Written Answers of 16 December 1998

SCOTLAND

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the(a) draft Toll Order for the Skye Bridge and (b) draft Assignation Statement were placed in the Library in 1991; and if he will make a statement. [63320]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 10 December 1998]: A draft of the Order and the Assignation Statement were not placed in the Library. The Order was not subject to parliamentary procedure but the proposal to make the Order was advertised and a draft of the Order was available for inspection in accordance with the required procedures under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. There was no draft Statement. The procedures in the 1984 Act require the Assignation Statement itself to be made available for inspection with the draft Order and this was done.

  Local Authority Capital Receipts
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers the devolved Scottish Parliament will have to alter the rules governing the amount of capital receipts from right to buy which local authorities must use to repay their capital debt. [63323]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 10 December 1998]: These arrangements were applied as a condition of the consent to local authorities to incur capital expenditure under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and it would be open to the Scottish Executive to alter those conditions.

  Coalmining Communities
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress he has made in allocating resources to help with the regeneration of Scotland's former coalmining communities. [64628]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Scotland's former coalmining communities will benefit from a share of the £10 million being made available in recognition of miners' pension fund surpluses. In addition, we are making £1 million available to help these communities. I will be announcing details about how we will be targeting the funding for these communities, following consultation with Scottish Enterprise, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Region of the Coalfield Communities Campaign. We will ensure that it is deployed to complement the range of initiatives already underway, including the new Social Inclusion Partnerships, which will be supported by £48 million over the next 3 years, for which former coalfield areas are eligible.

  Procurators Fiscal
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the suitability of procurators fiscal with qualifications as solicitor-advocate(a) to be advocate deputes and (b) to prosecute in the High Court. [62670]

  Mr. McLeish
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is responsible for the appointment of Advocate Deputes. My noble and learned Friend is satisfied about the competence of many Procurators Fiscal, including some with qualifications as Solicitor-Advocate, to undertake the work carried out by Advocate Deputes, including prosecuting in the High Court. However, he takes the view that it is necessary for the proper operation of the prosecution system in Scotland to maintain the traditional separation between the role of the Procurator Fiscal and that of Crown Counsel, to ensure independence of decision making and prosecution in respect of High Court cases. He is not, therefore, inclined to appoint Procurators Fiscal as Advocate Deputes.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the relative costs of using(a) members of the Faculty of Advocates and (b) procurators fiscal qualified as solicitor-advocates, as advocate deputes. [62671]

  Mr. McLeish
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has responsibility for prosecutions in Scotland. The post of Advocate Depute is assessed for remuneration purposes at rates comparable with the Senior Civil Service, on which individual pay is based regardless of whether the incumbent is a member of the Faculty of Advocates or a Procurator Fiscal. There is therefore no significant difference in their relative costs.

  RSA Priority Initiative
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the companies which to date have been offered additional grant if they employ residents of assisted areas under the RSA Priority Initiative launched on 22 May. [63908]

  Mr. Dewar
  Under the pilot "RSA Priority" initiative, launched on 22 May 1998 in five particularly deprived areas of Scotland, nine companies have to date been offered the opportunity to receive additional grant if they employ residents of the designated areas. Information regarding offers of Regional Selective Assistance to individual companies is generally regarded as commercially confidential, although details of offers of £75,000 or more are published in "Labour Market Trends" once the company has received its first payment.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the proposed identity card scheme for young people announced by Health and Home Department ministers will operate in Scotland. [63857]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Government have no plans to introduce an identity card scheme for young people in Scotland, or in the rest of the United Kingdom. Ministers have, however, welcomed the various proof of age card schemes covering age-restricted products such as alcohol,
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  tobacco and fireworks, and we have encouraged representatives from these industries to consider the feasibility of developing a multi-purpose proof of age card.

  Water and Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which categories of properties, which are not owned or operated by recognised charities or other non-profit making bodies, benefit from relief on their water or sewerage rates; and what figures he has for the number of properties concerned and the amount of the relief afforded them. [63859]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Following the establishment of the three Scottish water authorities, relief from water and sewerage charges is no longer specified in statute, and is a matter for the authorities. Overall, it is estimated that the amount of relief is some £14 million per annum.

  The exact information requested is, therefore, not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Authority Ward Boundaries
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his timetable is for making further orders to give effect to local authority ward boundary changes following the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. [64035]

  Mr. McLeish
  It is the intention to have orders made in respect of all local authority areas (apart from Orkney and Shetlands) by 31 December 1998. As a consequence of the Petitions for Judicial Review submitted by Orkney and Shetlands Island Councils, we will delay making an order in respect of these 2 areas until 15 January 1999, the latest practicable date if the new arrangements are to take effect for the elections due in May 1999. No order will be made, however, if the Court gives an indication before that date that a decree of reduction is to be granted in respect of the relevant Petition.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of which local authority areas in Scotland he has made orders to give effect to ward boundary changes following the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. [64034]

  Mr. McLeish
  To date, orders have been made in respect of the following 16 local authority areas:

  Aberdeen City

  Angus

  City of Edinburgh

  Clackmannanshire

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dundee City

  East Lothian

  East Renfrewshire

  Glasgow City

  Inverclyde

  Midlothian

  North Ayrshire

  Perth and Kinross

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  Scottish Borders

  West Dunbartonshire

  West Lothian.

  Incapable Adults Report
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Scottish Law Commission's Incapable Adults report (Scots Law Com. No. 151). [64388]

  Mr. McLeish
  The subject of decision-making on behalf of adults who are unable to manage their own affairs is an important one. The Government have been made fully aware of the issues through the report by the Scottish Law Commission in 1995 and subsequent public consultation, which attracted a substantial and carefully considered response. We accept the need for reform of the existing legislation in this important area of the law that provides support and protection for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

  It will be within the competence of the Scottish Parliament to legislate in this area and this statement cannot pre-empt announcements about the Scottish Parliament's legislative programme. It excludes consideration of the SLC's recommendations about medical treatment and research and advance statements. These are sensitive issues and we received many responses on them in the consultation exercise. We have not made any decisions on these matters yet; and we shall also want to consider what emerges from the Lord Chancellor's recent consultation exercise on similar proposals for England and Wales.

  We agree with the general principles proposed by the SLC that any intervention should produce a benefit for the adult; be least restrictive of the adult's freedom; wherever possible encourage the adult to use existing skills and acquire new skills, and take account of the present and past wishes of the adult.

  In relation to particular aspects of the Report we agree with the SLC on the following:
  The proposed definition of mental incapacity;
  The current office of the Accountant of Court should be expanded to form a new office of Public Guardian;
  The function of the Public Guardian should be to maintain public registers of all those authorised to take decisions on behalf of an incapable adult and to supervise and monitor the performance of financial guardians;
  The recognition of continuing and welfare powers of attorney and the introduction of public scrutiny of the exercise of such powers;
  The creation of a new concept of guardianship to provide for a broad and flexible system of one-off intervention orders and longer term guardianship, with appropriate welfare or financial powers as ordered by the court; and
  That key decisions on applications, and in other proceedings under the proposed legislation, should be dealt with in the sheriff courts.

  There are a small number of areas where we propose to vary the SLC's recommendations.

  We propose to modify the SLC scheme for carers in domestic settings to have access to funds from the bank accounts of incapable adults, in order to meet daily living expenses. Under the revised scheme, the Public Guardian would grant authority to have stipulated payments made for a time limited period from the incapable adult's

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  account to a designated account. The Public Guardian would have powers to check that the incapable adult's funds were being applied for the intended purpose.

  We propose to modify the SLC recommendations that residential homes should apply to the Public Guardian for authority to manage residents' finances. Under the revised proposals, registration and inspection authorities in local authorities and Health Boards would authorise the managers of residential establishments to manage the funds of residents who are incapable of so doing, up to prescribed limits, and in circumstances where no other arrangements would be appropriate for managing the finances of these residents.

  We do not propose to follow the SLC recommendation that the Public Guardian should be able to be appointed as financial guardian to an incapable adult. We take the view, however, that the arrangements recommended for withdrawals from bank accounts and for intervention orders, and also for management of finances by residential establishments, should be sufficient to meet the needs of incapable adults with modest estates. The Public Guardian's functions will be focused on maintaining public registers of guardians and monitoring and supervising guardians with financial powers. Local authorities and the Mental Welfare Commission will monitor those exercising welfare powers on behalf of incapable adults.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to amend liquor licensing arrangements in respect of New Year's Eve celebrations for the Millennium, covering opening hours for 31 December 1999 and 1 January 2000; and if she will make a statement. [63277]

  Mr. McFall
  It is my intention to issue a consultation paper on 17 December seeking comments on a proposed relaxation of permitted hours for licensed premises and registered clubs in Northern Ireland at the Millennium Holiday and each subsequent New Year's Eve.

  Countryside
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to increase access to the open countryside in Northern Ireland. [63785]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  It is proposed to issue a consultation paper on providing access to the countryside early in 1999.

  World Heritage Sites
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the organisations in Northern Ireland involved in reviewing world heritage site nominations as a result of the Government's recent consultation. [64398]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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  Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Cynog Dafis, dated 16 December 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service, I am responsible for operational aspects of protection of the built heritage on behalf of the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. I am responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down on 17 December 1998 about the organisations involved in the review heritage site nominations.
  In Northern Ireland, Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), in liaison with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), reviews world heritage site nominations on behalf of Government. Specifically, EHS has attended a specialist working group convened by English Heritage on behalf of DCMS to advise on the compiling of a new UK tentative list. The Service consults the Department's statutory advisory councils, the Historic Monuments Council, the Historic Buildings Council and the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside about proposed nominations.
  I trust you will find this helpful.

  Export Surveys
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what categories of data are used in gathering information concerning export surveys from Northern Ireland; how the data are collected; and what part the NIERC plays in the gathering of such information. [63962]

  Mr. Ingram
  Export data for the UK as a whole are gathered by HM Customs and Excise. However, due to the limitations of this data at regional level, the Department of Economic Development and the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland jointly commission the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre (NIERC) to undertake a bespoke annual survey of Northern Ireland sales and exports. NIERC designs the survey questionnaire, collects and analyses the data and assists with the preparation of the survey report for publication.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the analysis of export behaviour by size of firm was discontinued after the first export survey of 1990; and if she will carry out a retrospective analysis of export data for the period 1990–97. [63964]

  Mr. Ingram
  A detailed academic report was produced on the first export survey published in 1992 (in respect of 1990 data). Subsequent export survey reports have been produced within a tighter timetable with the objective of giving a snapshot of key export information. Additional information is available on request including the retrospective analysis referred to in the question.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent the outflow of the profits of externally owned manufacturing companies is taken into account when evaluating the size of grants and subsidies to be given to companies to encourage them to locate in Northern Ireland. [63975]

  Mr. Ingram
  The potential outflow of profits from externally owned companies seeking to establish manufacturing operations in Northern Ireland is fully evaluated in assessing the amount of grant that can be made available.
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  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the studies carried out by DED of Northern Ireland's competitive advantages in attracting inward investment; and if she will place copies in the Library. [63963]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland (IDB) the arm of DED responsible for inward investment, examines among other issues Northern Ireland's performance in the inward investment market relative to competitors. IDB has not directly purchased or commissioned any study into Northern Ireland's competitive advantage in attracting inward investment. However, a report prepared by Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1996 into Northern Ireland's investment performance compared with the UK and Republic of Ireland makes comment on Northern Ireland's competitive advantages. For copyright and commercial confidentiality reasons this report cannot be placed in the public domain by IDB.

  Census of Production
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long the period is between completion of the collection of Northern Ireland Annual Census of Production data and their publication by the National Statistics Office in its annual Business Monitor. [63966]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Office for National Statistics publishes regional estimates of industrial production in the Annual Business Monitor approximately twelve months after the completion of data collection.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if data collected in Northern Ireland for the Annual Census of Production are available on a sub-regional basis. [63968]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Department of Economic Development does not have any results from the Annual Census of Production (now referred to as the Annual Business Inquiry) below NI level. However, the Office for National Statistics is refining the methodology for providing ABI sub-regional estimates with the intention of publishing these from the 1999 inquiry onwards.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the parties which have access to Annual Census of Production data on a confidential basis before the data are published by the National Statistics Office; and on what criteria such organisations are chosen. [63967]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre, commissioned by the Department of Economic Development to undertake the annual Survey of Sales and Exports, has confidential access to Census of Production data prior to publication. The Centre is the only organisation with access to such information which is given under legal direction (as authorised by Article 7 of the Statistics of Trade and Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 1988).

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will introduce local publication of the Annual Census of Production in 518
  Northern Ireland, following the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and what were the reasons for the discontinuation of local publication. [63965]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have no plans to reintroduce this publication which was suspended, due to lack of demand, following release of the 1985 results. Current data is available from the Office for National Statistics Business Monitor series. Future arrangements will be for consideration by the NI Assembly.

  Economic Policies (Inquiries)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish for each year since 1990 the number of contracts entered into by her Department and Northern Ireland Government departments and agencies with outside agencies and consultancy firms for the investigation of economic policy matters, indicating the subject matter of each inquiry and the date the report was(a) completed and (b) published, the name of the consultancy firm or outside agency involved and the cost of each contract; and how many contracts in each year went out to tender. [63978]

  Mr. Ingram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Regional Accounts
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what estimate she has made of the effect on data for Northern Ireland GDP of manufacturing company profit outflows; and what estimate she has made of the size of such outflows; [63973]

  (2) what plans she has to provide provisional estimates of the main macro-sectoral aggregates in the intervals between the publication of regional accounts in order to facilitate planning by the public and private sector; [63976]

  (3) if she will list the parties which have access to the data for Northern Ireland Regional Accounts on a confidential basis, before the data are published in Regional Trends; and on what criteria such parties are chosen; [63970]

  (4) what plans she has to reformulate the Northern Ireland regional account in line with EUROSTAT standards; [63971]

  (5) which Northern Ireland departments are responsible for the preparation of the Northern Ireland Regional Accounts; and what is the length of the period between the collection and completion of such accounts and their eventual publication by the National Statistics Office in Regional Trends. [63969]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency under its chief executive, Mr. E. F. Jardine. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. F. Jardine to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 15 December 1998:
  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about regional accounts as this matter falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

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  Answers to the five questions you tabled are given in the Annex to this letter.
  Several of your questions mention the Regional Trends publication. Normally, the Office for National Statistics first publish the regional accounts in their monthly Economic Trends journal and in a news release. The information is then included in Regional Trends which is an annual publication.
  If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the effect on data for Northern Ireland GDP of manufacturing company profit outflows; and what estimate she has made of the size of such outflows.

  Reply:
  Gross Domestic Product is concerned with the physical location of economic activity and therefore its calculation is unaffected by profit outflows. No estimation has been made of the size of such outflows.

  Question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans she has to provide provisional estimates of the main macro-sectoral aggregates in the intervals between the publication of regional accounts in order to facilitate planning by the public and private sector.

  Reply:
  The Office for National Statistics, who compile the annual United Kingdom regional accounts, have no plans to provide interim figures.

  Question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will list the parties which have access to the data for Northern Ireland Regional Accounts on a confidential basis, before the data is published in Regional Trends; and on what criteria such parties are chosen.

  Reply:
  Regional accounts data are made available to all users at the same time by the Office for National Statistics, with limited exceptions on a strict need-to-know basis. These are: (1) government statisticians involved in the production and quality assurance of the estimates; and (2) Ministers and senior officials who are provided with copies of the articles containing the figures, no more than two days before publication in Economic Trends.

  Question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to reformulate the Northern Ireland regional account in line with EUROSTAT standards.

  Reply:
  From January 1999, the Office for National Statistics intend to publish the United Kingdom regional accounts, including those for Northern Ireland, on the new European System of Accounts (1995) basis.

  Question:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Northern Ireland departments are responsible for the preparation of the Northern Ireland Regional Accounts; and what is the length of period between the collection and completion of such accounts and their eventual publication by the National Statistics Office in Regional Trends.

  Reply:
  The United Kingdom regional accounts are prepared and published centrally by the Office for National Statistics. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, which is an agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel, assists in the quality assurance assessment of the Northern Ireland portion of the accounts before they are published by the Office for National Statistics. There is no delay between the completion of the accounts and their publication in Economic Trends.

  Economic Forecasts
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to publish short-term and medium-term forecasts of the Northern Ireland economy to assist the private sector in its economic and forward investment planning. [63977]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  There are no plans to publish Government forecasts for the Northern Ireland economy. However, the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre—an independent research body—regularly publishes short-term and medium-term forecasts for the local economy. The Centre's most recent set of forecasts was published at the beginning of December 1998.

  Profit Outflows
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies her Department has undertaken of the economic consequences of profit outflows for the economy of Northern Ireland. [63974]

  Mr. Ingram
  No studies have been undertaken by Government of the economic consequences of profit outflows for the economy of Northern Ireland.

DEFENCE

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the journeys taken by members of the Cabinet in VC1Os of the RAF fleet since 1 May 1997 indicating in each case(a) the name of the Minister, (b) the numbers of accompanying people, (c) the date, (d) their destinations, (e) the costs of the flight and (f) the identification number of VC 10s involved. [62053]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 December 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 711.

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the document relating to Gulf War illness and depleted uranium leaked to Gulf War veterans; and if he will make a statement. [63046]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Two unclassified documents, both containing references to depleted uranium (DU), are known to have been removed without authorisation from the MOD's Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) last month and have since received some publicity. The investigation into their removal is now a matter for the Ministry of Defence Police. In view of the considerable public concern raised by misinformed media reporting of the contents of these two documents, I am today formally releasing both of them and placing copies in the Library of the House.

  In addition, I have asked my Department to collate the information which it possesses concerning mechanisms which could be used to test for the presence of uranium in the human body. I will publish this work shortly. Contrary to some media reports, which were based on a misreading of these two documents, the MOD is not

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  conducting testing in relation to the possible exposure of Gulf veterans to DU, secret or otherwise. However, as might be expected, we continue to consider all aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses, including any developments concerning the various suggested relevant exposures, where DU is one issue among many.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to test Gulf War veterans for the effects of depleted uranium. [63036]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 8 December 1998]: Any Gulf veteran who is concerned that his or her health has been adversely affected by Service during the Gulf conflict, including possible exposure to depleted uranium (DU), is advised to seek a referral to the Ministry of Defence's Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) for a full medical assessment. During this assessment, MAP patients are asked by the examining MAP physician to provide detailed information about possible factors, including DU, to which they may have been exposed during the Gulf conflict.

  The kidneys are the organs most likely to be affected by the presence of uranium and the standard battery of tests carried out as a matter of routine on MAP patients includes a baseline trawl of renal function, which in turn includes serum creatinine, urea and electrolytes, a urine test for protein and blood and an ultrasound abdominal scan. Such tests should indicate the presence of any kidney damage in patients, although such damage would not necessarily have been caused by the presence of DU. The standard MAP tests do not, however, currently include a specific test to detect the presence of DU. The veterans who have so far been examined by MAP physicians have not exhibited symptoms which, in the clinical judgment of the examining physician, have indicated a requirement for a specific referral to another agency or organisation for DU testing. If the examining physician at the MAP considered it clinically appropriate for a patient to be tested for the presence of uranium, the necessary arrangements would be made.

  I have asked my Department to collate the information which it possesses concerning mechanisms which could be used to test for the presence of uranium in the human body. I will publish this work shortly. The MOD is well aware that a link has been suggested between possible exposure to DU and the illnesses being experienced by some Gulf veterans. However, this is only one of a number of factors which have been suggested as causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses and, pending further medical and scientific evidence, my Department is keeping an open mind on this issue.

  Our plans for future activity in relation to Gulf veterans' illnesses, including as regards DU, will continue to be guided by the emerging medical and scientific evidence on this subject.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he is undertaking on a relationship between Gulf War Syndrome and depleted uranium. [63064]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Ministry of Defence is conducting a range of research into aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses. However, none of these programmes is specifically aimed at investigating the relationship between possible exposure to depleted uranium (DU) and the illnesses being experienced by some Gulf veterans.522
  The MOD is well aware that a link has been suggested between DU exposure and Gulf veterans' illnesses. However, this is only one of a number of factors which have been suggested as causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses and, pending further medical and scientific evidence, my Department is keeping an open mind on this issue. My Department would, of course, be very interested to see any new relevant information on this subject.

  Any Gulf veteran who is concerned that his or her health has been adversely affected by Service during the Gulf conflict, including possible exposure to depleted uranium (DU), is entitled to seek a referral to the Gulf veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) for a full medical assessment.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the Medical Assessment Programme documents (reference MAP/102/22/1/Med pt 1)(a) DU Teleconference-Lt Col Graham, (b) DU Testing Protocol-Alan Casson, (c) Prime for 51 G EDTA-Dr R. Gabriel, (d) DU Information Pack-Alan Casson, (e) DU Testing of United Kingdom Gulf Veterans-Alan Casson, (f) Update-4 Sep 96-Lt Col Graham; what assessment the Medical Assessment Programme has made of the possible link between Gulf War Syndrome and depleted uranium poisoning; and if he will make a statement. [63306]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 10 December 1998]: The Ministry of Defence has already received a request from a member of the public for copies of the documents designated (a) to (e) in the hon. Member's question. This is currently being considered under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. When this consideration, which has now been extended to include document (f) in the hon. Member's question, is complete, I will write to the hon. Member to advise him of the outcome.

  The MOD is well aware that a link has been suggested between possible exposure to depleted uranium (DU) and the illnesses being experienced by some Gulf veterans. However, this is only one of a number of factors which have been suggested as possible causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses and, pending further medical and scientific evidence, my Department is keeping an open mind on this issue. We would, of course, be very interested to see any new relevant information on this subject.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officer vacancies exist in TA centres in North Wales; what proportion this represents of total officer positions in North Wales; and what is the shortfall of officers in each TA centre in North Wales. [63653]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: There are 49 established officer posts in TA centres in North Wales, of which currently 7 are not filled. TA Officer posts not filled in each TA Centre in North Wales are:

  Hightown Wrexham: 3

  Colwyn Bay: 1

  Queensferry: 1

  Bangor: 1

  Prestatyn: 1.

  REME (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the costs of the extension and conversion of the existing premises at Queensferry Barracks to accommodate 101 Battalion REME after its transfer from Chorley. [63624]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Work into the exact cost of adapting the TA Centre at Queensferry to accommodate the Headquarters of 101 Battalion the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is currently underway.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received in favour of retaining 101 Battalion REME and Cadet Force at Devonshire Road Barracks, Chorley. [63620]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: My Department has received representations in favour of retaining 101 Battalion REME and Cadet Force at Devonshire Road Barracks, Chorley, from my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle), the North West Parliamentary Labour Group, Chorley Borough Council, Adlington Borough Council, Whittle-le-Woods Parish Council and one individual who works at the TA Centre.

