Written Answers of 8 July 1998

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list(a) the number of damage notices served under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 and (b) the number of damage notices rejected in each of the last three years. [49262]

  Mr. Battle
  Figures for 1997/98 are not yet available. The number of new claims received by the Coal Authority and the coal companies in the period 1994/95–1996/97 was:

  1996–97: 8,958

  1995–96: 9,259

  1994–95: 10,582

  The number of claims rejected was:

  1996–97: 2,872

  1995–96: 3,797

  1994–95: 3,915

  Source:
  The Coal Authority's Annual Reports to the President of the Board of Trade on the administration of coal-mining subsidence damage claims, 1994/95–1996/97.

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many claimants have pursued cases of coal mining subsidence damage through the general arbitration scheme in each year since its inception; and what was the amount of awards made to successful claimants in each year.[49102]

  Mr. Battle
  The Annual Report of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators lists the number of cases registered under the Householders' Arbitration Scheme and the General Arbitration Scheme as 71 in 1993, 97 in 1994, 130 in 1995, 156 in 1996, and 122 in 1997.

  The Chartered Institute does not separately publish references registered under the two Schemes. However, it advises that, from March 1997 to 3 July 1998, ten cases were registered under the General Scheme, and 155 under the Householders' Scheme.

  The arbitration procedure is private between the parties, and the content of any Award is known only to the Arbitrator and the two parties concerned.

  ABI Group
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1), pursuant to her letter of 11 May 1998, when her Department' s Redundancy Payments Service will complete its scrutiny of claims for payments under the Employment Rights Act 1996 from former employees of the ABI Group; [48808]
  518
  (2) what are the reasons for delays in processing claims by her Department's Redundancy Payments Service from former employees of the ABI Group who are seeking payments under the Employment Rights Act 1996. [48807]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: Information came to light after 11 May suggesting a possible transfer of the business, or part of it, to a new employer within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. Those Regulations provide that, where such a transfer takes place, employees automatically transfer to the new employer under existing terms and conditions of employment. Further inquiries were therefore made as a matter of urgency.

  Sufficient information has now been received to establish entitlement on some claims and they are being processed. Information remains outstanding in other cases and is being sought as a matter of urgency.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when her Department's Redundancy Payments Service received from the Receiver the redundancy payment forms relating to former employees of the ABI Group who are seeking payments under the Employment Rights Act 1996. [48809]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Department's Redundancy Payments Service received the first tranche of these employees' claim forms from the Receiver on 19 May 1998.

  Solar Products
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to encourage the building of new production capacity for solar products in the United Kingdom. [48893]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources. In June 1997 I initiated a review of new and renewable energy policy, including what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK's electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010. The Review is considering what further Government support might be given to encourage the development of all forms of renewable energy, including solar power.

  I have also visited the photovoltaic (PV) roof at Ford's plant in Bridgend (which has panels supplied by BP Solar) and the Intersolar factory in South Wales.

  The UK is competitive with any other country in Europe as a location for new production plants. Amongst the attractions are low corporation tax, low costs of production, an established enterprise culture, a skilled adaptable workforce, and an established industrial infrastructure. My Department would be pleased to talk to any companies which are thinking of setting up a solar manufacturing plant in this country, and to advise them on the range of incentives available, such as Regional Selective Assistance and other Enterprise grants.

  Multinational Enterprises
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current review of the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. [49159]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Government fully support the review of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which was formally launched last month. The first phase of the review, a stocktaking and examination of experience of the guidelines, will provide a basis for determining which areas of the guidelines require revision or updating. This Department will continue to consult widely with other Government Departments and with business, trade unions, and interested NGOs in preparing detailed positions on the issues addressed by the guidelines.

  Toys (Phthalates)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent advice her Department has issued to toy retailers in respect of toys containing phthalates. [49203]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 1 July 1998, Official Report, columns 214–15, on the use of phthalates in toys. Since that reply, the European Commission has issued a statement recommending that Member States take steps to ensure that the migration of phthalates from PVC child-care articles and toys on their markets do not exceed the limits proposed by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity, and Environment. I welcome the Commission's statement—it vindicates the approach the UK has taken in discussions with the Commission and other Member States. Manufacturers' and retailers' representatives are aware of the Commission's statement.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Insurance
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the meetings(a) he and (b) the Lord Chancellor has had with Mr. Brian Raincock of Litigation Protection to discuss legal insurance. [48614]

  Mr. Hoon
  Both the Lord Chancellor and I have had a number of meetings with various representatives of the insurance industry, in the context of our proposals for the expansion of conditional fee arrangements. The Lord Chancellor met representatives of the Association of British Insurers and seven insurance companies, including Mr. Raincock, on 9 December 1997. I held a briefing session for legal journalists on 31 March 1998 along with others, including Mr. Raincock, interested in the Government's reforms in this area. I also spoke at a conference on 30 June 1998 organised by Neil Stewart Associates, which was chaired by Mr. Raincock.
  520
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he last met Mr. Brian Raincock of Litigation Protection to discuss the insurance of conditional fee arrangements. [48613]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have had no formal meetings with Mr. Raincock. I last met Mr. Raincock at a conference on 30 June 1998, organised by Neil Stewart Associates, which he chaired.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the(a) viability and (b) integrity of Litigation Protection as a provider of conditional fee arrangement insurance. [48612]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Department has a continuing dialogue with the insurance industry about developing the market in insurance products to underpin the use of conditional fees. That has not involved us in undertaking an assessment of particular products or individual providers.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current average time that elapses between an application to become a magistrate and(a) the interview and (b) the outcome of the interview being made known to the candidate; and if he will make a statement. [48493]

  Mr. Hoon
  Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace normally make recommendations to the Lord Chancellor only once a year. The length of time a candidate must wait, from making an application to being informed of its outcome, depends on when an application is made in relation to the point in the year when recommendations are made. The Lord Chancellor directs his Advisory Committees to keep candidates informed of the progress of their applications at all stages.

  Public Registers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the public registers which his Department has responsibility for. [47350]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department or its Agencies are responsible for the following public registers:Court Service Headquarters

  Register of County Court Judgments (administered by the Registry Trust Ltd.)

  The Register of bailiffs holding a general certificate to levy distress for rent.

  Principal Registry of the Family Division
  Probate Calender—record of all grants issued in England and Wales since 1895
  Royal Courts of Justice

  Petitions for Bankruptcy, applications for interim orders, and applications to set aside Statutory Demands

  Petitions for administration issues in the Companies Court

  Winding up Petitions issued in England and Wales

  Local Election Petitions

  Parliamentary Election Petitions

  521

  Deeds Poll Register

  Bill of Sale Register

  Book Debt Register

  Public Trust Office

  Register of unclaimed balances

  Register of Enduring Powers of Attorney

  Register of Notices served on the Public Trustee under Section 18 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994

  Lands Tribunal

  References

  Law of Property Act 1925 Section 84 Applications

  Rating Appeals

  Leasehold Reform Appeals

  Absent Owner Applications

  Rights of Light Act 1959 applications

  Appeals against Determinations of the Inland Revenue

  Land Registry

  Registers of Title

  Register of Agricultural Charges

  Register of Land Charges

  Register of Pending Actions

  Register of Writs and Orders

  Register of Deeds of Arrangement

  Register of Annuities

  Index of Proprietors' Names

  Northern Ireland Court Service
  The following are all registers within the Northern Ireland Court Service which the public have access to in whole or part:
  Supreme Court

  Queen's Bench Writs/Cause

  Queen's Bench Judgments

  Court of Appeal Register

  Bankruptcy Register

  Companies (Winding Up) Register

  Probate Register

  Matrimonial Register

  Crown and County Court

  Crown Court Book

  Civil Bill Book

  Small Claims Register

  Criminal Injuries Register

  Equity Register

  Divorce Register

  Default Judgment Register

  Magistrates' Court

  Intoxicating Liquor Licences Register

  Registered Clubs Register

  Bookmarkers Licences Register

  Bookmaking Office Licences Register

  Bingo Club Licences Register

  Gaming Machine Certificates Register

  Gaming Machine Permits Register

  Lottery Certificates Register

  Enforcement of Judgments Office
  Register of Judgments.

  A number of registers are kept within the Magistrates' Courts in England. and Wales but they are the responsibility of the Justices Clerks rather than the Lord Chancellor's Department and so are not included.

SCOTLAND

  Lottery Funding
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much National Lottery funding has been distributed by(a) the Scottish Sports Council and (b) the Scottish Arts Council for projects in (i) Paisley, South constituency and (ii) Renfrewshire. [48485]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is given in the table.

  £

  Distributing body

  Paisley, South

  Renfrewshire

  Scottish Sports Council

  —

  1681,575

  Scottish Arts Council

  69,520

  2241,312

  1Figure relates to capital projects only and refers to the pre-1996 constituency of Renfrew, West and Inverclyde

  2Figure relates to projects in the local government area of Renfrewshire and includes figure quoted for Paisley, South

  Unemployment
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance over the age of 25 in Paisley, South have been unemployed for more than two years. [48487]

  Mr. Wilson
  In April 1998, there were 361 people in the Paisley, South constituency aged 25 and over who had been claiming unemployment related benefits for over two years.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the (i) percentage and (ii) amount of the fee income paid to further education colleges in February which related to expenditure required to be met in the third term in the academic year, relating to next financial year. [48300]

  Mr. Wilson
  For the 1997–98 academic year tuition fees for full time higher education students have been paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in three instalments, one third in October, one third in February and one third in April. From academic year 1998–99, those fees payable by SAAS will be paid in a single instalment, in February. Approximately one third, or £8 million, of the amount to be paid to further education colleges in February 1999 will relate to expenditure on tuition during the third term of the 1998–99 academic year.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how staff numbers in his Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48876]
  523
  Mr. Dewar
  Details of the number of permanent staff in The Scottish Office, expressed in full-time equivalents, at 1 May 1997 and 1 April 1998 are shown in the table.

