Written Answers of 17 July 1998

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans his Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49812]

  Dr. David Clark
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: A variety of different methods of replying electronically to Written Parliamentary Questions is being tested in consultation with the authorities of both Houses of Parliament. These tests are continuing, and we will report on the conclusions as soon as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the 10 longest-serving Lord-Lieutenants; [50258]

  (2) how many Lord-Lieutenants he has appointed. [50364]

  The Prime Minister
  On my advice, Her Majesty has appointed 3 Lord-Lieutenants.

  The ten longest serving Lord-Lieutenants are:

  Sir Thomas Dunne, KCVO (Herefordshire and Worcestershire)

  His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensbury KT VRD (Roxburgh, Ettrick & Lauderdale)

  The Earl of Leven and Melville (Nairn)

  The Viscount of Artbuthnott KT CBE DSC FRSE (Kincardineshire)

  Sir Richard Hanbury Tenison KCVO (Gwent)

  Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell KCVO OBE TD (County Londonderry)

  The Right Honourable Lord Kingsdown KG (Kent)

  Sir David Mansel Lewis KCVO JP BA (Dyfed)

  Sir Timothy Colman KG (Norfolk)

  Lieutenant Colonel James Stirling of Garden CBE TD (Stirling and Falkirk).

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49881]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: Under plans for the development of the Government Secure Intranet (GSI), my office expects to be in a position to correspond electronically with hon. Members
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  and the general public by the Autumn. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave today, Official Report, column 315.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Notarial Services
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received concerning the Scriveners Company and the provision of notarial services in central London. [50131]

  Mr. Hoon
  My Department wrote to interested parties on 29 May to ask for their views on whether the Government should seek to abolish the current statutory requirement that public notaries can practise in the City of London and the surrounding three miles only if they are members of the Scriveners Company. Representations on this subject have been received from a number of individuals and from:

  Messrs. Hartwig;

  Messrs. John Venn & Sons;

  The Association of Solicitor Notaries in Greater London;

  The Faculty Office of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury;

  The Law Society of England and Wales;

  The Notaries' Society;

  The Office of Fair Trading;

  The Scriveners Company;

  The Society of Public Notaries of London.

  The Lord Chancellor hopes to announce the Government's decision in due course.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to modify his Department's restrictions on deaf people serving as magistrates. [50073]

  Mr. Hoon
  There is no absolute prohibition on deaf people serving as magistrates. The Lord Chancellor welcomes applications for the magistracy from deaf people who have the capacity, whether with technical aids or otherwise, to follow court proceedings and carry out the range of magisterial duties.

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

  Millennium Experience
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what meetings he has held with individuals, companies or other organisations regarding sponsorship of zones within the Millennium Dome; if he will list them; and who was responsible for taking the notes at each meeting. [51276]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I attend meetings with individuals, companies and other organisations on sponsorship of the Millennium Experience on a regular basis in the course of my Ministerial duties.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Vulnerable Road Users
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he plans to reduce the injury rate amongst(a) cyclists, (b) pedestrians and (c) motorcyclists in London; and if he will list his Department's advisers on accident reduction. [48191]

  Dr. Strang
  The emphasis in London, as for the rest of the country, will be on a continuing programme of initiatives co-ordinating education, enforcement and engineering.

  The Government are funding the London boroughs, the Highways Agency and the Traffic Director for London, to implement safety schemes. In addition, they are seeking ways to achieve further understanding of the causes, and co-ordinate that knowledge to promote good practice for the reduction of accidents among vulnerable road users, by working with the Association of London Government and the London Accident Analysis Unit. We will be bringing forward further measures to improve the safety of vulnerable road users as part of our new road safety strategy.

  The Department has the following external advisers on road accident research:

  Eur.Ing Robert Watson, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

  Ms Clare Holman, Environmental Consultant

  Professor Margaret Galer-Flyte, Loughborough University of Technology

  Professor Richard Allsop, University College London

  Mr. Geoff Maycock, Transport Research Laboratory

  Mr. Richard Lowne, Transport Research Laboratory

  Mr. Geoff Day, Freight Transport Association

  Mr. Edward Chorlton, Devon County Council

  Professor Mike McDonald, University of Southampton

  Professor Derek Elsom, Oxford Brookes University

  Mr. M. Sadeghi, Cranfield Impact Centre Limited

  Professor James Reason, University of Manchester.

  In addition, in drawing up our new road safety strategy, we are taking advice from a wide range of representatives of local government, the police, voluntary organisations and individual experts. The following external advisers and road safety research are members of the Road Safety Targets and Strategy Steering Group or Sub-Groups:

  Hugh Alford, Association of Chief Police Officers

  Henry Marks, British Motorcycling Federation

  John Moss, Cheshire County Council

  Mike Hayes, Child Accident Prevention Trust

  Alan Silver, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Stuart Reid, Cyclist Public Affairs Group

  David Harvey, Derby County Council

  Bob Doughty, Despatch Association

  John Partridge, Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association

  Wendy Broome, Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association

  Rosemary Welch, Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association

  Kevin Kelly, Motorcycle Training Association

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  Rob Gifford, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety

  Dave Rogers, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

  Fiona Murray, Scottish Road Safety Campaign

  Kristine Beuret, Social Research Association

  Bob Watson, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

  Bill Carcary, Stirling University

  Supt Alistair Anderson, Strathclyde Police

  Lynn Sloman, Transport 2000

  Chris Lines, Transport Research Laboratory

  Richard Lowne, Transport Research Laboratory

  Heather Ward, University College London

  Professor Richard Allsop, University College London

  Jeremy Broughton, Transport Research Laboratory

  David Lynam, Transport Research Laboratory

  Vince Christie, Local Government Association

  Chris Kay, Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Salisbury, dated 22 May, about delays on the A316 in Twickenham. [49873]

  Dr. Strang
  The Chief Executive of the Highways Agency replied on 6 July. I apologise for the length of the delay in replying to the hon. Member's letter.

  Vehicle Fuel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many £500 grants have been made for the conversion of vehicles to cleaner fuels. [50332]

  Dr. Strang
  As announced in the Budget, on 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1097–1112, the Government intend to introduce from 1 January 1999, concessionary rates of vehicle excise duty (VED)—worth up to £500—for lorries and buses meeting stringent emissions standards. Thus no vehicles have yet benefited from this concession.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what grants the Government propose to make available for the conversion of taxi cabs to use road fuel gas. [50965]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are funding the Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme which provides grants towards the conversion of vehicles to run on alternative fuels. The duty on road fuel gases has been frozen for two successive Budgets with a commitment in the July 1997 Budget to maintain the differential that existed at that time between the duty on road fuel gases and the duty on diesel.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a pilot scheme to monitor the benefits of taxi cabs running on road fuel gas. [50966]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department has already been involved in research on the environmental benefits of running a taxi on road fuel gases and we will continue to monitor developments in this area. In addition, the Public
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  Carriage Office is working with manufacturers to encourage the development of alternative greener engines and fuels. The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force has also set up a sub-group to consider the merits of the potential for wider use of alternative fuels. The Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme, funded by Government, provides grants towards alternatively fuelled vehicles, and the costs and performance of vehicles purchased under the scheme will be monitored and evaluated.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to assist the conversion of buses to use road fuel gases. [51034]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government are funding the Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme which provides grants towards the conversion of vehicles to run on alternative fuels. Operators of eligible bus services also receive 100 per cent. rebate on the duty they pay on road fuel gases. The Chancellor announced at the last Budget on 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1097–1112, that operators of buses and HGVs, meeting stringent emission standards, would receive a rebate of up to £500 on VED.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce pilot schemes to monitor the advantages and disadvantages of converting buses to use road fuel gases. [51035]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department has kept closely in touch with the work that some operators have done on the advantages and disadvantages of converting buses to use road fuel gases, including a number of tests carried out by London Transport Buses.

  Brown-field Sites
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial incentives exist to encourage the development of urban brownfield and derelict sites. [50333]

  Mr. Raynsford
  English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency, supports physical regeneration projects across England. An important part of their programme is the reclamation and development of brownfield and derelict sites. Applications to English Partnerships are handled within the framework of its single Investment Fund. The operation of this Fund emphasises flexible partnerships and funding mechanisms and seeks to maximise private investment. The Challenge Fund, which is part of the Single Regeneration Budget, is also available for local regeneration partnerships and operates in a similar manner to English Partnerships.

  In addition, The Government are committed to exploring the scope for using economic instruments to achieve our planning objectives, including modifications to VAT on housing, a greenfield tax, and reform of planning obligations. A key objective of all these options would be to discourage greenfield development and promote brownfield development.

  Refrigerant Gases
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he 320
  is taking to ensure that the fire risk posed by hydrocarbon refrigerant gases is minimised and that these gases are properly and safely disposed of after use. [50577]

  Angela Eagle
  The use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants is covered by the standards BS EN 60335-2–24 and BS4434. When hydrocarbons are used in refrigerators appropriate safety precautions must be taken, encompassing design, operational and maintenance procedures. The Health and Safety Executive also produce guidance on the safe handling of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) including hydrocarbon gases used as refrigerants. The guidance, which can be applied to a wide variety of circumstances, gives practical advice on the safe storage and use of LPG and also offers advice on basic fire precautions to be taken when handling such gases.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that HFCs used in refrigerators are recycled or disposed of properly so that they are not released into the atmosphere. [50576]

  Angela Eagle
  Sections 33(1)(c) and 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 oblige the producers and holders of waste to prevent its release to atmosphere. The application of these controls to CFC refrigerants is explained in DOE Circular 11/94 paragraphs 4.95–4.103, but the guidance is also applicable to other waste refrigerants.

  The Government have also agreed a Declaration of intent with the refrigeration and air conditioning industry with the aim of reducing emissions of HFCs, which are global warming gases. The Declaration recommends that the servicing, maintenance and decommissioning of equipment containing HFCs are carried out only by competent persons. It also encourages all reasonably practicable precautionary measures to minimise refrigerant leakage, and recommends that refrigerants are recovered for re-use, reclamation or disposal during servicing and prior to equipment decommissioning. The Government will be issuing a consultation paper later in the summer on policy options for meeting their commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including HFCs.

  Allotments
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what encouragement he is giving to local authorities to(a) maintain and preserve allotments and (b) provide replacement land where land formerly used for allotments has been subject to development. [50655]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government are currently considering the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report into 'The Future for Allotments', and will produce a formal response in due course. Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 provides that the Secretary of State must consent to the disposal of statutory allotment land by a local authority.

