Written Answers of 15 December 1998

SCOTLAND

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [62847]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Department employs 3 Special Advisers, Ms Wendy Alexander, Mr. Murray Elder and Mr. David Whitton. Ms Alexander advises specifically on health, the Arts, social work, child care, housing and European affairs. Mr. Elder advises on issues relating to agriculture, the environment, forestry and fisheries, home affairs, devolution, local government and transport matters. In addition, both Ms Alexander and Mr. Elder deal with matters relating to business, industry and education. Mr. David Whitton has particular responsibility for the presentation of policy and relations with the media. Special Advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements. It is not appropriate to give details about particular individuals' level of security clearance.

  Highlands and Islands
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) landing capabilities and (b) designated sites associated with his announcement of expansion to the Highlands and Islands air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement. [63309]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The announcement concerned the recent contract awards made by the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which has secured the continuing provision of Patient Air Transport Services for the people of Scotland. In addition to sustaining the high quality Air Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance High Dependency Service, both of which traditionally use fixed wing aircraft, significant improvements have been made to the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.

  The 2 new helicopters that are being commissioned into service are roomier, faster and quieter than their predecessors. Fully equipped for patient care, the aircraft are built for flying in more adverse weather conditions and in hours of darkness. Both will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with air crew supported by ambulance paramedics and technicians and will be capable of landing at any of the 226 Civil Aviation Authority approved airports, landing strips and other landing sites located across Scotland. Outwith hours of darkness helicopters can land at any site so long as it is safe to do so. I shall write to the hon. Member with a detailed list of all of these locations as soon as possible, and will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.
  418
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the forecast payment from the European Union with regard to the Highlands and Islands Objective I area for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [63152]

  Mr. Macdonald
  In 1997–98, the amounts received from the European Commission with regard to the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 area totalled £24.3 million, while the forecast receipts for 1998–99 amount to £78.9 million. These payments include those made for the purposes of the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 Programme as well as those made in pursuance of various Community Initiatives using the European Union Structural Funds. The amounts shown do not include certain payments made from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund where separate information for the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 area could not be identified except at disproportionate cost. Nor, for the same reason, do they include any payments made by European institutions other than the European Commission.

  The amounts received from the Commission as shown do not necessarily correspond in terms of their timing either with the commitment of funds or the payment of funds to individual projects under the Objective 1 Programme or with the Community Initiatives.

  Dounreay
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency report into fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel in the Dounreay local environment will be received. [64389]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The report was submitted to my right hon. Friend by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 10 December 1998. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library. We have noted the recommendations contained in the report. These are:The primary aim should be to restore the area affected by the fishing restrictions and any other affected areas to a clean pristine condition, and that as far as possible, within SEPA's powers, SEPA should insist that UKAEA make all practicable efforts to assist in quantifying the risks involved as a result of the irradiated nuclear fuel fragments in the environment, as a matter of priority and urgency.
  In the meantime, applying the precautionary principle, SEPA's advice to the Scottish Office is that the two kilometre fishing restrictions should remain in force.
  The public should be kept well informed and any information issued to the public should make clear the low level of risk involved by reference to comparisons with other activities.
  The ultimate aim should be to remove the restrictions as soon as possible and, to that end, greater and speedier effort should be made by the UKAEA to find and quantify the extent of contamination in the local marine environment, using the best available methodology and technology.

  Accordingly, the two kilometre fishing restrictions will remain in force. Clearly these restrictions cannot be lifted until UKAEA find and quantify the extent of contamination in the local marine environment, and this work should proceed as a matter of urgency. I have asked SEPA to ensure that there is sufficient monitoring in place to ensure that any particles finding their way to the public beach at Sandside are promptly detected and removed.

  Television Licence Fees (Non-Payment)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions arose from non-payment of television licence fees in the last year for which figures are available; if he will estimate the number of such prosecutions against women; what was the average fine for non-payment; how many people are currently in prison for non-payment, and how many of these are women; and if evidence from television detector vans or hand-held detectors has been successfully used in any such prosecutions. [62441]

  Mr. McLeish
  The available information is set out in the table. Custodial sentences for non-payment of a television licence are not available to the courts as a first disposal. Information on the method of detecting such offences is not collected centrally.

  In 1996, there were 30 fine default receptions (21 of which involved females) into Scottish penal establishments for non-payment of fines for offences committed under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

  Persons proceeded against where the main offence was under the Wireless Telegraphy Act1 1949, Scotland, 1996

  Main disposal

  Males

  Females

  Total

  Persons proceeded against

  1,917

  3,817

  5,734

  Persons with a charge proved

  1,841

  3,762

  5,603

  Of which:

  Persons fined

  1,575

  3,207

  4,782

  Average fine (£)

  60

  54

  56

  Persons admonished

  251

  540

  791

  Other disposal

  15

  15

  30

  1 Most prosecutions under this Act relate to non-payment of a television licence. Where known, prosecutions for other offences under this Act have been excluded from the table

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 668, if he will take steps to seek to refer the Government of Iraq for breaches of the UN Convention on Genocide to the International Court in The Hague. [64113]

  Mr. Fatchett
  This question has been considered in the past. I will write to the hon. Member on the subject. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 668, what action he has taken in support of the INDICT campaign to date. [64110]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have fully supported the INDICT campaign since its launch in the House last year. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message to INDICT' s press conference earlier this month reconfirming that support. Foreign Office officials keep in regular contact with the INDICT campaign and offer advice and support where needed.
  420
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 668, if he will take action to indict Tariq Aziz, the Foreign Secretary of Iraq, for war crimes. [64111]

  Mr. Fatchett
  As the hon. Member will be aware, the INDICT campaign is calling for charges to be brought against key members of Saddam Hussein's regime, including his Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. HMG fully supports the INDICT campaign as it works toward the day when such people can be brought to book for their crimes.

  Chechnya
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the written advice his Department gave to British companies considering contracts in Chechnya. [64168]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning) on 14 December 1998,Official Report, column 402.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) guidance, (b) advice and (c) assistance was (i) offered to and (ii) requested by the Chechen authorities in connection with the search for the four hostages. [64167]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  During the 15-month captivity in Chechnya of Camilla Carr and Jon James, and the subsequent tragic kidnap of Rudolf Petschi, Peter Kennedy, Darren Hickey and Stanley Shaw, the FCO, HM Embassy Moscow and the Metropolitan Police corresponded with and held meetings with the Chechen authorities outside Chechnya to discuss the two cases. Some of these contacts followed requests for assistance from the Chechen authorities, but most were at our request. We provided some non-lethal police equipment to the Chechen investigating authorities, to assist them. At the last such meeting, with Chechen Deputy Prime Minister Atgeriev in London on 26 October, we emphasised the need to avoid endangering the four men's lives. Atgeriev agreed that the safety of the hostages was paramount. He confirmed that the equipment provided by the UK had been of assistance to his staff.

  Chile (Airbus Sale)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of hours spent by the Commercial Attaché in the British Embassy, Santiago, Chile since 1 May 1997 in assisting the sale of Airbus aircraft to LAN Chile. [64025]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Airbus Industrie has sought no help from the British Embassy in Santiago with the sale of Airbus to Lan Chile.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Television Licence Fee
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he intends to set next year's television
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  licence fee at the level indicated by the five-year formula announced by the previous Government; and if he will make a statement about future licence fee levels. [64272]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  On 11 December 1998,Official Report, column 636, the Government announced their intention, after careful consideration, to retain the television licence fee formula for the five years from April 1997 introduced by the previous Government. The formula, based on a report by independent consultants, Braxton Associates, is based on an assessment of the BBC's financial needs and the potential for improved efficiency and the development of alternative sources of revenue. It is designed to allow the BBC to plan its business properly for the period as a whole.

  Under the formula, licence fee increases for the five-year period as a whole are set just below inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI). However, the increases from 1 April 1999 are set at RPI plus 0.5 per cent., reflecting primarily the additional costs faced by the BBC in launching its new digital services. The formula provides for changes in the licence fee of RPI minus 1 per cent. and RPI minus 2.5 per cent. in 2000–01 and 2001–02 respectively.

  Application of the RPI figure of 3.2 per cent. for the year to September 1998, plus 0.5 per cent., to the current unrounded licence fees produces new rounded totals of £101.00 for a colour licence and £33.50 for a black and white licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force will be laid before the House in due course.

  Radio Authority
  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff at the Radio Authority have been(a) suspended and (b) subsequently dismissed since July; and for what reasons. [63437]

  Janet Anderson
  I understand that one member of the Radio Authority staff is currently suspended pending the outcome of current police investigations. The Authority has not dismissed any staff since July.

  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place to monitor the conduct of those staff at the Radio Authority who award broadcast licences to local radio stations and monitor their compliance with the conditions of the licence. [63436]

  Janet Anderson
  The Radio Authority is a statutory public corporation independent of Government and my Department has no supervisory role in its day-to-day activities. It is the members of the Radio Authority, not its staff, who award broadcast licences for independent local radio. Members are bound by the Authority's detailed code of best practice, a copy of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House. The Authority's members supervise and monitor the Authority's staff, who in turn are bound by the Authority's staff rules and regulations.

  Terrestrial Television
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates his Department has made of the percentage of viewers which will be able to obtain access to independent television and digital terrestrial services(a) in England and (b) in Wales. [63398]
  422
  Janet Anderson
  The BBC and Independent Television Commission are responsible for transmission arrangements for terrestrial television services in the UK. They estimate that analogue terrestrial television services reach 99.4 per cent. of the UK population and 98.3 per cent. of the population of Wales. The BBC and ITC estimate that the launch phase of digital terrestrial television will deliver services to around 90 per cent. of the UK population, and 70 per cent. in Wales, by the end of 1999. Coverage of each of the six multiplexes will vary and in some cases will be less. The BBC and ITC have jointly produced a CD-Rom containing coverage predictions for each multiplex for each transmitter site. Copies of the CD-Rom have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [62843]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  There are currently two special advisers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, John Newbiggin and Andy Burnham. The work is divided between the two as appropriate but covers the full range of issues for which I am responsible. Special advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.

  British Library
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what were the(a) total building costs and (b) fitting out costs when the new British Library was handed over to its new head; and what additional costs have been incurred in respect of (a) and (b) since that date. [63363]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The new British Library building was legally transferred to the British Library Board on 1 July 1997. By that date the Department had spent an estimated (a) £470.1 million on building costs, which included construction of the building, project management and professional services; and (b) £28.3 million on fitting out costs which included such items as office and reading room furniture, carpets and book shelving. The equivalent figures at 8 December 1998 stood at (a) £476.4 million and (b) £28.5 million.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the fees paid to date to lawyers and consultants for advice or litigation concerning the British Library. [63364]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The fees paid for professional services by lawyers and consultants on the project over the past 16 years, to 8 December 1998, were £71.6 million. This is broken down as follows: architectural services, structural design and quantity surveying (£47.6 million); mechanical and electrical engineering design and advice (£19.7 million); and commercial claims management, legal advice and legal costs (£4.3 million).
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  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the average(a) number of books delivered per reader and (b) waiting time for the automated book delivery system in each month since the new British Library opened. [63369]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: (a) The average number of items delivered per reader is as follows:

  Average number of items delivered per reader

  December 1997

  3

  January 1998

  3

  February 1998

  3

  March 1998

  3

  April 1998

  3

  May 1998

  3

  June 1998

  3

  July 1998

  3

  August 1998

  3

  September 1998

  3

  October 1998

  3.5

  (b) Book delivery performance data are recorded by the percentage of items delivered against benchmarks measured in minutes. The methodology does not lend itself to calculation of average delivery times. In the period during which three of the main reading rooms (Humanities 1 and 2, and the Rare Books and Music Reading Room) have all been open, the percentage of books delivered within an hour of request was as follows:

  Percentage of items delivered within sixty minutes

  March 1998

  55

  April 1998

  47

  May 1998

  47

  June 1998

  38

  July 1998

  47

  August 1998

  42

  September 1998

  54

  October 1998

  64

  Task Forces and Review Bodies
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many task forces and review bodies are currently in place in his Department; if he will list them; and when they will be reporting their conclusions. [63502]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: My Department has 4 task forces and review bodies. These are listed with their reporting timetables.

  1. The Film Policy Action Committee
  The Committee was set up to take forward the recommendations of the Film Policy Review, which reported in March 1998. The Committee is due to complete its work by April 1999.

  2. The Creative Industries Taskforce
  The results of the mapping exercise it instigated were published in November 1998. The Task Force are currently in the process of formulating their forward work programme.

  3. The Football Taskforce
  The Taskforce has reported to my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport on:

  a. Eliminating Racism from Football—30 March 1998;

  b. Improving Facilities for Disabled Supporters—29 July 1998.

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  The Taskforce's report on "Players as role models" is expected by the end of the year and the report on the "Commercial aspects of the game" is expected early in the near year.

  4. Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art
  The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art produces an annual report, addressed to the Secretary of State which is presented to Parliament. The most recent publication is the forty-fourth report, covering the period 1 July 1997–30 June 1998, which was published by the Stationery Office (Cm 4056) in October 1998. The forty-fifth report (1 July 1998–30 June 1999) will be published in October 1999.

  Tourism
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives are planned by his Department to assist local authorities to develop tourism policies; and if he will make a statement. [63821]

  Janet Anderson
  Our new tourism strategy, to be published early in 1999, will set out the strategic direction needed to ensure tourism growth that this economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. The strategy highlights the ways in which regional and local tourism strategies can help to increase tourism's benefit to local communities.

  In recognition of the economic and social importance of cultural services to local communities, local authorities are also being encouraged to develop Local Cultural Strategies covering the full range of cultural services they offer, including tourism.

  Tourist Guides
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what market research on tourist guides has been undertaken(a) for and (b) by the English Tourist Board in the past three years. [63681]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: No dedicated research on tourist guides has been undertaken for or by the English Tourist Board in the last three years.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (i) the total provisional standard spending assessments for 1999–2000 for(a) Buckinghamshire County Council, (b) Aylesbury Vale District Council, (c) Chiltern District Council, (d) South Buckinghamshire District Council, (e) Wycombe District Council, (f) Milton Keynes Borough Council and (g) Thames Valley Police, indicating the amounts for each major service block within each authority and (ii) the amount of the SSAs as they would have been if calculated by the same formula as in 1998–99. [64169]

  Ms Armstrong
  The figures are given in the table. Table A shows the 1999–2000 provisional SSAs. Table B shows what the SSAs would have been if calculated by the same formula as in 1998–99, but using data and national control totals for 1999–2000.
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  Table A: 1999–2000 Provisional SSA

  £ million

  SSAs

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury Vale

  Chiltern

  South Bucks

  Wycombe

  Milton Keynes

  Thames Valley Police

  Total

  312.891

  13.148

  6.948

  5.232

  13.445

  167.481

  111.927

  Education

  193.629

  —

  —

  —

  —

  92.715

  —

  Personal Social Services

  54.624

  —

  —

  —

  —

  26.411

  —

  Police

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  110.569

  Fire

  11.062

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3.782

  —

  Highway Maintenance

  17.664

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7.889

  —

  Environmental Protective and Cultural

  21.056

  13.467

  7.110

  5.366

  13.616

  30.230

  —

  Capital Financing

  14.856

  -0.319

  -0.162

  -0.133

  -0.170

  6.543

  1.358

  Table B: SSA using date and control total for 1999–2000

  £ million

  SSAs

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury Vale

  Chiltern

  South Bucks

  Wycombe

  Milton Keynes

  Thames Valley Police

  Total

  315.638

  13.287

  7.041

  5.279

  13.632

  167.369

  111.992

  Education

  194.563

  —

  —

  —

  —

  93.177

  —

  Personal Social Services

  56.216

  —

  —

  —

  —

  26.021

  —

  Police

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  110.685

  Fire

  11.115

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3.800

  —

  Highway Maintenance

  17.749

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7.926

  —

  Environmental Protective and Cultural

  21.505

  13.525

  7.143

  5.385

  13.675

  30.251

  —

  Capital Financing

  14.488

  -0.238

  -0.101

  -0.106

  -0.042

  6.194

  1.306

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the impact of the inclusion of sparsity factors into standard spending assessments for each shire county(a) in total amounts and (b) as a percentage change. [63391]

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority the increase in standard spending assessment(a) for education, (b) for social services and (c) in total included in the 1999–2000 local government revenue finance settlement. [64200]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for 1999–2000 the proposed percentage gains and losses to standard spending assessments for each district council arising from their enhanced population figures, ranked and numbered in descending order. [63181]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information requested has been placed in the Library, together with a similar table for education authorities.

  The calculations have been made by re-estimating the underlying statistical formulae using resident population instead of enhanced population. If such a change in the formula were being contemplated, several other components of the formula would need to be re-examined if its statistical validity was to be maintained.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for 1999–2000 the(a) proposed external funding included in education SSAs, (b) total proposed funding from other grants to LEAs and (c) combined amounts for (a) and (b) as sums per head of pupils in (i) shire counties,
  426
  (ii) unitary authorities, (iii) Metropolitan authorities and (iv) London authorities ranked and numbered in descending order. [63427]

  Ms Armstrong
  The main sources of external funding of local authorities are Revenue Support Grant and a share of National Non-Domestic Rates. The amount of these for each local authority is shown in the tables which have been placed in the Library. No distinct amount of Revenue Support Grant or National Non-Domestic Rates is allocated specifically to education. The amount of other grants relating to education proposed for each local education authority will be announced in due course by the Department for Education and Employment.

  Inner Thames Marshes
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what English Partnerships has spent on feasibility studies, investigations and the preparation of planning applications for the proposed development in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI at Havering Riverside, Rainham Marsh; [62882]

  (2) if he will list the feasibility studies and investigations carried out by or funded by English Partnerships and those in which English Partnerships has had involvement with regard to the proposed development in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI at Havering Riverside, Rainham Marsh; [62881]

  (3) what plans English Partnerships has to provide financial support to attract development in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI at Havering Riverside, Rainham Marsh. [62883]

  Mr. Caborn
  When English Partnerships was formed in 1993 it inherited, acting as Agent for the Secretary of State, a commitment to pay Derelict Land Grant to the
  427
  London Borough of Havering worth £156,700 for the preparation of site investigation reports. In 1996, English Partnerships increased this grant to a total of £180,000. In addition, the Agency has paid £149,506 towards the costs of environmental site investigations by LB Havering and amassing supporting evidence for the planning application and has spent a further £20,159 for an assessment of investment demand for the Havering Riverside site.

  If planning consent is approved, an application for gap funding may be made to English Partnerships to cover the abnormal costs of developing the Havering Riverside site.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the (i) task forces, (ii) review panels and (iii) advisory groups his Department has, (b) the remit of each and (c) the members of each together with their principal employment and their level of remuneration. [62805]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have today placed in the Library of the House the information requested for those task forces, review panels and advisory groups set up by my Department since 1 May 1997 and still in existence. The list uses the same definitions as in my answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 30 July 1998,Official Report, columns 430–32.

  Water Metering
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate(a) the number of one and two person households which would benefit from water metering and (b) the amounts of saving forgone by them in each of the past two years, for the current year and for next year, distinguishing between (i) pensioner households and (ii) households including a person on income support or housing benefit. [63242]

  Mr. Meale
  The following estimates are taken from the report "Incidence Effects of Charging for Domestic Water and Sewerage Services" published by my Department in July 1998. This reported the results of modelling work undertaken on behalf of the Department by Maxwell Stamp Plc. Estimates were produced as percentages rather than numbers in groups.

  (a) Under the current tariffs of water undertakers, 66 per cent. of single person households, 31 per cent. of couples with no children nad 38 per cent. of single parents with one child would pay less on a measured than an unmeasured basis. No breakdown has been made of these categories into pensioners and persons on income support or benefit. However, 55 per cent. of all pensioner households and 47 per cent. of all households in which one member was in receipt of income-related benefit would pay less on a measured than an unmeasured basis. These estimates assume no consequent reduction in consumption or tariff rebalancing.

  Under a move to a measured basis without standing charge, those gaining would be as follows: 79 per cent. of single person households, 32 per cent. of couples with no children, 43 per cent. of single parents with one child,
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  63 per cent. of all pensioner households and 54 per cent. of all households in which one member was in receipt of income-related benefit.

  (b) Savings figures have not been separately estimated for past or future years. Under current tariffs the distribution of savings for these groups would be as in the following table:

  Percentages

  Annual Gain

  £0–50

  £50–100

  More than £100

  Single adults

  32

  21

  13

  Couples with no children

  18

  7

  6

  Single parents with one child

  20

  9

  9

  Pensioner households

  29

  16

  10

  Households with a recipient of income-related benefits

  25

  13

  9

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require water supply companies to notify customers of the likely range of metered water charges. [63243]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government's view is that water undertakers should ensure that all their customers are made fully aware of all the charging options open to them without favouring one solution over another.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require water supply companies to install meters without charge by December 1999 to one and two person households including a person on income support or housing benefit. [63245]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government's policy, reflected in the Water Industry Bill, is that domestic consumers presently charged on an unmeasured basis should have the option of requesting a measured basis of charging. However, no household should be compulsorily transferred to a measured basis of charging where they are using water only for essential household use.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to allow landlords of short-term tenants to deny them the benefit of metered charges for water. [63244]

  Mr. Meale
  Under the present provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991, neither tenants nor any other consumers have a legal right to be charged for water on a measured basis, although water undertakers have powers to install meters and to charge any customer on a measured basis.