  Plastic Baton Rounds (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons plastic baton rounds replaced rubber bullets for use by the armed forces in Northern Ireland. [63931]

  Defence expenditure

  (US$ million)

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Belgium

  4,142

  4,215

  3,938

  4,723

  4,770

  4,078

  3,762

  3,948

  4,572

  4,240

  3,769

  Denmark

  2,127

  2,336

  2,162

  2,610

  2,614

  2,799

  2,702

  2,741

  3,125

  3,086

  2,816

  France

  34,529

  35,909

  35,085

  42,794

  42,399

  45,654

  42,593

  44,381

  47,735

  46,402

  41,545

  Germany

  34,233

  35,369

  33,638

  42,793

  39,893

  42,399

  38,629

  35,933

  41,906

  38,990

  33,416

  Greece

  2,972

  3,465

  3,208

  3,776

  3,907

  4,248

  4,076

  4,347

  5,059

  5,582

  5,532

  Italy

  16,806

  19,148

  19,754

  24,752

  23,583

  24,567

  21,185

  21,190

  20,041

  23,458

  21,837

  Luxembourg

  76

  81

  80

  100

  106

  121

  116

  124

  141

  141

  129

  Netherlands

  6,502

  6,744

  6,402

  7,429

  7,242

  7,871

  7,039

  7,090

  8,181

  7,850

  6,888

  Portugal

  1,135

  1,261

  1,319

  1,711

  2,006

  2,415

  2,241

  2,281

  2,819

  2,601

  2,559

  Spain

  5,738

  7,319

  7,700

  9,556

  9,033

  9,620

  7,211

  7,617

  8,464

  8,616

  7,508

  UK

  30,859

  34,913

  33,436

  38,433

  42,716

  43,122

  35,257

  34,068

  34,086

  34,526

  35,620

  Defence expenditure per capita

  (US $)

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Belgium

  420

  427

  398

  474

  476

  406

  374

  390

  455

  417

  370

  Denmark

  416

  455

  422

  508

  508

  542

  522

  528

  600

  589

  533

  France

  623

  646

  628

  759

  748

  796

  738

  764

  820

  794

  708

  Germany

  561

  578

  550

  550

  499

  530

  481

  438

  509

  475

  406

  Greece

  298

  347

  320

  375

  388

  408

  392

  417

  481

  531

  526

  Italy

  294

  334

  344

  430

  409

  424

  365

  371

  349

  409

  379

  Luxembourg

  206

  219

  211

  262

  275

  312

  296

  311

  365

  338

  305

  Netherlands

  447

  460

  434

  497

  482

  519

  461

  460

  527

  504

  442

  Portugal

  111

  123

  128

  165

  203

  229

  226

  231

  285

  262

  257

  Spain

  149

  188

  196

  243

  231

  246

  183

  194

  216

  219

  191

  UK

  544

  614

  581

  670

  742

  750

  608

  585

  586

  587

  604

  524
  Mr. Spellar
  Plastic baton rounds provide a more effective means of combating physical violence than the rubber bullets they replaced. The increased accuracy of plastic baton rounds also reduces the risk of accidental injury.

  EU Defence Expenditure
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by each nation in the EU in each of the last 10 years in pounds sterling on defence(a) in total and (b) per head of the population. [64195]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested for calendar years 1987 to 1997 is shown for NATO members of the European Union. Comparisons of defence spending between nations are conventionally given in US Dollars rather than pounds sterling. Figures for calendar years 1987 to 1995 are those which have been published in successive versions of the Statement on the Defence Estimates (SDE). Figures for 1996 are based on information drawn from NATO sources and those for 1997 are as published in the MOD Performance Report 1997–98 (Cm4170).

  Where possible the figures are published against a common definition of defence spending so that true comparisons can be made. Some anomalies and inconsistencies will, however, remain. Particular care is needed in making year on year comparisons of the figures for the UK where there have been changes in the definition of defence spending in recent years and major transfers of responsibility to and from other Government Departments.
  525
  My Department does not regularly collect details of defence spending for EU members who are not members of NATO. Figures for these countries are shown in The Military Balance which is published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The figures given in this publication for the last two years are shown below:

  Defence expenditure

  (US$ millions)

  1996

  1997

  Austria

  2,098

  1,786

  Finland

  2,255

  1,956

  Ireland

  757

  767

  Sweden

  6,501

  5,481

  Defence expenditure per capita

  (US $)

  1996

  1997

  Austria

  262

  222

  Finland

  440

  381

  Ireland

  209

  210

  Sweden

  737

  619

  Chile
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft of the Royal Air Force participated at the biennial Air Show at Santiago, Chile in March(a) 1990, (b) 1992, (c) 1994, (d) 1996 and (e) 1998. [64016]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: The figures are as follows:

  Year

  Number of aircraft

  Details

  1990

  3

  Harrier GR5 x 2, VC10K

  1992

  8

  Harrier GR5/7 x 2; Tornado GR1 x 2; C130; Nimrod; Tristar; VC10K

  1994

  5

  Harrier GR7 x 2; C130; VC10K; Nimrod

  1996

  1

  C130

  1998

  5

  Tornado F3 x 2; Nimrod; VC10K; C130

  Army Training and Recruitment Agency
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1998–99 for the Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruitment Agency. [64627]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency has been set the following Key Target for 1998–1999.

  1. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for commissioned officers.

  2. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for officers qualified for service in Field Force units following successful Special to Army training.

  3. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for officers' professional development training.

  4. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for soldiers qualified for service in a Field Force unit following successful Special to Arm training.

  526

  5. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for soldiers' professional development training.

  6. To achieve efficiency savings of 6% (34.7M).

  Army Personnel Centre
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1998–99 for the Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre. [64625]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following Key Targets for 1998–1999:

  1. To increase the percentage of posts which are manned (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers) to 91 per cent.

  2. To increase to 91 per cent. the proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC whose rank and Service qualifications meet the specifications of the post.

  3. To increase the percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least 6 months notification to 52 per cent.

  4. To increase the percentage of change requests received by the APC which are authorised and/or accurately processed within 5 working days of receipt at the Document Handling Centre to 92 per cent.

  5. To increase the percentage of due terminal benefits made by the 5th working day after discharge/retirement or following receipt of the correct authorisation paperwork by Pensions Division, whichever is later, to 96 per cent.

  6. To develop by March 99 the comprehensive feedback mechanism for the continual measurement of customer satisfaction and to maintain that system thereafter.

  7. To achieve a year-on-year reduction of 1 per cent. in operating costs.

  Defence Military Assistance Fund
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the breakdown of expenditure under the Defence Military Assistance Fund in each of the last three years. [63864]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Defence Military Assistance Fund is a cash fund, which is available to subsidise the cost of overseas military assistance in support of the Defence Diplomacy and Support to Wider British Interests Missions. The latter mission includes support to defence sales. Assistance may include the provision of training (either in country or in the UK), advice (by either military or civilian personnel), Loan Service Personnel and Short Term Training Teams.

  The table breaks down expenditure, by country, under the Defence Military Assistance Fund for each of the last three years. This breakdown covers centrally administered programmes only, and does not include military assistance activities funded by Top Level Budget Holders, since these costs cannot be identified separately. Nor does it cover costs borne by other Government Departments, which are a matter for the Departments concerned.

  1997–98—DMAF Expenditure

  £

  Country

  MOD Subsidy

  Albania

  1,000

  Austria

  5,700

  Bahrain

  139,600

  Baltic States

  631,900

  527

  1997–98—DMAF Expenditure

  £

  Country

  MOD Subsidy

  Belarus

  18,200

  Belize

  271,500

  Brazil

  262,200

  Brunei

  5,500

  Bulgaria

  94,600

  Chile

  581,600

  Czech Republic

  193,300

  Egypt

  135,400

  Ethiopia

  38,700

  Finland

  1,600

  Georgia

  50,300

  Germany

  100,000

  Greece

  58,300

  Hungary

  88,500

  India

  253,200

  Indonesia

  62,400

  Ireland

  5,000

  Jamaica

  27,700

  Jordan

  146,400

  Kenya

  145,100

  South Korea

  279,700

  Kuwait

  71,200

  Macedonia

  56,200

  Malaysia

  516,500

  Moldova

  29,300

  Morocco

  56,000

  Nepal

  24,900

  New Zealand

  37,700

  Oman

  1,402,200

  Pakistan

  63,500

  Philippines

  68,000

  Poland

  83,700

  Portugal

  49,400

  Qatar

  169,900

  Romania

  276,400

  Russia

  1,255,000

  Saudi Arabia

  120,900

  Singapore

  176,500

  Slovakia

  39,100

  Slovenia

  108,400

  South Africa

  104,800

  Spain

  23,600

  Thailand

  39,900

  Turkey

  155,600

  UAE

  273,600

  Ukraine

  407,300

  Uruguay

  15,600

  USA

  15,000

  Yemen

  25,700

  Zimbabwe

  36,300

  1996–97—DMAF Expenditure

  £

  Country

  MOD Subsidy

  Albania

  30,900

  Bahrain

  156,200

  Baltic States

  572,500

  Barbados

  196,000

  Belarus

  52,600

  Belize

  502,100

  Brazil

  4,560

  Bulgaria

  66,900

  Chile

  920,110

  Czech Republic

  148,800

  Egypt

  67,780

  Finland

  45,120

  Georgia

  12,900

  Greece

  84,710

  528

  1996–97—DMAF Expenditure

  £

  Country

  MOD Subsidy

  Hungary

  43,000

  India

  43,680

  Indonesia

  1,675,280

  Ireland

  24,240

  Jamaica

  35,270

  Jordan

  156,570

  Kenya

  138,225

  South Korea

  53,340

  Kuwait

  2,570

  Macedonia

  31,200

  Malaysia

  164,390

  Moldova

  30,910

  Morocco

  33,590

  Nepal

  102,800

  Oman

  1,594,860

  Pakistan

  97,490

  Philippines

  20,000

  Poland

  47,700

  Portugal

  40,110

  Romania

  89,000

  Russia

  1,365,000

  Saudi Arabia

  9,210

  Slovakia

  33,500

  Slovenia

  29,300

  South Africa

  80,740

  Spain

  32,760

  Thailand

  57,760

  Turkey

  108,740

  UAE

  105,920

  Ukraine

  251,400

  Zimbabwe

  40,610

  1995–96—DMAF Expenditure

  £

  Country

  MOD Subsidy

  Albania

  18,500

  Bahrain

  19,260

  Baltic States

  585,100

  Barbados

  761,260

  Belize

  834,930

  Bulgaria

  27,800

  Chile

  316,630

  Czech Republic

  100,200

  Dominica

  15,570

  Egypt

  73,660

  Greece

  39,900

  Grenada

  16,490

  Hungary

  18,500

  Indonesia

  691,880

  Jamaica

  12,285

  Jordan

  60,390

  Kenya

  95,590

  Macedonia

  9,300

  Malaysia

  188,780

  Morocco

  26,170

  Nepal

  91,040

  New Zealand

  19,835

  Oman

  749,570

  Poland

  123,500

  Portugal

  40,000

  Romania

  27,800

  Russia

  630,000

  Slovakia

  37,100

  Slovenia

  9,300

  Spain

  9,385

  St. Kitts and Nevis

  15,570

  St. Vincent

  3,970

  Thailand

  95,610

  529

  1995–96—DMAF Expenditure

  £

  Country

  MOD Subsidy

  Turkey

  58,825

  UAE

  54,990

  Ukraine

  142,600

  Defence Export Sales Organisation
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Defence Export Sales Organisation has in co-ordinating defence sales promotions with the Defence Military Assistance Fund. [63862]

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

  Defence Diplomacy Mission
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget is for the Defence Diplomacy Mission. [63863]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Defence Diplomacy Mission is funded either by those Top Level Budget Holders responsible for specific activities or from the Defence Military Assistance Fund (DMAF). Figures on the former are not separately identified. The DMAF budget for 1998–99 is some £11 million, of which about £7 million is allocated to activities which now fall within the Defence Diplomacy Mission.

  The increases we intend to make to the DMAF of around £5 million next year and up to £15 million in the two subsequent years, will also be used largely for Defence Diplomacy-related activities.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Christmas season entertainment he is arranging for the troops in Bosnia. [63909]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The principal Christmas entertainment provided for troops in Bosnia this year was a Combined Services Entertainment show which ran from 27 November to 4 December. It played at all major sites and all troops had the opportunity to see it. In addition to this, the British Forces Broadcasting Service will be broadcasting Christmas messages and conducting a radio link with families. There will also be a Christmas delivery of library books and the Service Sound and Vision Corporation are donating videos.

  Units will also be arranging their own activities such as Christmas lunches and carol services. In addition, all troops will be given extra telephone time free of charge over the holiday period.

  Services Personnel
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) men and (b) women are currently serving in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Airforce and (iii) Royal Navy. [64391]
  530
  Mr. Spellar
  The number of men and women serving in the UK Regular Armed Forces on 1 November 1998, were:

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Naval Service

  40,668

  3,302

  43,970

  Army

  102,174

  7,673

  109,847

  Royal Air Force

  50,351

  5,073

  55,424

  Total

  193,193

  16,048

  209,241

  These figures do not include the 4,512 personnel serving in the Royal Irish Regiment (men 4,072, women 440), or the number of Gurkhas totalling 3,578.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions his Department has drawn from the consequences of the explosion at Bhopal as regards the results of bombing chemical and biological weapons facilities. [62662]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The accidental explosion at a chemical factory in Bhopal, India in 1984 provided a large amount of information on the dangers in the storage of very large quantities of toxic chemicals, and on the possible consequences of the destruction, by accident or otherwise, of such storage facilities.

  We advise caution, however, before this information is directly applied to other scenarios. In particular, we do not consider the information on Bhopal forms a suitable basis from which to construct predictions of the consequences of bombing of chemical or biological weapons facilities.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely target accuracy in possible bombing campaigns in Iraq. [62656]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am not prepared to discuss detailed operational issues under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, I can say that only precision guided weaponry would be used.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to ensure the safety of those with diplomatic status in Baghdad in the event of a bombing campaign. [62657]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am not prepared to discuss detailed operational issues under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I can say, however, that all relevant factors are taken into account in selecting targets.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to make an official visit to East Anglia. [62734]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no immediate plans to do so, but I hope to be able to pay a visit in the future.
  531
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Prime Minister when he next intends to pay an official visit to the Congleton constituency. [62736]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16 December. [63664]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party and had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

  Homosexual Age of Consent
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received since 2 May 1997(a) in favour of and (b) opposed to lowering the age of consent for homosexual acts to 16 years; and how many replies have been sent in a standard form. [64278]

  The Prime Minister
  Since 2 May 1997 I have received over 3,500 letters on this subject, the large majority of which were opposed to lowering the age of consent for homosexual acts to 16 years. All would have been acknowledged by No. 10 and almost all would have received a reply from the relevant Department which made clear the Government's position on this matter.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the political consequences in Iraq of removing Saddam Hussein from power, with particular reference to possible fragmentation. [62658]

  The Prime Minister
  I am aware of my hon. Friend's concerns about the possibility of fragmentation if the Iraqi regime should fall.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the likely impact of a bombing campaign in Iraq on the strength of Saddam Hussein's support in(a) Iraq, (b) the rest of the Arab world and (c) the rest of the Islamic world. [62659]

  The Prime Minister
  I am not prepared to speculate about the possibility of military action or its possible consequences. The statement on 12 November by the Damascus Declaration countries made clear that the Arab world holds Saddam Hussein responsible for the consequences of his actions and the Gulf Co-operation Council summit earlier this month reinforced the message that the Government of Iraq were responsible for the suffering of the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people would no doubt express similar views, if they were allowed to do so.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons for the length of time so far taken by UNSCOM to fulfil its mission. [62663]
  532
  The Prime Minister
  UNSCOM is mandated under United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 to ensure that Iraq gives up its weapons of mass destruction (WMD). With full co-operation from Iraq, UNSCOM's work could have been completed very quickly. Instead, Iraq has chosen to attempt to retain its WMD capability at all costs. Its behaviour towards UNSCOM has been marked by persistent duplicity, evasion and confrontation.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the current officials of UNSCOM, indicating their(a) nationality, (b) salaries and (c) dates of appointment. [62664]

  The Prime Minister
  We do not keep this information. This is a matter for UNSCOM.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government will take to ensure that documents requested by UNSCOM exist before using the Iraqi Government's refusal to provide them as the reason for a military attack. [62665]

  The Prime Minister
  I am satisfied that UNSCOM would not have requested these documents without good grounds to believe they existed. I will not speculate on when and if military action will be necessary. I have made clear that I am watching Iraq's behaviour closely against a range of criteria. Iraq's response to UNSCOM's requested for documents is not a good start.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the observations by Mr. Denis Halliday, the UN's former humanitarian co-ordinator, in Middle East International on 13 November, concerning the deaths of children as a result of the UN sanctions against Iraq. [62668]

  The Prime Minister
  Like Mr. Halliday, we deeply regret the suffering of the Iraqi people and we agree with him that it is unfortunate that the UN has been obliged to sustain a sanctions regime against Iraq for so long. But we reject claims that the Iraqi people are suffering because of sanctions.

  The international community has done all it can to protect the Iraqi people from the effects of sanctions. It is the Iraqi Government, by consistently seeking to thwart these efforts in an attempt to bring pressure for sanctions to be lifted before it has complied with its obligations, who bear responsibility for the suffering of the Iraqi people. The latest report by the UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Max van der Stoel into the human rights situation in Iraq also holds Iraq primarily responsible for the precarious food and health situation in Iraq.

  Council of Europe and WEU
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the latest Information Bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union covering the period May to September. [64281]

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so today.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Shipping Policy Paper
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish his shipping policy paper. [64267]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have today published the Government's shipping policy paper "British Shipping: Charting a new course" and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

  The policy document sets out a long-term, integrated strategy for British shipping in partnership between Government and the shipping industry, including the trade unions. Drawing on the report of the Shipping Working Group which I set up late last year, the paper sets out 33 inter-related actions designed to develop the UK's maritime skills; secure British seafaring employment; enhance the UK's attractiveness to shipping enterprises; and gain safety and environmental benefits.

  Speed Reduction Measures
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the introduction of speed reduction measures on UK roads. [62934]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department has recently started a review of speed policy taking account of its effects on safety, the environment, the economy, and the quality of life.

  The Department already issues advice to local highway authorities on the type of speed reducing measures that are available to them and best practice on their use. We shall also shortly be introducing legislation freeing authorities from the requirement to seek central Government consent to make 20 mph speed limits; advice about introducing such limits will stress the need to ensure the required reduction in traffic speed is achieved by making the limits self enforcing through the use of speed reducing features where necessary.

  Officials from the relevant Departments are discussing detailed methods for funding the operation of speed cameras from fine income.

  Northern Line
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the delay in providing new trains on the London Underground Northern Line and what is the expected date when the trains will be operational; and if he will list the financial penalties imposed for the late delivery of the trains. [63402]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  London Underground and ALSTOM are working together to introduce the new Northern Line trains as quickly as possible. The first of the new trains entered passenger service on 12 June 1998 and London Underground expect that a full Northern Line service will be provided with new trains by early Autumn 1999.
  534
  Under the terms of the contract, ALSTOM is liable to pay liquidated damages to London Underground in respect of delays in the delivery of the new trains. The amount is commercially confidential.

  Young People (Housing)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance his Department gives to local authorities to enable them to help children between the ages of 16 and 18 years to enter into tenancies for homes of their own; and what guidance it gives local authorities on this subject. [63468]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department does not provide any specific assistance to local housing authorities to enable them to allocate tenancies in self-contained accommodation to 16 to 18-year-olds.

  The Housing Act 1996 requires authorities to allocate social housing on the basis of housing need. A person aged 16 to 18 with dependent children would have to be given priority under an authority's allocation scheme. However, it is the practice of many local authorities to include under 18-year-olds on their housing registers only if the social services authority supports the application or if an adult is prepared to act as a guarantor for any tenancy allocated to the young person. 16 to 18 year olds who are unintentionally homeless and considered vulnerable for the purpose of the homelessness legislation are also required to be given priority under an allocation scheme. My Department's Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness, which is currently being revised, provides general guidance to authorities on these matters.

  Electric Cars
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 118, on the Energy Savings Trust, what was the value of the grants awarded for the purchase or conversion of electric vehicles. [64142]

  Mr. Meale
  The Energy Saving Trust has provided grants totalling £501,500 for the purchase or conversion of electric vehicles.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many grants, and of what value, have been awarded as part of the Powershift programme to overseas-based companies for the conversion of vehicles to run on electricity. [64005]

  Mr. Meale
  No grants have been provided to companies not registered in the UK for the purchase or conversion of vehicles to run on electricity. One grant of £120,000 was made available to a company registered outside the UK for the purchase of 6 electric buses for use in a demonstration project in Merseyside.

  Valuation Tribunals
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff were employed by valuation tribunals in England on(a) 1 May 1997, (b) 1 April 1998 and (c) 1 December 1998. [63691]
  535
  Mr. Raynsford
  The number of full time equivalent staff employed by valuation tribunals in England on the dates were as follows:

  1 May 1997: 242

  1 April 1998: 225

  1 December 1998: 211.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many offices served valuation tribunals in England on(a) 1 May 1997, (b) 1 April 1998 and (c) 1 December 1998. [63692]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The number of offices serving valuation tribunals in England on the dates were as follows:

  1 May 1997: 38

  1 April 1998: 36

  1 December 1998: 34.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) staff and (b) offices he expects to be required to serve valuation tribunals in England on (i) 1 April 1999 and (ii) 1 April 2000. [63690]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Staffing levels are primarily determined by the appeals workload. The staffing complement as at 1 April 1998, which has generally been retained for the financial year commencing 1 April 1999, is for 180 staff. Continuing reductions towards that level are dependent on local decisions by the valuation tribunals and their staff. The staffing complement from 1 April 2000 will need to take account of estimates of the number of appeals likely to arise from the non-domestic revaluation in that year.

  The longer term aim is to move to a structure of 14 administrative units to serve valuation tribunals in England, with one or at most two offices per unit. Progress by the stated dates will depend on discussions with the individual valuation tribunals in each of the administrative units. We expect there to be at most 32 offices by 1 April 1999. It is impossible to be precise about the figure on 1 April 2000, because this will depend on progress locally, but it will probably number 30 or less.

  London Government Headquarters
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what circumstances new or revised bids can be submitted for shortlisting for the headquarters of London government. [64085]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There has been a careful and open selection and short-listing process, which has reduced an initial 55 locations down to seven, and then to a short-list of two. I expect to announce a decision in the new year.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the latest estimated total cost for the construction of the Jubilee Line extension; and from what sources the funds will be derived. [63697]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  London Transport review Jubilee Line Extension cost estimates regularly. The latest issued estimate of final cost was £2.85 billion (derived from a536
  review in August). LT is currently undertaking a cost review, in the light of the rephased programme for line opening.