  (a) Since 25 March 1998, statutory allotment land has been given increased protection by placing a requirement on authorities to demonstrate the steps they have taken to promote allotments in their area before they can dispose of such land.
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  (b) Consent under section 8 of the 1925 Act may not be given unless the Secretary of State is satisfied either that adequate provision will be made for displaced plotholders, or that such provision is not necessary or is impracticable.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the use of allotments with particular reference to their potential for growing organic vegetables. [50651]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government are currently considering the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report into the 'The Future for Allotments', and will produce a formal response in due course.

  Occupational Illness or Injury
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many working days were lost in the last year for which figures are available as a result of occupational illness or injury, separately identifying self-certificated absences; and if he will make a statement. [50631]

  Angela Eagle
  In 1995 an estimated 19.5 million days were lost due to a work-related illness in Great Britain based on a five day week. There were an estimated 9.8 million days when workers were unavailable for work as a result of occupational injury in 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available. This figure will include weekends and other days which are not workdays for some workers. The number of self-certified absences due to occupational illness or injury cannot be separately identified.

  East London Line
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has evaluated for the re-opening of the East London Line between Dalston and Shoreditch. [50713]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  At the request of the Deputy Prime Minister, London Underground prepared a report on the options for extending the East London Line and submitted it to the Deputy Prime Minister in December 1997. The Government are considering with London Transport how best to take the project forward.

  London Government
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date the official figures from London's local government elections and referendum held on 7 May were disseminated to libraries in London; and by whom this task was carried out. [50822]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I understand that the London Research Centre will publish "London Borough Council Elections 7 May 1998" (ISBN 1 85261 271 2), a publication containing details of voting figures in London local elections and the referendum, on 27 July, and that copies will be sent to, among others, the Chief Librarian in each London Borough.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the species of (i) flora and (ii) fauna identified as being in danger of extinction within the United Kingdom in(a) 1986, (b) 1991 and (c) 1996. [50931]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will ensure that the information requested—which is of a complex nature—is made available to the hon. Member shortly. It will be placed in the House Library next week.

  Foodstuffs (Seal Oil)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of foodstuffs containing oil derived from seals; and if he will make a statement. [50934]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department of Health report that there is no evidence that foodstuffs containing oil derived from seals are widely consumed in the United Kingdom.

  Monk seals (Monachus spp.), Fur seals (Artocephalus spp.) and the Southern elephant-seal (Mirounga leonina) are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which the UK is a Party. Under Council Regulation EC 338/97 which implements CITES in the EU, imports and exports of specimens of protected species and their parts and derivatives, including foodstuffs, are controlled under a licensing system. The most endangered species (ie Monk seals, and the Juan Fernandez (Arctocephalus philippii) and Guadelupe (Artocephalus townsendi) fur seals) are banned from international trade. Within the EU this extends to any commercial use, including buying, selling and display.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the legal protection of sites of special scientific interest. [50929]

  Mr. Meacher
  We are presently considering a number of means for improving the protection and management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Officials are preparing a consultative paper which we hope to publish later this year. If legislation proves necessary we will look for a suitable opportunity.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlie the rate of damage to SSSIs over the last five years.[50930]

  Mr. Meacher
  The annual reports produced by English Nature summarise the key factors underlying damage to SSSIs. The number of incidents of damage has now decreased to well below 1 per cent. of SSSIs by area per year compared to 3 per cent. in the early 1990s. The main cause of damage is agricultural activities such as under and overgrazing, high levels of fertiliser application and the pollution of water courses. Other impacts include over-abstraction of water and 3rd party damage, such as the use of off-road vehicles. Occasional losses occur for housing, roads, and industrial development, although this has decreased considerably over the last five years.

  River Levels (Wildlife)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the impact on wildlife of the present abstraction levels from rivers; and if he will make a statement. [50933]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency is responsible for licensing water abstraction in England and Wales, a function it exercises in conjunction with its other statutory duties which include the conservation of flora and fauna which are dependent on an aquatic environment. In its May 1998 submission to the Government entitled A Price Worth Paying, which is in the Library of the House, the Agency, in consultation with English Nature and the Countryside Council of Wales, has listed sites which are considered to be affected by abstractions. A number of these sites are designated for their international importance for birds or other wildlife. We shall take the Agency's advice on these sites into account in determining the guidance we give to the Director General of Water Services on the environmental obligations which water companies will be expected to meet through the Periodic Review of water prices.

  Recycled Land
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1998,Official Report, columns 9–10, concerning recycled land, what completion date he has set for local authorities undertaking the identification work. [50935]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Data collection from local authorities for phase one of the National Land Use Database, which covers vacant previously developed land which may be available for redevelopment, is scheduled to take place between August and October. This should enable English Partnerships to publish information on an initial set of sites suitable for redevelopment by the end of the year, and DETR to publish summary statistics based on information on all sites by March 1999.

  Greater London Authority
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Society, contained in the report Predictable and Unaccountable, with reference to the electoral arrangements for the Greater London Authority. [50941]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Following extensive consultation, which included representations made by the Electoral Reform Society, we set our proposals for electoral arrangements for the Greater London Authority in the White Paper, "A Mayor and Assembly for London". The proposals were endorsed by the people of London in the Referendum held on 7 May. We intend to bring forward legislation to implement our proposals as soon as the legislative timetable permits.

  NHS Staff (Accidents)
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many NHS employees in Wales were killed or injured at work in each year since 1991. [51236]
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  Angela Eagle
  The information is as follows:

  Injuries in Wales to employees in the NHS as reported to HSE 1991–92 to 1997–98

  Year

  Fatal

  Major

  Over 3 day

  Total

  1991–92

  0

  24

  234

  258

  1992–93

  0

  29

  298

  327

  1993–94

  0

  30

  338

  368

  1994–95

  0

  32

  440

  472

  1995–96

  0

  44

  344

  388

  1996–97

  0

  74

  495

  569

  1997–981

  0

  83

  603

  686

  11997–98 figures are provisional

  Notes:

  1. Years commence 1 April

  2. 1996–97 and 1997–98 non-fatal injury figures cannot be directly compared to previous years' figures as they were reported under different legislation (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR 85 and RIDDOR 95)

  3. 1997–98 figures are provisional

  Roads Review
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the forthcoming Roads Review will announce the completion of the dualling of the A 11. [50959]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We shall be announcing the conclusions of the Roads Review shortly.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the number of registered British fishing vessels(a) under 12 metres and (b) over 12 metres in length and the number of fishermen's lives lost from each in each of the last five years. [46477]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [pursuant to her reply, 23 June 1998, c. 434]: The number of vessels on the UK fishing vessel register at 31 December in each of the last 5 years, both under 12 metres and 12 metres and over in length, and the numbers of fishermen's lives lost from vessels in those length ranges in each year are as follows:

  Fishing vessels under 12 metres

  Fishing vessels 12 metres and over

  year

  Vessels on Register

  Lives lost

  Vessels on Register

  Lives lost

  1993

  9,219

  10

  1,871

  8

  1994

  8,470

  12

  1,729

  14

  19951

  7,499

  8

  1,652

  11

  1996

  6,583

  9

  1,493

  11

  1997

  6,354

  8

  1,425

  21

  1The total figure for the number of deaths for 1995 is reported as 16 in the MAIB Annual Report 1995 but has since been revised to 19 following the assumption of 3 deaths aboard the missing fishing vessel Provider

  Sources:

  RSS for numbers of registered fishing vessels by calendar year (Note MSA Annual Report 1997–98 will quote MAFF figures for 1993 to 1996 and RSS for 1997). MAIB for the numbers of deaths by calendar year.

  OSPAR Convention
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his objectives at the forthcoming Oslo-Paris convention in Lisbon. [49322]

  Mr. Meacher
  The main purposes of this first Ministerial Meeting of the Commission established by the 1992 OSPAR Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North East Atlantic are to round off certain aspects left unresolved by the 1992 Convention and to set the strategies for the Commission over the next generation.

  When the OSPAR Convention was negotiated in 1992, the then French and UK Governments insisted that the Convention should preserve a potential future option for France and the UK to re-start the dumping at sea of low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Last September the UK and France announced that they would give up that option. The Ministerial Meeting is expected to approve a formal instrument to terminate the option. There will thus be a complete ban on dumping radioactive waste.

  In 1992, there was insufficient support for extending the competence of the OSPAR Commission beyond land-based discharges, dumping, the offshore oil and gas industry and the monitoring and assessment of the marine environment. Largely as a result of UK initiatives, the Ministerial meeting is expected to approve a new Annexe to the Convention on the protection of marine wildlife and habitats. This will fill an important lacuna.

  The Ministerial Meeting will also aim to adopt new rules on the disposal of disused offshore installations. The UK is committed to returning all disused offshore installations to land wherever it is safe and practicable to do so. The problem is to settle how to deal with the exceptions.

  There is substantial agreement to a regime which would provide for a general ban on dumping such installations or leaving them in place, subject to:

  a. derogations for some large steel installations, all existing concrete installations and exceptional and unforseen circumstances; and

  b. an assessment framework and consultation procedures before such derogations can be allowed.

  The definition of the category of large steel installations where derogations are to be allowed remains to be agreed. There is also a question about future concrete installations.

  The UK is making a new proposal on large steel installations. We have already accepted that it will generally be safe and practicable to return all topsides to land. Discussion of large steel installations has therefore been about the substructures. So far, all parties have considered these substructures as a whole. We now think that it would be helpful to distinguish between the footings of the substructures and the rest of them.

  In order to help achieve consensus, the UK is now prepared to accept a general obligation to return all the parts of all large steel structures above the footings to land
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  for recycling or final disposal. My hon. Friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry has played a large part in developing this idea. This would mean that there would be a complete ban on dumping steel installations, which is what many have sought. Such a ban would also prohibit the toppling of all steel installations. Footings will be considered on a case by case basis but with a presumption that they will be removed wherever practicable and safe to do so.

