Written Answers of 3 July 1998

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which hospital services the Government are obliged to maintain at the Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast under the terms of the 1971 Deed of Arrangement. [47868]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Mater Infirmorum Hospital entered the health service under the 1971 Deed of Arrangement, which secured the preservation of the Roman Catholic character and association of the hospital. The Deed set out specific requirements for the general administration of the hospital and provided for a review of the internal allocation of beds and facilities and for the preparation of a scheme for the initial reconstruction and modernisation of the hospital's buildings and facilities. The Deed of Arrangement does not require the maintenance of specific services at the hospital.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements the Government have to ensure the safe movement of air traffic during the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [48144]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government have played a full part in ensuring that an appropriate framework of aviation safety regulation is in place both nationally and internationally for the safe operation of air traffic, and will continue to do so. Safety concerns are paramount to both the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for advising the Secretary of State on all civil aviation matters, including safety.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many overload reports have been filed at London Area Terminal Control Centre in the period 1 January to 30 June. [48696]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answers given on 22 June 1998,Official Report, columns 365–66. Additionally, there was one overload report filed at the London Area and Terminal Control Centre at West Drayton between 18 and 30 June.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many overload reports have been filed in each of the last five years at London Area Terminal Control Centre. [48695]
  284
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  National Air Traffic Services Ltd., which is responsible for air traffic services at LATCC, has provided the following figures for overload reports filed in each of the last five years at the centre:

  Year

  Overload reports filed at LATCC

  1993

  18

  1994

  21

  1995

  27

  1996

  21

  1997

  14

  Lead Paint
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent advice has been issued to local authority environmental health officers on the risks of environmental contamination from, and the safe removal of, lead in older painted surfaces. [48038]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: We have today published the Department's revised information leaflet on lead in old paint. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Although lead has not been widely used in domestic paint in the UK since the 1960s, some UK homes still contain old lead paint. All members of the public should be aware that this may pose a risk and that appropriate precautions need to be taken when redecorating.

  The new leaflet therefore seeks to raise awareness of lead in old paint and provide readily assimilated information to the general public on how to take effective safety measures when redecorating.

  The leaflet will be sent to local authority environmental health professionals. In addition, arrangements are being made for it to be displayed in DIY stores and sent to associations representing painting and decorating contractors and, in liaison with the Department of Health, General Practitioners.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect his proposals to privatise National Air Traffic Services will have on NATS's work to ensure millennium compliance within the organisation. [48637]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None. A copy of NATS' "millennium problem action plan" (26 February 1998) was placed in the Library in March. NATS have not indicated that the action plan will be amended in the light of the Public Private Partnership announcement.

  London Underground
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the cost to London Underground of adapting ticket machines to take the new £2 coin. [48698]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The estimated cost is £1 million.

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons he has discontinued the annual updates to "This Common Inheritance". [48798]

  Angela Eagle
  "This Common Inheritance" reported on the UK's Sustainable Strategy of 1994, which we are in the process of reviewing and revising in order to reflect changes that have taken place since 1994 and our distinctive approach to sustainable development. As part of the revised Strategy, we shall be announcing new arrangements for regular reporting.

  Traffic Commissioners
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanisms are in place to measure the performance of area traffic commissioners. [48853]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Traffic Commissioners are independent quasi-judicial authorities appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and are classed as tribunals. Traffic Commissioners' main function is to administer the licensing regime for operators of heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches. The Commissioners' performance in fulfilling these functions is measured and reported against published service standards. Each Commissioner is required to submit an annual report of his licensing activities to the Secretary of State. These reports are published and copies are available in the Library of the House.

  In their capacity as tribunals, Traffic Commissioners are supervised by the independent Council of Tribunals which regularly sits in on Public Inquiries to observe proceedings. Operator licence holders can appeal to the Transport Tribunal against decisions of Traffic Commissioners. Traffic Commissioners and their Deputies held 1,700 Public Inquiries in the year ended 31 March 1998. In the same period, the Transport Tribunal heard 30 appeals, of which 19 were disallowed.

  Rural Sparsity Factors
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason different criteria are used to determine rural sparsity factors for standard spending assessments and the support for rural public transport. [48861]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To reflect the different purposes of the two schemes. The sparsity factor used for standard spending assessments was one of the options considered for the distribution of rural bus subsidy grant but was rejected for this purpose in favour of a method which reflected more directly the total population in each local authority living in a rural area.

  Rural Bus Challenge
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will bring forward proposals for the rural bus challenge competition. [49241]
  286
  Dr. Strang
  I have announced consultation with the Local Government Association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Rural Development Commission on my proposals for the criteria and arrangements for this new competition. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library.

  Water Regulations
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards introducing the new water regulations; and when he intends to begin the final round of consultation. [49411]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will be launching the consultation exercise on the draft Water Regulations on Monday 6 July. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Rural White Papers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) for what reasons he has discontinued the annual updates to "Rural England"; [48797]

  (2) when he will publish the Rural White Paper. [48799]

  Angela Eagle
  We did not wish to continue to report progress against commitments made by the previous Administration in their White Paper of 1995. We are considering the best way of taking forward and presenting our rural policy.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Lottery Funding (Renfrewshire)
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery funding has been distributed by(a) the National Lottery Charities Board (Scotland), (b) the Millennium Commission and (c) the Heritage Lottery fund for projects in (i) Paisley, South constituency and (ii) Renfrewshire. [48486]

  Mr. Banks
  A breakdown of awards made by the National Lottery Charities Board, the Millennium Commission and the Heritage Lottery Fund in Paisley, South and in Renfrewshire is set out in the table. Information on the National Lottery awards is now available on the Department's website—www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.

  Distributor

  Total amount (£)

  Number of awards

  Paisley South

  NLCB

  817,308

  27

  HLF

  1,000,000

  1

  MC

  0

  0

  Renfrewshire

  NLCB

  2,184,170

  76

  HLF

  1,035,200

  2

  MC

  64,714

  1

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the deadline for the home country sports councils to identify prospective regional centres for the UK Sports Institute; and if he will make a statement. [47797]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: We want to progress as quickly as possible, but it is important that detailed work is done so that the regional centres are selected as providing a good regional spread, meeting the needs of the local elite population and harnessing existing facilities and support services. I have received recommendations from the English Sports Council, but they will need careful consideration and discussion before any decision and announcement is made.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Population
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 1998,Official Report, column 519, what estimate he has made of the cost of the increase in prison population for each of the next 10 years. [48264]

  Ms Quin
  The Government are reviewing Prison Service spending after 1998–99, including the long-term need for additional accommodation to meet the projected rise in the prison population, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Government Policies
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the projects undertaken by his Department since 1 May 1997 to research public reaction to(a) Government policies and (b) potential new policies; and if he will place the results of the research in the Library.[46684]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: In line with the practice of successive administrations, the Department routinely consults the public, interested parties and client groups by way of consultation papers and research projects on a wide range of policies and proposed legislation. It is our normal practice to make the results of such research available to the public, including placing copies in the Library.

  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 23 February 1998, Official Report, column 307. There is one additional item to add to this list: a study of voter opinion on the possibility of introducing a Belgian style electoral system for elections to the European Parliament. The results from this research were placed in the Library on 2 March.

  Murders (Mentally III People)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to collect statistics on the number of murders committed by people treated under the care in the community policy; and if he will make a statement. [47436]
  288
  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: There are no immediate plans for the Home Office to collect this information, but we shall keep the situation under review.

  The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness, funded by the Department of Health, is conducting research in this area and published a progress report last December. This showed that 12 per cent. of homicides so far examined by them involved a person who had been in contact with specialist mental health services in the year before the homicide.

  Their next report is due for publication in 1999 and will contain additional information in respect of such homicides.

  Prisoners (Incentives and Earned Privileges)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newark (Mrs. Jones) of 1 June 1998,Official Report, columns 50–51, what in-cell television services are currently available for prisoners segregated under rule 43; and what special provision is to be made in respect of such prisoners as a result of the extension of in-cell television. [44607]

  Ms Quin
  Comprehensive information on in-cell television provision to those segregated under Rule 43 is not held centrally. Prisoners are segregated under this Rule for a variety of reasons, including for their own protection. Future, detailed policy is under consideration but, broadly, those segregated for their own protection will normally keep their sets if practicable and those segregated for reasons of good order and discipline will normally lose them.

  Highways Act 1980
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each of the past five years in England and Wales for alleged breaches of section 161 of the Highways Act 1980. [48674]

  Mr. Michael
  Information collected centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database cannot separately identify prosecutions for offences under section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 from other sections of the Act. Available information, including cautions, is given in the table.

  Number of persons cautioned and defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for offences under sections 161, 162 or 163 of the Highways Act 19801, England and Wales, 1992–96

  Year

  Cautions

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1992

  150

  126

  82

  1993

  100

  62

  40

  1994

  124

  133

  87

  1995

  92

  122

  73

  1996

  81

  92

  59

  1Sections 161, 162 and 163 of the Highways Act 1980 cover offences of: causing certain kinds of danger or annoyance to users of highways and streets (section 161); placing rope etc, across highway (section 162) and failing to prevent water falling or flowing on to highway (section 163)

  Ministerial Group on the Family
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work has been carried out by the Ministerial Group on the Family on the institution of marriage; and what new measures have been proposed to promote and strengthen marriage. [48543]

  Mr. Michael
  The Ministerial Group on the Family has identified strengthening marriage as one of the key themes of its work. Proposals are being developed on measures to increase preparedness for marriage and to encourage couples to reflect on the commitment which marriage involves before entering into it.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Ministerial Group on the Family has met during 1998; when it plans to meet again; and how many times he chaired it. [48545]

  Mr. Michael
  The Ministerial Group has met twice since January 1998, chaired on both occasions by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Its next meeting will be on 13 July.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Ministerial Group on the Family has considered changes in the law with respect to pre-nuptial agreements. [48548]

  Mr. Michael
  The Ministerial Group has considered proposals from the Lord Chancellor's Department on whether there should be a reform of the law on ancillary relief. Such a reform might enable couples to make pre-nuptial agreements dealing with matrimonial property which would be legally binding on the courts and the parties to the agreement. No final decision has been taken on this issue.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work has been carried out by the Ministerial Group on the Family on improvements to the quality of child care within families; and what research has been commissioned on this subject. [48549]

  Mr. Michael
  The Ministerial Group has looked in detail at measures to increase the support available to parents and improve parenting skills. The Government recognise that parents will always have the primary responsibility for the care and well-being of their children. The National Childcare Strategy will ensure that parents have access to services to enable them to make genuine choices about the sort of child care they want for their children, and to develop their own parenting skills.

  The Ministerial Group has commissioned no research on the subject, but has made use of existing research.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports have been(a) produced and (b) published by the Ministerial Group on the Family in 1998. [48544]

  Mr. Michael
  None. The Group's work is still in progress.

  Charities (Elderly People)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total sum of public 290
  money provided to (i) Help the Aged and (ii) Age Concern over the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [48697]

  Mr. Michael
  The most recent period for which figures held centrally by the Home Office are available is the 12 months to March 1995. In that period, central Government provided funding of £331,906 to Help the Aged and £2,472,980 to Age Concern.

  I will write to the hon. Member with more up-to-date figures.

  Altcourse Prison
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional support other than from neighbouring prisons has been required at Altcourse Prison, Fazakerley; and at what public expense. [48335]

  Ms Quin
  No additional support has been provided to Altcourse prison from any public sector prison.

