Written Answers of 24 February 1998

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
  Anti-Drugs Coordinator
  Anti-Drugs Coordinator
TREASURY
  Official Residence
  Official Residence
  Ministerial Directorship
  Ministerial Directorship
  European Investment Bank
  European Investment Bank
  Housing (VAT Rates)
  Housing (VAT Rates)
  Public Borrowing Targets
  Public Borrowing Targets
  Retirement Relief
  Retirement Relief
  Advertising Contracts
  Advertising Contracts
  Universal Benefit
  Universal Benefit
  Nursery Schools (Deaths)
  Nursery Schools (Deaths)
  Statistics
  Statistics
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
  Ministerial Visits
  Ministerial Visits
  Overseas Travel
  Overseas Travel
  Official Hospitality
  Official Hospitality
  Conferences
  Conferences
  Oil Spills
  Oil Spills
  Planning and Water Directorates
  Planning and Water Directorates
  House Building
  House Building
  Housing
  Housing
  New Drivers
  New Drivers
  Fluoride
  Fluoride
  Maritime Rescue
  Maritime Rescue
  Electricity Pylons
  Electricity Pylons
  Waste Management
  Waste Management
  Minerals Conference
  Minerals Conference
  Olympic Airways
  Olympic Airways
  Toxic Substances
  Toxic Substances
  Strategic Environmental Assessment
  Strategic Environmental Assessment
  Wild Bees
  Wild Bees
  Council Houses (Chelmsford)
  Council Houses (Chelmsford)
  Health and Safety Executive
  Health and Safety Executive
  Asbestos
  Asbestos
  Health and Safety (Prosecutions)
  Health and Safety (Prosecutions)
  Agenda 21
  Agenda 21
  Capital Receipts
  Capital Receipts
  Bull Bars
  Bull Bars
  Drug Driving Tests
  Drug Driving Tests
  Dial-a-ride
  Dial-a-ride
  Air Operations of Europe
  Air Operations of Europe
  Power Stations
  Power Stations
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
  Victoria and Albert Museum
  Victoria and Albert Museum
  Museums and Galleries
  Museums and Galleries
  Museums (Macclesfield)
  Museums (Macclesfield)
  Cash Limits
  Cash Limits
  National Lottery
  National Lottery
  Old Vic Theatre
  Old Vic Theatre
  TV Dreams
  TV Dreams
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
  Office Refurbishment Costs
  Office Refurbishment Costs
  Civil Justice Council
  Civil Justice Council
  County Courts
  County Courts
  Magistrates Courts
  Magistrates Courts
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
  Dietary Supplements
  Dietary Supplements
  Sri Lanka
  Sri Lanka
  Energy Deregulation
  Energy Deregulation
  Taiwan (Whisky)
  Taiwan (Whisky)
  Utility Bills
  Utility Bills
  Departmental Buildings
  Departmental Buildings
  Departmental Employees
  Departmental Employees
  Departmental Expenditure
  Departmental Expenditure
  Departmental Contracts
  Departmental Contracts
  Radioactive Waste
  Radioactive Waste
  Departmental Child Care
  Departmental Child Care
  Scientific Research
  Scientific Research
  Inward Investment
  Inward Investment
  Corporation Tax
  Corporation Tax
  Business Taxation
  Business Taxation
  Advertising Contracts
  Advertising Contracts
  Prepayment Meter Scheme
  Prepayment Meter Scheme
  European Research Council
  European Research Council
  Export Sales Lead Service
  Export Sales Lead Service
DEFENCE
  Bull Point, Plymouth
  Bull Point, Plymouth
  EUROFOR
  EUROFOR
  Precision-guided Weapons
  Precision-guided Weapons
  WE-177 Bomb
  WE-177 Bomb
  Gibraltar
  Gibraltar
  Arms Exports (Iraq)
  Arms Exports (Iraq)
HEALTH
  Primary Care
  Primary Care
  Hypertension
  Hypertension
  Asthma (East Sussex)
  Asthma (East Sussex)
  NHS (50th Anniversary)
  NHS (50th Anniversary)
  Diabetes
  Diabetes
  Birmingham Health Authority
  Birmingham Health Authority
  Suffolk Health Authority
  Suffolk Health Authority
  Accident and Emergency Units
  Accident and Emergency Units
  Waiting Lists
  Waiting Lists
  Public Health
  Public Health
  Dental Services (Swindon)
  Dental Services (Swindon)
  NHS Charter
  NHS Charter
  Redbridge and Waltham Forest DHA
  Redbridge and Waltham Forest DHA
  Rationing (NHS)
  Rationing (NHS)
  NHS Performance and Efficiency
  NHS Performance and Efficiency
  NHS Cuts (Cornwall)
  NHS Cuts (Cornwall)
  Bed Blocking
  Bed Blocking
  Integrated Care
  Integrated Care
  Immunisation
  Immunisation
  Primary Care (Nurses' Role)
  Primary Care (Nurses' Role)
  St. Vincent's Declaration
  St. Vincent's Declaration
  Private Finance Initiative
  Private Finance Initiative
  Suicides
  Suicides
  NHS White Paper
  NHS White Paper
  Dalton Report
  Dalton Report
  Aricept