  With the new Convention, Ministers from the Contracting Parties need to agree the basis on which the officials will work internationally over the next decades. We want to agree strategies that are demanding but achievable and which will guide the work of the OSPAR Commission over the next twenty years or more. These strategies need to be acceptable to all the Contracting Parties, and we shall therefore be considering with our colleagues the various proposals on the table. We must be satisfied of our ability to deliver on any commitments we enter into. The strategies under consideration are:

  a. Hazardous substances: The proposed strategy on hazardous substances represents a major new initiative. The strategy should make a clear commitment to ultimate goals of reducing concentrations of hazardous substances in the marine environment to background levels for naturally occurring substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic substances, and to a time frame of moving towards the cessation of discharges of hazardous substances by 2020. There should also be a mechanism to identify the hazardous substances that we should be tackling as priorities. This strategy would be a major new step, working in parallel with the EC Framework Directive on Water. The strategy should also provide for new efforts to identify and tackle endocrine disruptors.

  b. Radioactive substances: At the September 1997 meeting of the OSPAR Commission, we restated our wish to make progress on reducing radioactive discharges to sea and we will fulfil this commitment. To ensure that we are able to foresee and avoid problems related to radioactive discharges in future, we shall be asking nuclear operators to prepare forward looking strategies for the next twenty years.

  c. Nutrients: The main action to reduce the substances that cause eutrophication comes from the EC Nitrates and Urban Waste Water Directives. The proposed strategy would complement these by setting up a mechanism to identify eutrophication problem areas and potential problem areas, and to develop further actions to deal with these where existing programmes are not good enough.

  d. Wildlife: To flesh out the new Annexe on Wildlife, the proposed strategy would provide for assessing a wide range of human activities that may adversely affect wildlife at sea, and the development of measures to address the problems which are identified. This would represent a new departure in trying to get international agreement on programmes that will protect marine wildlife outside territorial waters.

  e. Offshore oil and gas: Work in this field has been concentrated on the proposed decision on the disposal of offshore installations. But we will support commitments to develop a long-term strategy to validate environmental management systems and to set their goals.

  Finally, we want to find ways of getting wider membership of OSPAR. The Czech Republic (through the Elbe) and the Russian Federation are important for OSPAR waters: we would like to open a dialogue with them. We also need to find ways to help the lessons OSPAR has learnt to be applied in other regions.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Civic Forum
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the estimated timetable for setting up the consultative Civic Forum to work with members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. [50403]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has referred the establishment of the Civic Forum to the shadow Northern Ireland Assembly. In the period before devolution the Government intend to consult with the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and the Assembly so that arrangements can be put in hand to help secure its earliest appropriate establishment.

  Northern Ireland Assembly
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will ensure that papers produced by the New Northern Ireland Assembly are made available to hon. Members through the Vote Office; and if she will make a statement. [50419]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Copies of the Official Record will be laid in the Library at Westminster, but the circulation of other papers produced by the Assembly should be a matter, initially, for the Assembly itself to determine.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the capital expenditure needed to develop the cancer treatment facilities at the Belfast City Hospital; and when the developments are planned to be completed. [50133]

  Mr. Worthington
  The preliminary estimate of the capital cost of the proposed Cancer Centre is £28 million, including equipment. The current aim is to have the Centre constructed within 5 years.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has for the closure of cancer treatment services at Belvoir Park Hospital; and when the final transfer of such services to the Belfast City Hospital is expected to take place. [50135]

  Mr. Worthington
  The cancer treatment services at Belvoir Park Hospital will continue until a new Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital site has been completed. The transfer is expected to take place within five years. In the meantime management responsibility for cancer services at Belvoir Park Hospital will transfer to Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust later this year.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the(a) number, (b) type and (c) age of ambulances in service with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in each of the last five years. [50326]
  328
  Mr. Worthington
  The information is given in the tables.

  Accident and emergency vehicles

  Age (years)

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  0–1

  18

  0

  13

  4

  36

  1–2

  0

  13

  4

  36

  7

  2–3

  13

  4

  36

  7

  4

  3–4

  4

  36

  7

  4

  22

  4–5

  36

  7

  4

  22

  14

  5–6

  7

  4

  22

  14

  25

  6–7

  4

  22

  14

  25

  14

  7–8

  22

  14

  25

  14

  9

  8–9

  14

  25

  1

  5

  1

  9–10

  15

  1

  5

  1

  0

  10–11

  0

  5

  1

  0

  1

  11–12

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  12–13

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  13–14

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Patient car service vehicles

  Age (years)

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  0–1

  9

  5

  0

  0

  5

  1–2

  5

  0

  0

  5

  8

  2–3

  0

  0

  5

  8

  1

  3–4

  0

  5

  8

  1

  12

  4–5

  5

  8

  1

  12

  17

  5–6

  8

  1

  12

  17

  16

  6–7

  1

  12

  17

  16

  10

  7–8

  12

  17

  16

  10

  5

  8–9

  17

  16

  10

  5

  7

  9–10

  16

  10

  5

  7

  0

  10–11

  8

  5

  7

  0

  0

  11–12

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessments she has made of the effect of the introduction of the national minimum wage in terms of(a) the total number of people employed and (b) the numbers employed in each sector of the economy. [50151]

  Mr. Ingram
  Current estimates indicate that a total of approximately 66,000 employees in employment in Northern Ireland will be directly affected when the national minimum wage is introduced in April 1999. The majority of these work in service sector industries. Current data sources are not robust enough to provide reliable detailed sectoral estimates.

  Railways (Antrim-Bleach Green Line)
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) new stations will be constructed and (b) old stations re-opened and at what estimated cost, on the railway line between Antrim and Bleach Green. [50137]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The upgrading of 2 former railway halts, at Templepatrick and Mossely West, is planned as part of the reinstatement of the Antrim to Bleach Green line at an estimated cost of £1.4 million.

  Downe Hospital
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which services will be provided in the proposed new Downe Hospital. [50325]
  329
  Mr. Worthington
  I announced my decision on 28 May to support the development of a new modern hospital for Downpatrick. To that end I have asked the Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust, in conjunction with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and local GPs, to develop a proposal for a new hospital which will build on developments in treatments and technology and treat patients in the most appropriate setting locally while continuing to have access to a considerable range of acute services supported by the necessary specialist services and back-up facilities available from larger acute centres in Belfast.

  Road Accident Injury Claims
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland made road accident injury claims, and how much was paid by the Government for such claims, in each of the last five years. [50146]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The following personal injury claims were made against the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland Roads Services and the total expenditure on all personal injury claims concluded in the last 5 years has been:

  £

  Year

  New claims

  Total expenditure

  1997–98

  1,985

  3,805,957.45

  1996–97

  1,712

  2,823,289.50

  1995–96

  1,789

  2,967,018.60

  1994–95

  1,701

  4,302,311.40

  1993–94

  1,622

  3,908,445.69

  The figures include claims arising from footpath incidents. It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to distinguish those claims related specifically to road accidents.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost to public funds of expenses for Lord-Lieutenants in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [50265]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Expenditure incurred by the Northern Ireland Office on Lord-Lieutenants' expenses in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

  Year

  Amount (£)1

  1988–89

  4,000

  1989–90

  6,000

  1990–91

  4,000

  1991–92

  8,000

  1992–93

  5,000

  1993–94

  6,000

  1994–95

  10,000

  1995–96

  6,000

  1996–97

  14,000

  1997–98

  9,000

  1Figures rounded to the nearest £1,000

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Lord-Lieutenants currently serve Northern Ireland. [50266]
  330
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The number of Lord-Lieutenants currently serving in Northern Ireland is 8.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cash savings his Department will achieve through restructuring the TA; what proportion of those savings will(a) be re-allocated to the regular army and (b) form part of his Department's efficiency savings. [51036]

  Dr. Reid
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Surplus Property and Land
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those properties and lands identified for disposal by his Department. [51037]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department has a large number of properties which have been identified as surplus and are now in the process of disposal. These range from major establishments and airfields, to smaller plots and single houses. A list of sites currently in disposal was placed in the Library earlier this year, on 23 February 1998,Official Report, column 41. That list is now being updated. As part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) we have identified further sites for disposal some of which are listed in Supporting Essay 11 to the SDR White Paper, and on some of which final discussions have not yet been reached.

  To provide our assessment of the open market value of individual sites might prejudice the eventual sale and I am therefore withholding the information under Exemptions 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Strategic Defence Review, if he will make a statement on the basis of his Department's assumptions that receipts from sales of properties and land from the Defence Estate will double over the next four years.[50963]

  Mr. Spellar
  The figure for estimated disposal receipts included in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) White Paper is based upon our assessment of the open market value of the properties currently identified for disposal. In some cases this is based on in-house valuations carried out by professional surveyors, and in others on valuations carried out by consultants. The figure also allows for receipts from sites which are likely to come forward as a result of studies and further rationalisation of the estate following SDR.

  Manpower Reductions
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what long-term financial savings his Department will achieve through the reduction of(a) military and (b) civilian manpower. [50957]

  Dr. Reid
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Strategic Defence Review, on what basis his Department estimated that the defence share of GDP will fall from 2.7 to 2.4 per cent. in 2002. [50962]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The assumptions which have been used to calculate that the defence share of GDP will fall from 2.7 per cent. to 2.4 per cent. are taken from the Economic Assumptions for Public Finance Projections contained within Table B1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", March 1998, HC Paper No. 620.

  Service Leavers
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department makes to assist service leavers in their transition to civilian life; and if he will make a statement. [51645]

  Dr. Reid
  My Department is laying the foundations of a modern resettlement service, by introducing improvements to match the changing employment market and aspirations of Service leavers. A contract has been awarded today to Coutts Consulting Group plc to work with my Department in establishing a Career Transition Partnership. The new arrangements will provide a focused individual service, including counselling, workshops and nationwide job finding support. The contract will run, initially, for a period of five years.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to public funds of expenses for Lord-Lieutenants in England in each of the last 10 years. [50261]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  Expenditure incurred by the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry1 on Lord-Lieutenants' expenses in each of the last ten years is as follows:

  £

  Year

  Amount2

  1988–89

  190,000

  1989–90

  225,000

  1990–91

  253,000

  1991–92

  305,000

  1992–93

  372,000

  1993–94

  479,000

  1994–95

  572,000

  1995–96

  736,000

  1996–97

  672,000

  1997–98

  784,000

  1The Department of Trade and Industry pays expenses incurred by Lord-Lieutenants in the presentation of the Queen's Awards for Industry

  2Figures rounded to the nearest £1000

  332
  Some local authorities in England also support lieutenancy activities. Information on any costs incurred is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

WALES

  Pharmaceutical Pricing Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria he will take into account in the renegotiations of the Pharmaceutical Pricing Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [49565]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Occupational Health
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many medical and nursing staff have worked in occupational health in the NHS in Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what were the grades of those employees; [51235]

  (2) how many unfilled consultant or approved training posts there are in occupational health in Wales; [51234]

  (3) how many whole-time-equivalent NHS consultants there are in post in Wales in occupational health; and how many are (a) full and (b) part-time. [51233]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on medical staff employed by the NHS in Wales is collected by means of an annual census of staff in post at 30 September. Information on those staff with a specialty of occupational medicine in given in the table.

