Written Answers of 12 February 1998

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Office Costs Allowance
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Council what are the higher limits of office costs allowance for hon. Members with disabilities; and what are the assessment processes for qualification to receive such allowances. [28667]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The higher limits are set out in the resolutions of the House of 14 July 1988,Official Report, column 686, and 9 March 1995, Official Report, column 529, and are respectively 2.57 and 1.33 times the standard limit of the Office Costs Allowance. The assessment processes will vary according to the particular needs and circumstances of the hon. Members concerned.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Council what allowance is made for additional costs incurred by hon. Members with disabilities in meeting additional costs of accommodation in(a) London and (b) their constituency. [28668]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  None.

PRIVY COUNCIL

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Council what is her policy for responding to letters received in the(a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28062]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  Were any such letters received, the Privy Council Office would seek to reply in the language used by the correspondent.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Training Providers (ESF)
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from voluntary organisations that are training providers for people with learning disabilities on the effects of delays of approval of ESF funds. [24357]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Since 1 May 1997, my right hon. Friend has received representations about delays in approving ESF funds from a provider of training to people with learning difficulties in Gloucester and I have received representations from a similar organisation in Milton Keynes. In 1996 the eligible period of spending was extended by six months to June 1997 to avoid the danger of large underspends. The Gloucester project was 282
  funded from these underspends to run until June 1997. The extension to the programme will mean later final payments but enable full funding of the project.

  The final payment to the Milton Keynes project was delayed because of an appreciation in the value of sterling against the ECU in 1997, which left insufficient funds to pay all claims. It has now received payment in full.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25908]

  Dr. Howells
  The DfEE Departmental Spending Review is looking at all areas of the Department's activities and expenditure, many of which contribute to sustainable development objectives including improving economic prosperity and ensuring that economic and environmental benefits are available to everyone. The Government's New Deal, including the Environmental Task Force, is a clear example of taking sustainable development and environmental concerns into account in the formulation of policy. However, no specific mechanism has been put in place to consider environmental matters in isolation.

  New Deal Hotline
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding will be allocated to the New Deal hotline; and how many operators there will be in each standard region. [25565]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The New Deal hotline, 0800 163 339, which is the point of contact for participants, employers and providers already involved in New Deal, is an important element in ensuring a quality service to New Deal clients. It will be open between 8am and 6pm and we have initially trained two people per region. We are closely monitoring the demand for the hotline from Pathfinder areas and will adjust the staffing levels accordingly in advance of the national start of the New Deal in April. During the first month approximately 30 calls were received.

  There is, in addition, a New Deal information line, 0845 606 2626 which is the main inquiry point for members of the public, employers and providers who would like more details about New Deal. This line is open 24 hours a day and is presently handling 490 calls per week.

  New Deal (Cornwall)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many contracts have been(a) awarded, (b) finalised and (c) signed for the New Deal in Cornwall. [25465]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]:
  Seven contracts have been awarded in Cornwall and all of these have been finalised. One contract has been signed. In addition 105 employer agreements have been signed with firms and other organisations interested in providing New Deal employment.
  283
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many contracts have(a) been awarded at tender, (b) signed at the tender price and (c) signed at a price below tender for the New Deal in Cornwall. [25466]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: I can confirm that seven contracts have been awarded from 19 tenders. Six contracts have been agreed at tender price, one at below tender price.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance restrict their availability for work because of ill health or disability; and how many of these are over the age of 50 years. [26164]

  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. Jim Fitzpatrick, dated February 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question relating to the number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants who restrict their availability for work because of ill-health or disability and how many of these are over age 50. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Employment Service Chief Executive.
  Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations allow people with physical and mental health problems to restrict their availability, providing the restrictions are reasonable in the light of their condition. Jobseekers agree any restrictions with advisers when they draw up their Jobseeker's Agreement when they first claim Jobseeker's Allowance.
  Unfortunately, I am unable to provide the precise information you require. We do not hold information about how many jobseekers there are who place restrictions on ill-health or disability and are over 50 years of age. Statistics are available on the number of claims referred to and decisions made by the adjudication authorities where there is a doubt on availability because an unreasonable restriction has been identified. These can be found within the Analysis of Adjudication Officers Decisions, a copy of which is retained within the House of Commons Library.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27041]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 2 February 1998]: The Department target is to respond to letters within 15 working days of receipt. Since the election Ministers have responded to 73 per cent. of letters within their deadline. This includes all Ministerial replies, not only those letters from hon. Members. On average Ministers have responded to all letters in 18.2 calendar days.

  No assessment has been made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed.
  284
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27669]

  Dr. Howells
  I can confirm that Ministers read all letters sent to them by hon. Members.

  New Schools
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department issues on the appropriate size of sites for new schools. [27387]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department's Building Bulletin 82,Area Guidelines for Schools, was published in 1996. This includes guidance on site areas for new schools.

  Foreign Students
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the gross cost of setting up mechanisms for the means testing of citizens of other EU member states to assess their eligibility to pay tuition fees. [27718]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 191.

  NVQ Provision
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to monitor the quality of NVQ provision in the workplace. [27709]

  Dr. Howells
  The quality assurance of NVQs is primarily a matter for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the awarding bodies. The Department is currently providing £1.5 million to support additional external verification of NVQs by awarding bodies to help in assuring standards of assessment. In addition the delivery of training funded through Colleges and TECs, which includes NVQ provision in the workplace, is inspected by the Further Education Funding Council and the Training Standards Council.

  New School (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of Portsmouth City Council's proposals to build a school on the site of the East wing of St. Mary's Hospital in respect of the adequacy of the site for a school of the size proposed. [27885]

  Mr. Byers
  I can confirm that Portsmouth City Council has put forward a public-private partnership proposal to provide a new secondary school. I understand that the Council is still considering a number of possible sites for the school. As part of the new process for assessing the viability of local authority PPP/PFI projects, the Council's proposal is currently being considered by the interdepartmental Project Review Group. An announcement about approved projects is expected shortly.
  285

  Education Budgets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the difference between the education budget and the general schools budget for each local education authority in the country; and how much of that amount was spent on service strategy and regulation activity in the last year for which figures are available. [27500]

  Mr. Byers
  The following table sets out, for each local education authority in England, the difference between its total education budget and its General Schools Budget, and its Service Strategy and Regulation expenditure for 1996–97.

  £000

  1996–97

  LEA

  Difference between total education budget and General Schools Budget

  Net current expenditure on Service Strategy and Regulation

  Barking and Dagenham

  6,783

  1,450

  Barnet

  40,769

  1,855

  Barnsley

  4,600

  1,589

  Bedfordshire

  41,366

  1,156

  Berkshire

  58,035

  1,726

  Bexley

  17,374

  1,659

  Birmingham

  74,431

  639

  Bolton

  12,204

  595

  Bradford

  23,023

  259

  Brent

  45,749

  388

  Bromley

  58,006

  1,085

  Buckinghamshire

  59,395

  3,573

  Bury

  4,401

  1,013

  Calderdale

  28,932

  669

  Cambridgeshire

  61,018

  2,119

  Camden

  17,557

  1,028

  Cheshire

  31,819

  1,529

  Cornwall

  10,689

  1,347

  Corporation of London

  2,063

  295

  Coventry

  11,899

  1,020

  Croydon

  40,567

  1,573

  Cumbria

  50,268

  1,286

  Derbyshire

  70,651

  1,748

  Devon

  35,900

  1,766

  Doncaster

  4,895

  223

  Dorset

  48,766

  1,318

  Dudley

  21,924

  1,643

  Durham

  17,548

  806

  Ealing

  31,416

  962

  East Sussex

  16,744

  2,523

  Enfield

  27,730

  2,048

  Essex

  256,325

  6,405

  Gateshead

  7,197

  463

  Gloucestershire

  80,845

  1,251

  Greenwich

  13,294

  1,238

  Hackney

  18,069

  1,122

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  16,841

  1,975

  Hampshire

  77,345

  2,877

  Haringey

  8,454

  602

  Harrow

  10,596

  1,093

  Havering

  16,282

  730

  Hereford and Worcester

  28,649

  1,314

  Hertfordshire

  88,423

  3,341

  Hillingdon

  44,809

  302

  Hounslow

  9,875

  850

  Hull

  10,871

  463

  Isle of Wight

  5,171

  579

  Isles of Scilly

  253

  21

  Islington

  15,595

  692

  Kensington and Chelsea

  16,779

  1,412

  Kent

  204,930

  1,688

  Kirklees

  15,979

  627

  286

  £000

  1996–97

  LEA

  Difference between total education budget and General Schools Budget

  Net current expenditure on Service Strategy and Regulation

  Knowsley

  7,186

  2,918

  Lambeth

  46,551

  750

  Lancashire

  56,052

  1,962

  Leeds

  26,012

  667

  Leicestershire

  25,109

  1,101

  Lewisham

  18,775

  2,027

  Lincolnshire

  82,098

  1,527

  Liverpool

  35,090

  2,277

  Manchester

  16,281

  1,474

  Merton

  5,724

  1,531

  Newcastle

  17,487

  2,779

  Newham

  14,918

  1,346

  Norfolk

  47,394

  886

  North Tyneside

  4,214

  578

  Northamptonshire

  44,666

  1,597

  Northumberland

  6,447

  1,223

  Nottinghamshire

  34,367

  2,351

  Oldham

  3,756

  515

  Oxfordshire

  18,167

  1,035

  Redbridge

  11,345

  1,105

  Richmond

  4,732

  810

  Rochdale

  16,566

  587

  Rotherham

  6,016

  315

  Salford

  7,781

  682

  Sandwell

  14,383

  879

  Sefton

  5,467

  436

  Sheffield

  12,710

  827

  Shropshire

  20,853

  873

  Solihull

  3,658

  1,621

  Somerset

  17,014

  582

  South Tyneside

  5,756

  82

  Southwark

  29,274

  675

  St. Helens

  5,048

  803

  Staffordshire

  37,808

  1,600

  Stockport

  4,867

  373

  Suffolk

  13,196

  1,988

  Sunderland

  6,841

  264

  Surrey

  72,845

  3,062

  Sutton

  25,962

  758

  Tameside

  12,144

  664

  Tower Hamlets

  23,107

  1,892

  Trafford

  19,592

  700

  Wakefield

  4,593

  582

  Walsall

  28,150

  1,664

  Waltham Forest

  17,079

  2,384

  Wandsworth

  28,468

  1,316

  Warwickshire

  20,673

  1,662

  West Sussex

  15,310

  1,346

  Westminster

  17,869

  2,240

  Wigan

  725

  568

  Wiltshire

  56,829

  1,046

  Wirral

  15,320

  1,535

  Wolverhampton

  16,151

  1,333

  Welfare to Work
  Miss Mcintosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the contractual arrangement for the delivery of the New Deal services to provide Welfare to Work. [27687]

  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.
  287
  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Miss Anne Mcintosh, dated February 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question relating to the contractual arrangements for the delivery of the New Deal. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Employment Service Chief Executive.
  There are currently three principal contracting models for delivering the New Deal for unemployed young people:
  a joint venture partnership: where a consortium is formed to deliver the whole of the New Deal in a unit of delivery and the Employment Service agrees with members of the consortium jointly to develop and implement a delivery proposal. The contract is between the Secretary of State (acting through the Employment Service) and lead members of the partnership;
  a single consortium: where a consortium is formed, as above, and the Secretary of State has a single contract with either a designated lead organisation or the consortium which has established itself as a legal entity;
  a series of individual contracts: the Secretary of State (acting through the Employment Service) enters into a series of individual contracts, which in aggregate deliver the full New Deal services required in a district.
  I hope this is helpful.

  New Deal (Child Minders)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the cost of training 50,000 child-minders under the New Deal; which organisations will be expected to carry out such training; and how many participants are expected to be(a) young people unemployed for more than six months, (b) single parents and (c) others. [27712]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 28 January 1998,Official Report, column 237, on the number of young people likely to train as childcare workers under the New Deal for 18–24 year olds. Potentially, participants on the New Deal for long-term unemployed people could also train as childcare workers under these options, and participants on the New Deal for lone parents could be helped to find employment as a childcare worker.

  There are different arrangements for training and funding young people to become childcare workers for each of the options for the New Deal for 18–24 year olds. On the Voluntary Sector (VS) and Employment options young people will be provided with work experience by voluntary childcare organisations, and by private and local authority nurseries respectively, which will work with training organisations to enable participants to attend an approved childcare course for at least the equivalent of a day per week. On the Full Time Education and Training (FTET) option young people will attend approved childcare courses provided by training organisations. In addition to the allowances that will be payable to participants on the FTET and VS options, voluntary organisations will be paid a placement fee for each participant in the VS option (the amount depending on contract), employers will receive a job subsidy of £60 per week per participant under the Employment option, and training organisations will receive a fee which is negotiated locally under the FTET option. Organisations providing placements on the VS and Employment options, will also be paid £750 per participant for training. The overall cost will depend upon the level of take up on each of the options.
  288

  Post-16 Students
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish equity of funding for all post-16 students. [28471]

  Dr. Howells
  The scope for achieving greater equity of funding is being considered as part of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review which has not yet been completed.

  Lifelong Learning
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he has made to the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Lifelong Learning on a common inspection framework for schools and further education colleges. [28474]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to set out his proposals for harmonising inspection arrangements in the forthcoming consultation paper on Lifelong Learning.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve the accountability of further education corporations to the communities in which their colleges are located. [28473]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to announce his plans for improving the local accountability of governing bodies of further education colleges in the forthcoming consultation paper on Lifelong Learning.

  Brazilian Mahogany
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been(a) acquired and (b) specified by his Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28377]

  Dr. Howells
  No Brazilian mahogany was acquired or specified by the Department in 1996 or 1997.

  Shropshire LEA
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional funding he is making available to Shropshire Local Education Authority; and how the decision was announced. [28451]

  Mr. Byers
  In response to an application by Shropshire Local Education Authority for assistance with their capital programme, we have made £2.5 million available for essential capital work as Supplementary Credit Approvals of £500,000 for 1997–98 and £2,000,000 for 1998–99. This information was given to the Authority by means of a letter from officials.

  Post-compulsory Education
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish a national framework for strategic planning of post- compulsory education at national, regional and local levels. [28472]
  289
  Dr. Howells
  We are considering, with the Further Education Funding Council and the Local Government Association, how to work with them and other partners to develop a more co-ordinated approach to post-16 education.

  Gas Installers
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to provide funding support for the compulsory training of gas installation industry employees. [28462]

  Dr. Howells
  We have no plans to provide funding support for the compulsory training of gas installation industry employees. It is up to employers and self employed people to pay for the training they need to meet their business needs and to comply with gas safety legislation. The proposed National Training Organisation will assist employers in finding accredited training.

  National Curriculum Tests
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has evaluated on the extent to which the results of National Curriculum tests in English at Key Stage 3 can be used to predict a pupil's achievement in GCSE English examinations. [28793]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department commissioned a major national project on value added in 1994 which reported last year. The project found that the National Curriculum tests in English at Key Stage 3 were highly related to achievement in GCSE English examinations, but that the average test level across the three core subjects at Key Stage 3 was the best basis for predicting achievement in GCSE English examinations. A copy of the final report is available in the Library.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the agencies commissioned by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority to evaluate arrangements for statutory assessment at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 in 1997; what was the cost of each evaluation; when the evaluation reports were(a) made available to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and (b) published; and in what ways the evaluation reports have informed arrangements for statutory assessment in 1998, including the content of the tests and arrangements for marking. [28849]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority commissioned the following evaluations of the 1997 Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 assessment arrangements:

  Agency

  Focus of evaluation

  Institute of Education, University of London

  Key Stage 1 assessment arrangements

  University of Nottingham

  Key Stage 2 assessment arrangements

  Social & Market Strategic Research Ltd.

  Key Stage 3 assessment arrangements

  National Foundation for Education Research

  Key Stage 1 English

  290

  Agency

  Focus of evaluation

  CFAS, University of Manchester

  Key Stage 1 and 3 mathematics

  National Foundation for Education Research

  Key Stage 2 English

  MAK2, University of Leeds

  Key Stage 2 mathematics

  CRIPSAT, University of Liverpool

  Key Stage 2 science

  University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate

  Key Stage 3 English and science

  Total budgetary provision in 1997–98 was £270,000. The contracts for evaluation work are tendered annually and the value of individual contracts is therefore commercially sensitive. The evaluation reports were submitted to QCA in September 1997. The six Key Stage subject reports will be published this month and the three Key Stage general reports in March. The evaluations have helped QCA to identify areas of the tests, marking and administrative arrangements which could be strengthened in 1998.

  Early Years Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to require LEAs to monitor and provide advisory support to private and voluntary sector providers of early years education; [28902]

  (2) what plans he has regularly to monitor the quality of public, private and voluntary sector provision of early years education; [28903]

  (3) what plans he has to monitor the quality of and provide support to the private and voluntary early years education place providers in North Yorkshire. [28904]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  All private and voluntary sector providers included in an Early Years Development Plan and in receipt of grant funding will be subject to regular inspection by a Registered Nursery Inspector recruited, trained and registered by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools. Providers registered under the Children Act 1989 will also be subject to the normal inspection arrangements under that Act. We will shortly be consulting on the current regulatory regimes and how to bring them closer together.

  The Early Years Development Plan should indicate how local authorities intend to raise standards of provision whilst maintaining a wide range of providers. This should include, among other aspects of quality assurance, details on how progress will be made towards the involvement of a qualified teacher in raising standards in all settings.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to allow LEAs to state a minimum requirement of free places that have to be offered by private or voluntary providers to entitle them to be included in an Early Years Development Plan; [28901]

  (2) what is the minimum number of places a private or voluntary provider of early years education has to have in order that they can be included in a LEA Early Years Development Plan. [28905]
  291
  Ms Estelle Morris
  Providers which satisfy the eligibility criteria can be included in an Early Years Development Plan as long as they have at least one place available for an eligible four year old.

  Early Years Development Plans cannot include providers who, in addition to receiving grant, charge parents fees for the minimum early education entitlement of five two and a half hour sessions a week for 33 weeks in a year. Where parents are willing to pay, private, voluntary and independent sector providers can charge for additional services (such as a longer session or associated daycare). However, they must agree with the Partnership a maximum number of places which will be offered to parents giving the minimum early education entitlement for the grant alone, with no requirement on the parent to buy additional services. It will be for the provider and Partnership to agree how many such places will be offered, based on an assessment of local demand, but for the provider to be included in the Plan there must be at least one such place.

  Further Education
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish a national framework for pay and conditions of service within the further education sector. [28695]

  Dr. Howells
  Pay and conditions are matters for colleges to decide individually. Colleges are independent institutions, responsible for setting their own pay and conditions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to remove that responsibility from them.

  School Meals
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when school breakfast clubs started. [28812]

  1994–95

  Framework Area

  Level 1

  Level 2

  Level 3

  Level 4

  Level 5

  All Levels

  1. Tendering animals, plants and land

  3,814

  5,670

  518

  5

  0

  10,007

  2. Extracting and providing natural resources

  100

  2,007

  7

  0

  0

  2,114

  3. Constructing

  6,295

  13,702

  5,942

  21

  0

  25,960

  4. Engineering

  3,919

  20,466

  13,101

  835

  0

  38,321

  5. Manufacturing

  2,689

  6,065

  195

  0

  0

  8,949

  6. Transporting

  381

  2,497

  101

  0

  0

  2,979

  7. Providing goods and services

  16,119

  52,916

  4,248

  25

  0

  73,308

  8. Providing health, social and protective services

  4,120

  14,389

  2,815

  1

  0

  21,325

  9. Providing business services

  14,859

  46,581

  20,920

  6,077

  902

  89,339

  10. Communicating

  0

  3

  4

  75

  0

  82

  11. Developing and extending knowledge and skills

  0

  28

  831

  183

  0

  1,042

  All Framework Areas

  52,296

  164,324

  48,682

  7,222

  902

  273,426

  1995–96

  Framework Area

  Level 1

  Level 2

  Level 3

  Level 4

  Level 5

  All Levels

  1. Tendering animals, plants and land

  3,356

  6,484

  784

  9

  0

  10,633

  2. Extracting and providing natural resources

  59

  1,219

  39

  0

  0

  1,317

  3. Constructing

  5,035

  12,662

  6,313

  3

  0

  24,013

  4. Engineering

  4,591

  25,121

  8,855

  525

  0

  39,092

  5. Manufacturing

  3,889

  5,799

  214

  2

  0

  9,904

  6. Transporting

  346

  6,352

  96

  0

  0

  6,794

  292
  Ms Estelle Morris
  Whether to organise school breakfast clubs is a matter for local decision. Information about them is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what monitoring he has evaluated on recent changes in the nutritional values of school meals. [28821]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Statutory nutritional standards for school meals were abolished by the previous Administration in 1980. Local education authorities and schools have since been responsible for deciding and monitoring the nutritional values of meals they provide. The Government propose to introduce new nutritional standards and will be consulting on these.

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority in England, the total number of pupils on the roll of maintained schools in its area for the financial year 1997–98. [28269]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The information requested will be available in the summer.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many NVQs were awarded at each of the five levels in the 11 framework areas for vocational qualifications in each of the last three years. [28199]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: According to the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA), the numbers of NVQs awarded at each level in the 11 framework areas in each of the last three years are shown in the following tables:
  293

  1995–96 Framework Area

  Level 1

  Level 2

  Level 3

  Level 4

  Level 5

  All Levels

  7. Providing goods and services

  22,371

  75,694

  7,650

  36

  0

  105,751

  8. Providing health, social and protective services

  6,386

  17,112

  4,667

  23

  0

  28,188

  9. Providing business services

  14,341

  63,010

  32,036

  6,375

  1,058

  116,820

  10. Communicating

  0

  20

  31

  105

  0

  156

  11. Developing and extending knowledge and skills

  0

  33

  3,109

  718

  0

  3,860

  All Framework Areas

  60,374

  213,506

  63,794

  7,796

  1,058

  346,528

  1996–97 Framework Area

  Level 1

  Level 2

  Level 3

  Level 4

  Level 5

  All Levels

  1. Tendering animals, plants and land

  4,107

  7,447

  1,215

  24

  0

  12,793

  2. Extracting and providing natural resources

  73

  1,024

  143

  0

  0

  1,240

  3. Constructing

  6,526

  15,800

  5,971

  22

  0

  28,319

  4. Engineering

  4,861

  31,029

  14,099

  190

  0

  50,179

  5. Manufacturing

  3,983

  8,791

  401

  2

  0

  13,177

  6. Transporting

  1,792

  10,048

  85

  1

  0

  11,926

  7. Providing goods and services

  31,260

  92,030

  13,850

  112

  0

  137,252

  8. Providing health, social and protective services

  4,612

  22,429

  8,591

  252

  2

  35,886

  9. Providing business services

  19,331

  78,613

  41,871

  6,932

  1,168

  147,915

  10. Communicating

  0

  178

  127

  164

  0

  469

  11. Developing and extending knowledge and skills

  0

  60

  4,032

  920

  2

  5,014

  All Framework Areas

  76,545

  267,449

  90,385

  8,619

  1,172

  444,170

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend the mandatory disabled student allowance to postgraduate students who are not registered for PGCE qualifications. [27501]

  Dr. Howells
  The Disabled Students' Allowances are part of the mandatory awards system and as such are available to those receiving mandatory awards who are also disabled. Mandatory awards apply to full-time first degree courses and to the post-graduate certificate of education.

  The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Committee) recommended the extension of eligibility to part-time students, to postgraduates and to those who have become disabled since taking a first degree and who now wish to obtain a different first degree level qualification. These recommendations are currently being considered and we hope to make an announcement later this year.

  The Government are sympathetic to the needs of disabled students. We have already announced the ending of means-testing for disabled students' allowances and have also increased the rates payable, including doubling the non-medical personal helpers' allowance.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to support students with disabilities with the costs directly associated with their disabilities on postgraduate legal practice courses. [27502]

  Dr. Howells
  Disabled people, including those on postgraduate Legal Practice Courses, may be entitled to support from the Benefits Agency. We are still considering a recommendation from the National 294
  Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Committee) about extending the Disabled Students' Allowances to postgraduate students.

  Sheffield Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the amounts held in the accounts of Sheffield TEC. [28233]

  Dr. Howells
  The latest published accounts for Sheffield TEC provide the following information at the year ended 30 March 1997:

  £000

  Income and Expenditure Account 1996–97

  Turnover

  17,229

  Surplus for the year

  167

  Balance Sheet

  Fixed assets

  743

  Current assets (including cash at bank 6,820)

  9,635

  Current liabilities

  4,251

  Long term liabilities

  2,444

  Total assets

  3,683

  Reserves

  Total reserves

  3,683

  Revenue

  1,733

  TEC committed reserves

  1,950

  Source

  Sheffield TEC Annual Audited Accounts for year ending 30 March 1997.