  Aricept
  Pharmaceuticals
  Pharmaceuticals
  Nursing Homes
  Nursing Homes
  Diabetes
  Diabetes
  Hormone Replacement Medication
  Hormone Replacement Medication
  NHS Dentists
  NHS Dentists
  Health Authority Deficits
  Health Authority Deficits
  Social Services
  Social Services
  Psychologists
  Psychologists
  Cosmetic Surgery
  Cosmetic Surgery
  Social Care Council
  Social Care Council
  Meningitis
  Meningitis
  NHS Trust Boards
  NHS Trust Boards
  Dissolved NHS Trusts
  Dissolved NHS Trusts
  Medicinal Drugs (Driving)
  Medicinal Drugs (Driving)
  Community and Acute Hospitals
  Community and Acute Hospitals
  Millennium Compliance
  Millennium Compliance
HOME DEPARTMENT
  Prevention of Terrorism Act
  Prevention of Terrorism Act
  Laboratory Animals
  Laboratory Animals
  Handguns
  Handguns
  Immigration
  Immigration
  Sexual Abuse
  Sexual Abuse
  Police Surgeons
  Police Surgeons
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
  Departmental Removal Costs
  Departmental Removal Costs
  Slaughter Proposals
  Slaughter Proposals
  Beef on the Bone
  Beef on the Bone
  Countryside Protection
  Countryside Protection
  Sheep Dip
  Sheep Dip
  Farm Values
  Farm Values
  Fishing Vessels
  Fishing Vessels
  Fishing (EU Finance)
  Fishing (EU Finance)
  Fishery Quotas
  Fishery Quotas
  Genetically Modified Rapeseed
  Genetically Modified Rapeseed
  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Poultrymeat
  Poultrymeat
  Milk
  Milk
  Beef Imports
  Beef Imports
  Animal Experiments
  Animal Experiments
  Fishing Industry
  Fishing Industry
  BSE
  BSE
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
  Absenteeism
  Absenteeism
  Correspondence
  Correspondence
  NATO Headquarters, Gibraltar
  NATO Headquarters, Gibraltar
  Iraq
  Iraq
  Defence Exports
  Defence Exports
  Israel
  Israel
  Caribbean (Nuclear Waste)
  Caribbean (Nuclear Waste)
  International Criminal Court
  International Criminal Court
  Diego Garcia
  Diego Garcia
  Kuwait
  Kuwait
  Bosnia
  Bosnia
  St. Helena
  St. Helena
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  East Africa
  East Africa
NORTHERN IRELAND
  RUC Officers
  RUC Officers
  Bombings
  Bombings
  Queen's Counsel
  Queen's Counsel
  RUC, Antrim Road
  RUC, Antrim Road
  Police (Personal Equipment Purchases)
  Police (Personal Equipment Purchases)
  Seapark Complex
  Seapark Complex
SCOTLAND
  Ministerial Visits
  Ministerial Visits
  Private Water Supplies
  Private Water Supplies
  Children's Hearings
  Children's Hearings
  Land Reform Policy Group
  Land Reform Policy Group
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
  Teacher Training
  Teacher Training
  Grammar Schools
  Grammar Schools
  Higher Education
  Higher Education
  Welfare to Work
  Welfare to Work
WALES
  Empty Properties
  Empty Properties
  Official Hospitality
  Official Hospitality
  St. David's and Glan Hafren Secondary Schools
  St. David's and Glan Hafren Secondary Schools
  Bill Boards (Schools)
  Bill Boards (Schools)
  Inward Investment (LG)
  Inward Investment (LG)
  Flax
  Flax
MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO
  Junior Board
  Junior Board
  Millennium Experience
  Millennium Experience
  Ministerial Meetings
  Ministerial Meetings
  Sponsorship
  Sponsorship
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
  Freedom of Information
  Freedom of Information
SOCIAL SECURITY
  State Pension
  State Pension
  Pensioner Incomes
  Pensioner Incomes
  Lone Parents
  Lone Parents
  Appeals
  Appeals
  Overseas Travel
  Overseas Travel
  Ministerial Transport
  Ministerial Transport
  Brain Injuries
  Brain Injuries
  State Pensions (Women)
  State Pensions (Women)
  Incapacity Benefit
  Incapacity Benefit
  Working Mothers
  Working Mothers
  Welfare Reform (Wales)
  Welfare Reform (Wales)
  Benefits Take-up
  Benefits Take-up
  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Tribunals
  Tribunals
  Social Workers
  Social Workers
  Benefit Registration Period
  Benefit Registration Period
  Income Support
  Income Support
  Correspondence
  Correspondence
  Adoption
  Adoption
  Disabled Cars
  Disabled Cars
  Disability Living Allowance
  Disability Living Allowance
  Welfare Reform
  Welfare Reform
  Reduced Benefit Directions
  Reduced Benefit Directions
  Fishermen (Redundancy Fund)
  Fishermen (Redundancy Fund)
  Women's Issues
  Women's Issues
  Habitual Residence Test
  Habitual Residence Test
  Social Security Expenditure
  Social Security Expenditure
  Women's National Commission
  Women's National Commission

