Written Answers of 7 December 1998

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Agency
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what instructions are issued to Benefits Agency staff who deal with the public requiring them to identify themselves. [61626]

  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 Claire Ward, dated 3 December 1998:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the instructions issued to Benefits Agency staff who deal with the public requiring them to identify themselves.
  Benefits Agency policy on the issue of staff giving their names to customers is as follows:
  When dealing with the public inside the office, staff should:
  give their name on the telephone and in letters
  wear name badges.
  Name badges should normally display either the member of staff's:
  surname and forename or initials or
  forename and job title (job title alone is not sufficient).
  Staff should not give their name if they have reasons for believing that their safety is at risk.
  If staff feel that their safety is at risk by providing their actual name, they have the right, following consultation with management, to use an office name. This should be sensible and should be consistently used by that member of staff on all office business.
  BA does not expect staff to wear name badges outside the office. They should normally give their name if requested unless they feel that their personal safety is at risk. Staff who carry an ID card must show it on arrival and give their name if asked.
  These instructions are contained in the BA Conditions of Service Manual and are referred to in the letter issued to staff taking up permanent appointment.
  I hope you find this reply is helpful.

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the administrative cost would be of(a) paying an additional 40p per week on the state pension and (b) paying a £20 winter fuel bonus to all pensioners once per year. [62243]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.
  2
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 3 December 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the administrative cost would be of a) paying an additional 40p per week on the State pension and b) paying a £20 winter fuel bonus to all pensioners once per year.
  If the 40p increase were to be paid as part of the annual uprating exercise, there would be no additional administrative cost. If it were to be paid separately the additional costs are estimated at around £500,000.
  The administrative costs of paying a £20 winter fuel bonus to all State Pension recipients resident in Great Britain once a year would be around £12 million.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Appeals
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people had appealed against an adjudicator's decision(a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully, up to 31 October. [62858]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  All cases heard and decided by an Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) Appeal Tribunal

  All centres

  Decided in appellant"s favour

  Decided against appellant

  January 1998

  4,132

  10,728

  February 1998

  4,337

  11,845

  March 1998

  5,326

  13,761

  April 1997

  4,470

  10,020

  May 1998

  4,632

  10,850

  June 1998

  5,267

  12,788

  July 1998

  5,371

  13,452

  August 1998

  4,771

  12,103

  September 1998

  4,568

  11,494

  Total

  42,874

  107,041

  Source:

  Appeals—Data supplied by Analytical Services Division (ASD) from the ITS Generic Appeals Processing System

  Single Gateway
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the single gateway process will(a) permit routes to independence other than work, and (b) include advice on full take up of benefits. [62625]

  Angela Eagle
  Claimants will be offered a package of help designed around their particular needs, and will be given access to a wide range of support and services. This will help them to focus both on the benefits of work and to plan a route back to independence.

  The personal adviser will also ensure that the claimant is receiving the full range of benefits to which they are entitled, whilst providing personalised calculations of net income to help the claimant understand the extent to which they could be better off in work.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps his Department will take to ensure that claimants subject to the single gateway are offered early interviews to allow prompt payment of benefit; [62620]
  3
  (2) what target has been set for the time within which claimants should be offered single gateway interviews. [62621]

  Angela Eagle
  The Single Gateway process is being developed to allow for personal adviser interviews to take place, in most cases, within three working days of the first contact with the office. Processing of the benefit will run concurrently with the new Gateway processes in order to minimise delay.

  There will, as now, be arrangements for meeting urgent benefit needs.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the functions will be of the call centres in the pilots in Somerset, Buckinghamshire, Gwent Borders and Calderdale and Kirklees in implementing the single gateway. [62626]

  Angela Eagle
  From November 1999 we are seeking to test call centre technology in the four named pilot areas as part of the single gateway pilot programme. This programme will bring together the Employment Service, Benefits Agency and other welfare providers in a single point of contact.

  We aim to test how modern technology can make the service as quick and efficient as possible. We will use call centres to perform the Registration and Orientation stages of the new arrangements as described in Chapter 3 of "A New Contract for Welfare: The Gateway to Work". We are also looking at how better telephone technology might be used to improve the service we can offer clients in other areas of Gateway work.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what safeguards will be introduced to ensure that single gateway interviews are arranged at mutually convenient times, and that home visits are arranged where appropriate. [62673]

  Angela Eagle
  Single Gateway interviews will be arranged in discussion with the claimant and at a mutually convenient time. A home visit will be arranged where circumstances make it impractical for the claimant to attend the office.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the personal advisers within the single gateway will operate in conjunction with the New Deal personal advisers. [62624]

  Angela Eagle
  The precise working arrangements have yet to be determined. Our aim will be to offer new benefit claimants the best possible help and advice in planning a route back to independence. Our experience in the pilot areas will inform decisions about what works best.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the exemptions allowed in respect of the single gateway interview. [62623]

  Angela Eagle
  There will be no list of exemptions. We expect that an immediate interview will take place in the large majority of cases but this requirement may be waived or deferred where appropriate in the particular circumstances of the case.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information his Department has collected relating to the income tax bands of claimants of disability living allowance. [62633]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not routinely collected.

  Estimates of the current recipients of disability living allowance (DLA) based on the 1995–96 family resources survey

  Tax band

  Number of DLA recipients

  20 per cent. rate

  120,000

  23 per cent. rate

  110,000

  40 per cent. rate

  10,000

  Notes:

  1. The tax rates refer to the highest marginal rate of income tax the recipient is liable to pay.

  2. Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance depends on the level of help a disabled person needs with personal care and mobility, not on their level of income.

  3. These estimates are based on survey information and subject to margins of error.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost to extend up to 25 years of age the limit of 20 years of age before which disability must have occurred which is placed upon severe disablement allowance. [62340]

  Mr. Timms
  We estimate the cost to be broadly in the region of £40 million a year.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lifetime awards of disability living allowance are in payment for(a) lower, (b) middle and (c) higher rate of care component and (i) lower and (ii) higher rate of mobility component. [62540]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.

  Disability Living Allowance awards made "for life" which were in payment at 31 May 1998

  Thousand

  Care component

  highest rate

  264

  middle rate

  361

  lowest rate

  331

  Mobility component

  higher rate

  1,110

  lower rate

  239

  Notes:

  The term "for life" means that payment can be made indefinitely provided the conditions for receipt continue to be satisfied. Many beneficiaries receive both components.

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate his Department has made of the number of new claimants who will not be eligible for severe disablement allowance under his proposed reforms. [62339]

  Mr. Timms
  We estimate that 16,000 people per year would not receive Severe Disablement Allowance under the reforms proposed in our discussion document "Support for Disabled People". However, current statistical data indicate that nearly 70 per cent. of these
  5
  will qualify for Income Support as they do at present, so that, for the majority, their benefit income will not be reduced.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change housing benefit entitlement for those under 25 years of age. [62280]

  Angela Eagle
  We are considering all aspects of the Housing Benefit rules as part of our current simplification and improvement review.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each of the measures which limit the rent which may be covered by housing benefit; and if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of removing each one. [62349]

  Angela Eagle
  The measures which limit the rent for Housing Benefit purposes are:certain service charges included in the contractual rent which are not generally eligible for Housing Benefit, for example, charges for cleaning, laundry, fuel, meals and personal care and nursing;
  the range of determinations made by rent officers in respect of most claims from tenants living in the private rented sector; and
  where local authorities consider that the rent is unreasonably high or the accommodation overlarge or the eligible rent is nonetheless too high in respect of a particular case.

  Due to the number of reasons which could limit the contractual rent, on which data are not held, it is not possible to estimate the cost of removing each one.

  Benefit Payments
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to abolish the Giro payment system for social security benefits. [62622]

  Mr. Denham
  This Department is presently working with Post Office Counters Ltd. and ICL Pathway, the Private Finance Initiative supplier, on a project to replace girocheques and order books with a magnetic stripe card for people who wish to collect their benefit at the Post Office.

  National Insurance Recording System
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons the computer system for programming payments for self-employed people will not be operational until spring 1999. [61475]

  Mr. Timms
  The computer system to which the hon. Member refers is the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2). As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained in his letter of 11 September to hon. Members, there have been some implementation problems with NIRS2. However, no data have been lost and no records have been destroyed as a result.

  NIRS2 has been processing payments from self-employed contributors since 13 July 1998. Collections from self-employed contributors have been made through the established Direct Debit and Quarterly Billing methods and to date we have collected over £269 million in National Insurance Contributions.
  6
  Due to the scale, complexity and sensitivity of the NIRS2 system it has been thoroughly tested prior to acceptance by the Contributions Agency. There are still some functions within the NIRS2 computer system that are being piloted, including the registration of newly self-employed contributors.

  The computer system is being introduced using a phased release strategy. The final phase, combining Release 2 and Release 3, is planned for April 1999.

  Bereavement Benefits
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the SERPS element previously paid in the widow's pension will in future be paid under the widowed parent's allowance. [62615]

  Angela Eagle
  Under our proposals for new bereavement benefits, those widows who qualify for Widow's Pension at the point of change will continue to receive benefit including any SERPS whilst they satisfy the entitlement conditions. Widowed parents who become entitled to the Widowed Parent's Allowance will receive any SERPS entitlement based on their late spouse's payment of earnings-related National Insurance contributions since 1978 with the basic element of Widowed Parent's Allowance.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what(a) amount and (b) percentage of the total of the widow's pension was previously paid as SERPS entitlement. [62616]

  Angela Eagle
  The average weekly amount of SERPS paid to Widow's Pension recipients in Great Britain at 31 March 1998 was £14.36, which represents 24 per cent. of their average total weekly entitlement.

  Source:

  5 per cent. sample from the Pensions Strategy Computer System.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what element of the widowed parent's allowance will be paid as SERPS entitlement. [62617]

  Angela Eagle
  As with the current Widowed Mother's Allowance, SERPS entitlement based on the late spouse's payment of earnings-related National Insurance contributions since 1978 will be paid with the basic element of Widowed Parent's Allowance.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing the new bereavement allowance(a) for widows and (b) for widowers for (i) 2001–2, (ii) 2002–3, (iii) 2003–4 and (iv) 2020, excluding savings resulting from the abolition of the widow's pension. [62592]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated increased expenditure associated with the introduction of the bereavement allowance for (a) widows and (b) widowers, excluding savings resulting from the abolition of the widow's pension

  £ million 1998–99 benefit rates

  Bereavement allowance for widows

  Bereavemen allowance for widowers

  2001–02

  20

  10

  2003–04

  30

  10

  7

  Estimated increased expenditure associated with the introduction of the bereavement allowance for (a) widows and (b) widowers, excluding savings resulting from the abolition of the widow's pension

  £ million 1998–99 benefit rates

  Bereavement allowance for widows

  Bereavement allowance for widowers

  2003–04

  30

  10

  2020

  50

  1—

  1 Denotes less than £25 million

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are presented net of means-tested benefit offsets, in line with those in "A new contract for welfare: support in bereavement". Means-tested benefit offsets were estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey and the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries. They assume a constant offset ratio in order to provide illustrative estimates for 2020.

  2. The underlying contributory benefit effects have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  3. Estimates for the first three years are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  4. Estimates for 2020 provide broad orders of magnitude and are rounded to the nearest £50 million.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many widows and widowers will be eligible for means tested benefits following withdrawal of the bereavement allowance after six months. [61459]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: The information is in the table.

  Estimates of the number of widows and widowers who would start to receive or continue to receive means-tested benefits once their bereavement allowence has been exhausted

  Benefit

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Income Support

  less than 5,000

  10,000

  20,000

  Housing Benefit

  less than 5,000

  less than 5,000

  10,000

  Council Tax Benefit

  less than 5,000

  10,000

  10,000

  Notes:

  1. Estimates for later years include the effect of the build up through time of the number of ex-recipients of Bereavement Allowance. It is not possible to be more exact.

  2. The estimates presented above are broad orders of magnitude. They are rounded to the nearest 10,000 but are not necessarily accurate to that degree.

  3. Estimates assume that a constant proportion of those affected by the proposed changes to Bereavement Benefits move on or off each of the means-tested benefits.

  4. Estimates use information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey, the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and forecasts from the Government Actuary's Department concerning the number of men and women affected by the proposed changes.

  5. Some widows and widowers will receive more than one of the means-tested benefits. However, the estimates across means-tested benefits cannot be summed to provide an estimate of the total number of people affected by the changes.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many widows and widowers his Department estimates will be entitled to the bereavement allowance; and how many will have the benefit withdrawn after six months when the allowance is introduced in 2001. [61458]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: In the first full year following implementation, it is estimated that the average number of widows and widowers in receipt of bereavement benefits, at any one time, will be
  8
  50,000. Of these 20,000 will be entitled to the Bereavement Allowance which will end after 6 months for all.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers of widows and widowers have been supplied by the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  3. These estimates are intended to represent broad orders of magnitude.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the savings from the abolition of the widow's pension in(a) 2001–2, (b) 2002–3, (c) 2003–4 and (d) 2020, excluding the introduction of the bereavement allowance. [62591]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated savings associated with the abolition of the widow's pension excluding the introduction of the bereavement allowance

  £ million 1998–99 benefit rates

  Abolition of widow's pension

  2001–02

  30

  2002–03

  90

  2003–04

  140

  2020

  700

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are presented net of means-tested benefit offsets, in line with those in "A new contract for welfare: support in bereavement". Means-tested benefit offsets were estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey and the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries. They assume a constant offset ratio in order to provide illustrative estimates for 2020.

  2. The underlying contributory benefit effects have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  3. Estimates for the first three years are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  4. Estimates for 2020 provide broad orders of magnitude and are rounded to the nearest £50 million.

  5. The savings quoted above refer to only one element of the recently announced package of reforms to Bereavement benefits, which also include extending benefits to widowers and doubling the lump sum Bereavement Payment. The net savings in 2020 from the whole package amounts to £500 million.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lifetime awards of attendance allowance are in payment for(a) lower and (b) higher rate of benefit. [62538]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows the number of awards made "for life" which were in payment at 31 May 1998. The term "for life" means that payment can be made indefinitely provided the conditions for receipt continue to be satisfied.

  Attendance allowance awards made 'for life'

  Thousand

  Number

  Higher rate

  509

  Lower rate

  706

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data

  Family Credit
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the average weekly income is for families in receipt of family credit broken down between the amount received in(a) pay and (b) family credit for a one parent family with (i) one child, (ii) two children and (iii) three children. [62579]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Average weekly income of lone parent family credit recipients split by number of children, net earnings and weekly family credit

  Number of children

  Number of cases

  Total average income from net earnings and weekly Family Credit (£)

  Average net earnings (£)

  Average weekly Family Credit (£)

  All lone parents

  377,000

  152.14

  92.66

  59.48

  1 child

  194,000

  143.96

  93.39

  50.57

  2 children

  128,000

  155.99

  93.06

  62.93

  3 children

  43,000

  169.04

  90.52

  78.52

  Notes:

  1. Figures based on a 5 per cent. sample of Family Credit awards and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and may not sum due to totals.

  3. Figures do not include income from other benefits, e.g. Child Benefit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  4. Figures include dependants aged 16–18 who are included in the calculation of the Family Credit award.

  5. Lone parents with 1 to 3 children do not sum to the total for all lone parents as there are also lone parents with 4 or more children in receipt of Family Credit.

  Source:

  May 1998 Family Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiry.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many initial letters inviting lone parents to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents have been issued; how many initial interviews have been (i) booked; and (ii) carried out; how many lone parents have agreed to participate; and how many lone parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents have found jobs. [63091]

  Angela Eagle
  The New Deal for Lone Parents started running in Phase 1 in eight lead areas of the country in July 1997. A national service became available to all lone parents making a new claim for Income Support in Phase 2 in April 1998, and to all lone parents receiving Income Support in Phase 3 in October 1998.

  Using the latest information from July 1997 to 23 October 1998 which covers the period to the end of Phase 2 of the New Deal for Lone Parents, the number of letters issued is 50,612; the number of initial interviews booked is 30,826; the number of initial interviews carried out is 23,300; the number of agreements to participate is 20,191, which equates to 87 per cent. of lone parents who attend an initial interview agreeing to take part in the New Deal for Lone Parents; and a total of 5,429 lone parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents have found jobs, which is 27 per cent. of those joining the programme.
  10
  The prototype Phase 1 of the New Deal for Lone Parents is undergoing independent evaluation. The final report comparing the outcomes for lone parents in the eight New Deal for Lone Parents prototype areas will be published in autumn 1999.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each employment service region, how many lone parents there are(a) in total, (b) with children under five years of age and (c) with children over five years of age. [61964]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Lone parents in employment by Government Office Region, spring 1997

  Government Office Region

  Lone parents in employment

  Great Britain

  675,000

  North East

  30,000

  North West

  100,000

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  65,000

  East Midlands

  50,000

  West Midlands

  60,000

  Eastern

  60,000

  London

  80,000

  South East

  85,000

  South West

  45,000

  Wales

  40,000

  Scotland

  55,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  2. It is not possible to disaggregate the regional figures by age of youngest child because this will generate caseloads of below 10,000 for some regions. Caseloads below this size are based on samples which are too small to be statistically reliable.

  3. The table includes all lone parents in paid employment, self-employment and on government training schemes.

  4. Lone parents defined as single people with at least one dependent child. This figure will include a small number of disabled and pensioner lone parents.

  Source:

  Spring 1997 Labour Force Survey using household adjusted weighting factors.

  Lone parents on Income Support by Government Office Region, by age of the youngest child, May 1998

  Thousand

  Youngest child aged

  Region

  All cases

  Under 5

  5 or over

  Great Britain

  961

  480

  482

  North East

  50

  25

  25

  North West

  138

  70

  69

  Yorks & Humberside

  83

  43

  40

  East Midlands

  58

  30

  29

  West Midlands

  86

  44

  42

  Eastern

  69

  33

  36

  London

  179

  87

  92

  South East

  93

  46

  47

  South West

  62

  30

  32

  Wales

  52

  27

  25

  Scotland

  90

  44

  45

  Notes:

  1. Lone parents are defined as single people with dependants who do not receive a disability or pensioner premium.

  2. Figures are based on the age of the youngest child.

  3. The table is based on a 5 per cent. sample.

  4. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and therefore may not sum.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 1998.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the jobseeker's allowance regulations to help unemployed people waiting to receive redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement. [62252]

  Angela Eagle
  We are aware that, under existing rules, if money is owed from an insolvent employer full benefit cannot always be paid to ex-employees claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and, as a consequence, many may have to rely on hardship payments until the matter is resolved.

  Since this problem came to our attention we have been working to simplify the complex legislation in this area and we are currently considering proposals for changes to the relevant benefit rules.

  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of children in families on(a) supplementary benefit or income support and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance for (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998, and for each year these as a proportion of all children in the UK. [62104]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Number and percentage of children in families on Income Support and income related Jobseeker's Allowance

  Thousand

  Number of children

  Percentage of all children

  Income Support

  May 1997

  2,410

  19.9

  May 1998

  2,328

  19.2

  Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

  May 1997

  436

  3.6

  February 1998

  356

  2.9

  Notes:

  1. The May 1998 Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiry is not yet available.

  2. Children are defined as aged 0 to 15.

  3. Population figures are based on an estimated resident population at mid-1997 for the United Kingdom

  4. Based on a 5 per cent. sample of Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance claimants and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  5. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Sources:

  1. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 1997 and May 1998.

  2. Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 1997 and February 1998 Population Estimates Unit, Office for National Statistics.

  Benefits (Expenditure)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1998,Official Report, columns 101–02, on social security expenditure, if he will list the new economic assumptions used in the pre-Budget report; and what estimate he has made of the future levels of increases or decreases in caseload. [62643]
  12
  Mr. Darling
  Forecasts of Social Security benefit expenditure in the Pre-Budget Report take into account the economic assumptions set out in Table B5 and Paragraph B9 of the Report. Estimates of future caseloads for each benefit are in the table.

  Thousand

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Retirement Pension

  10,645

  10,772

  10,867

  10,928

  Widow's Benefit

  274

  268

  264

  261

  Incapacity Benefit—Short Term (LR)

  118

  115

  117

  118

  Incapacity Benefit—Short Term (HR) and Long Term

  1,571

  1,550

  1,559

  1.598

  Maternity Allowance

  13

  13

  13

  13

  Guardian's Allowance and CSA

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Non-Contributory Retirement Pension

  25

  24

  23

  23

  War Pension

  311

  299

  286

  273

  Attendance Allowance

  1,250

  1,306

  1,361

  1,409

  Invalid Care Allowance

  380

  403

  428

  454

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  453

  475

  496

  516

  Disability Living Allowance

  2,024

  2,115

  2,223

  2,363

  Disability Working Allowance

  16

  14

  0

  0

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and REA and RA

  373

  385

  396

  409

  Industrial Death Benefit

  18

  17

  17

  16

  Other II benefits

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Earnings Top-up pilots

  22

  23

  10

  1

  Jobseeker's Allowance—Contribution-based

  214

  216

  216

  217

  Jobseeker's Allowance—Income-based

  1,030

  1,015

  1,015

  1,015

  Income Support (IS)—Under Age 60

  2,241

  2,251

  2,267

  2,292

  of which:

  IS—Short Term and Disabled

  176

  174

  173

  173

  IS—Long Term and Disabled

  960

  1,009

  1,061

  1,116

  IS—Families

  954

  914

  874

  836

  IS—Widows and Others

  148

  142

  148

  151

  Income Support—(Elderly)

  1,683

  1,798

  1,909

  2,021

  Child Benefit—Number of children

  12,769

  12,762

  12,771

  12,762

  Child Benefit—Number of families

  7,067

  7,062

  7,076

  7,085

  One Parent Benefit

  1,037

  934

  850

  776

  Family Credit

  792

  607

  0

  0

  Rent Allowance

  1,789

  1,845

  1,925

  2,025

  Council Tax Benefit/CCB

  5,276

  5,188

  5,167

  5,236

  Rent Rebate

  2,608

  2,498

  2,421

  2,376

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Theatres
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps(a) his Department and (b) the Arts Council take to establish the financial soundness of theatres which are supported by public funds. [61978]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: Decisions relating to the funding of individual artforms and organisations, including theatres, are a matter for the Arts Council of England. It is therefore for the Arts

  13
  Council to satisfy itself as to an organisation's financial viability. It does this through a staged assessment procedure, which includes checks both before and after a grant is made.

  World Heritage Sites
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out the timetable and procedure for UK World Heritage Site nominations before they are put forward to UNESCO. [62049]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Following consultations with Ministerial colleagues in other interested Departments, my right hon. Friend hopes to announce the new Tentative List of potential UK World Heritage Sites within the next two or three months. this will comprise the sites which the Government will nominate to UNESCO for World Heritage status over the next five to ten years. All such nominations will need to be accompanied by Management Plans for the sites. These Plans will need to be drawn up in consultation with site owners and other bodies, and progress on their development will influence the order and timing of individual nominations.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf World Heritage Site nomination was, for the purposes of the review of responses to the Government public consultation, classed as a Scottish site. [62048]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, has taken responsibility for considering, in consultation with other interested Departments, responses to the public consultation suggesting that the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf should be included in the new Tentative List for the UK of potential World Heritage Sites.

  Sports Coaches
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery funding has been used to support sports coaches and trainers in the last 12 months. [62177]

  Mr. Banks
  Lottery funding to support sports coaches and trainers is distributed through the Lottery Sports Fund's World Class Performance Programme. Since the Programme began on 1 January 1997, the Lottery Sports Fund has committed a total of £43,818,416 to 37 sports, including disability sports, and supported a total of 1,816 athletes representing England and Great Britain. The English Sports Council is unable to provide a figure for the funds spent specifically on the employment of coaches and trainers or a separate breakdown for the last twelve months.

  Of the £43,818,416 committed, £27,434,930 has been allocated to governing bodies as performance awards to cover technical support costs; and £16,383,487 has been allocated direct to individual athletes for subsistence costs. £8,230,479–30 per cent.—of the performance awards has been spent by the governing bodies on staffing costs, primarily on the employment of world class coaches and trainers. The subsistence awards to individual athletes include personal training funding to cover the costs of membership to sports clubs that have sports coaches, and personal trainers, such as strength coaches.

  Royal Parks Agency
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were employed by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1993(a) in total and (b) by area of responsibility. [60974]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 27 November 1998]: Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Viviane Robertson to Mr. Richard Ottaway, dated 7 December 1998:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport has asked me to reply to your parliamentary question concerning staffing levels in the Royal Parks.
  The number of people employed by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1993, in total and by area of responsibility, is set out in the table below. The numbers are as 31 March of each year.

