Written Answers of 2 February 1998

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Non-Career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Council how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to her Department since 1 May 1997. [25845]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The number of casual, fixed term appointees and Special Advisers appointed since 1 May is four.

  Anti-drugs Tsar
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what specific powers she plans to allocate to the new Anti-drugs Tsar. [24644]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator, Keith Hellawell, took up his post as a special adviser to Government on 5 January. He therefore has no specific powers, and has been tasked with reviewing all aspects of the Government's existing action against drugs—including overseeing a Comprehensive Spending Review of existing drug resources. When this review is complete, he will advise Ministers on a new strategy.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Structure Plan (West Sussex)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he or Ministers in his Department had with representatives of the House-builders Federation to discuss matters relevant to the West Sussex structure plan between 2 May and 3 December 1997. [22897]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Train Overcrowding
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about overcrowding of trains on the trans-Pennine routes; and if he will make a statement. [25275]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have received 2 representations specifically about overcrowding on the trans—Pennine routes between Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Both representations were complaints about journeys affected by disruption which caused some cancellations and delays, affecting available capacity. The Franchising Director places an obligation on operators to avoid excessive overcrowding by requiring train operators to make reasonable endeavours to ensure that sufficient capacity is provided on each train.

  Airedale and Wharfdale Lines
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding services on the Airedale and Wharfdale lines, between Keighley, Shipley and Leeds and Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Leeds. [25631]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have received 15 representations specifically about the performance of rail services on the Airedale and Wharfdale lines between these points.

  Performance on services in the West Yorkshire area has improved significantly in recent months as Regional Railways North East have reduced the impact of driver shortages. I want that improvement to be sustained.

  Transport Safety
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which United Kingdom transport operators have powers to prevent the publication of safety information relating to their operations. [25962]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No United Kingdom transport operators have powers to prevent the publication of safety information relating to their operations beyond those that are provided by normal rules of commercial confidentiality.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many letters he has received to date(a) supporting and (b) opposing the proposed privatisation of the London underground system; and if he will make a statement. [26053]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  It was the previous Government which proposed the privatisation of London Underground. We are totally opposed to wholesale privatisation and are developing proposals for public-private partnership. We have received over eight hundred letters about the Underground since the election. While detailed figures are not kept, it is clear that, of those letters which referred to privatisation, only a handful supported it and the vast majority opposed it.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of the HSE in making available support for private prosecutions under health and safety at work legislation. [26257]

  Angela Eagle
  Private prosecutions under health and safety legislation can be brought with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The role of the Health and Safety Executive in relation to a private prosecution would be to disclose to the parties, on request, any information available publicly under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and/or the Environmental Information Regulations 1992, and any other information it has which the Court requires it to provide.

  Rail Services (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the reliability of the rail service from Portsmouth to London in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [26058]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Franchising Director is responsible for monitoring train operators' performance and publishes performance details, though on groups of routes rather than on individual lines, in quarterly Bulletins. A copy of the Franchising Director's Bulletin is available in the House Library.

  Empty Properties (NHS Trusts)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will encourage health trusts that are disposing of property to liaise with local councils to use those properties for temporary housing or shelter for the homeless. [26143]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department has issued, in 1995, a Guidance Note for Departments entitled "Government Residential Property—Securing Better Use of Empty Homes", which encourages Government Departments to liaise with local authorities about the use of empty homes and encourages temporary letting, particularly when empty properties are not being sold immediately. It is for individual health trusts to decide for themselves how best to make use of surplus property, but the guidance was circulated to all trusts in June 1995 so that they could have regard to its advice.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposal he(a) advanced and (b) supported in respect of the maximum concentration of boron to be permitted in drinking water during discussion with EU partners on the Drinking Water Directive; and if he will make a statement. [26823]

  Angela Eagle
  The Commission proposed a standard of one milligramme per litre for boron. The Council in its Common Position unanimously accepted that value.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the terms of the amended EC Directive on Drinking Water as they relate to the powers given to exempt drinking water supplies(a) of less than 10 cubic metres of water per day and (b) serving 50 people or less from the terms of the directive; and if he will make a statement. [26821]

  Angela Eagle
  The proposal for a revised Drinking Water Directive is at the stage of the Council having agreed a Common Position. The proposal now goes to the European Parliament for Second Reading, before coming back to Council for consideration of any amendments. Policy on implementation cannot be decided until the terms of the Directive are settled, which may not be for some time.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the pesticides for which he sought relaxation of the maximum 454
  concentrations permitted in drinking water during discussions with EU partners on the Drinking Water Directive; and if he will make a statement. [26822]

  Angela Eagle
  No such relaxations were sought.

  Planning Guidance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise planning guidance in respect of the development of back garden land in urban and suburban areas. [26423]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have no current plans to do so.

  Rail Industry
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to take an equity stake in the rail industry in return for Government subsidy. [26564]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Renationalisation of the railways would be extremely costly and cannot be a priority given the other pressures on public expenditure. We therefore have no such plans. Our main task is to improve the railways as we found them, not as we would have wished them to be.

  Local Authority Employees (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidelines on the use of added years for purposes of early retirement for local authority employees. [26424]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have no plans to do so. Decisions about early retirement for local authority employees are the responsibility of locally elected councillors. It is for them to establish their own policies and decide, within the appropriate regulations, whether or not to award added years in each particular case. However, my Department will be reviewing several aspects of the early retirement compensation arrangements, taking into consideration the Audit Commission's recent report on early retirement in local government.

  Thameslink 2000
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has decided to hold a public inquiry into Railtrack's application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in respect of the Thameslink 2000 project. [27355]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In the light of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions statement to the House on Wednesday 28 January 1998,Official Report, columns 466–74, about the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), the Secretary of State has decided to defer until 25 March the date by which he must reach a decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into Thameslink 2000. The reason for this is that powers for works which form important components of the Thameslink 2000 project are contained in the CTRL Act 1996 and cannot be used other than as part of the CTRL.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the outcome of consultation on the local government finance settlement; and if he will make a statement. [27182]

  Mr. Prescott
  I am today laying before the House the Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998–99, the Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts (Relevant Notional Amounts) Report (England) 1998–99, and the Special Grant Report (No.31). These reports establish the amounts of revenue support grant (RSG) and non-domestic rates (NDR) to be paid to local authorities in 1998–99, and the basis of their distribution; specify the amounts which are to be used as the basis of comparison for measuring increases in certain local authorities' budgets in 1998–99 for the purposes of capping, and provide for a special Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) reduction grant to be paid to certain authorities for 1998–99. Drafts of these reports were issued for consultation on 2 December 1997. I also announced on that date my provisional guidelines for capping the budgets of local authorities. The Department received written representations from 248 authorities and my Ministerial colleagues at DETR met 95 delegations from local councils.

  I have considered the views of local authorities and others who have commented on my initial proposals. However, I have decided to make no changes in the SSA methodology which formed the basis of consultation, nor in the capping guidelines. The SSAs for individual authorities may be slightly different from those at consultation, generally reflecting more accurate data that have become available since then.

  This year's local government finance settlement is better, fairer and more flexible than the plans set out by the previous Government. We have been able to achieve this within the tight constraints on public expenditure needed to achieve this Government's economic aims. The Government's intention is that local authorities should be able to respond by giving top priority to education—the Government's and the nation's priority. That is why we have made available £835 million extra for education on top of what was originally planned.

  We are also publishing, for the first time, a Plain English guide to the dauntingly complex world of local government finance. This carries the Crystal Mark of the Plain English Campaign. I am keen that hon. Members and members of the public have the clearest possible understanding of how local government finance works.

  I shall be sending copies of these reports and the Plain English guide to all authorities, together with tables showing each authority's Standard Spending Assessment and its entitlement to RSG, NDR and special grant, and information on capping guidelines and limits. Copies of the reports, tables, the capping information and the guide have been placed in the Library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25847]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The number of casual, fixed-term appointees and Special Advisers appointed since 1 May 1997 is seven.

  National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are the proposed acitivities the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts will undertake which will prevent it acquiring charitable status. [25891]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Charitable status is unlikely to be compatible with NESTA's objective to support the commercial development of new ideas. It would be for the Charity Commission, in the first instance, to consider whether NESTA is a charity.

  USA Visit
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will give a breakdown of the meetings and film screenings attended by(a) the Minister for Film and Tourism and (b) officials in his Department on the Minister's visit to the USA. [25549]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer Monday 26 January 1998]: During his visit to the United States, my right hon. Friend visited the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to promote British Film, and visited Los Angeles to discuss co-operation with the US industry. At the Sundance Festival, my right hon. Friend attended an informal lunch for key members of the British film industry and hosted a reception for a wider audience including many film makers from countries outside the US and UK. He also had discussions with the organisers of the Festival and with the Utah State Film Commissioner and attended screenings of 'Blind Faith' and 'The Spanish Prisoner'.

  In Los Angeles, my right hon. Friend met senior executives at four of the seven major studios: Sony Pictures Entertainment; Fox Filmed Entertainment; Universal Studios; and Viacom/Paramount; and also Mr. Jack Valenti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Motion Picture Association, which represents the interests of the seven major studios. He also met senior executives at Polygram Filmed Entertainment and the head of International Creative Management. More informal discussions were held with representatives of the remaining major studios, other talent agencies and various US film makers during evening events. My right hon.
  457
  Friend also had lengthy discussions with FCO officials based in Los Angeles about the promotion of British interests in the United States.

  My right hon. Friend was accompanied by his Private Secretary to all meetings and screenings both at Sundance and in Los Angeles, and my special adviser accompanied him to all meetings in Los Angeles.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Civil Service staff of grade 5 and above within his Department(a) have spent their entire civil service career within his Department, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other departments and (c) have come from other departments. [26026]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was created (as the Department of National Heritage) on 13 April 1992 with staff from six existing departments: Department for Education, Office of Arts and Libraries, Department of the Environment, Department of Trade and Industry, Home Office and Department of Employment. The number of staff who have spent their entire career within the Department is therefore very low.

  The DCMS has a total of 22 staff in the Senior Civil Service.
  (a) 5 per cent. of these staff have spent their entire civil service career within this department.

  Although no Senior Civil Service staff have had secondments to the private sector or other departments from DNH or DCMS, some have in their previous Departments.
  (b) (i) 14 per cent. have had secondments to the private sector prior to joining this department.
  (ii) 32 per cent. have been on secondment to other departments prior to joining this department.
  (c) 95 per cent. have come from other departments, 23 per cent. are currently on loan to DCMS.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many civil servants in his Department at grade 3 or above have(a) resigned, (b) retired before pensionable age and (c) moved to different responsibilities within the Department since 1 May 1997; if he will indicate the Ministers to whom each was responsible; and if he will make a statement. [26926]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  None.

  Sovereign's Works of Art
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress is being made on the compilation of the inventory of works of art held by the Sovereign. [26487]

  Mr. Fisher
  I understand from the Royal Household, which is responsible for the Royal Collection Department, that the first phase of the computerised inventory of the Royal Collection (basic data capture and inputting) has been completed on schedule. In the second phase, consideration will be given to the best way of refining this information, and making it more widely accessible.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on arrangements for charging for TV licences in hotels and guest houses; and what revenue would be raised if such establishments had to buy a licence for each television set provided. [26505]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: At present, a television licence taken out by the managers of a hotel covers the installation and use of television in up to 15 guest rooms, with an additional licence fee payable for each additional five rooms with television. The same licensing arrangements apply to guest houses offering units of overnight accommodation. Charging a separate licence fee for each guest room with television in such establishments would raise an estimated £31.5 million in additional licence fee revenue.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the use of the BBC's increase in licence fees. [26425]

  Mr. Fisher
  As at 29 January, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport had received 25 representations from Members of Parliament and 89 from members of the public about the television licence fee increases due to come into force on 1 April this year. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained on 11 December 1997,Official Report, column 636, these increases are determined under a five-year formula announced by the previous Government. The Government consider that the formula remains appropriate. The increases this year reflect the additional costs faced by the BBC in launching its new digital services.

TREASURY

  Taxation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the administrative cost of changing back to joint taxation of married couples; and taxing child benefit. [24956]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pre-tax Income
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees would lose, through higher tax and National Insurance Contributions and lower benefits(a) 100 per cent. or above, (b) 90 per cent. or above, (c) 80 per cent. or above, (d) 70 per cent. or above, (e) 60 per cent. or above and (f) 50 per cent. or above of the increase in pre-tax income resulting from (i) an extra five hours work per week and (ii) a pay increase of £20 per week. [23579]
  459
  Dawn Primarolo
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  Working an extra 5 hours a week

  Earning an extra £20 a week

  Above 100 per cent.

  10

  5

  Above 90 per cent.

  140

  130

  Above 80 per cent.

  4901

  285

  Above 70 per cent.

  605

  645

  Above 60 per cent.

  630

  665

  Above 50 per cent.

  750

  680

  The estimates are rounded to the nearest 5,000. Based on Family Expenditure Survey, uprated to 1997–98 levels for Great Britain. Figures are calculated for benefit units where at least one partner works 16 hours a week or more.
  1 The figure of 490,000 contains a large number of cases with ratios just over 80 per cent., which have marginal deduction rates of 79.9 per cent. when measured by 'point' methods.

  Tax and Benefits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees face marginal withdrawal rates tax and benefits of(a) 0 per cent. or gains, (b) less than 10 per cent., (c) less than 20 per cent., (d) less than 30 per cent., (e) less than 40 per cent. and (f) less than 50 per cent. if they were (i) to work an hour a week less and (ii) to earn £10 a week less before tax. [22979]

  Benefit

  Retirement Pension (including SERPS and over 80s additions)

  Incapacity Benefit (received for more than 28 weeks of incapacity)

  Yield in a full year from taxing benefit (£ million)

  Yield as a percentage of total benefit expenditure

  Yield in a full year from taxing benefit (£ million)

  Yield as a percentage of total benefit expenditure

  1994–95

  1,900

  7

  1—

  1—

  1995–96

  2,000

  7

  30

  2—

  1996–97

  2,100

  6

  70

  1

  1997–98

  2,100

  6

  100

  1

  1 Incapacity Benefit replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit from April 1995.

  Prior to that date, both these benefits were not liable to tax.

  2 Less than 0.5 per cent.

  The percentage estimates for incapacity benefit are based on the total benefit expenditure—a large part of which is not liable to tax.

  Blind Trusts
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Treasury's definition of a blind trust. [25535]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The expression "blind trust" describes arrangements which have existed under Governments of both Parties such as those referred to in paragraph 119 of the Ministerial Code issued by the Cabinet Office in July 1997, where investments are placed in a bare trust under which the Minister is not informed of changes in investments or of the state of the portfolio, but remains fully entitled to both the capital and income generated.

  Social Security Benefits (Taxation)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to tax in the future social security benefits which are presently not taxed; and if he will make a statement. [25293]
  460
  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates of the number of families facing marginal deduction rates of below 50 per cent. currently, and assuming they work an hour a week less, and earn £10 a week less:

  Millions of families

  Working one hour a week less

  Earning £10 a week less

  MDRs

  0 per cent. or gains

  0.5

  0.6

  10 per cent. or less

  0.6

  0.7

  20 per cent. or less

  0.8

  0.8

  30 per cent. or less

  3.2

  3.3

  40 per cent. or less

  14.1

  14.1

  50 per cent. or less

  15.9

  15.9

  The estimates are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Based on Family Expenditure Survey data, uprated to 1997–98 levels. Figures are calculated for benefit units where at least one partner is in work.

  Incapacity Benefit and Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax revenue generated by the taxation of(a) incapacity benefit and (b) state pensions in (i) the current and (ii) the previous three financial years; and if he will express that revenue as a percentage of the cost of those benefits. [24010]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 20 January 1998]: Information is given in the following table.

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 27 January 1998]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

  Air Fares
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage rate of tax would need to be levied on air fares to produce the same revenue as the existing flat-rate air passenger duty. [26270]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is not possible to make a reliable estimate.

  Earnings
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people earned over £100,000 in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [26051]
  461
  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 2 February 1998:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as the Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent question on the number of people earning over £100,000 in the United Kingdom.
  The information has been derived from the New Earnings Survey for April 1997.
  The estimated percentage of employees on adult rates, whose gross earnings are more than £100,000 per year (which equates to £1919.40 per week) in Great Britain and whose pay for the survey pay-period was unaffected by absence, is 0.2%.

  Government-authorised Expenditure
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made since May 1997 to the classification of items of Government-authorised expenditure for the purposes of producing(a) the control total, (b) the public sector borrowing requirement and (c) the reserve. [26520]

  Mr. Darling
  Recent classification changes affecting the published aggregate Control Total are described in paragraph 4B.14 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", July 1997 (HC85) and paragraph S2.23 of "The Economy and the Public Finances: Supplementary Material", November 1997 (HM Treasury). No change has been made to the definition of the Control Total since then. None of these classification changes affects the PSBR. Expenditure provision in the Reserve is made on the same definitional basis as the rest of the Control Total.

  Tax Law
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the tax law rewrite project. [26175]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: The tax law rewrite project continues to make good progress. The project aims to rewrite the UK's direct tax legislation so that it is clearer and easier to use. It commands widespread support from tax professionals and is overseen by a small high-level Steering Committee, chaired by the right hon. Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC. In addition a Consultative Committee of representative bodies and other interested parties meets every month to consider issues in more detail.

  There will be full consultation throughout the life of the project. The first example of rewritten legislation (on trading income of individuals) was published for consultation last July. It was very well received. A response document will be sent later this week to all who offered comments. A Discussion Document to confirm that our rewrite techniques work on complex provisions, was published in November. A second Discussion Document, examining possible purposive approaches to drafting will be published next month.
  462
  This is a highly innovative project, which involves Revenue officials working closely with drafters from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and tax professionals recruited from the private sector. It continues to command the Government's support.

  Housing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what economic instruments are available to him to promote housing development on brownfield sites in preference to greenfield ones. [26178]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: There are a number of possible economic instruments that could be used to help promote housing developments on brownfield sites in preference to greenfield sites. These are being considered in the Comprehensive Spending Review, alongside other economic instruments that offer potential scope for improving the efficiency of the land-use planning system. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will shortly be making a statement on the Government's policy on the issues raised in the consultation paper. "Household Growth: Where Shall We Live".

  Drug Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of deaths of children aged 13 to 16 years resulting from ingesting(a) heroin, (b) alcohol, (c) ecstasy, (d) speed, (e) glue, (f) Temazepam, (g) cannabis and (h) LSD in each of the last five years. [26470]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 2 February 1998:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to answer your recent question asking for the total number of deaths to children aged 13 to 16 years in each of the last five years resulting from ingesting1 (a) heroin, (b) alcohol, (c) ecstasy, (d) speed, (e) glue, (f) temazepam, (g) cannabis and (h) LSD.
  Data for 1992 may be obtained from Table 10 of "Mortality Statistics: Injury and Poisoning 1992", Series DH4 no. 18, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. This table lists all substances mentioned in the records of deaths assigned to accidental and other poisoning by solid or liquid substances.
  The table shows deaths to people aged under 20, data for children aged 13–16 are only available at disproportionate cost.
  The following table shows the remaining data for 1992 and also data for 1993–1996.

  Deaths in England and Wales to children aged 13–16 years, 1992–96

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  (a) Heroin

  —

  0

  1

  2

  2

  Alone

  —

  —

  0

  0

  2

  With other drugs2

  —

  —

  1

  2

  0

  (b) Alcohol4

  0

  2

  0

  1

  3

  (c) Ecstasy

  —

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Alone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  With other drugs2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  463

  Deaths in England and Wales to children aged 13–16 years, 1992–96

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  (d) 'Speed'

  (Amphetamines)

  —

  0

  2

  3

  0

  Alone

  —

  —

  1

  0

  —

  With other drugs2

  —

  —

  1

  3

  —

  (e) Glue3

  22

  17

  13

  15

  n/a

  (f) Temazepam

  —

  0

  2(1)

  2

  0

  Alone

  —

  —

  0

  0

  —

  With other drugs2

  —

  —

  2(1)

  2

  —

  (g) Cannabis

  —

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Alone

  —

  0

  —

  0

  —

  With other drugs2

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  (h) LSD

  —

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Alone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  With other drugs2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  The figures in brackets are those deaths with a mention of alcohol and are included in the non-bracketed figures.

  Deaths from alcohol for 1992 are those that were registered in the year, deaths for the years 1993–96 are those that occurred.

  1 The route of administration (i.e., whether swallowed, injected, inhaled, etc.) of a toxic substance is not usually specified on the death certificate. The data above represent all mentions of drugs, however administered, where the death was certified as due to poisoning, drug dependence or non-dependent abuse of drugs.

  2 If, for example, both heroin and cannabis are mentioned on a death certificate, the death will occur twice in the table, once under 'Heroin with other drugs' and once under 'Cannabis with other drugs'.

  3 Data supplied by St. George's Hospital Medical School and are those deaths involving all volatile substances, including glue.

  4 Deaths certified as due to alcoholic psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, non-dependent abuse of alcohol, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and toxic effects of alcohol.

  Pre-payment Meters
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of pensioners who pay their fuel costs with pre-payment meters. [26172]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Rendel, 2 February 1998:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your recent question on the percentage of pensioners who pay their fuel costs with pre-payment meters.
  An estimate from the 1996–97 Family Expenditure Survey is that seven per cent of households headed by a pensioner (including cases where the sole person in the household is a pensioner) made payments for gas and/or electricity using slot meters, cards, discs or tokens.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27028]
  464
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Department has an 18 working day deadline for answering correspondence. The percentage receiving replies within the target date is reported annually to Cabinet Office. Figures for average time taken to answer letters are not recorded. No assessment has been made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25849]

  Mr. Hoon
  The number of casual and fixed-term appointees and Special Advisers appointed since 1 May 1997 is 1,081. This excludes fee-paid usher appointments, information on which is not held centrally.

  Queen's Counsel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of continuing with the institution of Queen's Counsel. [25622]

  Mr. Hoon
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to review the continued existence of the institution of Queen's Counsel.

  Commonhold
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) research he has commissioned and (b) consultation he has held into the introduction of commonhold as a form of tenure. [25745]

  Mr. Hoon
  None. However, in due course the development of a workable commonhold scheme will be undertaken in full consultation with interested parties.

  Wills
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the adult population of England and Wales(a) has used the system for the deposit and safe-keeping of the wills of living persons operated by the principal registry of the family division and (b) he estimates have made wills. [25735]

  Mr. Hoon
  (a) There are currently 83,000 wills deposited at the Principal Registry of the Family Division (PRFD). This means that 0.2 per cent of the 40,073,200 adults over the age of 18 in England and Wales have used this service. (b) It is not possible to say what proportion of the adult population have made wills as there is no requirement for wills to be registered or deposited with PRFD.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) information and (b) opportunities to register an interest are to the public in the system for the deposit and safe-keeping of the wills of living persons operated by the principal registry of the family division. [25734]
  465
  Mr. Hoon
  (a) There is no facility currently available to register an interest in a will. (b) Details of how to deposit a will for safe-keeping by the Principal Registry of the Family Division (PRFD) are published in a leaflet available at PRFD and all Probate Registries. Wills can be deposited at any Registry and are then forwarded to PRFD where they are retained.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the annual costs of the system for the deposit and safe-keeping of the wills of living persons operated by the principal registry of the family division gross and net of any fee income charged; and if he will assess the costs of operating the system as an open register with facilities for inspection and registering of third party interests and appropriate fees for such services. [25736]

  Mr. Hoon
  Two staff operate the system for receipt and safe-keeping of wills. Their combined annual cost is £60,500. This does not include the cost of storing the wills and the management of the staff, which are incorporated into the overall cost of running the Principal Registry of the Family Division and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. 13,732 wills were deposited in 1997 at a fee of £1 each and so the net annual cost is £46,768. It is not possible to assess the cost of operating the system as an open register with facilities for inspection and registering third parties' interests as there is no information available on the number of requests such a system would generate. To research the number of requests that might be made would incur a disproportionate cost. In any event, the wills of living persons are not public documents.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the current review of legal aid will include consideration of the up-rating of the £2,500 exemption from the statutory charge in matrimonial cases. [25741]

  Mr. Hoon
  We are considering, in the light of Sir Peter Middleton's recommendations, whether any aspects of the financial conditions for civil legal aid, including the statutory charge, need to be reformed. We expect to announce our conclusions in a White Paper later this year.

  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department under what provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988 the Government propose to withdraw legal aid from civil claims for money or monetary compensation. [27004]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor would implement such changes to the scope of civil legal aid by regulation under section 14 of the Legal Aid Act 1988.

  Pre-marriage Contracts
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals his Department has to reform the law relating to marriages with particular reference to pre-marriage contracts. [25740]

  Mr. Hoon
  Officials have been asked to look at a wide range of issues relating to the area of matrimonial property, including pre-nuptial contracts. The work is at 466
  an early stage and it is soon to say what recommendations will be made with regard to the options under consideration.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members: what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27035]

  Mr. Hoon
  For 1997, the average time taken by this Department to answer letters from hon. Members was approximately 19 working days. The target date for replies is twenty working days. For 1997, 76.54 per cent. of letters were answered within the target date. All letters are dispatched by the first class post or delivered by hand to the House of Commons.

DEFENCE

  Military Personnel, Equipment and Installations
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those private individuals and companies to which military personnel, equipment and installations have been hired out by his Department since 1 May 1997.
  [24457]

  Dr. Reid
  I am today placing such a list in the Library of the House.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25899]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Strategic Defence Review is my Department's contribution to the Government's wide Comprehensive Spending Review. I have put no mechanisms in place specifically to address sustainable development in advance of the completion of the Review. Environmental issues are being taken into account in our work on the Review and there may be decisions arising from it which will affect future policy.