SCOTLAND

  Cruise Liners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what guidelines are issued to those local authorities which have responsibilities for maritime matters in relation to the medical and physical wellbeing of passengers on cruise liners; and if he will make a statement; [48560]

  (2) what assistance is being given to Inverclyde Council in relation to the inspection and assessment of the water-supply system on board the cruise liner 'Edinburgh Castle'; and if he will make a statement; [48563]

  (3) what steps he proposes to take to protect the health of passengers of cruise liners which operate out of, or call at, Scottish ports; and if he will make a statement; [48564]

  (4) what plans he has to modify the rules and regulations governing the environmental health role played by local authorities which have responsibilities anent the inspection and quarantining of cruise liners; and if he will make a statement; [48565]

  (5) what recent representations he has received anent the outbreak of Legionnaires disease on board cruise liners; and if he will make a statement; [48567]

  (6) when his officials were first informed of reports of the existence of Legionnaires disease amongst passengers on board the cruise liner 'Edinburgh Castle'; and if he will make a statement; [48566]

  (7) how many outbreaks of Legionnaires disease occurring on board (a) cruise liners and (b) other vessels whilst in (i) Scottish waters, (ii) berthed in Scottish ports and (iii) calling at Scottish ports have been reported to his officials by maritime local authority environmental health departments in the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement; [48561]

  (8) what guidelines or instructions are issued to the owners and masters of cruise liners operating out of, or calling at, Scottish ports in relation to (i) the outbreak of

  291
  Legionnaires disease and (ii) other health matters affecting both passengers and crews; and if he will make a statement. [48562]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information about the possible presence of legionella bacteria on SS Edinburgh Castle was first received by the Scottish Office Department of Health on 18 June. The ship was at that time at sea and due to arrive in Greenock on 21 June. On its arrival at Greenock, officers from the local port authority inspected the ship and took water samples. The analysis, which became available on 24 June, confirmed the presence of the bacteria in the water supply and remedial measures were set in train on the ship, which was by then again at sea. On return to Greenock on 28 June further action was taken to ensure the safety of the water supply on board. The work has been completed and the ship has now left port.

  In carrying out its public health responsibilities, Inverclyde Council has had assistance and advice from, among others, the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environment Health, Argyll and Clyde Health Board, the Scottish Legionella Reference Laboratory, the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who inspected the ship in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Provisions and Water) Regulations 1989.

  The importance of maintaining health at sea is taken very seriously and, earlier this year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued a revised Marine Guidance Note to all masters and operators about the risk of contamination of ships' air conditioning systems by legionella bacteria. Advice on other health matters including food hygiene has also been recently updated by the Agency. The Merchant Shipping (Provisions and Water) Regulations 1989 place a responsibility on employers and masters to ensure that ships' provisions and water do not contain anything which is likely to cause sickness or injury to health.

  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations about outbreaks of Legionnaires Disease on cruise liners. Available information indicates that, in addition to the SS Edinburgh Castle, there has been only one previous case, in October 1997, which involved a Spanish trawler.

  The Public Health (Ships)(Scotland) Regulations 1971, as amended, which provide for the public health control of ships arriving at or leaving Scottish ports, are being reviewed as part of the general review of public health legislation in Scotland now underway.

WALES

  Fishing Employment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs he estimates there are in Wales in the fishing industry. [47912]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  At 31 March 1997 there were an estimated 1,700 fishermen in Wales, according to the MAFF "Survey on the Number of Fishermen in England and Wales".
  292
  In addition, provisional figures from the 1996 Annual Employment Survey indicate there were an estimated 400 employees in the processing, preserving and retail sales of fish (1992 Standard Industrial Classification, Classes 15.21, 15.29 and 52.23).

  Health Service (Waiting Times)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average length of time patients currently remain on hospital waiting lists in each health authority in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [48188]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The most recent information is given in the table for the residents of each health authority.

  Average waiting time in days for people admitted from waiting lists in 19971

  Health authority

  Bro Taf

  88

  Dyfed Powys

  89

  Gwent

  101

  Morgannwg

  77

  North Wales

  88

  1Welsh residents treated in Welsh hospitals as in-patients or day cases—these figures exclude Welsh residents treated in English hospitals

  The combination of the additional –25 million given to the NHS in Wales to reduce waiting lists, and the recently formed Strategy Group which is looking at ways of prioritising those on waiting lists, together with the hard work being undertaken by health authorities and trusts convince me that both the numbers waiting and the time they spend waiting will both reduce in the near future.

  Gwent Tertiary College
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what were the qualifications, experience and expertise of the persons from Gwent Tertiary College who undertook the internal investigation of European funding; [48553]

  (2) pursuant to the oral answer of 24 June 1998, Official Report, column 1033 relating to Gwent Tertiary College, if the investigation referred to will include how budgets were managed and how money was spent after it was received; [48584]

  (3) if each of the applications and claims for European funding from Gwent Tertiary College was signed by a senior member of the management team; [48552]

  (4) pursuant to the oral answer of 24 June 1998, Official Report, column 1033, concerning Gwent Tertiary College, what examination his Department has made of records kept on electronic media. [48583]

  Mr. Hain
  As my hon. Friend knows, an investigation by the Department for Education and Employment's Fraud Investigation Unit started on 24 June. The Gwent Constabulary are also investigating the matter. In these circumstances, no further public statements would be appropriate until these investigations are completed and the findings made public.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Control Orders
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many licences have been issued under each sub-heading of category PL 5001 of the 1996 Export Control Order, for which countries; and for what estimated quantity(a) since I May 1997 and (b) prior to 1 May 1997; [46473]

  (2) how many licences, for which countries and in what quantities, were issued under sub-heading C of section ML7 of the 1996 Export Control Order (a) before and (b) since 1 May 1997. [46472]

  Mrs. Roche
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if surveillance equipment exports are controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Orders. [46480]

  Mrs. Roche
  The export of surveillance systems specially designed for military use and intended for use in fire control and related alerting and warning equipment may be controlled under entry ML5 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order (1994), as amended; that of electronic surveillance equipment specially designed for military use is controlled under entry ML11; and that of specified imaging equipment specially designed for military use under entry ML15. The export of civil imaging equipment may also be controlled under entry 6A002 of Annex I to Council Decision 94/942/CFSP, as amended, that of civil imaging cameras under entry 6A003, that of civil radar equipment under entry 6A008 and that of civil radio surveillance equipment under 5A001.

  Other entries in the legislation may also be relevant to other types of surveillance equipment or to surveillance equipment for use in particular circumstances.

  Copies of the relevant legislation are available in the Library of the House.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the total costs of implementing the minimum wage in the public sector, assuming(a) half restoration of differentials, (b) three-quarters restoration of differentials and (c) full restoration of differentials. [47543]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 25 June 1998]: The national minimum wage is likely to have only a small effect on public sector pay. Therefore, it is unrealistic to assume that there would be any significant demand to restore pay differentials. As the Low Pay Commission made clear,
  "at the rate we recommend, restoration of differentials should be limited".

  We also agree with the Commission's statement that
  "the overall effect on public finances is likely to be broadly neutral".

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what forecasts of potential job losses were available to her when deciding on a –3 an hour minimum wage for young persons. [47527]
  294
  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 25 June 1998]: The Government believe that their proposals for a sensibly set national minimum wage will not have an adverse effect on jobs. The Government, in their evidence to the Low Pay Commission, carefully considered the available evidence and noted that, where international studies have found adverse effects on employment, it has tended to be for younger workers. Hence, the Government propose that a lower rate should be set for young people. This proposal is consistent with our objective to give young people the skills and opportunities they need to progress.

  Export Promotion (Latin America)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for which Latin American countries her Department has export promoters. [47982]

  Mrs. Roche
  Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

  European Single Currency
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of small firms have made efforts to prepare for the introduction of the European Single Currency; what recent assessment she had made of the adequacy of training within small firms. [48055]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: A recent survey of small and medium sized enterprises, commissioned by the Treasury's Euro Preparations Unit, found that only 5 per cent. of such companies had made any preparations for the euro. I do not have any specific data on the level of training on the euro within small firms. However, of the preparations that had been made, most were technical (changes to IT systems or opening euro accounts).

  The Government are committed to offer information to firms to increase their awareness of the implications of the single currency and to help firms to prepare. The Euro Preparations Unit in the Treasury has recently published the first ten in a series of fact sheets on the euro. Copies can be obtained from the dedicated euro telephone literature line 08456 01 01 99, or from the website http://www.euro.gov.uk.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 488, how many of the 174 disappearances of British citizens in Turkey have been actively investigated; how many individuals have been found; how many are still missing; and what procedures and support systems exist for their families. [47864]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 488. The prime responsibility for tracing missing persons rests with the UK police. When families report relatives missing they are advised to file a missing persons report with their local police station in the UK. The police then notify the UK National Central Bureau of Interpol who notify the police

  295
  in the country where the person has been reported as missing, who institute inquiries. We also pass the families contact details of NGOs who can sometimes help in tracing missing persons.

  Private Military Companies
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the options under consideration for the national domestic regulation of private military companies. [48904]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are examining the possibility of regulating the activities of private military companies. As part of that process, the FCO is looking at the measures adopted by other Governments. Detailed Whitehall-wide consideration will be required before any decisions are taken.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Mediation UK
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of financial and other support his Department plans to provide to Mediation UK in the current financial year. [44950]

  Dr. Howells
  Employer/Employee disputes are a matter for the President of the Board of Trade. My right hon. Friend has informed me that her Department does not plan to provide any financial or other support to Mediation UK in the current financial year.

  New Deal
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local authorities participating in the New Deal programme for 18 to 24-year-olds. [46556]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  All local authorities were invited to participate in the planning stages of New Deal. Subsequently many have become key partners in the local partnerships which have been brought together across the country to ensure that the New Deal fully meets the needs of young people. Many of those who are not key partners are participating through other means, such as providing New Deal vacancies or being represented through one lead local authority.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the basis of what formal competitive tendering process Capita won the implementing contract for the pilot New Deal scheme in Solihull; what was the role or task description defined for which bidders were to offer their services; and if the bidders included within their tenders a quantified costing for which those services were offered. [46932]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The competition which resulted in a decision to award the contract to the Capita Group Plc to lead and deliver 18–24 New Deal in Solihull was fair and open. It was conducted by Employment Service officials in line with Treasury procurement principles.

  In Solihull, as in the other areas where New Deal is to be led by a private sector company, bidders were asked to submit outline proposals for delivery which would be
  296
  consistent with the requirements contained in the New Deal Design document for 18–24-year-olds. These bids were evaluated against pre-determined criteria covering quality and innovation. The funding arrangements were subsequently discussed with each of the successful bidders within the framework of the unit costs and anticipated client volumes for each delivery unit.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the role or task description for the pilot New Deal scheme in Solihull has been altered or re-defined since Capita won the implementing contract for it. [46933]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  No. The New Deal Design document for 18–24-year-olds formed the specification against which all bidders were invited to respond to the competition to identify private sector organisations to lead the 18–24 New Deal. The overall design and specification of New Deal in Solihull has not changed in the period following the decision to award the contract to Capita.

  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the(a) number and (b) percentage of New Deal special personal advisers who are from ethnic minorities. [45138]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Employment Service (ES) currently has some 2,000 New Deal Advisers.

  ES collects data on the ethnic origin of its employees by pay bands (or grades) rather than by specific jobs such as advisers. The available data show that some 6 per cent. of ES staff in the relevant pay bands are from ethnic minorities. The ES therefore estimate that some 120 are likely to be from ethnic minorities. ES is undertaking a special exercise to obtain more precise data and I will ensure that this information is passed to my right hon. Friend once it is available.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many personal advisers will be recruited to assist small and medium sized enterprises in recruiting under the New Deal; and how much will be allocated to the Employment Service in order to undertake the training of such advisers. [47757]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: The New Deal personal adviser's primary role is to offer guidance and support to their unemployed clients throughout their time on New Deal. They will, however, monitor the progress of clients who are recruited by employers under the New Deal, and in so doing, offer both them and their employer assistance in relation to New Deal. There are as many as 1,500 Personal Advisers; whilst not recruited specifically to assist small and medium sized enterprises in recruiting under New Deal, all of them will be helping young people towards jobs and enhanced employability, including opportunities with small businesses.