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  General Management and Administration

  65

  61

  61

  50

  51

  Horticultural Management

  22

  28

  28

  21

  19

  Royal Parks Constabulary

  190

  163

  163

  162

  166

  Gamekeepers/Grooms

  8

  8

  8

  3

  3

  Total

  285

  260

  260

  236

  239

  Press Authority
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to set up an independent press authority. [61430]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government prefer self-regulation, overseen by the independent Press Complaints Commission, to any form of statutory regulation. An independent press authority set up by Government would be statutory regulation of the press, and the Government, in the absence of evidence of a collapse of standards, would be unwilling to consider undermining the authority of the Press Complaints Commission in this way.

  Braille Grant
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has for the future of the Braille Grant; and if he will make a statement. [62231]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: My Department's consultation paper "The Comprehensive Spending Review: A New Approach to Investment in Culture", proposed that the grant currently paid to the Royal National Institute for the Blind in support of its embossed literature service should be re-allocated to the Library and Information Commission to enable blind and visually impaired people to benefit more extensively from public library services than they do at present. This would help create a fresh impetus to the provision of library services to blind and visually impaired people and provide the opportunity for local

  15
  authorities to embed these services into the mainstream library service. We will be announcing the results of the consultation exercise later this month.

  Ministerial E-mail Address
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his e-mail address. [62566]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My e-mail address is chris.smith@culture.gov.uk.

  Digital Terrestrial Television
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom which are unable to receive the full subscription services offered by ON digital through the digital terrestrial network; [60968]

  (2) if he will list the percentage of households which will be unable to receive digital terrestrial channels in the counties of (a) Northumberland and (b) Cumbria; [60969]

  (3) if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom which are unable to receive the full range of free-to-air digital terrestrial channels. [60967]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]: The launch phase of digital terrestrial television has been jointly planned by the BBC and Independent Television Commission so that the 81 transmitters used will reach around 90 per cent. of the UK population by the end of 1999, though the coverage of all six multiplexes will vary and in some cases be less. Extending digital services beyond the reach of the first 81 digital terrestrial transmitters was one of the issues raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future" the responses to which are currently being considered.

  I understand that digital terrestrial television services will reach Cumbria and Northumberland from the Caldbeck, Chatton, Pontop Pike, Fenham, Selkirk and Lancaster transmitters. Transmissions from Pontop Pike have already commenced and the remainder will become operational during 1999. The BBC and ITC have produced a CD-Rom containing coverage predictions for each multiplex for each transmitter site in the UK. Copies of the CD-Rom have already been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

PRIME MINISTER

  House of Lords
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Prime Minister if Government policy on the voting and sitting rights of the hereditary Peers applies to those members of the Royal Family who sit in the House of Lords. [61482]

  The Prime Minister
  Our detailed proposals will be set out in a White Paper to be published in the context of the Bill which we shall introduce later this Session to remove the rights of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. As part of this, the Government would not intend to propose special arrangements for Royal Members of the House of Lords.

  Ministerial E-mail Address
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his e-mail address. [62558]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for South Dorset (Mr. Bruce) on 20 July 1998,Official Report, column 389.

  Cabinet Advisers
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will appoint a chief engineering adviser to the Cabinet with responsibilities separate from those of the Chief Scientific Adviser; [61903]

  (2) if he will list the areas of responsibility of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Cabinet. [61904]

  The Prime Minister
  There is no need for such an appointment.

  The responsibility of my Chief Scientific Adviser embraces the provision of advice on engineering issues, in addition to the whole spectrum of science and technology matters. He is also head of the Office of Science and Technology with responsibility for its cross-departmental functions.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister when in December he expects to meet the Lockerbie relatives. [62852]

  The Prime Minister
  I will meet a group of the Lockerbie relatives on 10 December.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress the Social Exclusion Unit has made in its first year; and if he will announce the new membership of the Ministerial Network on Social Exclusion. [63135]

  The Prime Minister
  I established the Social Exclusion Unit in December 1997. I asked it to focus on the following priorities in its first phase of work to July 1998:Truancy and School Exclusion: to make a step change in the scale of truancy and exclusions from school, and to find better solutions for those who have to be excluded.
  Street Living: reducing to as near to zero as possible the numbers sleeping rough in towns and cities.
  Worst Estates: developing integrated and sustainable approaches to the problems of the worst housing estates, including crime, drugs, unemployment, community breakdown, bad schools etc.

  All of these are areas where action was long overdue. The Unit has reported to me on each, with a full analysis of the problem and concrete and imaginative recommendations for action, all of which I have accepted. Those recommendations are now being implemented. To take forward the work on deprived neighbourhoods, a major process of policy formulation has begun, which will contribute to a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal to be published in early 2000. This work is the biggest piece of joined up government ever attempted—eighteen policy teams, ten Ministers and departments

  17
  across Whitehall are working together to address some of the most intractable problems faced by deprived neighbourhoods.

  These pieces of work have clearly shown the benefit of a central Unit which covers the policies of a number of Government departments, and which works at great speed with a membership of civil servants and outside experts. Other parts of Government are already learning the lessons of this method of working.

  The Unit's main priorities are now:
  the follow up work on poor neighbourhoods, and two new topics:

  1. Teenage parents—to work with other Departments, building particularly on the work already undertaken by the Department of Health, to develop an integrated strategy to cut rates of teenage parenthood, particularly under age parenthood, towards the European average and propose better solutions to combat the risk of social exclusion for vulnerable teenage parents and their children. This work will report to Ministers early in the New Year.

  2. 16 to 18 year olds—to work with other Departments to assess how many 16 to 18 year olds are not in education, work or training, analyse the reasons why and produce proposals to reduce the numbers significantly. To report to Ministers by Easter 1999.

  The Unit was set up on a time limited experimental basis. Its current work programme will take it until Summer 2000 at least. Its success will be reviewed in Summer 1999, and a decision announced about its longer term future and work programme.

  I have expanded the membership of the Ministerial Network on Social Exclusion to include Ministers from the Scottish Office, the Northern Ireland Office and the Welsh Office. This will help to ensure that the lessons of good practice are learned in each country. The Network is made up of Ministers from the Departments working most closely with the Unit, to act as its champions and to help guide and present its work. Its membership is:

  Minister

  Department

  Stephen Byers

  HM Treasury (Chair)

  Hilary Armstrong

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Paul Boateng

  Home Office

  John Denham

  Department of Social Security

  Lord Falconer

  Cabinet Office

  Peter Hain

  Welsh Office

  Tessa Jowell

  Department of Health

  Geoffrey Robinson

  HM Treasury

  Barbara Roche

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Lord Sewel of Gilcomstoun

  Scottish Office

  John McFall

  Northern Ireland Office

  Andrew Smith

  Department for Education and Employment

  Franco-British Summit
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Franco-British Summit on 3 to 4 December.[63089]

  The Prime Minister
  The twenty-first British-French Summit took place in St. Malo on 3 and 4 December. It was a substantive summit in a cordial atmosphere, with worthwhile exchanges on a wide range of European, economic and other issues. The Summit resulted in Joint 18
  Declarations on European Defence and Co-operation in Africa. The texts of the Declarations have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police and Prison Officers (Kenya)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training schemes are supported by his Department for the training of police and prison officers employed in the services in Kenya; and if he will make a statement. [62183]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Office are not at present supporting any training programmes specifically designed for police or prison officers in Kenya.

  Training arrangements for police officers from Kenya would normally be funded by the Department for International Development or by the Foreign Office. Ten Kenyan police officers have attended various training courses in Britain in the last four years, including three who attended command courses at Bramshill Police College. Also, under a United Kingdom development assistance project run in Kenya by the Department for International Development, training is currently being provided for senior command officers in the Kenyan police service. This training includes management and operational skills. Under the same project, support is also being given to develop and include a human rights component in Kenyan police training programmes.

  All the training courses provided by Prison Service Training Services are also available to members of the Kenyan Prison Service, subject to availability, security and financial considerations.

  Prisons (Cells)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales currently have prisoners held two to a cell designed for one. [62184]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Of the 133 prisons open at the end of October 1998, 63 had prisoners held two to a cell designed for one.

  These data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on reducing the level of illegal drug use in prisons in England and Wales. [62185]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In May this year, I launched the Prison Service Drug Strategy which set out a framework for improving the assessment and treatment of drug misusers in prison and for reducing the supply of drugs into prison. Since then, the Prison Service has been allocated an extra £76m over the next three financial years from the Comprehensive Spending Review to implement that strategy. Prison Service officials are currently working with the United Kingdom Anti Drugs Co-ordination Unit, probation services and external drugs
  19
  agencies to create specifications, services and outputs, and to identify the specific needs of individual prisons and groups of prisoners.

  Prisons (Staff)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers are currently suspended from duty due to allegations which have been made against them by prison inmates at prisons in England and Wales. [62181]

  Mr. George Howarth
  On 2 December 1998, there were 44 staff suspended from duty as a result of allegations made by prisoners at prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the pilot project on the introduction of new-style security passes for prison staff; and from what date it is proposed that wearing the new-style passes is to be mandatory. [62225]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Evaluation of the pilot exercise, which took place between April and July this year, did not uncover any major problems. Minor practical improvements have been made to the design of the pass holder.

  An instruction about the wearing of the new security pass is being prepared in consultation with the Prison Service trade unions. The issue of the pass is expected to begin shortly and be completed by April 1999. The wearing of the new pass will be mandatory from the time it is issued.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions public funds have been used to pay the debts of (i) staff messes and (ii) staff clubs, in Prison Service establishments; and what was the total amount so spent in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [61906]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Prison Service has kept central records only since 1 April 1995. Since then, records show that public funds have been used on two occasions to pay the debts of staff messes in Prison Service establishments. The sums involved were as follows:

  £

  Year

  Amount

  1995–96

  23,898

  1996–97

  2,675

  1997–98

  nil

  Over the same period, public funds have been used on four occasions to pay the debts of staff clubs in Prison Service establishments. The sums involved were as follows:

  £

  Year

  Amount

  1995–96

  nil

  1996–97

  18,253

  1997–98

  35,717

  Ministerial E-mail Address
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his e-mail address. [62561]

  Mr. Straw
  Correspondence sent to me at the Home Office e-mail address, ho.gen@gtnet.gov.uk, is forwarded to me as necessary.

  The Department is putting plans in place to connect selected parts of the office to the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) followed by full interconnection between the core network and the GSI in the first half of 1999. That will enable full e-mail between the office, Members of both Houses and members of the public.

  Millennium (Emergency Cover)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to contract with the armed services to provide emergency cover over the millennium period; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that cover. [62573]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No contract is necessary. Procedures are already in place for the provision of military aid to the civil authority, and these arrangements are under regular review in the run up to the Millennium date change. I could not offer an estimate at this stage.

  Absinthe
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy regarding the availability of narcotics of the proposal of Green Bohemia to sell absinthe. [62569]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have identified no such implications. Absinthe does not come within the scope either of domestic legislation on the misuse of drugs or of the international conventions on the control of narcotic or psychotropic substances.

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women under the age of 20 years were serving a prison sentence in England and Wales on 1 November. [62020]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The latest available provisional information is for 31 October 1998. On that date, there were 5,206 sentenced males and 224 sentenced females aged under 20 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

  Information on the number of sentenced persons aged under 20 years (by individual age) is published in successive volumes of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 3.2 of the 1997 edition, cm 4017), copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) men and (ii) women were sentenced to imprisonment in England and Wales during each of the last three years for(a) non-payment of fines, (b) use of or trading in illegal drugs, (c) shoplifting, (d) abuse towards children and (e) involvement in violent crimes. [62018]
  21
  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is given in the table. I regret that no information is available for shoplifting as this offence is not separately coded on the central prisons computer.

  Receptions under sentence into prisons in England and Wales by offence, 1995–97

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Offence

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Fine Default

  18,787

  1,370

  8,094

  641

  5,964

  372

  Drags1

  4,325

  404

  5,525

  575

  6,324

  750

  Cruelty to children2

  376

  22

  471

  27

  541

  41

  Violence against the person

  8,830

  454

  10,005

  524

  11,053

  660

  1 Includes drugs production, supply, possession with intent, possession, unlawful import/export and other drugs offences.

  2 Includes cruelty to children and gross indecency with children.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women over the age of 65 years are serving prison sentences in England and Wales. [62019]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The latest available provisional information is for 31 October 1998. On that date, there were 319 sentenced males and 5 sentenced females aged over 65 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of offenders who are electronically tagged in England and Wales. [62021]

  Mr. George Howarth
  As of 30 November 1998, 505 offenders are being electronically monitored in England and Wales under the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and the Crime Sentences Act 1997. There are an additional 21 cases in which electronic monitoring has been imposed as a condition of bail.

  Firearms Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for North Thanet on 19 October; if he will state the rights of appeal against his Department's interpretation of his July 1997 guidelines relating to the firearms compensation scheme; if he will define ancillary equipment; and if he will make a statement. [62499]

  Mr. Boateng
  A reply will be sent shortly. Ancillary equipment qualifying for compensation under the firearms compensation scheme is defined in the scheme as equipment used in connection with prohibited large-calibre handguns which has no practicable use with a non-prohibited firearm and which is specified in Annex C of the scheme. The Firearms Compensation Section guidance note of July 1997 explains why certain types of tools, equipment and shooting accessories are excluded from the scheme by this definition. It is open to claimants to explain why the items they have surrendered ought to qualify for compensation, and all such representations are carefully considered. However, where items are outside the scope of the scheme, no compensation can be paid on them.
  22
  The information given in the table is published in successive volumes of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (tables 1.12, 3.8 and 4.5 of the 1997 edition, Cm 4017), copies of which are available in the Library.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the special advisers in his Department and the issues on which they specialise; and to what level they have been security cleared.[62837]

  Mr. Straw
  Two special advisers work in my Department. Justin Russell advises me on policy matters and Ed Owen is my adviser on media and political matters. They are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.

  Prison Sentences (Alternatives)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he plans to respond to the Third report of the Home Affairs Committee of session 1997–98 into Alternatives to Prison Sentences (HC 486).[63052]

  Mr. Straw
  This is a useful and constructive report and the Government's detailed response to it is being published today.

  The report makes a large number of observations and recommendations. It says that community sentences can and should be rigorous and that, if they are to be credible, they must be enforced stringently. The Government endorse that view as our response indicates. The report also welcomes many of the measures which the Government have already taken to extend the range and flexibility of community sentences and to ensure that intervention takes place at an earlier stage, especially when dealing with juvenile crime.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Hearings
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor' s Department what assessment he has made of the effect of transferring the hearing of asylum appeal cases outside London on the presence of legal representatives of asylum seekers at such hearings. [61705]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Immigration Appellate Authority is monitoring the number of appellants whose cases are transferred out of London and the level of representation at those hearings. The hearings of the transferred cases stared in October 1998 so it is too soon to draw any conclusions.
  23
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what checks court interpreters in asylum hearings are subject to; and when these checks were introduced. [61706]

  Mr. Hoon
  Interpreters in appeal hearings have always been required to complete a standard application form. This includes a status inquiry where they are required to declare anything that may undermine their suitability to perform interpreting functions on behalf of the IAA. Since 1996–97, the IAA has run an assessment and training programme (in close conjunction with the Institute of Linguists) to improve the quality of in-court interpreting. Adjudicators are also encouraged to provide general feedback to the IAA interpreter manager on the performance of individual interpreters.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons intending to be court interpreters in asylum hearings have failed to pass security checks; and what action was taken as a result. 61707]

  Mr. Hoon
  There is no formal mechanism in place to security check interpreters. However, they are required to complete a standard status enquiry form prior to appointment. Applications may be rejected by the IAA if the information provided questions the interpreter's competence or suitability to perform the job.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many asylum seekers were unrepresented at hearings(a) in London and (b) out of London when the asylum seeker (i) had and (ii) did not have an immigration solicitor in the most recent year for which figures are available. [61708]

  Mr. Hoon
  No figures are kept on the levels of representation at the London centres. In October 1998 the IAA started to keep figures relating to the levels of representation at hearings outside London to monitor the impact of transferring appeals to provincial centres.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to monitor the impact of transferring asylum hearings outside London on legal representation at hearings in cases where asylum seekers(a) have and (b) do not have a solicitor. [61709]

  Mr. Hoon
  The IAA is currently monitoring the impact of transferring asylum hearings outside London on the levels of representation. The hearings of these appeals started in October 1998 so it is too soon to draw any conclusions.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Micronutrients
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to support the provision of micronutrients to developing countries. [62359]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development has supported major research in micronutrients supplementation, including the seminal Ghana Vitamin A Supplementation Trial. We contribute 24
  to both UNICEF and the World Health Organisation for their work in maternal and child health. Supplementation will be an important element in the further development of our strategy for assistance to child health.

  Development Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcome was of the Development Council held in Brussels on 30 November; and if she will make a statement. [62222]

  Clare Short
  During the morning session, the Council adopted conclusions on Burundi reflecting Ministers' discussions at dinner the previous evening. The conclusions welcome the progress achieved in the 'Arusha process' so far and thank Mwalimu Nyerere for his invaluable contribution. The Council said that it was prepared to continue to support the process and welcomed the intention of Mwalimu Nyerere to suspend sanctions, which would pave the way for the resumption of increased development co-operation. The Council asked the Commission to pursue its discussions with the Burundi government, with a view both to rapid implementation of the support already envisaged for refugees and rehabilitation, and to additional support for human rights and strengthening of democratic institutions and the judicial system.

  The Council also adopted conclusions on the Role of Development Co-operation in Strengthening Peace-building, Conflict Prevention and Resolution. These recognise that development assistance needs to be designed and implemented in a way that it helps to address the root causes of violent conflict in a targeted manner. The Council recommended that an expert group be established to take forward work in this area.

  On Hurricane Mitch, the Council adopted Conclusions calling on the Commission to prepare an Action Plan on medium to long term reconstruction efforts in Central America which should be discussed in the next few months at a ministerial meeting in the San José Group. The Council stressed the role of debt relief and the importance of donor co-ordination in the reconstruction effort. The UK congratulated the UN on its efforts to co-ordinate relief during the immediate emergency. The UK pointed out that the next phase was to link emergency aid to rehabilitation and longer term construction. The UK hoped donors would share ideas and coordinate not compete. The UK urged all partners to contribute to the French/UK Trust Fund initiative to assist with multilateral debt relief.

  On Private Sector Development in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, the Commission presented its strategy, the aim of which is to contribute to poverty elimination and foster the integration of the ACP into the world economy. The presentation was followed by an exchange of views. The UK welcomed the paper but noted that it would have to be taken forward after discussions had taken place with the ACP countries, and that work was needed on putting the strategy into operation. The Council passed a Resolution on Sustainable Tourism. The UK explained that it was important to ensure more of the benefits of tourism remained in local communities, in particular the poorest and women.
  25
  The Commission updated the Council on progress in the Post-Lomé negotiations. The joint EU-ACP Central Negotiating Group had already identified areas of agreement between the EU and ACP sides and issues where more discussion was needed. There was broad consensus on the major objectives of the new Convention. A number of member states, including the UK, urged the Commission and member states to honour the EU mandate commitment on improving preferential access to the EU market for Least Developed Countries under the Generalised System of Preferences from 2000.

  Over lunch, I led a discussion on the external assistance aspects of the Financial Perspectives. I stressed the importance of increasing the proportion of EC official development assistance going to low income countries in the years 2000–06. I was broadly supported by a majority of member states.

  Other items discussed at lunch included a report on the outcome of the Brussels Conference on Disarmament, on the situation in Angola, and the need for the early release of the third tranche of funds to UN Reliefs Works Agency (UNWRA). There was a brief discussion on EC development assistance to Togo, and future aid to the Palestinians. On the issue of Commission financing of UN Organisations, Commissioner Pinheiro agreed that the current situation, where the Commission is obliged by financial control procedures to audit UN and other multilateral agencies receiving EC funds, should be re-examined.

  Sir Stephen Wall represented the UK during the afternoon session. The first item after lunch was a progress report from the Commission on the implementation of the guidelines on Operational Co-ordination. The UK welcomed proposals for greater exchange of strategy papers, the practical application of enhanced co-ordination at country level, more jointly funded projects, sharing of staff and joint missions. We and others stressed that co-ordination procedures should cover all donors and take full account of the central role of the partner country. We also stressed that streamlining procedures was important.

  The Council discussed progress on the Global Evaluation of EC development assistance. This is to be completed under the German Presidency and will be one of the main subjects for discussion at the next Development Council in May 1999. The UK called on the Commission to implement the recommendations contained in the Court of Auditors' report on aid to South Africa.

  On humanitarian aid, the Council discussed the security of humanitarian aid workers and the situation in Kosovo and Sudan.

  A number of issues were discussed under any other business. The Commission responded to the allegations of fraud within ECHO. The Italian Minister reported on the recent Inter Governmental Authority on Development Partners Forum on Somalia held in Rome. The Finnish Minister raised the issue of climate change in developing countries. The Dutch Minister, supported by the UK, urged the Commission to respond positively to the proposal for an independent WTO Legal Advisory Centre to help developing countries use the dispute settlement system that lies at the heart of the WTO.
  26
  The Council adopted a Resolution on Indigenous Peoples, Conclusions on Micro-finance and Poverty Reduction, and Conclusions on Democratisation, the Rule of Law, Respect for Human Rights and Good Governance without discussion.

TREASURY

  EU Code of Conduct Group
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions the EU Code of Conduct Group has met since its formation; and if he will make a statement. [61885]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The Code of Conduct Group met on 8 May, 16 July, 3 November and 17 November 1998.

  Import Duties
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what import duty rates apply to vehicles fuelled by(a) petrol or diesel, (b) electricity and (c) natural gas. [62120]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: The full rates of import duty for vehicles set out in the UK Customs Tariff vary depending on the type of vehicle concerned.

  The import duty rates for passengers vehicles, whether gas, diesel or petrol powered, range from 10 to 16.8 per cent. depending on engine size and passenger capacity; whereas the rate for all electric passenger vehicles is 10.5 per cent.

  The import duty rates for goods vehicles, whether gas, diesel or petrol powered, range from 10.2 to 22 per cent. depending on the engine size and vehicle weight; whereas the rate for all electric goods vehicles is 10 per cent.

  Smuggling (Fuel Oils)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of evidence submitted by HM Customs and Excise in April and May 1998 on the issue of smuggling of fuel oils. [62238]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: Both the Government and Customs are aware of the situation with the illegal importation of road fuel into Northern Ireland for resale and recognise that it is a serious problem which disadvantages legitimate traders. Customs are deploying resources and actively mounting investigations against those involved to counter the threat posed to the revenue and to the Northern Ireland business community. Customs are taking the lead on this issue but are acting in conjunction with other authorities, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary, to make seizures of oil tankers and vehicles carrying oil tanks filled with illegally imported fuel for resale. Wherever possible, cases are progressed with a view to criminal prosecution of the individuals involved.

  There is little evidence that smuggling of fuel into any other area of the United Kingdom is a cause for concern.
  27
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of fuel oil smuggling on retail sales of petrol in South East England. [62237]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: HM Customs and Excise have no estimates for the impact of fuel oil smuggling on retail sales of petrol in South East England.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many petrol tankers have been impounded by HM Customs in each of the last five years. [62234]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: In 1998 to date 48 vehicles have been seized by Customs for alleged smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland and 2 in Liverpool for alleged smuggling onto the UK mainland.

  The problem of petroleum smuggling into Northern Ireland has been evident only since late 1997 and indeed this is the reverse of the situation which existed a few years ago when people from the Republic of Ireland would travel to Northern Ireland to purchase cheaper fuel. There were no seizures of vehicles or fuel in years prior to 1998.

  Fuel Duties
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total returns for UK duty paid on motor fuel products in Northern Ireland for each quarter of 1996, 1997 and 1998 for which figures are available. [62235]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: Customs and Excise are unable to supply figures for duty paid on motor fuel used in Northern Ireland. Duty is paid at the time the oil leaves the refinery on the UK mainland, or at the time of importation into the UK. No separate record is kept by Customs of the destination of the oil.

  Taxation Forecasts
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the differences in the forecast for taxation as a share of gross domestic product in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 between (i) the 1998 Economic and Fiscal Strategy report and (ii) the 1998 Pre-Budget report; and if he will make a statement. [62124]

  Ms Hewitt
  Outturns for receipts of taxes and social security contributions, net of tax credits, were revised down by £0.4 billion in 1996–97 and by £0.7 billion in 1997–98 between the publication of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (EFSR) and the Pre-Budget Report (PBR). This reduced the tax/GDP ratio by less than 0.1 percentage points in both years. Upward revisions to money GDP since the EFSR, of over 1½ per cent. in 1996–97 and over 2 per cent. in 1997–98, account for the remainder of the downward revision to the tax/GDP ratio in the PBR of 0.6 per cent. in 1996–97 and 0.9 per cent. in 1997–98. These revisions entirely reflect data changes rather than forecasting judgments.