  1 May 1997

  1 April 1998

  Percentage change

  Scottish Office Core

  3,489.1

  3,436.5

  -1.5

  Executive Agencies:

  Fisheries Research Service

  217.9

  227.0

  +4.2

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  254.0

  255.6

  +0.6

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  123.2

  121.0

  -1.8

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  152.1

  143.5

  -5.7

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  122.3

  125.8

  +2.9

  Historic Scotland

  592.7

  626.8

  +5.8

  Scottish Prison Service

  14,531.0

  4,723.0

  +4.2

  1Figure relates to the position as at 1 April 1997

  Respiratory Disease
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many emergency admissions to hospitals where the diagnosis related to a respiratory disease other than influenza there were in each month in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995 and (iv) 1996 in respect of patients aged(a) 0 to 14, (b) 14 to 64 and (c) 64 years and over. [48986]

  Number of emergency admissions where a respiratory diagnosis1 excluding influenza was recorded

  Age group (years)

  Year of admission

  Month of admission

  under 15

  15–64

  65+

  Total

  1993

  January

  1,337

  1,542

  2,674

  5,553

  February

  1,648

  1,338

  2,239

  5,225

  March

  1,546

  1,692

  2,906

  6,144

  April

  1,061

  1,338

  2,386

  4,785

  May

  1,147

  1,425

  2,207

  4,779

  June

  1,132

  1,397

  2,178

  4,707

  July

  872

  1,356

  2,003

  4,231

  August

  909

  1,358

  1,965

  4,232

  September

  1,381

  1,467

  2,071

  4,919

  October

  1,679

  1,952

  2,810

  6,441

  November

  1,945

  1,962

  3,713

  7,620

  December

  2,144

  1,783

  3,190

  7,117

  Total

  16,801

  18,610

  30,342

  65,753

  1994

  January

  1,587

  1,786

  3,067

  6,440

  February

  1,216

  1,429

  2,304

  4,949

  March

  1,214

  1,569

  2,474

  5,257

  April

  966

  1,450

  2,354

  4,770

  May

  1,141

  1,575

  2,280

  4,996

  June

  1,033

  1,455

  2,263

  4,751

  July

  751

  1,395

  2,229

  4,375

  August

  722

  1,511

  2,040

  4,273

  September

  1,143

  1,557

  2,188

  4,888

  October

  1,174

  1,651

  2,303

  5,128

  November

  1,532

  1,594

  2,216

  5,342

  December

  1,955

  1,758

  2,792

  6,505

  Total

  14,434

  18,730

  28,510

  61,674

  1995

  January

  1,548

  1,841

  2,946

  6,335

  February

  1,453

  1,477

  2,458

  5,388

  March

  1,357

  1,742

  2,737

  5,836

  April

  955

  1,569

  2,452

  4,976

  May

  984

  1,691

  2,498

  5,173

  June

  1,011

  1,687

  2,354

  5,052

  July

  705

  1,612

  2,312

  4,629

  August

  665

  1,594

  2,145

  4,404

  September

  1,120

  1,866

  2,276

  5,262

  524
  Figures are shown separately for the policy core and Executive Agencies of The Scottish Office.

  Mr. Galbraith
  The number of emergency admissions to NHS hospitals in Scotland, where a diagnosis related to a respiratory disease other than influenza was recorded in each month in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 in respect of patients aged under 15, 15 to 64 and 65 years and over is given in the table.
  525

  Number of emergency admissions where a respiratory diagnosis1 excluding influenza was recorded

  Age group (years)

  Year of admission

  Month of admission

  under 15

  15–64

  65+

  Total

  October

  1,221

  1,953

  2,537

  5,711

  November

  2,067

  2,150

  3,116

  7,333

  December

  2,505

  2,280

  4,457

  9,242

  Total

  15,591

  21,462

  32,288

  69,341

  1996

  January

  1,934

  2,133

  3,801

  7,868

  February

  1,458

  1,664

  2,568

  5,690

  March

  1,291

  1,809

  2,771

  5,871

  April

  980

  1,799

  2,785

  5,564

  May

  1,120

  1,693

  2,665

  5,478

  June

  994

  1,656

  2,480

  5,130

  July

  783

  1,621

  2,361

  4,765

  August

  784

  1,662

  2,288

  4,734

  September

  1,121

  1,643

  2,324

  5,088

  October

  906

  1,654

  2,524

  5,084

  November

  1,162

  1,647

  2,555

  5,364

  December

  1,871

  2,297

  4,001

  8,169

  Total

  14,404

  21,278

  33,123

  68,805

  1Respiratory diagnosis, excluding influenza—cases selected from relevant codes based on the Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th Revisions (ICD9 & ICD10 respectively), the codes used were ICD9 460–519, excluding 487 and ICD10 J00–J99, excluding J10–J1

  Source:

  ISD Scotland, SMR1/SMR01

  Disabled Voters
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning access for disabled people to polling stations during the Scottish parliamentary elections. [49325]

  Mr. McLeish
  We have received no representations directly concerning the Scottish Parliamentary elections. However, my officials, together with representatives from Capability Scotland, have recently held 2 seminars attended by officials from local authorities in Scotland responsible for electoral arrangements to highlight improvements which can be made to access at polling stations.

  Police (Firearms)
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers in Scotland are authorised to carry firearms. [49340]

  Mr. McLeish
  In 1997, the most recent year for which figures are available, there were 723 police officers in Scotland authorised to carry firearms in the strictly limited circumstances covered in guidelines issued by the Secretary of State in 1984.

  Burncrooks Waterworks (Contamination Incident)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to publish the report of Robert Fraser into the diesel contamination incident at the Burncrooks Waterworks in December 1997. [49977]

  Mr. Dewar
  I am publishing Mr. Fraser's report today. I have placed copies of the report in the libraries of both Houses.

  Repossession Orders
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were to each court district in each of the months of April, May and June 1997 and the month of April 1998. [49208]

  Mr. Dewar
  Figures in relation to repossession of property by mortgage lenders have been collected by the courts since a revised system of collecting Civil Judicial Statistics was instituted on 1 January 1994. The figures for the months of April, May and June 1997 and the month of April 1998 are shown in the table.

  Mortgage Lender

  Court

  April 1997

  May 1997

  June 1997

  April 1998

  Aberdeen

  1

  28

  8

  15

  Airdrie

  16

  18

  12

  3

  Alloa

  2

  0

  9

  5

  Arbroath

  0

  3

  8

  10

  Ayr

  7

  12

  12

  18

  Banff

  0

  0

  1

  2

  Campbeltown

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Cupar

  6

  4

  1

  3

  Dingwall

  1

  0

  0

  2

  Dornoch

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Dumbarton

  10

  5

  17

  19

  Dumfries

  4

  1

  1

  4

  Dundee

  15

  16

  10

  12

  Dunfermline

  0

  15

  17

  11

  Dunoon

  2

  1

  2

  1

  Duns

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Edinburgh

  55

  46

  39

  42

  Elgin

  4

  1

  1

  4

  Falkirk

  5

  12

  10

  9

  Forfar

  3

  2

  1

  4

  Fort William

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Glasgow

  87

  56

  109

  63

  Greenock

  2

  0

  5

  5

  Haddington

  7

  4

  5

  6

  527

  Mortgage Lender

  Court

  April 1997

  May 1997

  June 1997

  April 1998

  Hamilton

  29

  23

  0

  0

  Inverness

  13

  6

  9

  10

  Jedburgh

  0

  0

  0

  6

  Kilmarnock

  17

  3

  0

  10

  Kirkcaldy

  20

  17

  17

  23

  Kirkcudbright

  0

  1

  2

  0

  Kirkwall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lanark

  7

  4

  4

  6

  Lerwick

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Linlithgow

  18

  11

  13

  25

  Lochmaddy

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oban

  1

  2

  0

  3

  Paisley

  24

  0

  25

  0

  Peebles

  2

  0

  0

  1

  Perth

  10

  5

  4

  10

  Peterhead

  2

  5

  8

  4

  Portree

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rothesay

  2

  0

  0

  3

  Selkirk

  5

  4

  1

  3

  Stirling

  5

  3

  6

  6

  Stonehaven

  4

  5

  3

  5

  Stornoway

  3

  0

  1

  2

  Stranraer

  0

  3

  2

  3

  Tain

  2

  2

  0

  0

  Wick

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grand Total

  391

  318

  368

  361

  Knee joint replacement

  Mean wait (days)

  Area of residence

  31 March 1992

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1994

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1997

  31 March 19981

  Argyll and Clyde

  160

  163

  152

  148

  129

  151

  189

  Ayrshire and Arran

  125

  124

  124

  118

  105

  102

  109

  Borders

  85

  61

  76

  78

  90

  97

  90

  Dumfries and Galloway

  230

  205

  290

  276

  239

  217

  204

  Fife

  163

  150

  133

  155

  106

  87

  131

  Forth Valley

  143

  207

  233

  227

  251

  237

  238

  Grampian

  73

  102

  97

  82

  88

  106

  94

  Greater Glasgow

  133

  109

  162

  172

  173

  193

  216

  Highland

  227

  193

  206

  182

  211

  206

  182

  Lanarkshire

  117

  117

  140

  179

  170

  158

  125

  Lothian

  159

  177

  141

  173

  174

  168

  145

  Orkney

  41

  35

  38

  39

  48

  34

  74

  Shetland

  33

  45

  86

  118

  132

  109

  109

  Tayside

  138

  136

  110

  109

  102

  129

  141

  Western Isles

  234

  263

  145

  136

  121

  78

  75

  Scotland

  146

  145

  146

  152

  145

  149

  155

  Hip joint replacement

  Mean wait (days)

  Area of residence

  31 March 1992

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1994

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1997

  31 March 19981

  Argyll and Clyde

  132

  121

  127

  123

  120

  141

  144

  Ayrshire and Arran

  105

  130

  97

  96

  93

  83

  113

  Borders

  68

  63

  68

  76

  82

  85

  86

  Dumfries and Galloway

  196

  225

  218

  233

  184

  153

  136

  Fife

  131

  114

  131

  138

  107

  83

  115

  Forth Valley

  105

  158

  176

  193

  186

  169

  175

  Grampian

  81

  95

  90

  81

  81

  90

  82

  Greater Glasgow

  127

  127

  145

  149

  158

  176

  184

  Highland

  185

  144

  159

  153

  201

  191

  182

  Lanarkshire

  104

  125

  140

  146

  139

  114

  116

  Lothian

  130

  150

  128

  159

  154

  143

  133

  Orkney

  40

  39

  24

  36

  44

  48

  55

  Shetland

  24

  48

  100

  100

  77

  108

  92

  Tayside

  112

  107

  94

  111

  99

  108

  122

  528
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were to each court district in each quarter of 1992–93. [49211]

  Mr. Dewar
  Information as to orders for mortgage repossession for each court district in 1992 and 1993 are included in the returns relating to all actions involving land or heritable estate which are supplied to the courts for the purposes of the Judicial Statistics (Scotland) Act 1869 and cannot be identified separately.

  Health Service
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the actual or estimated payments(a) in real terms, (b) in cash terms and (c) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland to NHS trust chairs and non-executive directors in the year 1997–98. [49210]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Details for 1997–98 are not yet available. Provisional figures will be available from 31 August 1998.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average waiting times for each Scottish health board for(a) knee and (b) hip joint replacement operations at 31 March in each year since 1992. [49209]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The meaning waiting time for knee and hip joint replacement operations at 31 March in each year since 1992 is given in the table.
  529

  Hip joint replacement

  Mean wait (days)

  Area of residence

  31 March 1992

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1994

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1997

  31 March 19981

  Western Isles

  141

  153

  123

  90

  77

  66

  59

  Scotland

  121

  127

  126

  133

  128

  126

  131

  1Provisional

  Source

  SMR1/SMR01

  Women Prisoners
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 3 June 1998,Official Report, columns 281–82, on women prisoners, what percentage of female prisoners in each year were incarcerated for non-payment of fines. [49206]

  Mr. McLeish
  The information provided in the table relates to all sentenced female receptions, both direct and fine default, to the Scottish prison system by type of sentence. The table also provides details of the percentage of female prisoners in each year who were incarcerated for fine default.