  International Criminal Court Proposal
  Lord Orme
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is their policy on the proposed international criminal court. [HL749]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
  We fully support the creation of an effective international criminal court to try those accused of the most serious crimes of international concern. We are continuing to play an active part in the negotiations which aim to agree the establishment of such a court at the diplomatic conference in Rome this summer. To assist the negotiating process we are convening, as the EU Presidency, a group of EU experts on the subject at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 25–26 February. We are also contributing 100,000 dollars to a UN trust fund to assist representatives of the 48 least developed countries to attend the diplomatic conference and the remaining meeting of the preparatory committee. I have today placed in the Libraries of the House a paper setting out our policy on the court in greater detail.

  DFID: Consultants
  Lord Willoughby de Broke
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many consultants are employed by the Department for International Development; what were the dates of their appointment; what is the duration of their contracts; what are the terms of reference of their employment; and what will be the total sum payable in fees to these consultants. [HL692]

  Lord Whitty
  The Department for International Development currently employs 5 consultants paid for from its running costs budget. The information you require on each including outline terms of reference is:

  Name

  Outline terms of reference

  Start date

  Duration

  Estimated cost (£)

  Philip Howard

  advice on the competitive tender and selection of freighting agent

  11/09/1997

  30 days

  12,000

  Richard Curaton

  advice on the development and introduction of (staff) assessment centres

  28/04/97

  40 days

  23,000

  B I inform

  feasibility study on making available UK accounting systems to overseas offices

  16/02/98

  20 days

  16,000

  London Economics

  advice on private sector investment in infrastructure

  01/11/1997

  3 months

  15,000

  Sue Webb

  advice on the Investors in People Initiative

  01/01/1997

  24 days

  18,800

  WA 82
  In addition to the above DFID engages a large number of consultants at the request of, and for the benefit of, overseas governments and institutions the costs of which are met from the aid programme. Information on these could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  UK Round Table on Sustainable Development Report: Response
  Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When the response to the United Kingdom Round Table on Sustainable Development's Second Annual Report will be published. [HL744]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman)
  The Government's response to the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development's Second Annual Report has been published today. We have been able to respond positively to many of the Round Table's recommendations and that action has already taken in a number of areas, for example:

  the Government have announced a 10-point plan to help secure reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable water supplies;

  draft guidelines have been issued to local authorities on meeting their obligations under the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997;

  the Government have consulted widely on proposals to develop an integrated transport policy and will issue a White Paper in the spring;

  the Government have published a statement on their strategy for modernising the planning system, and a consultation paper on reform of regional planning guidance;

  legislation has been proposed to establish regional development agencies;

  the Government have established a review of renewable energy policy.

