Written Answers of 6 February 1998

TREASURY

  Paymaster General
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Paymaster General intends to take legal action against Business Age relating to the article about him on Friday 30 January. [28038]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  This is not a matter for me.

  Foreign Income Dividends
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have paid foreign income dividends since 2 July 1997. [27720]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  About 500 companies have paid foreign income dividends (FIDs) since 2 July 1997. This includes companies without an overseas source of income of their own but who have received FIDs from companies in which they have an equity holding.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on revenue from ACT consequential on the abolition of foreign income dividends in July 1997. [27719]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  Since July 1997 when my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the abolition of foreign income dividends (FIDs) in April 1999 and the ending of payable tax credits for pension funds and UK companies, FIDs have increased to cost about £1 billion a year in lower advance corporation tax (ACT). This loss will be subsumed in the Pre-Budget Report proposals for a modern system of corporation tax payments which include the abolition of ACT on dividends paid after 6 April 1999.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total amount collected by smaller quoted companies on behalf of the Government through PAYE during 1997 or the most recent year for which figures are available; [27109]

  (2) what contribution was made by smaller quoted companies in terms of (a) corporation tax paid, (b) employees" income tax paid and (c) national insurance contributions paid during 1997 or the most recent year for which figures are available. [27108]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  I regret that this information is not vailable.

  Stock Exchange
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the London Stock Exchange's role as the competent authority for listing. [28633]
  804
  Mr. Darling
  The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is currently, under the Financial Services Act 1986, the competent authority for listing in the United Kingdom. I have considered future arrangements against the background of our decision to have a single statutory regulator, the Financial Services Authority, for financial services.

  I have concluded that the case for change at this stage is not made. The LSE is operating satisfactorily in creating and enforcing listing rules in a way which gives confidence to investors, while meeting the commercial needs of users. Before any change were made we would need to be sure that this was fully justified on the balance of the arguments, and that arrangements for satisfactory transition were in place.

  Accordingly this will be a matter kept under review. Among the factors which may be relevant to any decision to transfer functions could be the institutional arrangements for tackling market abuse and the impact of increased competition in the UK's securities markets.

  The new Bill to reform the 1986 Act will therefore name the LSE as competent authority. However, I also intend that the Bill will include a power for the Treasury to transfer the competent authority functions, in part or in whole, to another body by secondary legislation.

  Tax Avoidance
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax treatment of transactions in futures and options designed to produce a guaranteed return. [28677]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have already announced their intention to act against leakages of tax from artificial avoidance devices. Last year's Finance Act included legislation designed to counter tax avoidance schemes which used options or futures to convert income into capital gains. But it did not cover every possible device.

  The Inland Revenue have been instructed to prepare legislation for inclusion in the next Finance Bill which will counter, with effect from today, one class of avoidance devices which is not covered by the Finance Act 1997 and from which significant amounts of tax may be at risk. Details of the device concerned, and the proposed legislation, are included in an Inland Revenue Press Release which is published today.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Charity Commission
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the scrutiny carried out by the Charity Commission of the actions of the trustees of the French Convalescent Home with regard to the sale of the home. [27358]

  The Attorney-General
  None: it is not for me to assess any scrutiny that may have been carried out by the Charity Commissioners into the actions of Charity trustees.
  805
  I do have a right of appeal against an Order of the Charity Commissioners establishing a scheme for a charity. In the case of the scheme concerning the French Convalescent Home in Brighton my assessment was that grounds on which the court could quash the scheme were not made out.

  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the extent to which trustees should be required to exercise duties and responsibilities before the Charity Commission exercises its discretion under the Charities Act 1993. [27359]

  The Attorney-General
  The Charity Commission, in pursuit of its statutory responsibility for promoting the effective use of charitable resources, makes guidance available to all charity trustees on the exercise of their duties. This explains that trustees must at all times act reasonably and prudently in matters relating to the charity and that they must always bear in mind the interests of the charity.

  While charity trustees remain responsible for the administration of their charity within its existing trusts, the Commission has the power to establish a scheme for the future administration of a charity where it is clear that the charity's trusts have ceased to provide a suitable and effective method of using the available assets. It is the duty of the trustees to consider seeking such a scheme in those circumstances or where there are other difficulties in giving effect to the charity's original objectives.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  House of Commons Stationery
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if the Committee has yet reviewed the current regulations on use of House of Commons post paid envelopes and stationery referred to in Early Day Motion 597 (Conduct of the hon. Member for Bassetlaw and use of House of Commons post paid envelopes); and if she will make a statement. [28632]

  Mrs. Roe
  At its meeting on 27 January the Administration Committee reviewed the current regulations on House stationery and post paid envelopes, taking into consideration the points made in the hon. Gentleman's Early Day Motion.

  The Committee accepted the implications contained in the Early Day Motion, that it was not the intention of the existing regulations that hon. Members should be prevented from using this stationery in order to write to each other on legitimate Parliamentary business; the Committee accepted also that the circumstances surrounding the hon. Gentleman's letter that he referred to, and that from the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster), which was also mentioned, were such that those letters should be properly regarded as having been sent on an essentially Parliamentary matter.

  In order to clarify the existing rules on House stationery and post paid envelopes, the Committee has determined that paragraph 4 (Original House stationery) should be amended to read as follows:
  806
  "Original House stationery should not be used for circulars of any description, except those sent to other Members of the House in direct connection with a Members" Parliamentary duties, or as provided by the rules stated below";
  and that Paragraph 8(d) (Post paid envelopes) be amended to read:
  for circulars of any description excluding those referred to in paragraph 4 above, but including those in paragraph 7".

  Madam Speaker has endorsed the Committee's recommendations, and the new regulations take immediate effect.

  It may be opportune to remind all hon. Members of two points; firstly, that it is not permitted to use post paid envelopes for internal mail, and secondly, that there is no limit on the number of letters that an hon. Member may post in the internal mail.

  With respect to the hon. Gentleman's final point, the Committee considers that if an hon. Member believes that House property or facilities are being misused by another hon. Member, then it is appropriate that the matter is brought to the attention of the relevant House authority. This Committee has no authority to insist that a complainant should make themselves known; however, the Committee does consider that, as a matter of common courtesy, a complainant should inform the hon. Member who is the source of such a complaint that the matter has been brought to the attention of the House authorities.

  Cabinet Salaries
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Council what plans the Government have to restore Cabinet salary differentials over junior Ministers; and over what timescale. [28193]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The Government's position on ministerial salaries after 1 April 1999 will be announced nearer the time.

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds for travel and accommodation for the staff, Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair on their trip to Japan. [23477]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 January 1998]: Details of costs are not yet available.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Prime Minister when he gave written permission to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) to take Miss Geraldine Daly to an EU meeting in Luxembourg. [26248]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 January 1998]: It is not the practice to publish exchanges of ministerial correspondence.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to appoint an independent representative of the housing professions to the Social Exclusion Unit; and if he will make a statement. [25786]
  807
  The Prime Minister
  None. Members of the Social Exclusion Unit are not chosen to act as representatives of any particular field. Given the need to keep the Unit to a sensible size it is not possible to select from every relevant background. We have selected members with a wide range of experience, who will work proactively to draw in the views and expertise of people from other backgrounds, including housing.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoner Transfers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners expressed an interest or applied for a transfer to the Republic of Ireland(a) between 1 November and 31 December 1996 and (b) in 1997; and how many of these transfers have been completed. [27408]

  Ms Quin
  Between 1 November and 31 December 1996, four prisoners held in England and Wales applied for transfer to the Republic of Ireland. In 1997, 39 prisoners applied for transfer to the Republic of Ireland. Six of these 43 prisoners have now been repatriated to prisons in the Republic.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners expressed an interest or applied for a transfer from the Republic of Ireland to the United Kingdom(a) between 1 November and 31 December 1996 and (b) in 1997; and how many of these transfers have been completed. [27411]

  Ms Quin
  The date on which prisoners seeking repatriation from the Republic of Ireland to England and Wales expressed an interest or applied for repatriation is not held by the Prison Service. However, since 1 November 1995, five prisoners have been repatriated from the Republic of Ireland to England and Wales.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the(a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has responsibility, in (A) 1995–96, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 to date and (D) 1997–98 full year. [26677]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: My Department's estimate of the annual cost and total value of the empty properties (excluding empty homes) it owns for each of the financial years requested is as follows:

  £000

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98 to date

  1997–98 full year

  Total costs

  925

  914

  227

  254

  Total value

  6,081

  6,045

  4,480

  4,480

  These figures do not take account of the empty homes owned by my Department for which central records are
  808
  not held. A meaningful estimate could therefore be made only at disproportionate cost. Progress in reducing the number of these is reported annually.

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 1998,Official Report, column 529, on expenditure on police, by how much his proposals for the overall spending of police authorities for 1998–99 increase the proposed budget under the previous administration's spending plans. [27814]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: Under plans announced by the previous Administration in the 1997 Annual Report of the Department of the Environment (Cm 3607), police Total Standard Spend (TSS) in England was expected to be £6.576 billion in 1998–99. TSS is the level of revenue spending which the Government consider appropriate for police authorities to spend in aggregate. Comparable figures for Welsh police authorities were not made available.

  Following publication of the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 1998–99 (HC492), which was laid in the House on 2 February, and under the capping proposals for police authorities announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 2 December and re-stated on 2 February, the overall spending power of police authorities in England in 1998–99 will increase to around £6.788 billion.

  Drugs (Education)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategies he has put in place since 1 May 1997 (1) to support successful local projects involving police, local government, schools and businesses aimed at curbing the activities of dealers in illegal drugs; [26298]

  (2) how many joint programmes to promote the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs have been (i) undertaken and (ii) planned for since 1 May 1997 between his Department and (a) the Department for Education and Employment, (b) the Department of Health and (c) the President of the Council; [26301]

  (3) how many programmes to promote the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs his Department has initiated since 1 May 1997. [26269]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since 1 May the Government have supported a range of existing activities against dealers through, for example, the Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative.

  The police service has always taken a leading role in the fight against drugs. To reinforce this the Home Secretary, on 4 November 1997, set as one of the key objectives for policing in 1998–99
  "to target drug-related crime in partnership with other agencies".
  809
  The police have already forged working relationships with other agencies to counter drug misuse and drug-related crime; this will encourage even more co-operation.

DEFENCE

  Transport Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the nominal pay loads, ranges, speeds and cargo space dimensions for(a) C130, (b) FLA and (c) C-17 transport aircraft. [27507]

  Mr. Spellar
  Manufacturers" brochure figures for the aircraft in question are:

  (a) C-130J-30

  Design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—16.3 Tonnes

  Range at design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—2,400

  Nautical Miles

  Cruise speed—0.52 Mach

  Maximum cargo floor length (excluding ramp)—16.76m

  Maximum cargo floor width—3.12m

  Cargo hold height—2.74m.

  (b) FLA

  Design Payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—25.0 Tonnes

  Range at design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—2,100

  Nautical Miles

  Cruise speed—0.68 Mach

  Maximum cargo floor length (excluding ramp)—17.25m

  Maximum cargo floor width—4.00m

  Cargo hold height—3.85m to 4.00m

  (c) C-17

  Design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—55.4 Tonnes

  Range at design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—3,300

  Nautical Miles

  Cruise speed—0.74 Mach to 0.77 Mach

  Maximum cargo floor length (excluding ramp)—20.78m

  Maximum cargo floor width—5.49m

  Cargo hold height—3.76m to 4.11m

  Performance figures will have been based on detailed technical assumptions made by the individual manufacturers and will not be, in all respects, directly comparable. Additionally, aircraft payload/range performance will vary depending on a number of factors such as mission profile, fuel reserves, manoeuvring limits and atmospheric conditions.

  Comparisons between aircraft types would normally take into account a much wider range of performance characteristics and other factors.

  Radiological Weapons
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which locations he is undertaking research into(a) laser, (b) x-ray and (c) other radiological weapon systems. [26944]

  Mr. Spellar
  The employment of laser weapons designed to cause permanent blindness in unenhanced vision is banned by Protocol IV to the UN Weaponry Convention, to which the UK is a signatory. The UK 810
  therefore does not carry out research into such weapons. However, research into other laser systems to counter enemy weapons and to define protection measures for our own forces is carried out by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Farnborough, Fort Halstead, Portsdown, Malvern and Pershore.

  The UK does not carry out any research into x-ray weapons, nor into weapon systems whose primary effect is radiological, although nuclear weapons research is undertaken at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston.

