Written Answers of 13 January 1998

DEFENCE

  Armed Forces (Food)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give a breakdown of the country of origin of meat bought for the armed forces, in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [20243]

  (2) if he will ensure that all meat bought for the armed forces is of United Kingdom origin; and if he will make a statement. [20244]

  Mr. Spellar
  The procurement of food for the Armed Forces is contracted to Booker Foodservice which took over the contract from NAAFI on 1 October 1997. The Ministry of Defence does not specify the source from which Booker Foodservice should obtain meat, but expects it to seek the best market prices for these and all other products. It is required to give full consideration to British products. Booker Foodservice has advised the following estimate for the breakdown of country of origin for meat purchased for the Armed Forces, based on value, for the 12-month period ending September 1998:

  Per cent.

  Pork

  United Kingdom

  100

  Lamb

  New Zealand

  52

  Uruguay

  48

  Beef

  Australia

  30

  New Zealand

  24

  Uruguay

  22

  United Kingdom

  13

  Holland

  4

  Ireland

  4

  Brazil

  3

  These figures will be subject to variation dependent upon markets providing the best value for money.

  Chemical and Biologial Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are currently employed at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; and what plans he has for staffing levels over the next five years. [22514]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
  158
  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 13 January 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning numbers of staff employed at DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down.
  The number of staff employed by CBD Porton Down was 588 at 1 December 1997.
  With respect to staffing levels over the next five years, on current plans we expect our numbers to remain fairly constant. However, these plans take no account of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review which may affect our plans in either direction.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Lewisite
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical Defence Establishment's evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite. [22515]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 13 January 1998:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the evaluation of the effects of short term exposure to lewisite as this matter is my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  I have nothing to add to my letter to you of 20 August 1997 (Official Report dated 27 October col. 660) in which I said that lewisite is one of a group of chemical warfare agents known as vesicants or blistering agents. I also explained that DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector's evaluation, based on US human studies from the 1940s and continuing Porton Down animal studies, of the effects of short term exposure to lewisite are that both liquid and vapour forms result in chemical burns to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Lewisite injuries are immediately painful. The potential for widespread damage to the internal organs is significant.

  Armed Forces (Pay and Conditions)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the value of free board and loading to an employee expressed as an hourly pay rate. [22642]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Hawk Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to upgrade Hawk trainers with digital cockpits. [22692]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are currently no plans to fit the RAF's Hawk aircraft with a digital cockpit.

  PR9 Canberra Reconnaissance Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the PR9 Canberra reconnaissance aircraft each came into service; what was their design life; and what is the date on which they are expected to leave service. [22696]
  159
  Mr. Spellar
  There are five Canberra Mk PR9 aircraft. The aircraft all entered service between 4 March 1959 and 4 August 1960. It is assessed that sufficient fatigue life remains on the Canberra Mk PR9 aircraft to enable them to achieve their predicted out of service date of 2003.

  System Requirements
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with the USA to combine the TRACER and Future Scout and Cavalry system requirements. [22695]

  Mr. Spellar
  Ministers are currently considering the case for signature early this year of a Memorandum of Understanding covering the combine TRACER/Future Scout and Cavalry System requirement. I will write to the hon. Member when a decision is made.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which EU standards on contaminated land have not been implemented by the United Kingdom Government. [22755]

  Angela Eagle
  There are no EU standards on contaminated land.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when his Department expects to complete a register of contaminated land; [22753]

  (2) when his Department expects to formulate a definition of contaminated land. [22754]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, (Ms Ellman) on 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 439. The legislation referred to in that answer provides a definition of contaminated land. The legislation will also place a duty on enforcing authorities to maintain registers of land which meet that definition. These registers will also contain prescribed particulars of enforcement action taken and of remediation works carried out.

  Inland Waterways
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment, Transport and the Regions how many inland waterway freight grants have been issued since 1981; and if he will list them by location and value.
  [22760]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  10 inland waterway freight grants have been awarded:

  £

  1983

  Millgate Investments, Gainsborough, Lincs

  369,340

  1984

  Varma Services Ltd., Deptford, London SE

  859,200

  160

  £

  1984

  Sheffield Haulage and Storage Ltd., Rotherham

  61,375

  1985

  West Country Fuels Ltd., Gloucester

  26,950

  1986

  Colwick Petroleum Ltd., Nr. Nottingham

  63,494

  1990

  Sand and Gravel Ltd., Leeds

  20,640

  1991

  Wimpey Hobbs Ltd., Greenwich, London SE

  402,832

  1993

  Huntsman Chemical Co. Ltd., Carrington, Manchester

  415,000

  1996

  Medway Shipping Ltd., Gillingham, Kent

  47,338

  1997

  J. J. Prior (Transport) Ltd., Fingringhoe, Essex

  121,410

  Waste Management
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review and update the waste management policies set out in the 1995 White Paper "Making Waste Work: A Strategy for Sustainable Waste Management in England and Wales". [23176]

  Mr. Meacher
  Reducing the waste we generate, making better use of waste, and ensuring that the remainder is disposed of safely, are all critical components of a more sustainable society. The Government set a high priority on improving our waste management. That is why I am announcing today the preparation of a new waste strategy for England and Wales.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have asked officials, working with the Environment Agency and other interested parties, to begin preparation of the new strategy which will fulfil the requirements of the Environment Act 1995. The first step towards this goal will be a wide public consultation beginning in the Spring of this year, leading to publication of a White Paper in 1999.

  The 1995 White Paper "Making Waste Work" set out the previous Government's policy framework for the management of waste, identified ways in which waste could be managed in a more sustainable way and set a number of targets for achieving that aim. It recognised the principles of the waste hierarchy and best practicable environmental option as being at the heart of waste policy, and set out a number of options by which central Government, local authorities, industry and commerce, the waste management industry, householders, and the voluntary and community sectors could help achieve that strategy's aims.

  This Government support the broad thrust of the policies set out in the 1995 White Paper but nevertheless believe that the time is now right for a comprehensive review of waste management in England and Wales. I am sure that this will be welcomed by all interested parties. They will want to know what our future priorities will be so that they can plan and invest for them.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Small Claims
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications to have
  161
  housing cases rescinded from the small claims procedure have been granted since the introduction of the higher small claims limit in January 1996. [21313]

  Mr. Hoon
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) monitoring and (b) research his Department has undertaken into the impact on housing cases of the increase in the small claims limit from January 1996. [21315]

  Mr. Hoon
  Claims for possession, which form the overwhelming majority of housing cases, are excluded from the small claims regime. The collection of more detailed statistical information in relation to small claims was introduced by the Court Service in 1996 as part of the exercise in monitoring the effects of the rise in the limit to £3,000. One of the categories is "non-possession housing disputes". This Department has not undertaken any research specifically in connection with housing cases, however, a wider study of litigants' experiences of small claims by Professor John Baldwin was published in December 1997.

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the impact on(a) the volume of legal aid certificates and (b) legal aid expenditure of the increase in the small claims limit made in January 1996. [21319]

  Mr. Hoon
  It is estimated that the increase in the small claims limit made on 1 January 1996, from £1,000 to £3,000, has resulted in a reduction of 18.8 per cent. in the number of certificates issued during 1996–97 for money claims (excluding personal injury claims).

  Certificates issued

  Year

  Money claims (excluding PI)

  Annual change (per cent.)

  1995–96

  148,364

  —

  1996–97

  120,492

  -18.8

  It is not possible to identify separately any overall savings resulting from the small claims limit.

  Money and Damages Claims
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the potential savings accruing from the removal of money and damages claims from the scope of legal aid. [21314]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our spending plans remain unaffected by the proposed removal of money and damages claims from the scope of legal aid. The aim is to use the existing budget better. Until we have reached final decisions on the types of case that are to be excluded and other matters of important detail the expenditure implications cannot be quantified. That will not be until we have completed the extensive consultation we are currently undertaking.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service (Management Functions) Act
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what delegations were made in 1997 under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992; to whom those delegations were made; and what were the main conditions attached to them. [23096]

  Dr. David Clark
  Since the last report to Parliament on, 14 January 1997,Official Report, columns 187–88, Ministers and statutory office holders in charge of departments' have been given delegated authority (from 1 April 1997) under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 to determine in respect of home civil servants in their respective departments the allowances for members of the Senior Civil Service.

  In some cases, for staff appointed by statutory office holders, the Minister for the Civil Service was statutorily required to give consent to terms and conditions of service. For such staff, delegation has been effected by waiving that requirement, subject to the conditions attaching to delegation.

  The delegation was subject to the condition that recipients comply with the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code as amended from time to time. Copies of the Civil Service Management Code are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  A similar authorisation was also made to the Health and Safety Executive. This came into effect on 12 May 1997 and was similarly subject to the condition that they comply with the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code as amended for time to time.

  1The statutory office holders are:

  Commissioners of Inland Revenue;

  Head of the Registry of Friendly Societies, being the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies and the First Commissioner of the Building Societies Commission;

  Chief Charity Commissioner;

  Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

  Crown Estate Commissioners;

  Director General of Electricity Supply;

  Director General of Fair Trading;

  Director General of Gas Supply;

  Director General of National Lottery;

  Director of National Savings;

  Director of Passenger Rail Franchising;

  Director General of Telecommunication;

  Director General of Water Services;

  Director of Public Prosecutions;

  Director of the Serious Fraud Office;

  Government Actuary;

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England;

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales;

  International Rail Regulator;

  Public Works Loan Commissioners;

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioners;

  Rail Regulator;

  Registrar General for Scotland.

WALES

  Literacy and Numeracy
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to raise standards in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy in Wales. [22861]

  Mr. Hain
  Responses to our White Paper "Building Excellent Schools Together" have strongly endorsed the Government's overriding emphasis on strengthening the basic skills of literacy and numeracy and the targets set for attainment in the core subjects in primary schools. The broad purpose and content of the curriculum in Wales—notably as regards the Welsh language and the Curriculum Cymreig—is also well understood and appreciated. The responses did, however, show that many teachers are concerned about overload within the curriculum taught in primary schools in Wales and feel that this might work against the drive to improve standards of literacy and numeracy.

  I take these concerns very seriously and I have therefore asked for urgent advice from the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC) on ways in which the curriculum might be slimmed down in a way which reflects the distinctive nature of the curriculum in Wales. I have also written to every primary school head teacher to emphasise the Government's commitment to the targets set in the White Paper and to explain what I have asked ACCAC to do.

  In the light of the responses to the White Paper, I want to be sure that the position of Welsh and more generally of the Curriculum Cymreig have been weighed along with our broader objectives to ensure rigorous standards of teaching and learning together with a sound progression into secondary school education. I do not assume that a reduction in overload would of itself result in a better use of available time and I have, therefore, asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools to provide further guidance to deal with this point.

  I expect to receive advice by March. I will then set out an agenda for action and will consult teachers and others before changes are introduced. This timetable will allow for the option of modifying the Welsh curriculum from September 1998 in line with the announcement today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.

  Copies of my letters to head teachers and ACCAC have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Summer Schools
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children took part in the summer school scheme in 1997; and what estimate he has made of the number taking part in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [20101]

  Mr. Hain
  A total of 736 children took part in the 1997 Wales Summer Literacy Programme. Provision for expansion is being made. The Scheme is to be extended to every authority for 1998 and they are currently working up their delivery plans.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of the summer school scheme in 1997; and what estimate he has made of the cost in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [20100]
  164
  Mr. Hain
  The 1997 pilot programme was implemented as a joint initiative between Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). Seedcorn funding of £75,000 was provided by the Welsh Office.