  Civil Registration
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken following the Government's proposals in the consultation paper, "Supporting 28
  Families", to commission a review by the Registrar General of the legislation regarding civil registration in England and Wales. [63121]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have asked the Registrar General for England and Wales to carry out a review of the civil registration service with the aim of producing a public consultation document next summer. The review will consider the existing operational framework and set out options for the future development of the service.

  The registration of births, deaths and marriages is based largely on Victorian legislation and the needs of society at that time. This law places strict limitations on the type and extent of the service it can provide to the public. The inflexibility of the service was raised in the Government's consultation document "Supporting Families". Measures to enhance the powers of registrars were also proposed in the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum".

  The aim of the review and subsequent consultation will be to develop proposals for a service that can adapt to the changing needs and attitudes of a modern society and that can adopt modern methods and technology to meet those needs.

  Inland Revenue Staff
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received relating to the rule that Inland Revenue staff must retire at the age of 60 years. [62031]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There have been four representations to the Chancellor whilst in office, regarding the requirement for Inland Revenue staff to retire at age 60. All representations were made through constituency MPs. The representations raised concerns about the policy of the Inland Revenue to require retirement of their employees at age 60, with two representations involving individual employees' cases.

  VAT (Educational Goods)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the educational goods and computers which are not subject to VAT when bought by schools but are subject to VAT when bought for schools by education action zones. [62299]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Whether educational goods and computers are liable to VAT does not depend on the purchaser. The VAT incurred by a local education authority on school equipment is recoverable from Customs and Excise whether purchased using its own funds or purchased using those provided by an education action zone.

  VAT (Beach Huts)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was received in the last financial year from value-added tax on rents of beach huts. [62187]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have no estimates on the amount of VAT received from rents of beach huts.

  Construction Industry
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is(a) the estimated annual revenue charge and (b) the number of firms and employees involved in the change from self-employed sub-contractor status to PAYE status in the construction industry. [62221]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Inland Revenue estimates that in excess of 200,000 workers in the construction industry have been reclassified from self-employed to employed status since April 1997. This has happened for a number of different reasons. Many contractors have carried out their own status reviews and concluded that some or all of their workers should be properly treated as employees. Alternatively, workers may have been reclassified as employees following an IR or CA compliance visit. No estimate is available of the number of firms involved.

  Because of the many differences in how the earnings of self employed and employed workers are treated for tax and National Insurance purposes, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the annual revenue charge involved.

  National Debt
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the costs of servicing the national debt in 1998–99. [61815]

  Mr. Byers
  Estimates for the cost of servicing the National Debt are not published, but Table B12 of the November 1998 Pre-Budget Report included an estimate of £29.5 billion for central government gross debt interest payments in 1998–99.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current amount of the national debt; and what the interest payments on this currently are. [60911]

  Number of live births by birthweight and percentages of live births with a stated birthweight for Leeds, Livserpool, Manchester and Sheffield, 1993–95

  Numbers

  Area (Metropolitan disticts)

  Under 2,500g

  2,500–2,999g

  3,000–3,444g

  3,500–3,999g

  4,000g and over

  Not stated

  Leeds

  1993

  662

  1,569

  3,326

  2,506

  888

  285

  1994

  697

  1,571

  3,147

  2,409

  890

  307

  1995

  758

  1,636

  3,192

  2,470

  835

  39

  Liverpool

  1993

  410

  837

  1,797

  1,435

  648

  1,203

  1994

  417

  839

  1,839

  1,534

  639

  793

  1995

  487

  941

  2,082

  1,673

  698

  44

  Manchester

  1993

  549

  1,323

  2,421

  1,654

  577

  215

  1994

  506

  1,228

  2,232

  1,579

  563

  318

  1995

  588

  1,187

  2,111

  1,526

  498

  144

  Sheffield

  1993

  499

  1,129

  2,267

  2,001

  747

  48

  1994

  504

  1,043

  2,312

  1,877

  698

  42

  1995

  492

  1,110

  2,242

  1,695

  667

  46

  Percentage of live births with a stated birthweight

  Area

  Under 2,500g

  2,500–2,999g

  3,000–3,444g

  3,500–3999g

  4,000g and over

  Leeds

  1993

  7.4

  17.5

  37.2

  28.0

  9.9

  1994

  8.0

  18.0

  36.1

  27.6

  10.2

  1995

  8.5

  18.4

  35.9

  27.8

  9.4

  Liverpool

  1993

  8.0

  16.3

  35.0

  28.0

  12.6

  30
  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 27 November 1998]: Figures for net public sector debt are published in Table B4 of the November 1998 Pre-Budget Report. For 31 March 1998 the figure is £352 billion. Interest payments and interest and dividends receipts for 1997–98 have been published by the ONS in Table S13 of Financial Statistics, October 1998. These are £29.8 billion and £4.1 billion respectively.

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules his Department applies to allocation between departments of receipts from sales of assets; and what changes have been made since 1 May 1997. [62032]

  Mr. Byers
  Since 1 May 1997, departments have been given new incentives to recycle receipts from asset sales into new assets, with the National Asset Register helping to identify these surplus assets.

  Birth Weight Statistics
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of live births were(a) under 2,500g, (b) 2,500 to 2,999g, (c) 3,000 to 3,499g, (d) 3,500 to 3,999g and (e) 4,000g and over in (i) Liverpool, (ii) Manchester, (iii) Sheffield and (iv) Leeds in (1) 1993, (2) 1994 and (3) 1995. [62287]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 7 December 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the number of live births for Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.
  The information you requested is as follows:
  31

  Percentage of live births with a stated birthweight

  Area

  Under 2,500g

  2,500–2,999g

  3,000–3,444g

  3,500–3999g

  4,000g and over

  1994

  7.9

  15.9

  34.9

  29.1

  12.1

  1995

  8.3

  16.0

  35.4

  28.4

  11.9

  Manchester

  1993

  8.4

  20.3

  37.1

  25.4

  8.8

  1994

  8.3

  20.1

  36.5

  25.9

  9.2

  1995

  9.9

  20.1

  35.7

  25.8

  8.4

  Sheffield

  1993

  7.5

  17.0

  34.1

  30.1

  11.2

  1994

  7.8

  16.2

  35.9

  29.2

  10.8

  1995

  7.9

  17.9

  36

  27.3

  10.7

  Source:

  ONS

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received alleging age discrimination within his Department; and what response he has given. [62494]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury has received no such representations.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Ministerial E-mail Address
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the President of the Council what is her e-mail address. [62879]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My office's e-mail address is "ecrooks@cabinet-office.gov.uk".

SCOTLAND

  World Heritage Site
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations in Scotland involved in reviewing World Heritage Site nominations resulting from the Government's recent consultation. [62052]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The consultation paper on the new UK tentative list of World Heritage Sites was sent to a wide range of organisations in Scotland. Some 50 responses were received in respect of the cultural heritage sites in Scotland and 30 on the natural heritage sites in Scotland. The Government are currently considering the responses prior to making a final decision on the UK tentative list.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those organisations and persons consulted over the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf nomination(a) before and (b) since the World Heritage Site meeting on 12 November. [62047]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Earlier this year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport launched a consultation on a revised Tentative List of UK sites to be nominated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for World Heritage Site status over the next 5–10 years. During the consultation, a number of additional sites were proposed for inclusion on the Tentative List, including the Atlantic Frontier Continental Shelf. Scottish Natural Heritage was consulted on this proposal prior to the meeting on 32
  12 November 1998. Ministers are collectively considering the responses to the consultation before finalising the Tentative List.

  Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the closure of the Royal Ordnance factory at Bishopton. [62258]

  Mr. Dewar
  The response to any particular industrial closure is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant local enterprise centre.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the closure of the Royal Ordnance factory at Bishopton. [62259]

  Mr. Dewar
  Ministers and officials in my Department liaise with colleagues in MoD on a routine basis in relation to defence-related issues affecting Scotland.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to devolve the Government's powers in respect of broadcasting to the Scottish parliament. [62257]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The subject matter of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 and the BBC are reserved. This is consistent with the policy set out in the White Paper, "Scotland's Parliament", which was endorsed by the Scottish voters in the referendum in September 1997.

  We have announced plans for executive devolution of certain broadcasting matters to ensure that the Scottish Ministers will have appropriate influence over key appointments to the major broadcasting organisations and that the Scottish Parliament receives formally their annual reports. The function of funding Gaelic broadcasting will also be transferred under executive devolution.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council must use Scots law practice and precedent in deliberating on disputes relating to the powers of the Scottish Parliament. [62500]

  Mr. McLeish
  The rules of procedure of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council will be made by an Order in Council under Section 103(3) of the Scotland Act 1998. They will extend throughout the United Kingdom, as does the Scotland Act 1998 itself. Similarly, the Judicial Committee will not be restricted to applying Scots law in determining cases under the Scotland Act.

  Public Defence Solicitors' Office
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made to ensure that the Public Defence Solicitors' Office and the Scottish Legal Aid Board remain separate organisations. [62406]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Director of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office (PDSO) reports directly to the Chief Executive, Scottish Legal Aid Board, on administrative matters only. In all other matters, including the handling of cases, the PDSO operates independently of the Board.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated cost is for establishing the Public Defence Solicitors' Office; and what was the estimate given in the context of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill. [62405]

  Mr. McLeish
  The estimated cost in 1998–99 of the PDSO is £450,000, including set up and running costs. The previous Government gave no estimate of the comparable costs of this project in the context of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions representatives of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office have attended meetings of the Scottish Legal Aid Board in each of the last five years. [62407]

  Mr. McLeish
  Since his appointment on 1 April 1998, Mr. Alistair Watson, Director of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office (PDSO), which opened on 1 October 1998, has attended Board meetings on 6 April and 5 October.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the membership of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office Research Evaluation Project. [62408]

  Mr. McLeish
  The contract for the research has not yet been awarded. However, when the research team has been appointed, it will report regularly to an advisory group including representatives of the following organisations:

  Law Society of Scotland

  Scottish Law Agents' Society

  Glasgow Bar Association

  Edinburgh Bar Association

  Faculty of Advocates

  Sheriffs' Association

  Scottish Legal Aid Board

  Public Defence Solicitors' Office

  Scottish Office Home Department

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ministerial E-mail Address
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his e-mail address. [62557]

  M. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary does not have a public e-mail address. Members of the public may submit e-mail via an interactive form 34
  on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk). These are then passed to the relevant Department for reply, if appropriate.

  Scout Jamboree, Chile
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has sought from the Chilean authorities that British participants in the forthcoming Scout Jamboree in Chile will be welcomed like other national groups. [62204]

  Mr Fatchett
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: At this time of heightened tension in Chile, we advise against all non-essential travel there. The Chilean Government has said that if the British contingent of Scouts decide to proceed with their visit, it will do everything possible to provide protection for them.

  Iraq
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports Her Majesty's Government have received of the use of nerve agents by Iraqi forces during (i) the Iran-Iraq war and (ii) the attack on Halabja; and when the first such reports were received. [62513]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There have been numerous reports about Iraq's use of chemical weapons. The UN Secretary-General first despatched a mission of specialists to investigate allegations of their use in the Iran-Iraq conflict in March 1984. In 1988, he sent a medical specialist to Iran and Iraq to investigate allegations of chemical attacks in Halabja. A report on 25 April 1988 drew together the results of these missions, concluding that nerve agent had been used in both instances.

  Far East Prisoners of War
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that funds meant for Far East prisoners of war were retained by the Swiss Government after the war; and if he will make a statement. [62310]

  Mr. Fatchett
  This is not the first time that a story about alleged misuse of funds paid through Switzerland has been published in the press. In 1995, we carried out a detailed investigation, which concluded that we had no evidence that any money had been misappropriated.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the Holy See in respect of the appeal by the Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations, that all nuclear weapons states should eliminate their nuclear stockpiles. [62391]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have made clear to all participants at the United Nations First Committee our commitment to nuclear disarmament, the steps we have already taken towards this goal and our views on the best way to make further progress.

  Peter Penfold
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if an official of his
  35
  Department discussed with Mr. Peter Penfold his Department's consideration of the inclusion of Mr. Penfold's name on the list of those proposed to receive honours in the New Year's Honours List 1998.[62341]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We do not comment on Honours issues.

  OSCE Summit
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he intends to make in the Council of Ministers meeting for the OSCE in Oslo on 2 to 3 December regarding the proposal for Turkey to host the next summit of the OSCE in Istanbul in February. [62395]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The OSCE Ministerial Council agreed by consensus on 2 December that the next OSCE Summit will be held in Istanbul in 1999. The United Kingdom joined the consensus on this decision.

  The UK did not make any representations in the Ministerial Council regarding the proposal for Turkey to host the next summit. We believe that holding the summit in Istanbul will draw attention to Turkey's human rights record and help to advance the OSCES' s dialogue with Turkey on human rights issues.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Buses
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many passenger injuries per mile travelled occurred within the last year for which figures are available in respect of(a) buses with doors and (b) buses where access is via an open platform. [62517]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The published data for casualty rates are given per billion passenger kilometre travelled on buses and coaches in Great Britain in 1996. These show the following:

  Per billion passenger kilometres

  Killed

  0.2

  Killed or seriously injured

  14

  All severities

  194

  The split between buses and coaches, or between buses with doors and those where access is via an open platform, is not readily available.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the relative popularity of(a) buses with doors and (b) buses where access is via an open platform; [62518]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) passenger numbers carried, (b) traffic congestion and (c) bus journey times of the withdrawal of buses where access is via an open platform. [62519]
  36
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department has made no assessment of the popularity of open platform access buses or the implications of their withdrawal. The type of vehicle used is primarily a matter for bus service providers. They will no doubt carry out their own assessment of the various relevant operational and commercial factors, including customer reaction and the types of vehicles currently being manufactured. The Government are committed to public transport being fully accessible, recognising the need for future generations of buses to be usable by disabled people, including those who travel in wheelchairs.

  British Rail
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed by British Rail for each of the last five years. [62520]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand from the British Railways Board that the numbers of full-time equivalent staff employed by them for each of the last five financial years were as follows:

  Financial year

  Average staff during year

  1993–94

  128,414

  1994–95

  106,748

  1995–96

  90,165

  1996–97

  34,868

  1997–98

  3,319

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the Government's(a) total expenditure on and (b) income from British Rail in each of the last five years. [62521]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In the last five financial years the Government's total expenditure on the British Railways Board (i. e. BR's external finance requirement—EFR) or otherwise income from the Board (i.e. external financial contribution (EFC)) was the following:

  £million

  Year

  EFR/(EFC)

  1993–94

  1,461.4

  1994–95

  (330.1)

  1995–96

  (768.0)

  1996–97

  8.6

  1997–98

  24.8

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost per copy of the most recent British Rail annual report; how many copies were produced; and if he will make a statement. [62522]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The British Railways Board's Annual Report and Accounts 1996–97 was published in January 1998. The price per copy was £10. Copies were placed in the House of Commons Library.

  I understand from the Board that some 1,600 copies have been distributed, and that they plan to publish their Annual Report and Accounts 1997–98 in January 1999 at a price per copy of £3.00.
  37
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated value of assets held by British Rail. [62523]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand from the British Railways Board that they had net liabilities of £364 million at 31 March 1998, reflecting assets of £1,133 million and liabilities of £1,497 million.

  Railway Services (Frequency)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what circumstance it is his policy to seek to renegotiate minimum service levels for train operating companies in respect of service frequencies. [62396]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  It is not for Government or the Franchising Director to initiate changes to passenger service requirements (PSRs). The Franchising Director may however agree with an operator to increase service frequencies and amend the PSR accordingly. He has funds available under the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme to support new services and it is for promoters of new services, whether they be operators, local authorities or other parties, to make a business case for any support sought for proposed new services. The Franchising Director would appraise such a business case according to his revised Criteria, which are shortly to be issued and which will reflect the policy set out in our Transport White Paper.

  Road Tankers
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library details of the regions in which the different categories of incidents involving road tankers listed in his answer of 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 465, occurred; and if he will make a statement. [62302]

  Mr. Meacher
  Details of the regions in which the different categories of incidents involving road tankers occurred have been placed in the House Library.

  Council of Registered Gas Installers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent consultations he has held with the Council of Registered Gas Installers concerning gas safety; and if he will make a statement. [62400]

  Mr. Meacher
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) has recently agreed to meet the Chief Executive of the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) to discuss CORGI' s role in relation to gas safety and their concerns in this area. The meeting will take place as soon as a mutually convenient date can be arranged in the New Year.

  CORGI is the body currently approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to operate a register of gas installation businesses. The HSE, for which my Department has responsibility, maintains regular contact with CORGI on gas safety issues.
  38
  I am committed to high standards of gas safety for the general public. I want to see everyone with a contribution to make working together to enable the highest safety standards to be achieved and maintained. I therefore welcome the decision by the Health and Safety Commission to ask HSE to carry out a fundamental review of the gas safety regime including CORGI' s role within it.

  Greenwich Judgment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will evaluate the impact on(a) road traffic and (b) air quality of the Greenwich judgment concerning school places. [62860]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have no plans to evaluate the specific impact of the Greenwich judgment on road traffic and air quality, but the School Travel Advisory Group, announced in "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone", may wish to examine the range of factors leading to longer journeys to school.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the changes in standard spending assessment methodology introduced for 1999–2000, showing the effect of each change on(a) standard spending assessments for each class of authority and (b) standard spending assessments for each local authority in England in (i) percentage and (ii) cash terms. [62855]

  Ms Armstrong
  The changes in the method of calculating standard spending assessments (SSAs) for 1999–2000 are summarised in paragraph 12 of the consultation paper, "Revenue support grant for 1999–2000 and related matters" issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 2 December 1998. A copy was placed in the Library.

  For nearly all of these changes, the report of the SSA Sub-group for 1999–2000 exemplified the effect each of these changes would have had on SSAs for 1998–99, had it been introduced in that year. For the new cases in which the Report does not provide the relevant information, it is set out in a paper of the SSA Sub-group (paper SWG:SSASG(98)145). Copies of the Report and the paper have been placed in the Library. The consultation paper gives cross-references to the Report.

  Figures are not available to show the equivalent figures in relation to the 1999–2000 SSAs.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out for each notifiable authority the change between revenue support grant in 1998–99 and the provisional rate support grant in 1999–2000 in(a) percentage and (b) cash terms. [62856]

  Ms Armstrong
  A table showing the information requested has been placed in the Library. The table also shows the percentage change, and the change in cash terms, between the total of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and redistributed National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR)
  39
  for 1998–99 and the provisional total of Revenue Support Grant and redistributed National Non-Domestic Rates for 1999–2000.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out for each authority with social services responsibilities the change between the 1998–99 standard spending assessment and their provisional standard spending assessment for 1999–2000 in(a) percentage and (b) cash terms, excluding from the provisional standard spending assessment the amount provided to cover the 1998–99 STG. [62857]

  Ms Armstrong
  To adjust in this way does not make sense in the light of the Comprehensive Spending Review which started from a zero base, looking at expenditure needs afresh. The only fair comparison is to look at total resources provided for social services which, in aggregate, show a 6.1 per cent. cash increase or a 3.5 per cent. real terms increase between 1998–99 and 1999–2000. The increased resources we are making available will meet the costs of looking after existing and new community care clients, and enable local authorities to deliver real improvements in services. The figures requested would therefore provide a misleading comparison.

  Road Humps
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evaluation his Department has made of the medical effects of road humps on fragile, elderly and disabled people. [62859]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As part of the continuing research on the design and performance of road humps, the Department has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to carry out a literature review on the effects of road humps on professional drivers and people with disabilities. A report on the review is due to be published in March 1999.

  In developing published advice for the design of road humps my Department ensured that passenger discomfort was evaluated, and that excessive discomfort would not arise providing the road humps were not driven over at an excessive speed.

  Mark 1 Trains
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to receive a report from the Health and Safety Executive on Mark 1 trains. [62580]

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the Health and Safety Executive report into the Mark 1 carriages to be completed and published. [62572]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I am expecting the Health and Safety Commission to submit draft regulations shortly on railway safety, including Mark 1 rolling stock.

  Coalfields Regeneration
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money from the new Coalfields Regeneration Trust Fund 40
  will be allocated to projects in the County of Nottinghamshire; and what size of bodies will be able to apply for funding for such projects. [62637]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will have the power to assist former and existing coalfields such as those in the County of Nottinghamshire. Legal work is underway to set up the Trust which is expected to be up and running early next year. It will be independent from Government and therefore allocation of resources available to the Trust will be the responsibility of the Trustees.

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if existing coalfield areas will be eligible for assistance and grants from the new Coalfields Regeneration Trust. [62688]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will have the power to assist former and existing coalfields that have regeneration requirements. Legal work is underway to set up the Trust which is expected to be up and running early next year. It will be independent from Government and therefore allocation of resources available to the Trust will be the responsibility of the Trustees.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the £350 million fund for the coalfield communities in England is new money over and above existing spending programmes; and how much emanates from(a) the Coal Miners Pension Fund, (b) general Government sources, (c) the European Union and (d) private or other sources. [62397]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government are investing an additional £354 million over three years in regenerating coalfield communities. All that money will come from 'general government sources' including: dedicated allocations from existing spending programmes; an additional £10 million from the Reserve in recognition of the receipt of Government's share of miners' pension funds surpluses, part of which will be available to Scotland and Wales; and £10 million from the Reserve to support the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in complementing the Government's Welfare to Work programme.

  A fuller breakdown of this additional investment is set out in the Government's publication 'Making the Difference—a New Start for England's Coalfield Communities; The Government's Response to the Coalfield Task Force Report'. A copy of this publication is available in the House Library.

  Housing
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to harmonise the funding of housing and rent rebates paid by(a) private landlords and (b) local authorities. [62590]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We hope to issue a consultation paper soon on our proposals to introduce resource accounting into the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). It will seek views on whether rent rebates should be taken out of the HRA and funded in full.

  Flats (Access)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the extension of Part M of the Building Regulations will ensure that all new flats above the entrance level can be reached by a lift. [62632]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The section in the revised Approved Document for Part M covering passenger lifts and common stairs in blocks of flats explains that the objective is to make reasonable provision for disabled people to visit occupants who live on any storey. The consultation on the proposed amendments recognised that given the added cost of the lift and the additional space needed in common areas, it was not considered reasonable to require a lift to be provided in all instances. However, following the consultation, instead of only controlling the size of lift when there were 12 or more flats above the entrance storey, it was decided that, whenever a lift is provided, it must be suitable for an unaccompanied wheelchair user, irrespective of the number of flats above the entrance storey.

  McKinsey Report
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the findings of the McKinsey report, Driving Productivity and Growth in the UK Economy, regarding land use and planning regulations; and if he will make a statement. [62251]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The McKinsey Report helpfully highlighted the productivity gap which exists between the UK and our competitors.

  Last week, my Department published a report, "The Economic Consequences of Planning to the Business Sector", which concluded that businesses see planning as an accepted part of their environment and are looking for improvements but not radical change. We have taken many positive steps through our Modernising Planning initiative to streamline and improve the efficiency of the planning system. We will also be looking in more detail at the issues surrounding one particular part of the business sector, high technology growth industries.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken to strengthen the enforcement of regulations related to the handling of asbestos; and what future proposals he has in this area. [62497]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am about to lay amendment regulations before the House which will require more stringent control over exposure to asbestos at work, tightening up the requirements for asbestos licensing and refocusing controls on those most likely to come into contact with asbestos as part of their work, such as maintenance and demolition workers.

  The Health and Safety Commission are consulting on proposals for a ban on white asbestos. They will shortly
  42
  publish guidance on substituting asbestos, and Health and Safety Executive inspectors will enforce the duty on employers to substitute for asbestos where it sis practicable to do so.

  I have made clear my view that HSE should give a high enforcement priority to asbestos, and in future greater resources will be devoted to administering and enforcing the new legislation. Already targets for inspection of notified asbestos removal work have been increased.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions have been brought and by which agencies for breach of asbestos-related regulations in each of the past 10 years. [62496]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Executive has taken or initiated the following asbestos related prosecutions in each of the last 10 years.

  Informations laid

  Convictions

  1987–88

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  32

  27

  Asbestos Regulations 1969

  14

  8

  1988–89

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  21

  21

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  14

  13

  Asbestos Regulations 1969

  4

  3

  1989–90

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  52

  47

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  14

  7

  Asbestos (Prohibitions) Amendments Regulation 1988

  1

  0

  1990–91

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  57

  48

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  7

  7

  1991–92

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  47

  39

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  8

  7

  1992–93

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  24

  23

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  3

  3

  1993–94

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  31

  20

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  5

  5

  1994–95

  The Control of Asbestons at Work Regulations 1987

  37

  29

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulation 1983

  7

  6

  43

  Informations laid

  Convictions

  1995–96

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  51

  33

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  13

  11

  1996–97

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  37

  31

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  5

  4

  1997–981

  The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

  42

  38

  Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983

  3

  3

  1 Provisional

  Notes:

  1. From 1996–97 data includes proceedings instituted by HSE's FOD, CHID (excluding explosives and pipelines) and NSD (conventional safety only).