  Minefields (Falkland Islands)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the clearance of minefields in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [28222]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government are committed to meeting their obligations under the Ottawa Convention. They are currently considering how best to achieve this with regard to the mined areas on the Falkland Islands. Comprehensive clearance work on the minefields was stopped soon after the conflict following a number of serious incidents involving clearance personnel. While all but one British laid mines have been cleared a large number of Argentine laid mines remain. Currently the areas in which mines remain are marked and fenced off, to ensure that they are not a threat to the people living on the Islands.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the latest military situation in the Gulf. [28888]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Our aim is to secure a diplomatic solution to the current crisis and we continue to work to that end. However, in view of the continuing refusal of the Iraqi regime to comply fully with the requirements of the United Nations Security Council, I have reviewed the United Kingdom's military presence in the region and concluded that, as a further precautionary measure, we should deploy 8 Tornado GR I aircraft, with support, to Kuwait. With the agreement of the Government of Kuwait, appropriate planning is in hand and the Tornados will deploy in the next few days.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that absent
  811
  parents and parents with care are informed that they may have face-to-face interviews with Child Support Agency staff at local offices; [26207]

  (2) how many face-to-face interviews were conducted with absent parents and parents with care during (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97 at the Northampton and Wellingborough offices of the Child Support Agency and at the Corby and Kettering sub-offices; [26209]

  (3) how many interviews with absent parents and parents with care were held during (a) 1995–96 and
  (b) 1996–97 in Child Support Agency offices by region; [26193]

  (4) what plans she has to end the provision of face-to-face interviews for absent parents and parents with care at the local office of the Child Support Agency in Northampton. [26208]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Children are entitled to the financial and emotional support of both parents wherever they live. We are looking closely at all aspects of the child support scheme to see where improvements can be made. We aim to bring forward proposals by the Summer.

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

  Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Ms Sally Keeble, dated 5 February 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security concerning interviews with parents, carried out by the Child Support Agency.
  As part of its ongoing commitment to provide a high quality service to its customers, the Agency offers face to face interviews to both absent parents and parents with care.
  The facility for face to face interviews is widely publicised by means of:
  The Child Support Agency Charter.
  The Maintenance Application pack and Maintenance Enquiry pack include notes for parents telling them that they can contact an Agency local office if they want advice or further information.
  Parents contacting the Child Support Agency National Enquiry Line are advised of the facility for face to face interviews, where appropriate.
  The total number of interviews held in 1995–96 was 152,797. A more detailed breakdown was not collated for that year. In 1996–97 interviews were held. The difference reflects customer demand and the increasing popularity of direct contact by means of the telephone. We do not record separately details of the numbers of interviews with absent parents and parents with care respectively. Figures are not available for each Agency office, but are available by Agency Field Division. The specific offices you have enquired about form part of the Anglia & East Midlands Field Division. The breakdown by Agency Field Division was as follows:

  Central North: 7,127

  West Midlands: 5,335

  London: 6,455

  South East: 7,974

  North East: 8,839

  Scotland: 15,614

  Central South: 5,241

  South West: 7,883

  North West: 11,428

  812

  Wales: 13,066

  Anglia & East Midlands: 6,293

  Yorks & Lindsey: 9,694

  These figures are collated to measure performance against the Agency's Charter Standard to see callers within 10 minutes of arrival when an appointment has been made. Prior to December 1996, the standard was 20 minutes, and was met in over 99 per cent. of cases. This continues to be the case, despite the standard being tightened.
  We recently revised the organisation of our operations to examine how we could improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency. We have concluded that while we need to maintain a geographical presence to provide a direct interface with our public and to present appeals and court cases, the processing desk work which does not involve face-to-face contact with customers can be done much more efficiently and cost effectively in our large centres, thus releasing resources to deal with backlogs and rising workloads.
  Although we are still engaged in a detailed analysis, it is clear that the size of the field network will reduce significantly over the next three to four years as we transfer the processing work to the centres. The remaining field resources will then be focused specifically on improved face-to-face contact with customers, often in conjunction with other Agencies. We expect the availability and amount of local face-to-face contact to increase as a result. This is originally the area on which field staff were intended to concentrate at the start of the Agency; processing work was undertaken as a short-term measure to help the Agency deal with the number of applications it received in the first two years. The average number of interviews held per member of field staff in the whole of 1996–7 was approximately 36. By moving processing work to our centres, staff will be able to increase this average and extend our face-to-face contact with customers.
  In cases where the business can best be achieved by interview (e.g. self-employed cases), the Agency is looking at ways to develop the maintenance assessment process to meet this need. A recent initiative in Plymouth tested a new approach which involved specialist liaison between assessment officers in our large centres and field officers. This produced positive results; agreements to pay maintenance were increased and the need to improve punitive interim maintenance assessments was vastly reduced.
  It is clear from our experience that an interview is not always the most effective way of meeting our customers needs, and the telephone can offer a quicker, more satisfactory alternative. The Agency has begun employing staff to work a wider more flexible range of working patterns over six days of the week to improve the telephone service offered. This will give customers more opportunity to contact the Agency at times convenient to them.
  Our objective is to provide an efficient accurate service which is more responsive to the variety of needs of our customers, and which offers them access and information in a customer-friendly form. This will increase the flow of maintenance and, where appropriate, enabling parents with care to move from welfare to work.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Family Credit Helpline
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many telephone inquiries have been handled by the family credit helpline in each month since January 1996; [25638]

  (2) what method the family credit unit has of recording how many callers failed to get through to the family credit helpline; and how many unsuccessful attempts were made to call the helpline in each month since January 1996. [25635]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of Family Credit is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
  813
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Malcolm Chisholm, dated 5 February 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many telephone enquiries the Family Credit (FC) Helpline has answered in each month since January 1996; and what method the FC unit has of recording how many callers failed to get through to the FC helpline; and how many unsuccessful attempts were made to call the helpline in each month since January 1996.
  The FC Unit uses an Automated Call Distribution (ACD) system. Calls are automatically placed on a queuing system where the caller who has waited longest is answered by the first line to become free in the loop.
  The computerised ACD monitors and calculates daily statistics to show total calls answered and lost. However, statistics are then collated and held on a weekly basis.
  The information requested has therefore been provided for 4 and 5 week months and is shown at Annex 1 and 2 attached.
  I hope that you find this reply useful.

  Annex 1: Number of telephone calls to the Family Credit Helpline

  Month

  1996

  Calls answered 1997

  January

  326,113

  1258,373

  February

  260,832

  229,166

  March

  1207,195

  220,617

  April

  175,733

  220,081

  May

  1184,141

  1272,705

  June

  206,452

  219,717

  July

  159,389

  216,640

  August

  1169,037

  1267,862

  September

  274,699

  242,266

  October

  235,438

  1272,019

  November

  1279,191

  248,786

  December

  156,665

  183,933

  1 Months which contain details for 5 weeks.

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Annex 2: Number of unsuccessful telephone calls to the Family Credit Helpline

  Month

  1996

  Calls unanswered 1997

  January

  54,467

  190,771

  February

  57,586

  43,401

  March

  122,651

  54,771

  April

  54,311

  86,683

  May

  161,342

  1114,113

  June

  25,089

  1117,392

  July

  15,410

  105,485

  August

  19,827

  1128,010

  September

  87,049

  115,065

  October

  77,530

  1130,724

  November

  168,951

  92,945

  December

  21,134

  84,385

  1 Months which contain details for 5 weeks

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to change the number of waiting days for jobseeker's allowance. [28887]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  In the Welfare State review which the Prime Minister has set up, the Government will be considering the issue of waiting days in Jobseeker's Allowance. As it is part of the review, the Government 814
  will not therefore be proceeding with the previous proposal to extend the number of waiting days in Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to prohibit discrimination in(a) employment and (b) other fields on the grounds of age. [26273]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government deplore unjustified age discrimination and are committed to ensuring that all people are treated fairly, whatever their age. The Government are actively considering how best to tackle issues affecting older people and, at this stage, have no plans to legislate against age discrimination. However, I plan to consult on developing an effective Code of Practice on age discrimination in employment to promote fair recruitment and selection practices. This Department does not have responsibility for the second part of this question.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Buildings Refurbishment
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her estimate of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by her Department in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year; and if she will make a statement. [26597]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The amounts for my Department and its Agencies (excluding refurbishments funded by landlords) are as follows:

  Year

  £

  1995–96

  11,638,000

  1996–97

  7,400,000

  1997–98 to date

  3,304,000

  1997–98 full year estimate

  4,691,000

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the last ECGD risk assessments were made for Singapore; and what changes were made to the premium rates as a result. [27858]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The last formal ECGD risk assessment for Singapore was made in February 1993. As a result, premium rates were reduced. The precise amount will vary according to the terms of support for individual transactions.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the latest Hawk jet order was granted ECGD cover before the December 1997 re-assessment of Indonesian risk. [27859]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: Yes.

  Energy Group plc (Nomura Bid)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received on the bid by Nomura International for the Energy Group plc, with particular reference to matters relating to documentation. [28236]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Nomura International has announced publicly that it is in talks with The Energy Group which may lead to a bid for The Energy Group. I have seen the Early-Day Motion No. 710 on a possible bid tabled by my hon. Friends the Members for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) and for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas).

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to Malaysia in each year since 1990. [27424]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been paid in respect of exports of defence equipment to Malaysia since 1990.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to South Korea in each year since 1990. [27427]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been paid in respect of exports of defence equipment to South Korea since 1990.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to Singapore in each year since 1990. [27428]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been made in respect of exports of defence equipment to Singapore since 1990.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to Thailand in each year since 1990. [27426]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been made in respect of exports of defence equipment to Thailand since 1990.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to China in each year since 1990. [27425]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been paid in respect of exports of defence equipment to China since 1990.

  Chemical Weapons Act
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. [27986]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As required by the Act, a report on its implementation during 1997 has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Power Lines
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that annual inspections of 33kV power lines are carried out by electricity companies. [27496]

  Mr. Battle
  Regulation 24 of the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 (as amended) (SI 1988 No. 1057) states the"The Supplier shall take all reasonably practicable steps to inspect his installations and works to ensure compliance with these regulations".

  In carrying out these inspections they will have regard to various regulations which cover overhead lines and the height of conductors, anti-climbing guards and safety signs, sky wires and insulators and general design requirements for sufficiency for purpose.

  Therefore, companies inspect lines at different frequencies dependent on several factors including the voltages involved and the risk of unauthorised climbing and interference.

  I have no plans at present to change these arrangements.

  Electrical Goods
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations her Department has received from independent electrical retailers and trade bodies in respect of the Government's competition policy. [27684]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  My Department has received representations from some 160 independent electrical retailers and trade bodies, which have written a total of around 260 letters, concerning my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's proposals on domestic electrical goods

  Bananas
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she plans to take to assist the marketing of a Fair Trade labelled banana in the United Kingdom. [24822]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 23 January 1998]: The Department for International Development is currently considering the possibility of some assistance for the marketing of "Fair Trade" bananas in the United Kingdom. In general, Fair Trade labels are a market response to consumer demand, and industry is in the best position to consider the commercial desirability of such labels. Any assistance offered by the Government would have to be compatible with the United Kingdom's obligation under World Trade Organisation agreements.

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of plutonium separated from Swedish spent fuel have been reprocessed to date at Sellafield; and when this fuel was reprocessed. [27142]

  Mr. Battle
  All 140tU of Swedish fuel contracted for reprocessing in the Thorp baseload was reprocessed during 1997. Details of plutonium separated during reprocessing contracts are commercially confidential between BNFL and its customers.

  Information relating to the UK's holdings of separated plutonium, including Pu belonging to overseas customers, is published annually. A copy of the latest figures, covering such holdings as at 31 December 1996, was placed in the Library of the House on 2 December 1997.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts, covering what quantities or mixed-oxide nuclear fuel, have been signed to date to make use of the MOX demonstration facility at Sellafield. [27166]

  Mr. Battle
  BNFL has signed contracts for its MOX demonstration facility with electric power companies in Switzerland, Germany and Japan. The details of these contracts are commercially confidential between BNFL and its customers.

  Wealth Warnings
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received about the removal of wealth warnings from radio advertisements relating to financial services products and consumer credit; and if she will make a statement. [27107]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  None, however I will publish a consultation paper on simplification and clarification of some aspects of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 this month. This will include a proposal on wealth warnings.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Lubricants
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list for each year since 1987 the number of incidents where monitoring has shown that safe levels of lubricant in food processing have been exceeded; [27957]

  (2) if he will list those lubricants licensed for direct contact with food; [27958]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the criteria that apply to (a) direct contact and (b) non-direct contact food lubricants in respect of animal fat content; [27959]

  (4) if he will list those lubricants (a) licensed for use and (b) known to be used in the food industry; [27960]

  (5) if he will make a statement about the (a) licensing, (b) safety and (c) toxicity of food lubricants. [27961]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government do not operate a product approval or licensing system for lubricants used by the food industry. All lubricants which contain mineral hydrocarbons are controlled, under the 818
  Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966 (SI No. 1966/1073 as amended). These Regulations generally prohibit the direct or indirect use of mineral hydrocarbons in food, but recognise that contact between lubricants and food during processing is sometimes unavoidable. Food is therefore permitted to contain a very limited quantity of mineral hydrocarbon, as specified in the Regulations, arising as a result of such contact.

  In the case of all other lubricants, public protection is afforded by the Food Safety Act 1990 which makes it an offence to sell food which is (i) injurious to health, (ii) not of the nature, substance or quality demanded, (iii) unfit for human consumption, or (iv) misleadingly or falsely labelled. Enforcement of the Act and the Regulations is the responsibility of local authorities.