  Subject to Parliamentary approval there will be £220,000 available through the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme in 1998–99. Provision beyond 1999 is the subject of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Chiropody and Podiatry Services
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the budget for each trust in Wales for NHS chiropody and podiatry services in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1994–95. [22542]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Figures on NHS Trust budgets are not available centrally. Expenditure on community chiropody services by NHS Trusts in Wales for the years 1994–95 to 1996–97 is given in the table. Expenditure for 1997–98 is not yet available.

  £000

  NHS Trust1

  1996–97

  1995–96

  1994–95

  Bridgend and District

  238

  n/a

  n/a

  Cardiff Community

  722

  634

  2967

  Carmarthen and District

  185

  185

  180

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  117

  111

  107

  Clwydian Community Care

  760

  751

  656

  Glan y Mor

  1,022

  n/a

  n/a

  Gwent Community

  843

  848

  811

  Gwynedd Community

  569

  464

  392

  Llandough Hospital

  259

  213

  n/a

  Llanelli Dinefwr

  239

  220

  232

  Pembrokeshire

  246

  234

  301

  Powys Healthcare

  375

  347

  462

  Rhondda Healthcare

  28

  75

  120

  All Wales total

  5,603

  4,082

  3,261

  1Source: Annual financial returns of NHS Trusts, (not audited).

  2:Source: Annual financial returns of health authority directly managed unit, (not audited).

  n/a = not available.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what(a) financial, (b) food and (c) medical aid has been given by Her Majesty's Government to Sri Lanka since 1 January. [21891]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The total expenditure on bilateral assistance given to Sri Lanka in 1997 by Her Majesty's Government was about £6 million. This included some assistance to projects in the health sector; in particular for a project to improve health of mothers and children displaced by civil conflict. No food aid was provided.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms (Compensation)
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding unpaid
  165
  claims there were for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 on 1 January 1998; and what was the average delay between claim and payment for categories A, B and C on that date. [22210]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: On 1 January 1998, there were 20,779 claims awaiting processing under Options A and B and 9,628 claims awaiting processing under Option C, the great majority of which are mixed claims on which the Option A and B elements have been paid. The average turn round time between receipt of claims from the police and processing of Options A and B was 19 weeks. Regular processing of Option C claims is expected to begin later this month.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make payment for the confiscated pistols of C. J. A. Foules, West Charleston Grange, near Kingsbridge, Devon. [22527]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: Claims under the Firearms Compensation Scheme are dealt with in the order in which they are received from the police. This claim was received on 23 September 1997, towards the end of the three month hand-in period, and is defective, in that the claimant has declined to sign the required declaration relinquishing ownership of the surrendered weapons. Until this is done, no payment can be made. The claim is therefore being returned for completion.

  Special Constables
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) of 4 December 1997,Official Report, column 292, on compensation for special constables, for what reasons he does not plan to consult organisations representing business and industry on his proposals for new regulations governing the Special Constabulary. [22215]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: We have not consulted organisations representing business and industry because the proposals contained in the consultation papers do not have direct implications for these sectors. If, as a result of the consultations with the police and local authority associations and the special constabulary, the proposals are revised so that they do have such implications, then we shall, of course, consult these organisations.

  Common Travel Area
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the efficacy of the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in relation to immigration matters and asylum. [22545]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Common Travel Area is an important part of our immigration control arrangements, recognising geographical proximity and shared close interests. Its operation is kept under constant review.

  Lottery Draws
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has published the draft Bill to restrict the frequency of lottery draws. [23094]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I published the draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill on 7 January for comments by 30 January.

  This follows my announcement on 13 November that the Government intend to introduce legislation seeking to restrict the frequency of on-line lottery draws under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976.

  The draft Bill restricts the frequency of such draws to one a day on any particular premises in Great Britain.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Ms Mary Allen
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what were the bonuses, benefits and pay of Ms Mary Allen during her time at the Arts Council. [20776]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The table gives details of Ms Allen's remuneration for the time that she was at the Arts Council. From 1995–96 onwards, these figures were published in the Arts Council's annual reports.1 June 1992–31 August 1992 Temporary contract
  1 September 1992–31 March 1994 Deputy Secretary-General
  1 April 1994–23 May 1997 Secretary General

  £

  Financial year

  Salary

  Pension costs

  Other

  Total

  1992–93

  31,805

  3,100

  —

  34,905

  1993–94

  48,676

  5,549

  —

  54,225

  1994–95

  60,509

  7,987

  —

  68,496

  1995–96

  62,446

  8,242

  —

  70,688

  1996–97

  63,806

  5,615

  —

  69,421

  1997–981

  25,819

  1,487

  2750

  28,056

  Total

  293,061

  31,980

  750

  325,791

  1 Payment in lieu of notice was agreed at £5,000 a month (for three months), the second and third payment being subject to her not taking up remunerated employment in those periods.

  2 This was a contribution to legal costs.

  Sport (Lottery Funds)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Government and lottery money was allocated to cricket through(a) the Sports Council and (b) other mechanisms in each of the last five years. [22255]

  Mr. Banks
  I have been advised by the English Sports Council and Sportsmatch that the sums are as follows:
  167

  £

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98 (to date)

  Totals

  (a) GB/English Sports Council1

  Grant-In-Aid

  169,344

  200,000

  220,000

  375,000

  2241,700

  1,036,700

  Lottery Sports Fund

  —

  —

  6,738,380

  22,597,283

  318,500,222

  47,835,885

  (b) Other mechanisms

  Sportsmatch4

  248,192

  274,300

  385,498

  325,901

  126,405

  1,360,296

  Totals

  417,536

  474,300

  7,343,878

  23,298,184

  18,868,327

  50,402,225

  1 The English Sports Council was established on 1 January 1997.

  2 The 1997–98 Grant-In-Aid figure is provisional and awaiting approval.

  3 The 1997–98 Lottery Sports Fund figure includes a World Class Performance grant of £157,379 for women's cricket.

  4 Sportsmatch awards are matched by similar amounts from business sponsors.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been received from the National Lottery for sports funding since November 1994. [21393]

  Mr. Banks
  From November 1994 to December 1997, the Sports Councils for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have received in total £950.3 million of Lottery money to fund sports projects of which £768.8 million has already been awarded. In addition the Millennium Commission has made two awards to sports related projects totalling £69 million.

  Information on Lottery awards is now available on the Department's website www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.

  Lottery Funding (Scotland)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the date, value and recipient of each award of Lottery funding to good causes in Scotland. [22416]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: As at 31 December 1997, 4,105 Lottery awards worth £498,679,648 have been made to organisations and individuals in Scotland. A full list will be placed in the Library.

  Details of Lottery awards can be found on the Department's internet website www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.

  Football Trust
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who was responsible for selecting the new Chairman-designate of the Football Trust; how many candidates were considered; what was the process of interviewing and consultation prior to the announcement;and what will be the remuneration of the Chairman-designate. [22668]

  Mr. Banks
  The appointment of the Chairman-designate of the Football Trust was wholly a matter for the Trustees. I was consulted by Trustees on their nomination of my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry), as the Trust Deed provides, and was very pleased to be able to support that nomination. My hon. Friend has considerable experience of all aspects of football and is widely acknowledged as a key figure in sports policy making. I understand the question of remuneration is to be considered at the first meeting of the new Trust. I would like to pay tribute to 168
  the excellent work Lord Aberdare has done as Chairman of the Football Trust since 1979, and to wish my hon. Friend well when he succeeds Lord Aberdare shortly.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what statutory basis he has ordered the diversion of money from the National Lottery to causes other than those originally approved by Parliament. [22574]

  Mr. Banks
  No funds have been diverted from the existing good causes. Funds continue to be allocated between the existing five good causes according to the percentages approved by Parliament. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 1 October 1997 that, from 14 October, and with the agreement of existing Lottery distributors, "shadow" accounts would be maintained, setting aside funds for the New Opportunities Fund and NESTA on the basis of the proposed percentage shares outlined in the National Lottery Bill. The existing distributors are planning their commitments and expenditure on the basis of these "shadow" accounts. Subject to Parliamentary approval of the relevant provisions of the Bill, resources will be transferred to the New Opportunities Fund and NESTA in line with these accounts after Royal Assent. If the legislation were not passed, for whatever reason, the funds would simply remain in the accounts of the existing distributors, as currently provided.

TREASURY

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's preferred method for companies to interface with the Inland Revenue for millennium computer compliance; and if he will make a statement. [21892]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue has adopted a "no change" policy for handling Year 2000 dates across interfaces between its computer systems and those of other organisations, including companies, so that current protocols will continue to apply in the new millennium.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend beyond seven years the period within which gifts between individuals are free of inheritance tax. [22238]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps under review all aspects of the tax system to ensure that it continues to meet the Government's objectives.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many works of art, on which there is conditional exemption of inheritance tax by virtue of public access, are on the Inland Revenue's register; and what was the figure in 1992. [22237]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In December 1997 there were 19,716 items listed on the Register of conditionally exempt works of art and other objects and the estimated figure for December 1992 is about 8,500.

  Guernsey Trusts
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information the Inland Revenue receives from the Guernsey authorities about(a) the deeds, (b) trustees and (c) letters of wishes of trusts established in Guernsey with discretionary beneficiaries in the United Kingdom.[22588]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: The exchange of information between the UK and Guernsey tax authorities is governed by the provisions of Article 10 of our Double Taxation Arrangement with Guernsey (S.I. 1952 No. 1215).

  Paymaster General
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which EU meetings in Brussels the Paymaster General(a) has represented and (b) plans to represent the UK. [22278]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: Treasury European issues are not the responsibility of the Paymaster General. He has never represented the UK at any EU meeting in Brussels and he has no plans to do so.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Permanent Secretary received the documentation in support of the assurances made to him by the Paymaster General in respect of the Orion Trust; and what assessment he has made of that documentation; [22814]

  (2) if he will publish the questions upon which the Paymaster General sought advice from Sir Terrence Burns about his personal financial affairs. [22345]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: On his appointment as a Minister, the Paymaster General sought advice about his personal financial affairs from his solicitors, Titmuss Sainer Dechert, and the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. In line with the Ministerial Code, his beneficial interests have been placed in a blind trust.

  Government Actuary's Department
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash limit and net running cost limit for the Government Actuary's Department for 1997–98. [22971]

  Mr. Darling
  The net running cost limit for the Government Actuary's Department, Class XVI, Vote 12, will be decreased by £120,000 from £384,000 to £264,000 and the cash limit will be reduced by £120,000 from £604,000 to £484,000. The decrease follows the breach of the net running cost limit in 1996–97. The Government Actuary's Department has reviewed its systems and procedures to prevent a recurrence of the breach.

SCOTLAND

  Falkirk College (Grants)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Student Awards Agency for Scotland to ensure that all eligible students at Falkirk College of Further and Higher Education receive payment of their grants before Christmas. [20486]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 December 1997]: I have been monitoring the progress made by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland since it became clear that there were delays in the payment of student grants for academic year 1997–98.

  The Agency is confident that all new students at Falkirk College who submitted properly completed applications by mid November would have had them processed before Christmas.

  Pre-employment Courses
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request the Scottish Qualifications Authority to consider certificating pre-employment courses. [22271]

  Mr. Wilson
  All existing SQA courses and awards, to varying degrees, prepare people for employment. Academic qualifications such as Standard Grades, Highers and CSYS provide a foundation of knowledge in preparation for later life. Work-related qualifications such as National Certificate, HNC and HND combine knowledge and practical experience in a wide range of subject areas to prepare for employment. Work-based Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), which are assessed in workplace conditions and recognise that individuals are competent for specific occupations, can in certain situations also be taken in preparation for employment.