  School Security
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will estimate the number of assaults made on teachers by(a) pupils,

  295
  (b) parents and (c) others in the last academic year; what assessment he has made of the trends in those numbers; and what plans he has to tackle the problem of assaults on teachers; [28979]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of times the police were called to deal with incidents in schools in the last academic year; and what assessment he has made of the trend in the number of such incidents. [28980]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information is not collected centrally on either the number of assaults on teachers or the number of times police are called to deal with incidents at schools. We recently issued guidance, 'School Security: Dealing with Troublemakers', to help schools deal promptly and effectively with such difficult incidents. We have also announced a further programme of grants to help improve security in schools, supporting an extra £22 million of spending in 1998–99.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if students beginning courses in 1999–2000 and beyond will be eligible to claim travel allowance on the same basis as at present. [29211]

  Dr. Howells
  We are considering the detail of some of the supplementary allowances for new students in 1999–2000 and beyond, including travel. In considering the arrangements for travel we will have regard to the particular circumstances in Scotland.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who will be responsible for administering the new hardship loan scheme; how much money in total has been allocated for this purpose; how much each individual student will be able to claim in the form of a hardship loan; if all students who apply will be given a hardship loan; when and how those who take out hardship loans will be expected to repay them; and if he will make a statement. [29212]

  HSE Area

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Total

  Midlands

  1.00

  —

  1.00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.00

  North West

  1.00

  —

  2.00

  1.00

  —

  —

  —

  4.00

  Wales & West

  3.00

  2.00

  14.00

  3.00

  2.00

  1.00

  —

  25.00

  Scotland

  —

  8.00

  4.00

  9.00

  2.00

  —

  —

  23.00

  Yorkshire & North East

  1.00

  —

  1.00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.00

  London & South East

  —

  3.00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3.00

  Home Counties

  1.00

  3.00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4.00

  Total

  7.00

  16.00

  22.00

  13.00

  4.00

  1.00

  —

  63.00

DEFENCE

  Trident
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of the Trident programme in the next financial year. [28205]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 11 February 1998,Official Report, columns 240–41.
  296
  Dr. Howells
  £5 million has been made available in 1998–99 in England and Wales. New students starting their courses after 1 September 1998 who are eligible for the normal student loan will be eligible to apply additionally for the hardship load, which is discretionary and intended to contribute towards the living costs of students in financial hardship. The amount available to individual students will be £250 per year. The hardship loan will be repayable on an income contingent basis under similar arrangements to the normal loan.

  The other points raised are currently being considered and we will be consulting interested parties on the details shortly.

  Mines and Quarries
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many improvement notices have been issued against employers relating to the control of dust at work for each of the geographical areas of the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate for each year over the last 20 years. [28637]

  Angela Eagle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not issued any improvement notices in respect of mines.

  For mines, the Coal Mines (Respirable Dust) Regulations 1975 apply and these require the owner of a coal mine to notify HSE's Inspectorate of Mines when the levels of dust exceeds the permitted amount. The information in respect of notifications to HSE's Inspectorate of Mines for each year over the last 20 years for each geographical area could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The HSE has issued improvement notices in relation to the control of dust or other substances hazardous to health in quarries. Details of the numbers of improvement notices issued in each geographical area since 1990 are available and are as shown. The geographical areas represent the current HSE Regional structure.

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25857]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of casual, fixed term appointees and special advisers appointed between 1 May and 30 November 1997, which is the latest information available, is 3,032, broken down as follows:

  Special advisers:

  Fixed term appointments: 840

  Casual appointments (including sandwich course students): 2,190.

  297
  This figure does not include fee earners such as consultants, chaplains and medical staff.

  The 840 fixed term appointments includes, for example, management accountants brought in to implement Resource Accounting and Budgeting, and administrative support staff at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow. Casual staff are employed for a variety of reasons, for example, to cover temporary increases in workload, maternity or long term sick leave, and in situations where units or establishments are due to close.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department at grade three 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. [26924]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since 1 May 1997;(a) no civil servants within the Department at grade three or above have resigned; (b) two civil servants within the Department at grade three or above have retired before pensionable age;

  (c) nine civil servants within the Department at grade three or above have moved to different responsibilities.

  Civil servants are not normally directly responsible to individual Ministers but serve them collectively.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [27455]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: Since 1 May 1997, two Grade 3 officials within the Department have taken early retirement.

  Information on official leave is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  No officials at Grade 3 or above within the Department have been dismissed.

  Seven officials at Grade 3 have changed jobs within the Department. One official at Grade 2 has changed jobs within the Department. One official has changed jobs on promotion from Grade 3 to Grade 2.

  One official at Grade 3 has commenced a period on loan to another Department.

  No officials at Grade 3 or above have been offered and rejected alternative positions either within the Department or in another Department.

  Military Assistance Overseas
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1998,Official Report, column 244, if he will make a statement on progress to date on his review into the release of details of military assistance provided to other countries; and when he expects the review to be completed. [28495]
  298
  Dr. Reid
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him on 10 February 1998,Official Report, column 196.

  Annualised Budgeting
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of Ministry of Defence (P E) projects have been delayed by the need to conform to annualised budgeting in each of the years 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97; [28322]

  (2) what proportion of Ministry of Defence (PE) projects have incurred cost increases due to delay owing to annualised Ministry of Defence budgeting in each of the years 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, and 1996–97. [28321]

  Mr. Spellar
  The most recent report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the progress and costs of major projects (Major Projects Report 1996) identified budgetary constraints as a cause of delay on 13 out of the top 25 projects. However, the information on project cost increases is analysed on a different basis and not directly correlated to budgetary constraints.

  The forward defence programme is re-costed and, where necessary, adjusted annually to reflect the latest assessment of individual project timescales and costs, and to ensure that the programme remains affordable within projected annual provision.

  Information covering the five years in question as to the total numbers of projects which were changed solely to keep within projected annual budgets and any consequent cost increases could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  NATO Headquarters, Gibraltar
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the NATO headquarters in Gibraltar. [28660]

  Dr. Reid
  As part of the implementation of NATO's new command structure GIBMED, the NATO headquarters based in Gibraltar will close. The UK national headquarters in Gibraltar will continue to be available for NATO use when required, and NATO facilities will also remain based on Gibraltar. The defence and security of Gibraltar will of course remain the direct responsibility of the UK.

  Small Training Aircraft
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the small training aircraft the RAF proposes to purchase. [28794]

  Dr. Reid
  A competition is currently underway to procure flying hours to meet the University Air Squadron and Air Cadet flying requirements. The contract would also cover provision of a range of support services at the University Air Squadron sites. Bidders have offered a choice of aircraft which will be owned by the contractor. We have recently asked the bidders to 'revise or confirm' their prices and aircraft selection will be made following evaluation of their responses taking into account such
  299
  factors as cost, operational effectiveness, suitability for task and safety. I very much hope that this process will be completed within the next two months.

  Coastal Charts
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been employed in each of the last three years by the Royal Navy on coastal charts around Scottish territorial waters; what facilities for map making the Royal Navy maintains in Scotland; how many coastal survey charts have been produced by the Royal Navy for Scottish territorial waters in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [28550]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 11 February 1998]: The number of people employed in each of the last 3 years by the Royal Navy on surveys for coastal charts inside the Territorial Waters of the United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland and on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf adjacent to Scotland was:

  Year

  Number of personnel

  1995

  13

  1996

  13

  1997

  140

  These figures comprise the complements of the ships and Naval Parties which took part in those surveys. Additionally, in excess of 500 personnel at the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton, assisted in the compilation and production of charts covering Scottish waters during each year.

  There are no facilities for Chart production in Scotland, all such production being carried out centrally at the UK Hydrographic Office at Taunton. The Hydrographer of the Navy maintains a Chart Correction Unit at Faslane which currently employs 4 people.The number of new coastal Charts, and new editions of existing charts, covering UK Territorial Waters adjacent to Scotland which were produced following the surveys referred to above in the last 3 years were:

  Year

  New Charts

  New Editions

  1995

  1

  8

  1996

  7

  1

  1997

  14

  —

  Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Broughton Moor
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet representatives of the local community prior to any decisions being announced on the future of RNAD Broughton Moor, Cumbria. [29068]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have already written to my hon. Friend agreeing to meet Local Authority representatives with him.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) individuals and (b) organisations who have expressed an interest in developing the RNAD site at Broughton Moor, Cumbria. [29066]
  300
  Mr. Spellar
  Twenty expressions of interest in purchasing all or part of the site have been received since August 1991. Of this total, twelve, comprising one individual and eleven organisations, expressed an interest in developing the site. We have received three other expressions, of which two individuals and one organisation were interested in developing, but not purchasing, the site. I am not releasing the names of the companies or firms concerned under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he intends to announce his decisions on the future of RNAD Broughton Moor, Cumbria; [29067]

  (2) what surveys are being undertaken on the alternative disposal uses of Broughton Moor RNAD. [29069]

  Mr. Spellar
  A professional firm of Chartered Surveyors is currently advising the Defence Estate Organisation on potential alternative uses for the site. In addition, consideration is currently being given to what entitlement, if any, former owners might have under the Crichel Down Rules. When the former owner question has been resolved, it is intended to run a campaign inviting expressions of interest in the site.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1998,Official Report, columns 132–33, on the cost of decommissioning old buildings and equipment at AWE Aldermaston, when he expects to be able to provide the information. [28226]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is a convention that detailed information as to the outcome of the Department's Long Term Costings, of which the decommissioning of old buildings and equipment at AWE Aldermaston forms a part, and the projections and assumptions on which they are based, are not published. Accordingly, I am withholding this information under exemption 2, internal discussions and advice, of the Code of Practice on Government Information.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Queen's Counsel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) number and (b) percentage of members of the judiciary and other consultees who were asked for an opinion on the suitability of applicants for silk, declined to express an opinion in the last year for which figures are available. [28176]

  Mr. Hoon
  Of those asked for an opinion on the suitability of applicants for silk, during the current round, approximately 157 consultees have not commented, which represents 37 per cent. of the total number consulted.
  301

  Shrewsbury and Telford County Courts
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what volume of work was undertaken in(a) Shrewsbury and (b) Telford county courts each year since 1990. [27934]

  (a) Shrewsbury

  Year

  Summons

  Warrants issued

  Bankruptcy petitions

  High Court work

  Divorcepetitionsfiled

  MortgagePossessionActions

  Trials heard

  Arbitrations heard

  1997

  2,211

  939

  114

  221

  578

  149

  2

  315

  1996

  2,296

  1,061

  112

  276

  661

  181

  17

  367

  1995

  2,304

  1,034

  131

  317

  534

  167

  8

  207

  1994

  2,604

  1,445

  192

  406

  639

  177

  8

  181

  1993

  3,431

  1,949

  204

  316

  595

  162

  34

  294

  1992

  4,243

  2,504

  215

  444

  633

  271

  41

  244

  1991

  4,163

  2,535

  128

  721

  650

  328

  15

  268

  1990

  3,996

  2,131

  90

  762

  750

  301

  19

  128

  (b) Telford

  Year

  Summons

  Warrants issued

  Bankruptcy petitions

  High Court work

  Divorcepetitionsfiled

  MortgagePossessionActions

  Trials heard

  Arbitrations heard

  1997

  5,116

  2,069

  0

  0

  800

  278

  196

  409

  1996

  5,144

  2,142

  0

  0

  765

  390

  128

  343

  1995

  5,378

  2,407

  0

  0

  799

  435

  141

  265

  1994

  4,118

  2,266

  0

  0

  748

  340

  168

  259

  1993

  4,167

  3,180

  0

  0

  752

  490

  193

  263

  1992

  5,855

  4,477

  0

  0

  893

  697

  104

  243

  1991

  6,400

  4,565

  0

  0

  833

  781

  114

  226

  1990

  5,560

  4,118

  0

  0

  811

  439

  46

  190

  Note

  Bankruptcy petitions include company winding up, creditor and debtor petitions.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what spare capacity there is in Telford County Court. [27933]

  Mr. Hoon
  Telford County Court has three court rooms that are used approximately 40 per cent. of the time only.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many summonses for non-payment of a television licence have been heard at(a) Colchester and (b) Harwich magistrates' courts in the past 12 months. [28579]

  Mr. Michael
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information held centrally by my Department on the number of persons prosecuted under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 does not identify the offence of television licence evasion separately from other offences under these Acts.

  In 1996, there were 922 persons prosecuted (under summons) at Colchester Magistrates' Court for offences under the above Acts. This figure includes intake from the Harwich court, which was amalgamated with Colchester during 1996.
  302
  Mr. Hoon
  The volume of work undertaken by(a) Shrewsbury and (b) Telford county courts since 1990 is as follows:

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Overseas Visits
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost to public funds of travel by spouses and partners of Ministers of each of the last five years. [25884]

  Dr. David Clark
  This information is not available [for the whole period requested]. The total cost of Ministerial travel over the last five years was set out by the Prime Minister on 9 February 1998,Official Report, columns 16–17.

CABINET OFFICE

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he has discussed the matters raised with Commissioner Liikanen during his recent meeting with(a) Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) representatives of the Prime Minister's Office. [28740]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I was accompanied at the meeting by a senior official from UKRep Brussels. The main points arising from my meetings in Brussels have been reported in the normal way.
  303
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio in what capacity he recently met Commissioner Liikanen; what matters were discussed; at whose request the meeting took place; from which Department the civil servants present came; and if he will make a statement. [28739]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I met Commissioner Liikanen in the course of a programme arranged by the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep). I discussed with Commissioner Liikanen his responsibilities for budget, management and staffing issues. I was accompanied by a senior official from UKRep.

  Florence Lecture
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio in what capacity he gave his Florence lecture in January; at what public expense; and what consultations he had with representatives of the Foreign Office beforehand. [28741]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I was invited by HM Ambassador, Rome to give the lecture at the European University Institute as the first in a series of lectures to mark the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union. The cost of my visit was approximately £970.

  Expenditure on local authority owned new-build and acquisitions

  £000

  Estimated Outturn

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Barking and Dagenham

  222

  876

  176

  1,419

  2,016

  696

  529

  122

  Barnet

  2,116

  364

  93

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bexley

  302

  8

  4

  —

  30

  —

  —

  —

  Brent

  230

  169

  44

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley

  1,041

  206

  103

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Camden

  1,488

  397

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24

  392

  309

  168

  Croydon

  19,682

  2,727

  1,262

  313

  154

  6

  —

  —

  Ealing

  2,888

  369

  251

  153

  166

  318

  —

  —

  Enfield

  995

  106

  71

  253

  18

  1

  2

  —

  Greenwich

  1,078

  —

  56

  29

  35

  —

  —

  —

  Hackney

  4,067

  3,356

  3,748

  7,265

  —

  —

  65

  377

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  146

  —

  324

  88

  —

  —

  Haringey

  3,072

  1,916

  949

  624

  50

  4

  —

  —

  Harrow

  799

  1,679

  83

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Havering

  1,443

  15

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  5,601

  1,812

  485

  496

  300

  6

  179

  3,965

  Hounslow

  263

  49

  385

  995

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Islington

  1,572

  459

  3,335

  1,998

  679

  572

  5

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  122

  46

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,320

  93

  25

  219

  417

  85

  17

  102

  Lambeth

  3,510

  1,316

  1,275

  370

  1

  112

  139

  2,092

  Lewisham

  3,710

  2,347

  56

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Merton

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newham

  4,762

  2,768

  867

  206

  30

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  —

  160

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Richmond upon Thames

  31

  17

  18

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Southwark

  4,016

  719

  33

  —

  1

  1,496

  9,185

  10,058

  Sutton

  3,892

  325

  45

  30

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  35

  2,733

  6,432

  3,445

  785

  2,745

  1,581

  2,704

  304

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio to what extent his ministerial responsibilities cover relations with(a) the European Union and (b) the European Commission. [28835]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I am a member of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on European Issues ((E)DOP).

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Housing (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since 1990 the total expenditure for each London borough on construction of(a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) co-operative housing and in each case the estimate for 1998–99. [27429]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 4 February 1998]: The available information is set out in the table, expressed in financial years. Estimates of expenditure outturn in 1998–99 are not yet available.

  Figures for housing associations and co-operatives are not available separately, and cannot be provided at local authority level for years prior to 1993–94.
  305

  Expenditure on local authority owned new-build and acquisitions

  £000

  Estimated Outturn

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Waltham Forest

  1,131

  4,655

  973

  79

  95

  34

  —

  2

  Wandsworth

  75

  21

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Westminster

  676

  61

  36

  —

  6985,826

  15

  —

  —

  London Total

  71,027

  29,723

  21,089

  17,946

  5,826

  6,571

  12,011

  19,590

  Notes:

  Expenditure on new housebuilding covers dwellings to be retained for letting, along with those built for sale under a variety of low-cost home ownership schemes (either by the authority directly or by private developers under licence), and specially designed/mobility dwellings for the sick, disabled or elderly.

  Expenditure is included on existing private sector properties acquired for redevelopment, and new dwellings purchased directly from developers for HRA rent, as are any land acquisition costs.

  Source:

  Housing Investment Programme (HIP2) annual returns.

  Expenditure on housing association and co-operatives new-build, and purchase and rehabilitation of private sector properties

  £000

  Outturn

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  April 1997-Jan 1998

  Barking and Dagenham

  4,509

  4,971

  12,230

  7,188

  4,147

  Barnet

  21,063

  14,790

  14,197

  7,084

  3,382

  Bexley

  5,513

  946

  3,782

  2,130

  1,010

  Brent

  36,063

  24,640

  17,159

  17,389

  4,770

  Bromley

  23,249

  9,808

  8,499

  6,181

  2,950

  Camden

  30,625

  20,194

  16,130

  10,735

  8,794

  City of London

  —

  657

  230

  643

  1,540

  Croydon

  28,503

  19,674

  9,922

  15,237

  12,003

  Ealing

  20,897

  20,806

  15,552

  12,753

  5,134

  Enfield

  15,860

  12,616

  6,252

  8,275

  2,460

  Greenwich

  15,068

  12,438

  7,407

  8,480

  4,300

  Hackney

  47,919

  33,286

  36,120

  24,272

  5,719

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  24,151

  23,299

  13,524

  15,347

  5,272

  Haringey

  27,743

  24,653

  22,404

  16,017

  7,727

  Harrow

  5,023

  5,751

  3,212

  3,747

  3,195

  Havering

  5,253

  2,413

  2,460

  3,660

  1,353

  Hillingdon

  14,812

  8,444

  12,104

  11,192

  3,448

  Hounslow

  9,818

  17,282

  5,357

  8,948

  3,534

  Islington

  22,996

  22,638

  12,180

  18,621

  9,957

  Kensington and Chelsea

  27,232

  26,515

  16,399

  8,457

  17,797

  Kingston upon Thames

  5,932

  3,421

  3,668

  4,522

  1,145

  Lambeth

  28,427

  30,648

  20,981

  15,846

  7,816

  Lewisham

  24,939

  19,095

  13,705

  11,341

  4,538

  Merton

  17,622

  7,071

  2,683

  4,316

  2,594

  Newham

  25,467

  20,577

  19,666

  14,632

  5,389

  Redbridge

  5,934

  5,838

  5,628

  7,406

  2,657

  Richmond upon Thames

  9,066

  4,986

  4,296

  3,231

  2,406

  Southwark

  43,019

  24,711

  17,181

  13,651

  4,156

  Sutton

  8,017

  5,092

  4,450

  4,548

  1,618

  Tower Hamlets

  22,140

  16,137

  9,921

  12,270

  6,633

  Waltham Forest

  20,577

  9,957

  9,008

  14,584

  3,630

  Wandsworth

  23,938

  16,077

  12,931

  5,889

  9,136

  Westminster

  31,014

  34,099

  32,920

  16,389

  4,470

  London Total

  652,389

  503,530

  392,158

  334,981

  164,680

  Notes

  Costs of any associated land acquisition, and of Co-operative housing expenditure, are included but cannot be separately identified.

  Source:

  Housing Corporation returns.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to respond to the recommendation of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee that the Government should address the circumstances in which radioactive sources should be defined as wastes. [28469]
  306
  Angela Eagle
  We are considering the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's advice on the import and export of radioactive waste, which included the question of when radioactive sources are defined as waste, with a view to developing detailed guidance for the regulators. Such guidance will be subject to public consultation.
  307

  Vehicle Checks
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how frequently the Vehicle Inspectorate are carrying out vehicle checks at Portsmouth and Poole following consultations with the ferry companies; and what is the difference in the level of checks since last year. [27708]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 12 February 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how frequently the Vehicle Inspectorate are carrying out vehicle checks at Portsmouth and Poole following consultations with the ferry companies; and what is the difference in the level of checks since last year.
  During 1996/97 the number of checks were as follows:
  Portsmouth: 4 per month
  Poole: 2 per month.
  We carry out vehicle checks at ports with the agreement of the port authorities and aim to ensure that all ports are treated fairly and equitably in the way we carry out our enforcement activity. Owing to one port requiring us to reduce our activity, we have accordingly regulated vehicle checks at other ports to ensure ' they are proportionate with the volume of traffic coming in. As a result, the level of checks for 1997/98 is as follows:
  Portsmouth: 4 per month until July and thereafter reduced to 2 per month
  Poole: 2 per month until December and thereafter reduced to 1 per month
  This does not represent a reduction in the level of our enforcement activity as resources will be redeployed on vehicle checks elsewhere.

  Asda Development
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on whether to call in the proposed Asda development in Wealdstone, Harrow. [28565]

  Mr. Caborn
  The planning application is under consideration and we hope to reach a decision shortly.

  Radioactive Material
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if radioactive material, whose destination is Sellafield, is routinely carried by aircraft whose flight paths cross Lancashire. [28505]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  British Nuclear Fuels Limited have informed me that radioactive material destined for Sellafield is not transported by air across Lancashire.

  Packing Waste
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage Railtrack and train operators to take responsibility for the packing waste generated by their retail activities. [28483]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The responsibility for packing waste rests with individual retailers. Railtrack and the train operating companies expect their tenants to meet the obligations set out in the Environmental Proctection 308
  Act 1990 and encourage them to keep station facilities free of litter. There are already Regulations in place to encourage larger businesses to recover and recycle more packaging waste. In a reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 17 December 1997, Official Report, columns 139–94, proposals were set out for a fundamental review of the Regulations in 1998.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy that a revised contract for the construction of a high speed rail link from the Channel Tunnel will continue to require(a) completion of the route in one phase, (b) termination at St. Pancras with a direct link to the West Coast Main Line and (c) availability of the route for freight; and if he will make a statement. [28335]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions made a statement to the House on 28 January 1998,Official Report, columns 466–74, about the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL). London and Continental Railways currently hold the Development Agreement for the CTRL and, through that, have 30 days from that time in which to come forward with revised proposals. My right hon. Friend will make a further statement about the CTRL in due course.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he will use in awarding the revised contract for the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [28604]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The case does not arise. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions made a statement to the House on 28 January 1998,Official Report, columns 466–74, about the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL). London and Continental Railways have 30 days from that time in which to come forward with revised proposals.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he has had with Railtrack to discuss its involvement in the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [28602]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend meets Railtrack from time to time to discuss a range of railway infrastructure issues, including Railtrack's thinking on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he had received in respect of Railtrack's interest in the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [28603]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from various quarters recently about the provision of Channel Tunnel Rail Link, including the possible future involvement of Railtrack.

  EU Driving Licence
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the EU states that have not yet fully implemented the first
  309
  EU driving licence as amended in 1991; and if he will list the EU states currently applying the discretionary approach allowed for in the 1991 revision. [27439]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: We do not have complete information about implementation of the Second EU driving licence directive (which repealed the first directive), or about practice in other Member States. However, we understand that Germany have not yet implemented the Directive and that infraction proceedings may be taken against them. We understand that Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and France make some use of the provision in the second directive allowing Group 2 licences to be issued to insulin-treated diabetics in very exceptional cases.

  Diabetic Drivers
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he proposes to take to enforce within the United Kingdom the conditions of the Second EC Driving Licence Directive relating to the driving of lorries between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes (cat. C.l) and minibuses with 9 to 16 passenger seats (cat. D.l.) by insulin-treated diabetics in order to ensure that EU licence holders from EU countries that have not fully implemented the relevant directive (91/439) will not be able to drive on United Kingdom roads. [27440]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: The second directive requires licences issued by Member States to be mutually recognised. This applies to licences issued both before and after the directive came into force. It is for the European Commission to monitor implementation of the Directive and, if necessary, take action against those Member States which have not complied with its requirements. Drivers of vehicles in categories C and D (including C1 and Dl) who become resident in the UK are required to register with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and to meet the medical standards applying in this country.