  Green Pound Compensation
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure that additional payments are made to farmers who will receive less green pound compensation under the scheme of 3 February 1998 than under the scheme of 22 December 1997; and if he will make a statement. [28263]

  Mr. Rooker
  While I recognise that the effective distribution of the aid package announced on 3 February is slightly different from that which would have resulted from the implementation of the package announced on 22 December, I would emphasise that the vast majority of the revised package will still be paid to livestock farmers in the hills and uplands. There are no plans to make any other additional payments to supplement the payments made via this package to producers in the hills.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how many farmers in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland will receive (i) additional, (ii) lower and (iii) the same level of compensation under the package announced on 3 February 1998 compared to the package of 22 December 1997; how many of these will lose (1) more than £5,000, (2) between £1,000 and £5,000 and (3) less than £1,000; and if he will make a statement. [28262]

  Mr. Rooker
  The analysis requested cannot be undertaken without making hypothetical assumptions about the rates of payment which might have been set for the 1998 Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances Scheme consequential to my right hon. Friend's statement of 22 December. In the UK as a whole the revised package will provide for payments to lowland sheep farmers who would not otherwise have benefited and for higher payments to lowland suckler cow farmers. Sheep and cattle farmers in the Less Favoured Areas will receive about 10 per cent. less of the total £85 million in the revised package.

  Tuberculosis (Cattle)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county(a) the number of dairy herds, (b) the number of tuberculosis herd tests in 1997 and (c) the target intended for testing herds. [28032]
  819
  Mr. Rooker
  Census data show holdings on which there are dairy herds. Some holdings may have more than one dairy herd and this will not be reflected in the figures at(a) below. For England the data relate to June 1996; for Wales they also relate to June 1996 and to Government Office Regions, not counties. Census data for Scotland relate to June 1997.

  TB herd tests at (b) include tests carried out on all cattle herds, beef and dairy. A further breakdown is not available. Figures are available by county but not for the Government Office Regions in Wales.

  County

  (a) Holdings with dairy cows

  (b) TB herd tests

  Northumberland

  166

  10

  Tyne and Wear

  18

  0

  Durham (ex Darlington)

  285

  292 (Durham)

  Cleveland and Darlington

  63

  42 (Cleveland)

  Cumbria

  2,061

  1,014

  Lancashire

  1,430

  548

  Cheshire

  1,428

  453

  Greater Manchester

  194

  118

  Merseyside

  31

  12

  North Yorkshire

  1,678

  725

  East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
  (Humberside)

  150

  204

  West Yorkshire

  371

  316

  South Yorkshire

  199

  111

  Derbyshire

  949

  440

  Nottinghamshire

  165

  152

  Lincolnshire

  189

  178

  Leicestershire and Rutland (Leicestershire)

  460

  172

  Northamptonshire

  152

  109

  Staffordshire

  1,362

  723

  Shropshire

  1,140

  756

  Hereford and Worcester

  650

  1,453

  West Midlands

  44

  30

  Warwickshire

  281

  118

  Norfolk

  216

  232

  Suffolk

  148

  144

  Cambridgeshire

  51

  101

  Bedfordshire

  52

  38

  Hertfordshire

  78

  66

  Essex

  123

  128

  Greater London

  24

  15

  Surrey

  116

  77

  Kent

  188

  149

  East Sussex

  202

  194

  West Sussex

  205

  94

  Hampshire

  306

  215

  Isle of Wight

  80

  3

  Oxfordshire

  228

  146

  Buckinghamshire

  182

  135

  Berkshire

  85

  55

  Gloucestershire

  546

  1,455

  North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

  436

  775 (Avon)

  Wiltshire

  733

  900

  Somerset

  1,422

  1,031

  Dorset

  884

  498

  Devon

  2,532

  3,563

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  1,495

  3,490

  Aberdeen

  137

  381

  Angus

  25

  122

  Argyll

  130

  249

  Ayr

  573

  415

  Banff

  32

  178

  Berwick

  28

  70

  Bute

  50

  47

  Caithness

  28

  126

  Clackmannan

  1—

  5

  Dumfries

  323

  236

  Dumbarton

  40

  38

  820

  Country

  (a) Holdings with dairy cows

  (b) TB herd tests

  East Lothian

  8

  27

  Fife

  78

  113

  Inverness

  65

  113

  Kincardine

  34

  54

  Kinross

  11

  36

  Kirkcudbright

  162

  161

  Lanark

  316

  186

  Midlothian

  28

  41

  Moray

  30

  75

  Nairn

  11

  15

  Orkney

  61

  190

  Peebles

  10

  29

  Perth

  50

  215

  Renfrew

  85

  71

  Ross and Cromarty

  54

  69

  Roxburgh

  16

  87

  Selkirk

  1—

  22

  Shetland

  21

  60

  Stirling

  77

  72

  Sutherland

  18

  34

  West Lothian

  37

  28

  Wigtown

  239

  154

  North East Wales

  894

  —

  Powys

  528

  —

  South Wales

  546

  —

  North West Wales

  411

  —

  Ceredigon

  644

  —

  Pembrokeshire

  886

  —

  Carmarthenshire

  1,261

  —

  Powys

  —

  671

  Gwynedd

  —

  589

  Clwyd

  —

  542

  West Glamorgan

  —

  85

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  94

  South Glamorgan

  —

  44

  Gwent

  —

  713

  Dyfed

  —

  1,747

  1 denotes data withheld due to small numbers

  In most areas of Great Britain, cattle herds are tested every four years. However, in areas or herds where there is a higher risk of disease, the testing frequency is increased, and may be as frequent as annually.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of compensation payments to farmers for cattle infected with tuberculosis in each of the last five years. [28030]

  Mr. Rooker
  Compensation paid in Great Britain in respect of animals slaughtered as TB reactors or contacts was as follows:

  1993—£2.18 million

  1994—£2.02 million

  1995—£1.99 million

  1996—£2.28 million

  1997—£2.22 million.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the total number of herds affected by tuberculosis outbreaks in 1997, separately identifying those where no previous outbreak had been recorded for 10 years. [28029]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information listed reflects the number of herds which have been confirmed as being affected by tuberculosis in 1997. The figures are not complete, since we do not yet have laboratory culture
  821
  confirmations for all herds which were suspected of having bovine tuberculosis in 1997. The figures include those herds which continued to be affected (during at least part of 1997) with confirmed disease from previous years and those newly affected in 1997.

  In the time available, it has not been possible to identify those herds in which no previous outbreak has been recorded for 10 years, but I will write to the hon. Member with the information when it is available.

  County

  1997 total confirmed TB herd
  breakdowns

  Northumberland

  7

  Durham

  0

  Cumbria

  1

  Cheshire

  4

  Merseyside

  0

  West Yorkshire

  1

  Humberside

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  Leicestershire

  2

  Staffordshire

  35

  Hereford and Worcester

  198

  Warwickshire

  1

  Suffolk

  0

  Bedfordshire

  0

  Essex

  3

  Surrey

  0

  East Sussex

  10

  Hampshire

  0

  Oxfordshire

  1

  Berkshire

  0

  Wiltshire

  84

  Somerset

  63

  Devon

  251

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Powys

  29

  Clwyd

  0

  Mid Glamorgan

  3

  Gwent

  139

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  Cleveland

  0

  Lancashire

  1

  Greater Manchester

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  South Yorkshire

  0

  Derbyshire

  5

  Lincolnshire

  2

  Northamptonshire

  3

  Shropshire

  6

  West Midlands

  0

  Norfolk

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  Hertford

  0

  Greater London

  0

  Kent

  0

  West Sussex

  1

  Isle of Wight

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  1

  Gloucestershire

  230

  Avon

  60

  Dorset

  33

  Cornwall

  283

  Gwynedd

  2

  West Glamorgan

  5

  South Glamorgan

  0

  Dyfed

  92

  Aberdeenshire

  8

  Kincardine

  1

  Orkney

  0

  822

  County

  1997 total confirmed TB herd
  breakdowns

  Caithness

  2

  Inverness-shire

  1

  Ross and Cromarty

  0

  Angus

  1

  Dumbartonshire

  1

  Kinross

  0

  Perthshire

  0

  Stirling

  0

  Dumfriesshire

  4

  East Lothian

  1

  Lanarkshire

  1

  Midlothian

  0

  Wigtown

  4

  Selkirk

  0

  Banffshire

  1

  Moray

  0

  Argyll

  1

  Shetland

  0

  Nairn

  0

  Sutherland

  0

  Clackmannan

  0

  Fife

  0

  Ayrshire

  4

  Bute

  2

  Berwickshire

  0

  Dumbartonshire

  0

  Kirkcudbright

  6

  Renfrew

  0

  Peebles

  1

  Roxburgh

  0

  West Lothian

  0

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the cost of implementing the recommendations contained in the Krebs Report on badgers and bovine TB. [28028]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government have indicated that they are disposed to accept the recommendations of the Krebs Report on TB in cattle and badgers subject to further consideration of the public expenditure, legal and practical implications. We are consulting on how the recommendations should be implemented. The cost implications are potentially substantial. We are currently assessing these.

  Poultry Feed
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to assist poultry farmers in respect of increases in costs arising from the ban on the use of mammalian meat and bone meal in poultry feed. [28031]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is appreciated that the March 1996 extension of the ban on the feeding of mammalian meat and bonemeal to all farmed livestock, including poultry, has meant that producers have faced increased feed costs. It is, however, a long standing principle of public policy that the Government do not compensate for financial loss resulting from legislation.

  Green Top Milk
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons he has postponed the
  823
  implementation of the prohibition of green top milk; what is the nature of his review of green top milk; and if he will make a statement. [27963]

  Mr. Rooker
  The consultation period on the proposal to ban the sale of raw cows" drinking milk has been extended by three weeks to 24 February 1998, at the request of producers, so that they would have longer to make their views known. At the end of the consultation, we will consider all the responses and all other factors, including the risk to public health, before deciding how to proceed.

  Beef
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of beef from the United Kingdom have been rejected as a result of the meat being over 30 months old since 1 August 1996. [25503]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 27 February 1998]: None. The only beef exports from the UK which are permitted at present are the re-export of imported material. Such consignments must conform with Community standards for placing meat on the market and any national rules in the receiving country. There are no Community requirements in respect of age of meat nor are we aware of any national rules.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of measures which his Ministry has required to be implemented in order to safeguard the public's health since BSE was first identified in the United Kingdom. [25252]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: A list of measures taken to protect public health since BSE was first identified in November 1986, is given in the most recent publication of the BSE Progress Report which was placed in the Library of the House on 23 July 1997. This covered the period up to the end of June 1997. Subsequent measures are as follows:

  Date

  Legislation

  1 August 1997

  The Bovine and Bovines Products (Despatch Prohibition and Production Restriction) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/1905), revoke and replace the Bovine Products (Production and Despatch) Regulations 1997. Regulations fully implement the requirements of Decision 96/239/EC, as amended by Decision 96/362/EC, on emergency measures to protect against BSE.

  21 September 1997

  The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 amend the 1995 Regulations, remove the provision for the slaughter of private kill animals, thereby ensuring that all red meat animals killed in slaughterhouses for human consumption are subject to full meat inspection.

  21 September 1997

  The Animal By-products (Identification) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2073) amends 1995 Regulations, adding a category to the animal by-product definition to include meat from a bovine animal presented for slaughter for human consumption and subsequently found to be from an animal over 30 months old.

  824

  Date

  Legislation

  24 October 1997

  BSE (No. 2)(Amendment) Order 1997 (SI 1997/2387) amends provisions of the BSE (No. 2) Order 1996 in respect of exposed animals, to allow certain notices to be served by an Inspector of the Minister, as well as by a veterinary inspector.

  16 December 1997

  The Beef Bones Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2959) regulate the sale of bone-in-beef derived from bovine animals aged over six months at slaughter.

  1 January 1998

  The Specified Risk Material Order 1997 (SI 1997/2964) replaces the existing SBM Order and the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order and introduces controls on specified risk material on the lines of those in Commission Decision 97/534.

  December 1997 and 1 January 1998

  The Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2965) provides for controls on specified risk material, continuing the provisions on food in the SBM Order 1997 and the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order 1996.

  1 January 1998

  The Specified Risk Material (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/3062) amend regulations 7 and 19 of the SRM Regulations 1997.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the measures taken by his Department in respect of the enforcement of the ban on imports of beef from European Union member states which do not comply with United Kingdom standards on the removal of specified risk materials with particular reference to(a) the extent of reliance on the authorities in exporting countries to indicate that the necessary certification is satisfactory and (b) the application of spot checks at the point of final destruction; [25442]

  (2) if he will assess the advantages of banning all beef imports from countries where the removal of specified risk materials is not a legal requirement. [25443]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  The Specified Risk Material Order 1997 requires a number of imported animal products for food or feed use to be accompanied by certification confirming that they do not contain and were not derived from specified risk material (SRM). The required certification must be completed by the official veterinary service in the country of origin. Commercial documentation is not acceptable irrespective of whether the authorities in the country of origin have indicated that it is satisfactory.

  All consignments of animal products imported directly into the United Kingdom from outside the European Union (EU) are subject to checks at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), including checks on the certification relating to specified risk materials. Single Market rules only permit random spot-checks at destination on animal products traded within the Community. Consistent with those rules, a daily sample of randomly selected consignments arriving from or via

  825
  other EU member states are subject to documentary checks by Ministry officials for conformity with the new unilateral controls relating to specified risk material.