  Medical staff in post at 30 September with a main specialty of occupational health (whole-time equivalent number)

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Consultant

  4.1

  4.5

  4.5

  3.7

  3.2

  Senior registrar

  1.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hospital practitioner

  0.2

  0.2

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical assistant

  1.6

  1.1

  1.3

  1.6

  1.5

  As part of the census information is sought on vacant posts. Data collected from NHS Trusts and Health Authorities for the 1997 census indicated that there were no vacant posts in occupational health at that time.

  The 3.2 whole-time equivalent consultant staff in 1997 related to 5 consultants in number, 2 full-time and 3 part-time.

  Information on nursing staff is not collected on the basis of individual specialties and, therefore, the number of nurses working in occupational health is not available centrally.

  NHS Premises (Accidents)
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department takes to ensure that NHS trusts have adequate arrangements for recording accidents on NHS premises; what encouragement is given
  333
  to staff to report accidents; and what steps the NHS Executive takes to monitor the safety performance of NHS trusts. [51238]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  All employers, including NHS Trusts, have a legal obligation to report accidents to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. It is for individual employers to encourage their employees to report incidents. Monitoring the safety performance of employers is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

  Land Development
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details and dates of occasions when(a) the Welsh Development Agency, (b) the Development Board for Rural Wales and (c) the Land Authority for Wales have sought consent either before the event or retrospectively for land development acquisitions and deals without planning permission; and if he will make a statement. [51222]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the cost to public funds of expenses for Lord-Lieutenants in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [50263]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Expenditure incurred by the Welsh Office on Lord-Lieutenants' expenses in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

  Year

  Amount (£)

  1998–89

  19,000

  1989–90

  113,000

  1990–91

  114,000

  1991–92

  114,000

  1992–93

  17,000

  1993–94

  18,000

  1994–95

  15,000

  1995–96

  19,000

  1996–97

  20,000

  1997–98

  21,000

  1Stationery figures are not included, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Note:

  All figures rounded to nearest £1,000

  Some local authorities in Wales also support lieutenancy activities. Information on these costs is not available centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Lord-Lieutenants currently serve Wales. [50264]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The number of Lord-Lieutenants currently serving Wales is 8.

TREASURY

  Local Authority Capital Receipts
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of asset sales have been realised(a) by each local authority and (b) in total by local authorities in each of the last five years. [48759]

  Mr. Darling
  Estimates for total local authority capital receipts in each of the last five years were published in Table 6.10 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses 1998–99(Cm 3901). The same document also includes, in Table 1.6, figures over the period in question for the proceeds from the sale of fixed assets. I will write shortly to my hon. Friend with a breakdown of total capital receipts by individual local authority.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public; and how such response times are monitored. [48671]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 14 July 1998,Official Report, column 159.

  Tesco Plc
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the occasions upon which Ministers and officials have met Tesco plc or their representatives or advisers since 1 May 1997. [50156]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: Treasury Ministers, special advisers and other officials have extensive dealings with organisations in both the public and private sectors as part of their official duties. It would be impracticable to maintain a central record of meetings with representatives of external bodies.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cash value of the illegal drugs trade within the United Kingdom; and what assessment he has made of its impact on the United Kingdom economy. [50658]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 16 July 1998]: The Office for National Statistics published an article in the July 1998 edition of Economic Trends which provides some illustrative estimates of the value of illegal economic activities, including trade in drugs. A copy of this publication is available in the House of Commons Library. The estimates are not yet sufficiently developed to give a reliable account of the impact on the UK economy.

  Financial Securities
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about competition in the financial securities sector. [49370]
  335
  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 16 July 1998]: To date, the Treasury has received 143 responses to its consultation document about proposals to benchmark Individual Savings Accounts, "Making Saving Easy". Some of these responses have raised competition issues.

  Euro
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what expenditure on promoting the euro is planned for(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; [50422]

  (2) what EU funding he has applied for to promote the euro in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000. [50354]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: The Government's communication campaign on the euro is aimed not at promoting the euro but at ensuring that UK businesses are aware of the implications of the introduction of the single currency from 1 January 1999, and to provide them with the information they need.

  To this end the Treasury Euro Preparations Unit has received Summer Supplementary Estimate provision of £7.5 million to help raise business awareness of the implications of the launch of the euro, and to provide business with practical help during 1998–99. No expenditure has been authorised beyond this.

  To date the Commission has agreed to provide £21,000 from the Community funds towards the costs of the publication and distribution of the Treasury booklet "EMU: Practical Information for Business", published last July. We will continue to talk to the Commission about the scope for further help with our campaign for raising business awareness for 1 January 1999.

  National Asset Register
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the assets identified in the National Asset Register which are located in the city of Norwich. [50823]

  Mr. Darling
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 December 1997,Official Report, column 279.

  The Government propose to consider, in the light of the reaction to the version published in November 1997, whether to produce further editions of the National Asset Register. As part of this exercise we will also consider what the appropriate level of detail of any future editions should be in the light of user's information needs and the cost implications of these.

SCOTLAND

  Compulsory Purchase
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the case for reform of the law and practice of compulsory purchase and blight in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [51646]
  336
  Mr. Macdonald
  The Scottish Office is looking closely at the case for reform of Scots law and practice in this area. In addition to Scottish based work, there will be Scottish participation in the review of the general principles being undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. This will ensure that any proposals for legislative change will take the separate Scottish context fully into account. Such change for Scotland will, of course, be a matter for the Scottish Parliament to consider.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to public funds of expenses for Lord-Lieutenants in Scotland in each of the last 10 years. [50259]

  Mr. McLeish
  Expenditure incurred by The Scottish Office on Lord-Lieutenants' expenses in each of the last 10 years is set out. Some local authorities also support lieutenancy activities. Information on any costs incurred is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  £000

  Year

  Amount1

  1988–89

  9

  1998–90

  10

  1990–91

  10

  1991–92

  12

  1992–93

  13

  1993–94

  14

  1994–95

  25

  1995–96

  243

  1996–97

  27

  1997–98

  24

  1Figures rounded to the nearest £1,000

  2Includes the cost of changes to lieutenancy boundaries resulting from local government reorganisation

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Lord-Lieutenants currently serve Scotland. [50260]

  Mr. McLeish
  The number of Lord-Lieutenants currently serving Scotland is 35.

  Scottish Office Expenditure
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will update tables 1.3 and 1.4 in Serving Scotland's Needs, published in April, to take account of changes in and projections of expenditure consequent on the Comprehensive Spending Review. [51050]

  Mr. Dewar
  Tables 1.3 and 1.4 were prepared in accordance with the previous public expenditure arrangements. The change in these arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 June 1998,Official Report, columns 1195–1201, has required some amendment to this form of presentation. The tables, therefore, present information updated to take account of the financial settlement for the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02, in the revised format. In accordance with normal practice, the tables have been rolled forward by one year.
  337

  Table 1—Scottish Office Budget Summary

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Departmental Expenditure Limit1 2

  12,087

  12,627

  12,740

  12,868

  12,809

  13,071

  13,768

  14,431

  15,045

  of which: capital expenditure

  2,019

  1,905

  1,751

  1,570

  1,429

  1,571

  1,624

  1,707

  1,831

  Annually Managed Expenditure

  CAP

  243

  285

  347

  419

  324

  345

  300

  282

  309

  Housing Support Grant

  36

  24

  22

  19

  16

  13

  13

  13

  13

  Total Assigned Budget3

  12,366

  12,936

  13,110

  13,306

  13,148

  13,429

  14,080

  14,726

  15,367

  New Deal for schools4 5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  29

  27

  27

  27

  Non-Domestic Rates6

  1,186

  1,109

  1,193

  1,313

  1,326

  1,395

  1,441

  1,473

  1,510

  Total Budget7

  13,552

  14,045

  14,303

  14,619

  14,484

  14,853

  15,548

  16,225

  16,904

  Table 2—Scottish Office Budget Summary in real terms (1997–98 prices)

  £million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Departmental Expenditure Limited1 2

  13,330

  13,718

  13,468

  13,215

  12,809

  12,703

  13,041

  13,336

  13,564

  of which: capital expenditure

  2,227

  2,069

  1,851

  1,612

  1,429

  1,526

  1,538

  1,578

  1,651

  Annually Managed Expenditure

  CAP

  267

  310

  367

  431

  324

  335

  284

  260

  278

  Housing Support Grant

  40

  26

  23

  20

  16

  12

  12

  12

  11

  Total Assigned Budget3

  13,637

  14,054

  13,858

  13,666

  13,148

  13,050

  13,337

  13,608

  13,854

  New Deal for schools4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  29

  25

  25

  24

  Non-Domestic Rates6

  1,308

  1,205

  1,261

  1,348

  1,326

  1,356

  1,365

  1,361

  1,362

  Total Budget7

  14,945

  15,259

  15,119

  15,014

  14,484

  14,435

  14,727

  14,994

  15,240

  1Under the new public expenditure control arrangements and devolution, the Barnett formula used to determine Scottish expenditure applies to the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) in place of the former Scottish Block. Full details of the definitional changes between the DEL and the Control Total were given in the "Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 1998", published in June.

  2Includes provision for the Crown Office, which will be within the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.

  3Total budget assigned to the Scottish Parliament. There are some differences between the coverage of the Assigned Budget and the former Scottish Bloc, the main one being the exclusion of non-domestic rates. Figures here include expenditure on Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance of around £37 million per year which is included in the DEL but excluded from the Assigned Budget for control purposes until 1999–2000.

  4Includes around £1 million for the New Deal for Young People in 1997–98 and £3 million for Childcare in 1998–99.