  The majority of the project (some £2 billion) has been funded by ring-fenced Government grant. Private sector contributions have also been secured from the developers of Canary Wharf, and British Gas. The remainder is being funded from within LT's overall finances. It is the responsibility of LT to control costs on the project. JLE costs are taken into account by the Government in deciding on the level of overall funding for LT.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on(a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63923]

  Mr. Meale
  The Department carries out public opinion research, television, radio and press advertising and direct mailings in support of publicity campaigns. The total expenditure since May 1997 is £10,630,000. The breakdown of that expenditure is as follows:

  £

  Project

  Expenditure 1

  (a) Public opinion research on DETR campaigns

  560,000

  (b) Television advertising

  6,500,000

  Radio advertising

  1,560,000

  Press advertising

  1,840,000

  (c) Mailings in support of campaigns and consultation exercises

  2170,000

  1 To the nearest £10,000

  2 Includes postage

  South West Regional Planning Conference
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to override decisions made by the South West regional planning conference. [64147]

  Mr. Caborn
  Under the new arrangements for the preparation of regional planning guidance set out in the planning policy statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future" (Cmnd 3885), Regional Planning Conferences will have greater responsibility for determining the most sustainable way of meeting housing needs in their region. It is intended that this should be a more inclusive process, Conference will work together with the Government Office, the Regional Development Agency and other regional stakeholders to produce draft Regional Planning Guidance. Increased legitimacy and transparency of the Regional Planning Guidance will be achieved through new procedures for a public examination before an independent panel. The panel report will be taken into account by the Secretary of State in finalising the regional planning guidance.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given the South West regional planning conference on the effect of the future household projections on each county in the region. [64146]
  537
  Mr. Caborn
  As indicated in the policy statement, "Planning for the Communities of the Future" (Cmnd 3885) we need to provide enough housing to help meet the housing objective of offering everyone the opportunity of a decent home and so promote social cohesion, well-being and self-dependence. Achieving sustainable development means addressing economic, social and environmental objectives equally, both for present and future generations. The Government's objective is to provide sustainable solutions which will help ensure that new housing will, by its nature and location, enhance the quality of the environment. The household projections are the starting point for assessing housing requirements and local authorities will need to be realistic in the assumptions that they make about the number of households likely to form and how they should be accommodated.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given the South West regional planning conference on how to meet the needs assumed by his projections for future household numbers. [64145]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government's approach to offering everyone the opportunity of a decent home is set out in its response (Cmnd 4080) to the tenth report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 1997–98, on Housing and the policy statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future" (Cmnd 3885). In considering the broad distribution of housing within the region the South West Regional Planning Conference is also expected to have regard to the Government's policy for urban regeneration, transport and sustainable development and to the Regional Development Agency's regional economic strategy.

  South-west Region (Projected Households)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding his projections for the south-west region future household numbers. [64144]

  Mr. Caborn
  None. Work is currently underway on the 1996 based household projections, which will be issued next Spring.

  South-west Development (Brown-field Land)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will allow local authorities in the south-west to postpone development plans until regional planning guidance is revised following the result of his survey of brown-field land. [64149]

  Mr. Caborn
  No. The importance for the plan-led system of keeping plans up to date was emphasised in the statement on Modernising planning, published on 15 January. Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, local planning authorities, in preparing their development plans, must have regard to any regional or strategic planning guidance issued by the Secretary of State, as well as to current national policies and other matters. Therefore, where development plans are being 538
  replaced or altered in the short term, they should continue to have regard to existing regional guidance, including, where specified, the housing provision figures.

  South-west Region (Housing)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given local authorities in the south-west region on sustainable means of meeting the housing needs of their community. [64148]

  Mr. Caborn
  The policy statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future" (Cmnd 3885) set out the Government's broad approach. The consultation document, "Opportunities for Change", issued in February set out four broad objectives on which the Government's vision of sustainable development is based and what needs to be done to put it into practice. Further guidance is set out in "Planning for Sustainable Development: Towards Better Practice", published by my Department in October.

  Local Planning Authorities
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to assist local planning authorities in delivering more sustainable patterns of development. [64150]

  Mr. Caborn
  In October my Department issued a guide to local planning authorities entitled "Planning for Sustainable Development: Towards Better Practice". This document has been well-received as a source of practical ideas about how sustainability principles can be implemented on the ground.

  My Department's series of Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) advise local planning authorities on how they should draw up their plans to ensure more sustainable patterns of development. We intend to issue shortly a new draft PPG11 on regional planning guidance. This will advise the regional planning bodies that the promotion of sustainable development should be a central feature of RPG. Moreover, we will also shortly be issuing a full revision of PPG12 (Development Plans) for public consultation. This will include a section devoted to the relationship between the content of development plans, for which local planning authorities are responsible, and sustainable development.

  Devon County Structure Plan
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what response he has made to the draft Devon County Structure Plan. [64152]

  Mr. Caborn
  We have carefully considered the proposed modifications to the Devon Structure Plan First Review which were published on 28 September and have made objections to a number of policies that appear to conflict with national guidance. A number of objections have been resolved and the extant objections relate to policies S6, C7, C12, C23, T14, H1, E8 and T12.

  The objection to policy HI stated:
  "There is no clear justification for a reduction in the overall provision for housing, below that recommended by the Panel. There appears to be no justification for reducing provision in anticipation

  539
  of a reduction in vacancy rates, having regard to the Panel's findings. Taking account of the panels findings, there does not appear to be a sound basis for projecting a lower level of net in-migration and household formation and that contained in the DETR 1992 based household projections.
  "From a regional perspective, the district distribution is in part consequential on the county provision. However, the reduced allocations for Plymouth and Exeter (compared to those recommended by the Panel) appear to conflict with national and regional objectives in PPG13 para 3.2 and RPGIO para 6.7 and 'Planning for the Communities of the Future' para 58".

  Concessionary Fares (Pensioners)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities, transport authorities and public transport bodies pending the introduction of legislation to encourage greater consistency in concessionary fares schemes for pensioners. [63998]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We announced our intention to legislate for a statutory minimum concessionary fare scheme for pensioners in our White Paper "A New Deal for Transport", the minimum scheme will entail half fares, on purchase of a £5 annual bus pass. Meanwhile, decisions on concessionary fare schemes will remain for individual local authorities. I have no plans to issue guidance to them, but I should, of course, be glad if those authorities who at present offer less generous schemes were to implement the proposed minimum in advance of legislation.

  Voluntary and Community Transport
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the summary of the findings of the National Review of Voluntary and Community Transport as presented to delegates at the annual community transport conference. [63813]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The summary is an informal document meant only to stimulate discussion at the recent Conference. I will send a personal copy to my hon. Friend. I will ensure that copies of the final report—which is due early in the New Year—are placed in the Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what increased provision was made in the local government financial settlement for each local authority to manage current and improved public access to the countryside. [63832]

  Ms Armstrong
  The need for revenue expenditure by local authorities on public rights of way is taken into account, along with other spending pressures and the scope for efficiencies, in the local government finance settlement.

  The Government recognise that their proposals for increasing public access to the countryside are likely to have cost implications for local authorities, and will take these into account in future financial settlements.

  Countryside (Public Access)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will 540
  publish the response to the Government's consultation on improving public access to the countryside; and if he will list the main concerns raised by local authorities. [63831]

  Mr. Meale
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Environment, to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 27 October 1998,Official Report, column 103, and to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 18 November 1998, Official Report, column 672. My Department's analysis of responses to the consultation paper, "Access to the Open Countryside in England and Wales," will summarise the key issues raised by respondents, including the representations made by local authorities.

  Leaseholders
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate how many dwellings in which the household is headed by a person aged over 65 years are leasehold; and how many of these are(a) flats and (b) houses. [64003]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The estimates1 in the table are taken from the Department's Survey of English Housing for 1997–98.

  Households owning a lease

  Thousands

  Type of accommodation

  Age of head of household

  House

  Flat

  Total

  Under 65 years

  668

  691

  1,359

  Over 65 years

  163

  258

  422

  Total

  831

  949

  1,780

  Note:

  1 Like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sampling variability

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of all leaseholders are aged over 65 years. [64002]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Estimates1 from the Department's Survey of English Housing show that in 1997–98, twenty four per cent. (24%) of leaseholders were aged over 65 years.

  Notes:

  1Like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sample variability.

  Trains (First Aid Equipment)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with train operators regarding access to first aid equipment on trains. [63811]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None. The provisions of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (HSFAR), a relevant statutory provision of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974, which apply to train operating companies, require employers to provide access to adequate first aid facilities for their employees in the workplace. All trains must therefore be fitted with first aid equipment which on modern trains is located in the drivers cab and on older trains in the guards van.
  541
  There is no legislation which requires train operating companies to provide first aid equipment for use by the public. It is a matter for each train operating company to decide what first aid facilities it makes available to the public. In practice, first aid equipment provided under the HSFAR 1981 is available to train passengers.

  Kyoto Protocol
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many countries are required to ratify the Kyoto Climate Change Convention Protocol for it to enter into force; and which countries have done so to date. [63775]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date on which not less than 55 Parties to the Convention incorporating Annex I Parties (i.e. developed countries) which accounted in total for at least 55 per cent. of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990 from that group have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. To date, Fiji and Tuvalu have ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

  Hazardous Waste Landfill Sites
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the analysis in The Lancet of 8 August 1998 concerning the risk of congenital anomalies near hazardous waste landfill sites in Europe, including the United Kingdom. [63903]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government would be most concerned if a casual link was established between congenital anomalies and hazardous waste landfill sites. The study reported in The Lancet did not establish cause and effect, but concluded that there was a need for further study. The commentary in The Lancet on the study pointed out that the lack of adequate exposure information made the present results difficult to interpret.

  My Department has nevertheless been looking at the results of the study very carefully with the Department of Health and the Environment Agency. The Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) at Imperial College has been commissioned by the Government to carry out a substantial survey of health effects around landfill sites, including congenital malformations. This work will take at least two years to complete. In addition, my Department and the Department of Health have asked the Institute for Environment and Health (IEH) to arrange a one-day meeting of invited experts to discuss The Lancet report, to identify gaps in the knowledge base and to explore priorities for future Government research. We anticipate that a range of expertise will be represented at the meeting including environmental epidemiology, reproductive toxicology, landfill technology and exposure assessment.

  Radioactive Discharges
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to secure the OSPAR agreed cessation of radioactive discharges from the reprocessing plant at Cap de La Hague in France. [64104]
  542
  Mr. Meacher
  It is for France, as an OSPAR Contracting Party, to decide how it will implement the undertakings made at the OSPAR Ministerial Meeting last July. I understand that the French Government are carrying out a full review of discharge authorisations for the La Hague site and that they expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards the cessation of(a) liquid and (b) gaseous radioactive discharges from (i) nuclear reprocessing plants and (ii) nuclear generating stations in accordance with the OSPAR agreement. [64103]

  Mr. Meacher
  In accordance with the undertakings made at the OSPAR Ministerial Meeting last July, the Government are working towards achieving further substantial reductions or elimination of discharges of radioactive substances. UK nuclear operators will be producing twenty-year strategies to show options for reducing discharges, by 2020, to levels which add negligible amounts to historic concentrations in the marine environment.

  The Environment Agency has completed its consideration of BNFL's applications to vary radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site and the Agency's draft decisions are being considered by Ministers. Requests for the applications to be "called-in" for the Secretary of State's own determination are also being considered and decisions will be announced as soon as possible.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department proposes to meet the Government's pledge to stop the loss of school playing fields. [64387]

  Mr. Caborn
  We have published The Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields)(England) Direction 1998 which is one of the key measures in a co-ordinated approach between my Department, the Department of Education and Employment, and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to stop the loss of playing fields. The Direction requires local planning authorities to notify my Department of planning applications where they wish to grant planning permission, but where the English Sports Council advises against the development, because there is, or the development would result in, a deficiency in playing field provision for schools or the wider community in the area.

  This Direction applies to local authority-owned playing fields and all others which are currently used, or which have been used in the past five years, by educational institutions. The effect of the Direction will be to give the Secretary of State the opportunity to decide whether to call-in a notified planning applications for his own determination, or leave the matter for the local planning authority to decide. Taken together with measures by the Department for Education and Employment to limit the sale of playing fields, these new controls will help to ensure that playing fields which schools and local communities need are not lost for ever.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of schemes supported initially by section 180 and section 73 grants have continued to operate after the grants were tapered to 0 per cent. in each of the last five years. [64215]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The section 180 (formerly section 73) grant programme run by my Department provides grants to voluntary sector organisations concerned with homelessness. The grants are provided on a tapered basis, initially for up to three years to allow organisations to set up new projects to prevent and tackle single homelessness. All organisations are made aware of the tapered and time-limited nature of the grant when they apply, and are expected to have a fund-raising strategy in place to secure the continuation of the project. This approach allows more new projects around the country to benefit from grants than would otherwise be possible. The taper has been applied flexibly and many organisations have benefited from grant for periods well in excess of three years. This year 79 of the 205 projects in receipt of grant have been funded for between four and eight years. All aspects of project performance are considered when deciding whether funding should be offered beyond the usual three year period.

  Detailed records are not kept on whether projects continue to operate when they are no longer in receipt of section 180 grant.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure by programme by his Department in Scotland on areas covered by the exception under (i) E.1, (ii) E.2 and (iii) E.3 of Head E in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. [63805]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Expenditure by the Department in 1997–98 on research and development, grants and consultancies related to road safety, which is the subject of the exception listed in Head El of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, was £4.2m. The Department does not record separately how much of this expenditure takes place in Scotland.

  In 1997–98, the Department undertook the following programme expenditure' on grants relating to railway services which are the subject of exceptions listed in Head E2 of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998;

  £ million

  DETR expenditure

  Total GB

  Scotland

  Payments by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to train operating companies

  1,425

  2136

  Freight Facilities Grant

  8

  3nil

  Track Access Grant

  21

  not separately recorded

  1 These figures include any expenditure incurred in relation to those areas listed in Schedule 5, Head E2 (a-c), to which the exception does not apply, on which separate information is not recorded.

  1 Payments made to Scotrail.

  1 Freight Facilities Grants in Scotland paid by Scottish Office.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list 544
  (a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure by programme over £50,000 by his Department in Scotland on areas covered by each exception under Head D in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. [63798]

  Mr. Meale:
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Expenditure by the Department on the regulation of the energy supply industry under Part 1 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 and the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, which are the subject of the exceptions listed in Heads D1, D2, D3 and D4 of the Scotland Act 1998, is not separately recorded. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is not responsible for funding the relevant regulatory authorities in Scotland.

  Expenditure by the Department in 1997–98 on the Energy Saving Trust, which is the subject of the exception listed in Head D5 of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, was £19.7m, of which £1.23m was expenditure in Scotland.

  Quayside Guided Bus Transit System
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has given his approval of funding towards the Quayside Guided Bus Transit System in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne; and if he will make a statement. [64424]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The details of the annual Local Transport Capital Settlement for 1999–2000 are being announced tomorrow. Information about allocations to individual local authorities, and to passenger transport authorities, will be sent directly to Members of Parliament.

  Housing Capital Resources
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to make an announcement about the distribution to local authorities of housing capital resources for 1999–2000. [64485]

  Ms Armstrong
  Details of housing capital allocations for local authorities for 1999–2000 will be announced tomorrow. I am arranging for tables giving individual Housing Investment Programme and Capital Receipts Initiative allocations to be placed in the Library of the House. These tables will also show the performance band in which each authority has been placed.

  Flooding
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Cherwell District Council and Melton Borough Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding on the weekend of 9 to 12 April 1998. [64486]

  Ms Armstrong
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of Cherwell and Melton councils, given the exceptional nature of the floods and the damage caused. Schemes will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to each authority to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs above a threshold and which have been incurred by the authority in dealing with the flooding.

  British Board of Agrément
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached conclusions on the status of the British Board of Agrement; and if he will make a statement. [64559]

  Mr. Raynsford
  On 3 February 1998,Official Report, column 637, I announced to the House that a Financial Management and Policy Review of the British Board of Agrement (BBA) would be carried out this year.

  The first stage of the Review—the Prior Options Review—was completed by consultants last July. I have since considered the consultants' report very carefully, and having discussed this with the Chairman of the BBA Council, I have reached a number of conclusions:
  the BBA provides an essential service to the construction industry, and should be encouraged to continue to provide that service;
  the BBA no longer needs to be constrained by the Government rules and procedures necessary for Non Departmental Public Bodies and should have the commercial freedoms necessary to allow it to develop its business; and
  in partnership with Government, the BBA should continue to promote Agrément and European Technical Approvals in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding to be drawn up by my Department and the BBA.

  To these ends, I propose to invite the Council to amend the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association so that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions can relinquish many of the powers he currently has. The BBA will retain its existing status as a Company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act.

  In order to emphasise the importance to Government of the BBA, I propose that the Secretary of State should be represented on its ruling Council, and, in order to protect previous investments of public funds, that he retains controls over the disposal of the Company or its assets, through specific clawback provisions. Other commercial and organisational issues should, rightly, be passed to the BBA Council to decide. The Secretary of State will cease to make appointments to the Council, but will be consulted upon them.

  As part of the process to promote the BBA, I have asked them to commission a survey of the products market to assist in drawing up a strategy for future development of business opportunities.

  Local authority

  Total cost (£)

  Title of bid approved

  Bath and North East Somerset

  34,600

  Rural Bus Stop Lighting

  Buckinghamshire

  100,500

  Community minibus in the Winslow area

  Cheshire

  16,904

  Community Transport in Chester district

  Derbyshire

  800,000

  Southern Derbyshire rural access initiative

  Durham

  592,000

  Public transport access for coalfields communities

  East Sussex

  259,500

  Accessible buses for Multi-purpose use

  Essex

  803,100

  Flexible bus network for the Dengie peninsular

  Gloucestershire

  25,000

  Provision of Rural Transport brokerage facility

  Greater Manchester

  384,500

  Provision of taxi/bus interchange facilities at 3 rural railway stations

  266,500

  Longdendale taxi-sharing scheme

  Hampshire

  8,400

  The New Forest minibus brokerage project

  Hereford

  186,490

  Enhancement of existing community transport schemes

  Hertfordshire

  176,000

  Dial-a-ride evening services

  19,000

  Improvements to information provision on the internet

  Kent

  40,000

  Rural bus stop information strategy

  140,000

  Upgraded rural routes and real time information

  Lancashire

  203,750

  The Clitheroes interchange demonstration project

  277,856

  The rural quality bus initiative

  Local Transport Infrastructure
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the allocation of capital resources for expenditure on local transport infrastructure. [64630]

  Dr. Reid
  Details of the allocations to local highway authorities and passenger transport authorities in England for capital expenditure on their transport infrastructure in 1999–2000 will be placed in the Library of the House at 10.00 am on Thursday 17 December. Information about allocations to individual authorities will be sent directly to Members of Parliament.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when decisions will be issued to applicants under the scheme of redress for extreme and exceptional hardship for those affected by blight from Channel Tunnel Rail Link route options between 1990 and 1994. [64631]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I am today announcing that 28 applicants demonstrated that they suffered extreme and exceptional hardship as a result of past CTRL blight and will be receiving £10,000 each. This is an ex gratia scheme which is additional to normal compensation arrangements for those directly affected by the CTRL. The scheme originated from a finding of maladministration against the then Department of Transport by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

  Rural Bus Challenge
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will make an announcement on this year's Rural Bus Challenge competition. [64632]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The schemes listed have been approved for grant under this year's Rural Bus Challenge. This follows careful consideration of the 214 bids received from local authorities. The value of the bids totalled over £41.5 million, in comparison with the £11.4 million available for grant. A Special Grant Report under Section 88b of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 will be put forward for Parliamentary approval as soon as possible in the new year.
  547

  Local authority

  Total cost (£)

  Title of bid approved

  Leicestershire

  69,600

  East Leicestershire Taxibus

  Lincolnshire

  1,219,990

  Making the connection—a package of improvements

  Medway

  232,500

  Real time information and bus priority through vehicle detection

  6,500

  Information upgrade for rural services

  Norfolk

  444,500

  Norfolk coast strategy

  130,000

  Flexible feeder services

  Northamptonshire

  10,000

  Mobile libraries travel guide

  35,600

  Brackley-Banbury Quality Bus Partnership

  20,000

  Safety for women scheme

  180,000

  Dial-a-ride: South Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  16,850

  Development of the postbus network

  Nottinghamshire

  1,150,000

  Worksop area travel choice project

  Peterborough

  74,250

  Rural Taxibus

  Somerset

  130,000

  The Mendips flexible bus project

  1,004

  Exmoor community transport radio

  South Gloucestershire

  612,000

  Community transport co-ordination centres

  South Yorkshire

  5,000

  Improvements to bus turnaround

  15,000

  Western Barnsley—vehicle radio communications project

  3,200

  Refurbishment of accessible vehicle—Western Barnsley

  4,500

  Refurbishment of accessible vehicle—Eastern Barnsley

  Staffordshire

  175,000

  Rural Taxibus and interchange project

  Tyne and Wear

  1,255,000

  Rural Interchange points (package of measures)

  Warrington

  5,000

  Increased use of social and community buses

  West Berkshire

  33,000

  Voluntary bus escort project and co-ordinator

  West Sussex (and Surrey)

  248,600

  Demanding Public Transport

  West Yorkshire

  364,500

  Rural bus service improvements in Denby Dale

  Wiltshire

  463,000

  Wiltshire Wigglybus project

  York

  180,000

  Rural bus interchange at park and ride facilities

  Total

  11,418,694

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  University for Industry
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to allow the University for Industry to be a direct provider of further education and higher education courses; and if resources for such provision will come directly from FEFC and HEFC budgets. [61826]

  Mr. Mudie
  The University for Industry will be launched nationally in the year 2000. There are no plans for UfI to be a direct learning provider but will rather act as a broker of learning opportunities. We expect the further and higher education sectors to make a major contribution to the Uff as a key part of the strategy to embed the Lifelong Learning culture.

  It will be open to the Higher Education Funding Council England (HEFCE) and the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) to allocate places with accompanying funding to enable institutions to develop joint provision of learning opportunities with the UfI.

  GCSEs
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average number of hours per week spent teaching GCSE subjects by teachers, excluding head teachers and deputy headteachers, in LEA secondary schools in England. [62029]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In 1996–97, in maintained secondary schools in England that had pupils in years 10 and 11, full-time teachers spent an average of 28 per cent. of the school week teaching years 10 and 11 in subjects which can be tested at GCSE, although not all such 548
  teaching will be for GCSE. For a school that has eight periods a day of 35 minutes each, this amounts to 6.5 hours a week.

  Retraining
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make further provision for retraining unemployed people between the age of 25 years and normal retirement age. [62781]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Government recognise the importance of the role played by training in helping unemployed adults back to work.

  At present, learning by unemployed adults is supplied through Work Based Learning for Adults; the training option of New Deal 25+ which was introduced nationally from June 1998; further education; and the Single Regeneration Budget.

  The Government continue to keep training for unemployed adults under review and is testing new ways in which training can be delivered in the future. These initiatives include the 25+ New Deal pilots which commenced in November, Employment Zones, Individual Learning Accounts and the University for Industry. Results from these are being carefully evaluated and those approaches we find most effective will be applied widely.

  The future development of Work Based Learning for Adults is being considered as part of the TEC Review.

  Departmental Papers (Schools Circulation)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list all departmental papers circulated to schools since May 1997. [63060]
  549
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 8 December 1998]: A list of material sent to schools by the Department of Education and Employment from 2 May 1997 to 12 December 1998 has been placed in the Library.

  Of the 216 items sent to schools, 130 were sent to all schools over the 20-month period. The remainder had a more limited circulation. Since June 1998 schools have received material in regular batches which clearly indicate the priority of items. From 1 December batches only contain: guidance on legal changes, curriculum development material on key strategies such as literacy and numeracy, data collection and 2 page summaries of documents on key policy issues.

  Further Education
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the proportions of each kind of assistance given to further education students out of access funds in the last financial year for which figures are available. [63470]

  Mr. Mudie
  Over £6 million of Further Education Access Funds were allocated in the following proportions in 1996–97 (the latest year for which figures are available):

  Category

  Percentage of Access Fund allocated

  Fees

  17.50

  Books

  7.35

  Equipment

  10.66

  Accommodation

  6.13

  Childcare

  23.03

  Transport

  25.87

  Other

  9.46

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government are taking to promote access to further and higher education for young people with special educational needs. [63400]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Government's policies on widening participation and increasing access are intended to be inclusive and to benefit students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities as well as others.