  The imposition of a ban on the import of beef, rather than specified risk materials, from certain other countries which do not have specified risk controls would be contrary to Community law. In introducing the ban on SRM imports, the UK is relying on a provision which permits importing Member States to take "interim protective measures" on serious public or animal health grounds. Particularly since this provision is an exception to the usual single market rules and the harmonised regime applying to beef, action taken under it must be no more than is necessary to protect health, and must be proportionate to the risks involved. Since beef itself is not a risk, banning its import cannot be justified.

  UK imports of bovine meat, meat preparations and offal from the USA: June 1988 to October 1997

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  January

  —

  1,806

  127

  191

  243

  157

  225

  311

  367

  227

  February

  —

  402

  4

  65

  61

  133

  178

  289

  418

  327

  March

  —

  79

  24

  19

  79

  229

  188

  385

  445

  123

  April

  —

  19

  60

  77

  188

  173

  225

  261

  382

  207

  May

  —

  25

  5

  5

  73

  231

  221

  417

  709

  118

  June

  2,166

  13

  43

  39

  142

  310

  167

  145

  528

  138

  July

  2,166

  24

  53

  39

  85

  149

  99

  388

  297

  68

  August

  2,649

  24

  23

  3

  102

  146

  200

  357

  212

  157

  September

  2,673

  3

  37

  6

  139

  140

  197

  319

  145

  135

  October

  2,644

  111

  90

  33

  201

  194

  383

  470

  213

  151

  November

  3,327

  17

  109

  108

  235

  186

  258

  450

  137

  —

  December

  3,834

  62

  169

  20

  278

  210

  427

  491

  140

  —

  Note:

  1996 and 1997 data are provisional and subject to amendment

  Source:

  Business and Trade Statistics Limited

  Units: Tonnes

  Data prepared by Stats (C&F) C, ESG

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent measures he has taken to end the European ban on United Kingdom beef. [27023]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Commission has approved a draft Decision, based on UK proposals for an Export Certified Herds Scheme, to permit exports of deboned beef from Northern Ireland. The Standing Veterinary Committee is examining the proposal and is expected to vote on it this month. This major step forward is the result of months of constructive dialogue with the Commission.

  In October 1997 the UK submitted proposals for a scheme to export beef from cattle born after 1 August 1996 (the Date Based Export Scheme). The Scientific Steering Committee gave a positive response to the principle of a Date Based Export Scheme on 9 December. Following further discussion with the Commission a formal response was submitted on 29 January and we await the Commission's views.

  Registered Herds
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the herds registered with the beef assurance scheme on a county basis. [26837]
  826
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the feeding of meat and bonemeal to cattle in ruminant rations was made illegal in the United States; and if he will estimate the total tonnage of beef imported into the United Kingdom from the USA, between the date of the implementation of the feed ban in the UK and that in the USA. [27065]

  Mr. Rooker
  The United States" Food and Drug Administration prohibited the use of protein derived from mammals in ruminant animal feed from 4 October 1997. Official Overseas Trade Statistics for imports from the USA of beef, beef preparations and beef offal from June 1988, when the original prohibition on the feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants in the UK came into effect, until October 1997 are set out in the following table.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: The herds registered under the Beef Assurance Scheme are as follows (listed on a county basis):

  County

  Herds

  Avon

  2

  Berkshire

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  Cornwall

  10

  Cumbria

  1

  Devon

  8

  Dorset

  1

  Durham

  2

  Dyfed

  4

  Essex

  2

  Gloucestershire

  1

  Grampian

  1

  Gwent

  1

  Gwynedd

  3

  Hampshire

  2

  Highland

  3

  Kent

  1

  Lancashire

  1

  Leicestershire

  2

  Lincolnshire

  2

  Norfolk

  2

  North Yorkshire

  6

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  Orkney

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  1

  827

  County

  Herds

  Powys

  1

  Shropshire

  1

  Somerset

  2

  South Glamorgan

  1

  Staffordshire

  1

  Suffolk

  2

  Surrey

  2

  Tayside

  3

  Warwickshire

  1

  West Glamorgan

  1

  West Midlands

  1

  West Sussex

  2

  West Yorkshire

  1

  Wiltshire

  1

  Worcestershire

  2

SCOTLAND

  School Spending
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure per pupil on (i) text and library books and (ii) educational tools, equipment and materials in each of the present council areas in (1) 1995–96 and (2) 1996–97 in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools. [24953]

  Mr. Wilson
  Details of expenditure on schools for financial year 1996–97 are not yet available. The information for 1995–96, under the council areas then applicable, is given in the following table which has been compiled from local authority financial returns. There can be variations in the recording of expenditure under these two headings. It is, therefore, possible that some expenditure on books may be included under expenditure on equipment or vice versa.

  Expenditure per pupil on text and library books and on educational tools, equipment and materials

  £ (outturn
  prices)

  Year 1995–96

  Primary

  Secondary

  Region

  Books

  Equipment

  Books

  Equipment

  Borders

  0.00

  52.39

  0.00

  152.73

  Central

  0.69

  34.32

  2.65

  90.92

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13.49

  57.87

  8.51

  121.30

  Fife

  24.88

  4.88

  67.13

  24.97

  Grampian

  0.00

  61.01

  0.00

  135.61

  Highland

  32.23

  26.48

  54.89

  40.52

  Lothian

  19.85

  40.87

  12.20

  80.89

  Strathclyde

  2.09

  49.18

  4.70

  91.56

  Tayside

  12.81

  32.37

  9.55

  67.31

  Orkney

  0.00

  66.52

  0.00

  100.07

  Shetland

  0.00

  92.30

  0.00

  178.47

  Western Isles

  32.07

  71.78

  50.35

  83.92

  Notes:

  1. Not all eucation authorities distinguish on a consistent basis between the headings.

  2. Where expenditure under one of the headings is shown as £0.00 it should be assumed that the expenditure has been allocated to the other heading.

  Glasgow Regeneration Alliance
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist the Glasgow Regeneration Alliance; and if he will make a statement. [25131]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Glasgow Regeneration Alliance brings together all the key agencies concerned with the long term regeneration of Glasgow. Making the most of the city's many opportunities while regenerating its most deprived communities will require a comprehensive long term strategy for Glasgow. I have held discussions with the Alliance partners about how The Scottish Office can best support the Alliance in preparing and implementing such a strategy.

  I have agreed that The Scottish Office should now formally join the Alliance, to work with the partners to make the most of Glasgow's opportunities. As a demonstration of commitment to this partnership approach, I am announcing today the offer of direct financial support to the Alliance of £500,000 for 1998–99, to help with the employment of staff and other resources to develop and implement the strategy for the city. Senior officials have been appointed to serve on the Board and Directors" Group. Finally, I am making arrangements for The Scottish Office to handle issues concerning Glasgow in a more co-ordinated way when they cut across Departmental boundaries. I am confident that these measures will assist the Alliance in its immediate task of preparing a comprehensive plan for the renewal of the city, and in its longer-term objective of regenerating Glasgow.

  Cairn Gorm Funicular Railway
  Mr. Alan Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what opportunities for scrutiny of the final decision on the Cairn Gorm funicular railway project will be available to(a) the Edinburgh Parliament, (b) the Westminster Parliament and (c) the European Environment Commission. [25882]

  Mr. Wilson
  The final decision on whether to proceed with the Cairn Gorm funicular railway project rests with the Cairn Gorm Chairlift Company. That decision will in turn depend upon the decisions of those public sector organisations from which a financial contribution to the project has been sought, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Commission. There are well-established procedures to ensure the accountability of these organisations for the decisions they take.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on the provision of EC funding to the Cairn Gorm funicular railway of its alleged incompatibility with community environmental guidelines. [25881]

  Mr. Dewar
  The local members of the Highlands and Islands Partnership were fully aware, when they expressed their recommendation for the award of European Structural Funds for the Cairn Gorm funicular railway, of the need for resolution of questions about the project's compatibility with EC environmental legislation being fully resolved by the European Commission. In accepting the Partnership's advice on the award, I have taken the view that resolution of those questions can be achieved
  829
  within a timescale compatible with that for drawing upon EC funds under the current Objective 1 programme for the Highlands and Islands.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the projected Cairn Gorm funicular railway is to be regarded as a reserved category under the Scotland Bill. [25880]

  Mr. McLeish
  The development and operation of the Cairn Gorm funicular railway by private promoters touches on several aspects of central Government functions. In practice, most of those aspects are likely to be dealt with prior to the provisions of the Scotland Bill coming into effect. However, the aspects associated with the environmental impact, the planning considerations and the public sector financial support for the project would in general be devolved responsibilities under the proposals in the Scotland Bill; but health and safety at work aspects would be reserved matters.

  Consultants
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the expenditure of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year; and if he will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26640]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: Expenditure by my Department and its agencies on external consultants in 1995–96 and 1996–97 was as follows:

  Year

  £

  1995–96

  5,440,000

  1996–97

  3,520,000

  Information is not yet available centrally on expenditure in 1997–98.

  Expenditure on external consultants by non-departmental public bodies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Scottish Office follows the guidance given in the August 1994 report of the Cabinet Office Efficiency Scrutiny on the use of External Consultants. External consultants are engaged only when internal resources are not available; best procurement practices are followed to ensure that value for money is obtained; and all consultancy assignments are subject to post-contract reviews. Not all consultancy projects lend themselves to analysis in terms of resultant savings, but I am satisfied that the intelligent and selective use of consultants has delivered worthwhile solutions and benefits for The Scottish Office in recent years.

  Lost and Stolen Items
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those items valued at more than £25 stolen or lost from his Department since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [27768]
  830
  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: A variety of items are periodically reported missing. Security procedures in The Scottish Office, its Agencies and Associated Departments remain under constant review and revised procedures introduced as necessary. The following items valued at more than £25 have been formally recorded since May 1997 as losses due to theft.

  Month

  Item

  Value (£)

  May

  Laptop Computer

  1,727

  July

  Personal Computer

  1,100

  Printer

  500

  Disk Drive

  200

  Hard Disk

  179

  Agricultural Netting

  3,000

  August

  Microwave Oven

  200

  Multimedia Speakers

  65

  Mobile Phone

  33

  Laptop Computer (2)

  3,500

  Park Bench

  400

  September

  PC Trackball

  106

  Answerphone

  60

  Modem

  170

  Laptop Computer and Printer

  1,949

  Dictation Machine

  350

  October

  PC Motherboard

  70

  Modem

  132

  PC CD(2)

  280

  Pager

  80

  Car

  1,275

  Laptop Computer

  1,500

  Agricultural Netting

  2,000

  Trailer

  1,800

  November

  Printer

  250

  Laptop Computer

  3,000

  Modem

  100

  Laptop Computer

  2,500

  Modem

  200

  December

  Car

  3,975

  PC Keyboard

  41

  Carpet Tiles

  100

  Numerator Stamp

  60

  Soldering Iron

  93

  January 1998

  Dictaphone

  42

  Electronic Labelmaker

  151

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by grade the number of officials in his Department at grade 3 or above who have(a) taken early retirement, (b) taken official leave, (c) been dismissed, (d) changed jobs within the Department, (e) moved to another Department and (f) been offered and rejected an alternative position (i) within the Department and (ii) in another Department since 1 May. [27456]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: Since 1 May 1997, no civil servants in my Department at the equivalent of the former Grade 3 or above have taken early retirement or official leave, been dismissed, moved to another Department or been offered or rejected an alternative position, either within the Department or another Department. Three have changed jobs within the Department.

  Representative Office (Brussels)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected annual budget of the Scottish representative office in Brussels; and under whose instructions it will operate. [27518]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The Scottish Executive will decide whether it wishes to have a representative office in Brussels. The Executive would decide the budget for any such office, taking into account such factors as location and functions; and they would be responsible for its operation.

  Parliamentary Question
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reply to the question tabled on 17 December from the hon. Member for East Lothian relating to Bankton House. [27962]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 February 1998,Official Report, column 670.

WALES

  St. David's Day
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to have St. David's Day declared a bank holiday in Wales. [28033]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have nothing further to add to the answer 1 gave my hon. Friend on 31 July 1997,Official Report, columns 421–22.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of progress on the Housing Capital Receipts Initiative for 1997–98 and 1998–99; and when he will inform local authorities of their allocations will be for 1999–2000. [26732]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have notified all authorities that wish to receive resources under the Capital Receipts Initiative of their allocations of Supplementary Credit Approvals for both 1997/98 and 1998/99. £174 million in credit approvals will be issued in 1997/98 and £569 million in 1998/99. These additional resources will be targeted on housing and housing related regeneration schemes. Guidance issued on 2 October, which sets out how the Initiative will be taken forward, has been deposited in the Library of the House of Commons.

  A decision about the role and the future funding of our Capital Receipts Initiative will be taken in the context of our Comprehensive Spending Review. The Review process is scheduled to come to a conclusion in the Spring, and the conclusions will be reflected in our future spending plans.
  832
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account is taken of the number of blind people living within a local authority area in the setting of its SSA; and if he will make a statement. [27348]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The calculation of most SSA elements takes account of numbers of people, and blind people are included in the figures. The need to spend on specific services for blind people is taken into account in the calculation of the Other Social Services SSA.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 12 English local authorities, in each class, with the highest 1997–98 budget requirement over standard spending assessment in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms.
  [28256]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing the information requested.