  Total number of sentenced female receptions to Scottish prison system, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1996–97 and 1997–98 by type of sentence

  Year

  Total number of sentenced female receptions1

  Total number of fine default female receptions

  Fine default female receptions as a percentage of total sentenced female receptions

  1978–79

  731

  381

  52

  1979–80

  656

  292

  45

  1986–87

  1,220

  698

  57

  1987–88

  1,216

  623

  51

  1996–97

  1,325

  722

  54

  1997–98

  1,141

  575

  50

  1Excludes borstal sentences; of which there were 38 in 1978–79 and 36 in 1979–80

  School Curriculum
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses were received by the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum on the place of Scottish culture in the curriculum; and when he expects the report to be published. [49274]

  Mr. Wilson
  This is a matter for the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum since the report of their Review Group on Scottish Culture and the Curriculum has not been submitted to the Secretary of State. A decision not to publish the report was taken by the Council at its meeting on 19 June.

DEFENCE

  Army Tactical Reconnaissance Capability
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Army's future tactical reconnaissance capability. [50040]
  530
  Mr. Spellar
  The Strategic Defence Review has emphasised the importance of investment in the area of fast, detailed and accurate intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, known as ISTAR. This is not only vital for combat operations, but also for many peace support operations.

  We have, therefore, decided to undertake a programme of work aimed at enhancing the Army's tactical reconnaissance capability. This involves an integrated series of studies into future sensors, land reconnaissance vehicles and unmanned air vehicles. These studies will enable us to identify the most cost-effective mix of reconnaissance sensors and platforms to meet our future needs.

  As part of this programme, we will conduct with the United States a collaborative Project Definition study which will examine sensors, sensor integration and the vehicles needed to meet our armies' future manned land-based reconnaissance requirements. This joint project is known as the Armoured Scout and Reconnaissance Vehicle, ASRV, and seeks to provide a highly mobile, stealthy battlefield reconnaissance capability. A Memorandum of Understanding with the United States has now been signed, and an Invitation to Tender will be released to industry in the near future. The United Kingdom element of ASRV is known as TRACER—Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement. The United Kingdom will be an equal partner with the United States in this project, which will have major benefits for the United Kingdom armed forces and industry.

  In parallel, we are conducting national studies into the use of Unmanned Air and Land Vehicles for meeting the Army's future reconnaissance requirements. The sensor and sensor integration work carried out under the ASRV project will inform this work. We are also examining the scope for collaboration with the United States on the Unmanned Air Vehicle element of the programme.

  Multiple Launch Rocket System
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on a future rocket for the Multiple Launch Rocket System. [50046]

  Mr. Spellar
  The United Kingdom intends to join the collaborative programme to develop a guided rocket for the Multiple Launch Rocket System, MLRS. This guided rocket will replace the current MLRS rocket, which begins to reach the end of its service life early next century. The new rocket will have a greater range and accuracy than current rockets.
  531
  Guided MLRS is expected to be developed collaboratively with the US, France, Germany, and Italy, our partners in the original, highly successful MLRS programme.

  RAF Squadrons
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the personnel numbers for(a) the full strength and (b) the current strength of each RAF squadron. [44188]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 10 June 1998]: The table gives the figures for the establishment of each RAF operational Squadron, and the number of established posts filled as at 1 May 98.

  Squadron station

  Establishment

  Established posts filled

  Strike/attack

  9 Sqn Bruggen

  177

  169

  12 Sqn Lossiemouth

  175

  163

  14 Sqn Bruggen

  177

  164

  17 Sqn Bruggen

  177

  163

  31 Sqn Bruggen

  175

  165

  617 Sqn Lossiemouth

  178

  162

  Offensive support

  1 Sqn Wittering

  173

  158

  3 Sqn Laarbruch

  165

  158

  4 Sqn Laarbruch

  168

  154

  6 Sqn Coltishall

  135

  122

  54 Sqn Coltishall

  134

  119

  Air defence

  5 Sqn Coningsby

  179

  169

  11 Sqn Leeming

  194

  181

  25 Sqn Leeming

  192

  178

  29 Sqn Coningsby

  180

  168

  43 Sqn Leuchars

  193

  184

  111 Sqn Leuchars

  193

  181

  Airborne early warning

  8 Sqn Waddington

  102

  90

  23 Sqn Waddington

  89

  77

  Maritime patrol

  120 Sqn Kinloss

  125

  118

  201 Sqn Kinloss

  125

  123

  206 Sqn Kinloss

  126

  114

  Reconnaissance

  2 Sqn Marham

  222

  211

  13 Sqn Marham

  221

  207

  39 Sqn Marham

  126

  118

  41 Sqn Coltishall

  204

  190

  51 Sqn Waddington

  216

  178

  Air transport/tankers

  10 Sqn Brize Norton

  333

  310

  101 Sqn Brize Norton

  244

  217

  216 Sqn Brize Norton

  350

  309

  Air transport

  24 Sqn Lyneham

  117

  110

  30 Sqn Lyneham

  118

  115

  32 Sqn Northolt

  85

  59

  47 Sqn Lyneham

  129

  125

  70 Sqn Lyneham

  121

  114

  532

  Squadron station

  Establishment

  Established posts filled

  Support helicopters

  7 Sqn Odiham

  220

  200

  18 Sqn Odiham

  201

  185

  27 Sqn Odiham

  209

  170

  33 Sqn Benson

  182

  156

  72 Sqn Aldergrove

  165

  163

  78 Sqn Mount Pleasant

  41

  37

  84 Sqn Akrotiri

  57

  42

  230 Sqn Aldergrove

  181

  167

  Search and rescue

  22 Sqn St. Mawgan

  9

  8

  A Flt Chivenor

  53

  50

  B Flt Wattisham

  55

  52

  C Flt Valley

  51

  49

  202 Sqn Boulmer

  60

  57

  D Flt Lossiemouth

  54

  53

  E Flt Leconfield

  50

  48

  RAF regiment

  1 Sqn RAF Regt

  164

  141

  2 Sqn RAF Regt

  164

  102

  3 Sqn RAF Regt

  131

  119

  15 Sqn RAF Regt

  108

  99

  16 Sqn RAF Regt

  108

  100

  26 Sqn RAF Regt

  108

  88

  27 Sqn RAF Regt

  78

  71

  34 Sqn RAF Regt

  163

  146

  37 Sqn RAF Regt

  108

  95

  63 Sqn RAF Regt

  122

  111

  8,858

  8,052

  Notes:

  1. Service posts only

  2. Excludes station staffs not covered by squadron establishments

  Public Registers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public registers which his Department has responsibility for. [47358]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 29 June 1998]: We have no requirement for a central record of such registers for which the Ministry of Defence is responsible.

  Major Eric Joyce
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action, under Queen's Regulations, is being taken against Major Eric Joyce, Adjutant-General's Corps in respect of his participation in the selection process as a parliamentary candidate for the Scottish Parliament. [48336]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 2 July 1998]: Administrative action in respect of Major Joyce's future in the Army has been in hand for some time. No disciplinary action is currently being taken against Major Joyce.

  Royal Navy Establishment
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) current establishment and (b) actual current manning levels of (i) the Royal Navy as a whole, (ii) the Fleet Air Arm, (iii) the Royal Marines, (iv) the Royal Marine Reserve and (v) the Royal Naval Reserve. [47547]
  533
  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 25 June 1998]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Microfinance
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made to British banking institutions concerning their support for micro-credit financing in developing countries. [49315]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) has engaged with a number of UK based banks to involve them in support to particular bilateral microfinance projects in Bangladesh and Kenya. DFID is a very active member of the World Bank based Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) which is currently devoting considerable attention to developing methodologies to involve the formal banking sector in microfinance. For the past two years DFID has supported a series of round table discussions on microfinance at the London based Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI). These meetings involved a variety of financial institutions from the City and resulted in a well received publication on mainstreaming microfinance. DFID has also recently established a Working Group on Financial Service, the first meeting of which was attended by a number of bankers and is likely to lead to the creation of a sub-committee specifically concerned with involving British financial institutions in microfinance in developing countries.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects in Indonesia supported by her Department which have been cancelled or reviewed by the Indonesian Government in the last 12 months(a) as a condition of IMF assistance to Indonesia, (b) as a result of links with the family of former President Suharto and (c) for other reasons, in each case specifying (i) the reason, (ii) the nature of the project and (iii) the expenditure incurred to date; and if she will make a statement. [49353]

  Clare Short
  We know of two projects, both concerned with power supply, that have been reviewed by the Government of Indonesia. They are:

  (a) 150/500 KV sub-stations and

  (b) Outer islands diesel generation.

  Work on (a) has been suspended. Discussions continue on both projects. They are existing commitments supported from the Aid and Trade Provision. DFID expenditure to date on (a) has been £14.473 million while (b) has not yet commenced. The reviews are a direct response to the overall economic situation.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of aid commitment her Department plans to make at the forthcoming meeting of the Consultative Groups on Indonesia, specifying the amounts which will be provided as(a) budgetary support,
  534
  (b) project aid and (c) humanitarian aid; and to what extent the commitment will be dependent on political reforms in Indonesia and East Timor. [49334]

  Clare Short
  Discussions are continuing in the run-up to the Consultative Group meeting on 28–30 July. To address the current crisis, urgent action is needed by the Government of Indonesia to implement economic and political reform, supported by a concerted international effort. We are already making a substantial contribution through our membership of the International Financial Institutions and in other ways. We are considering what more we might do. In particular, my Department is looking at options for providing rapid assistance through civil society organisations to particularly vulnerable groups affected by the crisis.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contingency plans her Department is making in the event of the failure of computer systems to recognise the year 2000; when she expects them to be in place, and tested; and if she will make a statement.[48840]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments are addressing contingency planning within their overall year 2000 programmes to ensure that systems will not fail before, during, or after the year 2000. The plans are due to be in place by December 1998 and will be tested by the Departments during 1999.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how staff numbers in her Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48885]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The number of industrial and non-industrial Northern Ireland Civil Servants and Home Civil Servants in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, including those seconded to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, at 1 May 1997 and 1 April 1998 was as follows:

  Permanent

  Casual

  Total

  1 May 1997

  25,672

  1,889

  27,561

  1 April 1998

  25,270

  1,861

  27,131

  Note:

  Staff numbers are quoted as full-time equivalents where part-time staff are counted as a proportion of full-time hours worked

  Fair Treatment Analyses
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what date the policy appraisal and fair treatment analyses undertaken in relation to the impact of the proposed Criminal Justice (Children)(NI) Order was completed; and if she will place it in the Library. [48356]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: A Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment analysis of the draft Criminal Justice (Children)(NI) Order was completed in July 1997. A copy has been placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Equality of Treatment)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to secure equality of treatment between widows and widowers in the benefits system. [49106]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Gorrie) on 23 June 1997,Official Report, column 413.

  Benefits (Intensive Treatments)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what benefits are available to individuals and their carers during temporary periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments; [48932]

  (2) what research she has evaluated into the success rate of claims for disability living allowance from people undergoing periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments; [48933]

  (3) what assessment she has made of the effect of the rules for disability living allowance on those people undergoing periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments. [48934]

  Mr. Denham
  People who receive chemotherapy and their carers can qualify for Social Security benefits on the same basis as others who are sick or disabled or provide care, and discrete information about their claims is not collected.

  The benefits designed specifically to help sick or disabled people or their carers are Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity Benefit and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

  Disability Living Allowance provides help for disabled people who have had care or mobility needs for at least three months and are likely to need help with those needs for a further six months or more. People who are terminally ill and expected to live no longer than six months automatically qualify for the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance care component.