  Broadly-based General SVQs were introduced in Scotland in 1991 specifically to assist people acquire the skills and knowledge required for employment, incorporating core skills in communication, numeracy, information technology, personal and interpersonal skills, and problem solving. The GSVQ concept, to be known as Scottish Group Awards, is being incorporated in the new Higher Still structure which, in 1999–2000, will reform the existing Highers, CSYS and National Certificate.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will phase in the changes in the method of calculating the funding of further education colleges, so that they will not take full effect until August 1999. [22267]

  Mr. Wilson
  We have yet to take decisions on changing the funding methodology for further education colleges, in light of responses to consultations following a recent review. When we do, we shall wish to consider appropriate transitional arrangements, including the possibility of phased introduction of certain elements.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on GDP per capita in relation to(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the United Kingdom for each year since 1978–79. [22414]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: Provisional data for 1996, together with information for 1986 to 1995 will be published in an article called "Regional Accounts 1996 Part 1" in the January edition of the Office for National Statistics Publication, "Economic Trends". This will be available from the House of Commons Library from 15 January. Data for earlier years are currently available from the Library.

  Data covering years to 1995, now about to be revised, were published in the January/February 1997 edition of "Economic Trends".

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the average class sizes in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Scotland. [22418]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: The information is as follows:

  Education Authority Schools

  Average number of pupils per class September1

  Primary2

  Secondary

  1978–79

  24.9

  19.4

  1979–80

  23.9

  18.9

  1980–81

  23.8

  19.0

  1981–82

  23.8

  19.1

  1982–83

  23.8

  19.0

  1983–84

  25.3

  19.5

  1984–85

  25.2

  n/a

  1985–863

  n/a

  n/a

  1986–87

  n/a

  n/a

  1987–88

  24.9

  18.8

  1989–90

  24.7

  18.6

  1991–92

  24.7

  18.9

  1993–94

  24.7

  19.3

  1995–96

  24.8

  19.5

  1 Since 1983 for secondary schools and 1987 for primary schools, this information has only been collected biennially.

  2 Until the 1983 School Census, classes for small numbers of primary pupils withdrawn for short periods of time from their normal classes were included in the calculation of average class size. From 1983, all pupils were counted against their normal class for statistical purposes.

  3 Information for 1985–86 and 1986–87 is unavailable because of industrial action in some schools.

  Capita
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings he has had with Capita. [22406]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no meetings with Capita.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much it will cost to cancel the Government's contract with Capita following the abolition of the Nursery Voucher Scheme. [22380]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: The amount of the termination fee the Government have negotiated with Capita is commercial in confidence.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the number of small businesses in Scotland. [22393]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 January 1998]: There is no single official definition of a small business. For Scotland, the best guide to trends in the number of small businesses is given by the number of VAT-registered enterprises.

  VAT registered businesses: Scotland, 1980–961, 2

  Stock at start of year

  1980

  100,015

  1981

  100,965

  1982

  102,715

  1983

  103,785

  1984

  106,000

  1985

  108,210

  1986

  109,735

  1987

  111,485

  1988

  113,165

  1989

  115,455

  1990

  119,090

  1991

  122,770

  1992

  119,140

  1993

  118,755

  1994

  119,825

  1995

  118,610

  1996

  117,785

  1997

  118,125

  Notes:

  1Large increases in the threshold for VAT registration in 1991 and 1993 mean that the estimates for 1980–91, 1992–93 and 1994–96 are not entirely comparable.

  2Figures for 1980–93 count VAT reporting units. Figures for 1994–96 count whole VAT registered enterprises.

  Source:

  DTI Statistical Bulletin, "Business Start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and deregistrations 1980–96".

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the membership and remit of the Consultative Steering Group on the Scottish Parliament. [23095]

  Mr. McLeish
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 14 November 1997 his intention to establish an all party Consultative Steering Group to take forward consideration of how the Scottish Parliament might operate.
  173
  I am delighted to report that all the main political parties have agreed to participate in the Group. Their agreement to come together to contribute to the development of ideas at this early stage augurs well for the future of the Parliament and the political process in Scotland.

  The Group, which I will chair, will comprise the hon. and learned Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) and the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond), or their representatives, representing the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party, Mr. Paul Cullen QC, representing the Scottish Conservative Party, Mr. Keith Geddes CBE from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Canon Kenyon Wright, from the Scottish Constitutional Convention, Professor Alice Brown, from the Department of Politics, University of Edinburgh, Dr. Joan Stringer, Principal of Queen Margaret's College, Ms Joyce McMillan, a writer and journalist who chaired the Constitutional Commission, Ms Esther Roberton of the Scottish Constitutional Convention, Mrs. Deirdre Hutton, Scottish Consumer Council, Mr. Andrew Cubie, a lawyer and former chair of the CBI in Scotland, and Mr. Campbell Christie, General Secretary of the STUC.

  These individuals, who cover a wide range of relevant Scottish interests, have been chosen for the personal contributions they can make to the work of the Group. I am confident that this Group will work effectively to develop proposals for how the Scottish Parliament should operate and how it will relate to the Scottish public.

  The Group will be supported by Scottish Office officials who will be able to draw in advice from a number of expert panels in the relevant fields in preparing proposals for further consideration by the Consultative Steering Group. These will include expert panels on Parliamentary procedures, on the scrutiny of financial matters, on how the Parliament might make best use of IT and telematics and on broadcasting and related media arrangements.

  The Group will meet for the first time on Monday 19 January, when members will be asked to approve the following draft remit:
  To bring together views on and consider the operational needs and working methods of the Scottish Parliament.
  To develop proposals for the rules of procedure and Standing Orders which the Parliament might be invited to adopt.
  To prepare a report to the Secretary of State for Scotland by the end of 1998, to inform the preparation of draft Standing Orders.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Information Technology
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the demand on IT specialists and systems of the Government's legislative 174
  programme other than that caused by preparations for EMU and the year 2000 computer date change problem. [19612]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  [holding answer 17 December 1997]: A Compliance Cost Assessment is required for any Bill which has cost implications for Business, Charities and Voluntary Organisations and should include any IT Costs.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Privy Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the executive functions of the Privy Council. [22261]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The Privy Council approves amendments to the byelaws and statutes of Chartered institutions. It also approves rules made by the statutory registration councils responsible for the medical and certain other professions, and makes instruments of government for higher education corporations. In addition, it makes certain appointments to statutory bodies and to the governing bodies of universities and colleges.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the Committees of the Privy Council, the number of times each has met since May and the quorum in each case. [22262]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The standing Committees of the Privy Council are:

  The Judicial Committee;

  The Universities Committee;

  The Scottish Universities Committee;

  The Committee for the purposes of the Crown Office Act 1877;

  The Committee for the Affairs of Jersey and Guernsey;

  The Baronetage Committee;

  The Political Honours Scrutiny Committee.

  None of these Committees has met since May 1997 other than the Judicial Committee, which has sat throughout the Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas terms, and the Honours Committee, which has met three times. The quorum for the Judicial Committee is three. No quorum is stipulated for the Honours Committee.

  In addition, ad hoc Committees are constituted when required. None has met since last May.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Literacy and Numeracy
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what further plans he has to ensure that priority is given to the basics of literacy and numeracy within the primary curriculum. [22798]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I am announcing today plans that will free up primary teachers' time so that they can give a clear priority to the teaching of literacy and numeracy and to meeting our literacy and numeracy targets. From September 1998 the priorities in the primary curriculum will be English and mathematics. The position of science, information technology and religious education will remain unchanged.
  175
  Schools will still need to offer a balanced and broadly based curriculum and to that end will be required to have regard to the other National Curriculum subjects of art, design and technology, geography, history, music and physical education. Key stage 1 and Key stage 2 statutory requirements will be modified so that primary schools have more flexibility in how they teach these subjects. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) will give schools advice shortly after Easter on how they can achieve this.

  I have asked QCA to conduct consultations on these proposals this term; and intend to lay new statutory Orders for the six non-core subjects in the summer.
  176
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the universities in the United Kingdom which now provide tuition in remedial English for students unable to write to an appropriate standard. [22614]

  Dr. Howells
  Individual universities and colleges are responsible for assessing the skills and tuition needs of their students. Information on supplementary tuition for students who need to improve their communication skills is not available centrally. The Department is committed to improving literacy and other key skills at all levels of the education system, and has supported a number of projects to develop key skills in higher education.

  Project Work
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants have been referred to project work in each quarter since April 1996; and how many of these have had their benefit cut for (i) two weeks and (ii) four weeks for failure to attend or complete their work placement. [21519]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under it's Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 13 January 1998.
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of individuals referred to Project Work in each quarter since April 1996; and how many of these have had their benefit cut for (i) two weeks and (ii) four weeks, for failure to attend or complete their work placement. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. I would like to apologise to you for the delay in supplying the information you have asked for.
  Unfortunately, information is not available in precisely the format you have requested. Statistics on referrals to the work experience element of Project Work—as opposed to starts on this element of the programme—were not collected for the original pilots in Hull and Medway and Maidstone which began in April 1996, and it is not now possible to collect this information retrospectively
  However, the figures in Table 1 set out the number of starts on the work experience element of Project Work and the number of cases referred for adjudication for refusal and failure to attend Project Work in the two pilot areas. The figures do not include people who left the register between being referred to the work experience element of Project Work and their planned date of starting. The first referrals to the work experience element of Project Work were not made until 22 July 1996.

  Table 1

  Quarter ending

  Number of jobseekers who started project work

  Number of jobseekers referred to adjudication

  September 1996

  658

  44

  December 1996

  1,315

  229

  March 1997

  1,152

  223

  Statistics on referrals to the work experience element of Project Work were collected for the extended pilots and I am therefore able to supply you with the number of people referred to the work experience element of Project Work from 1 April 1997. This information is contained in Table 2 below. Although the extended pilots started in February 1997 referrals to the work experience element in these areas did not begin until July 1997. The figures in Table 2 for the June quarter relate, therefore, only to Hull and Medway and Maidstone where Project Work was already in operation.

  Table 2

  Quarter ending

  Number of Jobseekers who were referred to Project Work

  June 1997

  1,482

  September 1997

  13,727

  December 1997

  15,726

  With the introduction of the extended Project Work Pilots separate figures for referrals to adjudication resulting from referrals to Project Work were not collected. Information on the total number of Adjudication Officers' decisions and opinions and disallowance rates relating to all government employment training programmes is
  178
  contained in a published document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". This provides information on all the labour market entitlement and sanction questions arising on claims. The latest information available is up to September 1997. Copies of this document are held in the Library of the House.
  Table 3 contains the number of sanctions and disallowances imposed and opinions given from the introduction of JSA in October 1996 for:

  giving up a place on a training scheme or employment programme;

  refusal of a place on a training scheme or employment programme;

  neglect to avail of a place on a training scheme or employment programme;

  failure to attend on a training scheme or employment programme; and

  losing a place on a training scheme or employment programme through misconduct.

  Schemes and programmes included in this definition are Jobplan Workshops, Restart Courses, Workwise, Worklink and Project Work. Employment Service statistics do not identify the number of sanctions relating to each programme, nor do they differentiate between tow and four week sanctions or disallowances.