  Housing (Hampshire)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the Southampton City Council area in each of the last five years. [27557]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in Southampton are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing
  310
  Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Approved

  Development Programme

  2.99

  4.36

  2.14

  3.80

  2.22

  Local Authority

  Social Housing Grant

  2.11

  2.56

  1.21

  1.26

  0.80

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the Winchester City Council area, in each of the last five years. [28333]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in Winchester are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwellings for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Approved

  Development Programme

  1.45

  1.39

  0.78

  1.87

  0.27

  Local Authority

  Social Housing Grant

  0

  0.06

  0.47

  1.61

  0.63

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.
  311
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the East Hampshire District Council area in each of the last five years. [27565]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in East Hampshire are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  1994–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Approved Development Programme

  1.46

  1.79

  0.41

  1.33

  0.21

  Local Authority Social Housing Grant

  1.08

  1.17

  0.08

  4.29

  1.04

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the Hart District Council area, in each of the last five years. [28361]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in the Hart District Council area are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new
  312
  home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Approved

  Development Programme

  0.13

  0.65

  0

  0.89

  0.31

  Local Authority

  Social Housing Grant

  0.45

  2.89

  1.00

  1.94

  1.45

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council area in each of the last five years. [27573]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 11 February 1998]: The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council area are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Approved Development Programme

  1.00

  0.79

  0.83

  0.68

  0.54

  Local Authority Social Housing Grant

  8.45

  4.41

  11.46

  7.82

  2.60

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.
  313
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many people have been accepted onto the homeless register of Gosport Borough Council in each of the last five years; [27577]

  (2) what is the total number of registered homeless people in the Gosport Borough Council area. [27578]

  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 Gosport for the calendar years 1992 to 1996 and the first 9 months of 1997.

  Year

  Homelessness acceptances

  1992

  161

  1993

  225

  1994

  223

  1995

  206

  1996

  204

  19971

  135

  1 Data for three 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.

  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 Gosport Borough Council area in each of the last five years. [27579]

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

  Gosport Borough Council: social housing new build: completions

  Numbers of dwellings

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Registered social landlords: housing associations

  49

  92

  266

  32

  109

  Local authority

  31

  14

  0

  0

  0

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the Gosport Borough Council area in each of the last five years. [27580]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.
  314
  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in the Gosport Borough Council area are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  Year

  Approved development programme

  Local authoritysocial housinggrant

  1993/94

  0.14

  2.46

  1994/95

  1.50

  0.90

  1995/96

  1.44

  1.67

  1996/97

  1.89

  1.53

  1997/98

  0.04

  0.59

  Notes:

  1. 1997/98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last three years from(a) public bodies, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) the private sector and (d) local associations in the Gosport Borough Council area about housing needs in that area. [27581]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Secretary of State receives a number of representations from groups and information is not held centrally in the format requested about housing needs.

  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 Gosport Borough Council area. [27582]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the number of properties that are under-occupied in Gosport Borough; and if he will make a statement. [27918]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Neither the Secretary of State nor the Local Authority have made any robust assessment of the number of properties that are under-occupied in Gosport Borough.

  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 Gosport Borough Council; and what were the equivalent figures at the same time in each of the last five years. [27919]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not collected centrally.
  315
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the Rushmoor Borough Council area in each of the last five years. [28371]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in the Rushmoor Borough Council area are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Approved

  development programme

  0.42

  1.71

  0.61

  1.00

  0.54

  Local authority

  social housing grant

  1.46

  2.50

  1.70

  5.54

  1.66

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.

  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 (i) Havant Borough, (ii) Eastleigh, (iii) Test Valley Borough and (iv) New Forest District council areas in the last three years. [28152]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last three years from(a) public bodies, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) the private sector and (d) local associations in the (i) Havant Borough, (ii) Eastleigh Borough, (iii) Test Valley and (iv) New Forest District council areas about housing needs for each area. [28153]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Secretary of State receives a number of representations from groups and information is not held centrally in the format requested about housing needs.
  316
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated by(a) his Department and (b) the Housing Corporation to support new social housing in the (i) Havant Borough, (ii) Eastleigh, (iii) Test Valley Borough and (iv) New Forest District council areas in each of the last five years. [28154]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department provides funding for new social housing through grant-in-aid to the Housing Corporation. The grant is allocated to Registered Social Landlords through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities can also choose to invest in new social housing. Local authority spending on the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords which meets the Housing Corporation's criteria is reimbursed by Local Authority Social Housing Grant from the Corporation.

  Allocations for the provision of new social housing by Registered Social Landlords in the Havant, Eastleigh, Test Valley and New Forest areas are shown. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwellings for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). Expenditure on these home ownership schemes is excluded from the figures.

  £ million

  Area

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Havant Borough

  Approved development programme

  1.36

  2.31

  1.05

  0.55

  0.63

  Local authority social housing grant

  1.12

  6.71

  1.38

  1.21

  1.18

  Eastleigh

  Approved development programme

  1.55

  1.21

  1.00

  0.49

  0.08

  Local authority social housing grant

  0.20

  0.93

  0.57

  3.79

  0.26

  Test Valley Borough

  Approved development programme

  0.82

  0.47

  0.75

  0.73

  0.60

  Local authority social housing grant

  0.40

  0.45

  1.17

  0.87

  0.08

  New Forest District

  Approved development authority

  2.57

  3.18

  0.48

  1.95

  1.38

  Local authority social housing grant

  3.66

  1.74

  2.29

  1.40

  1.21

  Notes:

  1. 1997–98 figures are start of year allocations.

  2. The figures include allocations for new build social housing and the purchase and rehabilitation of existing private sector properties for social housing. The figures exclude allocations for: works to existing stock owned by Registered Social Landlords; temporary social and market rent housing; grants to help tenants buy a new home and vacate their existing property for reletting; and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are on the housing(a) transfer and (b) waiting lists

  317
  of the (i) Havant Borough, (ii) New Forest District, (iii) Test Valley Borough and (iv) Eastleigh Borough councils; and what were the equivalent figures at the same time in each of the last five years. [28155]

  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; no data are collected centrally on transfer lists. The reported data for 1997 and the previous 5 years are as follows:

  Havant

  New Forest

  Test Valley

  Eastleigh

  1992

  1,965

  502

  2,997

  1,789

  1993

  2,074

  546

  2,788

  1,844

  1994

  1,959

  672

  2,561

  1,090

  1995

  2,131

  760

  2,199

  643

  1996

  2,194

  771

  1,781

  1,409

  1997

  2,120

  746

  1,873

  967

  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' practices may change which can also affect comparisons over time.

  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 Rushmoor Borough Council area. [28370]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Waste Water Treatment
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of each type of treatment of waste water currently undertaken in the UK on bathing water quality; [28708]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the advantages of the use of ultra-violet treatment of sewage in waste water treatment facilities; [28842]

  (3) what is the Government's policy on the inclusion of ultra-violet treatment of sewage in waste water treatment facilities. [28843]

  Angela Eagle
  Bathing water quality monitoring shows that, depending on local circumstances, the required water quality standards can be met by a wide range of treatment methods and outfall arrangements. The approach to treatment will vary accordingly and with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This is a matter, in the first instance, for the discharger and the environmental regulator.

  On the issue of the advantages of ultra-violet treatment of sewage effluent, 1 refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 613.

  South Downs
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make 318
  a statement on the timetable for considering the results of the recent consultation on the future of the South Downs. [28653]

  Angela Eagle
  The Countryside Commission are currently considering the results of the recent consultation on the future of the South Downs and hope to bring the results and advice to Ministers in the late Spring.

  Waste Fuels (Burning)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ban the burning of hazardous composite waste fuels by industry. [28968]

  Angela Eagle
  The burning of such waste derived fuels by industry is regulated under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) regime. The Environment Agency is responsible for the enforcement of both IPC and the waste management licensing regime in England and Wales. These regimes provide for rigorous controls and the Agency has powers to prevent or prohibit potentially harmful industrial activities, where it sees fit. The Government have made it clear that they expect the Agency, in performing its functions, to set appropriate standards which fully protect public health and the environment and then to enforce those standards firmly, in accordance with its statutory duties. We expect the Environment Agency to continue to consider applications to burn fuels comprised of waste on their merits, in this light.

  Strategic Environmental Assessment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will support the European Union's draft directive on strategic environmental assessment. [29020]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government have decided not to put the proposed directive on environmental assessment of plans and programmes to the Council of Ministers during the UK Presidency. However, we support the principle of environmental appraisal at all stages of decision making. Guidance has been published to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account by Government Departments and agencies and by local authorities, and further work on this is in hand.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people were diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma in(a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) 1996 in each (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area. [29235]

  Angela Eagle
  Data on cancers, including mesothelioma, are collected by regional cancer registries, but the latest complete year for which data are available is 1991. The Health and Safety Executive maintains registers of deaths in Great Britain for which mesothelioma is mentioned on the death certificate. The numbers of mesothelioma deaths in 1993, 1994 and 1995 by local authority are shown in table 1 which has been placed in the Library of the House. Information on mesothelioma deaths is not yet available for 1996 or for parliamentary constituencies.
  319

  Air Quality
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the forthcoming Finance, Management and Policy Review of the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards. [29751]

  Mr. Meacher
  As part of the Government's programme of regular, five-yearly finance, management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies my Department will conduct a thorough review of the advisory Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards, beginning immediately. The first stage of the review will take a "prior options" study. This will assess the extent to which the Panel's functions are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether there is scope for privatising, contracting out or transferring all or part of its functions to another body. This is the first such review of the Panel.

  To minimise the uncertainty the prior options study will cause, I expect that study will be completed within three months. Should the Government conclude at the end of the prior options stage that the Panel should continue its work, there will be a further review of its finance,

  Belfast City Council

  Percentage

  Votes cast for each political party in May1997 elections

  Council seats won by each political party

  Council committee chairs and vice-chairs by political party1

  Council members in each party nominated to outside bodies1

  Council members in each party represented on partnership boards

  Alliance

  9.19

  11.76

  21.88

  16.47

  9.09

  Democratic Unionist party

  12.13

  13.73

  18.75

  17.64

  10.91

  Independent Unionist

  0.38

  1.96

  3.13

  —

  0.91

  Progressive Unionist party

  9.17

  5.88

  6.25

  3.53

  10.00

  Sinn Fein

  27.60

  25.49

  —

  3.53

  22.73

  Social Democratic and Labour party

  15.64

  13.73

  9.37

  8.24

  16.36

  Ulster Democratic party

  2.38

  1.96

  —

  —

  3.64

  Ulster Unionist party

  18.86

  25.49

  40.62

  50.59

  26.36

  Others

  4.65

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Information supplied by Belfast City Council.

  Witnesses
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to interview the potential witnesses who came forward in response to a public appeal by Christy Walsh published in the Irish News on 1 July 1996. [27400]

  Mr. Ingram
  This case now falls to be dealt with by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Any new evidence should therefore be made available to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received on extending the statutory remit of the SACHR in line with 320
  management and policy functions. The time required for this second review cannot be foreseen, but I would expect it to last no more than a further three months.

  In carrying out the study my Department will consult the Environment Agencies and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, representatives of local authorities, business and industry, environmental and health groups, experts in the field of air pollution and health and others with an interest in the Panel's work.

  Comments from interested parties would be welcome by 23 March 1998.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Belfast City Council
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of votes were cast for each political party in the May 1997 elections for Belfast City Council; what proportion of council seats was won by each political party; what proportion of council committee chairs and vice-chairs has been allocated to each political party; what is the proportion of council members in each party nominated to outside authorities; and what is the proportion of council members in each party represented on partnership boards. [27401]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information is as follows:

  the Paris Principles endorsed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993; and if she will make a statement. [27404]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights raised this with me for the first time at a meeting on 4 February. SACHR have for many years been providing advice on issues beyond those set out in their statutory remit; this is a situation that has been endorsed by successive Secretaries of State. I am aware of a call from SACHR to extend the statutory base and will take their views strongly into account in any decision that I take.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to respond to the 1996–97 report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights. [27403]
  321
  Marjorie Mowlam
  I issued a full response to the twenty-second Annual Report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on 3 February.

  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the organisations and other interested parties which have been consulted anent her response to the recommendations of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if she will make a statement. [28628]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I consulted no organisations or other interested parties outside Government before issuing my response to the Commission's recent annual report.

  Prisoners
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many prisoners currently serving(a) a determinate sentence and (b) a life sentence in each paramilitary faction are due to be released in each year until the last is released; [27394]

  (2) many republican and loyalist prisoners have time left to serve of (a) one year or less, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years, (e) five years, (f) six years, (g) seven years, (h) eight years, (i) nine years, (j) 10 years, (k) 11 years, (l) 12 years, (m) 13 years, (n) 14 years, (o) 15 years, (p) 16 to 20 years, (q) 21 to 25 years, (r) 26 to 30 years, (s) 31 to 35 years, (t) 36 to 40 years and (u) over 40 years. [27395]

  Mr. Ingram
  Statistical information in the format requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I will arrange for a written reply to my hon. Friend which details available information on prisoners with perceived paramilitary affiliations serving both determinate and indeterminate sentences in Northern Ireland for offences connected to terrorism and their sentence lengths.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the staffing levels of the RUC in each Belfast sub-division broken down by(a) gender and (b) perceived religious/community origin. [27402]

  Mr. Ingram
  The tables indicate the staffing levels of the RUC in each Belfast sub-division by gender and perceived religious/community origin as at 1 January 1998.

  Location

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Musgrave Street

  262

  30

  292

  Mountpottinger

  133

  12

  145

  Donegall Pass

  138

  14

  152

  Dunmurry

  131

  15

  146

  Grosvenor Road

  215

  25

  240

  Woodbourne

  142

  14

  156

  Lisburn

  201

  19

  220

  Antrim Road

  208

  32

  240

  North Queen Street

  155

  19

  174

  Tennent Street

  150

  15

  165

  Newtownabbey

  188

  23

  211

  Carrickfergus

  95

  14

  109

  Antrim

  196

  18

  214

  Strandtown

  352

  22

  374

  Castlereagh

  376

  43

  419

  Bangor

  145

  19

  164

  Stormont

  931

  167

  1,098

  Urban Region

  4,018

  501

  4,519

  322

  Sub-division

  CB1

  CB2

  CB3

  Total

  Musgrave Street

  261

  26

  5

  292

  Mountpottinger

  125

  14

  6

  145

  Donegall Pass

  138

  10

  4

  152

  Dunmurry

  133

  11

  2

  146

  Grosvenor Road

  209

  20

  11

  240

  Woodbourne

  132

  15

  9

  156

  Lisburn

  192

  16

  12

  220

  Antrim Road

  204

  23

  13

  240

  North Queen Street

  149

  18

  7

  174

  Tennent Street

  152

  7

  6

  165

  Newtownabbey

  182

  25

  4

  211

  Carrickfergus

  95

  9

  5

  109

  Antrim

  188

  19

  7

  214

  Strandtown

  339

  19

  16

  374

  Castlereagh

  368

  34

  17

  419

  Bangor

  145

  16

  3

  164

  Stormont

  974

  89

  35

  1,098

  Urban

  3,986

  371

  162

  4,519

  CB1—Perceived to be from the Protestant community.

  CB2—Perceived to be from the Roman Catholic community.

  CB3—Other.

  Note:

  The figures shown in the tables relate to RUC Regulars. The figures for the Stormont sub-division include HQ stations (ie Brooklyn, Garnerville, Rnocknagoney, Stormont, Lisnasharragh and Ladas Drive).

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate the gross cost of setting up mechanisms for the means testing of citizens of other EU member states to assess their eligibility to pay tuition fees. [27717]

  Mr. Worthington
  No realistic estimate of cost is yet possible.

  Decisions about joining the Department for Education and Employment scheme and an estimate of the cost will be made in the light of the outcome of consultations with Education and Library Boards.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which district councils have submitted Section 31 Reviews to the Fair Employment Commission. [27954]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Fair Employment Commission has received section 31 reviews from all 26 District Councils.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which district councils did not meet the requirements of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 in respect of affirmative action and outreach programmes in the recent monitoring reviews; and what action will be taken in respect of them. [27955]

  Mr. Ingram
  The findings of individual employers' Section 31 reviews and any action arising from these is a matter for the employers and the Fair Employment Commission (FEC). The FEC has advised me that it is its policy not to comment publicly about its discussions with individual employers and their Section 31 reviews.

  The Commission has advised me that there are 15 Councils with whom it is still in discussion about their affirmative action programmes.
  323
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to place the Policy Appraisal Fair Treatment guidelines on a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement. [28627]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights has provided a major report on Employment Equality which includes over 160 recommendations, one of which is to place PAFT on a legislative basis. The important thing is that, whatever system we have for injecting equality of opportunity into Government policy in Northern Ireland, it really is an effective one. The Government's consideration of the recommendations, including those on Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment, is well advanced and the Government's response will be given in a full document to be published shortly.

  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to meet representatives of(a) the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, (b) the Fair Employment Commission, (c) the Equal Opportunities Commission and (d) the Commission for Racial Equality before she publishes her response to the Employment Equality Review; and if she will make a statement. [28626]

  Mr. Worthington
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will meet with representatives of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights to discuss the Employment Equality Review on 20 February. It is also proposed to have a Ministerial meeting with representatives of the Fair Employment Commission prior to publication of the Government's forthcoming paper on employment equality. If appropriate, meetings may be arranged with the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland and the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland.

  Political Prisoners
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contact either she or her officials have had with the South African Government concerning processes for the release of political prisoners; what assessment she has made of the applicability of such processes to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [29073]

  Mr. Ingram
  A number of the participants in the political process and others have made proposals to the Government in respect of prisoners. Some of these proposals have cited the process in South Africa as an example and as a consequence the Prison Service requested factual information from the South African High Commission in November of last year. To date no response has been received and no assessment has been made of the applicability of such processes to Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is aware of the significant differences between the situations and does not imagine that solutions adopted in one environment will transfer to another. However, she has said that she is prepared to discuss prisoner issues with the participants in the talks process and to work on an account of what could happen in respect of prisoner releases in the context of a peaceful and lasting settlement being agreed. The request for information regarding the approach to the issue taken in other jurisdictions is fully consistent with that undertaking.
  324

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  MI6
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will release for public scrutiny the files held by MI6 relating to the Zinoviev letter. [24746]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: The records of the Secret Intelligence Service are not released: they are retained under Section 3 (4) of the Public Records Act 1958. Having reviewed the arguments, I recognise that there is an overwhelmingly strong reason for this policy. When individuals or organisations co-operate with the service, they do so because an unshakeable commitment is given never to reveal their identities. This essential trust would be undermined by a perception that undertakings of confidentiality were honoured for only a limited duration. In many cases, the risk of retribution against individuals can extend beyond a single generation.

  But I want to be as open as I can. The records of the SIS for the relevant period are incomplete, and offer an inconclusive picture on whether the Zinoviev letter was a forgery. But I have commissioned the FCO Historians to write a short memorandum, drawing on papers held by the SIS, as well as those in the FCO archives. When the memorandum has been prepared, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Theft and Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the cost of theft and fraud to(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 to date. [27797]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]:

  Cost of theft and fraud

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98 to date

  FCO

  54,408

  32,606

  121,385

  Agencies

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  NDPBs (British Council)

  76,518

  35,050

  16,216

  Great Lakes Region
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he proposes to restrict the export of arms from the EU to the Great Lakes Region. [28971]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  A variety of initiatives exist to restrict the export of arms from the EU to the Great Lakes region. Arms exports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo are prohibited under an EU arms embargo imposed against the then Zairean regime in 1993. Arms exports to Rwanda are subject to a UN embargo imposed following the 1994 genocide. In 1995 this embargo was lifted in respect of the Government of Rwanda. Its restrictions still apply to arms exports to neighbouring countries, including Burundi, if that supply is for end use within Rwanda.
  325
  All applications to export arms to the Great Lakes are scrutinised on a case by case basis. Under the arms export criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29, we will not issue an export licence if there is a clearly identifiable risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression or international aggression. The need not to affect adversely regional stability, and the risk of the export being re-exported or diverted to an undesirable end-user, will also be taken into account.

  Diplomatic Personnel
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about(a) the payment of private school fees for the children of HM diplomatic personnel out of public funds and (b) the provision of return air flights to and from the United Kingdom to the children of HM diplomatic personnel in posts overseas out of public funds. [28984]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has asked a number of questions about the independent review of FCO Overseas Allowances carried out by Sir Derek Hornby in 1996. Sir Derek's review includes recommendations on the provision of education for the children of HM Diplomatic Service Personnel overseas. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no communication with Treasury Ministers about the provision from public funds of return air flights to and from the UK to the children of HM Diplomatic personnel in Posts overseas.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of(a) providing return air flights to and from the United Kingdom out of public funds to the children of diplomatic personnel posted overseas and (b) the payment of school fees out of public funds for the children of HM diplomatic personnel. [28985]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We estimate that the cost of providing return air flights for such children who are being educated in the UK will be £895,000 in the current financial year. This excludes the cost of travel for children who are accompanying their parents to and from overseas Posts for which we have no separate estimates.

  We estimate that the education costs for the children of diplomatic personnel over the same period will be £10,708,000. Of this, Boarding School Allowance, which contributes to the cost of fees at UK boarding schools is £7,732,000, and the cost of education at local schools overseas is £2,976,000.

  Mr. Nazakat Ali
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 19 January (ref. no. 303198), for what reasons entry clearance has not yet been issued to Mr. Nazakat Ali. [29072]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Entry clearance was issued to Mr. Ali on 6 February 1998.
  326

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Brazilian Mahogany
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Attorney-General what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been(a) acquired and (b) specified by his Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28390]

  The Attorney-General
  My Department has not(a) acquired or (b) specified any Brazilian mahogany in 1996 or 1997.

  French Convalescent Home
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the decision of the Charity Commissioner to permit the disposal of the French Convalescent Home. [28681]

  The Attorney-General
  I do not have any power to review the decisions of the Charity Commissioners. Like other interested parties I could have appealed to the High Court and asked it to quash the Commissioners' decision but I was not persuaded that grounds for an appeal were made out.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his estimate of the total time and cost entailed in prosecuting those accused of cannabis offences in each of the past five years. [29136]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records of the time or cost committed to prosecuting particular offences.

PRIME MINISTER

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister how many secretarial and support staff work full-time in support of his political advisers. [25196]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 January 1998]: Four Personal Secretaries work full-time in support of the Special Advisers in 10 Downing Street.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times his wife has accompanied him on overseas visits; and what was the cost of her travel and other expenses. [25139]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 January 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 9 February 1998, Official Report, column 15.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Prime Minister how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to the staff of(a) No. 10 Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office under the Minister without Portfolio since 1 May. [25878]
  327
  The Prime Minister
  Twenty non-career civil servants have been appointed on fixed term contracts, as casuals or as Special Advisers to No. 10 Downing Street since 1 May 1997. None have been appointed to the Cabinet Office under the Minister without Portfolio since that date.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister how many non-career civil servants are employed in No. 10 Downing Street; and what was the number one year ago. [26011]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) today for the present figures. The number of people appointed on fixed-term contracts, as casuals or as Special Advisers in No. 10 Downing Street in the financial year 1996/97 was 15.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister how many non-career civil servants are employed as information officers in Government departments; and what the number was one year ago. [26010]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 January 1998]: A non-career civil servant is someone appointed other than on a permanent contract, e.g. fixed term appointments, casuals and special advisers. The figures are as follows:

  Department

  January 1997

  January 1998

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  0

  0

  Cabinet Office

  0

  0

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  0

  0

  Ministry of Defence

  3

  1

  Department for Education and Employment

  0

  3

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  1

  2

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  0

  1

  Department of Health

  5

  4

  Home Office

  0

  0

  Department for International Development

  0

  0

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  0

  0

  Northern Ireland Office

  0

  0

  Prime Minister's Office

  0

  3

  Scottish Office

  2

  2

  Department of Social Security

  0

  5

  Department of Trade and Industry

  1

  2

  HM Treasury

  0

  0

  Welsh Office

  0

  0

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a central contingency fund which Government departments may draw on to address the millennium computer compliance problem. [27285]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 February 1998]: Each department must find the funds required from within its own budget.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give overall responsibility for overseeing the millennium computer compliance problem in both the private and public sector to one Minister. [27284]
  328
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 February 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has responsibility for overseeing the millennium computer compliance problem in central Government systems. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set up Action 2000 to help turn awareness into action in the private sector. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade also chairs a Cabinet Committee to drive action across the public and private sectors to ensure that the national infrastructure is not damaged.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister what advice has been issued to strategic industries and Government departments on drawing up contingency plans in the event of the failure of computer systems to be millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [27869]

  The Prime Minister
  This is one of the issues which is being discussed by the Ministerial Group on the Millennium Date Change. With regard to contingency planning by Government departments I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 30 January 1998,Official Report, columns 403–04.