  We propose that domestic water customers should have the right to move to a measured basis of charging for water, free of any initial costs for meter installation. Consumers benefiting from this right would include tenants who pay their own water charges. The Water Industry Bill provides that any contrary provision of any tenancy agreement which might otherwise prevent the installation of a meter is not to block the exercise of this right by tenants. However, the right would not be afforded to tenants on fixed term tenancies of less than six months. It is the Government's view that such tenants do not have

  429
  a sufficiently long term interest in the basis of charging for water to warrant over-riding any provision in the tenancy agreement.

  Marine Targets Sub-group
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the members of the Marine Targets Sub-group. [63237]

  Mr. Meale
  The members of the Marine Targets Sub-group are:

  Dr. Duncan Shaw, Liverpool University, Chairman

  Dr. John Baxter, Scottish Natural Heritage

  Joan Edwards, Wildlife Trusts

  Dr. Susan Gubbay, Independent Consultant

  Dr. Tim Hill, English Nature

  Dr. Stephen Lockwood, Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture (CEFAS)

  Elspeth MacDonald, Fisheries Research Services, Scottish Office

  Dr. Mandy McMath, Countryside Council for Wales.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the forecast payment from the European Union with regard to the Merseyside Objective 1 area for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [63153]

  Mr. Meale
  The payment from the European Union was, for 1997–98, £63.672 million and the forecast payment for 1998–99 was £53.457 million.

  The Objective 1 Programme on Merseyside is now close to full commitment and while spend on ERDF, in particular, has been slower than expected this will increase substantially as the Programme draws to a close.

  Gatwick Airport
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in which year noise limits were first placed on individual aircraft taking off from Gatwick Airport; and when he expects these limits to be reduced. [63453]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Noise limits on aircraft taking off from Gatwick have applied since 1968. On 24 November 1997 we published a consultation paper proposing lower daytime and night-time noise limits for aircraft departing from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted and more efficient noise monitoring arrangements. In February 1998 the International Air Transport Association (IATA) submitted an application for leave to apply for judicial review of that consultation paper. The Department subsequently undertook to publish a supplementary consultation paper and IATA withdrew its application for leave to apply for judicial review. We hope to issue the supplementary paper early in the new year. The consultation period will remain open until eight weeks after the supplementary paper is issued. As indicated in the November 1997 consultation paper, if possible the Secretary of State will aim to announce his decision within 3 months of this deadline.430
  If the decision is to implement the proposals as set out, or with only relatively minor alterations, the Secretary of State would seek to bring them into effect within not less than 2, and not more than 3, months of the date of the announcement. Comments have been invited on these timescales as well as on the proposals.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of(a) the passenger throughput of the Manchester second runway by 2008 and (b) the increase in passenger throughput at Gatwick airport up to 2008. [63458]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department publishes national traffic forecasts, the most recent being for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. These forecasts split traffic between the London area and the other United Kingdom airports but the Department does not produce forecasts for individual airports. Manchester Airport has not published detailed forecasts for the period beyond 2005, but I understand that the airport company expects passenger throughput to exceed 30 million by 2008. the standard operating procedure will be for arriving aircraft to use the existing runway and for departing aircraft to use the second runway. BAA's most recent 10 year forecasts for its London airports, published in October, include 39.2 million passengers at Gatwick Airport in 2007–08 and 40.0 million in 2008–09.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the NATS system at Swanwick to be assessed as fit for purpose. [63605]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are a number of steps to progressively assess the Swanwick system's fitness for purpose. The Technical Transfer, which represents the confirmation that the system is technically ready for operation, is expected in late 2000. NATS will also have to demonstrate the safety of the system to the CAA's Safety Regulation Group before the system can come into operation.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to ensure that all letters from his Department and its agencies use the titles of addressees; and if he will make a statement. [63460]

  Mr. Meale
  The Department seeks to ensure that all correspondence is correctly addressed to recipients, and includes titles where appropriate.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has made to determine the proportion of private road and freight journeys which could be achieved on an equal basis by public transport. [63357]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Studies of the potential for modal shift are usually carried out to inform decisions on investment in major public transport projects and to
  431
  monitor the effects. Examples of these and other recent studies carried out by the Department or in which it has been involved include:

  The M1/A1 (M) Corridor Road/Rail Cross Elasticity Study (May 1994)

  Manchester Metrolink Monitoring Study (December 1996)

  Sheffield Supertram Monitoring Study (expected 1999)

  The Trans-Pennine Rail Strategy Study (January 1992)

  Impact of Transport Policies in Five Cities (November 1994).

  In relation to the potential for shifting freight journeys from road to rail, the Office of the Rail Regulator commissioned the following study:
  "The Potential for Rail Freight: A report to the Office of the Rail Regulator" (September 1997).

  In addition, the environmental benefits of reducing lorry journeys are taken into account in assessing applications for freight grants.

  Departmental Staff (Kandola Report)
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the report by Pearn Kandola in relation to discrimination in his Department on grounds of(a) race and (b) gender; [63351]

  (2) what factors underlay the commissioning of a review of his Department's staff appraisal system by Pearn Kandola; [63354]

  (3) what were the findings of the report commissioned by his Department into his Department's staff appraisal system, undertaken by Pearn Kandola; [63337]

  (4) if the report by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system identified the causes of the statistically significant differences in performance marking between ethnic minorities and whites; [63349]

  (5) what advice he has received from officials on the compliance of departmental staff appraisal systems with requirements to be non-discriminatory; [63353]

  (6) if the report by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system identified the causes of the statistically significant differences in performance marking between men and women in certain grades; [63350]

  (7) what was the cost of the study of his Department's staff appraisal system by Pearn Kandola; [63355]

  (8) if he will make a statement on staff concerns relating to racial discrimination contained in the Pearn Kandola report into his Department's staff appraisal system; [63348]

  (9) if he will publish the report by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system; [63352]

  (10) what action he is taking on the findings of the study by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system. [63356]

  Mr. Meale
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is committed to equality of opportunity. All DETR staff have a right to fair treatment throughout their careers regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, gender, marital status, disability or sexual orientation.
  432
  As part of our commitment to equality of opportunity, my Department monitors and compares the annual performance and promotability of its staff by gender, ethnicity, disability and part/full-time working. When the analysis of performance reports for staff in the central Department for the year to 31 March 1998 was carried out, a number of statistically significant differences were identified in relation to gender, ethnic and other groups: the performance marks for women were significantly higher than those for men in administrative grades, and white staff received higher marks than ethnic minority staff at Executive Officer and Personal Secretary level.

  In the light of these findings, Pearn Kandola, a firm of occupational psychologists, were appointed to carry out an independent study of the appraisal system.

  The Pearn Kandola report was completed in the first week of December. It concluded that overall, from the evidence looked at, the appraisal system on balance appeared to be fair. The specific cause or causes of the differences in report markings could not be identified. The report made a number of recommendations on how the system could be improved which the Department will be acting on.

  The cost of the study was £32,000.

  I have placed copies of the full report in the House of Commons Library.

  The issues raised by the report are currently under consideration.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which UK-wide or Britain-wide programmes will be the responsibility of his Department after the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament; and what is the forecast level of expenditure on such programmes in 1998–99.[63481]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government of Wales Act 1998 provided for a Transfer of Functions Order to be made to transfer Ministerial functions to the National Assembly for Wales. The order was published in draft for public consultation on 12 November 1998. Work is continuing within Government to finalise the text of the Order and until work is completed, it is not possible to state with certainty what functions will transfer to the Welsh Assembly. Similarly, the functions which will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998, depend in part on secondary legislation which has yet to be passed. My Department is reviewing its programmes to establish whether any programme expenditure relates to the functions which are being devolved and to assess the need for any consequential transfer of funds to the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.

  Detrunked Roads
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is in respect of the maintenance of detrunked roads, where that maintenance is currently subject to a DBFO agreement. [63557]
  433
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The A30/35 Exeter to Bere Regis project is the only DBFO project affected by detrunking proposals. The Highways Agency will discuss the implications of detrunking this road with all the interested parties, to ensure that it continues to be maintained to proper standards.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what formula he will apply to determine the funding to be transferred to highway authorities in respect of detrunked roads. [63383]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has made it clear that there will be a fair re-allocation of resources to reflect the financial responsibilities which local authorities will assume when roads are actually detrunked. The arrangements for achieving this objective are currently the subject of consultation with the Local Government Association.

  Emission Targets (Kyoto)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress made in achieving the CO, reduction targets agreed at Kyoto for the United Kingdom. [63614]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 14 December 19981: On 26 October 1998, the Government published a consultation paper on climate change. The paper describes progress to date in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and sets out a variety of policy options for meeting our climate change targets. It covers both the UK's legally binding target from Kyoto of a 12.5 per cent. reduction in a basket of six greenhouse gases by 2008–2012 and our domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. Following the consultation period, we will develop and consult on a new UK climate change programme.

  Action has already been taken to reduce the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, the Government have introduced their integrated transport policy; we have increased the fuel duty escalator to an average of 6 per cent. above inflation per year; the European car industry has negotiated a voluntary agreement to reduce emissions of CO, from new cars by an average of 25 per cent.; Lord Marshall has reported on the scope for using economic instruments to improve business's use of energy; we have launched a review of what would be necessary and practicable to deliver 10 per cent. of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2010; and we have increased resources for energy efficiency.

  Rolling Stock Companies (Safety Compliance)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 115, concerning rolling stock companies, what responsibility the ROSCOs have to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive. [63413]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOs) have a responsibility to comply with the requirements relating to them under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
  434
  and its statutory provisions. The Health and Safety Executive monitors and enforces compliance with these requirements.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 115, concerning rolling stock companies, what responsibility the Franchising Director has to the franchisee if the HSE's requirements in respect of rolling stock change during the life of a franchise. [63412]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement there are arrangements in place for the Franchising Director to meet up to 95 per cent. of the costs falling on a train operating company for modification to rolling stock which is required to be made under any applicable law, any Government authority or any directives from Railtrack relating to safety. These directives could relate to Acts of Parliament and/or directives originating from Railway Group Standards. Railway Group Standards are rules, regulations, instructions and procedures which are produced as mandatory operational and engineering standards and all relate to safety aspects of the operation of railways and are set and enforced by Railtrack.

  New Housing Development
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to issue guidance on a sequential approach to selecting locations for new housing development and sites. [64151]

  Mr. Caborn
  Guidance on the approach to the selection of locations and sites for housing will be included in the draft new planning policy guidance note on housing (PPG3) which will be issued early next year.

  A14
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what change in traffic levels on the A14 in Cambridgeshire is predicted as a result of the opening of the A1(M) south of Peterborough. [63534]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The upgrading of the Al to motorway status between Alconbury and Peterborough is not expected to result in any increase in traffic levels over and above that due to general growth in traffic on the A14.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63870]

  Mr. Meale
  The over-riding principle of Civil Service recruitment procedures is that they should be fair, and selection should be on merit at each stage. Monitoring in this area is based on ethnic origin rather than nationality. The categories monitored by my Department are based on those used in the 1991 census, which did not include an Irish category. The categories will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

  Road Traffic Targets
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the representations he has received which opposed the setting of specific targets to reduce road traffic volumes. [63384]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department does not maintain a detailed central record of the views expressed on particular issues in all written and oral representations made to the Secretary of State. A comprehensive answer to the hon. Member's question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  We have, however, extracted the following information on opposition to national road traffic reduction targets from our database of the responses to the Government's August 1997 consultation on developing an integrated transport policy. (A summary report on those responses was published in July 1998). Five respondents indicated that they did not support national road traffic reduction targets. Of these, one was a member of the public and the remaining four were:

  Ford Motor Company Ltd.

  The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  Environmental Transport Association

  Civil Engineering Contractors Association.

  Copies of all the written responses, except those where confidentiality was requested, are available for inspection by arrangement at the Department's library at Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SWIE 6RB.

  Aircraft Emissions
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's target for percentage reduction in emissions from aircraft; and what proportion of the Government's planned 20 per cent. reduction in carbon emissions this constitutes. [63641]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are currently consulting on options to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and meet their climate change targets. Our consultation paper looks at a wide range of options. It does not propose targets for particular sectors. Our aim is to develop a balanced climate change programme where all sectors play a part.

  Only the emissions from domestic flights, beginning and ending within the UK, are included in our national inventory. These account for around 11 per cent. of total emissions from UK originating air traffic. The UK is working within the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which was given the responsibility under the Kyoto Protocol, on ways of reducing emissions from international aviation.

  Railway Stations
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure that improvements carried out to stations on behalf of, and at the expense of, train operating companies are not subject to excessive charges by Railtrack. [63631]
  436
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Rail Regulator is responsible for setting the access charges which meet Railtrack's costs of maintaining and repairing station infrastructure. The Regulator is presently reviewing all Railtrack's access charges and is required to publish his final conclusions by July 2000. In addition, the Regulator's approval is required for any changes to station access charges which Railtrack may agree with a train operator as a result of investment in station improvements. On 5 December, the Regulator issued guidelines to the industry designed to ensure that any such changes to meet Railtrack's additional costs from enhancing station facilities are justified and calculated in a fair, consistent and transparent manner.

  Aviation Fuel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what(a) discussions and (b) studies his Department is supporting in respect of the taxation of aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement. [63642]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The UK supported the Community Resolution of 9 June 1997 which asked the European Commission to study the environmental and economic effects in Europe of a tax on aviation fuel. The study report is expected early next year.

  The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) agreed a work programme for its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection in October this year. This includes the need to identify and evaluate the role which a range of market based options, including fuel taxes, might play in reducing aviation emissions. My Department will continue to play a leading role in this work programme which must be completed before the next ICAO Assembly in 2001.

  British Rail
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1998,Official Report, column 36, what the reasons were for the size of the increase in the external finance requirement for the British Railways Board between 1996–97 and 1997–98. [63905]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The increase in the British Railways Board's external finance requirement between 1996–97 and 1997–98 reflects the combined effects of large changes in the Board's finances. In particular, as a result of privatisation, the Board's turnover fell from £3,397 million in 1996–97 including grants of £1,507 million, to just £231 million in 1997–98 including grants of £51 million.

  A26 and A27
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce safety improvements to(a) the A26 Beddingham-Newhaven and (b) the A27 Lewes-Polegate. [63558]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Highways Agency has introduced a number of safety improvements on the A26
  437
  between Beddingham and Newhaven and the A27 between Lewes and Polegate respectively and has plans to introduce more. These are:

  (a) A26 Beddingham to Newhaven
  South Downs Way Crossing—a study is underway with a view to providing a signal controlled pedestrian/cycle/equestrian crossing.
  Beddingham Warning Sign—'Queues Likely' sign is about to be erected to the south of Beddingham roundabout.
  Itford Farm Layby—study is in progress with a view to providing a layby in the vicinity of the South Downs Way.
  Resurfacing—the skidding resistance of most of the carriageway from north of the Beddingham landfill sites to the Tarring Neville junction is programmed to increased early in the new year.

  (b) A27 Lewes to Polegate
  Lewes—Polegate—a study of the double white lining system has currently been completed and improvements are due to be implemented shortly.
  Willington Cross Road—a scheme to provide a right turn facility is being prepared and subject to land acquisition, is expected to be implemented in the next financial year. If SUSTRANS opts for National Cycle Route at this point on the trunk road the scheme will include a light controlled 'Toucan' pedestrian crossing.
  Aberdale Road, Polegate, Cycle Crossing—a SUSTRANS sponsored National Cycle Route Crossing of the trunk Road involving the provision of a light-controlled 'Toucan' pedestrian crossing is programmed in the current financial year.
  Southerham to Ranscombe Lane Cycle Route—a scheme is in preparation and is expected to be implemented during the next financial year.
  Beddingham Footways—a study is in hand to establish the provision of footways between laybys on either side of the railway level crossing and crossings telephones.
  A22 Junction (South)—consideration is being given to upgrading the traffic signals at this busy junction and to linking them with the A22 Wannock Road signals.
  Firle Cycle Track—a study is underway with a view to providing a cycle track between the Glynde junction and Middle farm, programmed for this financial year.
  Southerham Roundabout—a study is in hand to provide dedicated lanes at this very busy junction.
  Sameston—a lower speed limit is planned for early in the new year and crash protection for 'Corner Cottage' is currently being designed.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of(a) staffing reductions and (b) dividend payments by Rai1track on the performance of its rail safety responsibilities. [63645]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Under the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994, reductions in staffing levels would require amendment to a Railway Safety Case where this might affect safety. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate monitors compliance with the Regulations and will take whatever action it considers appropriate to ensure safety is not compromised.

  Dividend payments are a commercial matter for Railtrack's Board of Directors.

  Members Car Parking Charges
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for introducing car parking charges for hon. Members within the parliamentary estate; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the financial incentives of the scheme. [63632]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Greater London Authority Bill will enable London's elected Mayor to levy a charge on non-residential workplace parking. Alternatively the London Borough of Westminster will be able to introduce a levy within its boundary, subject to the agreement of the Mayor. The Bill provides that, if any scheme is brought forward in the Westminster area, it will be able to apply to the parliamentary estate. The charge would be payable by the Corporate Officer of the House. Whether or not to pass the charge on to individual Members would be for the House itself to determine.

  Railways (Carnet Tickets)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the issuing of carnet tickets by train operating companies. [63644]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government's White Paper on the Future of Transport (Cm 3950) made it clear that we consider that carnets are a desirable alternative to season tickets. They would be a particular benefit to part-time workers as well as occasional travellers and we wish to encourage all rail (and indeed other transport) operators to offer them as part of their ticketing range. The current arrangements for fares are a consequence of legally binding franchise agreements inherited from the previous Government. When opportunities arise for negotiating franchises, the structure and marketing of fares is one of the areas in which the new Strategic Rail Authority will look for improvements.

  Local Transport Plans
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on his proposals with regard to local transport plans. [63555]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government's proposals for local transport plans were announced in the White Paper on the future of transport "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone". We have received numerous representations following the White Paper, many of which have included consideration of local transport plans. These helped inform our draft guidance for local authorities on local transport plans, which was published for consultation on 12 November. The consultation period ends on 8 January 1999.

  Local Agenda 21
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from local authorities on the Local Agenda 21 environmental strategies. [63554]

  Mr. Meale
  We receive representations on a range of matters relating to sustainable development, including from local authorities on Local Agenda 21 strategies.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make it his policy to exclude pesticides used in horticulture from the proposed environmental tax on pesticides; and if he will make a statement; [64031]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the price elasticity of demand for different types of pesticides during his consideration of the proposed environmental tax on pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [64032]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government have not made a proposal for a pesticide tax. However, my Department has commissioned extensive research into the scope for a pesticide tax or charge, including sectoral usage, consideration of price elasticities of demand for different pesticides, and the impact on users, manufacturers and suppliers. The Government will take this work fully into account in reaching a decision on whether to introduce such an instrument.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedules)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63806]

  Mr. Meale
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information, and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Northern Line
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what extra funds his Department has given to London Underground since August 1998 for the provision of the new trains on the Northern Line. [64112]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department does not provide funds specifically for the new Northern Line trains. However, when making decisions on the overall level of funding for London Transport, the Government take into account the payments which London Transport are required to pay to PFI contractors. This includes the deal with ALSTOM for the new Northern Line trains.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the number of train cancellations and (b) the punctuality performance on Northern Line services for each day since 1 November. [64105]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This information is not available in the form requested. London Underground measure their performance against a series of Key Performance Indicators and data on performance are collected for weekdays only and presented for each 4-week period.

  In the period from 9 November to 4 December, a total of 406 trains were cancelled at weekday morning and evening peak times out of a total number of 3,360 scheduled trains. This means that 87.9 per cent. of scheduled trains were in service during the period compared with the target of 98.3 per cent.
  440
  London Underground base their punctuality measure on whether the scheduled time interval between trains—the 'headway'—was achieved. This is expressed as a percentage of the total number of headways during weekdays. The following table sets out the latest data available from London Underground and covers the period from 2 November to Friday 4 December (inclusive).

  Date

  Percentage of headways achieved

  2 November

  89.3

  3 November

  91.2

  4 November

  90.5

  5 November

  85.1

  6 November

  88.4

  9 November

  85.0

  10 November

  85.4

  11 November

  88.5

  12 November

  89.3

  13 November

  92.4

  16 November

  91.7

  17 November

  88.4

  18 November

  88.2

  19 November

  88.6

  20 November

  88.8

  23 November

  90.2

  24 November

  92.5

  25 November

  91.9

  26 November

  89.3

  27 November

  91.0

  30 November

  83.7

  1 December

  86.5

  2 December

  79.5

  3 December

  89.6

  4 December

  84.9

  Target

  94.4

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many complaints his Department has received concerning the service on the Northern Line since 1 September. [64106]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Since 1 September the Department has received 26 letters relating wholly or mainly to the poor service on the Northern Line. Establishing the total number of letters which refer to poor performance on the Northern Line could be done only at disproportionate cost, because letters are often wide-ranging and only the main issue raised is logged.