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 24 June 1998,Official Report, columns 557–58, prior to 18 May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement. [49092]

  Ms Ruddock
  Guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment has been available since 1992. Application of the guidance has been the responsibility of individual Departments.

  As Ministers for Women, we have worked to promote the need to identify any adverse differential impact on women as an integral part of the policy making process. On 18 May we launched the mainstreaming initiative across Whitehall.
  536
  Within this Department we are making use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy upon women. As an example the recently published draft legislation on pension sharing on divorce has been the subject of consultation with key organisations representing divorcing women.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is preparing a report on the impact of Social Security policies upon women which will be published shortly.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her Department's re-organisation of the Child Support Agency; and when this re-organisation will be implemented. [48324]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security on 6 July 1998,Official Report, columns 739–54.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what targets have been established by her Department for the Child Support Agency. [49363]

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Terry Davis, dated 7 July 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency targets.
  Every year the Secretary of State for Social Security sets targets for the Agency which are published in the Business Plans each March. For 1998/99 these targets generally follow a similar format to those for the previous 2 years, but with much increased levels, they are as follows:
  Child maintenance collected and arranged
  £750 million of child maintenance to be collected or arranged for direct payment from the non-resident parent to the parent with care
  Maintenance assessments
  65% of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 22 weeks and on 31 March 1999 there to be no applications outstanding over 52 weeks old
  Reviews
  Where a client is dissatisfied with a Child Support Officer's decision and requests a review; or where a change of circumstances requires a review; 80% to be cleared within 13 weeks
  Payments
  97% of payments made to the parent with care to be made within 10 working days of receipt from the non-resident parent
  Accuracy
  The cash value of all assessments checked in the year to be correct in at least 75% of cases
  The following Milestone targets have also been set:
  Review the first six months of closer working with the Benefits Agency, taking into account the views of stakeholders and produce a report by 31 December 1998
  By 30 June 1998 formalise national and local consultation arrangements with stakeholders with a view to improving customer service.
  However, Ministers have asked the Agency to carry out a review of the targets so they focus more on outputs rather than processes (for example, on the time taken to secure an actual payment rather

  537
  than to complete a formal assessment or review). Ministers will be considering our proposals, in the light of their priorities set out in the Green Paper and we plan to test them out later this year. As part of the review of targets Ministers are also likely to include a Secretary of State target on customer service.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the(a) mean and (b) median income of (i) single pensioners, (ii) pensioner couples and (iii) all pensioners living in (1) pre-1989 regulated tenancies in the private sector and (2) housing association tenancies (A) before and (B) after housing costs. [48551]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is set out in the tables.

  Incomes of pensioner units living in pre-1989 regulated tenancies in the private sector

  £ per week July 1995 prices

  Mean Income

  Median Income

  All Pensioner Units

  Net income before housing costs

  126.30

  110.10

  Net income after housing costs

  93.70

  74.00

  Pensioner Couples

  Net income before housing costs

  185.20

  163.40

  Net income after housing costs

  149.30

  122.70

  Single Pensioners

  Net income before housing costs

  109.60

  101.80

  Net income after housing costs

  77.80

  66.30

  Notes:

  1. All figures are in July 1995 prices and rounded to the nearest 10 pence

  2. Due to small sample size figures should be treated with a degree of caution

  3. All figures are based on Pensioner Units. A Pensioner Unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over the State Pension Age (SPA) or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over SPA

  4. The answer is comparable with Table 1a in the Family Resources Section of The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1995/96-Revised Edition

  Source:

  The Family Resources Survey 1995/96

  Incomes of pensioner units living in housing association tenancies

  £ per week July 1995 prices

  Mean Income

  Median Income

  All Pensioner Units

  Net income before housing costs

  130.10

  118.60

  Net income after housing costs

  85.10

  70.00

  Pensioner Couples

  Net income before housing costs

  176.80

  171.50

  Net income after housing costs

  129.20

  121.80

  Single Pensioners

  Net income before housing costs

  118.60

  110.80

  Net income after housing costs

  74.30

  65.90

  Notes:

  1. All figures are in July 1995 prices and rounded to the nearest 10 pence

  2. Due to small sample size figures should be treated with a degree of caution

  3. All figures are based on Pensioner Units. A Pensioner Unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over the State Pension Age (SPA) or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over SPA

  4. The answer is comparable with Table 1a in the Family Resources Section of The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1995/96-Revised Edition

  Source:

  The Family Resources Survey 1995–96

  Fraud
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her latest estimate of how much money the ICL Pathway Project will save through a reduced incidence of claimants-fraud in 1998, 1999 and 2000. [49503]

  Mr. Field
  Current plans assume that the project to automate benefit payments at post offices will save £1 million in 1998–99, £64 million in 1999–2000 and £135 million in 2000–2001, in addition to savings of £70 million, £52 million and £52 million from existing anti-fraud measures at post offices over the same period.
  Note:
  All figures are in today's prices.

  Benefits Agency Caller Offices
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency public caller offices were closed during the period April 1992 to May 1997; how many have been closed since May 1997; and how many are under review. [46980]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 7 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of Benefits Agency public caller offices closed during the period April 1992 to May 1997, the number closed since May 1997, and the number under review.
  The numbers are as follows:

  April 1992 to May 1997: 62

  Since May 1997: 2

  Under review: 11

  Since May 1997, where a public caller office has been closed, measures have been taken to ensure that there was no reduction in the level of service to customers. The 2 public caller offices closed since May 1997 are Evesham and Bromsgrove. Although the closure of Bromsgrove has been approved, the closing date has not been finalised.
  We are consulting the local community about the future of those offices under review.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

WALES

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how staff numbers in his Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48886]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The number of full time equivalent staff employed by The Welsh Office between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998 is as follows:

  Permanent staff

  Casual staff

  1 May 1997

  2105.3

  199.4

  31 March 1998

  2115.9

  204.5

  Rhuddlan Borough Council
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many capital grants and for what purpose the former Rhuddlan Borough Council received from his Department and its agencies in the last 10 years of its existence; and which have final grant claims outstanding. [48741]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on grants paid by agencies of this Department is not held centrally. I will reply to my hon. Friend with information on the grants paid by the department as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public; and how such response times are monitored. [48666]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  My Department's target is that all correspondence should be answered within 15 working days of receipt and, for 1997–98, we achieved that target in 86 per cent. of cases. Replies from Ministers are recorded individually as are replies from officials to correspondence addressed to Ministers. Correspondence sent directly to officials is monitored on a sample basis.

  National Assembly
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that no binding contract for the construction of a new building for the National Assembly of Wales is entered into until after the National Assembly has been elected. [48898]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  No. The process of procurement of the new building will have several stages, whose nature and timing will depend upon the contract strategy that I adopt. The design competition assessment panel will recommend an appropriate contract strategy together with an outline design in the late Autumn. It will then be necessary to develop the detailed design and seek the appropriate statutory consents. I cannot yet say when the construction contracts will be let.

  Health Service (Sterile Services)
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the contract between the University Hospital Wales Trust and Sterile Services International Ltd. for the provision of sterile services provides for the trust to receive a financial benefit as a consequence of any new business acquired by Sterile Services International Ltd. for the provision of sterile services to other health trusts. [49186]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The Trust will receive a payment equal to 10 per cent. of the charge (net of VAT) made by Sterile Services International for any third party work serviced from the University Hospital of Wales site. There are also revenue savings of £525,000 over 10 years in comparison with current costs.

  Health Service (Complaints)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the findings in the 1997–98 Annual report of the Health Service Commissioner for England, Scotland and Wales relating to the level of increase in new complaints in Wales relative to England and Scotland in 1997–98. [49414]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The number of complaints referred to the Health Service Commissioner is low (149 in Wales, 196 in Scotland and 2,315 in England). Relatively small numerical changes, therefore, can produce larger percentage movements year on year than are justified by the trend.

  Since 1994–95 the number of complaints received by the Health Service Commissioner increased by 52 per cent. in England, 36 per cent. in Scotland and 33 per cent. in Wales.

  Horticulture
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future prospects of the horticulture industry in Wales. [49561]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  We have a strong horticulture industry in Wales that produces premium products which are in demand across the UK.

  As part of our review of the Food Strategy, we will be looking at ways of developing this valuable sector to consolidate its current market position and open up new opportunities.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Railway Stations
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the percentage of Britain's railway stations which have been upgraded by Railtrack; at what estimated cost; and by what date the full programme of works will be completed. [48640]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Railtrack's current Network Management Statement states that 24 per cent. of stations had been upgraded by 31 March 1998 and that the whole programme is expected to be complete by 2001 at a total cost of £1 billion (1996–97 prices).

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of road deaths and injuries involve one or more vehicles driven by someone at work. [48747]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is not available. The Department does not collect data on whether drivers involved in injury accidents are at work. The information given is the number and percentage of
  541
  injuries in accidents involving buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The majority of these drivers could be presumed to be 'at work'.

  Casualties in accidents1 involving either a bus, coach or an HGV GB 1995–97

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Casualties

  Fatal

  758

  724

  655

  Injured2

  31,638

  31,732

  32,924

  Per cent.

  Fatal

  21

  20

  18

  Injured

  10

  10

  10

  1Involving at least one bus, coach or HGV

  2Seriously and slightly injured

  Climate Change
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the Government's consultation paper on climate change; and if he will make a statement. [48896]

  Mr. Meacher
  We intend to issue a consultation paper in the summer on policy options for delivering our climate change targets. This will focus on our 12.5 per cent.

  Proportion of households provided with wheeled bins—1995–96

  Authority type

  0% to 24.99%

  25% to 49.99%

  50% to 74.99%

  75% to 99.99%

  100%

  Mean % households in the district

  London boroughs

  19

  1

  3

  3

  2

  24

  Metropolitan district

  13

  3

  1

  13

  0

  47

  Non-metropolitan districts

  150

  1

  7

  89

  7

  37

  Wales

  10

  0

  1

  5

  1

  37

  Source:

  Table 51, Municipal Waste Management 1995–96, DETR December 1997

  Rural Public Transport
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department has given to local authorities regarding the spending of the extra funds allocated recently to rural public transport [49075]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 17 June 1998,Official Report, column 206.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to involve(a) hon. Members and (b) members of local authorities in the process of nomination and appointment to regional development agencies. [49189]

  Angela Eagle
  We wrote to hon. Members in February inviting them to put forward their nominations for RDA board membership. We also invited members of local authority regional associations to submit names to be considered for the four local authority places on each board.
  542
  legally binding commitment from Kyoto as well as considering how we might move beyond that towards our domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO2 emissions by 2010. We will be looking at the scope for savings from improved energy efficiency by business and in the home; lower transport emissions; and an increase in the electricity generated from renewables and combined heat and power.

  Refuse Collection
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which councils in England have adopted the use of wheeled bins for refuse collection. [48988]

  Angela Eagle
  Of the 337 waste collection authorities in England and Wales who responded on this issue in the Municipal Waste Management Survey 1995–96, 168, or almost exactly a half, were using wheeled bins for waste collection to some degree. The detailed breakdown below shows that on average 36.5 per cent. of households in any one district had wheeled bins. A list of the Councils concerned can be provided if the hon. and learned Member requires. He may also be interested to know that the results of the 1996–97 survey, which will include an analysis of the effects of the provision of wheeled bins, will be available shortly. I will make sure that he receives a copy.