  New Housing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of new housing developments on the supply of water from existing reservoirs and aquifers; [27164]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of new housing developments on the existing sewage disposal and treatment infrastructure. [27152]

  Angela Eagle
  It is for water companies to provide the sewage disposal infrastructure and water supply required to support new housing developments. The Department's planning guidance requires local authorities to consult with all infrastructure interests, such as water companies, when drawing up their development plans.

  Empty and Under-used Property
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the annual cost to (i) his Department, (ii) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (iii) the Common User Estate, of their empty and under-utilised properties for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [26401]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 3 February 1998]: The answer is as follows:

  £000

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Department1

  2,012

  4,442

  4,868

  5,749

  Executive Agencies

  1,924

  3,205

  3,562

  2,799

  1 Including Executive Agencies.

  We do not hold central records for non-departmental public bodies or the common user estate, which was managed by Property Holdings prior to its abolition on 1 April 1996.

  My Department seeks to identify and dispose of surplus or under used accommodation as soon as practicable.

  Driving Instructors
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce changes in the procedures used by the Driving Standards Agency on the use of check-tests on driving instructors to ensure that in cases where more than one check is required these are undertaken by separate inspectors who operate independently. [27051]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: Check-test arrangements for driving instructors help them identify and overcome any weaknesses before enforcement action is taken. Following an unsatisfactory check-test, the examiner offers an instructor a briefing and the opportunity to take remedial training to rectify the faults identified. The same examiner conducts a second check-test after an interval; usually three to six months. If this second check-test proves unsatisfactory, a third check-test is conducted by a more senior examiner, who is given no details about the reasons for failure on the two preceding test. Only if this third check-test is unsatisfactory are removal proceedings started.

  There are no current plans to change these check-test procedures. However, my Department has recently commissioned a research project to look at the way driving instructors are trained and tested. We will look carefully at any conclusions, including those relevant to conducting check-tests, when the findings are available in two to three years time.

  Traffic Calming
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the most recent road research evidence evaluated by his Department on the impact of traffic calming measures, with particular reference to road humps, on road deaths and injuries in(a) roads subject to calming and (b) surrounding road systems. [27474]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Transport Research Laboratory conducted a review of traffic calming schemes in 20 mph zones and published their findings in September 1996 (TRL Report 215). Road hump type measures (round top humps, flat top humps, raised junction tables and speed cushions) amounted to 96 per cent. of the measures installed. The research found that injury accidents were reduced by around 60 per cent. and child injury accidents by 67 per cent. It was also found that there was no apparent overall accident migration on to surrounding roads.

  Driving Licences (Diabetics)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) of 1 December 1997,Official Report, column 48, on driving licences for insulin dependent diabetics, if he will establish a compensation scheme for those insulin dependent diabetics who were previously employed as drivers of vehicles in Category C1. [26191]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: The Government sympathise with insulin-treated diabetics who lose their jobs as drivers as a result of losing their entitlement to drive category C1 vehicles
  834
  following the change in legislation. However, it is not the practice to provide compensation in such circumstances, and legislative authority would need to be obtained.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many drivers involved in a car accident had a blood alcohol reading of between 50mg and 80mg per 100ml in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [27486]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This information is not available. Records of the blood or breath alcohol reading of a driver involved in an accident are not normally kept in cases where the level is below the legal limit, which is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

  The consultation paper Combating drink driving: next steps reviews the available data on drink-drive accidents and estimates the likely effect of a reduction in the legal blood alcohol limit. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Council Tax
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 30 English local authorities with the(a) best and (b) worst council tax collection rates, (i) as a percentage of council tax due, and (ii) in cash terms for the latest available year. [28255]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing the 30 English Local Authorities with the best and worst Council Tax collection rates based on Council Tax receipts 1996–97 as a percentage of Council Tax due 1996–97. It is not meaningful to present the information in terms of cash collected as this depends on the size of the taxbase of the Authority.

  Local Authority Staffing
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 30 English local authorities, in each class, with the(a) highest and (b) lowest (i) actual staffing levels and (ii) staffing levels per thousand of population. [28252]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today placed the information in the Library of the House. As most classes have more than 60 authorities, the information provided lists all authorities, sorted by actual staffing levels and staff per thousand of population.

  The levels of employment in individual authorities are not directly comparable because of variations in population structure, social characteristics and the extent to which they use private firms and contractors or act as agents for other authorities.

  Local Authority Debt
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 12 English local authorities, in each class, with(a) the greatest outstanding debt and (b) the greatest outstanding debt per head of population. [28251]
  835
  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today placed the information in the Library of the House. It should be noted that authorities with high levels of debt are generally those which have undertaken capital investment and that longer term borrowing to finance capital expenditure is regulated by Government through the issue of credit approvals.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 12 English local authorities, in each class, with the greatest(a) increase and (b) decrease in (i) actual and (ii) percentage terms in their standard spending assessment for the coming financial year due to the change in treatment of debt outstanding in 1990. [28250]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Tables showing the increase in 1998–99 SSA due to the change in the treatment of debt outstanding in 1990, for each class of local authority, sorted by(a) actual change and (b) the change in percentage terms, have been placed in the Library.

  Police Authorities
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the changes in(a) percentage and (b) actual terms in capping levels for the English police authorities in the next financial year. [28258]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is available in Table 1 of the paper entitled "Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts 1998–99" and forms part of the local government finance settlement package, dated 2 February. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the changes in(a) percentage and (b) actual terms in standard spending assessment for the English police authorities in the next financial year. [28257]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A table showing these figures has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Empty Housing
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 30 English local authorities with the highest number of empty council houses (i) as a percentage of the total owned and (ii) in total. [28253]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local authorities in England report the numbers of their vacant dwellings at 1 April each year in their annual Housing Investment Programme (HIPI) returns. A total of 81,220 dwellings (2.4 per cent of the dwellings owned) were reported as vacant on 1 April 1997. Within this total, some 49,920 (1.5 per cent dwellings) were management vacants, i.e. dwellings available for letting immediately or after minor repairs. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the detailed information requested.

  London Government
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings Ministers and officials have held with members of the "Yes" campaign for a Mayor of London. [28190]
  836
  Mr. Raynsford
  Ministers and officials have had many meetings with different London organisations and individuals, some of which may be members of the "Yes" campaign. None of these meetings have been about the "Yes" campaign for the Greater London Authority.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government funding for the "Yes" campaign for a Mayor of London. [28192]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government have made clear that state funding will not be provided for either "Yes" or "No" campaigns.

  Housing (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many units of social housing have been built in the Portsmouth City Council area in each of the last five years. [27546]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The table shows figures of housebuilding completions (i.e. new build only) as reported to the Department by Portsmouth City Council and the National House Building Council:

  Portsmouth City Council: Social housing new build: Completions

  Numbers of dwellings

  Registered Social Landlords: Housing associations

  Local authority

  1993

  69

  0

  1994

  164

  0

  1995

  127

  0

  1996

  67

  0

  1997

  0

  0

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties formerly owned by Government Departments have been made available to(a) the council and (b) housing associations in the Portsmouth City Council area. [27551]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are on the housing waiting list of the Portsmouth City Council; and what were the equivalent figures at the same time in each of the last five years. [27552]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing register/waiting list (excluding existing tenants awaiting a transfer) at 1 April each year in their annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP1) returns. The data reported by Portsmouth City Council for 1997 and the previous 5 years are as follows:

  1992: 4,089

  1993: 3,828

  1994: 3,524

  1995: 3,604

  1996: 3,952

  1997: 4,504.

  837
  Local authorities have different practices for compiling and managing their housing register/waiting lists which mean that simple comparisons between authorities can be misleading. Authorities compilation practices may change and this can also affect comparisons over time.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are on the housing transfer list of the Portsmouth City Council; and what were the equivalent figures at the same time in each of the last five years. [27897]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Homelessness (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the total number of registered homeless people in the Portsmouth City Council area; [27547]

  (2) how many people have been accepted on to the homeless register of Portsmouth City Council in each of the last five years. [27548]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The table provides the available data on the numbers of households accepted as homeless and in priority need under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts in Portsmouth for the calendar years 1992 to 1996 and the first 9 months of 1997.

  Year

  Homelessness acceptances

  1992

  647

  1993

  408

  1994

  377

  1995

  368

  1996

  494

  19971

  314

  1 data for the first 3 quarters only

  Under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 authorities must establish and maintain a housing register for the purpose of allocating their housing accommodation but there is no statutory obligation for local housing authorities to hold a register of homeless applicants. Accommodation secured as a discharge of a homelessness duty need not be a tenancy allocated under Part VI of the 1996 Act.

HEALTH

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the date of publication for the White Paper on Long-term Care. [28217]

  Mr. Boateng
  There is no White Paper on long-term care in preparation. A Royal Commission on the funding of long-term care for elderly people was announced on 4 December 1997 and has been asked to report within 12 months. As regards a long-term care charter, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 28 November 1997,Official Report, columns 686–87.

  Utting Report
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the date of publication for the Utting Report. [28218]

  Mr. Boateng
  Sir William Utting's report "People Like Us" was published on 19 November 1997. Copies are available in the Library.

  "Our Healthier Nation"
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the date of publication for the Green Paper, "Our Healthier Nation". [28214]

  Mr. Boateng
  We launched the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation" with a statement in the House yesterday afternoon.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue guidance on the standards of care for patients with multiple sclerosis. [28118]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have no plans to issue guidance on the standards of care for patients with multiple sclerosis at this time.

  The Multiple Sclerosis Society issued a standards of care document in March 1997 called "But is it any good?" which health authorities may find useful when they are discussing what health services to commission in their areas for people who have multiple sclerosis.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information on the needs of(a) rough sleepers, (b) the homeless and (c) bed and breakfast and hostel residents is used in the calculation of the needs of each health district. [27371]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The health authority weighted capitation formula indirectly accounts for the officially homeless in temporary accommodation through the indicators of health and socio-economic status used in the acute and psychiatric indices. However, it is accepted that the national weighted capitation formula does not adequately capture the needs of rough sleepers. On the advice of the Resource Allocation Group, an adjustment is made to health authority targets outside the formula and was introduced in 1996–97.

  The rough sleepers adjustment weights the number of rough sleepers in a health authority, based on the 1991 Census count of rough sleepers, by a per capita cost for rough sleepers, derived from work carried out in the Thames health authorities.

  Full details of the adjustment are set out in the 1996–97 Health Authority Revenue Cash Limits Exposition Book, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Drugs (Education)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many programmes for the education of
  839
  young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs he has (a) implemented and (b) planned which were not in existence on 1 May 1997; [26275]

  (2) how much spending his Department has (a) incurred and (b) planned for on the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs which was not planned for on 1 May 1997. [26303]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave today.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton dated 31 October 1997 concerning the case of Regina v. Kelly and Thompson; and if he will make a statement on the reason for the delay in replying. [28035]

  Mr. Hoon
  My Department has received no letter from the hon. Member dated 31 October. We did, however, receive a letter dated 23 October from the hon. Member concerning the case of Regina v. Kelly and Thompson. This letter was received on 27 October. The hon. Member was informed by letter of 14 November that the issues raised in his letter are the responsibility of the Home Office and that his correspondence had therefore been transferred to that Department. I understand the Home Office will reply in due course.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by grade the number of officials in his Department at grade 3 or above who have(a) taken early retirement, (b) taken official leave, (c) been dismissed, (d) changed jobs within the Department, (e) moved to another Department and (f) been offered and rejected an alternative position (i) within the Department and (ii) in another Department since 1 May. [27459]

  Mr. Hoon
  In the period since 1 May 1997, the relevant information on members of the Senior Civil Service in this Department at levels equivalent to grade 3 and above is as follows:

  (a) no early retirements

  (b) no official leave taken (other than normal annual or sick leave)

  (c) no dismissals

  (d) two changes of job within the Department (including one appointment to this level); and one fixed-term appointment from outside the Department

  (e) no moves to another Department

  (f) no positions offered and rejected, either within the Department or in another Department

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many civil servants in his Department at grade 3 or above have(a) resigned,
  840
  (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. [26933]

  Mr. Hoon
  In the period since 1 May 1997, the relevant information for members of the Senior Civil Service in this Department at levels equivalent to grade 3 and above is as follows:

  (a) no resignations

  (b) no retirements before pensionable age

  (c) one move to different responsibilities

  There have also been two appointments within this cadre (including one fixed-term appointment) of individuals who did not previously have responsibilites at this level. In all three cases, the individuals are responsible to the Lord Chancellor.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the political profile of magistrates benches in England. [26846]

  Mr. Hoon
  On the latest information available, the political profiles of benches in England, listed under Commissions of the Peace, is shown in a table placed in the Library. The figures do not include those areas for which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has responsibility. In many instances, the recorded political allegiance of magistrates will be that declared during the appointment process and may not, necessarily, reflect present views.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Multilateral Agreement (On Investment)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for public consultation on the OECD's multilateral agreement on investment; and if he will make a statement. [27113]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is an ongoing process of consultation on the MAI including with business representatives, the TUC, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what defence exports to(a) Malaysia, (b) Thailand, (c) Indonesia and (d) Singapore have been from ECGD cover in each of the last five years; what were the terms of the guarantees; what was the equipment for; and if he will make a statement. [27173]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have been asked to reply.
  841
  The Value of ECGD cover provided in support of defence business with the named markets in each of the last five years was as follows:

  £million

  Malaysia

  Thailand

  Indonesia

  Singapore

  1992–93

  436

  0

  399

  0

  1993–94

  25

  0

  8

  69

  1994–95

  0

  22

  114

  0

  1995–96

  0

  0

  419

  28

  1996–97

  0

  0

  143

  0

  1997–981

  0

  25

  1

  0

  1 to 31 December

  The guarantees were all on cash terms except in the case of business with Indonesia for which five years credit was supported.