  Building Regulations (Control Charges)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on devolving the setting of Building Regulations control charges to individual local authorities in England and Wales. [64386]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A consultation paper on draft regulations to devolve the setting of Building Regulations control charges to individual local authorities in England and Wales with building control functions, was published in June this year. Having considered the responses I announced my decision on 31 July to proceed to lay regulations with a coming into force date of 1 April next year. I have today laid those regulations before Parliament. They are entitled "The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 1998".
  441
  An essential part of operating this new system of charging will be the making of a Scheme by each local authority responsible for building control in order to fix those charges and administer the charging process. The Department is therefore publishing a Circular whose primary purpose is to give guidance to local authorities on how to produce a Scheme. This will be available shortly.

  Somerset Levels (Water Management)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has given to the Environment Agency concerning the implications for the management of water levels on the Somerset Levels of(a) the EU Birds Directive, (b) the EU Habitats Directive, (c) the Water Resources Act 1991 and (d) the Land Drainage Acts. [63394]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Environment Agency is the principal flood defence operating authority and, in exercising those functions, is subject to the conservation duties placed on it by sections 7 and 8 of the Environment Act 1995. The Agency is required to have regard to the Habitats and Birds Directives in exercising its functions, as it is a "competent authority" under the terms of the Habitats Directive. It is also required to make an appropriate assessment of the impact before approving any plans or projects which, on their own or in combination with other plans or projects, may affect a European site. The Ministry and Welsh Office have issued a Code of Practice on Environmental Procedures for Flood Defence Operating Authorities which includes specific guidance on the responsibilities of the Agency and the other operating authorities under the Habitats and Birds Directives.

  The Ministry and Welsh Office have also issued guidance to the Environment Agency and other flood defence operating authorities on the production of Water Level Management Plans. The plans provide a means by which the range of activities in a particular area, including agriculture, flood defence and conservation can be balanced and integrated. We have encouraged preparation of such plans with highest priority being given to internationally important sites, including those designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Water Level Management Plans are in preparation on the Somerset Levels, with the majority being produced by internal drainage boards, as the relevant operating authority.

TREASURY

  Road and Parking Charges
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the money raised through(a) road pricing and (b) workplace charging will be hypothecated for public transport improvements. [63639]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government propose (as laid out in the recently published consultation document—"Breaking the Logjam") that local authorities which bring forward pilot road user charging or workplace parking charge schemes 442
  should be able to retain 100 per cent. of the net revenue generated for at least 10 years from the implementation of a scheme—provided that there are worthwhile transport-related projects to be funded.

  The Government will make an announcement about the retention of proceeds from schemes brought forward after the pilot phase in due course.

  Tax Credits (Abolition)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister is currently responsible for reviewing the policy of abolishing tax credits for non-taxpayers; and if he will make a statement. [64197]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 December 1998,Official Report, column 346.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the changeover plans regarding preparations for British entry into the single currency. [63865]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The outline changeover plan should be published early in 1999.

  VAT (Golf Clubs)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to harmonise the VAT exemption for proprietary and private golf clubs. [62605]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government understand the problems of both types of golf club and have arranged for HM Customs and Excise to discuss these with the European Commission, in the light of the recent European Court of Justice ruling in Commission of the European Communities vs. the Kingdom of Spain (Case C-124/96, Judgment of the Court, Sixth Chamber, of 7 May 1998).

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the inclusion of the Irish as an ethnic category in the next census. [63868]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's proposals for the 2001 Census, including the topics to be covered and details of the ethnic question, will be published in a White Paper early next year.

DEFENCE

  Challenger 2 Tanks
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the new transporters for Challenger 2 tanks. [64276]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD will shortly issue an invitation to four consortia to negotiate for a private-sector financed solution to the Army's heavy equipment transporter requirement, with the aim that the service is provide from 2002. This is the first programme to invite solutions to invite solutions for an operational combat support vehicle
  443
  through the Private Finance Initiative. The consortia are also being invited to explore options for the employment of Sponsored Reserves to deliver the service. A decision on the way forward is expected in early 2000, with a contract let later that year following final negotiations with the preferred bidder.

  Queen Victoria School
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the key targets are for 1998–99 for the Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School. [64271]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School has been set the following Key Targets for 1998–1999.

  1. Achieve a staying on rate at School for S4 to S5 of at least 68 per cent. based on a 3 year trend.

  2. Exceed by 2 per cent. the average percentage pass rate for all Scottish presentations obtaining 5 or more Credit awards at Standard Grade based on a 3 year trend.

  3. Achieve a percentage of the presentations at Higher Grade achieving A to C grade greater than or equal to the Scottish averaged based on a 3 year trend.

  4. To achieve a pupil per capital cost of no more than £17,246 (at 1997–98 prices) by March 1999. 1997–98 target was £17,420.

  5. To generate commercial income to the School of at least £20,000.

  Duke of York's Royal Military School
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1998–99 for the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School. [64273]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Chief Executive of The Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following Key Targets for 1998–99.

  1. To achieve 100 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* to G.

  2. To achieve 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C; 1998-–9 target is 78 per cent.

  3. To achieve 88 per cent. of A level passes at grades A to E.

  4. To achieve 3 or more A level passes at grades A to E; 1998–99 target is 80 per cent.

  5. To achieve 34 per cent. of A level passes at Grades A and B.

  6. To achieve 100 per cent. award rate for GNVQ Advanced and BTEC National Diploma courses.

  7. To achieve places in higher education for at least 70 per cent. of sixth form leavers.

  8. To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £13,151.

  9. To generate income of at least £452,000.

  10. To achieve at least 260 applications for September 99 intake.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter dated 30 November from the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to his hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) concerning nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in the former Soviet Union. [63900]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Following is the text of the letter to which I understand my hon. Friend refers.
  444
  Letter from the Secretary of State for Defence to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 30 November 1998:
  In my answer to your Parliamentary Questions on 19 November, (Official Report, cols 712–713). I undertook to write to you about certain aspects of Trident computer systems.
  You asked first about the percentage of computer chips purchased "off the shelf' from suppliers. The Trident Strategic Weapon System was procured "off the shelf' from the US Government under the provisions of the Polaris Sales Agreement as amended for Trident. It is not, therefore, possible to provide the level of detail called for in the question. However the US has a programme of work to provide certification of Year 2000 compliance for all items associated with the system procured by the UK
  As far as your question about audits and action plans on millennium compliance is concerned, I can tell you that a comprehensive audit of the deterrent is being conducted by a dedicated Deterrent Millennium Task Group. At the top level this includes areas such as the missile and warhead, fire control, navigation, targeting, firing chain, reactor and propulsion control, sonar, command and control and all associated shore based facilities. Each of these areas is further sub-divided into many hundreds of smaller sub-systems, each of which is being investigated. Extensive tests are being conducted on all equipment associated with the Trident Weapon System and its supporting infrastructure to confirm that it will not be affected by any key dates before, during and after the turn of the century. A programme of trials is in place to provide further verification. I trust this also addresses your question about systems identified as being critical to the safe and continuous operation of the Trident system. It would not be in the national interest to disclose the details of our audits and investigations as this would reveal information which could compromise the effectiveness of the UK's strategic deterrent. I am therefore withholding this information under exemption 1, Defence, security and International relations, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
  As far as our discussions with the US are concerned, we are working extremely closely to ensure that common equipment critical to each nation's defence capability, including Trident, are millennium compliant. In addition to the regular, frequent meetings on the wider Year 2000 problem, regular meetings are held with the US under the provisions of the Polaris Sales Agreement with Year 2000 compliance one of the items on the agenda: The most recent such meeting was on 10 November. The US programme I have already mentioned has a forecast date for completion of 31 December this year.
  You also asked about planned expenditure to ensure millennium compliance of the Trident systems. There is no separately identified central record of planned millennium compliance expenditure specifically related to the Trident system. I would, however, refer you to the answer given by Margaret Beckett to Maria Eagle on 21 October in which she announced the results of the latest quarterly review of Government departments and agencies progress in tackling the bug. The results of the next quarterly review will be announced shortly to the House and the updates to quarterly plans will be placed in the Library of the House and on the internet.
  Finally, there is no central record of the number of staff dedicated to ensuring the Trident systems's millennium compliance which you also requested. However, staff in relevant appointments are working to ensure the status of all systems is identified and that action plans are in place where required.
  I am copying this letter to Llew Smith to whom I also undertook to write in respect of his question on the issue of millennium compliance of nuclear systems.
  I hope this is helpful.
  I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

  Surveillance Towers (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total annual cost of staffing and maintaining surveillance towers(a) at the hilltop sites in the South Armagh area, (b) the two towers in Derry and (c) the three posts mounted on blocks of flats in Belfast. [64204]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Armed Forces on 6 November 1997,Official Report, column 320.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63804]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There were some 23,200 Service and civilian personnel based at 116 locations in Scotland, as at 1 April 1998 (the most recent date for which figures are available). All of these personnel will continue to be subject to the appropriate UK legislation. For the 10,000 civilian personnel this involves compliance with the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, listed in Head L2 of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act, as well as Departmental policies against unfair discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, age and religious belief. In order for the Armed Forces to maintain combat effectiveness they are granted an exemption from the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, in Section 85(4) of the Act, and from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Current policy is also that homosexuals are not allowed to serve in the Armed Forces; this issue will be reviewed in the lifetime of this Parliament. Aside from these specific exceptions the Armed Forces are committed to equality of opportunity irrespective of gender, religion, ethnic or social background and vigorous policies are in place to ensure that this is achieved.

  Service Women (Pregnancy)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what total expenditure his Department has incurred to date in the payment of claims for compensation by service women required to leave the armed forces on grounds of pregnancy. [64010]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 December 1998,Official Report, column 257 to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne).

  Louise Jensen
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to his Department of the defence of the British soldiers convicted of causing the death of a Danish tour guide in Cyprus. [63343]
  446
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The costs of the defence and subsequent appeal of the soldiers convicted of causing the death of the Danish tour guide were met by the Army Legal Aid scheme, and have been £260K to date. This figure does not include the cost of the appeals process which has only recently concluded.

  The Army Legal Aid scheme provides legal assistance to Army personnel similar to that available in this country to ensure that they are not placed at a disadvantage when tried overseas in a civil criminal court; the scheme is funded by my Department.

  Polo Ponies
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many polo ponies the British Army owns; and in which countries they are based. [63990]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The British Army does not own polo ponies. All military horses maintained by the Army fulfil either ceremonial duties or work in the Army School of Equitation.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63878]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department's ethnic monitoring of Service and civilian recruitment is based solely on an applicant's ethnicity. The nine ethnic origin categories monitored by my Department are those used in the 1991 census which did not include an Irish category. They will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

  Hunting
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost since 1 May 1997 of supplying military police to protect huntsmen on MOD land from potential activity by anti-hunt protesters. [63638]

  Mr. Spellar
  Military Police are not involved with hunts, so no costs have been incurred from protecting huntsmen.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when authorisation has been given for MOD land to be used for hunting; and if he will indicate those occasions when hunting occurred on land designated as a site of special scientific interest, giving for each occasion the location of the SSSI. [63637]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what charges have been made and to which hunts for the use of MOD land since 1 May 1997. [63634]
  447
  Mr. Spellar
  The table shows charges which have been paid since 1 May 1997 allowing hunting with hounds to take place over the Defence Estate.

  Hunt

  Charges since 1 May 1997 (£)

  Comments

  Tanatside Hunt

  158.75

  North Shropshire Hunt

  179.37

  Surrey Union Hunt

  398.13

  Blankney Hunt

  208.75

  Essex and Suffolk Hunt

  405.75

  Thorney Island Hunt

  39.38

  The previous Commanding Officer used to invite the Hunt onto the Island for one day a year—this has now ceased

  East Kent Hunt

  172.75

  South Pembrokeshire Hunt

  39.60

  Sennybridge Hunt

  160.89

  Brecon and Talybont Hunt

  160.89

  Irfon and Tywi Hunt

  160.89

  Taunton Vale Foxhounds

  80.00

  There is a reciprocal agreement in place whereby land is licenced to the MOD

  West of Yore Hunt

  170.18

  Bedale Hunt

  170.18

  Zetland Hunt

  170.18

  Wensleydale Hunt

  36.43

  Ullswater Foxhounds

  152.37

  Lunesdale Foxhounds

  57.12

  Border Hunt

  175.12

  West Percy Hunt

  175.12

  Avon Vale Hunt

  375.00

  Tedworth Hunt

  125.00

  Royal Artillery Hunt

  225.00

  South and West Wiltshire Hunt

  225.00

  Bewcastle Hunt

  177.22

  Licence to pass over MOD land only

  Tynedale Hunt

  233.62

  Licence to pass over MOD land only

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when his Departments' buildings have been used for purposes connected with hunting. [63633]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the MOD units which have hunt kennels on their land, indicating in each case the rent charged for the use of these kennels. [63635]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD units which have hunt kennels on their land are as follows:Britannia Royal Naval College—Kennels for beagles. Charges made for utilities only and for this Financial Year this stands at £55.
  Catterick Garrison—Kennels for Catterick Garrison Beagles—£1,698 per annum.
  Larkhill Garrison—Royal Artillery Hunt—Encroachment. (No charge)
  RMA Sandhurst—Beagle kennels—Encroachment. (No charge)
  RMCS Shrivenham—Beagle kennels—Encroachment. (No charge).

  An encroachment is granted for authorised sporting, recreational and welfare activities in accordance with guidelines in the Joint Services Publication 362 Defence Lands Handbook, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which MOD units permit their personnel to hunt during normal working hours, with particular reference to the Wednesday afternoon sports period. [63636]
  448
  The following charges have been paid since 1 May 1997 allowing hunting with hounds to take place over the Defence estate:

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure by programme by his Department in Scotland on areas covered by the exception under E.3 of Head E in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. [63803]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This information is not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I thus regret I am unable to answer under Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Chile
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of his Department's Defence Sales Organisation visited Chile in each year since 1990. [64022]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers of the British armed forces of one star status or above visited Chile in each year since 1990. [64013]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The information requested is not held centrally and complete records are not available.
  449
  The information that we have, however, shows the following visits by officers of One Star status or above to Chile:

  Year

  Number of visits

  1990

  1

  1991

  1

  1992

  5

  1993

  4

  1994

  3

  1995

  6

  1996

  2

  1997

  3

  1998

  4

  In addition we are aware that students of the Royal College of Defence Studies, which is attended by some officers of one star status and above, visited Chile in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 and in 1998. We do not, however, have details of the number of officers concerned.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which chiefs of staff of the British armed forces visited Chile from 1990 to date indicating the dates of the visit in each case. [64014]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The information requested is not held centrally and complete records are not available. The information that we hold, however, shows the following visits to Chile:

  Date

  Visit

  1990

  Chief of the Naval Staff

  March 1994

  Chief of the Air Staff

  March 1995

  Chief of the Naval Staff

  March 1996

  Vice Chief of the Defence Staff

  June 1998

  Chief of the Naval Staff

  October 1998

  Chief of the Air Staff

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vessels of the Royal Navy, including ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, visited Chilean ports and naval bases during each calendar year since 1990. [64015]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 December 1998,Official Report, column 331, to the hon. Member for Worthing, East and Shoreham (Mr. Loughton). The following visits were also made by the Royal Navy from 1990 to 1993:

  Royal Navy vessels

  Dates

  1990

  HMS Otter

  9 June-14 June

  1991

  HMS Alacrity

  29 August-2 September

  HMS Endurance (Old)

  11 April-16 April

  HMS Cumberland

  25 February-4 March

  1992

  HMS Ambuscade

  9 October-12 October

  HMS Campbeltown

  29 July-3 August

  HMS Endurance

  1 April-6 April

  450

  Royal Navy vessels

  Dates

  1993

  HMS Newcastle

  18 November-22 November

  HMS Endurance

  8 April-13 April

  HMS Endurance

  18 February-22 February

  Note:

  Records of RFA deployments for the period prior to December 1993 are not sufficiently detailed to show individual visits

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has made of(a) the total cost of transfer of equipment and (b) the cost of transferring IT equipment, in the move of 101 Battalion REME from Chorley Barracks to Queensferry. [63652]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 7 December 1998, Official Report, column 54.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he used to select Chorley TA for closure in the review of the Territorial Army. [63617]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The planning assumptions underlying the restructuring of the Territorial Army were well publicised during the consultative process. A copy of the assumptions has been placed in the Library of the House. The particular factors bearing on the decision to close Chorley TA Centre were explained by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the hon. Members in the House on 2 December 1998, Official Report, columns 859–64.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on travelling costs of the transfer of 101 Battalion REME from Chorley Barracks to Queensferry. [63623]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The effect on travelling costs will depend on whether individuals are transferred from the headquarters at Chorley to that at Queensferry, when the Battalion transfers, which has yet to be determined.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many TA centres will remain open(a) in South Lancashire and (b) in the parliamentary constituencies of (i) Chorley, (ii) South Ribble, (iii) West Lancashire, (iv) Rossendale and Darwen and (v) Ribble Valley. [63618]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: There are two TA centres in South Lancashire; both are located in Blackburn and will remain open.
  Chorley is the only constituency among those listed which has a TA centre; this is scheduled for closure.

  Ammunition
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Army's requirement for ammunition. [64277]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am pleased to announce the outcome of two recent ammunition competitions. First, we intend to contract with Royal Ordnance to meet most of the British Army's requirement for large calibre ammunition for the next five years. The contract will cover ammunition for
  451
  use with the AS90 155mm self-propelled gun, Challenger 2 tank, and a range of reconnaissance and infantry fighting vehicles.

  Secondly, we intend to contract with Marconi Marine Land and Naval Systems, formerly Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd., to develop and produce enhancements to extend the range and increase the effectiveness of the AS90 self-propelled gun. Within this contract, Royal Ordnance will be sub-contracted to manufacture new barrels, and a South African company, Somchem, will manufacture a new Modular Charge System.

  These contracts, which are subject to the completion of final negotiations, are together worth around £200 million and will bring valuable work to both Marconi and Royal Ordnance, securing over 500 jobs for British industry.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Recycled Paper
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps have been taken to recycle paper from hon. Members' offices. [63996]

  Mrs. Roe
  All waste paper from honourable Members' offices is sorted and recycled by an approved contractor.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Millennium Experience
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions he has had with(a) the New Millennium Experience Company, (b) London Underground and (c) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about travel and entry ticket packages for visitors to the Dome; [62775]

  (2) what representations he has received from the tourist industry about the timing of the announcement of travel and entry ticket packages for visitors to the Dome. [62776]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 7 December 1998]: Responsibility for negotiating travel and ticket arrangements with transport providers and tour operators rests with the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). I have had no discussions with representatives from individual transport providers or the tourist industry. The NMEC are in discussion with both about combined travel and Millennium Experience entry packages. The aim is to ensure that attractive and competitive packages are available within the United Kingdom and abroad. Announcements about these packages will be made at the appropriate time. Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport provide me with advice in my capacity as shareholder of the NMEC and they keep me advised of NMEC's progress in these matters.

  Management Practices
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the Institute 452
  of Personnel Development: Study No. 22, Impact of People Management Practices on Business Performance; and if he will make a statement. [64107]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The need to improve the skills of the British work force is well-recognised and this forms a key theme of the Competitiveness White Paper which I am to publish shortly. This report is the first substantive piece of British research on how people management practices impact upon business performance in manufacturing industries. I welcome the report's findings that recent business performance was better where firms encouraged acquisition and development of employee skills, and where workers had more job autonomy—either individually or in teams.

  My Department has jointly funded the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey (WERS). Data from this will be used to do a similar type of analysis but it will be for a nationally representative set of British workplaces with 10 or more employees.

  Foresight Programme
  Mrs. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the development of the Government's Foresight Programme. [64270]

  Mr. Battle
  I am delighted to publish today the blueprint for the next round of Foresight which will start in April 1999. Copies have been filed in the Library of the House.

  The next round of Foresight will have a broader focus than before. The work will be taken forward through ten sectoral panels and three thematic panels looking at the aging population, crime prevention and the future of manufacturing. Associate Programmes will be run by professional institutions and other organisations, working closely with the Office of Science and Technology.

  There will be many avenues for participation, with a particular emphasis on involving young people. An Internet-based Knowledge Pool will provide a unique resource to support Foresight participants and promote widespread debate on emerging results and conclusions.

  The Government's vision is to put the future on Britain's side. We have the talent to exploit the opportunities of the future. The forthcoming Competitiveness White Paper will set out a framework for the Government's role in helping British business to achieve this. Foresight is a central part of that framework.

  GEC
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total value of grants paid by his Department to GEC since 1 May 1997. [61988]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: Between 1 May 1997 and 30 November 1998 my Department paid a total of some £1.8 million in grants to GEC companies. This includes grants paid under the Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration Programme (CARAD).

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total value of grant paid by his Department to British Aerospace since 1 May 1997. [61990]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 1 December 1998]: My Department has paid a total of around £4.5 million in grant on various schemes to British Aerospace since 1 May 1997. This was mainly under the Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration Programme (CARAD).