  The Government value the Round Table's important contribution to the achievement of sustainable development. I am placing copies of the response in the Library.

  Travellers: Eviction
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will issue a circular to local authorities, extending the advice contained in Department of the Environment Circular 18/94 (Gypsy Sites Policy and Unauthorised Camping) dealing with evictions conducted under Sections 77 to 80 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, so that it applies also to Order 113 of the Rules of the Supreme Court: summary proceedings for possession of land. [HL729]

  Baroness Hayman
  I refer the noble Lord to my reply to Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 26 January 1998 (Hansard vol. 585, col. WA 16).

  London Taxicabs: Administration and Enforcement
  Lord Teviot
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What are the gross annual costs of the Public Carriage Office and the London Taxicab Enforcement Office respectively; and what proportion of those costs is offset by licence fees received in respect of London black taxis and their drivers. [HL682]

  Baroness Hayman
  The estimated gross annual cost of the Public Carriage Office in 1997–98 by each of its constituent sections is:

  £

  The Public Carriage Office

  2,001,900

  Cab Rank Liaison Officer

  22,400

  Lost Property Office

  307,600

  Cab Enforcement Section

  278,900

  Total

  2,610,800

  The cost of the Public Carriage Office itself is entirely recovered from fees charged for taxi driver licences, taxicab licences and lost badges. The other costs are met from the Metropolitan Police Fund.

  Lord Teviot
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many persons are employed in the Public Carriage Office and the London Taxicab Enforcement Office. [HL683]

  Baroness Hayman
  The number of persons employed in the Public Carriage Office by each of its constituent sections at 18 February 1998 was:

  Public Carriage Office

  65

  Cab Rank Liaison Officer

  1

  Lost Property Office

  12

  Cab Enforcement Section

  5

  Total

  83

  Lord Teviot
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is their estimate of the gross cost to the Public Carriage Office and the London Taxicab Enforcement Office of the extra staff and resources needed to regulate private hire passenger vehicles under the current provisions of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill. [HL684]

  Baroness Hayman
  The Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill estimates the overall annual cost of administration and enforcement at about £4 million. Further work is being done on costs, but there must be uncertainty about any estimate, as there are no reliable statistics as to how many operators, drivers and vehicles there are in the London private hire vehicle trade. It is intended that the costs of administration of the London private hire vehicle licensing system and its enforcement by Public Carriage Office staff should be met by licence fees authorised by provisions in the Bill.
  WA 84
  Lord Teviot
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What proportion of the income from passengers using London's black taxis is derived from plying for hire, as distinct from bookings made in advance of the journey. [HL685]

  Baroness Hayman
  This information is not available.

  London Private Hire Vehicles: MoT Test Frequency
  Lord Teviot
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the annual MoT test for motor vehicles will satisfy their requirements for the testing of London private hire vehicles under the current provisions of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill; or whether they recommend an MoT at more frequent intervals. [HL686]

  Baroness Hayman
  The Bill provides for testing of London private hire vehicles to be required up to three times a year. Decisions on the content and frequency of these tests would be taken if and when the Bill becomes law.

  London Dial-a-Ride Service: Financial Target
  Lord Carmichael of Kelvingrove
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What financial target has been set for the London Dial-a-Ride service. [HL772]

  Baroness Hayman
  We have set a new financial target for the London Dial-a-Ride service for achievement for the financial year 1998–99. The new target will be £10.50 per trip at current 1997–98 prices and will replace the previous target set in 1996.

