIDS/HIV

  3.1

  3.1

  3.1

  Note:

  The figures shown for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are provisional amounts at this stage

  Asthma
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the rates of asthma among people living in the health authority areas covering(a) Gatwick and (b) Heathrow airports, relative to the national average. [61894]

  Ms Jowell
  There are no comprehensive data on the number of people with asthma. Asthma is estimated to affect 4 per cent. of adults and between 4 and 6 per cent. of children sufficiently severely to require medical supervision. Information is not available centrally on the rates of asthma in West Sussex and Hillingdon health authorities, which cover Gatwick and Heathrow airports respectively.

WALES

  Police Authority Spending
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for police authority revenue spending in 1999–2000. [62482]

  Mr. Michael
  I propose to make £359.0 million available from total standard spending in Wales to fund police services in 1999–2000. This sum comprises £180.7 million in cash-limited police grant, to be paid by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and £178.3 million in standard spending assessments (SSA). Excluding capital charges, it represents an increase of £8.8 million. The increase including capital charges is £6.0 million.

  The sums for each police authority are set out in the following table.

  £ million

  Police authority

  Police grant

  SSA

  Total

  Dyfed-Powys

  25.9

  25.6

  51.5

  Gwent

  34.8

  34.5

  69.3

  North Wales

  38.0

  37.2

  75.1

  South Wales

  82.0

  81.1

  163.1

  Note:

  Figures may not add due to rounding

  My Department is today writing to each police authority in Wales consulting it on its provisional standard spending assessment for 1999–2000. The figures may alter slightly if the balance of funding between police authorities, which is determined by a joint formula for Wales and England, changes as a result of consultation.

  Copies of the consultation letter have been placed in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  World Trade Organisation
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if reports from representatives of Her Majesty's Government who are members of the United Kingdom delegation to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva are made public. [61167]

  Mr. Wilson
  No.
  213
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to whom the representatives of Her Majesty's Government who are members of the delegation to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva report. [61165]

  Mr. Wilson
  They report to the relevant Government Department, depending on the issue in question, with my Department having the overall responsibility for the World Trade Organisation.

  Lear Corporation Facility, Colne
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to persuade the Lear Corporation to retain its manufacturing facility in Colne. [61643]

  Mr. Battle
  DTI officials at the Government Office for the North West have been in close touch with the company. I understand that the proposed closure is part of the company's planned reorganisation of its European operations, and that the company intends to retain the production capacity and jobs in the UK. I further understand that part of the plant will be sold to new owners which may safeguard some of the jobs. Officials from the Government Office, the Employment Service and TEC will maintain close contact with the local management to offer advice and assistance, and to work with the new owners.

  Textiles Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to respond to the BATC/GMB/KFAT/TGWU action plan for the textiles industry. [61647]

  Mr. Battle
  I met with representatives of the textiles and clothing industries and unions on 24 November to discuss their Action Plan for the industry. It represents a solid basis upon which the Social Partners can develop a more detailed strategy for addressing the competitiveness of the sector. I offered the services of my Department to facilitate the development of that strategy.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 27 November; and if he will make a statement. [62034]

  Mrs. Roche
  I represented the UK at the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 27 November.

  The Council reached unanimous political agreement in respect of common positions on two Decisions establishing a five year programme for the Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA). No agreement was reached on a draft Directive on a framework for electronic signatures, and it was therefore agreed that this proposal should be referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further discussion.

  The Commission also made oral presentations on: a Communication on implementation by Member States of Community legislation in the telecommunications sector; a Green Paper on radio spectrum policy; and on a report to the European Council on job opportunities in the
  214
  information society. The Commission also provided an oral update on: the outcome of the OECD Conference on electronic commerce held in Ottawa in October; progress within the "Global Business Dialogue" on electronic commerce; and on internet domain name governance issues. The Presidency made an oral presentation on the outcome of the Conference "Coping with Convergence" held in Vienna on 3 November 1998.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to promote global standards on tobacco advertising. [61912]

  Ms Jowell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Government officials will fully co-operate in the planning, scheduling and information-sharing that would accompany the development of an international framework convention for tobacco control, intended to facilitate and encourage member states to strengthen their own national tobacco control policies. They will liaise with relevant organisations in taking this forward. We hope that the forthcoming White Paper on Tobacco Control will provide a model in the development and operation of a framework convention.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Awareness Training
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what disability awareness training is currently provided for his Department's staff, with particular reference to assisting partially-sighted or blind people; and what proposals he has for future training. [60999]

  Mr. Timms
  Each Agency develops its own programme of training. They have always included in their programmes training for awareness of disabilities which has included awareness of the difficulties faces by partially-sighted and blind people. The profile of this training was raised when the Disability Discrimination Act 1996 came into force.