  West Indian Guardship
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to public funds of the West Indian Guardship in 1997. [25992]

  Dr. Reid
  The cost of the West Indian Guardship for the year 1997 was £8.77 million. Her associated Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker was provided at a cost of £2.55 million.

  United Kingdom Land Command
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of the site and buildings of UK Land Command headquarters at Wilton. [26253]
  467
  Dr. Reid
  My Department does not hold any figures for the current market value of the site and buildings at Headquarters Land Command in Wilton. The value of estate on the open market is calculated only when a disposal is under consideration, and there have been no recent, nor are there any current, proposals for the Army to vacate Erskine Barracks.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops were under the command of UK Land Command(a) 1989 and (b) 1997. [26252]

  Dr. Reid
  Land Command was formed in 1995 in place of United Kingdom Land Forces, and to assume responsibility for Army units based in Germany.

  The Commander in Chief United Kingdom Land Forces in 1989 was responsible for the majority of the 41,000 Regular Army personnel based in the United Kingdom, other than personnel providing and undertaking individual training, and of 73,000 Territorial Army personnel.

  The Commander in Chief Land Command presently has command of some 50,000 Regular Army and 58,000 Territorial Army personnel in the United Kingdom and of a further 23,000 Regular Army personnel in Germany.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many(a) service and (b) civilian personnel were employed at United Kingdom Land Command headquarters in Wilton in (i) 1989, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1995 and (iv) at the latest available date; [26141]

  (2) what is the annual cost of maintaining United Kingdom Land Command headquarters at Wilton currently; and what it was in 1989 at 1998 prices. [26142]

  Dr. Reid
  Headquarters Land Command at Wilton was formed in 1995, to assume most of the responsibilities previously undertaken by the former Headquarters United Kingdom Land Forces and also responsibility for the Army in Germany upon the disestablishment of Headquarters British Army of the Rhine in that year. There were at that time a number of other significant organisational changes which affected the composition of the Headquarters at Wilton. The size of the headquarters prior to and after 1995 are not, therefore, comparable.

  The information requested is not available for 1989, so figures for 1990 have been provided instead.

  The authorised establishment of Headquarters United Kingdom Land Forces was as follows:

  Civilian personnel

  Service personnel

  1990

  418

  275

  1992

  407

  290

  The authorised establishment of Headquarters Land Command was as follows:

  Civilian personnel

  Service personnel

  1995

  507

  358

  1997

  521

  370

  Hyderabad Barracks, Colchester
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons new buildings are being erected at Hyderabad Barracks, Colchester; what the buildings are for; and what is the cost for the development. [26290]

  Dr. Reid
  Hyderabad and the adjacent Meeanee Barracks, Colchester are currently being modernised and extended to rectify, as a matter of urgency, serious deficiencies in the living accommodation for single soldiers. The refurbishment is expected to cost £6.7 million.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new assessment he has made of the role of Trident. [26345]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Trident will contribute to maintaining strong defences while we press for multilateral negotiations towards mutual balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons in line with our manifesto commitment. As part of the Strategic Defence Review, we are considering the minimum level of capability required for this role in current strategic circumstances.

  Staff College Camberley
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the future use of the buildings of the Staff College, Camberley; [26364]

  (2) what assessment he had made of the advantages of relocating the Defence Studies College to the Staff College site, Camberley. [26365]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: A number of options are being examined for the future military use of the former Staff College buildings at Camberley, but no final decisions have yet been taken.

  Recruits
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits to(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force aged 16 to 18 years came from (i) a family background and (ii) local authority care for each year since 1990. [26838]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of recruits under 18 years of age who entered the UK regular Armed Forces are detailed in the table:

  Financial year

  RN

  1Army

  RAF

  1990–91

  2n/a

  8,270

  1,410

  1991–92

  2n/a

  7,100

  661

  1992–93

  499

  4,850

  67

  1993–94

  232

  2,938

  70

  1994–95

  229

  3,508

  70

  1995–96

  579

  4,397

  299

  1996–97

  1,103

  5,727

  401

  1997–983

  570

  3,025

  319

  1 The Army figures includes Apprentices and Junior Soldiers.

  2 RN figures for FYs 1990–91 and 1991–92 are not available.

  3 Data for FY 1997–98 covers the period 1 April 1997 to 30 Seotember 1997.

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

  Attack Helicopter (Training)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements will be made to provide ground-based and simulator training for the Army's Attack Helicopter air and ground crew. [27241]

  Mr. Spellar
  Subject to satisfactory completion of contract negotiations, we intend to place a Public/Private Partnership contract with a Joint Venture Company (JVC) formed by GKN Westland Helicopters Limited and the Boeing Corporation. The JVC will provide a service to meet all our requirements for ground based training and simulators in support of Attack Helicopter.

  This contract will ensure that we can take full advantage of the capabilities of the Attack Helicopter. The contract will run for 30 years and the JVC will be responsible for supplying all the equipment and instructional staff necessary to provide the required level of service.

  Mid-air Collisions
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the results of the study called for by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch on the probability of a random mid-air collision. [27250]

  Mr. Spellar
  The study, by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, concluded that the principle of `see-and-avoid' in the open Flight Information Region below 2,000 ft resolved confliction in over 99 per cent. of occasions. This implies a worst-case collision rate of 0.118 per 10,000 flying hours for single seat military fast jet aircraft and 0.005 per 10,000 flying hours for General Aviation aircraft.

  The Study acknowledged that certain conspicuity measures could further increase the effectiveness of see-and-avoid. We have already initiated a programme to paint the majority of training aircraft black including the Hawk, the Tucano, the Dominie and the Jetstream; training helicopters and the Firefly aircraft are painted in a combination of yellow and black. In addition, the majority of military aircraft are being fitted with High Intensity Strobe Lights, and RAF aircraft with High Power Light Assemblies where installation is not cost prohibitive.

  The Study also concludes that an effective safety enhancement would be the installation of a collision warning system to military fast jets. The procurement of CWS is under consideration as part of the Strategic Defence Review.

  Flight safety is, and will remain, a key priority and we will continue to pursue initiatives that promise further improvements in that area.

  Copies of the Study Report and an accompanying MOD commentary have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his 470
  Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27042]

  Mr. Spellar
  Statistics are not held in the form requested. My Department has a target of reply to letters from hon. Members within 15 working days of receipt. Since 14 May 1997, ministers have replied to 63 per cent. of letters within this target and to 79 per cent. within 20 working days. All replies are normally taken by hand to the mail room at the House of Commons, unless we have been asked to make other arrangements by the hon. Member concerned, within 1 working day of being signed.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Land Mines
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which existing land-mine clearance projects the Government assist financially; and what clearance methods these projects use. [26060]

  Clare Short
  We are currently directly supporting clearance projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Northern Iraq and Mozambique. We are also supporting demining activities through the United Nations and the European Community. Directly supported projects all involve manual clearance methods though some also use mechanical devices and dogs.

  Dr. harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the Dervish land mine clearance device, developed at Edinburgh University; and if she will provide financial assistance to support its forthcoming trials in Bosnia. [26059]

  Clare Short
  Dervish Mine Clearance recently submitted a funding proposal for three years support costs. This is presently being technically appraised. The proposal makes no mention of trials in Bosnia.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how long on average it takes her Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date her Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment she has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27036]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International development has a target of 15 working days in which to answer letters from honourable Members and 90 per cent. of letters are answered within that target. Every effort is made to ensure that letters are copied, despatched and delivered within 24 hours of signing.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerning United Kingdom aid to Zimbabwe. [26954]
  471
  Clare Short
  We co-ordinate closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the formulation of Government policy.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her fellow EU Ministers concerning EU aid to Zimbabwe. [26953]

  Clare Short
  We co-ordinate closely with our European Union colleagues on a range of issues, including EU aid to Zimbabwe. We support EC's approach on land reform and balance of payments support for Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with representatives of the (i) World Bank and (ii) IMF concerning(a) loans, (b) United Kingdom bilateral and (c) EU aid to Zimbabwe. [26958]

  Clare Short
  We co-ordinate closely with the World Bank and the IMF on a range of issues including aid to Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to impose conditions on United Kingdom bilateral aid to Zimbabwe similar to those attached to the most recent EU aid package. [26959]

  Clare Short
  Following publication of the White Paper on International Development, we are discussing with the Government of Zimbabwe whether we can form a partnership with them to eradicate poverty. This discussion will include their approach to achieving the International Development Targets, economic management and land reform.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the conditions attached to the EU aid programme to Zimbabwe. [26952]

  Clare Short
  The European Union has agreed to release the second tranche of its Structural Adjustment Support programme which was agreed in 1994, based on assurances that the Government of Zimbabwe would meet their budget deficit targets. The Government have assured the EC that the land reform programme will be implemented in a transparent manner and in accordance with the Government of Zimbabwe's administrative and financial capacity to acquire and resettle the land successfully. The EC has encouraged the Government to consult international partners to make a clear statement of how they intend to proceed with land reform.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerning the provision of training assistance to the Indonesian police force. [26951]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have kept us informed of their plans to provide training assistance to the Indonesian police.

  Caribbean Nations
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will give details of 472
  (a) trade preference agreements, (b) debt relief and (c) aid currently being made available by Her Majesty's Government to (i) Trinidad and Tobago, (ii) Jamaica and (iii) Belize. [26563]

  Clare Short
  Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Belize are eligible for trade preferences from the European Union under the Lomé Convention. No aid debt relief is currently being made available to any of the three countries. Total UK aid for 1996–97 was £278,000 for Trinidad and Tobago, £9,673,000 for Jamaica and £7,666,000 for Belize. We are currently considering whether debt relief should be extended to Jamaica and Belize under the Commonwealth Debt initiative.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  to ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many(a) scientific advisors and (b) other Government personnel are visiting St. Helena in 1998; and for what purposes. [26417]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 30 January,Official Report, column 441.

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment on the Government's efforts to assist poor countries; and if she will make a statement. [26717]

  Clare Short
  The Government support the aim of providing a better international framework for investment, which we believe has an important part to play in helping the poorest countries attract inward investment. My Department is commissioning a study to look at any implications the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) may have for developing countries, which we will share with our negotiating partners. Although the MAI is not designed for poorer developing countries, we support continued consultation with them on this matter.

  Mixed Credits
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the use of mixed credits by DFID will receive independent scrutiny; and if she will make a statement. [26748]

  Clare Short
  The Select Committee on International Development have recently recommended that the use of mixed credits by DFID should receive independent scrutiny. We are currently considering this proposal.

  International Development Budget
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what commitment the Government have made in terms of the percentage of GNP to which the International Development budget will be increased during the next five years. [26700]

  Clare Short
  We are committed to reversing the decline in the development assistance budget and to moving towards the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of GNP. We have undertaken to work within existing financial
  473
  ceilings this year and next, while conducting a comprehensive expenditure review to ensure that all our resources are used effectively, in accordance with out policy priorities. Having done so, we can justify increasing the development assistance budget from 1999–2000.

  Paris Club
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to incorporate the Government's objectives, as set out in the White Paper, "Eliminating World Poverty", in the forthcoming Paris Club meetings. [26702]

  Clare short
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor for the Exchequer leads on debt policy. But my Department is closely involved because debt relief can make an important contribution to the elimination of poverty in developing countries. In agreeing the Government's line to take for Paris Club meetings, the Department for International Development seeks to ensure that, in determining the amount of relief to be provided, due account is taken of the debtor country's ability to pay, and that essential public expenditure, particularly in the social sectors, can be maintained.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the current British aid projects in Nicaragua. [26753]

  Clare Short
  Current British aid projects in Nicaragua are as follows:

  (i) Technical Cooperation Programme projects Land Resources Monitoring Project

  (ii) Joint Funding Scheme projects (the principal mechanism for supporting NGO projects based on a 50:50 share of funding.

  Agency

  Project title

  CODA International

  Institutional Capacity Building Programme

  Health Unlimited

  Community Health Care Programme

  International Cooperation for Development

  Promoting Gender and Development with Women's and Mixed Organisations

  Marie Stopes International

  Developing participative Programme Management Capacity

  One World Action

  Community Health Care Programme

  One World Action

  Support for Solidez

  Y CARE International

  Acahualinca Youth and Community Development

  Y CARE International

  Integrated Rural Community Development Programme

  The list of Joint Funding Scheme projects currently being funded does not include those supported through the block grants provided to certain agencies. Information on these will not be available until mid 1998.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Accommodation
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will list, in relation to office accommodation made available to hon. Members for their personal use in the Parliamentary precinct,(a) the average floor space, (b) the smallest floor space, (c) the largest floor space and (d) the number of hon. Members sharing offices; and if he will make a statement. [26258]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  The average floor space made available to hon. Members is 18.5 sq m. The smallest floor space is 5.6 sq m and the largest is 52.2 sq m. Some 80 hon. Members share offices with other Members.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the amounts of personal expenditure claimed by and reimbursed to the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1996–97 and (v) 1997 to date. [20754]

  Mr. Ingram
  The first table shows the amounts of personal expenditure on business incurred by and re-imbursed to the present Secretary and Chief Executive. The second table gives the total amounts of expenditure incurred by the present secretary and by his predecessor, including accounts which were submitted to and settled by the Authority on their behalf.

  Table 1

  £

  July 1995-March 1996

  Nil

  April 1996—March 1997

  664.00

  April 1997—December 1997

  1,229.00

  Table 2

  £

  Previous Secretary (left post on 30 June 1996)

  April 1993—March 1994

  6,296.00

  April 1994—March 1995

  5,739.00

  April 1995–30 June 1996

  279.00

  Present Secretary (in post since 1 July 1996)

  1 July 1996—March 1997

  3,424.00

  April 1996—March 1997

  9,855.00

  April 1997—December 1997

  4,172.00

  All figures rounded to the nearest £.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of official journeys outside Northern Ireland by the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in terms of(a) travel, (b) subsistence and (c) entertaining paid from official funds or for which reimbursement was claimed in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996 and (iii) 1997 to date. [20752]
  475
  Mr. Ingram
  The costs are as follows:

  Travel

  Subsistence

  Hospitality

  1995–96

  1,600

  1,064

  225

  1996–97

  5,495

  2,432

  205

  1997-to date

  2,100

  992

  Nil

  All figures rounded to the nearest £.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are in place to authorise or reimburse personnel expenditure by the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. [20753]

  Mr. Ingram
  All travelling and subsistence claims made by the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority are dealt with in accordance with Paragraph 6663 of the NICS Pay and Conditions of Service Code. They are made on a purpose designed Authority claim form which is used by all Authority staff.

  Bloody Sunday
  Ms Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on Bloody Sunday. [24858]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer to my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last Thursday 29 January 1998,Official Report, columns 501–03.

  Student Tuition Fees
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 172, on fourth year fees for eligible Northern Irish students, what factors are being considered in the ministerial discussion; and when she expects to announce a decision. [26796]

  Mr. Worthington
  The discussion is focused mainly on matters of equity relating to student support and costs. A decision is expected soon.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the consequences of military action against Iraq in(a) Iraq, (b) the Arab world and (c) Iran. [26985]

  The Prime Minister
  Saddam has demonstrated that he is prepared to attack his neighbours by attacking Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990.

  So long as Saddam Hussein retains the capacity to produce weapons of mass destruction he will remain a real threat to his own people and to the whole Middle East region.

  It would not be sensible to speculate on possible military action at this stage.

  We, and Security Council partners, continue to pursue through diplomatic means the objective of ensuring full Iraqi compliance with the Council's demands.
  476
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 28 January 1998,Official Report, column 348, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson), concerning Iraq, to which neighbours he was referring; and what action he has taken to ascertain their view of the efficacy of bombing without the use of ground forces. [26807]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 130.

  Security Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the categories of persons who since 1 May are no longer the subject of security service interest. [26409]

  The Prime Minister
  The operations of the Security Service are constrained by its statutory remit which allows it to conduct investigations only into persons whom it suspects of presenting a threat to national security or to the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, or in support of the law enforcement agencies in the prevention and detection of serious crime.

  Power Generators
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has seen the signed agreement reached by the Paymaster General with the power generators. [26413]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: No agreement was reached between the power generators and the Government. Arrangements for coal deliveries were agreed by the relevant parties.

  Animal Issues
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to rationalise departmental responsibilities for animal issues to achieve better policy co-ordination. [26786]

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers with responsibilities for animal welfare are actively considering what new arrangements may be needed for interdepartmental co-ordination on animal welfare policies and their presentation. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Biotechnology
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out departmental responsibilities for biotechnology issues; and what steps he takes to ensure(a) cross-departmental co-ordination and (b) that environmental aspects are fully taken into account. [26787]

  The Prime Minister
  These issues cut across a number of Government Departments. Specific information on departmental responsibilities in respect of regulation, information sources and support for biotechnology in the UK is available through the "BioGuide", published by the DTI. Copies are available in the Library.

  The President of the Board of Trade as Cabinet Minister for Science, supported by the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry, takes overall responsibility for co-ordination of biotechnology issues across Government.
  477
  The cross-departmental co-ordination of biotechnology policy is undertaken, at official level, by the Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology (IGGMOT). IGGMOT was established under the auspices of the Office of Science and Technology in 1993 to provide a forum for consideration of biotechnology policy across Government, both domestic and international. Since its inception, IGGMOT has become increasingly important tool for the co-ordination of biotechnology policy, including environmental aspects.

  The official Cabinet Committee on Science and Technology (EASO), chaired by the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, also maintains an overview of biotechnology issues.

  Women's Employment
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to assist women aged over 50 years back into employment. [27047]

  The Prime Minister
  We shall continue with policies of economic stability and growth that create employment opportunities for all. The latest figures announced on 14 January 1998 show a continued increase in the number of people in work in the UK and a further fall in the number unemployed. Falls in unemployment have been relatively even across all age groups for both men and women.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Coal (Land Holdings)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the remaining land holdings held by British Coal, indicating which are(a) in the process of passing to the Coal Authority and (b) subject to conditional planning consents relating to opencast coal mining. [25511]

  Mr. Battle
  British Coal retains approximately 30 properties where sales are contracted but not yet completed. In addition it holds leasehold interests in 14 office properties and approximately 200 recreational sites which are due to transfer to the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation shortly.

  It is not intended to transfer any of these properties to the Coal Authority and none are subject to conditional planning consents to opencast coal mining.

  A full list detailing all the properties will be available in the HoC library.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the cost to companies of their being required to submit testimony in person at industrial tribunals. [25305]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The most recent Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications collected information on the total costs for employers responding to Industrial Tribunal cases (1992 Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications: Trelett and Banerji—Employment Department, February 1994). This did not differentiate between the costs of attending a hearing and other costs. The overall median 478
  total cost was £1,486, although this varied greatly between cases and organisations and included all costs incurred including attending a hearing, legal advice etc. The Third Survey of Industrial Tribunal Applications, which will be carried out during this year, will allow a better breakdown of the costs to both parties.

  Fossil Fuel Levy
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the reduction proposed for the fossil fuel levy. [24964]

  Mr. Battle
  The setting of the rate of the fossil fuel levy is a matter for the Levy Collector. On 19 December the Levy Collector announced that the rate of the fossil fuel levy for the year beginning 1 April 1998 would be 0.9 per cent.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on what parts of the electricity generating industry the fossil fuel levy will apply; and how much will be realised with the new formulas for the fossil fuel levy. [24967]

  Mr. Battle
  The Fossil Fuel Levy Bill, now before the House, would result in electricity supplied from nuclear and fossil fuel sources being subject to the fossil fuel levy as well as electricity produced under Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation arrangements. The Levy Collector estimates that the levy will need to realise £119 million in 1998–99.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she plans to announce the rate and incidence of the non-fossil fuel levy. [24404]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 20 January 1998]: On 19 December the Levy Collector announced that the rate of the fossil fuel levy for the year beginning 1 April 1998 would be 0.9 per cent. This is pursuant to my previous answer on 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 417, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry's answer to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Fallon), on 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 417.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action she will take during the British presidency of the European Union in respect of the White Paper on Renewable Energy; [22287]

  (2) what was the outcome of the meeting with European Union energy ministers on 8 December about the European Union White Paper on Renewable Energy. [22288]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: The Commission made a presentation of their White Paper to the Energy Council on December 8.

  The theme of our current meeting will be energy and environment. During our Presidency we will initiate a detailed discussion of the White Paper and Action Plan with our partners to see what can realistically be done to promote the uptake of renewables throughout Europe. We intend to hold a debate on energy and the environment at the Energy council under our Presidency. This will address the role of renewables, and the Commission's White Paper, as a key item. Within the UK, we are

  479
  currently reviewing our policy on renewable energy including consideration of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK's electricity needs from renewables by 2010.

  Funerals
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will take action to warn(a) pensioners and (b) others about the activities of funeral directors who encourage people to opt for unnecessarily expensive funerals. [24723]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I share the hon. Member's concern about this issue. Funeral directors have a duty to deal fairly with people at times of stress. The codes of practice of all the funeral trade associations require their members to make a basic funeral available with its price clearly indicated. Where funeral directors do not do this, I urge consumers to report them to the relevant trade association of the Funeral Ombudsman Scheme as applicable. I am concerned that there is not enough transparency in this and in other aspects of the funeral business and I am looking to the industry in the first instance to improve consumer protection.

  Gas Industry
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations she has had with representatives of the gas industry about future strategies for energy supply. [24320]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 21 January 1998]: The gas industry comprises a heterogeneous range of companies—over 60 gas suppliers (many of whom are in other energy businesses such as electricity or upstream oil and gas activities), the transmission network, and manufacturers and suppliers of gas equipment of all kinds. I and my officials meet, from time to time, a range of companies with gas interests, and various issues are discussed, including long-term energy supply.

  Coal Industry
  Mr Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has(a) attended meetings, (b) read papers and (c) made comments on coal industry matters in the last three months. [24264]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 20 January 1998]: Matters concerning the coal industry are the responsibility of the Minister for Science, Industry and Energy. His responsibilities also include European coal issues, dealt with at the Energy Council which he attends.

  Coal industry matters have arisen only incidentally, e.g. in meetings at which the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has been present. He has had no direct dealings with the issue.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Board of Trade if the Paymaster General will ensure that the report on the future of the coal industry is completed before the current redundancy terms for miners end on 30 June. [25426]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The Government are not preparing a report on the coal industry. On 22 December, the President of the Board of
  480
  Trade announced details of a review of energy sources for power generation. That review is being carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry, not HM Treasury. The Department has invited representations by 16 February. The review is expected to reach conclusions before 30 June.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much extra British coal she estimates will be burned in British power stations in the second quarter of 1998 as a result of the agreement facilitated by the Paymaster General. [25421]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: National Power and Eastern Electricity agreed with RJB Mining to accelerate deliveries of 600,000 tonnes between them in the April-June quarter 1998. Power Gen agreed to purchase 1.1 million tonnes from RJB in this period.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of the revised sulphur protocol issued by the Environment Agency on coal mines and jobs in the coal industry. [25418]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: Exchanges I have had with the electricity generators suggest that, if implemented, the revised limits proposed by the Environment Agency in a recent consultation paper would have the effect of constraining their purchases of coal and coalburn. My Department is entering into discussions with the Environment Agency and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions about the proposed limits.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the amount of coal burned will increase in the second quarter of 1998 as a result of the agreement reached by the Paymaster General with the power generators. [26783]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Following discussions between the electricity generators and RJB Mining in December 1997, National Power and Eastern Electricity agreed with RJB Mining to accelerate deliveries of 600,000 tonnes between them in the April-June quarter of 1998. Power Gen agreed to purchase 1.1 million tonnes from RJB in this period. The volume of coal burned in the quarter in relation to other quarters will depend upon the decisions of the individual generating companies.

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost of the receptions held at her official residence. [25236]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 23 January 1998]: In relation to the costs of official receptions, I refer to my reply to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 29 January 1998, Official Report, column 356. The costs of any other functions have been borne privately.

  Power Generators
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Ministers of her Department were notified of the details of the agreement reached by the Paymaster General with the power generators; and if she will publish details of the agreement. [25422]
  481
  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: No agreement was reached between the Paymaster General and the power generators. Arrangements for coal deliveries were agreed between the power generators and RJB Mining. The President and I were fully aware of the discussions that led to these arrangements.

  I have arranged for a record of the details of the agreement, agreed with the parties, to be placed in the Library.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what mechanisms she has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for her Department. [25907]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Sustainable development is a factor in all my Department's work. As part of the comprehensive spending review, I aim to ensure that sustainability, including environmental and social issues, is integrated in all areas and by all Directorates. I have also made sustainability a key part of the remits for my Competitiveness working Groups (business advisory panels) on Management Best Practice and innovation.

  Solar Heating
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what surveys have been carried out into the benefits of solar heating systems in houses; what discussions she has had with housebuilders regarding installing solar heating systems when building houses; and if she will make a statement. [25296]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 27 January 1998]: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have the policy lead on solar energy technologies, whereas it is the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) which sponsors the construction industry. There is, of course a constructive dialogue between the Departments for implementing policy in this area.

  A detailed survey was carried out in May 1995, commissioned by the DTI's New and Renewable Energy Programme. The objectives of the survey were to establish how many active solar water heating systems have been installed, how many are still in use and how they have performed. As part of the work, a questionnaire was sent to about 1400 households, 50 per cent. of which were returned. The report concluded that some 49,000 active solar heating systems had been installed in Britain, of which 42,000 were still in use. In general, systems were performing well and the majority of users were 'very satisfied' with their system. The report is available from the Renewable Energy Enquiries Bureau at ETSU—"Survey of Active Solar Heating Systems in the UK—ETSU S/P3/00238/REP".