  The new target will allow the Dial-a-Ride companies sufficient flexibility to provide a wider range of trips and ensure that the grant is spent in a way which improves services for users.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989: Operation
  Lord Monkswell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When they intend to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe, QC on the operation in 1997 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989; and whether they will make a statement on the future of the Act in the light of Mr. Rowe's report.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)
  My right honourable friend has today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation should be renewed in its entirety for a further 12 months. A draft order is being laid before the House today which
  WA 85
  continues in force most provisions of the Act for a further 12 months. In accordance with the announcement my right honourable friend made in another place on 30 October 1997, he has decided not to renew the exclusion order powers under Part II of the Act. This recognises the limited use which has been made of the powers in recent years. Two hundred and forty eight orders were in force in 1982, falling to 74 in 1994. No exclusion order has been in force in Northern Ireland since February 1995. No order was made in 1996 or 1997 against anyone who had not been previously excluded despite the fact that the ceasefire had ended. By May 1997, 22 orders were in force. No orders are in force now. It has long been our view that the powers are of limited value and objectionable on policy grounds. There is nothing in Mr. Rowe's report which leads my right honourable friend to change that view, nor has it been the practice of this or previous administrations automatically to follow the recommendations of reviewers. In 1987, a recommendation by the noble Viscount Lord Colville, as part of his fundamental review of anti-terrorist legislation that exclusion orders were "draconian" and should be removed from the statute book was rejected by the government of the day. The consultation document which is being prepared on future permanent United Kingdom-wide counter-terrorism legislation will provide an opportunity for discussion on whether the powers should be retained permanently or abolished. Our overall aim will be a framework of laws that are both effective and proportionate to the threat. This Government will never drop their guard in the fight against terrorism.

  Northern Ireland: Prisons
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether any 16 and 17 year-olds are currently held in prisons in Northern Ireland; if so how many; and how many persons under:

  (a) 18; and

  (b) 21

  are held at the Secretary of State's pleasure. [HL580]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Dubs)
  There are no 16 or 17 year-olds held in prisons in Northern Ireland.

  There are no persons under the age of 18 held at the Secretary of State's pleasure in Northern Ireland prisons. There is one person under the age of 21 held in prison in Northern Ireland at the Secretary of State's pleasure.

  Northern Ireland: Young Offenders
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many persons of each sex are currently held at the young offenders centres in Northern Ireland. [HL581]

  Lord Dubs
  There are 153 males and three females currently held at the two young offenders centres in Northern Ireland.

  Northern Ireland: Children and Young People Centres
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many children and young people are currently held in each of: Lisnevin, St. Patrick's, Rathgael and the Lakewood Centre in Northern Ireland. [HL582]

  Lord Dubs

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Lisnevin

  31

  —

  31

  St Patrick's

  12

  —

  12

  Rathgael

  28

  9

  37

  Lakewood Centre

  26

  6

  32

  107

  15

  112

  Northern Ireland Training Schools: Assessments
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they have examined the entry assessment of all young people now in the Training Schools in Northern Ireland; whether they are able to determine the proportion who suffer from physical or learning disabilities; and whether special provisions are being made for such disabilities. [HL600]

  Lord Dubs
  All young people are medically examined by professionally qualified staff at the time of their admission to a training school to identify medical or physical problems and appropriate treatment is prescribed or arranged as required. Within a few days of admission an assessment is carried out by a member of the teaching staff to help determine the particular educational needs of each newly admitted young person. Each young person in the training schools is placed on an education programme commensurate with their ability.

  Export Sales Service: Tender
  Lord Williams of Elvel
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was the outcome of the tender for the new export sales lead service. [HL746]

  The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Clinton-Davis)
  I received 71 initial expressions of interest from which 21 organisations sought to pre-qualify. A shortlist of six firms were then invited to submit bids and of these four organisations actually did so. I am pleased to announce today that the contract to operate the new export sales lead service has been awarded to the Dialog Corporation Plc. I expect to make a further announcement shortly giving details about how the new service will operate.

  Civil Justice Council: Membership
  Lord Williams of Elvel
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is the membership of the Civil Justice Council. [HL748]

  The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg):
  I have appointed the members of the Civil Justice Council. They are:

  Chairman: Lord Woolf, Master of the Rolls

  Vice-Chairman: Sir Richard Scott, Vice-Chancellor

  Vicki Chapman

  Stephen Cragg

  Carlos Dabezies

  Professor Robert Dingwall

  District Judge Godfrey Evans

  David Gladwell

  Hilary Heilbron QC

  Lord Justice Henry

  Henry Hodge OBE

  Ashley Holmes

  Peter Jacob

  Vicky Ling

  Michael Napier

  Professor Martin Partington

  Judge Sessions

  District Judge Monty Trent

  Owen Tudor

  Tim Wallis

  Ashton West

  Marlene Winfield

  In accordance with the Civil Procedure Act 1997, I have chosen members with a wide range of experience in the civil justice field, including members of the judiciary and the legal professions, civil servants concerned with the administration of the courts, persons with experience in and knowledge of consumer affairs and the lay advice sector, and persons able to represent the interests of particular kinds of litigants. The Council will meet for the first time in March.