  In addition, the Government agreed on 2 February 1998 to invest up to £123 million in a public-private partnership with British Aerospace on the development of the Airbus A340–500/600.

  Sellafield
  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many shipments of mixed oxide fuel were made between 1 January and 30 November from Sellafield(a) by air and (b) by sea. [63438]

  Mr. Battle
  I understand that there was one shipment of Mixed Oxide fuel by air and one by sea from Sellafield between 1 January and 30 November.

  Millennium Coin
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to issue to each school child in the United Kingdom a commemorative coin to mark the millennium. [62968]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Royal Mint is planning to issue a commemorative coin to mark the millennium, which will be widely available.

  Microchips (Radiation)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evaluation his Department is carrying out into the potential damage to transistors in microchips from background alpha and neutron radiation, following the recent report to the International Test Conference in Washington; and if he will make a statement. [62967]

  Mr. Battle
  The issue of potential damage to transistors from background radiation is primarily a matter for those companies and organisations that design and manufacture microchips. My Department continues to monitor developments.

  Academy of Invention
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has evaluated for setting up an Academy of Invention; and if he will make a statement. [63850]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government fully recognise the need to harness better the depth of creativity which we have in the UK. Earlier this year the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with the full support of my own Department, set up the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), with an endowment of £200 million from the National Lottery, to support 454
  talented individuals. NESTA's trustees will soon be consulting on their policies and programmes, which should start next year.

  I have had useful discussion with proponents of an Academy of Invention, and other organisations which support invention. They are fully aware that any further public support for inventors must be consistent with and add value to NESTA's operation.

  Minimum Wage (Ministers of Religion)
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if ministers of religion are persons qualifying for the national minimum wage. [63709]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As office holders ministers of religion will not be covered by the national minimum wage. However, those who do work under a worker's contract will be covered.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council held in Brussels on 7 December 1998; and if he will make a statement. [63166]

  Mr. Mandelson
  My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 7 December.

  The Council discussed the draft directive on late payments, which would give companies across the EU a statutory right to interest on late payments, and a proposal for a multiannual programme to assist European tourism. The Presidency concluded that it had not been possible to reach political agreement on either proposal and that discussion would continue under the German Presidency.

  The Presidency presented a report on taking forward the process of European economic reform agreed at the Cardiff Summit in June 1998. This will enable the Internal Market Council on 25 February to make a contribution to ECOFIN preparation of the Broad Economic Guidelines and help inform its own future single market work programme.

  The Commission presented reports on the interim Single Market Scoreboard, which showed good progress in transposition of internal market directives, particularly in the UK, Luxembourg, Ireland and Spain; chemicals legislation; and a proposal for a directive to facilitate the development of an internal market in electronic commerce.

  The Council reached unanimous political agreement on the extension of the 1985 Product Liability Directive to primary agricultural products and game; and on the Fourth Motor Insurance Directive, which will make it easier for victims of road accidents that take place in another member state to make an insurance claim. The Free Movement of Goods Regulation and Resolution were adopted, with the UK Presidency mentioned as the driving force behind the agreement.

  Domestic Metering
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on(a) the use of 2 in 1 metering by Swalec and Welsh Water and

  455
  (b) the Director General of Electricity Supply's view that Swalec should take all reasonable steps to discontinue use of these meters; [62272]

  (2) how many homes in each United Kingdom region have 2 in 1 meters; and if he will make a statement. [62273]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: The 2 in 1 metering scheme is a trial one being run by the Hyder Group (Swalec and Welsh Water). I understand that it is currently confined to 3,000 customers who join the scheme on a voluntary basis. Swalec have issued proceedings seeking a judicial direction that their scheme is lawful, not contrary to the Electricity Act 1989 and that the Director General of Electricity Supply has no powers to issue enforcement proceedings under the Act. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further while this process is under way.

  British Nuclear Fuels Limited
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the KPMG report on BNFL. [63494]

  Mr. Battle
  The KPMG report has not yet been received. An announcement will be made once Ministers have considered the report.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63797]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Department has a total of 132 staff in the following offices in Scotland which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998:

  Oil and Gas Directorate

  Infrastructure and Energy Projects Directorate

  Redundancy Payments Office.

  Its Executive Agencies and ACAS have the following numbers of staff:

  Number

  Companies House

  43

  Employment Tribunal Service

  50

  Insolvency Service

  6

  Radiocommunications Agency

  12

  ACAS

  57

  All staff in these offices are covered by the DTI Equal Opportunities Policy or the relevant equal opportunities for their Executive Agency or ACAS. The Order designating cross-border public authorities is still under discussion. Therefore, information on the authorities, and their employees, which will be affected by the Order cannot yet be provided.

  Tobacco
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take to further the adoption of global standards on tobacco marketing. [64125]

  Ms Jowell
  I have been asked to reply.

  We will fully co-operate in the planning, scheduling and information-sharing that would accompany the development of an international framework convention for tobacco control, intended to facilitate and encourage member states to strengthen their own national tobacco control policies. We will liaise with relevant organisations in taking this forward. The White Paper 'Smoking Kills' signalled our willingness to co-operate and we hope it will provide a model in the development and operation of a framework convention.

PRIME MINISTER

  Duty Free
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate the numbers of duty free cigarettes per month brought into the United Kingdom by EU travellers in the past year. [64097]

  The Prime Minister
  HM Customs and Excise have no published estimate of the number of duty free cigarettes brought into the UK by EU travellers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he took the decision to support a continuation of EU duty free purchases of cigarettes for travellers; [64096]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to oppose the continuation of duty free personal imports of cigarettes. [64101]

  The Prime Minister
  At the recent European Council meeting in Vienna a number of Member States, including the UK, asked the Commission and the Council of Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) to examine, by March 1999, the problems which could arise with regard to employment and to address, on the basis of proposals from the Commission, possible means of tackling these problems, including the possibility of a limited extension to duty free shopping. Any proposal to extend duty free shopping beyond 30 June 1999 would still be subject to unanimity in Council.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1998,Official Report, column 219, what case for looking again at the 1991 decision to abolish duty-free sales within the European Union at the end of June 1999 is available now that was not available at the time of his written answer of 19 May 1998, Official Report, column 315, his oral answer of 20 May 1998, Official Report, column 952, his written answer of 3 June 1998, Official Report, column 215, or during the last United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union. [63948]
  457
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the oral reply I gave him in the House on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 618.

  South Africa
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements he has made to visit South Africa in 1999; if he will list those who will accompany him and their travel arrangements; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the visit. [63678]

  The Prime Minister
  Details for my visit are still being finalised.

  RAF Planes
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to use RAF planes between 17 December 1998 and 11 January 1999; and if he will list those who will accompany him and the estimated cost of the journeys. [63677]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to use RAF planes between 17 December 1998 and 11 January 1999.

  Appointing Minister

  Name of appointee

  Chief Whip

  Ian McKenzie

  Sue Jackson

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Tom Greatrex

  Kieran Simpson

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  John Newbiggin

  Andy Burnham

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Bernard Gray

  Alasdair McGowan

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  Conor Ryan

  Hillary Benn

  Tom Bentley—part time

  Sophie Linden—part time

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Joe Irvin

  Paul Hackett—part time

  Joan Hammell

  Darren Murphy—part time

  Richard Olszewski

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  David Clark

  Andrew Hood

  Secretary of State for Health

  Joe McCrea

  Simon Stevens

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Ed Owen

  Justin Russell

  Lord Chancellor

  Gary Hart

  Secretary of State for International Development

  David Mepham

  Dee Sullivan

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women

  Clare Cozens

  Jo Gibbons

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Nigel Warner

  Andrew Lappin

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Tim Walker

  Anna Healey

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Sheila Watson

  Nicci Russell

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Wendy Alexander

  Murray Elder

  David Whitton

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Andrew Maugham

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Dan Corry

  Ben Wegg Prosser

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Ed Balls

  Charles Whelan

  Chief Secretary

  Ed Milliband

  Spencer Livermore

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Julia Crowley

  Gareth Williams

  Pressure Groups
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will amend the Ministerial Code to provide guidance to Ministers on how to respond to questions about past affiliations to pressure groups. [64088]

  The Prime Minister
  No. The Ministerial Code already provides guidance on the handling of private interests, including membership and/or support to pressure groups. Guidance is also provided on the declaration of Ministers' private interests if these might conflict, or be thought to conflict, with their Ministerial duties.

  Departmental Staff
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list, by Department, all special advisers, together with their salaries. [63912]

  The Prime Minister
  For details of the Special Advisers employed in my office I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson) on 8 December 1998,Official Report, column 143.

  At 14 December, my Ministerial colleagues had appointed the following Special Advisers.
  459
  In addition, the Minister for the Cabinet Office has appointed Mr. Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and Mr. Michael Trace as his Deputy. Professor Michael Barber has been appointed as the Standards and Effectiveness Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Mr. Chris Wales and Mr. Paul Gregg as members of the Council of Economic Advisers. All are employed on Special Adviser terms.

  For information on the salaries of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 354–55.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official visits which he has made to Buckinghamshire since 2 May 1997. [64131]

  The Prime Minister
  I visited the Chilton Cheshire Home at Gerrards Cross on 30 October 1997. In addition, some of my official duties are carried out at Chequers.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the countries of Latin America visited by members of Her Majesty's Government since 2 May 1997, stating the name of each Minister, the purpose of each visit and the duration of each stay. [64020]

  The Prime Minister
  There have been 29 Ministerial visits to 12 different countries in Latin America since 2 May to strengthen bilateral relations, promote British interests and continue to play our leading role in international affairs. All visits have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

  Local Government Cabinet Sub-Committee
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has appointed Councillor Jeremy Beecham to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Local Government. [64089]

  The Prime Minister
  No. However, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is Chairman of the Ministerial Group on Better Government, has invited Councillor Sir Jeremy Beecham to attend relevant meetings of the Group in order to bring a local government perspective to discussion of ways of improving service delivery in the public sector.

  President of the Council
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Prime Minister what ministerial support is provided to the President of the Council. [64274]

  The Prime Minister
  Her Majesty, the Queen, has been pleased to approve that my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) be appointed Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office.

  My hon. Friend will provide support to my right hon. Friend the President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, in a number of areas for which she is responsible. The President's responsibilities were set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Casale) on 2 November 1998, Official Report, column 363.
  460
  My hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood will not draw a Ministerial salary.

  Queen's Awards
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans there are to carry out a review of the Queen's Awards for Export, Technological and Environmental Achievement. [64275]

  The Prime Minister
  The Queen's Awards are made by Her Majesty The Queen on my recommendation. At Buckingham Palace's suggestion it has been agreed that now would be an appropriate time for a further review of the scheme, to ensure that it is up to date and provides the best possible incentive for British business. The Review Committee will be set up shortly. The Committee will consider all aspects of the Awards, including their scope and eligibility. The membership of the Review Committee will be made in time for any resulting changes to be implemented for the Awards in the year 2000.

  Those wishing to express views on the operation of the Awards or to suggest changes are invited to submit their views to the Secretary, Queen's Awards Review, Room 188, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS by no later than the end of January 1999. Views may also be submitted by e-mail to queens-awards-review@lond05.dti.gov.uk. or from the Secretary, Queen's Awards Review, telephone number 0171–215 3772.

  M15-M16
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the report by the National Audit Office into the construction of new headquarters for MI5 and MI6. [63853]

  The Prime Minister
  No. The reports on the purchase and fitting out of Vauxhall Cross and Thames House contain sensitive information. It is established practice under Section 1(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information where disclosure would harm national security or defence.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the contents of the National Audit Office report on the construction of the new MI6 building. [63854]

  The Prime Minister
  I am aware of the report which the Comptroller and Auditor General made to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in 1992 on the purchase of Vauxhall Cross. The report was dealt with in accordance with the agreed procedure set out in the House by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in 1987 on 27 January 1987,Official Report, columns 246–49.

  European Union
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister further to his reply of 16 November 1998,Official Report, column 371, if he will make a statement on what types of outside organisations Her Majesty's Government classes as relevant for inclusion in lists of recommended sources for further contact in official documents; and if he will consent to the listing of organisations opposed to closer European Union on Government-funded publications. [64109]

  The Prime Minister
  There are no set criteria concerning contact lists in UK Government publications about the European Union. The Government are keen to
  461
  ensure that members of the public are given access to all relevant information. They do not list publications by political parties in source material, but would seek to include academic institutions. These may well have differing views on the development of the European Union.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) of 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 874, on the constitutional position of the United Kingdom in relation to the EU, if he will list the essential interests to which he referred. [64017]

  The Prime Minister
  Our essential interests are to maintain and enhance the security and prosperity of the UK, and to improve the quality of life of its citizens. We seek to protect and promote these interests through membership of the European Union.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) of 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 879, on age discrimination, what action the Government have taken to tackle age discrimination; and when he plans to introduce legislation on this matter. [64019]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government stand by their manifesto commitment that in work older people should not be discriminated against because of their age.

  On 16 November, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities launched a consultation on the draft Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment. A final version of the code will be published early next year.

  The draft Code of Practice builds on the results of the year long consultation on age discrimination set out in the report 'Action on Age' published in August. This pointed to the immediate impact a Code of Practice would have in tackling unfair age discrimination in employment. Proposals for the Code were widely welcomed by employers and individuals alike.

  Given this Government's busy legislative programme, the Code of Practice is an effective measure that will challenge employment practices that unfairly discriminate against employees on the grounds of age. The impact of the Code will be evaluated and this will inform future plans for legislation in this area.

  The Code of Practice is one of many strands in the Government's approach to helping older people enjoy an active life, participating fully in work and more widely. On 23 November "Building a Better Britain for Older People" was published, setting out the Government's wide strategy for supporting older people.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) of 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 880, on the ban on beef exports, when agreement was reached that the export ban be entirely lifted. [64018]
  462
  The Prime Minister
  On 25 November the European Commission adopted a Commission Decision which permits the resumption of exports of deboned beef produced under the Date-Based Export Scheme.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) of 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 877, on waiting lists, what has been the rise in the number of general practitioner referrals over the last six months; and from what source these figures have been derived. [64011]

  The Prime Minister
  General practitioner referrals for an outpatient appointment rose by 31,000 in the first six months of 1998–99, compared to the first six months of 1997–98. Referrals from all sources (including general practitioners, accident and emergency departments, other consultants and other healthcare professionals) rose by 97,000 during the same period.

  These figures are derived from the quarterly returns from National Health Service trusts.

  Rover Group
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden), of 2 December 1998,Official Report, column 874, on the Rover Group, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to assist Rover. [64012]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government continue to be in close contact with Rover and BMW over future investment plans for Longbridge. The decision by Rover employees to implement the new working-time arrangements and the decision to make the new mini at Longbridge are very important milestones in helping to secure further investment for the plant.

  We will maintain our close contact and support to both companies. However, the Government have not been asked for financial assistance. Should such an approach be received, it will be considered on its own merits and within the usual rules for providing financial assistance to companies.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police (Firearms)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish statistics on the police use of firearms for the latest period for which such statistics are available. [62268]

  Mr. Boateng
  The statistics for April 1997 to March 1998 show that the number of police operations in which firearms were issued to officers was 11,842, a fall of over 4 per cent. on the previous year. The number of occasions on which firearms were discharged by police fell to just three, from five the previous year, resulting in two fatalities.
  463
  There was a decrease of 7 per cent. to 7,510 in the number of operations in which armed response vehicles were deployed. Firearms were carried in these vehicles, but were not necessarily issued to offers on each occasion.

  Full details are set out in the tables.

  Number of operations in which firearms were issued

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total

  6,141

  8,726

  12,379

  11,842

  Avon and Somerset

  156

  326

  312

  139

  Bedfordshire

  36

  264

  345

  323

  Cambridgeshire

  73

  47

  54

  96

  Cheshire

  93

  219

  288

  216

  Cleveland

  107

  487

  1,026

  103

  City of London

  325

  275

  308

  307

  Cumbria

  44

  54

  72

  68

  Derbyshire

  68

  72

  109

  147

  Devon and Cornwall

  29

  90

  160

  133

  Dorset

  46

  36

  36

  54

  Durham

  100

  111

  131

  103

  Essex

  267

  267

  331

  505

  Gloucestershire

  27

  33

  41

  51

  Greater Manchester

  110

  142

  214

  165

  Hampshire

  195

  190

  245

  217

  Hertfordshire

  69

  47

  96

  82

  Humberside

  49

  92

  291

  472

  Kent

  95

  82

  236

  423

  Lancashire

  57

  227

  333

  338

  Leicestershire

  78

  138

  155

  89

  Lincolnshire

  50

  25

  58

  52

  Merseyside

  116

  280

  671

  675

  Metropolitan

  1,804

  2,178

  2,439

  2,578

  Norfolk

  56

  96

  166

  128

  Northamptonshire

  40

  54

  64

  77

  Northumbria

  593

  452

  1,360

  823

  North Yorkshire

  25

  52

  65

  102

  Nottinghamshire

  47

  57

  84

  306

  South Yorkshire

  172

  225

  155

  302

  Staffordshire

  21

  80

  257

  240

  Suffolk

  119

  150

  180

  193

  Surrey

  60

  70

  133

  87

  Sussex

  375

  445

  235

  330

  Thames Valley

  65

  96

  215

  227

  Warwickshire

  25

  55

  97

  152

  West Mercia

  50

  59

  106

  132

  West Midlands

  141

  226

  270

  227

  West Yorkshire

  181

  657

  617

  630

  Wiltshire

  26

  26

  26

  26

  Dyfed Powys

  16

  11

  17

  27

  Gwent

  20

  47

  89

  86

  North Wales

  60

  117

  233

  310

  South Wales

  55

  69

  59

  101

  Number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total

  6,837

  6,554

  6,738

  6,137

  Avon and Somerset

  156

  157

  165

  161

  Bedfordshire

  67

  48

  46

  42

  Cambridgeshire

  87

  92

  90

  80

  Cheshire

  122

  84

  70

  82

  Cleveland

  55

  65

  86

  84

  City of London

  146

  120

  88

  81

  Cumbria

  105

  100

  108

  122

  Derbyshire

  140

  130

  110

  100

  Devon and Cornwall

  116

  140

  151

  147

  Dorset

  76

  75

  74

  72

  Durham

  108

  103

  138

  144

  Essex

  209

  203

  228

  217

  464

  Number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Gloucestershire

  71

  85

  82

  84

  Greater Manchester

  181

  186

  209

  182

  Hampshire

  110

  104

  106

  112

  Hertfordshire

  48

  43

  42

  41

  Humberside

  110

  104

  90

  102

  Kent

  147

  144

  150

  150

  Lancashire

  135

  138

  132

  125

  Leicestershire

  103

  105

  104

  94

  Lincolnshire

  73

  81

  82

  85

  Merseyside

  160

  119

  147

  165

  Metropolitan

  2,013

  1,915

  2,035

  1,523

  Norfolk

  117

  99

  98

  102

  Northamptonshire

  83

  95

  92

  92

  Northumbria

  166

  160

  173

  126

  North Yorkshire

  142

  134

  108

  95

  Nottinghamshire

  125

  126

  128

  129

  South Yorkshire

  162

  125

  110

  108

  Staffordshire

  84

  80

  78

  86

  Suffolk

  65

  70

  82

  96

  Surrey

  76

  79

  76

  61

  Sussex

  142

  149

  180

  146

  Thames Valley

  180

  175

  185

  194

  Warwickshire

  56

  50

  41

  38

  West Mercia

  160

  153

  155

  159

  West Midlands

  87

  87

  88

  95

  West Yorkshire

  156

  150

  131

  114

  Wiltshire

  165

  145

  134

  105

  Dyfed Powys

  58

  57

  70

  71

  Gwent

  54

  55

  70

  59

  North Wales

  71

  70

  72

  90

  South Wales

  150

  154

  134

  176

  Number of operations involving Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total

  2,423

  5,523

  8,060

  7,510

  Avon and Somerset

  90

  200

  247

  121

  Bedfordshire

  0

  239

  309

  285

  Cambridgeshire

  27

  15

  23

  19

  Cheshire

  76

  180

  240

  166

  Cleveland

  89

  465

  1,014

  157

  City of London

  0

  23

  25

  0

  Cumbria

  19

  44

  64

  43

  Derbyshire

  58

  53

  97

  99

  Devon and Cornwall

  0

  21

  77

  58

  Dorset

  25

  22

  28

  50

  Durham

  27

  38

  62

  85

  Essex

  165

  155

  218

  180

  Gloucestershire

  0

  10

  13

  48

  Greater Manchester

  69

  6

  2—

  56

  Hampshire

  156

  159

  208

  170

  Hertfordshire

  37

  20

  35

  25

  Humberside

  6

  35

  284

  437

  Kent

  47

  42

  208

  212

  Lancashire

  48

  187

  320

  321

  Leicestershire

  50

  101

  126

  68

  Lincolnshire

  45

  21

  39

  34

  Merseyside

  73

  239

  618

  559

  Metropolitan

  3—

  1,025

  790

  954

  Norfolk

  36

  80

  152

  117

  Northamptonshire

  21

  3

  20

  29

  Northumbria

  310

  325

  715

  515

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  13

  52

  Nottinghamshire

  40

  44

  66

  1256

  South Yorkshire

  140

  171

  129

  252

  Staffordshire

  3

  70

  235

  206

  Suffolk

  113

  117

  120

  135

  Surrey

  25

  47

  52

  76

  Sussex

  304

  413

  173

  284

  465

  Number of operations involving Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Thames Valley

  6

  73

  164

  184

  Warwickshire

  22

  54

  91

  127

  West Mercia

  26

  39

  77

  98

  West Midlands

  58

  98

  103

  102

  West Yorkshire

  173

  587

  584

  586

  Wiltshire

  13

  1

  23

  21

  Dyfed Powys

  9

  6

  12

  19

  Gwent

  9

  39

  58

  47

  North Wales

  0

  14

  173

  260

  South Wales

  8

  42

  55

  97

  1 These forces have amended their arrangements for counting ARV deployment to incidents

  2 No figures available

  3 Not known

  Stephen Lawrence Inquiry
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a copy of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report. [64269]

  Mr. Straw
  I expect to receive the report of the Inquiry in late January or early February 1999.