  The Secretary of State has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) when allocating funds to institutions to take into account the additional costs of providing learning support for students with learning difficulties and disabilities and to monitor the provision made by institutions for disabled students. This was made clear in the grant letter of 8 December to HEFCE. Under the new higher education student support arrangements for 1998–99, Disabled Students' Allowances will no longer be means tested for disabled full time students and the amount students may claim has been increased.

  In further education, the funding mechanism provides for additional support for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities according to need. The grant letter to the Further Education Funding Council of 8 December noted that the FE capital element of the Comprehensive Spending Review (comprising £195 million in total) would enable
  550
  colleges to make progress on disabled access in the context of the Government's commitment to comprehensive and enforceable civil rights.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many official visits(a) he and (b) the Ministers in his Department have made to Buckinghamshire since 2 May 1997; and if he will list them. [64137]

  Mr. Mudie
  There have been no official visits to Buckinghamshire since 2 May 1997 by either my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or any of his Ministers.

  Higher Education Funding Council
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the administrative costs, as a percentage of the total budget, for(a) the Higher Education Funding Council, and (b) the Further Education Funding Council; and what is the national average for training and enterprise councils. [63270]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information that my hon. Friend has requested is listed below. All figures relate to the 1997–98 financial year, the last for which we have complete figures:

  Higher Education Funding Council for England 0.29 per cent.

  Further Education Funding Council 0.76 per cent.

  Training and Enterprise Councils 13 per cent.

  The figures for all three organisations are from their accounts.

  The three figures are not comparable because of differences in responsibilities between the TECs, the HEFCE and the FEFC.

  Specifically, the figure for TECs is much higher than either of the others because TECs are themselves directly involved in local business support and economic development.

  Mixed Year Classes
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by local education authority how many Key Stage One and Key Stage Two pupils in maintained schools were being educated in the same class in January(a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [63515]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 14 December]: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Number of pupils in mixed year group classes. Maintained primary schools by Local Education Authority area, England—January 1998

  Schools

  Amount

  Hartlepool

  3,218

  Middlesbrough

  4,337

  Redcar and Cleveland

  5,388

  Stockton-on-Tees

  3,828

  Darlington

  2,146

  Durham

  15,901

  Northumberland

  6,741

  Gateshead

  4,442

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  4,753

  North Tyneside

  2,023

  South Tyneside

  1,582

  Sunderland

  3,490

  551

  Number of pupils in mixed year group classes. Maintained primary schools by Local Education Authority area, England—January 1998

  Schools

  Amount

  Cheshire

  32,527

  Cumbria

  16,125

  Bolton

  3,948

  Bury

  3,221

  Manchester

  6,380

  Oldham

  4,995

  Rochdale

  4,934

  Salford

  3,909

  Stockport

  5,799

  Tameside

  4,723

  Trafford

  3,532

  Wigan

  3,567

  Lancashire

  32,263

  Knowsley

  2,643

  Liverpool

  4,063

  St. Helens

  1,066

  Sefton

  3,995

  Wirral

  7,091

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  9,407

  City of Kingston-Upon-Hull

  7,227

  North East Lincolnshire

  3,603

  North Lincolnshire

  3,712

  York

  5,691

  North Yorkshire

  23,472

  Barnsley

  6,753

  Doncaster

  5,729

  Rotherham

  6,928

  Sheffield

  8,231

  Bradford

  10,614

  Calderdale

  7,685

  Kirklees

  12,318

  Leeds

  13,885

  Wakefield

  6,984

  Derby

  7,375

  Derbyshire

  27,527

  Leicester city

  7,785

  Rutland

  1,534

  Leicestershire

  19,379

  Lincolnshire

  24,491

  Northamptonshire

  16,926

  Nottinghamshire

  44,327

  Hereford and Worcester

  16,829

  Shropshire

  18,502

  Stoke

  2,902

  Staffordshire

  17,319

  Warwickshire

  10,677

  Birmingham

  5,917

  Coventry

  6,589

  Dudley

  3,129

  Sandwell

  3,712

  Solihull

  1,766

  Walsall

  4,366

  Wolverhampton

  2,570

  Luton

  1,783

  Bedfordshire

  6,811

  Cambridgeshire

  23,463

  Essex

  41,080

  Hertfordshire

  22,708

  Norfolk

  20,500

  Suffolk

  16,988

  City of London

  0

  Camden

  664

  Hackney

  1,818

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,210

  Haringey

  1,709

  552

  Number of pupils in mixed year group classes. Maintained primary schools by Local Education Authority area, England—January 1998

  Schools

  Amount

  Islington

  2,731

  Kensington and Chelsea

  589

  Lambeth

  2,388

  Lewisham

  2,642

  Newham

  3,716

  Southwark

  4,778

  Tower Hamlets

  4,223

  Wandsworth

  3,056

  Westminster

  1,015

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,033

  Barnet

  2,562

  Bexley

  2,041

  Brent

  1,124

  Bromley

  3,346

  Croydon

  1,531

  Ealing

  2,087

  Enfield

  1,016

  Greenwich

  3,768

  Harrow

  632

  Havering

  3,086

  Hillingdon

  2,175

  Hounslow

  964

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  463

  Merton

  802

  Redbridge

  1,173

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  385

  Sutton

  1,222

  Waltham Forest

  1,917

  Berkshire

  21,018

  Milton Keynes

  5,209

  Buckinghamshire

  9,661

  Brighton & Hove

  2,536

  East Sussex

  11,244

  Portsmouth

  1,328

  Southampton

  1,661

  Hampshire

  25,923

  Isle of Wight

  1,768

  Kent

  33,634

  Oxfordshire

  26,067

  Surrey

  9,900

  West Sussex

  14,948

  Bath and NE Somerset

  4,143

  City of Bristol

  8,094

  North Somerset

  5,512

  South Gloucestershire

  7,603

  Cornwall

  17,001

  Isles of Scilly

  139

  Devon

  35,446

  Bournemouth

  555

  Poole

  610

  Dorset

  8,782

  Gloucestershire

  7,603

  Somerset

  16,805

  Swindon

  6,318

  Wiltshire

  19,168

  England

  1,088,354

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by local education authority how many primary school pupils in maintained schools were educated in classes with children from more than one year group in January(a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [63516]
  553
  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The information requested is not available for January 1997. Figures for January 1998 are shown in the following table:

  Number of pupils in mixed keystage classes. Maintained primary schools by Local Education Authority area, England—January of each year

  1997

  1998

  Hartlepool

  185

  42

  Middlesborough

  105

  99

  Redcar and Cleveland

  233

  291

  Stockton-on-Tees

  148

  385

  Durham1

  1,584

  3—

  Darlington

  3—

  260

  Durham2

  3—

  1,774

  Northumberland

  1,781

  1,292

  Gateshead

  157

  377

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  642

  602

  North Tyneside

  367

  179

  South Tyneside

  48

  79

  Sunderland

  331

  318

  Cheshire

  3,001

  2,171

  Cumbria

  3,415

  1,905

  Bolton

  728

  95

  Bury

  593

  262

  Manchester

  370

  709

  Oldham

  395

  239

  Rochdale

  668

  701

  Salford

  156

  379

  Stockport

  364

  498

  Tameside

  187

  397

  Trafford

  107

  116

  Wigan

  172

  164

  Lancashire

  2,843

  2,578

  Knowsley

  239

  224

  Liverpool

  352

  440

  St. Helens

  51

  0

  Sefton

  108

  110

  Wirral

  678

  249

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  832

  856

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  222

  491

  North East Lincolnshire

  263

  582

  North Lincolnshire

  165

  129

  York

  258

  122

  North Yorkshire

  3,121

  2,419

  Barnsley

  313

  1,034

  Doncaster

  669

  201

  Rotherham

  564

  748

  Sheffield

  1,234

  86

  Bradford

  1,509

  1,075

  Calderdale

  821

  374

  Kirklees

  2,222

  745

  Leeds

  573

  979

  Wakefield

  856

  747

  Derbyshire1

  5,705

  3—

  Derby

  3—

  124

  Derbyshire2

  3—

  1,686

  Leicestershire1

  3,387

  3—

  Leicester City

  3—

  571

  Rutland

  3—

  158

  Leicestershire2

  3—

  1,253

  Lincolnshire

  2,725

  2,095

  Northamptonshire

  1,318

  1,451

  Nottinghamshire

  3,607

  2,859

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,027

  1,508

  Shropshire

  1,212

  1,744

  Staffordshire1

  2,242

  3—

  Stoke

  3—

  146

  Staffordshire2

  3—

  2,084

  Warwickshire

  1,069

  1,107

  Birmingham

  281

  211

  Coventry

  42

  714

  Dudley

  193

  53

  554

  Number of pupils in mixed keystage classes. Maintained primary schools by Local Education Authority area, England—January of each year

  1997

  1998

  Sandwell

  39

  543

  Solihull

  62

  0

  Walsall

  291

  376

  Wolverhampton

  408

  32

  Bedfordshire1

  1,361

  3—

  Luton

  3—

  16

  Bedfordshire2

  3—

  822

  Cambridgeshire

  1,698

  1,118

  Essex

  2,732

  3,131

  Hertfordshire

  3,078

  1,651

  Norfolk

  4,387

  4,246

  Suffolk

  1,650

  1,022

  City of London

  3—

  3—

  Camden

  30

  25

  Hackney

  167

  121

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  118

  62

  Haringey

  0

  24

  Islington

  601

  83

  Kensington and Chelsea

  160

  80

  Lambeth

  238

  172

  Lewisham

  150

  171

  Newham

  233

  432

  Southwark

  90

  82

  Tower Hamlets

  55

  378

  Wandsworth

  172

  202

  Westminster

  0

  66

  Barking and Dagenham

  271

  0

  Barnet

  519

  11

  Bexley

  137

  9

  Brent

  61

  251

  Bromley

  423

  445

  Croydon

  86

  113

  Ealing

  0

  28

  Enfield

  239

  84

  Greenwich

  268

  126

  Harrow

  142

  153

  Havering

  34

  152

  Hillingdon

  31

  198

  Hounslow

  189

  5

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  279

  0

  Merton

  434

  262

  Redbridge

  389

  70

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  46

  39

  Sutton

  74

  78

  Waltham Forest

  316

  317

  Berkshire1

  1,007

  3—

  Milton Keynes

  3—

  941

  Berkshire2

  3—

  1,779

  Buckinghamshire

  4,157

  2,322

  East Sussex1

  1,289

  3—

  Brighton & Hove

  3—

  160

  East Sussex2

  3—

  925

  Hampshire1

  1,477

  3—

  Portsmouth

  3—

  131

  Southampton

  3—

  119

  Hampshire2

  3—

  2,190

  Isle of Wight

  324

  390

  Kent

  4,490

  3,130

  Oxfordshire

  2,096

  2,561

  Surrey

  1,543

  654

  West Sussex

  2,121

  2,106

  Bath and NE Somerset

  575

  588

  City of Bristol

  1,098

  420

  North Somerset

  188

  144

  South Gloucestershire

  736

  686

  Cornwall

  1,830

  2,767

  Isles of Scilly

  10

  9

  Devon1

  1,613

  3—

  Bournemouth

  3—

  0

  Poole

  3—

  43

  Devon2

  3—

  3,306

  555

  Number of pupils in mixed keystage classes. Maintained primary schools by Local Education Authority area, England—January of each year

  1997

  1998

  Dorset

  1,643

  640

  Gloucestershire

  2,095

  2,634

  Somerset

  1,323

  2,264

  Wiltshire1

  2,139

  3—

  Swindon

  3—

  410

  Wiltshire2

  3—

  2,149

  England

  110,850

  95,951

  1 Before local government reorganisation

  2 After local government reorganisation

  3 Not applicable

  British Beef
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local authorities which permit British beef to be served on school menus. [64114]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not collected centrally.

  New Deal
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the provision of data for the subsidised employment option under the New Deal. [64171]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Over 11,000 young people have found work through the subsidised Employment option of the New Deal for 18–24 year olds, in addition to the over 27,000 young people who have found unsubsidised jobs. This figure is drawn from the latest Government Statistical Service data to the end of September 1998 and the provisional Management Information to the end of October 1998.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure by programme by his Department in Scotland on areas covered by the exception under H.3 of Head H in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. [63801]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Areas excepted under Schedule 5, Head H3 of the Scotland Act 1998 are careers services under the Employment and Training Act 1973, and assisting persons to establish themselves as self-employed under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990. This Department spends no money in Scotland on either.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [63802]
  556
  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Schedule 5, Head L2 of the Scotland Act 1998 denotes equal opportunities, a matter reserved to the UK Parliament. A DfEE offices and agencies are subject to the requirements of equal opportunities laws, which are GB-wide. Numbers employed in DfEE offices and agencies, and the DfEE's equal opportunities practices, are contained in the Departmental Report which is in the Library of the House. The published draft Statutory Instrument on Cross-Border Public Authorities lists two DfEE-sponsored bodies, the Construction Industry Training Board and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, which employ 1,003 (CITB) and 41 (ECITB) staff, and whose equal opportunities practices follow their policies as published in their Annual Reports, which are in the Library.

  Bureaucracy
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the working group on reducing bureaucracy was established; what are its terms of reference; who are its members; and when it is expected to report. [63960]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Working Group on Reducing the Bureaucratic Burden on Teachers was set up in July 1997.

  The Group's terms of reference were to report to Ministers on:
  the sources of bureaucratic burdens in schools, including those from central government, local government, national bodies involved with schools and schools own management and administrative practices;
  ways of reducing those burdens, including:
  clarifying minimum requirements for complying with legal obligations such as OFSTED inspections;
  streamlining processes;
  identifying best practice and how this can best be spread;
  making best use of information technology;
  areas where further study is needed to identify improvements.

  The Members of the Group were:
  Peter Owen (chair): Director General for Schools, DfEE
  Denis Allnut: Director, Analytical Services, DfEE
  Nick Sanders: Director, School Curriculum, funding and Teachers, DfEE
  Gwenlian Evans: Deputy General Secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
  Nigel de Gruchy: General Secretary, National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers
  Rowie Shaw: Director of Professional Services, National Association of Head Teachers
  John Bangs: Assistant Secretary, National Union of Teachers
  David Jones: Acting General Secretary, Professional Association of Teachers
  Colin Broomfield: Head of Cheshunt School, Honorary Secretary, Secondary Heads Association
  Pat Petch: Chair, National Governors' Council
  John Fowler: Local Government Association
  Greg Hill: Education Officer for Information Technology, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull
  Michael Collier: Chief Executive, Funding Agency for Schools
  John Taylor HMI: Inspection Quality Monitoring and Development Team, Office for Standards in Education

  557
  Tony Millns: Assistant Chief Executive (Communications), School Curriculum and Assessment Authority
  Stephen Hillier: Head of Corporate Management, Teacher Training Agency
  Colin Muid: Deputy Director, Central IT Unit, Cabinet Office
  Graham Walker: Senior Partner, Arthur Andersen
  Tony Cann CBE: Chairman, Promethean Ltd.

  The Group's final report to Ministers was published on 16 January 1998, and a copy is in the Library.

  Musical Education
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve the musical education of school children. [63710]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government recognise that music is a key part of the broad and balanced education to which every child is entitled. Music is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum, which every child must study from the ages of 5 to 14, and it will maintain its key place in the curriculum. We also recognise the important contribution made by LEA music services; that is why we proposed new arrangements to safeguard them in our "Fair Funding" consultation document. We will be making a further announcement on this matter early in the new year.

HEALTH

  Accident and Emergency Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the mechanism for the allocation within London of the £378 million capital budget for London's National Health Service will(a) take into account the levels of activity of accident and emergency departments, (b) take into account the effect on such accident and emergency departments of the closure over the last decade of nearby ones and (c) provide a compensation element for the relatively small increases in the annual settlements affecting some London health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [62514]

  Mr. Milburn
  The importance of improving the standard of facilities and equipment in accident and emergency departments has been recognised by the Government. As a result, £30 million from next year's Modernisation Fund for Capital has been earmarked for investment in accident and emergency departments of which £4.367 million has been allocated to London. These resources will be used to provide faster, better services for patients and a safer working environment for staff. Funds will be allocated across a range of schemes. Many factors will be taken into consideration in deciding which should have the greatest need for investment including, where applicable, the level of activity of accident and emergency departments.

  In response to Sir Leslie Turnberg's review, we are determined to ensure that all Londoners have accessible top quality services with accident and emergency and ambulance services capable of meeting forseeable needs.

  Nursing Agencies
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to reform nursing agencies; what representations he has received on this subject; and how much NHS organisations paid for agency nurses in each of the last 10 years. [63235]

  Mr. Milburn
  These agencies are currently required to be licensed under the provisions of the Nurses Agencies Act 1957. We are considering how the regulation of such agencies might be improved, particularly in the context of our plans to introduce regulation of domiciliary care providers. Departmental officials have had discussions with local authorities responsible for licensing agencies and with the Royal College of Nursing as well as representatives of the agencies. The information available on the cost of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff not employed directly by individual trusts and health authorities is shown in the table. Data prior to 1991/2 are not directly comparable.

  Expenditure on nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff not employed directly by individual trusts and HAs

  £

  Year

  1997–98 prices

  1997–981

  216,338,567

  1996–97

  196,475,547

  1995–96

  176,296,636

  1994–95

  144,526,300

  1993–94

  117,189,126

  1992–93

  116,088,250

  1991–92

  121,127,306

  1 Provisional Data

  Source:

  Annual Financial Returns of NHS Trust

  Annual Financial Returns of Health Authorities

  Adjusted GDP Deflator: HMT forecasts 1 October 1998

  Dentistry
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will introduce regulations to lay down minimum quality standards for dentistry; [63483]

  (2) what provision currently exists to ensure minimum standards of quality in NHS dentistry in the United Kingdom. [63484]

  Mr. Milburn
  General dental practitioners working in the National Health Service have to meet the conditions set out in the Dentists Act 1984 and rules made by the General Dental Council under this Act and must also comply with the terms of service contained in the National Health Service General Dental Services (Regulations) 1990.

  We will be reviewing these arrangements in connection with our initiative to modernise the regulation of the health car professions.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what methods his Department records and evaluates complaints which arise in private dental practice. [63485]

  Mr. Milburn
  The General Dental Council, of which the Department's Chief Dental Officer is a member, investigates allegations of serious professional misconduct in private dental practice.
  559
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with the General Dental Council over the past twelve months and what was discussed. [63486]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State met the President of the General Dental Council, usually accompanied by the Registrar, on at least three occasions in the past twelve months. We have discussed a number of issues relating to dentistry and the regulation of the profession.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of dentistry services provided by corporate bodies in the United Kingdom; and if he will examine recent changes in that proportion. [63487]

  Mr. Milburn
  None. Only those corporate bodies referred to in Section 43 of the Dentists Act may carry out the business of dentistry.

  Cancer
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the amount of public information available on cancer. [63713]

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the action which his Department is taking to increase public awareness of the availability of cancer services. [63466]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are committed to providing high quality, patient-centred care to all cancer patients and have introduced a package of measures to increase the amount of public information available on cancer. Patients need clear information to be fully involved in treatment decisions.

  Cancer is a priority area in the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation" and in conjunction with the Health Education Authority, we have produced information leaflets about early detection and life style factors relevant to cancer. In addition as part of the implementation of the new National Health Service "Information for Health", we are developing a cancer information strategy which will improve the information available to patients and the public. The voluntary sector also has a key role to play in increasing public information available on cancer. We will continue to work closely with them to ensure that patient needs are identified.

  Cancer Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to create a nursing position which would provide a link between doctor, community and hospital in the treatment of cancer patients. [63712]

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce, on a national basis, the scheme under which GPs receive support from an oncology nurse who liaises between the hospital and GP. [63474]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services (Calman/Hine report) covers the organisation and delivery of cancer services through the development of a specialist, multi-professional, multi-disciplinary workforce, better co-ordination between the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors and the greater 560
  involvement of patients in care and prevention. As part of the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations, a primary care and cancer working group will shortly put recommendations to Ministers on how primary care can best contribute to the provision of a seamless, comprehensive and high quality cancer service. We can then consider how nursing posts can best be developed to deliver high quality care for cancer patients within acute and community settings.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to representations from GPs on cancer care services. [63465]

  Mr. Hutton
  Substantial progress has already been made in improving the organisation and delivery of cancer services through the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations and an integrated network of cancer care. Primary care is seen as the focus of care and we welcome the results of a recent MORI poll that shows that general practitioners want to improve and be involved in improving cancer services.

  A working group on primary care and cancer is currently considering how the primary care role can be developed to allow GPs to contribute fully to the ongoing improvements in cancer services. The group's recommendations will be put to Ministers shortly.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on(a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63921]

  Mr. Milburn
  Estimated expenditure on public opinion research, television, radio and newspaper advertising since 1 May 1997 is £8.09 million. The information on total expenditure on direct mail can be provided only at disproportionate cost. A breakdown of the total given is in the table.

  £ million

  Expenditure 1997–98 (since 1 May)

  Estimated expenditure 1998–99

  (a) Public opinion research

  0.88

  11.77

  (b) Television, radio and newspaper advertising2

  2.08

  3.36

  1 The estimate includes the 1998–99 general population questionnaire £1 million (costs for this survey are earmarked only and the full cost is not yet known, although the total cost may be equal to £1.3 million).

  2 Excludes Departmental staff recruitment advertising expenditure which is not held centrally.

  Colitis and Crohn's Disease
  Mr. Fabian Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific support his Department is able to give to the sufferers of colitis and Crohn's disease. [63661]

  Mr. Hutton
  People with colitis and Crohn's disease can receive a full range of treatment from the National Health Service. Support and information is also provided by the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease, a registered charity to which the Department currently gives funding under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.
  561
  The Department's policy research programme and the central NHS research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research into colitis and Crohn's disease, because of competing priorities. However, the Medical Research Council, the main agency through which the Government supports biomedical and clinical research, supports a significant portfolio of research related to intestinal diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases. The Council is currently funding three strategic project grants in this area, with a total cost of £186,000 in 1997–98.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish lists for each region indicating the performance of each hospital in each waiting list category. [64006]

  Mr. Milburn
  Details of waiting lists for each National Health Service Executive region and for NHS trusts are published quarterly in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish the patient waiting lists for each acute hospital broken down by type of operation awaited. [63999]

  Mr. Milburn
  Waiting lists for individual procedures are not collected centrally. However, specialty level information is published quarterly in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what details are currently made publicly available for each acute hospital on the order of patients on a waiting list. [64000]

  Mr. Milburn
  For reasons of patient confidentiality, the names of patients on a waiting list and the order in which they appear is not made public.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63879]

  Mr. Milburn
  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 nine ethnic minority categories monitored by Department are based on 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.

  Cannabis (Clinical Trials)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what input his Department intends to have into the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's discussions on the forthcoming clinical trials of cannabis; and if he will make a statement. [63987]
  562
  Mr. Hutton
  It is the Government's policy to actively encourage research into cannabinoids and not to stand in the way of methodologically sound research into the therapeutic uses of cannabis.

  The Department welcomed the Working Party on the Therapeutic Uses of Cannabinoids on which the Medical Research Council (MRC) has observer status.

  We understand that the working party has now completed its deliberations and that outline proposals will be launched in January before an invited audience. The MRC, via its well established peer review procedures, will consider the proposals for funding.

  The Medicines Control Agency has agreed to advise Professor Asscher's group on the regulatory aspects of their proposed trials.

  Officials from the Department have been invited to, and will attend, the launch on 11 January 1999.