  Forestry Commission: Planting
  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was: (a) the total of forestry planting; (b) replanting, and (c) new planting; for Scotland, England, Wales and Great Britain in each of the last three years. [HL597]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)
  The areas planted by the Forestry Commission or with grant aid from the Commission are set out in the following table.
  WA 88

  Year ending

  (All areas in hectares)

  31 March

  New planting

  Replanting

  Total

  Scotland

  1995

  13,412

  6,582

  19,994

  1996

  10,560

  6,828

  17,388

  1997

  11,669

  7,202

  18,871

  England

  1995

  5,050

  4,866

  9,916

  1996

  4,378

  4,154

  8,532

  1997

  4,352

  4,262

  8,614

  Wales

  1995

  554

  2,598

  3,152

  1996

  442

  2,269

  2,711

  1997

  411

  2,964

  3,375

  Great Britain

  1995

  19,016

  14,046

  33,062

  1996

  15,380

  13,251

  28,631

  1997

  16,432

  14,428

  30,860

  NHS Trust Boards: Membership
  Lord Bassam of Brighton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What progress they have made in ensuring that the boards of NHS trusts are more representative of the communities they serve and how they intend to extend this principle to the boards of health authorities. [HL751]

  The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)
  Substantial progress has been made to meet the Government's election manifesto commitment to make National Health Service trust boards more representative of their local communities.

  Working within the parameters for public appointments established by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Sir Leonard Peach, and following the Secretary of State for Health's consultation with him, a number of substantial changes were announced last June to apply to the 1997 round of appointments of chairmen and non-executives to NHS trusts to fill 1,005 vacancies out of a total of 2,509 places on trust boards:

  (a) The person specification for non-executives and chairmen has been changed to encourage more NHS users and carers. Candidates are expected to live in the area served by the trust.

  (b) Interview panels have been instructed to ensure that all candidates are personally committed to the NHS and can bring a user's perspective to the board.

  (c) Members of Parliament and local authorities have been asked to nominate candidates for consideration. These are not for reserved places but to widen the local base from which candidates can be drawn.

  (d) The balance of board membership will move in favour of ordinary users and carers and those with a community voice.

  WA 89

  (e) The commitment to the goals set for women and ethnic minorities on NHS boards has been reinforced.

  Over 1,800 nominations were received from Members of Parliament and local authorities. Both these nominated candidates and those responding to public advertisements were considered against the new criteria. All appointments were made on merit under the Nolan rules, candidates having gone through the same selection process, including an interview with a panel including an independent member.

  At 23 February, the Secretary of State for Health has made 884 appointments to NHS trusts and a further 121 are currently under consideration. Of those appointed as non-executive directors in this round, 52.3 per cent. are women. Of those appointed as chairs, 35.5 per cent. are women. This is a significant improvement on the position inherited from the previous government at 1 May.

  We have also significantly improved representation of people from ethnic minorities. The previous government set the target that each NHS trust with 10 per cent. of people from ethnic minorities in their local population should have a board member from an ethnic minority. They failed to achieve this in 19 of the NHS trusts to which appointments had to be made in 1997. The Secretary of State for Health has made appointments of members from ethnic minorities in all but two of these. One was a specialist orthopaedic trust to which I appointed a disabled member. The other is to be merged in the summer of 1998. In total, 9 per cent. of appointments since 1 May have been of people from ethnic minorities, taking the total from 5 per cent. to 7.2 per cent.

  Around a third of those appointed were existing board members reappointed for a further term of office after a previous period of satisfactory service.

  Of those appointed, 620 have declared no political activity and 264 have declared that they have been politically active within the definition used by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Twenty-five have been active on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, 29 on behalf of the Conservatives including a former Cabinet Minister, 206 on behalf of Labour and 4 other. Many of these people represent their community as serving councillors; 117 Labour, 6 Conservative, 16 Liberal Democrats and 3 other.

  The Government are committed to an open and transparent process for NHS appointments. The appointments process which we inherited from the previous Government was not consistent and varied from place to place. This is most unsatisfactory. In consultation with the regional chairmen the Secretary of State has produced guidelines which are to be followed in every part of the country. The guidelines also stipulate that there should be a standard procedure for assessing the performance of individual non-executive directors and chairmen. These guidelines have been cleared with the Commissioner for Public Appointments and we will be placing copies in the Library.