  In all cases the equipment was for the use of the armed forces of the named countries.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies he proposes to implement to make the Government's arms policy more transparent and accountable; what external advice he has received; and if he will make a statement. [27882]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 28 July new criteria to be used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional weapons. At the same time, he committed the Government to report annually on the state of strategic export controls and their applications, so as to ensure full transparency and accountability to Parliament. Work is in hand to implement this commitment and an announcement will be made in due course. The work has not involved any formal external advice.

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost of media presentations and press conferences which he has given, other than those held at his Department. [25176]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 23 January 1998]: My Department has incurred no such costs, other than on those occasions overseas when facilities for press conferences have had to be hired commercially. Such costs are kept to a minimum.

  Euro Information Centres
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many euro information centres operate in the United Kingdom; what was their operational budget for 1997; and what role Her Majesty's Government has in respect of preparing the contents of the material distributed. [27378]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are 26 European Information Centres (EICs) in the UK. An overall figure for the EICs" operating budget is not readily available, since they receive funding from a variety of sources, including charges for some of their services. But in 1997 each UK EIC received 20,000 ecu of funding from DG 842
  XXIII of the European Commission. We are involved in planning the EICs" overall strategy in the UK, which centres on providing the business community (especially SMEs) with information and expert advice on operating in Europe. But we do not have a direct role in the preparation of the material they distribute, much of which comes from their own Europe-wide network.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he plans to hold to encourage the development of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Republic of China. [27634]

  Mr. Fatchett
  None. We do, however, promote the UK's flourishing trade, investment and cultural links with Taiwan.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the Ukraine on its policy of carrying out executions. [27632]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development raised the question of the death penalty in Ukraine during a meeting in Kiev in November 1997 with the Ukrainian Minister of Justice. The British Embassy in Kiev regularly makes known our concern about the issue to the Ukrainian authorities.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the Ukraine on the matter of human rights. [27491]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Human rights issues were discussed with Ukraine at ministerial level during the meeting of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development with the Ukrainian Minister of Justice in Kiev in November 1997. The British Embassy in Kiev maintains a close interest in human rights issues.

  Kenya
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he plans to have with the Government of Kenya to help that country develop its electoral system. [27633]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  In advance of the elections last December, the UK, with other donors, pressed for political reforms, many of which were adopted. We support the early creation of a Constitutional Review Commission, representative of diverse sections of Kenyan society, to make recommendations on further Constitutional reforms, some of which may well deal with the electoral process. We have made clear that a commitment on the part of the Kenyan Government to address this challenge within an open and democratic framework will affect our ability to offer help and advice.

  Gibraltar
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the priorities of the British Presidency of the Council of Ministers in respect of Gibraltar. [27639]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Our priority as EU Presidency will be to work for the Union's common benefit, on Gibraltar-related as on other issues. As the UK Member State, we shall of course also continue to represent Gibraltar's interests across the whole range of EU business, fully consulting the Government of Gibraltar as appropriate.

  European Treaties
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of any treaties, as defined by the Vienna Convention, agreed to by the United Kingdom and enforced under the powers contained in the European Communities Act 1972, section 2(2)(a). [27888]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The powers provided by section 2(2)(a) of the European Communities Act 1972 enable the exercise or implementation of certain rights or obligations of the United Kingdom which derive from the treaties defined in section 1(2) of the Act. These treaties include, in particular, the Treaties establishing the three Communities, all the accession treaties, the Single European Act and parts of the Maastricht Treaty.

  In practice, section 2(2)(a) is mostly used to implement in the United Kingdom European Community directives.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his French counterparts on the admission of Nigeria to la Francophonie. [27824]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Nigeria is not a member of la Francophonie and we have made no representations.

  Amsterdam Summit
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons his criticism of the note keeping at Amsterdam was directed at the presidency rather than the General Secretariat of the Council. [27890]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The General Secretariat of the Council acts in support of the Presidency in the administration of European Councils. It is the Presidency, therefore, who bear overall responsibility for the conduct and management of European Councils.

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if material pertaining to the discussions on the voting procedure on opting into the Schengen Area by opt out states will be listed in the new register of Council documents. [27891]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No. There are no Council documents pertaining to these discussions.
  844
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) of 25 November 1997,Official Report, column 755, when the agreement was reached that an amendment to Schengen opt-in procedures should be submitted in writing; if that agreement applied only to Schengen amendments; to whom the amendment would be submitted; and on what evidence he stated that no document was submitted. [28221]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In discussion at Amsterdam of possible changes to draft Article 4 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen Acquis into the Framework of the European Union, the Presidency agreed that any Spanish amendment to this Article would be circulated in writing. No such amendment was circulated.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) of 25 November 1997,Official Report, column 754, for what reason it was agreed that an amendment to Schengen opt-in procedures could only be accepted if submitted in writing; and for what reason the subsequent change to the treaty did not follow this procedure. [28220]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Circulation of a written proposal for an amendment would have been the most appropriate way of establishing whether there was agreement to change the voting procedures in draft Article 4 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen Acquis into the Framework of the European Union.

  However, the subsequent changes reflected an understanding between the Dutch Presidency and Spain.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1998,Official Report, column 440, if his Department has seen the documentary evidence submitted to the investigation on the circumstances surrounding the opt-in of Schengen applicant states. [28219]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Any investigation of this kind would have been a matter for the then Dutch Presidency.

  Friends of the Presidency Group
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature and format of the Friends of the Presidency Group; when that body was founded; who were its members on 27 June; and what is its present make-up and mandate. [28194]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In the context of the Intergovernmental Conference, the term "Friends of the Presidency" referred not to a formal group of representatives of member states but to informal, ad hoc meetings of officials convened to assist the work of the group of Personal Representatives. Such meetings took place on a number of occasions during the Intergovernmental Conference. The meeting on 27 June was attended by officials from the FCO and the United Kingdom Permanent Representation.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers or
  845
  officials have had with the Government of Argentina about clearance of mines in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [28223]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The matter was last discussed by Ministers at a meeting between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and Dr. di Tella in November 1997, and by officials at a routine meeting earlier this week. The question of mine clearance in the Falkland Islands is complicated because of technical, practical and environmental reasons (largely due to the soil conditions in which these mines were laid).

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Out-of-school Clubs
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional out-of-school childcare clubs have been started since he announced the Lottery-financed initiative to provide them. [28259]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The New Opportunities Fund will provide £220 million for out-of-school childcare schemes between 1999 and 2003. We do not expect the Fund to invite bids until early 1999. However, the Out-of-School Childcare Initiative (OSCI) has so far created 5,278 new childcare places in this financial year (1 April to 28 December 1997) and for 1998–99 we have more than doubled OSCI funding (from £4.1 million to £10.1 million) which we expect to create a further 20,000 new places.

  Cinema Access
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidelines his Department(a) issued before the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and (b) has issued since the passing of the Act concerning the access by disabled people to cinemas; [28247]

  (2) what information his Department has distributed to cinemas concerning the requirements placed upon them by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and the timescale within which those requirements must be satisfied; [28248]

  (3) what consultations his Department has undertaken on the Health and Safety aspects of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as far as access to cinemas is concerned. [28249]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Guidance on access by disabled people to public places has been available from a number of sources, including the Government, for some time. Information which focuses specifically on disabled people's access to cinemas has not been produced by the Government, although the Cinema Exhibitors" Association has produced guidance for its members both on employing disabled people and welcoming them as consumers.

  The Code of Practice for the Elimination of Discrimination in the Field of Employment (price £9.95), Guidance on Matters to be Taken into Account in Determining Questions Relating to the Definition of
  846
  Disability (price £7.50) and the Code of Practice—Rights of Access—Goods, Facilities, Services and premises (price £6.00) are available from the Stationery Office.

  Prior to the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1.6 million service providers were sent a leaflet advising them that they had responsibilities under the Act and encouraging them to obtain further information from the DDA Information Line. To support this exercise there was an extensive national press advertising campaign.

  The DDA Information Line continues to provide a range of free information concerning the requirements of the DDA. It can be contacted by telephone on 0345 622633, by textphone on 0345 622644 or by writing to DDA Information, Freepost MID02164, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9BR. A press campaign is underway to remind service providers, employers, and disabled people of this service.

  The DDA's relationship with health and safety questions was considered during public consultations preceding the drafting of the legislation, in the White Paper Ending Discrimination against Disabled People which resulted from those consultations and during the National Disability Council's consultations over the goods, facilities and services code of practice. The code makes clear that the Act does not require a service provider to do anything which would endanger the health or safety of any person, including that of a disabled person. It goes on to state that spurious health and safety reasons will provide no defence to an allegation of discrimination and that, for example, the fire regulations should not be used as an excuse to place unnecessary restrictions on disabled people. The code also explains that it is for the management of the establishment concerned, in conjunction with the licensing authority, to make any special provision needed. Paragraph 5.7 states that "Every opportunity should be taken, as far as practicable, to enable disabled people to use cinemas, theatres, leisure centres and other entertainment venues".

  The Government are considering the timetable for implementing the remaining rights of access—the duties placed on service providers to carry out reasonable adjustments to improve access to services—and will announce their decision in due course. Further consultations over a revised code of practice and new regulations will follow. I will ensure that the Cinema Exhibitors" Association is invited to contribute to these consultations.

  Funding Schools
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the amount of increase in the standard spending assessment of each local authority in 1998–99 for primary and secondary schools. [25336]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The following table shows the increase in cash and percentage terms in the provisional primary and secondary standard spending assessments for all authorities in 1998–99. The figures for authorities subject to reorganisation in 1998 are based on what they would have received if local government reorganisation had taken place a year earlier.

  847

  Provisional education SSAs for 1998–99

  (£ million)

  change (£ million)

  change (percentage)