  5Total expenditure financed by the Windfall Tax and administered by the Scottish Office. The majority of expenditure on the New Deal is administered for all of Great Britain by DfEE and DSS. Total expenditure in Scotland on the New Deal is projected to be over £450 million in the period 1997–2002.

  6Figures for future years uprated in line with the RPI.

  7Total Scottish public spending within the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament or administered by the Scottish Executive.

  Table 3—Total Budget in cash terms

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Central Government support for:

  Local Authority current expenditure1

  5,243

  5,377

  5,461

  5,523

  5,431

  5,448

  5,688

  5,864

  6,014

  Local Authority non-housing capital expenditure2

  696

  708

  695

  454

  336

  359

  345

  356

  392

  Other programme expenditure

  Agriculture, fisheries and food3

  416

  456

  521

  600

  514

  517

  478

  464

  496

  Arts, libraries and sport

  59

  76

  75

  79

  86

  77

  80

  82

  84

  Further, higher and other central government education (excluding student support)

  695

  825

  876

  906

  941

  914

  1,013

  1,070

  1,136

  Student support4

  396

  363

  342

  352

  346

  357

  320

  308

  299

  Health

  3,776

  3,948

  4,092

  4,237

  4,354

  4,624

  4,924

  5,214

  5,534

  Housing5

  542

  543

  467

  316

  422

  498

  524

  634

  655

  Industry, enterprise and training6

  542

  608

  610

  606

  589

  599

  555

  558

  608

  Law, order and protective services7

  424

  428

  428

  449

  452

  460

  487

  488

  508

  Crown Office

  45

  43

  46

  47

  47

  49

  51

  51

  51

  Other environmental services

  76

  83

  99

  408

  336

  328

  323

  325

  327

  Scottish Parliament and staff

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  55

  80

  47

  Other Public Services

  162

  167

  172

  176

  155

  160

  183

  194

  191

  Roads and Transport8

  308

  264

  249

  265

  242

  245

  267

  270

  282

  Social Work

  40

  44

  48

  63

  63

  66

  74

  77

  81

  European Social Funds and European Regional Development Fund

  132

  114

  121

  136

  161

  123

  153

  163

  173

  New Deal for schools9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  29

  27

  27

  27

  Total Budget

  13,552

  14,045

  14,303

  14,619

  14,484

  14,853

  15,548

  16,226

  16,904

  338 339

  Table 4—Total Budget in real terms, 1997–98 prices

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Central Government support for:

  Local Authority current expenditure1

  5,781

  5,841

  5,773

  5,673

  5,431

  5,294

  5,388

  5,419

  5,422

  Local Authority non-housing capital expenditure2

  768

  769

  735

  466

  336

  349

  327

  329

  354

  Other programme expenditure

  Agriculture, fisheries and food3

  459

  495

  551

  616

  514

  503

  453

  429

  448

  Arts, libraries and sport

  65

  82

  79

  81

  86

  75

  76

  76

  76

  Further, higher and other central government education (excluding student support)

  766

  896

  926

  931

  941

  888

  959

  989

  1,024

  Student support4

  436

  395

  362

  361

  346

  347

  304

  285

  270

  Health

  4,165

  4,289

  4,326

  4,352

  4,354

  4,494

  4,664

  4,818

  4,989

  Housing5

  598

  590

  494

  324

  422

  484

  496

  585

  591

  Industry, enterprise and training6

  597

  660

  644

  623

  589

  582

  526

  515

  548

  Law, order and protective services7

  468

  465

  452

  462

  452

  447

  461

  451

  458

  Crown Office

  50

  47

  49

  49

  47

  48

  48

  47

  46

  Other environmental services

  84

  90

  105

  419

  336

  318

  306

  300

  294

  Scottish Parliament and staff

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  52

  74

  42

  Other Public Services

  179

  182

  182

  181

  155

  155

  174

  180

  172

  Roads and Transport8

  339

  287

  263

  272

  242

  238

  253

  250

  254

  Social Work

  44

  48

  51

  65

  63

  64

  70

  72

  73

  European Social Funds and European Regional Development Fund

  146

  124

  128

  140

  161

  119

  145

  151

  156

  New Deal for schools9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  29

  25

  25

  24

  Total Budget

  14,945

  15,259

  15,119

  15,014

  14,484

  14,435

  14,727

  14,994

  15,240

  1Includes non-domestic rate payments, which are outside the DEL

  2The requirement that local authorities must use 50 per cent. of non-housing capital receipts to redeem debt will be abolished from 1 August 1998. This will allow local authorities to raise an estimated £75 million per annum extra from asset sales

  3Includes market support under the CAP, which is outside the DEL

  4Reflects the new Resource Accounting treatment of student loans announced in the "Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 1998", hence it includes total expenditure on student grants, but only the subsidy element of student loans

  5Expenditure funded through the Capital Receipts Initiative is now included in the DEL. Housing figures also include Housing Support Grant, which is outside the DEL

  6This line covers Industry, enterprise and training expenditure administered by the Scottish Office only. Further expenditure administered by other departments on the New Deal is projected to be around £75 million in 1998–99, and almost £90 million per year in each of 1999–2000 to 2001–02

  7A large proportion of spending on law, order and protective services is included under central government support to local authorities

  8Includes support to nationalised industries

  9Includes around £1 million for the New Deal for Young People in 1997–98 and £3 million for Childcare in 1998–99. Additional support for schools' capital expenditure is included in support for non-housing local authority capital expenditure above

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Probationary Prison Officers
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the percentage of probationary prison officers in each young offender institution in England. [49874]

  Ms Quin
  A probationary prison officer is a newly appointed prison officer who is in the process of completing an initial 12 month probationary period, during which time he or she is required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance, conduct and attendance, prior to the appointment being confirmed. The information requested about probationary prison officers is given in the table for those Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) which are separate establishments. Where a YOI is co-located with an adult establishment, it is not possible to extrapolate this information.
  340

  Staff in first year probationary period at YOIs as at 8 July 1998

  Young offender institution

  Number on probation

  Aylesbury

  26

  Brinsford

  8

  Castington

  —

  Deerbolt

  —

  Dover

  —

  Feltham

  44

  Glen Parva

  23

  Hatfield

  —

  Hindley

  —

  Lancaster Farms

  4

  Low Newton

  —

  Northallerton

  —

  Onley

  5

  Portland

  —

  Reading

  4

  Stoke Heath

  27

  Swinfen Hall

  19

  Thorn Cross

  2

  Werrington

  4

  Wetherby

  —

  Total

  166

  New Prisons
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors led him to reject the proposals for building a prison in Winwick, near Warrington. [50245]

  Ms Quin
  The decision not to acquire the site of Winwick Hospital for the construction of a new prison was reached on financial grounds. This decision does not remove the urgent need for additional prison places to serve the North West.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors led him to approve proposals to build a prison on a site at Ashworth Hospital, Maghull, Merseyside. [50317]

  Ms Quin
  There is an urgent need for additional prison places to serve Merseyside. The Ashworth Hospital south site is ideally located to meet this need. The site meets the Prison Service's criteria in respect of affordability, size, topography, communication links and availability of mains services, and on planning grounds is considered an appropriate site for development.

  Prisons (Private Management)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of the Prison Service estate which will be privately managed by the year 2002; and if he will make a statement. [50592]

  Ms Quin
  By March 2002, the certified normal accommodation of the prison estate is forecast to be 67,700. Of these places, it is expected that 6,600 will be privately managed. Therefore the percentage of the Prison Service estate forecast to be privately managed by 2002 is 9.7 per cent.

  Alternatively, another way of measuring the percentage of the estate expected to be privately managed is to look at numbers of prisons rather than sum of places. Current plans are for 143 prisons to be operating in March 2002. Of these, it is expected that 11 will be privately managed. The percentage of the Prison Service estate expected to be privately managed in 2002 using this forecast is 7.7 per cent.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the basis on which financial penalties imposed on contractors of privately managed prisons are calculated; and if he will make a statement. [50587]

  Ms Quin
  There are three financial remedies available to the Prison Service as a result of a contractor's non-performance under a contract for a Design, Construct, Manage and Finance (DCMF) prison. Fees may be withheld under the following circumstances:

  i) if certain criteria for "available places" are not met. The criteria include levels of security, control of prisoners and physical requirements such as lighting and heating;

  ii) a "penalty points" system, where non-compliance with performance measures specified in the contract leads to an award of pre-determined penalty points; and

  iii) if the contractor holds more than a specified number of prisoners two to a cell.

  For management only prisons (Blakenhurst, Buckley Hall, Doncaster and Wolds), reductions in payment may result from a performance measure procedure similar to
  342
  the DCMF penalty points system, and as a result of deficiencies that fall outside the performance measures procedures.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the capital cost of each of the privately built prisons. [50586]

  Ms Quin
  The project costs for each of the privately built prisons are: Parc, £75m; Altcourse, £88m; Lowdham Grange, £32m; Pucklechurch, £36m; and Agecroft, £55m. The project costs include capital expenditure before the prison's opening and consist mainly of construction costs.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the calculations of the relative costs of privately and publicly managed prisons take into account the cost of(a) capital repayments and (b) interest charges on such payments to the relevant private sector company. [50585]

  Ms Quin
  Yes. The capital repayments by the contractor for Design, Construct, Manage and Finance prisons and the interest accruing were included in the costs of these prisons when compared with their closest public sector comparators. There are no comparable costs in non Private Finance Initiative procurement since payment is not amortised over a contract period.

  Altcourse Prison
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the quality and level of service being delivered at HMP Altcourse following the recent Prison Service audit; when audits are planned to be undertaken into HMP Parc and HMP Lowdham Grange; and if he will make a statement. [50595]

  Ms Quin
  The audit of Altcourse prison, which took place in April 1998, detected some deficiencies in contract compliance but the performance of the prison overall has been satisfactory. A contract compliance audit of Parc prison took place during the week beginning 29 June and an operational audit in the week beginning 6 July. An audit of Lowdham Grange prison is planned for August 1998.

  Prisoners (Medical Records)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist between the National Health Service and the Prison Service for mutual access to relevant medical records of prisoners during and after custody; and if he will make a statement. [50589]

  Ms Quin
  Prison healthcare staff are not required, as a matter of routine, to obtain the previous non-Prison Service medical records of all prisoners received into custody. Where it is considered necessary, and the patient prisoner agrees, staff will request medical reports or the individual health records from the National Health Service (NHS). In cases where there is a need for treatment to continue following release, medical information is transferred from the prison doctor to the prisoner's General Practitioner or other NHS doctor as required.