  These procedures will be used to identify candidates for the 302 vacancies for the boards of health authorities
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  which will fall due in March. We are committed to ensuring that health authorities, like NHS trusts, have board members who represent the interests of local NHS users and carers. Public advertisements have already been placed and we have asked Members of Parliament and chief executives of local authorities to make nominations. Around 3,000 completed applications have already been received. To enable proper consideration to be given to all these candidates, especially as in future health authorities will be required to discharge additional duties, and to enable proper notice to he given to all appointees, the Secretary of State intends to ask the 302 incumbents to serve for an additional three months until 30 June 1998.

  Full details of appointments to NHS bodies will be published in the Department of Health's public appointments annual report in March.

  Millennium Dome
  Lord Gregson
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When they will announce further details of the contents of the Millennium Dome. [HL752]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The Prime Minister today addressed sponsors and other interested parties at an event at which models of a number of the zones of the Millennium Experience were displayed. Copies of the Prime Minister's speech, and of associated material on the Millennium Dome and its contents, have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Millennium Experience: Sponsorship
  Lord Gregson
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What level of sponsorship has to date been achieved in respect of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [HL753]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is today announcing its first four founding partners; BT, Manpower, Sky, and Tesco. These four companies are each committing a minimum of £12 million value to the overall Millennium Experience. The Company is also announcing signed confirmation of the commitments of British Airways and BAA. Together, those six companies are making a direct private sector contribution of nearly £59 million.

  The New Millennium Experience Company also has commitments coming up for detailed negotiation which would add a further £16 million, taking the overall level of support to £75 million; and the Company is in serious negotiation with 40 other potential sponsors.

  The NMEC is also announcing today that it has reached agreement in principle with Camelot to he the official distributor of tickets for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. This will mean that there is a ticket outlet within 3 miles of 95 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom.

  The Pound-US Dollar: Purchasing Power Parities
  Lord Acton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What has been the purchasing power parity of the pound relative to the United States dollar in each of the last five years. [HL644]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter to Lord Acton from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr. T. Holt, dated 24 February 1998.

  I have been asked, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to reply to your recent question on the purchasing power parity of the pound relative to the United States dollar.

  Purchasing power parities (PPPs) for the pound relative to the US dollar for the last five years are given in the table below. These are the official international comparisons published by the OECD.

  The figures shown for 1993 and 1994 are not entirely consistent with those for later periods. This is because of improvements in the methodology underlying the UK PPP. Further details are given in the article International Comparisons of GDP per head over time which was published in the March 1997 Edition of Economic Trends, a copy of which can be found in the House of Lords Library.

  PPPs from 1970 to 1996 can be found in Table 3 (part 8) of the OECD's annual publication, National Accounts Main Aggregates Volume 1, 1998 Edition. Projections for 1997 can be found in the Appendix to the OECD's monthly publication, Main Economic Indicators, February 1998 Edition, copies of which can be found in the House of Lords library.

  Purchasing Power Parities; Pounds per US Dollar

  1997* 0.677

  1996* 0.675

  1995 0.670

  1994 0.646

  1993 0.637

  *OECD projections, Source: OECD.

  Comptroller and Auditor-General and the National Audit Office: Powers
  Lord Lester of Herne Hill
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they are satisfied with the powers given to the Comptroller and Auditor-General and the National Audit Office to track the expenditure of public funds from United Kingdom sources. [HL636]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  Parliament needs to be assured that public bodies and their finances are properly accounted for and managed. The Government WA 92
  are open to discussion as to whether the powers of the Comptroller and Auditor—General and the National Audit Office need to be changed to meet new challenges, and have yet to form a firm view.

  The Blind: VAT Relief on Aids
  Lord Morris of Manchester
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Following the meeting at the end of January between HM Customs and Excise and charities representing blind people, whether they will now publish the terms of the agreement under which blind people will not be charged VAT on white canes and other such aids. [HL565]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The meeting to which the noble Lord refers established the principles for the continuation of VAT relief on these aids. Subsequently these have been developed into terms of agreement which were sent to the charities involved on 17 February. They are currently the subject of an internal consultation by those charities.