  Table 3

  Quarter ending

  Sanctions and disallowances imposed and opinions given

  December 1996

  5,193

  March 1997

  12,284

  June 1997

  10,961

  September 1997

  11,294

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what have been the destinations of(a) claimants leaving or completing project work and (b) claimants in the selected control areas broken down to show those (i) in full-time employment, (ii) in self-employment, (iii) in part-time employment, (iv) in full-time education or training course, (v) on another Government programme, (vi) unemployed and claiming jobseekers's allowance, (vii) unemployed and not claiming benefit, (viii) in receipt of another benefit and (ix) doing something else. [21517]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 18 December 1997]: 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. Terry Rooney, dated 13 January 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the destinations of (a) individuals leaving or completing Project Work and (b) individuals in the selected control areas broken down to show those (i) in full-time employment, (ii) in self-employment, (iii) in part-time employment, (iv) in full-time education or training course, (v) on another Government programme, (vi) unemployed and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, (vii) unemployed and not claiming benefit, (viii) in receipt of another benefit and (ix) doing something else. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. I would like to apologise to you for the delay in supplying the information you have asked for.
  Unfortunately, information is not available in precisely the format you have requested. Information on the destinations of Project Work participants at a national level is given in Tables 1 and 2. The figures

  179
  refer to the period July-November 1997. Information on the two Project Work pilots in Hull and Medway and Maidstone is given in Table 3 for the period March 1996–June 1997.
  It may help if I explain that before entering the work experience element of Project Work, clients are given a Restart Interview following by a 13 week period of intensive job search help. During this time, participants are offered the full range of programmes available to long-term unemployed people, as well as a number of interviews with an adviser. If the person is still unemployed at the end of this period of intensive help, they are required to attend a 13 week period of work experience. This is intended to focus on the participant's job goals and work experience that is of benefit to the local community.
  Project Work was initially piloted in two locations during 1996–97, and was expanded subsequently to cover 31 locations. There are no selected control areas for expanded Project Work.
  I hope this is helpful.

  PROJECT WORK

  Table 1: Outcomes from 13 week period of intensive job search help: (from Restart Interview to work experience referral interview): July 1997-November 1997

  Jobs1

  Training for Work (TfW)

  Transfers to other benefits

  5,224

  2,210

  2,353

  1 ES placings including full-time, part-time and self-employed vacancies.

  Table 2: Outcomes from 13 week period of work experience: July 1997-November 1997

  Jobs1

  Full time education

  Full time Training/TfW

  1,210

  39

  259

  1 This includes full-time and part-time employment and self-employed.

  Table 3: Outcomes from the Project Work Pilots: March 1996-June 1997

  Jobs

  Full time education and training

  Other benefit

  Other reasons

  Pilots

  761

  87

  409

  444

  Control

  424

  79

  188

  235

  Further Education
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the total level of his Department"s budget, in 1995–96 prices, for further education in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; what such figurers would be for (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99 on the basis of the estimates of the gross domestic product deflator contained in the November 1996 Budget; and if he will make a statement. [22109]

  Dr. Howells
  The total level of the Department"s budget for further education in 1997–98 at 1995–96 prices is £2.973 billion. Planned provision for 1998–99 at 1995–96 prices is £2.870 billion. Comparable figures using the GDP deflators contained in the November 1996 Budget are £3.001 billion and £2.920 billion respectively.
  180
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on per capita funding levels in further education of the measures contained in his announcement of 12 November. [22111]

  Dr. Howells
  Part of the additional funding available to the further education sector is to restrict the squeeze on unit costs in the 1998–99 teaching year to no more than the rate of inflation.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the expenditure per student on capital projects within the further education sector for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [22113]

  Dr. Howells
  This information is not yet available.

  Figures for individual colleges' capital expenditure in 1996–97 will not be available until January 1998 as the information is taken from colleges' audited accounts which are received by Further Education Funding Council on 30 November 1997. Figures for capital expenditure in subsequent years will follow a similar timetable.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the additional administrative responsibilities placed on current facilities and infrastructure in colleges in further education by recent schemes announced by Her Majesty's Government; what provision he has made for additional administrative responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [22108]

  Dr. Howells
  It will be for Further Education colleges to assess the additional administrative responsibilities and costs when bidding for funds made available through these schemes.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what studies he has commissioned on the relative costs of providing further education in urban and rural areas. [22667]

  Dr. Howells
  None. The Further Education Funding Council has recently consulted on a funding methodology for colleges in 1998–99 in order to reflect the need to widen participation in further education in all areas, whether rural or urban.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he proposes to publish draft regulations governing the detailed application of the new rules for finance of students in further and higher education. [21915]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer issued 22 December 1997]: The rules applying to maintenance grants and tuition fees in 1998–99 will be set out in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1998, which we plan to lay before the House as soon as possible.

  Provisions relating to income contingent student loans are contained in the Teaching and Higher Education Bill. The associated regulations will be laid before the House once the Bill receives Royal Assent in line with normal practice. We are taking steps to ensure that hon. Members

  181
  are fully informed about how the proposed arrangements will operate in detail in advance of the publication of the regulations.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the effect of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposal to move to a new system of public expenditure planning by 2001–02 on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Dearing Report relating to resource accounting. [22373]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government's proposal to move to a system of full resource accounting and budgeting in 2001–02 will result in a different treatment of student loans from grants. This will be consistent with the recommendation by the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education.

  Cycle Spaces
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many secure cycle spaces there are in his Department. [22674]

  Dr. Howells
  There are 162 secure cycle spaces on DfEE HO sites.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has for the inspection of independent schools; what will be the role of Ofsted in such inspection; what representations he has received about the inspection of independent schools; and if he will make a statement. [22532]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 Janaury 1998]: Independent schools in England are currently inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) from Ofsted on a broadly 5-year cycle, and periodically by local fire brigades and—in the case of boarding schools—by local social services departments. Newly registered schools, or those causing concern, are inspected mor frequently and at least annually. Save in exceptional cases, these inspections do not normally lead to published reports.

  Discussions are under way with the independent school organisations on proposals to develop their own inspection arrangements so as to yield regular published reports consistent with the inspection framework and standards operated by Ofsted. This would allow Ofsted to concentrate more on strengthened inspection with published reports on schools which are not covered by those arrangements and which include pupils assisted from public funds. We will announce the new arrangements when they are finalised.

  Additionally our Green Paper "Excellence for all children: Meeting Special Educational Needs" proposes that all independent schools that provide specifically for children with Special Education Needs, but are not approved for this purpose under section 347(1) of the Eduction Act 1996, should be inspected at least every five years by HMI. Independent schools approved under that section are already inspected by Ofsted in the same way as maintained schools.

  New Deal (South Devon)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what budget he has agreed for the estates element of the South Devon District New Deal Delivery plan. [22541]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The New Deal for 18 to 24–year-olds does not commence in the South Devon District until 1 April 1998. At this stage no budget has been agreed for estates work in that District. The needs of the South Devon offices will be assessed in the near future and an appropriate budget agreed for any changes required.

  Republic of Ireland (Educational and Cultural Co-operation)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he plans to make to Irish Government proposals for a Programme and Joint Management Structure for youth exchanges between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. [22506]

  Dr. Howells
  A joint working party is being established to define the range and content of the youth exchange programme and to decide how it will operate. The Department will appoint representatives.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he plans to make to the proposal from the Irish Government for a joint forum to facilitate discussion and co-operation in educational matters. [22501]

  Dr. Howells
  Following the joint statement issued by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach on 12 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment met the Irish Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Michael Martin TD, on 17 December. They agreed that there should be regular contact between officials of their Departments to discuss ways of enhancing teaching and learning through new technologies.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many meetings of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Council Working Group on Education and Culture have taken place in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [22565]

  Dr. Howells
  The Working Group on Education and Culture has met five times during the last three years, on 3 February 1995, 26 April 1996, 7 February 1997, 8 May 1997 and 14 November 1997. The Working Group provides a valuable forum for the discussion of Anglo-Irish co-operation in the fields of education and culture.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many projects his Department funds under the Leonardo vocational training programme which involve Irish organisations. [22505]

  Dr. Howells
  During the first three years of the Leonardo da Vinci vocational training programme, UK organisations have led 757 transnational projects of which 149 involve partners from the Republic of Ireland. The Leonardo da Vinci programme is funded by the European Community, not the DfEE, and runs from 1995–99.
  183
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many meetings his Department has had with the Irish Department of Education in relation to the National Grid for Learning and the University for Industry. [22500]

  Dr. Howells
  There has been one formal meeting of officials in relation to the National Grid for learning and none in relation to the University for Industry.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students from the Republic of Ireland are studying at British universities; and how many are in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [22503]

  Dr. Howells
  Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency for the academic year 1996–97 showed that there were 14,550 students from the Republic of Ireland studying in higher education institutions in the UK, of whom 7,552 were studying in England, 1,570 in Scotland, 1,546 in Wales and 3,882 in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students from the Republic of Ireland are participating in further education in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [22504]

  Dr. Howells
  In 1995–96, the latest year for which data were available, there were 1,700 students from the Republic of Ireland studying in further education institutions in England.

  The numbers of such students studying in other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he intends to take to encourage participation by English and Welsh schools in the European Studies Project. [22502]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government welcome the fact that a growing number of UK schools are forming partnerships with Irish schools through their participation in initiatives such as the European Studies Project and the EC SOCRATES programme. Following a meeting between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Irish Minister of Education and Science on 17 December 1997, the Government are considering whether there is a need for additional measures to encourage co-operation between educational institutions in the UK and in Ireland.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cycle Spaces
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many secure cycling spaces there are in his Department. [22676]

  Mr. Morley
  Many of the Department's 240 sites now provide secure accommodation for cycles. In our London HQ buildings there are about 100 spaces (some shared with other Departments) while the Department's HQ offices at York, Tolworth and Guildford have approximately 140 spaces between them. It is the 184
  Department's policy to provide secure cycle spaces where there is a demand for them and where this is physically possible.

  Dairy Industry
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much milk was(a) produced and (b) consumed in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [22528]

  Mr. Rooker
  1996 is the last year for which United Kingdom milk production and consumption figures are available. The figures are as follows:

  United Kingdom milk production, supply and utilisation: 1996

  Million litres

  Gross production of milk from the dairy and beef herds1

  14,224

  Imports of raw milk2

  111

  Exports of raw milk2

  173

  Total supply

  14,162

  Utilisation by dairies for drinking milk3

  6,806

  Utilisation by dairies for manufacturing dairy products4

  6,979

  Dairy wastage and stock change

  76

  Other uses5

  301

  Total domestic use

  14,162

  1 Includes 7 million litres of milk from the beef herd. Excludes suckled milk.

  2 Milk imported or exported as packaged drinking milk is excluded.

  3 Represents consumption of drinking milk in the UK, as little is imported or exported. In 1996 imports of packaged drinking milk were 41 million litres, exports were 53 million litres.

  4 A proportion of dairy products manufactured will be exported and not consumed in the UK.

  5 Includes farmhouse consumption, milk fed to stock and on farm waste. Excludes suckled milk.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much(a) fresh and (b) UHT milk was imported into the United Kingdom in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [22529]

  Mr. Rooker
  A total of 153,300 tonnes of milk were imported into the United Kingdom in the 12 months to the end of September 1997. Trade statistics do not distinguish between fresh and UHT milk.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission research into the operation of vertically integrated co-operatives for the dairy industry. [22447]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have no such plans.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy relating to Milk Marque. [22448]

  Mr. Rooker
  Issues concerning Milk Marque's commercial operations and those of other companies in the dairy sector are a matter for the competition authorities.

  Beef
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the total United Kingdom consumption of beef and beef products was derived from home production in(a) 1972 and (b) 1997. [22489]
  185
  Mr. Rooker
  Home fed production of beef and veal as a proportion of new supplies was 78 per cent. in 1972 and 77 per cent. in the 12 months to September 1997.