  In addition, as part of the DETR's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, an R and D project is currently underway, aiming to assess the performance and economics of installing modern solar heating systems on a housing association site of new-built family houses. Following occupation, eight of the houses will be monitored to measure solar radiation and energy input into heating and domestic hot water, to establish the ratio
  482
  of hot water provided by the solar system. Occupants will also be questioned on their level of satisfaction. A parallel EU-funded THERMIE project aims to establish economic factors such as installation and running costs.

  There have been no discussions between DTI or DETR Ministers and housebuilders regarding installing solar heating systems when building houses. However, DTI officials have an active collaboration with the solar heating industry and DETR officials have regular contacts with the building industry on a whole range of energy saving measures in housebuilding.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she notifies potential purchasers of obsolete information technology equipment sold by her Department that such equipment may not be millennium compliant. [25652]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 27 January 1998]: Information technology equipment is only occasionally sold by the DTI. Purchasers are invariably specialist organisation which will be well aware of the potential non-compliant status of older equipment.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 20 January 1998 relating to membership of the Ministerial Group on the year 2000 problem. [27074]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon, Member to the answer I gave her on 30 January 1998,Official Report, column 568.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of civil service staff of grade five and above within her Department(a) have spent their entire civil service career within her Department, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other departments and (c) have come from other departments. [26036]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: Of the Senior Civil Service currently working in the DTI 24 per cent. have spent their entire Civil Service career here; 12 per cent. have had secondment to the private sector; 31 per cent. have worked in other departments and 42 per cent. have come from other departments.

  Electricity Companies
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce regulations to reduce delays in obtaining repairs by requiring electricity companies to provide special emergency numbers for nursing homes and old people's homes. [26242]

  Mr. Battle
  The Office of Electricity Regulation is currently investigating the performance of the Public Electricity Suppliers (PES) in dealing with the aftermath of the recent storms.

  The investigation includes the problems that occurred with the communication system and why it took so long to reconnect the supply of some nursing homes.

  483
  The current Codes of practice provide that PES keep a list of elderly and disabled customers.

  Football World Cup
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she has referred to the Director General of Fair Trading, the ticket allocation system for the 1998 Football World Cup; and if she will make a statement. [26264]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  No. In the first instance the ticket allocation system for the 1998 Football World Cup is a matter for FIFA and the French organising authorities. My hon. Friend, the Minister for Sport, is concerned about the inadequacy of World Cup tickets and I understand he has discussed this with the FA. I also understand that both they and the Scottish Football Association are doing everything they can in making representations to the French World Cup organisers and to FIFA to maximise the number of World Cup tickets available for English and Scottish supporters.

  Algeria
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of ECGD exposure in Algeria for(a) defence-related equipment and (b) non-defence equipment; and if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to trade with Algeria. [26014]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: From data readily available exposure under ECGD guarantees for defence business with Algeria was £97.8 million at end of December 1997 with a further £82 million exposure in respect of non-defence business giving total exposure of £179.8 million. Over £160 million of this total exposure has been paid as claims, but these sums have been rescheduled and thus are expected to be recovered. There is currently no medium term ECGD cover available for defence-related goods as ECGD cover for new business is primarily available for sales of equipment to the Oil and Gas sector.

  The Government maintain trade relations with Algeria within the framework of the EC/Algeria Co-operation Agreement: we support the current negotiations on a new EU/Algeria Association Agreement, providing for reciprocal liberalised trade: we also welcome Algeria's application to accede to the World Trade Organisation.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 512, if she will list the equipment covered by the categories (a) MI5, (b) ML9, (c) ML10, and (d) ML 11. [24611]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: Description of the goods covered in these entries are set out in Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No.2) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/2663). The description of the goods covered by entry MLIO has since been amended by article 7(5) of the Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No.3) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/2758). These instruments are in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the safety of the United Kingdom's nuclear reprocessing facilities. [26387]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel takes place at two sites in the UK: BNFL'S Sellafield site in Cumbria and the UKAEA's Dounreay site in Caithness. Both these sites are subject to the nuclear safety regulatory system enforced by the nuclear industry's independent safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Under the nuclear site licensing regime, continued operation of any civil nuclear installation, including reprocessing facilities, is dependent on the HSE being satisfied about its safety.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if nuclear reprocessing will continue at each of the present sites in the United Kingdom. [26386]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Subject to satisfying the regulatory requirements on safety and discharges, BNFL and UKAEA can be expected to fulfil their contractual commitments to reprocess spent nuclear fuel for their customers.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if rates for ECGD cover for the latest Hawk Jet order from Indonesia reflected a revised risk assessment.[26391]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: The premium rate charged reflected ECGD's assessment of the risk at the time.

  ECGD's premium charge for individual transactions is fixed at the time its guarantee is issued and is not subject to review during the life of the guarantee.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her latest estimate of ECGD losses in 1997–98. [26380]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: ECGD does not expect on its current forecast to record a trading loss in 1997–98.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when ECGD last revised its risk assessment of(a) Indonesia, (b) South Korea, (c) Malaysia, (d) Hong Kong and (e) China; and what changes it made. [26384]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Formal risk assessments were last made as follows:

  (a) for Indonesia in December 1997;

  (b) for South Korea in September 1997;

  (c) for Malaysia in May 1997;

  (d) for Hong Kong in November 1996;

  (e) for China in November 1996.

  As a result, premium rates were raised for Indonesia and China and reduced for Malaysia. The precise amount will vary according to the terms of support for individual transactions.
  485
  Rates were last raised for South Korea in February 1996 and for Malaysia and Hong Kong in December 1995.

  New assessments for South Korea, China and Hong Kong are currently under way and a further assessment of Malaysia is planned.

  Additionally, since the onset of financial turbulence in South East Asia, ECGD is monitoring the situation continuously.

  Exports
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list by category, the records which her Department maintains on exports over the last 30 years of British(a) agricultural machinery, (b) motor lorries and (c) motor cars. [27018]

  Mr. Battle
  Information on UK exports of goods is collected and published by HM Customs and Excise ("Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs and Excise"). In 1997 under the combined Nomenclature classification system there were approximately 60 categories of agricultural machinery, 15 categories of motor cars (excluding motor caravans) and 30 categories of lorries. The exact number of categories has varied from year to year as the classification system has been adapted to changes in the range of products. The last major revision to the classification system was 1988.

  The Department holds copies of the relevant publications for 1976, but the cost of extracting the data for the relevant categories would be disproportionate. However, the 1997 edition of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' publication "World Automotive Statistics" helpfully reproduces Customs and Excise data on car, commercial vehicle, and agricultural tractor exports from 1946 to 1996. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire can expect a reply to his letter of 28 October 1997 on behalf of Mrs. Tomayan. [26374]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer to him on 26 January 1998, Official Report, column 64.

  Airbus 340X
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade is she will make a statement about the application by British Aerospace for launch aid for the Airbus 340X. [27297]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I am pleased to announce that the Government have agreed to a public/private partnership with British Aerospace involving a long-term investment of up to £123 million in British Aerospace towards the design and development of the wing for the new Airbus A340. This represents a major step forward for the UK's involvement in Airbus Industries, which enjoyed its most successful year to date in 1997; it is also a further 486
  demonstration of British Aerospace's world class expertise in wing design and manufacture—expertise which it has brought to all Airbus programmes to date.

  The agreement with British Aerospace continues the Government's drive to create a new partnership between Government and industry. The investment by the Government is repayable and will be on a commercial basis. The terms of the partnership reflect the risk that the taxpayer has been asked to share. The Government will monitor the programme carefully to ensure that the employment and other economic benefits are fully realised, and that all the conditions of the partnership are met.

  The new Airbus A340–500 will be the longest range aircraft on the market, operating up to 8,500 nautical miles. Seven launch customers have already placed orders and commitments for around 100 A340–500/600 aircraft; this represents an excellent start which I hope bodes well for the success of the programme.

  I am also delighted that Rolls-Royce will provide the engines for the new aircraft, taking the overall British interest in the aircraft to around 50 per cent. The Government announced in November that they would support Rolls-Royce in its engine development programme for this aircraft.

  British Aerospace is a major investor in R&D in the UK and much of its technology is diffused to other sectors of the UK economy. Some of the new technology to be incorporated in the new wing has been researched with support from the DTI's Civil Aircraft Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD programme.

  My Department will be discussing the investment with the European Commission.

SCOTLAND

  Benefits
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish for each constituency in Scotland his estimate of the numbers of(a) male and (b) female (i) lone parents, (ii) pensioners, (iii) recipients of DSS benefits and (iv) unemployed persons, (1) under the age of 18 years, (2) aged 18 to 24 years and (3) aged over 24 years. [24037]

  Mr. Wilson
  The numbers of lone parents and pensioners are given in the table. The source is the 1991 Census of Population.

  Parliamentary constituency level information is not available for all DSS benefits. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security to write supplying the data that are available.

  The Office for National Statistics measures unemployment using the internationally standard ILO unemployment rate. This is measured through the Labour Force Survey, which is a survey of households in the United Kingdom. This is internationally-agreed and counts as unemployed people who are: (a) without a paid job; (b) available to start work within the next two weeks

  487
  and (c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.

  ONS also published figures on the number of people who are claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance Credits. This is published monthly and is known as the Claimant Count.

  1991 Census: Parliamentary Constituencies as at the 1997 General Election

  Lone parents1

  Males 65+

  Persons

  Males

  Females

  Females 60+

  Males 65+

  Females 60+

  Scotland

  223,170

  28,940

  194,230

  908,486

  298,115

  610,371

  Aberdeen Central

  2,490

  240

  2,240

  13,461

  4,123

  9,338

  Aberdeen North

  2,970

  440

  2,530

  9,438

  3,239

  6,199

  Aberdeen South

  2,430

  340

  2,090

  14,041

  4,348

  9,693

  Airdrie and Shotts

  3,930

  530

  3,400

  12,407

  4,026

  8,381

  Angus

  2,550

  340

  2,210

  14,852

  4,898

  9,954

  Argyll and Bute

  2,350

  390

  1,970

  14,001

  4,667

  9,334

  Ayr

  2,630

  310

  2,320

  15,481

  4,964

  10,517

  Banff and Buchan

  2,480

  420

  2,060

  12,569

  4,347

  8,222

  Caithness, Surtherland and Easter Ross

  2,040

  250

  1,780

  9,605

  3,298

  6,307

  Carrick, Cummock and Doon Valley

  3,410

  450

  2,970

  15,396

  5,318

  10,078

  Central Fife

  3,440

  350

  3,100

  12,061

  4,026

  8,035

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  3,640

  440

  3,200

  12,945

  4,110

  8,835

  Clydesdale

  2,890

  410

  2,490

  13,703

  4,538

  9,165

  Coatbridge and Chryston

  3,250

  450

  2,800

  11,558

  3,688

  7,870

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  2,690

  330

  2,360

  7,337

  2,366

  4,971

  Cunninghame North

  3,180

  330

  2,850

  14,553

  4,680

  9,873

  Cunninghame South

  3,390

  340

  3,060

  9,524

  3,151

  6,373

  Dumbarton

  3,690

  470

  3,220

  12,730

  4,068

  8,662

  Dumfries

  3,020

  390

  2,630

  15,463

  5,259

  10,204

  Dundee East

  4,240

  470

  3,770

  15,196

  4,992

  10,204

  Dundee West

  4,460

  520

  3,940

  14,317

  4,542

  9,775

  Dunfermline East

  2,720

  430

  2,290

  11,817

  4,150

  7,667

  Dunfermline West

  2,650

  360

  2,290

  10,723

  3,617

  7,106

  East Kilbride

  2,940

  430

  2,520

  12,061

  3,983

  8,078

  East Lothian

  2,640

  380

  2,260

  14,007

  4,824

  9,183

  Eastwood

  2,960

  410

  2,550

  14,028

  4,564

  9,464

  Edinburgh Central

  2,380

  310

  2,080

  14,344

  4,448

  9,896

  Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

  3,500

  440

  3,060

  15,755

  5,042

  10,713

  Edinburgh North and Leith

  3,250

  350

  2,900

  13,003

  4,074

  8,929

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  3,370

  470

  2,900

  12,210

  3,928

  8,282

  Edinburgh South

  2,710

  280

  2,440

  15,810

  4,700

  11,110

  Edinburgh West

  2,900

  360

  2,550

  14,751

  4,957

  9,794

  Falkirk East

  2,720

  290

  2,440

  11,916

  4,017

  7,899

  Falkirk West

  2,620

  230

  2,380

  12,778

  4,262

  8,516

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  2,530

  400

  2,130

  14,694

  5,185

  9,509

  Glasgow Anniesland

  4,880

  590

  4,290

  16,563

  5,273

  11,290

  Glasgow Baillieston

  5,910

  620

  5,290

  10,795

  3,521

  7,274

  Glasgow Cathcart

  4,040

  470

  3,570

  13,221

  4,124

  9,097

  Glasgow Govan

  3,560

  550

  3,010

  12,622

  3,703

  8,919

  Glasgow Kelvin

  2,280

  290

  2,000

  11,983

  3,617

  8,366

  Glasgow Maryhill

  5,360

  690

  4,670

  12,225

  3,870

  8,355

  Glasgow Pollok

  5,000

  490

  4,510

  14,231

  4,314

  9,917

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  3,940

  470

  3,470

  13,054

  4,130

  8,924

  Glasgow Shettleston

  4,480

  550

  3,930

  12,709

  4,092

  8,617

  Glasgow Springburn

  5,740

  740

  4,990

  14,010

  4,413

  9,597

  Gordon

  1,760

  220

  1,540

  11,580

  4,148

  7,432

  Greenock and Inverclyde

  3,910

  540

  3,370

  12,851

  4,120

  8,731

  Hamilton North and Bellshill

  3,630

  510

  3,120

  10,309

  3,341

  6,968

  Hamilton South

  3,030

  430

  2,600

  8,870

  2,848

  6,022

  Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

  2,740

  430

  2,310

  13,546

  4,513

  9,033

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  3,750

  420

  3,330

  14,377

  4,654

  9,723

  Kirkcaldy

  2,920

  410

  2,520

  13,500

  4,464

  9,036

  Linlithgow

  2,690

  450

  2,240

  10,204

  3,508

  6,696

  Livingston

  3,180

  430

  2,750

  8,638

  2,837

  5,801

  Midlothian

  2,440

  360

  2,080

  10,525

  3,697

  6,838

  Moray

  2,630

  420

  2,210

  13,499

  4,642

  8,857

  Motherwell and Wishaw

  3,040

  340

  2,700

  12,962

  4,132

  8,830

  North East Fife

  2,210

  330

  1,890

  14,714

  4,959

  9,755

  North Tayside

  2,390

  370

  2,030

  16,738

  5,798

  10,940

  Ochil

  3,020

  360

  2,660

  11,616

  3,883

  7,733

  Orkney and Shetland

  1,270

  320

  960

  7,257

  2,580

  4,677

  488
  The information requested can be derived only from the claimant count as the Labour Force Survey does not give detail below local authority district level. This information is available through the Norris database in the House of Commons Library. Library staff are ready to assist in accessing the information.

  489

  1991 Census: Parliamentary Constituencies as at the 1997 General Election

  Lone parents1

  Males 65+

  Persons

  Males

  Females

  Females 60+

  Males 65+

  Females 60+

  Paisley North

  3,780

  450

  3,330

  11,153

  3,444

  7,709

  Paisley South

  3,560

  460

  3,100

  12,545

  3,952

  8,593

  Perth

  3,190

  470

  2,720

  15,599

  5,178

  10,421

  Ross, Skye and Inverness West

  2,890

  350

  2,550

  12,566

  4,354

  8,212

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  1,950

  300

  1,650

  12,942

  4,497

  8,445

  Stirling

  2,680

  420

  2,260

  11,970

  3,956

  8,014

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  2,720

  420

  2,300

  12,188

  4,068

  8,120

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  2,020

  260

  1,750

  11,704

  3,950

  7,754

  West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

  1,710

  200

  1,510

  10,480

  3,648

  6,832

  West Renfrewshire

  2,530

  370

  2,160

  10,015

  3,365

  6,650

  Western Isles

  1,280

  200

  1,080

  6,190

  2,123

  4,067

  Note:

  1 Based on a 10 per cent, sample. A common grossing factor has been applied to give an estimate for the total lone parent population in each constituency.

  Source:

  1991 Census of Population General Register Office for Scotland.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year form 1985–86 to 1996–97 the total value of discounts for the right-to-buy scheme for(a) council tenants, (b) Scottish Homes tenants, (c) new town tenants and (d) other public tenants in Scotland. [24394]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information available for council tenants, Scottish Homes tenants and new town tenants is set out in the table. Information on Right to Buy sales to other public sector tenants is not held centrally.

  Total value1 of discounts for the right-to-buy scheme, 1985–86 to 1996–97.

  £ million

  Council tenants

  Scottish Homes tenants

  New town tenants

  1985–86

  98.7

  1.4

  10.9

  1986–87

  110.6

  1.6

  9.6

  1987–88

  196.4

  1.7

  18.9

  1988–89

  317.8

  0.8

  22.5

  1989–90

  402.2

  1.1

  40.7

  1990–91

  356.3

  3.7

  29.5

  1991–92

  319.6

  10.9

  17.4

  1992–93

  327.1

  13.1

  15.1

  1993–94

  299.6

  18.8

  18.4

  1994–952

  305.9

  38.9

  23.5

  1995–962

  232.2

  28.0

  1T.4

  1996–972

  201.9

  26.8

  3.3

  1 The values given are in cash terms.2 The figures for 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 are not yet finalised.

  Hospital Discharges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were ready for discharge from hospitals in Scotland awaiting appropriate accommodation and packages of care in the community and in nursing homes at the most recent date for which figures are available. [25010]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the number of patients ready for discharge to the community is not collected routinely.

  Social Work Services
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will require Scottish local authorities to have a common charging policy for social work services. [25608]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Local authorities are required to apply a common charging policy for people whom they place in residential nursing home care. Authorities have discretionary powers to charge for certain day and domiciliary care services. In all cases, account must be taken of a person's financial circumstances when assessing the level of charge.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25900]

  Mr. Dewar
  I have asked my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for agriculture, the environment and fisheries in Scotland, whose responsibilities as Green Minister include the promotion of sustainable development, to assist colleagues in the comprehensive spending reviews in my Department. In fulfilling this role Lord Sewel will ensure that the Government's commitment to sustainable development is properly reflected in all the reviews currently being conducted in my Department.

  Non-Scottish United Kingdom Students
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total financial contribution of non-Scottish United Kingdom students to the Scottish economy in off-campus expenditure for each of the last five years. [25348]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The Scottish Office has made no such estimate. However, I am aware of the report "The Impact of the Scottish Higher Education Sector on the Economy of Scotland" (the McNicholl Report), commissioned by the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals and published two

  491
  years ago, which suggested that non-Scottish UK students contributed £100 million annually in off-campus expenditure on goods and services.

  Prison Staff Pay
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce regulations to establish a framework for the determination of prison staff's pay under the terms of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [26151]

  Mr. McLeish
  This matter is under consideration. In Scotland, discussions between management and unions in the Prison Service have been taking place on what conciliation/mediation arrangements might be appropriate, should there be a failure to reach agreement on pay.

  Acute Beds (Lothian)
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of admissions by specialty to acute beds in the Lothian Health area in(a) 1989–90 and (b) 1995–96; and the projected number of such admissions in 2002–2003. [26420]

  (2) if he will list by specialty the number of acute beds in the Lothian Health area (a) projected for 2002–2003 and (b) in (i) 1989–90 and (ii) 1995–96. [26421]

  (3) what was the throughput by specialty for acute beds in the Lothian Health area in (a) 1989–90 and
  (b) 1995–96; and what is the projected throughput for such beds in 2002–2003. [26419]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Information on the average number of available staffed acute beds, the number of admissions to acute beds and throughput by specialty in Lothian Health Board are for the years to 31 March 1990 and 31 March 1996 and projected for the year 2003 is given in the tables which have been placed in the Library. The projected figures were provided by Lothian Health Board.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions police officers in(a) Strathclyde and (b) elsewhere in Scotland have discharged CS spray in the last year; how many police officers were injured; and if he will make a statement. [25831]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Operational trials of CS aerosol incapacitant spray began last October in Strathclyde and Tayside Police areas. Since the trials began the spray has been used on 3 occasions in Strathclyde and once in Tayside. On 2 occasions, officers were in the course of being assaulted when they used the spray. They suffered minor injuries, though they were fit to continue on duty: the use of the spray avoided the risk of much more serious injuries. On one occasion, the officers themselves were slightly affected by the spray, but were fit to continue on duty and suffered no lasting effects. The trials are due to end in March.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposes to deal with 492
  domestic violence,; what funds he is making available to (a) local authority and (b) voluntary association projects; and if he will make a statement. [25832]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: The Government recognise that domestic violence is a serious problem which threatens many people, mainly women and children. It is unacceptable in itself and also impacts on many areas of the lives of victims and on their freedom to live their lives without fear and in the way they wish. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Women's Issues has designated the need to tackle domestic violence as one of 3 major issues it is committed to addressing. We are taking a number of steps to combat the problem in Scotland.

  Almost £240,000 has been provided this financial year to Scottish Women's Aid under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

  The Urban Programme supports around 5 projects addressing the needs of women and children suffering from domestic violence and other forms of abuse. These projects will receive funding amounting to around £400,000 in 1998–99.

  The previous Government commissioned a research study from Dr. Sheila Henderson of Reid-Howie Associates to inform future policy on domestic violence and addressing 3 main questions.
  What services are currently available in Scotland to women (and their children) who suffer violence at the hands of their partner?
  What gaps exist in the provision of services in Scotland, whether in the type, quantity or geographic location of services and how might these gaps be filled?
  What do service providers consider is the most appropriate role for The Scottish Office and others in the effort to combat domestic violence?

  We have received a report from Dr. Henderson and will consider very carefully its wide ranging recommendations in partnership with service providers.

  Nursing Students
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria will be used to determine which applicants to courses in nursing, midwifery and the professions allied to medicine will be successful in receiving maintenance bursaries. [26558]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Applicants gaining a place on courses in nursing, midwifery and the professions allied to medicine will be eligible for maintenance bursaries. I expect that the total number of places available will remain at around current levels. Such bursaries for students undertaking degree courses in nursing, midwifery and the professions allied to medicine will be means-tested.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the amount of maintenance bursary for nursing, midwifery and the professions allied to medicine students. [26559]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: Students undertaking full-time Nursery and Midwifery diploma courses will continue to be offered non-means tested bursaries as at present.
  493
  Students undertaking degree nursing, midwifery and professions allied to medicine courses will have access to means-tested bursaries.

  Standard bursary rates for Scottish domiciled nursing and midwifery degree students, and professions allied to medicine students in academic year 1998–99 will be:

  £

  Students living in the parental home

  1,325

  Students living outwith the parental home

  1,735

  Such students will also be entitled to apply for a student loan.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the funding arrangements will be for student nurses qualified with HND/RN who wish to continue directly on to full-time degree study. [26561]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: It is not possible to qualify as a nurse with a Higher National Diploma/Registered Nurse.

  Students with a Diploma in Higher Education in Nursing or Registered Nurse or Midwife who progress to a full-time degree may be given credit for their existing qualification by the institution offering the degree. Their eligibility for student support arrangements for that qualification would be on the same basis as others taking the course.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what compensation and from whom will be available to Scottish institutions for the revenue they will lose as a result of the waiving of fourth year tuition fees for Scottish domiciled students. [26562]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: There is no question of Scottish institutions losing revenue as a result of the Government's decision on fourth year tuition fees for Scottish domiciled students. As I announced in my speech to the Annual Forum of the Conference of Scottish Higher Education Principals on 27 October 1997, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland will pay the tuition fee for Scottish students in Scottish higher education institution for the fourth or honours year of courses which are a year longer than comparable courses elsewhere in the UK. This is in line with the Garrick Committee's recommendation that the fees contribution from Scottish students should be equitable with that from students on comparable courses in the rest of the UK.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27033]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Department has a target of 17 working days to reply to Ministerial Correspondence and 57 per cent. of correspondence receives a reply within this target. My Department monitors performance against the 494
  target but does not keep statistics on the average time taken to answer letters from hon Members or on the length of time taken to deliver a letter after it has been typed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioners on income support in the West Chelmsford constituency received outdated giros to pay for their winter fuel bills; and when they can expect to receive their new giros; [26545]

  (2) how much it will cost the Exchequer to rectify the sending of out-of-date giros to pensioners for winter fuel bills; [26546]

  (3) how many pensioners have been adversely affected by the error in the cheques sent to pensioners receiving the additional money to help with their winter fuel bills; and when she expects them to receive their money; [26547]

  (4) if she will make a statement on the reasons for the computer error that has led to the sending of out-of-date giros for winter fuel payments to pensioners on income support. [26548]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. This is the first time any Government have made a payment to all pensioners towards their heating costs.

  This is an enormous and unprecedented exercise, involving the making of around 10 million payments to over seven million pensioner households at a total cost of around £200 million.

  A problem occurred earlier this week which has now been rectified. Replacement girocheques along with an apology have been sent to all of the 40,801 pensioners who received out-of-date cheques.

  No pensioners in receipt of Income Support in the West Chelmsford constituency should have received outdated giros for winter fuel payments.

  I have set up an investigation into the error.

  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 30 January 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the computer error that led to the issue of out-of-date giros for Winter Fuel payments, the cost to the Exchequer to rectify the position and in particular the number of pensioners on Income Support in your constituency who received outdated giros.
  You may find it helpful if I explain that the Benefits Agency is currently engaged in issuing Winter Fuel Payments to around ten million pensioners. Priority has been given to issuing payments to the poorest pensioners—the 1.5 million who are receiving Income Support. All those payments have now been issued and should be received by the end of this week.