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Barking and Dagenham

  34.343

  31.248

  2.402

  1.501

  7.5

  5.0

  Barnet

  50.039

  53.036

  3.643

  2.734

  7.9

  5.4

  Barnsley

  37.218

  36.276

  2.379

  1.723

  6.8

  5.0

  Bath & North East Somerset

  22.254

  26.617

  1.391

  1.432

  6.7

  5.7

  Bedfordshire

  63.721

  63.383

  4.175

  3.423

  7.0

  5.7

  Bexley

  41.571

  42.175

  3.088

  3.472

  8.0

  9.0

  Birmingham

  207.037

  197.118

  11.528

  10.455

  5.9

  5.6

  Blackburn

  30.233

  29.154

  1.780

  1.147

  6.3

  4.1

  Blackpool

  22.911

  20.095

  1.694

  1.569

  8.0

  8.5

  Bolton

  48.211

  48.086

  2.852

  2.937

  6.3

  6.5

  Bournemouth

  20.541

  23.287

  1.211

  1.482

  6.3

  6.8

  Bracknell Forest

  17.903

  15.754

  1.211

  0.715

  7.3

  4.8

  Bradford

  94.180

  90.823

  4.633

  3.502

  5.2

  4.0

  Brent

  48.592

  43.960

  2.236

  1.826

  4.8

  4.3

  Brighton and Hove

  34.003

  31.465

  2.566

  1.774

  8.2

  6.0

  Bromley

  47.466

  48.673

  3.363

  3.111

  7.6

  6.8

  Buckinghamshire

  74.014

  76.024

  5.066

  3.835

  7.3

  5.3

  Bury

  29.705

  30.666

  1.829

  1.711

  6.6

  5.9

  Calderdale

  34.414

  34.990

  1.796

  1.650

  5.5

  4.9

  Cambridgeshire

  79.445

  74.986

  5.149

  3.161

  6.9

  4.4

  Camden

  27.679

  34.555

  1.469

  1.468

  5.6

  4.4

  Cheshire

  101.827

  108.587

  5.698

  6.287

  5.9

  6.1

  City of Bristol

  59.981

  46.543

  3.074

  2.577

  5.4

  5.9

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  50.458

  45.623

  2.703

  2.455

  5.7

  5.7

  City of London

  0.532

  0.028

  0.013

  -0.030

  2.5

  -52.2

  Cornwall

  76.072

  79.505

  4.122

  3.983

  5.7

  5.3

  Coventry

  54.991

  53.087

  3.002

  3.119

  5.8

  6.2

  Croydon

  61.293

  51.809

  5.029

  3.548

  8.9

  7.4

  Cumbria

  76.034

  80.255

  4.527

  3.712

  6.3

  4.8

  Darlington

  16.677

  16.239

  1.003

  0.741

  6.4

  4.8

  Derby

  40.127

  38.450

  2.353

  1.921

  6.2

  5.3

  Derbyshire

  109.832

  109.663

  7.785

  5.202

  7.6

  5.0

  Devon

  99.461

  97.596

  7.249

  7.034

  7.9

  7.8

  Doncaster

  54.580

  55.083

  3.104

  3.242

  6.0

  6.3

  Dorset

  52.472

  55.049

  3.644

  3.055

  7.5

  5.9

  Dudley

  49.283

  51.854

  3.028

  3.344

  6.5

  6.9

  Durham

  81.027

  84.280

  4.737

  3.607

  6.2

  4.5

  Ealing

  53.608

  45.165

  3.824

  2.332

  7.7

  5.4

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  46.625

  50.393

  3.328

  3.079

  7.7

  6.5

  East Sussex

  70.928

  70.113

  5.048

  4.073

  7.7

  6.2

  Enfield

  52.486

  54.420

  3.909

  2.882

  8.0

  5.6

  Essex

  209.143

  216.672

  14.907

  12.186

  7.7

  6.0

  Gateshead

  31.900

  30.827

  1.745

  1.584

  5.8

  5.4

  Gloucestershire

  83.301

  86.648

  4.955

  5.081

  6.3

  6.2

  Greenwich

  50.813

  48.001

  2.903

  1.619

  6.1

  3.5

  Hackney

  46.096

  33.961

  2.384

  1.048

  5.5

  3.2

  Halton

  24.499

  24.565

  1.383

  0.703

  6.0

  2.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  23.448

  22.335

  1.294

  1.583

  5.8

  7.6

  Hampshire

  190.341

  185.202

  12.786

  9.586

  7.2

  5.5

  Haringey

  46.746

  36.394

  2.481

  1.896

  5.6

  5.5

  Harrow

  35.157

  32.828

  2.013

  1.574

  6.1

  5.0

  Hartlepool

  17.301

  18.072

  0.835

  1.226

  5.1

  7.3

  Havering

  40.235

  42.012

  2.464

  2.161

  6.5

  5.4

  Herefordshire

  26.112

  24.830

  1.808

  1.605

  7.4

  6.9

  Hertfordshire

  172.471

  177,499

  14,120

  10.739

  8.9

  6.4

  Hillingdon

  43.261

  41.060

  3.324

  2.353

  8.3

  6.1

  Hounslow

  38.689

  43.071

  1.643

  1.688

  4.4

  4.1

  Isle of Wight Council

  20.313

  21.717

  1.344

  1.577

  7.1

  7.8

  Isles of Scilly

  0.532

  0.566

  0.053

  0.053

  11.0

  10.4

  Islington

  39.866

  32.347

  2.319

  1.724

  6.2

  5.6

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15.876

  12.062

  1.748

  1.168

  12.4

  10.7

  Kent

  214.686

  218.364

  16.044

  12.096

  8.1

  5.9

  Kingston upon Thames

  20.565

  20.398

  1.455

  0.952

  7.6

  4.9

  Kirklees

  67.457

  66.036

  4.324

  3.194

  6.8

  5.1

  Knowsley

  36.981

  32.534

  1.485

  1.950

  4.2

  6.4

  Lambeth

  50.946

  33.146

  3.032

  2.599

  6.3

  8.5

  Lancashire

  191.178

  195.486

  12.293

  11.155

  6.9

  6.1

  Leeds

  117.668

  114.252

  7.726

  6.136

  7.0

  5.7

  Leicester

  56.289

  54.557

  2.441

  2.113

  4.5

  4.0

  Leicestershire

  89.321

  91.006

  6.311

  4.755

  7.6

  5.5

  Lewisham

  54.394

  44.805

  4.191

  3.830

  8.3

  9.3

  Lincolnshire

  96.393

  102.488

  6.371

  5.722

  7.1

  5.9

  Liverpool

  94.675

  95.214

  5.408

  6.683

  6.1

  7.5

  Luton

  38.254

  35.349

  2.153

  1.590

  6.0

  4.7

  Manchester

  90.354

  78.304

  4.765

  5.300

  5.6

  7.3

  Medway Towns

  46.774

  46.442

  2.361

  1.998

  5.8

  4.5

  Merton

  27.404

  25.584

  1.548

  1.635

  6.0

  6.8

  Middlesbrough

  29.894

  27.441

  1.058

  1.548

  3.7

  6.0

  Milton Keynes

  37.702

  36.611

  2.274

  1.694

  6.4

  4.9

  Newbury

  22.674

  25.575

  1.361

  1.656

  6.4

  6.9

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  43.319

  43.013

  2.278

  2.501

  5.6

  6.2

  848

  849

  Provisional education SSAs for 1998–99

  (£ million)

  change (£ million)

  change (percentage)

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Newham

  65.231

  60.573

  4.706

  4.333

  7.8

  7.7

  Norfolk

  112.649

  116.410

  7.026

  5.499

  6.7

  5.0

  North East Lincolnshire

  30.543

  31.318

  1.659

  1.834

  5.7

  6.2

  North Lincolnshire

  26.087

  28.989

  1.412

  1.388

  5.7

  5.0

  North Somerset

  25.800

  28.071

  1.556

  1.642

  6.4

  6.2

  North Tyneside

  31.296

  30.988

  1.813

  1.395

  6.1

  4.7

  North Yorkshire

  83.479

  90.271

  5.753

  5.462

  7.4

  6.4

  Northamptonshire

  102.616

  100.187

  6.737

  5.373

  7.0

  5.7

  Northumberland

  48.440

  52.891

  2.304

  2.297

  5.0

  4.5

  Nottingham City

  53.320

  41.388

  3.119

  2.114

  6.2

  5.4

  Nottinghamshire

  115.866

  123.269

  7.282

  6.083

  6.7

  5.2

  Oldham

  43.164

  46.841

  2.091

  2.175

  5.1

  4.9

  Oxfordshire

  88.962

  86.323

  6.897

  4.180

  8.4

  5.1

  Peterborough

  29.874

  32.768

  1.810

  1.239

  6.4

  3.9

  Plymouth

  40.335

  43.693

  1.998

  2.084

  5.2

  5.0

  Poole

  18.923

  19.885

  1.213

  0.967

  6.9

  5.1

  Portsmouth

  31.497

  28.232

  2.076

  2.050

  7.1

  7.8

  Reading

  21.218

  15.918

  1.256

  1.288

  6.3

  8.8

  Redbridge

  42.398

  44.834

  3.329

  2.379

  8.5

  5.6

  Redcar and Cleveland

  26.870

  29.833

  1.245

  1.642

  4.9

  5.8

  Richmond upon Thames

  21.688

  22.464

  1.565

  0.987

  7.8

  4.6

  Rochdale

  40.852

  37.931

  2.593

  2.079

  6.8

  5.8

  Rotherham

  44.657

  49.873

  2.659

  2.017

  6.3

  4.2

  Rutland

  4.683

  5.577

  0.112

  0.176

  2.5

  3.3

  Salford

  41.870

  37.343

  2.468

  2.205

  6.3

  6.3

  Sandwell

  56.053

  55.224

  3.380

  2.761

  6.4

  5.3

  Sefton

  48.021

  50.903

  3.140

  2.652

  7.0

  5.5

  Sheffield

  81.186

  76,443

  5,468

  4.592

  7.2

  6.4

  Shropshire

  41.207

  42.793

  2.485

  2.119

  6.4

  5.2

  Slough

  23.579

  22.432

  1.719

  1.451

  7.9

  6.9

  Solihull

  34.856

  37.755

  2.151

  2.441

  6.6

  6.9

  Somerset

  73.128

  70.803

  5.134

  3.764

  7.6

  5.6

  South Gloucestershire

  37.868

  35.408

  2.927

  1.796

  8.4

  5.3

  South Tyneside

  28.266

  29.452

  1.405

  2.094

  5.2

  7,71

  Southampton

  36.195

  35.641

  2.194

  3.133

  6.5

  9.6

  Southend

  26.397

  27.340

  2.028

  2.185

  8.3

  8.7

  Southwark

  55.923

  40.677

  3.317

  2.296

  6.3

  6.0

  St. Helens

  30.862

  31.743

  2.011

  1.677

  7.0

  5.6

  Staffordshire

  126.922

  131.514

  8.006

  6.509

  6.7

  5.2

  Stockport

  44.566

  43.887

  2.897

  2.732

  7.0

  6.6

  Stockton-on-Tees

  32.998

  35.320

  1.754

  1.513

  5.6

  4.5

  Stoke on Trent

  42.716

  41.225

  2.236

  2.516

  5.5

  6.5

  Suffolk

  99.786

  99.261

  6.748

  5.096

  7.3

  5.4

  Sunderland

  52.708

  55.038

  2.585

  2.647

  5.2

  5.1

  Surrey

  145.622

  140.345

  11.302

  6.668

  8.4

  5.0

  Sutton

  28.547

  32.424

  2.198

  2.192

  8.3

  7.3

  Swindon

  31.211

  29.038

  2.074

  2.013

  7.1

  7.4

  Tameside

  39.664

  40.650

  2.134

  2.410

  5.7

  6.3

  The Wrekin

  27.616

  27.728

  1.742

  1.754

  6.7

  6.8

  Thurrock

  26.500

  24.207

  1.989

  1.433

  8.1

  6.3

  Torbay

  18.227

  20.782

  1.265

  1.212

  7.5

  6.2

  Tower Hamlets

  57.960

  57.048

  2.616

  4.827

  4.7

  9.2

  Trafford

  34.265

  37.590

  1.827

  1.968

  5.6

  5.5

  Wakefield

  53.145

  53.822

  3.246

  3.513

  6.5

  7.0

  Walsall

  47.286

  51.521

  2.130

  2.692

  4.7

  5.5

  Waltham Forest

  46.710

  42.109

  3.387

  2.106

  7.8

  5.3

  Wandsworth

  39.088

  33.535

  1.559

  1.025

  4.2

  3.2

  Warrington

  31.138

  32.199

  1.981

  1.593

  6.8

  5.2

  Warwickshire

  75.895

  76.090

  4.801

  4.586

  6.8

  6.4

  West Sussex

  108.008

  110.059

  8.893

  5.630

  9.0

  5.4

  Westminster

  22.872

  25.018

  1.642

  0.958

  7.7

  4.0

  Wigan

  50.959

  54.690

  2.727

  2.720

  5.7

  5.2

  Wiltshire

  64.017

  62.599

  4.289

  3.539

  7.2

  6.0

  Windsor & Maidenhead

  18.831

  22.005

  1.270

  1.135

  7.2

  5.4

  Wirral

  57.958

  59.995

  3.027

  3.174

  5.5

  5.6

  Wokingham

  23.330

  23.338

  1.671

  1.240

  7.7

  5.6

  Wolverhampton

  45.539

  41.967

  2.717

  2.081

  6.3

  5.2

  Worcestershire

  78.580

  80.979

  4.581

  3.446

  6.2

  4.4

  York

  24.978

  24.051

  1.639

  1.170

  7.0

  5.1

  England

  8,220.300

  8,135.900

  521.200

  443.000

  6.8

  5.8

  Notes:

  Education SSAs are made up of five sub-blocks—Primary, Secondary, Post-16, Under fives and Other. The national increase across all five sub-blocks sums to £1,017 million. The primary and secondary SSA figures in this table exclude funding nationally for under-fives, sixth forms and other education services provided by authorities which are unrelated to schools.
  850

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25856]

  Dr. Howells
  A non-career civil servant is someone appointed other than on a permanent contract, for example fixed term appointments and casuals. The number of people appointed to posts in the DfEE on fixed term contracts or as casuals since 1 May 1997 is 300.

  University Funding
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans to reallocate resources for universities in England and Wales, with particular reference to the funding of Oxford and Cambridge universities. [25408]

  Dr. Howells
  The allocation of resources for universities in England is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, subject to guidance from the Department. A copy of the guidance letter for 1998–99 is in the Library.

  Separately we have asked the Funding Council to advise on the mechanisms for setting future funding for universities and colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. We

  £

  1997–98 Primary

  1997–98 Secondary

  1998–99 Primary

  1998–99 Secondary

  Increase Primary

  Increase Secondary

  Southwark

  3,029

  4,030

  3,197

  4,191

  168

  161

  Shropshire

  2,000

  2,612

  2,100

  2,727

  100

  115

  Notes:

  The above figures are calculated on the basis of the primary and secondary components of the education standard spending assessments, as defined in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98 and the draft Report for 1998–99, divided by pupils aged 5–10 and 11–15 respectively, as defined in the reports.

  These figures reflect the differing socio-economic makeup of the two authorities. I am discussing the consequences of its financial settlement for 1998–99 with Shropshire county council. The SSA methodology for 1999–2000 is under review.

  New Deal
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many employers have signed contractual agreements to provide places under the New Deal arrangements which became effective on 1 January. [23534]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  597 Employer Agreements have been signed nationally and locally.

  Lifelong Learning
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the date of publication of the White Paper on Lifelong Learning. [28215]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment plans to publish a consultation paper on lifelong learning on 25 February, together with our responses to the reports from the 852
  received their report in late November and are still considering their advice.