  Air France
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to ensure repayment of the £2 billion subsidy paid to Air France by the French Government. [49071]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We understand that the Commission is considering its response to the recent judgment of the Court of First Instance. We will consider any further steps in the light of action taken by the Commission.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the decision of the European Court of Justice that Air France received a £2 billion subsidy from the French Government contrary to the Treaty of Rome. [49072]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We welcome the recent judgment of the Court of First Instance, which confirms that public subsidies to airlines must be granted only in strict conformity to Treaty rules.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department's review of the safe storage of radioactive waste takes into account the full cost of(a) reprocessing and (b) dry storage options. [48977]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Executive are carrying out a review of storage facilities for intermediate-level waste and my Department have commissioned a study of the research requirements for the disposal of high-level waste. The Government intend to publish a consultation paper on radioactive waste management issues in the first half of next year. The issues to be covered in the paper will depend in part on the issues addressed in the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on nuclear waste, which may include reprocessing and dry storage of spent fuel.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call in the application for draft discharge authorisations in respect of nuclear waste from Sellafield; and if he will make a statement. [49321]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency are considering the responses received during the public consultation into the applications for variations to BNFL's discharge authorisations for the Sellafield site which ended in March. There have been requests for Ministers to 'call in' these applications and decide the matter for themselves and these requests are being considered. In deciding whether to exercise the statutory powers of 'call in', all representations on this issue will be carefully considered.

  Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 June 1998,Official Report, column 90, what steps he takes to ensure the precautionary principle is applied to the chemicals identified as having, or suspected as having, endocrine disruptive qualities. [49204]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: A large number of chemicals are suspected of having endocrine disrupting properties. However as yet no agreed mechanism exists for identifying chemicals which actually cause endocrine disruption. International efforts are underway to agree guidelines by which endocrine disrupting chemicals can be identified. When these are in place and we are able to identify which chemicals are likely to cause endocrine disruption, appropriate action will be taken, including precautionary action where there are risks of serious harm to human health or the environment.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department takes to inform the Department of Trade and Industry of the dangers presented by endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their presence in consumer goods. [49156]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Department of Trade and Industry is advised on the health effects of chemicals used in consumer products, including those with endocrine disrupting properties, by the Department of Health.
  544
  The Department of Trade and Industry is informed by the results of the research on endocrine disrupting chemicals sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and other Government Departments and Agencies.

  Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reporting mechanism exists to ensure his views and those of the Minister for the Environment are fully represented at meetings of IGGMOT. [49157]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology (IGGMOT) is organised by the Office of Science and Technology and comprises officials from interested Government Departments. The objectives of the group are to co-ordinate and develop Government policy on biotechnology including the line to be taken by the United Kingdom in negotiations in the European Union and other international forums. Officials from this Department are fully aware of Environment Ministers views and represent them at meetings. After discussion at IGGMOT the proposed Government line is agreed with all Ministers concerned.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated cost of environmental protection works, including tunnelling provided for reasons of environmental protection, involved in phase two of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link between Ebbsfleet and King's Cross. [49466]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: Few CTRL works in phase two are concerned exclusively with environmental protection and decisions on extensive tunnelling were taken for engineering reasons as much as for environmental reasons. It is not practicable, therefore, to separate environmental protection costs from the total.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from local authorities about increasing the scope of de minimis agreements as a means of securing early and substantial improvements to rural bus services; and if he will make a statement. [49496]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  A number of representations have been received proposing an increase in the 'de minimis' exceptions from the tendering requirements for subsidised local bus services. We have been considering them against the background of the substantial new funding which we have made available for the improvement of rural bus services and expect to be bringing forward proposals shortly.

  Housing
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many
  545
  local authorities' development plans currently have policies identifying the appropriate proportion of houses with a specific number of bedrooms to be built in the area; [49497]

  (2) how many local authorities' development plans which proposed policies identifying the appropriate number of houses with a specific number of bedrooms were (a) objected to and (b) not approved by the relevant regional Government office. [49498]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the average proportion of social and affordable housing required by each local planning authority in its development plan; [49499]

  (2) what is the average proportion of social and affordable housing to be provided in each local authority area in relation to accommodation built for sale on the open market; [49500]

  (3) what is the average proportion of social and affordable housing in relation to all housing which is to be provided in each local authority area as part of planning gain agreements. [49501]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not held centrally and depends on the provisions made by individual local planning authorities in their local plans. Under current arrangements local planning authorities prepare assessments of need for affordable housing as a basis for preparing their local plan policies. Such policies should indicate how many affordable homes will be needed in the plan area over the lifetime of the plan, set indicative targets for the amount of affordable housing that would be sought on suitable sites, and indicate the authority's intention to seek the inclusion of an element of affordable housing on such sites. It is, therefore, not feasible at the moment, to assemble such information, except at disproportionate cost.

  Valuation Tribunals
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current level of full and part-time staff employed by valuation tribunals; and what will be the impact on their numbers when the number of administrative units serving them is reduced to 14. [49474]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Valuation Tribunals in England currently employ 204 full time and 27 part time staff, or 223 full time equivalent (FTE) staff. Of these FTE staff, 111 are Court Taking Officers (CTOs) and 112 are Clerical Officers (COs).

  Numbers of staff are primarily determined by the appeal workload. Current staffing complements, based on planned workload in 1998–99 and the new administrative structure of 14 units, is 89 CTO and 89 CO staff (a total of 178 staff). We have indicated that reductions in staff should be phased in during a 3 to 5 year rationalisation period.

  Local Government
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to ensure greater openness in the conduct of local government. [47943]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Making councils more open and accountable is at the heart of the Government's agenda to modernise local government which we set out in six consultation papers, and on which we now intend to publish a White Paper.

  Fluorescent Tubes (Recycling)
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the contract to recycle spent fluorescent tubes across the Government estate has now been let. [49694]

  Mr. Meacher
  The call-off contract has just been awarded to Biffa Waste Services Limited by the Disposal Sales Agency who will manage it on behalf of participating Government departments. I have written to Green Ministers to promote its use across Whitehall. This initiative is in keeping with the Government's consultation paper on the waste strategy for England and Wales.

  Tree Preservation
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reform the tree preservation order system. [49976]

  Angela Eagle
  I have today issued a consultation paper, setting out the Government's proposals for reforming the tree preservation order legislation. Copies have been placed in the House library.

  A review of the legislation was completed in July 1994. This revealed widespread support for tree preservation orders as an effective means of protecting selected trees and woodlands in the interests of amenity. But it also identified a number of reforms which would help streamline the system and address its main weaknesses.

  The Government believe that the 1994 review struck a good balance between the need to ensure that local authorities are able to protect trees effectively and the need to provide an open, efficient and fair system in which the general public can have confidence. We therefore propose to reform the system in line with the 1994 review when a suitable opportunity to amend the primary legislation arises.

  In the meantime, we also intend to update the tree preservation order regulations. Draft Regulations are included in the consultation paper. They would implement some of the reforms from the 1994 review and some new proposals which we believe would further improve the system. These include more streamlined procedures for keeping tree preservation orders up to date; new measures to speed up tree preservation order appeals to the Secretary of State; new provisions on the payment of compensation under the tree preservation order system, and clearer procedures for dealing with felling licence applications which involve protected trees.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Sixth Form Education
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the average unit cost of educating 16 to 19-year-old students in(a) school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) tertiary colleges. [47860]

  Dr. Howells
  It is not possible to give unit funding costs for 16 to 19-year-old students in FE colleges or state school sixth forms. An estimate of the average unit cost in FE colleges for the 16–19 age group that takes account of the mixture of full and part-time students is not available; and because the post-16 Standard Spending Assessment is not hypothecated to school sixth forms, the funding they receive cannot be calculated.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the total number of secondary schools with sixth forms of(a) 0 to 50 pupils, (b) 51 to 100 pupils, (c) 101 to 150 pupils, (d) 151 to 200 pupils and (e) 201 to 250 pupils. [47861]

  Dr. Howells
  The latest information is shown in the table.

  Numbers of maintained secondary schools by size of sixth form in England in January 1997

  Size of sixth form (number of pupils)

  Number of schools

  up to 50

  114

  51 to 100

  338

  101 to 150

  439

  151 to 200

  402

  201 to 250

  258

  251 or more

  256

  all schools with sixth form

  1,807

  Education in World Citizenship
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what changes in funding for the Council for Education in World Citizenship he is proposing for the next three years. [48766]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Funding of £10,000 has been approved so far for 1998–99. We will consider on their merits requests for further funding from the Council for Education in World Citizenship and from others in this field.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on funding for the Council for Education in World Citizenship. [48767]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Representations about funding which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received include three letters and four parliamentary questions in addition to this one.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the work of the Council for Education in World Citizenship; and if he will make a statement. [48768]
  548
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department is aware of the nature and content of the work carried out by the Council for Education in World Citizenship, and has supported it for some time.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Taiwan and China
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the state of relations between Taiwan and China. [47384]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 29 June 1998]: We welcome the resumption of cross-Straits talks between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. This dialogue is important to the economic and political stability of the region.

  Diplomats
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of Department of Trade and Industry officials operating from diplomatic posts on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 24 June 1998. [48204]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The numbers of DTI officials operating from Diplomatic Posts on 1 May 1997 and 24 June 1998 were 31 and 37 respectively.

  East Timor
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the death in Baucau, East Timor, of Orlando Da Costa during the visit of the European Union Troika; and what provisions have been made to investigate the death of Mr. Da Costa and to publish the findings of the investigation. [49337]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Mr. da Costa was shot during a demonstration in Baucau on 29 June as the EU Troika Heads of Mission to East Timor were going into a meeting with the Bishop of Baucau. As Presidency of the EU we called on the Indonesian authorities for a full investigation into the incident and to ensure those responsible were made accountable. We also asked that Bishop Nascimento and his staff should be closely involved in that investigation. We have also asked to receive the report of the investigation once it is complete.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions in the Council have taken place under the UK presidency of the European Union of the risk posed by nuclear installations which are not millennium compliant(a) within the European Union, (b) in former Warsaw Pact countries and (c) in the rest of the world. [49260]

  Mr. Fatchett
  During the UK Presidency, millennium compliance, including that of nuclear installations and utilities in general, was raised at the Telecoms, Internal Market and Industry Councils, at the European Conference on 12 March, and at the Cardiff
  549
  European Council. The UK also hosted a seminar on 8 May seeking to increase awareness of the problem amongst our EU partners.

  In respect of nuclear installations outside the EU we have been active in the International Atomic Energy Agency, as the responsible international body. We have also been active through our Embassies in raising global awareness of the Year 2000 problem more generally. We continue to encourage all countries to recognise the need to take immediate action to address the problem.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in EU policy towards Kosovo, following the recent mission by the US special presidential envoy. [49296]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: Britain and our EU Partners remain deeply concerned by the increasing tensions in Kosovo. We fully support the policy of the Contact Group that urgent progress needs to be made towards a peaceful, negotiated settlement. We are working closely with the US special envoy, Richard Holbrooke to implement this policy.