  New supplies of beef and veal are defined as home fed production plus imports of carcase meat plus the meat equivalent of fat animals imported for direct slaughter minus exports of carcase meat minus the meat equivalent of live exports.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the per capita consumption of beef and beef products in(a) 1972 and (b) 1997. [22488]

  Mr. Rooker
  Per capita consumption of beef, beef sausages and corned beef in Great Britain measured by purchases for consumption at home in the National Food Survey is given in the following table:

  grams per person per week

  Purchases of

  1972

  1996–971

  Beef

  195

  109

  Beef sausages

  42

  15

  Corned beef

  13

  13

  1 October 1996 to September 1997. Beef here includes a very small element of veal.

  Data on the consumption of beef outside of the home and in the form of other processed products are not available. To help complete the picture, the table provides the total amount of beef available for domestic usage in 1996–97 and the nearest equivalent measure (total new supplies) for 1972–73. Domestic usage is derived as total UK production plus imports less exports and adjusted for stock changes. Total new supplies excludes the adjustment for stock changes.

  United Kingdom

  1972–73

  1996–971

  Total domestic usage of beef ('000 Tonnes)

  21,173

  840

  1 October 1996 to September 1997.

  2 Total new supplies in the period April 1972 to March 1973.

  Total domestic usage and new supply figures are in carcase weight equivalent, whereas the per capita consumption estimates above relate to the actual weight purchased.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average liveweight price of steers in(a) 1972 and (b) 1997. [22490]

  Mr. Rooker
  The average liveweight price of steers in Great Britain in 1997 was 97.5 p/kg. An equivalent price for 1972 is not available.

  However, comparable figures for the United Kingdom for 1972 and 1997 are available for all clean cattle. In 1997, the average all clean cattle price was 95.4p/kg liveweight and in 1972 the average fat cattle market price was 30.3p/kg liveweight. The 1972 price relates to animals certified under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Export Forum
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to 186
  the recommendations of the Export Forum, if he will make a statement on his Department's export promotion work. [20427]

  Mr. Fatchett
  This Department welcomes the report of the Export Forum, and supports the thrust of their proposals, which will form an important basis for a new export initiative. Supporting British business abroad helps create prosperity at home, and is one of this Department's key roles.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures he will take to assist small and medium enterprises in their export efforts. [20428]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our new Export Initiative, based on the recommendations of the Export Forum, will have a particular focus on the needs of small and medium enterprises which are exporters, or have the potential to export.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has taken to promote job creation in the EU. [20431]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  My Department has worked with other government departments to encourage EU policies which promote job creation. We supported the inclusion of an Employment Title in the Treaty of Amsterdam and at the Employment Summit in Luxembourg. We secured a text that reflected HMG's priority of bringing jobs and opportunities for the long-term unemployed. At the forthcoming Cardiff Summit we will be reviewing the Action Plans by member states drawn up under the guidelines approved at Luxembourg.

  India
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with India. [20432]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We enjoy good and close relations with India and, as I made clear in a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths) on 8 July 1997,Official Report, column 415, we look forward to strengthening this important relationship still further.

  Middle East
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in the middle east.[20433]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We are concerned by the current stalemate. We attach the highest importance to full implementation of existing commitments under the Interim and Hebron Agreements, and will give that issue high priority during our conduct of the EU Presidency.
  187
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Union's role in the middle east peace process during the United Kingdom's presidency. [20435]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Working to re-inject momentum into the peace process will be one of the most important foreign policy priorities of our Presidency. We will endeavour to keep up the pressure for progress in implementing existing agreements and ensure that EU and US efforts are complementary in moving the peace process forward.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [20440]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Working to re-inject momentum into the peace process will be one of the most important foreign policy priorities of our Presidency. We will endeavour to keep up the pressure for progress in implementing existing agreements and ensure that EU and US efforts are complementary in moving the peace process forward.

  As part of our Presidency involvement I will be visiting Israel, Gaza and the West Bank on 14 to 16 January. I will be holding meetings with, among others, the Prime Minister of Israel and the Minister of The Palestine National Authority.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit the middle east to discuss measures to increase United Kingdom exports to that area. [20445]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hopes to visit the Middle East during the Spring. I am sure that trade issues will be discussed during his visit. I am delighted by the continuing high level of British exports to the region. Over the first ten months of 1997 there was a year on year increase of 19 per cent.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had about arms control and if he will make a statement. [20434]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary remains firmly committed to the promises made in the Labour manifesto. He is pursuing these issues in discussions with a range of interested parties.

  Turkey
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Turkey. [20436]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We attach great importance to our relations with Turkey, and value our dialogue on a wide range of issues.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to meet the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to discuss Spain. [20437]
  188
  Mr. Robin Cook
  I look forward to seeing the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 28 January in London.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives over Cyprus he proposes for 1998. [20438]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We will continue to use our influence to help ensure that the two communities resume the settlement negotiations under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General. As EU Presidency, we will open accession negotiations with Cyprus. We hope this will involve a joint Greek Cypriot/Turkish Cypriot delegation.

  EU Institutions (Reform)
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the Government's plans for Britain's presidency of the European Union in respect of reform of EU institutions. [20439]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  During the course of the UK Presidency, we are determined to make as much progress as possible towards the next enlargement of the European Union. One element of this will be discussing with other Member States how and when to proceed with Protocol No. 11 to the Treaty of Amsterdam concerning institutional reform in the context of enlargement. We fully support the principle of a smaller Commission and the reweighing of votes in the Council that this Protocol provides for.

  Preparation for other measures envisaged by the Treaty of Amsterdam—for example, improving the quality of European legislation and ensuring greater openness in the Union—will continue during the UK Presidency. So will a series of continuing reforms to improve the operational efficiency of the institutions, such as SEM 2000 to improve financial management in the Commission and MAP 2000 to modernise the European civil service.

  EU Countries (Territorial Claims)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries in the European Union which have a claim in their constitutions over the territory of another member of the Union. [20441]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The only such case I know of concerns the Irish Constitution, Article 2 of which asserts that the national territory consists of the whole island of Ireland. The Irish Government have undertaken to introduce and support proposals to change the constitution, so as fully to reflect the principle of consent as part of an overall settlement in Northern Ireland.

  EU Enlargement
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which east and central European countries he proposes to visit during 1998 to discuss the enlargement of the European Union. [20442]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I visited Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic last November. My hon. Friend the Minister of State has recently visited the other seven
  189
  Central European applicant countries. We therefore have no immediate plans to visit the region. But we will have extensive contacts with our Central European colleagues at the many events involving them during the UK Presidency of the EU in the first six months of 1998.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to use the presidency of the European Union to strengthen economic and social agreements between the European Union and those states which were formerly members of the Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union that currently have European Union association agreements. [20443]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We will work to ensure that Accession Partnerships for the 10 Central European countries that have EU Association Agreements are concluded by 15 March, as requested by the Luxembourg European Council. The Partnerships will feature a targeted programme of enhanced aid designed to help the applicants prepare for EU membership. They will, of course, be in addition to the continuing contacts within the Association Agreements for all 10.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress on enlargement of the European Union. [20448]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The decisions taken at the Luxembourg European Council have taken the enlargement process into its next stage. The way is open for the EU, with the UK as Presidency, to open accession negotiations with the six applicants who are ready, this spring. Those who need more help to prepare will get it; and all will participate on an equal footing in the European Conference to be inaugurated in London on 12 March.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government support the application of Lithuania for membership of the European Union in the next wave. [20450]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Yes. We support enlargement of the EU and look forward to all applicants joining as soon as they are ready. But we do not favour talk of "waves" of membership. Applicants will be treated on their own individual merits.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the foreign ministers of Latvia and Lithuania about European Union enlargement following the Luxembourg European Union summit. [20451]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  None.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress towards democracy in Nigeria. [20444]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We and our EU, Commonwealth and UN partners agree that there has been no real progress on restoration of democracy and respect of human rights in Nigeria.
  190
  Our concerns about the transition programme include the non-inclusive nature of the process; the introduction of a decree which has enabled the Head of State to remove duly elected local council representatives from their positions; and the fact that the new Constitution of Nigeria has yet to be published and distributed.

  We also continue to have serious concerns about the application of the rule of law and adherence to acceptable standards of human rights, including the failure to release political prisoners and detainees, and the limitations of freedom of speech. Since early November several more journalists and human rights activists in Nigeria have been detained without charge, and only two have been released.

  Algeria
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised the human rights situation in Algeria with the Algerian authorities. [20446]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I last raised human rights with the Algerian Ambassador in London in June. My officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office discussed our response, and that of our EU partners, to massacres in Algeria with the Algerian Ambassador in London last week. Our Ambassador in Algiers discussed the same subject with the Algerian authorities earlier this week.

  Australia
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Australia to discuss United Kingdom—Australian relations. [20447]

  Mr. Fatchett
  British and Australian Ministers are in regular contact but my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Australia at present.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of civil rights in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [20449]

  Mr. Fatchett
  As I informed the honourable Member in my written reply on 8 July 1997,Official Report, column 415, basic civil rights are enshrined in the Sri Lankan constitution. We hope that the Sri Lankan Government will continue to respect them.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. White
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review(a) the bankruptcy laws and (b) the way bankruptcy is administered. [21489]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  A working party is reviewing the current state of regulation in the insolvency profession and recently issued a consultation paper 'Insolvency Practitioner Regulation—Ten Years On'. Responses to that will inform their final report to the Secretary of State and the insolvency recognised professional bodies. Additionally, a further working party, chaired by
  191
  Mr. Justice Ferris, is currently considering the remuneration of office holders and is expected to report in early 1998. The findings and conclusions of both groups will receive very careful attention when received.

  European Fusion Project
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the management performance of the Joint European Torus undertaking in respect of the European Fusion Project at Culham, with particular regard to the use of public funds and the consequences for future energy policy. [21170]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 16 December 1997]: The Joint European Torus at Culham is the European fusion programme's most important facility, and is in fact the largest of its kind operating anywhere in the world. The management achieved record results last month for fusion power and fusion energy. However, the report of the European Court of Auditors on JET's 1996 accounts raised some issues of concern. It identified a number of weaknesses in JET management's application of JET's Financial Regulations concerning the awarding of contracts, most notably in the areas of contract personnel and invitation to tender. The JET Director, Dr. Keilhacker, has responded disagreeing with the conclusions drawn by the Court in some of the specific examples quoted. He accepted some of the recommendations and rejected others.

  We are concerned about the apparent weaknesses in various areas of JET management's performance, and we shall ensure that the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pursue this issue in the JET council and other committees on which it is represented. I expect the JET Council either to satisfy itself that the JET Director's response is adequate or to ensure that he implements the audit recommendations.

  JET's expenditure is around £60 million a year, and it is important that this money is spent with proper regard to propriety and the need for value for money.

  Electricity Companies (Coal Purchases)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government took to persuade the electricity companies to buy more coal, with special reference to regulatory and other measures. [21776]

  Mrs. Beckett
  This was a commercial arrangement between the parties concerned. Government acted as a facilitator only, and no regulatory or other measures were involved.

  Inntrepreneur
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors underlay her decision not to seek amendment to the decision by the Office of Fair Trading to release Inntrepreneur from its undertakings given on the recommendation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [21093]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Ministers do not have the legal power to revoke the February 1997 decision of their predecessors to vary the Inntrepreneur (IPCL) undertakings. Under UK competition law, further undertakings based on the 1991 MMC report between Elders IXL Ltd. (which owned Courage Ltd.) and Grand 192
  Metropolitan could be sought from Inntrepreneur only on the basis of the adverse effects detailed in that report. The UK's competition authorities have not identified any such grounds for seeking further undertakings from IPCL.