  Although staff training in most of the Department's Agencies to assist partially-sighted or blind people is encompassed in their general disabilities training, for the future the Benefits Agency and Contributions Agency intend to commit themselves to the ten steps of the Charter "See It Right" issued by the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

  Benefits (Means Testing)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those benefits not currently means-tested which will be means-tested in future as a result of the plans he has announced to date. [61423]

  Mr. Timms
  The proposals in the consultation documents "A new contract for welfare: Support for Disabled People" published on 28 October and "A new contract for welfare: Support in Bereavement" published on 18 November do not cause any benefit which has no current means testing to become means tested. Contributory benefits already contain long-standing rules which take some account of income. Our plans to take
  215
  some account of occupational and personal pension income over £50 a week for future Incapacity Benefit claims are in line with previous practice in contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, and will strike a fairer partnership between State and private provision. No existing claimant at the point of change will be affected.

  Benefits Agency Medicals
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the current arrangements are for assessing and paying travelling expenses of those attending Benefits Agency medicals; and what the previous arrangements were. [61190]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Joan Walley, dated 1 December 1998:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the current arrangements for assessing and paying travelling expenses of those attending Benefits Agency Medicals, and what were the previous arrangements.

  The current arrangements are that a customer will be given the opportunity to complete a claim from for reimbursement of reasonable travelling expenses, incurred during their visit to the designated Medical Examination Centre, at the time of their medical examination. The claim form covers travelling costs incurred using agreed transport methods as well as car parking, subsistence and financial loss allowance where appropriate. Travel by private transport is paid at a standard rate per mile, whilst parking, bus, train and authorised taxis are also paid on production of a ticket or receipt.

  Since the provision of Medical Services was contracted out to Sema Group on I September 1998, Sema Group Finance is now responsible for the central payment of claims whereas previously all customer's expenses were paid locally by Disability Benefit Centre's finance sections. They have also increased the number of ways a payment can be made. Previously there were two methods of payment, direct to a bank account and by girocheque. Since 1 September, in addition to the above methods, payment can be made by ordinary cheque, and a limited number of outlying Scottish examination centres have the facility to issue cash payments.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in North Staffordshire are in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance. [61189]

  Mr. Timms
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Joan Walley, dated 1 December 1998:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in North Staffordshire are in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance (ICA).

  North Staffordshire is served by the Benefit Agency's (BA's) North Staffordshire District with offices situated in Hanley, Longton, and Newcastle-Under-Lyme. The District does not correspond to Constituency or Local Authority boundaries.

  On 25 November 1998 The ICA's computer system identified 3,650 people receiving ICA in the area covered by the BA District. This figure is provisional and subject to change.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  216

  Pensioners (Means-tested Benefits)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of benefit units where(a) more than 25 per cent., (b) more than 50 per cent., (c) more than 75 per cent. and (d) 100 per cent. of the income from occupational and personal pensions is offset by reductions in entitlement to means-tested benefits. [60925]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 November 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  The number of benefit units where the income from an occupational pension is offset by reductions in entitlement to means-tested benefits

  Estimated benefit units in each category at 1999–2000

  Number

  (a) more than 25 per cent. up to 50 per cent.

  200,000

  (b) more than 50 per cent. up to 75 per cent.

  200,000

  (c) more than 75 per cent. up to 100 per cent.

  450,000

  (d) 100 per cent.

  300,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures are not available for personal pensions.

  2. These figures relate to Income Support, Working Families Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit only and are the estimated result of discounting occupational pension income entirely for the purposes of all benefit assessment.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000 cases and are based upon the Department's Policy Stimulation Model of income-related benefits. This model draws data from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey, uprated to 1999–2000 levels, and calibrates estimated income-related benefit results.

  4. Estimates from household surveys based on reported income holdings are subject to differing levels of response. Consequently these figures should not be interpreted as precise point estimates, but rather as indicative only of broad magnitudes.