  In addition to Personal Advisers, the Employment Service vacancy taking teams advise and assist employers who wish to recruit under New Deal. These teams deal directly and regularly with small and medium enterprises advising them about New Deal and help them in signing up for it. The total amount allocated to the Employment Service for training its staff for the New Deal was £9 million. This includes the commitment for all New

  297
  Deal advisers to work towards S/NVQ Level 3 in advice, guidance and counselling. The allocation was not broken down into specific areas of work.

  Teachers (Science and Mathematics)
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of teachers(a) required and (b) available to meet future demand in respect of science and mathematics in 1999 to 2005. [46843]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Estimates of the proportion of teachers working in maintained secondary schools who will be qualified in different subjects are produced as part of the Department for Education and Employment's teacher supply and demand modelling process. A summary of the process can be found in "Teacher Supply and Demand Modelling—an explanatory paper" produced in November 1997, copies of which have been placed in the Library; a fuller technical paper explaining the process will be issued by the Department in July.

  The assumptions underlying the targets for recruitment to initial teacher training courses that were issued in November 1997 indicate that the numbers of teachers working in maintained secondary schools in England and Wales who would have science and mathematics as the subject of highest qualification would be approximately as set out in the table.

  Name

  Date established

  Chairman

  Review of the National Curriculum 1994

  April 1994

  Sir Ron Dearing (now Lord)

  A short study to investigate the potential of emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness of the learning process for pupils of statutory school age

  January 1995

  Peter Seaborne

  Review of 100 NVQs and SVQs

  March 1995

  Gordon Beaumont OBE

  Review of Qualifications for 16–19 year olds

  April 1995

  Sir Ron Dearing (now Lord)

  The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education

  May 1996

  Sir Ron Dearing (now Lord)

  National Record of Achievement Group

  May 1996

  Sir Nicholas Goodison

  The National Advisory Group for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (NAGCELL)

  May 1997

  Professor Bob Fryer

  Further Education Student Support Advisory Group

  December 1997

  Graham Lane

  National Skills Task Force

  February 1998

  Christopher Humphries

  National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education (NACCE)

  February 1998

  Professor Ken Robinson

  The Sustainable Development Education Panel

  February 1998

  Sir Geoffrey Holland

  Review of the National Curriculum 1994

  May 1998

  Bill Stubbs

  Numeracy Task Force

  May 1998

  Professor David Reynolds

  Working Group to Advise on Effective Post-School Basic Skills Provision

  June 1998

  Sir Claus Moser

  University Research
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the quinquennial research assessment exercises in supporting research infrastructure in universities. [47047]

  Dr. Howells
  Recent consultations undertaken by the higher education funding bodies elicited a strong response in favour of the research assessment exercise. The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education under Lord Dearing, the Select Committee on Science and Technology and a number of other bodies including respondents to consultations have made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of
  298
  It is our intention to ensure that enough suitably qualified teachers are available to meet the needs of schools, and the recruitment targets issued were calculated on that basis.

  Estimated numbers of teachers in the maintained secondary school sector with highest qualification in science and mathematics

  Year

  Science

  Maths

  1999

  35,000

  21,000

  2000

  36,000

  22,000

  2001

  36,000

  23,000

  2002

  37,000

  23,000

  2003

  37,000

  24,000

  2004

  37,000

  24,000

  2005

  37,000

  24,000

  Departmental Reviews
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for each of the last four years, all departmental inquiries and reviews instigated by ministers which have been chaired by individuals outside his Department; and in each case if he will give the date of establishment and the name of the chairman. [46830]

  Dr. Howells
  In each of the last four years the Department has carried out the following inquiries and reviews:

  the exercise. The higher education funding bodies, which are responsible for the conduct of the exercise, are considering those recommendations.

  Science and Engineering Students
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial support his Department has provided, in each of the past five years, to the Engineering Council's WISE programme. [47512]

  Dr. Howells
  WISE receives core funding from the Engineering Council and sponsorship from employers. This Department has not provided financial support in the last 5 years to the WISE programme. DTI has provided some financial support for WISE through its Development Unit for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology and through the Action for Engineering initiative.
  299
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) male and (b) female students applied for courses of higher education in (i) biological sciences, (ii) physical and chemical sciences, (iii) medicine, (iv) engineering and (v) other sciences, in each of the last five years; and what percentage of applicants were (1) male and (2) female in each subject area in each year. [47558]

  Numbers and percentages of applications/applicants to full time first degree, HND and DipHE courses in Science in UK by gender 1993 to 1997

  19931

  19942

  19952

  19962

  19972

  Subject

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Number

  Biological Sciences

  46,298

  73,299

  8,455

  13,493

  8,106

  13,603

  8,221

  14,688

  8,538

  15,935

  Physics and Chemistry

  65,800

  32,257

  11,235

  5,459

  10,767

  5,671

  9,993

  5,255

  10,468

  5,263

  Medicine3

  31,561

  30,715

  6,909

  6,969

  7,234

  6,989

  7,307

  7,398

  7,076

  7,417

  Engineering4

  145,302

  19,248

  27,204

  3,366

  25,096

  3,244

  24,199

  3,207

  23,104

  3,375

  Other Sciences5

  168,575

  150,519

  31,693

  27,006

  32,855

  28,664

  33,768

  28,947

  40,756

  33,565

  Total Sciences

  457,535

  306,039

  85,496

  56,293

  84,058

  58,171

  83,579

  59,404

  89,942

  65,555

  Percentage

  Biological Sciences

  39

  61

  39

  61

  37

  63

  36

  64

  35

  65

  Physics and Chemistry

  67

  33

  67

  33

  66

  34

  66

  34

  67

  33

  Medicine3

  51

  49

  50

  50

  51

  49

  50

  50

  49

  51

  Engineering4

  88

  12

  89

  11

  89

  11

  88

  12

  87

  13

  Other Sciences5

  53

  47

  54

  46

  53

  47

  54

  46

  55

  45

  Total Sciences

  60

  40

  60

  40

  59

  41

  58

  42

  58

  42

  1Figures for 1993 relate to applications made through either the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) or the Polytechnics Central Admissions System (PCAS)

  2Figures for 1994 onwards relate to applicants using the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

  3Medicine and Dentistry

  4Engineering and Technology

  5Subjects Allied to Medicine, Agriculture/Veterinary, Mathematics and Computing, Architecture, Building and Planning and Combined Sciences

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) male and (b) female students took up courses of higher education in (i) biological sciences, (ii) physical and chemical sciences, (iii) medicine, (iv) engineering and (v) other sciences, in each of the last five years; and what

  Full time undergraduates in United Kingdom higher education institutions 1993–94 to 1997–98, numbers and percentages by gender

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Subject

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Number

  Biological Sciences

  6,435

  9,301

  8,210

  11,766

  8,403

  12,188

  9,077

  13,060

  9,807

  14,685

  Physics and Chemistry

  12,426

  6,317

  13,043

  6,765

  11,748

  6,523

  11,150

  6,385

  11,489

  6,268

  Medicine1

  4,028

  2,941

  3,209

  3,325

  3,503

  3,738

  3,240

  3,621

  3,327

  3,730

  Engineering2

  34,043

  6,852

  34,723

  5,578

  32,374

  5,296

  30,146

  4,951

  29,397

  4,801

  Other Science3

  35,194

  24,938

  35,111

  28,571

  36,661

  30,505

  37,138

  36,029

  38,625

  39,830

  Total Science

  92,495

  53,100

  94,538

  56,163

  92,928

  58,411

  90,989

  64,208

  92,883

  69,476

  Percentage

  Biological Sciences

  41

  59

  41

  59

  41

  59

  41

  59

  40

  60

  Physics and Chemistry

  66

  34

  66

  34

  64

  36

  64

  36

  65

  35

  Medicine1

  58

  42

  49

  51

  48

  52

  47

  53

  47

  53

  Engineering2

  83

  17

  86

  14

  86

  14

  86

  14

  86

  14

  Other Science3

  59

  41

  55

  45

  55

  45

  51

  49

  49

  51

  Total Science

  64

  36

  63

  37

  61

  39

  59

  41

  57

  43

  1Medicine and Dentistry

  2Engineering and Technology

  3Subjects allied to Medicine, Agriculture/Veterinary, Mathematics and Computing and Architecture, Building and Planning

  300
  Dr. Howells
  The available information is in the table, covering applications through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) for full time first degree, HND and DipHE courses only. Applicant information for part time and postgraduate courses is not available centrally. Data for 1993 and those compiled by the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) and the Polytechnics Central Admissions System (PCAS) and are available for applications rather than applicants.

  percentage female students were of students taking up such courses in each subject area in each year. [47541]

  Dr. Howells
  The information covering the five years from 1993–94 to 1997–98, the latest date for which it is available, is given in the table:
  301
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans his Department has to increase the number of women students entering the professions of science, engineering and technology. [47516]

  Dr. Howells
  Between 1995 and 1996 the number of women studying for science, engineering and technology qualifications at 1st degree, postgraduate level and undergraduate level in the UK rose by 8 per cent. and from 1996 to 1997 by 14 per cent. In 1995–96, 43 per cent. of women graduating with a 1st degree in engineering and technology and 68 per cent. of women with a 1st degree in science went into employment in related occupations. However, women are still significantly under-represented in a number of areas of science, engineering and technology, particularly in engineering.

  This Government are committed to encouraging the full participation of women in all areas of life, including non-traditional areas. The Women into Science and Engineering initiative, which began in 1984 with contributory funding from the Manpower Services Commission and continues to be run by the Engineering Council with some contributory funding from Government, encourages young women to consider careers in engineering. We have also been concerned at the under-representation of women in engineering and some technical sectors on Modern Apprenticeships. We have therefore been working closely with the Local Government National Training Organisation to produce a good practice guide to challenge gender stereotyping in Modern Apprenticeships.

  Special Educational Needs
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the expenditure by local education authorities on pupils and students with statements of special educational needs for the years(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93 and (d) 1993–94. [47456]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on local education authority expenditure on pupils with statements of special educational needs was not collected before 1993–1994. The amount spent by LEAs on pupils with statements of special educational needs for that year was £1.13 billion.

  Action zones

  Name

  Areas

  Education Action Zones

  Barnsley, Basildon, Birmingham (2 applications), Blackburn with Darwen, Brighton, Croydon, Halifax, Herefordshire, Hull Lambeth, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Newham, Norfolk, North East Lincolnshire (Grimsby), Nottingham City, Plymouth, Salford and Trafford, Sheffield, North Somerset (Bridgwater), Southwark, South Tyneside, Wigan

  Employment Zones

  Glasgow, Liverpool and Sefton, North West Wales, Plymouth and South Tees

  Pilot schemes—Education

  Name

  Areas

  Action Research Projects

  Barnsley, Coventry, Derbyshire, Devon, Dudley, Islington, Lancashire, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Portsmouth, Rochdale, Sheffield, Solihull, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wakefield, Warwickshire, Wigan, York City

  302
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he intends to publish plans for action to improve mainstream provision for children with special educational needs; [47578]

  (2) how he will define his objectives for the improvement during the next four years in the performance of children with special educational needs at mainstream schools, with particular reference to literacy and numeracy targets. [47579]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Following consultation on the Green Paper, "Excellence for all Children", we will publish an action programme in the early autumn. This will set out the steps we shall take to improve the provision for children with SEN, in mainstream and special schools, and to raise the standards they achieve. As one early action point from the Green Paper, we have increased support through the Schools Access Initiative for projects to increase disabled access to mainstream schools, from £4m in 1997–1998 to £l lm in 1998–99. We have also announced specific measures to promote literacy and numeracy for children with SEN, including pilot summer literacy schools for pupils with low literacy levels and in special schools; and guidance on the application of the literacy hour for children with SEN.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what studies his Department has evaluated into the placement of children into mainstream or special schools when a care home with education closes. [47887]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department has not commissioned work on this subject specifically. However, good practice in re-integrating looked after children in mainstream schooling is an issue we shall expect to address in new guidance in the next two years on educational provision for these children.