  Country Landowners Association
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister on which dates since 1 May he met representatives of the Country Landowners Association; and what matters were discussed. [27487]

  The Prime Minister
  I have had no formal meetings with representatives of the Country Landowners Association. Ministers in other Departments have met a wide range of groups with interests in countryside matters, including the Country Landowners Association, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Prime Minister how many people the Government estimate to be socially excluded; and if he will break down the figures by age group and sex. [27714]

  The Prime Minister
  There is no agreed measure of social exclusion. The Social Exclusion Unit has been asked as part of its work programme to draw up key indicators and recommend how these can be tracked to monitor the effectiveness in reducing social exclusion.

  Theft and Fraud
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of the cost of theft and fraud to(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non- departmental public bodies in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 to date. [27807]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: In respect of my office, nil.
  329

  Lost and Stolen Items
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [27808]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: In respect of my office, none.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the announcement of the appointment of the next Governor of the Bank of England has been delayed; and if he will make a statement. [28394]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 642.

  Welsh Consumer Council
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for the Welsh Consumer Council from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Welsh Office; and if he will make a statement. [28989]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to transfer responsibility for the Welsh Consumer Council from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Welsh Office.

  The position of the Welsh Consumer Council has been considered in the context of the creation of a National Assembly for Wales. The Government's present policy is that the functions of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will be transferred to the assembly. Consumer protection policy is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Ministerial Code
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Paymaster General submitted the case of his interest in the Orion trust to him for determination in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 109 of the Ministerial Code. [25486]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 26 January 1998]: No. This paragraph does not require every case to be submitted to me.

WALES

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each major new computer system that(a) his Department, (b) non-departmental bodies and (c) agencies under his responsibility have purchased in the last five years; what was the initial purchase cost and what was the final cost; what was each system's (i) planned and (ii) actual date of commissioning; what major computer systems will be purchased by bodies in categories (a), (b) and (c) in the next financial year; and what is their estimated cost. [27846]
  330
  Mr. Ron Davies
  The only major purchase by my Department in the last 5 years was £540,000 on the purchase of replacement hardware and software for a Unix computer system. The planned date of commissioning of this system is the end of February 1998. My Department has no plans for the purchase of major computer systems during the next financial year.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedure he intends to follow in designating locations in Wales, away from the main meeting place of the Assembly, where meetings can occur; and if plenary meetings of the Assembly will take place in these centres. [27480]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Decisions on holding meetings in locations other than the main Assembly building will be a matter for the Assembly to determine. It will also be for the Assembly to determine whether it holds plenary sessions in locations other than the main Assembly chamber.

  Welsh Office (Relocation)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost of relocating the Welsh Office from Cardiff to Swansea; and if he will make a statement. [27482]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have no plans to relocate the Welsh Office from Cardiff to Swansea. If I decide that the Assembly should be based in Swansea, the bulk of the support staff will still remain in Cathays Park, Cardiff.

  Farm Prices
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average price obtained by farmers in Wales for(a) lamb, (b) beef and (c) milk for each year since 1990. [28274]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information requested is as follows:

  Finished sheep and cattle prices

  Pence per kilo

  Year

  Finished Sheep1

  Finished Cattle2

  1990–91

  —

  104

  1991–92

  —

  106

  1992–93

  87

  114

  1993–94

  105

  128

  1994–95

  113

  121

  1995–96

  115

  122

  1 From January 1992, sheep price reporting has been undertaken on a liveweight basis. This followed the discontinuation of the variable premium scheme at the end of 1991. The market price is therefore now the producer's total return.

  2 Figures are derived from auction market information obtained from a sample of Welsh markets. The prices shown are liveweight averages for finished steers, heifers and young bulls.

  Note:

  The 1996–97 figure will be published in 'Welsh Agricultural Statistics 19971 available in March 1998.
  331

  Milk prices: average net prices paid to wholesale producers

  Pence per litre

  Year

  North Wales

  South Wales

  Gwent1

  1990–91

  19.089

  19.199

  19.137

  1991–92

  19.833

  19.964

  19.958

  1992–93

  20.881

  20.825

  20.932

  1993–94

  22.308

  22.136

  22.355

  1Figures for Gwent cannot be identified separately and those shown relate to the West Midlands region of the Milk Marketing Board of which Gwent forms a part.

  Note:

  Later figures are not available due to the demise of the Milk Marketing Board.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of alleged racism regarding the Welsh language have been reported to the Commission for Racial Equality during the past five years; how many have been acted upon; and if he will make a statement. [27973]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I understand the Commission for Racial Equality does not keep records that would readily enable it to identify any such cases. However if the hon. Member writes to the CRE at its London or Cardiff office with details of his specific concerns, CRE will, I am sure, make every effort to be helpful.

  Ministerial Transport
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of(a) Ministerial cars and drivers and (b) the Department's bill for taxis in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year. [27736]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The cost of Ministerial cars and drivers in my Department is as follows:

  1995–96: £183,778

  1996–97: £196,868

  1997–98: £165,115 (to date)

  1997–98: £203,900 (estimate).

  The information relating to the cost of taxis in my Department is not held centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders Institution, Colchester
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the capital cost of establishing the Young Offenders Institution, Colchester; [26237]

  (2) if the monitoring of those offenders who have served sentences at the Young Offenders Institution, Colchester, will continue after its closure; [26211]

  (3) what arrangements have been made in respect of those offenders who are serving sentences at the Young Offenders Institution, Colchester, after it closes. [26213]

  Ms Quin
  The cost of establishing Colchester Young Offender Institution was approximately £460,000. About £49,000 of this represented capital costs.
  332
  Data on young offenders will continue to be monitored after the closure of Colchester and the outcomes will be compared with those of other similar offenders.

  Those young offenders currently at Colchester who will not be able to complete their sentences there will be transferred to other establishments.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each major new computer system that(a) his Department, (b) non-departmental bodies and (c) agencies under his responsibility have purchased in the last five years; what was the initial purchase cost and what was the final cost; what was each system's (i) planned and (ii) actual date of commissioning; what major computer systems will be purchased by bodies in categories (a), (b) and (c) in the next financial year; and what is their estimated cost. [27840]

  Mr. Straw
  The available information for computer systems purchases over the past five years, with an initial purchase price over £500,000, is given in the table in cost bands to protect commercial confidentiality.

  Initial purchase cost band

  Computer system

  Date

  £500,000–£1,000.000

  Prison Service Local Inmate Database

  1994

  Criminal Cases Review Commission Information System

  1997

  £1,000,000–£5,000,000

  Prison Service Inmate (Criminal Justice Act 1992) Information System

  1993

  National Criminal Intelligence Service, Alert System

  1994

  Prison Service Personnel System

  1994

  Business and Accounting Strategic Systems, Resource Accounting System

  1995

  Prison Enterprise Services Management Information System

  1996

  Prison Service Industries and Farms System

  1996

  £5,000,000–£10,000,000

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Suspect Index System

  1993

  £10,000,000–£20,000,000

  Prison Service Inmate Information System

  1993

  Prison Service Finance System (FOCUS)

  1997

  Note:

  These figures exclude support, maintenance, Home Office costs, upgrades and infrastructure projects. No new computer systems over £500,000 are reported for the next financial year by the Home Office, Prison Service, United Kingdom Passport Agency, Forensic Service or Fire Service College.

  In addition, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is engaged in a major project using the Private Finance Initiative, which will introduce a new computerised casework system to replace the current paper-based processes.

  A full answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  333

  Consultants
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [26675]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: My estimate of expenditure of my Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) on external consultants is as follows:

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–981 (to date)

  1997–98

  Home Office

  210,200,000

  1,956,535

  557,975

  1,754,412

  Agencies

  210,200,000

  9,848,449

  3,300,000

  4,000,000

  NDPBs

  944,000

  713,000

  493,000

  580,000

  1To end November 1997 (latest available figure).

  2Estimated figure for Home Office and agencies.

  The cost savings resulting from the employment of external consultants by the Home Office, its agencies and NDPBs for each of the above years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Lost and Stolen Items
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [27788]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: Items recorded stolen or lost from the Home Office between 1 April and 30 September 1997, and valued at more than £25, are as follows:

  Nature of loss or theft

  Number of cases

  Laptop computers

  10

  Desktop personal computers

  6

  Computer printers

  3

  Computer disk drives and memory

  3

  Cash

  11

  Stock (office equipment, clothing)

  4

  Phonecards

  1

  Field Gates

  1

  Tools

  4

  Video equipment

  3

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the rates of absenteeism in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 to date; and if he will make a statement. [26676]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 10 February 1998, Official Report, column 116.
  334

  Service Providers
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken in the UK to give legal effect to the decision of the European Court of Justice in the cases of Vander Elst [1994] ECR 1–3803 on the rights of third country national employees of service providers based in another member state to provide services in the UK. [28302]

  Ms Quin
  We observe the terms of this judgment by not requiring work permits of third country national employees of service providers established in another member state when they are sent to fulfil a contract in the United Kingdom.

  Immigration
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-EEA family members who arrived in possession of entry clearance holding an EEA family permit have been refused entry by immigration officers at the British port of entry since 1 February 1997. [28296]

  Ms Quin
  We do not keep records of the number of persons refused entry in possession of a family permit, although we estimate that the numbers are very small.

  Passports
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports or identity documents purported to be issued by a member state presented by passengers on arrival in the UK have been the subject of inquiries with the authorities of the member state to determine(a) the document's genuineness and (b) that issue to the holder was correct since 1 February 1997. [28301]

  Ms Quin
  The information requested is not available. This is because Immigration Service document experts using specialist equipment and reference materials rarely need to consult the authorities of European Union member states to confirm the genuineness of a passport or identify document. It would be neither worthwhile nor cost effective to maintain statistical records in these circumstances.

  Security Service Files
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to disclose all representations received from members of the Government relating to the destruction of files held on them by the security service; [28037]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 3 February 1998, Official Report, column 589, for what reasons it is not his policy to give information about any representations he has received from hon. Members, Ministers or from other sources in relation to the destruction of files held by the security service; [28036]

  (3) for what reasons it is not his policy to specify the total numbers of representations received from (a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals in respect of the destructions of security service files. [28121]
  335
  Mr. Straw
  [holding answers 6 February 1998]: I am not prepared to give any information about representations received in relation to the destruction of files held by the Security Service, including the number of such representations, where the provision of such information might enable the identity of any individual to be deduced, or might give rise to speculation about their identity. 1 consider it important that people should feel free to make representations on such matters in the knowledge that their confidentiality will be respected. This applies to any representations from people in the categories mentioned by the hon. Member as it would to others.

  Hedges
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include the loss of light due to high hedges as a category of neighbour nuisance in the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords]; and if he will make a statement. [28518]

  Mr. Michael
  No. The proposal for anti-social behaviour orders in the Crime and Disorder Bill is intended to prevent criminal or near-criminal activity affecting families and communities. It is not intended to deal with neighbour disputes of this sort. We have no plans to amend the Bill to make special provision for such categories.

  Vehicles (Police)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers police officers have to intervene to prevent contractors removing a vehicle in circumstances where the police believe no offence has been committed. [28504]

  Mr. Michael
  I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind action taken by contractors on behalf of a local authority which carries out on-street parking enforcement under provisions contained in the Road Traffic Act 1991. The Act provides for orders to be made in respect of particular geographical areas which transfers the enforcement responsibility from the police to the local authority. Arrangements of this kind operate throughout London and in certain other parts of the country. Vehicles contravening parking regulations are issued with penalty charge notices (PCNs). The penalty charges are civil debts, due to the local authority and enforceable through a streamlined version of the normal civil debt recovery process.

  As the whole purpose of these parking provisions is to enable responsibility for enforcement to be transferred from the police to local authorities, the police have no specific powers to intervene in the type of situation which concerns my hon. Friend.

  Drivers who wish to dispute local authority enforcement action, which may include wheelclamping and vehicle removal, are entitled to make representations to the authority concerned. If these are rejected, they may
  336
  appeal to the independent adjudicators who are appointed by the Parking Committee for London which oversees local authority parking enforcement as the Metropolis under section 73 of the Road Traffic Act 1991.

  Alcohol (Petrol Stations)
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into the behaviour of people when buying alcohol from garages and petrol stations. [28326]

  Mr. George Howarth
  None.

  Brazilian Mahogany
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been(a) acquired and (b) specified by his Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28379]

  Mr. Straw
  There are no central records relating to the purchase of Brazilian mahogany for the Home Office. Initial inquiries suggest that none has been purchased or specified by my Department during 1996 or 1997, but this could be verified only at disproportionate cost.

  It is Home Office policy to ensure that, as far as possible, wood used in building works, furniture etc. comes from sustainably managed forests. Furniture purchased through the Department's central call-off contract does not use Brazilian mahogany, and the Home Office Procurement Manual states that, where possible, building materials using unsustainably produced tropical hardwoods should be avoided.

  Housing (Wormwood Scrubs)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many flats and houses are empty on the Wormwood Scrubs site; for how long they have been empty; and what plans exist for their future use. [28392]

  Ms Quin
  There are 19 empty flats at the Du Cane Road site as at 6 February 1998. All have become vacant since September 1997 and are in a deteriorating condition. Five flats remain occupied: these will not be re-allocated when they next become vacant.

  There are no plans to make further use of the dwellings as they are deemed to be beyond economic repair and potentially dangerous. The Prison Service plans to demolish them to enable redevelopment on the frontage of Wormwood Scrubs.

  Wormwood Scrubs also has two flats and one house that are not on the Du Cane Road site that are empty and on sale on the open market.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many, and what percentage of prisoners(a) nationally and (b) in Leicestershire are (i) of Asian origin and (ii) of Afro Caribbean origin. [28578]
  337
  Ms Quin
  Information on the ethnicity of prisoners is given in the table.

  Percentage of prisoners in prison by ethnic group on 31 December 1997

  Leicestershire

  England and Wales

  (Provisional) Ethnic Group

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  White

  82

  2,016

  81

  50,271

  Black African

  1

  30

  2

  1,387

  Caribbean

  6

  148

  8

  4,694

  Other

  3

  83

  3

  1,598

  Total

  11

  261

  12

  7,679

  South Asian Indian

  3

  84

  1

  788

  Pakistani

  2

  46

  2

  1,048

  Bangladeshi

  —

  7

  —

  146

  Total

  6

  137

  3

  1,982

  Chinese and Other

  1

  36

  3

  2,108

  Total

  100

  2,450

  100

  62,040

  Percentages have been calculated independently and may not sum to 100.

  The symbol '—' = less than 0.5 per cent.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners in(a) Leicestershire and (b) each individual prison in Leicestershire. [28575]

  Ms Quin
  The figures requested are given in the table.

  Total population of prisoners in prison in Leicestershire on 31 December 1997

  Prison

  Number

  Ashwell

  454

  Gartree

  363

  Glen Parva

  844

  Leicester

  333

  Stocken

  456

  Total

  2,450

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there were in Leicestershire prisons in 1997. [28576]

  Ms Quin
  The number of self-inflicted deaths in Leicestershire prisons from 1990 to date is given in the following table:

  Glen

  Year

  Ashwel l

  Gartree

  Parva

  Leicester

  Stocken

  1990

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1991

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1992

  2

  1

  1

  1

  0

  1993

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  1994

  0

  1

  0

  3

  0

  1995

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1996

  0

  1

  2

  1

  1

  1997

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1998 (to date)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Note:

  Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.
  338
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of suicides in British prisons. [28577]

  Ms Quin
  The Government are committed to doing everything possible to reduce the number of suicides in prisons.

  The Prison Service has a well-developed and well-respected strategy for caring for prisoners who are at risk of suicide or self-injury. It involves the identification and support of those prisoners who are considered to be at risk. Every prison has a multi-disciplinary suicide awareness team which meets regularly and oversees the implementation of the strategy in their establishment.

  Prison staff also work closely with the Samaritans, who befriend prisoners in crisis through visits to prisons and by telephone. Over the last five years, the Samaritans have been actively involved in setting up listener/befriender schemes in prisons where selected prisoners are trained to provide peer group support for fellow prisoners in crisis. Listener schemes provide a valuable contribution in reducing the likelihood of suicide and self-injury.

  I recently held a meeting with a range of representatives from interest groups concerned about suicides in prisons. The meeting provided a useful forum for the exchange of ideas on how to develop further strategies for reducing suicides in prisons.

  The suicide awareness support unit (SASU), in Prison Service headquarters, examines each death in prison custody to see whether lessons can be learnt. They also provide advice and support to establishments, particularly those who are experiencing a cluster of deaths. The suicide awareness strategy in establishments is also audited by the Prison Service standards audit team. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales has been asked to carry out a thematic review of suicides in custody.

  The Northern Ireland Prison Service reviewed its management guidelines on suicide awareness and prevention and published a revised policy document on 1 August 1996, individual or wing-based copies of which are available to staff in each prison. A synopsis of the guidelines identifying specifically the role and responsibilities of prison officers has been issued to every officer with prisoner contact in the Service.

  Multi-disciplinary suicide awareness and management groups meet in each prison at least quarterly to discuss local suicide management issues, identify potential difficulties and recommend appropriate action where necessary.

  The Samaritans provide regular support services in most prisons and are currently engaging with prison management in discussions regarding the potential for establishing the first listener scheme in a Northern Ireland prison later this year.

  The Scottish Prison Service is currently re-examining its suicide awareness and prevention strategy. A revised strategy document is to be implemented in the near future: revised documentation is to be piloted in four prisons over a one-month period to establish if it is workable. Upon completion of the pilot study, the findings will be acted on as appropriate and it is hoped that the strategy will be implemented in full shortly thereafter. Teams of three

  339
  staff from each prison are being trained in the delivery of the strategy: this process should be completed by the end of April. The pilot study is running in parallel with the current strategy.

  Artificial Earths
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number and location of artificial earths. [28484]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is not collected and we are not aware of any such estimates.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the steps he intends to take to promote best practice in eradicating domestic violence across Europe during Britain's Presidency of the EU. [28449]

  Mr. Michael
  Combating violence against women is a significant priority of the United Kingdom Government. In an address on 2 February to the European Parliament, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced that, during our Presidency, we shall be working closely with the Commission, fellow members and the European Parliament towards organising a Europe-wide Conference of member states and applicant countries including non-Governmental organisations. The purpose is to raise awareness of ways to tackle domestic violence and we hope the conference can be held towards the end of 1999. Our Presidency will also be co-ordinating European Union member states' approach to the meeting in March of the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women, a major theme of which will be violence against women. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary with responsibility for Women will be leading the European Union delegation and will deliver a speech on behalf of the European Union Presidency.

  Retractable Metal Batons
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review the use by the police of retractable metal batons; [28166]

  (2) what assessments of injuries sustained by the public his Department has evaluated since the introduction of new-style retractable metal batons. [28165]

  Mr. Michael
  Decisions about what types of baton to issue are the responsibility of individual chief police officers, except that, in the Metropolitan Police district, the Commissioner requires the consent of the Home Secretary as Police Authority before introducing a new piece of defensive equipment.

  The Home Office has not carried out any evaluation and has no plans at present to review the police use of metal retractable batons. The use of batons and other equipment is kept under review by the Self-Defence and Restraint Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers. In reaching decisions, chief officers also have available expert technical advice from the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch. This suggests that friction lock batons have an impact force slightly or moderately higher than the traditional wooden truncheon. Training provided to officers carrying metal retractable
  340
  batons emphasises that, when striking a suspect, areas such as the head and neck should be avoided except as a last resort because of the high probability of causing serious harm or death, and that officers must be prepared to justify striking such areas.

  Europol Officers
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with ministers of European Union countries concerning the issue of immunity of Europol officers; and if he will make a statement. [28848]

  Mr. Michael
  The immunities which will be granted to Europol officers are set out in the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of Europol, which was signed on 19 June 1997, following extensive discussions with all member states of the European Union at both ministerial and official level. The Protocol must be ratified by all member states before it enters into force. The United Kingdom will complete this process shortly: following debates in both Houses, an Order passed through the Privy Council on 17 December 1997.

  Europol will not be an operational police force, and its staff will not be able to perform executive policing functions. Their role will generally be limited to the handling of information and the analysis of criminal intelligence in support of the law enforcement agencies of member states. The immunities that they will be given will apply only in situations where they are performing these official functions, and in all other situations they will be subject to the legal process in the normal way. The Government believe that the immunities which will be granted to Europol officers are appropriate for the tasks which they will undertake and are necessary for the proper functioning of the organisation. Were Europol's role to be extended beyond what is allowed under the present Convention, there is specific provision in the Protocol requiring the question of privileges and immunities of its staff to be reviewed.

  Police Funding
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the real terms change in the level of Home Office(a) revenue, (b) capital and (c) total grant for the police from 1997–98 to 1998–99. [28846]

  Mr. Michael
  The latest Gross Domestic Product deflators issued by Her Majesty's Treasury indicate that the real terms change in the level of Home Office grants from 1997–98 to 1998–99 is:

  Revenue grant:?.2 per cent.

  Capital grant: -14.9 per cent.

  Total grants:?.8 per cent.

  Total grant also includes grant paid under section 48 of the Police Act 1996, party conferences grant, and loan charges grant paid on pre-1990 debt.

  Altcourse and Parc Prisons
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contractually specified(a) services and (b) facilities were not available when the Altcourse

  341
  and Parc prisons opened; what steps the Prison Service is taking to secure full contract compliance in each case; and if he will make a statement. [28841]

  Ms Quin
  Her Majesty's Prisons Parc and Altcourse opened one month and six months respectively ahead of their contractual opening date. This early opening was undertaken by the contractors in recognition of the Prison Service's urgent need for additional accommodation. Altcourse is building up its population ahead of schedule and thereby providing additional relief to the pressure on prisoner places in the north west.

  As a consequence of this early opening, some services and facilities were incomplete or not available when the prisons opened. Deficiencies have been, or are being, addressed at each prison in respect of the areas set out in the list.

  HMP Parc

  (a) Services

  the level of work and training;

  automatic transmissions between the prison's own information system (PIMS) and the Prison Service central database;

  a bail information scheme for prisoners;

  direct debiting of telephone costs from prisoners' cash;

  drug testing;

  prisoners' consultation committees; and

  arrangements for prisoners' visitors.

  (b) Facilities

  a creche for visitors' children.

  HMP Altcourse

  (a) Services

  throughcare;

  personal officer scheme;

  legal advice information;

  sentence planning;

  the levels of work and education;

  shop and haircutting arrangements;

  drug testing

  number of drug sniffer dogs;

  and arrangements for prisoners' visitors.

  (b) Facilities

  a creche for visitors' children;

  and fitting out of workshops.

  All of these have been brought to the contractors' attention in writing locally, as requiring remedial action. In addition, there have been, and continue to be, regular (approximately fortnightly) meetings at corporate level with the Prison Service to discuss issues of particular concern. When the prisons reach full occupancy, there will be a full audit of contractual compliance which will also ensure that remedial action is being implemented to an agreed timetable.

  Where specified performance measures are not being delivered, performance penalty points are being applied. Cumulatively, these may lead to a reduction in the contract price.

  Young Offenders
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15 and 16 year old females are on remand in(a) young offender units and (b) women's prisons in (i) London and (ii) the Home Counties. [28788]
  342
  Ms Quin
  The latest available information is for 31 December 1997. On that date, no females aged 15 or 16 years were held on remand in prisons in England and Wales.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of convictions of young offenders after admittance on remand to young offender units. [28786]

  Mr. Michael
  Information on the sentencing of young offenders held in remand at young offender units is not collected centrally. Information is available on the sentencing of young offenders remanded in custody by the court, although the place of remand is not available.

  Youths remanded in custody are usually remanded to local authority accommodation. Exceptionally, 15 or 16-year-old boys meeting certain conditions are remanded to a remand centre or prison. These conditions are:
  that the defendant is charged with a violent or sexual offence on one punishable in the case of an adult with imprisonment for a term of 14 years or more; or
  that the defendant has a history of absconding while remanded in local authority accommodation and is charged with or has been convicted of an imprisonable offence alleged or found or have been committed while he was so remanded; and—
  in either case, that the court considers that only a remand to a remand centre or prison would be adequate to protect the public from serious harm.

  In 1996, 70 per cent. of 15 or 16-year-old male defendants remanded in custody and charged with a violent or sexual offence (or one punishable in the case of an adult with imprisonment for a term of 14 years or more) were convicted. No information is available on either previous propensity to abscond or court deliberations.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offender units have an in-take of males in the age range of 15 to 21 years in(a) London and (b) the Home Counties. [28787]

  Ms Quin
  There is one young offender institution (YOI) in London, Her Majesty's YOI Feltham. This is the only YOI in London and the home counties which takes 15 and 16-year-old male offenders. In the home counties, there are seven YOIs. These are listed in the table with their age intake.

  At age 21, male offenders are deemed to be adults and on conviction will be sent to an adult prison.