  Weapons Convention
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what work is being carried out by her Department to support the negotiations to strengthen the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. [22511]

  Mrs. Roche
  My Department is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence to achieve early international agreement on a legally binding protocol to establish an effective verification and compliance regime for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). My officials are members of the UK delegation, led by the FCO, which is playing a major role in the negotiations in Geneva. Responsibility for implementing an agreed protocol in the UK will fall to my Department and my officials are working with the UK pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to secure their support for a strengthened BTWC regime.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what work her Department is currently carrying out to support and implement arms control treaties in the fields of(a) chemical weapons and (b) nuclear weapons; and if she will make a statement. [22510]

  Mrs. Roche
  My Department is responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in the UK. The legislative basis for this work is the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 and the President of the Board of Trade will be submitting shortly to Parliament her annual report on the operation of the Act. My Department co-ordinates the preparation of annual UK declarations to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), receives teams of international inspectors from the OPCW to verify the UK declarations and licenses the possession, use, production, import and export of certain chemicals listed in the Convention. An official in my Department has been appointed as the UK Representative on the Executive Council of the OPCW and my officials also participate in bilateral meetings and training courses aimed at helping other countries with their national implementation of the CWC.

  The FCO has lead responsibility in the UK for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). However, my Department is responsible for ensuring that the UK meets is commitments under the 1978 safeguards agreement concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Euratom in connection with the NPT under which the UK undertook to accept IAEA safeguards on all civil nuclear materials in facilities within the UK.

  An official in my Department represents the UK on the Board of Governors of the IAEA and in that capacity is involved in all formal decisions of the IAEA including in the field of safeguards.
  193
  The IAEA safeguards system is now being strengthened following the agreement by the Board of Governors of the IAEA in May 1997 of a model protocol additional to existing safeguards agreements. The DTI took the lead for the UK in negotiating this model protocol. My Department is currently engaged in the negotiation of an additional protocol to the UK's existing safeguards agreement based on the model protocol and specific commitments given by the UK Governor to the IAEA when the model was adopted.

  Consumer Credit
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on consumer credit monetary limits and fees. [23093]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I am pleased to report that I have laid before Parliament today the Consumer Credit (Increase of Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order 1998. This order is subject to the affirmative procedure and will be debated by both Houses of Parliament.

  I will then lay two other associated Orders, the Consumer Credit (Further Increase of Monetary Amounts) Order 1998, and the Consumer Credit (Realisation of Pawn) (Amendment) Regulations 1998.

  The main thrust of these amendments will be to increase protection for consumers and unincorporated businesses by raising the upper limit for regulated credit and hire agreements to £25,000, from the current level of £15,000, which has not been changed since 1983. This will bring under regulation most unsecured consumer loans and many loans for house purchase and other loans secured on property which are currently above the regulated level.

  Because many people who borrow small amounts are among the more vulnerable consumers, I have decided not to raise the upper limit on small agreements or to change the exemption limits for connected lender liability.

  The upper limit relating to the consumer's right to terminate a hire agreement after 18 months will be raised from £900 to £1,500.

  The fees which consumers pay for copies of documents and other services and the exemption limit on the notice of intention to sell pawned goods will be raised to reflect inflation since the last rise.

  The consumer's liability following misuse of a credit card will remain at the current level of £50.

  To give the credit and hire industries time to make the necessary administrative amendments, the changes will come into force on 1 May 1998, after the Increase of Monetary Limits Order has been debated and received the approval of both Houses.

  EU Acquired Rights Directive
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she intends to carry out public consultation on the European Commission's proposal to amend the Acquired Rights Directive. [23092]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My Department has today published a public consultation document on this issue. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Exports (South Korea)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's export promotion work with South Korea. [20417]

  Mrs. Roche
  Our aims are to ensure that: British companies are fully briefed on those areas which present good commercial opportunities for them in South Korea; and South Korea is aware of our capabilities in those same areas. In carrying this out we have a responsibility to advise our companies of the practicalities of doing business in South Korea. This is particularly relevant with the present economic situation.

  As a tool to achieve this, in June 1997, I launched a set of publications called "Trading with Korea"; they provide factual information on specific issues that affect British companies doing business there. These publications are available free of charge from my Department. My Department is working closely with the Business Links: to promote these publications: and to offer companies targeted briefing on doing business in South Korea.

HEALTH

  Insulin
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken, over the last 10 years, to monitor the effectiveness and the side effects of genetically engineered insulin in comparison with animal insulins; and what have been the results of such monitoring. [19251]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency is responsible for the continuous monitoring of the safety of all licensed medicines and the safety of human (genetically engineered) insulin is therefore under continuous review. In addition, a considerable number of clinical studies have been performed and published comparing animal and human insulin.

  The Committee on Safety of Medicines, which advises the Government on such matters, has fully reviewed the safety of human insulin on several occasions since its introduction. During the review process there has been repeated consultation with experts in the field of diabetes as well as with the British Diabetic Association. The Committee has concluded that, although some patients have experienced problems on transferring to human insulins and may be better suited to animal insulins, there is no evidence of a safety problem specific to human insulin. The Committee will continue to monitor closely the safety of insulins.

  Private Health Insurance
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the cost to the National Health Service in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 of treating patients previously covered by private health insurance. [22464]

  Mr. Milburn
  No such estimates have been made. The numbers covered by private medical insurance have fallen since 1990. Any additional demand from an increase in numbers failing to renew policies will be covered by the additional resources both this year and next.

  Chiropody and Podiatry
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS chiropody and podiatry services were provided to ethnic minority patients in each of the last three years. [22555]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information about the ethnic background of patients receiving National Health Service chiropody and podiatry services is not collected.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure ethnic minorities with non-insulin diabetes have full access to NHS chiropody and podiatry services. [22554]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department of Health established a task force in 1993 to look at ways of securing better and more cost-effective chiropody services within the National Health Service. The recommendations were widely disseminated to the service with the emphasis being on the provision of services to "at risk" groups—for example diabetics and those with acute clinical need. Information about the ethnic background of patients receiving NHS chiropody and podiatry services is not collected.

  It is currently the responsibility of health authorities and general practitioner fundholders to assess the health care needs of their population, and to secure a range of hospital and community health services, including chiropody services, to meet those needs. Most health authorities give priority to meeting the chiropody needs of older people, those with "at risk" conditions, and certain other groups such as children, pregnant women, and people with learning disabilities.

  Under the Chronic Disease Management Programme for diabetes, participating GPs (currently 94 per cent.) are required to give patients a full review, including checks for potential complications, at least annually and to refer them promptly to other services where appropriate. Health Service Guidelines HSG(97)45 on "Key features of a good diabetes service", issued to the NHS in November 1997, gives guidance on developing a structured programme of care, including surveillance for, and management of, the risk factors and complications of diabetes. It also flags up the importance of a responsive service, sensitive to different needs and states:
  "prevalence of diabetes is generally much higher in all non-Europid ethnic groups, particularly the South Asian and African-Caribbean groups. It is important that consideration is given to the language and cultural barriers that may exist between health professionals and people with diabetes".

  The Department of Health has commissioned new national clinical guidelines for non-insulin dependent diabetes, and other clinical effectiveness publications, which we expect to be available by the end of 1999. Copies of Health Service Guidelines HSG(97)45 are available in the Library.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of limitations on the availability of chiropody services to particular age groups; what representations he has received on the subject; and if he will make a statement; [22551]
  196
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 13 November 1997, Official Report, column 662, what assessment he has made of the extent to which health authorities' decisions to provide chiropody services are determined according to the need of the population served. [22557]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department of Health established in 1993 a task force to look at ways of securing better and more cost-effective chiropody services within the National Health Service. The recommendations were widely disseminated to the service with the emphasis being on the provision of services to "at risk" groups and those with acute clinical need.

  It is currently the responsibility of health authorities and general practitioner fundholders to assess the health care needs of their population, and to secure a range of hospital and community health services to meet those needs. Decisions about health care and the use of resources are best taken at local level because it is there that people's needs are best known and services can be tailored accordingly.

  Ministers have received a number of representations and communications on the subject and have responded individually.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Department's answer of 13 November 1997,Official Report, column 662, how many health authorities have consulted with their local residents during the last 12 months over the proper priority for chiropody within purchasing priorities. [22559]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not routinely collected.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities have notified his Department of(a) reductions and (b) increases in chiropody services in the last two years; and what other sources are utilised to collate trends in the level of services. [22558]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not routinely collected. Health authorities are not required to notify the Department of changes in activity in particular services. Although the Department wishes to see health authorities and general practitioner fundholders provide the full range of National Health Service services including chiropody, detailed planning decisions on levels of provision are taken locally according to the needs of the population served.

  Information from health authorities about patient contacts with their chiropody services is collected on Department of Health annual return KT23. This information is published each year and copies of the summary information booklets are available in the Library.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the budget for each trust in England for NHS chiropody and podiatry services in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1994–95. [22560]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures on National Health Service trust budgets are not available centrally. Expenditure on community chiropody services by health authority directly managed units and NHS trusts in England for the years 1994–95 to 1996–97 have been placed in the Library.
  197
  Expenditure figures are compiled at the end of the financial year and therefore figures for 1997–98 have not yet been collected.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 1997,Official Report, column 662, what methods his Department employs to communicate to health authorities the requirement for chiropody to be included within the full range of NHS services. [22556]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is currently the responsibility of health authorities and general practitioner fundholders to assess the health care needs of their population, and to secure a range of hospital and community health services, including chiropody services, to meet those needs. Health authorities were informed, in the 1997–98 NHS Priorities and Planning Guidance, of the need to ensure, in collaboration with other local authorities and organisations, that integrated services are in place to meet needs for continuing health care for older people, people with disabilities, vulnerable people and children.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department takes to ensure that the foot health needs of the elderly population are met; and what indicators measure levels of access to chiropody and podiatry services by those aged over 65 years. [22553]

  Thousands

  Years

  Total

  Age

  0–4

  5–15

  16–54

  55–64

  65–74

  75–84

  85 and over

  1994–95

  975.4

  17.4

  75.4

  137.0

  109.2

  268.1

  256.4

  111.9

  1995–96

  950.6

  15.6

  65.6

  147.9

  109.5

  255.8

  246.3

  109.9

  1996–97

  975.4

  16.5

  68.9

  158.2

  115.7

  253.7

  250.0

  112.4

  Information about the source of referral of NHS chiropody and podiatry patients for chiropody and podiatry services has not been collected centrally since 1991–92. In 1991–92, approximately 50 per cent. of the patients seen by chiropody services were self referrals.

  Falloden Private Hospital, Leeds
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were carried out at the Falloden private hospital, Leeds, during(a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [21799]

  Ms Jowell
  A total of 693 abortions undertaken at the Fallodon Private Surgical Hospital were notified to the Chief Medical Officer between 1 January 1995 and 28 November 1995. On 29 November 1995, the hospital closed following withdrawal of registration under the Registered Homes Act and withdrawal of approval to carry out abortions by the then Secretary of State.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to establish the number of female patients who did not receive a full dosage of anti-D immunoglobulin during terminations undertaken at the Falloden private hospital, Leeds; what the implications of this are for the patients concerned; what steps have been taken to warn them of the potential risks they face and provide appropriate screening; and if he will make a statement. [21800]
  198
  Mr. Boateng
  It is currently the responsibility of health authorities and general practitioner fundholders to assess the health care needs of their population, and to secure a range of hospital and community health services, including chiropody services, to meet those needs. Most health authorities give priority to meeting the chiropody needs of older people, those with "at risk" conditions for example diabetes, and certain other groups such as children, pregnant women, and people with learning disabilities.