  Smoking
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average daily number of cigarettes smoked by a person who has died from a tobacco-related illness. [64098]

  Ms Jowell
  In 1996 cigarette smokers in the United Kingdom consumed an average of 104 cigarettes a week, which equates to about 15 a day. Information is not available on the average daily number of cigarettes smoked by a person who has died from a tobacco-related illness.

  Farm Antibiotics
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for human health of the use of antibiotics in farming. [63374]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Both the Veterinary Products Committee and the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) have taken into account the public health concerns when providing advice to Government on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. The ACMSF is close to finalising a report on microbial antibiotic resistance in relation to food safety which will be submitted to Government when completed.

  Zinc Bacitracin
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has sought from the Public Health Laboratory Service about the European Commission's proposal to withdraw authorisation of zinc bacitracin as a veterinary medicine; and if he will make a statement. [64028]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: The view of the Public Health Laboratory Service has not been sought on the proposal to ban zinc bacitracin as a growth promoter. Both the Veterinary Products Committee and the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food have provided advice to Government taking into account the public health concerns surrounding growth promoters, including zinc bacitracin.
  563
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the public health implications of a change by poultry producers from the use of zinc bacitracin to avilamycin; and if he will make a statement. [64029]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: A working group of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food is considering the question of microbial antibiotic resistance in relation to food safety. In advance of its report, the Committee has advised Ministers that the use as growth promoters of antimicrobials where there is a medical equivalent in current or planned use should be phased out at the earliest opportunity. For growth promoters where there is currently no medical equivalent or where medical use is rare, the advice was that there is currently insufficient information available to justify an immediate ban. The use of substances like avilamycin should therefore be kept under review and if any evidence becomes available of medical equivalents being developed then their use as growth promoters should be phased out.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his planned timescale for(a) making decisions on the recommendations contained in Lord Justice Atton' s report on medical negligence and (b) putting forward proposals for reducing litigation in the NHS. [62672]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering what further action to take in connection with the many replies to his call for ideas on reducing litigation in the National Health Service, including the recommendations in Lord Justice Otton' s report

  NHS Consultants
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce maximum working times for NHS consultants. [63258]

  Mr. Milburn
  National Health Service consultants, in common with all directly employed hospital staff with the exception of doctors in training, are subject to the Working Time Regulations. These regulations came into force on 1 October 1998 and implement European

  EU Member States

  Austria

  Stock exchange turnover tax at 0.15% or 2.5% depending on the type of company1

  Belgium

  Stock exchange turnover tax—normal rate 0.17%2

  Denmark

  Share transfer tax at 0.5%3

  Finland

  Share transfer tax (only for non-Stock Exchange deals) at 1.6%4

  France

  Stock exchange turnover tax at 0.3% on the fraction of each transaction under or equalling FFlm and at 0.15% on each fraction exceeding FFlm. An allowance of FF150 is applied to the tax due on each transaction and the tax due on each transaction may not exceed FF4,000.

  In addition registration duty at 4.8% on the sale of partnership shares in limited liability companies. The rate is 1% for founders' shares in corporations, subject to maximum tax of FF20,000 and exemption if there is no deed of transfer5

  Germany

  No stamp duty on share transfers.

  Greece

  Stock exchange transfer tax at 0.3%6

  Ireland

  Stamp duty on share transfers at 1%7

  Italy

  Stock exchange turnover tax at 0.14%8

  Luxembourg

  No stamp duty on share transfers.

  564
  Community Directive 93/104/EC on the organisation of working time. They set a maximum working time limit of 48 hours a week. Under the terms of the regulations, however, doctors can volunteer on an individual basis to work longer than 48 hours.

  The Health Departments have agreed some derogations with the British Medical Association, as allowed under the regulations. These allow doctors and their employers to organise service cover flexibly to comply with the basic 48 hour limit, thereby maintaining high quality patient care around the clock.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce mechanisms for monitoring the amount of time consultants spend in private practice; and if he will review the current contracts between NHS trusts and NHS consultants. [63260]

  Mr. Milburn
  Negotiations have began between officials and representatives of the British Medical Association on a new contract for consultants. We want to see robust arrangements in place to ensure that the undoubted energy and commitment of consultants is clearly focused on NHS service priorities and on improving the quality of patient care.

  The vast majority of our consultants work hard for the NHS and more than fulfil their contractual commitments. We need a contract which ensures that their undoubted energies are focused clearly on delivering key service goals and priorities, providing patients with the high quality care that they need and expect, increasing productivity where it is needed most and cutting waiting lists.

TREASURY

  Share Transactions (Stamp Duty)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rate of stamp duty applied on share transactions in each member state of the European Union. [62277]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: Other Member States impose a variety of taxes on share transactions. The table gives a broad summary of the latest information we have about stamp duties and similar taxes on share transfers in EU Member States.

  565

  EU Member States

  Netherlands

  No stamp duty on share transfers.

  Portungal

  Stamp duty is levied on the transfer of shares at 4% on commission9

  Spain

  Share transfers subject to transfer tax/stamp duty and VAT where more than 50% of a company's assets consist of real property situated in Spain and, as a result of the transfer, the acquired obtains full ownership of these assets or obtains control over the company10

  Sweden

  No stamp duty on share transfers.

  UK

  Stamp Duty or Stamp Duty Reserve Tax is charged on transfers of UK shares at 0.5% whether the transfers are made in the UK or elsewhere. There is no charge on transfers of depositary receipts or transfers within clearance services, but in both of these situations there is a single charge of 1.5% on the transfer or issue of shares into the depositary or clearance service.

  1 International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation. April 1998.

  2 Belgian Ministry of Finance Tax Survey: information correct at 1 January 1997.

  3 Share transfer law, as amended (1998).

  4 Transfer tax law, 1998.

  5 Article 978 of the General Tax Code (stock exchange tax), Article 726 of the General Tax Code (registration tax), 1998.

  6 International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation, April 1998.

  7 Stamp Act 1891, as amended (1998).

  8 Stock exchange transfer tax law (1998).

  9 Finance ministry communiqué 23/1/98.

  10 Transfer tax law (1998).

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of stamp duty on share transactions on the volume of shares traded in(a) London and (b) Frankfurt. [62278]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: Stamp duty is only one of a range of factors that may affect the volume of share transactions and, like all taxes, is kept under review.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) 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; [62846]

  (2) if he will list the members of the Council of the Economic Advisers and their principal employment. [62782]

  Ms Hewitt
  There are four Special Advisers in the Treasury: Ed Balls, Charles Whelan, Ed Miliband and Spencer Livermore. They advise Treasury Ministers on the full range of Treasury policy issues.

  In addition, Chris Wales has been appointed full-time to the Council of Economic Advisers and Paul Gregg has been appointed on a part-time basis. Both appointments are on Special Adviser terms. Mr. Gregg's principal employment is with the London School of Economics.

  Special Advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.

  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [62804]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 31 July 1998,Official Report, columns 665–66, which provided much of this information. Since then, the Treasury has appointed the following.
  566
  1. Public Services Productivity Panel

  (a) remit: to advise Ministers on ways of improving the productivity of government departments and public sector agencies

  (b) membership:Nine

  (c) composition: 3 Ministers, one other public sector, 5 private sector

  (d) remuneration: none

  (e) budget: out of pocket expenses only

  2. Policy Action Team: Business
  (a) remit: to report on:
  how successful business support organisations such as Business Links are in serving the most deprived communities;
  how it can be made easier for people in poor neighbourhoods to get access to support to start a business or become self-employed;
  how access to capital or small firms can be improved, especially for start-ups, including innovative approaches such as `microcredit;
  what can be learnt from new ways of encouraging self-employment, building on the New Deal and Employment Zones and how access to capital can be tied into regeneration strategies more generally.
  (b) membership: twenty two
  (c) composition: 14 civil servants, four other pubic sector, 4 private sector
  (d) remuneration: none
  (e) budget: out of pocket expenses only

  3. Policy Action Team: Financial Services
  (a) remit: to report on:
  the scope for development of credit unions, building on planned legislative change;
  increasing the availability of insurance services to deprived communities;
  the role of banks, Post Offices and other organisations in providing access to and delivery of financial services in deprived neighbourhoods.
  (b) membership: eighteen
  (c) composition: 9 civil servants, 5 other public sector, 3 voluntary sector, 1 private sector
  remuneration: none
  budget: out of pocket expenses only.

  Eurobonds
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue arising from a 20 per cent. withholding tax on interest payments made on Eurobonds paid to(a) non-UK EU residents and (b) all non-UK residents, on the assumption that there is (i) no reduction (ii) a 25 per cent. reduction, (iii) a 50 per cent. reduction and (iv) a 75 per cent. reduction in the Eurobond market in the City of London. [62332]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 7 December 1998]: Reliable estimates are not available.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the value of Eurobond market business carried out in the City of London in each of the last three years. [62331]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 7 December 1998]: There are no official figures for the value of Eurobond market business carried out in the UK.

  Drug Crime
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the controlled delivery method of drug importation into the United Kingdom as a means of combating drug crime. [63266]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This method of investigation is the subject of international agreement under Article 11 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 (The Vienna Convention) and is considered to be a very effective method of combating drug crime.

  VAT Registration
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the net gain or loss to the Exchequer consequent on changing the threshold for compulsory VAT registration. [63401]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The cost to the Exchequer from increasing the VAT registration threshold from £49,000 to £50,000 on 1 April 1998 was estimated to be £10 million in 1999–2000.

  Pesticides Tax
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about a possible tax on pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [63451]

  Ms Hewitt
  We have received a number of representations on a possible tax on pesticides. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Pre-Budget Report, work is currently being carried out into whether a tax or charge on pesticides would be an effective way to reduce pollution. There is evidence to suggest that pesticides have harmful effects on wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and on human health. The Government will evaluate the findings of the research project, and the results of other ongoing work, in considering how best to proceed. No decision has yet been taken on whether to proceed with a tax or charge on pesticides.

  Devolution (Barnett Formula)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his definition of the Barnett formula in the context of the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament; and what changes have been made to(a) the formula and (b) its interpretation as a result of those establishments. [63482]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government have already set out a statement of principles to govern changes to the devolved administrations' budgets in a reply given by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) on 9 December 1998,Official Report, columns 510–13. I shall be publishing a paper describing the funding arrangements for the devolved administrations in due course. This will include details of the operation of the Barnett formula under devolution. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Rotherham Euro Experiment
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the(a) costs (b) purpose and (c) results of the Rotherham Euro Experiment; and if he will list the organisations involved. [64190]

  Ms Hewitt
  "Rotherham Euro Week" was organised by the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. There was no cost to central Government.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on(a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63916]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  £000

  March 1997–March 1998

  April 1998

  Total

  a) Public opinion research

  121

  306

  427

  b) Television, radio and

  16,299

  newspaper advertising

  57

  6,356

  c) Direct mail

  69

  59

  128

  1 Mainly comprises expenditure on providing information to business about the impact of the euro when it is introduced on 1 January 1999 in 11 EU countries, for which provision was taken in a Summer Supplementary Estimate (HC783).

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63871]

  Ms Hewitt
  Monitoring in this area is currently based on ethnic origin, not nationality. The nine ethnic origin categories monitored within the civil service 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.

  Budget
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish a Green Book alongside the Red Book in the March 1999 Budget. [63271]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The Government consider that information on environmental impacts should be presented alongside, and not separate from, information on economic and financial impacts. The Financial Statement and Budget Report released in March 1998 included, for the first time, an assessment of the environmental impact of those Budget measures which are expected to have a significant effect on the environment. An updated version of that assessment was given in the recent Pre-Budget Report. The Government are looking to build upon that approach in the future. Including an assessment of the environmental impact of Budget measures within Budget documentation reflects the Government's commitment to put the environment at the heart of the policy making.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the changeover plans regarding preparations for British entry into the single currency will contain details of the Government's convergence strategy. [63866]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The Government's strategy for achieving convergence was set out by the Chancellor in his statement to the House of Commons on 27 October 1997, Official Report, columns 583–88. The Government believe that the UK economy needs a period of economic stability to deliver the sustainable convergence needed before we can join the single currency and there is no realistic prospect of our having demonstrated, before the end of this Parliament, that we have achieved convergence which is sustainable and settled, rather than transitory.

  The outline national changeover plan will set out the practical steps that would need to be followed if the UK were to decide to join the single currency and is the result of Treasury consultation with our 100 organisations, including trade associations and businesses. Its focus is therefore practical business and public sector issues.

  Progress by pensions firms in resolving cases of personal pensions mis-selling in the period to the end of November 1998

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  50–75% of cases resolved

  Countrywide

  5,293

  2,725

  584

  222

  362

  200

  4

  59

  IFA Network

  406

  117

  169

  117

  58

  56

  14

  70

  Over 75% of cases resolved

  DBS

  2,446

  955

  1,054

  253

  801

  641

  26

  76

  Burns Anderson

  1,288

  440

  685

  265

  420

  364

  28

  83

  Financial Options

  577

  398

  99

  33

  66

  54

  12

  84

  Windsor Life

  9,678

  4,172

  5,105

  333

  4,772

  3,968

  41

  88

  Sun Life of Canada

  29,150

  11,336

  16,081

  2,783

  13,298

  11,463

  39

  88

  Lincoln National

  13,605

  2,255

  10,950

  1,430

  9,520

  8,520

  63

  90

  Standard Life

  7,515

  914

  6,255

  1,314

  4,941

  4,555

  61

  90

  Colonial

  8,732

  3,169

  5,264

  613

  4,651

  4,154

  48

  91

  Sedgwick

  16,928

  9,969

  5,922

  1,950

  3,972

  3,526

  21

  91

  Unemployment
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate unemployment rates over the next three years. [64199]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: In line with the convention adopted by previous Administrations, the Government do not publish forecasts for unemployment.

  Brazil
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to assist Brazil in dealing with its current economic difficulties. [64556]

  Ms Hewitt
  We welcome and support the agreements between the Brazilian Government and the international community to restore confidence in the Brazilian economy. The UK's role in furthering this objective is explained in the written statement laid before both Houses today, pursuant to the International Monetary Arrangements Act 1983.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress made in the review of personal pensions mis-selling. [64557]

  Ms Hewitt
  Further advances have been made towards completion of the first phase of the review.

  Of the 21 firms whose results are set out below only two have resolved less than 75 per cent. of their cases. Fourteen have now resolved over 90 per cent. of their cases.

  This progress must be maintained. It is essential that all phase 1 cases are completed by 31 December. Although the industry has largely recognised the need for the pensions review to be completed quickly, some firms could still do better. The regulators will not tolerate further delays, and the Government will continue to support their efforts to see phase 1 completed and phase 2 underway.

  The ABI' s Pension Adviser's Support Scheme (PASS), which offers small firms assistance with actuarial facilities and financing for the review is a welcome development. All of the 30 major providers have joined PASS, which should prevent many businesses folding. It has aroused considerable interest among independent financial advisers, and will give a significant boost to the pensions review.

  571

  Progress by pensions firms in resolving cases of personal pensions mis-selling in the period to the end of November 1998

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  Abbey Life

  18,114

  6,742

  10,748

  1,396

  9,352

  8,412

  46

  91

  Berkeley Independent

  186

  123

  53

  32

  21

  15

  8

  91

  Hill Samuel

  6,118

  936

  5,002

  719

  4,283

  3,970

  65

  92

  London and Manchester

  8,614

  1,604

  6,886

  711

  6,175

  5,642

  65

  92

  CIS

  44,681

  7,958

  36,594

  14,197

  22,397

  19,575

  44

  93

  Friends Provident

  7,126

  1,333

  5,526

  837

  4,689

  4,486

  63

  93

  Pearl

  48,506

  4,802

  42,411

  5,855

  36,556

  34,874

  72

  94

  Legal & General

  37,366

  15,359

  21,648

  2,049

  19,599

  18,230

  49

  95

  Hogg Robinson

  2,338

  871

  1,465

  488

  977

  875

  37

  96

  Equitable Life

  7,629

  1,968

  5,528

  1,833

  3,695

  3,492

  46

  96

  A: cases identified as requiring review

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

  C: number of assessments completed

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

  E: cases where redress has been offered

  F: cases where redress has been accepted

  G: cases where redress has been accepted as a percentage of cases identified for review ((F/A)x100)

  H: cases completed, including exclusions, as a percentage of cases identified for review (((B+D+F)/A)x100)

  Swiss Investment Exchanges
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Swiss investment exchanges carry out investment business in the United Kingdom. [64626]

  Ms Hewitt
  With effect from today, the Swiss Exchange (SWX), having satisfied the conditions under sections 37 and 40 of the Financial Services Act 1986, has been granted recognition as an Overseas Investment Exchange. The Swiss Exchange is therefore able to carry out investment business in the UK.

  Business Start-up Loans
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to encourage the availability of business start-up loans for people from social classes D and E. [63907]

  Ms Hewitt
  The DTI's Small Firm's Loan Guarantee Scheme already offers support to people with viable business proposals seeking finance but who lack the assets to offer as security against a conventional loan. By providing a guarantee against default the Scheme encourages lenders to lend where finance would not otherwise be available.

  As part of the Government's Social Exclusion Agenda, I have established a Policy Action Team which will report by July 1999 on methods of encouraging businesses in poor neighbourhoods. The Team's remit includes examining ways of improving access to capital for small firms, especially start-ups in deprived areas.

  Tax Reliefs
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax reliefs are currently available for companies giving money to universities and colleges. [63858]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Most universities and colleges are charities and companies can use tax-effective charitable giving for donations to them.

  Companies can also claim tax relief when calculating the business's trading profits for tax purposes for payments made to an approved university, college research institute or similar institution which are to used for scientific research related to the company's trade.
  572
  Any payments which a company makes to sponsor a university or college will qualify for a deduction when calculating the business's trading profits for tax purposes if the payment is a revenue payment made wholly and exclusively for trading purposes.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  St. Kilda World Heritage Site
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if it is his policy to urge UNESCO to place St. Kilda World Heritage Site on their in danger list; [63392]

  (2) on what date the Government expects UNESCO to announce whether they intend to add the World Heritage Site of St. Kilda to their in danger list. [63393]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government were fully aware of the environmental sensitivities on and around St. Kilda, and of its status as a World Heritage Site, when they made the decision about which areas in the Atlantic should be offered for petroleum licensing.

  We shall be responding to UNESCO to reassure it that there is no case for the placement of St. Kilda on the list of endangered World Heritage Sites.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [62812]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  A list of the taskforces, review panels and advisory groups have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent to date by the UK Sports Institute. [62778]
  573
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 7 December 1998]: Sheffield is working closely with the UK and English Sports Councils to work up a successful application for Lottery funding. To date a total of £825,000 has been received from the Lottery Sports Fund by Phoenix Sports Limited, the company formed by the Sheffield Consortium which won the bid, to allow development work to progress. I have asked the Sports Councils to confirm by the end of December the extent and certainty of the matching funding put in place by Phoenix to take the project forward, to continue to exercise the closest control over payments while the project brief is developed, and to report on the final specification for the project in the light of their consultations with the sports which will use it.

  National Curriculum (Sport)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what dates he has had meetings with the DfEE to discuss the role of sport in the curriculum; and with whom such meetings have taken place. [63424]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: Both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discuss the role of sport in the Curriculum with colleagues from DfEE. My hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards and I attended the launch of the Sporting Ambassadors Scheme, an ESC initiative to provide opportunities for successful sports men and women of all ages to visit schools to enthuse young people about the benefits of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, on 1 July. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for

  Country

  Date visited

  Purpose of visit

  France

  10 June 1997

  Meeting/reception with Madam Buffet re preparations for World Cup 1998

  Italy

  10 October 1997

  Italy v England—Quarter final for 1998 World Cup

  United States of America

  23 October 1997

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Trinidad and Tobago

  25 October 1997

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Costa Rica

  28 October 1997

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  France

  4 December 1997

  1998 World Cup Draw

  Belgium

  27 January 1998

  Intergroup meeting on Sport

  Japan

  6 February 1998

  Winter Olympics

  South Korea

  12 February 1998

  Winter Olympics

  Thailand

  14 February 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Belgium

  17 March 1998

  2006 Bid meeting

  Paraguay

  24 March 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Argentina

  26 March 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Qatar

  19 April 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  France

  10 June 1998

  Meeting with Madam Buffet and European Union Ministers for Sport

  France

  10 July 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Switzerland

  1 September 1998

  Meeting with President Samaranch and Sepp Blatter

  Malaysia

  9 September 1998

  Commonwealth Games

  South Africa

  12 September 1998

  IAAF 8th Athletics World Cup

  Republic of Ireland

  27 September 1998

  Gaelic Football—All Ireland Final

  Spain

  5 October 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  France

  23 October 1998

  Council of Europe Hearing of Bosman Ruling

  Cameroon

  1 November 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Mali

  3 November 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Malta

  12 November 1998

  Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup

  Austria

  24 November 1998

  Troika Sports Ministers meeting

  Heads of Missions overseas have reported on the value of these visits, not only to The Football Association's Campaign for the England 2006 World Cup but also in furthering relations between this country and the rest of the world. I will be writing to the hon. Member shortly about these reports.
  574
  Education and Employment and I both discussed sport when we spoke at the Youth Sport Trust's Annual Reception on 18 November.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63880]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The overriding principle on recruitment within the Civil Service is that procedures should be fair, and selection should be on merit at each stage.

  Monitoring in the area of staff recruitment within DCMS is based on ethnic origin, not nationality. The nine categories monitored are based on those used in the 1991 census, which did not include an Irish category. This will be reviewed following any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which overseas countries the Minister for Sport has visited as part of his ministerial duties since 1 May 1997; and when. [63425]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The rules on travel in this Government are the same as the previous Government. The hon. Member will wish to be aware that I have visited the following countries as part of my Departmental duties since 1 May 1997:

  In the new year I will be visiting Tunisia, New Zealand and Botswana with The Football Association's Bid team, and receiving in London the Vice-Chairman of FIFA, Mr. Jack Warner. Yesterday I had a meeting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Derek Fatchett) to discuss

  575
  strategy. In the new year I will be meeting with The Football Association's full Executive Committee as part of the planning process for 1999.

  National Lottery Retailers
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many National Lottery retailers there are in each parliamentary constituency ranked in order of the number of outlets. [63774]

  Mr. Banks
  Details on retailers are not held by the Department and are an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked the Director General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the Lottery, to write to my hon. Friend. Copies of his response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Millennium Holiday
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements he has made to notify(a) the Home Office, (b) the DTI, (c) the CBI and (d) the Library that Friday 31 December 1999 will be a public holiday. [63708]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: The Government Departments referred to, and the CBI, were among the many organisations included in a consultation exercise carried out by my Department early this year, in order to establish that the proposal for an additional Bank Holiday on 31 December 199 was widely supported. The additional holiday was announced in the House on 3 June 1998, Official Report, column 218, and a press notice was issued on the same day. This was copied to interested Government Departments, and the announcement was widely covered in the media.

  HM Nautical Almanac Office holds definitive information on public holidays, and provides an information service based at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [62817]

  Mr. Mandelson
  My Department has a large number of task forces, review panels and advisory groups.

  I have arranged for the information requested for each of these groups to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is practicable.

  In addition my Department publishes the names of all those appointed to its Nationalised Industries and its executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies on the Public Appointments Website (www.open.gove.uk/pau/paupoint.htm). This information was last updated as of 30 September 1998 and includes the date of appointment and remuneration. I placed a copy of
  576
  the full list in the Libraries of both Houses in reply to a question tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 26 October 1998, to which I replied on 28 October 1998, Official Report, column 194.