  Action Zones
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the initiatives undertaken by his Department since 1 May 1997 which have involved the establishment of(a) action zones and (b) pilot schemes limited to particular geographical areas, indicating the name of the programme and the action zone or pilot scheme areas covered in each instance. [47061]

  Dr. Howells
  Since 1 May 1997 the Department has established the following action zones and pilot schemes limited to a particular geographical area:
  303

  Pilot schemes—Education

  Name

  Areas

  Funding of Sixth Forms

  Barnet, Birmingham, Coventry, Croydon, Devon, Dudley, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Haringey, Kent, Kirklees, Leeds, Lewisham, Liverpool, North Somerset, North Yorkshire, Sefton, Somerset, St. Helens, Tower Hamlets, Wakefield, Wandsworth, Warwickshire, York City

  Healthy Schools Initiative

  Cornwall, Doncaster Durham, Hounslow, Manchester, Norfolk, Staffordshire and West Sussex

  Master Classes Pilot Scheme

  Blaydon on Tyne, Bradford Corby, Cowes (Isle of Wight), Lancaster, Lincoln, London, Reading, Tyne and Wear, Washington

  New Deal for Schools Public Private

  Cornwall, Kirklees, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Tower Hamlets

  Partnership Pilot Programme

  New Start

  Barnsley, Bolton, Bury, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire and Wirral, Darlington Devon and Cornwall, Doncaster and Rotherham, Dudley, Durham, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hertfordshire, Kent, Merseyside, Northamptonshire, Rochdale and Oldham, Sandwell, Sheffield, South London, South West London, Teesside Wigan, Wolverhampton and Walsall

  Pilot of the Part One GNVQ

  Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford, Brent, Brighton and Hove, Bristol City Council, Bromley, Camden, Coventry, Croydon, Derby City, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Halton, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hartlepool, Havering, Herefordshire, Hounslow, Isles of Scilly, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston-upon-Hull, Knowsley, Lambeth, Leicester City, Lewisham, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Merton, Middlesbrough, Newbury, Newcastle, Newham, North Lincolnshire, Nottingham City, Oldham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Redbridge, Redcar and Cleveland, Richmond upon Thames, Rochdale, Rutland, Salford, Sandwell, Slough, South Tyneside, Southampton, Southend, Southwark, Sunderland, Thurrock, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wirral, Wolverhampton

  Work Related Learning for 14–16 year olds

  Barking, Barnsley, Bexley, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford, Brent, Brighton and Hove, Calderdale, Camden, Coventry, Croydon, Cumbria, Darlington, Derby, Devon, Doncaster, Dorset, Dudley, Durham, Ealing, Enfield, Essex, Gateshead, Gloucestershire, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Hartlepool, Havering, Hertfordshire, Hounslow, Kent, Kingston-upon-Hull, Knowsley, Lambeth, Lancashire, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Merton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newham, Norfolk, North Tyneside, North West Somerset, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Oldham, Oxfordshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, Sheffield, South Tyneside, Southwark, Staffordshire, Stockport, Stockton-on-Tees, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Tower Hamlets, Walsall, Wandsworth, Warrington, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Westminster, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton, The Wrekin, York

  Work Related Learning Key Stage 4 Demonstration Projects

  Barking and Dagenham, Barnsley, Camden, Cheshire County Council, Cornwall, Milton Keynes, Coventry, Croydon, Gloucestershire, Nottingham. Greenwich, Hereford and Worcester, Humberside, Kirklees, Leicester, Lewisham, Manchester, Merseyside, Merton, Newham, Norfolk, Oldham, Rotherham, Sandwell, Sheffield, Shropshire, Southwark, St. Helens, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Trafford, Tyneside, and Wigan

  Pilot schemes—Employment

  Name

  Areas

  50 Plus

  Leeds

  Communicator Support

  Birmingham South and Shropshire

  Customer Help and Information Line Pilots

  Caerphilly, Stowmarket, Weymouth and Worcester

  CV Service

  Brighton, Hove, Lewes and New Haven

  Drop in Centre

  Ruthin, North Wales

  Family Caseloading

  North West Wales, Bridgend and the Valleys

  Increasing Jobseeker Flexibility—Gatwick Job Trail

  Brighton and Hove

  Inform Intensive

  City of Edinburgh

  Internet Jobsearch Programme

  Somerset

  Introduction of a Training Inspectorate in England

  Birmingham, Bradford, Chester, Coventry and Warwickshire, Dorset Ellesmere Port, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Manchester, North Nottinghamshire, Northumberland, North West London, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Wigan, Wiltshire, Wirral

  Introduction to Electronics

  Blackwood, Cwmbran, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent, Newport

  Jobseeker's Allowance Workskill Pilots

  Avon, Bristol, Burnley, Fylde, Glasgow and Dumbarton, Preston, Somerset and Wiltshire, South and South East and London North and South Cumbria

  304 305

  Pilot schemes—Employment

  Name

  Areas

  Management Jobnet

  Greater Nottingham

  Marketing/Vacancy Taking Call Centres

  Canterbury, North Ayrshire, Oldham and Tameside

  National Disability Development Initiative

  East Midlands Edinburgh, London South West, England, Northern and West Midland Regions, Wales, West Central Scotland, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humber

  New Deal for Lone Parents

  Cardiff and Vale, Clyde Valley, North Surrey, Warwickshire

  Obtaining Results by Sampling

  Bridgeton, Erith, Rutherglen, Woolwich

  Open Access Kiosks

  Manchester South Newcastle, and Wiltshire

  Positively Young JSA

  Walsall

  Project Work Pilots

  Bath, Bolton and Bury, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Derby, Dudley and Sandwell, Dundee, Dunfermline, East London, Edinburgh, Grimsby, Hertford and Harlow, Huddersfield, Hull, Lanarkshire, Leicester, Medway and Maidstone, Merthyr and Rhymney, Neath and Port Talbot, Nottingham, North East London, Norwich, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Preston, South Tyneside, Stoke, Swansea, Weston Supermare, Wigan and St. Helens

  Tesco

  Nottingham

  TOFF

  Stockton, Thornaby and Billingham

  Training Trials

  Hampshire

  Further Education (Hampshire)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of further education staff in Hampshire are employed on temporary contracts. [47589]

  Dr. Howells
  Complete data are not available from Hampshire. Seventy-five per cent. of colleges then in the Hampshire Local Authority area had provided information for the latest analysis (1995–96) which indicates that 36 per cent. of those colleges' teaching, and teaching support staff, are employed on temporary contracts.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will instigate schemes to recruit, train and employ unemployed people with computing skills to help tackle the Millennium Bug. [47700]

  Dr. Howells
  We are already providing £26 million this financial year to help small to medium sized organisations to train at least 20,000 people to tackle the Millennium Bug. The training is intended to help small to medium sized employers. We are encouraging them to work

  Participation and labour market status of 18 year olds, England, end 1992 to end 1996

  Percentage

  end 1992

  end 1993

  end 1994

  end 1995

  end 1996

  Full-time education1

  33

  37

  38

  39

  38

  Part-time education or training: excluding job related training

  8

  8

  8

  8

  9

  Job-related training2

  14

  14

  13

  13

  13

  of which full-time education3

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  of which part-time education

  7

  6

  5

  4

  4

  Employment without training or study

  28

  26

  28

  27

  28

  ILO unemployment without training or study

  12

  11

  8

  9

  7

  Economically inactive without training or study4

  5

  5

  5

  4

  6

  1Includes those in education who are also in job related training, unemployment or inactive. The size of the overlap between education and job related training is shown at footnote 3

  2Includes all in government supported training and employer funded training; including the overlap with those in full-time education

  3Also shown in the full-time education category

  4Those not in employment nor seeking work on the ILO unemployment definition

  Sources:

  Education Censuses, TECs' Management Information Database, the Trainee Databases and the Labour Force Survey
  306
  together to deal with the bug problem and it is possible that groups of employers or individual firms may look to recruit and train new staff, including those currently unemployed, to take forward this work.

  Secondary and Further Education (West Midlands)
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of 18 year olds leaving(a) secondary school and (b) further education entered (i) full-time education, (ii) part-time education, (iii) unemployment, (iv) job related training and (v) employment without a training or study element in (1) the West Midlands and (2) Staffordshire in each of the last five years. [46306]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 22 June 1998]: Data on destinations of pupils leaving school are not available and on students leaving further education are incomplete. Information on participation in education, training and employment of the 18 year old population in England is shown in the following table. It is not possible to indicate how many of these had previously been in further education, post 16 schooling or other routes. Participation of the 18 year old population by local areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Further and Higher Education (Environmental Awareness)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what policies he is pursuing to raise the environmental awareness of further and higher education institutions, with particular regard to sustainable development practices and citizenship initiatives. [48075]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend promotes awareness of environmental issues in the further and higher education sectors through the funding councils and sector representative bodies. The Further Education Funding Council has encouraged further education colleges to adopt sound environmental practices: it asks them in formulating their strategic plans to take account of the recommendations of the Toyne Committee on Environmental Responsibility. The Higher Education Funding Council for England has been carrying out environmental audits, in conjunction with the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals. In addition, the Sustainable Development Education Panel, an advisory group established by the Government, is considering these issues: we await their recommendations with interest.

  University College Stockton
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the funding arrangements for(a) the Chair and Research Centre in Urban Regeneration and Change and (b) the provision of staff and student amenities at University College Stockton. [48269]

  Dr. Howells
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whose approval is required for the grants concerned, which were approved by the Board of the Teesside Corporation in March 1998.

  Class Sizes (North Tyneside)
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) first and (b) primary schools in North Tyneside which currently have classes of (i) more than and (ii) less than 30 pupils. [48540]

  Mr. Byers
  Information on class sizes for individual schools is not published centrally.

  Student Loans
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what expenditure he intends to incur in implementing the new income contingent student loan arrangements prior to approval of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 1998; and what parliamentary approval he has sought for this expenditure. [49410]

  Dr. Howells
  Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the DfEE Programmes and Central services vote (Class IX Vote 1). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £335,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

  Internet (Schools)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects all children in South Gloucestershire schools to have ready access to the Internet; and if he will make a statement. [48777]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government's consultation paper "Connecting the Learning Society" set out a target date of 2002 for the connection of all schools, colleges, universities and libraries and as many community centres as possible to be connected to the National Grid for Learning via the Internet.

  The Department is supporting £533,455 of ICT-related expenditure in South Gloucestershire in 1998–99 through Standards Fund Grant for the National Grid for Learning. The grant is to support networking and infrastructure, and is funded equally by the Department and the relevant local education authority.

  Further Education (High Peak)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effects of the merger between High Peak College and the University of Derby on post-16 education in High Peak. [48628]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was satisfied that this is a unique development between a university and a further education college to improve post-16 educational opportunities for the High Peak area.