  495
  Computer services are provided by an external contractor through the Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA) on behalf of the Department. An error by a computer operator led to out-of-date girocheques being sent to 40,801 pensioners in receipt of Income Support. This was an isolated incident which is confined to these customers. Arrangements have been made for pensioners to receive replacement girocheques by 31 January 1998.
  The five Benefits Agency District offices affected by the computer error are listed below:
  Clyde Coast and Renfrew District, which includes offices of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Renfrew.
  Ealing District, which includes the offices of Ealing, Acton, Nottinghill and Southall.
  Glasgow East District, which includes the offices of Shettleston, Bridgeton and Provan.
  West Pennine District, which includes the offices of Bury, Manchester Middleton and Rochdale.
  Palace District, which includes the offices of Fulham, Crystal Palace, Dulwich, Kensington and Peckham.
  The cost of remedial action will be borne by the supplier. A full investigation is now taking place.
  I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice(a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) other Ministers in the Treasury received from civil servants on the consistency of the proposed winter fuel payments for pensioners campaign with the Civil Service rules on Government advertising; and if she will make a statement. [26792]

  Mr. Denham
  The Civil Service rules on Government advertising clearly state that it is right and proper for governments to use public funds for publicity and advertising to explain their policies and to inform the public of the government services available to them and of their rights and liabilities.

  Within this Department a multi-media campaign was recommended, in accordance with guidelines, as the most cost effective way of making sure that pensioners had information about Winter Fuel Payments. Pensioners need to know what payments are coming to them, how and when, in order to make informed decisions about how to heat their homes.

  Winter Fuel Supplement
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the winter fuel supplement she estimates will be paid after 28 February. [26171]

  Mr. Denham
  The additional help of £400 million over this winter and next, announced by the Chancellor on 25 November 1997,Official Report, columns 773–98, demonstrates the Government's commitment to help the elderly keep warm in their homes.

  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Rendel, dated 29 January 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of the winter fuel supplement she estimates will be paid after 28th February.
  496
  This is an enormous and unprecedented exercise for the Department. All payments are being issued as quickly as possible. Payments will be issued automatically without the need to make a claim.
  Current planning assumptions are that approximately 10m pensioners will receive a Winter Fuel Payment.
  Priority has been given to making payments to the poorest pensioners—the one and a half million receiving Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based). All those payments have now been made and should be received by the end of January. Payments to these pensioners totals £70 million. This represents 35% of the overall expenditure and approximately 15% of the total number of eligible pensioners.
  As soon as payments have been made to the Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance pensioners, around 15 million computer records will be checked to identify other eligible pensioners. Addresses will be matched to determine whether a payment of £20 or £10 should be made. Given the sheer size of the task, it will take a number of weeks to complete. Payments will be made using the pensioners normal payment route. For example where a pensioner is paid at the Post Office they will obtain payment at the Post Office and where they are paid directly into their bank or building society, payment will be paid direct into their account. These payments will start being issued during March and represents approximately 85% of the estimated eligible pensioners.
  This programme means that the vast majority of payments will be sent by the end of March.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment she has made of the difficulties faced by claimants in filling in the new questionnaire for claiming of disability living allowance; [25063]

  (2) how many claimants have had their benefit stopped following the new procedure introduced for claiming disability living allowance. [25069]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 30 January 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what assessment she has made of the difficulties faced by claimants in filling in the new questionnaire for claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and how many claimants have had their benefit stopped following the new procedure introduced for claiming DLA.
  Minor revisions to the DLA/Attendance Allowance claim packs were made in April and October 1997. A new child specific claim pack was introduced in April 1997, following a lengthy and wideranging consultation exercise with a large number of groups representing disabled customers. The introduction of the child specific claim pack was as a direct result of concerns expressed by customers who felt that the existing DLA claim pack did not adequately cater for children. The introduction of these claim packs did not include a questionnaire for claiming DLA.
  However a questionnaire was introduced for the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP). The BIP was set up in response to the recent Benefit review of DLA. Over the next two years, specially trained staff will make enquiries by postal questionnaire or home visit in over 400,000 cases to establish whether DLA is paid correctly. The BIP will look again at existing DLA awards of the higher rate of mobility combined with either the middle or highest rate of care.

  497
  The questionnaire used by the BIP is based on the DLA claim pack in use until October 1997. However, it also takes account of customer research undertaken by the Benefits Agency in 1996–97 which highlighted that more "free text" space was needed rather than using a "tick box" format. Although the questionnaire is more than 30 pages long this makes sure that people have the opportunity to fully describe their circumstances and that we obtain enough information to allow Adjudication Officers to reach properly informed decisions. Project staff are considering to what extent the improvements in the revised DLA claim pack can be introduced into the BIP questionnaire.
  The most appropriate and sensitive method of gathering information from people receiving the higher rate of mobility combined with the highest rate of care is to visit them and complete an enquiry form. This form is designed to provide an up to date picture of their circumstances. The visits are by appointment and are made at least a week in advance. The letter informing the person about the appointment invites them to have a friend or carer present, reassures them the appointment can be rearranged if it is inconvenient and asks them to contact the Disability Benefits Helpline if they have any special needs, such as an interpreter. Calls to the Helpline are charged at British Telecom's local rate.
  People receiving the higher rate of mobility combined with the middle rate of care are sent an enquiry form by post. They have three weeks to complete and return the form. The letter accompanying the form informs people that they can contact the Disability Benefits Helpline if they have difficulty completing or need more time to return it.
  There has been no formal monitoring of the difficulties encountered by DLA customers who have been sent a questionnaire as part of the BIP. Approximately 10 people a week have made use of the BIP forms completion service, which involves a member of the BIP team. This suggests that generally people do not find completing the questionnaire difficult. The average time taken to return the questionnaire is 19 days compared with the 21 days allowed, as at 30 November 1997.
  At 30 November, a total of 33,490 cases had been examined of which 6,953 have been changed. Of these changes, 2,232 have been disallowed, 3,880 reduced and 841 increased. Figures for the period to 31 December and subsequent months will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the number of claimants and the number of new claims of(a) disability living allowance care, (b) disability living allowance mobility,
  (c) attendance allowance and (d) long-term incapacity benefit in each year since 1992 in the Newcastle Benefits Agency District; and if she will estimate the age-distribution of claimants of these benefits in this district in the age bands (i) up to 30, (ii) 31 to 40, (iii) 41 to 50, (iv) 51 to 60 and (v) over 60 years. [22985]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend. In addition, some tables have been placed in the Library.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 January 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the number of claimants and the number of new claims of (a) Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care, (b) DLA mobility, (c) Attendance Allowance (AA) and (d) long term Incapacity Benefit (IB) in each year since 1992 in the Newcastle Benefits Agency District; and an estimation of the age distribution of claimants of these benefits in this district in the age bands (i) up to 30, (ii) 31 to 40, (iii) 40 to 50, (iv) 51 to 60 and (v) over 60 years.
  498
  The information is not available in the format requested. The new claim statistics for IB are bot available broken down into age bands. Statistics for AA are not available prior to February 1996.
  Such information as is available is shown in the attached tables.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Cabinet Committee on Women
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Women last met; and when it will next meet. [27050]

  Ms Ruddock
  In accordance with longstanding practice, information about the proceedings of the Cabinet and Cabinet committees is not made public.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if cold weather payments would have been triggered for(a) Orkney and (b) Shetland for the period 17 to 20 January if the wind chill factor had been incorporated into the recorded or forecasted temperatures. [26084]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested cannot be ascertained, because the existing Cold Weather Payments scheme does not contain a trigger criterion which combines wind speed with external air temperature.

  A number of formulae are used to calculate the combined effects of air temperature and wind speed on the human body when in the open air ("wind chill"). The Building Research Establishment advises that this way of combining temperatures and wind speed is not appropriate when assessing heat loss from buildings, because different heat transfer mechanisms apply.

  The amount of additional heating required during a spell of low air temperatures depends on a number of varying factors in addition to wind speed. These include the house type, site and location, insulation standard, the method of heating and its efficiency.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long on average it takes her Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date her Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment she has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27030]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not kept in the format requested.

  Our target is to reply to letters from hon. Members within 20 working days. Due to the very high volume of letters in the last six months this target was achieved for only 51 per cent. of the letters received during 1997.

  We remain committed to answering all correspondence within 20 working days and are taking active measures to reduce turnaround times.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a break-down of family credit recipients by gender in the last year for which figures are available. [26251]
  499
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  757,000 families are currently in receipt of Family Credit. Of these, 14,300 families are headed by a male lone parent and 336,400 by a female lone parent. The vast majority of couple families have a female recipient as there is a requirement for the female member of a couple to be the claimant. There are, however, occasional exceptions to this rule, for example, to cover mental incapacity.

  Source:

  1. Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of all awards.

  Notes:

  1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the Exchequer subsidy to the National Insurance Fund for each of the last 10 years. [26852]

  Mr. Denham
  The amount paid to the National Insurance Fund for each year in the period from 1987–88 to 1996–97 are shown in the table.

  Payments into the National Insurance Fund1 1987–88 to 1996–97

  Year

  Amount (£ million)

  1987–88

  2,135

  1988–89

  1,653

  1989–90

  NIL

  1990–91

  NIL

  1991–92

  NIL

  1992–93

  NIL

  1993–94

  7,589

  1994–95

  6,280

  1995–96

  3,575

  1996–97

  1,900

  1 Treasury Supplement until 1988–89; Treasury Grant from 1993–94.

  Benefits Statistics
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost of non-means tested benefits in 1996–97; and what estimates he has made of the costs of means tested benefits in 1997–98 separately identifying (i) the cost of payments to customers and (ii) the cost of administration. [26981]

  Mr. Denham
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Cost of payments to customers for benefit expenditure only

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Non-means tested benefit

  60,152

  —

  Means tested benefit

  —

  33,530

  Note:

  The information about the cost of administration is not available. The information requested for 1996–97 is currently being finalised and will be included in the Departmental Report scheduled for publication following the Spring Budget Statement. The report will also contain benefit forecasts and forecasts for contributory and non-contributory benefits administration costs on a Departmental basis only. Administration costs are not forecast by individual benefit.

  Source:

  March 1997 Social Security Departmental Report.

  Pensions Policy
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she expects to publish her Department's proposals on pensions policy; and if she will make a statement. [27006]

  Mr. Denham
  The pensions review, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 17 July, is looking at the central areas of insecurity for elderly people. A key objective of the review is to ensure that pensioners should have an adequate pension in retirement; that they should share fairly in rising prosperity, and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable.

  The first part of the review ended on 31 October and we are now carefully considering the many responses we have received. We are also consulting on how best to take forward our proposals for Stakeholder Pensions and have asked for comments by the end of this month. We aim to publish an initial framework for change in the first half of this year. There will then be a period of further consultation before final proposals are developed.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list(a) the building societies used in the calculation of the standard rate of interest, (b) their current rate of interest and (c) the current standard rate of interest used to calculate income support for mortgage interest; and if she will publish the rate of interest which would apply based on the interest rates of the top 20 mortgage lenders. [26957]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The standard rate is based on the weighted average interest rate charged by building societies. A list of the societies used in the calculation of standard rate, whose combined assets represents over 95 per cent. of the industry's assets, is below, together with the basic rate currently charged to existing borrowers.

  Building society

  Current interest rate (per cent)1

  Birmingham Midshires

  8.70

  Bradford and Bingley

  8.45

  Britannia

  8.60

  Chelsea

  8.60

  Cheshire

  8.55

  Coventry

  8.70

  Cumberland

  8.60

  Derbyshire

  8.15

  Dunfirmline

  8.15

  Furness

  8.54

  Lambeth

  8.55

  Leeds and Holbeck

  8.45

  Leek United

  8.60

  National Counties

  8.29

  Nationwide

  8.10

  Newcastle

  8.64

  Norwich and Peterborough

  8.10

  Nottingham

  8.20

  Portman

  8.49

  Principality

  8.10

  Scarborough

  8.69

  Skipton

  8.45

  Staffordshire

  7.99

  501

  Building society

  Current interest rate (per cent)1

  Stroud and Swindon

  8.55

  West Bromwich

  8.45

  Yorkshire

  8.25

  Source:

  1 Moneyfacts.

  It should be noted that the standard rate is calculated using the weighted average of basic rates. The most recent
  502
  average figure of 8.15 per cent., published in Table 7.1L of January's "Financial Statistics", did not increase the standard rate, currently 7.97 per cent., as changes are triggered by a minimum movement of 0.25 per cent.

  The rate of interest based on the top 20 mortgage lenders it not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost However, a combined rate of the top building societies and banks, currently 8.53 per cent., is also published in Table 7.1L of "Financial Statistics".

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Electronic Red Boxes
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the savings in(a) transport costs and (b) car mileage which will result from the introduction of electronic red boxes and the electronic transfer of the information contained in them. [26395]

  Dr. David Clark
  The electronic red box has the potential to be a more convenient and powerful way of processing Ministers' documents, and to reduce a number of costs, including paper-handling as well as transport costs. I expect the benefits to be progressively realised as take-up and connectivity increase.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next intends to issue a progress report on the action taken by Government departments and agencies in eliminating year 2000 computer compliance problems. [26983]

  Dr. David Clark
  As I said in my statement to the House on 27 November 1997,Official Report, columns 1104–05, I intend to review and report to the House on central Government's progress on tackling the millennium date change problem on a regular basis. Work is in hand for the first review in the spring.

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the current advertising budget for the promotion of the Millennium Dome(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas. [25269]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Resources for media advertising are incorporated in the New Millennium Experience Company's integrated communications contract awarded to M&C Saatchi after competitive tendering in August 1997. The overall value of that contract, as stated in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 25 June 1997, is approximately £16 million over the life of the project, including media costs, purchasing, production, direct marketing, advertising agency services and other elements of integrated communications.

HEALTH

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial allocations have been made to the Redbridge and Waltham Forest District Health Authority in each year since its establishment; and what was the real terms increase in each year compared with the previous year. [24973]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is in the tables. However, there have been a number of changes which distort inter year comparisons.504

  Table 1: Revenue allocations for Redbridge and Waltham Forest District Health Authority

  £000

  Real terms increase

  Allocation Cash

  Allocation 1993–94 prices

  £000

  percentage

  1993–94

  159,278

  159,278

  —

  —

  1994–95

  168,257

  165,767

  6,489

  4.07

  1995–96

  222,861

  213,679

  47,912

  28.90

  Notes:

  1. Allocations have been expressed in real terms by using the relevant gross domestic product (GDP) deflator for each year to convert them to 1993–94 prices.

  2. Redbridge and Waltham Forest District Health Authority (DHA) was established in 1993–94 from the merger of Redbridge DHA and Waltham Forest DHA.

  3. Allocations to DHAs were made by regional health authorities (RHA). These figures have been adjusted to take account of the effects of different regional allocation policies.

  4. The 1995–96 figures are not comparable with those for earlier years. This is due to additions which were made to DHA allocations for:

  (a) entry of special health authorities into the internal market.

  (b) inclusion of certain former national top sliced budgets.

  (c) inclusion of capital charges.

  Table 2: General allocations and real term increase for Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority

  £000

  Real terms increase

  Allocation

  Allocation 1993–94

  £000

  percentage

  1996–97

  212,275

  198,039

  —

  —

  1997–98

  221,589

  201,294

  3,255

  1.64

  1998–99

  231,328

  204,418

  3,124

  1.55

  Notes:

  1. Allocations have been expressed in real terms by using the relevant gross domestic product deflator for each year to convert them to 1993–94 prices. Consequently, the real terms increases between years will not equate to the announced real terms growth.

  2. Figures for 1996–97 are not comparable with earlier years because of:

  (a) the merger of DHAs and family health services authorities (FHSAs). This means that some elements of expenditure that were previously FHSA will be accounted for in the heath authority allocation.

  (b) loss of population caused by boundary changes at the formation of Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority in 1996–97.

  (c) re-calibration to ensure that 1996–97 HA baselines were constructed on a common basis (as RHAs pursued different sub-regional allocation policies). This includes funds which were built into DHA baselines before 1996–97 which subsequently former parts of national levies.

  AIDS and HIV (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women were registered as suffering from (i) AIDS and (ii) HIV by London borough council authority in December 1997. [25432]

  Ms Jowell
  At the end of December 1997, the number of men and women with AIDS reported voluntarily by
  505
  clinicians to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (of the Public Health Laboratory Service) as resident in London boroughs and not known to have died is shown in the table. These figures are subject to some under-reporting and take no account of movement into and away from London after first report. Similar information for diagnosed HIV infection is not available. For reasons of confidentiality the figures are not shown separately by sex.

  Local Authority

  Total Cases

  Barking and Dagenham

  4

  Barnet

  67

  Bexley

  6

  Brent

  58

  Bromley

  16

  Camden

  162

  City of London

  4

  City of Westminster

  157

  Croydon

  47

  Ealing

  60

  Enfield

  24

  Greenwich

  27

  Hackney

  100

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  158

  Haringey

  101

  Harrow

  13

  Havering

  2

  Hillingdon

  20

  Hounslow

  39

  Islington

  132

  Kensington and Chelsea

  183

  Kingston Upon Thames

  15

  Lambeth

  230

  Lewisham

  64

  Merton

  36

  Newham

  79

  Redbridge

  18

  Richmond Upon Thames

  31

  Southwark

  111

  Sutton

  5

  Tower Hamlets

  76

  Waltham Forest

  44

  Wandsworth

  145

  Note:

  Excludes 105 residents in London, local authority not known.

  Minister for Mental Health
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has(a) to establish a dedicated budget for and (b) to appoint a minister for mental health; and if he will make a statement. [25879]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is for health authorities to determine the resources that they allocate for mental health provision from their overall allocation, in the light of the priority accorded to mental health services in the National Health Service Priorities and Planning Guidance 1998–99 and local circumstances. Similarly, it is for local authorities to determine the level of funding they allocate to services for people with mental illness from their total resources.

  In recognition of the importance which we place on mental health, we have increased the Mental Illness
  506
  Specific Grant by 9 per cent. to £73.3 million for 1998–99.

  These additional resources will be made available through a new £2 million fund for child and adolescent mental health services and through a £4 million local authority mental health partnership fund. This will be matched by a £4 million NHS mental health partnership fund.

  We have no plans to appoint a Minister with exclusive responsibility for mental health.

  Positive Care Link
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much HIV/AIDS funding has been allocated by his Department to the voluntary organisation Positive Care Link for each of the last three financial years and for 1998–99.[26003]

  Mr. Boateng
  Positive Care Link (PCL) is in receipt of a three year grant of £30,000 per annum funding its core administration costs for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99.

  PLC has also made an application for funding for a project costing £40,000 a year for three years with effect from 1998–99. A decision about this has not yet been taken.

  In addition, for the years 1994–95 to 1997–98, PCL has received "earmarked" AIDS Support Grant funding of £20,000 a year (£60,000 in total) from each of the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham. The funding was originally awarded for "pumping-priming" purposes and PCL were informed in September 1997 that the arrangement would not be extended beyond 1997–98. PCL also receives funding from local authorities and health authorities for the provision of local services.

  AIDS (Viral Load Tests)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce viral load testing sensitive enough to detect viral loads of below 50 for people with AIDS using combination drug therapies. [26004]

  Ms Jowell
  We have no plans to specify which viral load tests should be used by the National Health Service. The choice of treatment regimen for people with HIV and AIDS is a matter for discussion between doctor and patient. The British HIV Association published guidelines for antiretroviral treatment of HIV seropositive individuals last year. These guidelines suggest treatment regimens based on biological markers including viral load measurements. The choice of which test system to use for viral load measurements needs to be informed by clinical and virological expertise.

  Child Care Orders
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child care orders were made by each local authority in the Greater London area in 1997. [26048]
  507
  Mr. Boateng
  The latest figures available are for the year ending 31 March 1996, and are given in the table.

  Care orders under the Children Act 1989 made during the year ending 31 March 1996, Greater London

  Number of Care Orders

  Authority

  Interim

  Full

  Number of children who became subject to either type of order during year3

  Inner London

  Camden

  18

  11

  28

  Greenwich1

  33

  33

  46

  Hackney

  18

  24

  36

  Hammersmith

  15

  20

  35

  Islington

  29

  16

  44

  Kensington

  24

  21

  39

  Lambeth

  36

  28

  59

  Lewisham

  38

  42

  76

  Southwark

  69

  49

  94

  Tower Hamlets2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Wandsworth

  28

  19

  43

  Westminster

  48

  25

  68

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  Outer London

  Barking

  7

  14

  18

  Barnet

  28

  22

  32

  Bexley

  8

  1

  9

  Brent

  21

  14

  33

  Bromley

  19

  28

  38

  Croydon

  61

  31

  79

  Ealing

  20

  20

  34

  Enfield

  10

  12

  21

  Haringey2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Harrow

  11

  9

  18

  Havering

  11

  4

  12

  Hillingdon

  21

  13

  21

  Hounslow

  19

  19

  33

  Kingston upon Thames

  3

  1

  4

  Merton

  9

  10

  18

  Newham

  16

  17

  31

  Redbridge

  17

  3

  18

  Richmond upon Thames

  9

  7

  13

  Sutton

  14

  24

  32

  Waltham Forest

  8

  12

  19

  Total:

  668

  549

  1,051

  Notes:

  1 Estimates for Greenwich have been adjusted to take account of missing data.

  2 Figures are not available for Tower Hamlets and Haringey.

  3 Where a child became subject to a care order or an interim care order on more than one occasion during the year ended 31 March 1996, the child has only been counted once in the figures in this column.

  St. George's Hospital, Tooting
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people live within the catchment area of St. George's Hospital, Tooting. [26050]

  Mr. Milburn
  Catchment area data for individual hospitals or National Health Service trusts are not collected.
  508
  St. George's Hospital provides services for most residents of the London Borough of Wandsworth and also for parts of Lambeth and Merton. The hospital also serves a much wider population with a number of its specialist services.

  Health Records (Access Charges)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of charges levied on patients for access to their health records. [26260]

  Mr. Milburn
  Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, holders of manual records are permitted to charge an application fee not exceeding £10 to cover the cost of retrieving, collating and examining files. Additionally, the cost of producing a photocopy of the records may be recovered. Computer records are covered by the Data Protection Act 1984. Currently, an application fee not exceeding £10 may be charged for providing copies of computer records.

  MS Drug Treatments
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the benefit to MS sufferers of Beta Interferon and Betaferon drug treatments; and if he will amend the guidance contained in circular EU(94)72 to promote wider use of such drugs. [26083]

  Ms Jowell
  As part of our health technology assessment programme, an evaluation and pharmaco-economic analysis project is being undertaken on Beta Interferon for multiple sclerosis.

  We are committed to ensuring that new treatments, including new medicines, are introduced into the National Health Service as fast as possible where they represent a genuine therapeutic advance and are cost-effective. EL(94)72 asked health authorities to establish a mechanism for assessing new treatments, and most authorities have now established prescribing committees.

  ME Association
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support his Department(a) currently gives and (b) plans to give to the ME Association. [26144]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has provided funds to the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of £37,000 from 1995–96 to 1997–98 and, in the same period, of £94,673 for their development of support services project. Funding is provided through the Section 64 scheme of grants.

  Further funding is currently being considered.

  Irena
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy on the natural health supplement, Irena. [26145]

  Ms Jowell
  The product Irena, when presented as a medicinal product, is subject to medicines legislation.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 26 January 1998,
  509
  Official Report, column 45, from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to collect information on the results of medical research on cannabis where a Home Office licence has been granted. [26271]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department of Health routinely uses available research evidence to support policy development. There is, therefore, no need to make it policy that we will collect information on the results of medical research of cannabis where a Home Office licence has been granted.

  Social Care
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government has made of the numbers of social care staff working(a) in residential and nursing homes for the elderly, in both the public and private sectors, (b) in residential homes for children, (c) as paid care assistants in the community and (d) as paid domestic child care. [26706]

  Mr. Boateng
  In September 1996, the latest date for which the information is available, the numbers of full and part time social care staff directly employed by local authorities were:

  (a) residential care homes for the elderly: 59,750

  (b) residential homes for children: 16,520

  Information is not held centrally on items (c) and (d). The number of social services staff in England providing home care/home help services to people in their own homes was (at the same date) 75,910.

  Information on employment in the private and voluntary sectors is not held centrally. However, the report of the "Independent Sector Workforce Survey 1966" conducted by the Local Government Management Board showed that the numbers of nursing and care staff in private and voluntary residential and nursing establishments for the elderly and elder infirm in England were:

  residential/dual registered homes: 156,000

  nursing homes: 119,300.

  Smoking
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the last 10 years in the totals of(a) women and (b) men under the age of 24 years who are smokers of tobacco; and if he will make a statement.[26474]

  Ms Jowell
  The available information is in the table.

  Prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst persons aged 16 to 24, England, 1986 to 1996

  Percentage

  Year

  Men

  Women

  1986

  36

  35

  1988

  33

  33

  1990

  34

  36

  1992

  35

  32

  510

  Prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst persons aged 16 to 24, England, 1986 to 1996

  Percentage

  Year

  Men

  Women

  1994

  36

  34

  1996

  34

  35

  Notes:

  1. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole figure.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics General Household Surveys.

  Any rise in young people's smoking is cause for concern. Measures to reduce smoking will be published in our White Paper on tobacco control later this year.

  Prescription Charges (Exemptions)
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to consider the addition of(a) asthma and (b) other chronic conditions to the list of those whose sufferers are exempt from NHS prescription payments. [26346]

  Mr. Milburn
  All aspects of prescription charges are being examined as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review which will report in the summer. The Review in the Department of Health is being undertaken in the context of our manifesto commitment:"if you are ill or injured there will be a national health service there to help; and access to it will be based on need and need alone—not on your ability to pay, or on who your general practitioner happens to be or on where you live".