  A new health care standard on "continuity of health care" is being developed by the Prison Service in collaboration with a number of agencies including the

  343
  NHS. This is aimed at facilitating the exchange of information and will provide additional advice and guidance to staff.

  Prisoners (Protection)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were being kept in separate regimes for their protection, at their own request on the last date for which figures are available; and what were the equivalent figures in each of the last three years. [50594]

  Ms Quin
  Prisoners may be held on Prison Rule 43 and Young Offender Institution Rule 46 for their own protection, or may be held in vulnerable prisoner units separate from other prisoners without being placed on either Rule. Figures for the end of May 1998, the most recent available information, and for the same date in the three previous years are shown in the table.

  Prisoners kept in separate regimes at their own request

  Year

  Prisoners on rule 43 and YOI rule 46 for their own protection

  Prisoners in vulnerable prisoner units

  1995

  1,130

  1—

  1996

  1,190

  3,750

  1997

  850

  4,010

  1998

  1,210

  3,740

  1Not available

  Note:

  Figures are provisional

  Prisoners (Continous Assessment)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently under continuous assessment by the Prison Service; what arrangements are in place to ensure that prisoners are not released directly from long periods of continuous assessment into the community; and if he will make a statement. [50430]

  Ms Quin
  There are 20 prisoners on the continuous assessment scheme (CAS). There is a possibility that prisoners may be released directly into the community: however, wherever possible, prisoners are returned to normal prison conditions prior to release.

  Prison Staff
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the full complement of each category of staff at(a) HMP Altcourse, (b) HMP Parc and (c) HMP Lowdham Grange; and how many staff are currently employed in each category. [50591]

  Ms Quin
  Each contractor categorises staff differently. Information for each prison is set out in the tables.

  HMP Altcourse: staff complement

  Job category

  Complement on 13 July 1998

  Numbers in post on 13 July 1998

  Managers

  43

  49

  Prisoner Custody Officers

  174

  171

  Dog Handlers

  27

  27

  Assistant Custody Officers

  33

  30

  344

  HMP Altcourse: staff complement

  Job category

  Complement on 13 July 1998

  Numbers in post on 13 July 1998

  PT Assistant Custody Officers

  —

  23

  Activity Officers

  11

  9

  Administration

  40

  40

  Chaplains

  3

  3

  Maintenance

  19

  25

  HMP Lowdham Grange: staff complement

  Job category

  Complement1

  Number in post on 13 July 19981

  Director

  1

  1

  Managers

  11

  10

  Operations Managers

  14.8

  14

  Prisoner Custody Officers

  125.3

  130

  Operational Support

  23.9

  23

  Other Support and Programmes Staff

  23.9

  23

  1The decimal points are accounted for by relief calculations

  HMP Parc: staff complement

  Job title (category)

  Complement on 10 July 1998

  Number in post on 10 July 1998

  Prisoner Custody Officer

  192

  160

  Prisoner Custody Officer

  33

  38

  Prisoner Custody Officer

  14

  11

  Prisoner Custody Officer (non-permanent)

  —

  31

  Prisoner Custody Officer (under training)

  —

  61

  Non-operational staff, Senior managers, Administration and Support Staff

  74

  69

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the staff at(a) HMP Altcourse and (b) HMP Parc, (i) resigned and (ii) have been dismissed in each of the last six months; what is the average annual staff turnover rate in publicly managed prisons; and if he will make a statement. [50596]

  Ms Quin
  The information required is set out in the table. The wastage rate in 1997–98 for all staff in public sector prisons was 6.76 per cent.

  Staff resignations and dismissals at HMP Altcourse and HMP Parc

  Percentage

  HMP Altcourse

  HMP Parc

  1998

  Resignations

  Dismissals

  Resignations

  Dismissals

  January

  0.27

  0.27

  1.45

  1.45

  February

  0

  0.27

  1.1

  0.37

  March

  0.54

  0

  2.6

  0

  April

  0.27

  0.27

  5

  1

  May

  0.54

  0.81

  3.47

  1.04

  June

  0.81

  0.27

  3.12

  0

  Prisons (Health Services)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had in relation to the
  345
  transfer of responsibility for health services in prisons to the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement. [50588]

  Ms Quin
  I receive regular reports about the progress of the Prison Service and National Health Service (NHS) joint working group on the future organisation of prison health care. This group is considering, among other options for improving prison health care, the transfer of responsibility to the NHS. The Government will announce their decision about whether or not this would be an appropriate way to proceed, once the working group has produced its report and we have had an opportunity to consider it.

  Crimes (Motivation)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for the Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate to investigate the number of crimes committed based on(a) homophobia and (b) religious hatred; and if he will make a statement. [50602]

  Mr. Michael
  The Directorate is in the process of commissioning a study of religious discrimination which is intended to clarify the extent of overlap between religious and racial discriminations. Furthermore, the Directorate plans to publish a report later this year on the police racial incident figures. This will cover the kind of incidents (including those between different religious groups) which the police may record as being racially motivated).

  From the information collected centrally, it is not possible to determine the number of offences or incidents of homophobic crime. The Home Office collects statistics on the number of recorded offences by categories which include violence against the person, indecent assault on a male, indecency between males and rape of a male. However, there is no way of identifying which offences had a homophobic element.

  In 1996, the Association of Chief Police Officers published a set of Good Practice Guidelines for Dealing with Homophobic Incidents. This included a definition of what should be regarded as a homophobic incident:
  "Any incident which appears to either the victim, investigating officer or any other person to be motivated by homophobia, that is animosity towards lesbians and gay men".

  The guidelines also recommended that police forces should record and monitor such incidents.

  Such information that is available on homophobic crime is contained in surveys. For example, in a survey of gay men carried out in Lewisham as part of the Lewisham Safer Cities project in 1992, the vast majority reported experience of verbal abuse (81 per cent.) and approaching half reported being attacked physically. Property offences were less commonly reported.

  Stonewall, as an organisation which campaigns for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, has carried out a nationwide survey and key findings included:

  three quarters reported experiencing verbal abuse on at least one occasion;

  over a third of men and a quarter of women reported experiencing violence in the last five years because of their sexuality;

  346

  some groups, such as black, Asian, disabled and young respondents, had greater risk of victimisation.

  Both studies found repeat victimisation was common. They provide useful information, although it must be acknowledged that they may not provide a representative sample.

  With regard to crimes connected to religious hatred, most such crimes are likely also to have an element of racial hatred. As such, they will fall within the very wide definition of a racial incident first adopted by the police in 1985:
  "Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation; or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person".

  In prosecutions of crimes with a racial element under existing legislation, an element of racial motivation may be treated as an aggravating factor by the courts at the point of sentencing. The Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] also makes provision for a set of new, specific racially aggravated offences, where the maximum sentence exceeds that for their non-racially motivated equivalent. In addition, my right hon. Friend, during the Report stage of the Bill, undertook to monitor charges and sentences in areas where there is intercommunal violence between religious and racial groups, to ensure that the provisions do not unduly favour one group.

  Prisoners (Consultation Costs)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cost of each public relations exercise and consultation process in relation to the opening of new prisons in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [50590]

  Ms Quin
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Prison Service's consultation costs in respect of its recent decision to build a new prison on the site of the former remand centre at Ashford, Middlesex, are estimated at £23,000. It would not be unreasonable to assume that other new prison projects involving the same amount of consultation would incur similar costs.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to speed up the process of payment by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. [50654]

  Mr. Michael
  The criminal injuries compensation system was speeded up by the introduction, with effect from 1 April 1996, of a tariff-based scheme operated by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in place of the scheme based on common law damages administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB). Current indications are that the tariff approach enables some 85 per cent. of claims to be decided within 12 months of receipt, in comparison with 60 per cent. under the former scheme; and 80 per cent. of appeals are dealt with within six months instead of the indicative waiting time of two years applicable to most CICB hearings.

  Metropolitan Police
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much specialised training in man days was provided to Metropolitan Police officers of each rank in respect of(a) murder inquiries and (b) racial incidents in the last year for which figures are available. [50664]

  Mr. Michael
  Training in the Metropolitan Police Service is an operational matter for the Commissioner. The Commissioner tells me that the Metropolitan Police Service does provide training to officers in respect of murder inquiries. This training is provided at a number of levels and through different courses. The most significant of these is the Management of Serious Crimes Course and the Detective Constables Course (the latter was introduced on 31 March 1998).

  The total number of officers on these courses between 1 July 1997 and 30 June 1998 were:

  Constables: 108

  Sergeants: 15

  Inspectors: 81

  Chief Inspectors: 11.

  Elements of Community and Race Relations and Equal Opportunities Training are included in the majority of all training delivered to officers at all levels.

  The Commissioner has recently appointed Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieve to head the next phase of reform of police racial awareness training and police investigation of racial and violent crime.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the projected change in funding per Metropolitan Police officer consequent on the proposed boundary changes if current arrangements for central Government funding and precepting remain unchanged; [50662]

  (2) what will be (a) the percentage change in the number of Metropolitan Police officers and (b) the percentage change in the financial contribution of precepting authorities under the proposed redrawing of Metropolitan Police boundaries. [50663]

  Mr. Michael
  The proposed changes to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police will lead to some re-distribution of existing resources, including police officers, but it is too early to give precise estimates.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the projected change in the number of Metropolitan Police officers in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2005 on present trends of recruitment and wastage. [50660]

  Mr. Michael
  It is for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to determine what number of officers will be required to police the capital.

  In making this assessment, the Commissioner will consider all the demands on the finances available to him in order to provide an efficient and effective service, while ensuring best value is achieved.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government propose to assist the Metropolitan Police in its recruitment. [50659]
  348
  Mr. Michael
  It is a matter for the Commissioner to determine what proportion of the funding of the Metropolitan Police Service is used in the recruitment of its officers.