DEFENCE

  Iraq
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his American counterpart concerning the residue of depleted uranium shells in Southern Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [45275]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 73.

  The use of DU-based ammunition in the Gulf, including these specific issues, have been discussed between officials in my Department and their opposite numbers in the US Department of Defense; neither my right hon. Friend Secretary of State for Defence, nor any of my other Ministerial colleagues have discussed this issue with his American counterpart.

  Personnel and Pay Agency
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of his Department's Personnel and Pay Agency; and how many cases relating to(a) grievance and (b) disciplinary procedure took (i) six months or more and (ii) 12 months or more to reach a conclusion in (1) 1996–97, (2) 1995–96 and (3) 1994–95. [46494]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Personnel and Pay Agency (PPA) is responsible for providing pay and personnel services for the Ministry of Defence. The Agency is responsible
  309
  for the operation of grievance and disciplinary procedures covering its own staff, but not those covering the Ministry of Defence as a whole.

  The work and objectives of the PPA are set out in a corporate plan each year. This plan includes a number of key targets for the year which are agreed by Ministers.

  Performance against the key targets is recorded in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts which is presented in Parliament. The PPA was launched on 1 February 1996 and its Annual Report's and Accounts for 1996–97 showed that it largely achieved its targets for service delivery, efficiency, customer satisfaction, quality and information strategy; but that it missed 2 other targets relating to improving IT systems.

  Our records indicate that there were no disciplinary or grievance cases which were not dealt with by the Defence Accounts Agency (DDA) (the PPA's predecessor) within 6 months for the year 1994–95 and 1995–96. For 1996–97 all grievance cases were dealt with by the PPA within 6 months.

  Departmental Reviews
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each of the last four years, all departmental inquiries and reviews instigated by ministers which have been chaired by individuals outside his Department; and in each case if he will give the date of establishment and the name of the chairman. [46829]

  Dr. Reid
  The information requested is as follows:

  Committee

  Date established

  Chairman

  Independent Review of Armed Forces' Manpower, Career and Remuneration Structures

  April 1994

  Sir Michael Bett

  Review of Representational Entertainment

  October 1994

  Sir Peter Cazalet

  Russian Navy
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Russian Navy ships have berthed at United Kingdom ports within the last five years [47587]

  Dr. Reid
  Since June 1993 there have been six visits to United Kingdom ports by Russian Navy ships; these were as follows:

  Date

  Port

  Ship

  25 May-1 June 1993

  Liverpool

  Sovremenny class destroyer

  7–10 October 1993

  Dartmouth

  Ugra class training ship

  20–25 May 1994

  Portsmouth

  Kilo class conventional submarine

  27 March-1 April 1995

  Portsmouth

  A Survey ship

  26 April-2 May 1996

  Portsmouth

  Udaloy class destroyer

  3–4 May 1996

  Plymouth

  22–26 September 1996

  Portsmouth

  Sovremenny class destroyer

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the Royal Navy has conducted joint exercises with the Russian Navy over the last five years. [48152]
  310
  Dr. Reid
  The Royal Navy exercise with the Russian Federation Navy under both bilateral arrangements and in multinational exercises. The term exercise can cover a wide range of activities and no single tally exists for all RN activities in which the RFN was involved. However, records show that over the past five years the following Royal Navy ships have participated in the following exercises with the Russian Federation Navy:

  Period of exercise

  August 1993

  HMS Brilliant

  Off Gibraltar

  September-October 1994

  HMS Newcastle RFA Olna

  Skaggerak and off Norway

  May 1996

  HMS Gloucester RFA Black Rover

  Off Portsmouth

  June 1997

  HMS Iron Duke

  Off Severomorsk

  May-June 1997

  HMS Cromer HMS Walney RFA Orangeleaf

  Skaggerak

  June 1997

  HMS Iron Duke HMS Bridport HMS Cromer

  Baltic Sea

  June 1998

  HMS Somerset

  Off Gdansk

  Abandoned Ordance
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what abandoned ordnance was found at Home Farm, West Cottingworth, York, at RAF Escrit, at RAF Clifton, York and at Clifton Moor and Royde Mills, Huddersfield; if the ground has now been cleared; and at what cost. [43927]

  Mr. Spellar
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1998,c. 208]: I regret that a typographical error led to the date of the clearance operation, known as Operation CAPSICUM JAR, being shown as 1995. The date of the clearance was in fact 1991.

  Trainer Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1998,Official Report, columns 265–66, which organisation will own the Grob 115D aircraft fleet at the end of the 10 year contract; and if this is in accordance with conventional procurement practice. [48042]

  Dr. Reid
  The purpose of the Royal Air Force Light Aircraft Flying Task contract is to procure a service, including flying hours in aircraft provided by the contractor. The proposed contract is a Private Finance Initiative and, as is normal with such contracts, ownership of assets, in this case Grob 115D aircraft, will not rest with my Department. Ownership at the end of the contract period will depend upon the arrangements made by the contractor with his financial backer.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1998,Official Report, columns 265–66, what proposals he has to dispose of the Bulldog trainer aircraft; and which department will receive the proceeds. [48041]
  311
  Dr. Reid
  The RAF's Light Aircraft Flying Task contract will have a planned two year phase-in period during which existing Bulldog aircraft will be replaced by the Grob 115D. Disposal of surplus Bulldog aircraft will be organised by the Ministry of Defence's Disposal Sales Agency with a view to maximising receipts which will accrue to my Department.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1998,Official Report, columns 265–66, what incentives will be offered to the successful bidder to replace the RAF's Bulldog trainer aircraft to ensure the RAF receives a high-quality service. [48043]

  Dr. Reid
  Final negotiations with the preferred bidder are still underway but payments under the resulting contract will be dependent upon delivery of the required level of service.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1998,Official Report, columns 265–66, what weighting was given to the impact on UK industry and employment in his decision on the award of the contract to replace the Bulldog trainer aircraft. [48039]

  Dr. Reid
  The impact of our decision on UK industry and employment was carefully considered and balanced against a number of factors, including cost and suitability of aircraft for our requirement.

  Air Transport Procurement
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 June 1998,Official Report, column 459, concerning the lease of C-17s, what responses to the requests for proposals he has received; and what the timescale is for the responses. [48009]

  Mr. Spellar
  No Request for Proposals for the lease of C-17 or equivalent air transport aircraft has been issued.

  Rugby League Teams
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rugby league teams there are in each of the armed forces. [48443]

  Dr. Reid
  The information requested is as follows:

  Service

  Number of rugby league teams

  Royal Navy/Royal Marines

  12

  Army

  41

  Royal Air Force

  10

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurofighters the Government are committed to purchasing. [48626]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government are committed to the purchase of 232 Eurofighters.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disabled People
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been received about the treatment of disabled people by officers of her Department in each of the last three years. [47999]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Departmental Agencies can provide information on the number of complaints received from all customers but do not specifically record whether they are made by disabled customers.

  The Benefits Agency (BA) can however provide some complaints information about disabled customers. Since October 1997, the BA has received a total of 36,023 complaints. Of these, a total of 2,615 complaints have been received about the administration of Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. Additionally, there have been 59 complaints about customer service from people who have identified themselves as disabled.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the Child Support Agency's resources are devoted to collecting maintenance. [48828]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Due to the complexity of the current child support arrangements, approximately 90 per cent. of the Agency's resources are spent on assessing maintenance and keeping cases up to date. This leaves only about 10 per cent. spent on debt management and enforcing child support liability.

  Separated Parents
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research she has evaluated on the relative financial positions of separated mothers and fathers. [48829]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Recent research by Dr. Jarvis and Dr. Jenkins of the University of Essex quoted in "Real Choices—A Manifesto for Lone Parents and their Children" indicates that the median net income of mothers dropped on average by 15 per cent. in the year following separation—before allowing for any maintenance payments—while fathers' net income rose by an average of 15 per cent.

  Income Support (Wythenshawe and Sale, East)
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many income support claimants there are whose claims are dealt with by the Sale office but who do not live in the Borough of Trafford; [47529]

  (2) how many income support claimants there are in the Wythenshawe and Sale, East Constituency; [47530]

  (3) how many income support claimants there are whose claims are dealt with by the Wythenshawe office but who do not live in the City of Manchester. [47531]
  313
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of Income Support is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Goggins, dated 2 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking for information relating to the number of Income Support (IS) claims from your constituents and details of which offices deal with their claims.
  The information is not available in the format requested. The Benefits Agency (BA) collates IS statistics by BA District. These Districts do not correspond to constituency boundaries, Local Authority areas or specific geographical areas. However, the BA in conjunction with the Employment Services, is currently exploring the advantages which might result in improved business delivery and customer service if there was greater alignment between BA and LA boundaries.
  The number of customers who were in receipt of IS as at 31 May 1998 for the BA's District of Greater Manchester Centre Operations, which includes the offices of Manchester Cheetham, Manchester Chorlton, Manchester Longsight, Manchester Openshaw, Manchester Rusholme and Manchester Wythenshawe, was 56,916, and for Greater Manchester South East Operations District, which includes the offices of Ashton, Buxton, Hyde, Macclesfield, Sale, Stockport and Wilmslow, was 55,715. This is the latest information available, it is provisional and may be subject to change.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the number of women in Wirral, South who will benefit from the minimum wage. [47457]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Ben Chapman, dated July 1998:
  I have been asked to reply, as the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your parliamentary question on the national minimum wage.
  The national minimum wage will become effective in April 1999 and has been set at £3.60 for employees aged over 21 and £3.00 for those aged 18 to 21, although there are a number of qualifications to this general observation.
  The Low Pay Commission, in arriving at their recommendations, had to adjust 1999 pay rates to 1997 values. Their methodology produces £3.40 and £2.80 as the 1997 values of the government's preferred rates.
  The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. However, the release of NES data is restricted to figures which are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and which have an acceptable level of accuracy (as defined statistically through the standard error of an individual figure being 5 per cent. or less). Reliable estimates of the number of women in Wirral South who will benefit from the minimum wage cannot be provided, because the associated standard errors are too high. I have therefore provided available data for Merseyside in the attached table. These are for women aged over 21, because estimates for those aged 18–21 years who would earn below the proposed minimum wage cannot be provided. Again, this is because the associated standard errors are too high.
  The NES is based on a one percent sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold and in particular those who work part-time.
  314
  The extent of this bias may be estimated for Merseyside by using data from the NES augmented by data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). This suggests that the estimate of the overall proportion of employees aged over 21 years earning below £3.60 could understate the true position by as much as 3 percentage points. However, it is unlikely that the occurrence of lower paid jobs is uniform across the region, and so it would be wise to treat this figure as broadly indicative rather than a precise estimate.

  Employees whose pay for the survey pay-period was unaffected by absence—New Earnings Survey—April 1997

  Percentage of employees with hourly earnings excluding overtime and shift payments less than:

  £3.40

  £3.60

  Merseyside

  Employees aged over 21 on adult rates of pay

  Full-time females

  3.3

  5.1

  Part-time females

  12.9

  17.3

  All females

  7.3

  10.1

HEALTH

  Breast Screening
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data from the Government's review of two-view breast screening have been evaluated in respect of future policy on the introduction of the two-view screening for every screening round. [48320]

  Mr. Boateng
  In light of recent research evidence, the National Screening Committee have been asked to consider the introduction of two-view mammography for every screening round. In addition to any increase in the detection rate, the Committee will consider financial and workforce implications and the benefits and practicalities of introducing such a change.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which have exported beef to the United Kingdom since December 1996 indicating the extent of their compliance with United Kingdom hygiene standards. [48856]

  Mr. Rooker
  Official Overseas Trade Statistics record that beef carcase meat, bovine offal and beef meat and bovine offal preparations have been imported into the UK from the following countries since December 1996:

  EC Countries

  Republic of Ireland

  The Netherlands

  Germany

  France

  Belgium

  Luxembourg

  Denmark

  Spain

  Italy

  Austria

  Sweden

  315

  Greece

  Finland

  Non-EC

  Brazil

  Argentina

  Uruguay

  Australia

  Zimbabwe

  Botswana

  Namibia

  New Zealand

  Mauritius

  USA

  Swaziland

  South Africa

  Switzerland

  Paraguay

  Romania

  Uganda

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Singapore

  Malaysia

  Chile

  Canada

  Belize

  Croatia

  Abu Dhabi

  Ukraine.