  Whales and Dolphins
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to assess the cumulative impact of oil developments in the Atlantic Frontier on the breeding, feeding and migration of whales and dolphins in the area. [63054]

  Mr. Battle
  I understand from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC—the Government's statutory advisers on environment matters) that there is no evidence of petroleum developments in the Atlantic Frontier or any other part of the UK Continental Shelf having had any impact on marine mammals. Nevertheless, the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1998 require that the cumulative impact of any relevant project on the UKCS should be assessed before any decision about the granting of consent for that project is taken.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish an inquiry into the performance of Royal Mail postal services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [63150]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  No. Operational responsibility for the performance of Royal Mail postal services nationally rests with the Post Office Board and management. However, under the package of reforms announced last week on 7 December 1998,Official Report, columns 21–39, to give the Post Office greater commercial freedom, there will also be a new independent Regulator and a strengthened role for the Post Office Users' National Council to protect customer interests, including standards of service and universal service commitments.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of change in the quality of postal services in rural areas in the past three years in terms of the time of day by which deliveries are made. [63869]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  None. Operational responsibility for postal delivery times and arrangements in rural areas and towns rests with the Post Office Board and management. Under the package of reforms announced last week, on 7 December 1998,Official Report, columns 21–39, to give the Post Office greater commercial freedom, there will be a new independent Regulator and a strengthened role for the Post Office Users' National Council to protect customer interests, including standards of service, and universal service commitments.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on target delivery times for postal rounds in rural areas. [63885]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The target delivery times for postal rounds are set by the Post Office. Royal Mail aim to complete deliveries in rural areas by 2.00pm and in towns to complete first deliveries by 9.30am and to complete second deliveries by 2.00pm.

  WS9 Turbofan
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when an export licence for the export to China of designs for a military aircraft engine now known as the WS9 turbofan was granted. [62920]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 9 December 1998]: I understand that the Spey engine was produced in China, under an agreement with Rolls-Royce, under the name of the WS9 turbofan between 1976 and 1979. As the then Minister for Trade said on 27 October 1995, Official Report, column 837, up to July 1991, all export licence application papers were destroyed after six years. Therefore details of any licence issued for the export of the designs in connection with that production agreement are no longer available.

  Country

  (a) Short term 1

  (b) Long term 2

  Date cover agreed

  Azerbaijan

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—June 1996

  Bahrain

  Yes

  Yes

  Last Reviewed—August 1996

  Egypt

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed December 1993—Last Review October 1998

  Israel

  Yes

  Yes

  Last Reviewed—April 1998

  Jordan

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—October 1995

  Kazakhstan

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—August 1993

  Kuwait

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—1991

  Lebanon

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—1994

  Oman

  Yes

  Yes

  Last Review—ongoing

  Qatar

  Yes

  Yes

  Last Review—1997

  Saudia Arabia

  Yes

  Yes

  Last Review—November 1998

  Syria

  Yes

  No

  ST agreed—1993

  Turkmenistan

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—May 1994

  United Arab Emirates

  Yes

  Yes

  Last Review—January 1994

  Uzbekistan

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—April 1994

  West Bank and Gaza

  Yes

  Yes

  Agreed—November 1996

  Yemen

  Yes

  No

  ST agreed—November 1997

  1 Short Term refers to sales of capital goods or projects on cash terms of repayment. Short Term consumer goods are covered by the Private Sector.

  2 Long Term refers to the general availability of medium and long term cover for the sales of capital goods.

  The markets where either (a) or (b) are not currently provided, and cover is under review are:
  Iran—long term cover is under review, short term cover has been provided since July 1998.
  Kyrgyzstan—Currently no cover, but under review

  In addition:
  Iraq—ECGD is off cover for Iraq for all facilities.
  Tajikistan—No cover available.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries have asked for a rescheduling of Export Credits Guarantee Department loans or interest in 1998; in respect of what sums the rescheduling has been requested; what the dates of such requests were; and if such requests have been agreed. [62918]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 9 December 1998]: Debts owed to ECGD are rescheduled through the auspices of the Paris Club. During 1998 the following countries sought and successfully negotiated debt reschedulings in Paris:

  £

  Country

  Date of Paris Agreement

  ECGD debt rescheduled

  Cote d'lvoire

  23 April

  10,456,000

  Uganda

  24 April

  14,003,000

  Mozambique

  25 May

  2,700,000

  ECGD
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those nations of the Arabian peninsula, the Middle East and Central Asia in which ECGD(a) short term and (b) long term and project cover (i) is not currently available but is under review and (ii) is currently available and the dates on which such cover was agreed. [62917]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 9 December 1998]: The markets where ECGD is on cover for (a) short term and (b) long term and project cover and the dates which such cover was agreed are as follows:

  £

  Country

  Date of Paris Agreement

  ECGD debt rescheduled

  Senegal

  17 June

  2,630,000

  Indonesia

  23 September

  260,000,000

  Central African Republic

  25 September

  461,000

  Bosnia

  28 October

  5,000,000

  Bolivia

  30 October

  48,393,000

  Russia

  A recent request has still to be discussed

  The Paris Club will shortly consider a request from Nicaragua in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. On 10 November the Chancellor and the International Development Secretary announced a willingness to explore, with other creditors, some kind of moratorium on debt for Nicaragua and Honduras.

  Animal Welfare
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to persuade EU partners to include among the EU' s objectives for the next round of World Trade Organisation negotiations the need to revise the rules of the WTO and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to take greater account of animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement. [63490]
  579
  Mr. Wilson
  The Government are committed to improving animal welfare standards. At the Amsterdam Summit last year, we achieved our goal of giving animal welfare a special place in the European Union's priorities, formalised in a Treaty Protocol.

  We will need to consult our EU partners closely to consider whether and how best to get the issue on the agenda for the expected new round of negotiations. This will not be easy. There are no widely accepted international animal welfare standards. The WTO is not a standards making body, and developing countries would see any attempt to impose such standards through the WTO as protectionist. Any EU proposal will have to take full account of their legitimate concerns.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to ensure that EU producers are not placed at a competitive disadvantage in respect of imports from countries with lower animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement. [63489]

  Mr. Wilson
  As a result of initiatives we took in our Presidency, the European Commission has been charged with producing a report by June 1999 considering the relationship between EU and third country farm animal welfare standards. If the problem is not soluble under current world trade rules, the EU may need to raise the issue as part of the comprehensive trade negotiations we hope will start in 2000. However, the Government will be determined to avoid imposing EU standards unfairly on developing country producers.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received regarding the impact on animal welfare measures of the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [63491]

  Mr. Wilson
  Since the beginning of September, my Department has received more than 200 letters from MPs and members of the public on this matter. I have also met with animal welfare groups to discuss the issues.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the British Coal Corporation's exceptional restructuring costs listed in the answer to the hon. Member for Teignbridge of 11 November 1998,Official Report, columns 223–24, was spent on redundancy payments in each year from 1979–80 to 1997–98. [63346]

  Mr. Battle
  The following table sets out expenditure by British Coal Corporation over the period 1987 to 1994 on redundancy payments to industrial workers. Prior to 1987 redundancy payments to coal miners were not made by British Coal Corporation but were made under the Government's Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme.

  Expenditure by British Coal Corporation on redundancy payments to industrial workers 1

  Year

  £ million

  1987

  45

  1988

  281

  1989

  401

  580

  Expenditure by British Coal Corporation on redundancy payments to industrial workers 1

  Year

  £ million

  1990

  109

  1991

  192

  1992

  405

  1993

  490

  1994

  212

  1 Management records of British Coal Redundancy Arrangements 1987–1994. Figures are on a calendar year basis.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average redundancy payment made to coal miners made redundant in each year from 1979–80 to 1997–98. [63347]

  Mr. Battle
  Prior to 1987 redundancy payments to coal miners were made under the Government's Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme. These payments comprised lump sums plus ongoing weekly benefit for those over a certain age who remained unemployed. It is therefore not possible to calculate meaningful average redundancy payments to coal miners made redundant over that period. From April 1987 British Coal Corporation became responsible for its industrial redundancy arrangements and this comprised a system of lump sum payments only. The following table sets out the average redundancy payment made by British Coal Corporation to redundant colliery industrial workers over the period 1987 to 1994. These figures are on a calendar year basis.

  Average lump sum payments under British Coal Redundancy Arrangements1

  Year

  £

  1987

  15,300

  1988

  16,040

  1989

  18,530

  1990

  19,675

  1991

  22,730

  1992

  21,460

  1993

  23,535

  1994

  25,670

  1 Management records of British Coal Redundancy Arrangements 1987–1994. Figures are on a calendar year basis

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal miners were made redundant in each year from 1979–80 to 1997–98. [63345]

  Mr. Battle
  The following table sets out the number of coal miners made redundant from British Coal Corporation over the period 1979/80 up to privatisation in December 1994. Comparable data on redundancies after December 1994 are not readily available.

  Year

  Number of redundancies1

  1979–80

  1,333

  1980–81

  2,850

  1981–82

  9,294

  1982–83

  8,149

  1983–84

  17,805

  1984–85

  6,537

  1985–86

  30,095

  1986–87

  27,131

  1987–88

  16,800

  1988–89

  6,486

  1989–90

  13,042

  1990–91

  8,100

  581

  Year

  Number of redundancies1

  1991–92

  13,500

  1992–93

  12,100

  1993–94

  21,300

  1994–95

  3,000

  1 British Coal Corporation Annual Report and Accounts (various). Data from 1979–80 to 1989–90 inclusive refer to redundancies of industrial workers at collieries. Data from 1990/91 to December 1994 refer to reduction in colliery industrial manpower

  Energy Saving
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding claims about energy saving by British Gas Trading Ltd. in promotional material. [64004]

  Mr. Battle
  Neither the Secretary of State nor I have received representations regarding energy saving claims by British Gas Trading Ltd. in its promotional material.

  Baby Jag
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants or other assistance have been given or promised by his Department or by the European Commission to(a) Ford and (b) its suppliers in connection with the new manufacturing and assembly lines for the Baby Jag. [63985]

  Mr. Battle
  To secure the X400 investment for Halewood, Jaguar—a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company—was offered a support package made up of £40 million Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) and up to a £3 million contribution from the local partners. No offer of support has been made to the suppliers for the X400 project.

  Supermarkets (Prices)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his oral statement of 9 December 1998,Official Report, columns 289–95, from whom the report published by Verdict Research was commissioned; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [63997]

  Dr. Howells
  Verdict Research Limited Publishes a range of reports on the retailing sector. Their Report "Verdict on Grocers and Supermarkets 1999" was published on 7 December 1998 and copies are available from the publishers (price £890). Verdict Research reports provide independent analysis of retail sectors, key companies and trends. During the debate I quoted from Verdict's news release on their report and I shall arrange for copies of this news release to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Minimum Wage
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations received by his Department on the draft national minimum wage regulations concerning the level of the proposed accommodation deduction, indicating the balance of opinions submitted on the level of the proposed amount; and if he will make a statement. [63781]
  582
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Representations on the draft National Minimum Wage Regulations dealing with the level of deductions allowable for accommodation provided by the employer were received, by 6 November, the end of the consultation exercise, from the following:

  Abbeyfield Society

  ABTA

  Acorn Ventures Limited

  Action with Communities in Rural England

  Action Centres UK

  Association of British Riding Schools

  B & N Housing

  Brathay Hall Trust

  Hampshire Care Association

  Hothorpe Hall

  Kingswood Group

  L'Arche

  MENCAP

  British Activity Holidays Association

  British Chamber of Commerce

  Brewers & Licensed Retailers Association

  British Horse Society

  British Hospitality Association

  Experience UK Limited

  FRES

  NCVO

  Outward Bound Trust

  PGL Travel Limited

  Whiteley Homes Trust

  YHA.

  Few of those who responded to the exercise said that they would like the offset to be increased. We are currently considering the representations and will present the regulations to Parliament for approval shortly.

  Chechnya
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the written advice his Department gives to British companies considering contracts in Chechnya. [63630]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) on 14 December 1998, Official Report, columns 402–03, and to the written travel advice which he placed in the Library of the House. If asked, the Department advises all companies travelling to destinations about which there may be concern to contact the Foreign Office for advice about travel.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department gave to Granger Telecom, Surrey in respect of the safety of British Nationals working in Chechnya. [63629]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The Department did not receive a request from Granger Telecom for advice in respect of the safety of Granger's British staff working in Chechnya. Had such a request

  583
  been received, the Department's officials would have referred Granger Telecom to the Foreign Office for travel advice.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his Department was informed of negotiations relating to the contract between Granger Telecom, Surrey and Chechen Telecom. [63628]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: There is no record of Granger Telecom having informed the Department about negotiations relating to its contract with Chechen Telecom.

  Credit Reference Agencies
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the rules and regulations in the Consumer Credit Act 1974 governing the granting of licences to credit reference agencies. [64078]

  Dr. Howells
  I have no current plans to review the rules and regulations governing the granting of licences to credit reference agencies. However, I am pleased to announce that later this month I will publish a consultation paper on the changes in Regulations needed to put the supervision of rights of individuals and sole traders on access to their credit reference files unequivocally under the Data Protection Registrar. This replaces the dual supervision by the Director General of Fair Trading and the DPR which currently exists under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the Data Protection Act 1984. It will complete the regulatory changes on this issue introduced in the Data Protection Act 1998. The change will also give sole traders the clear right to see their credit reference files, rather than the conditional right they currently have. The paper will also set out proposals for making clearer the statements of rights borrowers receive on correcting wrong information held on their files.

  Freephone Numbers
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has undertaken to ascertain the impact upon business of changes proposed to the system of freephone numbers by OFTEL. [63521]

  Company Name

  Project Name

  Date of Announcement

  Hosokawa Stott

  Manufacture of Equipment

  1 January 1997

  Tetra Pak

  HDPE Milk Bottles

  1 May 1997

  Associated Capital Corporation

  Credit Card Operations Centre

  22 May 1997

  Brewster Wallcoverings

  Distribution & Warehousing of Paint

  1 June 1997

  Teco Information Systems

  Sales, Distribution Configuration Co.

  30 June 1997

  Telewest Communications

  Sales TV

  1 August 1997

  Viking Direct

  Call Centre, Office Equipment, Stationery

  5 August 1997

  DFDS Transport

  Shipping Agents

  8 August 1997

  Aspentech

  Developer of Computer Software

  31 August 1997

  Centurion Furniture Plc.

  Upholstered Furniture

  1 September 1997

  Kodak

  Manufacture of Imaging Products

  22 September 1997

  Yardley Plastics Ltd.

  Thermoplastic Compounds Processing

  23 September 1997

  Hosokawa Micron Ltd.

  Powder Processing Equipment

  29 September 1997

  Voith Sulzer Paper Technology

  Calendars/Rolls for Paper

  13 October 1997

  AB Thoreb

  Software Programmes/IT Systems

  1 November 1997

  Dunlop Hevea (Ind. Footwear) Ltd.

  Manufacture of Industrial Footwear

  12 November 1997

  ELF Aquitaine (UK) Ltd.

  Pharmaceutical Intermediates

  19 November 1997

  Francis Shaw and Co Ltd.

  Rubber Mixing Machinery

  1 December 1997

  Woodbridge Foam (UK) Ltd.

  Car Seat Foam

  15 December 1997

  584
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: The administration of the National Numbering Scheme is a matter for Oftel. Oftel has consulted extensively on changes to numbering arrangements. The National Numbering Scheme was established following public consultation. Oftel' s proposals to change freephone numbers, in line with the Scheme, were the subject of a separate consultation earlier this year and conclusions have yet to be reached.

  Demand for freephone numbers increased by over 50 per cent. in 1998, compared to 1997. Oftel believes that a change to freephone numbers is necessary as it will shortly run out of 0800 blocks of numbers.

  Departmental Visits
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials of his Department visited Chile in each year since 1990. [64021]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Central records are not held for the years preceding 1995; however, the following figures are available for 1995 and subsequent years:

  Year

  Number

  1995

  3

  1996

  6

  1997

  6

  1998

  111

  1 regional conference

  Inward Investment (North-West)
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the inward investment projects in the North West which have(a) commenced operation and (b) been announced since May 1997. [64217]

  Mrs. Roche
  There is no requirement to notify projects to the Department. The list includes only those projects where the Department' s Invest in Britain Bureau and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice. It does not include projects where the company has requested commercial confidentiality. It is based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. It takes no account of subsequent developments.
  585

  Company Name

  Project Name

  Date of Announcement

  Volclay Ltd.

  Cat Litter and Specialised Clay Products

  20 December 1997

  Learonal (UK) Plc.

  Industrial Chemicals

  2 January 1998

  A1 Security and Electrical ltd.

  Manufacturer of Security Alarm System

  23 January 1998

  North West Forgemasters Ltd.

  Engineering Components

  1 February 1998

  Holt Lloyd International Ltd.

  Car Care Products

  2 February 1998

  Ashley and Rock Ltd.

  Electrical Wiring Accessories

  3 February 1998

  Tomcat UK Ltd.

  Aluminium Structural Components

  12 February 1998

  Delevan

  Fuel Components Servicing

  1 March 1998

  Phonak UK Ltd.

  Hearing Aids

  11 March 1998

  Polynorm Plastics (UK) Ltd.

  Automotive Components

  29 March 1998

  Ultramark Adhesive Products Ltd.

  Self-Adhesive Vinyls and Films

  1 April 1998

  Shell Services International Ltd.

  Pan-European IT Helpdesk Services

  22 April 1998

  Oliver Ashworth

  Distributor and Stockholder of Pipeline Products

  23 April 1998

  IP Information Services Ltd.

  IT-Shared Services Centre

  26 May 1998

  Leyland Trucks Ltd.

  Manufacture and Sale of Commercial and Military Trucks

  1 June 1998

  NGF Europe Ltd.

  Manufacture of Glass Products

  29 July 1998

  SICPS UK Ltd.

  Printing Inks and Security Inks

  1 August 1998

  New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Ltd.

  Manufacture of Athletic Shoes

  1 September 1998

  Leyland Trucks Ltd.

  Manufacture of Commercial Vehicles

  2 September 1998

  Candy Domestic Appliances Ltd.

  Manufacture of Domestic Refrigeration Appliances

  21 September 1998

  Sonae UK Ltd.

  Manufacture of Particleboard

  30 September 1998

  Civil Aerospace Research
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to promote British civil aerospace research and development; and if he will make a statement. [64243]

  Mr. Battle
  The Department has maintained a close dialogue with the aerospace industry concerning the support available for civil research which has been provided under the Department's Civil Aviation Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme. Plans for the future promotion of research await decisions about detailed DTI budget allocations in future years.

  Support has been provided by the Government for development of civil aerospace projects in the form of repayable risk-sharing investment known as Launch Investment. Applications for Launch Investment will be considered on their merits and against competing demands on public expenditure.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sums his Department spent on the civil aerospace research and development programme in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [64245]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 7 December 1998,Official Report, columns 67–68.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his Department's(a) current and (b) planned levels of spending on the civil aerospace research and development programme; and if he will make a statement. [64244]

  Mr. Battle
  The budget for the Department's Civil Aviation Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme for the current financial year is £21,102,000. No decisions have yet been made about detailed DTI budget allocations in future years.

  Industrial Tribunal Claims
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the backlog of claims to industrial tribunals in respect of pension rights for part-time workers to have been dealt with. [64234]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Progress on these pension cases has been stayed pending the outcome of a further referral to the European Court of Justice in January 1998. When the outcome of this referral is known, the cases will be processed in accordance with directions given by the Presidents of Employment Tribunals.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial tribunal claims relating to part-time workers' pension rights have been initiated since the European Court of Justice decision of September 1994; and how many have been settled. [64232]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Following the judgment of the European Court of Justice in September 1994 approximately 42,000 cases have been registered claiming part-time worker pension rights. The pension cases are not identified separately in the records of the Employment Tribunals, therefore, information is not available on the number of cases that have been settled.

  Clergy (Employment Rights)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for legislation which will affect the employment rights of clergy. [63711]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Fairness at Work White Paper contained a proposal for an order making power enabling the Government to extend the coverage of employment legislation to categories of workers not currently covered. It also indicated that the Government would consult fully on specific changes before exercising this power. The position of the clergy is one of the matters to which consideration will be given during the course of this consultative process.

  Israel
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the reports he
  587
  has received from the IAEA concerning the (a) Negev Nuclear Research Centre in Dimona, (b) Nahal Soreq,
  (c) Yodefar, (d) Klar Zokhayra, (e) Eilabin, (f) Haifa (Yelloweake) and (g) Rehovot (Heavy Water) plants in Israel. [62667]

  Mr. Battle
  The only Israeli plant subject to IAEA safeguards inspections is Nahal Soreq. The IAEA have published only one report concerning this plant, a 1993 report entitled 'The Radiological Accident in Soreq'. I will be placing a copy of this report in the Library of the House.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the reports he has received from the IAEA concerning the(a) Al Tuwaitha, (b) Al Quan, (c) Al Jesira, (d) Akashot, (e) Al Qa Qaa, (f) Al Athaar, (g) Al Hadre, (h) Roshdiya and (j) Ash Sharqat plants in Iraq. [62666]

  Mr. Battle
  The Iraqi Action Team of the IAEA have published twenty-nine reports covering their short-term safeguards inspections in the period 1991–1995. Since then they have published a further six six-monthly consolidated reports. My officials have ordered copies of these reports from the IAEA in Vienna and I will place these in the Library of the House once I have received them in the New Year.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the provision of regional selective assistance in euros. [64552]

  Mr. Mandelson
  With effect from 1 January 1999, recipients of Regional Selective Assistance (in Northern Ireland, Selective Financial Assistance) for internationally mobile investment will be given the option of having their grants denominated in euro where it is to the country's competitive advantage to do so. This will particularly help those companies which trade internationally and who may find it convenient to use the euro a common planning currency. It shows that the UK is well prepared for companies dealing in the euro and will help ensure that the UK remains the most favoured venue for foreign direct investment in the EU.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Terminator Gene Technology
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of terminator gene technology on developing countries. [62753]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My Department is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of the implications of all aspects of genetically modified organisms for poor farmers in developing countries.

  Our Government are strong supporters of a Bio Safety protocol which would establish standards to regulate the development and release of genetically modified organisations world wide.

  Sustainable Projects
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to ensure that the objective of sustainability is included in UK aid programmes. [62755]

  Clare Short
  Sustainable development is crucial to the elimination of poverty and is central to the Government's policy on international development. My Department applies rigorous procedures to ensure that the projects and programmes we support have clear sustainable outcomes which benefit poor people.

  We seek to work in partnership with recipient countries committed to pro-poor policies and explore with them how assistance will be economically and financially sustainable in the long term. This includes promoting effective planning of government expenditure and revenue, reduction of debt to sustainable levels and sustainable use of environmental resources.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work undertaken by her Department to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in the developing world. [62756]

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives her Department has taken to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in developing countries. [62761]

  Clare Short
  We are supporting national programmes in 39 developing countries. We are also working in collaboration with UNAIDS and other UN agencies in co-ordinated efforts. And we are funding research into development of new methods of protection against HIV, providing subsidised contraceptives and programmes to encourage safe sex, and supporting the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine by contributing to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.