  2. The information HSE has from Local Authorities on proceedings they have taken under legislation for which HSE is responsible does not separately identify the asbestos-related prosecutions.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he takes to monitor the level of fines or other sanctions in asbestos-related court cases; and if he will make a statement. [62498]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) keeps me informed of the level of penalties imposed for health and safety offences. The general level of penalties imposed for these crimes, including those related to asbestos, does not in my view or that of the HSC match their seriousness. However, I welcome the demonstration in a recent case related to asbestos removal in Birmingham that the courts are willing to imprison individuals who have committed serious health and safety offences. I also welcome the Court of Appeal judgment on 6 November which said that health and safety fines are too low. I hope this judgment will help the courts reflect the full gravity of such offences when they decide future sentences.

  Pesticide Tax
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has carried out into the impact on (i) competitiveness and (ii) UK employment of a pesticide tax. [62614]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department has commissioned extensive research work on the feasibility of an economic instrument to assist in delivering the Government's pesticide minimisation policy. This has included assessments of the effects of such an instrument on the competitiveness of pesticide manufacturers and distributors and of relevant agricultural sectors as well as the potential impacts on employment in these sectors.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what level of resources will be provided to the Health and Safety Commission over the next three years. [63088]
  44
  Mr. Meacher
  I am pleased to be able to announce today a new financial package for the health and Safety Commission. Extra Government funding of £20 million over the next three years, together with changes in its charging regime, will enable the HSC to increase its running costs by £12.9 million in 1999–00, £22.8 million in 2000–01 and £27.0 million in 2001–02 over and above the baseline for the current financial year. This settlement signals our strong commitment to achieving further improvements in health and safety standards in the workplace. We will be agreeing a Plan of Work with the Commission which will ensure that these additional resources deliver real and tangible benefit.

  This excellent settlement for health and safety is dependent in part on an extension to the Commission's existing charging regime. I have asked the Commission to introduce charges in statutory permissioning regimes for assessing safety cases, granting approvals and regulatory activities to ensure compliance with the safety case in the gas, offshore and railway industries, and the functions placed upon the GB competent authorities under the BU Directive for Control of Major Accident Hazards in onshore installations. The Government do not intend that charging should extend beyond regimes of this kind. I believe it is right that these industries, which depend so heavily on safe operation, should pay for these activities and that the resultant income should be reinvested to secure further improvement in health and safety standards.

  Integrated Transport White Paper
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will consult on his proposals for road user charging schemes and the workplace parking levy, as set out in the White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone". [63025]

  Mr. Prescott
  I will issue a consultation document on road user and workplace parking charges on Tuesday 8 December. It will set out the Government's detailed proposals for the legislative framework which will allow local authorities to introduce charging schemes. It will also raise a number of detailed issues on the implementation of such schemes on which we are seeking the views of all interested parties. Copies of the document will be available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.

  Leaded Petrol
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information is being provided to owners of older vehicles that will be affected by the withdrawal of leaded petrol from sale from 1 January 2000. [62962]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The withdrawal of leaded petrol is part of a European strategy to reduce pollution from road traffic and the air we breathe.

  I am nevertheless aware of the concerns of many owners of older vehicles about the practical implications of the ban and information is being made available, at outlets such as MOT stations, garages and forecourts and other locations, which will address the sorts of questions

  45
  which motorists have been raising. Information may also be found on the Department's website at http://www.detr.gov.uk.

  The general message for those who use leaded petrol is that they will have several options available to ensure that they can continue to use their car after 1 January 2000.

  Water Discharge Consents
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many water discharge consents are currently in place; and what percentage of these were(a) reviewed and (b) contravened in 1997. [60870]

  Mr. Meacher
  The most recent figures available on discharge consents were reported in the Environment Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, and relate to the fiscal year 1997–98. There were 79,692 discharge consents in place at year end, including 4,267 which were issued during the year. A total of 4,093 discharge consents were reviewed—5.4 per cent. of the 75,425 in place at the beginning of the year.

  As the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) said in her answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker), on 15 June 1998, Official Report, column 37, the number of discharges which exceeded their consented limits during the calendar year 1997 was 4,717.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the total profits of privatised water companies since 1990 and (b) the total investment in environmental improvements over the same period. [61805]

  Mr. Meacher
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The aggregate profits before tax of the water undertakers, both the privatised water and sewerage companies and the private sector water supply companies, over the years 1990–91 to 1997–98 were about £14 billion at 1997–98 prices.

  (b) Total capital investment by the water undertakers in the same period was about £26 billion, of which about £7 billion was invested by the privatised water and sewerage companies in environmental improvements, both at 1997–98 prices.

  Transport Infrastructure Spending
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of transport infrastructure spending on(a) pavements, (b) cyclepaths, (c) roads, (d) the Underground, (e) buses, (f) railways and (g) River Thames quays and riverbuses, in London in each of the last five years. [61662]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The following table gives a breakdown of central Government support for items(b) to (e) and Port of London Authority expenditure on (g) in the last five years. The London authorities and developers also provide additional funding for items (b), (c) and (e). Information on this additional funding and on (a) and (f) is not held centrally. The figures for (c) exclude the Highways Agency allocations as they were not fully founded until 1994, and they keep their records on a national basis. I will write to the hon. Member separately on that matter.
  46

  £million

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  Cyclepaths1

  Roads2

  Underground3

  Buses4

  River Thames Piers5

  1993–94

  —

  98

  786

  28

  1.0

  1994–95

  —

  76

  929

  16

  0.2

  1995–96

  3

  69

  1,087

  17

  0.1

  1996–97

  4

  57

  1,034

  23

  0.2

  1997–98

  4

  51

  800

  37

  3.3

  Total

  11

  353

  4,636

  122

  4.8

  1 Transport Policies and Programmes (TPP) allocations for the London Cycle Network.

  2 TPP allocations for principal road maintenance and major schemes and Traffic Director for London annual spends, but excludes the Highways Agency funding of trunk roads.

  3 London Underground investment.

  4 London Transport Bus investment and TPP allocations for the London Bus Priority Network. These figures do not fully reflect the overall investment in buses given that since privatisation in 1994 the purchase of new buses has been a matter for the private bus operating companies and the road infrastructure funding at (c) directly assists the movements of buses.

  5 Port of London Authority expenditure by calender year (e.g. first entry is for calender year 1994) on Thames Piers (Quays). The 1998 figure is forecast expenditure. There has been no central Government support on river buses in the last five years.

  Low-emission Fuels
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to increase the availability of(a) city diesel and (b) other low-emission fuels. [61801]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are aware of the environmental benefits of cleaner fuels and have focused on using fiscal incentives to encourage their wider use and availability.

  Ultra low sulphur diesel currently enjoys a 2 pence per litre duty differential compared with standard diesel. In the Pre-Budget Report the Chancellor reaffirmed his intention to increase this to 3 pence per litre at the next Budget. In little over a year since such incentives were first introduced, sales have increased to account now for some 17.5% of total diesel supplied.

  The duty on liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas at 21.13 pence per kilogramme (approximately 2 litres) is significantly lower in relative terms than the duty on standard diesel at 44.99 pence for one litre. The Government are committed to at least maintaining the 1997 duty differential between road fuel gases and standard diesel.

  Through the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force, Government is working with industry to consider the mechanisms for developing improved infrastructure to make cleaner fuels more widely available.

  Councillors
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will identify the places in the studies by Ken Young and Nirmala Rao, "Coming to Terms with Change?" The Local government Councillor, in 1993 and the Audit Commission's publication "Representing the People—the
  47
  Role of Councillors", which indicate that councillors wish to spend more time in direct contact with those they represent. [62037]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Pages 21–23 (including tables 3.5 and 3.6) in the study by Ken Young and Nirmala Rao—"Coming to Terms with Change? The Local Government Councillor", in 1993 show that many councillors, particularly those under 55 years old, felt they gave too little time to consulting with the public in meetings and dealing with electors' problems. Page 3 of the Audit Commission management paper—"Representing the People—The Role of Councillors" states that too much burden is placed on councillors, often unproductively, by committee meetings even though councillors believe that they should fulfil a wider representational role. This is demonstrated in Box 1 on page 8 of this report which quotes Young and Rao's finding that there was a "radical mismatch between what councillors aspire to do and what the pressures of council business require them to do".

  Research Papers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many series of research papers his Department produces; and what are the names of each of these series. [62046]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Information about the Department's research is made available in many forms including short summaries of completed, current and future research. Details are available through Newsletters and the Department's Website. Series of research papers are uncommon although there is a recent example in the "Road Safety Research Series—No. 1 Road Safety Education of Children'. Conclusions of research inform Departmental advice which is disseminated through regular Circulars or Advice Notes. Many research contractors maintain their own series of research papers. The Transport Research Laboratory, Building Research Establishment, the Hadley Centre and University of Westminster are examples.

  Rental Deposits
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress the Government are making on helping to establish a voluntary scheme run by landlords and agents to cover rental deposits; and if he will make a statement. [62298]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Government and Housing, announced on 12 October that she will meet organisations representing landlords and tenants to invite them to set up a voluntary scheme to administer tenants' deposits. My officials have been holding a series of initial meetings with representative organisations to discuss with them the contribution they might make in helping to develop a scheme. The meeting with Ministers will be held early in the new year.

  Pacific Crane Incident
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the 24 October incident involving the Pacific Crane vessel in the Irish sea; what assessment he has made of the environmental issues raised; what correspondence he or his Department 48
  have exchanged and meetings he or his Department have had with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. since the incident; and if he will make a statement.[62270]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is as follows:

  (i) I have received two representations from the hon. Member for South Devon (Mr. McGrady). Officials have received one representation from the Irish Government.

  (ii) The Pacific Crane has been laid up in the Anchor Line Basin in Barrow Docks for approximately the last two years. The vessel was securely moored when the accommodation barge, the Bibby Renaissance, broke free from her mooring nearby and collided into her. The Pacific Crane was not in transit to a destination and had neither cargo or crew on board the vessel at the time of the incident. The Bibby Renaissance was also empty of cargo. There was no threat of pollution. An assessment into environmental damage was therefore not considered necessary.

  (iii) On 26 October 1998 the Marine Accident Investigation Branch received a letter from James Fisher and Sons, managing agents of the Pacific Crane, confirming details of the incident. On 28 October 1998 a copy of the press release issued by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. was forwarded to officials of my Department for information.

  (iv) No meetings have taken place between representatives of my Department and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is carrying out an Administrative Inquiry into the incident and is in correspondence with the owners of both vessels.

  Eurostar
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has undertaken on the environmental effects of operating Eurostar trains on the North London line between Stratford and the link to St. Pancras. [62106]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None because the Channel Tunnel Rail Link has been planned and approved on the basis of two new tracks from the Channel Tunnel to the London terminus, St Pancras. The environmental effects of widening the North London line, rather than using the existing tracks, were assessed by Union Railways between 1992 and 1994 before adoption of the route now authorised under the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996.

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means he plans to establish a national minimum concessionary fares scheme in 1999. [62311]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The national minimum concessionary fare scheme outlined in our White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", will require primary legislation. Implementation will therefore depend on the availability of Parliamentary time.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter sent to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent in response to the question on representations on Sellafield of 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 835. [62484]
  49
  Mr. Meacher
  A copy of the letter which I sent to my hon. Friend is attached.

  Letter from the Minister for the Environment to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 3 December 1998:
  In answer to your recent parliamentary question, I promised to write to you with the information about the representations we had received on the Sellafield applications.
  As you know in reply to Joan Walley's PQ we reported that 4 letters relating to the Sellafield MOX plant and 2 letters relating to the variations to BNFL's site discharge authorisations in response to the Environment Agency's statement on 23 October were received. However, one of the letters which was primarily about the MOX plant also made reference to the discharge authorisations and therefore the number of representations concerning the discharge authorisations figure should have been reported as 3 rather than 2.
  The 4 letters referring to the MOX plant were received from an overseas government minister, an MP, a non-government organisation and a member of the public; all of which were opposed to the recommendations. The 3 letters referring to the variations to BNFL's site discharge authorisations were received from an overseas government minister, an MP and a non-government organisation; all of which were opposed to the recommendations.
  You also asked to know what representations were received in the two months prior to the release of the Environment Agency documents. The number of letters received relating to the MOX plant were 3 and relating to the variations to BNFL's site discharge authorisations were 14. You may also wish to know that the 3 letters relating to the MOX plant were received from a non-government organisations and two members of the public. The 14 letters relating to the variations were received from members of parliament.
  I am copying this letter to Joan Walley with apologies for our error and a copy will also be placed in the Library of the House.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to extend the inspection regime for small and intermediate factories where responsibility for industrial emissions and air quality standards lies with local authorities. [62536]

  Mr. Meacher
  None. My Department did, however, publish an action plan this October jointly with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Local

  National non-domestic rates—calculation of distributable amount

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Final outturn

  Provisional outturn

  Provisional outturn

  Estimated in-year Contribution

  1. Income from Local Lists

  Multiplier (p)

  44.9

  45.8

  47.4

  48.9

  Gross Rate Yield

  13,370

  13,481

  13,767

  13,914

  (i) Reliefs

  (a) Net Transitional Relief

  -545

  -430

  -560

  -570

  (b) Empty properties

  -1,018

  -928

  -999

  -1,031

  (c) Charitable

  -482

  -495

  -508

  -524

  (d) Discretionary

  -74

  -49

  -33

  -35

  Net Yield after reliefs

  11,252

  11,579

  11,667

  11,754

  (ii) Collection Costs/Reductions to Contributions

  (a) Costs of collection

  -77

  -78

  -79

  -83

  (b) Losses on collection

  -139

  -115

  -167

  -141

  (c) City of London offset

  -7

  -7

  -7

  -7

  Total contribution in respect of year

  11,029

  11,379

  11,415

  11,524

  (iii) Adjustments

  Repayments/interest payments

  -370

  -210

  -546

  -619

  50
  Government Association and others, which includes actions to improve local authority inspection practice for processes regulated under the existing Local Air Pollution Control regime.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what controls he envisages to give effect to the land use planning requirements of the COMAH Directive; and if he will make a statement. [62586]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government have today issued draft Regulations to implement the land use requirements of Directive 96/82/EC on the Control of Major Accident Hazards.

  Amendments are to be made to the Planning Hazardous Substances consents procedures to implement these provisions of the Directive whilst maintaining existing health and safety standards where these differ from the Directive. Changes to the Development Plan Regulations will ensure that local planning authorities take account of the requirements of the Directive when drawing up their development plans.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the basis of his calculations of the distributable amount of non-domestic rates for 1999–2000. [62589]

  Ms Armstrong
  The distributable amount of non-domestic rates in England for 1999–2000 will be £13,612 million. This is based on a non-domestic rate poundage (multiplier) of 48.9p and includes an allowance of £310 million for an Exchequer payment to the non-domestic rates pool, to compensate for the shortfall which would otherwise occur as a result of the regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to phase in the effects of the 1995 revaluation on rate bills.

  The calculation for 1999–2000, and the prior-year figures on which this is based, are set out in the table:

  51

  National non-domestic rates—calculation of distributable amount

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Final outturn

  Provisional outturn

  Provisional outturn

  Estimated in-year contribution

  Total adjustments

  -370

  -210

  -546

  -619

  Net Local Yield

  10,659

  11,169

  10,869

  10,905

  2.Income from Central List

  Net Central List Yield

  1,221

  1,207

  1,265

  1,303

  3. Income from Crown Contributions in Aid

  Net Crown Yield

  487

  469

  445

  460

  Total NDR Yield

  12,366

  12,846

  12,579

  12,668

  4. Exchequer Contributions

  Total Exchequer contributions

  429

  400

  360

  310

  Total NNDR pool payments (1+2+3+4)

  12,795

  13,246

  12,939

  12,978

  5. Adjustments

  Surplus brought forward

  -1,059

  ,1,000

  218

  634

  Combined total

  11,736

  12,245

  13,157

  13,612

  Distributable amount

  12,736

  12,027

  12,524

  13,612

  Surplus carried forward

  -1,000

  218

  634

  0

  Notes:

  The amounts shown are those recorded in the post end-year (NNDR3) returns. For 1998–99 the amounts shown are the estimated outturn for the year based mainly upon authorities' provisional contributions to the non-domestic rating pool.

  1. Item 1: The gross calculated rate yield represents the total value of non-domestic hereditaments on local rating lists times the multiplier.

  2. Item 1(i)(a): The Transitional decrease adjustment includes the estimated amount of rates that will not be recouped from local list ratepayers under the transitional arrangements made by regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  3. Item 1(i)(b): The empty property relief adjustments include voids and partially occupied hereditaments. The 1999–2000 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rates yield.

  4. Item 1(i)(c): Charitable rate relief. Figures for 1998–99 onwards include mandatory relief for village shops under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. The 1999–2000 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rates yield.

  5. Item 1(i)(d): Discretionary relief granted to charities, non-profit making organisations and for other reasons including, for 1998–99 onwards, discretionary relief for village shops under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. The 1999–2000 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rates yield.

  6. Item 1(ii)(a) and (b): The allowances for the costs and losses incurred by authorities in collecting non-domestic rates from ratepayers.

  7. Item 1 (ii)(c): City Offset—the amount which the City of London will not be required to pay into the non-domestic rating pool. It is the amount which will be retained by the City to meet its own expenditure.

  8. Item 1 (iii): net adjustment in respect of appeals and other amendments to the rating list affecting liability for previous years rates settled in that year.

  9. Item 2: the rateable value of non-domestic hereditaments on the central rating list times the multiplier, less the net effect of transitional arrangements, and adjusted for appeals and other changes in respect of previous years.

  10. Item 3: the 1999–2000 figure for Crown properties includes an allowance for the effect of transitional arrangements.

  11. Item 4: the contribution from central government to offset the amount of the Secretary of State's estimate of income forgone as a result of transitional arrangements established by regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if the stipends of any clergy are to be increased in consequence of the implementation of the minimum wage. [61377]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The stipends of parochial clergy are increased each year by dioceses on the basis of recommendations from the Central Stipends Authority. Clergy are not covered by the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, as Ministers of religion have the legal status of office holders, not employees.

  Constitution
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what changes will be made to the Commissioners' constitution from 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement. [61378]
  52
  Mr. Stuart Bell
  Under the National Institutions Measure, which received Royal Assent in July this year, the number of Commissioners will be reduced from 95 to 33. The Commissioners' membership will continue to reflect the Commissioners' joint accountability to Church and State.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if the links between the Commissioners and Parliament will continue under the Commissioners' new constitution. [61379]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw). I can assure the House that the close links between the Commissioners and Parliament will continue under the Commissioners' new constitution, through my own role and that of the six State office holders who will be Commissioners from 1 January 1999.
  53
  The Commissioners' membership will reflect the Commissioners' dual accountability to Church and Parliament. The Commissioners will continue to answer questions in the House of Commons and to lay their Annual Report and Accounts before Parliament.

  Pension Fund
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what effect the removal of payable tax credits has had on the long-term returns of the Church's pension fund. [61380]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  At their 1997 dividend levels, the Commissioners estimate that the removal of payable tax credits will ultimately reduce their income and their total investment returns by £12m annually. This loss of return relates to the whole of the Church Commissioners' investments as they do not designate a separate pension fund within the overall fund. It will also reduce returns on the newly established contributory pensions scheme, which meets pension liabilities for service from 1998 onwards, which is administered by the Church of England Pensions Board.

  Churchwardens Measure
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations he has received concerning the financial implications of the Churchwardens Measure; and if he will make a statement. [61381]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Church Commissioners have received no such representations, although I am aware that hon. Members have received representations on other aspects of the Measure. All such matters will no doubt be discussed when the Ecclesiastical Committee takes evidence on the Measure from General Synod witnesses on 15 December.

DEFENCE

  Ex-service Personnel
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals his Department has to assist ex-service men and women return to civilian life. [61340]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We provide a wide range of support to help Service personnel return to civilian life.

  On 5 October, I opened a veterans Advice Unit to help guide ex-Service personnel around the maze of help available to them. Details of the Unit are in a booklet, copies of which have been placed in the Library and Vote Office.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact of the Government's proposals in respect of the TA in(a) Oxfordshire and (b) the Witney constituency. [61351]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Following the recent restructuring exercise, Territorial Army units to be located in Oxford will be as follows: a surgical squadron of 202 54
  Field Hospital, the Home Counties Band and the Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of the Radio Regiment. A squadron of Royal Signallers will also remain at Banbury. In the Witney constituency, 218 Field Squadron at Brize Norton will disband.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed timetable for relocation of the Army Medical Services TA and the Medical Field Training Centre to York and Strensall. [61356]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  On current plans, the Headquarters Army Medical Services (TA) will move to Imphal Barracks, York in February 1999 and the Army Medical Services Field Training Centre will move to Strensall in April 1999.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reprovide training centres for cadets. [61360]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As we have already announced, any cadet unit that has facilities in the TA Centre that is closing as part of the restructuring of the TA will be reprovided with suitable accommodation and support. We have earmarked £12 million to achieve this. No TA centre which houses cadet units or cadet training facilities will be closed until alternative arrangements have been made for the cadets.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on recruitment to the Territorial Army. [61363]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Before final decisions on the future structure and distribution of the Territorial Army were taken and announced, a number of hon. Members and members of the public wrote to me about the TA presence in their constituency, including the matter of recruitment to the TA. Furthermore, representations about recruitment to the TA were made during the consultative process with the TA and the Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations (TAVRAs).

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to address the needs of the Territorial Army following his recent announcement. [61355]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The needs of the Territorial Army are being addressed through its modernisation and reorganisation announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 November 1998. Details of the reorganisation can be found in the document "Modern Forces for a Modern World: A Territorial Army for the Future", copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the costs of transferring the 101 REME (V) Battalion Headquarters from Chorley to Queensferry. [62611]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Land Command is still consulting with the Territorial Auxiliary and Reserve Associations over the transfer of 101 REME (Volunteer) Battalion from Chorley to Queensferry. No final costs are therefore available at this time, although they are not expected to be significant.
  55
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs of the operation of the 101 REME (V) Battalion Headquarters were in 1996, 1997 and 1998. [62610]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Operating costs for 101 REME (Volunteer) Battalion Headquarters for the last three years were as follows:

  1996–97:723,000

  1997–98:786,000

  1998–99:818,000.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the costs of the first year of operation of the 101 REME (V) Battalion Headquarters in Queensferry; [62609]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the financial saving made from operating the Headquarters of the 101 REME (V) Battalion Headquarters in Queensferry instead of Chorley. [62613]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No detailed estimate can be made of the financial savings which will arise as a result of operating HQ 101 (Volunteer) Battalion REME from Queensferry instead of Chorley until full details of the support costs for the unit in its new location have been established. We expect that there will be savings because HQ 101 (Volunteer) Battalion REME will share the Queensferry TA Centre with other units instead of being the sole occupant of the Centre, as it was in Chorley.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which body is responsible for ensuring the value for money of public funds spent on the Territorial Army. [62502]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Expenditure on the Territorial Army falls largely to the budget of the Commander in Chief Land Command, to whom the responsibility is delegated for ensuring value for money in meeting agreed tasks.

  Defence Establishment, Shoeburyness
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the defence establishment in Shoeburyness. [61354]

  Mr. Spellar
  The future of the defence establishments in Shoeburyness is as I told the hon. Member last month: Horseshoe Barracks, Old Ranges and Gunners Park are being prepared for disposal and redevelopment and we are seeking opportunities to increase the exploitation of the New Ranges for non-defence purposes.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy on use of the armed services to assist in defending and upholding human rights overseas. [61357]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Human rights are at the heart of the United Kingdom's foreign policy. The Armed Forces have the support of foreign policy as one of their main objectives, particularly in promoting international peace and security. Among the means which we use to achieve this objective are activities under the new Defence Diplomacy Mission, which help to dispel hostility, maintain trust and assist in the development of 56
  democratically accountable armed forces. British forces also contribute to defending and upholding human rights through their involvement in a wide range of conflict prevention, peace support and humanitarian operations.

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he intends funding the organisational changes, recruitment of personnel, welfare support and purchase of new equipment for the Regular and Reserve Army as outlined in the strategic defence review. [61361]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The plans outlined in the Strategic Defence Review will be funded from savings generated within the review, as set out in chapter 10 of the White Paper (Cmd 3999), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Strategic Defence Review's objective of making financial savings in the Defence Budget. [62612]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Strategic Defence Review was policy led and had no objective to make financial savings in the Defence Budget. The plans set out in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper require substantial investment to improve inherited areas of weakness and to fund a continuing major equipment programme. The resources needed will come from savings generated from rationalisation in the support area, an increased efficiency programme and smarter procurement.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes are planned to public duties following the strategic defence review. [61337]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Armed Forces personnel will continue to play an important role in State Ceremonial occasions and a range of Public Duties. The Strategic Defence Review has had no effect on our commitment to these duties.