  All fresh meat, including beef, imported into the UK, whether from other EU Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules. These rules require all meat which is intended for sale for human consumption to fulfil the required public health standards. This means that it must be produced in EC approved establishments and, to signify this, must be stamped with a health mark before leaving the plant.

  Ensuring that all Member States comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying Community rules is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all Member States. The inspection, approval and monitoring of establishments producing meat in third countries for despatch to the Community is also the responsibility of the European Commission.

  In addition, meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by agreed animal and public health certification which is issued at the plant of origin. All imports must take place via approved Border Inspection Posts where they undergo checks to ensure they comply with Community animal and public health legislation.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the means by which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise determine the age of imported carcases. [48890]

  Mr. Rooker
  No such determination is made since there are no restrictions on imports of carcases based on their age. The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No.2)316
  Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from bovine animals which at the time of slaughter were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the Regulations and UK animals from the Beef Assurance Scheme. The Regulations do not impose restrictions on the import of meat.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he takes to assess the quality of foreign meat imported to the United Kingdom; [48854]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to ensure that imported beef meets United Kingdom beef production regulations. [48855]

  Mr. Rooker
  All fresh meat, including beef, imported into the UK, whether from other EU Member States or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules. These rules require all meat which is intended for sale for human consumption to fulfil the required public health standards. This means that it must be produced in EC approved establishments and, to signify this, must be stamped with a health mark before leaving the plant.

  Ensuring that all Member States comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying Community rules is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all Member States. The inspection, approval and monitoring of establishments producing meat in third countries for despatch to the Community is also the responsibility of the European Commission.

  In addition, meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by agreed animal and public health certification which is issued at the plant of origin. All imports must take place via approved Border Inspection Posts where they undergo checks to ensure they comply with Community animal and public health legislation.

  Agricultural Restructuring
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for restructuring the United Kingdom farming industry. [48784]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government issued a consultation document on restructuring the UK beef sector on 18 March 1998 and are considering the results of that consultation exercise. We currently have no plans to undertake a similar exercise for the rest of the farming industry.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what resources his Department has devoted to(a) food safety and (b) food standards work in each of the last three years; and what has been the total number of civil servants employed in these areas. [48905]
  317
  Mr. Rooker
  Expenditure for the three financial years up to and including 1997–98 on MAFF food safety programmes PP1:01, 1:02, 1:03 and 1:07 (as defined in MAFF/IB 1996, 1997 and 1998 Departmental Reports) was £27.3m, £28.1m and £29.1m, respectively. Equivalent expenditure on food quality and nutrition programme PP1:08 was £12.7m, £11.3m and £10.5m. During the same three year period approximately 300 MAFF staff were engaged directly on food safety and standards work.

  The above figures relate to direct costs only and do not take account of the cost of central functions.

  A detailed breakdown of expenditure and receipts for all MAFF programmes is shown in the above Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated level of resources to be transferred by his Department to the proposed Food Standards Agency for(a) staff research and (b) other relevant heads of account. [48852]

  Mr. Rooker
  All the resources currently devoted to food safety and standards work within the remit of the proposed Food Standards Agency (FSA), associated scientific research budgets, and a share of the relevant central corporate support budgets in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are expected to be transferred to the FSA when it is established. The precise boundaries of the Agency's responsibilities are still being determined in response to the consultation on the White Paper "The Food Standards Agency: A Force for Change" and we hope to publish a draft Bill shortly for further consultation. Estimates of the resources to be transferred to the FSA will be made in the light of that consultation, and of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Farmers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the change in the number of farmers in the United Kingdom over the next 10 years. [48785]

  Mr. Rooker
  An estimate would require making a considerable number of hypothetical assumptions and I have made no such estimate.

  Rendering Plants
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proposals he has to reduce the subsidy paid to rendering plants to dispose of offal; [48788]

  (2) what proposals he has to compensate farmers affected by the reduction in compensation to rendering plants for the disposal of offal. [48789]

  Mr. Rooker
  The objective of the rendering industry support was to avert the disorderly collapse of the red meat/animal waste chain in the immediate aftermath of the BSE crisis in March 1996. This objective was achieved.
  318
  Some £97 million was made available for the rendering industry in the financial year 1996–97. In return, renderers were required to maintain pre-crisis prices and charges to all their suppliers of animal waste. A further £59 million of aid, also designed to help the entire red meat/animal waste chain, was made available during the financial year 1997–98. The support, which was always intended to be temporary, was phased out gradually during 1997–98 as originally planned to enable the chain to adjust to the changing economics.

  The support has served its purpose and there are no plans to reintroduce it. It is for the livestock industry to take responsibility for disposing of its waste in a safe and sustainable manner. The Government are, however, fully aware of the current difficulties faced by farmers in the disposal of fallen stock. Officials are liaising with farming representatives to consider how farmers should in future dispose of fallen stock and to encourage the industry to put suitable arrangements in place.

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the implementation of his Department's proposed early retirement scheme for farmers; [48779]

  (2) what conditions farmers will have to satisfy to be eligible for his Department's early retirement scheme. [48778]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government do not currently operate an early retirement scheme for farmers. We are considering the responses to our recent consultation on 'Agricultural Restructuring', which sought views, among other things, on whether such a scheme, based on EEC Council Regulation 2079/92, should be introduced in the UK. Our conclusions will be announced in due course.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each county the number of herd breakdowns of tuberculosis for(a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998 to date. [48587]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 2 July 1998]: Figures for the numbers of new confirmed herd breakdowns for 1996 were kept only on an Animal Health Divisional Office basis and are not available by county. These are presented, giving an indication of the counties which are covered by each Divisional Office. Figures for 1997 are given by county. Figures for 1998 cannot be provided by county in the time available, but I will write to the hon. Member with the information relating to the first six months of 1998 when I have it.

  Region/AHO/County

  1996 (by AHO)

  1997 (by county)

  England

  Northern Region

  Carlisle (AHO)

  1

  —

  Cumbria

  —

  0

  Northumberland

  —

  0

  Durham

  —

  0

  Tyne & Wear

  —

  0

  Cleveland

  —

  0

  319

  Region/AHO/County

  1996(by AHO)

  1997(by county)

  Leeds (AHO)

  1

  —

  North Yorkshire

  —

  0

  South Yorkshire

  —

  0

  West Yorkshire

  —

  0

  Preston (AHO)

  1

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  0

  Greater Manchester

  —

  0

  Merseyside

  —

  0

  Stafford (AHO)

  13

  —

  Staffordshire

  —

  24

  Cheshire

  —

  0

  Derbyshire

  —

  1

  Lincoln (AHO)

  1

  —

  Lincolnshire

  —

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  0

  Humberside

  —

  0

  East Region

  Leicester (AHO)

  4

  —

  Leicestershire

  —

  0

  Northamptonshire

  —

  0

  West Midlands

  —

  0

  Warwickshire

  —

  0

  Bury St. Edmunds (AOH)

  0

  —

  Suffolk

  —

  0

  Norfolk

  —

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  0

  Chelmsford (AHO)

  1

  —

  Essex

  —

  1

  Bedfordshire

  —

  0

  Hertfordshire

  —

  0

  Greater London

  —

  0

  Reading (AHO)

  0

  —

  Oxfordshire

  —

  0

  Berkshire

  —

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  —

  0

  Hampshire

  —

  0

  Isle of Wight

  —

  0

  Reigate (AHO)

  2

  —

  Surrey

  —

  0

  West Sussex

  —

  0

  East Sussex

  —

  4

  Kent

  —

  0

  West Region

  Taunton (AHO)

  20

  —

  Somerset

  —

  27

  Dorset

  —

  12

  Exeter (AHO)

  74

  —

  Devon

  —

  82

  Truro (AHO)

  87

  —

  Cornwall

  —

  74

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  0

  Worcester (AHO)

  58

  —

  Hereford & Worcester

  —

  86

  Shropshire

  —

  7

  Gloucester (AHO)

  90

  —

  Gloucestershire

  —

  85

  Wiltshire

  —

  30

  Avon

  —

  10

  England total

  353

  443

  320

  Region/AHO/County

  1996 (by AHO)

  1997 (by county)

  Wales

  Carmarthen (AHO)

  32

  —

  Dyfed

  —

  24

  Caernarfon (AHO)

  2

  —

  Clwyd

  —

  0

  N. Powys

  —

  0

  Gwynedd

  —

  0

  Cardiff (AHO)

  68

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  2

  Powys

  —

  1

  South Glamorgan

  —

  0

  Gwent

  —

  33

  West Glamorgan

  —

  2

  Wales total

  102

  62

  Scotland

  Inverness (AHO)

  1

  —

  Inverness-shire

  —

  0

  Ross & Cromarty

  —

  0

  Caithness

  —

  2

  Nairn

  —

  0

  Sutherland

  —

  0

  Inverurie (AHO)

  2

  —

  Moray

  —

  0

  Aberdeenshire

  —

  2

  Orkney

  —

  0

  Shetland

  —

  0

  Banffshire

  —

  0

  Perth (AHO)

  2

  —

  Perthshire

  —

  1

  Kinross

  —

  0

  Angus

  —

  0

  Fife

  —

  0

  Argyll

  —

  0

  Dunbartonshire

  —

  1

  Stirling

  —

  0

  Clackmannan

  —

  0

  Bute

  —

  0

  Kincardine

  —

  1

  Galashiels (AHO)

  1

  —

  East Lothian

  —

  0

  Mid Lothian

  —

  0

  West Lothian

  —

  0

  Lanarkshire

  —

  1

  Berwickshire

  —

  0

  Peeblesshire

  —

  0

  Roxburghshire

  —

  0

  Selkirkshire

  —

  0

  Ayr (AHO)

  10

  —

  Ayrshire

  —

  0

  Dumfriesshire

  —

  0

  Kirkcudbright

  —

  1

  Renfrewshire

  —

  0

  Wigtownshire

  —

  1

  Scotland total

  16

  10

  Great Britain total

  471

  515

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the interval between tests for TB in cattle. [48585]
  321
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 2 July 1998]: We plan to review our cattle testing arrangements in the light of amendments recently agreed to the EC legislation which sets out the minimum testing requirements, the continued increase in TB incidence, and the work programme in hand to implement the recommendations in the Krebs report.

  Rabies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that veterinary surgeons have unrestricted access to the inactivated rabies vaccines already approved by his Department for use on domestic animals under their care; and if he will issue instructions to this effect immediately. [47994]

  Mr. Rooker
  No. Great Britain is a rabies free island. There is therefore no need for British cats and dogs to be vaccinated, unless they are to be exported.

  Bananas
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of EU negotiations on banana imports. [47983]

  Mr. Rooker
  The European Union Agriculture Council in Luxembourg on 22–26 June agreed changes to the EU bananas regime to bring it into conformity with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules whilst ensuring continued access to the EU market for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bananas. This was one of the UK's Presidency priorities and the deal we secured honours both our commitments under the Lomé Convention and our obligations to the WTO; a declaration agreed by the Council recognises this.