  Refugees and Asylum Seekers (Sussex)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the number of(a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers currently residing in the areas administered by (i) East Sussex County Council, (ii) Eastbourne Borough Council and (iii) Wealden District Council; [63231]

  (2) how many asylum seekers or refugees are currently residing in council or housing association accommodation in Eastbourne Borough; [63232]

  (3) how many asylum seekers or refugees are currently living in emergency accommodation within the Eastbourne Borough. [63234]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  This information is not available to the Home Office and the hon. Member should approach the local authority.

  Asylum seekers and refugees who are able to support themselves are currently free to live within the United Kingdom in a place of their own choosing. Asylum seekers who register their application for asylum at their port of entry may be eligible for Income Support and Housing Benefit and can then find their own accommodation. Refugees may also qualify for such benefits and are in a similar position. Asylum seekers who do not qualify for benefits, but who may be supported under the terms of the National Assistance Act 1948, or the Children Act 1989 are supported by local authorities under the terms of that legislation. The Home Office currently has no role in providing support and is consequently not aware of the information sought. The Government plan a fundamental reform of the asylum and immigration laws to remove cash benefits and more strictly control where asylum seekers live.
  466
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people currently residing in Eastbourne have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. [63233]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that reliable information on the number of people residing in Eastbourne who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

  Charity Commissioners
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the Charity Commissioners, indicating the term of office of each; [63552]

  (2) to whom the Charity Commissioners are accountable; and what plans he has to reform their lines of accountability. [63553]

  Mr. Boateng
  In accordance with Schedule 1 of the Charities Act 1993, the Home Secretary is responsible for the appointment of the Charity Commissioners. There are a maximum of five Charity Commissioners: the Chief Charity Commissioner is Head of the Department and Accounting Officer; there is a full-time Legal Commissioner; and three part-time Commissioners, one of whom must be legally qualified.

  The Chief Charity Commissioner is Richard Fries, who was appointed on 1 June 1992 for a period of five years. This appointment was extended until 1 June 1999 with effect from 1 June 1997. The full-time Legal Commissioner is Michael Carpenter, appointed on 1 January 1998 until 7 October 2002. The part-time Commissioners are John Bonds, appointed on 1 January 1995 until 31 December 1997, extended to 31 December 1999; Jean Warburton (the other Legal Commissioner), appointed on 1 October 1996 until 30 September 2001; and Julia Unwin appointed from 1 May 1998 until 30 April 2001.

  Whilst the Home Secretary is accountable to Parliament for the efficiency of the Charity Commission, his powers do not extend to investigating the Commission's decisions in particular cases. The Commission is a non-ministerial Government Department, accountable to the courts for its legal decisions. In exercising its powers under charity law, it functions in a quasi-judicial way and is not subject to Ministerial direction. In these matters it acts as an extension of the High Court and its decisions are subject to appeal to the courts. There are no plans to reform their lines of accountability.

  South East London Probation Service
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much will be spent by the South East London Probation Service pilot for treatment and testing orders with regards to(a) Probation Service administration, (b) Probation Service officer posts, (c) research and (d) providers of treatment and rehabilitation. [63704]
  467
  Mr. George Howarth
  South East London Probation Service spending over the entire drug treatment and testing order pilot period (1 October 1998–31 March 2000) will be as follows:

  Probation Service

  £

  (a) probation service administration:

  195,238

  (b) probation officer and administrative staff posts:

  96,299

  (c) research:

  24,000

  (d) treatment and rehabilitation:

  368,127

  Total

  583,664

  1 Includes start-up costs, travel and subsistence, training rent and services, and contingency costs.

  Prisons
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Prison Service establishments he or his Ministers plan to visit between 17 December 1998 and 11 January 1999. [63396]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I expect to visit Hindley Prison on 7 January. No other visits are scheduled during this period.

  Car Crime
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives his Department are developing to reduce car crime. [63403]

  Mr. Boateng
  On 29 September my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a national target of a 30 per cent. reduction in vehicle crime over the next five years. To achieve this, we have recently established a ministerial task force—the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team—which will use as a starting point, a 14 point action plan developed jointly by the former Vehicle Crime Prevention Group and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Identification Procedures
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce video ID evidence as an alternative to the current identification procedure. [63610]

  Mr. Boateng
  In response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology about Digital Images as Evidence, published in February of this year, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary established a Working Group to take forward the recommendations in the report to consider other issues relating to the impact of technology on the laws of evidence, including the issue of video identification evidence.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of identity parades in each year since 1993–94; and if he will make a statement. [63611]

  Mr. Boateng
  Decisions to hold identification parades are operational matters for the police. Details of the numbers held and the cost of each, which will vary, are not collected centrally.

  Explosives
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the regulations governing the use of(a) black gunpowder and (b) other explosives by historic re-enactment societies; and if he will make a statement. [63609]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Health and Safety Executive keeps the regulations under review. The Executive has recently published guidance on the safe use of gunpowder and other explosives by historical re-enactment societies. The intention of the guidance is to ensure that members of these societies are aware of the relevant legislation, and good safety practice for the protection of themselves and members of the public. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library. The publication of such guidance is a regular part of Health and Safety Executive work to promote health and safety. I welcome and support the Executive's initiative publishing this guidance.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the (i) task forces, (ii) review panels and (iii) advisory groups his Department has, (b) the remit of each and (c) the members of each together with their principal employment and their level of remuneration. [62801]

  Mr. Straw
  The information is available in the Library.

  Police Funding
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in introducing a sparsity factor into the budgets for rural police authorities. [63687]

  Mr. Boateng
  The formula which distributes resources between police authorities in England and Wales already contains an element for rural sparsity. This year, 0.5 per cent. of available resources have been allocated on the basis of population sparsity. This element has been retained in our proposals for 1999–2000 which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 2 December 1998,Official Report, columns 194–97.

  We have commissioned external consultants to find out whether there are additional costs involved in policing sparsely populated rural areas. We are expecting their report shortly. The results of this study will be available to inform funding settlements from 2000–2001.

  Council Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 to ensure that the Criminal Cases Review Commission can deal with cases where a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity; and if he will make a statement. [63106]

  Kate Hoey
  The Government accept that the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 should be amended to enable the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer to the Court of Appeal a special verdict of 'guilty but insane', under section 2(1) of the Trial of Lunatics Act 1993; and to give
  469
  the Court of Appeal powers to hear and dispose of an appeal upon such a reference. Such a measure will be brought forward as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on current trends in NHS waiting lists(a) regionally and (b) nationally. [62454]

  Mr. Dobson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today,Official Report, column 759.

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in reducing waiting lists. [62470]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government inherited the biggest and fastest-rising NHS waiting lists ever. Since April, the number of people waiting for hospital treatment has fallen by 119,000.

  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients currently have been waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment; and what was the largest figure for those waiting over 18 months in the NHS in the period 1979 to 1997. [62474]

  Mr. Milburn
  There were no patients waiting over 18 months for hospital inpatient treatment at the end of October 1998.

  Data on the number of patients waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment were not collected centrally until June 1992. At the end of June 1992 there were 20,559 patients waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment which is the highest recorded number.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to reduce waiting times for operations in the NHS. [62463]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Government's successful drive to reduce the numbers of patients waiting for hospital admission is also reducing waiting times for patients, and latest figures show there were no patients waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment at the end of October.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in the establishment of primary care groups. [62464]

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the development of primary care groups. [62473]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are well on target to establishing Primary Care Groups by 1 April 1999. There are now 481 shadow Primary Care Groups in place. The Autumn guidance, Health Service Circular 1998/228 and guidance on governance, Health Service Circular 1998/229 were published on 8 December. Copies are available in the Library. These are the latest in a rolling programme of guidance.
  470
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will relax the restrictions on health authorities in inner city areas in relation to the development of primary care premises. [62465]

  Mr. Milburn
  Since coming into Government, we have introduced a number of new flexibilities to support our aim of improving primary care premises. We will consider whether other flexibilities might be helpful and provide value for money in achieving this aim.

  Mr. Darvill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the progress towards implementation of the nine specific recommendations on primary care set out in the strategic review of London health services conducted by the independent advisory panel chaired by Professor Sir Leslie Turnberg. [62475]

  Mr. Milburn
  The implementation of the recommendations in the Turnberg report, on primary care and on other matters, is being taken forward by the NHS Executive in conjunction with local National Health Service organisations. Good progress is being made. The new NHS Executive regional office for London will be established on 1 January 1999 as the strategic health body for London in response to the London review. The regional office will produce a report on implementation which will be published in the new year.

  NHS Hospitals
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for encouraging co-operation between NHS hospitals. [62467]

  Mr. Milburn
  In the White Paper The new NHS we set out our plans to replace the internal market with a system based on partnership and driven by performance. National Health Service trusts, other NHS organisations and local authorities are already working more closely together to improve health and healthcare.

  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for encouraging management co-operation between NHS hospitals in order to reduce administration costs. [62471]

  Mr. Milburn
  The new NHS White Paper set out our plans to abolish the internal market and shift the focus from competition to co-operation across the National Health Service. NHS trusts, working with health authorities and Primary Care Groups, are being encouraged to share support functions to eliminate duplication and free up extra resources for direct patient care. This will ensure we focus NHS management effort on improving health and health care, by cutting unnecessary bureaucracy.

  NHS Treatment
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances the age of a patient is the determining factor in the provision of NHS treatment. [62468]

  Mr. Hutton
  The fundamental principle of the National Health Service is to provide services for everybody on the basis of clinical need.

  There are particular circumstances in which age may be one factor in determining the provision of NHS services. Immunisation programmes are targeted at certain age

  471
  groups, for example this year for the first time all people over 75 have been targeted for influenza vaccination. Screening services may also be targeted at particular age groups, for example breast screening is targeted at women between the ages of 50 and 64. As natural fertility declines with age, health authorities may operate eligibility criteria for specialised infertility treatment which may include age.

  Mount Vernon Hospital Burns Unit
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) letters and (b) other representations his Department has received against Hillingdon health authority's proposal to move the Burns, Plastic and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Unit from Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood. [62469]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have received approximately 1,082 letters.

  All petitions sent to the Department were referred to Hillingdon Health Authority, it is understood that the Health Authority received over 80,000 signatures.

  Meetings have also taken place between the Chairman of the North Thames Regional Office and local MPs.

  Winter Pressures
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to monitor co-operation between health and social services bodies in dealing with winter pressures. [62472]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are managing this winter in the normal way through regional offices supported by the Emergency Services Action Team. We have made it clear that health authorities should work closely with social services in managing winter pressures and announced a further £159 million on 9 November 1998,Official Report, column 33–46, to support them in this.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to protect NHS staff in the event of inaccurate attacks on their professional integrity and performance. [62476]

  Mr. Milburn
  Complaints regarding the professional integrity and performance of National Health Service staff are dealt with through the official complaints procedure or through the regulatory bodies of the professions concerned.

  GP Fundholding
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the effect on management costs of abolishing GP fundholding. [62477]

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings in administrative costs to be made from abolishing GP fundholding. [62478]

  Mr. Dobson
  The White Paper sets out a programme of action to sweep away the bureaucracy of the internal market. Over the lifetime of this parliament, £1 billion that would otherwise have been spent on bureaucracy will be released for patient care. Of this, savings of £20 million 472
  were made in 1997–98 by deferring the eighth wave of general practitioner fundholding, with a further saving of £25 million in GP fundholding costs to be made in 1998–99.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with representatives of general practitioners about retaining fundholding after 31 March 1999. [63688]

  Mr. Milburn
  Consultations have taken place and continue to do so with organisations involved in, or affected by, general practitioner fundholding about all aspects of the Government's implementation of the new National Health Service.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the event of the Bill to abolish fundholding not having received Royal Assent by 31 March 1999, GP fundholders will receive their fundholding budget for 1999–2000. [63684]

  Mr. Milburn
  We propose, subject to the outcome of consultations currently in hand, to lay regulations that will bring the existing general practitioner fundholding schemes to an end on 31 March 1999 and substitute a residual scheme.

  NHS Resources
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the elements of the weighted capitation formula for the allocation of NHS resources to health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [62479]

  Mr. Milburn
  On 10 November 1998, we announced a wide ranging review of the weighted capitation formula used to inform allocations to health authorities and primary care groups.

  Nurses (Recruitment)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how he intends to meet his target for nurse recruitment. [62480]

  Mr. Milburn
  We announced on 23 September 1998 a four-point recruitment and retention plan. The plan takes into account the need to increase the numbers of nursing and midwifery students in training, target staff who have left the profession to return, broaden career structures and improve the working lives of people working in the National Health Service.

  Road Traffic Accidents (Costs)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between road traffic levels and health service costs. [62481]

  Mr. Hutton
  As part of the work which has been undertaken in association with the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Bill, which is currently before the House, we have looked at the number of road traffic accidents which take place, their level of severity and the cost of treating those people injured in accidents. This information has informed the tariff of charges which will be applied under the terms of the Bill.

  Care Standards
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what roles and responsibilities he proposes for regional commissions for care standards. [62447]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier today.

  Mental Health Services (Leeds)
  Mr. Fabian Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of mental health services in the city of Leeds. [62466]

  Mr. Hutton
  I understand there have been concerns about mental health services in Leeds and I welcome the Leeds Health Authority's commitment to improve services through increased funding and the modernisation of facilities over the next few years.

  Trainee General Practitioners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the trend in the number of trainee general practitioners in the NHS over the past 12 months. [63339]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information about general practitioner Registrars (previously referred to as trainees) over the past 12 months is not available. Between October 1996 and October 1997, the number of GP Registrars in England increased by 2.9 per cent.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to revise the current system of funding for NHS treatment and care services for HIV/AIDS; [63608]

  (2) when he will announce the outcome of the Stocktake Group on spending on HIV/AIDS and the allocations to health authorities for treatment and care services for HIV/AIDS. [63607]

  Ms Jowell
  We set up the Stocktake Group last year to advise on a lasting formula for the distribution of the HIV/AIDS treatment and care budget. The group's recommendations are currently with Ministers and an announcement on their decision and on the allocations to health authorities of the HIV/AIDS treatment and care budget for the financial year 1999/2000 will be made in due course.

  CS Sprays
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions the Chief Medical Officer has compiled an assessment of, or report into, the safety of CS sprays since January 1993. [63779]

  Ms Jowell
  The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is currently considering the health effects of CS spray when used as an incapacitant. A comprehensive review of the available data has been prepared by officials at the Department for this purpose. The COT will consider the subject further at their February 1999 meeting. Their conclusions will be made known publicly once agreed and a copy of the review will be placed in the Library at the same time.
  474
  Officials at the Department have previously reviewed the scientific data on CS gas and sprays but they have not produced any scientific papers or reports on the subject. A list of the published scientific literature which was fully reviewed has been placed previously in the Library.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments are planned to be refurbished during the coming financial year. [62655]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are investing £30 million from the National Health Service modernisation fund to upgrade around 50 accident and emergency departments in England next year.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Annual Report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [64266]

  Ms Jowell
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has published its seventh Annual Report today. The Report has been laid before the House in accordance with the requirements of section 7(3) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Sodium Valproate
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the effects of prescribing sodium valproate to epileptics during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [63944]

  Ms Jowell
  We are not currently aware of any representations concerning the effects of prescribing sodium valproate to people with epilepsy during pregnancy. Risks to the foetus are recognised for anticonvulsant therapies and information about whether and how to use medicines in pregnant patients can be found in the authorised product information for health professionals and patients. Women taking antiepileptic drugs who may become pregnant should be informed of the possible consequences. Those who wish to become pregnant should be referred to an appropriate specialist for advice. Women who become pregnant should be counselled and offered antenatal screening. The risks of epileptic control need to be weighed against the risks to the foetus of these treatments.

  Chemical Weapons Attack (Iraq)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has funded(a) to treat the victims of Halabja in northern Iraq following the chemical weapons attack by Iraqi military forces on the town in March 1998 and (b) to monitor the long-term effects of the chemical weapons on the residents of the town; and if he will make a statement. [63778]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department of Health has not provided any assistance to the people of Halabja since the chemical weapons attack in March 1988, as international assistance of this kind is channelled through the Department for International Development (DfID). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development
  475
  provided a written answer on DflD's efforts on 29 July 1998, Official Report, column 283 and this represents the current state of play.

  National Foetal Anti-convulsant Syndrome Association
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is given out of public funds to the National Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome Association; and if he will make a statement. [63937]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department provides no funding at present. The Association recently applied for a grant under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and this is under consideration.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal (League Tables)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish league tables of units of delivery for the New Deal in such a form as to enable a comparison to be made between the performance of the private sector, the Employment Service and other providers. [63273]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Yesterday I published performance tables for all units of delivery. The tables compare progress at local level of all those young people who entered the New Deal in April—the first month of full national operation—and in particular shows what proportion of those young people has moved into jobs. Copies will be placed in the Libraries.

  Environmental Skills
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made by the Sustainable Development Education Panel in identifying environmental key skills. [63443]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Earlier this year the Panel made two submissions to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority identifying sustainable development skills at each of the key stages. The sustainable charity Forum For The Future is publishing position papers on the Panel's behalf, identifying sustainable development curriculums in higher education for design, business and teacher education.

  I have placed copies of these document in the Library of the House. Later this month the Panel will make its first annual report to the Government. I will deposit this in the Library of the House when it is published.

  Further Education
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he will give to further education colleges on the use of hardship funds. [63472]

  Mr. Mudie
  College hardship funds are provided by colleges themselves and their use is not subject to guidance by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. In many cases hardship funds are paid alongside Further 476
  Education Access Funds. My right hon. Friend's guidance on the use of these Funds is that they should address financial barriers to the access and completion of training and encourage participation.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will review the range of assistance available to further education students out of access funds. [63471]

  Mr. Mudie
  My right hon. the Secretary of State has recently reviewed the assistance available to further education students from Access Funds and last month announced significant improvements in funding and an extension of scope to students aged 16 to 18 years old.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to publish his response to the representations received by his Department in respect of his consultation paper regarding accountability in the governance of further education colleges. [63469]

  Mr. Mudie
  My right hon. Friend published the Department's response to this consultation on 27 November. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the average level of funding per unit at FE colleges in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01; and if he will list the average level of funding unit values for each of the previous five years. [62090]

  Mr. Mudie
  Latest information for the financial years 1994–95 to 1998–99 gives the following cash figures for public funding per full-time equivalent student in further education:

  £000

  Financial years

  1994–95

  3,040

  1995–96

  2,930

  1996–97

  2,920

  1997–98 estimated

  2,950

  1998–99 planned

  2,900

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced additional funding of £725 million for the Further Education sector over the next two years. In the first of these years, 1999–2000, the average level of funding per full-time equivalent student, including additional employer contributions but excluding the allocations for capital and the Further Education Standards Fund, will be subject to a 1 per cent. efficiency gain. This compares with an estimated average annual efficiency gain of over 3.5 per cent. for the period 1994–95 to 1998–99. An announcement on the position for 2000–2001 will be made next year.

  New Deal (Winchester)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have entered the New Deal Gateway in the Winchester City Council area since its inception; and how many took up each New Deal option. [63159]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  It is not possible to provide separate figures for individual towns or council areas.
  477
  The latest Government Statistical Service figures for the Mid Hampshire Unit of Delivery, which covers Winchester, show that to the end of September 1998 (a) 206 young people had entered the Gateway and 41 have secured unsubsidised employment; (b) 17 had joined one of the four options. This breaks down to: 2 on the Employment option; 3 on the Voluntary Sector option; and 12 on the Full-Time Education and Training option.