  Unemployment Benefit: Percentage of Average Earnings
  Lord Monkswell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What has been, at five-year intervals from 1945, the value of unemployment benefit expressed as a percentage of national average earnings. [HL523]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Year

  Unemployment Benefit/Jobseeker's Allowance as a percentage of Full Time (Male) Average Manual Earnings

  Unemployment Benefit/Jobseeker's Allowance as a percentage of Full Time Average Adult Earnings (All Adults)

  1948

  19.1 percent.

  —

  1950

  17.3 per cent.

  —

  1955

  14.6 per cent.

  —

  1960

  17.2 per cent.

  —

  1965

  20.4 per cent.

  —

  1970

  18.7 per cent.

  19.3 per cent.

  1975

  17.6 per cent.

  18.2 per cent.

  1980

  18.5 per cent.

  18.9 percent.

  1985

  18.6 per cent.

  17.8 per cent.

  1990

  15.7 per cent.

  14.2 per cent.

  1995

  15.9 per cent.

  13.8 per cent.

  1997

  15.6 per cent.

  13.4 per cent.

  Sources:

  1. Average Manual earnings (Male) Up to 1970—the October Enquiry—men aged 21 and over.

  2. 1970—April 1997—Office for National Statistics New Earnings Survey—full time male manual workers aged 21 and over.

  3. Full Time Average Adult Earnings (All adults)—The New Earnings Survey from Office for National Statistics for all full time workers aged 21 and over.

  War Pensions Agency: Medical Advisers
  The Countess of Mar
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many doctors who are consultants to whom the War Pensions Agency refers claimants for medical reports are also expert witnesses or advisers to the Treasury or the Ministry of Defence. [HL568]

  Baroness Hollis of Heigham
  Medical advisers employed by the War Pensions Agency may seek, for the purpose of determining claims for war pension, medical reports from consultants. Where the issue is particularly complex, or where there is a conflict of medical opinion, reports my be commissioned from consultants who, by reason of particular expertise or length of experience, are recognised authorities in their particular specialty. These consultants, known by the agency as "regional consultants", are appointed nationally by the Chief Medical Adviser to the Department of Social Security; they provide authoritative, impartial medical opinions.

  Information regarding the number of consultants who may also advise the Treasury or the Ministry of Defence is not available.

  Social Security Bill: Estimated Benefits Savings
  Lord Newton of Braintree
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will give the estimate of savings expected from Clause 72 of the Social Security Bill, broken down (a) by individual benefits; and (b) by categories of claimant. [HL236]

  Baroness Hollis of Heigham
  The information requested is set out in the tables.

  Estimated Savings by Benefit

  £ million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Retirement Pension

  6

  8

  8

  Incapacity Benefit

  3

  4

  4

  Invalid Care Allowance

  8

  10

  10

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  Estimated Savings by Benefit

  £ million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Industrial Injuries

  Disablement Benefit

  1

  1

  1

  Contribution-based

  Jobseeker's Allowance

  4

  5

  5

  Income

  Support/Income-based

  Jobseeker's Allowance

  7

  8

  8

  Child Benefit/One Parent Benefit

  6

  7

  7

  Housing

  Benefit/Council Tax Benefit

  7

  15

  15

  Total

  42

  58

  58

  Estimated Savings by categories of Claimant

  £ million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Elderly

  10

  14

  14

  Long-term sick and disabled

  6

  8

  8

  Carers

  8

  10

  10

  Lone parents

  8

  10

  10

  Unemployed

  10

  16

  16

  Others

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  42

  58

  58

  Notes:

  1. The estimated savings relate to the proposed measure in the Social Security Bill to reduce the maximum amount of backdating of benefit claims from three months to one month.

  2. Estimates are based on an ad hoc survey of backdated benefit claims undertaken during 1996 uprated in line with departmental forecasts of benefit expenditure. The savings are in addition to those estimated for the April 1997 changes which reduced the maximum amount of backdating of benefit claims to three months and benefit reviews to one month. There may be additional savings for benefits not covered in the above tables, but these have not been estimated. The ad hoc survey of backdated claims was limited to those benefits accounting for a significant amount of social security expenditure, so it is not possible to provide estimates for the smaller benefits.

  3. Allocation of benefit savings to client groups is in accordance with the convention used in Tables 4 and 5 of the 1997 departmental report. Income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit savings are divided between the expected beneficiaries.