  Access for traditional ACP banana producers will be 857,700 tonnes at zero tariff, significantly above the current level of ACP sendings. The ACP countries have separately agreed to work together to ensure that the interests of the more vulnerable suppliers are not put at risk as a result of the loss of individual ACP quotas. Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers should now be able to export to the EU all the marketable bananas they can produce.

  The operation of the revised import arrangements will be reviewed in 2004 but no date has been set for their termination. This should help to provide a reasonable period for the ACP suppliers to restructure their industries and improve their competitivity. Discussion on a new aid framework for the traditional suppliers are continuing.

TREASURY

  Pensioner Shareholders
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioner shareholders with no tax liability currently recover tax credits directly; and how much these recovered tax credits cost in the last three financial years. [47691]
  322
  Dawn Primarolo
  It is estimated that some 300,000 shareholders aged 65 or over with no income tax liability received payments of dividend tax credits totalling around £20 million in 1995–96. Similar information is not yet available for 1996–97 or 1997–98.

  Smugglers' Vehicles
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1998,Official Report, column 274, on vehicles confiscated from smugglers, how many vehicles (a) were restored upon payment of a fee (b) were hire vehicles and (c) were restored to owners smuggling or bootlegging tobacco and alcohol. [48060]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that no central figures are kept.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letters dated 13 March, 16 April and 21 May sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. D. Seyarajasinghe of 11 Kent Road West. [48147]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I have done so.

  MIRAS
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for 1996–97 the amount of MIRAS spent in Scotland and for 1997–98 and 1998–99 the estimated amount to be spent on MIRAS in Scotland. [47975]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The cost of mortgage interest relief in Scotland is estimated to be £180 million in 1996–97 and £150 million in 1997–98. The amount of relief given through MIRAS—mortgage interest relief at source scheme—is estimated to be £170 million in 1996–97 and £140 million in 1997–98.

  These estimates are based on the regional distribution of the cost of mortgage interest relief from analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1996–97. The estimates for 1997–98 are projections based on applying the same regional distribution as in 1996–97 to the total figure for 1997–98. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below United Kingdom level for 1998–99.

  Aviation Fuel Tax
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of an aviation fuel tax applied (i) solely in the UK and (ii) solely in the EU; and if he will make a statement.[47979]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government support international action through the International Civil Aviation Organisation to remove tax exemption for aviation fuels. The ICAO Assembly is due to receive a report on the effect of environmental levies including aviation fuel tax in September. The Government also supported a mandate to the European Commission to study the environmental and economic impacts on the EU of an aviation fuel tax. This study is due to be completed in August. We will consider how to take forward policy in the light of the results of these studies.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the Government have intervened to protect the reasonable expectations of policyholders using their powers under the Insurance Companies Act 1982; and what guidance has been given as to the meaning of the term, "the reasonable expectation of the policy holders". [47597]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 29 June 1998]: Sections 38 to 45 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 give the Treasury a wide range of powers of intervention, which are regularly used to protect policyholders' interests. With regard to the reasonable expectation of policyholders, the most relevant power is likely to be Section 45 of the Act which gives the Treasury power to intervene in individual companies' affairs to protect policyholders against the risk that the company may be unable to meet its liabilities or—in the case of long term business—fulfil the reasonable expectations of policyholders. This is a reserve power, which may be exercised only where the Treasury consider that the purpose cannot be appropriately achieved by exercise of the other, more specific, powers conferred by sections 38 to 44 of the Act or by the exercise of those powers alone.

  I am not aware of any occasion on which formal use has been made of section 45 for the specific purpose of protecting policyholders' reasonable expectations. But the mere existence of the power has to date been sufficient to make such exercise unnecessary. In practice, Chancellors of the Exchequer, as successive regulators, have been able to protect policyholders' interests by influencing companies' behaviour through discussion and agreement.

  Guidance on the Government's view of policyholders' reasonable expectations was set out in a statement by the then Under-Secretary for Corporate Affairs on 24 February 1995, Official Report, columns 360–61. This set out a number of factors which the Government considered influenced such expectations, in respect of attribution of surplus between policyholders and shareholders in the long term funds of life insurance companies.

  International Debt
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Third World countries which are financially indebted to the United Kingdom, breaking down the figures to show those organisations owed money; and if he will make a statement. [47750]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) on 23 June 1998, Official Report, columns 453–54.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which HIPC countries have embarked on the process of debt relief; which will embark on the process(a) before and (b) after 2000 under the Mauritius Mandate; and if he will make a statement. [48437]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Of the twenty countries currently thought to be eligible for additional debt relief under the HIPC initiative, sixteen have embarked on the process of securing that debt relief. These are: Bolivia, Burkina Faso,324
  Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

  The Mauritius Mandate expressed the hope that all twenty of the countries eligible for additional HIPC relief will have embarked on the process before the year 2000. At the Birmingham Summit in May, the G8 agreed that it would encourage debtor countries to meet this challenge.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have benefited from debt reductions under the HIPC Initiative; what level of debt relief each has received in(a) nominal and (b) NPV terms; and if he will list the other countries that are expected to benefit from the Initiative. [48439]

  Mrs. Liddell
  To date six countries have received decisions on the level and timing of their debt relief under the HIPC initiative: Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guyana, Mozambique and Uganda. Of these six, only Uganda has so far reached its completion point and thus received actual debt relief. In April this year it received $347 million in additional debt relief in NPV terms under the HIPC initiative. This is equivalent to about $650 million in nominal terms.

  There is no definitive list of eligible countries, but IMF estimates suggest that Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania and Zambia are also likely to be eligible for debt relief under the HIPC initiative.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional resources are planned to be made available through the Mauritius Mandate in addition to those under the HIPC Initiative for each country affected in(a) nominal and (b) NPV terms; what is the timetable for securing a sustainable exit for each country; and if he will make a statement. [48438]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Mauritius Mandate sets targets for the speedy and determined implementation of the HIPC initiative. Debt relief given to poor countries under the HIPC initiative is additional to the debt relief given previously by bilateral creditors. The amount of this additional HIPC debt relief is determined at the decision point. To date $3 billion in NPV terms has been pledged to six countries under the initiative. The table shows the debt relief in NPV and nominal terms, that has so far been pledged to these countries and their likely completion points at which their debt burdens will be reduced to sustainable levels.

  HIPC

  Additional HIPC debt relief pledged (NPV terms) in $ million

  Additional HIPC debt relief pledged (nominal terms) in $ million

  Completion point

  Burkina Faso

  115

  200

  April 2000

  Bolivia

  448

  600

  September 1998

  Cote d'Ivoire

  345

  800

  March 2001

  Guyana

  253

  500

  December 1998

  Mozambique

  1,487

  2,900

  Summer 1999

  Uganda

  347

  650

  7 April 1998

  The Mauritius Mandate aims to ensure that three quarters of the countries that are presently thought to

  325
  require additional debt relief under the HIPC initiative will have had decisions on the level and timing of that relief by the millennium.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total revenue which will be raised for the alleviation of third world debt as a result of tax allowances announced in the Budget. [48085]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: The reliefs announced in the Budget are for charitable projects in the world's poorest countries for education and relief of poverty, not directly for repayment of their debt.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many(a) men and (b) women working (i) part-time and (ii) full-time in Paisley, South earn less than (1) £3 per hour and (2) £3.60 per hour; and in each case if he will give the percentage of the total number employed. [48489]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Douglas Alexander, dated 3 July 1998:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on earnings in Paisley South.
  The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. However, the release of NES data is restricted to figures which are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and which have an acceptable level of accuracy. Estimates of the number of men and women in Paisley South who earn less than the levels quoted cannot be provided, because the small sample size produces unreliable statistics. I have therefore provided data for Renfrewshire in the attached table. These are based on the 1997 NES, the latest for which data are available.
  The NES is based on a one percent sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold and in particular those who work part-time.
  The extent of this bias may be estimated for Scotland by using data from the NES augmented by data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). This suggests that the estimate of the overall proportion of employees aged over 21 years earning below £3.60 could understate the true position by as much as 4 percentage points. However, it is unlikely that the occurrence of lower paid jobs is uniform across the region, and so it would be wise to treat this figure as broadly indicative rather than a precise estimate.

  Adjusted New Earnings Survey—Renfrewshire—April 1997

  Percentage of employees with hourly earnings excluding overtime and shift payments less than:

  Employees2

  <£3.00

  <£3.60

  Renfrewshire

  Employees of all ages on adult rates

  Full-time males

  1.4

  4.2

  Part-time males

  1—

  1—

  All males

  1.3

  4.7

  Full-time females

  3.3

  8.9

  Part-time females

  1—

  1—

  All females

  5.7

  14.6

  All full-time employees

  2.1

  5.9

  All part-time employees

  1—

  1—

  All employees

  3.4

  9.4

  326

  Adjusted New Earnings Survey—Renfrewshire—April 1997

  Percentage of employees with hourly earnings excluding overtime and shift payments less than:

  Employees2

  <£3.00

  <£3.60

  Employees aged 18 to 21 on all rates of pay

  Full-time males

  1—

  —

  Part-time males

  1—

  —

  All males

  1—

  —

  Full-time females

  1—

  —

  Part-time females

  1—

  —

  All females

  1—

  —

  All full-time employees

  1—

  —

  All part-time employees

  1—

  —

  All employees

  1—

  —

  Employees aged 18 to 21 on adult rate of pay

  Full-time males

  4.2

  —

  Part-time males

  1—

  —

  All males

  4.5

  —

  Full-time females

  7.5

  —

  Part-time females

  1—

  —

  All females

  13.3

  —

  All full-time employees

  5.4

  —

  All part-time employees

  1—

  —

  All employees

  8.7

  —

  1Denotes sample number too low or standard error rate too high for reliable estimate

  2Employees whose pay for the survey pay-period was unaffected by absence

  Abortions
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which health authorities in England and Wales paid for fewer than(a) 50 per cent., (b) 70 per cent. and (c) 90 per cent. of abortions requested by their residents in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997. [48440]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Fiona Mactaggart, dated 3 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on abortions.
  The health authorities which funded fewer than (a) 50 per cent.; (b) 70 per cent.; and 90 per cent. of abortions for local residents in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997 are shown in the attached tables.

  Percentage of abortions performed by the NHS by health authorities in England and Wales 1996

  Area of usual residence

  Per cent

  Less than 90 per cent.

  Somerset HA

  89.98

  South Humber HA

  89.70

  Lincolnshire HA

  89.61

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA

  89.20

  Suffolk HA

  88.76

  Oxfordshire HA

  88.67

  Gloucestershire HA

  88.44

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA

  88.25

  East Lancashire HA

  87.85

  Doncaster HA

  87.77

  Sheffield HA

  87.77

  Wirral HA

  86.57

  North Yorkshire HA

  86.49

  East Riding HA

  86.48

  327

  Percentage of abortions performed by the NHS by health authorities in England and Wales 1996

  Area of usual residence

  Per cent.

  North Derbyshire HA

  86.36

  North Cheshire HA

  86.27

  Gwent HA

  85.95

  Leeds HA

  84.96

  Isle of Wight HA

  84.42

  South Cheshire HA

  84.12

  Bradford HA

  83.97

  North Nottinghamshire HA

  83.89

  Wakefield HA

  83.75

  Calderdale and Kirklees HA

  83.74

  South Derbyshire HA

  83.57

  Nottingham HA

  83.52

  North Wales HA

  83.07

  Morecambe Bay HA

  82.02

  Herefordshire HA

  81.92

  Liverpool HA

  81.23

  Bedfordshire HA

  81.22

  Leicestershire HA

  80.45

  Northamptonshire HA

  79.06

  North West Anglia HA

  78.90

  Southampton and South West Hampshire HA

  78.06

  Avon HA

  77.80

  St. Helens and Knowsley HA

  76.49

  Bro Taf HA

  75.65

  Sefton HA

  75.37

  East Kent HA

  74.74

  Barnsley HA

  73.43

  Sandwell HA

  72.55

  Croydon HA

  71.84

  Walsall HA

  71.58

  Buckinghamshire HA

  71.42

  East London and The City HA

  70.92

  North Staffordshire HA

  70.79

  Birmingham HA

  70.65

  Less than 70 per cent.