  EU (Educational Material)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests his Department received prior to the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union, to update material available on the EU; and if he will make a statement. [64092]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for lifelong learning, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie), on 18 November 1998,Official Report, columns 639–40.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in how many cases convicted sex offenders have been offered placements working with children under the New Deal programme; and when he was informed of such cases. [63886]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: I am not aware of any cases of convicted sex offenders being offered placements working with children under the New Deal programme. We have investigated the allegations in press articles of 8 December, but have been unable to substantiate them.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to instigate a review of New Deal placements involving contact with children. [63370]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Those providing such placements are contractually required to undertake relevant checks. We will investigate

  Region

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  Total

  Northern

  Gateway

  25

  15,927

  39,556

  166,209

  362,232

  15,302

  599,251

  Option

  18,090

  110,403

  151,761

  320,215

  435,379

  608,580

  1,644,428

  North West

  Gateway

  24

  13,185

  56,507

  224,563

  238,678

  198,129

  731,086

  Options

  47,920

  72,179

  192,934

  268,465

  468,285

  611,478

  1,660,961

  EME

  Gateway

  154

  7,202

  18,317

  36,916

  59,360

  50,291

  172,240

  Options

  3,130

  9,170

  29,708

  70,353

  145,129

  268,805

  526,295

  Y&H

  Gateway

  230

  6,339

  46,321

  92,932

  114,086

  191,245

  451,153

  Options

  50,440

  74,431

  185,490

  310,442

  570,784

  592,391

  1,783,978

  West Midlands

  Gateway

  6

  8,526

  29,972

  29,490

  71,324

  112,581

  251,899

  Options

  13,680

  27,507

  94,251

  159,183

  222,187

  370,822

  887,630

  South West

  Gateway

  104

  7,576

  27,570

  56,277

  47,028

  47,245

  185,800

  Options

  37,060

  63,565

  145,500

  257,255

  324,714

  387,582

  1,215,676

  478
  any specific cases in which it is claimed that unsuitable people have gained jobs with children through the New Deal. There is currently a wider review through an Interdepartmental Working Group looking at many issues around preventing unsuitable people working with children.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps he is taking to prevent convicted sex offenders obtaining placements working with children under the New Deal programme; [63887]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the risk of convicted sex offenders being offered placements working with children under the New Deal programme; and what steps he is taking to prevent such placements being made. [63888]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The primary responsibility for checking the suitability of people they recruit rests firmly with the employers. Guidance has been issued to ensure that everybody working in the Employment Service understands their responsibilities. No Employment Service officer would knowingly submit a serious offender for a job working with children but they have been reminded of the need for vigilance and of the importance of reminding employers of their responsibilities.

  The Employment Service is already working closely with other agencies, including the Home Office, to explore what else can be done, including more effective arrangements for the exchange of information.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the monthly expenditure on(a) Gateway provision and (b) other provision for the New Deal for young people by region from January to the end of September. [63276]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Expenditure which has been brought to account by the Employment Service since national roll-out of New Deal for Gateway provision is £814,540 and £8.9 million for the New Deal options. This is shown in the table.
  479

  Region

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  Total

  LSE

  Gateway

  39

  16,851

  300,898

  179,170

  331,267

  471,237

  1,299,462

  Options

  15,410

  38,591

  95,497

  178,501

  369,935

  579,576

  1,277,510

  Scotland

  Gateway

  30,090

  2,052

  55,083

  71,018

  103,926

  106,104

  368,273

  Options

  20,590

  31,470

  117,646

  211,567

  237,351

  378,654

  997,278

  Wales

  Gateway

  20

  2,921

  11,593

  77,960

  112,375

  93,223

  298,092

  Options

  22,330

  61,660

  109,598

  165,160

  201,872

  404,428

  965,048

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63875]

  Mr. Mudie
  The overriding principle of Civil Service recruitment procedures is that they should be fair, and selection should be on merit at each stage.

  Monitoring in this area is based on ethnic origin, and not nationality. The 10 minority ethnic origin categories monitored by DfEE are those used in the 1991 census, which did not include an Irish category. The use of these categories will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

  Engineering Qualifications
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received concerning the current range of engineering qualifications in further and higher education; and what work he has commissioned to review these qualifications. [63551]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department has received a number of letters on these issues. The results of a Department-commissioned study of national occupational standards for engineering were published in 1996. National Vocational Qualifications at levels 2 and 3 were subsequently revised to take account of those standards. Draft Higher Level National Occupational Standards for Engineering were published recently and once those have been approved NVQs at level 4 will be revised. As part of its creation of a national framework of qualifications, the Qualifications

  Full-time equivalent number of education support staff in maintained1 schools in England January 1998

  Other education support staff

  Nursery assistants

  Special needs support staff

  Minority ethnic pupil support staff

  Total

  Of which medical staff, librarians and technicians 3

  Total

  Nursery

  1,828

  209

  62

  38

  5—

  2,138

  Primary

  24,852

  16,645

  1,230

  15,329

  5—

  58,055

  Secondary

  5—

  8,823

  151

  17,576

  16,042

  26,549

  Special2

  5—

  5—

  59

  416,531

  620

  16,590

  Pupil Referral Units

  5—

  365

  1

  63

  5—

  429

  Total

  26,680

  26,042

  1,502

  49,536

  16,662

  103,760

  1 Includes grant maintained schools and middle schools as deemed

  2 Includes non-maintained special schools and special and general hospital schools

  3 Includes laboratory assistants/technicians, design technology assistants/technicians (including home economics assistants, craft technicians), IT technicians

  4 Includes teaching assistants and childcare staff employed to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs.

  5 Not applicable.

  480
  and Curriculum Authority is working with the awarding bodies to ensure that other vocational qualifications in engineering meet the criteria for approval.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [62840]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Special Advisers in the Department for Education and Employment are Conor Ryan (full time), Hilary Benn (full time), Tom Bentley (part time) and Sophie Linden (part time); equivalent to three full time posts. They advise on the full range of Education and Employment issues for which the Department is responsible. The additional post was agreed by the Prime Minister to provide support to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in dealing with written material, reflecting the particular circumstances he faces in undertaking his job on equal terms with other ministerial colleagues. In addition, Professor Michael Barber has been appointed as Standards and Effectiveness Adviser.

  Special Advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.

  Teaching Assistants
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teaching assistants were in post in schools at 30 September. [60980]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 27 November 1998]: The available information is shown in the table:

  Teachers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools which have been successful in bidding for advanced skills teacher status for a member of their staff. [63253]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Complete information about school participation is not yet available in respect of the bids for more than 1,100 AST posts submitted so far by local education authorities for 1999–2000. Schools and LEAs have until 5 February 1999 to bid for the funding from April 1999. We plan to create 5,000 advanced skills teacher posts over the two school years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. The specialist schools which have been successful in bidding for advanced skills teacher status for one or more members of their staff in the 1998–99 introductory phase are listed.

  William Ellis School

  All Saints Catholic School and Technology

  St. Angela's Ursuline Convent School

  St. Bonaventure's RC School

  Mill Hill County High School

  The St. Marylebone School

  Homerton House Community School

  Chestnut Grove School

  Oakbank School

  Bishop Heber County High School

  Woolston High School

  St. Aidan's CE High School

  Hyde Technology College

  Deanery CE High School

  Shevington High School

  The Lincoln School of Science and Technology

  Latimer School

  Campion School

  Prince William School

  George Spencer GM School

  Sawtry Community College

  Parkside Community College

  The Greensward School

  Chalvedon School

  Saffron Walden County High School

  Goffs School

  Lynn Grove (GM) High School

  Wymondham College (GM)

  Deacon's School

  Thomas Mills High School

  Standish Community High School

  Calday Grange Grammer School

  Hermitage Comprehensive School

  St. John's RC Comprehensive School

  Ponteland County High School

  Prudhoe Community High School

  St. Joseph's RC Comprehensive School

  Carmel RC Comprehensive School

  Ninestiles Technology College

  City of Coventry

  Wodensborough Community Technology College

  Ercall Wood GM School

  Tudor Grange School

  482

  Thomas Alleyne's High School

  Queen Mary's High School

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

  Beauchamp College

  King Edward VII Upper School

  The Robert Smyth School

  Benjamin Britten High School

  Denefield School

  Cowes High School

  Hugh Christie Technology College

  Ravens Wood School for Boys

  Cornwallis School

  Sandwich Technology School (GM)

  Peers School

  Didcot Girl's School

  St. Birinus School

  Davison CE High School for Girls

  Poltair Community School and Sports College

  Richard Lander School

  Redruth Community College

  Penryn Community School

  Fowey Community College

  Torquay Boys' Grammar School

  South Dartmoor Community College

  George Ward School

  Wyvern College.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidance his Department has issued to schools on the provision of supply cover for advanced skills teachers while they are operating in schools other than those in which they are usually employed; [63247]

  (2) what financial arrangements will need to be put in place between the schools concerned where an advanced skills teacher from one school is providing support, advice or training in another school. [63252]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 10 December 1998]: The guidance in Circular 9/98, Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment 1998, applies. The funding available through the Standards Fund to the school which is an advanced skills teacher's main employer includes an element to meet the cost of supply cover when the advanced skills teacher is operating outside the school. Advanced skills teachers are expected to spend most of their time teaching in their own school.

  Teachers (PE)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of teachers in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools are PE trained. [63440]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In 1996–97, some 26,000 full and part-time teachers in English maintained secondary schools (approximately 13 per cent.) had a post A level qualification in physical education.

  Similar information for primary teachers is not available. However, primary teachers are trained to deliver the whole primary curriculum including physical education.

  Post-devolution Expenditure
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the expenditure to be incurred this year by his Department on programmes or activities located in Wales as part of UK-wide programmes; and what will be the mechanism for supporting such expenditure when the National Assembly for Wales has been established. [63478]

  Mr. Mudie
  As part of UK-wide programmes, I estimate that the Department for Education and Employment will spend around £200,000 on programmes or activities located in Wales. The Government of Wales Act 1998 provided for a Transfer of Functions Order to be made to transfer Ministerial functions to the National Assembly for Wales. This Order was published in draft for public consultation on 12 November. Until the content of the Order has been finalised it is not possible to say with certainty what functions will transfer. Work is continuing within government to finalise the text of the Order and to establish whether any programme expenditure relates to those functions which will transfer. Funds will be transferred as necessary on this basis.

  School Sport
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received concerning the teaching of sport in schools. [63442]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department has received a number of representations from organisations and individuals about aspects of teaching PE, including sport, in schools. Physical education must be taught to all children throughout their compulsory schooling and is a key part of providing them with a broad and balanced education.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will require admission limits for infant Key Stage 1 schools to be limited to multiples of 30 in order to meet the class size regulations. [63310]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  No. Although admission authorities have a duty to vary standard numbers where these are incompatible with the class size limit, adjusting school admission numbers to multiples of 30 is only one of a number of ways of meeting the limit.

  Disabled Students' Allowance
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students in full-time post school education took up the disabled students' allowance in each of the last five years. [63399]

  Mr. Mudie
  The disabled students allowance forms part of the mandatory award. Mandatory awards are payable to personally eligible students attending full-time sandwich courses leading to a first-degree or comparable qualification, DipHE or HND courses and courses of initial teacher training. There are three separate allowances—that for specialist equipment; for non-medical helpers; and the general disabled students allowance. Travel costs resulting from a disability can also be met as part of the award. The number of disabled students' allowances made by Local 484
  Education Authorities in England and Wales as part of mandatory awards in the academic years 1992–93 to 1996–97—the latest year for which figures are available—are shown in the table:

  Number1 of disabled students' allowances England and Wales2: academic years 1992–93 to 1996–97

  Academic year

  Number of awards3

  1992–93

  2,490

  1993–94

  4,050

  1994–95

  5,320

  1995–96

  6,550

  1996–97

  8,120

  1 The table shows the number of awards, not the number of students. Students can receive more than one type of disabled students allowance.

  2 Made by Local Education Authorities in England and Wales to students normally domiciled in their area.

  3 Number of awards rounded to the nearest 10.

  Source:

  F503G

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those schools in education action zones that(a) have been identified by Ofsted as failing and (b) are under special measures. [63313]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The table lists the schools within an education action zone which are, or have been, in special measures.

  Education action zone area

  School name

  Barnsley Priory

  Hunningley Junior and Infant School

  Milefield Primary School

  Birmingham Kitts Green

  Audley Infant School

  Heathland Primary School

  Sir Wilfrid Martineau School

  Blackburn and Darwen

  Intack Primary School*

  St. Antony's RC VA Primary School

  St. Mary's and St. Joseph's RC VA Primary School*

  Brighton & Hove

  Coldean Infant School

  Falmer School

  St. Mark's CE (VA) Primary School*

  The Marina High School

  Calderdale

  Mixenden Primary School

  Parkinson Lane Primary School

  The Ridings School*

  East Basildon

  Bradfield Junior School

  Briscoe County Junior

  Fairview Special School

  Manor County Junior School

  Northlands Infants School and Nursery

  Ryedene County Primary

  Vange County Primary School

  Kingston Upon Hull

  Perronet Thompson School

  Lambeth

  Archbishop Summer's CE VA Primary

  Lilian Baylis School*

  Loughborough Primary School

  Mostyn Gardens Primary School

  St. Stephen's CE VA Primary School*

  Leicester

  Mary Linwood School

  New Parks Community College

  New Parks House Primary School

  Newry Junior School

  Queensmead Junior School

  Rowley Fields Secondary School*

  Southfields Infant School

  Wycliffe Community College

  North East Lincolnshire

  Bradley Park Junior School

  485

  Education action zone area

  School name

  Newham

  Eastlea Community School

  Gainsborough Primary School*

  Scott Wilkie Primary School

  Star Primary School

  Norfolk—Thetford

  Abbey Farm Middle School*

  Canterbury First School

  Redcastle Furze First and Middle School

  Nottingham City

  Alderman Derbyshire School

  Plymouth

  Tamarside Secondary School*

  Salford and Trafford

  Old Trafford County Primary School

  Windsor High School

  Sheffield

  Hartley Brook Primary School

  Hinde House School

  South Tyneside

  Margaret Sutton School

  Southwark

  Charles Dickens Primary School

  Geoffrey Chaucer Secondary School*

  Grange Primary School

  St. Joseph's RC VA Primary*

  Notes:

  1. Schools in special measures are often referred to as failing schools.

  * denotes that the school has been removed from special measures.

  3. The information contained in the table is correct as of 8 December 1998.

CABINET OFFICE

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about Public Bodies 1998 and the Executive NDPB 1998 report. [64385]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government have today published Public Bodies 1998, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and the Executive NDPB 1998 Report (CM 4157) which has been laid before both Houses. Quangos: Opening the Doors, published on 29 June 1998, promised that future editions of both publications would develop in line with the Government's policy of making public bodies more efficient, transparent and accountable. Public Bodies 1998 and the Executive NDPB Report 1998 take important steps in that direction.

  Public Bodies 1998 provides a range of statistical information on those national and regional public bodies for which Ministers retain a degree of responsibility. This includes all nationalised industries and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) as well as certain public corporations and NHS bodies. On 1 April 1998, there were 1,073 NDPBs, a reduction of 55 over the previous year. As of 1 September 1998, 32 per cent. of appointments to bodies listed in Public Bodies were held by women; and 3.7 per cent. were held by ethnic minorities. In line with the Government's commitment to increase substantially the information publicly available on these bodies, Public Bodies includes for the first time the terms of reference of each of the bodies listed, the names of individual chairmen and chief executives (or their equivalents) and e-mail and Internet addresses where these are available. Public Bodies 1998 provides more information than ever before in a single document about this sector of government.

  The Executive NDPB 1998 Report brings together performance and trend data on 81 of the largest executive NDPBs each with expenditure of over £20 million in 1997–98. The contribution of NDPBs is important to achieving the policy goals of the Government and the
  486
  results that people want. The individual entries covering annual performance measures and key business summary data show that some NDPBs are performing well both in terms of meeting stringent performance targets and delivering more efficient and effective services. However, there are no grounds for complacency. Too many of the bodies do not have adequate performance measures in place nor proper measures of efficiency. It is vital that these measures are put in place so that it is clear where success is being achieved and where there are problems to be resolved if we are to make the best use of taxpayers' money.

  NDPBs, like other parts of government, have the opportunity to increase the impact of their work and contribute to improvements in the quality and convenience of public services by linking up with other public bodies and working across boundaries to match people's needs. This will be a key area for further development over the next few years, and the Better Government White Paper to be published in the Spring will have more to say about what has been achieved and possible ways forward.

  The Public Bodies and the Executive NDPB 1998 Report will in future years continue to develop and widen in scope. The Government recognise the important roles performed by the bodies listed in these publications and are committed to ensuring that they, like other parts of the public service, play their full part in helping to achieve the high level policy objectives set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Public Service Agreements.

  Both Public Bodies 1998 and the Executive NDPB 1998 Report are available on the Internet via the Cabinet Office home page (www.open.gov.uk/co/cohome.htm).

  Better Government White Paper
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the Better Government White Paper. [63782]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  As I explained to the House on 21 October 1998,Official Report, columns 1267–68, the Government will publish a White Paper in the spring, setting out proposals for modernising government and joining up public services, to secure effective decision-making and services that work and respond to the people who need them. The Prime Minister has asked me to chair a Cabinet Committee to drive this agenda forward and the timetable remains firmly on course. I am keen to take into account a wide range of views and ideas in preparing the White Paper.

WALES

  Ministerial E-mail Address
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his e-mail address. [62553]

  Mr. Michael
  I have asked my officials to introduce systems to provide e-mail access from outside the Department as quickly as possible. Work is already in hand to provide this facility on a general basis. My Department is already able to provide e-mail facilities to specific officials where a specific need can be
  487
  demonstrated. In addition the Department publishes e-mail addresses for replies to consultation exercises. On the Internet Web site for the National Assembly for Wales, members of the public are encouraged to enter into a debate about Assembly issues by posting views and questions to the Web site by e-mail.

  Beef (Schools)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to encourage local education authorities to allow beef to be served in schools in Wales.[63404]

  Mr. Hain
  Decisions on whether to allow beef to be served in schools in Wales are for local education authorities and, in the grant maintained sector, schools themselves to take.

  Mental Health Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision he has made for additional expenditure over the next three years on NHS mental health services in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [63476]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Clwyd (Mr. Ruane) on 14 December 1998,Official Report, column 392. This set out the additional cash that will be available for the NHS over the next three years. I am now considering in detail my spending priorities in view of the range of pressures, including those arising from developments in mental health services in Wales and will make a further announcement in due course.

  Community Hospital, Porthmadog
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give approval for the North Wales Health Authority to go ahead with its proposal to build a new community hospital at Porthmadog to serve eastern Dwyfor and northern Meirionnydd. [63445]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The proposal to build a North Meirionnydd East Dwyfor community hospital will be considered along with all other priorities for 1999–2000.

  Roads (Flintshire)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of(a) the new River Dee Bridge in Flintshire and its associated road works, (b) the Grade Interchange at the entrance to the Deeside Industrial Park, (c) the Queensferry Flyover and (d) the Hawarden By-Pass, at current prices; and if he will make a statement. [63938]

  Mr. Hain
  Scheme costs at current prices are:

  (a) The A548 Third Dee Crossing (the responsibility of Flintshire County Council): £74.300 million (est.);

  (b) A550 Deeside Park Interchange: £10.399 million;

  (c) A494 Queensferry Interchange: £13.829 million; and

  (d) A55 Hawarden Bypass: £66.007 million.

  488
  The figures for the three schemes for which the Welsh Office are responsible have been revalued to 1998–99 prices using current Treasury deflators.

  Health Authority Spending
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total amount spent on administration by each health authority in Wales in the last year for which figures are available. [63705]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  £000

  Bro Taf

  4,772

  Dyfed Powys

  3,112

  Gwent

  3,264

  Morgannwg

  2,605

  North Wales

  3,744

  Source:

  Annual accounts of health authorities 1997–98

  A5-A55 Dual Carriageway
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998,Official Report, column 184, on the A5-A55 dual carriageway, what is the name of the preferred bidder. [63707]

  Mr. Hain
  The preferred bidder is UK Highways.

  North Wales Health Authority
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many administrative staff are employed by North Wales Health Authority. [63706]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  At 30 June 1998, the latest date for which data are available, there were 153 administrative and clerical staff (equivalent to 149 staff working whole-time) in post at North Wales Health Authority.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost(a) of giving in the current uprating to all those pensioners eligible for the National Insurance retirement pension who are aged 80 years or more an increase in benefit in line with earnings and (b) of such an increase if the current year's increase in pension for those aged 80 years or more reflected the rise in earnings since 1980. [62630]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested because average earnings figures for September 1998 are not yet available. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
  489

  The estimated cost if the April 1998 retirement pension rates for pensioners aged over 79 years had been uprated in line with rises in earnings up to and including September 1997

  £ million

  RP uprated by the growth in earnings between 1996 and 1997

  RP uprated by the growth in earnings since 1979

  Retirement Pension cost

  40

  2,780

  Means-tested benefit offsets

  -20

  -940

  Net cost

  20

  1,840

  Notes:

  1. The RP cost has been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Means-tested benefit offsets have been estimated using the 1995/6 Family Resources Survey and the May 1997 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, both uprated to 1998/9 benefits and earnings levels.

