Written Answers of 13 July 1998

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what restrictions are placed on political advisers in respect of use of their official position to further private interests or receive benefits from third parties. [49656]

  Dr. David Clark
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]: Special Advisers are required under paragraph 8 of the Civil Service Code not to misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. They must not receive benefits of any kind from a third party which might reasonably be seen to compromise their political judgment or integrity.

  Freedom of Information Bill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received from(a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) the Minister without Portfolio in respect of the proposed Freedom of Information Bill. [50356]

  Dr. David Clark
  Both my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio have continued to contribute to the discussions in the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Freedom of Information Bill.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49811]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will shortly publish figures showing the volume of correspondence which he, other individual Ministers and Agency Chief Executives received from hon. Members, the targets set for reply and the percentage of replies sent within target. Figures showing the average time taken by Ministers and Agency Chief Executives to respond to letters are not collated centrally.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49813]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The e-mail address of my Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit is mcu@ccta.gov.uk.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many members of the Home Civil Service have been on leave on full pay either between appointments or pending retirement from the Civil Service for(a) more than three months, (b) more than six months, (c) more than nine months and (d) more than one year. [28898]

  Dr. David Clark
  The information requested is not held centrally and is a matter for individual Departments. The figures for my own Department, including our Agencies, for the year 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 are as follows:

  (a) Five (including two members of staff on long-term sick leave and one on maternity leave

  (b) Zero

  (c) Three

  (d) One

  Figures for previous years are not readily available.

  The Central Office of Information (COI) is a separate Department reporting to me. There were no cases in COI matching the criteria.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Coalfields Report
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Coalfields Task Force report, "Making the Difference". [50402]

  Mr. Prescott
  Today, I will be announcing the Government's initial response to the Coalfields Task Force Report at the Coalfields Conference at Ollerton Miners Welfare in North Nottinghamshire.

  I will launch a detailed programme of action for the coalfields at a second conference to be held in the Autumn.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the range of issues to be covered in the Rural White Paper; and when it will be published. [48611]

  Mr. Meacher
  We are further considering the range of issues to be covered in our confirming review of rural policy.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which organisations attended consultation meetings with Ministers held in connection with the production of the Rural England White Paper, Command 3016. [48607]

  Mr. Meacher
  A number of seminars and other meetings took place in 1995 prior to the publication of the previous administration's White Paper, "Rural England" (Command 3016). They were attended by a range of organisations representing rural interests. A full list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Homelessness (London)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional costs are incurred within London in the provision of accommodation for the statutorily homeless; and what allowance he makes for this in the funding of London local government. [49440]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In 1996/97, net current expenditure by authorities in London on homelessness was £68m, which is equivalent to £9.61 per head of population. The corresponding figure for spending by authorities elsewhere in England was £51m, which is equivalent to £1.22 per head of population.

  Different levels of expenditure may reflect variations in service and performance across Local authorities, not just costs.

  The need for expenditure by local authorities on the provision of accommodation for the statutorily homeless is taken into account in the calculation of the 'other services' element of the standard spending assessments and hence in revenue support grant entitlements. The formula used to determine the amount for each local authority is given in The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998/99 (HC506).

  Refuse Disposal (London)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional costs are incurred within London in the provision of refuse collection and disposal services; and what allowance he makes for this in funding London local government. [49439]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In 1996–97, net current expenditure by authorities in London on refuse collection was £76m, which is equivalent to £10.77 per head of population. The corresponding figure for spending by authorities elsewhere in England was £429m, which is equivalent £10.21 per head of population.

  In 1996–97, net current expenditure by authorities in London on refuse disposal was £96m, which is equivalent to £13.54 per head of population. The corresponding figure for spending by authorities elsewhere in England was £451m, which is equivalent to £10.74 per head of population.

  Different levels of expenditure may reflect variations in service and performance across Local Authorities, not just costs.

  The need for expenditure by local authorities on the provision of refuse collection and disposal services is taken into account in the calculation of the 'other services' element of the standard spending assessments and hence in revenue support grant entitlements. The formula used to determine the amount for each local authority is given in The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998/99 (HC506).

  School Costs (London)
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional costs are incurred within London in the provision of 4
  (a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary education; and what allowance he makes for this in his Department's funding of such provision. [49418]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In 1996–97, net current expenditure by authorities in London on the provision of nursery, primary and secondary education, and the corresponding figures for spending by authorities elsewhere in England was as shown in the following table.

  Authorities in London

  Authorities elsewhere in England

  Nursery and primary education

  £1,362 million

  £6,680 million

  Secondary education

  £800 million

  £5,540 million

  Special education

  £250 million

  £1,090 million

  Total per pupil

  £2,879

  £2,385

  Notes:

  1. Nursery and primary education cannot be separately distinguished

  2. Expenditure on special education cannot be divided between nursery, primary and secondary education

  3. Expenditure per pupil cannot be calculated for each category, because numbers are not split. The pupil number used relates to the total number of pupils aged 5–15 in education as at January 1997.

  Different levels of expenditure may reflect variations in service and performance across Local Authorities, not just in costs.

  The need for expenditure by local authorities on nursery, primary and secondary education (including special education) is taken into account in the calculation of the corresponding elements of the standard spending assessments and hence in revenue support grant entitlements. The formula used to determine the amount for each local authority is given in The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998/99 (HC506).

  Connex South Central
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a timetable for public consultation has been set in relation to the request by Connex South Central to the Rail Regulator for an extension of its current franchise from seven to 15 years; and if he will make a statement on the form such consultations will take. [49519]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This is a matter not for the Rail Regulator, but for the Franchising Director. The franchise agreement with Connex South Central allows for an extension of the franchise term to be negotiated with the Franchising Director. I understand that he has consulted the principal rail users' representatives on the enhancements proposed by Connex South Central. He will conclude his evaluation of Connex's bid in due course.

  Regeneration
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses have been received to the discussion paper on 'Regeneration Programme—the way forward'; when the consultation period will end; what is the timetable for the implementation of proposals on regeneration policies; and if he will make a statement. [49684]
  5
  Angela Eagle
  The discussion paper 'Regeneration Programmes—the Way Forward' was issued in November 1997. We received 145 written responses to the paper by the end of March 1998. Feedback was also received from regional seminars from a wide range of organisations and individuals involved in regeneration.

  The responses revealed a broad consensus on a number of issues including:
  the continued need for a regeneration programme that addresses the multiple causes of social and economic decline;
  that, whilst retaining the benefits of competition, there should be a greater emphasis on the needs of the most deprived areas;
  the need for a more collaborative approach to be taken by local partnerships and Government Offices to ensure a shared understanding of the regeneration needs of their areas;
  that schemes should take better account of existing strategies for promoting economic development and tackling depravation.

  The responses have been fed into the Comprehensive Spending Review of Regeneration Programmes, and it is hoped to announce proposals for future regeneration policies and programmes shortly.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he expects to make an announcement on the future of the Single Regeneration Budget; and if he will make a statement; [49730]

  (2) what proposals he has for the SRB Challenge Fund; and if he will make a statement. [49729]

  Angela Eagle
  Under the Regional Development Agencies Bill, it is proposed that management of the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund (SRBCF) will be transferred from Government Offices for the Regions to the RDAs in April 1999. Different arrangements will apply in London, where it is proposed in the Greater London Authority White Paper that regeneration activity will become the responsibility of the Mayor, operating through the London Development Agency. Until the Mayor is established, the Government Office for London will continue to manage the SRBCF.

  It is too early to say whether there will be a new (fifth) round of the SRBCF. Any announcement will be made in the light of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the outcome of which will be announced shortly.

  Local Investment Fund
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the local investment fund established in 1994 has been loaned to voluntary organisations; how many projects have failed and at what cost to the fund; and what action is proposed to replenish the fund. [49682]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department helped establish the Local Investment Fund with a one-off grant; the rest of the resources came from the private sector. The Fund makes loans to voluntary organisations, which cannot raise loans from conventional sources, to support their economically viable enterprises contributing to the regeneration of deprived communities.
  6
  I understand from the Fund that, since 1994, a total of £1.2 million has been lent, or committed, to eligible bodies. All the loans made so far either have been repaid in full or are currently on target to repay on schedule, so replenishment of capital is not an issue.

  Empty Dwellings
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will extend the powers available to local authorities to deal with empty and unfit privately owned homes. [49731]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government are looking at the powers available to local authorities to tackle empty and unfit property in the private sector. We are conducting a review of the housing fitness standard and, alongside this, we are looking to see whether the current fitness enforcement procedures can be made more effective. We are also reviewing the efficiency of compulsory purchase and compensation law, including an assessment of the powers available to local authorities for dealing with housing.

  Travel (Cheltenham)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what percentage of journeys to schools and further and higher education colleges in Cheltenham are made by(a) bicycle, (b) motor cycle and (c) car; [50056]

  (2) what percentage of journeys to schools and further higher education colleges in Gloucestershire by district, are made by (a) bicycle, (b) motor cycle and (c) car; [50057]

  (3) what percentage of journeys to work in Cheltenham are made by bicycle; [50054]

  (4) what percentage of journeys to work in Gloucestershire, by district, are made by bicycle. [50055]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The percentages of journeys to work in Gloucestershire, by district, including Cheltenham, in 1991 are shown in the table.

  Districts in Gloucestershire

  Percentage travelling to work by bicycle

  Cheltenham

  7

  Cotswold

  5

  Forest of Dean

  1

  Gloucester

  6

  Stroud

  3

  Tewkesbury

  7

  Source:

  1991 Census

  Data are not available for travel to school and colleges in Gloucestershire.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the replacement of leaded petrol with the special grade of unleaded petrol containing lead substitutes will require adaptations to those engines in which it is used. [50025]
  7
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Engine adaptations should not be necessary for the majority of motorists who switch from leaded to unleaded petrol containing lead substitutes. This "lead replacement petrol" will be marketed with an equivalent octane level to that of leaded petrol and will contain a lead substitute that will provide satisfactory protection against engine wear under mixed motoring conditions. Increased wear of exhaust valve seats may arise in vehicles driven predominantly with high engine speeds or high loads. Should this condition occur, engine modifications would then become necessary.

  Carlisle City Council
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to present to Parliament the Local Government Boundary Commission's proposal on the new ward arrangement for Carlisle City Council. [49733]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have now made a preliminary decision to accept the final recommendations of the Local Government Commission for the districts of Cumbria. It is intended that the new arrangements will be established in time for the 1999 elections. Electoral Arrangement Orders are not subject to parliamentary procedure.

  Railways
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from railway operating companies on the introduction of direct services from the regions to mainland Europe. [49955]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Virgin Group have made proposals to the Government and to London and Continental Railways, which are responsible for the management and operation of the Eurostar business. These proposals are being considered as part of the review of regional services which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced in his statement to the House on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link on 3 June 1998,Official Report, columns 367–70.

  Eurostar
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Virgin Rail's proposals to run Eurostar trains on a regional basis. [49746]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 3 June 1998,Official Report, columns 367–70, that the consortium chosen by LCR to operate Eurostar had been asked to review urgently the feasibility of regional Eurostar services, and to report to the Government before the end of the year. He has asked that proposals from the Virgin Group should be considered as part of that review.

  Shipping (Investment)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage investment in United Kingdom shipping companies; and if he will make a statement. [49947]
  8
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are committed to reversing the decline in the UK merchant fleet and increasing employment and training opportunities for UK seafarers. That is why the Deputy Prime Minister established a Shipping Working Group late last year to look at ways to revitalise the British shipping industry. A shipping policy paper will follow publication of the White Paper on Integrated Transport.

  Mobile Telephones (Drivers)
  Sir Patrick Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for drivers to use hand-held mobile telephones in moving vehicles. [49785]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: The police have advised that the offences of
  "careless and inconsiderate driving"
  and
  "failing to have proper control of a vehicle"
  provide them with sufficient powers to prosecute, where appropriate, people driving while using a hand-held mobile phone. The publicity campaign launched on 16 March by my noble Friend the Minister for Roads aims to educate drivers about the dangers of using phones while on the move.

  Number Plates
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations the Government have had with companies involved with the manufacture and distribution of vehicle number plates about the proposed change in format; and if he will make a statement. [49959]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 7 July 1998, Official Report, column 470.

  Local Authority Planning
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 1998,Official Report, column 330, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposals recently issued by the London and South East Regional Planning Conference on housing need in the region; and what steps he plans in response to the Conference's statement that insufficient housing provision will be made for single people on low incomes. [50244]

  Mr. Caborn
  The London and South East Regional Planning Conference (SERPLAN) is consulting on the draft strategy for the SE which assumes that a proportion of the new single households expected up to 2016 will not need separate accommodation. SERPLAN will need to consider the responses made to it during the consultation before preparing draft revised regional planning guidance. Draft guidance will be subject to a public examination in Spring next year before being issued by the Secretary of State. It is important that SERPLAN fully justifies the assumption it has made on single households, and that it makes clear the consequences of not fully providing for the housing needs of the projected number of households in the region.

  Integrated Transport Policy
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the disability organisations whom he consulted in drawing up his forthcoming integrated transport policy. [50002]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: Between August and November 1997, we carried out an extensive consultation as part of the fundamental review of transport policy. Over 25,000 copies of the consultation document were issued and over 7,000 organisations including the Disabled Persons Advisory Committee and members of the public responded in writing, a number of whom were disabled people or representatives of disability groups. In addition, Ministers attended a number of seminars to discuss a wide range of transport issues, including those of particular interest to disabled people, and we have held several meetings with disability organisations. The discussions and the written representations we received have played an important role in informing the development of our integrated transport policy.

  Vehicle Fuel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average cost of converting(a) a bus and (b) a HGV to run on (i) compressed natural gas and (ii) liquidefied petroleum gas. [50331]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The cost of converting these vehicles to run on compressed natural gas is approximately £12,500 for small to medium lorries and buses rising to about £18,000 to £25,000 for the largest lorries and buses. Costs for conversion to liquefied petroleum gas, where suitable engines are available, are understood to be of a similar order.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49814]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service Official Report, column 1.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49816]

  Angela Eagle
  My Ministerial Support Unit does not currently have an e-mail address; we hope to be able to receive electronic mail in the Department by the end of the year. I shall write to the hon. Member when the system is fully operational.

  Recycled Land
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his 10
  oral statement of 23 February 1998, Official Report, columns 21–31, what types of land he includes within his definition of recycled land. [49853]

  Mr. Raynsford
  As we explained in Planning for the Communities of the Future, which was launched by the Secretary of State on 23 February, the Government are currently setting up a National Land Use Database. This will provide a comprehensive national picture of previously developed sites including derelict land and vacant buildings, which may be available for development. We are in the final stages of drawing up the list of site types and characteristics which will be covered by that database, following which we will be commissioning local authorities to undertake the identification work.

  At the same time, we also announced that we would be issuing a discussion paper on the definitions of previously developed land and the issue of regional recycling targets. This will be available shortly.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the value of suburban and urban back gardens in the context of his target of 60 per cent. of development being concentrated on recycled land. [49855]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department has not made a specific evaluation of the contribution back gardens can make to the supply of previously developed urban land for housing, although it is felt that this is likely to be small by comparison to other, previously developed sites. Developments on back gardens are included in the totals in the Department's monitoring the reuse of land; however, they cannot be separately identified.

  Eco Management and Audit Scheme
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if in developing his proposals for best value, he will ensure that the Eco Management and Audit Scheme for local government is recognised as an acceptable quality management system. [49893]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Quality Management systems, including the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), will be important management tools in the delivery of best value. However, the extent to which they are used by local authorities will be essentially a matter for them to decide in the light of their own local circumstances and priorities.

  Where services under best value are to be provided by the private sector, local authorities may specify that contractors establish an EMAS, but in so doing they will need to comply with the EC Procurement Directives.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many local authorities have been accredited under the Eco Management and Audit Scheme; [49891]

  (2) what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of Eco Management and Audit within local government. [49892]
  11
  Angela Eagle
  At present, two local authorities are registered under the Eco Management and Audit Scheme for United Kingdom Local Government (LA-EMAS). The London Borough of Sutton has registered twenty-six separate units covering various operations, and Stratford-on-Avon District Council has registered all its departments and services apart from its Housing Service. The Housing Service will be included in Stratford-on-Avon's application for reregistration of all their services at the end of July. Hereford City Council, which was the first local authority to register all its operations, was obliged to withdraw from the scheme earlier this year when it ceased to exist as a separate authority. The new unitary council, the County of Herefordshire District Council, expect to register their Planning Services in 1999 and intend to register all their operations by the year 2003.

  My Department has produced a full range of free publicity about LA-EMAS, including guidance notes, case studies and a video. It also works closely with the Local Government Management Board to encourage local authorities to participate in the scheme, and is jointly funding a Help-Desk which provides information and runs workshops as well as monitoring the progress of authorities towards full participation. 53 councils (11 per cent. of all 472 local authorities prior to restructuring in April 1998) have committed themselves to achieving external recognition by either EMAS or ISO 14001. A further 106 councils are currently implementing an environmental management system but have not yet decided whether they will seek registration under EMAS or certification to the international standard ISO 14001.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the respondents to the consultation paper on improving local financial accountability explicitly supported its proposals to replace capping. [49890]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have received 387 responses to the consultation paper on improving local financial accountability which address capping issues, the majority of which support the end of crude and universal capping. We have received a wide range of views about what, if anything, should replace it and are still analysing these responses.

  Suburban and Urban Gardens
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the wildlife value and recreational opportunities presented by suburban and urban gardens. [49854]

  Angela Eagle
  Suburban and urban gardens have considerable local value for wildlife and such gardens cover an estimated 3 per cent. of Britain's land surface. Gardens form important wildlife habitats in urban areas and are the place where the majority of the public enjoy their day to day contact with nature.
  12
  It is difficult to determine the recreational opportunities that suburban and urban gardens provide. However, it is clear that they offer scope for a range of informal recreational activities which will vary according to the size and type of garden.

  Suburban gardens make excellent bird habitats and the number of different species they hold is often higher than that in nearby rural areas and always greater than that of the inner city. One in ten gardens has a pond and this has proved important to the common frog at a time when its population declined in many parts of the countryside. British town gardens have some of the best developed communities of plants growing on walls in Europe.

  Approximately 30,000 species of animals are found in Britain and it is believed that about 25 per cent. occur in gardens. A single garden in Leicester had 2,200 species of plant and animal recorded there between 1973 and 1986 and this is likely to be reasonably representative of many medium gardens.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy on development taking place in suburban and urban gardens. [49856]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Current planning policy on this issue is set out in detail in paragraph 26 of Planning Policy Guidance note 3 (Housing), which was issued by the last Administration. This states that:"Homes with large back gardens are a common feature in many urban, suburban and village areas. Sometimes it may be acceptable to develop back gardens for new housing which is in keeping with the character and quality of the local environment. Where development of back garden or back land is allowed, it will require careful planning. For example, there must be proper means of access, which is convenient and safe for both drivers and pedestrians, and adequate provision for car parking. There must be adequate space between old and new buildings to avoid spoiling the amenity of neighbouring houses, for example, by overshadowing. Sensitive design and good landscaping are particularly important if new buildings are to be fitted successively into small vacant sites in established residential areas. "Tandem" development, consisting of one house immediately behind another and sharing the same access, is generally unsatisfactory because of the difficulties of access to the house at the back and the disturbance and lack of privacy suffered by the house in front".

  The Government are currently revising PPG3, and will be issuing a draft for consultation later this summer.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the existing provision of secure cycle parking areas; and what steps are being taken to increase the provision of urban cycle routes. [49680]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The responsibility for on-street cycle parking rests with individual local authorities. Parking can also be provided at destinations such as schools, transport interchanges and workplaces by those responsible for the sites. Good-quality cycle parking is essential to overcome the fear of theft that is an important factor deterring more people from cycling. We have issued advice to practitioners to assist in the choice of the best locations for cycle parking in our Traffic Advisory Leaflet 7/97, "Supply and Demand for Cycle Parking".
  13
  The provision of urban cycle routes is also the responsibility of local authorities. We give advice on the design and construction of cycle facilities in our Local Transport Note publications on cycling and in our Traffic Advisory Leaflets which are issued to all local authorities.

  We are encouraging all local authorities to provide better facilities for cycling as part of our support for the National Cycling Strategy and its objective of increasing cycling fourfold by 2012.

  Vacant Housing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is undertaking to reduce the number of vacant housing units; and what plans he has to encourage the development of an empty property strategy through public-private partnerships. [49678]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The majority of empty properties are in private ownership. Our aim is to make better use of these as part of our strategy for planning for household growth in the future.

  We will continue to encourage local authorities to develop empty property strategies in their areas, in partnership with local public and private agencies. About 200 authorities have strategies in place or under development. My Department is providing funding to the Empty Homes Agency to work with authorities to bring more empty commercial property back into housing use and to assist rural authorities in drawing up successful strategies.

  We have made extra money available to local authorities for renovating and improving stock through the Capital Receipts Initiative. Capital funding is also available through the Housing Investment Programme, the Single Regeneration Budget and the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.

  Brown-field Regeneration
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made in ensuring that Government targets for brown-field regeneration are met within the current unitary development plans. [49679]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government expect local authorities to make full and effective use of previously developed land both when allocating land for housing in their local plans and UDPs and when they decide planning applications. Authorities are making good progress towards that goal. Currently nationally over half of all new dwellings are being built on previously used sites.

  In February, the Government announced in Planning for the Communities of the Future that they expected local authorities to be able to raise the national proportion of new homes to be built on previously developed land to 60 per cent. over the next 10 years. The same document went on to announce that the Government expect regional planning conferences to draw up regional recycling
  14
  targets. This is because some regions will already be close to, or achieving, the national target, whilst others may be unable to match it because of their geographical and other circumstances.

  Fishing (Safety)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 1998,Official Report, column 461, what assessment he has made of the causes of fishing accidents resulting in the loss of life at sea in each of the last three years. [50388]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Marine Accidents Investigation Branch assesses the causes of all fishing vessel accidents where there is loss of life, as well any other, less serious, accidents. Individual investigations involve a comprehensive appraisal of all available evidence which might include the interviewing of survivors, underwater surveys of wrecks, and technical assessments of the vessels.

  Recommendations are made to those best placed to take appropriate action, and lessons to be learned are published in MAIB's Safety Digest which is distributed widely to fishing companies, skippers, fishermen's missions and associations, and the fishing press.

  The Safety Digest comprises individual reports as well as an overview statement relating to accidents in the fishing industry. Action is continuing on a number of fronts to improve the regrettably worsening fatality rate in the fishing industry and I am fully supportive of MAIB's role in this.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review his Department's policy on the non-recovery of bodies lost at sea. [50421]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The recovery of bodies is covered in the consultation paper on fishing vessel accidents and the recovery of those lost at sea. The responses to the paper will be carefully considered and the results of the consultation process announced before the end of the year. We will review our position in the light of those results.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he made of the representations he received on the proposed Code of Safe Practice for Smaller Fishing Vessels which was subsequently withdrawn. [50352]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The representations received on the proposed Code of Safe Practice For Fishing Vessels of Less than 12m Registered Length, following consultation in the summer and autumn of 1997, have been considered by the Steering Committee responsible for the development of the Code. Concerns about the complexity of the Code and the cost of compliance, together with points of details, are being taken into account in developing a revised code which will deliver a genuine improvement in safety without placing an undue financial burden on fishermen.
  15
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the proposed consultation paper on maritime safety in the fishing industry. [50389]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The consultation paper will be issued shortly.

  Roads
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the daily and hourly peak traffic flows along(a) the M42 from Junctions 7 to 11 and (b) the M6 (i) from Junctions 4 to 10 and (ii) from Junctions 10 to 16, (1) in each of the last five years and (2) at present; [50246]

  (2) what are the projected traffic flows along (a) the M42 from Junctions 7 to 11 and (b) the M6 (i) from Junctions 4 to 10 and (ii) from Junctions 10 to 16 in (1) 2000, (2) 2005, (3) 2010, (4) 2015 and (5) 2020. [50247]

  Annex 1: Annual traffic flows 1993–1997 and to May 1998

  To May 1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  1993

  Daily

  Peak

  Daily

  Peak

  Daily

  Peak

  Daily

  Peak

  Daily

  Peak

  Daily

  Peak

  M42

  J7A–8

  1—

  1—

  74

  6

  80

  6

  81

  6

  65

  8

  66

  5

  J8–9

  79

  6

  80

  6

  78

  6

  80

  6

  1—

  1—

  65

  6

  J8–10

  66

  5

  63

  5

  63

  5

  60

  5

  57

  5

  52

  4

  J10–11

  51

  4

  50

  4

  52

  4

  50

  4

  47

  4

  43

  3

  M6

  J4–4A

  98

  7

  98

  7

  94

  6

  91

  6

  87

  8

  66

  8

  J4A–5

  1—

  1—

  135

  9

  132

  9

  128

  9

  124

  9

  125

  9

  J5–6

  115

  7

  114

  7

  111

  7

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  106

  8

  J6–7

  134

  9

  131

  8

  126

  8

  120

  8

  111

  8

  116

  8

  J7A–8

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  J8E–8W (Ray Hall)

  91

  6

  99

  6

  98

  6

  97

  6

  95

  6

  97

  6

  J9–10

  144

  10

  150

  10

  147

  9

  129

  8

  139

  9

  1—

  1—

  J10–10a

  131

  9

  132

  9

  132

  9

  133

  9

  128

  9

  134

  9

  J11–12

  138

  9

  111

  8

  135

  9

  131

  9

  132

  9

  107

  7

  J12–13

  100

  7

  102

  7

  110

  7

  99

  7

  95

  6

  94

  6

  J13–14

  101

  7

  105

  7

  103

  7

  100

  7

  100

  7

  1—

  1—

  J14–15

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  97

  7

  94

  6

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  J15–18

  98

  7

  98

  7

  96

  7

  92

  6

  95

  6

  87

  6

  1No data

  Notes:

  1. All flows are two way, rounded to the nearest thousand vehicles

  2. All estimates averaged over available data for the year

  Annex 2: Traffic flows forecast from 1997

  11997

  2000

  2005

  2010

  2015

  2020

  M42

  J7A–8

  74

  81

  93

  106

  119

  132

  J8–9

  80

  88

  101

  115

  129

  143

  J9–10

  63

  69

  80

  91

  102

  113

  J10–11

  50

  55

  63

  72

  81

  89

  M6

  J4–4A

  98

  104

  113

  122

  129

  135

  J4A–5

  135

  143

  156

  168

  177

  196

  J5–6

  114

  121

  132

  142

  150

  158

  J6–7

  131

  139

  151

  163

  172

  181

  16
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Brian Jenkins, dated 13 July 1998:
  The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson, has asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to reply to your questions about past and current traffic flows and future projections for sections of the M42 and M6 motorways in the West Midlands. In his absence, I am writing on his behalf.
  The average daily and peak flows for M42 junctions 7 to 11 and M67 junctions 4 to 16 are shown on Annex 1 attached. The table shows traffic flows on individual links (ie from junction to junction). The flows for 1993 to 1997 are based on averages of the available count data over the whole year for each of the sections of motorway, whilst the 1998 estimate is an average based on available data between January and May.
  Forecasts of traffic flows over the same sections of M6 and M42 motorways are shown on the table at Annex 2. These have been produced by applying National Road Traffic Forecast (NRTF) central estimate factors (for urban or rural motorways as appropriate) to the 1997 annual estimates. They do not attempt to take into account any future changes in the road network or the effects of network constraints on the ability of the motorways to accommodate future traffic growth.
  I hope you find this information helpful.
  17

  Annex 2: Traffic flows forecast from 1997

  11997

  2000

  2005

  2010

  2015

  2020

  J8E–8W (Ray Hall)

  99

  105

  114

  123

  130

  136

  J9–10

  150

  159

  173

  188

  198

  208

  J10–10a

  132

  140

  153

  165

  174

  183

  J11–12

  111

  121

  140

  159

  179

  198

  J12–13

  102

  111

  129

  146

  164

  182

  J13–14

  105

  115

  132

  151

  169

  187

  J15–16

  98

  107

  124

  141

  158

  175

  1Two-way flow, 7 day average, 24 hours

  Notes:

  1. All flows rounded to the nearest 1,000 vehicles per annual average 24 hour day

  2. NRTF97 motorway central growth factors applied—rural/urban as appropriate

  3. Projections make no allowance for future network changes or constraints

  Airports
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the regulations of the allocation and operation of airport landing and take-off rights; and if he will make a statement. [50377]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The European Community has full competence for policy on the allocation of slots for take-offs and landings at airports. The legal framework for this is set out in EC Regulation 95/93 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports. We are still awaiting a proposal from the Commission to revise the current slots regulation. The UK intends to take an active role in responding to that proposal in the Council of Ministers.

  Retirement Homes
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigations he has made into the purchase of managed freehold retirement homes; if he will assess the advantages of regulating the contracts entered into by purchasers of these homes; and if he will make a statement. [50168]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have conducted no research into the purchase of managed freehold retirement homes. We are looking generally at the market for house purchases, but at present there are no plans to look at the purchase of retirement properties separately.

  Shipping
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those measures undertaken by his Department to support British shipping since 1 May 1997. [50434]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Deputy Prime Minister established a Shipping Working Group late last year to look at ways to reverse the decline in the UK merchant fleet and to increase employment and training opportunities for UK seafarers. A shipping policy paper, based on the work of the Shipping Working Group, will follow publication of the White Paper on Integrated Transport.

  My Department launched the new Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme on 1 April 1998. We have already allocated 30 per cent. more to the SMarT budget than the total grant payments under the previous training
  18
  schemes in 1997–98 and, whilst 465 new cadets were recruited last year, we have agreed funding for 643 new cadets this year on the basis of industry bids.

  Merchant Navy Day
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received calling for the establishment of an official Merchant Navy Day; and if he will make a statement. [49557]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Since the election, there have been five written representations from the Merchant Navy Association, and eighty-nine from members of the Association writing in a personal capacity. Of the latter, fifty-one have been letters from MPs on behalf of their constituents.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures are taken to conduct post marketing surveillance on cases of suspected adverse reactions or pesticides incidents reported to the relevant authorities after initial investigation by those authorities in order to determine any long-term effects. [50343]

  Angela Eagle
  Investigated incidents of alleged ill-health involving pesticides are assessed by the Health and Safety Executive's Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel (PIAP) so that new issues and trends can be identified. The independent Veterinary Products Committee's (VPC's) Appraisal Panel for Human Suspected Adverse Reactions (SARs) evaluates reports of SARs for the same purposes as PIAP. The Advisory Committee on Pesticides and VPC respectively are then informed so that any necessary action can be taken. In addition, the Government sponsor specific research projects to investigate possible health effects of pesticides and veterinary medicines, including long-term effects.

  Tesco
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions (i) Ministers and (ii) officials have had, concerning the possibility of taxes or charges on car parking spaces at out-of-town shopping centres with(a) Tesco and (b) partners or employees of the firm Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement; [50157]
  19
  (2) if he will list the occasions upon which ministers and officials have had contact with Tesco plc or their representatives or advisers. [50159]

  Mr. Prescott
  I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) of 10 July 1998,Official Report, column 649.

  We have carried out an extensive consultation as part of the fundamental review of transport policy. In addition, my Ministers and I have met with a large number of individuals and organisations and have attended a number of seminars to discuss a wide range of transport issues. The discussions and the written representations we received have played an important role in informing the development of our integrated transport policy.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many safety reports on Sellafield have been completed by the Health and Safety Executive over the last five years; and have been withheld from public release under the provisions of section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. [47876]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as the statutory nuclear safety regulator, produces a large number of internal documents each year which relate to safety at Sellafield. These are working documents produced as part of the dialogue between HSE and BNFL about what actions must be taken to comply with the law and to maintain or improve standards of safety. They can range from single page minutes to more substantial documents.

  Because they contain material obtained in pursuance of HSE's regulatory duties, most of these working documents are subject to the restrictions on their disclosure provided for under Section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. It must be understood, however, that Section 28 also provides for exceptions to these restrictions, empowering HSE to make regulatory information public at any time if it believes that this is necessary to discharge its statutory functions to protect the health and safety of workers and the public.

  It is HSE's policy to be as open as possible about issues which arise in respect of nuclear sites. To this end, HSE site inspectors produce regular reports which are given to the Local Community Liaison Committee for each licensed site. In addition, HSE publishes reports summarising the important aspects of major decisions or investigations. HSE has published ten such reports in the last five years.

PRIME MINISTER

  Chief of the Defence Staff
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he had with the Chief of the Defence Staff between 25 June and 2 July; and if the meetings were at the request of the Chief of the Defence Staff. [49549]
  20
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]: Ministerial colleagues and I met a large number of people, both service personnel and others in the period prior to the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, the most open and inclusive review of Britain's armed forces ever undertaken and in particular, at my request, I met the Chief of the Defence Staff on 29 June.

  Rio Summit, May 1999
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister who will represent Her Majesty's Government at the Rio summit in May 1999 on Latin American, Caribbean and European countries, mutual concerns and the environment. [48629]

  The Prime Minister
  The date for the EU/Latin America/Caribbean Summit planned for Rio in 1999 has yet to be fixed. The Government will take a decision on UK representation once a date has been agreed.

  China
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise human rights issues during his forthcoming visit to China. [50424]

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that details of all contacts, formal and informal, between Government ministers and lobbyists are recorded and made available for parliamentary scrutiny. [50169]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 10 July 1998,Official Report, column 600.

  European Aerospace and Defence Industry
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken to co-ordinate Government activity in the restructuring of the European aerospace and defence industry. [50646]

  The Prime Minister
  I have established a new Ministerial Group (MISC5) to develop Government policy and co-ordinate related activity in this area. The Group will be chaired by the President of the Board of Trade.

  The terms of reference and membership are as follows:
  Ministerial Group on the Restructuring of the European Aerospace and Defence Industry (MISC5)

  Composition

  President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Paymaster General

  Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Terms of Reference
  "To develop Government policy and co-ordinate related activity in promoting the restructuring of the European aerospace and defence industry."

  Constitutional Reform
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a Royal Commission to consider reform of the House of Lords. [49749]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 6 July 1998,Official Report, column 357.

DEFENCE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49849]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit does not currently have an e-mail address; however, we plan to set one up shortly.

  Establishment and strength of Volunteer Reserve Forces on 1 April

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Royal Naval Reserve establishment

  7.5

  7.5

  4.7

  4.7

  3.5

  3.5

  3.5

  3.5

  3.5

  Royal Naval Reserve strength

  5.9

  5.9

  4.7

  4.5

  3.6

  2.8

  2.6

  2.7

  2.8

  Royal Marines Reserve establishment

  1.6

  1.6

  1.2

  1.2

  1.2

  1.2

  1.2

  1.2

  1.0

  Royal Marines Reserve strength

  1.1

  1.0

  1.2

  1.1

  1.0

  0.9

  0.9

  0.9

  0.9

  Territorial Army establishment

  85.3

  86.0

  72.0

  68.0

  64.0

  59.0

  59.0

  59.0

  59.0

  Territorial Army strength

  71.5

  72.1

  70.1

  67.2

  63.6

  58.4

  55.9

  56.2

  55.6

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force establishment

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  1.8

  1.6

  1.6

  1.8

  2.3

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force strength

  1.6

  1.7

  1.7

  1.6

  1.6

  1.2

  1.0

  1.4

  1.6

  Notes:

  1. Figures are expressed in thousands to one decimal place

  2. Territorial Army figures do not include Non Regular Permanent Staff

  3. The Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the war appointable element of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve amalgamated on 1 April 1997

  Trainer Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1998,Official Report, columns 265–66, what assessment he has made of the employment consequences for the UK of the award of the contract for the replacement of the Bulldog trainer aircraft; and what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment concerning the costs to public funds of those consequences. [48040]

  Dr. Reid
  Assessments were made of the employment consequences for the UK for each of the bids for the Royal Air Force Light Aircraft Flying Task contract. These assessments included the consequences for employment at the University Air Squadron locations, the competing bidders and the aircraft manufacturers. Assessments were made in consultation with officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Government Office.

  Parliamentary Question
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Ludlow for answer on 19 June relating to the Bilderberg meeting (Ref. 46988). [50351]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I replied to the hon. Member on 10 July 1998,Official Report, column 659.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1998,Official Report, column 355, concerning departmental vehicles, if he will supply such information as is available without incurring disproportionate cost. [49965]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member in due course and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Reserves
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the establishment and (b) the strength of (i) the Royal Naval Reserve, (ii) the Royal Marine Reserve, (iii) the Territorial Army and (iv) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 1 April in each year from 1990 to 1998. [47298]

  Dr. Reid
  The figures are given in the table.

  Departmental Holdings
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to paragraph 192 of the Strategic Defence Review, if he will include representatives of(a) the National Farmers Union, (b) the Tenant Farmers Association and (c) the Scottish Crofters Union as appropriate in respect of the management and disposal of Ministry of Defence rural holdings; and if he will make a statement. [50376]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have undertaken to consult a number of environmental and conservation bodies about our future rural estate strategy. We would be happy also to seek the views of the bodies listed and will contact them later in the year.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Sudan
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the need to improve access for humanitarian aid in Sudan. [50162]

  Clare Short
  The civil war in Sudan is preventing food reaching many starving people. Access to those in need is vital to the relief operation. I have had recent discussions with the Executive Directors of the World Food
  23
  Programme and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on this question. While the position has improved, we need to maintain pressure on the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army to ensure that enough access is provided to allow relief agencies to reach all vulnerable people. My hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Nairobi and Khartoum on 14–16 July to help secure this access.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with(a) non-governmental organisations and (b) aid agencies in the past three weeks over the crisis in Sudan. [50164]

  Clare Short
  I met the Directors of Action Aid, Christian Aid, the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Save the Children Fund (SCF) and Oxfam on 23 June and the Executive Director of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on 9 July. My officials maintain frequent contact with all NGOs and agencies helping to alleviate the crisis in Sudan and regularly update me on the situation.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the current need for further humanitarian aid for Sudan. [50163]

  Clare Short
  On 23 June, the World Food Programme increased its assessment of need and estimated that 10,573 tonnes of food need to be delivered each month until the end of October to stabilise the situation in the south. But, as more access becomes possible, new needs will emerge and we expect this figure to be revised.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support is being provided to(a) the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Society and (b) other agencies working in the Nuba region of Sudan to overcome food shortages; and if she will make a statement. [49693]

  Clare Short
  We have received no requests from the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Society for support. Access to parts of the Nuba region by the United Nations continues to be denied by the Government of Sudan. We, along with other Governments and the United Nations, are pressing the Sudanese Government to agree access to all areas. We provide financial support to the World Food Programme and the UNICEF Nutrition Programme in Sudan. These programmes work to overcome food shortages throughout the whole of Sudan, including those parts of the Nuba region to which they have access.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contacts have been established with refugee Sudanese organisations based in the United Kingdom with particular reference to the Nubian International Relief and Development Council; what discussions have been held regarding the current political and economic situation in that country; and if she will make a statement. [49690]
  24
  Clare Short
  Officials have had discussions with United Kingdom-based refugee Sudanese organisations but the Nubian International Relief and Development Council has not approached the Department for International Development (DFID). I have had discussions with my Foreign and Commonwealth colleagues on the political and economic situation and my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), the Minister for State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has been involved in discussions within the framework of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development SudanPartners Forum. He is in Nairobi tomorrow for discussions with the Government of Kenya and the Sudan People's Liberation Army and will be travelling on to Khartoum for talks with the Government of Sudan on 15/16 July.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support is being provided to Operation Lifeline Sudan, organised by the UN; what discussions have taken place with the Government of Sudan regarding access to the areas affected by famine; and if she will make a statement. [49692]

  Clare Short
  We have committed £24 million in support of Operation Lifeline Sudan activities since February. We have pressed the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army at all levels in Khartoum, Nairobi and London to allow full access to all vulnerable people. During our Presidency of the European Union, we led discussions on Sudan in the General Affairs Council and the Development Council which emphasised the need for all member states to make similar representations.

  Colombia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's work in assisting vocational education in Colombia. [48632]

  Clare Short
  We are currently supporting, at a cost of £771,563, the second phase of a project with the Colombian Adult Vocational Training Service (SENA) designed to enhance training programmes for farmers in post-harvest fruit and vegetable management. The aim of the project is to create income and employment opportunities for the rural poor, by facilitating an increase in the quality and marketable quantity of fruit and vegetables in the post harvest chain.

  In addition, a number of NGO projects which have helped to train Colombian community groups in marketing, business and other vocational skills have been supported through our Joint Funding Scheme.

  Know-how Fund
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the financial contribution to date of the Know-how Fund in developing a bakery training school at St. Petersburg, Russia; and how much further funding is currently planned. [49948]
  25
  Clare Short
  My Department has contributed £415,427 to date towards the development of the Leningrad Minibakeries Training Centre through a Know-how Fund project. The first phase of this project ended in May. The final cost to Department for International Development of the first phase will be approximately £480,000. A second phase of support began in June. We plan to provide approximately £100,000 of funding under this second phase, which will finish in June 1999. We have no plans for further funding beyond that date.

  Chernobyl (Children)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department is giving in the current year to help children suffering the effects of the Chernobyl disaster; and if she will make a statement. [50037]

  Clare Short
  We are providing assistance for the effects of the Chernobyl disaster mainly through the multilateral agencies such as the World Health Organisation.

  In addition, in Belarus we are supporting Chernobyl charities through our Small Grants Scheme. We will fund a workshop in September 1998, through the Know-how Fund in collaboration with the charity Chernobyl Children's Life-Line, which will bring 12 people from Belarus to visit UK hospitals and social services here. Also under the Know-how Fund, and in collaboration with Chernobyl Children's Life-Line, we are preparing a project to support foster homes in Belarus.

  Schools (Computers)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support she plans to give to programmes to increase the number of computers in schools in developing countries. [49621]

  Clare Short
  As our White Paper makes clear, we are strongly committed to the key international targets of universal primary education and gender equality in

  Bilateral aid to Sri Lanka

  £000

  Technical co-operation (exc ATP)

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Financial aid (exc ATP)

  2,181

  4,848

  5,289

  1,654

  1,658

  1,260

  445

  1,163

  1,530

  896

  Generation and transfer of knowledge

  4,060

  5,498

  5,463

  4,979

  5,437

  4,645

  4,378

  4,122

  3,875

  3,367

  Grants and other aid in kind

  1,900

  1,832

  1,818

  4,274

  2,467

  1,941

  2,250

  2,058

  1,918

  2,371

  Aid and trade provision

  5,496

  7,230

  1,248

  2,845

  591

  573

  166

  67

  71

  127

  Programme aid

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Emergency aid1

  163

  350

  178

  194

  570

  282

  584

  519

  100

  —

  DFID debt relief2

  1,589

  1,589

  1,589

  1,589

  1,427

  1,174

  1,013

  764

  526

  350

  Total DFID programme

  15,389

  21,348

  15,586

  15,537

  12,149

  9,876

  8,836

  8,693

  8,020

  7,111

  CDC investments

  7,575

  4,157

  2,042

  2,042

  288

  6,740

  4,010

  2,787

  6,605

  12,526

  Other3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  —

  29

  1

  23

  —

  Total gross public expenditure

  22,964

  25,505

  17,628

  17,579

  12,450

  16,616

  12,875

  11,481

  14,647

  19,637

  1Emergency Aid includes disaster relief and short term refuge

  2This comprises only principal forgone under Retrospective Terms Adjustment

  3This is all drug related assistance funded by the Home Office and the FCO

  Source:

  Statistics Department Database
  26
  primary education by 2005. These targets will not be achieved unless we take advantage of appropriate technologies at all levels of education to up-grade teaching skills and enhance teaching and learning at all levels. In this respect books, journals and computer technology all have a significant part to play.

  The Department for International Development (DFID) education projects are being implemented in many of the poorer areas of developing countries which lack basic school infrastructure, such as secure buildings and electricity, to support computer technology. In such places, our priority is geared towards the attainment of basic literacy and the provision of at least minimum facilities.

  Nevertheless, we understand the increasing importance of computer technology in education. We support the Commonwealth of Learning (COL). Based in Vancouver, its purpose is to create and widen access to opportunities for learning via the application of communication technologies to education. We are funding a number of studies through COL to increase understanding of problems and practicalities of introducing new technologies and distance education in developing countries.

  A number of our bilateral education projects include the provision of computers in, for example, resource centres where they are used to deliver teacher education programmes.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will give a breakdown of aid to Sri Lanka by the Government in the last 10 years. [49683]

  Clare Short
  The breakdown of UK Government's development assistance to Sri Lanka over the last 10 years is set out in the table. Final figures for 1997/98 are not yet available. Details are contained in the annual publication of British Aid Statistics, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the e-mail address of her Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49843]

  Clare Short
  The e-mail address is as follows:Enquiry@dfid.gtnet.gov.uk.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what target her Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49841]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49842]

  Clare Short
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Banana Producers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what European Union funding is being provided to banana producers in ACP countries; and if she will make a statement. [49723]

  Clare Short
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under what circumstances the public sector will be able to assume ownership of the redeveloped Wembley Stadium or claw back public investment. [49889]

  Mr. Banks
  All Lottery Sports Fund grant awards are subject to clawback provisions as a mandatory condition of award. Clawback provisions in relation to the stadium will be included within the projects formal Lottery Funding Agreement and can be invoked if this is broken.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were prosecuted for non-payment of their television licences in South Yorkshire in the past 12 months. [49618]

  Mr. Fisher
  Prosecutions for television licence fee evasion are not recorded separately from other offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 and 1967, although the great majority of offences under these Acts relate to licence fee evasion. Provisional figures for 1997, the most recent year for which information is available, show 2,544 prosecutions under the wireless Telegraphy Acts in the South Yorkshire Police Force area.
  28
  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] [pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1998, c. 552]: 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, and the estimated cost of free television licences for all 'pensioner only' households where at least one member has reached the age of 75 is £198 million.

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library copies of gender impact assessments which have been undertaken in respect of legislation introduced in this Parliament; if he will make it his policy to do so in respect of future legislation; and if he will make a statement. [47015]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  My Department is committed to the mainstreaming initiative launched on 18 May which requires policy initiatives to be assessed for gender impact. We will report progress through the planned cross-Departmental Annual Report to Parliament, to be published after the end of this financial year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ukraine
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance is being provided in support of change of use projects in the Ukraine to convert redundant missile facilities into satellite launch pads; if this funding provides for retraining local scientists to be able to undertake this work; and if he will identify the amounts of funding(a) arising from bilateral aid, (b) arising from EU aid and (c) co-ordinated by the EBRD. [44681]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There are no existing sites in Ukraine suitable for launching satellites. However, we are aware that there have been proposals that Ukrainian ballistic missile manufacturing facilities inherited from the Soviet Union, which have been doing some missile work under contract from Russia, could build launch vehicles for satellites, making use of their considerable expertise in rocket propulsion. HMG have no plans to fund any retraining of local scientists for this purpose and are not aware of EU or EBRD involvement in the venture.

  Correspondence
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the volume of correspondence sent to and received from hon. Members by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the periods(a) 1 January to 26 March 1994 and (b) 1 January to 26 March 1998. [47688]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Between 1 January to 26 March 1998, I received 1,329 letters from hon. Members. In the same period, I replied personally to 222 letters from hon. Members.
  29
  This reflects the long-standing convention that the Foreign Secretary answers letters from Cabinet (or ex-Cabinet) Ministers, Shadow Cabinet Ministers and Privy Councillors, and replies to some other hon. Members where there is special reason for doing so.

  On immigration issues, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replies to Privy Councillors, and the FCO Correspondence Unit to other hon. Members. On consular issues, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replies to the majority of letters.

  The figures for 1994 are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49804]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  This department handles its public e-mail via an interactive form on its Web site (www.fco.gov.uk). Messages are acknowledged electronically and then sent to the relevant internal address for appropriate reply.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meet that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49802]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Diplomats
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the relative staffing levels of diplomatic representation abroad as between the UK and(a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Italy. [48206]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: A 1997 European Commission survey of Member States gave numbers of home-based Foreign Ministry staff serving abroad:

  Number

  UK

  2,400

  Italy

  2,816

  France

  6,000

  Germany

  3,619

  Nazi Gold
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names and addresses of those people who have had their claims honoured following the International Conference on Nazi Gold. [49522]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The aim of the London Conference on Nazi Gold (2 to 4 December 1997) was to establish a sound body of fact on gold looted by the Nazis 30
  from both occupied countries and individuals, on which governments and other bodies could base future decisions. It achieved this aim and the full Conference report will be published shortly. The Conference did not set out to establish claims procedures, or to settle individual claims.

  Cardiff Summit
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of public events for the Cardiff Summit. [49645]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The only public event at the Cardiff European Council paid for by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was the reception given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for some 250 representatives of the local community, as well as exhibitors and sponsors of the "Wales, the Next Generation" exhibition, in the National Museum of Wales on 14 June. This cost £5,000 (ex VAT). The fireworks display at Cardiff Castle at the end of the dinner given by HM The Queen on 15 June could also be seen by many members of the public in Cardiff. It cost £28,085.11 (ex VAT), and was funded through sponsorship. Some other events were laid on for the public by the local authorities and other local bodies.

  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to(a) the United Kingdom Government and (b) the European Union institutions of hosting the European Council in Cardiff, indicating separately the costs of the organisation of (i) the Youth Summit and (ii) other events associated with the Council meeting. [49755]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We are still awaiting final invoices, but expect the cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of hosting the European Council in Cardiff to be about £6.6 million (ex VAT). There were also costs arising for the Home Office and the Welsh Office.

  The European Union institutions involved in the European Council met the costs of their own staff, senior officials and some office equipment. These costs are not readily available.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave a grant of £2,500 to the British Youth Council who were involved in the organising of the Youth Summit.

  I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer today with regard to the costs to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of other events at the European Council meeting.

  Mr. Thomas Trafford Ottowell
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the current validity of the claim by the late Mr. Thomas Trafford Ottowell, registered under the Board of Trade No. ED61544, for repayment of unlawful and arbitrary deductions by the German Government from his savings. [49521]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The British Government are not in a position to assess the current validity of this claim which appears to be more a matter for the Austrian or German authorities.

  Cuba
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the draft EU-US Understanding on Cuba of 18 May will require EU countries not to encourage investment in property nationalised from Cuban nationals who subsequently acquired US nationality. [50050]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The disciplines on investment in expropriated property agreed as part of the EU/US Understanding signed on 18 May include a denial of government support to new investment in properties expropriated in contravention of international law. Each case would have to be considered on an individual basis. There are no specific provisions concerning properties which belonged to individuals who were Cuban citizens at the time of their expropriation and who subsequently became US citizens.

  EU (Television Advertisements)
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many television advertisements have been funded by EU institutions in 1998–99 to date; what has been their nature; what has been the estimated number of viewers in each EU country; and how much they have cost. [49758]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This information is not readily available. We will make inquiries with the institutions concerned and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to trace the assets of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia under the control of Serbia and to ensure that these are returned on an equitable basis to the successor nations. [50349]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  None. It is for the five successor States to resolve questions of succession to assets and liabilities of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Negotiations continue under the auspices of the High Representatives special negotiator, Sir Arthur Watts, whose fees we cover.

  Latin American Students
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's current funded scholarships to Latin American students in British universities. [48630]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The FCO's Scholarship programme for overseas students comprises the British Chevening Scholarships (in co-operation with the Department for International Development), an annual grant to the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for Marshall Scholarships, and a contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. The principal objective of our scholarship programme is to win long term friends overseas for Britain. Scholarships are targeted at potential leaders, decision makers and opinion formers in about 150 countries.
  32
  In Latin America Chevening scholarships are used to promote our twin objectives in the region of the increased trade and investment and closer political ties, with an increasing emphasis on good government and human rights.

  Belarus
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Government of Belarus regarding the treatment of diplomatic missions in Minsk. [50423]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 1 July 1998,Official Report, column 202. Since the recall for consultations to the British Ambassador in Minsk and the return to Minsk of the Belarusian Ambassador in London, the British Charge d'Affaires in Minsk, and the representatives of the missions directly affected by Belarusian action, have continued to make frequent representations to the Belarusian authorities, so far without success. In response to the continued failure of the Belarusian authorities to comply with international law, on 9 July the EU introduced visa restrictions on Belarusian Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior officials in the Presidential Administration.

  Morocco
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Morocco about the fines imposed on Graham Hutt, Serge Dechoz, Kelly Vinikka and Antero Ylikangas, their arrest and interrogation; what discussions he has had with that Government about religious freedom in Morocco; and if he will make a statement. [50166]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have provided consular assistance to Dr. Hutt, but we have made no representations to the Moroccan authorities about his case, which is sub judice. He has appealed against his sentence and is free to leave Morocco pending the outcome. The others referred to are not British nationals. We do not have consular responsibility for them in Morocco.

  Moroccan law allows personal freedom of religion, as provided for in the Constitution. The Christian church is active in Tangier, Casablanca and Rabat, which has its own Roman Catholic cathedral. As well as the Christian community, Morocco is home to a large Jewish community.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan regarding sentences imposed as a result of its blasphemy laws. [50167]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our High Commission in Islamabad led an EU demarche to the Pakistan authorities on 14 May about the situation of religious minorities. We made clear the EU's concern about the death penalty imposed on Ayub Masih, a Christian, for blasphemy, and the negative effect such cases can have on inter-faith relations in Pakistan.
  33
  I raised the rights of religious minorities with the government of Pakistan during my visit there in June last year, as did my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in January this year.

  Human Rights Project Fund
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects approved for funding from the Human Rights Project Fund to date and the sums allocated in each case. [49485]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  More than 100 projects totalling over £3.5 million have been approved or approved in principle to date from the Human Rights Project Fund:

  Projects approved/approved in principle under the Human Rights Project Fund

  Post/department

  Project description

  Amount (£)

  Accra

  Building capacity of NGOs lobbying about the rights of the poor

  46,000

  Accra

  Radio programmes to raise awareness of women's rights

  40,000

  Addis Ababa

  Assistance to Ethiopian human rights conference

  46,060

  Addis Ababa

  Human rights training for regional officials

  24,300

  Addis Ababa

  Support for Ethiopian Women's Lawyers Association

  23,000

  Addis Ababa

  Provision of legal books for Federal Supreme Court

  10,000

  Addis Ababa

  Funding for gender and development officer

  5,000

  African Department (Equatorial)

  Support to UN Commission on Arms Flows to Rwanda

  50,000

  Almaty

  Media and governance workshop

  28,000

  Almaty

  Publication of booklets on human rights

  15,625

  Ankara

  Young Lawyer Exchange Scheme

  38,300

  Ankara

  Citizen's Advice Bureau pilot project

  27,400

  Beijing

  Professional ethics seminar for lawyers

  90,000

  Beijing

  Publicity about British policing methods and judicial system

  55,000

  Beijing

  Training video for legal officials

  35,000

  Beijing

  Human rights education project

  27,000

  Beijing

  Support for conference on impact of human rights conventions on national laws

  15,000

  Beijing

  Training for government legal officials

  15,000

  34

  Projects approved/approved in principle under the Human Rights Project Fund

  Post/department

  Project description

  Amount (£)

  Belgrade

  Assistance with TV documentaries on human rights

  30,057

  Bogota

  Support for rehabilitation of child prostitutes

  45,700

  Bogota

  Training of teachers about detection and prevention of child abuse

  18,500

  Brasilia

  Support to NGO working with street children

  23,000

  Brasilia

  Training for federal government human rights officials

  20,000

  Brasilia

  Support to centre for street children

  8,500

  Bridgetown

  Campaign to raise awareness about violence against women/children

  11,000

  Budapest

  Vocational training for Roma in prison

  2,900

  Cairo

  Support for women's legal aid project

  15,600

  Caracas

  Publication and distribution of report on human rights

  12,100

  Caracas

  Legal entitlement workshops for prisoners

  9,200

  Castries

  Training programme for prison officers

  13,500

  China Hong Kong Department

  Seminar on professional standards in the media

  107,639

  China Hong Kong Department

  Training course on the role of trade unions in a market economy

  57,633

  Damascus

  Human rights scholarships

  30,000

  Dar es Salaam

  Contribution to Arusha peace talks

  50,000

  Dar es Salaam

  Production and distribution of human rights booklets

  5,000

  Dominica

  Prisons and magistrates courts reform project

  14,190

  Durban

  Development of resource materials on women's rights

  7,500

  Durban

  Support for programmes for community conflict management and resolution

  7,500

  Gaborone

  Support for work on administration of justice on violence against women

  7,100

  Guatemala City

  Contribution to Truth Commission

  62,000

  Harare

  Provision of CCTV equipment to victim-friendly court

  2,300

  Human Rights Policy Department

  UNICEF/BBC World Service project on broadcasting to children in armed conflict

  100,000

  35

  Projects approved/approved in principle under the Human Rights Project Fund

  Post/department

  Project description

  Amount (£)

  Human Rights Policy Department

  Attachment of gender mainstreaming officer to OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

  61,000

  Human Rights Policy Department

  Support for UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women

  25,000

  Human Rights Policy Department

  NGO training seminar on Framework Convention on National Minorities

  25,000

  Human Rights Policy Department

  Support for NGO working group on rights of disabled children

  15,000

  Human Rights Policy Department

  Launch of manual on protecting the rights of street Children

  5,000

  Human Rights Policy Department

  Participation in Oxford International Human Rights Course

  3,500

  Jakarta

  Assistance to National Human Rights Commission and Legal Aid Foundation

  25,000

  Jakarta

  EU human rights seminar

  22,500

  Jerusalem

  Palestinian rights programme

  348,000

  Kampala

  Support for Ugandan Human Rights Commission

  30,000

  Khartoum

  Publication and distribution of human rights material

  6,500

  Kiev

  Training seminars and publications on human rights

  60,770

  Kiev

  Support for human rights NGOs

  33,400

  Kiev

  Children's rights awareness project

  26,000

  Kigali

  Assistance to Ministry of Justice in connection with International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

  61,610

  Kingston

  Support for Jamaica Council for Human Rights

  14,500

  Kingstown

  Equipment for prison workshop

  5,500

  Kinshasa

  Support for Documentation Centre for Legal Studies at Ministry of Justice

  53,000

  Kuala Lumpur

  Participation in Oxford International Human Rights Course

  4,000

  Kuwait

  Human rights seminar

  15,000

  Latin America Department

  Participation by representative of Northern Ireland Office in Peace Conference in Bogota

  2,000

  Lima

  Contribution to Ad Hoc Pardon commission

  78,000

  36

  Projects approved/approved in principle under the Human Rights Project Fund

  Post/department

  Project description

  Amount (£)

  Lima

  Support for radio programmes on human rights

  70,000

  Mexico City

  Project to promote awareness of women's rights

  161,600

  Mexico City

  Production of TV documentary on children's rights

  10,000

  Mexico City

  Human rights of HIV/AIDS sufferers: education and awareness project

  10,000

  Moscow

  Support for Regional Human Rights Commissioners and NGOs

  25,000

  Moscow

  Support for education initiative by Presidential Commission on Human Rights

  25,000

  Moscow

  Support for regional monitoring of human rights

  25,000

  Moscow

  Youth Human Rights Film Festival

  25,000

  Moscow

  Human rights of HIV/AIDS sufferers: education and awareness project

  23,000

  Moscow

  Development of links between human rights NGOs and the mass media

  21,240

  Moscow

  Project to promote public access to information

  18,000

  Nairobi

  Medical aid to prisoners and torture victims

  50,000

  Nairobi

  Advocacy campaign to promote children's rights

  50,000

  Nairobi

  Support to International Federation of Women Lawyers (Kenya Chapter)

  20,000

  Nairobi

  Civic education workshops to promote awareness of role of MPs

  17,900

  Nairobi

  Participation in human rights seminar in Belfast

  5,000

  New Delhi

  Project to raise awareness of human rights in prison management

  85,000

  New Delhi

  Provision of books and information resources to human rights NGOs

  50,000

  New Delhi

  Training and development of counselling skills for legal NGOs

  38,000

  New Delhi

  Human rights training for civil servants

  27,500

  Phnom Penh

  Programme of support for street children

  51,160

  Phnom Penh

  Training for provincial authorities by Cambodian Institute of Human Rights

  24,540

  37

  Projects approved/approved in principle under the Human Rights Project Fund

  Post/department

  Project description

  Amount (£)

  Port Louis

  Media training

  8,000

  Port Moresby

  Establishment of NGO Liaison Office

  40,000

  Port of Spain

  Workshops to raise awareness of domestic violence

  5,000

  Prague

  Education of Roma children

  10,000

  Pretoria

  Participation in Oxford International Human Rights Course

  10,000

  Pretoria

  Strengthening links between African human rights NGOs

  10,000

  Pretoria

  Support for 2nd African Human Rights Conference

  9,000

  Pretoria

  Training for community newspaper reporters

  9,000

  Pretoria

  Media training

  6,300

  Pretoria

  All Africa Human Rights Moot Court Competition

  5,000

  Quito

  Promotion of women's participation in politics

  41,513

  Sana'a

  UK/Yemen criminal justice system initiative

  70,000

  Santiago

  Support for implementation of prison reform

  40,000

  Santiago

  Support for establishment of family and children's courts

  35,000

  South Asian Department

  Joint human rights projects with UK company

  50,000

  South East Asian Department

  UK/Philippines initiative on child welfare

  150,000

  Ulaanbataar

  Training for members of Mongolian prison service

  11,000

  Vila

  Assistance to Vanuatu Ombudsman

  7,500

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Council what target she sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to letters from hon. Members. [49880]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Council what is the e-mail address of her Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49882]
  38
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  My office's e-mail address is "ecrooks@cabinetoffice.gsi.net".

  Drug Action Teams
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the President of the Council (1) if she will make a statement about future funding to secure the continued existence of drug action teams; [50336]

  (2) if she will take into account the specific nature of drug issues in rural areas when future funding for drug action teams is determined. [50337]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  Decisions on resourcing for anti-drugs programmes will be announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper. Further details will be released in announcements at a later date.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Attorney-General what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49838]

  The Attorney-General
  The target set for the maximum time in which letters are responded to is 15 working days. During the year 1997/98, the latest period for which figures are available, 88% of letters were answered within that target. The average time taken to respond to letters from an hon. Member was 13 days.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49840]

  The Attorney-General
  Although my Department does not have a separate Ministerial Correspondence Unit the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers has the following e-mail address:Islo@gtnet.gov.uk

  Counsel's Fees
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish the current year's budget for the Crown Prosecution Service together with his estimate of the amount to be spent on counsel's fees. [49213]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service's gross provision for 1998–99 totals £302,737,000. At this stage I estimate that the Department will spend £86,000,000 on counsel's fees. Expenditure on council's fees will be monitored throughout the year to refine the forecast outturn and an additional Supply provision will, if necessary, be sought.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Attorney-General what budgetary controls are exercised in the expenditure of public funds in payment of counsel's fees in work done by the Serious Fraud Office. [49216]
  39
  The Attorney-General
  In SFO cases the normal procedure is to ask 3 counsel to tender for the work. Hourly rates for preparatory work and a daily rate for court attendance are then agreed in advance. The number of hours spent in preparation is agreed with the lawyer in charge of the case and is an integral part of the SFO budgeting arrangements. It should be noted that the fee levels will not necessarily be the deciding factor but rather one of the factors in the choice of counsel.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the total budget for the Crown Prosecution Service for each of the last three years together with the amount spent on counsel's fees. [49212]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service's total provision for each of the last three years together with the amount spent on counsel's fees were as follows:

  £

  Year

  Provision

  Counsel fee expenditure

  1997–98

  320,752,000

  85,134,613

  1996–97

  320,307,000

  82,699,317

  1995–96

  315,817,000

  73,884,561

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the total budget for the Serious Fraud Office for each of the last three years and the amount of each of those budgets that was spent on counsel's fees. [49215]

  The Attorney-General
  The SFO (net of Appropriations in Aid) budget and expenditure on counsel's fees for each of the last three years are as follows:

  £

  Year

  Provision

  Counsel fees

  1995–96

  17,376,000

  3,245,642.57

  1996–97

  16,988,000

  3,091,045.09

  1997–981

  16,317,000

  22,574,842.03

  1This year's account has yet to be audited and the figure is subject to change

  2The fees paid to counsel excludes VAT which is to be recovered for the first time by the Serious Fraud Office

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Attorney-General what criteria are applied in agreeing fees with counsel's clerks. [49214]

  The Attorney-General
  Fees are determined by the Crown Prosecution Service either by reference to the rates and guidance set out in the CPS Fee Scheme, or in exceptional cases, negotiated individually. The CPS Fee Scheme is agreed annually with the Legal Aid and Fees Committee of the Bar Council.

  When agreeing fees in individual cases, the Crown Prosecution Service has regard to any unusual weight, gravity or complexity of the issues, and to the skill, standing, seniority or expertise of counsel appropriate to the case. The fee determined reflects the time actually and justifiably spent by counsel in both preparing and presenting the case for hearing, and provides fair and reasonable remuneration for the work done.
  40
  The Serious Fraud Office apply a different procedure, having regard to the complexity and weight of the work undertaken. It is described in my answer today to Question No. 49216, Official Report, column 39.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1998,Official Report, column 564, what was the expenditure in 1996–97 on counsel's fees by (a) the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) HM Customs and Excise. [49217]

  The Attorney-General
  Having regard to the context of my hon. Friend's question, I have taken it to refer only to fees paid to prosecuting counsel. The expenditure by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1996–97 on counsel's fees for prosecution work was £824,540.10 (inclusive of VAT).

  The total fees paid by Customs and Excise to prosecution counsel in the same period was £7,141,612 (inclusive of VAT).

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Training Allowance
  Mr. Love
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the provision of allowances for hon. Members to undertake training to assist in the fulfilment of their duties. [49688]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  There is no allowance specifically for Members' training.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Bloody Sunday Inquiry
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations she has received concerning the legal representation of witnesses at the Bloody Sunday inquiry; and if she will make a statement. [49722]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have received two letters from a representative of Madden and Finucane (Solicitors) and my officials have met a delegation from the Irish Government to listen to concerns. The level of legal representation is a matter for the Inquiry being conducted by Lord Saville and his team.

  "Partnership for Equality"
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the replies she received to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" and what percentage of the total expressed opposition to the proposals with particular reference to the proposed establishment of a single commission dealing with all equality issues; and if she will list the groups expressing opposition. [48372]
  41
  Mr. Worthington
  Written comments on the consultative elements of the White Paper were to be sent by 12 June 1998 and by that date we had received 114 replies, as indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, South-West (Dr. Starkey) on 17 June 1998,Official Report, column 254. A further 9 responses were subsequently received and a total of 123 were considered. Of those expressing a view on the proposed establishment of a single Commission 55 or 45 per cent. were broadly against. These were:

  Barnados

  Belfast and District Trade Union Council

  Belfast Travellers Education Development Group

  Commission on the Administration of Justice

  Chinese Welfare Association NI

  Commission for Racial Equality (NI)

  Craigavon Standing Conference of Women's Organisations

  Craigavon Travellers Support Committee

  Derry City Council

  Disability Action

  Equal Opportunities Commission (N)

  Falls Women's Centre (two responses)

  Fee Ching Leong

  Forum for Community Work Education NI

  Foyle Friend

  Greater Belfast Community Network

  Institute for Public Policy Research

  Jones and Cassidy, Solicitors

  Law Centre NI

  Mrs. K. M. I. Wilson OBE

  Multi Cultural Resource Centre

  NI Disability Council

  NI Forum of People with Disabilities

  NI Union of Supported Employment

  NI Anti-Poverty Network

  Northern Ireland Committee—Irish Congress of Trade Unions

  NI Council for Ethnic Equality

  NI Council for Ethnic Minorities

  NI Public Service Alliance

  North West Community Network

  NI Voluntary Trust

  NI Women's Coalition

  Opportunities for Women in Learning

  Payee Point Travellers Centre

  POBAL (Irish Language Group)

  Resource and Development Agency

  Roden Street Community Development Group

  Rural Community Network

  SACHR

  SDLP

  Sinn Fein

  Soroptimist International

  Soroptimist International (UK Programme Action Committee)

  Southern Travellers Early Years Partnership

  Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group

  The Rainbow

  The Women's Centre

  Training for Women Network

  Traveller Movement NI

  42

  UNISON

  Women's Forum NI

  Women into Politics

  Women's National Commission

  Women's Support Network.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the responses to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" will be made public. [48373]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Government do not intend to publish the responses but arrangements have been made for copies of the replies, with the exception of one requesting confidentiality, to be placed in the Parliamentary Libraries.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" are being made as a result of responses received to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality". [48374]

  Mr. Worthington
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Mr. Salter) on 10 July 1998,Official Report, columns 665–66.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will allow interested parties to make changes to their submissions to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" to take account of the publication of the Belfast Agreement. [48375]

  Mr. Worthington
  No. All but two of the 123 submissions on the White Paper were received after the Belfast Agreement was published and almost all respondents were therefore able to take the Agreement into account.

  Equality Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reduction in costs and manpower she estimates will occur as a result of the proposed establishment of a single Equality Commission. [48376]

  Mr. Worthington
  The proposal to establish a single Equality Commission was not based on seeking a reduction in costs and manpower. A new Commission would take on roles additional to those currently exercised by the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Disability Council. These new roles include responsibilities in relation to the statutory obligation on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity, changes to Fair Employment law proposed in the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" including the outlawing of discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services and functions comparable to those proposed for a Disability Rights Commission in Great Britain. No estimate of the costs and staffing of such a body has yet been made.

  Suicides
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received concerning recent trends in the rate of suicide; and what measures she intends to take. [48378]
  43
  Mr. Worthington
  Representations have been received from one local councillor and from the Coroner for Greater Belfast. I am shortly to meet the Coroner to hear his assessment of recent trends in the rate of suicides, particularly in relation to young people. Additionally, a number of practical steps are being taken by the Department of Health and Social Services and by local health and social services boards and trusts to identify the possible root causes of suicides and prevent further tragic loss of life.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49837]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Unit's e-mail address is:mcu.lcd@gtnet.gov.uk.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what target he sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49835]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service Official Report, column 1.

  Queen's Counsel
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total cost to his Department of(a) considering and (b) processing successful applications for silk in 1998. [49267]

  Mr. Hoon
  The departmental expenditure apportionable to the procedure for considering applications for Queen's Counsel in 1998 is estimated to be £117,236. This comprises £65,975 for direct staff costs and £51,261 for indirect costs, such as a share of the costs of common services. The cost of processing successful applications (that is, the cost of granting silk to successful applicants) in 1998 was approximately £9,000, which was recovered through a fee paid by new Queen's Counsel.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what fee his Department would have needed to charge each applicant in 1998 to cover the cost of processing applications for silk. [49268]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Department would have needed to charge applicants a fee of £230 to enable the estimated departmental expenditure apportionable to the procedure for considering applicants for Queen's Counsel in 1998 to be fully recovered. The cost of granting silk to successful applicants is covered by the fee of £150 payable by new Queen's Counsel.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Oil Over-capacity
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the problems of physical storage capacity world-wide associated with the world-wide over-capacity in the production of oil. [48631]

  Mr. Battle
  Assessments of current surplus storage capacity are difficult to make due to a lack of complete information on the current levels of stocks. However, it is clear that global inventories are currently high. In their latest Monthly Oil Market Report, the International Energy Agency estimates that, for April 1998 (the latest month for which accurate data are available), total OECD industry and Government-controlled stocks of crude oil and products stood at 3,733 million barrels, 101 million barrels higher than at the same time last year.

  Football Hooligans
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received from employers on the taking of further measures against people who have been convicted of offences during the World Cup while in France, on their return to the United Kingdom. [48400]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My Department has received one letter.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for encouraging the development of energy from waste technology. [49677]

  Mr. Battle
  To date, well over 200 schemes, with a total capacity exceeding 1,000MW, have been offered contracts under the first four rounds of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO-1 to NFFO-4) to generate power via waste-based technologies from sources including landfill gas, sewage gas, and municipal and industrial waste.

  In the short-term future, I expect to announce the fifth round of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO-5) in the autumn. Subject to suitable bids being received, I am considering including three separate bands in the NFFO-5 Order for waste-based technologies—for landfill gas, for municipal and industrial waste, and for municipal and industrial waste using combined heat and power (CHP)— as well as separate bands for small-scale hydro and onshore wind energy.

  In the longer term, and in line with this Government's manifesto commitment to undertake a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources, I have been reviewing policy towards new and renewable energy, including considerations of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10% of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010 and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reduction commitments. Further support for energy from waste technology is being considered as part of that review process. I hope to announce the outcome of that review this summer.
  45
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the EU White Paper on renewable energy. [49676]

  Mr. Battle
  We have given the White Paper careful consideration, along with our European partners. Under the UK Presidency, the Council of Ministers adopted a Resolution welcoming the White Paper and urging Member States to develop strategies to promote renewables in order to bring about a substantial increase in renewables throughout the EU.

  In line with this Government's manifesto commitment to undertake a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources, I have been reviewing policy towards new and renewable energy, including considerations of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10% of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010, and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reduction commitments.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans her Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49884]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The core Department has had facilities in place for some time to allow all staff to correspond electronically with any individual or organisation able to exchange E-mail via public networks such as the internet. The Department's Agencies have, or plan to have, similar facilities.

  E-mail addresses are included in the Department's letterhead and, additionally, will be published for key contacts. The Department is also connected to the Government Secure Intranet and able to correspond electronically with an increasing number of public sector organisations via that network.

  In line with the Government's target that:
  "25% of Government transactions should be capable of being handled electronically by 2002",
  we have active programmes of our own aimed at ensuring these facilities are used to best effect, and we are also involved in central initiatives to develop and extend the concept of 'Joined-Up' Government for wider business benefit.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the e-mail address of her Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49885]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My Department does not have a central Ministerial Correspondence Unit. Each Minister's Private Office handles its own correspondence. The relevant e-mail addresses are:

  beckett.tlo@tlo.dti.gov.uk

  battle.tlo@tlo.dti.gov.uk

  clinton-davis.tlo@tlo.dti.gov.uk

  griffiths.tlo@tlo.dti.gov.uk

  mccartney.tlo@tlo.dti.gov.uk

  roche.tlo@tli.dti.gov.uk

  simon.tlo@tlo.dti.gov.uk

  Joint Research Equipment Initiative
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much public money has been allocated to date to the Joint Research Equipment Initiative; how much more will be allocated; and what is the planned limit for public contributions. [49946]

  Mr. Battle
  In 1996, the first year of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative, £25 million of public money was allocated to the scheme. In 1997, this figure rose to £35 million. The amount of public money allocated to date for 1998 is £25 million.

  Future public contributions are dependent on allocations from the Science Budget and DfEE.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to announce the results of the third round of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative. [49945]

  Mr. Battle
  As stated in the JREI rules, which were available from the Higher Education funding councils' web sites until the closure of the competition on 31 May 1998, it is expected that the results of the third round will be announced by the end of January 1999.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bids have been received for the third round of the Joint Research Equipment Initiative. [49944]

  Mr. Battle
  Applications are still being checked for eligibility, but initial indications are that some 400 applications have been received for JREI 98.

  Export Licence Applications
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of applications for export licences were processed by her Department within 20 days for the period 1 May 1997 to date. [48227]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 30 June 1998]: The Export Control Organisation (ECO) of DTI measures its performance against two aims:
  to provide a substantive response to an application within 20 working days of receipt for applications that need to be circulated to other Government Departments according to their policy requirements ('circulated' cases);
  to provide such a response within 10 working days of receipt for applications that are dealt with by DTI itself ('non-circulated' cases).

  In each case, full documentation in support of the application must be provided by the applicant at the outset for these targets to apply.

  ECO management data on the processing of licence applications are compiled on the basis of four-week periods. The accumulated data for the period beginning nearest to 1 May 1997 are for the period 3 May 1997 to 30 May 1997. The latest period for which management data are available is the period 2 May 1998 to 29 May 1998.

  To the nearest percentage point, 51 per cent. of circulated cases during the period were finalised within 20 working days.

  This information was taken from the Export Control Organisation's management data, which are compiled in order to monitor performance at processing applications

  47
  for Standard Individual Export Licences. The performance measures do not apply to applications for Open Individual Export Licences (due to the very wide variations between goods and country coverage of such licences), to licences covering Iran or Iraq or to exports which are subject to control solely because of United Nations Sanctions.

  Science and Engineering
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about the future of the science and engineering base. [50611]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review I am able to announce a £1.1 billion additional investment. This will transform the Science and Engineering Base, modernise the UK's research performance, respond to the Dearing Committee's concerns about research infrastructure in universities, and help boost economic growth. It reverses the decline under the previous Government and is made possible by a path-breaking public private partnership with the Wellcome Trust. Up to 2002, the package includes:A £600 million fund for building new and refurbishing existing university laboratories, equipment and other essential infrastructural needs as identified in the Dearing Report, funded equally by my Department and the Wellcome Trust;

  Science provision settlement

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Total

  Cash baseline1 (£ million)

  1,349

  1,349

  1,349

  1,349

  —

  Additional programmes (£ million)

  —

  61

  150

  196

  407

  Infrastructure fund (£ million)

  —

  75

  100

  125

  300

  Total additions (£ million)

  —

  136

  250

  321

  707

  Total new science provision1

  1,349

  1,485

  1,599

  1,670

  —

  Percentage increase in cash terms over 1998–99 baseline

  —

  10.1

  18.5

  23.8

  —

  Percentage increase in real terms over 1998–99 baseline

  —

  7.3

  12.7

  14.8

  —

  The science budget net of these receipts is:

  Total new science budget (£ million)

  1,338

  1,474

  1,588

  1,659

  —

  1The CSR Settlement is for gross science provision which includes £11 million for EU receipts

  In addition, the Wellcome Trust are providing:

  £ million

  Contribution to infrastructure Fund

  300

  Contribution to X-ray source

  100

  Total Wellcome Trust Contribution

  400

  Total additional funding:

  £ million

  Science Budget

  707

  Wellcome Trust

  400

  Total

  1,107

  Departmental Environmental Policies
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what efforts she is making to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable issues within her Department; and if specific training will be made available to staff where appropriate. [50059]
  48£400 million for the Research Councils to meet the current and capital costs of new project funding in priority areas like life sciences;£100 million from the Wellcome Trust towards a new high intensity synchrotron X-ray machine which will help keep the UK at the forefront of research on the exploitation of the human genome;new arrangements to ensure that the Funding Councils and the Research Councils work closely together to deliver better value for money and transparency in the use of research funds.
  The UK's output of world class scientists and cutting-edge discoveries is second to none—and a guarantee of our economic prosperity and quality of life in the 21st Century. Our greatest asset is our scientists, but they need funding for their research and tools to do it with. Years of under-investment in laboratories and equipment—and in the people themselves—have jeopardised this inheritance. This major injection of funds reverses this decline that our predecessors allowed, ensuring that we have a modern and effective science base for the new millennium—particularly in the life sciences where the UK is a world leader.

  I am particularly grateful to the Wellcome Trust—the major charitable funder of scientific research in the UK—for the generous offer which has resulted in this pioneering partnership.

  Mr. Battle
  Like all my ministerial colleagues, I am clear about the important role that the Government's commitment to the objective of sustainable development must play in DTI's work. A range of actions has been taken to ensure that this is backed up throughout the Department, and more will be developed. This includes: circulation of copies of the recently published detailed advice on environmental appraisal to all directors and to staff at all levels, to be supported by staff training sessions; a series of seminars with prominent speakers from industry and NGOs to raise the level of understanding of sustainable development issues and the implications for our work; a Sustainable Development network throughout DTI and Government Offices to provide a focal point for two-way communication with the 50-strong Environment Directorate which provides a central contact point for advice and information to all staff on environmental issues; and a revised Green Housekeeping Guide which has recently been issued to all staff, as well as being made available on the Department's intranet, with the aim of both further increasing staff awareness of environmental issues and encouraging staff action that helps to ensure continuous improvement in the
  49
  Department's environmental performance. Alongside the DTI's contribution to the revision of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, work is also underway on the development of a DTI sustainable development strategy. The DTI strategy will encompass all DTI policies and operations, including training to ensure effective implementation.

  Part-time Work Directive
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she estimates the Part-time Work Directive will take effect in the UK. [49869]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Part-time Work Directive was extended to the UK on 7 April with two years for implementation. It will therefore take effect in the UK by April 2000. We intend to consult widely on the best way to implement the Directive.

  Textiles Industry
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment her Department has made of the Commission's calculations relating to the need for EU anti-dumping tariffs on unfinished textiles; [49629]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the impact of the imposition of the anti-dumping tariffs on unfinished textiles on imports of grey cloth from (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Germany; [49624]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the impact on employment levels in the United Kingdom textile finishing industry of the EU's imposition of anti-dumping duties on finished textiles; [49620]

  (4) what assessment she has made of the effects on the prices and output of finished textiles as a result of the EU anti-dumping tariff on unfinished textiles. [49623]

  Mrs. Roche
  The European Commission has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of most unbleached cotton fabrics from China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey for a period of six months from 8 April 1998 because, in its judgment, such imports were being dumped and causing injury to Community weavers and the Community interest calls for intervention to prevent such injury.

  We, with a clear majority of Member States, advised strongly against this action.

  In our judgment, any injury to EU weavers has resulted predominantly from increased imports from countries outside the EU that are not covered by the anti-dumping investigation and that are not subject to the provisional anti-dumping duties. Any benefit to EU weavers from any reduction in imports from countries that are subject to those duties and resulting from those duties is therefore likely to be temporary.

  On the other hand, the imposition of anti-dumping duties, particularly if they are made definitive and remain in place for five years, is likely to result in some increase in the price of unbleached cotton fabrics, to the detriment of EU users of such cloth and, ultimately, of EU consumers. Moreover, manufacturers in the countries that are subject to those duties are thereby given a clear commercial incentive to bleach,
  50
  print or dye, and, perhaps, make up their cloth before export, to the detriment of the corresponding EU industries.

  The likely overall effect is a reduction in production and employment in the EU textile industry.

  While the likely direction of these effects is clear, reliable estimates of their scale cannot readily be made.

  UK imports of unbleached cotton fabrics from Germany are modest, and unlikely to be greatly affected by the imposition of anti-dumping duties on the import into the EU of such cloth from certain countries outside the EU.

  The Government will, for those reasons, vigorously oppose the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties on unbleached cotton fabrics should the European Commission make such a proposal to the Council of Ministers.

  Casting Industry
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of(a) the imposition of and (b) the recent removal of EU anti-dumping duties on pig-iron on the British casting industry. [49627]

  Mrs. Roche
  The European Commission introduced anti-dumping measures on imports into the EU of hematite pig-iron from Brazil, Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine from January 1994, and on such imports from the Czech Republic from January 1996.

  We advised strongly against such action primarily because we were not satisfied that imports from those countries were the cause of any injury to EU producers of hematite pig-iron and because of the likely detriment to users of that pig-iron in the EU, the foundry industry.

  The European Commission's subsequent review of those measures, in essence, confirmed that our concerns were well founded. We therefore welcome the European Commission's repeal of those measures from 9 May 1998. This is likely to benefit the foundry industry in the UK and the rest of the EU.

  Planning (Overhead Lines)
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review the Overhead Lines (Exemptions) Regulations 1990 and their interrelationship with normal planning regulations. [49745]

  Mr. Battle
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Nuclear Industry
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many reports on the nuclear industry are currently being withheld for reasons of commercial confidentiality under section 28b of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974; and if she will list their titles. [49475]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today, in answers from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), Official Report, column 19.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Alcohol Sales (Young People)
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the purchase of alcohol by persons under 18 years old. [48416]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have received representations about preventing adults from buying alcohol on behalf of children, increasing the use of test purchases and closing the loophole affecting sales by company employees.

  Isle of Man and Channel Islands
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's handling of relations with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. [48418]

  Mr. George Howarth
  My right hon. Friend is the Privy Councillor with special responsibility for the Islands, and the Constitutional Unit of the Home Office is the formal point of communication between the United Kingdom and the Island authorities.

  Neighbourhood Nuisance
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his time scale for the introduction of new legislation to deal with neighbourhood nuisance. [48420]

  Mr. Michael
  We plan to implement the anti-social behaviour order provisions of the Crime and Disorder Bill with effect from 1 April 1999. We expect to implement the Bill's provisions for local crime and disorder reduction partnerships in September, so that the first crime and disorder audits can take place this autumn, to allow strategies to tackle locally identified problems to be in place by 1 April 1999. Youth Justice and other provisions of the Bill will also be implemented from this autumn onwards.

  Immigrants (Detention)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the review of immigration detention procedures to be complete. [48421]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The review is largely complete. I expect to announce our approach to detention in the proposed Immigration and Asylum White Paper.

  Illegal Immigration
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent to which illegal immigration into this country is by way of other member countries of the European Union. [48422]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Significant numbers of illegal immigrants enter the United Kingdom from neighbouring continental countries within the European Union. We have been handicapped in returning many of them by the provisions of the Dublin Convention signed up to by the previous Government.

  Paedophile Activity
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effects of his initiatives to reduce paedophile activity. [48423]

  Ms Quin
  There has been a significant change of approach since we implemented the Sex Offenders Act 1997 last September, with the police and probation services actively co-operating over public protection.

  New measures in the Crime and Disorder Bill, in particular the Sex Offender Order and the extended supervision of sex offenders, will help protect the public still further from the risk of known sex offenders re-offending.

  Prisons (Population)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current number of inmates in Her Majesty's prisons and the forecast change over the next 12 months. [48425]

  Ms Quin
  The current prison population is 65,754. If trends which have been observed in recent years continue, the total prison population is expected to average 65,700 during 1999, once the effect of Home Detention Curfew has been taken into account. Home Detention Curfew, as provided for in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords], is expected to reduce the prison population by around 3,000 to 4,000 below where it would otherwise be. On this basis, the prison population is expected to be 64,500 at the end of June 1999.

  Young Offender Institutions
  Mr. Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the contents of current regimes in young offender institutions. [48426]

  Ms Quin
  In line with recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in his Thematic Review of young prisoners, a significant programme is underway to review and improve arrangements for holding young offenders within the Prison Service.

  Improved regimes are being developed in four Young Offender Institutions: Huntercombe, Werrington, Swinfen Hall and Onley. £2 million has been made available to allow for an increase in hours spent in purposeful activity; an improvement in education, work, offending behaviour programmes and Physical Education; and development of throughcare and resettlement. The results of this project will be assessed by comparing the progress of young prisoners in these establishments with those in a control group.

  As part of the Government's New Deal, "Welfare to Work" gateway courses are being trialed in 11 establishments. Seven of these establishments are Young Offender Institutions and two hold young offenders as well as adult prisoners. This scheme will benefit 18 to 24-year-old prisoners by improving their chances of finding employment after release, and therefore should assist the resettlement process.
  53
  The results from both projects will inform the development of regimes in other young offender in other young offender institutions.

  Police (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the number of beat policemen in Lancashire. [48427]

  Mr. Michael
  The Lancashire Police Authority made representations about the funding settlement for 1998–99, but it expressed no particular concern about the number of police officers on the beat. The previous Government's Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 gave chief constables the responsibility to determine the number of officers in each force within available resources.

  Provisional police manpower figures for March 1998 show that the number of constables in Lancashire increased by 12 over the previous 12 months to 2,504, and that there was an overall increase in police numbers of ten to 3,257. The Lancashire Police Authority will have a spending capacity for 1998–99 of £177 million. This is an increase of 3.8 per cent. or £6.4 million over 1997–98.

  Alcohol (Young People)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning links between under-age drinking and violent and loutish behaviour in town centres. [48428]

  Mr. Michael
  The public, police officers and local councillors have all indicated that alcohol-related crime and disorder, including that involving underage drinkers, is a significant problem. We have implemented the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 and will be legislating to clarify the law relating to adults buying alcohol for children and the use of children in test purchases. The Anti-Social Behaviour Order and other provisions in the Crime and Disorder Bill will also help with specific local problems.

  It will be for the police and local authorities, with their partners, to assess the extent of such problems locally as part of the crime and disorder audit required under the Crime and Disorder Bill and to develop strategies to reduce violence and bad behaviour, including steps to deal with under-age drinking where necessary.

  Police (Disciplinary Procedures)
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had about reforming police disciplinary procedures; and when he proposes to implement changes. [48429]

  Mr. Michael
  I have regular discussions with the police staff associations and other interested parties. As my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 23 March 1998,Official Report, columns 21–24, new police discipline procedures will come into effect on 1 April 1999.

  Fire and Police Service Pensions
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform fire and police pension arrangements. [48430]
  54
  Mr. Michael
  Consultation documents on the police and fire service pension schemes were published on 31 March of this year. We have invited comments by 31 July on the issues raised in the documents. We will take careful account of the comments we receive when we come to consider any changes to the pension arrangements for new entrants to the police and fire services and to medical retirement procedures.

  Police (Performance)
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanisms he compares the performance of different police forces. [48431]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Secretary sets out his strategic development priorities (key objectives) for the police and the performance of different police forces is compared on the basis of their effectiveness in working towards these objectives and the other measures of effectiveness studied by the Inspectorate and the Audit Commission. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has a statutory duty under the Police Act 1996 to inspect and report to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales. In so doing, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) takes into account the performance of forces against the key policing objectives and performance indicators set by the Home Secretary, as well as against a wider range of performance indicators and criteria. HMIC also carries out thematic inspections on specific issues of public interest. Comparison of performance between forces is assisted by HMIC's model of Most Similar Force Analysis, which groups together forces with similar characteristics.

  The Audit Commission is required under the Local Government Act 1992 to collect data from police authorities which will allow comparison between different areas. The data are incorporated in the HMIC reporting process, and published separately by the Audit Commission on an annual basis.

  Prisons (Suicides)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has evaluated on the suicide rates in Her Majesty's prisons. [48432]

  Ms Quin
  Statistics on the number of self-inflicted deaths are collected and published each year in the Prison Service's Annual Report. The Prison Service examines each death in prison custody thoroughly to see whether any lessons can be learned and, where apparent clusters of deaths occur, considers whether there are any common factors. Research has identified that the first month of imprisonment (whether as a sentenced or remand prisoner) is a period of significantly increased risk of suicide. This particularly affects local prisons with a high proportion of remand prisoners.

  The Prison Service is also conducting research into suicide and self-injury to improve the understanding of self-injury and its relationship with suicidal behaviour. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons is also preparing a thematic report on suicides and self harm in prisons.

  Prisons (Hepatitis)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce levels of hepatitis in prisons. [48401]

  Ms Quin
  The Prison Service runs an extensive education and counselling programme to make prisoners aware of the risks to health from communicable diseases and offers prisoners and staff who come into contact with them immunisation against hepatitis B. As part of efforts to reduce hepatitis and HIV, it is also piloting the reintroduction of disinfecting tablets in selected establishments from this month, as announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton East, (Mr. Howarth) the Under-Secretary of State.

  Probation Service
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage offender behaviour programmes run by the probation service. [48407]

  Ms Quin
  We have just issued guidance to all probation services on this subject. The guidance sets out a detailed programme of action intended to ensure real progress towards the goal that all offenders are supervised in ways which have been shown to be effective in reducing reoffending. This initiative (which has the full backing of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation) includes the development and piloting of new evidence-based supervision programmes and a new system for their independent accreditation.

  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage offender behaviour programmes run by the Probation Service. [48399]

  Ms Quin
  We have just issued guidance to all probation services on this subject. The guidance sets out a detailed programme of action intended to ensure real progress towards the goal that all offenders are supervised in ways which have been shown to be effective in reducing reoffending. This initiative (which has the full backing of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation) includes the development and piloting of new evidence-based supervision programmes and a new system for their independent accreditation.

  Prisons (Drug Use)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the results of random drug tests in prisons. [48410]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There has been a reduction in the percentage of random mandatory drug test samples testing positive for drugs, from 24.4 per cent. in 1996/97

  to

  20.8 per cent. in 1997/98. This reduction is a welcome indication of the Prison Service's success in reducing the level of drug misuse in prisons.

  Supervision of Offenders
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on arrangements 56
  for the post-release supervision of offenders who have been convicted abroad and have been released back to the United Kingdom. [48414]

  Ms Quin
  Offenders who have completed prison sentences abroad before returning to the United Kingdom are not subject to any compulsory supervision. We are concerned about risks to the public by certain offenders who have committed serious crimes and who are deported to this country, and are considering legislative options to address the issue. This will be done in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to continue to authorise the use of conductive loop tags. [49642]

  Ms Quin
  Any electronic monitoring equipment used in the new electronic monitoring services in England and Wales will need to satisfy the technical criteria specified by the Home Office prior to its authorisation for use.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the companies shortlisted for the national roll of tagging(a) use and (b) propose to use equipment supplied by Bolder Industries of America. [49641]

  Ms Quin
  No equipment supplied by Bolder Industries is currently used in the existing trials of electronic monitoring. Shortlisted bidders for the national electronic monitoring service are required to propose the equipment they intend to use in their bids, which are due today.

  Football Arrests
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the United Kingdom have been arrested before and during football matches involving teams from England and Scotland played in the World Cup in France. [49567]

  Mr. Michael
  The information is not available in precisely the form requested. The information presently available indicates that 286 English and Scottish people were arrested in France during the World Cup Finals (up to 30 June), 275 of whom were English and 11 Scottish. Fourteen English people were deported or expelled from France, and 363 were refused leave to enter.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sources of information are used in the preparation of the country assessment for Sri Lanka by the Information and Policy Unit of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, with particular reference to those relating to the human rights situation of the Tamil community; how often that assessment is reviewed; and if he will make a statement. [49686]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg) on 13 May 1998,Official Report, columns 127–28. The Sri Lanka country assessment is fully sourced and draws on information contained in reports produced by Amnesty International, Human

  57
  Rights Watch Asia, United Nations High Commission for Refugees Centre for Documentation and Research, as well as the United States' Department reports on Human Rights Practices in Sri Lanka. Details of these sources of information are contained in the bibliography which accompanies the assessment.

  It is intended to revise and update the assessment regularly at about six monthly intervals.

  Prisoners (Communicable Diseases)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1998,Official Report, columns 587–88, in respect of plans to reduce the risk of the spread of communicable diseases in prisons, if he will outline the criteria that the independent academic team based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will use to evaluate the success of the initiative; and if he will list the prisons in which the pilot scheme will take place. [49488]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The purpose of the pilot scheme is to trial a variety of distribution methods for disinfecting tablets. The evaluation by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will take account of:

  take-up rate of the tablets;

  the working of the various methods for distribution of the tablets, including whether or not they ensure anonymity;

  any obstacles to implementation; and

  any evidence of intended and unintended effects on existing regimes.

  The following establishments are taking part in the pilot scheme: Askham Grange; Coldingley: Cookham Wood; Garth; Highdown; Holloway; Long Lartin; Norwich; Stoke Heath; Welstun; and Woodhill.

  Prisons (Closed Visits)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many closed visits have taken place in prisons in England and Wales during the last 12 months. [49478]

  Ms Quin
  Governors have discretion under Prison Standing Order 5 to impose closed visits on any prisoner where security or control considerations so require. The decision to impose closed visits on a prisoner is taken on the basis of information available in each case and is kept under review. Figures for the number of prisoners subject at any one time to closed visits and the number of visits held under closed conditions are not held centrally.

  CS Sprays
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been prosecuted for misuse of CS sprays since January 1996. [49492]

  Mr. Michael
  This information is not available centrally. Of all the complaints investigated by the Police Complaints Authority from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1998, there were two cases in which police officers were prosecuted for misuse of CS. In both cases the officers were found not guilty.

  Vehicles (Spray Suppression)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for driving a vehicle whose spray suppression devices have failed to comply with Regulation 65 of the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986(a) from April 1987 to March 1992 and (b) since April 1992. [47765]

  Mr. Michael
  Prosecutions for this offence cannot be distinguished from other similar offences connected with defective vehicles in the statistics collected centrally.

  Most offences of this nature are dealt with by the issue of a prohibition notice, but figures kept by the Vehicle Inspectorate (an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) do not separately distinguish offences of defective spray suppression devices from offences connected with defective wings and wheel arches.

  The Government recognise the importance of this issue and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson), has outlined the steps being taken in the United Kingdom and Europe to improve the standards of spray suppression.

  The Home Office is co-operating with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on a variety of issues and this issue will be included in future discussions between Ministers.

  Security Service Files
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of security service files which are no longer required to be held for operational purposes; [50390]

  (2) pursuant to his oral statement of 25 February 1998, Official Report, column 346, how and when he proposes to carry out his undertaking concerning security service files. [50353]

  Mr. Michael
  During the debate on 25 February, my right hon. Friend undertook to make a statement on Security Service files before the summer recess. That remains his intention.

  Police Communications
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department is giving in order to improve police communications systems. [48417]

  Mr. Michael
  The Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is intended to replace all radio infrastructures for the police service with the new generation of digital radio communication systems from 1999 onwards. The project is being managed by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which became a Non-Department Public Body in April this year. Under the PSRCP, a national co-ordinated approach is being taken to the planning, design and implementation of the new communications systems, and PITO has been supporting all police forces in England and Wales to achieve this. This next generation of communications systems will utilise new radio spectrum we have secured for the service which will overcome many of the current
  59
  operational difficulties, including radio interference within existing bands. A Business Case for the implementation of the project will be completed this year, and a decision taken on whether to proceed.

  PITO is also responsible for managing the contract for the Police National Network (PNN), the police service's own national data and telephony communications network. The Organisation is in the process of procuring a second generation PNN which will be available by summer 1999. The new service will build on the success of the existing network and will offer the next generation of telecommunications infrastructure for policing, criminal justice and public safety throughout the United Kingdom. It is envisaged that it will offer the latest intranet features and will incorporate the Emergency Communications Network.

  Mental Ill Offenders
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 1998,Official Report, column 326, what progress has been made on improving the level of information provided to the victims of crimes committed by people with mental disorders. [49266]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 18.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences he has issued for cannabis to be grown, processed or supplied for medical research; when they were issued; and if he will make a statement. [49721]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Records show that two licences have been issued for cannabis to be grown, processed or supplied for medical research. The first was issued in 1982 and the second in 1998.

  Prisoners (Education)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has obtained as to the proportion of the prison population who are deficient in(a) literacy and (b) numeracy; and if he will make a statement on the provision of education in prison with respect to these problems for (a) adults and (b) young offenders. [50112]

  Ms Quin
  The Prison Service derives its knowledge about literacy and numeracy rates from the results of the basic skills screening test which prisoners may be invited, but are not required, to take. These suggest that between 60 and 75 per cent. of prisoners have basic skills needs deficiencies: 60 per cent. of prisoners have poor literacy skills; and 75 per cent. of prisoners have poor numeracy skills.

  Prison education focuses on the Prison Service Core Curriculum, which comprises basic educational skills (literacy and numeracy), life and social skills and information technology skills. All prisons and young offender institutions are required to offer this programme,
  60
  which has been designed to help prisoners find a job on release, resettle themselves into society and cope with life after prison without re-offending.

  The Prisons Board has recently endorsed an education policy framework for prison education which is consistent with the Government's wider education priority of improving basic skills and improving the skills in the national labour force.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meet that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49805]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49807]

  Mr. Straw
  Anyone wanting to contact the Home Office by e-Mail can do so by using—gen.ho.@gtnet.gov.uk. At present, there is no separate e-Mail address for my Department's Ministerial correspondence unit.

  Prisoners (Methadone)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of the Prison Service in respect of prisoners who enter custody with existing methadone prescriptions; and to what extent the implementation of this policy varies between prisons in England and Wales. [50251]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Prison Service health care standard for the management of opiate misusers calls for abstinence to be achieved wherever possible. The standard does, however, allow for the provision of methadone maintenance for those remand prisoners who are already on maintenance treatment and require its continuation.

  The Prison Service will begin actively to monitor the implementation of its health care standards from September 1998 and information about the extent to which the implementation varies across the prison estate will become available after that.

  Police (Drug Problems)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on co-operation between Colombia and the West Midlands police on drug problems. [48633]

  Mr. Michael
  Colombia is the world's largest producer and distributor of refined cocaine. Western Europe and the United Kingdom are major targets for this illicit trade. We believe that constructive anti-drug co-operation and assistance can help their law enforcement authorities counter the problem more effectively. Law enforcement co-operation between the United Kingdom and Colombia is excellent. Since 1989 we have provided £15 million of
  61
  equipment and training to Colombia. I am not aware of any current links between West Midlands Police and Colombia on drug problems.

  Prisons (Midwifery Services)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of prisons make use of community midwifery services to provide antenatal and postnatal care within prisons; [50038]

  (2) what proportion of women's prisons have agreed joint local protocols with their nearest hospital for the care of pregnant prisoners. [50034]

  Ms Quin
  All prisons which hold pregnant women provide a community midwifery service through the local NHS Trust. All but two of those prisons also have locally agreed arrangements for hospital care for pregnant prisoners.

  Of the two which do not, one has a local protocol for the care of pregnant women agreed with the NHS midwifery service; and the other is in the process of agreeing an arrangement with the local hospital.

  Terrorist Offences
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1976 the number of persons accused of terrorist crimes in the United Kingdom tried under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1975 in the Irish Republic specifying in so far as the information is readily available to him the offence alleged, where it was committed and the outcome of the trial. [46743]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have been asked to reply.

  The extraterritorial legislation that would allow persons to be charged and tried in the Republic of Ireland is the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976, not the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 which applies only in Northern Ireland. Accurate figures for 1976–1990 are 16 persons tried and 12 convicted. It has proved difficult to establish the offence and location. However, since 1990 the figures are as follows:

  Date

  Offence

  Where

  Result

  1991

  Membership of unlawful organisation

  Rosslea

  Acquitted

  1992

  Attempted murder

  Belleek

  12 years

  1992

  Attempted murder

  Belleek

  12 years

  1995

  Attempted murder

  Belleek

  12 years

TREASURY

  Bank of England, Cardiff Bay
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rent-free period applied under the lease of the new Wales office of the Bank of England at Scott Harbour, Cardiff Bay. [49446]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: Under the terms agreed to take a lease on offices for its Wales agency in Cardiff, the Bank of England benefited from a rent free period of one month.

  Family Incomes
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the highest possible level of family income which will be supplemented by working families tax credit and/or child care tax allowance. [47484]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The highest possible level of family income which will be supplemented by the WFTC depends on the number, and age, of the children in the family. For example, a family with two children under 11 and maximum eligible childcare costs will still receive some WFTC with family income of around £31,000.

  Tax (Hypothecation)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the introduction of a conscience element in income tax collection to enable revenue from people who request it to be allocated to budgets other than defence. [46776]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 22 June 1998]: One representation has been received on this matter from the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of administering a system in which income tax revenue from people who request it is allocated to budgets other than defence. [46775]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 22 June 1998]: The Government have no proposals to allow income tax to be hypothecated either toward or away from individual departmental budgets and have therefore made no estimate of the costs of administering such a system.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49817]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49819]

  Mrs. Liddell
  www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman Bureau Limited about their system of charging companies against which complaints are made for their services. [50165]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 15 June 1998,Official Report, column 105.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) of 23 June 1998,Official Report, columns 453–54, on heavily indebted poor countries, if he will list in respect of each country the creditors in the United Kingdom; if he will estimate how much is owed to each creditor; and if he will make a statement. [50161]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The export credit debts listed in the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) on 23 June are all sovereign debts which are owed directly to ECGD. ECGD is owed a total of £5,389 million by the countries that were listed. In the case of the aid loans that are listed, DFID is the creditor, and is owed a total of £27.55 million.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the long and the short-term rates of interest in real terms at present relative to(a) 1996, (b) 1993, (c) 1987 and (d) 1984. [49619]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Information on nominal interest rates is contained in the ONS publication Financial Statistics. Real interest rates can be derived using figures for inflation which are detailed in the ONS publication Economic Trends.

  Financial Services
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the Financial Services Authority a statutory duty to improve the quality of financial services in the marketplace. [50078]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government's plans to reform the financial services regulatory structure are intended to deliver an improvement in the quality of financial services regulation to the benefit of both consumers and the industry. The statutory objectives of the Financial Services Authority will include protecting financial services consumers.

  Fiscal Indicators
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury proposes to revise its latest published estimates of key fiscal indicators. [50615]

  Mr. Darling
  The second Industry Act Forecast will be published in the Pre-Budget Report later this year. The date of publication is not yet known.

  Office for National Statistics
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the efficiency with which the Office for National Statistics delivers its statistical outputs. [50672]

  Mrs. Liddell
  In order to ensure that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides the best service possible, I am today announcing a review of the way in which the ONS delivers its outputs in order to ensure that it makes best use of the resources available. This review will be taken forward by external consultants who will examine the efficiency with which the ONS delivers its outputs and will also examine the scope for radical 64
  changes for both direct service delivery and support services, for example through increased public/private partnerships, business process re-engineering and rationalisation.

  The review will be steered by a group with an independent chair. It is envisaged that it will report by the end of the year.

  Insurance Regulation
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements for the regulation of the insurance industry; and if he will make a statement. [50083]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The planned legislation to reform the structure of financial services regulation will provide for the Financial Services Authority to assume responsibility for all aspects of the regulation of insurance companies.

  The Treasury is currently considering responses to the consultation document issued on 7 April on the regulation of insurance brokers and other intermediaries.

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

  Dawn Primarolo
  [pursuant to her reply, 3 July 1998, c. 322]: The cost of mortgage interest relief in Scotland is estimated to be £180 million in 1996–97 and £200 million in 1997–98. The amount of relief given through the MIRAS—mortgage interest relief at source scheme—is estimated to be £170 million in 1996–97 and £190 million in 1997–98.

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

SCOTLAND

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49825]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Department's e-Mail address is ceu@isd01.scotoff.gov.uk.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49823]
  65
  Mr. Dewar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the value of capital expenditure in (i) real terms, (ii) cash terms and (iii) as a percentage of total National Health Service expenditure in Scotland that will be undertaken by the National Health Service in the years(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–2002 and (d) 2001–2002. [50160]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The public sector baseline for capital in 1998–99 is £136m which represents 2.9 per cent. of the total expenditure of £4,626m on the NHS in Scotland. In addition a further £180m of private sector capital is expected to be spent in 1998–99 on the NHSiS through the Private Finance Initiative.

  Provision for future years will be announced in due course as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Hospital Consultants
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital consultants have been dismissed in each of the past five years; how many of these appealed against their dismissal; how many were reinstated following a successful appeal; and if he will make a statement. [49738]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the number of consultants dismissed by Trusts and Health Boards in Scotland is not kept centrally. Since 1993, 12 consultants have appealed to the Secretary of State against termination of employment: 3 of these appeals were not upheld; 2 were withdrawn and the appellant reinstated; 2 were withdrawn since a settlement had been reached before the appeal was heard; 3 appeals were time barred; 1 appeal was judged outwith the Secretary of State's jurisdiction and 1 appeal has yet to be heard.

  The number of appeals heard each year is very small and many result in reinstatement or an amicable settlement before the full appeal procedure is concluded. Every effort is made to ensure that the appeal process is carried out as quickly as possible.

  Allotments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what recent guidelines have been issued to local authorities about the designation and provision of allotment sites; and if he will make a statement; [49001]

  (2) what action he proposes to take to protect existing allotment sites; and if he will make a statement; [49003]

  (3) what recent representations he has received about the provision of allotments; and if he will make a statement; [49005]

  (4) what advice his Department gives to local authorities on the subject of the sale of allotment sites; and if he will make a statement; [49007]

  (5) what recent discussions he has held with COSLA on the drawing up of a best practice regime for allotments and its implementation by local authorities as
  66
  recommended in the Fifth report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee (HC560-I); and if he will make a statement; [49131]

  (6) what plans he has to modify the legislation governing (a) the provision of allotment sites and (b) the rights of allotment holders; and if he will make a statement; [49002]

  (7) what recent discussions he has had with representatives of COSLA about the annual publication of local authority allotments provision; and if he will make a statement; [49004]

  (8) what recent representations he has received about the sale by local authorities of allotment sites; and if he will make a statement; [49006]

  (9) if he will make a statement on the recommendation in paragraph 5 of the Fifth report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, (HC560-I); [49130]

  (10) what plans he has to collate the information on allotment provision held at local authority level in order to establish and maintain a data base on such provision; and if he will make a statement. [49161]

  Mr. Macdonald
  In Scotland, decisions on the provision of allotment sites are a matter for local authorities. The Scottish Office has issued no recent guidelines and Ministers have had no recent discussions with COSLA on the subject. The Scottish Office has received three representations within the past year about the protection of allotment sites: two about the Dalmuir plots in Clydebank, and one about the Craigentinny plots in Edinburgh.

  The Government are considering the recommendations contained in the Fifth Report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, and will publish a response in due course.

  Geriatric Unit (Greenock)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects a contract to be signed for the construction of a geriatric unit at the Larkfield Site, Greenock; and if he will make a statement. [49736]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust are aiming to sign a contract for the new facility at Larkfield in October.

  Residential Development (Gourock)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the Chief Reporter's report and recommendations anent the application for a residential development at Levan Farm, Gourock; and if he will make a statement. [49739]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Chief Reporter of The Scottish Office Inquiry Reporters Unit expects to have his report and recommendations regarding the application for a residential development at Levan Farm, Gourock with me within the next few weeks. Given that I am to take the decision on this matter, it would not be appropriate to make a statement at this time.

  Trust Board Committees
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to issue guidelines anent trust board committees being open to the public; and if he will make a statement. [49737]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) (National Health Service Trusts) Order was laid before Parliament and became effective on 6 February 1998. This made it statutory for all UK NHS Trusts to hold their Board meetings in public. Guidance from the Management Executive of the NHS in Scotland on the implementation of this amendment, with particular regard to Committees of Trusts, was issued to the main health bodies in Scotland on 15 April and 5 June. Copies of this guidance have now been placed in the Library of the House.

  Patients (Costs)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average cost per day of keeping a person in hospital in the most recent year for which information is available(a) for all patients and (b) for patients suffering from diseases of the respiratory system, excluding influenza. [49719]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The latest year for which information is available is 1996–97. In that year the average cost per day of keeping a patient in hospital for all specialties was £170. In respiratory medicine the average cost per inpatient day was £185. Figures for respiratory medicine excluding influenza are not available.

  Pharmaceutical Services (Costs)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to the NHS in Scotland of pharmaceutical services, net of prescription charges, for each year from 1985–86 to 1997–98, separately identifying costs arising from prescriptions from(a) dispensing doctors, (b) pharmacies and (c) hospitals. [49717]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information for Scotland for the financial years 1987–88 to 1997–98 is set out in the table. Costs for 1985–86 and 1986–87 are not available because the data were not collected electronically, in financial years prior to 1987.

  The total costs shown include the ingredient costs of drugs and appliances dispensed through community pharmacies, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers, dispensing and other fees, and the reimbursement of certain other costs, including VAT. The costs are net of prescription charges paid by patients and prescription charges recovered from patients under health board post-dispensing/checking arrangements.

  The sums collected in respect of the sales of pre-payment certificates have not been taken into account because they are not deemed to be the payment of a charge under the NHS (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 1989, as amended.

  It is not possible to cost separately prescriptions written in hospitals and dispensed in community pharmacies.
  68

  £ million

  Year

  Total costs

  Costs dispensing doctors

  Costs pharmacies

  1987–88

  219.54

  7.81

  210.27

  1988–89

  244.80

  8.97

  234.44

  1989–90

  273.41

  9.93

  261.58

  1990–91

  300.49

  11.21

  286.96

  1991–92

  337.12

  13.03

  321.35

  1992–93

  378.41

  14.65

  360.24

  1993–94

  409.53

  16.14

  389.18

  1994–95

  444.76

  17.47

  422.57

  1995–96

  481.73

  18.10

  457.23

  1996–97

  521.85

  19.96

  495.77

  1997–981

  568.47

  21.44

  539.58

  1provisional

  Respiratory Diseases
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each month in(a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996 admissions to hospitals for (i) asthma, (ii) bronchitis, (iii) pneumonia, (iv) influenza, (v) hypertensive heart disease, (vi) ischaemic heart disease and (vii) myocardial infarction for the age bands (1) 0 to 14, (2) 14 to 64 and (3) 65 years and over. [49720]

  Mr. Galbraith
  As the information requested is rather lengthy I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the House Library.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prescriptions were issued for treatment of respiratory diseases, excluding influenza, in the most recent year for which information is available; and what was the cost to the National Health Service in Scotland in the same period of drugs to treat (i) asthma, (ii) pneumonia and (iii) bronchitis. [49718]

  Mr. Galbraith
  It is not possible to identify separately drugs used in the treatment of influenza, pneumonia and bronchitis because these drugs are also used in the treatment of conditions other than respiratory disease and the NHS prescription form does not indicate the medical diagnosis for which a drug has been prescribed.

  Table 1 shows the number of prescriptions for drugs contained in British National Formulary Chapter 3: Respiratory system, which were dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors in 1997–98. The table does not show prescriptions dispensed in respect of Diamorphine Hydrochloride, Methadone Hydrochloride and Morphine Hydrochloride, which are indicated for cough in terminal disease.

  British National Formulary Sections 3.1 (Bronchodilators), 3.2 (Corticosteroids) and 3.3 (Cromoglycate and related therapy) contain drugs for use in the treatment of asthma. Table 2 shows the number and cost of prescription items dispensed in respect of these drugs, some of which may also be used in the treatment of other conditions. The costs shown are based on the value of ingredients before the addition of dispensing fees or deduction of any discount or patient charges.
  69

  Table 1: Respiratory disease—number of prescription items dispensed; British National Formulary Chapter 3

  Year

  Prescription items dispensed

  1997–98

  5,163,048

  Table 2: Asthma—prescription items dispensed and cost; British National Formulary Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

  Year

  Prescription items dispensed

  Ingredient cost (£)

  1997–98

  4,010,219

  54,800,656

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49844]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49846]

  Dr. Howells
  The e-mail address for the Department for Education and Employment's Ministerial Correspondence Unit is:dfee.ministers@dfee.gov.uk.

  Key Stage 2
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the relative difficulty of this year's and last year's Key Stage 2 tests; and if the percentage mark required to achieve Grade 5 has been changed. [50387]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his latest estimate of the cost of loans to higher education students measured in terms of cash accounting and resource accounting over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02. [50648]
  70
  Mr. Blunkett
  The estimated cost of loans is as follows:

  £ million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Cash accounting

  1,150

  1,550

  1,750

  Resource accounting

  650

  950

  1,050

  Difference

  500

  600

  700

  Estimate are for loans outlay net of repayments under cash accounting. Figures are for England and Wales and are rounded to the nearest £50 million. They are in current prices.

  Methods of implementing resource accounting are still being determined. These figures reflect the latest conclusion from the Financial Reporting Advisory Board and the National Audit Office.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to make Regulations for 1998–99 governing student loans made under the Education (Student Loans) Act 1990. [50647]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid the Education (Student Loans) Amendment Regulations 1998 before the House on Friday 10 July 1998. These will enable loans to continue to be made to students already attending courses of higher education on the same terms as before. Regulations governing loans for students entering higher education for the first time in September 1998 will be made shortly, as soon as Royal Assent to the Teaching and Higher Education Bill is received.

  Permanent Exclusions
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many permanent exclusions there were from schools by local education authority area in each of the last five years broken down by ethnic origin; what strategies are being developed to reduce the number of pupils excluded; and if he will make a statement. [49685]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information on permanent exclusions by ethnic group from schools in each local education authority is set out in the following table. Data on exclusions were not collected centrally before 1994–95. The 1996–97 data are currently being analysed and will be available later this year.

  The Government are tackling exclusion by implementing the recommendations in the Social Exclusion Unit's Truancy and School Exclusion report, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The report highlighted the over-representation of certain ethnic minority pupils among those excluded from school, and included recommendations to tackle this, including the promotion of community mentoring in ethnic minority communities. In addition, a number of projects supported by grant paid under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 employ strategies designed to reduce exclusions of pupils from particular minority ethnic groups. These include home-school liaison, mentoring, and other strategies designed to motivate pupils to learn and to raise teacher expectations.
  71

  Number of permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and special schools by ethnic group and Local Education Authority Area

  England 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Unclassified

  White

  Black Caribbean

  Black African

  Black Other

  Indian

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  City of London

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Camden

  6

  2—

  28

  24

  5

  5

  5

  9

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Greenwich

  2—

  2—

  39

  52

  8

  12

  2—

  2—

  2—

  9

  2—

  2—

  Hackney

  2—

  2—

  9

  6

  9

  17

  2—

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2—

  2—

  28

  24

  29

  21

  6

  6

  2—

  7

  2—

  2—

  Islington

  2—

  2—

  36

  36

  17

  15

  5

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2—

  2—

  7

  12

  9

  7

  6

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  Lambeth

  2—

  2—

  12

  19

  31

  34

  2—

  7

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Lewisham

  2—

  2—

  23

  29

  26

  32

  2—_

  2—

  11

  8

  2—

  2—

  Southwark

  2—

  2—

  31

  27

  38

  38

  20

  19

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Tower Hamlets

  2—

  2—

  32

  24

  9

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Wandsworth

  2—

  2—

  25

  29

  42

  43

  12

  14

  2—

  6

  2—

  2—

  Westminster

  2—

  2—

  25

  20

  12

  25

  6

  13

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Barking and Dagenham

  2—

  2—

  52

  55

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Barnet

  2—

  5

  81

  44

  10

  10

  6

  10

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Bexley

  15

  2—

  39

  57

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Brent

  2—

  2—

  30

  20

  51

  66

  7

  14

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Bromley

  2—

  2—

  86

  85

  2—

  6

  2—

  9

  2—

  10

  2—

  2—

  Croydon

  2—

  2—

  76

  64

  34

  34

  9

  9

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Ealing

  2—

  2—

  35

  32

  21

  25

  6

  10

  2—

  5

  7

  11

  Enfield

  2—

  2—

  44

  55

  24

  14

  2—

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Haringey

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  27

  2—

  6

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  Harrow

  2—

  2—

  34

  27

  12

  12

  2—

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  Havering

  2—

  2—

  58

  70

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Hillingdon

  2—

  2—

  57

  61

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  Hounslow

  2—

  2—

  58

  52

  8

  8

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  5

  11

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2—

  2—

  23

  35

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Merton

  2—

  2—

  20

  33

  9

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Newham

  2—

  2—

  21

  23

  16

  8

  5

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Redbridge

  2—

  2—

  22

  18

  2—

  2—

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  2—

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  2—

  2—

  28

  42

  6

  8

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Sutton

  2—

  2—

  34

  30

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Waltham Forest

  5

  2—

  51

  50

  14

  30

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  Birmingham

  8

  2—

  130

  170

  79

  85

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  7

  Coventry

  2—

  2—

  88

  71

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Dudley

  2—

  2—

  52

  47

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Sandwell

  2—

  2—

  76

  78

  18

  27

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  11

  6

  Solihull

  5

  2—

  33

  29

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Walsall

  2—

  2—

  41

  69

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Wolverhampton

  2—

  2—

  39

  38

  18

  23

  2—

  2—

  2—

  12

  2—

  10

  Knowsley

  2—

  2—

  28

  38

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Liverpool

  2—

  2—

  116

  188

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  15

  7

  2—

  2—

  St. Helens

  2—

  2—

  30

  39

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Sefton

  2—

  2—

  46

  66

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Wirral

  2—

  2—

  50

  49

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Bolton

  2—

  2—

  89

  77

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  Bury

  2—

  2—

  57

  72

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Manchester

  6

  2—

  109

  147

  22

  36

  2—

  2—

  7

  14

  2—

  2—

  Oldham

  2—

  2—

  38

  60

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Rochdale

  2—

  2—

  29

  43

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Salford

  2—

  2—

  112

  102

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Stockport

  2—

  2—

  39

  68

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Tameside

  2—

  2—

  58

  67

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Trafford

  2—

  2—

  37

  27

  2—

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Wigan

  2—

  2—

  51

  71

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Barnsley

  2—

  2—

  16

  38

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Doncaster

  2—

  2—

  100

  130

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Rotherham

  2—

  2—

  47

  36

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Sheffield

  2—

  2—

  71

  124

  9

  18

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Bradford

  2—

  2—

  100

  137

  2—

  8

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Calderdale

  2—

  2—

  23

  29

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Kirklees

  2—

  2—

  39

  49

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Leeds

  2—

  2—

  158

  152

  10

  12

  2—

  2—

  2—

  9

  2—

  2—

  Wakefield

  2—

  2—

  102

  99

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Gateshead

  2—

  2—

  33

  32

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  2—

  2—

  92

  114

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  North Tyneside

  2—

  2—

  60

  72

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  South Tyneside

  2—

  2—

  64

  89

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Sunderland

  2—

  2—

  48

  49

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Isles of Scilly

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Avon

  11

  3—

  201

  3—

  11

  3—

  2—

  3—

  9

  3—

  2—

  3—

  Bath and North East Somerset1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  26

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  City of Bristol1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  114

  3—

  12

  3—

  2—

  3—

  9

  3—

  2—

  North Somerset1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  29

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  South Gloucestershire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  50

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  Bedfordshire

  2—

  2—

  103

  106

  14

  14

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  2—

  Berkshire

  6

  2—

  164

  191

  14

  16

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  Buckinghamshire

  2—

  2—

  79

  85

  2—

  9

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Cambridge

  7

  2—

  102

  115

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Cheshire

  2—

  2—

  167

  202

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Cleveland

  2—

  3—

  88

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  Hartlepool1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  17

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  Middlesbrough1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  21

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  Redcar and Cleveland1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  34

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  Stockton-on-Tees1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  39

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  72 73

  Number of permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and special schools by ethnic group and Local Education Authority Area

  England 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Unclassified

  White

  Black Caribbean

  Black African

  Black Other

  Indian

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Cornwall

  2—

  2—

  81

  98

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Cumbria

  2—

  2—

  79

  106

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Derbyshire

  2—

  2—

  155

  234

  5

  2—

  2—

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Devon

  2—

  2—

  135

  148

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Dorset

  2—

  2—

  115

  124

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Durham

  2—

  2—

  112

  125

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  East Sussex

  2—

  2—

  146

  144

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Essex

  2—

  2—

  201

  267

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Gloucestershire

  2—

  2—

  107

  131

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Hampshire

  11

  2—

  357

  454

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Hereford and Worcester

  2—

  2—

  123

  140

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Hertfordshire

  2—

  2—

  159

  231

  7

  13

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Humberside

  2—

  3—

  107

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  City of Kingston-Upon-Hull1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  44

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  East Riding of Yorkshire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  32

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  North East Lincolnshire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  43

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  North Lincolnshire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  31

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  Isle of Wight

  2—

  2—

  12

  12

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Kent

  2—

  2—

  344

  424

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  Lancashire

  2—

  2—

  298

  333

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Leicestershire

  2—

  2—

  157

  197

  8

  13

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  14

  Lincolnshire

  5

  2—

  112

  111

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Norfolk

  2—

  2—

  103

  120

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  North Yorkshire1

  2—

  2—

  86

  77

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  York1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  35

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  Northamptonshire

  2—

  2—

  132

  157

  11

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  8

  2—

  2—

  Northumberland

  2—

  2—

  66

  92

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Nottinghamshire

  2—

  2—

  203

  280

  12

  20

  2—

  2—

  12

  15

  2—

  2—

  Oxfordshire

  2—

  2—

  37

  43

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Shropshire

  2—

  2—

  110

  139

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Somerset

  2—

  2—

  62

  71

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Staffordshire

  2—

  2—

  242

  247

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Suffolk

  2—

  2—

  104

  108

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Surrey

  2—

  2—

  198

  199

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Warwickshire

  2—

  2—

  73

  89

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  West Sussex

  2—

  2—

  113

  142

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Wiltshire

  2—

  2—

  103

  88

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  183

  10

  8,785

  10,280

  769

  884

  146

  225

  182

  245

  98

  122

  Number of permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and special schools by ethnic group and Local Education Authority Area

  England 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Pakistani

  Bangladeshi

  Chinese

  Other Ethnic Group

  Totals

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  City of London

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  0

  0

  Camden

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  54

  51

  Greenwich

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  14

  57

  90

  Hackney

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  23

  38

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  6

  73

  64

  Islington

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  16

  67

  75

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  8

  2—

  31

  29

  Lambeth

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  55

  66

  Lewisham

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  5

  68

  79

  Southwark

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  96

  89

  Tower Hamlets

  2—

  2—

  8

  22

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  59

  54

  Wandsworth

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  8

  7

  90

  103

  Westminster

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  8

  8

  59

  71

  Barking and Dagenham

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  57

  67

  Barnet

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  7

  108

  77

  Bexley

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  55

  61

  Brent

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  104

  114

  Bromley

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  101

  111

  Croydon

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  9

  134

  119

  Ealing

  2—

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  73

  96

  Enfield

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  9

  13

  85

  92

  Haringey

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  19

  49

  Harrow

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  55

  65

  Havering

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  60

  72

  Hillingdon

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  65

  71

  Hounslow

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  2—

  87

  88

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  26

  38

  Merton

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  35

  50

  Newham

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  2—

  54

  43

  Redbridge

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  52

  32

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  34

  52

  Sutton

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  37

  32

  Waltham Forest

  14

  19

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  91

  113

  74 75

  Number of permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and special schools by ethnic group and Local Education Authority Area

  England 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Pakistani

  Bangladeshi

  Chinese

  Other Ethnic Group

  Totals

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Birmingham

  28

  24

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  11

  50

  266

  339

  Coventry

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  2—

  104

  86

  Dudley

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  55

  51

  Sandwell

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  2—

  120

  121

  Solihull

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  41

  37

  Walsall

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  58

  80

  Wolverhampton

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  5

  70

  92

  Knowsley

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  29

  42

  Liverpool

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  142

  200

  St. Helens

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  30

  40

  Sefton

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  47

  68

  Wirral

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  52

  51

  Bolton

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  95

  87

  Bury

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  63

  77

  Manchester

  6

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  152

  216

  Oldham

  9

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  49

  76

  Rochdale

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  31

  47

  Salford

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  115

  103

  Stockport

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  40

  70

  Tameside

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  61

  68

  Trafford

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  47

  34

  Wigan

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  55

  73

  Barnsley

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  16

  39

  Doncaster

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  105

  133

  Rotherham

  2—

  8

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  50

  44

  Sheffield

  2—

  12

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  9

  94

  165

  Bradford

  18

  34

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  128

  187

  Calderdale

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  24

  34

  Kirklees

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  54

  60

  Leeds

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  182

  182

  Wakefield

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  104

  103

  Gateshead

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  34

  32

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  95

  117

  North Tyneside

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  60

  72

  South Tyneside

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  67

  92

  Sunderland

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  49

  49

  Isles of Scilly

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Avon

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  7

  3—

  246

  3—

  Bath and North East Somerset1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  28

  City of Bristol1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  139

  North Somerset1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  29

  South Gloucestershire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  53

  Bedfordshire

  7

  10

  5

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  137

  147

  Berkshire

  7

  13

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  204

  232

  Buckinghamshire

  9

  10

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  2—

  104

  110

  Cambridge

  2—

  9

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  115

  126

  Cheshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  178

  207

  Cleveland

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  90

  3—

  Hartlepool1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  17

  Middlesbrough1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  21

  Redcar and Cleveland1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  34

  Stockton-on-Tees1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  40

  Cornwall

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  81

  99

  Cumbria

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  79

  106

  Derbyshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  167

  257

  Devon

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  139

  148

  Dorset

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  116

  126

  Durham

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  114

  126

  East Sussex

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  151

  155

  Essex

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  210

  272

  Gloucestershire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  6

  119

  142

  Hampshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  8

  376

  476

  Hereford and Worcester

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  127

  141

  Hertfordshire

  5

  6

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  6

  188

  266

  Humberside

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  108

  3—

  City of Kingston-Upon-Hull1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  44

  East Riding of Yorkshire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  32

  North East Lincolnshire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  43

  North Lincolnshire1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  33

  Isle of Wight

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  13

  13

  Kent

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  12

  362

  447

  Lancashire

  20

  21

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  326

  366

  Leicestershire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  9

  12

  184

  240

  Lincolnshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  117

  114

  Norfolk

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  104

  122

  North Yorkshire1

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  88

  78

  York1

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  2—

  3—

  36

  Northamptonshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  5

  149

  176

  76 77

  Number of permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and special schools by ethnic group and Local Education Authority Area

  England 1994–95 and 1995–96

  Pakistani

  Bangladeshi

  Chinese

  Other Ethnic Group

  Totals

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Northumberland

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  66

  93

  Nottinghamshire

  6

  7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  7

  238

  330

  Oxfordshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  49

  47

  Shropshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  113

  148

  Somerset

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  62

  71

  Staffordshire

  5

  11

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  256

  268

  Suffolk

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  117

  112

  Surrey

  2—

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  218

  215

  Warwickshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  77

  95

  West Sussex

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  120

  145

  Wiltshire

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  6

  2—

  113

  93

  Total

  208

  270

  46

  59

  11

  15

  241

  370

  10,669

  12,476

  1New Authorities from 1 April 1996

  2Fewer than 5 pupils

  3Not applicable

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Identity Cards
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Minister is responsible for benefit identity cards; and what progress has been made with regard to their implementation. [50355]

  Mr. Field
  There is no benefit identity card.

  We are however concerned about fraud within the Social Security system. On some estimates benefit fraud could cost up to £7 billion a year. This is equivalent to an extra £10 a week to every single pensioner in the country. Or enough to cut the tax bill of every taxpaying household in the country by £435 a year.

  I am therefore pleased to announce that we are today publishing a Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future" setting out our comprehensive anti-fraud strategy.

  The Green Paper sets out the four key aims of the Government's strategy and lists what actions we are currently taking to achieve these goals; what further action we will be taking this year, next year and beyond.

  The first aim is to develop an anti-fraud culture among staff and the public. We will be conducting a campaign to bring the scale and nature of fraud to people's attention to win public support for action to prevent the misuse of money which could go to those in real need. We will also build on the partnerships between the public and private sector to mount a joint crusade against fraud.

  Our second aim is to design and operate systems which minimise fraud. We will be reviewing benefits to determine the extent to which they can be more effectively designed to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. We will also be seeking to prevent fraud through a more active management of new and continuing cases, as well as improved detection and more effective punishment of those who commit fraud.

  Our third aim is to create an environment in which work against fraud can flourish, by improving systems for funding and performance measurement, and securing greater co-operation amongst all parties in anti-fraud in central, and local, government, and in public bodies.
  78
  Our fourth aim is to develop a highly skilled anti-fraud profession. We need a new professionalism to combat the ever increasing sophistication of the serious fraudster. We will build up a highly skilled anti-fraud profession with common training and accreditation, and codes of conduct.

  For the first time there now exists a comprehensive cross-Government strategy against fraud rather than a piecemeal approach. We have timetabled our work in building up effective barriers to fraud. The Government are establishing a ministerial group under my chairmanship to help devise strategies to combat welfare fraud and safeguard taxpayers' money, and counter other forms of financial fraud affecting welfare services. We will also publish an annual Fraud Audit, describing our anti-fraud activities, estimates of the scale of fraud, and new policy initiatives.

  The Government are committed to making a difference to the level of fraud as a key element of their plan to create a modern welfare state in which the people can have confidence. The Green Paper is the first staging post towards a benefit system which is more accurate, more fair, more efficient and more secure.

  Income Support
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the early results from the research into pensioner non-take-up of income support have been consistent with the results from large-scale quantitative surveys undertaken by the Department with respect to(a) the level of non-take-up and (b) the distribution of non-take-up between different categories of pensioner. [50114]

  Mr. Denham
  The early results published 24 June 1998 offered an overview of key barriers and triggers to claiming Income Support amongst a specific group of pensioners—those apparently entitled to, but not claiming, the benefit. They were from qualitative interviews carried out to explore the reasons for not claiming Income Support and to identify possible means of encouraging pensioners to claim. As such, the results were not designed to provide the data that would be needed for such comparisons.
  79
  This is the first research carried out by this Department specifically into why pensioners do not take up the Income Support to which they are entitled. The purpose of the research, and of the nine pilots currently underway, is not to provide comparative data with previous information on non-take-up, but rather to establish why so many pensioners fail to take up the Income Support to which they are entitled, and to identify the most effective and efficient ways of encouraging them to claim.

  Together, the research and the pilot exercises will enable us to find ways of delivering more automatic help to the poorest pensioners.

  Median unclaimed amounts for pensioners by age, gender and marital status for 1995–96

  £

  Age

  Pensioner group

  60–64

  65–69

  70–74

  75–79

  80+

  All

  Pensioner couples

  16.80

  22.60

  5.20

  6.80

  9.50

  9.90

  Single male pensioners

  7.70

  10.10

  7.30

  8.30

  8.20

  10.00

  Single female pensioners

  4.90

  5.90

  5.30

  7.10

  12.40

  8.40

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10p. These estimates are based on the 1995–96 FRS and are almost certainly subject to some degree of error. The true amounts may be higher or lower and should therefore be treated with some caution. The age breakdowns for Pensioner Couples and Single Male Pensioners are based on small sample sizes and should therefore be treated with extreme caution

  2. "Pensioner couples" means both married and unmarried couples

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey (FRS) 1995–96

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what target her Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49894]

  Mr. Field
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer today from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Oficial report, column 1.

  Staff in post, 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998

  Agency

  Permanent align="right"

  1 May 1997 Casual

  Permanent

  31 March 1998 Casual

  Permanent

  Difference Casual

  Headquarters

  1,431.3

  48.2

  1,688.3

  48.6

  257

  0.4

  Benefits Agency

  71,642.2

  3,668.9

  67,352.5

  4,029

  -4,289.7

  360.1

  Contributions Agency

  7,406.2

  639.6

  7,470.8

  584

  64.6

  -55.6

  Child Support Agency

  7,923.7

  373.8

  7,925.3

  357

  1.6

  -16.8

  ITSA1

  1,970.8

  83.9

  1,854.4

  70

  -116.4

  -13.9

  War Pensions Agency

  1,184.3

  25.6

  958.6

  16

  -225.7

  -9.6

  ISBs2

  1,121.5

  60

  1,118

  162.4

  -3.5

  102.4

  Total

  92,680

  4,900

  88,367.9

  5,267

  -4,312.1

  367

  1ITSA=Information Technology Services Agency

  2ISBs=Independent Statutory Bodies

  Notes:

  1. The figures for permanent staff include fixed term contracts

  2. The figures are consistent with those in the Departmental Annual Report

  3. Part time staff are shown as decimal figures, representing the hours worked as a proportion of a full working week

  80
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the median amount of unclaimed income support among(a) single male pensioners, (b) single female pensioners and (c) married pensioners who are aged (i) 60 to 64, (ii) 65 to 69, (iii) 70 to 74, (iv) 75 to 79 and (v) 80 years and above, based on the Department's Family Resources Survey. [50113]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is in the table.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the e-mail address of her Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49896]

  Mr. Field
  Ministers may be contacted at the following address: ministers@ade006.dss.gov.uk.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how staff numbers in her Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48884]

  Mr. Field
  The information is set out in the table.

  Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long a claimant for disablement benefit in respect of occupational deafness must have worked; if additional hours worked in overtime may be included in this requirement; and what proposals she has to change the current criteria. [48938]

  Mr. Denham
  To qualify for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) for Occupational Deafness (prescribed disease A10), a person must have been employed in one or more of the occupations prescribed, for at least ten years. An independent Adjudication Officer decides whether a claimant has met the ten year 82
  rule, taking into account the job history of the individual claimant. The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, which advise on the Industrial Injuries scheme, are currently undertaking a review of the list of prescribed diseases, including occupational deafness. We shall of course consider any recommendations which they make.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of households in Gloucestershire, by district, have an elderly dependant needing care. [49257]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available.

HEALTH

  Pharmacists
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential cost to the National Health Service of trends in closures of community pharmacies. [48233]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: The overall number of community pharmacies in England and Wales has remained virtually unchanged over the last three years. It is difficult to estimate the cost, if any, to the National Health Service of any particular closures that have occurred during this period.

  Pen Needles
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when pen needles will be available to diabetes sufferers on prescription; [47998]

  (2) if will make a statement on the use of pen needles as a method for diabetes sufferers to administer insulin. [47919]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Campbell) on 28 April 1998, Official Report, column 121.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffering from diabetes there were within the Durham Health Authority Easington District locality area in each year since 1995. [49281]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Beef on the Bone
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the risk to human health of eating beef cooked on the bone; and what the estimated incidence is of health problems from this cause. [49631]

  Ms Jowell
  In its advice to Ministers on 3 December 1997, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) said that Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) infectivity had been found in the dorsal root ganglia and bone marrow of cattle and there was a small risk of BSE-infected material entering the human food chain. On the basis of the risk assessment concerning the various factors involved in the transmission of BSE to humans available to it, the Committee concluded that there was a 95 per cent. chance of no cases of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and a 5 per cent. chance of one case arising from this exposure in 1998.

  Taking account of this advice, and that of the Chief Medical Officer that he would be very concerned if any
  84
  tissues that had been shown to transmit BSE were knowingly allowed to remain in the human food chain, we introduced the Beef Bones Regulations.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into possible links between breast cancer and pesticides containing Lindane. [50060]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has not commissioned any research into possible links between breast cancer and pesticides containing lindane.

  The independent advisory Committee on Carcinogenity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) reviewed the available data on breast cancer in women and levels of lindane in serum and breast fat tissue in 1995. COC concluded that there was no clear evidence of an association between serum and fat levels of lindane and breast cancer. COC recommended that the matter be kept under review.

  The Department of Health is conducting a search for any new scientific data on lindane and, if fresh information is uncovered, this will be referred to COC for further consideration.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of children looked after in residential care are from ethnic minority groups; [49712]

  (2) what proportion of children adopted from care were from ethnic minority groups in the last year for which figures are available; [49713]

  (3) what proportion of children looked after by local authorities for more than two years were from ethnic minority groups in the last year for which figures are available; [49714]

  (4) what proportion of children looked after by local authorities are from ethnic minority groups broken down by age and gender. [49715]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: The information is not currently available in the format requested, but the Department will be carrying out a pilot exercise later this year to collect ethnic origin data for looked after children, from a sample of authorities.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the maximum waiting times faced by individuals between a referral from a general practitioner and an appointment with a consultant; what guidance he has issued as to maximum acceptable waiting time; and what are his policies to reduce such waiting times. [50005]
  85
  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: The latest available figures show that, during the quarter ending 31 March 1998, 96 per cent. of patients were seen for their first outpatient appointment within 26 weeks of general practitioner referral.

  Guidance issued to the National Health Service with the additional £417 million to tackle waiting lists made clear that reducing inpatient lists should not be achieved at the expense of outpatient waiting times. In addition, The New NHS White Paper guarantees that by the year 2000 everyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within 2 weeks of their GP deciding they need to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment (by April 1999 for breast cancer).

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49852]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department does not yet have an e-mail address; plans to establish one are being considered.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49850]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Dentists
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department intends to take(a) to increase the proportion of the adult population which is registered with a dentist and (b) to mitigate the effects of the introduction of tuition fees on student dentists' debt levels. [48377]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are aware that registering with a National Health Service dentist can be a problem for adults in some areas of the country which is why, in September 1997, we introduced the Investing in Dentistry scheme. We have made £19 million available through the scheme to help dentists expand existing practices and to set up new ones in areas where access to NHS dentistry is most acute. To date we have received over 480 Investing in Dentistry proposals from health authorities. In the longer term we will be piloting the personal dental services which will provide health authorities with the flexibility to tailor dental services more closely to local need. I recently announced 15 pilot schemes, involving over 150 dentists, to be launched in October.

  For medical and dental students who enter training from 1 September 1998, the NHS will meet tuition costs and fund means tested bursaries in years 5 and beyond.

  Cancer
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to invest in clinical drug trials in district hospitals to advance knowledge of cancer treatment. [50115]

  Mr. Milburn
  The main agency through which the Government support clinical trials is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body receiving its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC has an extensive programme of clinical trials on cancer including the use of treatments. These are conducted in many locations including district hospitals. Information on these trials is available from the MRC. Their address is 20 Park Crescent, London, W1N 4AL.

  Patients (Lifting)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to NHS nursing and auxiliary staff as regards lifting patients in and out of beds indicating if all(a) trusts and (b) authorities are required to insure nurses and auxiliary staff for back or related injuries sustained from lifting patients; and if she will make a statement. [49452]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive issued revised guidance in June 1997 on Health and Safety at work in the NHS, copies of which are available in the Library. The guidance covers manual handling, and refers to complementary guidance in the Health Services Advisory Committee booklet "Guidance on Manual Handling of Loads in the Health Services". It also reminded managers of their responsibilities under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

  All NHS employees are covered by the National Health Service (Injury Benefits) Scheme. This is a statutory scheme providing benefits where an injury or disease, which is attributable to NHS employment, results in either temporary loss of earnings or permanent reduction in earning ability.

WALES

  Science and Mathematics Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of(a) science and (b) mathematics teachers in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Wales. [49562]

  Mr. Hain
  The latest available information indicates that, in 1996, there were an estimated 2,800 full-time teachers qualified to teach mathematics and 2,700 qualified to teach science at Key stage 3 and at Key stage 4. Comparable information is not available on primary schools.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meets that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49826]
  87
  Mr. Ron Davies
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49828]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Welsh Office Ministerial Correspondence Unit currently does not have an e-mail address.

  Numeracy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways he proposes to increase numeracy in the primary schools of Wales. [50344]

  Mr. Hain
  Raising standards of numeracy is at the heart of the Government's programme for raising levels of attainment in schools. We have already set stretching targets for Wales covering literacy and numeracy. We have allocated additional funds to support the In-service training of teachers. This summer, we will be piloting summer numeracy schemes. In the light of the report from the National Numeracy Taskforce, we are now considering what further initiatives in Wales might support this vitally important work in schools.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the learning of times tables in Welsh schools. [50346]

  Mr. Hain
  The National Curriculum in Wales places a strong emphasis on the learning of "times tables" for all the children from an early age. The learning of multiplication tables plays a central part in the development of children's understanding of the number system. OHMCI's latest annual report indicates that, in general, mathematics is well taught in schools in Wales. Standards are satisfactory or better in over 90 per cent. of classes in primary schools and over 80 per cent. of classes in secondary schools. The evidence available to us suggests that standards are improving but that much work is needed to reach the national targets we have set for the year 2002.

  A key feature which contributes towards improvement is an increasingly strong emphasis on the development of pupils' knowledge of multiplication tables and other number facts. Many primary schools include regular sessions of mental mathematics to develop pupils' capacity to think quickly and to recall their tables.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local numeracy experts he proposes to advise schools from April 1999; and if he will make a statement. [50345]

  Mr. Hain
  Many Local Education Authorities in Wales have already appointed numeracy advisors. The Welsh Office will be consulting with LEAs to determine whether the need to improve standards of numeracy requires an increase in the number of expert advisers in future.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Over-30-months Scheme
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the examination of options for the disposal of waste arising from the over thirty months scheme; and if he will make a statement. [49716]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: Good progress has been made on this issue. The Intervention Board invited eight companies with a track record in combustion or in the handling of meat and bone meal (MBM) to submit proposals under the negotiated procedures of the EU Services Directive for the incineration of waste MBM from Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) animals. Seven costed proposals were received and these have been evaluated by a Project Board, against criteria of energy recovery, appropriate technology, early deliverability, high volumes and reasonable costs.

  Negotiations continue with a view to the early award of contracts to the suppliers best able to meet the Board's requirements. Owing to the commercial sensitivity of these negotiations, it would be inappropriate to identify the companies at this stage but their names will be announced when contracts are signed. Burning under contract is subject to the companies obtaining the necessary planning and environmental consents from the relevant authorities in accordance with normal procedures.

  These developments reflect the Government's determination to find solutions which will lead to the destruction of the waste MBM stocks, which currently stand at 330,000 tonnes, while taking full account of the need to protect human health and the environment and at the same time keeping the cost to the taxpayer as low as is consistent with this. An announcement on plans to destroy the OTMS tallow stocks, currently standing at 174,000 tonnes, will be made in the autumn.

  British Cattle Movement Service
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many letters were sent by the British Cattle Movement Service where the name on the envelope did not match the address; and what was the cost of writing a second time to correct the mistake; [50042]

  (2) what was the cost of replacing the faulty software in respect of advertising the British Cattle Movement Service. [50043]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]: The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) issued approximately 109,000 leaflets giving details of the BCMS Helpline going live on 1 July, in the week beginning 29 June. We estimate that around 50 per cent. had the wrong name matched to the addresses. The letter of apology sent to livestock farmers, which again provided the BCMS Helpline details in case farmers had missed the previous publicity, cost around £45,000.

  The cost of replacing the faulty software was £256.45. The fault concerned mail address labels only, and was entirely unconnected with the integrity of the BCMS database.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statistics his
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  Department collects on animal rearing practices in respect of meat products imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will publish them. [49523]

  Mr. Rooker
  Responsibility for approving countries from which meat products may be imported into the European Community, and for collecting information and statistics on practices within those countries to aid decisions on approval, rests with the European Commission. In deciding whether to approve countries, the Commission must, in particular, take account of information on the state of health of the livestock, other domestic animals and wildlife; the provision of information on incidence of certain diseases; the country's rules on disease prevention and control and how these are organised and implemented; the structure of the veterinary services; and legislation on the use, authorisation, distribution and marketing of substances which might be administered to livestock.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the public expenditure in the current financial year to support activities which will fall under the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. [48495]

  Mr. Rooker
  Those Ministry activities that are likely to fall under the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency are covered by MAFF programmes PP1:01, PP1:02, part of PP1:04, PP1:07, PP1:08, PP1:09 and EA1:06. Details of these programmes can be found in the MAFF/Intervention Board 1998 Departmental Report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The total estimated provision for these programmes in the current financial year, after allowing for receipts, is approximately £55 million. This figure is for MAFF only and relates to direct costs; it makes no allowance for central service overheads associated with the work in question.

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 1998,Official Report, columns 557–58, prior to 18 May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in this session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement. [49083]

  Mr. Morley
  The guidelines to which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Women referred in her Answer were in place and reflected in Departmental guidelines prior to 18 May. The nature of the Department's responsibilities means that most of its legislative programme does not have a gender-specific impact. Nevertheless, in appropriate cases, national women's organisations have been consulted on proposed legislation.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many samples of fruit and vegetables grown in the United Kingdom were tested for organophosphate residues in 1997; and how many were found to exceed the maximum residue levels. [50371]

  Mr. Rooker
  The latest available survey information relates to samples collected in 1996. A total of 528 samples of various fruits and vegetables were analysed for up to 43 different organophosphate compounds. No residues exceeded the maximum residue levels (MRLs).

  I expect the 1997 survey report to be published in September.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many samples of white and brown bread were tested for OP residues in 1997; and how many exceeded the maximum residue levels. [50372]

  Mr. Rooker
  The latest available survey information relates to samples collected in 1996. 48 samples each of white, brown, wholemeal, wholegrain and ethnic bread were analysed for 10 different organophosphate compounds. No residues exceeded the maximum residue levels (MRLs).

  I expect the 1997 survey report to be published in September.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the test subjects and what other parameters were used to establish permitted levels of exposure to organophosphates in current use; and how many of these levels were established as a result of research in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America and (c) elsewhere. [50340]

  Mr. Rooker
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. As a general rule, it is up to the applicant to decide where to carry out the tests required by the regulatory authorities, provided that they are able to demonstrate that tests have been conducted to acceptable standards and under appropriate conditions. Guidance on the scientific studies required to support an application for approval of an agricultural pesticide is set out in the Registration Handbook available from the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

  For those pesticide organophosphate active ingredients for which an evaluation document has been published, the test subjects and other parameters (but not the country in which the test was carried out) will normally be quoted.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the(a) synergistic and (b) potentiating effects of organophosphates combined with inert ingredients are taken into account when an OP product is licensed. [50339]

  Mr. Rooker
  When considering or reviewing applications for approval of pesticides, the impact on people and on the environment of both the active substance and the product are taken into account. In this way, the regulators allow for the consequences of any possible synergistic, potentiating or other combination effects.
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  If the effects which may arise from the proposed or actual use of the product are not acceptable, it is not approved.

  Foodstuffs
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the estimated total consumption of fruit and vegetables in the United Kingdom for 1997; [50341]

  (2) what is the estimated consumption by weight of bread in the United Kingdom for 1997. [50342]

  Mr. Rooker
  The following estimates are based on grossed-up National Food Survey data. They relate to imported and home-grown foods purchased by households for consumption at home; food eaten outside of the home is excluded as are fruit and vegetables grown privately.

  Estimated household purchases of:

  United Kingdom 1997 thousands of tonnes

  Bread

  2,190

  Fresh potatoes

  2,129

  Processed potatoes

  497

  Fresh fruit

  2,045

  Processed fruit1

  229

  Fresh vegetables

  2,084

  Processed vegetables1

  1,055

  1Excludes fruit and vegetable juices

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49810]

  Mr. Morley
  The e-mail address for the Department's Correspondence Section is C.corres@sec.maff.gov.uk.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what target his Department sets for the maximum time to respond to letters from hon. Members; what proportion of letters meet that target; and what is the average time taken to respond to a letter from an hon. Member. [49808]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service,Official Report, column 1.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to issue for public consultation his detailed proposals for changes to the pre-export procedures for live animals; and if he will make a statement [50573]

  Mr. Morley
  A public consultation document has been issued today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The proposed revised procedures deal with veterinary inspections for the purpose of export health certification for consignments of sheep and pigs destined for fattening,
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  production or slaughter in other EC Member States. They seek to clarify the role of the exporter, the Department and the Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI) in the certification process. A summary of the revised procedures will be made available to the public. A key objective of the proposed revised inspection arrangements will be to ensure that unfit animals are rejected from export health certification.

  We intend to establish a new panel of LVIs appointed to undertake these particular export health certifications, from which the LVI to conduct each particular certification will be nominated by the Department. We will provide additional training for veterinarians supervising the export of animals. Where an animal is found to be unfit to travel to the intended destination, LVIs on the new panel will have powers to serve Notices under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order. The serving of such Notices will ensure that the person in charge of the animal takes the action necessary to protect the welfare of the animal. We intend to encourage exporters to ensure that sufficient facilities and staff are available to aid the inspection of the animals to be certified. We intend to clarify the methods for checking the identity of animals which form part of the proposed export consignment. Finally, we intend to provide clear indicators for the minimum times to be spent by the LVI on the inspection and identification of animals.

  I announced on 18 November 1997, Official Report, column 116, that we intended to pay LVIs directly for inspection and certification of consignments, recovering the money by way of a charge (payable on application for certification) by exporters. We remain committed to introducing those changes so that the whole of the certification process for these types of animals can be demonstrated to be entirely independent. The consultation document sets out the general principles which we intend to apply for recovering the costs of these inspections and seeks information to enable us to make proposals about the detail of the changes to the financial arrangements. In order to enable us to calculate the costs of such a change and to come forward with detailed proposals, information is needed not only about current charges (which are a matter between the LVI and the exporter) but also about the likely effects of the proposed revised procedures on such costs. Once we have the responses to this consultation document, we will draw up a further consultation document which outlines our detailed proposals to change the existing financial arrangements, including the legislation necessary to give effect to such a change.

  The closing date for comments is 8 September 1998.

CABINET OFFICE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the e-mail address of his Department's Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [49831]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The e-mail address of the Cabinet Office Ministerial Correspondence Unit is mcu@ccta.gov.uk.

  Women Prisoners: Cancer Screening
  Women Prisoners: Cancer Screening
  Asylum and Immigration Appeals: Review
  Asylum and Immigration Appeals: Review
  Prison Conditions
  Prison Conditions
  Prison Administration by Private Companies
  Prison Administration by Private Companies
  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Coalfields: Response to Task Force Report
  Coalfields: Response to Task Force Report
  Hammersmith Bridge Closure: Accidents
  Hammersmith Bridge Closure: Accidents
  "Pescado" Sinking: Inquiry Report
  "Pescado" Sinking: Inquiry Report
  World Heritage Objects Proposal
  World Heritage Objects Proposal
  Child Support
  Child Support
  Minimum Wage for Young People
  Minimum Wage for Young People
  Nuclear-related Exports to India and Pakistan
  Nuclear-related Exports to India and Pakistan
  Low Pay Commission Report
  Low Pay Commission Report
  Electricity: Wholesale Prices
  Electricity: Wholesale Prices
  Electricity: Domestic Prices
  Electricity: Domestic Prices
  Coal Fired Power Stations: Fluid Gas Desulfurisation
  Coal Fired Power Stations: Fluid Gas Desulfurisation
  ECGD: Defence Contract Debt Write-offs
  ECGD: Defence Contract Debt Write-offs