  Shropshire HA

  69.47

  West Kent HA

  69.29

  Brent and Harrow HA

  69.24

  Worcestershire HA

  68.44

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA

  67.86

  Camden and Islington HA

  67.46

  South Essex HA

  67.41

  East Surrey HA

  67.10

  Enfield and Haringey HA

  66.09

  Bexley and Greenwich HA

  65.96

  Manchester HA

  65.79

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  65.55

  Bury and Rochdale HA

  65.43

  Stockport HA

  65.42

  North Essex HA

  64.06

  Dorset HA

  63.85

  West Pennine HA

  63.85

  Bromley HA

  63.54

  South Staffordshire HA

  62.64

  Hillingdon HA

  62.31

  Dudley HA

  62.12

  West Surrey HA

  61.88

  South Lancashire HA

  60.40

  Barnet HA

  60.26

  Wiltshire HA

  60.00

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA

  59.88

  Salford and Trafford HA

  59.31

  Barking and Havering HA

  57.97

  East and North Hertfordshire HA

  57.89

  Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster HA

  57.33

  Kingston and Richmond HA

  56.06

  West Sussex HA

  55.90

  West Hertfordshire HA

  54.32

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA

  54.17

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA

  52.69

  Berkshire HA

  50.61

  328

  Percentage of abortions performed by the NHS by health authorities in England and Wales 1996

  Area of usual residence

  Per cent.

  Less than 50 per cent.

  Wolverhampton HA

  47.77

  North and Mid Hampshire HA

  44.70

  Solihull HA

  43.99

  North West Lancashire HA

  36.06

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA

  33.90

  Percentage of abortions performed by the NHS by health authorities in England and Wales 19971

  Area of usual residence

  Per cent.

  Less than 90 per cent.

  Suffolk HA

  89.75

  Lincolnshire HA

  89.07

  East Riding HA

  88.83

  Doncaster HA

  88.10

  Rotherham HA

  88.02

  East Lancashire HA

  87.99

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA

  87.96

  Sheffield HA

  87.84

  Cambridge and Huntingdon HA

  87.65

  Herefordshire HA

  86.80

  Morecambe Bay HA

  86.73

  Wirral HA

  86.62

  Gloucestershire HA

  86.47

  North Wales HA

  86.46

  North Derbyshire HA

  84.12

  North Cheshire HA

  84.09

  North Nottinghamshire HA

  83.86

  Leeds HA

  83.50

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA

  83.09

  Calderdale and Kirklees HA

  82.96

  North Yorkshire HA

  82.76

  Bradford HA

  82.67

  South Cheshire HA

  82.32

  Leicestershire HA

  82.25

  Avon HA

  82.09

  Liverpool HA

  82.01

  Bedfordshire HA

  81.67

  South Derbyshire HA

  81.30

  Isle of Wight HA

  81.17

  Nottingham HA

  80.66

  Southampton and South West Hampshire HA

  80.48

  Wakefield HA

  78.64

  St. Helens and Knowsley HA

  78.48

  North West Anglia HA

  78.44

  Sandwell HA

  77.65

  Sefton HA

  77.62

  Brent and Harrow HA

  77.23

  Bro Taf HA

  76.93

  Croydon HA

  76.17

  Northamptonshire HA

  74.18

  Barnsley HA

  72.45

  Walsall HA

  71.41

  Buckinghamshire HA

  70.99

  East Kent HA

  70.94

  Bexley and Greenwich HA

  70.79

  Less than 70 per cent.

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  69.32

  Manchester HA

  69.21

  Birmingham HA

  69.15

  West Kent HA

  69.04

  South Essex HA

  68.56

  Shropshire HA

  68.37

  North Staffordshire HA

  68.28

  West Surrey HA

  67.98

  East London and The City HA

  67.83

  Worcestershire HA

  67.00

  Hillingdon HA

  65.57

  329

  Percentage of abortions performed by the NHS by health authorities in England and Wales 19971

  Area of usual residence

  Per cent.

  South Staffordshire HA

  65.51

  East Surrey HA

  64.83

  South Lancashire HA

  64.62

  West Pennine HA

  64.61

  North Essex HA

  63.97

  Stockport HA

  63.95

  Bury and Rochdale HA

  63.82

  Camden and Islington HA

  63.80

  East and North Hertfordshire HA

  63.75

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA

  63.73

  Dorset HA

  63.36

  Dudley HA

  63.26

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA

  62.27

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA

  62.12

  Bromley HA

  61.24

  Barking and Havering HA

  60.04

  Barnet HA

  59.32

  Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster HA

  58.55

  Wiltshire HA

  58.30

  Salford and Trafford HA

  57.88

  West Hertfordshire HA

  57.88

  Berkshire HA

  54.51

  West Sussex HA

  53.24

  Enfield and Haringey HA

  53.18

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA

  53.08

  Kingston and Richmond HA

  52.17

  Wolverhampton HA

  51.84

  Less than 50 per cent.

  Solihull HA

  47.43

  North and Mid Hampshire HA

  47.18

  North West Lancashire HA

  45.40

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA

  42.25

  1 Provisional figures relating to notifications received by 19 May 1998, in respect of terminations performed during 1997 under the Abortion Act 1967 on women normally resident in England and Wales

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of abortions for residents in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland was funded by the NHS in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997. [48441]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Fiona Mactaggart, dated July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on abortions.
  The percentage of abortions for residents in (a) England; (b) Wales and (c) Scotland funded by the NHS in 1996 and 1997 is as follows:

  Percentage

  1996

  1997

  England

  72

  72

  Wales

  85

  87

  Scotland

  99

  98

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to transfer responsibility for investigations of alleged insider dealing and decisions on prosecutions to the CPS. [48604]
  330
  Mrs. Liddell
  The Director of Public Prosecutions, along with the DTI and the SFO, already has powers to take criminal prosecutions of insider dealing.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what deficiencies he has identified in the operation of the law on insider dealing; and what further legislation he plans in this area. [48602]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Insider dealing legislation is kept under continuous review. As part of our planned reform of the financial regulatory system, we intend to bring forward proposals to give the Financial Services Authority powers to prosecute insider dealing. DTI, SFO and DPP will retain concurrent powers. In addition, as a complement to the criminal law, we intend to introduce a new civil fines regime which will allow the Financial Services Authority to impose fines on any person or firm who engages in market abuse, including misuse of inside information.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the consultation paper on emissions and vehicle excise duty will be published. [48277]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: A consultation document seeking views on the options for reforming vehicle excise duty will be published shortly.

  VAT Registration (North-west)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses (i) registered and (ii) deregistered for VAT in(a) Pendle and (b) the North-West in each year since 1990. [48599]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs hold information only concerning the number of businesses registered and deregistered each year by region. The North West Regional VAT Registration Unit in Liverpool covers Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The number of businesses registered and deregistered since 1990 is as follows:

  Year

  Registrations

  Deregistrations

  1990

  20,574

  16,015

  1991

  18,644

  21,484

  1992

  17,326

  21,370

  1993

  16,412

  20,752

  1994

  15,174

  18,600

  1995

  18,699

  17,154

  1996

  18,269

  14,196

  1997

  20,455

  15,308

  1998 (to end May)

  8,491

  6,034

  Bereavement Allowance
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's policy on the question of equalising the treatment of sexes in respect of the bereavement allowance; and if he will make a statement. [48504]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 2 July 1998]: We are looking carefully at all aspects of the tax system that might be seen as discriminatory. We are considering the

  331
  wider implications of any changes to the rules for the Widow's Bereavement Allowance, particularly in the Social Security field. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent of mis-selling of free-standing additional voluntary contributions; and if he will make a statement. [48776]

  Mrs. Liddell
  None. That is a matter for the Financial Services Authority.

  Merchant Navy
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received concerning the impact on UK shipping of different taxation regimes in EU countries; and if he will make a statement; [48542]

  (2) what representations he has received concerning low recruitment of cadets for the Merchant Navy; and if he will make a statement. [48541]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have received 54 letters from MPs on behalf of their constituents, and 7 from members of the public about the Chamber of Shipping's leaflet entitled "British Shipping Delivering for Britain" which includes references to the taxation regimes in some EU countries and the level of recruitment of new cadets for the Merchant Navy.

  The Government are committed to increasing seafarer training and have introduced a new seafarer training support scheme—SMarT—which consolidates and expands on the previous training support schemes. We have allocated 30 per cent. more to SMarT than the total grant payments under the previous scheme in 1997–98 when 465 cadets were recruited. Under SMarT we have already agreed funding for 643 new cadets this year.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  India and Pakistan
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if it is the Government's policy that the World Bank should be allowed to give support to India and Pakistan following their recent announcement of nuclear testing. [47609]

  Clare Short
  The G8 Foreign Ministers communiqué of 12 June points out that the recent nuclear tests by both India and Pakistan have endangered the region's security and prospects for economic growth. The Ministers called on both countries to take positive action to defuse tension in the region and encouraged peaceful resolution to the differences between them.

  The Ministers also agreed not to oppose loans from the World Bank and other international financial institutions for basic human needs but, in the light of the economic and financial implications of the test for both countries, to work for postponement in consideration of other IFI
  332
  loans. The British Government are examining case by case those proposals for new loans due to come forward for consideration in the World Bank and other IFIs to examine whether they meet basic human needs and have a positive impact on the poor.

  Sudan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what levels of aid have been given to Sudan in each month between September 1997 and May 1998. [48903]

  Clare Short
  The table of monthly aid expenditure to Sudan is as follows:

  Month

  Expenditure (£)

  September 1997

  2,063,508

  October 1997

  164,334

  November 1997

  103,435

  December 1997

  296,091

  January 1998

  136,094

  February 1998

  12,137,807

  March 1998

  1,285,141

  Prior year payments

  9,787

  April 1998

  454,926

  May 1998

  233,670

  Total September-May

  6,884,793

  June 1998

  3,648,824

  Total September-June

  10,533,617

  1 Includes £1.9 million allocated from the UK Bilateral General Account held by the World Food Programme to support its food aid operations in Sudan

  Funds are paid to international NGOs and United Nations agencies against clear evidence of need and a detailed budget. Further payments totalling £13 million to the World Food Programme and ICRC will appear in the July figures. We are also considering commitments of up to £5 million to NGOs operating in other vulnerable regions of Sudan.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department received from which NGOs in each month between September 1997 and May 1998 concerning the situation in Southern Sudan. [48902]

  Clare Short
  Southern Sudan faces chronic problems every year. This year's problems were greatly aggravated by the fact that access to vulnerable populations was not possible in February and March.

  The first formal indications of an impending crisis were contained in the FAO Crop Assessment Report dated December 1997 incorporated into the draft 1998 UN Consolidated Appeal for Sudan. We have been in regular contact with NGOs working in Sudan. World Vision (WV), Save the Children Fund (SCF) and Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) first expressed their concern about Bahr El Ghazal in February and we provided support for their emergency programmes.

  In May we approved funding for further humanitarian activities by SCF, MSF, CARE and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Other proposals were received from Christian Aid/CAFOD, SCF, ACROSS, TearFund, GOAL, WV and Norwegian People's Aid.