  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken to help prevent the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. [62767]

  Clare Short
  We are working to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa through contributions to the work of UNAIDS, the EC and international non-governmental organisations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation. We have significant programmes with national governments in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We are also funding research into the development of new methods of protection against HIV, providing subsidised contraceptives and programmes to encourage safe sex, and supporting the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine, by contributing to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget is allocated to HIV and AIDS projects. [64174]

  Clare Short
  In calendar year 1997, 3.6 per cent. of the UK overseas development assistance (£73 million) was invested in reproductive health, excluding expenditure
  589
  through the EC and the World Bank, which we are unable to dis-aggregate. Much of our spending on improving basic healthcare systems will also bring benefits to people with HIV and AIDS. We estimate that around 40 per cent. of this sum was invested in work which related directly to HIV/AIDS.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the World Bank to increase support for HIV/AIDS vaccine development. [64182]

  Clare Short
  My officials meet regularly with counterparts in the World Bank to encourage them in their support for HIV/AIDS vaccine development through International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and other channels. The latest of these meetings took place in Washington in November.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress made on establishing an HIV/AIDS vaccine purchase fund. [64183]

  Clare Short
  The World Bank is considering how best to establish a global HIV/AIDS vaccine purchase fund for the long term benefit of the poorest, most affected countries. Consultations continue with Governments and a range of profit and not-for-profit groups such as the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. Britain is committed to supporting the development of a safe and effective vaccine and to creating the conditions which make it affordable and accessible to affected developing countries.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) by project and (b) by country the (i) HIV and AIDS and (ii) education projects her Department supports. [64180]

  Clare Short
  We provide direct support for HIV/AIDS activities in 39 Countries, intensively in ten of these. A list will be placed in the Library of the House. It does not include HIV/AIDS activities supported through multilateral institutions such as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO), all of whom receive funding from the British Government.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Governments of G8 countries to support the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. [64179]

  Clare Short
  We regularly encourage G8 counterparts to contribute to HIV/AIDS vaccine development through International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). We took the latest opportunity available for us in the margins of a meeting last week of the UNAIDS Programme Co-ordinating Board in Delhi.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department is currently providing to Bangladesh. [62757]

  Clare Short
  We have a substantial programme in Bangladesh and expect to invest around £67 million in 1998–99. This includes £45 million for our normal 590
  bilateral co-operation activities, of which more than half is spent on direct poverty assistance, with projects in health and education, micro-credit, employment generation, and food production. Other projects target infrastructure development, and public sector reform. We are also providing £22 million additional assistance this year to assist recovery from the recent devastating floods.

  AIDS (South Africa)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to assist the South African Government in combating AIDS. [62758]

  Clare Short
  South Africa is one of the countries most badly affected by HIV/AIDS. The rate of new infections is estimated at 1,500 per day and 2.5 million people are already infected. South Africa's leaders are beginning to take the issue seriously and support for AIDS control and preventions is a priority for our development partnership. But the challenge also requires regional action and we are discussing with governments, UNAIDS and the European Commission how to intensify our support for sexual and reproductive health to develop more effective national and regional programmes.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the role of NGOs in the delivery of aid. [62759]

  Clare Short
  NGOs have a very important role to play, along with other elements of civil society, in helping deliver programmes and in raising awareness of the needs and rights of poor people in both developing countries and Britain.

  EC Development Assistance
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to improve the quality of EC development assistance. [62762]

  Clare Short
  We have recently published our strategy for improving the quality of EC development assistance. It has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It was prepared in consultation with a wide range of interested bodies. The paper sets out 18 detailed objectives for the Department for International Development (DFID) for its partnership with the EC. The main focus is on: improving the poverty focus of the EC's programmes, in particular through forthcoming decisions on resource allocation; rationalising the Commission's organisation structure for managing external assistance, and strengthening staffing; improving aid management systems and harmonising and streamlining procedures to increase the developmental impact of the EC's programmes; and strengthening coordination and collaboration between the Commission, member states and other donors, within a framework managed by beneficiary countries.

  DFID will work with other member states, the Commission. the European Parliament and the Court of Auditors in pursuit of these objectives. We are committed to maximising the effectiveness of the EC's work to promote international development. Our approach will, as

  591
  in the past, be informed by discussions with beneficiary countries, NGOs, the private sector and the academic community.

  Nepal
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will assist programmes of good governance in Nepal; and if she will make a statement. [62763]

  Clare Short
  We are assisting programmes of good governance in Nepal and hope to do more in the future. Nepal's new democracy has led to increasing recognition of the need for fundamental reforms to bring about more effective government. The Government's plans for decentralisation may lead to improvements. We shall be looking at ways in which we can support this. We believe that Government and donors need to do more to empower the people to pursue their basic rights. The success of the national community forestry programme demonstrates that the right combination of legislative reform, administrative change and empowerment has great potential for changing the lives of the disadvantaged. This is part of DFID's strategy which we recently published in the Nepal Country Strategy Paper, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Hurricane Mitch
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the findings of the experts from her Department on the reconstruction needs of those central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch which they visited. [62764]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Mr. Twigg) on 3 December 1998,Official Report, column 238.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts she has made to involve the churches in raising awareness of the links between debt relief and the eradication of poverty. [62765]

  Clare Short
  I am in regular touch with churches and representatives of other faiths on this important issue. I addressed the General Synod of the Church of England on 18 November, and called for us to join forces to construct a world-wide alliance of world faiths for the elimination of poverty during the next century. In this speech I made plain the Government's support for faster and deeper debt relief in the right circumstances. But I also make it clear that debt relief was no "magic bullet" to end all poverty, as some campaigners appear to believe. Nor should debt relief be unconditional or unilateral. Not all poor countries need debt relief, and where it is needed it should go only to those countries which are committed to the eradication of poverty. This approach has been fully endorsed by church groups and NGOs.

  Crises Assistance (International Co-ordination)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the last 12 months on international co-ordination of assistance in response to crisis situations. [62766]
  592
  Clare Short
  The United Nations' Secretary General's Track II reform process has led to improvements in inter-agency joint working and co-ordination within the international community: the UK has strongly supported this process.

  The UK continues to play an important role in supporting the United Nation's disaster assessment and co-ordination (UNDAC) mechanism, including hosting, organising and contributing to disaster assessment, co-ordination and response training events, and regularly providing and meeting the costs of UK experts on UNDAC missions.

  We are also working with the International Red Cross movement to strengthen their capacity to respond to emergency situations within the context of an internationally co-ordinated response system. We are also backing the efforts of non-governmental organisations to develop a code of conduct and minimum standards for humanitarian response.

  Sudan
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards providing a corridor of tranquillity in Sudan. [62769]

  Clare Short
  The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Technical Committee on Humanitarian Affairs met on 16 to 18 November 1998. An agreement on the operational standards for rail corridors and cross-line road corridors was signed by the Government of Sudan, the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement and the UN. Further work is being undertaken to put this agreement into effect.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to promote the outlawing of child labour. [62770]

  Clare Short
  We are supporting the International LabourOrganisation's work aimed at producing a new International Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour which we hope will be agreed by all members of the ILO at the International Labour Conference in June 1999. This will cover forms of labour which enslave, corrupt, maim and kill children and young people under the age of 18.

  We are also working with developing country governments and international organisations to help tackle the problem in practical ways because in many countries despite laws against child labour, children from very poor families—often female headed—work as a result of extreme poverty. Programmes are needed to enable their parents to work for a better income and to provide schooling for children. Examples include a project in Sialkot to provide social support for children leaving the football stitching industry. We are also discussing with ILO's International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour a possible programme on child labour in small-scale mining in Tanzania. Earlier this year we provided a grant of $1 million to IPEC to help take forward their programmes.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's humanitarian work in Kosovo. [62771]

  Clare Short
  We have worked closely with international organisations, such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to ensure that the humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict in Kosovo are met. We have so far provided £3 million for this purpose.

  A Department for International Development mission visited the Former Republic of Yugoslavia and Albania between 16–26 November to assess conditions on the ground and the state of aid co-ordination. A humanitarian disaster has been averted, but the situation remains serious and must be monitored carefully. The internally displaced persons who were living out of doors are now back under shelter. The international response is generally adequate to meet current emergency needs of displaced people and refugees for food, blankets, stoves, mattresses and fuels. It is vital that this current level of humanitarian operations be maintained.

  AIDS (Africa)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has to promote support through market mechanisms for research on pharmaceutical products to combat AIDS in Africa. [62754]

  Clare Short
  Finding safe and effective vaccines, microbicides that prevent sexual infection and low cost means to reduce mother to child transmission are vital elements of efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. The UK is supporting national and international initiatives to establish incentives for product discovery and product development in poor countries. Left to themselves, market forces will not develop products for the poorest countries. The UK is collaborating with the World Bank in exploring and devising market support mechanisms necessary for industry to engage in developing vaccines and other products of benefit to the poorer countries. This work is still in its early stages.

  Country

  Duration

  Cost (£)

  Purpose

  Thailand

  14 September 1997

  5,808

  To visit DFID projects

  South Africa

  5 October 1997

  4,303

  To visit DFID projects

  France

  22 October 1997

  169

  Meetings with UNESCO

  Sweden

  27 October 1997

  542

  To attend meetings on International Solidarity

  Belgium

  20 October 1997

  386

  To attend the Development Council

  Belgium

  10 November 1997

  201

  To attend General Affairs Council

  France

  19 November 1997

  523

  To visit the European Parliament

  Belgium

  27 November 1997

  390

  To attend the Development Council

  Canada

  2 December 1997

  2,694

  To attend the signing of the Land mines Treaty

  Germany

  9 December

  732

  Pre-presidency meeting

  Italy

  11 December

  1,106

  Pre-presidency meeting

  Portugal

  15 December

  1,229

  Pre-presidency meeting

  Malawi

  1–8 January 1998

  7,699

  To inspect DFID projects

  Bosnia

  2–3 February 1998

  8,975

  To inspect DFID projects

  Belgium

  17 March 1998

  1,001

  EU Seminar on 21st Century

  France

  21 March

  1,448

  Ministerial meeting on Water & Sustainable Development

  Switzerland

  17–26 March

  1,012

  UN meetings

  Belgium/France/Germany

  30 March-2 April

  893

  EU Parliament General Affairs/Lecture

  France

  7–8 April

  1,220

  OECD Development Affairs

  USA

  14–18 April

  6,469

  IMF & IBRD meetings

  Barbados/Guyana

  7–11 May

  4,740

  ACP/EU Ministerial meetings

  Colombia
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received on the situation of street children in Colombia. [64178]

  Clare Short
  I have not received any representations on the specific situation of street children in Colombia. However, I recognise the severe problems faced by street children. In Colombia we provide support for two street children projects through the DFID Small Grants Scheme and through our Joint Funding Scheme supports a Save the Children Fund project aimed at improving regional policy towards child rights.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects that her Department is supporting in Colombia. [64181]

  Clare Short
  The projects that DFID currently support in Colombia are as follows:

  Groundwater Pollution Control Project;

  Integrated Coffee Pest Management;

  SENA Post Fruit Handling;

  Efficiency Unit Project;

  London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine—link on a programme to assess intensive care provision.

  We also provide funding for technical co-operation training, Chevening awards, and through DFID' s Joint Funding Scheme and the DFID Small Grants Scheme which is administered by the British Embassy in Bogota.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the countries she has visited since 1 May 1997, (b) the duration of her stay in those countries and (c) the cost of travel to those countries. [63542]

  Clare Short
  Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on travel for Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration. The details requested are as follows:
  595

  Country

  Duration

  Cost (£)

  Purpose

  Belgium

  18–19 May

  404

  European Council Development Council meetings

  Switzerland

  2 June

  961

  ILO meetings

  Luxembourg

  8 June

  872

  GAC meeting

  Vietnam/China

  11–18 June

  10,832

  To visit DFID projects

  Luxembourg

  28–29 June

  1,024

  GAC meeting

  South Africa/Mozambique

  19–27 July

  11,140

  To visit DFID projects

  Tanzania

  24–28 August

  4,649

  To inspect DFID projects

  Ghana

  6–9 September

  7,924

  To inspect DFID projects

  USA

  5–6 October

  8,827

  World Bank Development Committee meetings

  Japan

  17–20 October

  13,140

  TICAD 11 meetings

  Nepal

  12–16 November

  10,089

  To inspect DFID projects

  Germany

  23 November

  802

  Meeting with German Development Minister

  Belgium

  30 November

  519

  European Parliament Development Council meetings

  USA

  10–11 December

  8,645

  To attend UN meetings

  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the countries which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development has visited since 1 May 1997, (b) the duration of his stay in those countries and (c) the cost of travel to those countries. [63541]

  Country

  Duration

  Cost (£)

  Purpose

  1997

  Canada

  20–22 May

  2,798

  Caribbean Development Bank Annual Meeting

  Luxembourg

  5 June

  464

  EU Development Council

  Botswana/South Africa

  28–31 July

  4,670

  Commonwealth Education Conference and DFID Programme visit

  Monsterrat

  1–3 September

  2,493

  DFID Programme visit

  Italy

  7 October

  755

  Desertification Conference

  Switzerland

  13 October

  448

  UNHCR Annual Executive Committee Meeting

  Ukraine

  24–26 November

  1,344

  DFID Programme Visit

  1998

  France

  13 January

  289

  OECD Meeting

  Bahamas

  10–13 February

  2,922

  FCO Caribbean Forum

  Belgium

  26 February

  299

  European Parliament Meetings

  Colombia

  15–19 March

  4,077

  Inter-American Development Bank Annual Meeting and DFID programme visit

  Mauritius

  20–22 April

  5,210

  ACP-EU Forum

  Ukraine

  11 May

  1,382

  EBRD Annual Meeting

  Grenada

  13–14 May

  2,319

  Caribbean Development Bank Annual Meeting

  Belgium

  18 May

  547

  EU Development Council

  Bulgaria

  1–2 June

  1,099

  DFID Programme visit

  Switzerland

  6 June

  477

  ICRC Conference

  France

  9 June

  273

  National Assembly Debate

  Russia

  2–7 July

  1,078

  DFID Programme visit

  Brazil

  21–24 September

  6,077

  DFID Programme visit

  Belgium

  30 September

  458

  ACP/EU Negotiations

  France

  6–7 October

  369

  World Conference on Higher Education

  Fiji

  12–14 November

  16,304

  DFID Programme visit

  New Zealand

  15–21 November

  1—

  CPA Conference

  Belgium

  28 October

  309

  European Parliament Meetings

  Jordan

  3 November

  —

  DFID Programme visit

  West Bank and Gaza

  4–5 November

  1,877

  DFID Programme visit

  South Africa

  2–4 December

  4,670

  ACOPS Conference and DFID Programme visit

  1 Same invoice

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to include Irish as a category in her Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63881]

  Clare Short
  Monitoring in this area is based on ethnic origin and not nationality. The ethnic origin categories monitored by my Department are those used in the 1991
  596
  Clare Short
  Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on travel for Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration. The details requested are as follows:

  census which did not include an Irish category. They will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

  Maternal Health Projects
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) by project and (b) by country, the maternal health projects her Department supports. [64173]
  597
  Clare Short
  We directly support maternal health projects and programmes in around 20 countries, mainly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. A list will be placed in the Libraries of the House. It includes support for national safe motherhood programmes in Malawi and Nepal. It does not, however, include the maternal health work of multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the European Community and the World Bank, or international civil society groups such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation, all of which receive substantial support from the UK's Department for International Development.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget is allocated to improving maternal health in developing countries. [64177]

  Clare Short
  In calendar year 1997, 3.6 per cent. of the UK overseas development assistance (£73 million) was invested in reproductive health, excluding expenditure through the EC and the World Bank, which we are unable to dis-aggregate. We estimate that around 15 per cent. of this spend was invested directly in reducing the dangers of pregnancy and childbirth. But clearly our spending on improving basic healthcare systems also benefit material health. We are reforming the Department's management information system to track all spending in relation to the International Development Goals. This will include a dedicated marker for contributions to reduced maternal mortality.

  Hemp Industry
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to support the development of the hemp industry into the production of industrial fibre. [64175]

  Clare Short
  While my Department has been active in the development and use of many vegetable fibre crops—e.g. jute, flax, sisal; it currently has no plans to support the hemp (Cannabis sativa) fibre industry in any developing country.

  Palestinians (Aid)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the current level of financial assistance the Government are providing to the Palestinians. [63860]

  Clare Short
  During the last financial year (1997–98), the Department for International Development (DFID) invested £30 million in development cooperation with the Palestinians. This comprised £16 million through DFID' s direct programme in the West Bank and Gaza and contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees and £14 million in contributions to the EC's programmes for assistance for the Palestinians. DFID expects to spend a similar amount this financial year. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry provided some small scale assistance totalling just over £50,000.

  Ethical Trading
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the companies which have agreed to join the Ethical Trading Initiative. [64176]

  Clare Short
  The following companies have joined the Ethical Trading Initiative or have agreed to join and are in the process of doing so:

  B&Q Plc.

  CWS ("The Co-op")

  J. Sainsbury Ltd.

  Littlewoods

  Pentland Group Plc.

  Premier Brands

  Reebok International Ltd.

  Somerfield Stores Ltd.

  Tesco

  The Body Shop International.

  In addition, a substantial number of other companies have expressed an interest in the Ethical Trading Initiative, especially since its annual conference which took place earlier this month, but I understand they are still deciding whether to become members. A number of NGOs and unions are also members and my Department has provided financial support to the ETI. I strongly commend all companies with supply chains in developing countries to consider joining.

  Copies of ETI' s base code and membership information have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Education Budgets
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's budget is spent on education projects. [64172]

  Clare Short
  The percentage of identifiable expenditure under my Department's bilateral programme spent on education (including scholarships) for developing countries in 1997 was 11 per cent. and is expected to be the same in 1998. It is not possible to identify the percentage of expenditure spent on education under our contributions to multilateral programmes.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Communities Expenditure
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the vade-mecum for the European Communities budget line B2-5122. [64188]

  Ms Quin
  The vade-mecum for budget line B2-5122 can be found in Official Journal No. 44 (Volume 41) published on 16 February 1998, a copy of which is available in the House Library.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason European Communities budget lines (i) B3-300 and (ii) B3-301 are not broken down by member state; what elements of
  599
  these budget lines are known by his Department to have been distributed in the United Kingdom; and for what purpose. [64094]

  Ms Quin
  The Commission is not obliged by either Regulation or Treaty to maintain its accounts broken down by Member State for budget lines B3-300 and B3-301. the Commission is also not obliged, as a matter of course, to inform Member States which individuals or organisations have received information services or devolved funding. Official Journal No. L44 (Volume 41) published on 16 February 1998, a copy of which is available in the House Library, gives an explanation of the purpose of each Community budget line.

  B3-300 covers a range of information measures including opinion polling, impact assessment, sponsored visits, publications, TV productions and internet sites. B3-301 funds, in the UK, European Document Centres in university libraries (45) and European Information Centres providing business intelligence on operating in the EU (21). The information held in these various centres generally includes UK Government publications, as well as EU documents and academic and commercial literature and databases.

  European Information Association
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those publications from the European Information Association to which his Department subscribes; and if he will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library. [64093]

  Ms Quin
  This Department subscribes to the following European Information Association publications: European Information; EIA update. These are available in the House Library.

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the matters currently being discussed by European Community working groups which await treaty base pending the ratification of the treaty of Amsterdam; and what level of representation his Department provides to these groups. [64193]

  Ms Quin
  On 30 November 1998, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers published an interim progress report on the work in hand for the implementation of the Treaty of Amsterdam. This list covers work in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs, external EU relations/CFSP and Institutional questions. Work in these areas involve officials in the working groups and Ambassadors and Ministers as appropriate. I have placed a copy of the Presidency paper in the Libraries of the House.

  Turkish Parliamentarians (Imprisonment)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on the imprisonment of(a) Mrs. Leyla Zana and (b) other members of the Turkish Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [64121]

  Ms Quin
  We have raised the imprisonment of Ms Zana and the other former Democracy (DEP) Party MPs with the Turkish authorities on a number of 600
  occasions. We have repeatedly stressed to the Turkish government that the prosecution of democratically elected politicians for the non-violent expression of their views is wrong, and damages Turkey's international standing.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the reply given in another place by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 3 December 1998, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 596–98.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63872]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  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 nine ethnic origin categories monitored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 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.

  Dalit Community
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Indian Government on human rights issues in relation to the Dalit community. [63867]

  Mr. Fatchett
  During my visit to India in November I raised human rights issues with the Indian authorities, including attacks on minority communities. I also mentioned our concerns about religious freedom and tolerance. We will continue to make clear to the Government of India our commitment to human rights.

  Abdullah Ocalan
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has held with EU ministers over the arrest of Abdullah Ocalan in Italy. [63861]

  Ms Quin
  Prime Minister D'Alema of Italy raised the issue of the arrest of Abdullah Ocalan during his talks in London with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30 November.

  European Union Foreign Ministers also discussed the issue briefly at the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 7 December.

  Turkey
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Turkey. [63896]

  Ms Quin
  We attach great importance to our relations with Turkey and value our dialogue on a wide range of issues.
  601
  We have been working with the Austrian Presidency of the European Union and our EU Partners to develop the European Strategy for Turkey to enhance relations between Turkey and the Union.

  Prime Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions British prime ministers have visited(a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovenia and (e) Estonia in the last 10 years. [63562]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  In the last 10 years, British Prime Ministers made the following visits:

  a) Poland

  May 1988

  May 1992

  August 1994

  b) Hungary

  September 1990

  May 1992

  December 1994

  c) Czech Republic

  September 1990

  May 1992

  April 1996.

  Note:

  Prior to January 1993, the Czech Republic was part of Czechoslovakia.

  No visits were made, in the last 10 years, to Slovenia or Estonia.

  Heads of Government Visits
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from United Kingdom embassies about the numbers and occasions of visits of heads of Government of other EU countries to(a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovenia and (e) Estonia since each of these countries submitted their formal applications for membership of the EU. [63561]

  Ms Quin
  British Embassies in Central Europe keep the FCO regularly informed of significant events in their host countries, including major inward visits. I am listing indicative details of visits made by heads of government of other European Union member states to the five Central European countries currently engaged in accession negotiations. The list for each applicant country covers the period since it formally applied for EU membership. Although careful efforts were made in compiling the lists to include all visits for which the FCO has records, it is possible some visits were made that are not reflected in the materials available to the FCO.