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist for central recording of patients requiring elective surgery who are excluded from hospital waiting lists because there is little likelihood of their treatment. [26510]

  Mr. Milburn
  None.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 204, if he will estimate the number of (a) kidney dialysis machines, (b) intensive care cots for premature babies and (c) intensive care units which cannot be repaired or replaced before 31 December 1999. [26721]

  Mr. Milburn
  Although little firm information is yet available as to which models of medical equipment may be affected by year 2000 problems, the Medical Devices Agency (MDA) expects them to be few in number. The MDA is not aware of any reason why it should not be possible for affected items to be upgraded appropriately or replaced in due time.

  Dental Services
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate by health authority area the number of patients who will be de-registered from their dentists as a result of the new regulations in(a) numerical and (b) percentage terms. [26851]
  511
  Mr. Milburn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 22 December 1997,Official Report, columns 527–28.

  Continence Pads (VAT)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the terms of reference given to officials in their review of VAT charging on continence pads supplied by the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [26971]

  Mr. Milburn
  Officials have been asked to identify ways of overcoming any financial effects which may have resulted from the Value Added Tax Order which came into effect on 1 January 1998.

  Broadmoor Hospital
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions tests using hormones have been carried out on patients at Broadmoor Hospital since 1968. [24760]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 22 January 1998]: There are no summarised records of tests using hormones carried out on patients at Broadmoor Hospital since 1968. It is known that a study was conducted at Broadmoor Hospital between 1971 and 1973 under the auspice of the Special Hospitals Research Unit of the Department of Health and Social Security to measure the effect of hormones in the treatment of deviant sexual behaviour. 12 male patients participated in the study on a voluntary basis. The study's findings were published in the British Journal of Psychiatry (volume 125, September 1974). No records of any other tests involving hormones have been traced but hormones are used in the treatment of patients at Broadmoor Hospital on a regular ongoing basis, for example hormone replacement therapy.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Ships
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of prison ships. [24628]

  Ms Quin
  The Prison Service has only one ship, Her Majesty's Prison Weare, based in Portland. This ship was obtained as an exceptional measure to cope immediately with an unprecedented surge in the prison population.

  The Weare provides suitable accommodation equivalent to one medium-sized prison and thus helps to avoid costly and inappropriate use of police cells.

  However, there are no plans to use further prison ships.

  Public House and Club Licensing
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on the further extension of public house and club hours. [24629]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The previous Government carried out a consultation exercise in 1996 on the subject and it identified important concerns about the relaxation 512
  of licensing hours. Those concerns, and the issues they raise, require careful consideration. This is one of a number of licensing issues which we are looking at. I cannot at this stage say what the outcome will be or when a decision will be reached.

  European Year Against Racism
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage the active participation by organisations in the United Kingdom in the European year against racism. [24630]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am pleased to report that thousands of organisations throughout the United Kingdom were involved in this initiative which ended on 31 December. After May I chaired the National Co-ordinating Committee which brought together representatives from business, industry, voluntary organisations and community and faith groups. My Department funded a public information unit at the Commission for Racial Equality which offered help and advice to thousands of organisations across the country and we also provided financial support to a number of organisations running projects under the Year. Hundreds of organisations put in bids for the £300,000 we made available after May to promote the European Year Against Racism.

  Community Sentences
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he plans to improve public confidence in community sentences. [24632]

  Ms Quin
  The Crime and Disorder Bill contains proposals which will both increase the range of community sentences available to the courts and create a new framework for the effective supervision of community sentences imposed on juvenile offenders. We are looking to the probation service both to improve its enforcement of community sentences and implement the forthcoming guidance from her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation about supervision programmes which are effective in reducing repeat offending. We are also looking to the Comprehensive Spending Review, which is now in progress, and the prisons/probation review, in particular, to identity further measures to strengthen the credibility of community sentences as effective and demanding forms of punishment.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the implications for privacy law of his plans to incorporate the European convention on human rights into United Kingdom domestic law. [24633]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have received a number of representations from media organisations and others about the possible implications for them of the Human Rights Bill. Most of the main points at issue have been discussed in the course of debates on the Bill in another place.

  Prisons (Drug Testing)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last reviewed the mandatory spot tests for drugs carried out in prisons. [24634]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The mandatory drug testing programme is being reviewed as part of a broader review of the Prison Service Drug Strategy that we have commissioned. The scope for changing the overall level of testing, for altering the balance between random and targeted testing and the implications for mandatory testing of increased levels of voluntary testing are being explored.

  EU Presidency
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the priorities of his Department for the United Kingdom presidency of European Union in respect of co-operative measures. [24635]

  Ms Quin
  The United Kingdom Presidency in the Justice and Home Affairs field will be concentrating particularly on practical co-operation to tackle organised crime including drugs, terrorism and illegal immigration. Key objectives will be to get Europol up and running, and to take forward other uncompleted tasks in the Action Plan on organised crime agreed at the Amsterdam European Council. Priorities here will include work on the draft European Union Convention on mutual legal assistance and on measures to tackle fraud and corruption. As President I shall carry forward preparatory work on incorporation of the Schengen agreements into the European Union framework, and promote justice and Home Affairs issues in the context of enlargement of the European Union. We shall also take action to follow up the European Year Against Racism 1997.

  Restorative Justice
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that lessons learnt by the pioneers of restorative justice are built into such programmes in new police areas. [24636]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government is monitoring the development of restorative justice in this country and abroad. We welcome the work to develop these ideas such as that of Thames Valley Police and the Northamptonshire Diversion Scheme. Best practice from existing schemes will be taken into account of in guidance to support the implementation of the new Final Warning Scheme. Our proposals for reform of the youth court, set out in the White Paper "No More Excuses", are consistent with the principles of restorative justice and include the introduction of a specific Reparation Order.

  Police Corruption
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure the thorough investigation of alleged cases of police corruption. [24637]

  Mr. Michael
  We are determined to provide the powers necessary to deal with corrupt officers and we are considering the current arrangements in the light of the Home Affairs Select Committee's recent report on Police Disciplinary and Complaints Procedures.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the fire service in Essex. [24639]

  Mr. George Howarth
  My right hon. Friend has received one such representation, which was from the hon. Member.

  Voluntary Sector
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will bring forward to improve the relationship between the Government and the voluntary sector. [24640]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government place a high priority on developing and strengthening partnership between Government and the voluntary sector. The main vehicle for this will be a Compact between Government and the voluntary sector on which we are currently collaborating with the sector, and which will set out the principles which should govern the relationship.

  Drug Use
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research into the connection between the use of(a) cannabis and (b) other drugs. [24641]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Home Office's research programme on drugs is kept under regular review. We have no current plans to commission new research into the connection between the use of cannabis and other drugs.

  Bribery
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make bribery of hon. Members an offence. [24642]

  Mr. Michael
  As my right hon. Friend re-iterated when he appeared before the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Privilege on 20 January, the Government are committed to tackling all forms of corruption, including the bribery of hon. Members. My right hon. Friend expects to make a statement on the reform of the law in this area soon, taking account of the results of the consultation exercise which he launched in June and of proposals which the Law Commission are preparing and which are awaited. He will also take account of the views of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege.

  Immigration Advisers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to regulate immigration advisers. [24643]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A consultation paper setting out the options for the Control of Unscrupulous Immigration Advisers was published on 22 January in line with our manifesto commitment. Copies of the consultation paper have been sent to interested parties. Further copies are available on request. Comments are invited by 23 March.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on physical violence and abuse by pre-teenage juveniles. [24645]

  Mr. Michael
  In 1996 the number of children between 10 and 13 years old who were cautioned or found guilty of offences of violence against the person and sexual offences were 1,004 and 104 respectively. In 1996, 71 children between 10 and 13 were convicted of crimes of violence against the person and six children were found guilty of sexual offences. Children under ten are below the age of criminal responsibility so actions which would be an offence in the case of an adult do not appear in the criminal statistics.

  Policing
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policing objectives. [24646]

  Mr. Michael
  As I said in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Ms Ward) on 3 November 1997,Official Report, column 29, I have arranged for copies of the Key Objectives and Key Performance Indicators for the police service in 1998–99 to be placed in the Library.

  The two new objectives which I have set for the police in 1998–99 on dealing speedily and effectively with young offenders and targetting and reducing local problems of crime and disorder reflect the particular importance which the Government attach to tackling these problems. For the first time there will also be a separate key objective on drug-related crime in the light of widespread concern that a high proportion of all crime is attributable to drug misuse. We recognise that it not the responsibility of the police alone to deal with these problems. So all three of these objectives focus on what the police can do in partnership with other local agencies.

  We have kept the existing objectives requiring the police to maintain and, if possible, increase the number of detections for violent crime: to increase the number of detections for burglaries of people's homes: and to respond promptly to emergency calls from the public. We have done this to provide some continuity in the objectives and, more importantly, to reflect the fact that these continue to be issues of serious public concern.

  Holloway Prison
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit Holloway prison to discuss women offenders. [24647]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to visit Holloway. As part of my delegated responsibilities, I visited Holloway on 16 May 1997. I propose to visit Holloway again on 7 May when I will attend a meeting of the Board of Visitors' representatives to discuss issues relating to women and young offenders.

  Vulnerable Witnesses
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that vulnerable witnesses are afforded greater protection in court. [24648]
  516
  Mr. Michael
  We wish to offer greater protection in court for vulnerable witnesses, means of doing so are currently being considered by the inter-departmental review of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, which were announced by my right hon. Friend on 13 June 1997. The review, which is nearing completion, is wide-ranging and is covering procedures relating to the investigation stage through to the trial itself, including ways to assist vulnerable and intimidated witnesses to give their best evidence safely to the court.

  Anti-social Behaviour
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is proposing to tackle disorderly and anti-social behaviour. [24649]

  Mr. Michael
  The Crime and Disorder Bill contains a number of tough new powers to deal with anti-social behaviour. There will be an anti-social behaviour order which local authorities and the police will be able to seek from a court to restrict such conduct, with firm penalties for anyone who breaches an order; a child safety order, which is a welfare-based order to prevent children from behaving in an anti-social manner; local child curfews to protect both young children and their local communities and the establishment of statutory local crime prevention partnerships between local authorities and the police.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to deal with criminal anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods. [24631]

  Mr. Michael
  Anti-social behaviour which harasses and intimidates neighbours is unacceptable and the Government are determined to take action against it. The Crime and Disorder Bill includes a number of tough new powers to deal with such conduct, including anti-social behaviour orders; child safety orders; local child curfews; and statutory crime prevention partnerships between local authorities, the police and others.

  Prisons (In-cell Television)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 15 January 1998,Official Report, column 285, when he expects to make a decision about the future of in-cell television; and if he will make a statement. [24650]

  Ms Quin
  The case for wider availability of in-cell television has been raised in a number of contexts, including the Learmont report in 1995, the all-party Home Affairs Committee report in March 1997, and reports by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons. The Government are reconsidering policy in this area and will announce a decision as soon as possible. Any extension of in-cell television would preserve the principles that this privilege should be earnable and similarly liable to be forfeited, and that prisoners should substantially meet the costs involved.

  Terrorism (Information)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the supply of information relating to terrorism to the United States of America. [24651]
  517
  Mr. Straw
  The UK and the US co-operate closely in the fight against terrorism.

  Prisons (Drug Testing)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his assessment of the results of random drug tests in prison. [24618]

  Mr. George Howarth
  A comparison of mandatory drug test results from 1996–97 with those from April to October last year shows a reduction from 19.9 per cent. to 17.4 per cent. of random samples testing positive for cannabis. Similarly, the percentage of random samples testing positive for the opiates has fallen from 5.4 per cent. to 4 per cent. The causes of these trends are not yet established. Work is currently underway to review the entire Prison Drug Service Strategy. In addition, the results of two pieces of research on the effects of mandatory drug testing are expected imminently. Together, this should provide a clearer picture and indicate how these encouraging trends might be maintained.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter immigration and nationality directorate staffing levels to respond to the changing work load. [24638]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's staffing levels depend on the resources available for immigration work. Plans for 1998–99 reflect the previously agreed funding but the future allocation of resources will be assessed in the light of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Probation Officers (Prisons)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons the Merseyside Probation Service has not been contacted to supply the probation input into HMP Altcourse; [24174]

  (2) what contractual arrangements exist for seconded probation officers at Her Majesty's Prisons at (a) Mold, (b) Doncaster, (c) Blakenhurst and (d) Buckley Hall;
  [24175]

  (3) if the contractual arrangements for the secondment of probation officers will be used at (a) Her Majesty's Prison in Altcourse and (b) the new prison at Bridgend; [24176]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the terms and conditions of employment of the private social workers at Her Majesty's Prison, Altcourse. [24281]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 22 January 1998]: At Altcourse prison, the contractor and Merseyside Probation Service have now entered into an agreement for the secondment to the prison of probation officers.

  The contracts for the Wolds and Parc prisons require the contractor to negotiate the terms of probation service input with the local probation service. Responsibility for the provision of probation service staff at Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall and Doncaster prisons lies with the relevant Prison Service area manager.
  518
  The contractual conditions for seconded probation officers at the six privately managed prisons now open, Altcourse, Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall, Doncaster, Parc (Bridgend) and Wolds are drawn from the Framework Document published by the Prison Service under cover of Instruction to Governors 30/93 and entitled "National Framework for the Throughcare of Offenders in Custody to the Completion of Supervision in the Community". The Framework Document also applies to the secondment of probation officers to directly managed prisons. The terms and conditions of service of the qualified social workers at Altcourse prison are a matter for their employer, Group 4.

  Immigration
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales where(a) men and (b) women are being held under the Immigration Act 1988 powers. [26002]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information on persons detained in prison establishments in England and Wales under immigration powers as at 31 December 1997, by gender, is given in the table.

  Table 1. Persons recorded as being detained in prisons in England and Wales1 solely under Immigration Act powers, by gender, as at 31 December 19972

  Prison establishment

  Total detainees

  Male detainees

  Belmarsh

  9

  Birmingham

  3

  Blakenhurst

  5

  Bristol

  7

  Brixton

  9

  Bullingdon

  5

  Chelmsford

  3

  Doncaster

  3

  Elmley

  3

  Haslar

  124

  High Down

  19

  Holme House

  2

  Leeds

  9

  Manchester

  2

  Norwich

  4

  Pentonville

  3

  Reading

  2

  Rochester

  188

  Wandsworth

  8

  Wormwood Scrubs

  16

  Other

  7

  Total—Male Detainees

  431

  Female detainees

  Holloway

  16

  Total—Female Detainees

  16

  1 Figures exclude persons detained in immigration detention centres and police cells.

  2 Data are provisional.

  519
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many posts were abolished in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in the 1996–97 financial year; and how many job losses are planned for the 1997–98 financial year. [26516]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Over the financial year 1996–97, the total number of posts increased by ten. Current projections for 1997–98 indicate a decrease of around 150 posts.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will decide on the review of the refusal to grant Mr. Farrakhan permission to visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [26261]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are carefully considering the representations we have received from a wide range of groups and individual members of the public. A decision on whether Mr. Farrakhan should continue to be excluded from the United Kingdom will be taken once that consideration has been completed.

  Former Prisoners
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) standard and (b) future of post-release supervision programmes for former prisoners. [25983]

  Ms Quin
  The Probation Service is currently expected to supervise prisoners released on licence in accordance with the 1995 National Standards. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation review the quality and effectiveness of this work as part of the process of inspecting each area probation service in England and Wales. All reports are placed in the Library. The general conclusion from recent reports is that in most cases the overall quality of supervision was satisfactory, although more could and should be done to improve compliance with the 1995 Standards.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate will shortly be publishing guidance on effective supervision programmes, drawing on the results of inspection and of research. This will apply both to supervision following release and to supervision under community sentences. All probation services will be expected to make use of this guidance. In addition, we shall be considering possible changes to the 1995 National Standards in the light of experience of their operation: legislative and other changes since their issue: and the outcome of the prisons/probation review.

  Rehabilitation (Prisoners)
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on trends in the standard and availability of rehabilitation and education programmes for prisoners(a) between 1984 and 1990 and (b) since 1991. [25984]

  Ms Quin
  The Government are committed to the provision of constructive regimes in prisons targeted at reducing offending behaviour. To this end, we are helping the Prison Service to make the best use of its resources and improve the delivery of regimes.
  520
  The Prison Service has always laid stress on the need for rehabilitation and education programmes. Rule 1 of the Prison Rules 1964, as amended, says that the purpose of the training and treatment of convicted prisoners shall be to encourage them to lead a good and useful life.

  The broad trend over the years in the standards and availability of such programmes has been to target resources on needs more effectively. Latterly, and particularly since the Prison Service was given Agency status in 1993, this has focused on what research shows to work in reducing re-offending.

  In 1991, a central unit to develop offending behaviour programmes was established: it developed the Sex Offender Treatment Programme, delivery of which began in 1992; and in 1993–94 it introduced two more cognitive skills programmes designed to address the impulsive and self-centred approach to life commonly found in repetitive offenders.

  Competitive tendering of prison education was introduced in 1993. This involved the development of educational priorities around a national Prison Service core curriculum which includes literacy, numeracy, information technology and life and social skills.

  More recently the Prison Service has adopted an accreditation process and associated key performance indicator to encourage development, by Prison Service establishments and others, of programmes to address offending behaviour which reach a required level of effectiveness in reducing re-offending.

  Suicides (Prisons)
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the rate of suicide amongst (i) young people and (ii) adults(a) serving custodial sentences and (b) held on remand, for each year since 1983. [25985]

  Ms Quin
  The table gives the rate per 100,000 average daily population (ADP) for each category of prisoner requested.

  Suicide rates for prisoners
  1984–1997

  Remand

  Sentenced

  Year

  21 years and under

  over 21 years

  21 years and under

  over 21 years

  1984

  70

  171

  10

  52

  1985

  97

  182

  10

  41

  1986

  64

  161

  22

  22

  1987

  117

  332

  46

  48

  1988

  213

  195

  24

  46

  1989

  254

  276

  69

  49

  1990

  276

  290

  32

  72

  1991

  142

  180

  51

  78

  1992

  235

  249

  110

  40

  1993

  74

  315

  39

  63

  1994

  267

  249

  75

  87

  1995

  179

  258

  103

  77

  1996

  374

  262

  45

  48

  1997

  201

  328

  140

  56

  Notes:

  1. Data prior to 1984 are not available in a format which would allow the calculation of the rate of suicides per ADP.

  2. Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.

  Fine Defaulters
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on custodial sentences for fine defaulters. [25986]

  Mr. Michael
  A court judgment (Cawley in 1995) has made it clear that the power to imprison fine defaulters should be used only as a last resort. Before imprisoning a fine defaulter, the court must be satisfied that the default is due to the offender's wilful refusal or culpable neglect to pay and it must have tried or considered all other methods of enforcing payment before rejecting them as inappropriate or unsuccessful.

  It must be remembered that, in some cases, the imminence of a short prison sentence leads to the payment of fines which have been outstanding for some time, during which the offender has made no effort to pay them. However, prison is an expensive option and we are keen to explore other options for dealing effectively with defaulters. That is why we are currently piloting provisions contained in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 which allow courts to impose community service orders, curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring, or a disqualification from driving on fine defaulters who might otherwise be committed to custody. These pilots began on 2 January in Norfolk and Manchester and will run for 18 months.

  The Working Group on the Enforcement of Financial Penalties chaired by the Lord Chancellor's Department also continues to identify and promote good practice in the enforcement of financial penalties. This Group's objective is to find ways of enabling the courts to enforce payment of financial penalties more effectively without resorting to imprisonment unless this is absolutely unavoidable.

  The measures which have been taken to encourage good practice have resulted in a decrease in the number of people being sent to prison for fine default from a high of 22,469 in 1994 to 8,555 in 1996.

  Prisoner Statistics
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department estimates will be the number of prisoners held(a) on remand, (b) awaiting sentence and (c) serving a custodial sentence, in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [25990]

  Ms Quin
  The figures are given in the table. Long term projections of the prison population in England and Wales have been published in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin (issue 2/98) on 29 January 1998.

  Projected prison population 1997–98—1999–2000

  Sex/type of custody

  Year 1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Male

  Untried

  8,200

  8,200

  8,200

  Convicted unsentenced

  3,400

  3,900

  4,100

  Sentenced

  47,400

  50,200

  54,200

  522

  Projected prison population 1997–98—1999–2000

  Sex/type of custody

  Year 1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Female

  Remand1

  600

  600

  700

  Sentenced

  2,100

  2,400

  2,700

  1 No separate projections are made of untried and convicted unsentenced female prisoners.

  Child Prostitution
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 16 years were prosecuted for engaging in prostitution in each of the last five years. [26166]

  Mr. Michael
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 27 January 1998,Official Report, columns 140–42.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) industrial, (b) charitable and (c) voluntary organisations, of implementation of the measures contained in the Data Protection Bill [Lords], in respect of (i) initial and (ii) annual revenue running costs; and what estimates have been made by EU institutions of such costs in (1) the United Kingdom and (2) other member states. [26044]

  Mr. George Howarth
  A compliance cost assessment for the 1995 European Communities Data Protection Directive to which the Data Protection Bill gives effect is included in the Regulatory Appraisal, a copy of which is in the Library. Costs to business are estimated at £836 million initially, and £630 million a year thereafter. Costs for charities and voluntary organisations are estimated at £120 million initially, and £37 million a year thereafter.

  I am not aware of any assessment by European Union institutions of the costs of the Directive as adopted.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision of the Data Protection Registrar's Management Board, on 16 January, that the Security and Intelligence Services should register under the Data Protection Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [26291]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I know of no such decision.

  Speed Cameras
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total sum collected in fines for speeding where the offence was identified using a speed camera, broken down by police force in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [26157]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is not available centrally nor is information available to distinguish whether or not speeding offences dealt with by fines were detected by automatic cameras. However,
  523
  the average fine for all speeding offences in England and Wales is given in the table, together with the number of camera detected offences dealt with by court proceedings.

  The majority of speeding offences detected by automatic cameras are dealt with by fixed penalty notice, the current charge being £40. The number of such offences for England and Wales is also contained in the table.

  Such figures by individual police force area could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Speeding offences by how detected and how dealt with and average fines

  Camera detected offences dealt with by fixed penalty

  Camera detected offences dealt with by court proceedings

  Average fine for speeding (all offences)

  £

  1992

  —

  290

  87

  1993

  25,767

  6,390

  127

  1994

  95,510

  20,630

  113

  1995

  170,014

  36,916

  107

  19961

  212,600

  49,800

  101

  1 Provision figures

  Durham Prison
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners have died (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) in December 1997 at HMP Durham. [26225]

  Ms Quin
  The table shows how many male and female prisoners have died in each of the last five years at Durham prison. In December 1997 one death occurred.

  Deaths of prisoners at HMP Durham

  Year

  Male prisoners (Number of deaths)

  Female prisoners (Number of deaths)

  1993

  1

  —

  1994

  —

  —

  1995

  2

  —

  1996

  2

  —

  1997

  3

  —

  Persistent Young Offenders
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to measure the effectiveness of his Department's measures to reduce the time from arrest to sentencing for persistent young offenders; and if he will collect regular and prompt statistics on the interval between arrest and sentencing. [26149]

  Mr. Michael
  Since coming to office, the Government have carried out a survey of persistent young offenders dealt with by the youth justice system in 1996. That survey indicated that in 1996 the average time between arrest and sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. The Government are committed to halving that figure to 71 days. To monitor progress towards that pledge, we are ensuring that systems are put in place to 524
  produce regular data on the time between arrest and sentence for persistent young offenders. In March of this year, we will also be contacting all Youth Courts to find out what progress has been made locally to tackle delays and to establish fast tracking arrangements for persistent young offenders. It is intended that the monitoring of a clearly identified group of persistent offenders will ensure that it is clear whether our objectives are being met. However, it is intended that the youth justice system will also fast-track those who would be regarded as persistent on common-sense judgment but who fall outside the monitoring definition of "persistent offenders"—for instance "spree" offenders. We will ensure that the youth justice system hits the real targets.

  Altcourse Prison
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Departement how many prisoners have been transferred into Altcourse Prison, Fazakerley since 1 December 1997; [26072]

  (2) how many prisoners have been transferred out of Altcourse Prison, Fazakerley since 1 December 1997; and how many of these requested a transfer. [26073]

  Ms Quin
  At 28 January 1998, 14 prisoners had been transferred to Altcourse prison since 1 December 1997 directly from another prison; all were transferred at their own request.

  At 28 January 1998, 3 prisoners had been transferred out of Altcourse to another prison since 1 December 1997, of whom 2 had requested their transfer.

  Right to Silence
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the reform of the right to silence as implemented by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and if he will assess the advantages of returning the law to the previous position on the right to silence. [26297]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate has been monitoring the effects of the 1994 right to silence legislation since its introduction. The findings of the first part of the research, published last December, covered the changes in the frequency of the suspect's use of the right to silence in police interviews. The key findings were a significant reduction in the use of right to silence in police interviews. This reduction applied to both the number of suspects giving complete "no comment" interviews and those who refused to answer questions on a selective basis. The research also shows that those accused of serious offences still exercise their right of silence more frequently than other criminals. The second part of the research is due to be published in the spring and will look at the wider impact of the provisions on the criminal justice system. I shall take a close interest in the findings of this research.