  Information about contacts with community chiropody services by age group is collected annually on Department of Health return KT23 and is published each year. Copies are available in the Library. In 1996–97, 63 per cent. of initial contacts with the chiropody service were with patients aged 65 and over.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the age profile of NHS chiropody and podiatry patients for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1994–95; and what proportion of initial contacts made by NHS chiropody and podiatry patients were self-referred in these years. [22552]

  Mr. Boateng
  The age profile of National Health Service chiropody and podiatry patients as defined by initial contacts in the last three years is as follows:

  Ms Jowell
  When the Department became aware that some women had received less than the recommended dose of anti-D immunoglobulin, at the Fallodon Private Surgical Hospital, expert medical advice was sought on the medical consequences. That advice was that it would not be possible to identify any woman who may have been affected unless and until they became pregnant again.

  Establishing the number of female patients who did not receive the full dose of anti-D would not therefore guide future care, nor offer benefit to the women concerned, and might cause needless anxiety. Any attempt to contact these women indirectly, for example via their general practitioner, would have run the risk of breaching patient confidentiality.

  A woman's blood group is routinely tested as part of her ante-natal care. If she is found to be Rhesus negative she would be monitored to see whether she develops Anti-D antibodies. Action necessary to protect the baby would be determined by the results of this monitoring.

  Tobacco
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relationship between the level of(a) smoking among young people and (b) smuggled tobacco products from other member states of the European Union. [22793]

  Ms Jowell
  No assessment of such a relationship has been made.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons she has not made the new payments for assistance with winter fuel bills available to all groups receiving cold weather payments. [20624]

  Mr. Denham
  In our manifesto we made a commitment to review the central areas of insecurity for older people and examine ways to deliver more automatic help to the poorest pensioners. Work is underway in both areas, but we are not prepared to allow another winter to go by when pensioners are fearful of turning up their heating because they do not know whether they will get the help they need with their fuel bills. The additional help of £400 million over this winter and next, announced by the Chancellor on 25 November 1997, demonstrates the Government's commitment to help the elderly keep warm in their homes.

  We have already taken action to cut fuel costs and make homes easier to heat. So far we have: reduced VAT on domestic fuel from eight to five per cent; reduced the gas levy to zero; extended energy efficiency grants and announced a reduction on VAT on energy saving installation schemes; announced the setting up of an Environmental Task Force which is expected to include a programme of energy efficiency improvements in the homes of the elderly; and, released almost £800 million to local authorities over the next two years to help meet pressing housing needs, which is expected to feature improved energy efficiency in many areas.

  Disability Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the number of claimants in(a) Sutton and (b) Greater London, who are currently claiming disability allowance for (i) mobility awards and (ii) care awards, for (1) arthritis, (2) muscle/ bone/joint disease, (3) blindness, (4) stroke-related disability, (5) learning difficulties, (6) other mental health causes, (7) epilepsy, (8) deafness, (9) malignant disease, (10) chest disease, (11) back ailments, (12) heart disease, (13) Parkinson's Disease, (14) Diabetes Mellitus, (15) renal disorders, (16) AIDS, (17) skin diseases and (18) other reasons. [21670]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 12 January 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding what estimate she has made of the number of claimants in (a) Sutton and (b) Greater London, who are currently claiming Disability Living Allowance for (i) mobility awards and (ii) care awards, for (1) arthritis, (2) muscle/joint/bone disease, (3) blindness, (4) stroke related diseases, (5) learning difficulties, (6) other mental health causes, (7) epilepsy, (8) deafness, (9) malignant disease, (10) chest diseases, (11) back aliments, (12) heart diseases, (13) Parkinsons disease, (14) Diabetes melitus, (15) renal disorders, (16) AIDS, (17) skin diseases, (18) other reasons.
  200
  Due to the low numbers involved and high margin of error, it has not been possible to provide an accurate breakdown, by main disabling condition for Sutton. However the following figures provide the total of all the disabling conditions required, for the Sutton area.

  All disabling conditions

  All awards

  3,187

  Awards of care

  2,049

  Awards of mobility

  2,771

  As the numbers for Greater London are higher a more accurate breakdown has been possible and this shown in the attached table.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability living allowance for Greater London

  Main disabling condition

  All awards

  Awards of care

  Awards of mobility

  1. Arthritis

  27,900

  17,900

  25,500

  2. Muscle/joint/bone disease

  12,900

  8,800

  10,500

  3. Blindness

  6,100

  5,300

  5,900

  4. Stroke related diseases

  7,800

  6,700

  7,000

  5. Learning difficulties

  19,100

  15,100

  16,000

  6. Other mental health causes

  24,900

  21,200

  20,300

  7. Epilepsy

  4,800

  4,400

  4,100

  8. Deafness

  2,300

  2,200

  1,300

  9. Malignant disease

  4,700

  4,300

  3,900

  10. Chest disease

  5,200

  2,800

  4,700

  11. Back ailments

  11,500

  6,900

  10,600

  12. Heart diseases

  8,300

  4,200

  7,800

  13. Parkinsons disease

  1,100

  1,000

  1,000

  14. Diabetes melitus

  4,100

  3,400

  2,700

  15. Renal disorders

  1,200

  900

  1,000

  16. AIDS

  3,700

  3,500

  3,400

  17. Skin diseases

  1,400

  1,300

  400

  18. Other reasons

  26,900

  20,900

  21,800

  Data is provisional and subject to change.

  Respiratory Diseases
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what advice she has received from the Benefits Agency Medical Services in the Yorkshire Region concerning the delay in applicants receiving medical examinations for respiratory diseases; and if she will make a statement; [21624]

  (2) what was the average length of time applicants in the Normanton constituency waited for medical examinations for respiratory diseases (a) for the six months from January to June, and (b) from July to December 1997; and if she will make a statement; [21625]

  (3) what action she intends to take to promote efficiency in the Yorkshire office of the Benefits Agency Medical Services; and if she will make a statement; [21626]

  (4) what proposals she plans to introduce to ensure a sufficient number of trained doctors to carry out medical examinations in the Yorkshire Regions for chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and if she will make a statement. [21627]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  201
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Bill O'Brien, dated 12 January 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the operation of Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) in the Yorkshire area.
  Performance in all areas of the Benefits Agency (BA), including the clearance of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit referrals in respiratory disease cases, is routinely monitored. There were temporary problems with examinations in the Yorkshire region earlier this year due to recruitment of new staff and a reorganisation of boundaries within BAMS. Appropriate action has been taken by local management to deal with those problems.
  Information on performance targets is available for the Leeds Medical Services Centre (MSC), which includes Normanton. BAMS are set national performance targets when dealing with claims to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) from clients suffering from respiratory diseases. The performance of Leeds MSC against these national targets since January is set out on the attached table. I would like to reassure you that BAMS is fully committed to continuing this improvement.
  Since July, there has been no shortage of suitably trained doctors to carry out medical examinations in the Yorkshire Regions for chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
  Much of the delay in dealing with respiratory disease cases is not directly related to arrangements for the actual medical examination. Once a case is at the examination stage it normally takes only 2–3 weeks to arrange and carry out the relevant medical procedure. However, it may be necessary to obtain further medical evidence before any examination is carried out and it is here that delays can occur, many of which are outside the BA's control. There is a legal requirement, for example, to obtain original X-rays when the client has had an X-ray taken during the last 18 months. This is connected with radiation protection and avoids the necessity for further exposure. Hospital case notes, consultant's reports, etc may also be needed.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Clearance of industrial injuries disablement benefit referrals in respiratory disease cases

  Percentage cleared in 33 working days

  Percentage cleared in 70 working days

  Target

  60

  90

  January to June

  19.2

  46.7

  July to November

  45.9

  91.4

  School Governors (Benefit Withdrawal)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefits claimants have had benefit withdrawn as a consequence of acting as a school governor since 1990; and of these, how many have had each benefit concerned withdrawn in each year. [21811]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is not available.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average weekly gross council tax of family credit recipients; how many have weekly gross council tax bills of (i) up to £3.99, (ii) £4–£7.99, (iii) £8–£11.99, (iv) £12–£15.99, (v) £16–£19.99 and (vi) £20 or above; and how many in each of these categories are also receiving council tax benefit. [21787]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 19 December 1997]: According to the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey the average weekly gross Council Tax of Family Credit recipients was £11 (rounded to the nearest £1).
  202
  Information about the gross level of the Council Tax liability of Family Credit recipients is shown in Table A. Counts of Family Credit receipt derived from the Family Resources Survey do not match administrative sources. Therefore the requested figures are shown as percentages rather than grossed up counts. Percentages are also used to show those within each band that are also in receipt of Council Tax Benefit.

  Table B contains details of Council Tax Benefit recipients who are also in receipt of Family Credit.

  Table A: Gross level of the Council Tax liability of Family Credit recipients

  Recipients of Family Credit

  Weekly gross Council Tax (£"s)

  Percentages within each Council Tax band

  Percentage within band in receipt of Council Tax Benefit

  Up to 3.99

  1—

  1—

  4 to 7.99

  10

  39

  8 to 11.99

  59

  39

  12 to 15.99

  31

  31

  16 to 19.99

  1—

  1—

  20 or above

  1—

  1—

  Total

  100

  Not applicable

  1 Denotes nil or negligible.

  1. The figures exclude non-householder benefit units in receipt of Family Credit.

  2. The figures are based on information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995–96 survey is the latest for which data are available.

  3. The estimates are based on sample counts which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which control for region, Council Tax Band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non response.

  4. The figures refer to householder benefit units where the benefit unit to which the adult belongs is in receipt of Family Credit. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children.

  5. Gross Council Tax is the amount of weekly Council Tax eligible for Council Tax Benefit.

  Table B: Council Tax Benefit recipients who receive Family Credit, by average weekly gross Council Tax, within Great Britain—May 1996

  Average weekly gross Council Tax (£s)

  Council Tax Benefit recipients with Family Credit

  Up to 3.99

  1—

  4 to 7.99

  67,000

  8 to 11.99

  116,000

  12 to 15.99

  18,000

  16 to 19.99

  3,000

  20 or above

  1—

  Total all cases

  205,000

  1 Denotes nil or negligible.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries, with and without Income Support, taken at the end of May 1996.

  Notes:

  1. Information refers to Council Tax Benefit recipients who have Family Credit.

  2. Gross Council Tax is the amount of weekly Council Tax eligible for Council Tax Benefit.

  3. The number of recipients have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. Figures refer to the number of benefit units.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average weekly gross rent of people in rented accommodation in receipt of family credit; how many have weekly gross rents of (i) up to £9.99, (ii) £10–£19.99, (iii) £20–£29.99, (iv) £30–£39.99, (v) £40–£49.99, (vi) £50–£59.99, (vii) £60–£69.99, (viii) £70–£79.99 and (ix) £80 or above; and how many in each of these categories are also receiving housing benefit. [21786]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 19 December 1997]: According to the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey the average weekly rent eligible for Housing Benefit of Family Credit recipients was £45 (rounded to nearest £1).

  Information about weekly rents eligible for Housing Benefit is shown in table A. Counts of Family Credit receipt derived from the Family Resources Survey do not match administrative sources. Therefore, the requested figures are shown as percentages rather than grossed up counts. Percentages are also used to show those within each band that are also in receipt of Housing Benefit. In addition the requested rent bands resulted in counts too low to be presented with any statistical reliability. In order to provide more reliable figures it has been necessary to enlarge the rent bands used.

  Table B contains details of the average weekly eligible rent for Housing Benefit recipients who also receive Family Credit.

  Table A: Weekly rents eligible for Housing Benefit

  Recipients of Family Credit

  Weekly rent eligible for Housing Benefit (£s)

  Percentage within each rent band

  Percentages within band in receipt of Housing Benefit

  Up to 29.99

  21

  42

  30 to 39.99

  30

  59

  40 to 49.99

  22

  73

  50 to 69.99

  15

  79

  70 or above

  12

  84

  Total

  100

  1. The figures above refer to rent eligible for Housing Benefit. This is the rent paid by a benefit unit for accommodation after taking off certain service charges but before the deduction of Housing Benefit, if applicable. It does not include any local authority "maximum rent" adjustment.