  We expect President Milosevic to implement fully and immediately the undertakings which he gave following his meeting with President Yeltsin on 16 June. In particular, we expect the FRY authorities to cooperate fully with the current deployment of additional international, and European, monitors to Kosovo, and attach importance to a comprehensive approach to the refugee issue. The EU intends to work with other international organisations to promote the early return of refugees and displaced persons.

  EU Foreign Ministers on 29 June reiterated their condemnation of all violence and acts of terrorism in pursuit of political goals, and called upon all those in a leadership role in the Kosovar Albanian community to make clear their rejection of violence and commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

  Tibet
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, following the EU troika visit to Tibet, to demand independent verification of the health, whereabouts and situation of the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima; and if he will make a statement. [49502]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are concerned about the health and safety of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the child recognised by the Dalai Lama as Panchen Lama, and have raised his case repeatedly with the Chinese authorities. We will continue to raise such cases, and our wider concerns about the situation in Tibet, with the Chinese authorities at every opportunity.

  Human Rights
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the means by which his Department will monitor adherence to the human rights provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty. [48318]
  550
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The adherence to the human rights provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty will be constantly monitored as part of the normal work of the Department in consultation with other Government Departments.

PRIME MINISTER

  Community Hospitals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on community hospitals. [47955]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon (Mr. Burnett) today, 8 July 1998,Official Report, column 1070.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 8 July. [48961]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have further such meetings later today.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Broadcasting (Sporting Events)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations he has received on the subject of sporting events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996, since May 1997. [49099]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have received 1,949 representations, including 261 from hon. Members, on this subject since I announced my review of the list in May 1997.

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations he has received supporting the Gordon Committee's representations to remove live coverage of cricket test matches played in England from the events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996. [49098]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I received 67 representations, including 12 from hon. Members, in support of the recommendations of Lord Gordon's advisory group on Test cricket.

  Opera
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's funding proposals for(a) ENO and (b) the Royal Opera; and if he will make a statement. [48978]

  Mr. Fisher
  Decisions on funding levels for individual arts organisations are a matter for the Arts Council of England.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to help tourist boards in promoting London as a tourist destination for the Millennium Experience. [48791]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 3 July 1998]: Our funding to the British Tourist Authority is enabling it to work with the New Millennium Experience Company to promote the Millennium Experience overseas. In addition, we are providing funds to the BTA to work with the London Tourism Board to market London abroad and as a gateway to Britain. The LTB is now developing plans in partnership with the BTA to promote London as the Millennium City.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what budget has been allocated for 2000 by the English Tourist Board for the promotion of the Dome at Greenwich for the millennium celebrations. [48475]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The English Tourist Board does not undertake marketing activities and has, therefore, not allocated a budget for the promotion of the Millennium Dome or the millennium celebrations. The ETB does, however, plan to provide information on the Millennium Dome and other millennium attractions to Regional Tourist Boards, Tourist Information Centres and the travel trade.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what budget has now been allocated for 2000 by the British Tourist Authority for the promotion overseas of the Dome at Greenwich for the millennium celebrations. [48476]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The British Tourist Authority has allocated £200,000 in 1998–99, as part of a three-year campaign, for specific new Millennium print and promotional work. This allocation is in addition to the more than £10 million the BTA will spend on other print and promotions directed at markets throughout the world, many of which will devote a proportion of their coverage to presenting the attractions of the Millennium Dome and other millennium celebrations.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on ticket receipts for the Dome at Greenwich in 2000 arising from marketing by the English Tourist Board. [48474]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The English Tourist Board does not currently undertake any marketing activities.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the yield from levying an additional 50 per cent. television licence (i) once per household on all households with(a) two and (b) three or more televisions and (ii) once per television on all households with (1) two or more and (2) three or more televisions. [49269]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The available statistics on television ownership show only the number of households without television, those with one set and those with more than one set, broken down into
  552
  colour and black and white. Charging all households with more than one television set an additional 50 per cent. of the licence fee would raise an estimated £661 million in additional television licence fee revenue.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what would be the cost of introducing free television licences for all households containing a pensioner aged over(a) 70 and (b) 75 years of age. [48955]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The estimated cost of providing free television licences for all 'pensioner only' households where at least one member has reached the age of 70 is £288 million.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Handguns
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many outstanding payments there are under schemes A and B for pistol compensation; [49516]

  (2) what is the expected date when everyone will have been paid their compensation for pistols under schemes A and B; [49514]

  (3) what is the total amount of money which remains to be paid under schemes A and B for pistol compensation. [49515]

  Mr. Michael
  Payments under Options A and B of the large calibre handgun compensation scheme and the parallel ex gratia surrender scheme for small calibre pistols were completed at the end of May, apart from around 300 cases which could not be concluded because inquiries were outstanding. This number has since been reduced to around 130, and will continue to fall as the outstanding matters are dealt with.

  Around 11,000 claims have been received under the statutory surrender scheme for small calibre pistols, some 8,300 of which have been registered on the Firearms Compensation Section computer system. Seven thousand two hundred and fifty of the registered claims have an Option A or B element. Substantive processing of these claims will begin when further progress has been made with the remaining Option C claims under the large calibre scheme. Until the claims have been examined in detail it is not possible to give their value or a firm date for their completion. I outlined progress on all the firearms compensation schemes in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 8 June 1998, Official Report, columns 438–39.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons it has not been possible to meet the claims in full of Mr. A. Haines of Little Thurrock ref ESS E 097444 of 19 September 1997 and ESS SB17944410 of 10 February 1998; what is the cause of the delay in processing these claims; and if he will make a statement. [49443]

  Mr. Michael
  The Option A and B elements of the claim of 19 September 1997 were paid on 26 March 1998, with an additional payment on 28 May 1998. The Option C element of the claim, which will require individual
  553
  consideration of the evidence of value provided, will be dealt with as soon as possible. The claim of 10 February 1998 is under the separate statutory surrender scheme for small calibre pistols. These claims are currently being registered on the Firearms Compensation Section computer system, and substantive work on them will begin when the overall work position permits. I outlined the position on both schemes in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 8 June 1998, Official Report, columns 438–39. As he will recall, I wrote to him and to all hon. and right hon. Members on 30 January to outline progress on the payment of compensation claims under the Firearms Act. As I have said on many occasions, these claims inevitably take time to process because of the wide-ranging and generous nature of the firearms compensation schemes which Parliament approved.

  Access to Information (Medical Records)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to secure freedom of access to medical records by the individual concerned whilst retaining the confidentiality of medical records of other people. [47947]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Individuals may gain access to their medical records under the Data Protection Act 1984 if the records are held on computer, or the Access to Health Records Act 1990 if they are held manually. There are exemptions enabling access to be denied if information relating to a third party (other than a health professional) who could thereby be identified would be disclosed, unless the other individual has consented to the

  Number of defendants prosecuted1 for immigration offences, England and Wales

  1 January 1996 to 30 September 1996

  1 October 19962 to 31 December 1996

  1 January 19973 to 30 April 1997

  1 May 19973, 4 31 December 1997

  Immigration Act 1971 s24(1)(aa) as added by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s4—obtaining leave by deception

  Prosecutions

  *

  —

  1

  —

  Immigration Act 1971 s25(1)(a)—knowingly facilitating or assisting the entry of an illegal entrant

  Prosecutions

  116

  37

  57

  106

  Immigration Act 1971 s25(1)(b) as added by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s5—knowingly facilitating or assisting entry of asylum claimant

  Prosecutions

  *

  —

  1

  2

  Immigration Act 1971 s25(1)(c) as added by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s5—knowingly facilitating or assisting person seeking to obtain leave by deception

  Prosecutions

  *

  —

  1

  2

  1Principal immigration offence

  2Section 4 and 5 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 came into force on 1 October 1996

  31997 data are provisional. Final 1997 information will be available in the autumn

  4Date of General Election

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many asylum appeals the Refugee Legal Centre acted as legal representative in each year from 1993 to 1997; [49168]

  (2) in how many (a) asylum and (b) immigration appeals the Immigration Advisory Service acted as legal representative in each year from 1995 to 1997. [49167]
  554
  disclosure; or if disclosure would be likely to cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of the patient or of any other individual.

  The Data Protection Bill currently before Parliament brings together the subject access rights of the 1984 and 1990 Acts and implements the access requirements of the 1995 European Communities Data Protection Directive. There will continue to be exemptions where giving subject access would incidentally reveal the identity of a third party without his or her consent, but consistent with European Court of Human Rights requirements, decisions to refuse access on that basis will be able to be challenged by the Data Protection Commissioner or in the courts. The Bill also contains powers to provide exemptions for the avoidance of harm to the patient or other individuals.

  Access to third parties' medical records in other circumstances will continue to be limited by the general law and by the non-disclosure provisions of the data protection regime.

  Immigration and Asylum
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been launched under section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 and sections 4 and 5 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, in respect of the offences of(a) facilitating the entry to the United Kingdom of an illegal entrant, (b) obtaining leave to enter the United Kingdom by deception and (c) assisting or facilitating a person in obtaining leave to enter the United Kingdom by deception since (i) the 1996 Act came into force and (ii) 1 May 1997. [49170]

  Mr. Michael
  Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings database is given in the table.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information for the financial years 1993–94 to 1997–98 is given in the table. These figures reflect cases in which the Immigration Advisory Service and the Refugee Legal Centre acted as representative in appeals heard by the Immigration Appellate Authority. They exclude other activities, such as giving advice that did not lead to an appeal hearing and bail applications etc.
  555

  Immigration appeals in which the Immigration Advisory Service and the Refugee Legal Centre acted as representative, financial years 1993–94 to 1997–98

  Immigration Advisory Service1

  Refugee Legal Centre2

  Financial Year

  Asylum appeals

  Other immigration appeals

  Total

  Asylum appeals

  1993–94

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1,100

  1994–95

  3—

  3—

  3—

  2,204

  1995–96

  4—

  4—

  5,066

  2,159

  1996–97

  667

  2,613

  3,280

  2,534

  1997–98

  1,538

  3,919

  5,457

  3,429

  1Source: Immigration Advisory Service

  2Source: Refugee Legal Centre

  3Not applicable

  4Not available

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) of 8 June 1998,Official Report, column 438, what was the average time taken to reach a decision on an asylum application (a) immediately prior to the enactment of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 and (b), in the case of applications submitted post-July 1993, immediately prior to the enactment of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [49198]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In my reply to the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler), the estimated average time to initial decision in applications for asylum lodged in the United Kingdom was given as 58 months in applications lodged prior to the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 and 14 months for those lodged after this Act.

  In comparison, applications were estimated to be taking, on average, 20 months to reach an initial decision immediately prior to the enactment of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1993 on 26 July 1993. Applications lodged after the 1993 Act were estimated to be taking just under 11 months immediately prior to the enactment of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 on 24 July 1996.

  The increases of 38 months in pre-1993 Act applications and four months in those lodged after this Act reflect the impact on the average figures of the resolution of old cases within the system as backlogs are cleared.

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rejected asylum seekers, having exhausted all appeal rights, are currently awaiting removal from the United Kingdom. [49166]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The backlog of failed asylum seekers liable for removal, at May 1998, was approximately 19,500 persons. That figure represents a snapshot, taken from Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) port and enforcement databases, of those failed asylum seekers (excluding dependants) who have exhausted their rights of appeal (including any who did not submit an appeal against the refusal of asylum) and who are liable for removal.
  556
  The above figure needs to be qualified. Firstly, it does not cover failed after-entry asylum seekers whose appeal rights have been exhausted, who have no right to remain, but against whom enforcement action has not yet been initiated.

  Secondly, the figure of 19,500 includes a large proportion of cases (estimated at around 90 per cent.) where there are one or more barriers to immediate removal—such as absconding, judicial review, representations by hon. Members and difficulties with removal documentation. Typically, absconding represents a barrier to removal in half of asylum removals backlog cases.

  Furthermore, the figure may include some persons who have actually left the United Kingdom voluntarily but whose departure is unknown to IND.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the six asylum seekers acquitted on 17 June of violent disorder at the Campsfield Detention Centre being placed at additional risk of persecution if returned to their own countries as a result of their trial. [49177]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  When the court directed that they be found not guilty, those who continued to be subject to detention under the Immigration Act 1971, were found places in our detention estate and were held pending consideration of arrangements for removal. However, I can confirm that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees have been afforded until 13 July to look further at the cases involved, and that we will consider any new information that may come to light in individual cases, together with any other issues, in the normal way, including any information on relevant risks of any kind.

  Immigration Cases
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking in respect of the case of Nazire Javeed Abdul Gaffar Nazire (date of birth 22.09.76)-ref PO8509/98. [48936]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 29 June, setting out the action which I proposed the Immigration and Nationality Directorate should take.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans his Department is making in the event of the failure of computer systems to recognise the year 2000; when he expects them to be in place, and tested; and if he will make a statement. [48850]

  Mr. Straw
  All the main business areas in my Department have projects under way in response to the Year 2000 problem. Contingency planning is a key activity for all of them, but the timing of the development of contingency plans will vary depending on factors particular to each project and the computer systems concerned. Priority is being given to business critical systems.

  I have asked that contingency plans for my Department should be assessed by the end of August 1998 and that plans for business critical systems should be in place and tested by the end of 1998. Some projects are well ahead of this timetable.

  Appeals
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the Court of Appeal. [49078]

  Mr. Michael
  By the end of June, the Criminal Cases Review Commission had referred 17 cases to the Court of Appeal.

  Elections
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to change the day for parliamentary, European or local government elections to Saturday or Sunday; and if he will make a statement. [49265]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have no present plans to introduce polling at the weekend for parliamentary or European Parliamentary elections. We are, however, considering the possibility of pilot studies of this and other alternative electoral procedures at local elections.

  Prisons (Halal Meat)
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to prisons on the purchase of halal meat. [46084]

  Ms Quin
  Prison Governors were advised in May 1997 that halal meat should only be purchased for consumption by Muslim prisoners. Centrally contracted meat suppliers were obliged only to supply halal meat on request. It has recently come to my attention that some Prison Service establishments were providing halal meat to all prisoners, regardless of their religious beliefs. I have asked the Director General to rectify this.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the funding of the Food Standards Agency. [48496]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  Food Safety and Standards have been considered as part of the comprehensive spending review, on which I have had a number of meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other colleagues.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the observations in paragraph 10.29 of the Official Group on Organophosphates report to Ministers. [48869]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  Sheep scab mites and other sheep ectoparasites cause serious diseases and it is important to maintain a range of veterinary medicinal products effective against them. We will continue to authorise products that satisfy the statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.

  Beef Labelling
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Beef Labelling Scheme from 1 July. [49110]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: There has been an excellent response to this initiative from all parts of the industry. Some 11,000 beef outlets in the UK have received approval for the detailed labelling information they supply. The Scheme is good news for consumers who will get better information about the beef they buy. They can now be confident that beef labelled as British will have come from animals born, raised and slaughtered in Britain.

HEALTH

  Drug Users (Devon)
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has recently had about the South and West Devon fast track diversion and stabilisation scheme for drug users; [48148]

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the funding of the South and West Devon fast track diversion and stabilisation scheme for drug users. [48150]

  Ms Jowell
  Funding for the South and West Devon fast-track diversion and stabilisation scheme for drug users exists to enable the scheme to continue until March 1999 and locally based joint consultative committees are currently considering whether to provide continued funding for the scheme.

  The anti-drug coordinators will be issuing a resource framework document later this year. The framework will set out the resources available for drug services across agencies and how they should be used most effectively.

  Housebound Patients (Medicines)
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure delivery of medicines to those patients who are housebound. [48234]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: Many community pharmacies operate delivery services, and this is one of the ways in which housebound people are able to obtain the medicines they need. While demand for this service remains, we expect that it will continue to be provided.

  Home delivery by pharmacies is not the only way in which housebound patients may obtain the medicines they need. Informal and formal carers may collect medicines on their behalf, as in some cases do community nurses.

  Asthma
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the numbers of items prescribed for the treatment of asthma in each year since 1993–94. [48311]
  559
  Mr. Milburn
  The number of prescription items dispensed in the community in England used in the treatment of asthma for each of the years from 1993 to 1997 is shown in the table. Information on the use of drugs in hospitals is not available.

  The number of prescription items of drugs dispensed in the community used in the treatment of asthma, 1993 to 1997—England

  Year

  Prescription items (million)

  1993

  31.2

  1994

  32.7

  1995

  33.9

  1996

  34.5

  1997

  35.5

  Note:

  The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. The information was obtained from the prescription cost analysis system for drugs used in the treatment of asthma contained in British National Formulary sections 3.1 (bronchodilators), 3.2 (corticosteroids) and 3.3 (cromoglycate and related therapy). Some of the drugs may be used for the treatment of other conditions

  Ambulances
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the comparative costs and benefits of a standard Ford ambulance with(a) a Tri Star manufactured in Canada and (b) a Chevrolet manufactured in the US; and if he will make a statement. [48758]

  Mr. Boateng
  None. It is for each Ambulance Service National Health Service trust to specify the suitability of the vehicles it needs to achieve national and local standards based on best value for money.

  Multiple Sclerosis (Dental Services)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to allow people with MS to have their amalgam fillings replaced free of charge with fillings made from other non-mercury based materials. [48921]

  Mr. Milburn
  National Health Service dental treatments are provided on the basis of clinical need. This could include replacing fillings if that is the advice of the responsible medical practitioner. Full or partial exemptions from treatment charges are available for people on a low income.

  Link Services Centres (Kent)
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the names of the organisations and their senior directors who have formally expressed an interest in running the Link Services Centres for Kent County Council. [48821]

  Mr. Boateng
  We do not regularly gather information on local authorities' tendering processes. My hon. Friend may, therefore, wish to write to the County Council.

  Autism (MMR Vaccine)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the study presented to the American Association of Immunologists and Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference in San Francisco in May by Dr. V. K. Singh on autism and the MMR Vaccine. [48835]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department is aware of an abstract by a Dr. V. K. Singh which was sent to the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology and others which was held in San Francisco in April 1998.

  The United Kingdom health departments are advised on immunisation matters by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, an independent expert group. Dr. Singh's abstract will be considered by the Committee along with other published work in this area when they next meet.

  Family Planning
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners hold the Diploma of the Faculty of Family Planning. [48965]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Maternal Deaths
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relative incidence of deaths in pregnancy according to whether women were users of the contraceptive pill before pregnancy. [48969]

  Ms Jowell
  The triennial Report on Confidential Inquiries into Maternal Deaths undertaken by the Department investigates the causes of all maternal deaths in the United Kingdom. As part of this work, the Report routinely collects and assesses information on use of the contraceptive pill by women who subsequently die during or after pregnancy. To date no association between use of oral contraception and maternal deaths has been noted. The authors of the current Confidential Inquiry into Maternal Deaths 1994–96 are looking at this again and will publish their report later this year.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what period following childbirth maternal deaths continue to be classified as due to pregnancy. [48970]

  Ms Jowell
  The tenth International Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death which is now used by the Confidential Inquiry into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom defines maternal death as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes. In addition, the United Kingdom collects information on late maternal deaths which occur between 42 days and one year after abortion, miscarriage or delivery that are due to direct or indirect obstetric causes.
  561
  Information on late maternal deaths is set out in Chapter 15 of the most recent report on Confidential Inquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom 1991–93, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Hospital Treatments
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital treatments have been carried out since 1 May 1997 involving procedures which are at 30 June 1998 no longer available on the NHS. [49107]

  Mr. Milburn
  None. No clinically effective procedure should be ruled out in principle by the National Health Service.

  Antibiotic Resistance
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has evaluated of the development of antibiotic resistance among those working in hospitals and other medical estabishments. [49077]

  Ms Jowell
  We are not aware of any systematic study which would show whether healthcare personnel are more prone to harbour resistant bacteria than other groups.

  The risk of healthcare personnel becoming colonised, via patient contact, with antibiotic resistant pathogens, and of the transfer from one patient to another, is one we take seriously. Keeping this risk to a minimum is one reason why effective infection control practices are imperative.

  NHS Trusts (Enfield and Haringey)
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the payments were in cash terms to National Health Service trust chairs and non-executive directors in the years 1996–97 and 1997–98 in the area covered by Enfield and Haringey Health Authority. [49456]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are five National Health Service trusts in the area covered by Enfield and Haringey Health Authority, each with five non-executive directors and a chairman. In 1996–97 and 1997–98, each non-executive director was entitled to a remuneration of £5,000 a year. Four of the chairmen were entitled to a remuneration of £17,245 a year, and one was entitled to a remuneration of £19,285 a year. Chairmen and non-executive directors of NHS trusts are also entitled to claim travelling expenses but details of these expenses are not available centrally.

  Volatile Substance Abuse
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most recent figures available on deaths associated with the practice of volatile substance abuse; and if he will make a statement. [49741]

  Ms Jowell
  Statistics collected by St. George's Hospital Medical School and published today show that there were 75 deaths in the United Kingdom in 1996 associated with volatile substance abuse (VSA). This is the second consecutive year in which there has been an increase over the 58 deaths in 1994 which had been the lowest level of mortality since 1981. We take any death associated with VSA very seriously and will consider whether further action is required which could help prevent such tragedies.
  562
  Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to introduce legislation requiring tobacco companies to list all the ingredients on the packages of tobacco products offered for sale. [49451]

  Ms Jowell
  We have no such immediate plans.

  Lariam
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports of suspected adverse reactions associated with Lariam (Mefloquine) were reported to the Medicines Control Agency, relative to the number of prescriptions written, in each year from 1989 to 1998; and if he will make a statement. [48699]

  Ms Jowell
  The number of suspected adverse reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Control Agency from 1 July 1989 to 2 July 1998 for mefloquine (brand name, Lariam) as the suspect drug in the United Kingdom, and the number of prescription items dispensed in the community for mefloquine, from 1989 to 1997 in England are given in the table:

  Year

  Total number of suspected adverse reactions

  Number of reports

  Number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England (000)

  1989

  0

  0

  —

  1990

  54

  19

  2.8

  1991

  58

  27

  7.0

  1992

  51

  22

  10.6

  1993

  182

  72

  40.3

  1994

  606

  234

  160.7

  1995

  1,251

  458

  56.6

  1996

  1,376

  469

  18.6

  1997

  641

  2,229

  16.9

  Up to 2 July 1998

  179

  65

  —

  A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Each report relates to one patient. Patients may have more than one suspected reaction and the number of reactions given therefore exceeds the number of patients affected as seen in the table. The number of reports received for a medicine is influenced by a number of factors including the extent of its usage and publicity related to the medicine as well as its intrinsic toxicity.