  Young Offender Institutions in London and the Home Counties

  YOI

  Area

  Age intake

  Feltham

  London

  15–20

  Aylesbury

  Buckinghamshire

  18–20

  Chelmsford

  Essex

  17–20

  Colchester1

  Essex

  18–20

  Dover

  Kent

  18–20

  Reading

  Berkshire

  17–20

  Rochester

  Kent

  17–20

  Woodhill

  Buckinghamshire

  17–20

  343
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15 and 16 year old males were admitted on remand to young offender units in(a) London and (b) the Home Counties in each of the last five years; [28791]

  (2) how many 15 and 16 year old males were admitted on remand to young offender units in the last quarter for which figures are available in (a) London and (b) the Home Counties. [28790]

  Ms Quin
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Initial receptions of 15 and 16 year old males on remand intoYoung Offender Institutions in London and the Home Counties1992–1997

  Year

  London

  All remand1 Home Counties

  1992

  230

  4

  1993

  280

  —

  1994

  350

  2

  1995

  450

  2

  1996

  530

  —

  October-December 19972

  130

  —

  1 The figures for "all remand" record once only a person received as an untried prisoner who is subsequently received also as a convicted unsentenced prisoner

  2 Provisional figures.

  Prison Accommodation
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons had spare cell accommodation on 1 February. [28669]

  Ms Quin
  Spare accommodation is defined as the in use certified normal accommodation (CNA) at an establishment less the number of prisoners held on a specific date. The table lists the establishments reporting spare accommodation on 30 January 1998 (the nearest day to 1 February for which data are available).

  Establishments with In Use CNA greater than the population held on 30 January 1998

  Acklington

  Aldington

  Aylesbury

  Blundeston

  Brockhill

  Bullwood Hall

  Camphill

  Castington

  Colchester

  Coldingley

  Dartmoor

  Deerbolt

  Dover

  Drake Hall

  East Sutton Park

  Eastwood Park

  Erlestoke

  Featherstone

  Ford

  Foston

  Grendon

  344

  Haslar

  Hatfield

  Hewell Grange

  Hindley

  Hollesley Bay

  Holme House

  Hull

  Kingston

  Kirkham

  Kirklevington

  Lancaster

  Lancaster Farms

  Latchmere House

  Leyhill

  Lindholme

  Long Lartin

  Moorland

  Norton Hall

  North Sea Camp

  Onley

  Parc

  Prescoed

  Rochester

  Send

  Spring Hill

  Standford Hill

  Stoke Heath

  Styal

  Sudbury

  Swinfen Hall

  Thorn Cross

  Wealstun

  Weare

  Wellingborough

  Wetherby

  Whatton

  Wymott.

  Police (Bicycles)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department takes to encourage police officers to use bicycles while they are on patrol duty. [28656]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Office does not take any steps specifically to encourage the use of bicycles. Guidance on how police forces can make the most effective use of patrol is set out in the handbook, "Tackling patrol effectively", which was issued in November 1996 jointly by the Home Office, the Audit Commission, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Association of Chief Police Officers. The handbook stresses that"there is no single model for the organisation and management of patrol work"

  which should be designed to meet local needs.
  345

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum were being dealt with by his Department on 1 February. [28665]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As at 31 December 1997, (the most recent date for which information is available) there were 51,795 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, awaiting an initial decision by the Asylum Directorate of the Home Office.

  Licensed Premises
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what multi-agency measures his Department is taking to tackle disorder within licensed premises. [28837]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We are determined to tackle alcohol-related disorder. We have agreed with the drinks industry a significant increase in the use of toughened glasses, to reduce injuries caused by "glassings". We have reminded the courts of their exclusion order powers to prohibit from licensed premises anyone convicted of a violent offence there. We are considering how the licensing regime might deal more effectively with premises which are the focus of disorder.

  Disorder (Town Centres)
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will create fora to bring together representatives from licensing authorities, town centre management, the police and community safety practitioners to tackle disorder in and around town centres. [28836]

  Mr. Michael
  The Crime and Disorder Bill will require the police and local authorities together to undertake a crime and disorder audit in the district, borough or unitary authority area, in consultation with other agencies and the wider community. They will then have to develop a local strategy to tackle the identified crime and disorder problems. The work of the partnerships created to implement the local strategies, which will include clear targets, will include action at a much more local level within the local authority area. If the process identifies town centre disorder as a problem, the partners would be expected to draw together those who have an interest in tackling the problem or to work with any existing forum in order to develop strategies for tackling the identified problems. Whether a forum of the form described by my hon. Friend would be the right vehicle would depend on local circumstances but may well play a significant role. The test of a forum approach would be whether it is clearly focused and effective in cutting crime and disorder.

  Travellers
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to clarify the law in respect of gatherings of travellers on private land; and if he will make a statement. [28710]
  346
  Mr. Michael
  We have no plans to change sections 61 and 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which provides the police with the power to remove trespassers in certain circumstances. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has no plans to change sections 77 to 79 of the Act, which provide local authorities with the power to direct unauthorised campers to leave land. In exercising the wide discretion which they have under these powers, it is important for the police and local authorities to work together. Many police forces have, or are negotiating, agreements with local authorities, and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is currently developing good practice guidelines for local authorities.

  Custodial Sentences
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral statement of 5 February 1998,Official Report, columns 225–27, if he will estimate the weekly numbers of people convicted for the first time of a criminal offence that could be followed by a custodial sentence of six months or more. [28811]

  Mr. Michael
  Information available centrally on previous convictions relates to standard list offences only. It is estimated that, on average, 2,400 people were convicted in each week of 1995 for a first such offence (this is the latest year for which figures are available). Standad list offences included all indictable and some of the more serious summary offences. As 98 per cent. of those sentenced for standard list offences in 1995 were sentenced for offences that carry a maximum sentence of six months or more, exclusion of offences with a lower maximum penalty would not materially affect this estimate.

  Some offences not on the standard list also carry a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment. These accounted for 134,000 of all those sentenced in 1995, but their contribution to the estimate requested is not known.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 637, if he will list the statutory requirements for British citizenship. [28724]

  Ms Quin
  The requirements applicable in most cases for registration or naturalisation as a British citizen are set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. Further provision is made by the British Nationality (Falklands Islands) Act 1983, the Hong Kong (War Wives and Widows) Act 1996 and the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997.

  Circus Animals
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the video produced by Animal Defenders on the treatment of animals in circuses, a copy of which has been sent to him; [29132]
  347
  (2) if he will make it his policy to ban the use of animals in circuses; [29131]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the legislation in respect of the welfare protection afforded to circus animals. [29133]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I understand that the video and other material have been passed to the police. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for me to comment on Animal Defenders' allegations.

  The Protection of Animals Act 1911 makes it an offence to ill-treat or cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. The maximum penalties for offences under the Act are a fine of £5,000, or six months' imprisonment, or both. The court may, in addition, deprive a person of ownership of an animal and order its removal if it is satisfied that to leave the animal with the owner would expose it to further cruelty.

  In addition, the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 requires trainers and exhibitors of animals to be registered with the local authority. Under this Act, the police and officers of local authorities (who may include veterinary surgeons) have the power to enter and inspect premises where animals are being trained and exhibited. If cruelty or neglect is found, magistrates' courts can prohibit or restrict the training or exhibition of the animals and suspend or cancel the registration granted to the trainer or exhibitor.

  These are widely based legislative provisions which apply to travelling circuses and winter or training quarters.

  The All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare is currently preparing a full report on the welfare of circus animals. The Government will consider carefully any recommendations.

  Cannabis-related Offences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the totals and percentage of those accused of(a) possession of and (b) dealing in cannabis who were (i) found not guilty, (ii) fined and (iii) imprisoned in each of the past five years in each police area. [29139]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is not available by police force area. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for the United Kingdom are given in the table.

  Cannabis offences (possession, 'dealing'), and certain outcomes by type of offence, United Kingdom, 1991–95

  Number

  Year

  All cases

  Not guilty

  Fine

  Imprisoned

  Unlawful possession

  1991

  35,622

  2,103

  11,514

  808

  1992

  34,706

  1,993

  8,828

  563

  1993

  48,902

  3,095

  10,010

  584

  1994

  62,328

  3,315

  13,358

  746

  1995

  64,516

  3,081

  13,355

  896

  348

  Cannabis offences (possession, 'dealing'), and certain outcomes by type of offence, United Kingdom, 1991–95

  Number

  Year

  All cases

  Not guilty

  Fine

  Imprisoned

  Possession with intent to supply unlawfully

  1991

  1,430

  235

  338

  450

  1992

  1,474

  275

  291

  446

  1993

  2,460

  574

  282

  630

  1994

  3,072

  688

  351

  825

  1995

  3,532

  781

  299

  1,031

  Unlawful supply

  1991

  1,194

  163

  262

  337

  1992

  1,073

  175

  197

  276

  1993

  1,679

  455

  191

  358

  1994

  1,889

  408

  190

  429

  1995

  2,198

  503

  220

  541

  Note:

  'Dealing' has been taken to mean possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful supply.

  Source:

  Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.

  Cannabis offences (possession, 'dealing'), and certain outcomes by type of offence, United Kingdom, 1991–95

  Per cent.

  Year

  All cases

  Not guilty

  Fine

  Imprisoned

  Unlawful possession

  1991

  100

  6

  32

  2

  1992

  100

  6

  25

  2

  1993

  100

  6

  20

  1

  1994

  100

  5

  21

  1

  1995

  100

  5

  21

  1

  Possession with intent to supply unlawfully

  1991

  100

  16

  24

  31

  1992

  100

  19

  20

  30

  1993

  100

  23

  11

  26

  1994

  100

  22

  11

  27

  1995

  100

  22

  8

  29

  Unlawful supply

  1991

  100

  14

  22

  28

  1992

  100

  16

  18

  26

  1993

  100

  27

  11

  21

  1994

  100

  22

  10

  23

  1995

  100

  23

  10

  25

  Note:

  'Dealing' has been taken to mean possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful supply.

  Source:

  Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of those fined for cannabis offences in the past four years were fined(a) the maximum the law allows, (b) 50 per cent. or less of the maximum and (c) 10 per cent. or less of the maximum. [29135]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This information is not available in the form requested since there is no limit in theory to the amount of fine which may be imposed. However, information relating to the number of fines
  349
  imposed for cannabis offences by various amount bands is routinely published. Data for 1991–95 (the latest available) are given in the table.

  Persons fined for cannabis offences by amount of fine, United Kingdom, 1991–95

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  £5 and under

  28

  19

  42

  27

  24

  Over £5 up to and including £10

  80

  72

  115

  89

  89

  Over £10 up to and including £20

  266

  568

  2,261

  335

  303

  Over £20 up to and including £50

  5,745

  4,334

  4,084

  5,898

  5,537

  Over £50 up to and including £100

  4,852

  3,487

  3,332

  5,756

  6,055

  Over £100 up to and including £200

  1,447

  1,179

  1,126

  2,570

  2,774

  Over £200 up to and including £500

  404

  365

  245

  534

  614

  Over £500 up to and including £1,000

  48

  36

  57

  74

  45

  Over £1,000

  10

  17

  21

  21

  17

  Average amount of fine(£)

  85

  86

  76

  92

  92

  Total

  12,880

  10,077

  11,383

  15,304

  15,458

  Notes:

  Cannabis offences comprise production or cultivation of cannabis plants, possession, possession with intent to supply unlawfully, supply, offering to supply, or being concerned in supply, and permitting premises to be used for unlawful purposes.

  Source:

  Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate, Crime and Criminal Justice Unit.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total annual cost of imprisonment of those convicted of possessing or dealing in cannabis in each of the past five years. [29137]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The cost of imprisonment for those convicted of possessing or dealing cannabis is not calculated separately from other offenders. The available information gives an average cost per place in cash terms for all prisoners. This is shown in table A. Table B provides information on immediate custodial sentences handed down in England and Wales for offences of possession or unlawful supply of cannabis. This is available only for the five year period commencing 1991.

  Average cost per prisoner place 1991–92 to 1996–97

  Year

  Average cost per place

  £

  1992–93

  22,723

  1993–94

  23,080

  1994–95

  23,391

  1995–96

  24,178

  1996–97

  24,271

  Number of immediate custodial sentences for possession and unlawful supply of cannabis 1991–95

  Year

  Possession

  Offence Possession with intent to supply unlawfully

  Unlawful supply

  1991

  681

  374

  295

  1992

  467

  376

  242

  1993

  501

  546

  325

  1994

  652

  724

  383

  1995

  806

  967

  480

  350

  Prisoners (Prescriptions)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prescriptions were issued per 100 prisoners in British jails for(a) tranquilisers and (b) other medicinal drugs in each of the last five years. [29127]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information is available only for the year 1996–97. Based on a sample of six prisons in England and Wales representing 4.2 per cent of the average daily population for that year, it is estimated that prescriptions which might generally be termed as tranquillisers amounted to 224 per 100 inmates. For other medications, the estimate is 2,078 per 100 inmates.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the Netherlands, (i) the number of heroin addicts per 1,000 of the population, (ii) the average age of heroin addicts, (iii) the number of deaths from ecstacy, (iv) the number of deaths from glue sniffing and (v) the number of cannabis users per 1,000 of the population, in each of the past five years. [29134]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information relating to the Netherlands cannot be provided.

  The number of heroin addicts per 1,000 of the United Kingdom population notified to the Home Office in each year from 1992 to 1996 was 0.2924, 0.3251, 0.3821, 0.4186 and 0.5199 respectively. Information concerning the average age of these addicts is not available. However, the average age for all notified addicts, of whom between 66 and 70 per cent were addicted to heroin, in the years in question was 29.4, 29.2, 28.8, 28.7 and 28.4 years.

  With regard to the number of deaths from ecstasy and glue sniffing, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 21 January 1998, Official Report, columns 533–34.

  Information concerning the number of 'cannabis users' per 1,000 of the United Kingdom population is not available. However, the British Crime Survey 1996 (which covers England and Wales) indicates that about 9 per cent. of persons in the 16–59 age group had used cannabis in the year prior to interview.

  Prisoners Formerly in Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many current prison inmates are known to have previously been in care as children or young people; what proportion of the prison population this represents; and if he will make a statement. [27269]

  Ms Quin
  It is not known how many current prison inmates have previously been in care as children or young people since this information is not held centrally. However, according to the 1991 National Prison Survey, 26 per cent. of prisoners said that they had been taken into local authority care at some time.
  351

HEALTH

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of those new places in local authority secure accommodation which(a) have been provided and (b) it is planned to provide within the next five years and which were not planned for on 1 May 1997. [25932]

  Mr. Boateng
  The location of the new places provided under the secure accommodation development programmes is shown in the table.

  Local authority

  Secure unit

  New places fromwithin the 170place supply plan

  Northumberland County Council

  Kyloe House

  1

  Lancashire County Council

  Dales House

  8

  Salford City Council

  Barton Moss

  12

  Leeds City Council

  Eastmoor

  9

  Sheffield City Council

  Aldine House

  8

  Coventry City Council

  Stoke House

  8

  Staffordshire County Council

  Watling House

  12

  Derbyshire County Council

  Brunei

  3

  Lincolnshire County Council

  Lincolnshire Secure Unit

  4

  Nottinghamshire County Council

  Clayfields

  10

  Cambridgeshire County Council

  Clare Lodge

  10

  Essex County Council

  Leverton Hall

  16

  Northamptonshire County Council

  St. Johns, Tiffield

  16

  Southwark London Borough

  Orchard Lodge

  16

  Hampshire County Council

  Swanwick Lodge

  5

  System

  Estimatedcost(£ million)

  Finalcost(£ million)

  Plannedcommissioningdate

  Actualcommissioningdate

  Department

  OISII—Office system upgrade

  4.1

  3.5

  March 1997

  May 1996

  NHS Executive Regional Offices Office System

  11.5

  10.5

  April 1996

  April 1996

  Hospital Episode Statistics

  1.4

  1.3

  June 1995

  October 1995

  Agencies

  Medicines Control Agency

  PLUS

  3.2

  3.19

  October 1994

  October 1994

  BLIS

  0.5

  0.6

  December 1994

  December 1994

  352

  Local authority

  Secure unit

  New places from with in the 170 place supply plan

  Devon County Council

  Atkinson

  4

  South Gloucestershire County Council

  Vinney Green

  6

  Neath/Port Talbot

  Hillside—Welsh Unit

  6

  Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough

  Stamford House

  110

  1 Available summer 1998

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply from the Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), on 12 January 1998, Official Report, columns 64–66.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27672]

  Ms Jowell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his Ministers read and take account of the representations made to them on constituency and other matters.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each major new computer system that(a) his Department, (b) non-departmental bodies and (c) agencies under his responsibility have purchased in the last five years; what was the initial purchase cost and what was the final cost; what was each system's (i) planned and (ii) actual date of commissioning; what major computer systems will be purchased by bodies in categories (a), (b) and (c) in the next financial year; and what is their estimated cost. [27843]

  Mr. Milburn
  In the last five years the Department of Health, including its agencies, had implemented the major computer systems shown in the tables.
  353
  The Department's executive Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) have implemented no major Information Technology (IT) systems during this period.

  Major planned systems in the Department of Health for 1998–99 are given in the table:

  £

  System

  Planned cost

  Personnel System

  443,000

  Office System Upgrade

  3.8 million

  No agencies or NDPBs have plans for spend on major IT systems in 1998–99.

  Surplus Land (Essex)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 139, how many acres of land in Colchester are planned to be disposed of by (a) the Department of Health, (b) the Regional Health Authority, (c) North Essex Health Authority, (d) Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, (e) North Essex Mental Health Trust and (f) New Possibilities Health Trust. [28005]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive's North Thames Regional Office is leading on the planning and disposal of all the surplus land in Colchester held by the Department of Health, Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust and North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust.

  The amount of land is as follows:

  Acres

  Department of Health

  89

  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust

  3

  North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust

  108

  Total

  200

  Note:

  All these figures are approximations.

  No land is to be disposed of by North Essex Health Authority or the New Possibilities NHS Trust. Regional Health Authorities were abolished in 1996.

  Trust

  Current number of private beds

  Number of NHS beds provided by PFI scheme

  Number of private beds provided by PFI scheme

  Proportion of private beds provided by PFI scheme (%)

  Norfolk and Norwich

  18

  809

  20

  2.5

  South Buckinghamshire

  11

  535

  114

  2.6

  Calderdale

  0

  573

  220

  3.5

  South Manchester

  10

  881

  0

  0

  Wellhouse

  20

  406

  20

  4.9

  Dartford and Gravesham

  0

  400

  0

  0

  Worcester

  0

  390

  0

  0

  Bromley

  0

  507

  30

  0

  Swindon and Marlborough

  10

  516

  10

  1.9

  North Durham

  0

  454

  0

  0

  Carlisle

  40

  508

  50

  0

  354
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 139, if he will invite the three NHS trusts in the Colchester constituency to merge their property and estate portfolios. [28006]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive's North Thames Regional Office is working on behalf of all three trusts in Colchester to dispose of their surplus estate. We have no plans to invite the trusts to merge other aspects of their property and estate portfolios.

  GP Recruitment
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to deal with shortfalls in GP recruitment; and if he will make a statement. [28288]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are introducing a series of measures to enhance the attractiveness of general practice. Measures such as the salaried doctors scheme, an improved retainer scheme and Primary Care Act pilots will provide more flexible employment opportunities and be of particular help in areas with the greatest recruitment problems. The establishment of Primary Care Groups, as set out in the White Paper "The New NHS", will also give general practitioners and other primary care professionals greater scope to influence the development of health services locally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the proportion of private beds in(a) each PFI contract approved and (b) each PFI contract being planned; and how many private and NHS beds there are in these contracts. [28308]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on the number and proportion of private and National Health Service beds planned at the major acute approved Private Finance Initiative schemes and currently proposed for the major acute schemes testing for PFI is provided in the table. Information is also provided on the number of private beds currently provided at these trusts.

  Information is not held centrally on the provision of private beds in smaller scale (capital value of £10 million or less) and non-acute PFI schemes.
  355

  Trust

  Current number of private beds

  Number of NHSbeds providedby PFI scheme

  Number of privatebeds providedby PFI scheme

  Proportion ofprivate bedsprovided by PFIscheme (%)

  Hereford

  0

  340

  0

  0

  Bishop Auckland

  1

  341

  1

  0.29

  Greenwich

  60

  565

  70

  0

  South Tees

  2

  980

  0

  0

  1 This is the initial planned figure; there is provision for the total to increase to a maximum of 28.

  2 This may decrease to 14 during the detailed design phase.

  3 There is the possibility that a small number of NHS beds at the new hospital may be used for private patients.

  4 There are currently no dedicated private beds but some amenity beds are used for private patients.

  1 There are no plans for dedicated private beds but the current arrangement of using amenity beds for private patients will continue.

  6 There are currently no dedicated private beds but some amenity beds are used for private patients.

  7 There are no plans for dedicated private beds but the current arrangement of using amenity beds for private patients will continue.

  Barnet Community Health Council
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the names, (b) the appointing authority and (c) the terms of office of the members of Barnet Community Health Council. [28306]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is provided in the tables.

  Barnet community health council membership list—as at 5 February 1998

  Appointed by local authorities

  (Total number of members: 12)

  Appointing body:

  London Borough of Barnet.}

  The Town Hall,

  The Burroughs, London NW4 4BG

  Appointed until:

  31 August 1998

  Member Name:

  i. Mr. Wayne Casey

  ii. Mr. Roger Chapman

  iii. Mr. David Williams

  iv. Mr. Alan Sloan

  v. Ms Jean Smith

  Vacant

  Appointed until:

  31 August 2000

  Member Name:

  vii. Ms Kate Brown

  viii. Ms Pam Coleman

  ix. Mr.Raymond Mann

  x. Mr.Alvin Ormonde

  xi. Ms Katherine Rounce

  xii. Vacant

  Appointed by voluntary organizations

  (Total number of members: 8)

  Appointed until:

  31 August 1998

  Member Name:

  Name of Appointing Body:

  i. Mr.Rod Clay

  Ravenswood

  ii. Ms Suzanne Collins

  Mental Health Consultative Group

  iii. Mr Peter Packer

  Friends of Finchley Memorial Hospital

  356

  Appointed by voluntary organizations

  (Total number of members: 8)

  iv. Ms Ruth Rees

  Alzheimer's Disease Society

  Appointed until:

  31 August 2000

  v. Ms Evelyn Brand

  League of Jewish Women

  vi. Ms Jean Coops

  Citizen's Advice Bureau

  vii. Ms Rhoda Flynn

  Barnet Mencap

  viii. Ms Mary Leigh

  Disablement Association, Borough of Barnet

  Appointed by the Secretary of State for Health

  (Total number of members: 4)

  Appointed until:

  31 August 1998

  Member Name:

  i. Mr. Derek Williams

  ii. Vacant

  Appointed until:

  31 August 2000

  Member Name:

  iii. Ms Sally Malin

  iv. Ms Elizabeth Manero-Chair

  GP Commissioning
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on non-medical staff requirements of the implementation of GP commissioning; and if he will make a statement. [28289]

  Mr. Milburn
  As set out in the White Paper "The New NHS", the development of primary care groups will be evolutionary. These primary care groups will involve a range of primary care professionals as well as general practitioners. As part of the process of establishing primary care groups, we shall be considering the role of such bodies in securing an appropriately qualified and competent workforce. Guidance on these and other related issues will be prepared by the National Health Service Executive and issued in due course.
  357

  Evesham Community Hospital
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire of 9 December 1997 concerning the future of Evesham Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [28609]

  Mr. Milburn
  I replied to the hon. Member on 9 February.

  Female Circumcision
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations of female circumcision were carried out in the NHS in(a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [28486]

  Ms Jowell
  None. The Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985, makes it an offence to carry out the practice. It also makes it an offence for anyone to aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of these procedures by any other person on her own body.

  Nytol
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has assessed on the use of Nytol in conjunction with Ecstasy; and if he will make Nytol a prescription only drug. [28499]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has not received any reports of the use of Nytol, a medicine containing diphenhydramine for temporary sleep disturbance, in conjunction with Ecstasy.

  Medicines are restricted to prescription control if they are frequently, and to a very wide extent, used incorrectly, and as a result are likely to present a direct or indirect danger to human health. The Medicines Control Agency keeps the safety of all medicines under regular review and, wherever necessary, takes appropriate action to safeguard public health on the basis of new information. There is at present, no evidence to justify making Nytol a prescription only medicine.