  Centenarians
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his policy is with regard to 100th birthday greetings; for what reasons he sends them; how his Department verifies the age of those claiming to be centenarians; what the cost is of such verification and delivering such 100th birthday greetings; and if he will make a statement. [61715]

  Mr. Darling
  Following the tradition of previous Secretaries of State for Social Security, a congratulatory message is sent to those receiving a Social Security benefit and celebrating their 100th birthday, 105th birthday and subsequent birthdays.

  Verification of age is obtained from Departmental records and the cost of this which includes checks on the well being of the claimant is incorporated into normal running costs. The estimated cost of collating the information and sending each telemessage is approximately £7.60. For the period 1 January to 30 November 1998, 3,192 messages were sent.

  Contributions Agency Computer
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the NIRS 2 computer system at the Contributions Agency to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [61935]
  217
  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Members for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) and for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 22 October 1998,Official Report, column 1187.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the reasons for the low number of initial interviews carried out under the New Deal for lone parents compared with the number of initial interviews requested. [62013]

  Angela Eagle
  The number of initial interviews carried out under the New Deal for Lone Parents is in line with expectations. Up to 23 October 1998, over 30,000 interviews had been booked and over 23,000 already carried out.

  The initial contact letter sent to lone parents under the New Deal for Lone Parents is not a request for them to attend an interview1. Participation is voluntary and lone parents may choose to get in touch with a New Deal Personal Adviser when its suits their circumstances.

  The report of the independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents, to be published next year, will include an examination of the reasons why some lone parents choose not to get in touch with a Personal Adviser when they receive an initial contact letter.
  1 Two of the eight prototype areas did experiment by sending out letters with a stated interview time and date; however, lone parents were advised that the programme was voluntary.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the membership of the Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements. [61013]

  Mr. Rooker
  Details of the membership of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals were given in my replies to my hon. Friend for Croydon, Central (Mr. Davies) on 12 November 1998,Official Report, column 314, and my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 7 May 1998, Official Report, columns 456–57. The only change from the information given in those replies is that Professor Woods has stood down from the Group.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the guidance which he gave to the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on its terms of reference on vitamin and mineral supplements [61014]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Terms of Reference of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals are to:establish principles on which controls for ensuring the safety of vitamins and mineral supplements sold under food law can be based;
  review the levels of individual vitamins and minerals associated with adverse effects;
  recommend maximum levels of intakes of vitamins and minerals from supplements if appropriate;
  report to the Food Advisory Committee.
  The group will also be able to advise on the levels of vitamins and minerals in fortified foods, if it considers this is appropriate.
  218
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the new Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements has access to expert opinion from Europe and the USA. [61015]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals will consider all relevant scientific information on the safety of vitamins and minerals through comprehensive searches of world-wide databases of information and by making a public call for interested parties to submit relevant information.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to require that the testing of fruit and vegetable products at supermarkets against excessive concentrations of pesticides takes place at depots. [61179]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have no plan to change current arrangements. Fruit and vegetables and other commodities are tested for a range of pesticide residues as part of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues annual surveillance programme. This programme is designed to sample foods typically available to the consumer from a range of retail outlets across the United Kingdom. Every effort is made by the Working Party to ensure the integrity of both its sampling and analysis techniques. In directing the sampling technique the importance of checking carefully the origin of the produce is stressed to the samplers. It would not be practical to ask them to sample produce direct from supermarket depots.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the quarantine period for pet animals from(a) North America and (b) Europe. [61478]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Advisory Group on Quarantine has recommended that quarantine should be replaced for cats and dogs leaving the UK and returning after visits to the European Union and European Economic area countries, and rabies free islands in the rest of the world; quarantine would also be replaced for cats and dogs entering the UK from such countries. Quarantine would be retained for cats and dogs coming into the UK from other countries. The Government are sympathetic to these recommendations.

  The Advisory Group recommended that further consideration be given to the risks arising from allowing cats and dogs from North America into Great Britain without undergoing quarantine. This study is underway.

  The Government will propose a specific way forward on the matters covered by the Advisory Group's report after the public consultation on the Advisory Group's recommendations ends on 31 December 1998.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish the draft bill to establish the Food Standards Agency; and if he will make a statement. [61467]
  219
  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 25 November 1998, Official Report, column 10.