  Bail Support and Enforcement Programmes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has(a) introduced and (b) planned since 1 May 1997 to extend bail support and enforcement programmes. [26300]
  525
  Ms Quin
  Clause 29 of the Crime and Disorder Bill places a duty on local authorities, acting in co-operation with other local agencies, to ensure that bail support for juvenile defendants is available in their area. The youth offending teams established by local authorities under clause 30 will be able to provide the support themselves or oversee the placement of the bailee with an appropriate community programme or voluntary sector provider.

  Asylum Seekers
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those countries from which he considers people need not claim political asylum. [26347]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In accordance with our international obligations, we consider all applications for asylum in the United Kingdom on their merits and against the criteria for recognition as a refugee contained in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Anyone who satisfies those criteria will be granted asylum.

  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to accommodate asylum and immigration detainees in Scotland in premises other than HM Prisons; and if he will make a statement;
  [25218]

  (2) what recent representations he has received concerning the use of prisons to accommodate asylum and immigration detainees in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [25216]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Due to the relatively low numbers of persons held in Scottish prisons under sole immigration powers, it would be difficult to justify a custom built facility solely for Immigration Act detainees. However, further discussions are being held with the Scottish Prison Service to explore any possible alternatives.

  A number of letters has been received from members of the public and interested groups urging support for Early Day Motion 253, which contains an amendment seeking the construction of an immigration detention centre at Glasgow airport.

  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the privately-owned detention centres used for the accommodation of asylum and immigration detainees in terms of(a) size and (b) ownership and location; and if he will make a statement; [25215]

  (2) how many detention centres are used to house asylum and immigration detainees; and if he will make a statement. [25217]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Tinsley House Detention Centre at Gatwick Airport, Sussex, is leased by the Immigration Service from Lynton PLC and has 150 detention spaces.

  Campsfield House Detention Centre at Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and Harmondsworth Detention Centre near Heathrow Airport are both owned by the Home Office and have current capacity for 110 and 91 detainees respectively.

  Firearms (Compensation)
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding unpaid claims there were for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 on 21 January. [26218]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: On 21 January 1998, there were 18,482 claims awaiting processing under Options A and B and 10,411 claims awaiting processing under Option C, the great majority of which are mixed claims on which the Options A and B elements have been paid.

  The total number of claims received as of 21 January under Options A, B and C was 40,078.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants under the terms of the 1997 Firearms Amendment Acts for compensation for pistols, revolvers and accessories have(a) served notice on the Home Office stating intention to sue for payment and (b) issued proceedings in the county courts, listing in each case (i) the number of guns involved, (ii) the name of each court and (iii) the current state of the action; [26553]

  (2) how many prospective litigants, and litigants, in cases of outstanding claims for compensation under the terms of the 1997 Firearms Amendment Acts for compensation for pistols and revolvers and accessories have been sent letters stating that costs will be claimed against them if they proceed with their actions against the Home Office. [26549]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answers 30 January 1998]: The number of claimants indicating an intention to sue for early payment of firearms compensation is not recorded. County Court proceedings have been issued in four such cases, as follows:

  Court

  Number of guns involved

  Current position

  Ilford

  2

  Case struck out as disclosing no reasonable cause of action

  Cheltenham

  3

  Awaiting hearing

  Norwich

  8

  Awaiting hearing

  West London

  2

  Subject to Appeal

  The Appeal in the fourth case above is by the Home Office against a District Judge's refusal to strike out the case as disclosing no reasonable cause of action. A further case, before a Sheriff Court in Scotland, has been struck out.

  Under Order 38, Rule 1(3) of the County Court Rules and Order 62 Rule 3(3) of the Rules of the Supreme Courts, the normal practice in interlocutory applications is that costs are borne by the unsuccessful party. Standard correspondence from the Treasury Solicitor warns Plaintiffs of this, especially where a case involves a litigant in person who may be unaware of the rules relating to costs.

  Winwick Prison
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the new prison planned for Winwick will be designed to hold category A prisoners if necessary. [26077]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: No. The proposed new prison at Winwick would be built to category B standards and there is, at present, no requirement to locate category A prisoners there.

  In the event of such a requirement arising in the future, the additional security measures which would be necessary would need planning approval from the local planning authority.

  Prisoners (Drug Addiction)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total number of prisoners in the United Kingdom are known to be drug addicts. [26540]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Between 1 April 1996 and 31 March 1997, Prison Service establishments in England and Wales reported 13,191 notifiable drug addicts under the Misuse of Drugs (Notifications of and Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1973 and 8,839 non-notifiable drug addicts. The figures are aggregates for the year and cannot meaningfully be expressed as a percentage of the daily prison population.

  Colchester Young Offenders Institution
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the study of the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offenders Institution carried out by Dr. Kate Painter of Cambridge University's Institute of Criminology. [26307]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: It is our intention to publish the study of the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offender Institution carried out by the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge when it is complete.

  Winchester Prison
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the budget for Winchester Prison in the next financial year; and what estimate he has made of the maximum number of prisoners who will be held in the prison over that period. [26249]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: The budget for Winchester prison has not been finalised but the governor was informed this week that the indicative baseline budget for the financial year 1998/99 is £10,323,610. This figure includes an additional £381,840 allocated to the prison to maintain staff safety, control and regime protection.

  The current operational capacity of Winchester prison is 612 prisoners and, while there are no immediate plans to change this number, it will be reviewed as and when the prison population changes.

  Medical Research (Animal Tissues)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals by species not subjected to a licensed procedure under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been culled in each year since 1980 so that their tissues can be used for medical research; and if he will make a statement. [26824]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 6 November 1997,Official Report, column 282.

  Lewes Prison
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish the Inspector's Report into Lewes Prison; and if he will make a statement. [26825]

  Ms Quin
  Under the protocol procedures for the handling of the Chief Inspector's inspection reports, Ministers approve publication of a report once the Director General of the Prison Service has confirmed its factual accuracy. The Prison Service is currently considering the factual accuracy of the Chief Inspector's draft report of the inspection of Lewes Prison. I will make a decision about publication in the light of the Director General's advice.

  Handguns
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many handguns have been surrendered under the Firearms Amendment Acts; how many have been(a) destroyed and (b) disposed of by other means; and if he will list each of those means. [26565]

  Mr. Michael
  A total of 142,000 handguns were surrendered to police forces during the three months period which ended on 30 September.

  The majority of these firearms will be destroyed under local arrangements in each police force area once the claimant has received compensation from the Home Office Firearms Compensation Section. A very small number may be retained by police forces for training purposes or passed on to museums for public display. There is no central record of firearms which have been disposed of to date in these ways.

  To keep administration to a minimum, we are not collecting information on disposal during the course of the operation but once the compensation process has been completed, each police force will be asked to confirm the number of weapons destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

  Family Court Welfare Service
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the Family Court Welfare Service; and if he will make a statement.
  [25488]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 21 January 1998,Official Report, column 588.

  European Court of Human Rights
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what right of appeal to the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg will be available(a) to the Government and (b) to a public body under the provisions of the terms of the Human Rights Bill in the event of an adverse judgment against them in the House of Lords. [27005]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Human Rights Bill cannot and does not affect the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights. Accordingly, it will still be the case that a person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals claiming to be a victim of a violation of the Convention may apply to the Strasbourg institutions, and it will still be the case that the Government, and other authorities not themselves claiming to be victims of a violation of the Convention, may not.

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 28 January 1998,Official Report, column 347, by how much he has increased the amount planned for expenditure on the police for 1997–98. [26850]

  Mr. Michael
  The spending power of police authorities in England and Wales increased by £247 million, or 3.7 per cent. in 1997–98 under the spending plans of the previous Government.

  Our proposals for 1998–99 will allow the overall spending of police authorities in England and Wales to increase by £258 million, or 3.7 per cent. over 1997–98 to around £7.15 billion. This is a healthy increase for the police at a time of restraint on public expenditure.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority in England the cost of the extra employers' pension contributions those authorities will have to make as a result of the abolition of the tax credits to pension funds. [26834]

  Mr. Michael
  There will be no such costs in relation to the employment of police officers. The police pension scheme is not based on a pension fund, but is financed on a pay-as-you-go basis. Only civilian staff employed by police authorities in England are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). It will not be possible to indicate future employer pension costs arising from the abolition of tax credits to local authority pension funds until the completion of the 1998 LGPS valuation exercise.

  Prisons (Medical Services)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Prison Service to ensure the quality of on-site medical services in privately-run prisons. [26078]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: I hold regular discussions with the Director General for the Prison Service about the broad range of prison issues, including healthcare.
  530
  Contractually managed prisons are required to provide medical services to prisoners to specification agreed with, and monitored by, the Prison Service. This includes the provisions of on-site care to a standard equivalent to that available from the National Health Service and appropriate to the needs of prisoners.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on local government revenue spending and grant support for 1998–99. [27389]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have given very careful consideration to the representations I have received. I chaired a meeting of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance on 15 December 1997 and met a delegation from Welsh local government last week at which settlement matters were discussed.

  I have decided to confirm total standard spending (TSS) at £3,090.5 million and aggregate external finance (AEF) at £2,701.9 million for 1998–99. The increases on 1997–98 in TSS and AEF are 4.0 per cent. and 3.2 per cent. respectively. TSS includes £352.9 million to fund police authorities; £50.3 million extra for schools; an additional £4.4 million for 4 year old education; and £190.2 million for care in the community. I acknowledge that the settlement will mean some authorities will have to make tough decisions, I too have had to make hard decisions on spending priorities within the Welsh block. Under the provisional capping limits I announced in December, Welsh local authorities will be able to increase their year-on-year revenue spending, on average, by 4.8 per cent. The increase for police authorities is 3.8 per cent. In the circumstances I believe it to be a fair deal for local government in Wales.

  AEF will comprise £1,799.9 million in revenue support grant; £612.0 million in distributable non-domestic rates; £258.8 million in specific grants (including police grant); and £31.2 million to help local authorities limit council tax increases. Actual council tax levels will depend on the budgetary decisions of individual local and police authorities.

  I am laying the Local Government Finance Report (Wales) 1998–99 before the House today together with the Limitation of Council Tax (Relevant Notional Amounts) Report (Wales) 1998–99 and the Special Grant Report (No 2) (Wales) 1998.

  I am placing final settlement details for individual local authorities and police authorities in the Library of the House. My decisions are subject to the approval of the House of Commons.

  New Deal
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 January 1998,Official Report, column 1001, by what date the Minister expects welfare savings resulting from the New Deal in Wales to exceed the cost of the New Deal programme in Wales. [25787]
  531
  Mr. Hain
  The New Deal for 18–24 year olds started this month in Swansea and West Wales and will be extended from April to the rest of Wales. We expect the New Deal to make a real difference in improving the employability of our young people and helping them to move from unemployment into work. The impact of the New Deal and our other welfare policies will be carefully evaluated and the question of benefit savings will be considered as part of this.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much new deal money is allocated for Alyn and Deeside; if he will make a statement. [26153]

  Mr. Hain
  The level of funding to be made available to the Employment Service District of North East Wales, which covers Alyn and Deeside, will depend on the take up; it is not possible to be more precise at this stage.

  The New Deal will help young and long term unemployed people to secure sustainable employment. We want to give people the self-respect that comes from working and we want to give the Welsh economy the talent and skills that it needs to compete now and into the next century. Through the New Deal and our other Welfare to Work policies we will attack unemployment and the despair that it brings and help people to escape from poverty and welfare dependency.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many New Deal places he proposes for Alyn and Deeside. [26152]

  Mr. Hain
  The latest forecast by the Employment Service suggests that some 400–500 placements will be required in the Local Authority area of Flintshire, which covers the Parliamentary Constituency of Alyn and Deeside, for New Deal clients aged 18–24 in the year April 1998 to March 1999.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the principal objective of the New Deal is.
  [26154]

  Mr. Hain
  The principle objectives of the New Deal are to help young and long term unemployed people into work and to enhance their employability.

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25839]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The number of casual, fixed term appointees and Special Advisers appointed since 1 May 1997 is 169.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25904]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  My right hon. Friend is currently carrying out a Comprehensive Spending Review of the Department's spending priorities. The Government's532
  objective of promoting sustainable development will continue to be taken fully into account as part of that Review.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average net annual income for farmers in Wales from 1990 to the present. [25788]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information requested is as follows:

  Levels of net farm income for all dairy and livestock farms in Wales

  Year

  Income £000/Farm

  1989–90

  12.3

  1090–91

  10.5

  1991–92

  14.0

  1992–93

  16.9

  1993–94

  18.3

  1994–95

  11.6

  1995–96

  23.2

  Housing Starts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new home starts there were in (i) Flintshire and (ii) the constituency of Alyn and Deeside in 1995–96; and how many are proposed for 1998–99.
  [26155]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  In 1995–96 there were 449 new home starts in Flintshire in all sectors. 278 of these were in the constituency of Alyn and Deeside. Information on the number of all starts proposed for 1998–99 is not available. I will write to my hon. Friend with estimated housing association starts as soon as the information is available.

  School Nurses
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school nurses were employed by each health authority in Wales in each of the past five years. [26210]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information concerning directly employed NHS nursing staff by area of work is collected centrally but school nurses are included with "Other community nursing staff' and not, therefore, separately identifiable. The following table shows the whole-time equivalent number of "Other 1st level community nursing staff' in post at 30 June 1997. (This excludes district nurses and health visitors.) Although they are employed by NHS Trusts they are shown in the table under the Health Authority area in which the Trust is situated.

  Other 1st level community nursing staff in post at 30 June 1997 (Wte)

  Health authority area

  Number

  Bro Taf

  109

  Dyfed Powys

  109

  Gwent

  42

  Morgannwg

  36

  North Wales

  115

  Total

  411

  School Governors
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many disputes between minor authorities as to co-option on school governing bodies his Department has had to resolve in each of the last 10 years. [26156]

  Mr. Hain
  School governors decide who to co-opt onto their governing body. The Secretary of State has no locus in these appointments. The Secretary of State has a role when two or more town/community councils are entitled to nominate a representative to a single place on a governing body and cannot reach agreement on the appointment. In the last 5 years the Secretary of State has adjudicated in one case. Information covering the last 10 years is not readily available.

  Prescription Fraud
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on prescription fraud.
  [26697]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The responsibility for detecting and preventing fraud in the NHS in Wales lies with Health Authorities. To assist with the detection and prosecution of fraud in the Family Health Services, including prescription fraud, I announced on 26 November the establishment of a new anti-fraud unit within the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. My officials are now working closely with Health Authorities and WHCSA to produce detailed plans of action for combating fraud in the FHS. When complete, these plans will be published.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure the wider geographical spread of inward investment in Wales. [27148]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend and I are determined that the whole of Wales will enjoy economic and industrial success through the attraction of inward investment and, importantly, through the growth of indigenous companies. The Welsh Office and the Welsh Development Agency will continue to focus on those areas which need the most help and we will make every effort to steer new inward investment projects to our priority areas.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27029]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  For the period 1 May-31 December 1997 the average length of time taken to reply to letters was 13.65 working days. The target date set by my Department is 15 working days, and the percentage which received replies within the target date was 73.5 per cent. Statistics are not kept on the length of time it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Civil Service Staff
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Civil Service staff of grade 5 and above within his Department(a) have spent their entire civil service career within his Department, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other departments and (c) have come from other departments. [26031]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: About 10 per cent. of staff equivalent to Grade 5 and above, joined the FCO from other Government departments and at least a third have had (or are on) secondments, loans or attachments outside the FCO. In the past, about three quarters of these have been to other Government departments or Governments overseas, but we have been expanding our Interchange programme and the number of loans to the private sector has increased. More precise information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  BBC Monitoring Service
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to set an external financing limit for the BBC Monitoring Service in 1997–98. [26839]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The external financing limit for 1997–98 for the BBC Monitoring Service will be set at £1,183,000. The creation of the EFL reflects the change in the funding arrangements of the BBC World Service Monitoring Service from grant in aid subscription based funding, which I announced on 5 November 1997,Official Report, column 201.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action was taken following the meeting between the Under Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) and the hon. Member for Sunderland, South on 5 November. [26404]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On 5 January 1998, the UK joined with other EU Partners in making a demarche to the Jamaican Government about their decision to withdraw from the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

  Kenya
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received, and what assessment his Department has made, of human rights violations in Kenya. [26704]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We receive reports from a variety of sources about human rights in Kenya. We are particularly concerned about the persistent problem of police brutality and the evidence of torture and extra-judicial killings. The Kenyan Government are bound under international obligations to end such practices. We will play a full part in ensuring that pressure for such progress is maintained.
  535
  We have been deeply concerned by recent violence in parts of Kenya's Rift Valley, which appears to have both ethnic and political origins. Our High Commission in Nairobi issued a public statement on 28 January, in concert with other diplomatic missions, expressing concern over the slow and ineffective response by the Kenyan security forces. The statement also urged the Government of Kenya to take prompt, effective action to put an end to the violence and to bring its perpetrators to justice.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Kenyan authorities in respect of reported human rights violations; and if he will make a statement. [26701]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We maintain a vigorous dialogue with the Kenyan Government on human rights issues through our High Commission in Nairobi and at Ministerial level when the occasion arises. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised human rights issues with the then Kenyan Foreign Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Edinburgh. The subject was also raised during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's meeting with President Moi on 4 January and my telephone conversation with the new Kenyan Foreign Minister on 28 January.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Kenya in respect of recent reports of violence. [26975]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Our High Commission in Nairobi issued a public statement on 28 January in concert with other diplomatic missions, expressing concern over the slow and ineffective response by the Kenyan security forces to recent ethnic clashes in various parts of Rift Valley Province. The statement also urged the Government of Kenya to take prompt, effective action to put an end to the violence and to bring its perpetrators to justice. I reiterated our concern over recent events during a telephone conversation with the Kenyan Foreign Minister on 28 January.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Government's ethical approach to international relations will be applied to the combating of reported human rights violations in(a) Kenya and (b) Algeria. [26703]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have made our concerns about civil and political rights abundantly clear to the Kenyan authorities. Human rights remains an important issue in our bilateral dialogue with the Government of Kenya. Concerns over police brutality have, for example, led to decisions under the revised criteria for licensing arms exports to reject applications for various categories of riot control equipment for the Kenyan police.

  On Algeria we, along with EU partners, have made clear our concern for the protection of the Algerian people from terrorist attacks. During the EU Troika mission to Algiers on 19–20 January, we made clear the concerns of the British and European people and pressed the Algerians
  536
  to accept a visit by UN Special Rapporteurs. We will reiterate our concerns to the Algerian authorities in our regular contact with them.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiations and meetings he has had with other EU members regarding human rights violations in Kenya and Algeria. [26705]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On Kenya, our High Commission in Nairobi are in regular contact with EU partners on the question of human rights violations. The subject is also discussed in the relevant EU Working Groups.

  Human rights and other issues concerning Algeria are also discussed regularly with EU partners. The most recent discussions were held at Foreign Minister level at the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 26 January when my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Derek Fatchett, reported on the EU ministerial Troika visit that he led to Algiers on 19–20 January.

  Department for International Development
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to co-ordinate policy objectives with the Department for International Development. [26344]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The White Paper on international development, which was presented to Parliament in November 1997, sets out the Government's agreed objectives. Ministers and officials of the Department for International Development and this Department have regular meetings to discuss policy and operational matters.

  EU Councils
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Councils of the European Union for February; and if he will list major European Union events for the next six months. [26532]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The following Councils are scheduled:

  Monthly forecast of business for February 1998

  Date

  Venue

  12 February 1998

  Brussels

  Research Council

  16 February 1998

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  16–17 February 1998

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  23–24 February 1998

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  26 February 1998

  Brussels

  Telecom Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  12 February: Research Council
  Proposal for an EP and Council decision on the Fifth Framework Programme of the EC for research, technological development and demonstration and demonstration activities (1998–2002): Common position.
  Proposal for a Council decision on the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for research and training activities (1998–2002): Political agreement.
  Article 130j decision—rules of participation: Exchange of views (possible item).

  537
  Divers—Working document on the specific programmes: Progress report by the Commission (possible item).

  A points.

  16 February: Ecofin Council

  Agenda not yet available.

  16–17 February: Agriculture Council

  Organisation for Economic Coordination and Development Agriculture Ministerial: EU Coordination.

  Reform of the tobacco regime: Commission presentation.

  Reform of the olive oil regime: Commission presentation.

  Operation of ewe premium: Report.

  Agrimoney developments 1996/97: Report.

  Laying hens in battery cages (possible item).

  Veterinary equivalence agreements (possible item).

  23–24 February: General Affairs Council

  Enlargement.

  Lomé: Orientation discussion.

  Estonia: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).
  Latvia: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).
  Lithuania: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).
  EU/Malta: Commission Communication on future relations (possible item).

  EU/Russia Summit: Information point.

  ASEM II: Progress Report following senior officials meeting.

  Western Balkans.

  Middle East Peace Process.

  Cyprus (possible item).

  Belarus (possible item).

  Generalised System of Preferences: Extension of Lome trade terms to Non-ACP Least Developed Countries.
  Generalised System of Preferences: social/environmental incentive clause (possible A point).
  Third Country meetings in margins: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia Association Councils.

  26 February: Telecom Council
  Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on an International Charter for Global Communications: Debate and (possible) Conclusions.
  Green paper on the implications for the regulatory framework of convergence between telecommunications, audiovisual and information technology: Open debate.
  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on connected telecommunications equipment and the mutual recognition of the conformity of equipment: (possible) Common Position.
  Commission Communication on the implementation of telecommunications legislation: Presentation (possible item).
  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on universal mobile telecommunications system: Presentation (possible item).
  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on digital signatures and security of communications: Presentation (possible item).
  Commission Communication on the century date change problem: Presentation (possible item).
  538
  European Calendar: February-July 1998
  This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  February 1998

  3

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  9–11

  Costa Rica

  EU/San José Group

  11–12

  Brussels

  Select Committee on Trade and Industry visit

  12

  Brussels

  Research Council

  12–13

  Panama

  EU/Rio Group

  12–13

  London

  Political Committee

  13–15

  Cambridge

  Internal Market (Informal)

  16

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  16–17

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  16–20

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  23–24

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  26

  Brussels

  Telecom Council

  March 1998

  3

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  9

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council (t.b.c.)

  9–10

  Manchester

  UK Presidency Conference

  9–13

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  12–13

  London

  Joint Social and Education (Informal)

  14–15

  Edinburgh

  Foreign Ministers' Informal

  15–17

  Macclesfield

  Seminar for Cultural and Audiovisual Ministers

  16–17

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  19

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  19

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  20–22

  York

  Ecofin Informal

  23

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  24

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  30

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  30–31

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  30–31

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  31–1 April

  Moscow

  G8 Energy Ministerial

  April 1998

  1–3

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  2–4

  London

  ASEM II

  6

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  6–8

  Birmingham

  Audiovisual Conference

  7

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  16

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  20–21

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  21

  Luxembourg

  Ecofin Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Affairs Council

  24–26

  Chester

  Environment and Transport (Informal)

  27–28

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  29–30

  Brussels

  European Parliament

  30

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  May 1998

  1–3

  Brussels

  Ecofin and Special EMU Council

  5

  Brussels

  Political Committee (t.b.c.)

  7

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  10–12

  Newcastle

  Agriculture (Informal)

  11

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  11

  Brussels

  Euro-Med Energy Ministerial

  539

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  12

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  11–15

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  14

  London

  EU/Canada

  14–16

  London

  conference on Culture and Employment

  15–17

  Birmingham

  G7/8 Summit

  18

  London

  EU/US Summit

  18

  Brussels

  Development Council

  18

  Brussels

  Internal Market

  19

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  25–26

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  25–26

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  27–28

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  28

  Brussels

  Culture and Audiovisual Council

  28–29

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  June 1998

  2

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  4

  Luxembourg

  Education and Social Affairs Committee

  8

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  8–9

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

  15–16

  Cardiff

  European Council

  15–19

  Luxembourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  16–17

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  17

  Luxembourg

  Joint Environment and Transport Council

  18

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  22

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  22–23

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  29–30

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

  July 1998

  6

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  6–7

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  8–10

  Luxembourg

  Employment/Social Affairs/Women (Informal)

  13

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  13–14

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  17–19

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council (Informal)

  20–21

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  27

  Luxembourg

  Budget Council

  General Affairs Council
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held on 26 to 27 January in Brussels. [26533]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  24 of the 25 A Points in document 5487/98, the text of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House as soon as it is available, were approved. Germany asked for the point on the adoption of a common position with a view to adopting a directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products to be withdrawn.
  540
  At the instigation of the UK Presidency, the General Affairs Council adopted as an A Point a new EU Common Position on Afghanistan. It supports UN peace efforts and promotes work on respect for human rights (particularly the rights of women) and the fight against drugs.

  The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament listed in Documents 11496/97 and 11502/97. Copies of these documents will also be placed in the Libraries of the House as soon as they become available.

  The Council opened with an open debate on the Presidency work programme for the first half of 1998. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, as President of the Council, highlighted the main issues in the coming months: EMU, unemployment, crime and drugs, enlargement, and making Common Foreign and Security Policy more effective. The President of the Commission then explained the Commission's programme with reference to the Presidency's intentions. Other Member States commented and gave their full support to the programme's implementation.

  In discussion of relations with the Western Balkans, Ministers welcomed the formation of a new Government in Republika Srpska and, in particular, the commitment by the new Prime Minister, Mr. Dodik, to cooperate fully on the implementation of the Dayton/Paris peace agreement. The Council agreed to provide an initial 6 million ecu in financial assistance. The appropriate Council bodies, in close coordination with the Office of High Representative, will be taking this forward urgently.

  The Council welcomed the intended immediate Presidency/Commission visit to Banja Luka to review further assistance for the new government. The Council also looked forward to receiving detailed recommendations on the Commission's proposals for modifying procedures for delivering aid.