  School Expulsions (Drugs)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who in health and social services should provide advice and help to a child expelled from school for the use of drugs below school leaving age and to the parents concerned. [28814]

  Ms Jowell
  Where a young person's drug misuse is problematic, and treatment is required, the health authority is responsible for ensuring that treatment is provided, within available resources and in the light of local priorities. The Children Act 1989 provides a framework of powers and responsibilities to ensure that children receive the care and protection they need. Section 47 of the Act requires local authority social services departments to make inquiries where they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm and this may include situations where a child is misusing drugs. There may also be situations where there are concerns about a child's well-being and development as a result of drug misuse but where abuse is not the issue. Section 17 of the Children Act requires local authorities to provide support and services for children in need.
  358
  Department for Education and Employment Circular 4–95 "Drug Prevention in Schools", issued to all schools in May 1995, offers guidance on dealing with drug-related incidents. The document places particular emphasis on the development of an agreed policy to deal with drug-related incidents and the desirability of schools developing a repertoire of responses to incidents.

  Our strategy on drugs makes young people a priority. Guidance sent to health authorities and directors of social services in March last year asked them to work together with their Drug Action Team on ensuring that agencies are clear about their responsibilities, and that services for drug misusers are properly planned locally. The guidance recommended that services should be structured to meet the requirements of and be sensitive to the needs of particular groups such as young people. The Department launched in November 1997 three documents aimed at helping all agencies concerned to meet the needs of young people for drug services. This included advice on which groups are at most risk of problematic drug misuse, based on the available evidence. Young people excluded from school are identified as being at particular risk of problematic drug use.

  Public Health
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ways in which his health targets vary from the equivalent previous targets. [28828]

  Ms Jowell
  The targets we have proposed will allow us to focus on our key aims: to improve the health of the population as a whole by increasing the length of people's lives and the number of years people spend free from illness, and to improve the health of the worst off in society and to narrow the health gap.

  The targets differ from those in the previous strategy because they cover different time periods, different combinations of diseases, different age groups (for cancers) and, in the case of accidents, a measure of illness and disability rather than one for mortality. While Health of the Nation targets contained a mixture of outcomes and determinants, only four national outcome targets have been proposed in Our Healthier Nation, one in each of the four priority areas. This will help to focus the strategy on improving health outcome. A wide range of actions will be needed to achieve these targets and health benefits should accordingly occur across a broad front.

  Our Healthier Nation goes substantially beyond Health of the Nation, as it acknowledges the impact that social and economic factors can have on producing health inequalities, and sets out national contracts which show what action can be taken at Government, local and individual level to improve health. Built into this process is the opportunity to set local targets which will allow local areas to address their particular concerns and to tackle the health problems of those local neighbour hoods or groups which suffer more from poor health. In association with other measures identified in Our Healthier Nation this will help to address the major health inequalities which exist.

  The targets proposed in Our Healthier Nation have been set to be challenging yet realistic. They were set by taking into account recent historical trends in this country,

  359
  international trends where available, and examination of other relevant factors—for example, the fact that progress is likely to get harder and slower to achieve as the easy challenges are overcome and the really difficult and most deep-seated problems are tackled. There are signs of this happening in other countries who are further along the progress curve than we are. In Australia, for instance, long-standing steady progress on coronary heart disease is showing signs of some slowing down. It cannot, therefore, be assumed that past trends will continue indefinitely.

  The proposed targets are now the subject of consultation. A full list, along with the nearest related Health of the Nation targets, were given in reply to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 10 February 1998, Official Report, columns 153–54.

  Asthma
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the relative contributions of(a) the house mite with central heating and (b) motor vehicle pollution to asthma and changes in the incidence of asthma. [28810]

  Ms Jowell
  The prevalence of asthma has doubled in the United Kingdom over the last 15–20 years, in line with trends in other western countries. Asthma is a complex disease which is likely to be due to a number of different factors, including environmental. Neither the exact cause of asthma nor the precise reasons for this increased prevalence are known. A range of factors are known to trigger attacks in asthmatics including: exposure to allergens, infections, environmental tobacco smoke, high levels of outdoor air pollution, breathing cold dry air, exercise, and emotion.

  It is not possible to estimate the relative contribution of these different factors to the prevalence of asthma. Central heating and well insulated homes provide the sorts of conditions in which house dust mites thrive. Sensitivity to the house dust mite allergen is certainly common in the UK. Motor vehicles are a major source of outdoor air pollution, high levels of which can lead to a worsening of symptoms in asthmatics. Also, there is some evidence that those who live close to busy roads are more likely to suffer from respiratory ailments and more asthma attacks.

  A number of projects in a £3 million Department of Health/Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions/Medical Research Council research programme on air pollution and health are currently examining some of the possible links between asthma and outdoor air pollution. The results of these should be known early next year. In addition, contracts for a three year £1 million joint DH/DETR indoor research programme looking at aspects of the indoor environment have just been let. When both these programmes have been completed, our understanding of some of the mechanisms at play in the development of asthma should be greatly improved.

  NHS Management Costs
  Mr.knkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of NHS health authority management costs in England and Wales; and if he will list each authority in order of management 360
  costs per head of population, showing (a) annual expenditure, (b) expenditure per head of population and (c) management costs per head of population. [28670]

  Mr. Milburn
  Health authority costs in England were £450 million in 1996–97. Action is in hand to reduce these costs by £18 million in real terms in 1997–98 and then by a further £12 million in real terms in 1998–99. The figures requested have been placed in the Library. Health authority costs in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discretion GPs will have to refer patients as they wish when ECRs are abolished; and what will be the source of funding of referrals not covered by contracts. [28891]

  Mr. Milburn
  Under the proposals set out in the White Paper, "The new NHS", all but a small minority of general practitioner referrals to hospitals should be covered either by long term agreements reflecting the views of all local GPs or by the new high level commissioning arrangements for specialist services. The new system will continue to allow for instances where a patient's special clinical needs or personal services require a GP to make individualised arrangements, but will eliminate the bureaucracy of the current system of extra-contractual referrals.

  The Government's proposals for funding patient treatment currently covered by extra-contractual referral invoicing are set out in paragraphs 9.16 and 9.17 of the White Paper, "The New NHS". Copies have been placed in the Library.

  More detailed advice will be issued by summer 1998.

  Aricept
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on the prescribing of Aricept (Donepezil); and if he will make a statement. [28863]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Standing Medical Advisory Committee is currently considering the benefits of the drug Aricept and is preparing guidance for clinicians in the National Health Service. Health authorities and clinicians already have access to a number of sources of information on Aricept, on which they can make decisions about the use of this drug.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the National Health Service of the abolition of compulsory competitive tendering. [29008]

  Mr. Milburn
  The continuing requirement to market test the three hotel services, catering, cleaning and laundry, is being considered currently as part of a review of market testing policy. Whatever the outcome of the review, we are committed to achieving the best value in terms of both cost and quality of service for all National Health Service patients.
  361

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the reasons for the disparities in life expectancy for those suffering from breast cancer in(a) the UK, (b) France and (c) the USA. [29128]

  Mr. Boateng
  We are very concerned about the incidence of breast cancer in the United Kingdom and that so many women die from this condition. Despite the volume of research into breast cancer both here and abroad, we do not have definitive answers on the reasons for this. We do know that contributory factors include diet, lifestyle and hormonal (eg late menarche, childlessness) and hereditary factors.

  There are substantial international variations in recorded survival rates, but these may reflect in part differences in factors such as varying levels of completeness of cancer registration. International comparisons are also potentially misleading because only a limited number of countries, including the UK, have comprehensive cancer registration systems. In the United States of America, only 12 per cent. of the population is covered. It is difficult to establish conclusive links between, for instance, treatment and survival rates when data on other factors which may influence the eventual outcome are lacking.

  Clearly, we want to do all we can to ensure that all women with breast cancer receive the best possible treatment to maximise outcomes. This is why we have made clear our commitment to improving cancer services across the board. We have already made an extra £10 million available for breast cancer services. This will help speed access to diagnosis and treatment as a first step towards reducing waiting times, and improving specialist breast cancer services to ensure that women are diagnosed quickly and receive the best possible treatment.

  Traumatic Brain Injury
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients treated by the NHS in the last three years for traumatic brain injury were(a) in permanent in-patient care, (b) receiving day care and (c) cared for by primary care teams in the community. [24278]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 21 January 1998]: There were an estimated 66,600 in-patient episodes of care with a primary diagnosis of traumatic brain injury in England in 1995–96 compared with an estimated 70,000 in 1994–95 and 73,300 in 1993–94. The same person may be counted more than once if they have more than one episode of care.

  A revised international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (ICD10) became effective from 1 April 1995 and several thousand new classification codes were introduced. It is therefore not always possible to provide an exact equivalent match between an ICD10 code and the former ICD9 classification when a time series is required.

  The information available is shown in the table and is based on finished consultant episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants.
  362
  There is no separate information for those receiving permanent in-patient care, day care or those cared for by primary care teams in the community.

  Number of FCEs by primary diagnosis [given by ICD9 codes] and patient classification national health service hospitals in England

  Primary diagnosis

  Ordinary admission

  Daycase

  Total

  1993–94

  8001 Fracture of vault of skull closed with intra cranial injury

  647

  3

  650

  8003 Fracture of vault of skull open with intra cranial injury

  169

  —

  169

  8011 Fracture of base of skull closed with intra cranial injury

  944

  1

  945

  9013 Fracture of base of skull open with intra cranial injury

  118

  —

  118

  8031 Other and unqualified skull fractures closed with intracranial injury

  416

  —

  416

  8033 Other and unqualified skull fractures open with intracranial injury

  70

  —

  70

  8041 Multiple fractures involving skull or face with other bones closed with intracranial injury

  20

  —

  20

  8043 Multiple fractures involving skull or face with other bones open with intracranial injury

  8

  —

  8

  850 Concussion

  3,103

  2

  3,105

  851 Cerebral laceration and contusion

  711

  5

  717

  852 Subarachnoid subdural and extradural haemorrhage following injury

  2,492

  14

  2,506

  853 Other and unspecified intracranial haemorrhage following injury

  643

  2

  646

  854 Intracranial injury of other and unspecified nature

  58,909

  40

  58,949

  Total

  73,252

  68

  73,320

  1994–95

  8001 Fracture of vault of skull closed with intracranial injury

  627

  2

  630

  8003 Fracture of vault of skull open with intracranial injury

  134

  —

  134

  8011 Fracture of base of skull closed with intracranial injury

  852

  3

  854

  8013 Fracture of base of skull open with intracranial injury

  113

  —

  113

  8031 Other and unqualified skull fractures closed with intracranial injury

  417

  1

  418

  8033 Other and unqualified skull fractures open with intracranial injury

  67

  1

  68

  8041 Multiple fractures involving skull or face with other bones closed with intracranial injury

  36

  —

  36

  8043 Multiple fractures involving skull or face with other bones open with intracranial injury

  8

  —

  8

  850 Concussion

  7,841

  52

  7,893

  851 Cerebral laceration and contusion

  829

  1

  830

  852 Subarachnoid subdural and extradural haemorrhage following injury

  2,722

  7

  2,728

  853 Other and unspecified intracranial haemorrhage following injury

  576

  2

  578

  854 Intracranial injury of other and unspecified nature

  55,654

  52

  55,716

  Total

  69,874

  131

  70,005

  Note:

  Data in this table are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid
  clinical data

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

  363

  Number of FCEs by primary diagnosis [given by ICD09 codes] and patient classification national health service hospitals in England

  Primary diagnosis

  Ordinary admission

  Day case

  Total

  1995–96

  S060 Intracranial injury concussion

  6,255

  31

  6,286

  S061 Intracranial injury traumatic cerebral oedema

  218

  —

  219

  S062 Intracranial injury offuse brain injury

  1,185

  1

  1,186

  S063 Intracranial injury focal brain injury

  460

  1

  461

  S064 Intracranial injury epidural haemorrhage

  569

  —

  569

  S065 Intracranial injury traumatic subdural haemorrhage

  2,118

  16

  2,134

  S066 Intracranial injury traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage

  402

  —

  402

  S067 Intracranial injury with prolonged coma

  34

  1

  35

  S068 Other intracranial injuries

  671

  5

  676

  S069 Intracranial injury unspecified

  12,736

  81

  12,817

  S098 Other specified injuries of head

  458

  7

  465

  S099 Unspecified injuries of head

  41,133

  219

  41,353

  Total

  66,250

  362

  66,612

  Note:

  Data in this table are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid
  clinical data

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what contingency plans he has formulated to ensure that visitors can get to the Dome if the completion of the Jubilee Line is delayed. [27485]

  Mr. Mandelson
  London Underground publicly confirmed earlier this week that the Jubilee Line Extension will be completed, with up to 24 trains an hour running through from Stanmore to Stratford from spring 1999, well before the opening of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. The proposed level of service will cater fully for the substantial number of visitors expected to travel to the Greenwich site on the Jubilee Line in 2000.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the rates of absenteeism in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, for (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 to date; and if he will make a statement. [26627]
  364
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 10 February 1998, Official Report, column 116.

  Sporting Events
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 133, if any of the nine international events will be staged in (a) the North West or (b) Lancashire. [28454]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The World Cup in Orienteering (Events 3 & 4) will be staged in the Lake District in May, this year. The Sports Acrobatics World Championships were staged in Manchester in September 1997. Should the Football Association's bid to stage the Soccer World Cup (2006) in England be successful, it will be held at venues across the country, including the North West.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 133, if he will list the locations for each of the successful bids for events to be held in the United Kingdom later this year. [28455]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The World Disabled Athletics Championships are to be held at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham from 10–17 August 1998.

  The European Showjumping Championships are to be held at the Showground in Harrogate from 25–28 August 1999.

  The World Orienteering Championships are to be held in Inverness and the Scottish Highlands from 1–8 August 1999.

  The IAAF World Cross Country Championships are to be held in Belfast from 27–28 March 1999.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the timescale for the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting; and if he will make a statement. [29660]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have today published a Government consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future" alongside the report "A Study to Estimate the Economic Impact of Government Policies towards Digital Television" which outlines the results of research undertaken, by National Economic Research Associates (NERA) and Smith System Engineering Ltd., on behalf of my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry's Radio communications Agency. I have placed copies of both documents in the Libraries of the House.
  365

SCOTLAND

  Railways
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reason the promotion of private legislation in Scotland to permit the building of new railway lines is to remain a Westminster matter. [23303]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 16 January 1998]: The provision and regulation of railway services is proposed to be a matter in respect of which legislative competence is reserved to the Westminster Parliament by virtue of Section 2 of Head 5 of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Bill. Therefore, any legislation, whether private or public, in respect of that reserved matter is properly a matter for the Westminster Parliament as it will be out with the competence of the Scottish Parliament to legislate in relation to reserved matters.

  It is sensible in practical terms that safety, security and regulatory matters should be reserved to the UK Parliament to achieve consistent standards across the whole GB network and to allow for the smooth operation of services.

  Confederation of British Industry
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to address the concerns of CBI Scotland in relation to the tax issues they raised with him on 30 January. [28795]

  Mr. Dewar
  I had a useful and constructive meeting with CBI Scotland. As I indicated to them, the Government will shortly be issuing a paper setting out their proposals for dealing with a range of second order issues relating to the operation of the Scottish variable tax rate. The paper will cover the main issues raised with me by CBI Scotland and I believe that it will meet their main concerns. The Government will take account of any further views expressed in response to this paper before preparing the appropriate secondary legislation.

  Community Pharmacists
  Mr. McAUion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis he calculated the dispensing fee of(a) 89p per item and (b) 60p per item for second and subsequent dispensings for patients considered to be at risk for community pharmacy contractors; what research he (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated into the adequacy of this level of remuneration; and if he will make a statement. [28649]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Community pharmacy remuneration is based on a global sum for spending on pharmaceutical services. In order to deliver the overall global sum to pharmacists a statistical model is used which takes into account both historical data and predicted growth in prescription volume. The community pharmacists'366
  professional allowance and the fee scale for specific items have been set in accordance with the model to deliver a global sum in 1997–98 of £72.6 million; an increase of 2.4 per cent. on the previous year.

  Crime (Knives)
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is taking to tackle crimes involving knives. [28804]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Government implemented the main provisions of the Knives Act 1997 on 1 September 1997. These create an offence of marketing a knife in a way which suggests that it is suitable for combat or which encourages violent behaviour. They supplement existing legislation, including the Knives (Scotland) Act 1993, aimed at preventing or dealing with knife-related crime. The Crime and Disorder Bill includes provisions for extended sentences for violent offenders which will enable the courts to impose supervised release beyond the end of a custodial term where this is required for the protection of the public. We remain open to proposals for measures which will address the problem of the use of knives as weapons without interfering with their legitimate everyday use.

  NHS Dentists
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the number of NHS dentists in Scotland. [28806]

  Mr. Galbraith
  In August of last year, I introduced the Scottish Dental Access Initiative to encourage dentists to set up or expand NHS practices in areas where there is unmet demand by patients for NHS general dental services. "Return to Work" grants have also been made available to encourage dentists on a career break to return to the profession and join established dental practices in areas of unmet demand to offer NHS general dental services.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was allocated to Glasgow City Council for the provision of warden services in sheltered housing for 1997–98. [28807]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Government do not allocate funding for these services separately. It is for councils to determine from their available resources the level of funding for a particular service.

  Hospital Patients
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average length of patient stay in each hospital trust in Scotland in each of the last five years. [28808]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is provided in the table.
  367

  In-Patient Mean Stay (days)1: by NHS Trusts/DMUs: All Specialties and Acute Specialties: Years ending 31 March 1993–97

  All specialties

  Acute2 specialties

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Scotland

  14.8

  13.8

  13.1

  12.3

  11.7

  6.0

  5.8

  5.5

  5.4

  5.3

  Argyll & Bute NHS Trust

  21.8

  19.5

  19.0

  19.0

  18.7

  7.8

  7.5

  7.5

  7.2

  6.9

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  5.3

  5.4

  4.9

  4.8

  5.1

  5.8

  5.8

  5.4

  5.2

  5.5

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  13.2

  12.9

  12.1

  12.2

  11.8

  6.2

  6.1

  5.8

  5.7

  5.5

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  114.1

  113.6

  105.7

  100.3

  100.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  5.2

  5.0

  5.3

  5.0

  4.8

  5.3

  5.1

  5.5

  5.1

  5.0

  Ayrshire & Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust

  75.1

  70.0

  62.2

  60.1

  52.7

  9.0

  9.5

  9.0

  10.0

  9.2

  North Ayrshire & Arran NHS Trust

  6.8

  6.6

  6.4

  6.5

  6.4

  5.5

  5.3

  5.1

  5.2

  5.1

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  8.5

  8.0

  7.7

  7.3

  7.2

  5.3

  5.2

  5.0

  4.7

  4.4

  Borders Community Health Services NHS Trust

  72.9

  65.1

  59.6

  53.7

  46.5

  18.0

  17.7

  17.0

  16.4

  18.4

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  7.3

  7.5

  7.1

  6.8

  6.4

  5.6

  5.6

  5.5

  5.3

  5.2

  Dumfries & Galloway Acute & Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  5.4

  4.9

  4.9

  4.9

  5.0

  5.2

  4.6

  4.6

  4.6

  4.8

  Dumfries & Galloway Community Health NHS Trust

  95.7

  90.6

  75.3

  70.1

  64.6

  13.0

  13.6

  13.7

  13.9

  17.1

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  49.1

  61.7

  78.4

  71.4

  72.8

  9.0

  8.9

  12.6

  13.6

  16.1

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  4.8

  4.8

  4.9

  4.6

  4.0

  4.8

  4.9

  5.1

  4.9

  4.2

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  8.0

  6.7

  6.9

  7.3

  7.9

  5.3

  5.2

  5.3

  5.6

  6.2

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  285.5

  240.5

  193.0

  181.6

  160.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  6.6

  6.0

  6.0

  6.1

  6.0

  5.2

  5.0

  5.2

  5.5

  5.3

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  5.8

  5.6

  5.3

  4.7

  5.0

  5.1

  4.9

  4.5

  4.1

  4.0

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  5.5

  5.3

  5.1

  5.0

  4.8

  5.5

  5.4

  5.2

  5.0

  4.8

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  51.8

  46.8

  46.0

  47.7

  45.8

  11.3

  10.9

  10.6

  10.9

  10.8

  Moray Health Services NHS Trust

  23.0

  19.7

  17.9

  14.4

  12.4

  10.6

  10.0

  9.6

  8.1

  7.1

  Glasgow Dental Hospital & School NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust

  8.9

  8.0

  7.4

  7.3

  7.1

  5.8

  5.3

  5.3

  5.4

  5.4

  Greater Glasgow Community & Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  186.0

  180.3

  153.5

  128.6

  118.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  11.7

  11.0

  9.6

  9.2

  8.4

  7.2

  7.3

  6.7

  6.5

  5.9

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  11.2

  10.4

  9.1

  8.1

  7.7

  6.7

  5.9

  5.1

  4.7

  4.5

  The Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  10.6

  9.8

  9.1

  8.3

  8.1

  6.9

  5.9

  5.6

  5.2

  5.3

  The Yorkhill NHS Trust

  4.8

  4.4

  4.2

  3.9

  3.8

  4.7

  4.1

  4.0

  3.7

  3.6

  West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust

  8.7

  8.0

  7.6

  7.4

  7.1

  5.8

  5.7

  5.5

  5.4

  5.2

  Caithness & Sutherland NHS Trust

  12.5

  12.1

  11.7

  11.8

  11.3

  5.6

  5.8

  5.7

  5.5

  5.2

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  46.7

  39.5

  35.5

  31.7

  25.7

  9.3

  8.5

  8.3

  10.4

  10.4

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  5.9

  5.5

  5.4

  5.4

  5.5

  5.9

  5.4

  5.3

  5.3

  5.4

  Hairmyres & Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  9.9

  9.6

  9.5

  8.9

  8.6

  6.8

  6.4

  6.3

  5.7

  5.6

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  127.3

  165.2

  161.7

  138.8

  141.3

  26.3

  26.5

  30.7

  26.7

  27.9

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  7.7

  7.0

  6.8

  6.7

  6.1

  6.3

  6.9

  5.9

  5.7

  5.3

  Monklands & Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  5.5

  5.5

  5.3

  5.1

  5.1

  4.9

  4.9

  4.8

  4.6

  4.8

  East & Midlothian NHS Trust

  24.6

  21.7

  21.5

  19.3

  18.6

  7.7

  7.0

  6.4

  6.1

  6.6

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  114.8

  115.2

  106.3

  96.4

  95.0

  31.6

  29.4

  28.9

  26.2

  25.8

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  3.5

  3.5

  3.4

  3.2

  3.2

  2.8

  2.9

  2.9

  2.8

  2.8

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  7.0

  6.9

  6.4

  5.9

  5.3

  5.9

  5.5

  4.9

  4.9

  4.7

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  12.9

  11.5

  11.3

  10.4

  10.0

  4.3

  4.2

  4.1

  4.0

  4.1

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  9.5

  8.9

  8.7

  9.1

  9.1

  6.2

  5.8

  5.7

  6.0

  6.2

  Orkney Health Board Unit

  21.0

  20.5

  18.4

  17.7

  15.2

  9.2

  14.4

  11.8

  10.7

  11.6

  Shetland Hospitals & Community Services Unit

  20.4

  17.2

  15.4

  14.4

  14.7

  7.5

  6.2

  5.4

  5.6

  5.9

  Angus NHS Trust

  23.6

  21.8

  20.7

  20.8

  19.6

  7.7

  7.5

  6.7

  6.8

  6.2

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  100.8

  98.0

  87.2

  77.6

  72.5

  12.8

  12.7

  14.4

  14.0

  15.6

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  5.6

  5.6

  5.5

  5.5

  5.3

  5.7

  5.6

  5.4

  5.5

  5.3

  Perth & Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  16.2

  15.4

  15.0

  14.4

  13.8

  6.6

  6.3

  6.1

  6.3

  6.3

  Western Isles Health Unit

  16.6

  15.7

  14.2

  13.5

  12.2

  7.9

  7.2

  6.4

  6.2

  6.7

  1 These figures represent a crude average and take no account of differences in case mix between Trusts.

  2 Comprises all acute specialties, excluding Special Care Baby Units. Excludes obstetrics, psychiatric, learning disabilities, geriatric assessment, geriatric long-stay and younger physically disabled specialties.

  Source

  ISD(S)1.
  368 369

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the engagements he undertook in the United Kingdom in the course of his duties during January indicating in each case which were accessed by(a) car, (b) train, (c) aeroplane and car, (d) aeroplane and train and (e) other means. [28939]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The information requested is as shown:

  Launch Pathfinder Project, Tayside (by car)

  Press and Journal 250th Anniversary Dinner, visit Aberdeen Children' Hospital, meet Lord Provost and Senior Councillors, Aberdeen (by train and car)

  National Youth Orchestra of Scotland New Year Concert, Glasgow (by car)

  Meet EU Commissioners, London (by car)

  News Conference on site of Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh (by car)

  Business Lunch, London (by car)

  Social Exclusion Seminar, Edinburgh (by car)

  Meet millionth visitor to Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow (by car)

  Visit SECC, Glasgow (by car)

  Business Dinner, Glasgow (by car)

  News Conference on Parliament Building, Edinburgh (on foot)

  Visit Dumfries and Galloway College, Burns Howff Club Burns Supper, Dumfries (by car)

  Burns Supper, City of London (by car)

  Visit IBM, Greenock (by car).

  I generally travel between my offices in London and Scotland by sleeper. In January I flew on four occasions.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy for responding to letters received in the(a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28053]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The Scottish Office has received no letters recently in the languages listed at (b) to (e). Correspondents who write in Gaelic may expect to receive a reply in Gaelic.

  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been made to him regarding a possible conflict of interest in the appointment of a consultant to undertake a report on the opportunities for Gaelic broadcasting in the digital era; and if he will make a statement. [29214]

  Mr. Wilson
  Three letters have been received. Replies have pointed out that there is no conflict of interest, since the Scottish Office has no role in the award of licences for programme service providers or in contracts for television production. These are matters for the Independent Television Commission and the broadcasters respectively.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the membership of the committee set up to review the handling of grant applications by the Student 370
  Awards Agency for Scotland; when the review committee will meet; and when the review committee will publish its findings. [29176]

  Mr. Wilson
  The membership of the Steering Committee which is overseeing the Review of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland follows. The Committee held its first meeting on 22 January. I expect the findings of the Review, which will be made public, to be reported to Ministers in April.

  Chairman

  Mr. G. R. Wilson, Secretary, The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department

  Members

  Mr. E. J. Weeple, The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department

  Mr. N. G Campbell, The Scottish Office Home Department

  Mr. D. M. Cattanach, Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals

  Mr. A. T. McKechnie, Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals

  Mr. T. J. Kelly, Association of Scottish Colleges

  Mr. K. Lloyd-Jones, National Union of Students (Scotland)

  Mr. R. C. S. McKendrick, The Scottish Office Trade Union Side

  Ms E. McQuater, Bank of Scotland

  Mr. A. G. Grant, General Accident

  Mrs. M. D. Campbell, Standard Life.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors underlay the decision to give the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council the responsibility for deciding the annual intake figures for teacher training courses. [29178]

  Mr. Wilson
  Since its inception, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has been responsible for allocating funded student places to individual institutions offering teacher education courses. The Secretary of State has made recommendations to SHEFC about overall intake levels to the different types of teacher education courses. In his report on teacher education and training for the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, Sir Stewart Sutherland recommended that we should consider the desirability and implications of increasing the maximum intake to courses of teacher education. In responding to that recommendation I have indicated that we have no plans to abandon entirely controls on the numbers of new teachers being trained. We have, however, decided that the Government should focus in future on their strategic objectives for teacher education and supply, including minimum requirements for newly trained teachers. In keeping with its responsibilities for funding higher education generally, it will be for the Funding Council to set intakes to teacher education courses as it considers appropriate, while ensuring that the Government's strategic objectives are met. This should introduce more flexibility into the teacher education system while ensuring that the needs of the school system are met.
  371

  Student Travel Allowance
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if students beginning courses in 1999–2000 and beyond will be eligible to claim travel allowance on the same basis as at present. [29173]

  Mr. Wilson
  We are considering the detail of some of the supplementary allowances for new students in 1999–2000 and beyond, including travel.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if students beginning courses in 2000 who are over the age of 50 years will be able to take out a student loan under the new arrangements. [29174]

  Mr. Wilson
  The question of the upper age limit for student loans under the new student support arrangements is under consideration.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who will be responsible for administering the new hardship loan scheme; how much money in total has been allocated for this purpose; how much each individual student will be able to claim in the form of a hardship loan; whether all students who apply will be given a hardship loan; when and how those who take out hardship loans will be expected to repay them; and if he will make a statement. [29175]

  Mr. Wilson
  £0.64 million has been allocated for this purpose in 1998–99 in Scotland. New students starting their courses in 1998–99, who are eligible for the student loan, will be able to apply for the hardship loan. It will be discretionary and is intended to contribute towards the living costs of students who may need extra help. The maximum amount available to individual students will be £250 per year and it will be repayable on an income contingent basis under similar arrangements to those for the student loan for new students in 1998–99 and beyond.

  The other points raised are currently being considered as part of the work on the new scheme.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 1132, on farmers' incomes, if he will tabulate income levels in pounds above and below the median, in octiles as a percentage of all holdings in the United Kingdom for the latest year for which figures are available and 1990, adjusted for inflation. [27020]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is given in the table for England and Wales. Comparable information for the United Kingdom could not be provided in the time available. These figures are based on grossed up data from the 2,500 full-time farms in the Farm Business Survey.
  372

  Net farm incomes in octiles (England and Wales)

  Octile

  Octile income (£/farm)

  1990–91 (adjusted to 1996 prices)

  1996–97

  1.

  -5,000

  -1,500

  2.

  2,300

  6,000

  3.

  7,200

  11,200

  4. (median)

  11,700

  17,600

  5.

  17,300

  25,400

  6.

  26,900

  36,800

  7.

  44,600

  61,100

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27666]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I and my ministerial team read all letters sent to us by hon. Members on constituency matters.

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to take to regulate the export of beef and bonemeal from the United Kingdom to non-EU destinations. [27510]

  Mr. Rooker
  The export of beef derived from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK and of all meat and bonemeal is prohibited by European Commission Decision 96/239/EC, as amended. The Government have submitted proposals to the European Commission for two schemes which would permit the export of deboned beef, and products made from that beef, from the UK. Those proposals, which include strict control measures to regulate such exports, are under consideration by the Commission in accordance with the procedures agreed at the Florence European Council.

  BSE
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Belgian authorities on the incidence of BSE in that country, and the regulation of meat imports therefrom; and if he will make a statement. [27470]

  Mr. Rooker
  Belgium has had one case of BSE. That case has been discussed extensively by the European Commission's Standing Veterinary Committee on which the UK is represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer or one of his veterinary staff. On the basis of the controls on the production and marketing of meat laid down in Community law, there is no reason for imposing additional controls on the import of meat from Belgium.

  Veterinary Surgeons
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary surgeons are employed by(a) his Department and (b) other public bodies, for animal inspection duties; and what proportion of these are (i) United Kingdom citizens, (ii) citizens of other EU countries and (iii) other nationals. [27468]
  373
  Mr. Rooker
  In the State Veterinary Service, there are 310 directly employed Veterinary Surgeons. Of these, 301 are UK Citizens, five are Citizens of other EU Member States and four are other nationals.

  In the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group there are 13 directly employed Veterinary Surgeons. Of these 12 are UK Citizens and one is a Citizen of another EU Member State.

  In the Veterinary Laboratories Agency there are 93 directly employed Veterinary Surgeons. Of these, 91 are UK Citizens and two are Citizens of other EU Member States.

  The Meat Hygiene Service directly employs 48 Veterinary Surgeons. Of these, 39 are UK Citizens, six are Citizens of other EU Member States and three are other Nationals. The Meat Hygiene Service also contracts out Veterinary Services to Veterinary Agencies and Practices. There are 486 Official Veterinary Surgeons employed in this way. Of these, 408 are UK Citizens, 73 are Citizens of other EU Member States and five are other nationals.

  The Department does not keep records of Veterinary Surgeons employed by other Public Bodies.

  Slaughter Process (Public Health)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish comparisons of charges made to ensure public health in the slaughter process in the United Kingdom with those prevailing in other EU states. [28114]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is not available. Council Directive 85/73/EEC (as amended) on the financing of veterinary inspections and controls, requires Member States to recover the costs of those hygiene inspections conducted at licensed fresh meat premises in accordance with harmonised EC meat hygiene rules. The Directive sets minimum standard charges (in ECUs) applicable in all Member States, for hygiene inspections of red meat, poultry meat and game meat dependent on the species and size of animals being slaughtered. Subject to meeting specified criteria, such as the efficiency of operations at individual plants, the Directive provides for the standard charge to be abated by up to 55 per cent. Conversely, where the actual cost of inspection exceeds the standard charge, the Directive provides for actual costs to be charged. Similar principles apply in respect of charges for cutting plants. The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that individual Member States comply with their Community obligations.

  Beef on the Bone
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the requirement to remove bone from beef applies to animals killed on the farm for farmers' own consumption. [27855]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The Beef Bones Regulations do not require meat to be de-boned if it is derived from a bovine animal slaughtered on the farmer's farm for his own consumption. Such slaughter must be carried out in accordance with the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations
  374
  1995 and the Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997. If the bovine animal is sent for slaughter off the farm, then meat must be de-boned before it is returned to the farmer for consumption in his household.

  Fishery Quotas
  Mr. Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the quota system, as a system of national quotas, is a derogation from the general rule of equal conditions of access to fishery resources and the principle of non-discrimination. [28655]

  Mr. Morley
  The system of national quotas under the Common Fisheries Policy applies without discrimination to all Member States and is not a time-limited derogation.

  Meat Prices
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instigate an investigation into the level of meat prices in United Kingdom supermarkets; what representations he has made to UK supermarkets concerning(a) the price of meat and (b) the promotion of British meat; and if he will make a statement. [27913]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: The levels of retail prices for meat are set by competition, which is strong in the food retailing sector. The Director General of Fair Trading keeps the market under review to ensure that it continues to remain competitive. I see no case, at present, for separate investigation, or for specific representations to food retailing firms. As regards beef, we are introducing a voluntary beef labelling scheme in the United Kingdom with effect from 1 April 1998; this will allow consumers to make informed choices about the beef they purchase and will reassure them that British beef meets the traceability requirements.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the requirements and enforcement of legislation in EU nations regarding the definition and labelling of Scotch whisky. [27904]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 12 February 1998]: Council Regulation 1576789 lays down EU rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks (including Scotch whisky) which must be enforced in all Member States. In the United Kingdom, local authorities are empowered by statutory instrument to enforce the provisions through their trading standards, environmental health and port health officers. The same officers enforce the purely domestic provisions of the statutory instrument defining Scotch whisky made under the Scotch Whisky Act 1988.

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact of a farmers' early retirement scheme on the overall level of production in the (i) livestock, (ii) arable and (iii) dairy sectors. [28855]
  375
  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: None. We can undertake such research only when we have fully assessed what measures we can take in this regard and have consulted the industry on them.

  Beef
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many officials are currently directly involved in(a) the entry-point monitoring of beef imports and (b) the point of sale monitoring of beef on the bone sales. [27910]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: These checks are carried out by local authority staff. It is possible to answer the question only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the procedures adopted to monitor the import of beef; what documentation is required by beef importers to satisfy the conditions on imports set by the United Kingdom Government; and if he will make a statement on the procedures in place to ensure the adequate traceability from herd to point of sale for all beef imports. [27911]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: Consignments of all animal products imported into the European Union (EU) are subject to documentary, identity and physical checks at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). All consignments are subject to documentary checks. The levels of identity and physical checks, which are laid down in Community legislation, depend on the product and country of origin. Single Market rules permit random spot-checks only at destination on animal products traded within the Community.

  Beef imported from other EU Member States or third countries must, in accordance with Community law, be accompanied by commercial documentation or health certification, depending on the country of dispatch. Certain animal products imported into the UK require additional official veterinary certification relating to Specified Risk Materials (SRM). The certification confirms that the product does not contain and was not derived from SRM; or was produced before 1 January; or contains only materials derived from animals born, reared and slaughtered in New Zealand or Australia.

  In order to aid traceability, all imported beef must have the health markings provided for in Council Directive 64–433, which identify the approved establishment from which it originated. Commercial documentation or veterinary or other certification accompanying imported beef must also contain details of the approved establishment so that, if necessary, problems can be referred back to the relevant authorities in the exporting country.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of beef imports to the United Kingdom come from countries with a record of BSE incidence in their herds; and if he will make a statement. [27912]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: Official Overseas Trade Statistics for the year to 31 October 1997, showing the quantities and percentages
  376
  of beef, beef preparations and beef offal imported from countries with recorded cases of BSE in home-bred animals, are set out in the following table.

  UK imports of bovine meat, offal and meat preparations November 1996-October 1997

  tones

  percentage of total imports

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  2,067

  0.9

  France

  5,396

  2.3

  Irish Republic

  72,769

  31.2

  Netherlands

  18,775

  8.1

  Portugal

  0

  0.0

  Others

  133,883

  57.5

  Total

  232,890

  Note:

  All data are provisional and subject to amendment.

TREASURY

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on preparations for economic and monetary union. [27217]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Government consider it vital that British business is ready for the single currency when it arrives on 1 January 1999 and that the British people have a genuine choice whether or not to join EMU early next Parliament.

  The Business Advisory Group on the euro which I established last July has reported. Its key message is that UK business must prepare for the strategic implications of the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999.

  The Bank of England is continuing its excellent work to ensure that the wholesale financial markets are ready for January 1999.

  The Standing Committee I set up to oversee preparation has agreed a programme to ensure business has the information it needs to prepare. It will publish an outline plan around the end of the year on how the UK might change over to the euro if we join.

  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from business on the European single currency. [27230]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Government receive a large number of representations from business on a wide range of issues, including Economic and Monetary Union. In July, I announced the establishment of a Business Advisory Group on EMU to allow dialogue between the Government and business on the practical and strategic implications of the single currency. A report summarising the conclusions from the group was published on 30 January and is available in the House Library.

  Jacqui Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met his EU counterparts to discuss the single currency. [27231]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I met my EU counterparts at ECOFIN on 19 January, when the items for discussion included the preparations for stage 3 of EMU.
  377
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 1998,Official Report, column 572, which parts of the statutes of the Bank of England and the related Acts of Parliament would need to be (a) deleted, (b) amended and (c) inserted in preparation for, or consequent to, the United Kingdom joining the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union. [28896]

  Mr. Darling
  Amendments would have to be made to the provisions of the current Bank of England Bill in relation to aspects of the independence of the Bank of England and its integration in the European System of Central Banks. The statutory basis of the ways and means facility provided by the Bank of England pursuant to section 12 of the National Loans Act 1968 would have to be repealed. The Exchange Equalisation Account Act 1979 would have to be amended to enable effect to be given to the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty dealing with foreign reserves. Finally, the legislation dealing with notes and coin, in particular the provisions of the Currency and Bank Notes Acts 1928 and 1954, would have to be amended in order to reflect the substitution for sterling of euro notes and coin and their status as legal tender.

  Hypothecated Taxes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the use of hypothecated taxes. [27218]

  Mr. Darling
  There are great difficulties with hypothecation. However, we look at each case on its merits.

  Married Women's Taxation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of independent married women's taxation. [27219]

  Mr. Darling
  Decisions on tax are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement. The hon. lady would not expect me to anticipate it. But my right hon. Friend has already made clear that there will be no return to the pre-1990 system in which a married woman was effectively treated as a chattel for tax purposes.

  Windfall Tax
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to use the revenues accruing from the windfall tax. [27220]

  Ms Blears
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on spending the windfall levy. [27237]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The receipts of the Windfall Tax are being used not only to provide new work and training opportunities for young people, the long-term unemployed, lone parents and persons who are sick and disabled who want the right to work, but also to fund £1.2 billion of capital expenditure for schools, and is contributing to the development of a National Child Care Strategy. I can tell the House that £2.6 billion of the sum has already been paid by the utilities.
  378
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much will be raised in the present financial year from the windfall levy. [27215]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The windfall tax is expected to raise some £5.2 billion in total, payable in two equal instalments. The payments made to date are fully in line with our forecast of some £2.6 billion this financial year.

  Public Pay
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the impact of the public pay review bodies' recommendations on the public spending limits of 1998–99. [27221]

  Mr. Darling
  The recommendations would have cost some £1.3 billion. Staging their implementation means that the settlements will cost some £896 million in 1998–99. These costs will be contained within existing spending plans.

  Inflation Forecasts
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts he has made for inflation up to 2000. [27222]

  Mr. Darling
  The November 1997 Pre-Budget Report (Cm 3804) included inflation forecasts up to the end of 2000.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official visits to Brussels have been made by Ministers in his Department since 1 May to discuss offshore trusts. [27223]

  Mr. Darling
  There have not been any Ecofin discussions about off-shore trusts as such. There have of course been several discussions about various aspects of taxation particularly in the context of the Harmful Tax Competition Package agreed at Ecofin last December.

  Land Settlement Associations
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the tax treatment of compensation awarded to former tenants of the land settlement associations. [27224]

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the tax treatment of compensation for former tenants of the land settlement associations. [27236]

  Mr. Darling
  Representations have been made querying the raising of a tax charge in respect of out of court compensation paid by MAFF to a number of former tenants of the Land Settlement Association. It has been explained that under tax law, compensation received for a capital loss, or for personal hardship, is not liable to income tax, but where a payment is made to compensate a restriction of trading opportunities, or to fill a hole in profits, it is taxable as trading income. And that the nature of a compensation payment in an out of court settlement is decided by the evidence of the claims for compensation. Just how much of a compensation payment received is for
  379
  restricted trading opportunities, capital loss, or personal hardship is a matter for agreement between the recipient and the Inspector of Taxes.

  Families (Fiscal Support)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of existing fiscal support for the family. [27225]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Support through the tax system is provided by the married couple's allowance and the additional personal allowance. Additional personal allowance is available to those who have a dependent child living with them but are not married and to married men whose wives are incapacitated and have dependent children.

  Support through the benefit system is provided through:

  Child Benefit which helps all families with the extra cost of having children;

  child and family premia in Income Support which help those families who cannot work; and

  Family Credit which provides targeted help to those with children who are in work and on low incomes.

  My hon. Friend will also be aware that I have asked Martin Taylor to lead a task force looking at streamlining and modernising the tax and benefits system. And, as I said in my pre-Budget report, the Government are examining the possibility of introducing a Working Families Tax Credit, which would provide support to more working families on low incomes.

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from pensioners' organisations on his reduction in VAT on fuel. [27226]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that we have reduced VAT on fuel to 5 per cent., the lowest level permitted to us under EC regulations. It has been well received throughout the country, particularly by pensioner communities.

  Offshore Tax Havens
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures his Department is taking to obtain information from offshore tax havens on funds held for the benefit of United Kingdom residents. [27227]

  Mr. Darling
  Provisions in the UK's bilateral Double Taxation Agreements with other countries enable information to be exchanged between the UK and treaty partner tax authorities.

  Trusts (Taxation)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of the taxation of trusts. [27228]

  Mr. Darling
  We are committed to taking action to close any tax loopholes which may exist.
  380

  MIRAS
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations have been received on the future of MIRAS. [27229]

  Mr. Darling
  Since May 1997 Treasury Ministers have received about 180 letters concerning the future of mortgage interest relief. Of these the vast majority have come from individuals.

  Tax Evasion
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent of revenue lost through tax evasion in the last year for which figures are available. [27232]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  No such estimate has been made. There is no generally accepted method of producing a reliable estimate. But during the fiscal year 1996–97, Inland Revenue investigation and compliance work brought approximately £1.5 billion additional tax into charge.

  Tax Yield
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cumulative total tax yield to be received by the Exchequer by the end of the financial year 2001–02 from the tax changes he has so far announced since 1 May 1997. [27233]

  Mr. Darling
  The forecast cumulative revenue yield for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 for the changes announced in the July 1997 Budget are shown in table 2.2 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC85).

  Inland Revenue Services
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had on future provision of Inland Revenue services in remote rural areas. [27234]

  Mr. Darling
  The Inland Revenue is considering the best way to provide services to all its customers as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and the 10 year programme to reorganise the Department's network of local offices. A small number of representations about the offices to be included in the final stage of the reorganisation programme have been received.

  R and D Projects (Tax Breaks)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce tax breaks for companies investing in research and development projects involving partnership with United Kingdom educational establishments. [27235]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The Chancellor and President of the Board of Trade are taking a wide-ranging look at ways of improving the UK's record on investment in research and development. As a first step I am sponsoring a working group on the financing of high technology companies. Given the nearness of the Budget I am unable to comment on particular matters of taxation.
  381

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the £50,000 limit he proposes for individual savings accounts. [27238]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  Our proposals for the ISA were issued for consultation. The consultation period has now finished and we are considering the responses received. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will make a further announcement about the ISA in his Budget on 17 March.

  Mozambique (Debt Relief)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made within the Paris Club in agreeing the terms of debt relief for Mozambique. [27239]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Negotiations are still continuing in a number of international fora on the issue of providing debt relief for Mozambique under the HIPC initiative. The UK is working hard to secure a quick solution that will provide a full and sustainable exit for Mozambique from its debt problems.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on increasing the upper earnings limit on national insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement. [27240]

  Mr. Darling
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 15 January 1998,Official Report, column 307.

  Financial Planning
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) areas of expenditure and (b) the amounts involved, where (i) money has been saved and (ii) new income (1) has been raised and (2) is anticipated, which were not in the previous Government's financial plans for the two financial years ending on 1 April 2000. [24224]

  Mr. Darling
  As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, Departments have been looking to deliver services and priorities more efficiently and to reallocate money towards the Government's top priorities. A statement on the conclusions of the review will be made in the summer.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rate inheritance tax on agricultural property relief is currently available to an in-hand farmer who has owned the property for seven years, in the case of(a) the farmhouse, assuming no non-agricultural value, (b) the cottage of an agricultural worker prospectively protected under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 and (c) a cottage occupied under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 by a former agricultural worker who retired after 31 August 1995. [26847]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Agricultural value of farming assets can qualify for up to 100 per cent. relief from inheritance tax if the appropriate statutory conditions are satisfied. The availability, or otherwise, of relief could therefore be 382
  determined only in the light of all the relevant facts. The information provided by the hon. Member is not sufficient for me to provide answers to the specific points raised.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27675]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  This has always been our policy.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a top rate of tax for those earning over £40 million per year. [28271]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Decisions on taxation are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement.

  VAT (Church Buildings)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 1998,Official Report, column 708, who was involved in the decision not to reduce VAT on church buildings. [28010]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No decision was required. EC law does not allow a reduced rate for church buildings. There is no conflict between our policy objectives and EC law.

  The Government believe it is more efficient to help to preserve the heritage by means of direct grants.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [27461]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The information requested is as follows:

  a) none has taken early retirement;

  b) official leave details are not held centrally;

  c) none has been dismissed

  d) 2 (1 grade 3 equivalent and 1 grade 2 equivalent on promotion from grade 3) have changed jobs within the Department;

  e) 1 grade 3 equivalent has moved to another Department;

  f) i) none has been offered and rejected an alternative position within the Department; and

  f) ii) information on those who have been offered and rejected an alternative position in another Department, from 1 May 1997, is not held centrally.

  Market Research
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure has been incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies(a) in 1996–97 and (b) since 1 May 1997 on (i) opinion

  383
  polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each; and if he will make a statement. [26571]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]:

  £000

  Department/ agency

  Type of research

  Expenditure in 1996–97

  Expenditure since 1 May1997

  Inland Revenue

  Various surveys

  480

  345

  Customs & Excise

  Various surveys

  110

  135

  HM Treasury

  Salary surveys

  1

  7

  National Savings

  Opinion polling

  290

  183

  Focus groups

  82

  61

  Other market research

  7

  127

  Office for National Statistics

  Social surveys

  12,000

  8,000

  Royal Mint

  Product survey

  —

  8

  Survey

  Purpose

  Inland Revenue:

  1996–97

  SA Public Information Campaign

  Research to track levels of awareness, knowledge and understanding of Self Assessment, and to monitor understanding of the help and advice available from the Inland Revenue to help taxpayers cope with the new system.

  SA Tax Return

  Continuing the testing and development of the Self Assessment Tax Return with taxpayers and their advisers so that it is as easy to use as possible.

  Packaging of SA Tax Return

  Research into the impact of the packaging of the new Self Assessment Tax return.

  Survey of SA taxpayers

  Research into the impressions of taxpayers on the new Self Assessment Tax return.

  Electronic Version of the Return

  Research into the impact and ease of use of the electronic version of the Self Assessment Tax Return.

  SA Education Programme

  Research into the satisfaction of professional tax advisers and employers with the Self Assessment Education programme.

  Statement of Account

  Research into taxpayer reaction to the help they received in understanding the Statement of Account.

  Good Design

  Consultancy Study on the role of good design within both private and public sector organisations.

  Employers' Helpline

  Tracking research for the Employers' Helpline, run on behalf of the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, and the Contributions Agency.1

  Survey of Disabled taxpayers

  Research into the needs of disabled taxpayers.

  384

  Survey

  Purpose

  Views on Leaflet P3

  Research into how easy it is to understand the explanatory leaflet for the Notice of Coding (leaflet P3).

  Views on Form P2

  Research into whether the revised Notice of Coding (form P2) had met taxpayer needs.

  Views on Form P161

  Research into whether the revised form (P161) which asks for additional information about income sources when a taxpayer retires is easier to complete.