  2. The figures are based on information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995–96 survey is the latest for which data are available.

  3. The estimates are based on sample counts which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which control for region, Council Tax Band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non response.

  4. The figures refer to benefit units where the benefit unit to which the adult belongs is in receipt of Family Credit. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children.

  Table B: Housing Benefit recipients who receive Family Credit, by average weekly eligible rent, within Great Britain—May 1996

  Average weekly eligible rent (£s)

  Housing Benefit recipients with Family Credit

  Up to 9.99

  1—

  10.00 to 19.99

  1—

  20.00 to 29.99

  16,000

  204

  Table B: Housing Benefit recipients who receive Family Credit, by average weekly eligible rent, within Great Britain—May 1996

  Average weekly eligible rent (£s)

  Housing Benefit recipients with Family Credit

  30.00 to 39.99

  58,000

  40.00 to 49.99

  55,000

  50.00 to 59.99

  28,000

  60.00 to 69.99

  21,000

  70.00 to 79.99

  15,000

  80.00 and over

  20,000

  Total (all cases)

  213,000

  1 Denotes nil or negligible.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, with and without Income Support, taken at the end of May 1996.

  Notes:

  1. Information refers to Housing Benefit recipients who have Family Credit.

  2. Eligible rent is the amount of weekly rent eligible for Housing Benefit.

  3. The number of recipients have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. Figures refer to the number of benefit units.

  All-work Test
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have successfully claimed a benefit by passing an all-work test in each year since that test was introduced; and what estimate she has made of the number of such claimants who have earnings from work. [22094]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Cases allowed benefit following referral to the Benefits Agency medical services1

  Number

  1995–96

  561,502

  1996–97

  840,679

  1997–98 (to 31 October 1997)

  460,640

  Incapacity Benefit is only payable as long as a person remains incapable of work through sickness or disability. Recipients are permitted to undertake up to 16 hours work per week without affecting their benefit entitlement provided this work is of a therapeutic nature. It is estimated that 1 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients undertake paid work on the grounds that it is therapeutic2.

  Sources:

  1100 per cent. count of the Incapacity Benefit computer. This includes people claiming benefit for the first time and existing recipients re-referred for a further medical examination. Includes referrals under the all-work test and own occupation test, and includes Severe Disablement Allowance cases. Excludes a small number of cases not on the system.

  2Londsdale, S., Lessof C. and Ferris, G. (1993) Invalidity Benefit; a survey of recipients, London: HMSO.

  Annuities
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate how many pensioners aged
  205
  between 65 and 75 years have postponed purchasing an annuity until after the age of 65 years. [22055]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available.

  Therapeutic Work
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the recognition of therapeutic work was withdrawn from the benefits system; and how many claimants had established an entitlement to earnings from therapeutic work at that point. [22054]

  Mr. Denham
  Under current legislation Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients are permitted to undertake work of a therapeutic nature. It is estimated that one per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients undertake paid work on the grounds that it is therapeutic.

  Source: Lonsdale, S, Lessof C and Ferris, G (1993) "Invalidity Benefit; a survey of recipients", London: HMSO.

  This survey found that two per cent. of Invalidity Benefit recipients had ever done therapeutic work and fewer still were doing it at the time of the interview. The 1995–96 Family Resources Survey shows that 1 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients had done any paid work in the week before the interview. Information is not collected directly on use of the permitted work provisions.

  Benefit Take-up
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the take-up rate in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) income support, (iii) family credit, (iv) disability living allowance, (v) disability working allowance, (vi) housing benefit, (vii) council tax benefit and (viii) severe hardship allowance. [22473]

  Mr. Bradley
  We would encourage anyone who is entitled to a benefit to make a claim. We are addressing the particular problem of pensioners failing to claim their Income Support entitlement by commissioning research into why they do not claim, and by running a number of pilot schemes to help find out how best to get help to them.

  Latest estimates show that in Great Britain in 1995–96: the take-up of Income Support was between 88 per cent. and 92 per cent. by expenditure and between 76 per cent. and 82 per cent. by caseload; take-up of Family credit was 83 per cent. by expenditure and 70 per cent. by caseload; take-up of Housing Benefit was between 93 per cent. and 96 per cent. by expenditure and between 89 per cent. and 94 per cent. by caseload; take-up of Council Tax Benefit was between 76 per cent. and 84 per cent. by expenditure and between 74 per cent. and 82 per cent. by caseload1. Figures for Scotland are not available in the form requested but are likely to be broadly similar to those for Great Britain as a whole.

  Estimates of take-up for Jobseeker's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance and Severe Hardship Allowance are not available.
  206
  For estimates relating to Northern Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Source:

  1 DSS estimates from 1995–96 Family Resources Survey.

  Note:

  Estimates are not available for Jobseeker's Allowance because of its relatively recent introduction; for Disability Living Allowance because work on them is still in progress; and for Disability Working Allowance and Severe Hardship Allowance because of the small numbers entitled to these benefits and thus the small sample sizes involved in the surveys used to produce estimates of take-up.

  Lone Parents
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of the withdrawal of lone parent benefits on those fleeing domestic violence. [22374]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  New lone parents, including those fleeing domestic violence, will continue to receive the same rate of Child Benefit as couples with children. Lone parents who make a new claim for Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit of Council Tax Benefit will receive the same rate of family premium as couples with children.

  A parent who has experienced domestic violence and decides to leave their partner can seek help from a variety of sources. These include the police, Women's Aid or a local refuge, Social Services and health professionals at a doctor's surgery or Hospital. The key is for agencies to work together locally to ensure that they provide effective support to those contacting them for help, and refer them on to other agencies, such a Housing or a local refuge, where necessary.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement regarding her policy on benefits for single parents in work on low wages. [22466]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Government believe that work is the best form of welfare. Our priority is to provide all families, including lone parents, with the support they need to make the transition into work and to support themselves in work. We have already undertaken a number of important steps to help achieve this.

  Childcare plays a crucial role in supporting lone parents in work as they need access to affordable, good quality childcare to help balance work and family life successfully. That is why our Manifesto gave a commitment to introduce a National Childcare Strategy. That commitment is already becoming a reality.

  The massive boost in childcare provision which was announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his pre-Budget statement means every child will have access to out of school care in their community. We are investing an extra £300 million to provide an extra 30,000 out of school clubs—a tenfold increase on existing provision. We have guaranteed a nursery place for every four year old in Britain and provided specific help in the New Deal for Lone Parents towards the cost of childcare.
  207
  In addition, the improvements to the childcare disregard scheme in the in-work benefits from June 1998, means parents will be able to receive up to £95.50 a week towards the cost of their childcare. There will also be more help with the cost of childcare through the Working Families Tax Credit.

  We are also reviewing all aspects of the Child Support Agency to ensure it provides a fair, efficient, and effective service. Maintenance is a portable income which lone mothers keep when they move into work and they need to know the Child Support Agency will take every action to ensure that it is paid.

  The implementation of a National Minimum Wage will also benefit all low income families. It will provide a statutory level beneath which pay should not fall and will remove the worst excesses of low pay and exploitation of vulnerable workers.

  Finally, we are also examining the interaction of the tax and benefit systems so that they can be streamlined and modernised, so as to fulfil objectives of promoting work incentives, reducing poverty and welfare dependency, and strengthening community and family life.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average(a) rent of tenants and (b) mortgage interest for homebuyers in respect of lone parents in the New Deal pilot areas. [22530]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of lone parents on income support are(a) tenants, (b) owner occupiers with mortgages, (c) owner occupiers who own outright and (d) non-householders; and what is their (i) mean and (ii) median gross weekly housing costs. [22531]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is set out in the table.

  Gross weekly housing costs for household (£s)

  Household tenure

  Proportion (per cent.)

  Mean

  Median

  Tenants

  82

  54

  47

  Owner occupiers with mortgage

  12

  56

  45

  Own outright

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Non-householders

  6

  not applicable

  not applicable

  1 Denotes nil or negligible.

  1. The figures are based on information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995–96 survey is the latest for which data are available.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the percentage of a random sample of lone parents whose youngest child was at school and who were receiving income support who would typically flow off benefit in a three month period in current economic circumstances. [14023]
  208
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [Pursuant to his reply 3 November 1997, column 86–7.]

  The information is not available in the format requested. there are a number of reasons why a lone parent may cease claiming Income Support. These include: re-partnering; receiving an increase in income other than earnings (for example following an award of maintenance); and either starting work or increasing their hours of work.

  There were 506,000 Income Support claimants in receipt of a lone parent premium at the end of November 1996 whose youngest child was aged 5 or over. Three months later 46,000 had ceased to fit into this category: around 36,000 had ceased to claim by the end of February 1997 and a further 10,000 remained on benefit but experienced a change in their circumstances.

  Notes:

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

  2. Sample size 5 per cent.

  3. Continuous claims include those who were no longer a lone parent with a youngest child aged 5 or over in February 1997.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, November 1996 and February 1997.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she has considered excluding sufferers from multiple sclerosis among the categories of disabled people already excluded from the current review programme of disability living allowance claims; and if she will make a statement. [22375]

  Mr. Denham
  The Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) is designed to gather up-to-date information about the care and mobility needs of people receiving the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with either the middle or highest rate of the care component, through a programme of postal inquiries and home visits. People with certain conditions are not being contacted directly. These are disabled people receiving payments under Special Rules, quadriplegics, paraplegics, people who are both deaf and blind, double amputees and those within our definition of severe mental impairment. There are no plans to extend this list of conditions.

  The level of entitlement to DLA cannot generally be predicted by the fact that an individual has a certain disabling condition. Entitlement is based on the effect of that disabling condition on the individual concerned and their need for help with personal care and/or getting around. Disabling conditions rarely remain static and as conditions improve or worsen, or the disabled person becomes more or less able to cope, the need for help changes also. Any change in the level of help needed with either personal care or getting around could affect entitlement to DLA. Where a change is gradual and occurs over time, it can be difficult for the individual to recognise exactly the point at which they should be contacting the Benefits Agency.

  Lone Parents (Spelthorne)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of lone parents are receiving regular payments of child maintenance in Spelthorne. [22201]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) on 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 465.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each local authority in England how many households are in receipt of housing benefit for(a) local authority homes, (b) private rented homes and (c) housing association homes; and what was the average weekly payment in each category. [22485]
  210
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is provided in the table which has been placed in the Library.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her policy concerning the role of investment income in the calculation of council tax benefit; and if she will make a statement. [22467]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Income derived from capital which has been invested is treated as capital but only from the date it is due to be credited to the claimant's account. This is because, to aid efficient administration, a notional (tariff) income is assumed where capital held by a claimant exceeds £3,000. To take into account both notional and actual income derived from same capital would be inequitable.

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work: Review
  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work: Review
  EU Public Health Issues
  EU Public Health Issues
  Advisory Committees: Members' Interests
  Advisory Committees: Members' Interests
  Millennium Dome Costs: Sponsors
  Millennium Dome Costs: Sponsors
  Children's Radio Services
  Children's Radio Services
  Legal Deposit of Publications
  Legal Deposit of Publications
  Treasury Press Briefings
  Treasury Press Briefings
  Access to Museums and Galleries
  Access to Museums and Galleries
  Civil Jury Trials in Scotland
  Civil Jury Trials in Scotland
  Organophosphates: Interdepartmental Monitoring Group
  Organophosphates: Interdepartmental Monitoring Group
  Sand Eels
  Sand Eels
  Lottery Draws: Restriction
  Lottery Draws: Restriction