  I shall make a further announcement in the light of discussions with colleagues.

  Digestive Enhancers
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of digestive enhancers in the poultry industry. [61890]

  Mr. Rooker
  There are currently five antimicrobial growth promoters permitted by EC legislation for use in poultry or chickens for fattening. They are bacitracin zinc, spiramycin, virginiamycin, flavophospholipol and avilamycin. The European Commission has proposed a ban on bacitracin zinc, spiramycin and virginiamycin with effect from 1 January 1999. The proposal is due to be considered in the Commission's Standing Committee on Animal Nutrition today.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants (Media Relations)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the rules governing relations with the media which apply to(a) special advisers, (b) press officers and (c) Government Information Service officials. [61620]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Guidance on relations with the media for all civil servants—including members of the Government Information and Communication Service and Special Advisers—is set out in "Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service". Copies are in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  Rowett Research Institute
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Office has(a) had direct or indirect involvement in the personnel and recruitment policies of the Rowett Research Institute and (b) made representations or recommendations to the Institute in relation to the early retirement or dismissal of staff. [61721]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Rowett Research Institute employs staff under terms and conditions laid down by the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Committee of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department, as the major funder of the Institute, has a limited involvement in the Institute's general policies on personnel, recruitment and retirement of staff, but that involvement does not extend to individual cases which are a matter for the Institute's Governing Body.

  Private Finance Deals
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring he undertakes of the sale price 220
  achieved for land and capital assets transferred to private companies as part of private finance deals and then sold on. [61702]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: My Department does not maintain a central register of information on such disposals. It is the responsibility of the disposing public body to ensure that value for money is obtained. The National Audit Office as external auditor has authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of such contracts.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the non-domestic rate poundage for Scotland will be in 1999–2000. [62354]

  Mr. Dewar
  It will be 48.9p, the same as in England.

  Trees
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on indigenous species of trees of the import for planting of seeds of those same species. [61898]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Seed and planting stock of many indigenous tree species, including oak, have been imported into Britain from continental Europe for several centuries. Much of this material is well adapted to British conditions with the result that it can be very difficult to identify trees which are truly of native origin. Scientists are developing methods for identifying the origin of indigenous species. For example, analysis of the chemical constituents of native Scots pine has identified seven distinct areas of pine in Scotland.

  Our advice to woodland owners reflects the importance of using suitable seed sources for planting trees in Britain, and particularly for regenerating and extending semi-natural woodlands. The UK Forestry Standard states that landowners should use suitable local provenances if they are available, and the Forestry Commission has published guidelines which emphasise the value of using natural regeneration or plants derived from local seed sources. The Commission is also drawing up a scheme to encourage foresters to grow planting stock from locally sourced indigenous species of trees and shrubs.

  Lead Pipes
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reintroduce a local authority programme to enable more domestic water lead pipes to be replaced. [61536]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Under the repairs grant system local authorities may give assistance at up to 90 per cent. of the cost of works to home owners replacing lead plumbing. It is for authorities to set their own budgets for repairs grants and decide the priority they give to lead pipe replacement. As regards council housing, it is for local authorities as landlords to determine their priorities for works to their own stock.

  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by each Scottish council in grants for the replacement of lead water pipes in domestic property in the most recent years for which figures are
  221
  available; and how much was spent by the previous district and islands councils for the last full year before these grants ceased to be ring-fenced. [61556]

  Mr. Macdonald
  This information is not held centrally.

  Open Learning
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to support open learning courses as an alternative to existing training schemes. [61540]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Opportunity Scotland consultation paper, published in September set out the Government's commitment to the promotion of learning in all forms, throughout life, and detailed a number of initiatives which will be used for that purpose. Training courses are a particular form of learning and are complementary rather than alternative to any other forms.

  Examinations
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to persuade professional bodies and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to co-operate in creating a single set of exams in each field which will satisfy both the professional body's and the universities' requirements. [61542]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Many professional bodies already recognise university courses for the purposes of entry to the professions and the whole are of higher education qualifications has recently been the subject of many recommendations by the Dearing and Garrick Committees. These include recommendations on the development of programme specifications and an integrated credit and qualification framework. The implementation of these recommendations should improve articulation between professional qualifications and degrees.