  3. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total numbers of pensioners for the current year who are(a) receiving income support, (b) entitled to income support but are not receiving these funds at present, (c) with incomes below £5,600, excluding those already accounted for by (a) and (b), (d) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £5,410 and £9,710, (e) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £9,711 and £16,200, (f) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £16,201 and £17,000, (g) aged 65 to 74 with incomes between £17,001 and £18,630, (h) aged 65 to 74 with incomes above £18,630, (i) aged 75 and over with incomes between £5,600 and £9,900, (j) aged 75 and over with incomes between £9,901 and £16,200, (k) aged 75 and over with incomes between £16,201 and £18,000,(I) aged 75 and over with incomes between £18,001 and £19,010 and (m) aged 75 years and over with incomes above £19,010. [62628]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  There are 1,425,000 pensioner benefit units currently in receipt of Income Support, excluding Residential Care and Nursing Home recipients. Information for other parts of the question is not available for the current year.

  The number of pensioner benefit units estimated to be entitled to, but not receiving, Income Support in 1996–97 is provisionally estimated to be between 400,000 and 700,000. These estimates differ from those published on 1 October. An error in the published take-up estimates for pensioners has been discovered; a full set of corrected figures will be published in the new year.

  In 1996–97 there were an estimated 1,250,000 pensioner benefit units with incomes of £5,600 or less who were not entitled to Income Support and did not receive it.
  490

  The estimated numbers of pensioner benefit units in 1996–97 given by income bands for pensioners aged 65 to 74 who were not entitled to nor receiving Income Support

  Thousand

  Income (£)

  Number of pensioner benefit units

  5,410 to 9,710

  1,120

  9,711 to 16,200

  740

  16,201 to 17,000

  (50)

  17,001 to 18,630

  (60)

  More than 18,630

  300

  Total

  2,270

  The estimated numbers of pensioner benefit units in 1996–97 given by income bands for pensioners aged 75 and over who were not entitled to nor receiving Income Support

  Thousand

  Income(£)

  Number of pensioner benefit units

  5,600 to 9,900

  850

  9,901 to 16,200

  370

  16,201 to 18,000

  1—

  18,001 to 19,010

  1—

  More than 19,010

  80

  Total

  1,360

  1Due to small sample sizes a reliable estimate for these cells cannot be supplied.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates in brackets are based on small sample sizes and should be treated with caution.

  2. Estimates of recipients are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  3. Estimates based on the Family Resources Survey exclude the full time self-employed and are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  4. Benefit units are classified into age groups according to the age of the elder pensioner in the benefit unit

  5. A pensioner benefit unit is defined as a single person aged 60 or over or a couple (not necessarily married) where at least one member of the couple is aged 60 or over.

  6. Pensioner incomes are defined as before housing costs net income including all benefits, pensions, investment income and earnings, net of Income Tax, National Insurance contributions, contributions to occupational pensions schemes and Council Tax.

  Source:

  1. Estimates of the number of recipients of Income Support are taken from the May 1998 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and exclude pensioners in Residential Care or Nursing Homes.

  2. All other estimates are based on an analysis of the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey which is a survey of private households in Great Britain.

  Child Support
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers the CSA possesses to follow up cases in respect of absent parents who have moved to a different country; and what plans he has to review them. [63395]

  Angela Eagle
  The Child Support Act only applies where both parents and the child are habitually resident in the UK. In some circumstances a person can be regarded as habitually resident in more than one country. In such cases, child support liability may still exist even though a non-resident parent is living abroad.

  If there is no child support liability the parent with care has recourse to the courts to obtain maintenance. The Lord Chancellor's Department administers reciprocal

  491
  enforcement arrangements with a number of other countries. Under these provisions many foreign courts can enforce a British order for maintenance.

  The outcome of the consultation process on the Green Paper, "Children First: a new approach to child support", together with our detailed proposals for reforming the Child Support system, will be announced in due course.

  Incapacity Benefit (Appeals)
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many incapacity benefit paper appeals relating to the all-work-test were processed in the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what percentage was decided in the claimant's favour. [63958]

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

  Incapacity benefit (all works test)

  Paper breakdown

  All appeals

  Percentage in appellant's favour

  Q2 1998

  2,880

  11.9

  Q1 1998

  4,036

  12.2

  Notes:

  Q2 April—June 1998

  Q1 January—March 1998

  Source:

  100 per cent. computer extract from Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) systems

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many incapacity benefit appeals relating to the all-work-test were heard in the last four quarters for which figures are available; and what percentage were decided in the appellant's favour where the appellant(a) attended the hearing but was not represented, (b) was represented but did not attend, (c) attended and was represented and (d) did not attend and was not represented. [63957]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Incapacity benefit (all work test)

  Q2 1998

  Q1 1998

  Q4 1997

  Q3 1997

  Appellant only attended

  All appeals

  4,100

  4,226

  3,714

  3,793

  Percentage in appellant's favour

  52.6

  52.2

  54.1

  51.4

  Representative only attended

  All appeals

  260

  240

  237

  220

  Percentage in appellant's favour

  50.8

  57.5

  45.1

  43.2

  Both attended

  All appeals

  4,281

  3,723

  4,249

  4,094

  Percentage in appellant's favour

  67.5

  68.2

  70.2

  69.2

  Not attended

  All appeals

  3,998

  3,485

  4,834

  5,005

  Percentage in appellant's favour

  24.2

  25.3

  14.5

  10.9

  Notes:

  Q2 April—June 1998

  Q1 Janury—March 1998

  Q4 October—December 1997

  Q3 July—September 1997

  Source:

  100 per cent. computer extract from Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) systems

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many incapacity benefit claimants have(a) failed the all-work test, (b) appealed against
  492
  disallowance of the test, (c) had their benefit re-instated prior to the hearing of the appeal and (d) had their appeals upheld. [63956]

  Mr. Timms
  Between April 1995 and 31 August 1998, 321,791 claims for Incapacity Benefit were disallowed following examination under the all work test.

  Up to 31 August 1998, 169,247 appeals had been lodged with the Independent Tribunal Service. In the cases appealed, 2,797 decisions were reversed on review by the adjudication officer and 49,951 by an appeal tribunal.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63882]

  Mr. Denham
  Civil Service recruitment is based on the principle of fair and open competition and that selection should be on merit at each stage.

  Monitoring in this area is based on ethnic origin and not nationality. The nine ethnic origin categories monitored by this Department are those used in the 1991 census, which did not include an Irish category. They will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the annual savings are to date, including administrative costs, arising from the replacement of invalidity benefit by incapacity benefit; and what estimate he made of the savings which would arise from the change. [63955]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  The original estimates for benefit savings from the introduction of Incapacity Benefit and revised estimates produced in 1996

  £ million

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Initial savings estimates (September 1993)

  415

  1,185

  1,720

  —

  Latest available savings estimates (November 1996)

  280

  790

  1,350

  1,830

  Notes:

  1. No further estimates have been made and it is not possible to quantify the effects on administrative costs.

  2. Actual savings figures arising from the replacement of Invalidity Benefit by Incapacity Benefit are not available as it is not possible to say whether an individual found capable of work following application of the all work test would have been found capable under the old Invalidity Benefit medical controls.

  Source:

  DSS. All figures cash prices.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people between the ages of 20 and 25 years do not have the required national insurance contribution record to qualify for incapacity
  493
  benefit (a) under the current system and (b) under the changes proposed in Support for Disabled People (Cm 4103). [63949]

  Mr. Timms
  The main change proposed is that people should be required to have paid National Insurance contributions on earnings equivalent to 25 times the lower earnings limit in one of the two tax years preceding their claim, rather than in any tax year.

  The latest available figures show that there are about 2,470,000 people aged 20 to 25 who have not paid the contributions in any tax year necessary for entitlement to Incapacity Benefit under the current system and about 2,530,000 who have not paid the contributions in the two most recent tax years for entitlement under the proposed system. It is not known how many of these would actually claim Incapacity Benefit.

  Notes:

  1. The information refers to the number of people without the required National Insurance contributions in 1997 (the most recent information available). The qualifying tax years for the new condition are therefore tax years 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  Source:

  DSS: Lifetime Labour Market Database which contains a 1 per cent. sample from the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) taken at February 1997.

  Widows' Benefits
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the current average SERPS enhancement to the widow's pension and to widowed mother's benefits is for those whose husbands have remained contracted into SERPS; and what the average widow's benefit is for contracted-out occupational pension schemes. [63951]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  The average additional pension paid to a widow, resident in Great Britain, whose husband had never contracted out of SERPS is £10.75 per week.

  Where the husband contracted out of SERPS at some point in his working life, the average additional pension paid is £21.70 per week.

  The average additional pension for all widows resident in Great Britain is £16.09.

  Source:

  5 per cent. sample of the Pensions Strategy computer system at 31 March 1998.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new claimants there have been since July for(a) state pension, (b) state pension with a SERPS enhancement, (c) contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, (d) incapacity benefit and (e) widow's benefit. [63953]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the table.494

  Benefit

  Number of claims July-October 1998

  Retirement Pension

  194,000

  Retirement Pension with SERFS1

  97,000

  Jobseekers Allowance2

  1,100,000

  Incapacity Benefit

  316,000

  Widows Benefit including Widows Payment3

  13,000

  Widows Pension/Widowed Mother's Allowance included in above4

  10,000

  1 Exact numbers not known but about half of all Retirement Pension claims have SERPS entitlement

  2 A claim for Jobseeker's Allowance has to be made before it can be established whether the contributory element of Jobseeker's Allowance is payable. To date no figures are available for the number of individuals who are paid the contributory element of Jobseeker's Allowance.

  3 All widows can claim the £1,000 Widow's Payment Widows.

  4 Widows Pension or Widowed Mothers Allowance entitlement is examined after consideration of the £1,000 payment. The figures quoted are those where there is prima facie entitlement to Widows Pension or Widowed Mothers Allowance.

  Source:

  Central Data Unit

  National Insurance
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date those who have been underpaid as a result of the shut-down of the new national insurance computer will receive the full payments to which they are entitled. [63954]

  Mr. Timms
  All customers who are receiving interim or emergency awards of benefit will automatically have their entitlement reviewed. Any arrears due will be paid in full. The NIRS2 system is supporting the majority of business processes and once full functionality is available review of the cases affected will commence. It is not yet certain when this work will be complete.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have, as a result of the shut-down of the new national insurance computer, been underpaid by(a) 1 p to £1 per week, (b) £1 to £10 per week and (c) £10 to £100 per week. [63952]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available until all the affected cases have been reassessed. This reassessment is expected to commence in the first quarter of 1999.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total cost of running the New Deal for Lone Parents from July 1997 to 25 September 1998 has been, broken down by Employment Service regions; and how much of this was spent on(a) advertising, (b) personal advisers and (c) other Employment Agency services. [63950]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  Phase 1 of the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) started on 21 July 1997 and ran until the main national rollout of the programme commenced on 26 October 1998. It was delivered in four areas by the Benefits

  495
  Agency and four areas by the Employment Service. Phase 2 commenced on 6 April 1998. There was a period of overlap between Phases 1 and 2.

  The Benefits Agency ran the NDLP in Phase 1 only between 21 July 1997 and 25 October 1998. There are no separate figures for the Benefits Agency advertising costs for Phase 1.

  The cost of the Advisers in the four Benefits Agency areas for that period was as follows:

  £

  Adviser costs

  North Cheshire

  241,337

  North Worcestershire

  233,776

  Sheffield

  248,253

  Cambridge

  339,469

  The Benefits Agency did not have a separate allocation for Employment Service Programmes but were able to refer people to the Employment Service.

  Expenditure details are not available in the same format for the Employment Service for Phase 1 of the NDLP between the period 21 July 1997 until 31 March 1998. However, the Employment Service's financial allocations for their regions for Phase 1 for 21 July 1997 to 31 March 1998 was as follows:

  £

  Running costs

  ES Programmes

  London and South East

  262,676

  85,100

  Wales

  208,132

  67,429

  West Midlands

  145,824

  44,203

  Scotland

  103,225

  33,442

  Phase 2 of the NDLP extended the service to all lone parents who made a new claim for Income Support whose youngest child was aged at least 5 years and three months and those with younger children who put themselves forward. There were costs involved with the preparation of this phase of the programme which fell in the 1997–98 financial year. Expenditure details on Phase 2 of the NDLP in the 1997–98 financial year were not separately captured. However, the Employment Service financial allocations during that financial year for Phase 2 was as follows:

  £

  Running costs1

  Northern

  58,235

  Yorks and Humberside

  80,665

  East Midlands and Eastern

  79,004

  London and South East

  296,497

  South West

  64,648

  Wales

  58,854

  West Midlands

  83,187

  NorthWest

  116,862

  Scotland

  84,034

  The Employment Service captured actual expenditure for the period 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 for the combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the NDLP. Separate
  496
  expenditure for the two distinct strands of the NDLP is not available. The regional breakdown of this is as follows:

  £

  Running costs1

  Northern

  204,327

  Yorks and Humberside

  297,436

  East Midlands and Eastern

  270,455

  London and South East

  987,706

  South West

  375,845

  Office for Wales

  305,076

  West Midlands

  333,279

  North West

  518,405

  Office for Scotland

  344,028

  1 From 1 April 1998 Employment Service is recording expenditure details in respect of NDLP under the headings of Paybill, General Administrative Expenditure and ES Programme expenditure. The Paybill details do not show the costs of Advisers as a separate item and would include the costs of Adviser managers and clerical support etc.

  The vast majority of publicity costs surrounding Phase 1 of NDLP were paid centrally and fell in the 1997–98 financial year. These amounted to £384,553. There would have been other much smaller local publicity costs for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of NDLP and these would be contained in the expenditure/allocation details shown above.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents with children of school age were receiving income support in Oxfordshire on 1 December. [63647]

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

  Letter from Mr. Peter Mathison to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 14 December 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents with children of school age were receiving income support in Oxfordshire on 1st December.
  The available figures are included in the attached table.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Number

  May 1998

  Lone Parents with children of school age in receipt of Income Support in Oxfordshire

  4,000

  Notes:

  1. Lone Parents are defined as single people with dependants who are not in receipt of a disability or pensioner premium.

  2. School age children are taken to be aged between 5 and 18 years inclusive, and it is lone parents who have at least one child within this range who are included. However, these lone parents might also have children younger than school age.

  3. The information has been provided by the Analytical Services Division 1 of the DSS using the postcode's for Oxfordshire. The figures are provisional and subject to change.

  4. The definition of Oxfordshire used is based on version 1 of the 1998 postcode directory.

  5. The figures provided relate to receipt of Income Support as at May 1998 and have been taken from the Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1998 which is the latest available.

  6. Figures are based on a 5% sample and therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  7. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Income Support (Pensioners)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library the report on research into why some pensioners do not claim income support. [63703]

  Mr. Denham
  Research to understand why pensioners do not claim the Income Support to which they are entitled was begun at the end of last year. The fieldwork is now complete and a report is being prepared. Preliminary findings from qualitative research were published in June 1998 and a copy was placed in the Library. Full results are due next year, and publication will follow as soon as possible. The report will also be placed in the Library.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure by programme by his Department in Scotland on areas covered by the exceptions under (i) D.5 of Head D and (ii) F.1 of Head F in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. [63799]

  Mr. Timms
  Schedule 5, Head D.5 of the Scotland Act relates to Parliament's role in promoting energy conservation. This Department is conscious of the need to conserve energy, but does not directly incur expenditure in doing so, following the letting of its estates contract to an outside contractor, Trillium, in April 1998. Trillium are currently developing a number of spend-to-save measures.

  Schedule 5, Head F.1 of the Scotland Act lists social welfare matters which are excepted from the reservation of Social Security. All these matters in Scotland are currently the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and this Department has no responsibility for expenditure on them. They are identified in the Act to make it clear that they are not included within the definition of Social Security.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63800]

  Mr. Timms
  This Department consists of a Headquarters business unit and a number of Executive Agencies; the Benefits Agency, Contributions Agency, Child Support Agency, Information Technology Services Agency and War Pensions Agency. In total, there are 9,434 Departmental staff in Scotland.

  The Department is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all staff, in all of its business units, in all locations. This commitment is set out in the Department's Equal Opportunities policy statement which was revised and issued to all staff in September. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Equal Opportunities practices are integral to the work of the Department, both in terms of employment practices and service to customers. Examples include Equal Opportunities training for all staff, establishing consultative/development staff groups, a network of Harassment Advisers in each business unit, and implementing a range of "family friendly" policies such as career breaks and alternative working patterns.
  498
  In addition, the Department uses the Employment Service's "positive about disabled people" symbol, conducts disability awareness sessions for staff and has completed staff disability surveys using the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) definition of disability. An increasing number of buildings occupied by the Department now fully meet the requirements of the DDA, and the impetus will be maintained by our private sector partner, Trillium, as they continue to upgrade the buildings.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter dated 27 October to the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency regarding a constituent (ref. 6432). [64008]

  Angela Eagle
  The Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency replied to the hon. Member on 11 December 1998.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of cases reviewed under the Benefit Integrity Project have resulted in claimants(a) losing their entitlement, (b) having the level of their entitlement reduced and (c) having the level of their entitlement increased; [63507]

  (2) how many complaints have been lodged by disability living allowance claimants as a result of decisions reached as a result of the Benefit Integrity Project, in each month since its introduction; [63508]

  (3) how many people in receipt of disability living allowance have been reviewed under the Benefit Integrity Project since its introduction. [63506]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 14 December 1998:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) have been reviewed under the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP), what percentage of cases reviewed under the BIP have resulted in claimants (a) losing their entitlement, (b) having the level of their entitlement reduced and (c) having the level of their entitlement increased, and how many complaints have been lodged by DLA claimants as a result of decisions reached following a BIP review for each month since its introduction.

  Since its introduction 149,054 customers in receipt DLA have had their claims examined by the BIP. Benefit was removed in 8.13% (12,118) cases, reduced in 13.03% (19,424), and increased in 2.26% (3,373). In 76.58% (114,139) of cases entitlement was unchanged.

  Statistical information about the BIP is published on a monthly basis and is placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Where a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of a BIP review, or simply dissatisfied with a decision, their normal course of action would be to request a review or appeal. There have been 22,689 reviews and 5,925 appeals received. Complaints are recorded

  499
  only where a customer is dissatisfied with the standard of service they have received. Records of customer complaints about the BIP are available from June 1998 only and are as follows:

  June: 121

  July: 127

  August:179

  September: 159

  October: 111

  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the Benefit Integrity Project in generating cost savings and reducing the level of benefit fraud. [63509]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 14 December 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment he has made to the impact of the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) in generating cost savings and reducing the level of benefit fraud.
  The current estimate of benefit expenditure savings from the Benefit Integrity Project are: £8m in 1997–98, £30m in 1998–99 and £35m in 1999–2000.
  The purpose of the BIP is to identify and put right incorrectness in the payment of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The Benefits Agency carries out investigations into cases of suspected fraud in DLA. 1,929 cases, including 75 cases generated by BIP, were referred up to 31 March 1998. None of the cases generated by BIP have been referred for prosecution.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Benefits Agency (New Milton)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the provision of Benefits Agency services in New Milton. [62318]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Desmond Swayne, dated 14 December 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will review the provision of Benefits Agency services in New Milton.
  There are no plans at present to review the services provided by the Benefits Agency (BA) to the residents of New Milton. However the Agency is always seeking to ensure its services in line with the modern delivery of services expected by Ministers to support their Welfare Reform Programme, the District Manager for Solent and Forest, John Cullen, based in Southampton would be pleased to receive your suggestions on the service we currently offer our customers in New Milton.
  Whilst there is no specific BA outlet at New Milton there is a Public Caller Office at Lymington which is co-located with the Employment Service Jobcentre (ESJ) and which offers a full BA enquiry service. The main BA processing site for the area in which New Milton is situated is at Totton. There are also ESJs situated at Hythe and Ringwood.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sea Anglers
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how anglers' landings are taken into account for quota management purposes when anglers' catches are unknown; [63361]

  (2) which EU Member States impose restrictions on sea angling; [63360]

  (3) how much fish was caught by sea anglers in (a) January to June 1997, (b) June to December 1997, (c) January to June 1998 and (d) June to September 1998 or other periods in 1997 and 1998 for which figures are available. [63359]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: European Union regulations on annual total allowable catches and quotas require that all landings be counted against a Member State's share of the total allowable catch for each quota stock. It is for each Member State to decide how its quotas are managed. We do not have detailed information on the management arrangements operating in other Member States although we understand that some have imposed restrictions on sea angling.

  The Ministry does not collect information on catches made by vessels engaged in recreational angling. For the purposes of quota management in the UK all vessels used to convey pleasure anglers are, irrespective of their length, grouped with under 10 metre commercial fishing vessels. When therefore fisheries for individual stocks are closed to the under 10 metre commercial fleet by means of statutory prohibition orders, all vessels used to convey anglers fishing for pleasure are also prohibited from landing fish. Closures are imposed when the total available quota allocation for a particular species has been taken.