  The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) reported to the GAC on the Troika Mission which he led to Algeria from 19–20 January. The Council reaffirmed the strong commitment of the Union to remain engaged and agreed to take forward the EU/Algeria dialogue, notably through the negotiations for the EU/Algeria Association Agreement and the proposed meeting between Foreign Minister Attaf and the UK Presidency. The Council expressed its regret that offers of humanitarian assistance had not so far been taken up: they remained on the table. The Council also urged greater transparency on the part of the Government of Algeria. It regretted that the Government had not been able to provide unhindered access for international organisations, NGOs and the media. It looked to the Government of Algeria to accept a visit by representatives of the United Nations in the near future and encouraged greater contact between Algerian and European parliamentarians.

  The Presidency briefed the Council on its proposed handling of the European Conference launch in London on 12 March, the launch of the accession process on 30 March and the start of accession negotiations on 31 March.
  541
  On China, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reported on his recent visit to China and Hong Kong. The Council agreed this proposal for an EU/China summit and the need for an intensified dialogue on human rights questions.

  Ministers expressed their concern at the increase in violence in Burundi and the stalled regional-sponsored peace process. The EU will review the situation in the Great Lakes region in early February, once the EU Special Envoy for the Great Lakes has returned from the region, and consider further action.

  Sir L. Brittan presented the Commission proposal for removing Russia and China from the list of Non-Market Economies for the purposes of anti-dumping. The Presidency informed Member States that they expected to deal with this issue formally at the February GAC.

  The GAC took note of the written report on the seventh EU/Japan Summit (Tokyo, 12 January 1998).

  In response to the major influx of migrants from Iraq and the neighbouring region, the Presidency has drawn up a 46 point action plan covering elements from all three pillars to deal with the problem. It has also established initial contact with the Turkish government and the UNHCR. The Action Plan was adopted and will be considered at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 29–30 January. Progress will be reviewed at the next GAC on 30 March.

  The Council had a lengthy discussion on Iran and agreed that, given Iran's record of support for terrorism and its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction, the EU should keep in place and develop measures to deter and impede Iranian activity in these areas, including by working for greater EU/US cooperation in these shared areas of real concern. However, the Council also agreed that recent political events in Iran were encouraging and merited a review of the common position adopted by the General Affairs Council on 29 April 1997. Until this review is completed, the existing common measures will remain in force.

  The Council discussed the situation in the Middle East Peace Process in the light of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Washington, the visit to Israel and the Occupied Territories by the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) and President Clinton's talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Arafat.

  The Council reiterated that full and unconditional implementation of commitments made by the parties under the existing agreements is essential to restore mutual confidence in the peace process and provide a firm basis for a full resumption of negotiations on the Palestinian track. It stressed in particular the need for early progress on credible and significant further redeployments in line with the commitments made at the time of the Hebron Agreement, as well as on other outstanding commitments under the Interim Agreement. The Council also underlined the importance of maximum and sustained cooperation between the parties in fighting terrorism, and of the avoidance of unilateral acts which pre-empt final status talks, in particular on settlements and Jerusalem.
  542
  The Council reiterated its support for US efforts to restore momentum in the peace process and reaffirmed its intention to play an active role in support of the negotiations, including through the activities of its Special Envoy, Ambassador Moratinos.

  The Commission presented a communication on the role of the European Union in the Peace Process and its future economic assistance. The Communication will be discussed in depth at a later Council meeting.

  In the margins of the GAC, Ministers also held the first Cooperation Council with Russia following the entry into force of a partnership and cooperation agreement with Russia on 1 December 1997. There was a useful discussion on foreign policy issues, and the EU and Russia agreed to continue with ongoing consultation on key foreign political topics.

  There was also a Political Dialogue meeting with Albania at Foreign Minister level on 27 January. EU Ministers gave their full support to helping Albania achieve reconciliation and a return to normality but stressed that primary responsibility lay with the Albanians themselves. The meeting reinvigorated the contact between the parties under the 1992 Cooperation Agreement.

  Euro-Mediterranean Process
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of recent events in Algeria on the Euro-Mediterranean Process under the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union. [26522]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The UK Presidency is committed to using the Euro-Mediterranean process to increase co-operation and trust throughout the region; to liberalise trade and to promote investment in the region. The recent tragic events in Algeria underline the importance of the European Union having a wide-ranging dialogue with Algeria, including through the Euro-Mediterranean process.

  Arms Sales
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom proposals for an EU Code of Conduct on Arms Sales include a system for parliamentary scrutiny and accountability in member states. [26972]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Our proposals for an EU Code of Conduct develop the EU's eight Common Criteria agreed in 1991 and 1992 using language in the UK's national criteria announced by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29. Those criteria did not include prior parliamentary scrutiny of licence applications and we are not proposing such a requirement in the Code of Conduct.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the French Government concerning his proposed EU code of conduct on arms sales; and if he will make a statement. [26963]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Following a number of contacts at Ministerial and official level with the French Government, we have succeeded in agreeing on a draft text for an EU
  543
  Code of Conduct on arms sales. We have now circulated this draft to EU partners and look forward to discussing it with them in detail, with a view to having the Code adopted by Council Declaration during our Presidency of the EU.

  The text which we have circulated develops the eight EU Common Criteria agreed at the Luxembourg and Lisbon European Councils of June 1991 and June 1992, using language from the UK's national criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29. It also includes a no-undercut mechanism which will involve notifying all partners of denials of export licences and provide for bilateral consultation if one partner is considering a similar export to that which another partner has refused.

  If agreed, these measures will break important new ground in regulation of the arms trade. Never before has a no-undercut mechanism been applied to conventional arms exports.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he is making in agreeing on EU code of conduct on arms sales during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EU; and when he intends to publish the code. [26962]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer. At present, the text of the Code of Conduct is being discussed by EU Member States. We will publish it as soon as final agreement has been reached.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe in respect of violations of its Declaration of Rights agreed at Lancaster House on any property or interest of property. [26956]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government of Zimbabwe have not, so far as we are aware, violated any of the Declaration of Rights agreed at Lancaster House.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Department for International Development concerning aid provision to Zimbabwe during the United Kindgom's presidency of the EU. [26960]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Department for International Development and this Department consult regularly about policy towards Zimbabwe, including the provision of aid, and will continue to do so during our Presidency.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the proposed seizure of land by the Government of Zimbabwe with his fellow EU foreign ministers during the United Kingdom's presidency. [26961]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We regularly consult our EU partners about African issues, including Zimbabwe's land acquisition programme, and will continue to do so during our Presidency.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has 544
  received concerning Her Majesty's Government's proposals to provide training assistance to the Indonesian police force. [26955]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have received representations from Members of Parliament, NGOs and members of the public expressing a number of views on the question of training assistance for the Indonesian police force and the best ways of contributing to the human rights situation in Indonesia.

  South Africa
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his priorities for the EU-South Africa trade talks during the United Kingdom presidency; and if he will make a statement. [26974]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Early progress in negotiating a Trade and Cooperation Agreement, together with parallel agreements on fisheries and wines and spirits, between the EU and South Africa is a priority for our Presidency. We shall press for an outcome on terms that are liberal, WTO-compatible, and of benefit to both parties. We are in close contact with the Commission, the South Africans, and other EU member states to that end.

  Algeria
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit Algeria. [26976]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to visit Algeria.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which Her Majesty's Government have been obliged to bring forward(a) primary legislation and (b) secondary legislation, in order to comply with the United Kingdom's treaty obligations to keep its domestic law in conformity with the European Convention on Human Rights. [27078]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Primary legislation has been brought forward in order to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the following cases:

  Sunday Times (1979)

  Young, James and Webster (1981)

  X (Mental patient) (1981)

  Campbell and Cosans (1982)

  Malone (1984)

  O, H, W, B and R (Parental access) (1987)

  Thynne, Wilson and Gunnell (1990)

  Boner and Maxwell (1994)

  Hussain and Singh (1996)

  Chahal (1996)

  Secondary legislation has been brought forward in order to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the following cases:

  Golder (1975)

  Dudgeon (1981)

  Silver and Others (1983)

  Abdulaziz, Cabales and Balkandali (1985)

  545

  McCallum (1990)

  Campbell (1992)

  McMichael (1995)

  Benham (1996)

  In relation to the cases of Fox, Campbell and Hartley (1990), Findlay (1997) and Coyne (1977), changes in primary legislation had already been made which in the Government's view ensured that United Kingdom law was compatible with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

  Primary and secondary legislation may have also been enacted in order to implement decisions of the Committee of Ministers in cases where reports of the European Commission of Human Rights have been transmitted to them under Article 32 of the Convention, but this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Egyptian Dissidents
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been Her Majesty's Government's response to the Egyptian Government over their complaints about the presence of dissidents in London. [26978]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have reiterated to the Egyptian Government our commitment to support them in their fight against terrorism. We continue to work closely with

  Dates

  Minister

  Venue

  Purpose of visit

  Spouse cost including travel and incidentals (£)

  1994

  7–10 July

  The then Foreign Secretary Lord Hurd

  Italy (Naples)

  G7 Economic Summit

  307.84

  11–20 September

  Lord Hurd

  Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan

  Bilateral

  10,495.66

  26–29 September

  Lord Hurd

  USA (New York)

  UNGA

  3,977.66

  29 September-3 October

  Lord Hurd

  Canada

  Bilateral

  209.64

  Total

  14,990.80

  1995

  18–19 March

  Lord Hurd

  France (Carcassonne)

  EU/FM Informal meeting

  966.44

  19–28 March

  Lord Hurd

  South Africa

  State Visit

  2,385.28

  7–8 May

  Lord Hurd

  Norway (Oslo)

  Accompanying TRH Duke and Duchess of Kent

  98.16

  25–26 June

  Lord Hurd

  Germany (Bonn)

  Anglo-German Summit

  565.00

  8–10 September

  The then Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Spain (Santander)

  EU Ministers Informal Weekend

  2,310.00

  Total

  6,324.88

  1996

  3–12 January

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Azerbaijan, Armenia Uzbekistan, Hong Kong and China

  Bilateral

  7,366.70

  6–12 January

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Hong Kong and China

  Bilateral

  4,956.00

  8–10 March

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Malta and Italy

  Bilaterals and EU Foreign Minister's Informal Meeting

  1,557.50

  25–29 March

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Poland and Czech Republic

  State Visit

  835.00

  8–17 April

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, Brazil and Bolivia

  Bilateral

  12,757.89

  23–27 September

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  USA (New York)

  United Nations General Assembly

  4,454.02

  27 October-1 November

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Thailand (Bangkok)

  State Visit

  150.00 Estimate

  31 October-6 November

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Vietnam, Israel UAE and Yemen

  Bilateral

  7,500.00 Estimate

  Total

  39,577.11

  546
  Egypt to this end. Any new information about alleged suspicious activities in the United Kingdom is thoroughly investigated. Where this yields evidence that individuals—or organisations—are engaged in terrorism, action is taken in conformity with our law. We discussed these points, and the relevant laws, with Dr. Al Baz, President Mubarak's adviser, when he visited London in December.

  Overseas Travel
  Mrs. McGuire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent for(a) official foreign travel and (b) incidentals on the (i) spouses and (ii) partners of the previous two Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in each year of their tenure. [26316]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 January 1998, c. 389–90]: Owing to an administrative error, the figures given in the first answer to my hon. Friend were incorrect.

  Mrs. Rifkind did not attend the EU Informal Foreign Minister's Meeting in Tralee 6–8 September 1996 due to ill health.

  The cost of Mrs. Rifkind's visit to Switzerland (Davos) for the World Economic Forum, 31 January - 2 February 1997 was £846.64 and not £4,405.00 as previously stated.

  A revised table is printed below.

  547

  Dates

  Minister

  Venue

  Purpose of visit

  Spouse cost including travel and incidentals (£)

  1997

  31 January-2 February

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Switzerland (Davos)

  World Economic Forum

  846.64

  15–16 March

  Sir Malcolm Rifkind

  Netherlands (Apledoorn)

  EU Informal Foreign Ministers Meeting

  848.48

  Total

  1,695.12

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance has been given to those authorities responsible for border inspection posts to inspect consignments of beef imported from outside the European Union for specified risk materials. [27002]

  Mr. Rooker
  An instruction, in the form of an Animal Health Circular, was issued to Official Veterinary Surgeons and Divisional Veterinary Managers responsible for Border Inspection Posts on 23 December. The Circular, numbered AHC97/231, has been deposited in the Ministry's Whitehall Place library and is available to the public on demand.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received approval from the EU Commission for his HLCA package announced on 22 December; and if he will make a statement. [25674]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: Consultation with the Commission is still in progress. I hope to be able to make a statement very soon.

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce an early retirement scheme for farmers. [25671]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce an EU early retirement scheme for the UK agriculture industry; what level of resources is estimated to be available; and how soon the scheme will become available. [25240]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: Options for a possible early retirement scheme for the livestock sector are under consideration. Any scheme will have to accord with the relevant EC Regulation No. 2079/92. We will consult the industry on this initiative as soon as possible.

  Imported Meat
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that no imported meat is from animals fed on animal by-products. [25613]

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to prohibit the import of pigmeat from animals fed meat and bonemeal; and if he will make a statement. [26396]
  548
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: Conditions on lntra-Community trade in meat, and third country imports, are subject to Community rules. These do not include requirements relating to the feed of the animals from which the meat was obtained. Commission Decision 94/381/EC prohibits the feeding of mammalian protein, with certain exceptions, to ruminants. In addition, Switzerland has equivalent provisions in its national legislation. Thus, all countries which have reported cases of BSE in home-bred animals have restrictions on the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminants.

  Within the UK, to prevent the risk of cross examination between different types of feed, there is also a ban on feeding mammalian meat and bone meal to all farmed livestock. The UK has had far more cases of BSE than anyone else and that is why our measures go considerably further than those taken elsewhere.

  Beef Labelling
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the regulations regarding the labelling of beef in supermarkets. [25801]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have no plans to review arrangements for the labelling of beef in supermarkets. The Government have recently launched the beef labelling scheme, which takes full effect from 31 March 1998. From that date all retail outlets, including supermarkets, will be required to seek prior approval from a competent authority for use of any detailed information, such as geographic origin, which cannot easily be verified at the point of sale. While the Scheme will be voluntary in the first instance I expect the majority of beef sold retail will be covered.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy (Cats and Dogs)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) carried out and (b) evaluated on spongiform encephalopathy in (i) cats and (ii) dogs. [25919]

  Mr. Rooker
  Apart from their inclusion in studies of the PrP gene sequences of species that are apparently resistant to BSE, MAFF has no specific programme of research on spongiform encephalopathies in canines. A survey carried out in 1990/91 on the brains of hounds culled for a variety of reasons from packs in all parts of Britain found no conclusive evidence of spongiform change. The outcome was, however, hampered by the fact that the majority of the 444 brains examined did not come from animals that were suffering from neurological disease.

  With respect to cats, MAFF receives notifications of diagnoses of spongiform encephalopathy in domestic and exotic felidae. In collaboration with colleagues in universities and other institutes, MAFF scientists have

  549
  defined lesion profiles and methodology for confirmation of diagnosis. Epidemiological analyses are also in progress.

  Farming (Financial Support)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost to an average family of the financial support paid to the farming industry in each of the last five years. [26471]

  Mr. Rooker
  During the most recent five years for which data are available, the cost of the Common Agricultural Policy in the UK is estimated to have been between £12 and £15 per week for a typical family of four. This consists of costs to consumers due to higher prices for food and expenditure by taxpayers. In addition, UK taxpayer expenditure on national agricultural policies was typically of the order of £1 per week for a family of four, although it was closer to £2 per week in 1996.

  These estimates are based on calculations by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of total transfers resulting from agricultural policies in the European Union, with adjustments in respect of the abatement to the United Kingdom's contribution to the European budget.

  The estimates are likely to overstate the savings which could be made by UK consumers and taxpayers if the CAP were removed; in the absence of support, world prices would be higher than at present.

  Unpasteurised Milk
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which EU member states the sale of unpasteurised milk(a) has been banned at any time since 1968 and (b) is currently banned, with the dates concerned in each case. [27049]

  Mr. Rooker
  In addition to the ban in Scotland since 1983, retail sales of unpasteurised cows' drinking milk have been banned in the Republic of Ireland since July 1996. On 1 January 1998 Germany banned the serving of unpasteurised milk in catering in all regions. Other member states permit the sale of such milk under restrictions of varying types.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Minister of State will reply to the letter of 5 December from the right hon. Member for Penrith and the Border on a constituency matter. [27048]

  Mr. Rooker
  I replied to the letter of 5 December 1997, from the right hon. Member, enclosing correspondence from Mr. R. Carruthers of Low Moat Fishing on 29 January 1998.

  Vitamin Supplements
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 209, for what reasons he has not made an assessment of the professional status or 550
  qualifications of those who have written to him about the proposed controls on food supplements containing vitamin B6; and if he will make a statement. [26790]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have received a large number of unsolicited representations on the subject of the Government's proposed controls on vitamin B6 in dietary supplements, many in the form of standard letters. It is our policy to reply to all representations received, regardless of the status of the correspondent. We see no reason to either record or assess the qualifications of those making representations.

  The regulations required to implement the proposed controls on dietary supplements will be the subject of a formal consultation exercise and, subject to the views of respondents, the responses received will be made publicly available.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses to assess the relative merits of the advice from(a) the Committee on Toxicity and (b) other independent scientists who have made representations to the Ministry on the safety of vitamin B6; and if he will make a statement. [26397]

  Mr. Rooker
  The role of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is to provide independent advice on matters within its remit. Its members are recognised nationally and internationally as experts in their disciplines which include the interface between toxicology and nutrition. Representations from scientists criticising the COT's advice on the safety of vitamin B6 have been copied to the COT secretariat and, where appropriate, to the Chairman of the COT for comment.

  Food Product Labelling
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take during the United Kingdom presidency to complete negotiations on a standard European Union-wide system of food product labelling to indicate genetically-modified ingredients; and if he will make a statement. [25753]

  Mr. Rooker
  During the UK presidency I will be pressing for agreement to be reached as quickly as possible on a standard EU wide system of labelling for genetically modified food ingredients that is both practical and meaningful to consumers.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the actions so far taken by the United Kingdom Government to meet the requirements agreed at the EU summit in Florence in order to get the ban on beef exports lifted; and what additional actions now remain to be taken. [25251]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The Agreement secured at the EU summit in Florence permits the progressive resumption of exports on fulfilment of five pre-conditions. The following action has been taken to meet those pre-conditions:
  The selective slaughter programme has been implemented: 59,347 animals have been slaughtered under the scheme up to 16 January 1998.

  551
  A compulsory animal identification and movement recording system has been introduced. All cattle born or imported after 1 July 1996 are registered on a computerised database and may be moved only if accompanied by a valid passport recording the animal's movement history. A total of 3,984,010 cattle passports had been issued up to 10 January 1998.
  Legislation for the removal of mammalian meat and bone meal from feed mills and farms has been implemented and the European Commission confirmed that arrangements were acceptable after an inspection in July 1996.
  2,001,921 animals have been culled under the Over Thirty Month Slaughter Scheme up to 11 January 1998. Meat and bonemeal and tallow from carcases rendered under the scheme is being securely stored until it can be incinerated.
  Controls on slaughterhouses to ensure the removal of Specified Bovine Materials (SBM) have been strengthened.

  BSE
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there have been any findings of the BSE agent in the dorsal root ganglia of cattle born after 1 August 1996. [25455]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: No cattle born after 1 August 1996 have yet been reported as showing signs of clinical BSE.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the number of confirmed cases of BSE(a) for each year since 1990 and (b) for each month since January 1997. [25804]

  Mr. Rooker
  The following tables show:

  (a) the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain for each year since 1990

  Year of confirmation

  Number of cases

  1990

  12,829

  1991

  22,613

  1992

  34,712

  1993

  36,271

  1994

  25,579

  1995

  15,451

  1996

  8,740

  1997

  4,847

  (b) the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain for each month since January 1997

  Month of confirmation

  Number of cases

  January

  659

  February

  550

  March

  423

  April

  471

  May

  391

  June

  458

  July

  410

  August

  169

  September

  327

  October

  404

  November

  288

  December

  297

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on how and when 552
  he will be implementing his plans to safeguard Britain's fishing industry from the effects of quota hoppers. [25456]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: I am currently awaiting the Commission's views on detailed proposals for ensuring that all British registered fishing vessels maintain a real economic link with those populations in the UK dependent upon fisheries and related industries. Those proposals are based on a consultation paper issued in July 1997 and subsequent discussions with all sectors of the fishing industry. Once the Commission's views are known, an announcement will be made on the way forward.

  BSE (Canine Immunity)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the potential for canine immunity to BSE-related disease to be used to develop vaccines for BSE and CJD. [25920]

  Mr. Rooker
  Any resistance that canines may have to infection with BSE may not be associated with an immune response. Indeed there is no "immunity" in the traditional sense of the word with any of the TSEs, so consequently vaccination in its recognised form is unlikely to be possible. In experimental studies in mice, defects in the immune system actually lead to resistance to infection with TSE agents.

  Current thinking suggests that "resistance" to infection is associated with significant differences in amino acid sequences of the "incoming infectious agent" and the amino acid coded for by the PrP gene of the animal being challenged. The greater the disparity, the greater the resistance to infection. Studies are currently in place to evaluate the extent of differences in PrP gene sequences of some species, including canines, that appear to be resistant to BSE. These studies are incomplete.

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25843]

  Mr. Morley
  The table sets out the number of civil servants appointed by my Department and its Agencies since 1 May 1997 on casual and fixed-term contracts, and other appointments of a temporary or conditional nature including Special Advisers.

  Department

  Staff on fixed term contracts

  Staff on casual contracts

  Other non—permanent staff

  Core MAFF

  83

  508

  31

  Pesticides Safety Directorate

  0

  9

  0

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  0

  0

  1

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency

  7

  61

  0

  Meat Hygiene Service

  75

  0

  0

  Farming and Rural Conservation Agency

  47

  39

  2

  553

  Department

  Staff on fixed term contracts

  Staff on casual contracts

  Other non—permanent staff

  Central Science Laboratory

  18

  36

  1

  Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

  38

  35

  0

  MAFF total

  268

  688

  35

  Animal Welfare (Transportation)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions were brought under the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994, relating to the importation of non-human primates for research purposes. [25752]

  Mr. Morley
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Rendered Bovine Material (Disposal)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total tonnage of rendered bovine material currently held in store; and what plans he has for its disposal. [25877]

  Mr. Rooker
  Some 307,700 tonnes of meat and bonemeal (MBM) and 159,500 tonnes of tallow from cattle rendered under the Over Thirty Month (OTM) and Selective Cull (SC) Schemes are being safely and securely stored in the UK. The Government are considering a number of options for the disposal of these products. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson) on 15 January 1988,Official Report, column 294, in which I stated that the Intervention Board has now terminated the restricted stage of its 1997 incineration tender in order that it can pursue disposal options which appear to offer a better prospect of safe, prompt and economical disposal of waste from these schemes. In the interim some MBM is already being burned in high temperature waste incinerators and a number of rendering plants are burning tallow produced from the OTM and SC Schemes as a fuel to power the rendering process.

  Beef Bones (Disposal)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he plans to issue on the disposal of beef bones for which there is no longer a commercial market. [25876]

  Mr. Rooker
  Such bones must be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Animal By-Products Order 1992, as amended, which is enforced by local authorities. An explanatory note on the 1997 amendment to the Order and which covers butchers' waste is being sent to local authority bodies and is available to inquirers. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and have arranged for one to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Sheep Exports
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to prevent live 554
  sheep being exported from the United Kingdom for slaughter in France at the Eid-el-Kebir festival; and if he will make a statement. [25641]

  Mr. Morley
  A judgment against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Justice has made clear that there are severe constraints on our power to prevent the export of livestock because of the way they may be treated in the Member State of destination. We are however considering the position. We will in particular be contacting the French government to seek their assurance that steps will be taken to prevent a repeat of the sort of scenes that have occurred with the Festival of Eid-el-Kebir in recent years.

  Food Standards
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure that food standards in other member states of the EU match those in the United Kingdom. [25861]

  Mr. Rooker
  Most areas of food law are harmonised in the EU through EC legislation. The UK negotiates hard to make sure that the health of the consumer is properly safeguarded at home and abroad.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25902]

  Mr. Morley
  In accordance with the terms of reference for the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, the Department is reviewing all aspects of its expenditure and determining how best its programme can contribute to the Government's objectives, including in particular the aims of enhancing opportunity and fairness and promoting employment and investment for sustained economic growth.

  Farming Industry (Meetings)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how regularly Ministers meet representatives of the farming industry; what formal fora for discussion exist; and if he will make a statement. [25295]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I and my Ministerial team are in regular contact with representatives of the farming industry at both a national and regional level.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to pay the fourth year of tuition fees for eligible English and Welsh students beginning degrees at Scottish universities from 1998 onwards; and if he will make a statement. [27046]
  555
  Dr. Howells
  Students domiciled in England and Wales who begin degree courses at Scottish universities 1998 onwards will be eligible for financial support with the payment of fees for each year of their course, depending on their parents' or spouse's and their own income. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans for the whole fourth-year tuition fee to be paid out of public funds for all such students, regardless of income.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment at what income level EU migrant workers resident in England and applying to a Scottish university for a four year degree will be means tested for eligibility for the fourth year tuition fee. [26973]

  Dr. Howells
  From 1 September 1998, new entrants to full-time higher education domiciled in England will be eligible for assistance with their fees for all years of their courses. An EU migrant worker living in England who is eligible for assistance is entitled to be treated no less favourably than a UK national who is similarly eligible and living in England. It is not possible to say now what the relevant income figures will be in assessing eligibility for assistance with fees in four years' time.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new child care places have been created since 1 May 1997. [27076]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of new out of school child care places created by the Out of School Childcare Initiative is collected cumulatively within each financial year. For the financial year 1997–98, 5,278 new places have been created up to 28 December 1997.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost of a current child care place; and what was the average cost in 1996. [27077]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The average cost of child care places is not collected on a national basis. However, the third evaluation of Out of School Childcare Initiative, based on a survey of 145 schemes and undertaken in the second half of 1997, found that the average weekly charge for an after-school place was £18.60, a before and after school place £29.50, and a holiday place £50.40. The report was published on 22 January and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many child care places were created by the out of school child care initiative in each of the years(a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [27075]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of new out of school child care places created by the Out of School Childcare Initiative is collected on a financial year basis and is as follows: in 1994–95, 22,286 places, in 1995–96 35,182 places, and in 1996–97 12,446 places.