  Water Charging
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of the water rates relief allowed to the various categories of properties entitled to it in the latest year for which figures are available. [61546]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The exact information requested is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. However, the water authorities estimate that the total value of reliefs given on water and sewerage charges in 1997–98 in Scotland was some £14 million.

  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide assistance to the water boards to enable them to change from a system of charges to commercial properties based on rateable value to one based on volume. [61548]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The water authorities are responsible for developing appropriate charging arrangements. Each of the authorities has recently completed consulting its non-domestic customers about proposals to alter the basis of charges to reflect more closely the level of services actually used rather than using rateable values as a proxy for use. Following this exercise the water authorities concluded that there is overall support in favour of a change to the charging basis. Each is now discussing the 222
  detailed implementation of changes for their area with Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council. Domestic properties are unaffected by this proposal.

  Overall, the new arrangements will not alter the total income raised from the non-domestic sector, though its distribution amongst customers will be affected. The water authorities propose to phase in the changeover to ensure that individual chargepayers have sufficient time to adjust to the new arrangements.

  Given that there will be no reduction in income to the water authorities and that the impact on chargepayers will be phased in, there is no case for giving financial assistance to the water authorities.

  Domestic Sewerage
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will extend the domestic sewerage transitional relief beyond the three years originally specified. [61557]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Government do not intend to extend domestic sewerage relief grant beyond the three year period initially envisaged.

  Care in the Community
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has for an early review of Care in the Community funding levels; [61537]

  (2) if he will ensure that funding levels for Care in the Community meet the economic charge per room which housing associations and other providers have to charge to meet the registration standards set for staffing, food and buildings and their loan charges. [61538]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Following our Comprehensive Spending Review on 14 July we announced substantial additional resources for Scottish Councils over the next 3 years. These include significant extra provision for community care. However, it is for each council to decide how to allocate its funds.

  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the expenditure on Care in the Community in each council area in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and what is budgeted for 1998–99. [61539]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Net council expenditure on Social Work excluding that implicitly on services for children is set out in the table.

  £000

  Provisional Outturn

  Councils

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Aberdeen, City

  37,384

  38,029

  39,687

  Aberdeenshire

  32,395

  32,010

  33,419

  Angus

  17,065

  18,199

  19,409

  Argyll and Bute

  13,653

  14,627

  14,954

  Clackmannanshire

  6,651

  6,972

  7,656

  Dumfries and Galloway

  22,037

  22,642

  23,346

  Dundee

  28,813

  24,245

  26,208

  East Ayrshire

  18,403

  18,826

  20,090

  East Dunbartonshire

  11,278

  11,946

  13,337

  East Lothian

  14,184

  15,223

  14,809

  East Renfrewshire

  8,807

  10,088

  10,713

  Edinburgh, City

  68,334

  70,537

  72,966

  Eilean Siar

  8,967

  8,546

  8,792

  Falkirk

  20,218

  20,914

  21,359

  Fife

  57,800

  59,578

  61,918

  223

  £000

  Provisional Outturn

  Councils

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Glasgow City

  151,551

  149,831

  149,478

  Highland

  32,053

  32,187

  34,031

  Inverclyde

  15,587

  14,271

  15,691

  Midlothian

  11,411

  11,889

  12,622

  Moray

  12,343

  12,795

  13,564

  North Ayrshire

  19,374

  19,758

  20,128

  North Lanarkshire

  46,692

  50,204

  52,127

  Orkney

  4,201

  4,426

  4,570

  Perthshire and Kinross

  16,971

  17,917

  18,548

  Renfrewshire

  23,242

  25,414

  26,956

  Scottish Borders

  17,698

  17,460

  18,526

  Shetland

  6,079

  6,191

  6,382

  South Ayrshire

  16,884

  17,843

  19,768

  South Lanarkshire

  38,575

  45,826

  42,276

  Stirling

  12,048

  11,333

  11,756

  West Dunbartonshire

  17,609

  18,561

  19,465

  West Lothian

  20,287

  21,637

  21,804

  Scotland

  828,594

  849,925

  876,355

  All figures are net of loan and leasing charges.