  Schools (Expenditure)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the forecast per capita expenditure for pupils in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Shropshire in 1998–99; [24425]

  (2) what is the forecast per capita expenditure for pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the London Borough of Southwark in 1998–99; [24426]

  (3) what is the current per capita expenditure for pupils in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the London Borough of Southwark; [24427]

  (4) what is the current per capita expenditure for pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Shropshire. [24428]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Schools do not receive per capita funding directly from the Government, but local education authorities receive resources through the SSA system. The table sets out the provisional primary and secondary SSA per pupil for Southwark and Shropshire in 1998–99 and the equivalent final figures for 1997–98. The latter figure for Shropshire is based on what it would have received if local government reorganisation had taken place a year earlier.

  Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education and the Further Education Funding Council's Widening Participation Committee.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will(a) provide a breakdown of expenditure (i) in cash terms and (ii) at July 1997 prices and (b) indicate the number of starts for (1) restart interviews, (2) 1–2–1, (3) jobfinder interviews, (4) the job interview guarantee scheme, (5) employment training, (6) training for work, (7) learning for work, (8) workskill, (9) community programme, (10) employment action, (11) the national insurance contributions holiday, (12) the enterprise allowance scheme and (13) the business start up scheme since 1987. [25560]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 26 February 1998]: The information requested is given in the following tables. Jobfinder interviews and Workskill pilots both commenced operation in the current financial year, therefore actual starts and expenditure will not be available until after the year end.

  853

  Expenditure in cash—Great Britain

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Restart Interviews

  32.5

  33.3

  24.4

  24.8

  34.9

  55.6

  47.9

  58.3

  53.1

  51.0

  1–2-1

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  0.5

  5.8

  11.3

  Job Interview Guarantee Scheme

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  0.9

  10.4

  20.4

  22.3

  22.4

  21.7

  Employment Training

  6—

  3619.8

  31,117.7

  1,076.4

  1737.4

  2629.5

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Training for Work

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  2760.2

  2692.7

  2501.7

  2459.9

  Learning for Work

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  212.0

  28.2

  6—

  6—

  Community Programme

  1,085.4

  671.8

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Employment Action

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  116.3

  4137.3

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  National Insurance Contributions Holiday

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  50.7

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme

  200.7

  196.7

  170.9

  133.1

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Business Start Up Scheme

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  1161.8

  262.0

  282.0

  263.8

  6—

  6—

  1 England/Wales.

  2 England only.

  3 Includes expenditure on adult training predecessor programmes.

  4 England/Scotland.

  5 Provisional outturn. Employers have 6 years in which to claim the holiday.

  6 Scheme not in operation.

  Notes:

  Employment Training 1990–91 includes Garden Festival.

  Training for Work expenditure for 1996–97 is latest provisional outturn.

  Business Start Up (BSU) expenditure for 1991–92 is not available. Figure shown relates to Business Enterprise Scheme, which consisted of EAS, BSU and Business Enterprise Training.

  Cash information is not available for Restart for 1987–88 to 1991–92. The figures provided are 1992–93 information reduced downwards by GDP deflators.

  1–2-1 assumes the planning average number of interviews per client.

  Expenditure at 1997 Prices—Great Britain

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Restart Interviews

  48.9

  47.0

  32.2

  30.3

  40.2

  61.3

  51.4

  61.6

  54.6

  51.0

  1–2-1

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  0.5

  5.9

  11.3

  Job Interview Guarantee Scheme

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  1.0

  11.5

  21.9

  23.5

  23.0

  21.7

  Employment Training

  4—

  3899.3

  31,515.8

  1,351.5

  1870.4

  2713.1

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Training for Work

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  2836.8

  2751.2

  2529.5

  2472.3

  Learning for Work

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  213.2

  28.9

  4—

  4—

  Community Programme

  1,680.2

  974.6

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Employment Action

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  119.2

  2155.5

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme

  310.7

  285.4

  231.8

  167.1

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Business Start Up Scheme

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  1191.0

  270.2

  290.3

  269.2

  4—

  4—

  1 England/Wales.

  2 England only.

  3 Includes Adult Training.

  4 Scheme not in operation.

  Notes:

  Cash expenditure has been translated to constant 1997 prices by using GDP deflators.

  Training for Work expenditure for 1996–97 is latest provisional outturn.

  Business Start Up (BSU) expenditure for 1991–92 is not available. Figure shown relates to Business Enterprise Scheme, which consisted of EAS, BSU and Business Enterprise Training.

  Number of starts—Great Britain

  000s

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Restart Interview

  2,300

  2,200

  1,500

  1,400

  1,850

  2,818

  2,324

  3,759

  3,272

  3,206

  1–2–1

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  45

  405

  1,140

  Job Interview Guarantee Scheme

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  134

  119

  412

  450

  377

  216

  Employment Training

  1—

  239

  431

  389

  293

  291

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Training for Work

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  339

  320

  254

  229

  Learning for Work

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  9

  0.7

  1—

  1—

  Community Programme

  269

  84

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Employment Action

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  22

  67

  1—

  1—

  1—

  National Insurance Contributions Holiday

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  4

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme

  106

  99

  78

  60

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Business Start Up Scheme

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  50

  41

  41

  30

  1—

  1—

  1 Scheme not in operation.

  854

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to expedite the collation of statistics relating to the reduction of class sizes for five, six and seven-year-olds. [26147]

  Mr. Byers
  Information on class sizes in January each year is collected from maintained primary schools as part of the annual Schools" Census. Since January 1996, the Department has collected data for primary classes by Key Stage and since January 1998, we have collected data by Year Group for Key Stage One classes to monitor reductions in class sizes for these Year Groups.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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 or its predecessor departments, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other departments and (c) have come from other departments. [26032]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: 28 per cent. of the 163 Civil Service staff at Divisional Manager (broadly equivalent to the former Grade 5) level and above in DfEE have spent their entire civil service career in DfEE (including the former Department for Education and the former Department of Employment Group). 7 per cent. have had secondments to the private sector during their career in DfEE and its former constituent parts; a further 23 per cent. had private sector experience before joining DfEE. 26 per cent. have been loaned or seconded from DfEE to other departments. 28 per cent. moved to DfEE from another department, 4 per cent. joining the DfEE at Senior Civil Service level.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [26920]

  Dr. Howells
  Since 1 May 1997, one civil servant at Director (broadly equivalent to the former Grade 3) level and above in DfEE has resigned, three have retired before pensionable age, two have moved to posts at Director level on promotion, one has returned to DfEE at this level having been on loan to another department and one has returned to the Department at this level after a secondment to an outside organisation. The civil servants concerned were responsible to a range of DfEE Ministers in their various posts.

  NVQs
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to raise the standard of NVQs through stricter testing and examination of those taking them. [26493]
  856
  Dr. Howells
  These are matters for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Revised criteria for NVQs, which include arrangements for independent assessment, are to be brought before the QCA Authority meeting in March. The Department is supporting additional external verification of NVQs by awarding bodies to help in assuring standards of assessment.

  Job Details
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to what extent job details are made available(a) in Braille and (b) on audio tape at job centres. [26815]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Ronnie Fearn, dated 6 February 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question of 30 January, concerning the extent to which job details are made available in Braille and audio tape at Jobcentres.
  The Employment Service does not normally make job details available in Braille or audiotape formats. However, where jobseekers do have impaired vision there are a number of other ways in which we can and do assist.
  Where a jobseeker is visually impaired, arrangements can be made for the jobseeker to be accompanied around the Jobcentre's vacancy display boards and details read out by a member of staff. In addition we may make an appointment for the jobseeker at which a member of staff will identify and discuss suitable vacancies held on our Labour Market System computer. Also, the Jobseeker will be regularly invited to discuss their job search activity with their adviser. We also provide vacancy information by phone where this would be helpful.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Training Bodies
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the accountability of TECs and training agencies for their spending. [26494]

  Dr. Howells
  We believe the arrangements we have put in place, including through the TEC contract, provide a sound basis for accounting for public funds spent through TECs. We will, however, keep these arrangements under review to ensure they are working effectively.

  Student Tuition Fees
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students will start on post A-level courses this year which are not regarded as the start of a higher education course for the purposes of the payment of tuition fees in 1998; and, of these, how many will be art foundation course students. [26506]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 30 January 1998]: We estimate that there will be around 35,000 students starting courses in 1998 who will, for the purposes of mandatory awards and student loans, be treated as "existing" students and will not, therefore, have to pay tuition fee contributions for the duration of their course.
  857
  Students starting a higher education course in 1998–99 who were art foundation course students in 1997–98 will be classed as new entrants and, subject to means-testing, will have to contribute to tuition fees.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals to tackle unemployment(a) in the age groups (i) 25 to 35 and (ii) 16 to 18 years and (b) amongst the short-term youth unemployed. [26765]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Employment opportunity for all means providing people with the knowledge and skills to find work. That is why this Government are investing in education and skills, so that people can start off their working life with the basic skills required for a lifetime of work, and can learn through life, remaining employable as the labour market changes.

  In order to improve the employment prospects of 16–18 year olds, we want to encourage as many as possible to stay on in education and training to gain the skills and qualifications which will equip them for the world of work. Our Investing in Young People strategy will achieve this, through a range of measures in schools, colleges and in work-based training. Action is also being taken through New Start to tackle disaffection among young people at the transitional school to work stage and to improve participation in learning.

  We will continue to attach great importance to improving the quality of work based training for young people. 16–18 year olds will have priority for training opportunities, including Modern Apprenticeships and the National Traineeships.

  The New Deal for young people targets help on people aged 18–24 who have been unemployed and claiming Jobseekers" Allowance (JSA) for six months or more. However, some 18–24 year old JSA claimants who are, for a variety of reasons, likely to experience particular difficulty in finding work will be able to choose to join the New Deal early (i.e. before reaching six months" unemployment).

  We have announced our intention to develop pilots to extend the New Deal for those aged 25 and over, unemployed between 1 and 2 years. Fuller details will be announced when we have worked up proposals.

  We are also looking at practical and innovative approaches to the problem of long-term unemployment among the over 25s. This is why we are investing £33 million in prototype Employment Zones in Plymouth, Liverpool, South Teesside, Glasgow and North West Wales. By making current sources of help and funding more coherent, Employment Zones will benefit long-term unemployed people and their communities.

  Part-time Students
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to encourage higher education institutions to review their teaching year in order to meet the needs of part-time students. [26800]
  858
  Dr. Howells
  holding answer 3 February 1998]: The Higher Education Funding Council for England is taking a number of initiatives to encourage institutions to be flexible in meeting the needs of both full-time and part-time students. These include pilot schemes for extending the academic year and awarding a funding premium for students on courses of 45 weeks and over. We welcome these initiatives and expect to see more progress in this important area in the future.

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each education action zone established since 1 May. [28191]

  Mr. Byers
  No Education Action Zones have been established. Early in January I invited schools, local education authorities, businesses and others to come forward with applications. These will need to show how an Education Action Zone could help them to find imaginative solutions to raise standards.

  The deadline for returning these is 20 March 1998, and I intend to announce the results in June.

  Drugs (Education)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many programmes for the education of young people on the dangers of illegal drugs he has implemented or made plans for and which were not in existence on 1 May 1997; [26306]

  (2) how much spending his Department has (a) incurred and (b) planned for the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs which was not planned for on 1 May 1997. [26302]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave today at column 860.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the date of publication for the White Paper on Special Educational Needs. [28216]

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to announce the conclusions of the consultation on special educational needs. [27826]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We are at present considering the many thoughtful comments on the Green Paper,Excellence for all children: meeting special educational needs. In the light of those responses, and taking account of advice from the National Advisory Group on SEN, we expect to announce an action programme—whether through a White Paper or in some other format—in the early summer.

  New Deal
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements have been put in place for New Deal participants to raise individual and collective problems they are facing. [25628]
  859
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Each young person, entering the Gateway period of the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds, will have a personal adviser designated to them. The personal adviser will support the young person throughout their time on New Deal, identifying their individual needs and referring them to organisations that can help resolve any particular problems that they have. When the young person is on one of the options, the employer or training provider will also ensure that additional personal support is given by a tutor, supervisor or other colleague. Some young people may also choose to take advantage of the mentoring support that will be available. If individual participants wish to raise problems confidentially, they can call a free "hotline" number, 0800 16 33 39, and ask their concerns to be investigated. National and local focus groups will also periodically canvass the views of young people who have participated in New Deal.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Drugs (Education)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the President of the Council (1) how many programmes for the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs she has(a) implemented and (b) planned; and which of these were not in existence on 1 May 1997; [26254]
  860
  (2) Council how much spending she has (a) incurred and (b) planned for on the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs which was not planned for on 1 May 1997. [26304]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  Since 1 May the Government have supported a range of existing drug education programmes, through, for example, the Department for Education and Employment's Standards Fund; the Department of Health's contract with the Health Education Authority to provide a drugs information campaign; and the Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative. May of these are extensions to or variations of previous programmes. Other work is financed through the £2 million Drugs Challenge Fund which was extended for another year.

  One of the Government's manifesto commitments was to task a UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator with reviewing and re-evaluating all aspects of the Government's action against drugs, including drug education for young people. Keith Hellawell took up his position as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator on 5 January and is now conducting this review, which includes a Comprehensive Spending Review of all resources currently allocated to anti-drugs activity. The Government will publish their new strategy in the Spring. All future anti-drugs activity and expenditure by the Government will then be developed in accordance with this strategy.