  Zinc Bacitracin
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has undertaken with(a) the manufacturers of zinc bacitracin, (b) poultry breeders and (c) farming unions about the European Commission's proposal to withdraw authorisation of zinc bacitracin; and if he will make a statement. [64030]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have received a number of communications from Forum Holdings Ltd. and are fully aware of their concerns. Copies of the Commission's proposal have been sent informally to the major interested parties and a formal information letter was sent to interests including poultry breeders and farming unions on 11 December.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the consistency of the European Commission's decision to withdraw authorisation for zinc bacitracin and three other veterinary medicines with the precautionary principle of the Commission's guidelines for its implementation; and if he will make a statement. [64026]

  Mr. Rooker
  Zinc bacitracin and the three other antibiotics covered by the proposed suspension are authorised as zootechnical feed additives for growth promotion and not as veterinary medicines. The proposal was made because of evidence assessed by the EU
  501
  Commission's Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition that the use of certain antibiotics for growth promotion contributes to the overall selected pressure for resistant bacteria. The Government have received advice from the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and from the Veterinary Products Committee which recommends the phasing out of certain antibiotic growth promoters. This advice confirms the principles laid down in the Swann Report in 1969 that antibiotics which may impair the efficacy of prescribed therapeutic antibiotics used in human medicine through the development of resistant strains of organisms should not be authorised for growth promotion.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the animal welfare implications of the proposed European Union ban on the use of zinc bacitracin; and if he will make a statement. [64033]

  Mr. Rooker
  An abrupt suspension, as originally proposed by the European Commission, would have been likely to cause considerable health and welfare problems for livestock. That is why we argued successfully for an extension which permits us to introduce the ban with effect from 1 July 1999, allowing producers some time to adapt to the loss of zinc bacitracin.

  Eggs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of(a) the number of intensive poultry units in England and (b) the average number of birds found within such units. [63375]

  Mr. Rooker
  The figures obtained from the June Census returns do not provide sufficient detail to determine the number of intensive poultry units in England. In England and Wales, there are 23,000 farms with laying hens but not all of these will be cage production and indeed the vast majority have fewer than 100 birds.

  It may be of interest to look at the current breakdown of shell eggs packed by type of production system. This is:

  cage eggs—82 per cent.

  free range—14 per cent.

  bam/other—4 per cent.

  This is from an estimated UK annual production (in 1997) of 9,540 million eggs.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take measures to prohibit the use of the term 'farm-fresh' eggs to designate those eggs which originate from a battery system. [63378]

  Mr. Rooker
  The terms 'farm fresh', 'naturally fresh' and 'country fresh' may be used to describe eggs produced under any system. The word 'fresh' is reserved for eggs of Grade A quality, which is the highest standard of freshness and cleanliness laid down in the Regulations. The words 'farm' and 'country' are not considered to be misleading, as nearly all eggs are produced on farms of one kind or another or in the country.

  I am aware that consumer research, undertaken by welfare organisations, has indicated that some consumers are under the impression that this reflects the method of production. No legislative action is currently proposed
  502
  and any changes would have to be discussed in Brussels. I am aware, however, that the egg industry and supermarkets themselves are addressing this consumer concern.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with supermarkets concerning the descriptions applied to eggs offered for sale to the public. [63377]

  Mr. Rooker
  None.

  EC legislation governing the marketing of shell eggs specifies which exclusive terms can be used to indicate type of fanning (but exempts organic/biological farming). These optional descriptions are 'free range' eggs; 'semi-intensive' eggs; 'deep litter' eggs; 'perchery' eggs (barn eggs) and 'eggs from caged hens'. All these marketing terms are optional. Producers or marketing outlets can therefore use these terms if they wish to clarify the method of production for consumers, providing the minimum production criteria set out in the marketing legislation is met.

  As far as other descriptions are concerned, there is an obligation that neither the pictures nor terms used on egg packs are misleading. Trading Standards officers of local authorities have the power to act if this is the case.

  Veterinary Medicines
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to resist the withdrawal of authorisation of any veterinary medicine unless he is satisfied that the alternative products available on the market are at least as safe for(a) animals and (b) humans; and if he will make a statement. [64027]

  Mr. Rooker
  No veterinary medicine is authorised for use unless it satisfies stringent statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes the safety of treated animals and humans.

  Antibiotics
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the weight of antibiotics used annually in farming; what is his policy in respect of this application; and if he will make a statement. [63381]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not kept centrally. However, industry sources indicate that a total of 756 tonnes of antibiotics, including 99 tonnes of growth promoters, were supplied to users including the farming industry and keepers of pets in the UK during 1996.

  We are very concerned to ensure that human health is not compromised by the use of antibiotics in livestock production. To that end we have supported a proposal by the European Commission to suspend the use of four antibiotic growth promoters that are related to antibiotics used in human medicine.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in
  503
  Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63795]

  Mr. Morley
  As regards cross-border authorities, a list of these cannot be specified until appropriate subordinate legislation is made under the Act.

  The State Veterinary Service (SVS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has 15 offices in Scotland and employs 81 veterinary and animal health staff. These staff are covered by the Ministry's policy of equality of opportunity for all staff. The Ministry's network of Equal Opportunities Officers includes two Equal Opportunities Officers with Responsibility for matters arising for SVS staff in these grades.

  The Veterinary Laboratory Agency employs 26 staff at its Lasswade Laboratory. These staff are covered by the Agency's equal opportunities policy which has been developed within the framework of the Ministry's overall policy. There is an Agency Equal Opportunities Officer with responsibility for matters arising for these staff.

  Recruitment Procedures
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the recruitment procedure for staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [63045]

  Mr. Morley
  None.

  Sukler Cow Premium Scheme

  £

  1996

  1997

  County name

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Avon

  817,708.89

  2,962.71

  846,665.20

  3,078.78

  Bedfordshire

  342,329.18

  3,356.17

  305,756.27

  3,184.96

  Berkshire

  493,323.69

  4,043.64

  528,281.19

  4,294.97

  Buckinghamshire

  1,559,600.98

  4,828.49

  1,575,034.41

  4,921.98

  Cambridgeshire

  864,716.23

  3,588.03

  823,903.90

  3,566.68

  Cheshire

  923,735.48

  2,624.25

  883,144.26

  2,620.61

  Cleveland

  285,923.17

  4,332.17

  280,376.92

  4,248.14

  Cornwall1

  5,657,474.18

  4,939.21

  5,799,582.77

  5,019.65

  Cumbria

  8,123,383.26

  5,180.73

  8,237,040.46

  5,273.63

  Derbyshire

  2,708,731.83

  3,531.59

  2,815,413.85

  3,738.93

  Devonshire

  9,550,124.38

  4,244.50

  9,860,264.87

  4,374.56

  Dorset

  1,314,384.42

  3,723.47

  1,275,537.94

  3,603.21

  Durham

  3,447,213.04

  5,032.43

  3,370,057.32

  5,052.56

  Essex

  648,986.79

  3,004.57

  649,168.13

  3,121.00

  Gloucestershire

  1,983,408.21

  3,666.19

  1,929,540.39

  3,696.44

  Greater London

  137,589.58

  5,982.16

  134,237.47

  5,836.41

  Greater Manchester

  565,217.46

  2,557.55

  608,821.62

  2,780.01

  Hampshire

  1,712,842.47

  3,849.08

  1,680,922.77

  3,873.09

  Hereford & Worcester

  4,031,984.63

  3,376.87

  3,941,045.78

  3,354.08

  Hertfordshire

  605,694.71

  4,769.25

  589,708.71

  4,680.23

  Humberside

  1,540,481.66

  4,043.26

  1,481,576.96

  3,993.47

  Isle of Wight

  312,302.95

  3,548.90

  274,307.36

  3,386.51

  Kent

  1,518,867.29

  3,768.90

  1,500,005.22

  3,916.46

  Lancashire

  2,191,582.68

  3,652.64

  2,241,523.47

  3,662.62

  Leicestershire

  1,573,181.33

  3,347.19

  1,609,849.16

  3,326.13

  Lincolnshire

  2,512,748.25

  4,636.07

  2,467,927.66

  4,503.52

  Merseyside

  97,755.70

  4,655.03

  112,906.80

  4,704.45

  Norfolk

  2,345,188.84

  4,450.07

  2,378,729.72

  4,701.05

  Northamptonshire

  1,535,787.45

  4,490.61

  1,510,322.88

  4,764.43

  Northumberland

  8,727,126.90

  10,183.35

  8,689,438.08

  10,222.87

  Nottinghamshire

  803,129.63

  3,187.02

  735,287.11

  3,063.70

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the exact number of letters he received from Labour hon. Members on problems facing the United Kingdom agricultural industry in the three months prior to 11 November. [61659]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 7 December 1998]: In the period 12 August to 11 November inclusive, MAFF Ministers received 1,894 letters from hon. Members. Many letters dealt with multiple subjects. To verify the exact number of letter from Labour hon. Members that raised problems facing the UK agricultural industry would require each one to be checked individually; the information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total payments were by county in 1996 and 1997 under (i) the arable area payments, (ii) the suckler cow premium and (iii) the sheep annual premium schemes of the CAP; and in each case what the average farm payment was in each county. [62885]

  Mr. Rooker
  The following tables give the information requested. Payments are attributed to the country of the claimant's main holding. These figures represent payments by MAFF, in England, in respect of 1996 and 1997 claims—not the payments which were made in those years. For 1996 arable area payments, the figures update those previously published. These were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 30 July 1997,Official Report, columns 327–30.
  505

  Suckler Cow Premium Scheme

  £

  1996

  1997

  County name

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Oxfordshire

  1,431,569.33

  4,559.14

  1,471,970.79

  4,794.69

  Shropshire

  4,000,423.39

  4,329.46

  3,823,304.39

  4,192.22

  Somerset

  3,583,650.84

  4,100.29

  3,776,390.67

  4,276.77

  Staffordshire

  1,928,621.67

  2,852.99

  2,031,455.26

  2,948.41

  Suffolk

  1,048,109.63

  3,867.56

  1,002,944.29

  3,742.33

  Surrey

  809,720.81

  4,152.41

  823,606.14

  4,289.62

  Sussex East

  1,195,159.88

  3,395.34

  1,230,568.66

  3,651.54

  Sussex West

  1,014,847.62

  4,470.69

  1,018,354.06

  4,566.61

  Tyne & Wear

  263,719.58

  5,382.03

  249,685.89

  5,201.79

  Warwickshire

  1,182,907.33

  3,295.01

  1,164,995.89

  3,426.46

  West Midlands

  264,421.77

  4,068.03

  265,056.47

  4,077.79

  Wiltshire

  2,135,086.48

  5,849.55

  2,015,091.62

  5,613.07

  Yorkshire North

  6,699,597.18

  4,297.37

  6,722,334.23

  4,416.78

  Yorkshire South

  813,138.42

  3,764.53

  798,726.67

  3,877.31

  Yorkshire West

  1,713,963.17

  2,294.85

  1,726,977.86

  2,977.55

  1Cornwall figures include the Scilly Isles

  Arable Area Payments Scheme

  £

  1996

  1997

  County name

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Avon

  4,709,856.56

  11,774.64

  4,632,220.50

  11,580.55

  Bedfordshire

  19,600,435.19

  33,053.01

  19,213,927.00

  32,510.87

  Berkshire

  11,992,117.78

  44,746.71

  12,021,801.07

  44,857.47

  Buckinghamshire

  17,744,157.31

  27,467.74

  16,903,137.49

  26,085.09

  Cambridgeshire

  60,573,233.24

  28,464.87

  57,731,621.09

  27,425.95

  Cheshire

  7,418,313.97

  7,850.07

  6,971,443.50

  7,231.79

  Cleveland

  5,355,734.45

  25,026.80

  4,499,510.69

  21,324.70

  Cornwall

  11,978,012.05

  6,927.71

  11,904,647.11

  6,865.43

  Cumbria

  4,652,279.00

  4,949.23

  4,518,377.54

  4,791.49

  Derbyshire

  10,083,321.95

  12,812.35

  9,666,631.18

  12,236.24

  Devonshire

  19,333,953.12

  7,233.05

  19,477,317.41

  7,095.56

  Dorset

  17,653,073.25

  24,758.87

  16,692,638.94

  23,248.80

  Durham

  13,681,610.76

  20,729.71

  12,314,045.64

  19,240.70

  Essex

  59,628,462.58

  39,515.22

  56,679,741.35

  37,736.18

  Gloucestershire

  26,201,454.51

  26,736.18

  24,857,058.62

  25,494.42

  Greater London

  1,446,717.13

  22,257.19

  1,417,200.50

  19,960.57

  Greater Manchester

  1,500,373.83

  10,640.95

  1,449,198.90

  9,994.48

  Hampshire

  34,669,172.17

  43,996.41

  33,025,543.28

  41,178.98

  Hereford & Worcester

  29,685,160.76

  14,894.71

  28,474,164.83

  14,272.76

  Hertfordshire

  21,346,141.77

  44,471.13

  20,537,261.29

  42,875.28

  Humberside

  61,090,717.76

  29,555.26

  57,441.627.46

  28,033.98

  Isle of Wight

  2,880,123.33

  21,985.67

  2,800,164.38

  20,145.07

  Kent

  36,810,840.88

  34,958.06

  35,217,874.64

  33,255.78

  Lancashire

  5,285,404.17

  11,174.22

  5,081,869.22

  10,676.20

  Leicestershire

  32,095,569.54

  29,177.79

  30,480,109.55

  27,709.11

  Lincolnshire

  103,834,550.37

  30,802.30

  98,202,508.72

  28,883.09

  Merseyside

  2,608,065.32

  15,075.52

  2,566,230.93

  15,275.18

  Norfolk

  66,179,308.31

  23,018.89

  64,646,116.24

  22,698.78

  Northamptonshire

  37,552,734.08

  41,725.26

  34,858,568.52

  38,517.76

  Northumberland

  28,920,316.75

  34,388.01

  25,244,332.53

  29,945.83

  Nottinghamshire

  29,463,123.16

  29,316.54

  27,586,567.83

  27,367.63

  Oxfordshire

  38,289,565.52

  41,483.82

  36,115,566.98

  38,750.61

  Shropshire

  25,231,785.80

  15,750.18

  23,107,332.22

  14,560.39

  Somerset

  14,388,826.16

  11,622.64

  13,775,003.03

  10,967.36

  Staffordshire

  14,970,014.94

  17,971.21

  14,189,836.22

  16,872.58

  Suffolk

  56,350,044.61

  26,923.10

  54,053,967.15

  25,999.98

  Surrey

  4,218,972.44

  20,381.51

  4,023,335.98

  19,530.76

  Sussex East

  9,598,132.74

  21,472.33

  9,494,715.79

  20,776.18

  Sussex West

  15,019,837.84

  30,281.93

  14,560,043.49

  28,000.08

  Tyne & Wear

  2,892,173.94

  26,055.62

  2,578,807.20

  23,658.78

  Warwickshire

  24,320,196.54

  27,668.03

  23,062,985.22

  26,178.19

  West Midlands

  1,668,292.57

  17,560.97

  1,577,044.57

  16,777.07

  Wiltshire

  36,319,698.82

  35,364.85

  34,866,404.61

  33,525.39

  Yorkshire North

  62,744,381.17

  19,937.84

  60,399,843.43

  19,229.49

  Yorkshire South

  13,001,288,98

  24,301.47

  12,261,439.91

  23,355.12

  Yorkshire West

  7,172,345.27

  18,677.98

  6,782,993.64

  17,437.00

  506

  507

  Sheep Annual Premium Scheme

  £

  1996

  1997

  County name

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Total amount paid

  Average payment

  Avon

  626,274.48

  1,875.07

  536,008.17

  1,675.03

  Bedfordshire

  364,281.84

  2,412.46

  298,036.70

  2,069.70

  Berkshire

  379,386.98

  3,084.45

  333,566.54

  2,900.58

  Buckinghamshire

  1,366,539.78

  3,010.00

  1,196,749.51

  2,641.83

  Cambridgeshire

  350,487.67

  2,246.72

  298,430.30

  2,116.46

  Cheshire

  1,459,010.04

  2,448.00

  1,282,084.04

  2,180.42

  Cleveland

  299,262.84

  2,877.53

  260,347.12

  2,433.15

  Cornwall

  4,340,592.80

  2,844.43

  3,788,393.50

  2,609.09

  Cumbria

  20,419,757.10

  5,763.41

  18,704,776.89

  5,333.55

  Derbyshire

  3,432,484.91

  3,114.78

  3,039,474.30

  2,814.33

  Devonshire

  13,173,439.65

  3,276.16

  11,607,071.67

  2,997.69

  Dorset

  1,372,756.59

  2,624.77

  1,216,767.41

  2,428.68

  Durham

  4,909,834.61

  5,052.42

  4,377,307.38

  4,701.73

  Essex

  444,932.55

  1,934.49

  390,624.55

  1,808.45

  Gloucestershire

  2,514,595.60

  2,622.10

  2,162,417.79

  2,320.19

  Greater London

  5,219.07

  1,304.77

  4,762.71

  952.54

  Greater Manchester

  572,751.11

  2,878.15

  521,129.40

  2,863.35

  Hampshire

  948,885.53

  2,497.07

  839,428.38

  2,312.47

  Hereford & Worcester

  7,911,597.17

  2,922.64

  6,844,905.84

  2,708.71

  Hertfordshire

  291,545.39

  2,626.54

  249,888.98

  2,449.89

  Humberside

  841,132.58

  1,942.57

  715,045.21

  1,706.55

  Isle of Wight

  211,043.49

  2,198.37

  188,506.17

  1,984.28

  Kent

  3,184,720.06

  3,331.30

  2,751,932.40

  3,044.17

  Lancashire

  5,854,129.93

  3,702.80

  5,324,015.98

  3,454.91

  Leicestershire

  2,342,144.22

  2,815.08

  1,978,875.59

  2,533.77

  Lincolnshire

  1,437,636.75

  2,482.97

  1,224,996.47

  2,227.70

  Merseyside

  43,200.66

  2,057.17

  35,513.08

  1,972.95

  Norfolk

  963,724.18

  2,707.09

  839,604.00

  2,476.71

  Northamptonshire

  2,359,497.65

  3,309.25

  2,025,172.77

  2,876.67

  Northumberland

  11,622,434.29

  8,440.40

  10,554,322.40

  7,720.79

  Nottinghamshire

  598,930.55

  2,348.75

  515,877.50

  2,261.27

  Oxfordshire

  1,299,529.56

  3,116.38

  1,152,876.42

  2,832.62

  Shropshire

  6,548,560.79

  3,628.01

  5,713,876.73

  3,266.94

  Somerset

  4,472,607.23

  3,422.04

  3,913,116.34

  3,064.30

  Staffordshire

  1,938,797.88

  2,118.90

  1,666,866.88

  1,874.99

  Suffolk

  471,582.51

  1,702.46

  395,560.34

  1,475.97

  Surrey

  430,166.53

  1,807.42

  360,258.52

  1,637.54

  Sussex East

  1,810,204.75

  3,170.24

  1,591,357.01

  2,888.13

  Sussex West

  769,940.95

  2,519.15

  682,823.10

  2,299.07

  Tyne & Wear

  74,064.49

  3,086.02

  57,635.64

  2,505.90

  Warwickshire

  2,011,979.80

  2,718.89

  1,736,385.58

  2,411.65

  West Midlands

  136,872.93

  2,319.88

  121,304.26

  2,056.00

  Wiltshire

  1,323,788.80

  2,995.00

  1,119,461.94

  2,652.75

  Yorkshire North

  14,711,206.88

  5,901.80

  13,224,077.56

  5,318.99

  Yorkshire South

  531,892.32

  3,056.85

  477,954.90

  2,844.97

  Yorkshire West

  1,652,352.27

  2,643.76

  1,464,135.44

  2,494.27

  Turkeys
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has in respect of the sale of uneviscerated turkeys. [62924]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 December 1998]: Farm fresh turkeys give consumers a choice and the Government would like to see traditional production of this product continue.

  The Ministry will be issuing for public consultation a consultation document recommending that small off-farm poultry meat slaughterhouses should no longer be exempt from licensing. These proposals will not affect the exemption for small-scale on-farm production of traditional farm fresh turkeys.

  Pesticides
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about a possible tax on pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [63452]

  Mr. Rooker
  My right hon. Friend the Minister has made no representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter.

  Research Programmes (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the research programmes and (b) the activities undertaken in Wales and funded by his Department, and the total estimated

  509
  annual expenditure on each in 1998–99; and what proportion of this funding will be transferred to the National Assembly for Wales when it has been established. [63480]

  Mr. Rooker
  Decisions on the placing of research contracts are based on the scientific quality and value for money of research proposals and not on the geographical location of contractors. The Ministry expects to pay some 510
  £125 million for research in 1998–99, spread between contractors throughout the UK. Some £7.8 million of this sum will be paid to Welsh contractors, but Wales will benefit from all relevant research regardless of where it is carried out. Post-devolution, it is intended that the Ministry will retain responsibility for the budget for R&D carried out in England and Wales. The National Assembly for Wales will be consulted about priorities for R&D and these will be reflected in the programme of work commissioned.

  Ammunition Contracts
  Ammunition Contracts
  Stonehenge
  Stonehenge
  Public Art Collections: Commercial Loans
  Public Art Collections: Commercial Loans
  A.12, Little Glemham: Resurfacing
  A.12, Little Glemham: Resurfacing
  Cross-Channel Rail Passenger Services
  Cross-Channel Rail Passenger Services
  Miners' Respiratory Diseases
  Miners' Respiratory Diseases
  Human Rights Act 1998
  Human Rights Act 1998
  Police Use of Firearms
  Police Use of Firearms