  Mefloquine was first dispensed in 1990. The prescription information was obtained from the prescription cost analysis system. Prescription cost analysis is based on information obtained from the Prescription Pricing Authority. The prescription data for 1990 are not consistent with data from 1991 to 1997. The figure for 1990 is based on prescription fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists only. Figures for 1991 onwards are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
  563
  The prescription data provided include prescriptions dispensed in England only, whereas the spontaneous ADR data include reactions occurring throughout the UK. Therefore, these data sets are not directly comparable.

  Alcohol (Health Warnings)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to introduce health warnings on the dangers of alcohol on the containers of alcoholic drinks. [49450]

  Ms Jowell
  We believe that if alcohol is consumed in accordance with the guidance in Sensible Drinking it is not likely to be harmful to a person's health. We, therefore have no plans to require health warnings to be displayed on alcohol containers. However, we fully support the initiative of a number of manufacturers and retailers in introducing unit labelling on their packaged products on a voluntary basis to support our sensible drinking messages.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Executive Agencies
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will review the organisation of executive agencies to reflect function rather than departmental origin. [47921]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Ministers establish agencies by function to discharge their departmental responsibilities, and they keep them under review to take account of changing needs and priorities. Closer working between agencies is an important part of our Better Government agenda.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to his oral answer of 10 June 1998,Official Report, column 1064, what assessment he has made of the benefits to United Kingdom citizens of Government use of information technology. [47924]

  Dr. David Clark
  Information technology is an important key in improving government services for everyone in our society. There is great potential for the Government to deliver information and services to our citizens at the time and place of their choosing and by the method that is most convenient to them.

  My officials in the Central Information Technology Unit are currently conducting extensive national market research to test the public's attitude to using electronic services. The first two interim reports have been published on CITU's website. Initial findings suggest that the reaction of both the public and business to the prospect of using electronic mediums to access government services is positive: 74 per cent. of people said they would be quite likely or very likely to use new methods of service delivery.

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to use new technology to improve communication between Government Departments. [47945]
  564
  Dr. David Clark
  The Government see new technologies as an important key to the successful delivery of user-friendly Government services to the citizen and business.

  Central government departments now have the potential to access the newly established Government Secure Intranet (GSI), which enables secure interconnections across a range of departmental IT systems. The GSI will facilitate a more coherent, customer-focused and integrated electronic service delivery to citizens and businesses, by providing security for information that is entrusted to the Government and by allowing unrestricted access to the Internet where required.

  The GSI enables departments to communicate securely by e-mail and to benefit from access to, and the ability to receive communications over, the Internet. It will also enable the public to access the service via the Internet by using home PCs and eventually through digital television. It provides a means of linking up and promoting the increasing volume of Government services that are available electronically.

  Open Government
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on his proposals for open government. [47930]

  Dr. David Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) today,Official Report, column 1062.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received about employment in the public service of people from the Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [47931]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  In the past three months I have received five representations including one from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) written with the support of 32 other hon. Members.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to change the system for public appointments. [47939]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Proposals for making the public appointments system more transparent and accessible were published on 29 June 1998 in a paper "Quangos: Opening the Doors". This paper, which takes account of the comments received during the Government's recent consultation exercise on quangos, makes further proposals on widening the field of candidates for appointment. A second paper "Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments" was published on the same day. This provides details of the Government's plans to make public appointments more representative of society as a whole.

  Copies of both papers have been sent to all hon. and right hon. Members as well as being placed in the Library.

  Parliamentary Accountability
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has for the parallel development of parliamentary accountability and interdepartmental task forces. [47932]
  565
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Ministers are accountable to Parliament for the policies, decisions and actions of their Departments. This includes accountability for decisions taken on the basis of advice from task forces.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what major deregulation proposals are planned to be introduced during the next 12 months. [47933]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I would like to thank my hon. Friend for the valuable work he is doing as Chair of the House of Commons Deregulation Committee, who do a very useful job in scrutinising proposals to get rid of outdated legislation. However, it would not be appropriate to announce specific deregulation order proposals at this time, as they are subject to detailed consultation with all interested parties and I would not want to pre-empt announcements by my colleagues with policy responsibility for specific deregulation orders.

  We are also looking at the scope for reform of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.

  Internet
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase access to Government Departments by persons using the Internet. [47934]

  Dr. David Clark
  While it is a matter for individual Departments to decide whether to establish and publish web sites on the World Wide Web, I am pleased to say all the major Departments of State do indeed already have public web sites. They form part of the over 600 public sector organisations that are accessible on World Wide Web via the Government Information Service run by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make his next quarterly report on the millennium compliance of computer systems in central Government. [47935]

  Dr. David Clark
  The next quarterly report is due in September. As this will fall during the summer recess, I propose to write to all hon. Members during the recess to report the results. I will also arrange for all relevant information to be placed in the Library of the House and published on the Internet.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the co-ordination of a strategy to combat the threat of year 2000 computer bugs. [47941]

  Dr. David Clark
  A Ministerial Group, which is chaired by the President of the Board of Trade, has been set up to drive forward action across the private and public sectors to ensure that the national infrastructure is not damaged by the failure of electronic systems as a result of the Millennium date change. I chair a sub-group which is responsible for co-ordinating and driving action in tackling the Millennium bug problem across central government and the wider public sector.
  566
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to address the millennium bug problem as it affects central Government. [47946]

  Dr. David Clark
  I chair the Ministerial sub-group which is responsible for co-ordinating and driving forward action to tackle the millennium bug problem within central government and across the wider public sector. I have initiated a system of quarterly reviews to monitor the progress that has been made in tackling the problem in central government departments and agencies. The latest review also included information on the wider public sector. My statement to the House on 8 June 1998,Official Report, columns 716–18, summarised the results. Future statements will cover key elements of the wider public sector in more detail. I am following up concerns highlighted by the latest review with the Departments concerned. Copies and summaries of the completed questionnaires from Departments, and their reports on wider public sector bodies, have been placed in the libraries of both Houses and published on the Internet.

  "Better Government"
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the proposals contained in the "Better Government" White Paper. [47936]

  Dr. David Clark
  The "Better Government" White Paper will set out the Government's vision for modern, effective public services which match the way people live their lives today. New technology is one of the tools we will use to "join up" government and put the citizen first.

  Secondments (Civil Service)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to encourage secondments from industry, commerce, the professions and other occupations into the(a) home civil service and (b) diplomatic service. [47937]

  Dr. David Clark
  I have established an Interchange Steering Council to offer advice on the exchange of personnel and good practice between the civil service and other sectors. Officials are working with representatives from business, local government, academia and the voluntary sector to increase participation.

  The FCO have specific programmes offering business people opportunities to take up posts or to work on projects overseas.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what regulations govern the shareholdings of special advisers to prevent cases of conflict of interest arising. [47938]

  Dr. David Clark
  Special Advisers—like all civil servants—are required under the terms and conditions of their employment to declare to their department any business interests or shareholdings which they or members of their immediate family hold, which they would be able to further as a result of their official position. They must not be involved in taking any decision which could affect the value of their private
  567
  investments, or the value of those on which they give advice to others; or use information acquired in the course of their work to advance their private financial interests or those of others.

  Electronic Red Box
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when his Department plans to introduce the mark 2 version of the prototype electronic red box. [47940]

  Dr. David Clark
  We are currently upgrading the prototype electronic Red Box, which I demonstrated in January, to take account of the latest developments in IT.

  Testing trials on the new prototype will shortly be completed and I expect to be able to make more detailed announcement on the introduction of an upgraded prototype Red Box into my office before the end of the month.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made with the virtual red box. [47948]

  Dr. David Clark
  I am pleased to report that we are making good progress with prototype electronic Red Box, which I demonstrated in January.
  568
  A new version is being developed using a small laptop computer, which will be activated by a Smart Card that will allow me to communicate securely with my office from any location in the UK.

  Testing trials on the new prototype will shortly be completed and I expect to be able to make more detailed announcement on the introduction of an upgraded prototype Red Box into my office before the end of the month.

  Government Information and Communication Service
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received regarding appointments to the Government information service. [47942]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 10 June 1998,Official Report, column 619, which covered appointments to the Government Information and Communication Service (GICS) as well as wider issues affecting the GICS.

  Freedom of Information Bill
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to publish the Freedom of Information Bill. [47944]

  Dr. David Clark
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) today,Official Report, column 1055.

  Baltic States: Visit by Secretary of State for Defence
  Baltic States: Visit by Secretary of State for Defence
  RAF Gibraltar
  RAF Gibraltar
  Armed Forces: Recruitment of Ethnic Minority Personnel
  Armed Forces: Recruitment of Ethnic Minority Personnel
  NATO Members: Defence Expenditure
  NATO Members: Defence Expenditure
  Project Horizon
  Project Horizon
  Holy Loch
  Holy Loch
  US Exercise Eligible Receiver
  US Exercise Eligible Receiver
  International Defence Exhibitions
  International Defence Exhibitions
  Multiple Launch Rocket System
  Multiple Launch Rocket System
  The Army: Reconnaissance Capability
  The Army: Reconnaissance Capability
  Medical Assessment Programme: Non-Gulf Veterans
  Medical Assessment Programme: Non-Gulf Veterans
  Boards of Visitors
  Boards of Visitors
  Lincoln Prison: Drugs
  Lincoln Prison: Drugs
  Lincoln Prison: Redecoration
  Lincoln Prison: Redecoration
  Young Offenders: Legal Support
  Young Offenders: Legal Support
  Roads: Wales
  Roads: Wales
  Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance
  Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance
  School Organisation Plans: Adjudication
  School Organisation Plans: Adjudication
  Foundation Schools: Admission Arrangements
  Foundation Schools: Admission Arrangements
  Education Action Zones
  Education Action Zones
  Grammar Schools: Selection Ballots
  Grammar Schools: Selection Ballots
  Piracy
  Piracy
  East Timor: EU Troika Visit
  East Timor: EU Troika Visit
  War Widows' Pensions
  War Widows' Pensions
  Tree Preservation Orders
  Tree Preservation Orders
  Fluorescent Tubes: Recycling
  Fluorescent Tubes: Recycling
  Government Departmental Reviews: Publication Dates
  Government Departmental Reviews: Publication Dates
  UK Regional Expenditure Criteria
  UK Regional Expenditure Criteria
  Non-interest Bearing Accounts
  Non-interest Bearing Accounts
  Ambulance Service: Retirement Age
  Ambulance Service: Retirement Age
  Ambulance Service: Assaults on Staff
  Ambulance Service: Assaults on Staff
  Primary Care Groups
  Primary Care Groups
  Putney Hospital
  Putney Hospital
  Patient's Charter: Use of Christian Names
  Patient's Charter: Use of Christian Names
  Volatile Substance Abuse
  Volatile Substance Abuse
  Organophosphates: COT's Response to Questions
  Organophosphates: COT's Response to Questions