  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary place importance on developing strong bilateral relations between Britain and the countries of Central Europe. Visits at all levels play an important part in fostering these relationships. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has visited seven of the ten Central European countries that have applied for membership. He has met all his opposite numbers and has hosted all but the most recently appointed Central European Foreign Ministers.
  602
  Czech Republic
  Visits by other EU Member state heads of government—since 17 January 1996
  French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, November 1998
  Luxembourg Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, August 1997
  Netherlands Prime Minister, Wim Kok, March 1997
  German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, January 1997

  Estonia
  Visits by other EU Member state heads of government—since 24 November 1995
  Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, April 1998
  Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, February 1998
  Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, December 1997
  Finnish Prime Minister, Paavo Lipponen, November 1997
  Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, April 1996
  Finnish Prime Minister, Paavo Lipponen, January 1996

  Hungary
  Visits by other EU Member state heads of government—since 31 March 1994
  Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, May 1998
  Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, March 1998
  Austrian Chancellor, Viktor Klima, March 1997
  Austrian Chancellor, Franz Vranitzky, October 1996
  Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, October 1996
  Austrian Chancellor, Franz Vranitzky, June 1996
  Austrian Chancellor, Franz Vranitzky, April 1994
  German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, April 1994

  Poland
  Visits by other EU Member state heads of government—since 5 April 1994
  German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, November 1998
  Finnish Prime Minister, Paavo Lipponen, October 1998
  German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, October 1998
  Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, March 1998
  German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, February 1998
  Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, January 1998
  Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, March 1997
  Danish Prime Minister, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, March 1997
  Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, September 1996
  Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, September 1996
  Austrian Chancellor, Franz Vranitzky, July 1996
  Austrian Chancellor, Franz Vranitzky, October 1995
  Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, October 1995
  German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, July 1995
  Belgium Prime Minister, Jean-Luc Dehaene, January 1995
  French Prime Minister, Eduard Balladur, July 1994

  Slovenia
  Visits by other EU Member state heads of government visits—since 10 June 1996
  Italian Prime Minister, Massimo D'Alema, December 1998
  Belgian Prime Minister, Jean-Luc Dehaene, June 1998
  Austrian Chancellor, Viktor Klima, October 1997
  Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, March 1997

  European Parliament (Elections)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998,Official Report, column 161, on European elections, if he will list the terms of the mandate

  603
  given to the General Affairs Group by the Committee of Permanent Representatives; by whom that mandate was approved; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the European Parliament's proposed common principles. [64095]

  Ms Quin
  The Committee of Permanent Representatives made the procedural decision to ask the General Affairs Group to examine the European Parliament's proposal for common principles for European elections with a view to making recommendations to the General Affairs Council. The principle of proportional representation is in line wit the Government's plan for changes to the system for European parliamentary elections in Great Britain. The Government therefore supports the broad aim of the proposal, thought the detailed issues remain to be resolved.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 3 and 4 December; and if he will make a statement. [63165]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I represented the United Kingdom at the Council. As the details of the main matters dealt with are lengthy, they have been placed in the Library.

  Child Curfews
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of local child curfews which will be introduced in the next year; and if he will make a statement. [63686]

  Mr. Boateng
  Local child curfews are a permissive rather than a mandatory power. The decision to apply for a local child curfew scheme is one for an individual local authority. A curfew notice would be applied only where a local authority identifies a problem involving disruptive children and decides to intervene. The number of curfew notices imposed annually will therefore reflect the nature of youth crime problems as identified locally.

  Local child curfews should be seen within the context of a general community safety strategy. The aim of such curfews is two fold. They will address the need to protect young children from being drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour, and they will protect communities from the misery and distress which can be caused by groups of unsupervised children.

  Law and Order
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses were received and from whom, to the consultation documents, "Joining Forces to Protect the Public", and "The Future Organisation of Family Courts". [63927]

  Mr. Boateng
  The number of responses we have received by 14 December to the two consultation documents, "Joining Forces to Protect the Public" and 604
  "The Future Organisation of Court Welfare Services", and the category within which the respondents fall, are as detailed:

  Joining forces to protect the public

  Category

  Number of replies received

  Members of Parliament

  14

  Probation committees and services

  59

  Probation representative groups

  15

  Sentencers, courts and associated representative organisations

  48

  Police forces and representative groups

  18

  Crown Prosecution Service

  1

  Other partnership agencies

  16

  Individual members of probation staff

  9

  Local Authority sources

  31

  Health Authorities

  4

  Others and the public

  51

  Total

  266

  Additionally, the Prison Service has conducted an internal consultation exercise including meetings with about 250 area managers, governors and others.

  The future organisation of Court Welfare Services

  Category

  Number of replies received

  Members of Parliament

  0

  Probation committees and services

  61

  Probation representative groups

  6

  Probation personnel

  20

  Guardian ad litem and reporting officer (GALRO) panels/GALRO panel committees

  68

  Local Authority sources

  40

  Guardian ad litem and reporting officer (GALRO) personnel

  2

  The judiciary—judges/designated judges/family court business committees

  18

  The legal profession (including associations)

  21

  Clerks to the justices/justices clerks' society/magistrates courts

  26

  The court service

  6

  Government departments/non-departmental public bodies

  2

  Voluntary organisations/partnership agencies

  30

  The public

  10

  Others/academics

  8

  Total

  318

  Some responses were submitted by one agency on behalf of interagency groups. The table illustrates the range of responses received.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on(a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63920]

  Mr. Straw
  The total expenditure since May 1997 is £3,446,000, broken down as follows:

  (a) public opinion research £179,000

  (b) television, newspaper and radio advertising £3,267,000

  (c) direct mail £ nil.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63874]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is an overriding principle of Civil Service recruitment procedures that they should be fair and that selection should be on merit.

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

  Shotgun Licences
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a shotgun licence can be revoked; what guidelines have been issued to the police concerning the revocation of shotgun licences; and if he will make a statement. [63983]

  Mr. Boateng
  Under section 30(c) of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended), a shotgun certificate may be revoked by the chief officer of police for the area in which the holder resides if he is satisfied that the holder is prohibited by this Act from possessing a shotgun or cannot be permitted to possess a shotgun without danger to public safety or to the peace. The Home Office issued general guidance on this subject in the publication 'Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police' in 1989. A person aggrieved by a decision to revoke a certificate may appeal to the Crown Court against the police decision.

  The Government will keep all controls on firearms under close scrutiny.

  National Assembly for Wales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's expenditure responsibilities will be transferred to the National Assembly for Wales once that body has been established. [63658]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  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 consultation on 12 November. Until the content of the order has been finalised, it is not possible to state with certainty what functions and associated expenditure will transfer.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the cost to Essex County Council of maintaining illegal immigrants who arrived at Harwich Ferry Port in each of the last three years; [64219]

  (2) what has been the cost to Kent County Council of maintaining illegal immigrants who arrived at Dover Ferry Port in each of the last three years; [64218]
  606
  (3) what has been the cost to (a) Dorset County Council and (b) Poole Borough Council of maintaining illegal immigrants who arrived at Poole Ferry Port in each of the last three years. [64220]

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

  Illegal immigrants who do not claim asylum and who have no special needs are not eligible for support from public funds. Asylum seekers and other illegal immigrants (who are given temporary leave to enter) who are not otherwise detained and who are able to support themselves are 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. 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.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who arrived at(a) Dover, (b) Harwich, (c) Portsmouth and (d) Newhaven are currently being detained; and what the equivalent figures were for each of the last six months. [64238]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information relating to the numbers of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers, as at 14 December 1998, who have been served with a notice of illegal entry is that: 140 of those persons had been issued with illegal entry papers by the South East Ports Surveillance Team based at Dover; 5 by immigration officers at Harwich; 5 at Portsmouth; and none at Newhaven. Information relating to the previous six months could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of(a) Albania, (b) Bulgaria, (c) Hungary, (d) Macedonia and (e) Romania are currently being detained in the United Kingdom as illegal immigrants; and what the equivalent figures were for each of the last three years. [64241]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants at(a) Portsmouth, (b) Newhaven, (c) Harwich and (d) Plymouth ferry ports have been refused entry and removed from the United Kingdom within seven days of arrival in each of the last 12 months. [64239]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information relating to the numbers of persons removed or departing voluntarily within seven days of being issued with a notice of illegal entry by the requested ports which issued the notices, between 1 July 1997 and 30 June 1998, is given in the table.
  607

  Number of illegal entrants recorded as removed or departing voluntarily1 within 7 days of being issued with notice of illegal entry by selected port issuing notice of illegal entry July 1997 to June 1998

  Date

  Portsmouth

  Newhaven

  Harwich

  Plymouth

  Jul 1997

  7

  —

  5

  —

  Aug 1997

  3

  —

  2—

  —

  Sep 1997

  3

  —

  18

  —

  Oct 1997

  11

  —

  2—

  4

  Nov 1997

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Dec 1997

  2—

  —

  —

  —

  Jan 1998

  14

  2—

  2—

  —

  Feb 1998

  2—

  —

  2—

  2—

  Mar 1998

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Apr 1998

  10

  —

  —

  —

  May 1998

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Jun 1998

  9

  —

  4

  —

  1 Persons who departed 'voluntarily' following the initiation of illegal entry action against them.

  1 Represents 1 or 2.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of(a) Albania, (b) Hungary, (c) Macedonia, (d) Romania and (e) Slovenia have sought political asylum in the United Kingdom in the last three months; how many applications have been accepted; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last three years. [64240]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is given in the table.

  Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions on applications, August to October 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 for nationals of Albania, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania and Slovenia

  Total applications

  Total decisions

  Grants of asylum

  Grants of ELR

  Total refusals

  1995

  Albania

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Hungary

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Macedonia

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Romania

  200

  235

  —

  —

  235

  Slovenia

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1996

  Albania

  35

  10

  —

  —

  10

  Hungary

  *

  5

  —

  —

  5

  Macedonia

  5

  10

  —

  —

  10

  Romania

  115

  195

  —

  *

  195

  Slovenia

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19972

  Albania

  125

  40

  *

  *

  35

  Hungary

  —

  *

  —

  —

  —

  Macedonia

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Romania

  175

  220

  *

  *

  220

  Slovenia

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19982

  Albania

  190

  65

  —

  —

  65

  Hungary

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Macedonia

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Romania

  285

  295

  —

  —

  295

  Slovenia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has 608
  had with police forces about domestic violence; and what plans he has to ensure better police protection for women threatened by domestic violence. [63906]

  Mr. Boateng
  Home Office officials maintain regular contact with the lead representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers on domestic violence.

  Before too long, I expect to be able to publish two Home Office-sponsored research reports on domestic violence policing. Their recommendations and other guidance will be disseminated next year to police forces throughout England and Wales.

  E-mail Service Providers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the limits on the information which the police can demand from service providers in respect of e-mail without the need to secure approval from him. [63792]

  Mr. Straw
  Under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, e-mail in the course of its transmission over the public telecommunications network may be intercepted only under a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or for one of the limited purposes in section 1(2) or 1(3) of the Act. E-mail held by an Internet Service Provider is subject to data protection legislation and any conditions in the service provider's licence. It is open to the police to apply for a court order in order to obtain any e-mail retained by an Internet Service Provider.

  Signals Interception
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the legislative framework relating to the interception of signals connecting(a) mobile phones, (b) pagers and (c) interactive cable TV services. [63559]

  Mr. Straw
  The Interception of Communications Act 1985 provides that communications may lawfully be intercepted in the course of their transmission by means of a public telecommunications system only in obedience to a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or in certain other circumstances specified in section 1(2) and (3) of the Act. This applies equally to mobile and fixed public telecommunications systems and to interactive cable TV services.

  The question whether a communication is, at the point of interception, on the public or the private side of a telecommunications system is a point of fact which has received some measure of clarification by the Courts. I have announced the intention to legislate to bring so-called "private side interception" within the law on interception.

  Pagers operate by wireless telegraphy and, as such, are covered by section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. This provides that it is an offence to use Wireless Telegraphy intending to obtain information about the contents of a message, its sender or the recipient, except under the authority of the Secretary of State or in the course of a person's duty as a servant of the Crown. As police officers are not, in law, servants of the Crown in England and Wales, police applications to intercept pagers in the course of criminal investigations are warranted by the my Department under my authority.

  Scotland Act 1998 (Schedule 5)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [63794]

  Mr. Straw
  Schedule 5 refers to reserved matters. Work is in train to agree secondary legislation on the specification of cross-border public authorities. Until that work is completed, it is not possible to say how many people are employed in these offices or what specific equal opportunities practices are adopted. My Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all staff, regardless of ethnic origin, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other irrelevant factor.

WALES

  Coalfield Regeneration
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money is currently planned to be spent on the regeneration of coalfield communities in Wales. [62619]

  Mr. Hain
  The needs of deprived areas, which include communities within former coalfields, of the South Wales Valleys and North East Wales, are taken into account in the various spending programmes of the Welsh Office. Specific programmes, directed to these areas to tackle social, economic and environmental regeneration, include nearly £30 million in 1998–99 under Welsh Challenge and the Strategic Development Scheme; £337,000 in 1998–2000 on the 4 of the 8 approved "People in Communities" pilots in these areas aimed at tackling; and nearly £20 million by the WDA on reclaiming 370 hectares of land, the majority of which is in former coal mining areas. An estimated £10 million of New Deal funding for Wales is expected to be spent in the Employment Service Districts covering Welsh coalfields areas in 1998–99.

  The share for Wales of the recently announced endowment in lieu of the £10 million surplus from the miners' pension fund will be used to fund further projects in former coalmining areas. The South Wales Valleys are part of the area of Wales which is set to gain Objective 1 status, bringing access to a substantial package of European aid.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that imported(a) pork and (b) chicken has not been reared and fed on bonemeal or other animal by-products. [63835]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: No. The ban on meat and bonemeal in pig and chicken feed in the United Kingdom is to prevent cross contamination
  610
  of ruminant feed with meat and bonemeal incorporated into feed for other farm animals. There is, therefore, no basis on which it would be reasonable to restrict imports of pig meat or chicken. However, my hon. Friend may be aware that the Government have received undertakings from the major retailers that all own label fresh pork, bacon, ham and sausages sold in their supermarkets will come from meat and bonemeal (and stall and tether) free production systems.

  Eggs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many visits by MAFF personnel have been undertaken to intensive egg production units since 1 May 1997; and what percentage of these have been unannounced. [63643]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: Visits by Ministry personnel to intensive egg production units, as distinct from packing stations, are basically those undertaken by members of the State Veterinary Service in relation to animal welfare. 272 welfare visits have been undertaken since 1 May 1997. Of these, 44 per cent. were undertaken in response to complaints or other indications that welfare may be poor, and in many cases were unannounced.

  Battery Hens
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have taken place under the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987 since 1 May 1997. [63380]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 1998]: The provisions originally set out in these regulations are now included in Schedule 1 of the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 (SI 2126). This Department has concluded two prosecutions under that Schedule since 1 May 1997. Records of prosecutions taken by other bodies such as local authorities and the RSPCA are not kept centrally.

  New Forest Fox Hounds
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Forestry Commission has found that the New Forest Fox Hounds were in breach of their licence as a result of events on 3 November. [62247]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 3 December 1998]: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise and I have asked its Chief Executive to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from Bob McIntosh to Mr. Desmond Swayne, dated 16 December 1998:
  I am writing in reply to your Parliamentary Question (No 62247) addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. regarding the hunting incident in the New Forest on 3 November 1998.
  The Forestry Commission considers that the New Forest Fox Hounds were in breach of their licence conditions on 3 November. We have agreed with the Masters of Foxhounds Association a clarification of the particular condition that the Hunt breached to ensure that there can be no ambiguity in the event of any future occurrence.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect of the introduction of an age addition of £3 in the basic state pension for those aged between 75 and 79 years and £5 in the basic state pension for those aged over 80, and corresponding increases in the rates of premiums for means-tested benefits on(a) gross benefits expenditure, (b) net benefits expenditure and
  (c) income tax revenues. [62870]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 December 1998]: The information is in the table.

  Full year expenditure and revenue effects of age additions in 1999–2000

  £ million

  £5 age addition for 80 and over and £3 age addition for 75–79

  Expenditure on Retirement Pension

  910

  Expenditure on means tested benefit

  210

  Net benefit cost

  700

  Income tax offsets

  -60

  Notes:

  1. Estimates for Retirement Pension have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Estimates for income tax revenues have been provided by Inland Revenue.

  3. Means-tested benefit expenditure has been estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1999–2000 prices and benefits levels.

  4. Estimates are in 1999–2000 prices and benefit rates, and are rounded to the nearest 10 million.

  5. + cost, — savings.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect of the introduction of an age addition to the basic state pension of £5 per week for those aged between 75 and 79 years and £10 per week for those aged over 80, on(a) gross benefits expenditure, (b) net benefits expenditure and (c) income tax revenues. [62871]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 December 1998]: The information requested is in the table.

  Full year expenditure and revenue effects of age additions in 1999/2000

  £ million

  £10 age addition for 80 and over and £5 age addition for 75–79

  Expenditure on Retirement Pension

  1,760

  Means-tested benefit offsets

  "580

  Net benefit cost

  1,180

  Income tax offsets

  "120

  Notes:

  1. Estimates for Retirement Pension have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Estimates for income tax revenues have been provided by Inland Revenue

  3. Means-tested benefit offsets have been estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1999–2000 prices and benefits levels.

  4. Estimates are in 1999–2000 prices and benefit rates, and are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  5. + costs, " savings.
  612
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his estimates based on Family Resources Survey 1996–97 of(a) median pensioner incomes, excluding means-tested benefits, by age, sex and marital status, consistent with his answer of 12 November 1998, Official Report, columns 295–98, and corresponding estimates of the size of each group, (b) non take-up of income support by pensioners in each age, sex and marital status group, consistent with his answer of 19 October 1998, Official Report, columns 597–98 (c) receipt of means-tested benefits and liability for income tax among pensioners, consistent with his answer of 5 November 1997, Official Report, columns 249–50 and (d) patterns of pensioner savings, consistent with his answer of 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 850–52. [63943]

  Mr. Denham
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many official visits(a) he and (b) the Ministers in his Department, have made to Buckinghamshire since 2 May 1997; and if he will list them. [64129]

  Mr. Denham
  None.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 10 November 1998,Official Report, column 167, if people affected by motor neurone disease will be selected for reassessment under the Benefit Integrity Project, or its replacement, regardless of the rate of disability living allowance received. [64191]

  Mr. Timms
  The Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) has been subject to continuous review and we have made changes based on an analysis of cases showing the rate of change in entitlement. On 23 September I announced further exemptions to the BIP, including people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) who are receiving the higher rate of the mobility component together with the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

  We plan to replace the BIP with a new system which is part of the routine administration of the benefit and which is both sensitive and fair. We are discussing our proposals with the Disability Benefits Forum. Contact with those with MND receiving a lower rate of DLA would allow the rate to be increased if appropriate.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the Benefits Integrity Project has cost to administer for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998 to date. [64009]

  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 the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 15 December 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how much the Benefit Integrity Project has cost to administer for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998 to date.

  613
  In 1997–98 the Benefit Integrity Project cost £8.27m to administer. In 1998–99, up to 31 October 1998, the project has cost £7m.
  Statistical informationabout the Benefit Integrity Project is published on a monthly basis and is placed in the House of Commons Library.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Family Credit
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the numbers of families in receipt of family credit, (b) their average net pay and (c) the earnings of their partners comprising (i) a male as the main earner and (ii) a female as the main earner with (1) one child, (2) two children, (3) three children and (4) four or more children under eight years of age. [64228]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the tables.

  Number of families receiving Family Credit, May 1998

  Thousands

  All families

  Male main earner

  Female main earner

  All families

  767

  315

  452

  With 1 child under 8

  279

  109

  170

  With 2 children under 8

  141

  88

  53

  With 3 children under 8

  37

  29

  8

  With 4 or more children under 8

  7

  6

  1

  Net earnings of family credit main earner, May 1998

  £ per week

  All families

  Male main earner

  Female main earner

  All families

  100.67

  113.96

  91.40

  With 1 child under 8

  98.73

  113.70

  89.11

  With 2 children under 8

  103.34

  114.73

  84.63

  With 3 children under 8

  108.00

  115.76

  78.25

  With 4 or more children under 8

  111.91

  116.60

  79.24

  Earnings of partners of Family Credit claimants, May 1998

  £ per week

  All families

  Male main earner

  Female main earner

  All families

  41.07

  38.94

  45.14

  With 1 child under 8

  40.67

  38.43

  45.65

  With 2 children under 8

  41.10

  38.07

  47.92

  With 3 children under 8

  41.17

  37.18

  58.94

  With 4 or more children under 8

  53.87

  51.83

  57.94

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand and may not sum due to totals

  2. Families may have other children who are not counted in this breakdown (aged 8 and over)

  3. Families with 1 to 4 or more children under 8 do not sum to the total number of families shown as families where all of the children in the family are over 8 are not included in the table

  Source:

  Family Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 1998

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of current claimants of severe disablement allowance are women. [64223]

  Mr. Timms
  The total number of Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) claimants in Great Britain as at 31 May 1998 is 370,720. Of these 218,740, or 59 per cent. are female.

  Source:

  These figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of SDA claimants, taken from the PSCS(INCP) system and excludes a small number of clerical cases.

  Child Support
  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the arrears of child support payments owed by self-employed non-resident parents to children living in Wolverhampton on 30 September. [63435]

  Angela Eagle
  We expect the Child Support Agency to provide a consistent, fair and efficient service to all its clients. We have set out proposals for radical reform in our Green Paper "Children First: a new approach to child support" (Cm3992).

  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Ms Jenny Jones, dated 15 December 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about child support payments owed by self employed non-resident parents to children in Wolverhampton.
  I cannot provide precisely all the information that you have requested, but have provided as much as possible from information available.
  The Agency has six front-line Business Units; each of these consists of a Child Support Agency Centre and associated field offices. Cases where the parent with care lives in Wolverhampton are dealt with by the Midlands Business Unit for which information has been provided.
  At 30 September 1998 the amount of child support full maintenance assessment debt for the Midlands Business Unit was £91,546,756. This can be broken down further to £53,371,759(58.3%) collectable debt, £35,611,688(38.9%) possibly uncollectable debt and £2,563,309(2.8%) deferred debt. Deferred debt is where the Agency has deferred the debt indefinitely, provided non-resident parents meet certain conditions on payment of regular maintenance and any remaining debt. Where appropriate the parent with care will be compensated for the loss of this money.
  To further increase the flow of maintenance and to help non-resident parents pay the arrears that they owe, wherever possible the Agency makes every effort to re-schedule debts; re-scheduled debts are those where the Agency has negotiated a closely monitored agreement with the non-resident parent to pay arrears by instalments. The amount of debt re-scheduled included in the £91,546,756 at 30 September 1998 was £69,513,784.
  It is not possible to say how much of this debt is owed by self employed non-resident parents, however I can tell you that 3.5% of the Midlands Business Unit's live and assessed caseload relate to cases where the non-resident parent is self employed.
  The Agency acknowledges that cases where the non-resident parent is self employed can be more difficult to progress, especially where the non-resident parent does not wish to comply. The key to securing early compliance is by personal contact with our clients. By approaching clients at the initial stages of their assessment we aim to build a better relationship with them, address their concerns promptly and provide an improved level of service.

  615
  We have increased resources for our Client Helplines and the National Enquiry Line, extended our hours of opening to cover 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and carried out trials to greatly improve and increase clients' opportunities to secure a face to face service.
  Additionally we have recently completed a pilot study in the South Western Business Unit, looking at how best to process self employed cases. Trials using dedicated staff dealing exclusively with the self employed have shown a marked reduction in processing time and an increase in the collection of maintenance. We intend to have specific sections, supported by accountants where necessary, in each Business Unit by March 1999 to deal exclusively with self employed customers.
  Also, to assist us to trace the whereabouts of self employed non-resident parents, we are exploring the possibility of sharing information with other Agencies and Government Departments. We
  616
  have also revised staff training and raised staff awareness of the Agency's self employed powers, working practices and related issues.
  If all voluntary methods to secure maintenance from a self employed non-resident parent fail, a liability order is applied for. It is hoped that the threat of such action will be enough to ensure compliance. The majority do agree to make an arrangement and only in a very small minority of cases is legal action actually taken.
  We will use any and all enforcement methods legally available but we experience the same difficulties as other litigants in enforcing a civil debt. During 1997/98 we have been successful in registering debt by County Court Judgement in 522 cases. Where all other action has failed, the Agency has pursued cases for prosecution; between October 1997 and March 1998 a total of 15 suspended custodial sentences were imposed. A self employed non-resident parent was committed to prison as a result of non payment of maintenance.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

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