  School Budgets
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 26 January 1998,Official Report, column 91, what extra
  556
  amount per pupil would be made available to schools if all local authorities held back the same percentage as Dudley Metropolitan Borough council. [26853]

  Mr. Byers
  The following table gives the information requested as a listing of local education authorities in England for 1997–98. The figures are derived from the budget statements produced by the local education authorities under section 122 of the 1996 Education Act.

  Extract—Section 122 Budget statements (England) 1997–98 Extra amount per pupil which would be made available to schools if all local authorities held back the same percentage as Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (96.3 per cent. of PSB)

  Authority

  £

  Corporation of London

  261

  Camden

  233

  Greenwich

  34

  Hackney

  129

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  100

  Islington

  96

  Kensington and Chelsea

  198

  Lambeth

  179

  Lewisham

  102

  Southwark

  170

  Tower Hamlets

  173

  Wandsworth

  137

  Westminster

  175

  Barking/Dagenham

  172

  Barnet

  147

  Bexley

  82

  Brent

  41

  Bromley

  151

  Croydon

  101

  Ealing

  145

  Enfield

  150

  Haringey

  254

  Harrow

  132

  Havering

  90

  Hillingdon

  124

  Hounslow

  146

  Kingston

  130

  Merton

  137

  Newham

  238

  Redbridge

  91

  Richmond

  125

  Sutton

  88

  Waltham Forest

  56

  Birmingham

  99

  Coventry

  114

  Dudley

  0

  Sandwell

  82

  Solihull

  39

  Walsall

  146

  Wolverhampton

  78

  Knowsley

  90

  Liverpool

  71

  St. Helens

  131

  Sefton

  142

  Wirral

  119

  Bolton

  170

  Bury

  64

  Manchester

  96

  Oldham

  93

  Rochdale

  54

  Salford

  109

  Stockport

  158

  Tameside

  117

  Trafford

  145

  Wigan

  74

  Barnsley

  144

  Doncaster

  172

  Rotherham

  108

  Sheffield

  139

  557

  Extract—Section 122 Budget statements (England) 1997–98 Extra amount per pupil which would be made available to schools if all local authorities held back the same percentage as Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (96.3 per cent. of PSB)

  Authority

  £

  Bradford

  111

  Calderdale

  158

  Kirklees

  148

  Leeds

  50

  Wakefield

  156

  Gateshead

  217

  Newcastle

  148

  North Tyneside

  85

  South Tyneside

  141

  Sunderland

  53

  Isles of Scilly

  141

  Bath and North East Somerset

  128

  Bristol

  144

  North Somerset

  142

  South Gloucestershire

  158

  Hartlepool

  103

  Middlesbrough

  145

  Redcar and Cleveland

  147

  Stockton on Tees

  126

  Hull

  110

  East Riding

  144

  North East Lincolnshire

  111

  North Lincolnshire

  158

  North Yorkshire

  120

  York

  131

  Luton

  118

  Milton Keynes

  120

  Derby City

  142

  Poole

  64

  Bournemouth

  214

  Darlington

  162

  Brighton and Hove

  151

  Portsmouth

  120

  Southampton

  80

  Leicester City

  169

  Rutland

  103

  Stoke-on-Trent

  113

  Swindon

  112

  Bedfordshire

  62

  Berkshire

  56

  Buckinghamshire

  92

  Cambridgeshire

  160

  Cheshire

  94

  Cornwall

  177

  Cumbria

  78

  Derbyshire

  135

  Section 122 Budget Statement (England) 1997–98

  Non-delegated total as % of GSB % (a)

  GSB less ASB per pupil £ (b)

  All S.E.N. (non-delegated) funding per pupil £ (c)

  Column (c) as % of column (b) %(d)

  Corporation of London

  35.8

  1,657

  0

  0.0

  Camden

  33.5

  1,283

  136

  10.6

  Greenwich

  22.7

  690

  14

  2.1

  Hackney

  28.4

  961

  57

  5.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  25.3

  873

  51

  5.8

  Islington

  32.7

  1,133

  55

  4.9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  27.2

  1,050

  95

  9.0

  Lambeth

  26.3

  929

  141

  15.2

  Lewisham

  20.2

  604

  22

  3.7

  Southwark

  27.6

  871

  68

  7.8

  Tower Hamlets

  32.9

  1,148

  106

  9.2

  Wandsworth

  25.8

  840

  122

  14.5

  Westminster

  30.2

  1,040

  98

  9.5

  Barking/Dagenham

  30.7

  912

  111

  12.2

  Barnet

  30.0

  858

  130

  15.1

  558

  Extract—Section 122 Budget statements (England) 1997–98 Extra amount per pupil which would be made available to schools if all local authorities held back the same percentage as Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (96.3 per cent. of PSB)

  Authority

  £

  Devon

  105

  Dorset

  103

  Durham

  151

  East Sussex

  117

  Essex

  125

  Gloucestershire

  88

  Hampshire

  108

  Hereford/Worcester

  118

  Hertfordshire

  58

  Isle of Wight

  127

  Kent

  131

  Lancashire

  129

  Leicestershire

  147

  Lincolnshire

  155

  Norfolk

  81

  Northamptonshire

  60

  Northumberland

  89

  Nottinghamshire

  137

  Oxfordshire

  83

  Shropshire

  84

  Somerset

  114

  Staffordshire

  72

  Suffolk

  75

  Surrey

  114

  Warwickshire

  134

  West Sussex

  130

  Wiltshire

  132

  England

  115

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by local education authority(a) the percentage of their schools budget that is not delegated to schools, (b) the amount in (a) expressed in pounds per pupil and (c) the amount not delegated to schools allocated for special educational needs expressed in pounds per pupil; and what proportion (c) represents of (b). [26833]

  Mr. Byers
  The following table gives the information requested as a listing of local education authorities in England for 1997–98. The figures are derived from the budget statements produced by the local education authorities under section 122 of the 1996 Education Act.
  559

  Section 122 Budget Statement (England) 1997–98

  Non-delegated total as % of GSB % (a)

  GSB less ASB per pupil £ (b)

  All S.E.N. (non-delegated) funding per pupil £ (c)

  Column (c) as % of column (b) % (d)

  Bexley

  24.3

  559

  56

  10.0

  Brent

  25.2

  722

  30

  4.2

  Bromley

  31.6

  805

  133

  16.5

  Croydon

  28.1

  763

  77

  10.1

  Ealing

  26.0

  720

  116

  16.2

  Enfield

  30.5

  865

  91

  10.5

  Haringey

  34.8

  1,149

  113

  9.8

  Harrow

  22.5

  614

  111

  18.1

  Havering

  18.1

  429

  77

  18.0

  Hillingdon

  21.7

  535

  25

  4.6

  Hounslow

  27.6

  815

  43

  5.3

  Kingston

  21.3

  499

  77

  15.4

  Merton

  18.5

  453

  111

  24.5

  Newham

  30.3

  842

  106

  12.6

  Redbridge

  23.5

  609

  20

  3.3

  Richmond

  17.8

  446

  101

  22.7

  Sutton

  29.6

  821

  38

  4.6

  Waltham Forest

  25.5

  752

  4

  0.5

  Birmingham

  22.4

  589

  57

  9.6

  Coventry

  24.1

  622

  58

  9.4

  Dudley

  19.6

  447

  26

  5.8

  Sandwell

  21.9

  510

  55

  10.9

  Solihull

  19.8

  457

  56

  12.3

  Walsall

  23.0

  538

  61

  11.3

  Wolverhampton

  25.1

  602

  39

  6.5

  Knowsley

  23.1

  573

  23

  3.9

  Liverpool

  24.5

  592

  45

  7.5

  St. Helens

  23.9

  574

  70

  12.1

  Sefton

  21.0

  494

  62

  12.5

  Wirral

  24.4

  569

  52

  9.1

  Bolton

  27.7

  656

  128

  19.6

  Bury

  21.5

  464

  19

  4.2

  Manchester

  27.2

  696

  26

  3.7

  Oldham

  24.3

  588

  46

  7.8

  Rochdale

  23.4

  536

  53

  10.0

  Salford

  32.5

  863

  64

  7.4

  Stockport

  26.8

  938

  124

  13.2

  Tameside

  34.9

  858

  52

  6.0

  Trafford

  29.6

  668

  72

  10.8

  Wigan

  23.4

  583

  25

  4.3

  Barnsley

  30.5

  687

  107

  15.6

  Doncaster

  26.6

  659

  106

  16.0

  Rotherham

  23.6

  539

  57

  10.5

  Sheffield

  35.2

  949

  75

  7.9

  Bradford

  35.1

  916

  103

  11.2

  Calderdale

  32.6

  790

  115

  14.6

  Kirklees

  28.0

  666

  74

  11.1

  Leeds

  26.3

  675

  21

  3.1

  Wakefield

  36.9

  957

  87

  9.1

  Gateshead

  36.3

  1,033

  94

  9.1

  Newcastle

  26.0

  659

  53

  8.0

  North Tyneside

  27.6

  685

  65

  9.6

  South Tyneside

  26.3

  607

  63

  10.4

  Sunderland

  21.9

  516

  53

  10.3

  Isles of Scilly

  25.8

  1,164

  164

  14.1

  Bath and North East Somerset

  21.4

  537

  73

  13.7

  Bristol

  22.0

  563

  43

  7.7

  North Somerset

  29.8

  806

  77

  9.5

  South Gloucestershire

  23.1

  691

  102

  14.8

  Hartlepool

  21.1

  453

  52

  11.5

  Middlesbrough

  25.2

  602

  63

  10.4

  Redcar and Cleveland

  22.9

  522

  68

  13.1

  Stockton on Tees

  22.3

  510

  49

  9.6

  Hull

  22.5

  521

  52

  9.9

  East Riding

  23.1

  563

  53

  9.3

  North East Lincolnshire

  21.6

  501

  49

  9.9

  North Lincolnshire

  26.0

  629

  58

  9.3

  North Yorkshire

  21.5

  511

  66

  12.9

  York

  21.0

  471

  67

  14.3

  560

  561

  Section 122 Budget Statement (England) 1997–98

  Non-delegated total as % of GSB % (a)

  GSB less ASB per pupil £ (b)

  All S.E.N. (non-delegated) funding per pupil £ (c)

  Column (c) as % of column (b) %(d)

  Luton

  27.0

  637

  42

  6.6

  Milton Keynes

  30.2

  729

  60

  8.3

  Derby City

  29.1

  628

  101

  16.2

  Poole

  28.0

  612

  68

  11.0

  Bournemouth

  35.4

  877

  98

  11.2

  Darlington

  23.9

  515

  85

  16.4

  Brighton and Hove

  25.8

  650

  94

  14.5

  Portsmouth

  28.6

  776

  40

  5.1

  Southampton

  19.2

  465

  24

  5.2

  Leicester City

  24.2

  570

  98

  17.2

  Rutland

  20.5

  442

  61

  13.8

  Stoke-on-Trent

  23.6

  520

  51

  9.8

  Swindon

  24.5

  533

  79

  14.8

  Bedfordshire

  23.5

  556

  20

  3.7

  Berkshire

  17.4

  394

  26

  6.5

  Buckinghamshire

  29.5

  739

  40

  5.5

  Cambridgeshire

  33.2

  826

  148

  18.0

  Cheshire

  22.0

  515

  58

  11.3

  Cornwall

  29.9

  745

  136

  18.3

  Cumbria

  25.7

  600

  63

  10.6

  Derbyshire

  30.4

  691

  100

  14.4

  Devon

  24.7

  588

  73

  12.4

  Dorset

  20.0

  433

  58

  13.4

  Durham

  28.1

  682

  89

  13.0

  East Sussex

  27.2

  705

  58

  8.3

  Essex

  26.2

  628

  98

  15.7

  Gloucestershire

  24.9

  559

  75

  13.4

  Hampshire

  21.4

  510

  26

  5.1

  Hereford/Worcester

  24.7

  577

  85

  14.7

  Hertfordshire

  22.5

  537

  76

  14.2

  Isle of Wight

  21.0

  486

  90

  18.6

  Kent

  24.3

  563

  99

  17.6

  Lancashire

  25.5

  608

  104

  17.2

  Leicestershire

  22.9

  533

  74

  14.0

  Lincolnshire

  24.2

  587

  106

  18.0

  Norfolk

  24.6

  618

  65

  10.6

  Northamptonshire

  23.8

  555

  32

  5.7

  Northumberland

  24.2

  561

  68

  12.1

  Nottinghamshire

  26.7

  599

  59

  9.8

  Oxfordshire

  25.4

  625

  66

  10.6

  Shropshire

  28.5

  703

  42

  5.9

  Somerset

  23.5

  555

  101

  18.2

  Staffordshire

  23.7

  527

  57

  10.7

  Suffolk

  20.3

  480

  47

  9.8

  Surrey

  26.7

  692

  73

  10.6

  Warwickshire

  28.1

  687

  80

  11.7

  West Sussex

  21.6

  510

  67

  13.1

  Wiltshire

  28.9

  691

  80

  11.6

  England

  25.6

  633

  70

  11.0

  Examination Papers (Marking)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information his Department collates on the average time taken and payment made for marking(a) GCSE examination and (b) A-level examination papers. [26393]

  Dr. Howells
  Data are not collected centrally on the time taken to mark GCSE and GCE A-level examinations. The marking timetable is determined by the need to notify candidates of their results in August each year.

  The Department does not collate information on the average payment made for marking. However in 1997, the average fees charged by awarding bodies in respect of GCSE and GCE A-level examination entries were
  562
  £16 and £29 respectively. These fees include payment to the awarding bodies for the marking of examination papers.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will be sending a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam dated 27 June 1997 concerning the Astra Group Pension Scheme. [24665]

  Dr. Howells
  Department for Education and Employment officials are seeking a speedy resolution to the ex-Astra issues, but are still working on the "package" of measures potentially to assist ex-employees of the Department who transferred to Astra. Negotiations also
  563
  involve other Departments—including HM Treasury and the Government Actuary's Department—and due partly to the legal complexities involved, these have been protracted.

  The precise nature of the package should be agreed soon, and this Department will be contacting the appropriate former employees with details as soon as it is able. The hon. Member will also be informed.

  Training (Voluntary Sector)
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the contribution of the voluntary sector to training provision for people with learning disabilities. [24857]

  Dr. Howells
  There has been no central assessment of the voluntary sector's contribution to training people with learning disabilities.

  Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) are responsible for delivering publicly funded, high quality training programmes, which include provision for people with learning disabilities. It is for TECs to contract appropriately with local providers. The Department and TECs value highly the contribution of the voluntary sector in helping people with learning disabilities take full advantage of training opportunities.

  Student Fees
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of college fees have been paid in accordance with his Department's deadlines by each local education authority in each of the last three years; [24861]

  (2) what percentage of student maintenance awards have been paid on time by each local education authority in each of the last three years. [24862]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department's guidance to local education authorities is that they should:pay students the first instalment of their maintenance award at the start of their first term, and further payments at the start of each term after that; and
  pay tuition fees direct to universities and colleges on time—either by the dates set in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations or within one month of receiving a valid fee invoice, whichever is later.

  The Department does not routinely monitor LEAs' performance against these targets. Some information on mandatory awards is available from the Audit Commission's yearly reports on 'Local Authority Performance Indicators': these include an indicator for the percentage of new mandatory awards paid by each LEA by 10 October each year. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many inquiries from students and parents concerning student maintenance and fees awards were received by local education authorities in each of the last three years. [24860]

  Dr. Howells
  This information is not collected centrally.
  564
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the resources required by the Student Support Agency to meet the volume of inquiries currently managed by local education authorities and to deal with them to the same standards. [24859]

  Dr. Howells
  We have had a preliminary look at this but we have made no detailed assessment of the resources required by a student support agency to meet the volume of inquiries currently managed by local education authorities and to deal with them to the same standards.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 700, in relation to the future arrangements for the administration of HE student support and to our planned review of options.

  Further Education
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many complaints have been made to him under section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; what was the subject matter of the complaints; and what was the outcome. [24978]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend receives many representations about the activities of the governing bodies of further education colleges and they are followed up where it seems appropriate to do so. The Department does not maintain a register of all complaints.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to amend the regulations concerning governing bodies of further education colleges; [24974]

  (2) what plans he has to include representatives of local education authorities on the governing bodies of further education colleges; [24975]

  (3) what plans he has to ensure that staff and students are represented on the governing bodies of further education colleges. [24976]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to announce his plans for the future constitution of governing bodies of further education colleges in the forthcoming White Paper on Lifelong Learning.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many governors have been removed from the governing bodies of further education colleges as a result of being found unfit to serve; and what were the reasons for these findings. [24977]

  Dr. Howells
  Decisions on whether a Member of a governing body is unfit are matters for the governing body. The Department does not collect such information.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he proposes to exempt participants on further education teacher training courses from the payment of tuition fees. [24979]

  Dr. Howells
  The £1,000 tuition fee contribution to be introduced for new students in 1998–99 will not apply to students on courses of initial teacher training, including courses for further education teachers, other than students
  565
  on a BEd, BA or BSc degree course. This reflects the importance which the Government attach to enhancing the quality of teaching and encouraging the effective training of teachers.

  Special Education Provision
  Mr. Martin Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the Green Paper on special educational provision existed in draft form when he took office. [24980]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  No: the Green Paper drew on the Labour Party's consultation document, 'Every Child is Special', published in March 1997. The Green Paper was drafted in the period July to October last year, in consultation with the National Advisory Group on Special Educational Needs.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in reducing classroom sizes in Southend since 31 July. [25266]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Mr. Truswell) on 29 January 1998,Official Report, column 370.

  Veterinary Students
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the proceeds which will be received by Her Majesty's Treasury as a result of the imposition of tuition fees on veterinary students under his proposals for the funding of higher education. [25513]

  Dr. Howells
  Under the new higher education funding system being introduced from 1998–99 universities and colleges will receive £1,000 for every home or EU full-time undergraduate new entrant—from the student and/or from the local authority depending on income assessed. We estimate that this will amount to around £130 million in England in 1998–99, after allowance has been made for costs of some 5 per cent. for collection and any default. This includes tuition fees for new veterinary undergraduates.

  The Government have made it clear that the savings from the introduction of tuition fees would be used to improve quality, standards and opportunity for all in further and higher education. For 1998–99 we have announced an extra £165 million for higher education to spend, including a total of £129 million for higher education institutions.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many veterinary students are currently in receipt of(a) full and (b) part maintenance grants. [25518]

  Dr. Howells
  Information on the subject of study of award holders is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the letter of 566
  9 January from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells), what estimate he has made of the extent of the deficit in veterinary graduates qualifying from United Kingdom veterinary schools. [25517]

  Dr. Howells
  Veterinary graduates are employed largely in private practice and the Government do not attempt to forecast demand for them or to estimate whether supply does or does not meet requirements. However, the increase in the numbers of overseas registrations as shown by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' registration statistics suggests that demand for veterinary graduates in the UK is not being met from UK registered graduates.

  Registered Veterinary Graduates

  Year

  UK

  Commonwealth, foreign and EU

  Total

  1995

  369

  469

  838

  1996

  384

  531

  915

  The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is currently conducting a survey to gauge the needs of the profession in future years.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research he has conducted into the manpower demand of the public sector for graduates in veterinary medicine. [25516]

  Dr. Howells
  Most veterinary graduates are in private practice. Neither this Department nor the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food conducts research into, or attempts to forecast, public sector demand for veterinary graduates. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons conducts periodic labour market research to gauge the needs of the profession.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the levels of indebtedness likely to be experienced by graduates and students of veterinary medicine as a result of his proposals for the funding of higher education; [25514]

  (2) if he will estimate the total cost, including tuition fees and maintenance, of a five year veterinary course for students with a family income of (a) less than £23,000 per annum, (b) between £23,000 and £35,000 per annum and (c) over £35,000 per annum under his proposals for the funding of higher education. [25515]

  Dr. Howells
  The amount that a student of veterinary medicine will be able to borrow under the student loans scheme will depend on a variety of factors including the length of the course, the place of study, and the student's and his or her parents' or spouse's income. A student
  567
  completing a five year course who began studying in 1999 and took out the full loan available each year might expect to have borrowed a total of between £13,205 and £17,255 in 1998 prices, depending on his or her individual, parental or spouse's income.

  The level of monthly repayments that graduates will be expected to make will depend entirely on their incomes. In this respect the position of veterinary students will be no different from that of students of any other discipline. The Government have not, therefore, seen the need to commission specific research into the effects of their proposals on veterinary students.

  The following table indicates in 1998 prices the contributions to fees and maintenance that parents would be expected to make, where their income was taken into account, for each year of a five year course outside London. Similar scales apply to spouses where appropriate. No parent or spouse will be expected to contribute more under the new arrangements to the cost of fees and maintenance combined than they would contribute to the cost of maintenance alone under the existing arrangements.

  £

  Income1

  Annual parental contribution to fees

  Annual parental contribution to maintenance

  Maximum loan available to student for full year

  Low income

  0

  0

  3,545

  Middle income

  1,000

  0

  3,545

  High income

  1,000

  810

  2,735

  1 The contribution parents are expected to make will depend, as now, on their residual income, rather than gross income. The total incomes to which the residual income figures correspond will vary according to individual circumstances. The residual income below which no contribution is expected ("low income") is £16,945: on average this might equate to a total income of around £23,000. The residual income at which parents will be expected to contribute the full £1,000 towards fees ("middle income") is £27,119, which on average might equate to a total income of around £35,000. The residual income at which the maximum contribution towards fees and maintenance is expected ("high income") is £34,068. Contributions between these points are on a sliding scale.

  Further and Higher Education (Cornwall)
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what developments to increase the provision of further and higher education he plans in Cornwall. [25627]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend announced last November additional funding for further education totalling £83 million. The allocation of funding to individual colleges is the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council for England, who have a duty to ensure that adequate and sufficient provision is made.

  In respect of higher education it is for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, in partnership with institutions, to consider the provision of higher education in Cornwall having regard to national needs.

  New Deal
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the compatibility of the unemployment subsidy in the new deal with EU competition policy. [26224]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The European Commission's guidelines on aid to employment published in 1995 make clear that the Commission is generally sympathetic towards measures which are intended to encourage firms to recruit individuals who have difficulty finding work.

  Officials from the Department will be meeting officials from the Commission to inform them about the new deal and answer any questions the Commission may wish to raise.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Government proposes to extend the new deal from 18 to 24-year-olds to 25 to 34-year-olds. [26226]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I announced on 5 January that we would develop pilots, for introduction in the autumn, with a view to extending the new deal to people over 25 who have been unemployed for a year or 18 months. These will need to be thoroughly evaluated before decisions can be taken on the time or nature of a full extension.

  Court of Appeal (Criminal Division): European Convention Rights
  Court of Appeal (Criminal Division): European Convention Rights
  Public Record Office Charges
  Public Record Office Charges
  Northern Ireland: Human Rights
  Northern Ireland: Human Rights
  Abortion
  Abortion
  Asthma
  Asthma
  Tobacco Advertising Draft Directive
  Tobacco Advertising Draft Directive
  COT: Advice
  COT: Advice
  COT: Vitamin B6
  COT: Vitamin B6
  V&A: Attendance Figures
  V&A: Attendance Figures
  National Museum Attendances
  National Museum Attendances
  European Union Regions
  European Union Regions
  Childcare Facilities: Westminster
  Childcare Facilities: Westminster
  Non-OP Sheep Dips: VPC Report
  Non-OP Sheep Dips: VPC Report
  Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Group
  Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Group
  BSE Inquiry: Members
  BSE Inquiry: Members
  Chocolate Products: Directive
  Chocolate Products: Directive
  ESRC: Research into Informal Economic Activities
  ESRC: Research into Informal Economic Activities
  Renewable Technologies
  Renewable Technologies
  New Deal Regulations
  New Deal Regulations
  Palace of Westminster: Childcare Facilities
  Palace of Westminster: Childcare Facilities
  Palace of Westminster: Childcare Vouchers
  Palace of Westminster: Childcare Vouchers
  Childcare Facilities in the House of Lords
  Childcare Facilities in the House of Lords
  General Affairs Council, 26–27 January
  General Affairs Council, 26–27 January
  European Union: Business and Events
  European Union: Business and Events
  BBC Monitoring Service: Funding
  BBC Monitoring Service: Funding
  Thameslink 2000 Project
  Thameslink 2000 Project
  Housing Provision
  Housing Provision
  Elderly: Housing Needs
  Elderly: Housing Needs
  Vacant Dwellings
  Vacant Dwellings
  "Combating Drink Driving—Next Steps"
  "Combating Drink Driving—Next Steps"
  Attack Helicopter: Training
  Attack Helicopter: Training
  Air Collision Study: Report
  Air Collision Study: Report
  Cultural Projects: EU Funding
  Cultural Projects: EU Funding
  Police Grant Allocations
  Police Grant Allocations