  Employment Creation
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist councils, universities, colleges and development and training agencies in the North East of Scotland to invest in employment creation in order to offset the future decline in the North Sea oil and gas industry. [61541]

  Mr. Dewar
  Economic development assistance to the area is channelled through Grampian Enterprise and the local authorities. Grampian Enterprise and the local councils have been working with the further and higher education institutions in the area to promote the diversification of the local economy to counteract job losses in the oil and gas industry.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will require councils to provide in-service training to train teachers to identify children with learning difficulties as quickly as possible and to adopt systems which achieve an early follow up in respect of each child identified. [61545]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The provision of in-service training for teachers is a matter for authorities to determine in the light of local needs and circumstances. We have no plans to change this arrangement.

  The Government support authorities provision for in-service training of staff working with children with special educational needs through specific grant. From April 1999, Government resources available for special educational needs in-service staff development and training will more than double to £5 million per year.

  Sewage Discharges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the current 224
  system of licensing private and industrial sewage discharges by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency on the Government's efforts to meet its pollution targets. [61547]

  Mr. Macdonald
  One of the targets which we set for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was to improve the level of consent compliance for sewage and industrial discharges to 80 per cent. by 2001–02. A copy of the Agency's Annual Report 1997–98 has been placed in the Library of the Houses of Parliament. As mentioned in their report, the Agency achieved that level of compliance in 1997–98, four years ahead of target. The Agency are to be congratulated on this achievement. However, it is clear that a minority of SEPA's other targets were not met. This is certainly disappointing and we have asked the Agency how they intend to improve performance in these areas.

  Millennium Experience
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussion he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the Scottish contribution to the Millennium Experience. [62256]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Scottish Office officials are in close contact with officials of the New Millennium Experience Company in Scotland on the development of the Millennium Festival and the Millennium Experience in Scotland, and on the Scottish contribution to the Millennium Experience nationally.

  Pesticide Tax
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received and what consultation he has undertaken regarding the imposition of a pesticide tax; what assessment he has made of the effects and levels of pesticide taxes in other European Union states; and what plans he has to introduce a pesticide tax. [61892]

  Mr. Macdonald
  In November 1997, the Government issued a consultation paper entitled 'Economic Instruments for Water Pollution'. One of the options on which the consultation paper sought views was a possible tax or charge on pesticides.

  Research is currently underway into whether a tax or charge on pesticides would be an effective way to reduce pollution. There is evidence to suggest that pesticides have harmful effects on wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and on human health. The Government are committed to minimising their use. The current research study is focusing on various design options for a tax or charge.

  The Government will evaluate the findings of the research, and the results of other on-going work, in considering how best to proceed.

  Decisions on the possible introduction of such a tax would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  India
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of India about sectarian atrocities committed against(a) Muslims, (b) Christians and (c) members of other minority communities. [61487]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have made clear to the Indian authorities our concern over attacks on members of minority communities. During my meeting with the Indian Home Minister on 12 November I urged that steps be taken to restore the confidence of religious minorities in India.

  British Consulate, Yemen
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future of the British Consulate in Aden, Yemen; and if he will make a statement. [61476]

  Mr. Fatchett
  As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in the House on 27 November 1998,Official Report, column 443, we have recently conducted a review of the network of British representation overseas and there will be no change in the present representation in Aden. However, we will continue to keep the network under review.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review for the United Kingdom's diplomatic presence abroad. [61477]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary described the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in his speech during the foreign affairs debate on 27 November 1998,Official Report, column 443. In essence, the uplift in the FCO budget will allow a significant programme of reform to modernise FCO operations world-wide. The aim is to adapt the network of overseas posts in response to changing priorities and to deploy staff and resources so as best to meet future objectives. 200 more members of the Diplomatic Service will be appointed; and 375 more staff in total.

  The distribution of staff will reflect foreign policy priorities, particularly in commercial work. A further eight new overseas posts have been approved; commercial representation in China, Japan, India and Sweden will be strengthened; five Posts will close where the resources could be better deployed elsewhere. Britain's representation in the Caspian region will increase by 50 per cent., and be augmented significantly in member states of the EU and in countries aspiring to join the EU and NATO.

  East Timor
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent military operations in the sub-district of Alas in East Timor. [61791]
  226
  Mr. Fatchett
  We are concerned at reports of recent killings in Alas in East Timor. We are working closely with EU partners and others to establish the accuracy of the reports.

  Ottawa Convention
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he(a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Government of the United States of America regarding the Ottawa Convention. [61828]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We regularly press the United States to sign the Ottawa Convention. I welcomed the American announcement in May that they would sign the Convention. We hope they will make every effort to do so soon.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from his Bulgarian counterpart concerning the visa requirement for Bulgarian nationals wishing to visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [61818]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Bulgarian authorities have made regular representations to us about their inclusion on the EU Common Visa List, CVL. We have noted their concerns and explained that decision on the CVL are taken collectively by EU Member States acting on proposals made by the Commission.

  Alcohol
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on the purchase of alcoholic drink in the United Kingdom in 1996–97. [61697]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The information requested is not readily available.

  Mordechai Vanunu
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which the case of Mordechai Vanunu has been discussed with the Israeli Government. [62055]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have raised Mr. Vanunu's case with the Israelis on many occasions. I did so during my last visit to Israel in January.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings held with(a) General Pinochet and (b) his staff by the British Embassy in Santiago, Chile, in each of the past three years. [62057]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  In respect of meetings with Senator Pinochet while he was Commander-in-Chief of the Army, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 12 January 1998,Official Report, column 23. In the course of its normal work, the British Embassy in Santiago has had regular contact with the Chilean military, both before and

  227
  since the Senator retired from the Army in March this year. Since the reply given in January, Embassy staff have had no meetings with the Senator or his private staff.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official facilities were afforded to General Pinochet during his current visit to Britain. [62059]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  A VIP suite at Heathrow Airport was made available to General Pinochet on his arrival.

  Diplomatic Posts
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 27 November 1998,Official Report, column 443, if he will list the five diplomatic posts he is closing. [62060]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The five diplomatic posts to be closed are: Chaing Mai (Thailand); Cleveland (USA); Kuching (Malaysia); Pusan (S. Korea); and Seville (Spain).

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date the consulate in Lyons will be closed. [62063]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Consulate in Lyons will not be closing.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the diplomatic posts that he has expanded since 1 May 1997, indicating the(a) number and (b) grades of the diplomats in post (i) on 1 May 1997 and (ii) currently. [62061]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The posts which have seen a net increase in jobs between 1 May 1997 and 30 November 1998 are listed.

  Post

  1997

  1998

  Additions to the UK establishment

  Abuja

  7.00

  10.00

  DS9, S2, S0

  Ashgabat

  2.00

  3.00

  DS9

  Baku

  3.00

  4.00

  DS9

  Bogota

  11.00

  12.00

  DS7M

  Brasilia

  12.00

  13.00

  DS9

  Brussels UKDEL NATO

  36.00

  38.00

  SEO, DS7M

  Casablanca

  4.00

  5.00

  DS9

  Dusseldorf

  10.00

  11.00

  DS9

  Ekaterinburg

  1.00

  2.00

  DS9

  Geneva (UKDEL)

  5.50

  6.50

  DS5

  Guangzhou

  3.00

  5.00

  DS7D, DS9

  Jakarta

  21.00

  22.00

  DS9

  Jerusalem

  6.00

  7.00

  DS7M

  Karachi

  13.00

  16.00

  DS9, EA, HPTO

  Kiev

  13.00

  14.00

  DS7M

  Kinshasa

  3.00

  5.00

  DS9, S2

  Ljubljana

  3.00

  4.00

  EA

  Madras

  5.00

  8.00

  2 x DS7M, DS9

  Minsk

  3.00

  4.00

  EA

  Paris (UKDEL OECD)

  6.00

  7.00

  EA

  Peking

  47.00

  48.00

  DS7M

  Quito

  5.00

  6.00

  DS9

  Riga

  3.00

  5.00

  DS9, EA

  San Francisco

  2.00

  3.00

  DS7M

  Shanghai

  6.00

  7.00

  DS9

  St. Petersburg

  5.00

  6.00

  EA

  Taipei

  6.00

  7.00

  DS7M

  Tallinn

  3.00

  4.00

  DS9

  Tirana

  3.00

  4.00

  DS7M

  Tunis

  11.00

  12.00

  DS7M

  Yerevan

  2.00

  3.00

  DS9

  228
  Between those two dates there was an overall reduction in our UK based manpower, so a greater number of slots were deleted elsewhere to provide these additions. It would be disproportionately expensive to list all of the grades of all the diplomats in post between these times.

  Foreign Office Properties
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all(a) overseas and (b) UK properties (i) owned by his Department and (ii) leased. [62064]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office occupies the following properties in the United Kingdom.