  The Commissioner informs me that, in common with other employers in the South East, the police are having to work hard to attract suitable staff, but that two national recruitment campaigns are being run this year.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the quarterly totals for the last three years of the number of(a) officers leaving the Metropolitan Police service or retiring, (b) people applying to join the Metropolitan Police and (c) people accepted as recruits into the Metropolitan Police. [50661]

  Mr. Michael
  The Commissioner has provided the following information:

  (a) Officers leaving the Metropolitan Police service or retiring

  Year

  First quarter

  Second quarter

  Third quarter

  Fourth quarter

  Total

  1995–96

  286

  344

  334

  331

  1,295

  1996–97

  333

  338

  392

  365

  1,428

  1997–98

  388

  368

  395

  436

  1,587

  (b) Those applying to join the Metropolitan Police:

  Year

  Number

  1995–96

  7,208

  1996–97

  3,941

  1997–98

  4,633

  (c) Those accepted as recruits into the Metropolitan Police:

  Year

  Number

  1995–96

  1,208

  I996–97

  692

  1997–98

  1,185

  The Commissioner tells me that, as applications and subsequent acceptances may take place in different quarters, a breakdown by quarters is not possible.

  Child Protection
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further plans he has to tackle the issue of preventing unsuitable people from working with children and to protect young people from abuse by those in positions of trust following the debate on lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16 years on 22 June; and if he will make a statement. [51727]

  Mr. Michael
  During the debate on 22 June 1998 Official Report, columns 709–811, I referred to the interdepartmental working group set up to look as a matter of priority at further safeguards needed to prevent those unsuitable from working with children and to protect young people from abuse by those in positions of trust. The group is due to meet on 30 July.

  The need to protect vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds from abuse of trust was discussed at length in the debate on 22 June. The working group will look carefully at the concerns expressed. Issues to be considered will include:

  349
  the definition of a position of trust; the scope of occupations to be covered; the definition of those to be protected; the kind of behaviour to be prohibited; existing safeguards and possible new mechanisms for prohibiting such behaviour, including a possible new criminal offence. Any proposals will relate to the need to protect both boys and girls and will take account of issues such as avoiding the criminalisation of the younger partner in a relationship based on abuse of trust.

  On the issue of preventing those unsuitable from working with children, the working group's programme of work will include: how working with children can be defined; how to define those unsuitable to work with children; existing and potential safeguards to prevent unsuitable people working with children; a possible new offence to support the safeguards; and the possible establishment of a central register of those unsuitable to work with children, including questions of quality assurance, access, scope and cost.

  The working group will also take into account the report of Sir William Utting's review of safeguards for children living away from home and the Government's response to this review which is expected to be published by the Ministerial Task Force later this year. In particular, consideration will be given to those recommendations dealing with choosing the right staff.

  The working group, which will be led by the Home Office, will hold regular meetings during the autumn and is tasked to make recommendations by the end of December. Other Departments involved include: the Department for Education and Employment; the Department of Health; the Welsh Office; the Charity Commission; the Crown Prosecution Service; and the Lord Chancellor's Department. This group will also look at how best to involve outside organisations in the work. The group's recommendations will relate to England and Wales, but representatives from the Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices will also be involved.

  Telephone Interceptions
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 588, what factors underlie the trends in the numbers of warrants approved; and if he will make a statement. [50932]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner for 1996 (Cm 3678) in which, at paragraph 10, he gives an explanation for the increase in the number of interception warrants issued. The Commissioner's report for 1997 will be published shortly.

  Police Recruits
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to increase the number of police officer recruits. [51042]

  Mr. Michael
  Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force within the total resources available to them.
  350
  Under the Government's spending plans, which were announced on 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 187–211, up to £1.24 billion in additional funds over 1998–99 levels will be available to police forces in England and Wales over the next three years. This settlement, along with savings from the 2 per cent. year-on-year efficiency improvements which police forces will be asked to achieve, will ensure that more resources are focused on the front-line against crime.

  Prisons (North-west)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in the North West which are to be re-categorised in the next few years; and if he will make a statement. [50969]

  Ms Quin
  The only planned re-categorisation of prisons in the North West is for the removal of females from Risley prison, to allow it to become a dedicated male establishment.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in the North West contain detoxification units. [50967]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There are no specialist drug detoxification units in prisons in the north west as yet. However, the Prison Service has now provided funding for the establishment of a drug detoxification and rehabilitation centre at Risley prison, to be set up in October.

  Where a drug detoxification unit is not available, all establishments should be able to provide prisoners with detoxification where needed. Many can be treated on normal location or in the prison health care centre. Where necessary prisoners can be transferred to establishments with specialist detoxification units.

  Wymott Prison
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on relations between the Governor and prison staff at HMP Wymott. [50968]

  Ms Quin
  The governor at Wymott prison considers that relations between him and his staff are satisfactory, after some difficulties over the introduction of new working practices on 21 June. He is working closely with the local branch of the Prison Officers' Association to resolve outstanding areas of concern.

  Firearms
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 remain outstanding in respect of the Thames Valley Police Force area. [50936]

  Mr. Michael
  There are currently 1,066 claims from the Thames Valley Police Force area where payment has not yet been made under Option C of the compensation scheme, the great majority of which have already received a payment under Options A or B. In 28 of these cases, a payment offer has been made and is awaiting acceptance
  351
  by the claimant. There are also a few claims with an Option A or B element outstanding, pending the completion of inquiries from the claimant or the police.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Lord-Lieutenants currently serve England. [50262]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The number of Lord-Lieutenants currently serving England is 45. (The position of Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Devon is at present vacant).

  Prisons (Suicides)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ratio of the number of suicides to inmates in prisons in England and Wales, in each of the last three years,(a) by gender and (b) in total; what discussions he has had with the Scottish Office concerning the prevention of suicides in prisons; and if he will make a statement. [50599]

  Ms Quin
  The information requested is given in the tables. Officials in the Prison Service for Scotland have with their counterparts in England and Wales discussed strategies on caring for the suicidal in custody. My hon. Friend the Minister for Home Affairs and Devolution, Scottish Office, recently announced a package of strategic measures, which add to and complement the recently introduced Scottish Prison Service Suicide Risk Management Strategy. The measures include the setting up of a task force to examine in detail all the circumstances surrounding the deaths in prison custody in Scotland this year to identify any common factors and lessons to be learned. A member of the Prison Service for England and Wales Suicide Awareness Support Group will form part of the task force, which I understand will report to Ministers later this year.

  Self-inflicted deaths among male and female prisoners held in prison establishments in England and Wales 1995–1997 and the rate of self-inflicted deaths per 100,000 annual average population

  Year

  Number of self-inflicted deaths

  Rate per 100,000 annual average population

  Male prisoners

  1995

  57

  116

  1996

  62

  117

  1997

  67

  115

  Female prisoners

  1995

  2

  101

  1996

  2

  88

  1997

  3

  112

  Year

  Total self-inflicted deaths

  Rate per 100,000 annual average population

  All prisoners

  1995

  59

  116

  1996

  64

  116

  1997

  70

  115

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts (Administration Charges)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the(a) highest, average and lowest lump sum administration charges and (b) highest, average and lowest photocopying charges per sheet charged by NHS trusts administering general hospitals for access to medical records; and if he will make a statement. [43288]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be collected only at a disproportionate cost. However, the Access to Health Records Act 1990 requires that charges should not exceed the cost of making a copy and posting it, and guidance to National Health Service organisations has made it quite clear that the actual cost is the maximum that should be charged. The actual cost will differ from case to case and can only be determined by the specific organisation involved. Recommending a charge greater than the actual cost in any particular case would contravene the requirements of the Act, and recommending charges consistently lower than actual costs would increase NHS costs. Therefore, the responsibility for determining reasonable charges must remain with individual organisations.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has approved the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's Fourth Code of Practice. [51617]

  Ms Jowell
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's revised Code of Practice has been approved and was laid before the House today. Copies of the Code have been placed in the Library.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the request for financial assistance for people with haemophilia who are infected with hepatitis C as a result of their NHS treatment. [50477]

  Ms Jowell
  We will be responding as soon as we are in a position to do so.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Millennium Volunteers
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will launch the Millennium Volunteers Scheme.[51051]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Millennium Volunteers demonstration projects are being set up currently with local delivery bodies in eight locations in England, and we will be publishing a guide which invites organisations to apply for funding after the summer.

  Tuition Fees
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the NUS Scotland will be represented on the independent review body to be set up to examine how the Government's proposals for the Scottish fourth year exemption are working. [51045]
  353
  Dr. Howells
  We shall announce as soon as possible details of the independent body that is to review the arrangements for fee support for students in the final honours year of first-degree courses at higher education institutions in Scotland. The bodies invited to make representations will include the full range of interests, including students. It will also be open to other bodies and individuals to make representations.

  Mathematics Teachers
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he will take to increase the number of available mathematics teachers. [51041]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We are determined to raise standards in schools, and good quality teachers—in both phases and all subjects—have an essential role to play in helping us achieve our plans. Maintaining teacher supply is a key challenge facing the Government and the education system. We are working with our partners—the Teacher Training Agency, higher education institutions, schools and others—to meet that challenge. Our response of 29 January to the Education and Employment Select Committee set out the measures we have taken to date.

  We have already announced that all students studying to achieve a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education will not have to contribute to tuition fees; and 83 per cent. of mathematics training places are on PGCE courses. In addition, the Teacher Training Agency will provide, through the Secondary Shortage Subject Scheme some £12 million in the coming year to support those in need who wish to train to teach in such subjects, including mathematics. The new employment-based routes to qualified teacher status, aimed at enabling more mature candidates to enter teaching, also will help to boost recruitment.

  Beacon Schools
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultation took place on the establishment of beacon schools; and what responses were received. [50951]

  Mr. Byers
  The beacon school initiative was developed in discussion with the Standards Task Force and through consultation with those schools identified by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector as the best performing during 1996–97.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Licences
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the number of export licences(a) applied for and (b) granted for the supply of aircraft parts for each of the last five years together with the average time taken by her Department to resolve the application; and what is the target time which her Department now endeavours to achieve. [49180]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: Entry ML10 in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 controls the export of specified aircraft, unmanned airborne vehicles, aero-engines and aircraft equipment, and related goods and
  354
  components, specially designed or modified for military use. A large number of other entries in the export control legislation may also control the export of aircraft-related equipment. The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating.

  The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated, and the following results were obtained:

  Between 1 January 1994 and 12 June 1998, 7,905 applications for Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 474 applications for Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) covering the export of goods with the rating ML10 were received. In the same period, 7,194 SIELs and 370 OIELs were issued covering such exports.