  Strategic Lift Capability
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Britain's strategic lift capability. [61362]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Strategic Defence Review concluded that we need to improve our strategic transport capability, to allow us to move more powerful forces quickly to an overseas location. We are planning to do this through acquiring four additional roll-on/roll-off container ships and, in the short term, four large C-17 aircraft or their equivalent. In the longer term, we are considering a replacement for our remaining elderly transport aircraft, for which the European Future Large Aircraft is a contender.

  Defence Attachés
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new defence attaché liaison and exchange posts he intends to create. [61364]
  57
  Mr. George Robertson
  We are currently reviewing the world-wide distribution of attachés in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I shall write to my hon. Friend once the results of the review are available.

  Service Museums and Archives
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of service museums and archives. [61366]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department will continue to provide grant-in-aid funding in support of the six Principal Service Museums and their collections. In addition, funding will continue to be made available to the 69 Regimental and Corps museums which currently receive financial assistance.

  Parachute Regiment
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Parachute Regiment. [61367]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Parachute Regiment provides a unique airborne capability. At present it comprises three Regular battalions and two Territorial Army battalions.

  The Strategic Defence Review concludes that, in the future, one Parachute battalion group would be required at very high readiness as part of the first echelon of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces. Two of the three regular Parachute Regiment battalions will form an integral part of the Army's new 16 Air Assault Brigade and will take it in turns to deliver this parachute capability.

  The third Regular Parachute Regiment battalion will not be used in a parachute role, but instead will be used for other infantry tasks.

  As part of the restructuring of the Territorial Army announced by my right hon. Friend on 17 November, the Parachute Regiment will retain one Territorial Army battalion, which will be nationally recruited.

  Equal Opportunities Training Centre, Shrivenham
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the role and objectives of the proposed Tri-Service Equal Opportunities Training Centre at Shrivenham. [61368]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I officially opened the Tri-Service Equal Opportunities Training Centre, co-located with the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, on 25 September 1998. The Centre has been established to deliver equal opportunities training to Service and civilian personnel holding the appointment of Equal Opportunities Advisers and selected military trainers throughout the Service command chain. It also provides, with the assistance of an outside contractor, mandatory awareness seminars for senior Service officers and MOD Senior Civil Servants.

  The work of the Centre complements the wide range of equal opportunities training and initiatives already instigated by the MOD and the three Services. It has a vital role to play in the Armed Forces' drive to eradicate unacceptable behaviour and to explain both organisational
  58
  and individual responsibilities. It encourages a top down—bottom up approach to equal opportunities awareness. This approach ensures that the specific work and initiatives employed by EO advisers are supported at the highest level by senior officers providing positive, informed leadership.

  Peacekeeping Missions (Training)
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training is given to members of the armed forces specific to their role in peacekeeping missions. [61369]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The training for members of the Army prior to deployment on a Peace Support Operation is tailored to the specific nature and requirements of the operation in question. In addition, a short Peace Support Operations unit is included within the syllabus of the Joint Service Command and Staff Course at the tri-Service staff college in Bracknell.

  Staff College, Camberley
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of the buildings of Staff College, Camberley. [61371]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 16 July 1998,Official Report, columns 237–38.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reassess the military justification for garrisoning the Falklands at current levels. [61358]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Strategic Defence Review confirmed the Government's commitment to ensure the security of our Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands. It concluded that there is at present no requirement to alter the size of the Garrison on the Falkland Islands. We continue, however, to keep force levels under review.

  Accounting Officers
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is the accounting officer of each of the armed forces. [62501]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Parliament requires that the format of published Supply Estimates should reflect the way in which a Department manages its expenditure—thus accountability for MOD expenditure is currently aligned with the budgetary system, rather than with individual Services, as follows:Vote 1 (covering operational and support costs): the Permanent Under-Secretary of State;
  Vote 2 (covering logistics services): the Chief of Defence Procurement;
  Vote 3 (covering defence systems procurement and research): the Chief of Defence Procurement;

  59
  Vote 4 (covering armed forces retired pay and pensions): the Permanent Under-Secretary of State.

  Further detail on Defence (Class I) Votes is published on pages 24 to 35 of Supply Estimates 1998–99 (HC-635 of April 1998), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Defence Diplomacy Initiative
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what extra money he will spend in each of the next three years on(a) additional military attaché posts, (b) enhanced arms control programmes, (c) enhanced outreach programmes and (d) military assistance programmes; [62078]

  (2) by how much he will increase over the next three years (a) the Defence Military Assistance Fund and (b) resources dedicated to defence diplomacy; [62056]

  (3) how many defence diplomacy scholarships he will introduce for overseas students; at what cost; and at which institutions; [62076]

  (4) when he will launch the defence diplomacy post-doctoral research fellowship; how much it will cost; and which British university will be the joint sponsor; [62077]

  (5) how many additional military special adviser posts (a) have been created since 1 May 1997 and (b) will be created in each of the next three years; and what is the location of these posts; [62073]

  (6) how he will make greater use of short-term training teams; [62074]

  (7) what additional courses he is planning for overseas military personnel. [62075]

  Mr. George Robertson
  As part of our Defence Diplomacy initiative, we intend to increase the Defence Military Assistance Fund by around £5 million in 1999–2000, and by up to £15 million per annum in the two subsequent years. Most of these additional resources will be used for Defence Diplomacy-related activities, including to fund attaché posts, and enhanced arms control, outreach and wider military assistance programmes.

  In particular, the initiative has placed new emphasis on the provision of high-quality training and education in Britain for overseas students, for which we already have an excellent reputation. We are therefore launching a dedicated Defence Diplomacy Scholarship Scheme, with the aim of introducing selected overseas officers and officials to the principles of Defence Diplomacy. We are currently considering how best to organise this scheme, including funding arrangements and options for the location of the training. We will then be able to determine the exact number of scholarships we can offer and to whom. In parallel, we are sponsoring a Defence Diplomacy Research Fellowship to help develop a greater understanding of the requirements of the Defence Diplomacy Mission and to enable us better to judge the impact of the specific activities we undertake. I expect to be able to make formal announcements on the details of the Scholarship Scheme and the Research Fellowship in the near future.
  60
  Eight Adviser posts have been established with the Defence Ministries and Armed Forces of Central and Eastern European States since 1 May 1997: three are in Romania, two in Lithuania and one each with the NATO de-mining mission in Albania, the Baltic States Battalion and the Baltic States Squadron. Two advisers were sent to the Ukraine in the past 12 months, but these posts were of a specifically short duration and have ceased to exist. On current plans, a civilian planning and finance adviser will take up post with the Hungarian Ministry of Defence in January 1999 and an officer is to join the Staff of the Baltic Defence College. We are also actively pursuing a Slovenian request for an adviser to be attached for six months early next year. We have also offered to provide Advisers for most central and eastern European countries.

  Short-Term Training Teams provide a cost-effective way of training overseas military personnel. The creation of the new Defence Diplomacy mission and the allocation of the additional resources to this area that I have announced will enable us to make increased use of such teams. In particular, we will look to use them to assist with the development of the skills and structures needed by modern democratically accountable armed forces, building upon the valuable work of this kind which such teams have carried out in the past in central and eastern Europe and elsewhere.

  In addition, approximately 4,000 military personnel from over 100 countries receive training at UK defence establishments each year. We are also considering how to expand on this part of our Defence Diplomacy effort.

  South Coast Defence Trials
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the report of the review of the south coast defence trials between 1964 and 1977 by Professor Brian Spratt will be made publicly available on completion. [62042]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  It is expected that Professor Spratt's report of his review of the south coast defence trials will be completed early in 1999. It will be made publicly available when completed.

  Veterans' Advice Unit
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the activities of the Veterans' Advice Unit since it was set up. [62125]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Ministry of Defence Veterans' Advice Unit is a telephone advice line—telephone number 08456 02 03 02, charging callers at local rates which is listed in all telephone directories under "Ministry of Defence Veterans' Advice Unit".

  The primary purpose of the Unit is to provide a telephone focal point for the UK's estimated 15 million ex-Service men and women and their dependants, acting as a signpost to advise callers where, when, and how best to obtain expert help on issues of concern to them. It aims to maximise the impact of current health care, social and welfare services provided by Government Departments, Agencies and non-governmental organisations.

  The Unit is staffed by serving Warrant Officers specifically chosen for their ability to communicate across all sections of Service background and for their extensive

  61
  and wide range of experience. They have been specifically trained in telephone communication skills and have served attachments to TRBL's Legionline and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association's Forces Help inquiry line to learn at first hand from their experience in this field.

  Since I opened it on 5 October, the Unit has taken about 1,500 calls and the rate of calls has risen over time as awareness of the Unit's existence becomes more widespread. Most calls can be dealt with immediately, but some require investigative work and a subsequent call back to the inquirer.

  The range of problems dealt with has been diverse, including Home care and Housing, Falklands and Gulf War issues, Finance, the Tracing of Relatives, War Graves and Historical records, among others. However, the largest number of calls have concerned Pensions, Employment, the Provision of Medals and information about the Unit itself.

  Since the launch, some 90,000 leaflets publicising the Unit have been distributed through Resettlement Offices, The Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO), The Royal British Legion, SSAFA-Forces Help and other veterans' organisations and charities including the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA), the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) and the Regular Forces Employment Association, among others. Copies of the leaflet have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The leaflet has been, or is being, sent to DSS Benefit Offices nationwide, the War Pensions Agency and Citizens Advice Bureaux. The MOD is continuing to look for ways in which the Unit can be publicised, including, for example, the possibility of displaying leaflets in Post Offices. The military media, such as Navy News, Soldier magazine, RAF News and the British Forces Broadcasting Service have carried items about the Unit.

  Military Satellites
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made since 16 December 1997 in respect of a joint French, German and United Kingdom commitment to a new generation of military satellites. [62279]

  Mr. Spellar
  The UK considered a range of procurement options, including collaborative, national conventional and national Public Finance Initiative (PFI) solutions to meet our requirements for the next generation of UK military satellite communications, known generically as SKYNET 5. In order to allow the UK to consider fully the collaborative option, known as TRIMILSATCOM, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with France and Germany on 16 December 1997 and tenders for the full range of options were received in February 1998.

  Following a thorough evaluation of the options by the UK, it was clear that TRIMILSATCOM would not meet the UK's requirements in an affordable way, and, crucially, would not be ready in time to replace our existing satellites when they went out of service. The assessment also showed that a National PFI approach had the potential to offer an affordable and timely solution. It
  62
  was therefore decided that the UK would not proceed with the TRIMILSATCOM PD programme. Our partners were informed accordingly on 12 August 1998.

  We now plan to let two parallel design study contracts for a UK PFI solution in early 1999, with completion planned by the end of 2000. We envisage placing an Implementation contract some 12 months later, with the system coming into service in the middle of the decade.

  France and Germany are being kept informed of the project's progress and their officials were briefed on the PFI programme on 3 December 1998.

  Land-based Biological Detection Equipment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of the increased procurement of land-based biological detection equipment announced by the Minister for Defence Procurement on 26 November 1998. [62016]

  Mr. Spellar
  The increased procurement of additional land-based biological defence equipment has a value of some £65 million. A number of Prototype Biological Detection Systems are being rapidly procured, some of which have already come into service. The planned procurement of Integrated Biological Detection Systems has been increased and we are also planning to develop and procure new Remote Biological Detection Systems.

  C-130J Transport Aircraft
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the C-130J transport aircraft will enter service. [63096]

  Mr. Spellar
  On current plans the RAF will commence C-130J operations at RAF Lyneham in November 1999. This is over two years later than the original delivery date. The In-Service Date is defined as delivery of the 12th aircraft, and this is now estimated to be in May 2000, 22 months later than originally planned. The delay has arisen as a result of a succession of problems in Lockheed Martin's overall programme to design and produce the aircraft. The Department is receiving liquidated damages from Lockheed Martin to compensate for additional costs associated with running on the current C-130K aircraft. It is estimated that the total liquidated damages for late delivery of the aircraft, based on the above delivery schedule, will amount to some £50 million.

  Retirement (Ethnic Minorities)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets his Department has set for boosting recruitment among Britain's ethnic minorities. [61346]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Hamilton).

  Armed Forces (Education and Training)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to increase education and training opportunities in the armed forces. [61365]
  63
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We already provide a wide range of education and training opportunities for Armed Forces personnel. Our Learning Forces initiative extends from recruitment to resettlement and beyond. It is a major contribution to the Government's commitment to improving educational opportunities and to ensuring that the qualifications Service personnel receive are fully recognised and transferable when they return to civilian life.

  Al Shifa Pharmaceutical Factory
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his statement on 23 October in the A1 Sharq A1 Aursat newspaper, what evidence he has that the Al Shifa pharmaceutical factory was manufacturing offensive weapons or materials. [61463]

  Mr. George Robertson
  We have the assurance of the United States Government that their decision to resort to military action was based on compelling evidence that the Al Shifa factory was connected with chemical weapons development or manufacture. It would be inappropriate to discuss the details of the intelligence on which this was based, which are withheld in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Army Personnel
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he plans to increase Army establishments by 3,300 personnel. [62014]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Initial changes to the Army establishment were made at the beginning of November to reflect the additional 3,352 personnel agreed in the Strategic Defence Review. Some of the manpower increases will, however, not take effect until 2002. The Army remains on course to achieve full staffing of the new establishment by around 2004.

  Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his conclusions following the review of the national defence response to the risks posed by(a) nuclear, (b) biological and (c chemical weapons. [62015]

  Mr. George Robertson
  We hope to place a paper in the Library shortly.

  Naval Exhibition, Chile
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Minister for the Armed Forces attended the naval exhibition in Valparaiso, Chile; and if he will make a statement. [62071]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  By mutual agreement, my planned visit to EXPONAVAL 98 in Valparaiso, Chile on 30 November was postponed as Mr. O. Guzman, the Chilean Defence Minister, was not in the country on that day.

  E-mail Addresses
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to review the allocation of e-mail 64
  addresses to personnel for whom his Department is responsible; when he expects to extend this facility to defence attachés; and if he will make a statement. [62099]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD makes extensive use of computer systems and a high proportion of staff use internal e-mail facilities as their principal method of circulating documents and other correspondence. However, for security reasons the Department's current policy is that external e-mail accounts are allocated only where there is a justified business case. Where these are provided, the facility is generally on a stand alone computer or network, again for security reasons.

  As part of the work to establish a link during the coming year to the Government Secure Intranet, the MOD will be examining the opportunities for providing access to the Internet (including e-mail) for some personnel. The Department currently has no plans to provide Internet e-mail accounts to all of its personnel.

  Support for Defence and Service Attachés is mainly provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Most Embassies and High Commissions have an Internet and e-mail facility, through which Attachés can be reached.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EU Renewable Energy Task Force
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made to date in establishing a European Union task force on renewable energy; if its membership and initial meeting date have been agreed; and if he will make a statement. [61934]

  Mr. Battle
  At the Energy Council on November 13, the UK stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum created by the Commission's 1997 White Paper ("Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy") and the Council Resolution on renewables adopted under the UK Presidency in May. I suggested that the establishment of a Commission led "task force" of senior experts on renewables could contribute to this.

  This suggestion builds on an idea in the White Paper that a working group involving Commission and Member States be established to monitor measures undertaken and evaluate the impact of policy decisions with regard to the use of renewable energy sources. This group has met only once in 1998.

  The Commission have not yet responded on the idea of a task force, but I understand they plan to hold a further meeting of their working group early in 1999.

  If the idea of a Task Force on renewables is taken forward, it will be for the Commission to decide how this is to be constituted. Most Commission chaired committees have 2 representatives per Member State.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the legal advice which he has received in respect of any potential conflicts of interest arising from his roles as
  65
  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister with responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company. [61987]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: No. Legal advice of this nature attracts legal professional privilege, and as such is exempt from disclosure under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he sought the advice of his Permanent Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry about potential conflicts of interest arising from his position as Secretary of State and as the sponsoring Minister of the New Millennium Experience Company; and what advice he received. [61996]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: Under normal Departmental procedures I received guidance on handling conflicts of interest in relation to decisions on competition cases on my appointment as Secretary of State. I received further advice in respect of competition issues involving sponsors of the Millennium Dome shortly afterwards. Following discussions with the Permanent Secretary and other officials, I announced on 6 August that I was satisfied that in relation to the British Airways/American Airlines alliance I could exercise my responsibilities properly. I also announced that I would consider any further competition cases involving companies associated with the Dome with similar care and would stand aside if I could not act, and be seen to act, fairly and impartially.

  Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) Government and (b) EU funding will be made available to replace the KONVER funding of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Chelmsford. [61888]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: I understand that the Advanced Manufacturing Centre has expressed confidence that they will be financially viable from the year 2000.

  With regard to future EU support, the Commission has proposed that from 2000 onwards EU training support will be available through the new Objective 3 for areas such as Essex. In addition, although the KONVER II Programme finishes at the end of 1999, European Social Fund moneys can be spent until the end of June 2000 while moneys from the European Regional Development Fund can be spent until the end of 2001, provided they are committed by the end of 1999.

  Electronic Commerce
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of the submissions received in response to the Government's consultation on electronic commerce. [61995]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: A Summary of Responses was placed in the Library when I made a statement on Secure Electronic Commerce on 27 April 1998, Official Report, columns 26–27.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many informal meetings at which Government business was discussed he has had with(a) the Ford Motor Company, (b) Thames Water, (c) GEC, (d) British Telecom, (e) Tesco, (f) BSkyB and (g) Manpower since becoming Secretary of State. [61985]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: I had a meeting with BT on 30 October, and met representatives from BT and BSkyB when they attended a meeting of the Information Age Partnerships on 19 November along with representatives of around 30 other companies involved in the Partnership. I have had no meetings with any of the other companies since becoming Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Combined Heat and Power Station, Castleford
  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is yet in a position to make his decision on Yorkshire CoGen Ltd's application to construct a combined heat and power generating station at Castleford in West Yorkshire. [62932]

  Mr. Battle
  On Thursday 3 December 1998 I granted consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Yorkshire CoGen Ltd's application for my consent to construct a 56 MW combined heat and power generating station at the Hickson and Welch chemical works at Castleford.

  I have placed a copy of the decision letter in the Library of the House.

  Afro-Caribbean Businesses
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what programmes TECs administer to encourage Afro-Caribbeans to go into business. [61169]

  Mrs. Roche
  Business Link partnerships, in which TECs are a key partner, provide a range of high quality services to meet the needs of all established and potential businesses in their area.

  The Department is working with the Business Link Network to ensure that ethnic minority businesses, including Afro-Caribbean entrepreneurs, are aware of the support available through BL partnerships and that those services are accessible and relevant.

  Export Control Organisation
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the staff changes by grade in the Export Control Organisation since 3 May. [61930]

  Mrs. Roche
  The table shows the staff by grade in the Export Control Organisation on 3 May 1998 and on 30 November 1998.

  Grade

  3 May 1998

  30 November 1998

  Senior Civil Service

  1

  1

  Range 11

  2

  2

  Range 10

  2

  2

  Range 9

  14

  14

  Range 8

  23

  22

  Range 7

  5

  5

  Range 6

  14

  17

  67

  Grade

  3 May 1998

  30 November 1998

  Range 5

  4

  4

  Range 4

  28

  26

  Range 3

  7

  8

  Range 2

  32

  37

  Range 2/Data Processor

  3

  4

  Range 1

  1

  1

  Total

  136

  143

  Notes:

  (i) Vacancies occur at the margins from time to time due to retirements, transfers etc. Such vacancies are filled as soon as practicable.

  (ii) My previous answer to the hon. Member on 6 July 1998, Official Report, columns 375–76, gave the comparison between the current DTI structure and the former, more commonly known, Civil Service grades

  Tobacco
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to tobacco companies about marketing practices in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [61481]

  Mr. Wilson
  In the absence of any relevant international agreement, it is for individual Governments, whether in developing or developed countries, to establish their own policies on how the marketing of tobacco products in their own domestic markets should be regulated. UK tobacco companies operating in those countries must comply with these policies but I would hope that such companies would apply the highest standards of marketing practices wherever they operate.

  Aerospace Research
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department provided for research and development on civil aerospace in each of the last five years; and if he will make it his policy to increase the amount provided. [62373]

  Mr. Battle
  The information on CARAD and launch investment refers to support for civil aeronautics and excludes support to the space industry.

  Funding provided for civil aeronautics through the Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme during each of the five years FY1993–94 to FY 1997–98 was:

  £k

  1993–94

  23,040

  1994–95

  23,358

  1995–96

  24,538

  1996–97

  23,844

  1997–98

  24,635

  As far as CARAD is concerned, no decisions have yet been made about detailed DTI budget allocations in future years.
  68
  Support is provided by the Government for development of civil aerospace projects in the form of a repayable risk-sharing investment known as launch investment. For the period requested this funding was:

  £ million

  1993–94

  0.0

  1994–95

  0.0

  1995–96

  16.4

  1996–97

  1.3

  1997–98

  50.0

  Applications for launch investment are considered on their merits and against other competing demands on public expenditure.

  The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) also invests in aerospace related research. Over the last five years £12.5 million has been targeted through the industrially led Innovative Manufacture Initiative (IMI) Aerospace Programme.

  £ million

  1993–94

  0.0

  1994–95

  0.0

  1995–96

  5.8

  1996–97

  2.7

  1997–98

  3.5

  Note:

  Forecast outturn for IMI in 1998–99 is £2.5 million and another £2.5 million has been committed to this programme for 1999–2000.

  More broadly, EPSRC has funded £87 million (including funding for inter-disciplinary research centres and an engineering design centre) over the last five years in research related to manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft and their components. In addition, underpinning research amounting to £7.3 million currently exists for aerodynamics.

  Further opportunities for support of civil aerospace research and development exist in the recently launched managed programmes on Systems Integration, Materials Processing and Integrated Design and Manufacture with annual budgets of £4.5 million, £6 million and £1.5 million respectively.

  Finally, EPSRC expects to consider funding proposals arising under Defence and Aerospace Research Partnerships (DARPs), a recent initiative launched by the Defence, Aerospace and Systems Panel.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what emergency measures are in place to provide back-up for the utilities in case of computer failures caused by the millennium bug. [62202]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: The utilities already have contingency plans in place to deal with an emergency. They are developing additional measures to respond to any failure caused by computer date changes in the Year 2000. The Department and the Government as a whole have a number of measures to respond to an emergency.
  69
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to ensure that the utilities achieve millennium bug compliance by the year 2000. [62201]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Department is working with all the key players to ensure that the public has confidence that there will be no disruption to key infrastructure services for which it has responsibility, as a result of the Millennium Bug.

  DTI is itself in direct contact with the principal companies in these sectors, their regulators, Action 2000, Cabinet Office and others. It also participates in the National Infrastructure Forum.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 18 November 1998, Official Report, columns 651–53, which provide further details on the position in the oil and gas, telecoms and electricity sectors.

  Nuclear Safeguards
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what payments(a) BNFL and (b) UKAEA make to the Government to meet the costs of applying safeguards to the companies' nuclear facilities and operations; and what was the total cost of the application of nuclear safeguards in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [62493]

  Mrs. Roche
  Nuclear safeguards in the United Kingdom are applied by Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The activities of the two organisations are funded through the contributions of their member states. Costs to UK nuclear operators do arise however from the requirements placed upon them to maintain nuclear materials accountancy systems and receive safeguards inspections. Neither Euratom nor the IAEA break down the costs of applying safeguards in individual countries. Figures which are available to us show that, in 1996, some 30 per cent. of Euratom and 4 per cent. of IAEA days of safeguards inspection effort were devoted to the UK. However, safeguards inspection days provide only a partial indication of total safeguards costs.

  Radioactive Waste (Germany)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the specifications of the wastes to be returned to Germany under the agreement between the German and United Kingdom Governments on the treatment of irradiated German origin spent nuclear fuel by BNFL, dated 21 March 1991, Cm 1639 were agreed to be satisfactory; and if he will place in the Library copies of subsequent exchanges of notes on the repatriation arrangements for radioactive wastes arising from reprocessed German fuel. [62492]

  Mr. Battle
  Since 1976, all BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel for overseas customers have been underpinned by inter-governmental exchanges of letters covering such issues as the return of wastes and the assurances over the application of international safeguards. The arrangements for the return of the wastes are a commercial matter between BNFL and its overseas customers, subject to meeting the appropriate regulatory requirements.

  TACIS
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the late payment of EU TACIS fund invoices submitted by British companies. [62069]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not received any representations regarding the late payment of EU Tacis fund invoices submitted by British companies. This subject was discussed during a meeting between my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and representatives from the British Consultants Bureau on 1 October. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), also raised the issue with the Commission in Brussels on 16 November, following up earlier action by senior officials at the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to issue guarantees under the Loan Guarantee Scheme in euros for loans made in euros; and if he will make a statement. [62253]

  Mrs. Roche
  At present the Department has no plans to issue guarantees under the Loan Guarantee Scheme in euro for loans made in euro.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make an announcement on the future of regional selective assistance. [62393]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government's approach to regional policy, including Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), will be set out in the forthcoming Competitiveness White Paper.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister flew in February from Liverpool to London; how that Minister travelled to Liverpool; what was the purpose of the visit; if he will list the engagements which the Minister undertook; who accompanied the Minister; and what was the cost of the flight to his Department. [60905]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 November 1998]: My hon. Friend the Minister of State flew from Liverpool to London in February this year.

  The Minister travelled to Halewood, Liverpool from his home town of Wigan by Government Car Service. The purpose of the visit was to attend the announcement of the Jaguar X400 to Halewood through provision of £43 million of aid support, both safeguarding and bringing new jobs to Halewood.

  The Minister's engagements were to meet Halewood's Production Director, trade union representatives and the media.

  The Minister was accompanied by his Assistant Private Secretary.
  71
  A private aircraft was chartered due to the Minister's necessity to return to London for an urgent meeting. Normal scheduled flights from Manchester airport, and travel to the airport, would not have given enough time for the Minister to return to London to attend this meeting. The cost of the flight to the department was £1,368.87.

  Scheduled flights were planned to be used had it not been for the urgency of the Minister's return.

  Growth Promoters
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the annual United Kingdom production of animal growth promoters in each of the past 10 years; and what percentage was exported. [61817]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have been asked to reply.

  Annual data on the United Kingdom production and export of growth promoters are not currently compiled. Figures from the trade organisation, the National Office of Animal Health Limited, indicate that throughout the EU growth promoters account for about 15 per cent. of all (human and veterinary) antimicrobials. However, the EU Commission has recently asked member states to collect detailed information on the production and export of antimicrobial growth promoters (and coccidiostats) on an annual basis. It is intended that collection of this information will start on 1 July 1999.

HEALTH

  Lifecare NHS Trust
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received about financial irregularities at Lifecare NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [62780]

  Mr. Milburn
  The police are investigating a number of financial irregularities at Lifecare National Health Service Trust. The chairman has resigned and the chief executive and finance director have taken special leave during the continuing police investigation.

  South Thames Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive has asked the chairman of Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust to look urgently into the corporate governance and management arrangements within Lifecare NHS Trust.

  Grandparents (Access Rights)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the rights of grandparents to have access to grandchildren below 18 years of age who are in foster care. [62861]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have no plans to review the rights of grandparents to have access to grandchildren below 18 years of age who are in foster care. Current Children Act 1989 regulations and guidance already provide an adequate framework for contact between grandparents and their grandchildren in foster care.

  Barnet Health Authority
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra funds have been, or are planned to be, made available to Barnet Health Authority since 1 May 1997; for what purposes those funds have been earmarked; and if he will make a statement. [62593]

  Mr. Milburn
  My hon. Friend tabled a similar question on 17 November. I have today replied by letter to both questions.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on reducing hospital waiting lists by Barnet Health Authority; and if he will make a statement. [62594]

  Mr. Milburn
  Barnet Health Authority is on course to meet its waiting list target of 5,846 by March 1999. The health authority's waiting list fell by 371, or 5.1 per cent., during October 1998, the largest reduction in the North Thames region. At the end of the month the waiting list stood at 6,865, an improvement on the level expected at this stage in the year. The health authority is continuing to work closely with local trusts to ensure that this encouraging progress is maintained.

  Staffordshire Ambulance Service
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will inquire into the considerations which have led hospitals in the West Midlands to be unable to take patients carried by the Staffordshire Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement. [62539]

  Mr. Milburn
  Comprehensive arrangements exist for managing escalations in demand for accident and emergency services in Birmingham and Solihull, and the Black Country is working towards such an arrangement. Acute hospitals work together to ensure that sufficient accident and emergency capacity is available to meet the needs of the community at all times.

  Within these arrangements, a "respite" can be called by an individual hospital in the Black Country with the agreement of its trust chief executive, normally for a maximum of three hours. For Birmingham and Solihull, an additional measure is that the requests for respite have to be sanctioned by the emergency capacity manager. As soon as such a situation is declared, it is communicated to other nearby hospitals so they can absorb the excess demand.

  Several respite periods were called in hospitals across part of the West Midlands during a period of unusual demand from 29 November to 1 December. At no time did these break existing arrangements and patients were appropriately diverted to other hospitals.

  NHS Staff (Millennium Premium Payment)
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to NHS trusts regarding premium payments to NHS staff working on New Year's Eve 1999 and New Year's Day 2000. [62635]
  73
  Mr. Milburn
  Health Service Circular "Year 2000 Problem—Human Resource Issues (HSC 1998/219)" was issued to all National Health Service employers on 20 November 1998. Copies are available in the Library.

  Drugs
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Crown review on the prescribing, supply and administration of drugs to be published. [63055]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have received the final report and expect to be in a position to announce plans for its publication shortly.

  Fundholding
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans he has made in the event that no Act to replace fundholding by primary care groups has received Royal Assent by 31 March 1999. [62642]

  Mr. Milburn
  No new primary legislation is needed in order to implement our plans to establish Primary Care Groups as Committees of Health Authorities from 1 April 1999.

  General Practitioners (Patient Registration)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population is not registered with a GP. [60994]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information is held centrally on the number of patients registered with a general practitioner. The total number of patients on the lists of Unrestricted Principals in England at 1 October 1997 was 50,904,322.

  Source:

  DOH GMP Census 1 October 1997.

  Dental Services (Homeless People)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what special provision has been made for homeless people to have access to dental services. [61004]

  Mr. Milburn
  One of the functions of the Community Dental Service is to provide dental treatment for people with special needs, including homeless people. In addition, health authorities may make arrangements with a number of general dental practitioners to provide emergency dental services on a sessional basis for unregistered patients.

  Clerical and Administrative Staff
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clerical and administrative staff were employed by the National Health Service on(a) 30 September 1985, (b) 30 September 1990, (c) 30 September 1995 and (d) 30 September 1996. [60944]
  74
  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 30 November 1998]:

  National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services: Clerical and administration staff in the NHS, in England, as at 30 September for each year.

  Year

  Whole time equivalent

  1985

  110,940

  1990

  120,040

  1995

  133,120

  1996

  132,290

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  Due to a change in classification in 1995 for collecting the data, from payscale to occupation code, 1995 and 1996 figures are non-comparable with earlier years.

  Source:

  Department of Health Annual Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Patient Referrals
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements the Government have put in place to ensure that patients referred to hospital trusts without a contract from their health authority or primary care group are accepted as referrals by those trusts. [61800]

  Mr. Milburn
  From 1 April 1999, all patients will be treated under service agreements. Under new arrangements for out of area treatments, any referrals that cannot be planned for in a service agreement between the health authority and the primary care group and the National Health Service trust to whom the referral is made will be covered by a service agreement with the HA or PCG that is the main commissioner for the NHS trust concerned. HA/PCG cash limits will be adjusted to allow for this.

  Out of area treatments will not require prior approval. Patients will continue to be treated according to clinical priority and all patients will be covered by the standards for quality and effectiveness specified in the main commissioner's service agreement. The freedom of doctors to refer is unchanged by this new system.

  Private Prescriptions
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS general practitioners have been found to be in breach of paragraph 43 of their terms of service for issuing a private prescription to patients on their list for each of the last 10 years. [61798]

  Mr. Milburn
  We do not have reliable information about decisions taken before 1 April 1995 (when the Health Services Appeal Authority came into existence), but since that date there have been no recorded instances of a general practitioner being found in breach of Paragraph 43 of the terms of service.

  Cardiac Diseases
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waiting for cardiac surgery in the last five years have died before the procedure was carried out. [61941]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not available centrally.
  75
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (i) emergency and (ii) elective cardiac operations were carried out by the NHS in England in each of the last five years. [61943]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information for the last five years is shown in the table. 1997–98 is the latest year for which figures are available.

  Cardiac operations Ordinary admissions and daycases combined: Completed counts of all episodes by method of admission for cardiac operations: NHS trusts hospitals in England from 1993–94 to 1997–98

  Year

  Cardiac operations

  Total

  Emergency

  Elective

  1993–94

  23,065

  89,675

  112,740

  1994–95

  26,240

  100,708

  126,948

  1995–96

  25,776

  102,376

  128,152

  1996–971

  28,714

  105,515

  134,229

  1997–981

  30,370

  111,988

  142,358

  1 Figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are provisional, no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls in data, (i.e. the data is ungrossed) OPCS 4 codes used are KOO-K71.9.

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the amounts spent by the NHS in each of the last five years on the prevention of cardiac diseases. [61944]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is not possible to identify total spend on the prevention of cardiac diseases throughout the National Health Service. A considerable amount of preventative work is undertaken by general practitioners, primary care teams, health authorities and trusts, but the amounts spent cannot readily be split between prevention and treatment.

  In addition, many health promotion activities on, for example, smoking cessation, diet and physical activity have a range of health benefits and it is difficult to apportion the cost of these between different diseases.

  Cardiac Surgery
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) are waiting for cardiac surgery, (b) have been waiting more than six months for cardiac surgery and (c) have been waiting more than 12 months for cardiac surgery in each health authority. [61946]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on the number of residents of each English Health Authority waiting for hospital admission by speciality, including cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology, is published quarterly in Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England (Resident Based). Copies are available in the Library. The latest available data for cardiothoracic surgery are shown in the table.

  Numbers waiting for cardiothoracic surgery at end-September 1998

  Health Authoity

  Total

  Less than 6 months

  Less than 12 months

  Wigan and Bolton Health Authority

  287

  134

  49

  West Pennine Health Authority

  202

  110

  36

  76

  Numbers waiting for cardiothoracic surgery at end-September 1998

  Health Authority

  Total

  Less than 6 months

  Less than 12 months

  Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority

  195

  86

  28

  Manchester Health Authority

  193

  89

  24

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority

  212

  115

  23

  North West Lancashire Health Authority

  173

  51

  21

  South and West Devon Health Authority

  307

  112

  20

  Bury and Rochdale Health Authority

  152

  79

  20

  South Cheshire Health Authority

  143

  57

  15

  Shropshire Health Authority

  153

  81

  14

  Brent and Harrow Health Authority

  169

  54

  14

  Wolverhampton Health Authority

  92

  52

  12

  Suffolk Health Authority

  256

  115

  11

  East London and City Health Authority

  89

  84

  11

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority

  187

  81

  11

  Morecambe Bay Health Authority

  106

  45

  11

  Liverpool Health Authority

  160

  43

  11

  North Staffordshire Health Authority

  176

  69

  10

  West Surrey Health Authority

  186

  65

  10

  Wiltshire Health Authority

  128

  57

  10

  Stockport Health Authority

  93

  50

  10

  West Kent Health Authority

  294

  123

  9

  North Essex Health Authority

  239

  114

  9

  Bedfordshire Health Authority

  102

  31

  9

  South Lancashire Health Authority

  119

  29

  9

  Sheffield Health Authority

  207

  77

  8

  Salford and Trafford Health Authority

  119

  64

  8

  East Lancashire Health Authority

  134

  36

  8

  North Cheshire Health Authority

  102

  35

  8

  West Hertfordshire Health Authority

  114

  33

  8

  St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority

  100

  29

  8

  Bradford Health Authority

  171

  71

  7

  South Staffordshire Health Authority

  149

  70

  7

  Berkshire Health Authority

  188

  50

  7

  Barking and Havering Health Authority

  133

  46

  7

  East and North Hertfordshire Health Authority

  130

  45

  7

  Hillingdon Health Authority

  71

  26

  7

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority

  184

  72

  6

  Doncaster Health Authority

  157

  62

  6

  Gloucestershire Health Authority

  138

  57

  6

  Enfield and Haringey Health Authority

  149

  51

  6

  Barnet Health Authority

  70

  25

  6

  Wakefield Health Authority

  93

  29

  5

  Wirral Health Authority

  69

  21

  5

  Bexley and Greenwich Health Authority

  130

  75

  4

  Calderdale and Kirklees Health Authority

  210

  73

  4

  South Essex Health Authority

  165

  68

  4

  77

  Numbers waiting for cardiothoracic surgery at end-September 1998

  Health Authority

  Total

  Less than 6 months

  Less than 12 months

  North Derbyshire Health Authority

  108

  41

  4

  Sefton Health Authority

  77

  27

  4

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Health Authority

  87

  25

  4

  Leeds Health Authority

  232

  81

  3

  East Kent Health Authority

  174

  66

  3

  Rotherham Health Authority

  107

  38

  3

  North and Mid Hampshire Health Authority

  102

  30

  3

  Croydon Health Authority

  109

  29

  3

  Camden and Islington Health Authority

  80

  25

  3

  North Nottinghamshire Health Authority

  109

  18

  3

  Isle of Wight Health Authority

  83

  7

  3

  Worcestershire Health Authority

  164

  87

  2

  South Humber Health Authority

  134

  65

  2

  East Riding Health Authority

  184

  62

  2

  Lincolnshire Health Authority

  192

  54

  2

  Sandwell Health Authority

  85

  42

  2

  Barnsley Health Authority

  88

  41

  2

  Nottingham Health Authority

  193

  40

  2

  Northamptonshire Health Authority

  108

  39

  2

  Warwickshire Health Authority

  110

  34

  2

  Oxfordshire Health Authority

  90

  33

  2

  West Sussex Health Authority

  150

  32

  2

  Bromley Health Authority

  50

  15

  2

  Birmingham Health Authority

  329

  157

  1

  North Yorkshire Health Authority

  227

  80

  1

  East Norfolk Health Authority

  225

  78

  1

  Dudley Health Authority

  127

  75

  1

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority

  130

  45

  1

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority

  145

  41

  1

  North West Anglia Health Authority

  145

  41

  1

  Buckinghamshire Health Authority

  86

  31

  1

  East Surrey Health Authority

  88

  29

  1

  South Derbyshire Health Authority

  146

  25

  1

  East Sussex Brighton and Hove Health Authority

  131

  18

  1

  Kingston and Richmond Health Authority

  43

  8

  1

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority

  35

  5

  1

  Tees Health Authority

  265

  94

  0

  Durham Health Authority

  182

  60

  0

  Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority

  132

  44

  0

  Newcastle and North Tyneside Health Authority

  150

  43

  0

  Leicestershire Health Authority

  195

  42

  0

  Solihull Health Authority

  76

  38

  0

  Sunderland Health Authority

  77

  34

  0

  North Cumbria Health Authority

  79

  32

  0

  Walsall Health Authority

  80

  31

  0

  Somerset Health Authority

  129

  27

  0

  Cambridge and Huntingdon Health Authority

  105

  26

  0

  Avon Health Authority

  150

  24

  0

  78

  Numbers waiting for cardioythoracic surgery at en-September 1998

  Health Authoirity

  Total

  Less than 6 months

  Less than 12 months

  Northumberland Health Authority

  86

  22

  0

  Herefordshire Health Authority

  44

  21

  0

  Coventry Health Authority

  55

  11

  0

  Dorset Health Authority

  123

  0

  0

  North and East Devon Health Authority

  12

  0

  0

  England Total

  14,109

  5,154

  622

  Research Papers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many series of research papers his Department produces; and what are the names of each of these series of research papers. [62051]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department takes a number of steps to ensure that the research it supports is widely disseminated:The National Health Service research and development health technology assessment programme produces a series of monographs reporting on research findings from projects that it has commissioned. This series called "Health Technology Assessment", is indexed in MEDLINE and EMBASE. The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination and the University of York produce a series of systematic reviews of research. Both of these are funded by the Department.
  Other Departmental/NHS research and development programmes produce special publications when the need arises. These cover individual projects or more general themes.
  The Department actively encourages all of the researchers it funds to publish their findings in peer reviewed journals.
  The Department places particular emphasis on reviews of research and on producing accessible databases of research outputs. The Department funds the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination to produce the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE), which is available on the Internet. The Department also funds the UK Cochrane Centre (which is a major contributor to the international Cochrane Collaboration). The "Cochrane Library", which is available on CD Rom, contains the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  The White Paper "The New NHS" undertook to make research findings from the NHS research and development programme available in a user-friendly format. We are now considering how this can be done and how all of the above can be brought together via the new national electronic library for health.

  Electric Wheelchairs
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to increase the provision of electric wheelchairs; and if he will make a statement. [62297]

  Mr. Hutton
  Electrically powered chairs for indoor use have always been among the range of wheelchairs available through the National Health Service. In 1996, additional funding of £27 million was announced for the provision of electrically powered indoor/outdoor
  79
  wheelchairs. This funding was made available over a four-year period starting in 1996–97. From 1999–2000, the sum of £6 million for the electronically powered indoor/outdoor scheme will become recurrent, allowing maintenance of the increased number of disabled people being supplied with powered wheelchairs.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his proposals for increasing nurses' pay. [62491]

  Mr. Milburn
  Nurses' pay is recommended by the independent review body for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and the professions allied to medicine. We want to see a fair pay rise for nurses, which is affordable and which will support the modernisation of the National Health Service. We have asked the review body in particular to consider improvements to the starting pay of qualified nurses within an affordable overall pay uplift recommendation for all nurses. The recommendations of the review body will be fully considered when received in the new year.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons diagnosed as having MS have their continuing health care managed by a neurologist in association with their general practitioner; and if he will make a statement. [62533]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the form requested. Health care for people with Multiple Sclerosis is the responsibility of relevant health care professionals. Patterns of care vary according to local arrangements for diagnosis, treatment and care and a wide range of National Health Service services are available to people with disabilities and long-term health care needs.

  Diana Nurses
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for funding the Diana nurses beyond the initial three year period; and if he will make a statement. [62245]

  Mr. Hutton
  Following evaluation of the first pioneering teams, it is intended that Diana Community Children's Nursing teams will be extended to provide care to people across the United Kingdom. These teams will become a permanent memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales. The experience of the early pioneering teams will be used to determine the level of funding in future years.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 October regarding a constituent (Ref. POH(2)5608/15.). [62788]

  Mr. Milburn
  I regret the delay and will be replying to my hon. Friend shortly.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Open Access Programme
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the objective of the Employment Service's computer terminal Open Access programme; [62326]

  (2) for how long the pilot of the Employment Service Open Access programme has been running; and what plans he has to make the programme available nationally. [62327]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Chris Pond, dated December 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your questions regarding the Employment Service's computer terminal Open Access Programme, how long the pilot has been running and what plans he has made to make it available nationally. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The key objective of the Open Access pilot programme, which has been running in ten Jobcentres in our Newcastle, Manchester South and Wiltshire districts since March, is to trial the use by jobseekers of self-service technology to search out and apply for jobs. The kiosks replace the system of displaying printed vacancy cards, which generally contain limited information, on boards in Jobcentres. Using the kiosks jobseekers can obtain detailed information about a job, print it out, and contact an employer directly from the kiosk telephone.
  We are currently evaluating the results to date of these pilots in order to assess their effectiveness. At the same time, together with our strategic IT partner, EDS, we are looking at how we can best make use of new technology more widely, including kiosks, public use PCs and the Internet, to ensure that our further development of open access technology can make the most effective use of all of these information media. We hope to reach interim conclusions early next year.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to prepare the Employment Service for the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in April 1999; [62325]

  (2) what measures he proposes to ensure that the Employment Service does not advertise jobs at a wage below the legal minimum; [62323]

  (3) what measures the Employment Service is taking to promote the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage. [62324]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  81
  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Chris Pond, dated December 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the Employment Service's preparations for the introduction, promotion and enforcement of the national minimum wage. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Prior to the coming into force of the national minimum wage legislation, we intend to issue guidance to Jobcentres making clear that, from April 1999, they should not accept from employers vacancies which do not comply with the requirements of the legislation and its associated regulations. From early next year staff in Jobcentres will be asked to alert employers using the Jobcentre, who may currently offer rates below those established by the national minimum wage legislation, to the steps they will need to take to ensure that they comply with the legislation. The Employment Service will also display posters and literature in Jobcentres in support of the publicity campaign by the DTI to raise awareness of the national minimum wage.
  Once the legislation is in force any complaints which Jobcentres receive concerning employers who may not be meeting the requirements of the legislation will be forwarded to the appropriate enforcement agency to investigate.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Age Discrimination
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultation he has had with the Industrial Tribunal Service since May 1997 regarding age discrimination; and when he expects to consult it regarding the draft code on age diversity in employment. [62316]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  My Officials wrote to the Presidents of the Employment Tribunals in October of this year asking for initial reactions to a draft non-statutory Code of Practice on tackling age diversity and asking whether it raised issues for the Tribunals. The Presidents were subsequently sent copies of the published consultation document soon after its launch.

  Employment Tribunals are independent bodies who are practised in determining the reasonableness of employment practices in particular cases. Their views, informed by their expertise in this area, will, therefore, provide contribution to the consultation exercise.

  Bugbusters
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much of the budget for the Bugbusters programme has been spent to date; and of that amount how much has been spent on(a) training, (b) administration and (c) publicity; [61174]

  (2) how many training courses have been accredited on the Millennium Bugbusters programme; and how many people have completed such courses to date. [61175]

  Mr. Mudie
  As at 27 November 1998, the number of people who had started Bug Buster Training was 1,364, of the number 947 had completed their training. The total number of Millennium Bug Accredited Training Providers is 155 and they have available 1,270 Accredited Training Courses.
  82
  Expenditure brought to account on the Bug Buster Programme in the year to date is £551,000; of this amount £350,000 has been spent on developing training courses and on administration, £135,000 on advertising and publicity costs and £66,000 on training.

  All figures relate to England.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what resources his Department has committed to training small and medium enterprises to deal with year 2000 compliance in the current financial year; and what resources he plans to commit in 1999–2000. [60868]

  Mr. Mudie
  £26 million has been committed in the current financial year to deal with year 2000 compliance. There are no plans at present to commit any resources in 1999–2000.

  National Schools Standards Task Force
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many parent representatives there are on the National Schools Standards Task Force. [61429]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Although there is no designated representative of parents, Task Force members are in regular contact with parents and parents' groups. One of the Task Force's subgroups is actively engaged in involving parents and the community in raising standards.

  New Deal Gateway
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have(a) entered the New Deal Gateway and (b) taken up each New Deal option in the Portsmouth City Council area since the New Deal's inception. [62384]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The latest Government Statistical Service figures for clients in the Portsmouth Unit of Delivery show that to the end of September, 143 people had secured unsubsidised jobs.

  1,094 young people had entered the Gateway and 217 had joined one of the four options. This breaks down to: 43 on the Employment option; 19 on the Voluntary Sector option; 8 on Environment Task Force; and 147 on the Full-Time Education and Training option.

  I am encouraged by the positive start made in the Portsmouth Unit of Delivery, which reflects the encouraging start to the programme overall.

  Schools Funding Formula
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the balance of funding between primary and secondary pupils enshrined in their LMS formula in each local education authority in England and Wales. [62350]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table gives, for each local education authority in England, for 1998–99, the average of the budget share per pupil separately for
  83
  primary and secondary schools. Responsibility for schools in Wales rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  LEA-maintained schools in England—1989–99 average funding per pupil

  £

  Local education authority

  Primary

  Secondary

  City of London

  3,032

  0

  Camden

  2,111

  2,821

  Greenwich

  1,949

  2,724

  Hackney

  2,160

  2,860

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,153

  2,880

  Islington

  2,089

  2,845

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,443

  3,255

  Lambeth

  2,280

  2,985

  Lewisham

  2,072

  2,876

  Southwark

  2,037

  2,654

  Tower Hamlets

  2,140

  2,727

  Wandsworth

  1,986

  2,562

  Westminster

  2,112

  2,792

  Barking/Dagenham

  1,836

  2,410

  Barnet

  1,815

  2,579

  Bexley

  1,488

  2,291

  Brent

  1,999

  2,758

  Bromley

  1,686

  2,263

  Croydon

  1,799

  2,520

  Ealing

  1,848

  2,437

  Enfield

  1,739

  2,421

  Haringey

  1,852

  2,562

  Harrow

  1,838

  2,631

  Havering

  1,735

  2,610

  Hillingdon

  1,712

  2,630

  Hounslow

  1,904

  2,393

  Kingston

  1,708

  2,302

  Merton

  1,817

  2,340

  Newham

  1,683

  2,519

  Redbridge

  1,618

  2,454

  Richmond

  1,816

  2,353

  Sutton

  1,742

  2,452

  Waltham Forest

  1,867

  2,101

  Birmingham

  1,789

  2,390

  Coventry

  1,647

  2,316

  Dudley

  1,633

  2,234

  Sandwell

  1,548

  2,222

  Solihull

  1,599

  2,163

  Walsall

  1,545

  2,202

  Wolverhampton

  1,453

  2,278

  Knowsley

  1,652

  2,304

  Liverpool

  1,681

  2,226

  St. Helens

  1,524

  2,257

  Sefton

  1,541

  2,328

  Wirral

  1,527

  2,242

  Bolton

  1,521

  2,149

  Bury

  1,424

  2,084

  Manchester

  1,554

  2,257

  Oldham

  1,553

  2,249

  Rochdale

  1,464

  2,160

  Salford

  1,553

  2,709

  Stockport

  1,502

  2,114

  Tameside

  1,458

  2,014

  Trafford

  1,337

  2,187

  Wigan

  1,510

  2,273

  Barnsley

  1,290

  2,008

  Doncaster

  1,560

  2,282

  Rotherham

  1,501

  2,081

  Sheffield

  1,535

  2,080

  Bradford

  1,588

  1,805

  Calderdale

  1,505

  2,227

  Kirklees

  1,475

  2,179

  Leeds

  1,693

  2,272

  Wakefield

  1,431

  1,934

  Gateshead

  1,524

  2,141

  Newcastle

  1,529

  2,118

  84

  LEA-maintained shools in England—1989–99 average funding per pupil

  £

  Local education authority

  Primary

  Secondary

  North Tyneside

  1,534

  2,095

  South Tyneside

  1,459

  1,415

  Sunderland

  1,612

  2,197

  Isles of Scilly

  3,000

  5,000

  Bath and NE Somerset

  1,615

  2,280

  Bristol

  1,674

  2,462

  North Somerset

  1,575

  2,249

  South Gloucestershire

  1,555

  2,181

  Hartlepool

  1,447

  2,132

  Middlesbrough

  1,455

  2,293

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1,546

  2,246

  Stockton on Tees

  1,516

  2,170

  Hull

  1,577

  2,089

  East Riding

  1,482

  2,070

  North East Lincolnshire

  1,583

  2,161

  North Lincolnshire

  1,518

  2,078

  North Yorkshire

  1,546

  2,297

  York

  1,524

  2,241

  Bedfordshire

  1,488

  2,015

  Luton

  1,523

  2,298

  Buckinghamshire

  1,351

  2,024

  Milton Keynes

  1,469

  2,283

  Derbyshire

  1,330

  2,121

  Derby City

  1,320

  2,200

  Dorset

  1,505

  2,028

  Poole

  1,431

  2,044

  Bournemouth

  1,462

  2,124

  Durham

  1,483

  2,141

  Darlington

  1,491

  2,103

  East Sussex

  1,506

  2,281

  Brighton and Hove

  1,522

  2,315

  Hampshire

  1,642

  2,214

  Portsmouth

  1,707

  2,272

  Southampton

  1,753

  2,367

  Leicestershire

  1,544

  2,139

  Leicester City

  1,531

  2,158

  Rutland

  1,691

  0

  Staffordshire

  1,434

  1,947

  Stoke-on-Trent

  1,477

  2,075

  Wiltshire

  1,437

  2,042

  Swindon

  1,452

  2,127

  Bracknell Forest

  1,580

  2,261

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  1,579

  2,194

  West Berkshire

  1,598

  2,211

  Reading

  1,548

  2,291

  Slough

  1,590

  2,399

  Wokingham

  1,520

  2,212

  Cambridgeshire

  1,488

  2,050

  Peterborough

  1,419

  2,148

  Cheshire

  1,542

  2,223

  Halton

  1,587

  2,134

  Warrington

  1,525

  2,157

  Devon

  1,516

  2,170

  Plymouth

  1,533

  2,236

  Torbay

  1,483

  2,171

  Essex

  1,596

  2,295

  Southend-on-Sea

  1,645

  2,374

  Thurrock

  1,635

  2,432

  Herefordshire

  1,526

  2,097

  Worcestershire

  1,466

  1,940

  Kent

  1,596

  2,269

  Medway Towns

  1,561

  2,238

  Lancashire

  1,476

  2,163

  Blackburn with Darwen

  1,463

  2,148

  Blackpool

  1,458

  2,186

  Nottinghamshire

  1,441

  2,096

  Nottingham City

  1,649

  2,155

  Shropshire

  1,480

  2,262

  Telford and Wrekin

  1,375

  2,415

  Cornwall

  1,517

  2,064

  85

  LEA-maintained schools in England—1989–99 average funding per pupil

  £

  Local education authority

  Primary

  Secondary

  Cumbria

  1,577

  2,261

  Gloucestershire

  1,497

  2,097

  Hertfordshire

  1,634

  2,351

  Isle of Wight

  1,641

  2,316

  Lincolnshire

  1,488

  2,271

  Norfolk

  1,663

  2,349

  Northamptonshire

  1,505

  2,118

  Northumberland

  1,544

  2,229

  Oxfordshire

  1,563

  2,095

  Somerset

  1,542

  2,132

  Suffolk

  1,555

  2,335

  Surrey

  1,647

  2,135

  Warwickshire

  1,432

  2,265

  West Sussex

  1,590

  2,243

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities provide information on funding, entrance criteria, institutions' facilities, etc., for disabled students in the form of(a) Braille, (b) audio tape, (c) large print and (d) signing. [62884]

  Mr. Mudie
  At present local education authorities may provide these facilities if they so wish, but there are no figures collected on the number which do so. Implementation of the remaining provisions of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will mean that from October next year service providers (including local education authorities) will be required to make reasonable adjustments to the way in which they provide their service including the provision of information in alternative formats for disabled users of the service.

  Secondary School Pupils
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many secondary schools in(a) Hertfordshire and (b) England have more than 2,000 pupils. [62485]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Six maintained secondary schools in England had more than 2,000 pupils in January 1998. None of them were located in Hertfordshire Local Education Authority area.

  Exclusions
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of secondary school pupils in each local education authority area were permanently excluded from school in 1997–98; and what proportion of all pupils were educated in pupil referral units or equivalent in that year. [62100]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The latest available information on pupils permanently excluded from secondary schools in each Local Education Authority area in England, for the 1996–97 school year, was published in Press Notice 451/98, which is available in the Library.
  86
  Information on pupils in Pupil Referral Units in each Local Education Authority area in England in January 1998 is shown in the following table.

  January 1998

  Number (headcount)

  Total

  Percentage of pupils in pupil referral units

  England

  7,740

  8,260,582

  0.1

  North East

  426

  452,060

  0.1

  Hartlepool

  29

  17,154

  0.2

  Middlesborough

  0

  27,285

  0.0

  Redcar and Cleveland

  55

  26,822

  0.2

  Stockton-on-Tees

  51

  35,427

  0.1

  Darlington

  41

  17,243

  0.2

  Durham

  10

  83,946

  0.0

  Northumberland

  0

  53,329

  0.0

  Gateshead

  20

  32,681

  0.1

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  75

  46,459

  0.2

  North Tyneside

  79

  33,242

  0.2

  South Tyneside

  47

  26,731

  0.2

  Sunderland

  19

  51,741

  0.0

  North West and Merseyside

  820

  1,211,048

  0.1

  North West

  378

  952,097

  0.0

  Cheshire

  99

  170,267

  0.1

  Cumbria

  160

  82,069

  0.2

  Bolton

  5

  50,208

  0.0

  Bury

  59

  32,416

  0.2

  Manchester

  0

  77,066

  0.0

  Oldham

  0

  43,930

  0.0

  Rochdale

  0

  37,526

  0.0

  Salford

  0

  39,802

  0.0

  Stockport

  9

  49,308

  0.0

  Tameside

  26

  39,022

  0.1

  Trafford

  0

  38,760

  0.0

  Wigan

  0

  51,468

  0.0

  Lancashire

  20

  240,255

  0.0

  Merseyside

  442

  258,951

  0.2

  Knowsley

  24

  30,149

  0.1

  Liverpool

  212

  85,627

  0.2

  St. Helens

  0

  31,238

  0.0

  Sefton

  103

  52,233

  0.2

  Wirral

  103

  59,704

  0.2

  Yorkshire and Humber

  961

  866,079

  0.1

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  0

  50,723

  0.0

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  12

  45,713

  0.0

  North East

  Lincolnshire

  1

  29,311

  0.0

  North Lincolnshire

  3

  25,943

  0.0

  York

  72

  27,354

  0.3

  North Yorkshire

  14

  93,097

  0.0

  Barnsley

  0

  35,686

  0.0

  Doncaster

  96

  53,565

  0.2

  Rotherham

  63

  46,590

  0.1

  Sheffield

  136

  78,519

  0.2

  Bradford

  39

  94,911

  0.0

  Calderdale

  0

  36,354

  0.0

  Kirklees

  19

  67,326

  0.0

  Leeds

  245

  122,667

  0.2

  Wakefield

  261

  58,320

  0.4

  East Midlands

  376

  699,425

  0.1

  Derby

  47

  40,136

  0.1

  Derbyshire

  27

  118,638

  0.0

  Leicester City

  0

  52,097

  0.0

  87

  January 1998

  Number (headcount)

  Total

  Percentage of pupils in pupil referral units

  Rutland

  0

  6,627

  0.0

  Leicestershire

  0

  97,370

  0.0

  Lincolnshire

  9

  101,163

  0.0

  Northamptonshire

  239

  110,780

  0.2

  Nottinghamshire

  54

  172,614

  0.0

  West Midlands

  970

  934,120

  0.1

  Hereford and Worcester

  202

  116,162

  0.2

  Shropshire

  2

  72,478

  0.0

  Stoke

  5

  40,544

  0.0

  Staffordshire

  58

  138,521

  0.0

  Warwickshire

  44

  82,779

  0.1

  Birmingham

  391

  188,765

  0.2

  Coventry

  24

  54,195

  0.0

  Dudley

  34

  51,337

  0.1

  Sandwell

  86

  52,929

  0.2

  Solihull

  52

  40,389

  0.1

  Walsall

  0

  50,835

  0.0

  Wolverhampton

  72

  45,186

  0.2

  Eastern

  453

  882,641

  0.1

  Luton

  11

  32,014

  0.0

  Bedfordshire

  14

  69,113

  0.0

  Cambridgeshire

  52

  112,771

  0.0

  Essex

  23

  253,309

  0.0

  Hertfordshire

  184

  190,911

  0.1

  Norfolk

  45

  117,116

  0.0

  Suffolk

  124

  107,407

  0.1

  London

  2,005

  1,153,699

  0.2

  Inner London

  1,006

  413,708

  0.2

  City of London

  0

  1,847

  0.0

  Camden

  84

  29,673

  0.3

  Hackney

  88

  30,435

  0.3

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  118

  20,657

  0.6

  Haringey

  42

  34,878

  0.1

  Islington

  50

  25,048

  0.2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  71

  21,502

  0.3

  Lambeth

  42

  29,718

  0.1

  Lewisham

  127

  37,309

  0.3

  Newham

  34

  46,417

  0.1

  Southwark

  105

  39,778

  0.3

  Tower Hamlets

  153

  37,158

  0.4

  Wandsworth

  92

  35,699

  0.3

  Westminster

  0

  23,589

  0.0

  Outer London

  999

  739,991

  0.1

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  28,534

  0.0

  Barnet

  48

  53,623

  0.1

  Bexley

  68

  39,514

  0.2

  Brent

  41

  38,719

  0.1

  Bromley

  110

  49,558

  0.2

  Croydon

  185

  56,961

  0.3

  Ealing

  136

  48,583

  0.3

  Enfield

  115

  47,778

  0.2

  Greenwich

  75

  38,967

  0.2

  Harrow

  52

  33,214

  0.2

  Havering

  8

  36,972

  0.0

  Hillingdon

  45

  42,374

  0.1

  Hounslow

  23

  36,174

  0.1

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  28

  23,433

  0.1

  Merton

  0

  27,937

  0.0

  Redbridge

  36

  43,707

  0.1

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0

  27,474

  0.0

  Sutton

  29

  29,879

  0.1

  Waltham Forest

  0

  36,590

  0.0

  88

  January 1998

  Number (headcount)

  Total

  Percentage of pupils in pupil referral units

  South East

  1,329

  1,290,151

  0.1

  Berkshire

  42

  138,156

  0.0

  Milton Keynes

  19

  35,843

  0.1

  Buckinghamshire

  39

  81,988

  0.0

  Brighton and Hove

  25

  34,427

  0.1

  East Sussex

  64

  72,916

  0.1

  Portsmouth

  48

  29,113

  0.2

  Southampton

  118

  33,270

  0.4

  Hampshire

  138

  189,792

  0.1

  Isle of Wight

  8

  19,996

  0.0

  Kent

  365

  269,546

  0.1

  Oxfordshire

  119

  98,116

  0.1

  Surrey

  260

  172,052

  0.2

  West Sussex

  84

  114,936

  0.1

  South West

  400

  771,359

  0.1

  Bath and North East Somerset

  0

  29,286

  0.0

  City of Bristol

  1

  60,791

  0.0

  North Somerset

  29

  28,418

  0.1

  South Gloucestershire

  0

  40,449

  0.0

  Cornwall

  0

  75,688

  0.0

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  268

  0.0

  Devon

  86

  165,660

  0.1

  Bournemoth

  0

  22,735

  0.0

  Poole

  20

  21,097

  0.1

  Dorset

  29

  58,815

  0.0

  Gloucestershire

  57

  91,831

  0.1

  Somerset

  54

  77,987

  0.1

  Swindon

  23

  29,263

  0.1

  Wiltshire

  101

  69,071

  0.1

  1 Excludes pupils who are also registered at a mainstream or special school

  Age Diversity
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what key criteria he intends to put in place to monitor the effectiveness of the code of practice on age diversity in employment. [62178]

  Ms Hodge
  Key indicators which will measure the labour market position of older workers are given in Annex E of "Action on Age", the report on the year long consultation undertaken on age discrimination in employment. These indicators include the employment rate, the claimant count and ILO measures of unemployment, as well as economic activity rates. These indicators will be reviewed each year in June.

  In addition, we have commissioned a research project which will evaluate the Code's effectiveness in promoting an age diverse workforce. The research will cover a wide range of employers, looking in detail at employer policies and practices in recruitment and employment and the impact on age diversity in their workforce. As we said in "Action on Age", the full evaluation will be completed by February 2001.

  Sixth-form Students
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the levels of(a) home to study transport and (b) other support for 16–18 year old students in (i) the FE sector and (ii) LEA sixth forms. [62089]
  89
  Mr. Mudie
  The Secretary of State has announced an extra £67 million for a comprehensive package of post-16 student support over the next 2 years. It will fund the new Education Maintenance Allowance pilots, and boost and extend Access Funds for students in further education and introduce a new access fund for pupils in school sixth forms as well as supporting specific provision for child care and resident attendance at college. Provision for transport is allowed for in both the access funds, and there will be other funding available to help LEAs to co-ordinate and integrate post-16 transport.

  University for Industry
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment from which budget head within his Department he plans to allocate future resources for the University for Industry. [61809]

  Mr. Mudie
  Funding for the University for Industry will be allocated from the overall Department for Education and Employment resources agreed in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Expenditure will be from a specific University for Industry subhead.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposed expenditure for the University for Industry he expects to be included within the £40 million allocated within the Comprehensive Spending Review for start-up costs. [61807]

  Mr. Mudie
  The precise way in which the £40 million budget will be spent in 1999–2000 will be determined after Ministers have considered the University for Industry's Corporate Plan which we expect to receive shortly. I would expect, however, that expenditure will cover a range of areas necessary to ensure that the University for Industry gets off to the best possible start. These are likely to include the development of innovative learning materials and the establishment of a network of learning centres to link communities to University for Industry opportunities.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place a copy of the business plan for the University for Industry in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [61825]

  Mr. Mudie
  The University for Industry Transition Board will submit a three-year Corporate Plan to Ministers shortly. It will contain commercially sensitive material and is not intended for publication. However, I expect the University for Industry to make a range of information publicly available in the New Year. This may include publishing an abbreviated version of the Corporate Plan.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional resources he expects to allocate to the University for Industry in each of the years 2000–01 and 2001–02; and if these resources will be allocated from the Comprehensive Spending Review total for education. [61808]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department plans to announce decisions on funding beyond 1999–2000 in the Departmental Report which is due to be published in the spring. Any such resources will be allocated from the 90
  Comprehensive Spending Review total for the Department for Education and Employment. Expenditure will be from a specific University for Industry subhead.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the current age limit is for students to have access to student loans; and what plans he has to increase the age limit during the next three years. [61821]

  Mr. Mudie
  For the 1998–99 academic year, a student must be aged under 50 at the start of his or her course in order to be eligible for a student loan.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced on 8 June this year, we plan to extend eligibility for loans to those students aged 50 to 54 at the start of their courses who plan to return to employment.

  This extension will take effect from the 1999–2000 academic year. It will apply to students starting courses in 1999–2000. It will also apply to students who started courses in 1998–99, except those (such as gap year students) who are entitled to continue receiving maintenance grants and loans under the previous arrangements.

  We are currently considering the arrangements in more detail and will provide full information for students early in 1999.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the expected total income is from tuition fees from all undergraduates entering higher education institutions in 1998–99; what the level is of additional funding provided by his Department for higher education institutions in 1998–99; what the level of funding is per undergraduate student in 1998–99 as a result of the introduction of tuition fees and additional funding from his Department; and what the level of funding was per undergraduate student in each of the previous five years. [61813]

  Mr. Mudie
  Universities and colleges are expected to receive £130 million through tuition fee contributions from new full-time undergraduates in 1998–99. The funding package for 1998–99 allowed an extra £165 million to be spent on higher education, of which £129 million was for institutions, broadly equivalent to the extra fee income, and £36 million was for measures to widen access.

  The published unit funding index for higher education (Departmental Report, March 1998, pp 61) is based on publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent (FTE) student. The figures do not distinguish between undergraduates and postgraduates. The level of funding per student in cash terms for the last six years is set out in the table.

  £

  Financial Year1

  Unit funding2(cash)

  1993–94

  5,015

  1994–95

  4,973

  1995–96

  4,930

  1996–97

  4,789

  91

  £

  Financial Year1

  Unit funding2(cash)

  1997–98

  4,785

  1998–

  4,923

  1 In order to provide a consistent series over the period, the figures have been adjusted to take account of transfer of dual support research funds to the Office of Science and Technology in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 and the mainstreaming of continuing education students in 1995–96

  2 Publicly planned fund includes grants to the HE Funding Council for England and, from 1995, the Teacher Training Agency for both recurrent and capital purposes and full-time undergraduate tuition fees paid through Local Education Authorities. In 1998–99 they include students' estimated private contributions towards the new £1,000 flat rate fee.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many non-UK EU students were expected to commence undergraduate studies at UK universities during the current academic year; and what was the estimated total amount of tuition fees to be collected from these students. [61812]

  Mr. Mudie
  Our forecasts have projected that around 15 thousand EU students will begin full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in England and Wales in academic year 1998–99. The expected contribution from these students towards their tuition fees totals some £7 million.

  Adult Education and Training
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of resources was allocated by each local education authority to non-statutory adult education and training services in each of the years 1992–93 to 1997–98. [61820]

  Mr. Mudie
  The following table sets out information on the net recurrent expenditure on education for adults reported by all local education authorities in England for the period 1992–93 to 1996–97. Figures for 1997–98 are not yet available. Some local authorities also support training for adults. Information about spending in this area is not held centrally.

  Over the next three financial years we are offering all Local Education Authorities in England additional resource to strengthen the contribution they make to lifelong learning. In the first year £9 million will be available to Local Education Authorities to develop new, high quality, initiatives to widen participation in learning, in partnership with local learning providers, and to underpin future development activity with Local Authority Lifelong Learning Development Plans.

  Net recurrent expenditure by all LEAs in England for adult education.

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Corporation of London

  40

  72

  69

  221

  322

  Camden

  2,470

  1,383

  1,178

  1,144

  1,037

  Greenwich

  3,891

  3,822

  1,837

  1,935

  1,812

  Hackney

  3,527

  2,481

  1,604

  688

  888

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3,111

  2,757

  1,330

  1,052

  1,008

  Islington

  2,741

  937

  931

  809

  326

  92

  Net recurrent expenditure by all LEAs in England for adult education.

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,096

  950

  910

  898

  845

  Lambeth

  4,235

  3,831

  4,189

  2,668

  2,250

  Lewisham

  3,260

  1,322

  1,837

  1,394

  1,749

  Southwark

  1,953

  1,898

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  1,806

  2,301

  2,530

  1,850

  1,064

  Wandsworth

  4,402

  2,327

  2,329

  21,95

  1,266

  City of Westminster

  3,511

  2,214

  2,262

  1,843

  1,514

  Barking and Dagenham

  659

  742

  740

  714

  763

  Barnet

  —

  554

  448

  448

  508

  Bexley

  843

  548

  454

  578

  534

  Brent

  1,843

  1,088

  1,731

  1,083

  1,316

  Bromley

  442

  716

  900

  863

  898

  Croydon

  2,080

  1,918

  1,203

  1,183

  1,274

  Ealing

  768

  242

  244

  236

  176

  Enfield

  144

  282

  126

  34

  54

  Haringey

  —

  281

  52

  202

  198

  Harrow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Havering

  454

  162

  151

  89

  50

  Hillingdon

  941

  327

  357

  268

  379

  Hounslow

  1,723

  614

  538

  1,040

  442

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,087

  909

  853

  196

  376

  Merton

  601

  545

  531

  477

  519

  Newham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  765

  493

  499

  570

  574

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,794

  1,213

  1,059

  1,243

  713

  Sutton

  9

  1,556

  1,614

  948

  1,012

  Waltham Forest

  1,637

  1,249

  1,496

  979

  1,350

  Birmingham

  4,351

  2,595

  3,021

  2,550

  2,540

  Coventry

  —

  167

  —

  —

  2,174

  Dudley

  205

  633

  856

  622

  603

  Sandwell

  914

  406

  605

  407

  429

  Solihull

  369

  331

  296

  173

  110

  Walsall

  943

  1,565

  919

  53

  54

  Wolverhampton

  1,246

  648

  720

  638

  724

  Knowsley

  65

  —

  2

  —

  171

  Liverpool

  2,461

  3,459

  2,722

  4,308

  2,932

  St. Helens

  162

  —

  7

  21

  18

  Sefton

  320

  197

  209

  160

  194

  Wirral

  —

  687

  613

  578

  772

  Bolton

  1,940

  1,298

  1,273

  1,212

  1,193

  Bury

  1,767

  700

  795

  600

  683

  Manchester

  5,429

  4,149

  2,788

  2,517

  2,535

  Oldham

  2,923

  1,773

  1,678

  1,081

  1,095

  Rochdale

  1,987

  1,410

  146

  142

  140

  Salford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stockport

  1,026

  606

  710

  301

  335

  Tameside

  79

  67

  2

  —

  83

  Trafford

  —

  128

  60

  110

  42

  Wigan

  249

  481

  348

  159

  131

  Barnsley

  311

  543

  485

  806

  757

  Doncaster

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rotherham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  759

  1,190

  2,210

  2,196

  2,086

  Bradford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Calderdale

  1,188

  998

  844

  606

  443

  Kirklees

  896

  801

  325

  450

  361

  Leeds

  11,368

  4,807

  6,109

  6,418

  815

  Wakefield

  —

  561

  802

  384

  244

  Gateshead

  —

  86

  134

  115

  73

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  239

  1,698

  1,979

  863

  502

  North Tyneside

  1,483

  589

  1,132

  1,182

  1,244

  South Tyneside

  107

  349

  351

  296

  321

  Sunderland

  398

  355

  89

  51

  3

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Avon

  1,530

  2,227

  1,977

  2,257

  n/a

  Bath and North

  East Somerset

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  124

  93

  Net recurrent expenditure by all LEAs in England for adult education.

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  City of Bristol

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  488

  North Somerset

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  125

  Hartlepool

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  276

  Middlesborough

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  276

  South Gloucestershire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  259

  Redcar and Cleveland

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  344

  Stockton on Tees

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  456

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  614

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  357

  Bedfordshire

  2,917

  1,562

  1,633

  1,432

  1,353

  Berkshire

  893

  3,037

  3,244

  2,582

  2,619

  Buckinghamshire

  1,580

  1,233

  2,358

  1,899

  3,088

  Cambridgeshire

  2,378

  1,741

  1,974

  1,123

  523

  Cheshire

  887

  1,311

  1,329

  1,307

  1,212

  Cleveland

  1,441

  1,291

  2,150

  21,77

  n/a

  Cornwall

  1,392

  1,445

  1,455

  1,084

  758

  Cumbria

  673

  1,881

  823

  709

  1,108

  Derbyshire

  1,293

  4,062

  3,638

  2,974

  3,465

  Devon

  2,394

  1,393

  2,414

  1,870

  2,468

  Dorset

  2,078

  720

  589

  446

  525

  Durham

  611

  451

  386

  139

  56

  East Sussex

  577

  975

  1,216

  1,233

  970

  Essex

  4,845

  995

  1,347

  1,746

  —

  Gloucestershire

  —

  1,702

  2,039

  1,497

  1,380

  Hampshire

  2,955

  1,734

  3,638

  2,608

  32

  Hertford and Worcester

  —

  966

  —

  99

  114

  Hertfordshire

  —

  1,974

  2,189

  705

  962

  Humberside

  4,251

  4,904

  2,822

  3,051

  n/a

  Isle of Wight

  62

  140

  99

  45

  48

  Kent

  4,581

  4,241

  5,026

  3,842

  4,639

  Lancashire

  1,131

  3,377

  3,353

  3,099

  3,047

  Leicestershire

  8,574

  8,419

  6,732

  4,012

  4,143

  Lincolnshire

  1,356

  1,146

  1,252

  1,130

  1,145

  North Lincolnshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  336

  North East Lincolnshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  337

  Norfolk

  1,728

  1,586

  1,075

  963

  1,047

  City of York

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  65

  North Yorkshire

  1,124

  1,937

  2,609

  1,355

  1,107

  Northamptonshire

  1,654

  2,680

  1,406

  1,284

  1,333

  Northumberland

  383

  3

  21

  —

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  209

  1,792

  2,600

  3,657

  2,787

  Oxfordshire

  1,866

  1,774

  1,783

  1,202

  1,289

  Shropshire

  408

  1,288

  1,241

  637

  539

  Somerset

  2,475

  2,960

  2,914

  2,047

  1,866

  Staffordshire

  654

  1,312

  1,334

  1,165

  1,203

  Suffolk

  657

  420

  415

  341

  319

  Surrey

  5,195

  4,132

  4,112

  3,679

  3,622

  Warwickshire

  —

  154

  519

  469

  638

  West Sussex

  1,026

  1,437

  1,150

  1,157

  1,156

  Wiltshire

  69

  50

  6

  18

  31

  Learning Direct Service
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost to date of setting up the Learning Direct Service; what will be the budget allocation for learning direct in each of the next three years; and where the resources will come from. [61827]

  Mr. Mudie
  The total cost to date of setting up and operating Learning Direct is £1 million in 1997–98 and estimated to be £3.3 million in 1998–99. The budget for 1999–2000 will be £6.3 million. We plan to announce the figures for the following two years in the Department for Education and Employment Report which is due to be published in the spring. Expenditure will be from a specific Learning Direct subhead.

  Higher and Further Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to resolve the current dispute between FE staff and their employers. [61810]

  Mr. Mudie
  I understand that the Association of Colleges and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education continue to discuss the issues between them. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would urge all concerned to find a constructive way forward at a time when further education is set to benefit from the major additional investment of £725 million funding over the next two years which he announced last week.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received concerning the impact on external institutions of the FEFC' s proposed merger of access and childcare funds; and what plans he has to ensure that external institutions are not disadvantaged by these changes. [61926]

  Mr. Mudie
  The new arrangements for further education student support, and an extra £67 million of new funding over the next two years, were announced by the Secretary of State on 26 November. These arrangements will include a very significant increase in the funding available through the FE Access Fund and funding specifically for the FEFC to augment its support for childcare provision. Attention will be paid to the position of external institutions when the detail of the new arrangements is worked up with the FEFC.

  Key Stages
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what investigations he has conducted into the(a) lateness and (b) inaccuracy of some Key Stage Two, Three and Four data; and if he will make a statement. [62356]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My Department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have carried out a through review of the problems that occurred in the production of the Key Stage 2 and 3 results. The recommendations of the review are now being implemented to ensure that similar problems do not occur in 1999. Data for pupils at the end of compulsory schooling were published to schedule in the secondary school performance tables on 1 December. All published data are at least as accurate as in previous years.

  Teachers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) men and (b) women became teachers in the maintained school sector in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1970. [62030]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information available is shown in the following table.
  95

  New entrants to full-time teaching in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector in England and Wales

  Year ending 21 March

  Men

  Maintained nursery and primary Women

  Men

  Maintained secondary Women

  Men

  Total1 Women

  1997

  1,310

  8,940

  3,750

  5,820

  5,070

  14,760

  1996

  1,360

  8,790

  3,800

  5,650

  5,160

  14,440

  1995

  1,350

  8,840

  4,130

  5,840

  5,480

  14,680

  1994

  1,220

  8,150

  3,810

  5,260

  5,030

  13,410

  1993

  1,090

  7,650

  3,360

  4,780

  4,450

  12,430

  1992

  1,140

  7,580

  2,990

  4,400

  4,130

  11,980

  1991

  1,120

  7,270

  3,010

  4,290

  4,130

  11,560

  1990

  1,140

  7,160

  3,020

  4,240

  4,160

  11,400

  1989

  980

  6,250

  2,800

  4,040

  3,780

  10,290

  1988

  820

  5,670

  2,610

  3,760

  3,420

  9,430

  1987

  640

  4,750

  2,930

  4,400

  3,560

  9,150

  1986

  550

  3,970

  3,020

  4,270

  3,560

  8,240

  1985

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  3,590

  7,550

  1984

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  4,240

  8,570

  1983

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  4,730

  8,540

  1982

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  4,840

  8,360

  1981

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5,490

  10,790

  1980

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6,900

  14,760

  1979

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  8,030

  17,470

  1978

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7,880

  14,560

  1977

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  9,220

  16,870

  1976

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  11,860

  22,880

  1975

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  13,000

  26,740

  1974

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  13,720

  27,390

  1973

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  12,780

  26,600

  1972

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  12,130

  26,420

  1971

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  11,330

  25,650

  1970

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  10,290

  23,550

  1 Constituent parts may not add to totals due to rounding.

  2 n/a—not available

  Notes:

  1. Entrants to sixth form colleges are excluded from 1994 onwards.

  2. New entrants are those recorded as in service at 31 March of the year shown who had no known service recorded at 31 March of the previous year.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the numbers of children who left state primary schools in 1997 from the boroughs of(a) Islington, (b) Camden, (c) Kensington and Chelsea, (d) Hammersmith and Fulham and (e) Westminster to enter (i) fee-paying and (ii) selective grammar schools. [62024]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Music Funding
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how music service funding will be protected in the proposed delegation of funding to schools scheduled for April 1999, with particular reference to the Bexley Centre for Music and Dance. [62531]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government recognise the important contribution made by LEA music services; that is why we proposed new arrangements to safeguard them in our "Fair Funding" consultation document.

  We will be making an announcement on the future funding of LEA music services in the near future.

  National Training Organisations
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the current national training organisations by name, sector and number of employees covered. [62398]

  Mr. Mudie
  A list of the National Training Organisations by sector and employees is shown in the table.

  Training organisations

  Number of employees

  1.

  Association for Ceramic Training and Development

  Production of ceramic goods

  37,800

  2.

  Bakery Training Council

  Manufacture, distribution and retail in the banking in industry

  125,000

  3.

  Banks and Building Societies NTO

  Banks and building societies

  460,000

  4.

  Board for Education and Training in the Water Industry

  Water services and supply companies

  48,000

  5.

  British Plumbing Employers" Council (Training) Ltd.

  Plumbing and mechanical services

  250,000

  6.

  British Ports Industry Training Ltd.

  Ports, terminals, stevedoring companies, contract labour suppliers (for the Ports Industry)

  25,000

  7.

  CAPITB

  Apparel and leathergoods manufacture

  160,000

  8.

  Chemical and Manufacturing Processing NTO

  Primary chemical manufacture and processing, manufacture of soaps and detergents

  250,000

  9.

  Cleaning & Support Services NTO

  Carpet and upholstery cleaning, caretaking and portering services, industrial, hospital, commercial and domestic cleaning, facilities management

  843,300

  10.

  Community Justice NTO

  Probation, youth justice, crime prevention and community safety

  26,700

  11.

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Construction industry

  1,167,000

  12.

  Council for Administration

  All sector—administration staff

  —

  13.

  Custodial care

  Prisons and other remand organisations

  50,000

  14.

  Institute of Customer Service

  All sector—customer service staff

  —

  15.

  The Cultural Heritage NTO

  The cultural heritage, in the public and private sectors, including museums, galleries and a range of organisations concerned with the conservation and interpretation of the material and built heritage

  41,000

  16.

  Dairy Training & Development Council

  Dairy sector

  45,000

  17.

  Distributive NTO

  Warehousing and distribution, retail, dry-cleaning and laundry work, paper wholesalers and post office workers

  4,312,700

  18.

  National Training Organisation for Early Years

  Childminders, nursery nurses, nannies, playgroup leaders and assistants, classroom assistants, staff in private nurseries and foster carers of under eights

  427,000

  97

  Training organisations

  Number of employees

  19.

  Electricity Training Association

  Electricity supply industry, also nuclear decommissioning

  115,000

  20.

  Electronics & Software Services NTO

  Services provided to business to help implement and exploit business technology, including consultancy, IT services, user training, maintenance, call management

  350,000

  21.

  Employment NTO

  All sector—Training and development staff/managers/personnel. F/T trade union officials, health and safety officers

  —

  22.

  Engineering and Marine Training Authority (EMTA)

  Engineering manufacture

  1,787,000

  23.

  Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)

  Engineering construction

  40,900

  24.

  Engineering Services Training Trust Ltd.

  Heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR)

  79,000

  25.

  EPIC (Extractive and Mineral Processing Industries NTO)

  Quarry products, china and ball clay, silica and industrial sands

  39,000

  26.

  Further Education National Training Organisation

  College staff

  250,000

  27.

  Food and Drink NTO

  Food and drink manufacture

  500,000

  28.

  Gas Industry NTO

  Shipping and supply of natural gas pipelines and associated measurement and control equipment. Installation, maintenance and servicing of a gas burning equipment and appliances, offshore gas burning equipment and appliances, processing and storage facilities

  156,000

  29.

  Glass Training Ltd.

  Automotive, container, flat, fibre, scientific and tableware glass

  28,200

  30.

  Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority

  Hairdressing, beauty therapy, nail technology

  225,000

  31.

  Health Care NTO

  Health Care

  970,100

  32.

  Hospitality Training Foundation

  Hospitality industry: e.g. hotels, pubs/bars/clubs, restaurants

  2,033,000

  33.

  Housing National Training Organisation

  Housing

  150,000

  34.

  Information Technology National Training Organisation

  IT users and supply side practitioners, practitioners in corporate and public sector

  683,000

  35.

  Insurance and Related Financial Service NTO

  Insurance and related financial services

  350,000

  36.

  Languages NTO

  All sector—translators, interpreters

  —

  37.

  LANTRA NTO Ltd.

  Landbased industry plus lift trucks and floristry

  1,389,000

  38.

  Local Government NTO

  Local Government—public (consumer) protection, highways, maintenance and emergency fire service

  2,080,300

  39.

  Management & Enterprise Training Organisation

  All sector—represents small firms and management

  —

  40.

  Meat Training Council

  Meat and poultry industry, manufacturers and processors, wholesalers, independents and multiples (retail)

  170,000

  98

  Training organisations

  Number of employees

  41.

  METIER

  Visual arts/crafts, performing arts, arts development and teaching, literature arts, arts, arts managements and administration, technical support and performance design

  615,000

  42.

  Motor Industry Training Council

  Retail motor industry and allied sectors

  503,700

  43.

  National Electrotechnical Training

  Electrical installation engineering plus allied trades (Electrotechnical sector)

  172,000

  44.

  OPITO (The NTO for the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry)

  Oil and gas extraction (includes—drilling, processing/transfer, servicing operations)

  30,000

  45.

  Paper Education & Training Council

  All paper manufacture, tissue/recovered paper, allied trades and fibre content

  78,200

  46.

  Passenger Transport Forum for Employee Development

  Land (road) passenger transport

  148,000

  47.

  Petroleum Industry NTO

  Downstream petroleum, refining and distribution

  91,000

  48.

  Pharmaceuticals Industry NTO

  Pharmaceuticals industry

  80,000

  49.

  Polymer & Associated Industries NTO

  Polymer processing, signmaking, man-made fibres (from 15.9.98)

  317,000

  50.

  Print & Graphic Communication NTO

  Traditional printing, printing in new media formats, screen printing, book binding

  193,400

  51.

  Rail Industry Training Council

  Rail industry, freight operations, engineering and heritage companies

  130,300

  52.

  Refractories & Building Products Training Council

  Refractories and ceramic materials, clayware (including clay bricks, pipes, drainage, chimneys, floor tiles), precast concrete

  23,200

  53.

  Road Haulage and Distribution Training Council

  Road transport and freight, storage, post and courier services

  600,000

  54.

  Science, Technology & Mathematics NTO

  All sector—Scientists, technologists and mathematicians

  —

  55.

  Selfish Training

  Sea fishing, fish merchanting and processing, fish mongering, fish frying

  104,000

  56.

  Security Industry Training Organisation

  Guarding, investigating, security management

  308,000

  57.

  Skillset

  Broadcast, film, video and muti-media

  190,000

  58.

  NTO for Sport, Recreation & Allied Occupants

  Sport and recreation, playwork, outdoor education and development training, exercise and fitness, synthetic surface installers and play equipment manufacturers and installation

  212,000

  59.

  Steel Industry NTO

  The steel industry, metals, recycling, iron and steel makingshaping and forming through hot and cold processing, forging, wire drawing, tube making, finishing, stockholding, constructional steelwork

  97,600

  99

  Training organisations

  Number of employees

  60.

  Telecommunications Vocational Standards Council

  Fixed wire public and private communications—CATV, Mobile public and private

  communications-military and marine

  communications, call handling

  1,646,000

  61.

  The Higher Education Training Organisation

  Everyone employed in a university including lecturers

  173,600

  62.

  Training Alliance for Surface Coatings

  Paint, priniting inks, wallcoverings and powder coatings

  20,500

  63.

  Training Organisation for Personal Social Services

  Personal social services—social work, social care, resident home staff, day centre staff, foster carers

  1,237,000

  64.

  Ttento Ltd.

  Leisure and business travel, tour operators, tourist information centres, representatives/travel couriers

  130,000

  65.

  Voluntary Sector NTO

  All sector—all unpaid workers and those paid staff working in charitable organisations

  —

  Note:

  1. The employee figures for the All-Sector NTOs are included in the appropriate sector NTO figures.

  2. These are approximate figures provided by the organisation themselves.

WALES

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amounts of funding allocated by the Welsh Office for rough sleepers" initiatives in Wales for winter(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  £314,000 was paid in grant for projects to help rough sleepers in 1997–98. Of this £32,000 was for schemes to provide support over the winter period. All eligible bids were met.

  £350,000 has been allocated for rough sleeping projects in the current year. Local authorities, working with the voluntary sector, have been invited to submit bids by 14 December for grants to provide further assistance over this winter.

  European Forum Report
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if it is his intention to publish the report drawn up by the European Forum on Wales and the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [62394]

  Mr. Michael
  I shall arrange for the Report to be published as soon as possible.

  National Assembly
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what quality control measures he plans to put in place for the design and construction of the National Assembly. [62260]
  100
  Mr. Michael
  The building and material performance criteria were specified in the Design Concept Brief used for the design competition. The selected Architect will now proceed to produce a building specification working now proceed to produce a building specification working in partnership with a Management Contractor to be appointed under EU procurement rules. This will establish the quality of materials and workmanship to be provided. Ensuring those standards are met will be the responsibility of the Project Manager in conjunction with the Management Contractor. Welsh Office officials will continue to maintain overall control of the project by means of regular progress meetings and site inspections.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Schools
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish(a) details of those schools presently under consideration as major capital expenditure projects by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, (b) the estimated cost at each school and (c) the date on which DENI accepted that each school satisfied the criteria for category 1, 2 or 3 status. [61837]

  Mr. McFall
  There are over 200 major works projects on the Schools Capital Priorities Planning List and I will write to the hon. Gentleman giving details of these schemes and place a copy in the Library of the House. Estimated costs are not available for many of the schemes which are at a very early stage of planning or where planning has been suspended.

  There are 125 projects in priority categories 1, 2 and 3. All projects in these categories have received approval to take forward detailed planning. Information is not readily available about the dates each project entered the Planning List and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  ME
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of funding will be made available by the Department of Health and Social Services in 1999 to provide a regional support office in Northern Ireland for myalgic encephalomyelitis sufferers and their carers. [61836]

  Mr. McFall
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Rev. Martin Smyth) on 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 200.

  Petroleum Products
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the terms of the contract established by the Western Education and Library Board in 1998 for the purchase of petroleum products in the Irish Republic. [61919]

  Mr. McFall
  A contract for the provision of fuel products was awarded by te Western Education and Library Board to Diesel Card Ireland Limited following open competitive tendering procedure. The contract is for the period 1 September 1998 to 31 August 1999; and its total value is £46,500 (Irish) for the provision of some 117,500 litres of fuel.
  101
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of the Government on the purchase by Government departments and agencies in Northern Ireland of petroleum products in the Republic of Ireland. [61920]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Government Departments and their Agencies in Northern Ireland buy fuel under EC compliant contractual arrangements which have been established by the Buying Agency in Great Britain in collaboration with the Government Purchasing Agency, Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations she has received in 1998 about the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic; and if she will make a statement. [61923]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State has received several representations about this matter and these have been referred to the various agencies concerned.

  It is recognised that is a serious problem in revenue terms and disadvantages legitimate traders, and my Department together with the RUC and HM Customs and Excise are developing a co-ordinated and intelligence driven strategy to address this issue.

  Punishment Shootings and Beatings
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings took place in Northern Ireland in the weeks ending (i) 14 November, (ii) 21 November and (iii) 28 November; and how many in each category in each period were committed by (1) Loyalists and (2) Republicans. [61838]

  Mr. Ingram
  The table shows the number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks for the three-week period 8 November to 28 November 1998:

  Shootings

  Assaults

  Date

  By Loyalist

  By Republican

  By Loyalist

  By Republican

  8 November-14 November

  0

  0

  2

  1

  15 November-21 November

  1

  0

  0

  0

  22 November-28 November

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Totals

  2

  1

  4

  3

  Finbarr Ross
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to date in respect of the application to the United States authorities for the extradition of Finbarr Ross to Northern Ireland to answer charges related to the collapse of International Investments Ltd. (Gibraltar). [62105]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Mr. Ross was arrested in the United States in March this year. His extraditions was ordered on 14 April. Mr. Ross appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard his case on 19 November.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the current state of the Peace Process; and if she will make a statement. [62196]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: Considerable progress has been made in implementing the Belfast Agreement including elections to the new Assembly and the election of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Reviews of policing and criminal justice are also underway. New initiatives for victims have been announced. The Northern Ireland Act 1998 is now law and work on establishing the Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission has commenced. Security measures are being reduced appropriately and the early release scheme is operational. In addition a wide range of related preparatory work is also under way both within Government and the Assembly to prepare for the formal transfer of power to the Assembly next year. An important element of this is the present consultations on the number of Ministerial offices and on areas for North/South co-operation. I look forward to agreement on these and the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement together with the launch of the various new institutions early in 1999.

CABINET OFFICE

  Information Warfare
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library copies of the speeches to be made by Cabinet Office officials David Fisher and Edna Chivers to the conference on information warfare to be held at the Royal United Services Institute on 2 December. [61672]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I am pleased to confirm that copies of these speeches will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Meetings (Liberal Democrats)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many meetings he has had since 11 November with the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) in connection with the statement made on that date by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats; how long each meeting lasted; and how many are planned to be held. [61644]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I have had one meeting with the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed to discuss our review of the work of the Joint Consultative Committee. It took place on 12 November and lasted approximately one hour. We plan to have at least one further meeting.

  Cabinet Joint Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role he has in the determination of the Liberal Democrat membership of the Cabinet Joint Consultative Committee. [61645]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  None.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Growth Promoters
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes the European Commission is proposing to the authorisations currently in force concerning the use of low-level antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed; and if he will make a statement. [62294]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Commission has proposed the suspension of four antibiotic growth promoters, bacitracin zinc, spiramycin, virginiamycin and tylosin phosphate, with effect from 1 January 1999. There would be provision allowing Member States not to operate the suspension until 30 June 1999. The suspension would be re-examined before 31 December 2000 following the results of monitoring for antibiotic resistance in farm animals.

  The proposal failed to achieve a qualified majority in favour at the Commission's Standing Committee on Animal Nutrition on 2 December. It is therefore likely to be presented to the Agriculture Council on 14/15 December.

  Marketing Co-operatives
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of marketing co-operatives in the agricultural sector. [62190]

  Mr. Rooker
  I wish to encourage all forms of collaborative marketing, not just co-operatives.

  My noble Friend, Lord Donoughue, and Ben Gill, President of the National Farmers' Union, launched a major MAFF and NFU initiative to stimulate interest in collaborative marketing on 29 November, at the Royal Smithfield Show.

  The benefits of collaboration for our primary producers include increased scale, of the kind demanded by today's big customers; access to professional marketing, technical and administrative support; cohesive negotiating ability; improved supply chain communication; and the many other benefits that come through bigger businesses.

  Over the coming months the NFU will hold some 36 focus group discussions around the country both to highlight these benefits to producers and to identify barriers to producer involvement. Key issues identified will, if appropriate, be addressed through the MAFF seminar programme. There will also be a number of open days at successful farmer controlled businesses, next Spring. We aim to report progress at next year's Royal Show.

  Over-30-months Scheme
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the over thirty months scheme; and if he will make a statement. [62189]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Over Thirty Months Scheme is an EU scheme, the rules of which are set by the European Commission. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee have identified criteria against which the controls on beef over thirty months of age can be reviewed in the future and hope to begin to address this at the meeting planned for March 1999. The Committee recognises that this will require careful study and will almost certainly need to be considered over several meetings. In the light of the Committee's conclusions, and after consultation with all interested parties, the Government will consider what changes to the scheme (if any) could be made consistent with the continued protection of public health and which they might then recommend to the Commission for its consideration.

  Milk Quota
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many holders of milk quota were not using that quota for their own production in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1996–97. [62191]

  Mr. Rooker
  According to the quota register maintained by the Intervention Board Executive Agency, in 1996–97 4,685 quota holders out of a total of 38,185 milk quota holders leased out all their milk quota rather than producing against it. Similarly in 1997–98, 5,284 out of 37,087 quota holders leased out all their quota. There are no figures available, as yet, for the 1998–99 quota year.

  Veterinary Research
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the financial support given by the Government for veterinary research for each of the last five years. [62112]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have provided financial support for veterinary research over the last five financial years as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Amount

  1993–94

  24.4

  1994–95

  23.9

  1995–96

  24.3

  1996–97

  25.5

  1997–98

  27.9

  The research has underpinned our policies on animal welfare and protection, diseases of animals, meat hygiene and public health, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, veterinary medicines and brucellosis and TB eradication.

  Slaughterhouse Owners
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to give financial assistance to slaughterhouse owners. [62320]

  Mr. Rooker
  None.

  Animal Foodstuffs Advisory Committee
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Advisory Committee on Animal Foodstuffs(a) was set up and (b) plans to meet. [61193]
  106
  Mr. Rooker
  The Ministry has now completed an extensive consultation exercise on the remit of the Committee and sought nominations for its membership.

  We are moving ahead as quickly as possible, whilst at the same time working to the Nolan principles. Accordingly, the selection and appointment of chairman and members will be based on merit, openness and equal opportunity. The Committee is likely to have its first meeting by the middle of next year, considerably in advance of the Food Standards Agency being established.

  Algeria: Aid
  Algeria: Aid
  TWH Management Ltd
  TWH Management Ltd
  Cancer Treatment: Manifesto Commitment
  Cancer Treatment: Manifesto Commitment
  NHS and Private Finance Initiative: Guidance to Trusts
  NHS and Private Finance Initiative: Guidance to Trusts
  Age Concern: Grants
  Age Concern: Grants
  MMR Vaccine: Research
  MMR Vaccine: Research
  Serpentine Gallery
  Serpentine Gallery
  St. James's Park: Unattended Cycles
  St. James's Park: Unattended Cycles
  Human Rights Act 1998
  Human Rights Act 1998
  Alternatives to Prison
  Alternatives to Prison
  Rwandan Refugees: Congolese Conscription
  Rwandan Refugees: Congolese Conscription
  EU Enlargement
  EU Enlargement
  Housing Development on Brownfield Sites
  Housing Development on Brownfield Sites
  LT Bus Services: Management Costs
  LT Bus Services: Management Costs
  London Buses: Performance Statistics
  London Buses: Performance Statistics
  London Buses: Service Performance
  London Buses: Service Performance
  Road and Transport Projects: Policy
  Road and Transport Projects: Policy
  Leaded Petrol: Withdrawal
  Leaded Petrol: Withdrawal
  Drink-driving: Consultation
  Drink-driving: Consultation
  Delivering for Women: Report
  Delivering for Women: Report
  Ministers' and Politicians' Privacy: Policy
  Ministers' and Politicians' Privacy: Policy
  Men's Unit
  Men's Unit