  Owned

  Leased

  Old Admiralty Building, London SW1

  1 Palace Street, London SW1

  Old Public Offices, King Charles Street, London SW1

  Cromwell House, London SW1

  22–24 Whitehall, London SW1

  4 Matthew Parker Street, London SW1

  Hanslope Park, Buckinghamshire

  Apollo House, Croydon

  Creslow, Buckinghamshire (Wireless Station)

  8 Cleveland Row, London SW1

  Gawcott. Buckinghamshire (Wireless Station)

  1 Carlton Gardens, London SW1

  Poundon, Buckinghamshire (Wireless Station)

  20 Victoria Street, London SW1

  To provide the information requested on overseas properties would at present involve a disproportionate expenditure of public funds. However, the Department has recently acquired an electronic property data base which will soon be operational. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly with the information requested and shall place copies of the letter int he Libraries of the House.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 27 November 1998,Official Report, column 443, if he will list his Department's (a) owned and (b) leased properties that are being sold. [62062]

  Mr. Fatchett
  All FCO properties are being reviewed against a set of Key Performance Indicators designed to assess their fitness for purpose, the returns they offer on capital and the costs of alternative provision. Properties proposed for sale include the Ambassador's house in Dublin, the Embassy in Bonn and the former Consulate in Casablanca.

  Iran
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has made to Iran concerning(a) the six Baha' is who are under sentence of death, (b) the persecution of members of the Baha'i faith and (c) the recent execution of Mr. Ruhu'llah Rawhani. [62065]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have on many occasions raised with the Iranians our desire for an improvement in their human rights record, not least with regard to the plight of the Baha'i community. An EU Troika of Heads of Mission in Tehran (UK, Austrian Presidency, and Germany) called on the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on
  229
  4 October to press the Iranian Government on the cases of Mr. Dhabihi-Moqaddam and Mr. Najafbadi, two Iranian Baha'is who had death sentences confirmed at the end of September. They were informed that both men had been convicted for acting against national security, but that the sentences were subject to review by the Supreme Court. Even if the Supreme Court upheld the sentences, that would not necessarily be final. Representatives of a number of other countries have also made similar representations to the Iranians.

  We are aware of further arrests of Baha'is in Iran, and continue to look into these. We are determined to impress upon the Iranians the seriousness with which their behaviour is viewed by all EU countries. The plight of the Baha'is formed a prominent part of the EU-sponsored UN human rights resolution on Iran, adopted on 18 November.
  230
  We were very disturbed by the execution of Mr. Rawhani in July. The FCO Regional Director for the Middle East, summoned the Iranian Chargé on 28 July to protest. I myself saw Barney Leith, Secretary-General for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is in the UK on 5 August to express the Government's condolences about the execution of Mr. Rawhani and to discuss what more we could do to maintain international pressure on the Iranian Government to end the discrimination against the Baha'i community. Later that same day I tackled the Iranian Chargé on Mr. Rawhani's execution. I also warned him that we would be strong in our condemnation if there were further executions. The EU also reacted, including by a formal demarche to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran on 5 August. Some EU partners followed our example by summoning local Iranian diplomatic representatives to protest.

  Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
  Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
  Modernising Justice
  Modernising Justice
  Rights of Audience: Response to Consultation
  Rights of Audience: Response to Consultation
  Education: Additional Funding
  Education: Additional Funding
  Teachers: Fast-track Dismissals
  Teachers: Fast-track Dismissals
  House of Lords: Powers
  House of Lords: Powers
  Comprehensive Schools: Minimum Size
  Comprehensive Schools: Minimum Size
  Motorway Hard Shoulder Accidents
  Motorway Hard Shoulder Accidents
  Cabinet Committee on Productivity and Competitiveness
  Cabinet Committee on Productivity and Competitiveness
  Mental Illness: Combating Stigma
  Mental Illness: Combating Stigma
  Fluorides: Sources
  Fluorides: Sources
  Health Improvement Programmes and the Voluntary Sector
  Health Improvement Programmes and the Voluntary Sector
  NHS Trusts: Directors' Remuneration
  NHS Trusts: Directors' Remuneration
  Licensing Laws
  Licensing Laws
  Medway Secure Training Centre
  Medway Secure Training Centre
  TWH Management Ltd.
  TWH Management Ltd.