  Views on Form R37

  Research into taxpayer views of the form (R37) which is used to claim a repayment of tax.

  PAYE/NIC compliance costs

  To measure the overall compliance burden on business.2

  1997–98 Post 1 May

  Customer Service Performance Indicator

  Re-run of survey of main customer groups.3

  SA Public Information Campaign

  Purpose as for 1996–97, plus developmental research into elements of the campaign (including the 1997–98 tax return insert and the SA 352 penalties leaflet).4

  SA Customer Service Evaluation

  Market Research to evaluate the effectiveness of customer service initiatives for Self Assessment.

  Methods of Payment

  Research into taxpayer views on different methods of payment.

  Survey of PEP/TESSA Holders

  Analysis of combined holdings over £20,000.

  Various Omnibus surveys

  Characteristics of PEP/TESSA holders, amounts saved and savers attitudes to tax-free savings accounts.

  PAYE/NIC compliance costs

  To measure the overall compliance burden on business (see also 1996–97).2

  1 Each department contributed towards the cost of this exercise. The figure included in the overall calculation represents the Inland Revenue's share only.

  2 Chancellor's Department. share of spending include for that particular year on a project originally contracted in 1995.

  3 Work on-going. Expenditure included that will be incurred at end of project.

  4 Estimate of expenditure at year end included.

  Survey

  Purpose

  Customs and Excise:

  Commissioned in 1996–97

  Employer's Helpline Campaign (Tripartite activity also involving the Contributions Agency and Inland Revenue)

  Conducted in three stages to track awareness of government helplines; measure the effectiveness of the Employer's Helpline advertising campaign; measure the decline in awareness of the Helpline over time.

  385

  Survey

  Purpose

  Omnibus survey and international passenger survey

  Surveys are run by the office for National Statistics. C&E commissions questions within the surveys to obtain data for estimating tax revenue lost through cross border shopping.

  Trade statistics

  Customer satisfaction survey to assess quality of overseas trade statistics.

  Passenger surveys (as part of the Traveller's Charter)

  Survey into C&E service and performance at selected ports and airports.

  Business Advice Centre surveys

  Five surveys to gauge customer satisfaction and quality of service.

  Customer service insolvency questionnaire

  To gauge the quality of service given to insolvency practitioners.

  Commissioned since 1 May 1997

  Alcohol and tobacco smuggling— quantitative

  Designed as a cost effective and speedy way to measure public awareness and understanding of "smuggling"—through the Whitehall "Omnibus Survey" system.

  Alcohol and tobacco smuggling— qualitative

  Designed and conducted to establish attitudes to smuggling. Used to assess potential effectiveness of current anti-smuggling publicity strategy proposals and to ensure value for money in communications planning.

  Omnibus survey and international passenger survey

  As in 1996–97.

  Business Advice Centre surveys

  As in 1996–97.

  Quality of service survey

  Follow-up to a survey conducted in 1995 to obtain feedback on the level of service given by the London Central VAT Advice Centre.

  Customer focus project

  Qualitative diagnostic study carried out by MORI to inform the future direction of the VAT and Excise businesses and to identify areas for further research.

  Business news readership survey

  Post implementation review seeking views from the external readership about usefulness and suggestions on improvement.

  VAT compliance survey

  To identify the compliance behaviour of traders.

  Note:

  The list excludes statistical surveys which Customs & Excise are required by law to undertake; an opinion poll carried out in 1996 on Intrastat, paid for by the European Commission; general internal surveys canvassing staff opinion.

  Survey

  Purpose

  National Savings:

  The purpose of all research is to help National Savings to operate efficiently and effectively in a competitive retail savings market. The detail of the research is commercially sensitive.

  386

  Survey

  Purpose

  Office for National Statistics:

  Labour Force Survey

  Measures of employment and unemployment on international standard definitions.

  Family Expenditure Survey

  Expenditure patterns of households needed for, amongst other uses, calculation of retail price index weights.

  International Passenger Survey

  Numbers and expenditure of tourists needed for input to balance of payments and tourism policy.

  General Household Survey

  Demographic, social and health data needed for social policy purposes.

  Royal Mint:

  Product survey

  Survey of views on Royal Mint products.

  Smuggling
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Customs and Excise has made of the effect on the level of cigarette smuggling of the recent price increase. [28510]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise estimates of cross-channel smuggling of cigarettes are based on data from their surveys of sea and Tunnel passengers, conducted in June each year. Therefore, no estimate of the effect on smuggling of the most recent price increase is available.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 648, if the conclusions of the report on alcohol and tobacco smuggling, cross border shopping and fraud currently being prepared by HM Customs and Excise, and the views of independent retailers of tobacco on the subject of illegal re-sale of tobacco, imported from Belgium, will be considered in preparing his Budget statement. [28580]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The findings of the review, which was undertaken in consultation with the trade, is currently being considered by Ministers in the run up to the spring Budget.

  Excise Duty
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions are planned in ECOFIN during the British Presidency to reduce the gap in excise duties on tobacco and alcohol between the United Kingdom and its continental partners. [27928]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is my current intention to discuss the minimum rates of excise duty for tobacco products in ECOFIN following production of the European Commission's report on their review. The report on alcohol is overdue but at present it seems unlikely that the Commission will complete their work during our Presidency.
  387
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts received by the Exchequer in each of the last five years from(a) vehicle excise duty and (b) excise duty on (i) leaded petrol, (ii) unleaded petrol and (iii) diesel, broken down by receipts from (A) Scotland, (B) England, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland. [28067]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information requested is shown in the tables.

  (a) UK vehicle excise duty—net revenue received

  £ million

  Year

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  UK total

  1992–93

  2,797

  245

  152

  79

  3,273

  1993–94

  3,113

  277

  170

  89

  3,649

  1994–95

  3,309

  291

  178

  92

  3,870

  1995–96

  3,464

  305

  185

  96

  4,050

  1996–97

  3,591

  318

  192

  102

  4,203

  (b) Excise duty receipts (estimated allocation)

  £ million

  Year

  England/ Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  UK total

  Leaded petrol

  1992–93

  4,124

  339

  120

  4,583

  1993–94

  3,987

  323

  113

  4,423

  1994–95

  3,852

  303

  103

  4,258

  1995–96

  3,609

  288

  95

  3,992

  1996–97

  3,326

  250

  82

  3,658

  Unleaded petrol

  1992–93

  3,252

  267

  95

  3,614

  1993–94

  3,974

  322

  113

  4,409

  1994–95

  4,751

  374

  128

  5,253

  1995–96

  5,563

  445

  147

  6,155

  1996–97

  6,560

  493

  161

  7,214

  Diesel

  1992–93

  2,666

  270

  95

  3,031

  1993–94

  3,230

  317

  112

  3,659

  1994–95

  3,959

  360

  130

  4,449

  1995–96

  4,716

  435

  138

  5,289

  1996–97

  5,138

  162

  156

  6,056

  Brazilian Mahogany
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been(a) acquired and (b) specified by his Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28382]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Treasury has not acquired any Brazilian mahogany during the periods in question. Nor has it knowingly acquired any goods containing mahogany; or specified Brazilian mahogany in any procurement.

  The Treasury's domestic environmental policy states
  "The Department will avoid, wherever possible, the purchase of goods which are manufactured or obtained in such a manner that the resources used to produce those goods is put under threat, e.g. certain hardwoods".
  388

  Customs and Excise
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the complement of established civil servants in the National Investigation Service of Customs and Excise; and what are the current numbers. [28477]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The 1997–98 staff year allocation for the National Investigation Service is 1,756.5. The current deployment of staff is in line with that allocation.

  Job Vacancies
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vacancies were advertised through jobcentres in each constituency in Wales on 31 December 1997 or the nearest date for which figures are available. [28892]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Ms Julie Morgan, dated 12 February 1998:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent question on vacancies advertised through jobcentres in each constituency in Wales.
  Information on the number of vacancies advertised through jobcentres is not available by parliamentary constituency. However, this information is available by jobcentre area.
  The number of vacancies advertised through jobcentres for jobcentre areas in Wales can be obtained from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.

  Tax Allowances
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of allowing married couples to transfer all or part of an unused personal tax allowance, at the basic rate, to the working spouse. [28180]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The full year cost in 1998–99 of allowing married couples to transfer their unused personal allowance to their spouse at the basic rate is estimated to be £2.9 billion.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tax allowances in force, together with their cost to the Exchequer in revenue forgone and the number of beneficiaries of each allowance in the most recent year for which figures are available. [28666]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Tax allowances, expenditures and structural reliefs are listed with their estimated costs in tables 1.6, and annexes Bl and B2 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1997 published in September 1997. Estimates of the costs of the main allowances, expenditures and reliefs were updated in the Tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs in December 1997. A copy of these publications can be found in the Library.

  I regret that to provide estimates for the number of beneficiaries for each allowance could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  389

  Car Warranties
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards the issuing of non-insurance based warranties linked with the sale of motor vehicles; and what trends he has assessed in the ratio of sales of insurance-based and non-insurance-based car warranties. [28044]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: Insurance backed warranties sold with motor vehicles are now subject to the higher rate of Insurance Premium Tax. Customs and Excise have been monitoring the effect of the introduction of the higher rate and have observed that in the motor vehicle sector there has been a marked movement away from insurance backed warranties to similar products backed by the manufacturer or by a specialist provider. This supports the view that the sale of such insurance products was at times motivated by the opportunity it gave for tax avoidance.

  Sterling
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the present level of sterling on(a) jobs and (b) export volumes over the next year. [28549]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 February 1998]: The precise impact of sterling's appreciation on both employment and export volumes is hard to isolate. The Pre-Budget Report forecast showed growth in export volumes slowing to around 5 per cent. in 1998, with strong growth in UK export markets helping to mitigate the effects of the strong pound. Latest data show employment continuing to grow throughout the economy. A fully updated forecast will be published with forthcoming Budget.

  Legal Profession (Cash Basis Accounting)
  Miss Mcintosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on barristers of his proposed cash basis tax reforms; and if he will postpone their implementation. [28684]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The Inland Revenue Press Release issued on 22 December invited comments on the proposals to withdraw the cash basis practices available to professional businesses, not just to barristers. The Inland Revenue has received a large number of responses and I myself have received several. The Inland Revenue has also had a number of meetings with representative bodies, including the Law Society, the Bar Council, and the different accountancy bodies. The consultation period ends on 14 February. Thereafter we will be considering the various points made on the proposals, including those concerning the timing of their implementation.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the proposed withdrawal of cash basis accounting practices available to professional businesses with particular reference to barristers, solicitors and accountants. [28685]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The proposal to withdraw the cash basis practices available to professionals is the subject of a consultation process which was started by the issue of an Inland
  390
  Revenue Press Release on 22 December 1997. Comments were invited by 14 February 1998. Thereafter we will be reviewing the proposal in the light of the comments received.

  Public Opinion Research
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts for public opinion research his Department has awarded since 1 May; if he will indicate the(a) purpose, (b) cost, (c) value and (d) duration of each contract; and which companies (i) bid for and (ii) were awarded each contract. [28881]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: No public opinion research contracts have been awarded by the Treasury during this period.

  Commemorative Coins
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of producing the commemorative coin celebrating the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Communities; and how many such coins have been minted(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of all 50 pence pieces minted since the commemorative coin was first minted. [28730]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The cost of producing commemorative fifty pence coins is less than their face value or selling price. The detailed figures are commercially sensitive in view of the Royal Mint's export business. 5.2 million commemorative fifty pence coins have been minted, accounting for 22 per cent. of all fifty pence coins so far minted in 1998.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received on the advantages of minting a coin commemorating the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Communities. [28732]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: The Royal Mint recommended that a commemorative fifty pence coin should be issued to mark both the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union and the 25th anniversary of our accession, taking account of precedents in 1973 when a fifty pence coin was issued to mark the United Kingdom's accession to the EEC and in 1992–93 when a further fifty pence was issued to celebrate the previous United Kingdom Presidency and the completion of the single market.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Ministers consulted over the creation of a 50 pence piece commemorating the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Communities. [28731]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 February 1998]: Decisions on United Kingdom commemorative coins are matters for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, subject to the approval of Her Majesty The Queen. No consultations took place with Ministers of other Government Departments in this case.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from(a) private pensions companies and (b) local authorities on the impact on pension fund contributions of abolishing advance

  391
  corporation tax credits for pension funds; and if he will make a statement on the content of those representations. [29206]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  We have received a number of representations expressing concern about the possible effects on contributions to or benefits from pension schemes as a result of removing payable tax credits on UK dividends. However, the corporation tax changes introduced in the last Budget will be good for the economy as a whole. This will benefit pensioners, along with everyone else.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the latest year for which figures are available, how many companies had profits in the large, medium and small categories as defined for the new system of advance payments of corporation tax. [29193]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  Estimates in respect of accounting periods ending in 1995–96 of the numbers of companies in the large, medium and small categories of taxable profit, as governed by the rate at which their profits were taxed, are 40,000, 15,000 and 350,000 respectively.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the Government's policy towards disability benefits for those with acute disabilities. [29201]

  Mr. Denham
  We are committed to modernising the Social Security system so that it helps people to work as far as they are able, provides appropriate support to those who cannot work and makes the most effective use of the resources available. Benefits for people who are sick or disabled, and their carers, are part of our comprehensive spending review. The review is on-going and no decisions on future policy have yet been made.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the procedures under which those with acute disabilities have their benefit reduced. [29203]

  Mr. Denham
  Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) are available for severely disabled people to help meet the extra costs associated with disability. Entitlement is determined by the level of help needed with personal care and/or getting around.

  The Benefit Integrity Project helps ensure the correctness of awards of DLA. Up-to-date information is being gathered from those getting benefit about their care and mobility needs, so that we can check that they are receiving the correct amount of DLA.

  It is important that decisions about benefit entitlement are made fairly and are seen to be fair. From 9 February we have taken action to improve the quality of decisions made by the Project which involve a reduction or removal of benefit. No decision resulting in reduction or removal of entitlement to DLA will be made solely on the evidence provided by the claimant—there will always be additional evidence to support the decision. This new
  392
  initiative underlines our determination to act properly to get the benefit right, to listen and to act upon any concerns.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the loss of revenue from raising the starting level of employers' national insurance contributions to the same level as income tax for a single person. [29191]

  Mr. Denham
  The estimated reduction in revenue from employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions, gross of contracted-out rebates, would be £110 million in a full year. The estimate assumes that there are no changes to the other earnings brackets for employer contributions.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the total bill for housing benefit payments in each of the last five years in the Gosport Borough Council area; [27583]

  (2) what has been the total bill for housing benefit payments in each of the last five years in the (a) Havant Borough, (b) Eastleigh, (c) New Forest District and (d) Test Valley District council areas; [28151]

  (3) what has been the bill for housing benefit payments in each of the last five years in the Rushmoor Borough Council area. [28372]

  Mr. Field
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  £000

  Council Area

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97 provisional out-turn

  Gosport

  8,620

  10,800

  12,140

  12,970

  14,110

  Havant

  9,150

  11,150

  11,920

  12,710

  13,640

  Eastleigh

  7,930

  10,200

  11,510

  12,750

  13,250

  New Forest

  15,570

  17,270

  18,610

  20,210

  21,470

  Test Valley

  8,470

  10,200

  10,640

  11,020

  10,780

  Rushmoor

  8,950

  10,890

  11,700

  11,760

  11,580

  Source:

  1. Department of Social Security Planning and Finance Division.

  2. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many households in receipt of family credit there are two adults; and in how many of those the benefit is paid to the man. [29189]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Of the 757,000 families currently in receipt of Family Credit, 406,000 are couples. The vast majority of couple families have a female recipient as there is a requirement for the female member of a couple to be the claimant. There are, however, occasional exceptions to this rule, for example, to cover mental incapacity.

  Note:

  All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of all awards.
  393
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many households currently in receipt of family credit the principal earner is(a) a man and (b) a woman; and in each case what is the average amount of family credit paid per week. [29188]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Family credit by gender of main earner, and average weekly awards—August 1997

  Gender of main earner

  Number of claimants

  Average weekly award (£)

  Male

  326,000

  57.17

  Female

  431,000

  60.41

  Notes:

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

  2.Figures are based on the gender of the main earner.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of all awards.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Vertical Agreements
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she will announce her conclusions on provisions in the Competition Bill dealing with vertical agreements. [13042]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Shortly.

  Non-career Civil Servants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to her Department since 1 May 1997. [25840]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I have asked for replies on behalf of Executive Agencies to be provided separately.

  For the headquarters area of the Department, the number of temporary appointments made since 1 May 1997 is 71, in the categories shown below.

  Casual Appointments: 49

  Fixed-term Appointments: 15

  Period Appointments: 7.

  There were 45 temporary DTI appointments in Government Offices during the same period, of which 33 were Casual and 12 were Fixed-term.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 12 February 1998:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about the appointment by The Insolvency Service of non-career civil servants.
  In the period from 1 May 1997 to 1 January 1998 The Service appointed 84 non-permanent staff. Some of these have subsequently left The Service or have been converted to permanent status.
  The number does not include staff taken on from employment agencies and who are not civil servants.

  Letter from Martin Wilson to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 12 February 1998:
  I have been asked by the President of the Board of Trade to reply, in respect of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), to your question about numbers of non-career civil servants appointed to the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 1997.
  394
  Since 1 May 1997, fifty-three casual staff and three short notice clerks have been appointed to the Employment Tribunals Service.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Letter from Dr. Seton Bennett to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 12 February 1998:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about the appointment of non-career civil servants since 1 May 1997. There have been three such appointments in this Agency during the period in question.

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 12 February 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question to the President of the Board of Trade regarding how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to her Department since 1 May 1997.
  Within Companies House Executive Agency, there have been a total of 142, all of whom are either casuals or Fixed Term Appointments. You may wish to note that, of these, 51 have moved on from Companies House and 91 are still employed, typically for periods of up to a year.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 12 February 1998:
  Since 1 May 1997, the Agency has employed 7 sandwich students and 3 casual clerical staff. In addition, during the Summer 11 vacation students were given placements for between 8 and 10 weeks each.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 12 February 1998:
  I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade about non-career Civil Servants.
  Since 1 May 1997 we have offered employment to 42 staff from employment agencies, 17 IT contractors and 1 general contractor.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the level of trade between Britain and Sri Lanka. [28594]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1997, trade in goods between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka was worth £485 million, 28 per cent. higher than the previous year. The value of UK exports of goods increased by 42 per cent. to £211 million, while UK imports increased by 18 per cent. to £275 million. Information on trade services with Sri Lanka is not available.

  Information on UK trade in goods with Sri Lanka over the last five years is given in the following table:

  £ million

  UK exports

  UK imports

  Crude balance

  1993

  126

  142

  -16

  1994

  154

  186

  -32

  1995

  156

  206

  -50

  1996

  148

  232

  -84

  1997

  211

  275

  -64

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Ms Drown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from British companies in support of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [28818]
  395
  Mrs. Roche
  My officials are in contact with representatives of the CBI and ICC-UK (International Chambers of Commerce) as well as other business representatives. They have been generally supportive of the Government's approach.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will convene a meeting of Ministers of her Department, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Treasury and the Department for International Development to discuss the Multilateral Agreement on Investment in advance of the meeting of OECD Ministers on 16 and 17 February. [29024]

  Mrs. Roche
  The UK objectives for the MAI negotiations have been discussed extensively among the Departments mentioned and others. Officials have consulted closely over preparations for the 16–17 February meeting. Further consultations will be necessary as we approach the final phase of the negotiations in the spring.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings of officials from her Department have attended meetings on the subject of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment at which there were(a) only officials from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, (b) only officials from the Department for International Development, (c) only officials from the Treasury and (d) officials from the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department for International Development and the Treasury. [29025]

  Mrs. Roche
  My officials in the International Investment Policy Unit have been in constant contact with officials from all Government Departments with an interest in the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, and have held meetings on numerous occasions at which officials from a number of other Government Departments have been present.

  Carrier Pre-selection
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the deadline of 1 January 2000 set by the European Union for the implementation of carrier pre-selection will be achieved in the United Kingdom. [29001]

  Mrs. Roche
  The requirement to introduce carrier pre-selection arises from an amendment to the EC Interconnection Directive (97/33/EC), which has not yet been adopted. However, OFTEL and DTI are consulting industry and consumer bodies about the arrangements for UK implementation of carrier pre-selection within the time limits set out in the draft Directive. The Common Position currently requires the introduction of carrier pre-selection by 1 January 2000, but allows Member States to request a deferment of this obligation if they can prove that it would impose an excessive burden on certain organisations or classes of organisation.

  Utilities (Standing Charges)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will take steps to abolish standing charges on domestic energy supplies and telephones. [29168]
  396
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Some electricity and gas supply tariffs have no standing charges. These tariffs may be particularly attractive to small users, many of whom will be pensioners or those on low incomes. However, the structure of tariffs on energy supplies and telephones is a commercial matter for the companies concerned. Where competition has developed in these industries, consumers have been offered a wider choice of tariffs.

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people suffered accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in the home in each of the last five years; how many of these died as a result; what steps are currently being taken and what measures are planned to reduce the number of such cases. [28978]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 11 February 1998]: The following figures refer to accidents involving faulty heating appliances.

  In the period 1992–96 (available figures to date) the estimated figures for non-fatal accidental injuries (resulting in attendance at Accident and Emergency) due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Great Britain from faulty home heating appliances are estimated as follows:

  1992: 244

  1993: 105

  1994: 211

  1995: 125

  1996: 247.

  The estimated fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning owing to faulty domestic heating appliances are:

  1992: 50

  1993: 31 1

  1994: 301

  1995: 281

  1996–97: 21 1 (provisional figure).

  1 Flammable gas source only.

  Figures are drawn from the Office for National Statistics, the DTI Home Accident Surveillance System, the DTI report on Carbon Monoxide poisoning from Domestic Heating Appliances, and the Health and Safety Executive.

  More comprehensive information could be produced only at disproportionate costs.

  In September 1997 I initiated a five point campaign to tackle the issue of carbon monoxide poisoning. This has resulted in:
  A safety advice leaflet, containing vital information on safeguarding against CO poisoning, being circulated to doctors' surgeries up and down the country.
  The continuing re-broadcasting of our three TV safety adverts, together with a new fourth advert.
  19 million households receiving our safety advice leaflet enclosed in their gas bills.
  A further distribution of 100,000 separate booklets concentrating on the dangers from faulty gas and solid fuel appliances.
  The publicising of Freephone advice numbers for gas and solid fuel users.
  397

  Concessionary Coal
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current situation in connection with concessionary coal allowances to miners and their families. [29071]

  Mr. Battle
  As I announced yesterday, it would be premature at this stage to introduce new arrangements for concessionary coal entitlements provided to former employees (and their dependants) of British Coal. I am 398
  therefore extending the consultation period for a while longer to consider all relevant issues before we make necessary changes.

  My aim is to find a solution to future entitlements which is fair to all concerned, and which complies with EU legal requirements and the Fuel Agreements. I have listened to representations and the views of beneficiaries expressing concern about the entitlements, and have decided to make no change to existing entitlements while full and wide ranging consultations are in progress. Beneficiaries can be assured that they will continue to receive their present fuel type at existing tonnages while the consultations are under way.

  Kosovo
  Kosovo
  State Pension Statistics and Mortality Rates
  State Pension Statistics and Mortality Rates
  Laser Weapons
  Laser Weapons
  Depleted Uranium: Munitions and Materials
  Depleted Uranium: Munitions and Materials
  "Greenwich Mean Time": Trade Descriptions
  "Greenwich Mean Time": Trade Descriptions
  "Prime Meridian": Trade Descriptions
  "Prime Meridian": Trade Descriptions
  Cigarette Smoking
  Cigarette Smoking
  Prion Protein
  Prion Protein
  Asylum-Seekers: Provision
  Asylum-Seekers: Provision
  Public Search Room, Principal Registry, Family Division
  Public Search Room, Principal Registry, Family Division
  Albert Goodman and Arthur Newton: Court Transcript
  Albert Goodman and Arthur Newton: Court Transcript
  Government Expenditure: Statistics
  Government Expenditure: Statistics
  Ministerial Pension Scheme: Nominations
  Ministerial Pension Scheme: Nominations
  Hallé Orchestra: Funding
  Hallé Orchestra: Funding
  MPs: Salary Comparisons with National Average
  MPs: Salary Comparisons with National Average
  Museums: Out-of-Hours Visits
  Museums: Out-of-Hours Visits
  Peers' Expenses: Comparisons with National Average Earnings
  Peers' Expenses: Comparisons with National Average Earnings
  Government Reviews and Task Forces
  Government Reviews and Task Forces
  Human Rights Bill: EU Convention
  Human Rights Bill: EU Convention
  Wales: Analysis of GCSE Results 1994–97
  Wales: Analysis of GCSE Results 1994–97