  Number of applications for individual licences received, and individual licences issued, in each calendar year covering the export of goods with the rating ML10

  Year

  Applications received

  SIELs Licences issued

  Applications received

  OIELs Licences issued

  1994

  2,177

  2,142

  41

  36

  1995

  1,644

  1,415

  27

  25

  1996

  1,622

  1,471

  201

  175

  1997

  1,689

  1,420

  104

  79

  1998 (to 12 June)

  773

  746

  101

  55

  This information should be considered in light of my answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  Aircraft parts may also have been exported during this period under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  As regards performance targets and the average time taken to process the applications referred to above, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade on 24 November 1997 to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 416.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for licences for the export of(a) paramilitary, (b) security and (c) police equipment to Guinea Bissau have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) revoked, (1) between February 1995 and May 1997 inclusive and (2) since May 1997; and what was the export licence category in each case. [49346]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained:

  Between 1 February 1995 and 1 May 1997 one Standard Individual Export Licence was issued covering the export to Guinea-Bissau of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List. This licence covered goods whose export is controlled under entry PL5018 of the Military List.
  355
  No other Standard or Open Individual Export Licences covering such exports were issued or revoked, and no applications refused for such licences, in that period or in the period between 2 May 1997 and 12 June 1998.

  This information does not cover any Media OIELS that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELS are Open Individual Export Licences that authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  This information should be considered in light of my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–871.

  It is not possible to break down these data in the manner requested, as the equipment covered by many entries in the Military List could be used by military, paramilitary, or police end-users.

  Goods on the Military List may have been exported to Guinea-Bissau under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the export licences issued by her Department for military equipment to Sri Lanka during the last 12 months. [49691]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated, and the following results were obtained:

  Between 13 June 1997 and 12 June 1998, 68 individual licences were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Sri Lanka of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List. Sixty-five Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs), and 3 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs). The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all the relevant ratings.

  Individual licences issues between 13 June 1997 and 12 June 1998 covering the export to Sri Lanka of goods on the military list

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML1

  16

  0

  ML2

  4

  0

  ML3

  7

  0

  ML4

  8

  0

  ML5

  1

  0

  ML6

  1

  0

  ML7

  1

  0

  ML10

  2

  2

  ML11

  21

  1

  ML14

  1

  0

  ML15

  2

  0

  ML21

  1

  0

  ML22

  1

  0

  PL5001

  1

  0

  PL5017

  1

  0

  356
  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  This information should be considered in light of my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Sri Lanka under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at that time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Small Firms Loan Guarantees have been provided by Government in each of the last 10 years and for what amounts. [49311]

  Mrs. Roche
  The number and value of loans guaranteed under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme in each of the last ten years were:

  Year

  Loans guaranteed

  Value (£ million)

  1988–89

  2,266

  63.6

  1989–90

  3,204

  99.4

  1990–91

  3,387

  84.6

  1991–92

  2,933

  69.5

  1992–93

  2,342

  52.0

  1993–94

  3,886

  155.0

  1994–95

  6,207

  246.0

  1995–96

  7,484

  275.4

  1996–97

  6,942

  255.8

  1997–98

  5,081

  201.3

  Mr. Breed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will list the write-offs under the small firms loan guarantee scheme by number and amount in each of the last 10 years; [50375]

  (2) how many small firms loan guarantees have been provided by the Government in each of the last 10 years; and how much money has been allocated in total. [50374]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 631.

  Post Office
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about the External Financing Limit of the Post Office. [51643]

  Mrs. Beckett
  External Financing Limits of -£335 million for each of the years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 have been set. This is an interim measure pending the outcome of the current Post Office review. The Government hope to announce their proposals in the Autumn.

  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about the External Financing Limit of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. [51644]
  357
  Mrs. Beckett
  External Financing Limits of £25 million for 1999–2000, -£75 million for 2000–01 and -£150 million for 2001–02 have been set. These reflect expected improvements in efficiency and expected savings from the integration of BNFL and Magnox.

  Oil and Gas Royalties
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current oil and gas royalties system. [49967]

  Mr. Battle
  The Petroleum (Production) Act 1934 empowers the Crown to receive royalties arising from oil and gas under the soil. These onshore rights were extended offshore in 1964. Royalty, at a rate of 12½ per cent. of the value of petroleum won and saved (less an allowance for eligible conveying and treating costs), is currently payable only in respect of production from fields for which development consent was given before April 1982.

  In his 1998 Budget, on 17 March 1998, Official Report, columns 1097–112, the Chancellor announced that the Government would formally consult the oil industry on specific proposals to change the fiscal regime for companies involved in the extraction of UK oil and gas. The Government intend shortly to issue a consultative document on the North Sea fiscal regime. An outline of the options for change has already been published in an Inland Revenue press release issued on Budget Day. As explained in that press release, one of the options is the abolition of oil and gas royalty. This option is intended to encourage companies to exploit more fully the reserves of older oil and gas fields, and responds to representations made by some companies.

  Companies House
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the current staff who exceed the proposed requirements of Companies House, following its relocation, will be re-employed within her Department. [49972]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Staff in Companies House can and will continue to be able to apply for posts in the Department of Trade and Industry, and will be considered for appointment if they are suitably qualified.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she has taken to ensure that the relocation and rationalisation of Companies House in 1999 will not result in a reduced level of service. [49966]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The move of the Companies House London office to new premises at the end of 1998 will coincide with the introduction of new facilities for the on-line electronic delivery of information. The existing premium and standard microfiche service will continue to be provided until the current office closes in Autumn 1999. Alternative arrangements for those customers who continue to want to use microfiche will then be available from the Cardiff office, although it will not be possible to provide the current speed of service. I am confident, however, that the new facilities, offering a combination of traditional microfiche and newer electronic services, will lead to an improved service overall for customers.
  358
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the current staff are expected still to be employed within Companies House(a) immediately, (b) six months and (c) a year after the relocation. [49970]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There will be no change now, or in six months' time, in the numbers of staff employed in Companies House, London as a result of the initial relocation of the office. The numbers are expected to have fallen by about 75 per cent. one year after relocation.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff will be made redundant or encouraged to take early retirement when the City Road premises of Companies House are closed. [49971]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Companies House will endeavour to help those staff not required at its new office to secure employment elsewhere, whether within the Civil Service or outside. It is not possible now to say how many staff will be found new jobs or how many will prefer to take early retirement or how many might be made redundant. One third of current staff in London are employed on a fixed terms or casual basis in anticipation of the change in the numbers required.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Angola
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken over the UNITA office in the United Kingdom to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1127 (1997). [50448]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  UNITA's representative in the United Kingdom conducted UNITA business from his commercial premises in London. Following the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1127 (1997), Mr. Kandeya was immediately ordered to leave the United Kingdom. He has submitted an application to remain in the United Kingdom which is being considered by the Home Office. Officials have visited Mr. Kandeya's commercial premises and satisfied themselves that there was no sign of any continuing association with UNITA. As far as we are aware, there are no offices or premises being maintained in the United Kingdom under the name of UNITA.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken over the funds and financial resources of UNITA and senior UNITA personnel in the United Kingdom to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 (1998). [50449]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government have prepared Orders in Council to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173, which it expects to be laid before Parliament on 22 July and enter into force on 23 July. When it is passed, the Bank of England will simultaneously write to the relevant UK financial institutions asking them to implement the United Nations' financial sanctions against UNITA.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to prohibit the direct or indirect
  359
  import from Angola to the United Kingdom of diamonds that are not controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of the GURN. [50450]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade proposes to amend the Open General Import Licence once the proposed Certificate of Origin Scheme has been finalised by the Angolan Government.

  The Government have prepared orders in Council to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 which it expects to be laid before Parliament on 22 July and to enter into force on 23 July.

  Torture Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) of 4 December 1997,Official Report, column 300, on torture equipment, what progress was made during the UK presidency of the European Union in encouraging member countries to introduce similar restrictions on the export of torture equipment to those introduced in the United Kingdom by the Government on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29. [50724]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have pressed our EU partners vigorously on this issue, culminating in a formal invitation to join the United Kingdom in announcing bans on the export of the same equipment as in the announcement of 28 July 1997.

  Our partners are sympathetic to our concerns. Indeed, in defining internal repression, the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports agreed on 8 June 1998 specifically includes torture or other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment among the actions which constitute internal repression.
  360
  But some of our partners have doubts about the practicality and desirability of an outright ban. Many do not have national controls on some or all of the items involved. We believe from our contacts that there is support for the principle of controlling the export of such equipment.

  As this equipment is not military equipment, matters relating to export controls fall within the Community's exclusive competence and it is for the Commission to make any proposal for a regulation establishing common rules. We are encouraging the European Commission to come forward with a proposal.

  In the meantime, in the absence of an agreed EU position, it would be premature to press for global action. In due course, we would aim to press for such action to mirror the action that the EC decides to take.

  The UK's national policy will be unaffected. Notifications of any licences denied under this ban will be issued to our partners under the denial notification arrangements agreed under the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

  Sudan
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the objectives of the Minister of State's four day mission to discuss issues affecting Sudan. [50944]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The reports of the suffering in southern Sudan shocked us all. I have just returned from Nairobi and Khartoum, where my objective was to bring about a break in the fighting in southern Sudan. A temporary truce in the most hunger-affected areas will be essential if the Sudanese people are to be able to start rebuilding their lives.

  I am pleased to be able to say that the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), have agreed to a 3 month ceasefire in Bahr al Ghazal. This is encouraging news for the people of southern Sudan. I hope that we can now build on this important step and work together with IGAD for a wider peace.

  Questions for Written Answer
  Questions for Written Answer
  NHS Radiotherapy Resources
  NHS Radiotherapy Resources
  Powered Indoor/Outdoor Wheelchairs
  Powered Indoor/Outdoor Wheelchairs
  Health Service Guideline 30: Voucher Scheme
  Health Service Guideline 30: Voucher Scheme
  Male Life Expectancy
  Male Life Expectancy
  Cancers: Regional Incidence
  Cancers: Regional Incidence
  The Windfall Tax
  The Windfall Tax
  Peers' Office Accommodation and Attendance
  Peers' Office Accommodation and Attendance
  Lords' Divisions: Notification in House of Commons
  Lords' Divisions: Notification in House of Commons
  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Weapons in Space
  Weapons in Space
  Anti-ballistic Missile Accords
  Anti-ballistic Missile Accords
  Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
  Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee