Written Answers of 20 July 1998

CABINET OFFICE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans his Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49830]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 July 1998,Official Report, column 315.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Action Zones
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the initiatives undertaken by his Department since 1 May 1997 which have involved the establishment of(a) action zones and (b) pilot schemes limited to particular geographical areas, indicating the name of the programme and the action zone or pilot scheme areas covered in each instance. [47051]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  No initiatives have been undertaken by my Department since 1 May 1997 which have resulted in the establishment of action zones. Regarding the establishment of pilot schemes, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 30 June 1998,Official Report, columns 135–36.

  Prior Options Reviews
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed) on 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 310, if the same options are applied to public sector research establishments included within the scope of the review. [49974]

  Dr. David Clark
  Yes. The prior options reviews of public sector research establishments must thoroughly examine the same options that are applied during reviews of Next Steps agencies and agency candidates generally: abolition; privatisation; contracting out; market testing; rationalisation or merger with other areas of government; and agency or NDPB status. In looking at whether the function is required, prior option reviews of public sector research establishments will consider the underlying question of the country's scientific needs in that area. As with all prior options reviews, there is no presupposition that any outcome is more favoured than another. The decision on future status is made with the aim of 362
  achieving the most appropriate and cost effective way of carrying out the functions so as to deliver best value for money and best service.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he has put in place to ensure that small businesses can complete all their licensing requirements and inform themselves about relevant regulation in one office. [50015]

  Dr. David Clark
  The Access Business Group, chaired by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, aims to make the regulatory system more transparent, accessible and helpful. The Group is also looking at the provision of integrated information, advice and guidance to ease the burden on business. The use of Information Technology to help businesses fulfil their obligation is part of this work.

  In December, I launched the "intelligent" form which enables people to register as self-employed at a bank. This model has now been extended with the launch of the Post Office-led "Open for Business" pilot which enables people to register as self-employed in a post office, library, a community based "telecottage" or local government office. The "intelligent" form is just the start. The system proves the technology and we should eventually have electronic forms for people to apply for licences.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1998,Official Report, column 1, what was the nature of the representations received from (a) the Minister without Portfolio and (b) the Secretary of State for the Home Department. [51159]

  Dr. David Clark
  Internal discussions between Ministers on policy issues are confidential under the terms of Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  People's Panel
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1998,Official Report, column 337, on the People's Panel, how many waves of research the Government plan to commission. [51302]

  Dr. David Clark
  The Cabinet Office plans to commission a second wave of research later in the year. Plans for subsequent waves of research are being discussed with other government departments.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Government response to the second report of the Science and Technology Committee "The Year 2000—Computer Compliance" [HC342] will be published. [51804]

  Dr. David Clark
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I have today laid before Parliament the Government Response as Command Paper 3944.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many letters per day his office receives; how many staff are employed to answer these; what targets are set in respect of such letters; and what is the current performance against targets. [50686]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Cabinet Office is currently collating information on the performance of the main government departments and agencies in responding to letters from MPs and the general public. This includes information on the volume of correspondence received, the target for responding to such letters, and performance against the target. It will be made available to House.

  Information will not be included on the number of staff employed to answer letters as very few are employed solely in handling correspondence: in most cases correspondence is handled by staff across Whitehall as part of their normal duties.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public; and how such response times are monitored. [48663]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  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.

  Orange Parades
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Orange parades have been re-routed in Portadown since 1985. [49520]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The following table shows the number of Orange parades re-routed in Portadown since 1990. The information prior to that year is not readily available.

  Year

  Total

  Illegal

  Re-routed

  Conditions imposed

  Disorder occurred

  1990

  85

  —

  6

  3

  —

  1991

  61

  —

  4

  —

  —

  1992

  69

  —

  4

  —

  —

  1993

  58

  —

  3

  —

  —

  1994

  55

  —

  6

  —

  —

  1995

  80

  —

  5

  —

  1

  1996

  68

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1997

  72

  —

  5

  —

  —

  Railways
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the(a) forecast cost and (b) planned completion date of improvements to the section of the railway line between Lisburn and Belfast. [50136]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Work on Phase 1 of the Belfast-Lisburn rail upgrade, ie, the line between Great Victoria Street junction and Lisburn, which commenced 364
  in March, will be completed by 31 December 1998. Work on Phase 2 between Belfast Central Station and Belfast City junction will commence in spring 1999 and is likely to be completed mid year. The total cost of the project is estimated at £16.1m.

  Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if land will be included in the list of goods, facilities and services in the Government's proposals to amend the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. [51306]

  Mr. Ingram
  The White paper "Partnership for Equality" indicated that Fair Employment legislation would be extended to cover goods, facilities and services and the disposal or management of premises. Premises includes land. Views were sought on possible exceptions within areas such as housing and land and comments received are still being considered.

  Equality Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those organisations replying to the White Paper, "Partnership for Equality"(a) explicitly supported the establishment of a single Equality Commission and (b) did not mention it in their submission. [51308]

  Mr. Worthington
  In total there were 123 responses to the White Paper "Partnership for Equality" and of those 29 or 23 per cent. supported the establishment of a single Equality Commission and 24 or 20 per cent. did not mention it.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the current annual costs and manpower of those bodies which it is intended to absorb into the Equality Commission. [51309]

  Mr. Ingram
  The current annual cost of the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland and the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland is £4.8m. The staffing complement of these bodies is 117 full-time equivalents. The Northern Ireland Disability Council has an annual cost of £100,000 and no staff.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Older People
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evaluation her Department has made of the impact of the European Court of Justice decision in respect of unauthorised spending by the Commission on measures in favour of older people. [45422]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 11 June 1998]No evaluation is required. The European Court of Justice decision (C106/96) given on 12 May was in respect of unlawful expenditure by the European Commission on projects to combat social exclusion. The Court agreed with the UK that whilst the payments had been illegal, the projects should be allowed to retain the money they had received.
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  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has responsibility for the UK challenge against Commission expenditure on measures in favour of older people (C239/96). A date for the oral hearing is awaited.

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will set a maximum target for the time within which the Independent Tribunal Service has to respond to requests for statements explaining tribunals' findings on questions of fact and the reasons underlying their decisions; and if she will make a statement. [48815]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of the appeal system is a matter for His Honour Judge Michael Harris, the President of the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS). Tribunal chairmen provide statements explaining tribunals' findings on questions of fact and the reasons underlying their decisions. I understand the Chief Executive of the ITS has written to the hon. Member asking for more information and that the President will reply in more detail in due course.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public. [48976]

  Mr. Field
  The Department and its Agencies aim to reply to all correspondence from members of the public within 20 days. Although performance is monitored, the information is not available in the format requested. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 14 July 1998,Official Report, column 159.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans her Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49895]

  Mr. Field
  [holding answer Monday 13 July 1998]This Department provides a wide range of information through a variety of means, including electronic. We have a website on the Internet which contains Social Security information such as benefits and Green Papers and an E-mail box for Ministerial correspondence.

  We are actively looking at ways members of the public can deal electronically with the Department, with respect to benefit claims.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 July 1998, Official Report, column 315.

  State Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the rate of return on the lifetime National Insurance contributions of(a) a man aged 65 and (b) a woman aged 60 retiring in the current financial year and receiving a full basic state pension. [48972]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government Actuary's Department estimates that the real rate of return on lifetime National 366
  Insurance contributions for someone reaching State Pension Age in 1998 would be 1.1 per cent. for a man aged 65 and 4.0 per cent for a woman aged 60.
  Notes 1. The following assumptions have been made:
  The man/woman is single and has been in employment throughout his/her working life from age 16. Juvenile rates of contributions have been used where appropriate. For the period covered by the Graduated Pension scheme and subsequently, the individual is assumed to receive constant full time average earnings. The amount of Retirement Pension (RP) payable includes Graduated Pension and SERPS on a not contracted out basis.
  The contributions are based on total National Insurance (NI) contributions (excluding any NHS Allocation or other elements), employer plus employee. It has been assumed that this total relates solely to RP entitlement. In practice NI contributions cover other benefits (e.g. Incapacity Benefit, Widows Benefit, and in the past Industrial Injuries benefit) in addition to RP.
  The value of the pension received has been based on mortality rates for a man reaching 65 and a woman reaching 60 in 1998 derived from the 1996 based population projection.
  The rate of return quoted in the reply represents a real rate of return, after adjusting for inflation (as measured by the Retail Prices Index).
  2. The rate of return for a married man whose wife is receiving a married woman's (category B) pension would be higher than the figure quoted for a single male.

  Pensioners (Christmas Bonus)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of uprating to 1998 prices the £10 Christmas bonus as originally introduced on the basis of providing it(a) to all pensioners, (b) to pensioners other than higher rate taxpayers and (c) to pensioners other than standard and higher rate taxpayers. [49954]

  Mr. Denham
  The estimated cost of uprating the £10 Christmas bonus to 1998 prices on the basis of providing it to:

  £ million

  (a) All pensioners

  700

  (b) Pensioners other than higher rate taxpayers

  700

  (c) Pensioners other than basic and higher rate taxpayers

  600

  (d) Pensioners other than lower, basic and higher rate taxpayers

  450

  Notes

  1. All figures in 1998–99 prices and rounded to the nearest £50 million

  2. The uprated levels of Christmas Bonus were calculated using the Retail Prices Index (All items). The value of the bonus has been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating

  3. Estimates for the number of pensioners who pay tax were provided by Inland Revenue (IR), although it is not possible to determine whether a particular individual is a higher rate or basic rate taxpayer for the relevant year at the time the Christmas Bonus is paid. Due to the fact that in sections (b)—(d), the rounded estimates provided by IR were applied to the total extra cost, the figures should be treated with a degree of caution

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit for each of the last three years were made by officials or employees or former officials or
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  employees of (a) Government or Government agencies, (b) the NHS, (c) local government or local government agencies and (d) the private sector. [50628]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available. Information is available only on the employment status of people receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and is collected by the Standard Industrial Classification on Economic Activity relevant to the employment they were in at the time the injury occurred or the prescribed disease was contracted. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Total number of claims to industrial injuries disablement benefit

  Period

  Claims

  April 1995–March 1996

  72,990

  April 1996–March 1997

  70,640

  April 1997–March 1998

  96,350

  Numbers of new awards to industrial injuries disablement benefit by industry type

  Industry

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Agriculture, hunting and forestry

  380

  334

  271

  Fishing

  24

  36

  —

  Mining and quarrying

  1,250

  1,246

  2,386

  Manufacturing

  6,501

  7,727

  7,752

  Electricity, gas and water supply

  307

  272

  354

  Construction

  3,147

  2,333

  2,639

  Wholesale and retail trade

  2,063

  1,559

  2,087

  Hotels and restaurants

  641

  647

  690

  Transport, storage and communication

  2,991

  2,576

  3,342

  Financial intermediation

  189

  140

  74

  Real estate, renting and business activities

  1,160

  1,137

  1,454

  Public admin. and defence; compulsory social security

  1,639

  1,590

  2,455

  Education

  309

  267

  315

  Health and social work

  2,635

  2,400

  2,777

  Other community, social and personal activities

  735

  684

  949

  Private households with employed persons

  95

  72

  104

  Total

  24,067

  23,019

  27,650

  Note

  The data are an estimate based on a 10 per cent. sample of claims and awards provided by DSS Analytical Services Data. In a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 531–32, we gave details of total claims for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and new awards based on DSS Central Data Unit data (based on 100 per cent. of all claims and awards). A breakdown of the data into industry type is available only from the 10 per cent. sample data

  Child Benefit
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the factors underlying delays in issuing child benefit payment books. [49219]

  Mr. Worthington
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.
  368
  Letter from Chris Thompson to Mr. William Ross, dated 16 July 1998 I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the factors underlying delays in issuing child benefit payment books.
  A combination of factors gave rise to problems in the Child Benefit Office that caused delays in payment books being issued. There was disruption when the Office had to relocate to new premises at Windsor House in November 1997. Added to this were problems with the introduction of two new computer systems, one of which required a key additional feature which was not initially available. There were also technical problems which caused difficulties for staff accessing the computer system; response times were slower and in many instances live claims were rejected. Furthermore, staff took action in April 1998 in protest against threats by terrorist organisations which also had a serious impact on the provision of services.
  A recovery plan has been in operation which included the deployment of extra staff from elsewhere in the Agency. Extensive overtime is also being worked in order to clear the backlog which has been significantly reduced over the last six weeks. It is anticipated that normal service, including the telephone service, should resume in early August.
  I hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require.

TREASURY

  Correspondence
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the volume of correspondence sent to, and received from, hon. Members by(a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise between (i) January to March 1996 and (b) January to March 1998. [47871]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Board of Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise receive a large volume of correspondence from hon. Members at local office level, regional and collection level, and at their respective Head Offices.

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

  Government Debt
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in cash terms total Government debt in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [51474]

  Mr. Darling
  Cash figures for net public sector debt in 1996–97 were published in Table B7 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report. Estimates of net public sector debt as a proportion of GDP in 1997–98 were published in Table 4.5 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report. The estimate of GDP in 1997–98 was published in Table 4.1.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate total Government debt in cash terms for(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02. [51473]

  Mr. Darling
  Table 4.5 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report showed forecasts of net public sector debt as a proportion of GDP. Forecasts of GDP were published in Table 4.1.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Rent Tribunals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to broaden the range of people eligible to sit on rent tribunals. [50106]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We want to see tribunals drawn from a broader constituency and representing a balance of expert and lay membership. Though these are expert tribunals and necessarily include qualified lawyers and valuers, we have been concerned about the lack of lay members. My Department has started advertising to recruit more lay members and to widen the catchment from which they are drawn.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49815]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 12 July 1998]On(a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 July 1998, Official Report, column 315. On (b), as part of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's target of twenty five per cent. of dealings with Government being undertaken electronically by 2002, the Department is taking major steps to modernise and bring in electronic services. Among other things, this will provide more opportunity for the Department to correspond electronically with members of the public.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many letters per day his office receives; how many staff are employed to answer these; what targets are set in respect of such letters; and what is the current performance against targets. [50679]

  Angela Eagle
  In respect of the volume of correspondence and targets set by this Department for dealing with such correspondence, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service today,Official Report, colum 363. Few staff are solely employed by my Department to handle correspondence; for most staff this is part of their normal duties.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence his Department has received in the last six months from the European Commission concerning the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive as it affects the offshore oil and gas industry. [50634]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Correspondence between the European Commission and the Member States (including the UK) concerning the implementation of EC Directives is regarded by all parties as confidential.

  Housing (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with Wandsworth Borough Council on the number of council properties that have been empty for periods longer than three months. [50704]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have had no such discussions. However officials of the Government Office for London regularly discuss with Borough officials, as part of the annual Housing Investment Programme determination, many aspects of the Borough's housing strategy and of its performance as a housing authority. Empty council properties are one aspect of that discussion. The Government regularly mention the number of empty houses in each local authority area, and encourage all local authorities to implement strategies to minimise the number of empty houses in their area.

  Cycling
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funds have been provided by his Department for the Sustrans UK project; and if he will make a statement. [50726]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department welcomes the contribution the National Cycle Network can make to encouraging people to cycle. In addition to the £43.5m Sustrans received from the Millennium Commission the Department has undertaken to fund the crossings on the trunk road network where this is appropriate.

  The Highways Agency is committed to spending around £7.8m on cycle schemes across England's trunk road network. A rolling programme of around 60 crossings are being targeted for completion by the year 2000. In most cases the Highways Agency is working in partnership with local authorities, cycling groups and Sustrans to identify the right schemes.

  Air Carrier Liability
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the representations received by his Department on the Air Carrier Liability Order 1998 indicating those in favour and those against the terms of the Order. [50821]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Representations have been received from the following organisations, companies or individuals:

  Association of Asia Pacific Airways

  Association of British Travel Agents

  Barlow Lyde & Gilbert

  Beaumont and Son

  Board of Airlines Represented in the United Kingdom

  British Airways

  British Air Transport Association

  Harold Caplan Esq.

  Dibb Lupton Alsop

  International Air Transport Association

  Peter Martin Esq.

  Lady O'Cathain.

  371
  Some of the representations were seeking clarification; others, particularly from the airline industry, were against the terms of the Order.

  Dog Fouling
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will discuss with HM Treasury methods by which local authorities could keep the proceeds of fines relating to dog fouling. [50826]

  Angela Eagle
  Section 4(2) of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 currently requires local authorities to surrender the proceeds of fines relating to dog fouling to the Secretary of State. The Government will consider whether this should be changed when the next legislation opportunity presents itself.

  Packaging Waste Regulations
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many companies registered under the terms of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations by 1977(a) 1 August 1997 and (b) 1 April 1998; what income was received by the Government agency in respect of companies registering in each period; and how many prosecutions there were in each period of non-registering companies. [50753]

  Angela Eagle
  The first deadline for registration with the Environment Agency (the "Agency") as required by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 was 31 August 1997 and the second 1 April 1998.

  By 1 August 1997 records indicate a total of 581 businesses registered with the Agency and subsequently a total of 3,613 businesses registered for the period 31 August 1997 to 1 April 1998. Fees recovered on 1 August 1997 were £720 and subsequently increased to £1,650,600.

  By 1 April 1998 records indicate a total of 2,323 businesses were registered with the Agency for the registration period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 and subsequently a total of 3,376 businesses were registered by the end of June 1998. Fees recovered on 1 August 1998 were £1,497,250 and subsequently £1,482,750.

  No prosecutions for non compliance have yet taken place.

  Eurostar
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 June 1997,Official Report, column 317, if he will estimate when Peterborough will be served by direct Eurostar services. [51148]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 3 June 1998,Official Report, columns 367–84, London and Continental Railways, which are responsible for the operation of the Eurostar service, have decided to award a management contract for the service to a consortium comprising British Airways, National Express and the national railways of France and Belgium. This consortium has been asked to
  372
  review urgently the feasibility of regional Eurostar services, and to report to the Government before the end of the year. We cannot prejudge the outcome of that report.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department's negotiations for the construction of the CTRL will be concluded before LCR's review of the feasibility of regional Eurostar services is completed. [51170]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Negotiations for the construction of the CTRL and the review of the feasibility of regional Eurostar services are being taken forward in parallel. Negotiations for the construction of the CTRL are being progressed with a view to allowing construction to start later this year. The consortium selected to operate Eurostar have been asked to review urgently the feasibility of regional services and report by the end of this year.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many companies have expressed an interest in taking a stake in the National Air Traffic Services. [51182]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  One organisation has so far expressed an interest.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the names of(a) consultants and (b) legal advisers currently employed or to be employed by (i) his Department, (ii) the Civil Aviation Authority and (iii) National Air Traffic Services to provide advice on the public-private partnership or National Air Traffic Services. [51181]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department is in the early stages of appointing consultants and legal advisers to provide advice on the public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services. Neither the Civil Aviation Authority nor the National Air Traffic Services currently employ consultants or legal advisers for this purpose, but are considering their need for such services.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many additional staff have been or are planned to be employed by(a) his Department, (b) NATS and (c) the CAA to deal with the proposed public-private partnership for the National Air Traffic Services. [51215]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions intends to staff the work relating to the proposed public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services from existing resources. Neither NATS nor the CAA employ or plan to employ additional staff for this work.

  Airports (South-east England)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what work(a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority are carrying out to assess the possibility of (i) RAF Northolt and (ii) Redhill Aerodrome being used as feeder or reliever airports for Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. [51175]
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  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Neither my Department nor the Civil Aviation Authority are carrying out work to assess the possibility of RAF Northolt or Redhill Aerodrome being used as feeder or reliever airports for Heathrow or Gatwick.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the working groups established by(a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss airport capacity in the South East of England. [51190]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No working groups have been established for this purpose by either my Department or the Civil Aviation Authority in the last few years.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of when Stansted Airport will become slot constrained. [51167]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Stansted Airport Ltd. notified the Department on 7 July that in its opinion conditions are such that Stansted Airport should be fully coordinated for slot allocation purposes under Article 3 of EC Regulation 95/93 with effect from Summer 1999. The Government will consider if the airport should be so designated following consultation with airlines and other relevant organisations on a capacity analysis in accordance with the Regulation.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what work BAA plc has carried out recently at his Department's request on a scheme for a close parallel runway at Gatwick. [51377]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  BAA plc is not currently undertaking any work at the request of my Department in relation to the possibility of developing a close parallel runway at Gatwick Airport. The work which the previous Administration asked BAA to undertake into this concept following publication of the report on Runway Capacity in the South East (RUCATSE) is not yet complete. We have asked BAA to put the work on hold so that we can consider how to take this issue forward in the light of the Integrated Transport White Paper.

  Transatlantic Air Service
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the transatlantic routes that are currently served only by British Airways or American Airlines services. [51198]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The UK/US routes that are served only by British Airways are:

  London—Baltimore

  London—Charlotte

  London—Phoenix

  London—Pittsburgh

  London—San Diego

  London—Seattle

  London—Tampa.

  The UK/US routes that are currently served only by American Airlines are:

  London—Raleigh Durham

  Manchester—Chicago

  Glasgow—Chicago.

  374
  In addition to those routes London—Dallas is served by both British Airways and American Airlines, but no other airline.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of driver and vehicle records have been found to be accurate in each of the last five years. [51200]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has since 1994/95 been set targets for the accuracy with which it captures the data provided by its customers.

  The table shows the targets and the results:

  Percentage of output without error

  Vehicle registration documents

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  New vehicle

  Target

  98

  98

  98

  98

  Actual

  98.3

  98.4

  98.5

  98

  Changes

  Target

  93

  93

  96

  97

  Actual

  92.3

  94.3

  96.4

  97

  Drivers licences

  Target

  95

  96

  97

  98

  Actual

  95.4

  96.6

  97

  98

  These percentages apply to the 13 million registration documents and 7 million driving licenses issued annually.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) driver licence and (b) vehicle registration applications were received by the DVLA for each of the last five years. [51199]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The volumes of driver licences and vehicle registration applications received by the DVLA for each of the last five years are:

  million

  Year

  Driver licences

  Vehicle registrations

  1993–94

  6.4

  13.4

  1994–95

  6.3

  13.7

  1995–96

  6.4

  14.3

  1996–97

  6.7

  14.7

  1997–98

  6.8

  15.6

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the computer system used by the DVLA was last upgraded; and what proposals he has for future developments to it. [51172]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The DVLA drivers computer system has recently been upgraded to permit the issue of photocard licences. The vehicle system is currently being upgraded and this will be completed by the end of the year. A number of other amendments and improvements
  375
  are in hand including ensuring that all systems are year 2000 compliant and are responsive to customer requirements.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for the most recent five years for which records are available(a) the number of heavy goods vehicles tested and (b) the number of HGV test failures due to exhaust emissions. [51126]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Year

  Number tested

  Number failed

  1993–94

  448,446

  10,763

  1994–95

  447,660

  7,163

  1995–96

  447,836

  9,852

  1996–97

  452,916

  11,776

  1997–98

  453,568

  9,525

  Tenders (Environmental Criteria)
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what specific environmental and energy-saving criteria are included in standard(a) tender documents and (b) tender evaluation procedures in respect of Government contracts for (i) new building, (ii) renovation works and (iii) heating and lighting. [51025]

  Angela Eagle
  Government departments are individually responsible for determining their accommodation requirements including the specification of environmental and energy saving criteria in their tender documents. Advice on these matters is available to Government departments from the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) and other sources such as the best practice guides produced by the Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit (BRECSU) and the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU).

  DETR has produced a Green Guide for Buyers which provides general advice on conserving resources and reducing waste and pollution. It is available on DETR's web site for greening government.

  Elderly Tenants (Pets)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to housing authorities and housing associations supporting prospective elderly tenants who already have and wish to retain a pet. [50937]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]It is for local authorities and Registered Social Landlords to decide which of their dwellings are and are not appropriate for pets, taking into account the needs of all their tenants and residents.

  Leaseholders
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what(a) percentage and (b) number of long leaseholders have
  376
  taken advantage of the provisions contained in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 to enfranchise. [50942]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]Research carried out for the Department by Sheffield Hallam University, and to be published shortly, has found that 19 per cent. (49) of leaseholders who contacted LEASE for advice on enfranchisement under the provisions contained in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 successfully enfranchised under these provisions. The Department has no information on the numbers of leaseholders who have successfully enfranchised without contacting LEASE.

  We are concerned that the existing rules for collective enfranchisement for flats are unduly complex and that it can be difficult for leaseholders to enfranchise. We intend to address this problem in our forthcoming consultation paper on leasehold reform.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many leaseholders living in blocks of flats of 50 units or more have successfully enfranchised their leases under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. [50948]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]Research carried out for the Department by Sheffield Hallam University, and to be published shortly, found no leaseholders living in blocks of flats of 50 or more units who had enfranchised their leases.

  Coastal Pollution
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has for long-term monitoring of the effects of sludge dumping in Liverpool Bay; and what will be the role of water companies in such monitoring. [51383]

  Angela Eagle
  The arrangements for monitoring maritime sewage-sludge dumping sites around the United Kingdom, including Liverpool Bay, are described in "Towards 2000: Marine Monitoring in the 1990s", the fifth report of the UK Marine Pollution Monitoring Group, published this year by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

  OSPAR Convention
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to inform interested parties of the Government's policy at the forthcoming ministerial meeting of the OSPAR convention in Portugal; and if he will place in the Library the United Kingdom's submissions to the negotiating committee for the conference. [51410]

  Mr. Meacher
  On 17 July 1998,Official Report, columns 325–26, I answered a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) setting out our objectives at the forthcoming ministerial meeting of the OSPAR Commission. I and my officials are meeting various interested non-governmental organisations. I am placing in the Library copies of the paper which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has submitted to the OSPAR Commission and of

  377
  the papers submitted by the United Kingdom to the meeting of the Commission at official level and to the last three meetings of the official Heads of Delegation.

  Housing Corporation Grants
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of Housing Corporation grant has been allocated to rural areas; and how many new homes have been started or completed as a result in each of the last five years. [51487]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The table sets out details of the proportion of Housing Corporation grant and the number of approvals allocated to rural areas in the last five years. The information is based upon schemes within settlements of up to 3,000 population.

  Housing Corporation grant and approvals in rural areas

  Percentage of HC grant

  Approvals

  1993–94

  4.6

  2,200

  1994–95

  5.6

  2,399

  1995–96

  5.2

  1,363

  1996–97

  5.8

  2,157

  1997–98

  5.1

  1,034

  Source

  The Housing Corporation

  Housing
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of affordable housing need in(a) rural areas and (b) villages of less than 1,000 population. [51488]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department recently commissioned a study on the nature of demand for housing in rural areas, including affordable housing. The research looked at five different types of rural areas in England with populations ranging from 7,500 to 15,000 people, where most of the main settlements were of less than 1,000 population. A report on this project will be published by the contractors, DTZ Pieda, soon.

  All local authorities are encouraged to carry out assessments of housing need to inform housing strategies and development plans. Local assessments provide the justification for local authorities to specify a proportion of affordable housing to be provided on suitable sites identified in the development plan, and to negotiate the inclusion of an element of affordable housing in private developments.

  Boundary Review (London)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the boundary review in London will be conducted on the basis of universal three member wards in order to facilitate elections by thirds. [51470]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Our consultation paper "Modernising Local Government: local democracy and community leadership" set out options for more frequent local elections, and considered the possible implications for 378
  warding arrangements. We are considering the responses to that consultation, and will put forward firm proposals in a local government White Paper this Summer.

  Transport Expenditure
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his expenditure plans for transport programmes, pursuant to the publication of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. [51805]

  Mr. Prescott
  I am today announcing, in conjunction with the publication of our Integrated Transport White Paper, plans to revitalise local and public transport. An extra £1.8bn of funds will be made available for local transport, bus services, road maintenance and railways.

  The table shows my Department's current plans to use the resources available for transport programmes.

  These plans will secure greatly increased investment in transport infrastructure, through both increases in public spending in areas identified as priorities in our Integrated Transport White Paper and through partnership with the private sector. It will allow local authorities to spend almost twice as much on their transport programmes in 2001–02 as they do now.

  Extra public spending on rail services will bring in substantial amounts of private investment, and by removing bottlenecks in the network, real improvements for passengers and freight in support of our objective of reducing car use.

  The plans involve:
  £700m more for local authorities to establish 150 new Local Transport Plans and to restore cuts in maintenance of their principal roads;
  £300m more for local bus services. Buses have a major contribution to make to developing more sustainable transport policies. The Government have already allocated this year an extra £50m for rural transport.
  more than £300m additional resources for the rail industry (including support for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link) on top of the annual subsidy of over £1bn to rail operators for existing franchise contracts. These new resources will allow for extra freight grants, and extra funds to be made available from two new sources—the Infrastructure Investment Fund and the Rail Passenger Partnership Scheme;
  over £400m extra spending on the trunk road and motorway network with priority given to maintenance of the existing trunk road network and to making better use of it;
  resources for the new Mayor to pursue an integrated transport strategy for London as soon as the Greater London Authority is set up and to allow the acceleration of various initiatives in the Capital.

  These plans reflect the reduced demands on public support for the London Underground from 2000–01 as a result of the new public private partnership arrangements. These were announced on 20 March, along with £365m additional resources for this year and next. The plans will allow £7bn of investment to take place in the Underground over the next 15 years. The expenditure plans also take account of the reduced subsidy required for train operating companies, which are contractually committed to maintaining service levels and improving performance whilst receiving less subsidy. All these savings taken together, amount to £1.9 billion over three years.

  379
  More details of how extra spending on the trunk and motorway network will be targeted will be given when the roads review is published.

  £ million

  1998–99 Budget

  1999–2000 Plans

  2000–01 Plans

  2001–02 Plans

  Programme area within Departmental Expenditure Limit:

  Motorways and trunk roads

  1,350

  1,407

  1,536

  1,580

  Local transport

  523

  598

  695

  987

  Support for local buses1

  262

  313

  355

  425

  Railways (Domestic and International)

  1,758

  1,569

  1,490

  1,630

  Transport programmes in London2

  599

  436

  128

  157

  Other transport

  186

  227

  266

  261

  1Bus fuel duty rebate, rural bus grants and concessionary bus fares for the elderly

  2Includes London Transport (and Croydon Tramlink) and other transport programmes currently administered by the Government Office for London. Excludes spending in London on trunk roads and motorways by the Highways Agency and support for transport capital expenditure by the Boroughs from the local transport settlement. Includes no provision for London Underground from 2000–01, from when a PPP is planned to be in place

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of CO2 emission levels from the nuclear industry in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to emissions during (a) construction, (b) generation and (c) decommissioning and disposal; and if he will make a statement. [50833]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  No separate figures in the form requested are available. It is estimated that nuclear electricity generation leads to emissions of about 4 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour of electricity delivered to the final user. Of these 4 grams, 3.2 grams are emitted in the process of uranium extraction and the remainder during fuel processing.

  Carbon dioxide emissions from nuclear generation are less than 1 per cent. of equivalent figures for any of the major fossil-fuelled electricity generation technologies.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants were unable to pay for legal representation to assist them in the preparation of their cases during the last 12 months. [50105]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that it is not possible to determine how many asylum applicants were unable to pay for advice or legal representation. The available information is that the Immigration Advisory Service and The Refugee Legal Centre—Home Office funded bodies—provided free advice to 10,578 refused asylum applicants at the appeal stage over the last financial year (4,455 and 6,123 respectively). In addition to this, the Refugee Legal Centre gave advice in 3,152 asylum applications. These figures do not include those advised 380
  by charitable organisations or others working without reimbursement who are unconnected with the Home Office.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average waiting time for decisions on applications for asylum in the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times. [50824]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Applications lodged before the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 are currently estimated to be taking on average 58 months to reach an initial decision, while those lodged after the Act are taking an average of 14 months. Both of these figures reflect the proportion of inherited old cases within the system, but figures for 1997 show that 38 per cent. of initial decisions on asylum applications were taken within six months, as against 10 per cent. in 1992.

  We have been conducting a wide-ranging review of asylum and immigration policy. We hope soon to be able to make a full statement about our future strategy, including proposals to improve the handling of asylum applications. Quite separately, plans are now well advanced for the introduction of more efficient working practices and for the computerisation of casework in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. A trial of the new working practices is to start on 17 August.

  World Cup (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to the United Kingdom Government of the co-operation by UK police forces with French police over policing of World Cup matches involving teams from Scotland and England. [50708]

  Mr. Michael
  In the case of officers from England and Wales, the cost of travel, overseas allowances and overtime will be met by the Football Association. The salary costs will be met by the officers' respective forces. The Football Association contributed to the costs of police equipment. The salary and associated costs and the cost of travel for officers from Scottish police forces will be met by their respective forces. Equipment costs were met by respective police forces from existing stock. Accommodation costs in France for both sets of officers were met by the French authorities.

  The Government will contribute to the costs associated with the 24-hour manning of the National Criminal Intelligence Service Football Unit during the Finals, and will meet some of the costs associated with the provision of additional football intelligence officers who were in France for some England matches. Detailed information about actual costs incurred is operationally sensitive.

  Pornography
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce further regulations to control the display of pornographic magazine covers and video cases in shops accessible to children. [50754]

  Mr. Michael
  Current legislation governing the display of pornographic magazines includes the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981, which makes it an offence to display any indecent matter which is exposed to view in a public place or where it can be seen from a public place. It is
  381
  the responsibility of the police to decide whether there are sufficient grounds to launch a criminal investigation, and that of the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to prosecute those alleged to be responsible for the publication.

  Most newsagents also abide by a voluntary code of practice, refusing to sell "adult" magazines to persons under the age of 18 and placing pornographic magazines on the top shelf and out of reach of children.

  With respect to videos, before the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) gives full certification to a video work, the sleeve must be seen and approved by the Video Packaging Review Committee. This Committee is chaired by a representative of the BBFC and comprises members of the British Video Association and the Video Standards Council. The sleeves seen by the Committee account for over 90 per cent. of all video works on the market.

  While the issue of indecent displays is kept under constant review, there are currently no plans to introduce further regulations in this area.

  Animal Experiments
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for reducing the backlog of applications for licences, and amendments to licences, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [50866]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We are continuing to explore and, as far as possible, exploit all possible options for managing and reducing the backlog in our London office. This backlog arose primarily due to the loss of experienced staff (for unavoidable reasons) and has built up due to difficulties in attracting and retaining staff for this type of work.

  We are in the process of recruiting staff, through open competition, and we are arranging a selection Board for promoting existing Home Office staff to fill two posts currently held by casual staff. These two recruitment exercises should provide the best choice of candidates and a more permanent solution than employing casual staff for short periods.

  In the meantime, we have recently recruited another member of casual staff and now have a full complement of staff in our London office. To reduce the backlog, staff are continuing to work overtime and have been joined in London, on occasions, by colleagues from our regional offices.

  A minor technical problem has recently been overcome to allow London cases to be transferred to other regional offices to process.

  We are also looking to see whether there are elements of work currently carried out by the licensing team which they might stop doing whilst the backlog is cleared—one possibility is to no longer advise project licence holders that their licence will shortly expire. Licensees would, as a consequence, need to remain alert to the date on which their authorities expire and the need to apply for any replacement licence well before that date.

  In the longer term, we are exploring how modern IT systems can improve the licensing operation and whether the personal licence system can be streamlined.
  382
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, for licences, and amendments to licences, were awaiting decision on(a) 1 July 1998, (b) 1 January 1998 and (c) 1 July 1997. [50867]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost, and the process would significantly worsen the backlog problem about which my hon. Friend is rightly concerned.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many duplicated experiments were carried out in 1997 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [51122]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 19 January 1998 Official Report, column 387.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to announce a ban on the use of animals for cosmetic ingredient testing; and what is the time scale for a ban becoming operative. [51121]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This is an extremely complex issue and we are still exploring the implications of various courses of action.

  Under European Directives, including the Cosmetics and Dangerous Substances Directives, ingredients must be tested on animals to show that they are safe in use, manufacture and transport. Industry strongly contends that there is a need for certain types of new ingredients for cosmetic products, particularly UVA filters for such products as sunscreens.

  We must ensure that any action we take is sustainable and does not unnecessarily disadvantage United Kingdom research, medicine and industry or compromise public safety.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay the reduction in the proportion of non-legislative animal tests carried out for cosmetic purposes between 1995 and 1996. [51120]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Additional data on cosmetic testing, above that required for the annual statistics report, are collected separately. In 1996, the way in which this additional information was collected was changed. The data needed to identify the factors in which the hon. Member is interested are not available before 1996.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries from which dogs were imported into the United Kingdom for experiments in 1996 and 1997, indicating the number from each country; how often his Department's inspectors visited these overseas breeding establishments under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if the code of practice for breeding establishments is enforced in these non-United Kingdom establishments. [51123]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In total, 478 dogs in 1996 and 214 dogs in 1997 were acquired from the United States of America. All were purpose-bred and were obtained from breeding establishments which meet their national standards.
  383
  Home Office inspectors have not visited these establishments. They have no right to access to establishments in other countries nor can we enforce our codes in non-United Kingdom establishments.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals were bred for scientific procedures but killed prior to use in any procedure in(a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [51124]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 19 January 1998,Official Report, columns 388–89.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in reviewing section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and what plans he has to amend it following the Government's freedom of information proposals. [51207]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No decision has yet been taken. We are still awaiting final details on the proposals for freedom of information legislation.

  Air Guns
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for a public information campaign on the potential dangers posed by air guns. [51026]

  Mr. Michael
  Copies of a public information leaflet on air gun safety may be obtained from police firearms licensing departments or from the Home Office. We shall consider, in consultation with the police, shooting organisations and other interested bodies, whether this leaflet needs to be revised. We have no immediate plans for a further publicity campaign on this issue.

  Most air gun shooters are responsible and law-abiding citizens, who pursue their hobby safely. Regrettably, a small minority of people misuse air guns. There are already laws to prevent air gun misuse and people breaking those laws can face severe penalties, including life imprisonment for the most serious offences.

  Metropolitan Police
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Metropolitan Police has spent on the services of lobbying companies in(a) the last and (b) the current financial year; and which companies have been engaged. [51466]

  Mr. Michael
  The Commissioner tells me that the Metropolitan Police Service does not engage the services of lobbying companies, and has no plans to do so.

  Crime (Care Homes)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the British Crime Survey excludes from their statistics crimes committed against people living in care homes; and if his Department has any plans to include such crimes in future. [51505]

  Mr. Michael
  The British Crime Survey (BCS), conducted by the Home Office, is a survey of people living in private households in England and Wales. In its present format and structure, it would be impossible for it 384
  also to provide an adequate measure of offences committed against people who live in residential care homes without a major change to its format, structure and scope. A sample of care homes within the size of sample for BCS purposes would be too small to permit reliable analysis. For this reason we have concluded that it would require a specially designed survey. A feasibility study into a possible survey of communal establishments is being undertaken by Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics. As yet, no decision has been taken on the types of communal establishment this would cover, whether victimisation will be covered or the funding arrangements for such a survey.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review, when he proposes to announce the details of the settlement for his Department. [51806]

  Mr. Straw
  Tomorrow. At 3.30pm I will be publishing a research study entitled "Reducing offending: an assessment of research evidence on ways of dealing with offending behaviour", which will provide the evidential basis for my plans for tackling crime.

WALES

  Llanllyfni Bypass
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account his Department will take of the impact on the health and safety of local residents in determining whether to allow the Llanllyfni bypass to proceed. [50828]

  Mr. Hain
  The benefits of removing traffic from communities, and the resulting improvement in the safety and environment of local residents, is an integral part of the consideration of any road scheme, including the A487 Llanwnda to south of Llanllyfni improvement, which is currently subject to the Strategic Trunk Roads Review.

  Food Sector
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his proposals for the development of the food sector in Wales. [51794]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The markets for general agricultural products are competitive, and will become increasingly so. Wales needs premium products, which can command premium prices. We need much greater food processing in Wales, to add value to Wales's primary agricultural products. We need products with a strong brand image, and we must exploit as many niche markets as possible.

  I have announced action today to develop industry-led action plans, setting clear priorities for the action that must be taken in the lamb and beef, dairy and organic sectors in the first instance.

  As part of this, I am very concerned that work on promoting Welsh food, and work in supporting economic development in the food sector in Wales should go hand in hand. This is critical if there is to be coherent effective support for action by the industry. I have therefore decided to give the WDA a clear responsibility for supporting the development of the food industry in Wales.
  385
  The WDA will work in close partnership with the Welsh Office Agriculture Department in facilitating the formulation of the industry-led action plans and it will lead in co-ordinating action in support of those plans. This new responsibility for the WDA will be a key part of the role that the new, all-Wales Agency will plan in promoting development in rural Wales. In giving the WDA this remit, I am endorsing the recommendations that the Welsh Affairs Committee, amongst others, have made to this effect.

  In support of this, the Board of Welsh Food Promotions has agreed that work should transfer to the WDA at the start of October this year. WFP staff will be offered employment with the WDA, and the Company will subsequently be wound up. Our aim in this way is to sustain and build on WFP's achievements. I would like to pay particular thanks to Alun Evans, the Chairman of WFP, and his Board, for steering the Company through a difficult period.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when an appointment will be made to the post of Chairman of the new Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [51795]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I am very pleased to announce that Mr. David Rowe-Beddoe has accepted my offer of the post of Chairman of the new Agency following an open competition. This will take effect in the Autumn upon the merger of the WDA and the Development Board for Rural Wales (DBRW) and the Land Authority for Wales (LAW).

  Local Authority Audit Arrangements
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the guidelines for determining the audit arrangements for trading subsidiaries of local authorities and the relevant definitions for not-for-profit companies financed in whole or in part by local authorities causing them to be regarded as(a) privately influenced and (b) public sector influenced. [51312]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The basic framework for classifying local authorities' interests in companies is set out in Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1985. Section 69 of the Act describes the circumstances which would lead to a company being one which is treated as "influenced" by a local authority.

  The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 (SI 1995 No. 849) includes requirements applicable to companies subject to the influence of local authorities within the meaning of the 1989 Act.

  In March 1995, the Welsh Office issued an explanatory guide to local authorities' interests in companies. Paragraphs 10 and 11 of this guide provides general advice on private sector influenced companies and public sector influenced companies. The question of which category an influenced company falls into is one for local authorities to decide in conjunction with their auditors and legal advisers.
  386
  Not all local authority trading subsidiaries are companies. Where such subsidiaries are not legally separate from the authority, auditors will be the same as that for the authority.

  The Audit Commission is responsible for appointing auditors to local authorities in England and Wales. Appointed auditors should ensure that local authorities have complied with the provisions of the 1989 Act. This will include consideration of the classification of companies as well as other appropriate requirements. Auditors may also consider how local authorities have discharged their stewardship responsibilities in relation to transactions undertaken through the medium of a local authority company.

  Audits of private sector or public sector influenced companies must be carried out by auditors registered under the Companies Acts, although the authority's auditor may seek assurance as to the adequacy of controls operated by the company to safeguard public funds.

  In May 1996, the Audit Commission issued guidance to auditors on the audit approach to local authority companies in the form of Technical Release 11/96.

  Copies of the Welsh Office guide to local authorities' interests in companies and of Technical Release 11/96 has been placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Further Education Leavers
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of 18 year olds leaving further education entered(a) full-time or part-time education, (b) job-related training, (c) employment without a training element and (d) unemployment in Scotland in each year since 1988. [48492]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 8 July 1998]The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Young People (Reoffending)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics his Department collates on the re-offending rates of young people who have been referred to children's panels following the reporting of an offence; and if he will make a statement. [50601]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Responsibility for collection and publication of data on the Children's hearings system lies with the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration.

  The only relevant information collected relates to children referred to Reporters on offence grounds on more than one occasion, and this is not collated routinely. I have asked the Principal Reporter to write to the right hon. Gentleman with more details of this information.

  Community Organisations
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a study to examine practice in the management of community organisations funded by Urban Aid, EU or other regeneration funds, and produce guidelines to ensure good management of such organisations in future. [50548]
  387
  Mr. Macdonald
  The allocation of moneys from the Urban Programme, EU and other regeneration funds is governed by clear conditions. The responsibility for supervising and monitoring the performance and activities of individual community organisations in accordance with these conditions rests with central departments, local authorities or other agents of government, depending on the source of the funding. However the Government take seriously any reports of poor practice in the management of community organisations which have access to public funds, and seek to ensure that the appropriate examination and monitoring procedures are adhered to.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list for each local education authority area the provision of nursery places to be provided by non-statutory bodies and private providers in the academic year 1998–99; [50426]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of children currently attending nurseries provided by private providers who will not be able to continue to do so in the academic year 1998–99 because the facilities have been withdrawn by the local education authority. [50427]

  Mr. Wilson
  The number and distribution of grant funded pre-school education places which local authorities will commission in school year 1998–99 from partner centres will not be known accurately until the autumn. Estimates have however been received from each authority and the information is set out in the table.

  It is likely there will be some parents of pre-school year children in the school year 1998–99 who, because their local authority has decided not to commission places from their preferred registered provider, will have to decide whether to move their child to another centre which is grant-eligible or to pay for a place at their preferred provider themselves. A reliable estimate of the number of parents so affected would however require data which are not collected centrally.

  Estimated number of pre-school education places to be commissioned by local authorities from registered partner providers in the voluntary and private sectors

  Local authority

  Number of places

  Aberdeen City

  600

  Aberdeenshire

  100

  Angus

  30

  Argyll and Bute

  469

  Clackmannanshire

  43

  Dumfries and Galloway

  100

  Dundee City

  0

  East Ayrshire

  0

  East Dunbartonshire

  300

  East Lothian

  120

  East Renfrewshire

  170

  City of Edinburgh

  680

  Falkirk

  0

  Fife

  120

  City of Glasgow

  150

  Highland

  417

  Inverclyde

  170

  Midlothian

  0

  Moray

  120

  North Ayrshire

  600

  North Lanarkshire

  524

  Orkney Islands

  6

  Perth and Kinross

  190

  388

  Estimated number of pre-school education places to be commissioned by local authorities from registered partner providers in the voluntary and private sectors

  Local authority

  Number of places

  Renfrewshire

  200

  Scottish Borders

  100

  Shetland Islands

  73

  South Ayrshire

  20

  South Lanarkshire

  630

  Stirling

  30

  West Dunbartonshire

  0

  West Lothian

  15

  Western Isles

  233

  Scotland

  6,210

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the criteria to be used to review the way that local education authorities have exercised their discretion in entering into local partnerships with private sector organisations to provide nursery places for the academic year 1998–99. [50425]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 21 April 1998,Official Report, column 585.

  Intestacy
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums passed to the Crown as ultimus haeres from Scottish estates where the deceased failed to leave an effective will in the last year for which figures are available. [51440]

  Mr. McLeish
  The total sum passed to the Crown Office in Scotland as Ultimus Haeres for the year 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997 was £1,708,773.03.

  The part of the sum attributable to Scottish estates where the deceased failed to leave a Will cannot be identified separately from sums passing to the Crown from dissolved companies without disproportionate cost to the Department.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his office's average response time to correspondence from members of the public; and how such response times are monitored. [48672]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not possible for me to deal personally with all of the letters I receive and I must therefore refer most of them to the Department with responsibility for the policy or the matter in question. We ask Departments to respond within their targets for dealing with correspondence.

  One of the six service standards for central government requires Departments to set a target for responding to letters from members of the public and to publish information on their performance. A report on the performance of the main Departments against the six standards is being prepared and will be made available to the House shortly.
  389
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the e-mail address of his Office's Ministerial Correspondence Unit.[49822]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]Downing Street receives approximately 7,000 items of correspondence a week from the general public—approximately three times as much as received prior to the General Election. The majority receive a response from my office or the relevant Government Department. There are no plans at present to introduce a dedicated e-mail address for the 10 Downing Street Correspondence Unit. However, the Government are currently considering policy on providing Ministers with e-mail addresses. Number 10's allocation of an e-mail address will be in line with this policy once it has been finalised.

  The 10 Downing Street website (www.number-10.gov.uk) also provides five discussion fora where the public can post their views on matters of Government policy.

  No. 10 Policy Unit
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if a telephone log is kept showing the incoming and outgoing calls to and from the No. 10 Policy Unit. [49963]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 July 1998]The facilities under the previous Government continue to operate whereby an automatic record is kept of the telephone numbers called from the No. 10 switchboard.

  BBC Vice-chairman
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister what names have been provided to him or his office following the advertisement for candidates who wish to be considered for appointment as vice-chairman of the BBC. [50535]

  The Prime Minister
  These appointments are made by the Prime Minister with the approval of Her Majesty the Queen and they will be announced, in the normal way, when the full appointment process is completed.

  The Observer
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 8 July 1998,Official Report, column 1065, what factors led him to his conclusion that The Observer claimed to have a tape recording of a conversation with a member of his staff in relation to payments for contacts; and when he reached that conclusion. [50533]

  The Prime Minister
  In an interview broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live on 6 July 1998, Mr. Gregory Pallast, a journalist from The Observer, was asked in relation to an alleged conversation with a member of my staff "Do you have that on tape?". Mr. Pallast replied "I have that for certain".

  In a discussion broadcast that evening on the BBC television programme "Newsnight" Mr. Pallast was again repeatedly asked whether he could produce a tape. He did not take the opportunity to deny that one existed.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an independent review of the legal processes relating to Lockerbie. [49275]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 July 1998]No. Since taking office, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, in his independent role as prosecutor, has fully reviewed the evidence relating to the Lockerbie case. He concluded that, on the evidence available, it would be right to pursue the petition warrants against the two Libyan accused.

  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the most recent requests for investigations which the Government have made to the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the date each request was communicated to the Committee. [51224]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]The Committee on Standards in Public Life does not have powers of investigation, but undertakes more general inquiries about standards of conduct in public life. On 12 November 1997, I wrote to Lord Neill, Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, inviting the Committee to look at the funding of political parties, and extending their terms of reference to enable them to undertake this study. The Committee's inquiry is due to be completed in September 1998. The Government have made no subsequent requests to the Committee.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 23 February 1998,Official Report, column 2, when he expects to write to the right hon. Member for Wokingham indicating the cost of his trip to Japan. [51421]

  The Prime Minister
  Shortly.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  British Library
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the British Library has for the charging of readers fees for(a) commercial and (b) non-commercial users. [50743]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 16 July 1998]The British Library has no immediate plans to introduce charges for access to the reading rooms but is currently consulting its users on a broad range of issues, including introduction of charges. Any proposal by the Board to introduce charges would require my approval and would be considered in the light of all relevant factors, including the views of readers.

  Tourism
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives his Department has taken in respect of developing sustainable tourism within the United Kingdom. [51031]
  391
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]My Department has recently undertaken a nationwide consultation exercise on sustainable tourism and the responses to the consultation are currently being analysed. They will feed into the development of the new strategy for tourism which my Department will launch later this year and will help update the UK Sustainable Development Strategy which will be published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, also later this year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he can report in lifting the ban on beef exports from the UK. [49420]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  A Commission proposal to enable beef to be exported from the UK under the Date Based Export Scheme (DBES) is currently under consideration by the Standing Veterinary Committee. The UK is making every effort to secure an early agreement on the best possible terms.

  Technetium-99
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that monitoring takes place of concentrations of Technetium-99 in seaweed and crustaceans along the north coast of Wales. [50635]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department continues to carry out regular monitoring and assessment of concentrations of technetium-99 in aquatic materials from the north coast of Wales.

  The results are published annually in the Department's report "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment". The latest report, for 1996, shows that concentrations of technetium-99 in seaweed and crustaceans along the north coast of Wales are of negligible radiological significance. The report for 1997 will be published in the autumn.

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will publish the Annual Report on Surveillance for Veterinary Residues in 1997; and if he will make a statement. [51742]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government are committed to giving consumers the maximum possible information on the presence of residues in food, with appropriate advice on the significance of any results. The Annual Report on Surveillance for Veterinary Residues in 1997 is being published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) today and it paints a very positive picture of the current situation in the UK.

  The VMD operates a statutory national sampling and surveillance scheme and a complementary non-statutory programme. In 1997 some 42,000 samples were collected and subjected to around 57,000 analyses in GB. The VMD reports the results of its surveillance quarterly in the Medicines Act Veterinary Information Service (MAVIS)
  392
  and in much greater detail in this Annual Report. The results continue to show that the presence of residues of veterinary medicines from all sources in food is very low.

  The main points to emerge from the Report are:
  99.5 per cent. of statutory samples tested in 1997 were free of detectable residues compared to 99.2 per cent. in 1996.
  More significantly, the "positive" samples fell from 0.24 per cent. in 1996 to 0.13 per cent. in 1997.
  This Report, for the first time, gives details of the follow up investigations which are undertaken on all positive samples. Two successful prosecutions were taken and the report outlines initiatives which are being introduced to improve the chances of successful prosecutions int the future.

  The Report, which is available free of charge from the VMD, explains how the VMD obtains samples, how and where they analyse them and what they do with the results. It places the surveillance programmes into the current and future EC context and, to help the lay reader, includes a glossary of technical terms. The results are all placed into a toxicological context which I believe will re-assure consumers that, because of the considerable margins of safety which are applied when maximum residue limits for veterinary medicines are established, the very low levels of residues currently found under the schemes are unlikely to pose a health risk.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Cranston
  To ask the Attorney-General how many barristers over six years call were employed as lawyers by the Crown Prosecution Service during each of the years 1993 to 1997. [50096]

  The Attorney-General
  On 1 April of each year, the Crown Prosecution Service employed the following number of barristers with over six years' call:

  Number

  1993

  205

  1994

  284

  1995

  393

  1996

  441

  1997

  513

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Attorney-General what assistance is given to unqualified Crown Prosecution staff to develop their careers, with particular reference to obtaining formal legal qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [50145]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service offers a number of training contracts to law students leading to professional status as barristers and solicitors through its Legal Trainee Recruitment Schemes. Approximately one-third of the available places have been allocated to staff in the CPS enabling them to achieve professional qualifications and appointments as Crown Prosecutors.
  393
  There are also a number of other development opportunities available which include:
  A two level Casework Officer Training Scheme designed jointly with the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX). The first level comprises nine modules covering general legal procedures such as committals, indictments and trial procedure. Level two is a two year course which provides more advanced legal training and can lead to exemption from the ILEX paper on criminal law.
  A range of in-house courses and distance learning packages offered to develop expertise on a number of legal and non-legal subjects. In addition, sponsorship is available for a range of external qualifications including NVQ's and the Institute of Legal Executives.
  The Crown Prosecution Service also takes part in the Prince's Trust Volunteer Programme which aims to help 16 to 25 year olds to develop their personal skills through practical teamwork in the community.
  A training programme is also being prepared for the Designated Caseworkers who will be undertaking the review and presentation of cases in the Reducing Delay pilots at selected CPS branch sites commencing October 1998.

  Mr. Cranston
  To ask the Attorney-General how many registered pupil masters were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service; and how many pupils were trained by those pupil masters in each year since 1993. [50097]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service does not keep historic records of the number of registered pupil masters. However, on 1 July 1998, it employed 98 pupil masters who are registered with the Bar Council.

  Similarly, the Crown Prosecution Service does not hold records to show the number of pupils trained by its employed pupil masters. However, the number of pupils employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since 1993 is:

  Year

  Number

  1993

  23

  1994

  11

  1995

  4

  1996

  1

  1997

  3

  1998

  0

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 1998,Official Report, columns 557–58, prior to 18 May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement. [49090]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development has not been responsible for any legislation passed in the current session. The Department assesses all its policies and programmes for gender impact, in line with the guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment that has been available since 1992.
  394
  Our White Paper, published in November 1997, reaffirmed our commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women by eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005; one of the key international development targets to which we subscribe.

  We also played a key part in formulating the revised guidelines on gender, issued by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in April 1998.

  Fair Trading
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her decision to write to the chairmen of the top 500 companies urging them to use Cafédirect in their vending machines. [50553]

  Clare Short
  Trade is crucial to poverty elimination as it brings the resources that can help generate growth. But we need to ensure that the benefits of trade reach the least developed countries and the poorest people and lead to sustainable economic and social development. Fair and ethical trade have a key role to play in this, both by establishing codes of practice and improving the conditions of workers, and by dealing with smaller producers on the edge of the economy. Many British companies are working for fair and ethical trade in their own business practices and are discussing these issues with my Department.

  My letters to the chairmen of the FT500 companies was a request to ask them to consider using fairly traded coffee in their vending machines.

  Sex Tourism
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with other countries to offer help and advice in combating sexual tourism in their countries. [50706]

  Clare Short
  Sex tourism is just one element of sexual exploitation. Social and economic conditions create an environment where poor or vulnerable people in particular are subject to sexual abuse and exploitation, and combating sex tourism is therefore part of the Department for International Development's (DFID) goal of eliminating poverty in poorer countries.

  Commercial sexual exploitation of children is of particular concern to DFID. DFID funds non-government organisation projects in a number of countries, many of them in Asia, to address sexual exploitation of children.

  DFID is involved in the preparations for the ASEM Child Welfare Experts Meeting, which takes place later this year, gathering representatives from ASEM member countries in London, to share experience in tackling sexual exploitation of children.

  DFID is supporting the International Labour Organisations International Programme for Elimination of Child Labour in carrying out research on trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children.

  The Global March against child labour brought the realities of child labour, including sexual exploitation of children, to many people and governments around the

  395
  world. Following the March, at the International Labour Conference, DFID took an active role in agreeing a draft international convention to immediately outlaw the worst forms of child labour; labour that maims, corrupts and kills children. Combating sex tourism is part of that.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards advising third-world countries of the dangers of importing and using asbestos. [50705]

  Clare Short
  My Department is committed to working with our partner countries in their efforts to develop and implement national strategies for sustainable development. This includes working to improve standards of environmental regulation and reverse overall trends in environmental degradation, which may include advice on the use and handling of asbestos in specific cases.

  The UK has previously assisted the Hirakud Power Station in India to assess health risks associated with the existence of asbestos lagging, and to identify the most appropriate and safe ways of removing and disposing of hazardous materials.

  European Council Regulation No. 2455/92 concerning exports and imports of certain dangerous chemicals establishes a system by which third countries, including developing countries, which import chemicals banned or severely restricted in the European Community are notified of the potential dangers and are informed of the safety precautions which have to be taken, and of the use restrictions of the products within the Community.

  The Regulation also implements the procedure of Prior Informed Consent set up by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. This means that EC exporters have to comply with the import conditions of countries participating in the procedures. Asbestos is one of the substances covered by the Regulation, which is implemented in the United Kingdom by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Coral Reefs
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department has given to the International Coral Reef Initiative. [50020]

  Clare Short
  My Department has a particular interest in reversing the degradation of coral reef and other coastal ecosystems because these often represent an important source of livelihood of poor communities in the heavily populated coastal areas of the developing countries. Those with greatest dependence on these resources are often the poorest members of these communities.

  The United Kingdom is a founder member of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and participates in meetings of the ICRI Co-ordinating Planning Committee. Following financial and technical support which UK provided for the ICRI South Asia Region Coral Reef Management Workshop in 1995, my Department has recently funded the preparation and publication of a Manual of Coastal Resource Management in South Asia. We are also helping our partners in South Asia to protect
  396
  their coral reefs by providing funds and expertise to the International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO for the development of a South Asia region coral reef monitoring network, the first regional component of a planned global network.

  In September this year, the performance of ICRI over its first four years will be reviewed at the International Symposium on Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management, to be held in Australia. My Department has agreed to support the costs associated with attendance at this meeting by representatives from our S. Asia partners countries, from the regional ICRI co-ordinating organisation and from the S. Asia coral reef monitoring network.

  The ICRI seeks greater understanding of the ecology of coral reefs, mangrove and seagrass systems on tropical coasts, and urges the sustainable use of these systems for the benefit of dependent populations. During the period 1990 to date, my Department has supported 35 projects with a total commitment of almost £10 million in pursuit of these objectives. Our concern in supporting the protection of coral reefs, and other tropical coastal ecosystems, is to help our partners stabilise and regenerate natural resources which are of significant importance to global efforts to eradicate poverty.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EU Funds
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South-West Devon (Mr. Streeter), of 7 April 1998,Official Report, columns 202–04, if he will place in the Library a list of projects supported over the last year for which figures are available for budget lines (a) A-3024 and A-3104, (b) A-3020 and A-3100, (c) A-3029 and A-3109, (d) A-3037 and A-3117, (e) A-3025 and A3105, (f) B3–302, (g) A-3021 and A3101, (h) B3–301, (i) B3–300 and (j) A-3022 and A-3103; and who monitors the activities funded in the United Kingdom. [49651]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I have already placed in the Library reports on beneficiaries of grants from Part A of the Community budget in 1997 and 1998 (to 30 May). These cover all the budget lines in this question apart from B3–300 and B3–301 and B3–302, for which a breakdown of projects funded over the last year is not available. All activities funded under these budget lines are monitored in the first instance by the Commission.

  Edgar Fernandes
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Turkey concerning the case of Edgar Fernandes; and if he will publish their response. [50673]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our Embassy sent a Diplomatic Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Ankara on 5 June. The Note pressed the authorities for information on the investigation into Mr. Fernandes' death and the progress of the extradition request for the suspect to be returned from Malta to Turkey. the MFA replied with
  397
  Diplomatic Notes on 17 and 24 June. They confirmed an investigation was still being conducted and they had not yet received a response from the Maltese authorities. The Turkish authorities informed our Embassy orally on 14 July that a formal extradition request had been handed to the Maltese Embassy in Rome.

  Treaty of Canterbury
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he and (b) his officials have had with (i) the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, (b) Eurotunnel and (c) the French Government regarding Clause 33.3 of the Treaty of Canterbury. [51176]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  There is no Clause 33.3 of the Treaty of Canterbury. My hon. Friend may be referring to Clause 33.3 of the Channel Fixed Link Concession Agreement.

  We are not aware of any discussions in recent years between Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers or officials and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Eurotunnel or the French Government regarding Clause 33.3 of the Concession Agreement, other than in the context of preparing a reply to this question.

  AloÏs Brunner
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Syrian Government on the subject of AloÏs Brunner. [50899]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have made no representations to the Syrian government on this matter.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to assist the French Government to extradite AloÏs Brunner for crimes against humanity; and if he will make a statement on the whereabouts of AloÏs Brunner. [50898]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We have no record of any activity by the Government on the subject of AloÏs Brunner, nor evidence of his whereabouts.

  Philippines
  Sir Peter Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how long those who have applied in the Philippines for settlement in the United Kingdom as the wife of a British citizen have had to wait on average for a decision in the last year. [51230]

  Mr. Fatchett
  In the last year, the average waiting time in Manila for an interview for a settlement visa has been 8 weeks. In almost all cases, a decision on the application is taken immediately following the interview and the applicant informed at the same time.

  Indian Ocean Territories (Fishing)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the protection of coral reefs around fishing grounds in the British Indian Ocean Territories. [49590]
  398
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Administering the British Indian Ocean Territory's (BIOT) 200 mile Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone is the responsibility of the BIOT Government. It is alert to the need to provide protection for the coral reef fishery. May I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement made to the House by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development on 1 July 1997,Official Report, columns 324–30.

  Mexico
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the timetable for discussions on free trade between Mexico and the EU. [51305]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We strongly support the strengthening of EU/Mexico relations, including the liberalisation of trade in goods and services. As EU Presidency, we secured EU agreement to Negotiating Directives which clear the path for formal negotiations with Mexico. The UK will be looking for a package that is fully compatible with WTO rules and offers the EU similar access to the Mexican market as that already given to Mexico's NAFTA partners, the US and Canada. We expect negotiations to begin after the Summer break when the Mexicans have had time to consider EU proposals.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Woking regarding Kenny Richey. [51489]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I am sorry that a substantive reply to the hon. Member's letter to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary of 25 June has been delayed. A full reply was sent to him on 17 July.

  Europe Houses
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries in which Europe Houses operate; what are the criteria for the establishment of a Europe House; and what discussions are taking place on the establishment of a Europe House in the United Kingdom. [46069]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The International Federation of Europe Houses (FIME) is an association of over 100 education and information centres in 24 European countries, including the UK. Questions about the criteria for membership of FIME should be addressed to them.

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the implications for human rights of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [50763]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The purpose of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) is to prevent discrimination against investors on the grounds of their nationality. The Government are pressing for clauses in the MAI which will prevent countries attracting specific investments by lowering environment and labour
  399
  standards. We do not believe that the MAI will have any adverse effect on human rights, nor will it prevent the Government from pursuing their human rights agenda.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent developments there have been in discussions between Gibraltar and Spain regarding the use of Gibraltar airport; and if he will make a statement. [50676]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 15 July 1998:] We are not aware of any recent discussions between the Government of Gibraltar and the Spanish authorities regarding the use of Gibraltar airport. We believe that development of Gibraltar airport would bring significant economic benefits for Gibraltar and Spain. We would support any proposal on which all parties could agree.

  Pakistan and India
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions have been applied by(a) the UK, (b) the EU and (c) the G8 to (i) Pakistan and (ii) India following their detonation of nuclear devices; and if he will make a statement. [50848]

  Mr. Fatchett
  G8 countries meeting in London on 12 June agreed to work for a postponement in the consideration of loans to India and Pakistan in the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions, except where these loans were to meet basic human needs.

  The EU adopted a similar policy on IFI loans on 8 June. The General Affairs Council also asked the Commission to consider, in a forthcoming review, India and Pakistan's eligibility to benefit from the Community's Generalised System of Preferences in the light of their tests. The General Affairs Council stated that the European Union would take all necessary measures should India and Pakistan not take early steps to accede to the relevant international non-proliferation treaties.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined the measures that the UK took in response to the tests in his statement to the House on 1 June 1998, Official Report, columns 21–22. Additional safeguards to prevent proliferation activities by India and Pakistan in the UK were announced to the House by the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) on 10 July 1998, Official Report, columns 687–88.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Business Innovation
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the Business Link Innovation Credit Scheme was cancelled; and what initiatives have replaced it. [48339]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 2 July 1998]The Innovation Credit scheme was discontinued at the end of March 1998 as part of a series of measures to simplify funding for Business Links, by reducing the number of separate programme budgets. Business Links are 400
  sufficiently experienced to decide for themselves at local level whether a voucher-based scheme of this sort is a priority use of funds.

  Gender Impact Assessments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 1998,Official Report, columns 557–58, prior to 18 May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement. [49091]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment has been available in this Department since 1992.

  Within the Department we are making increasing use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy on women. For example, in developing the proposals on maternity and parental rights in the White Paper, "Fairness at Work", we consulted key stakeholders including representatives of women's interests.

  Similarly, the Low Pay Commission's recommendations for the national minimum wage, which the Government have accepted subject to consultation on the practicalities of implementation, were produced following extensive consultation, including with the Equal Opportunities Commission and women's organisations.

  Mirror Group Newspapers
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she will publish her Department's inspectors' inquiry, set up in April 1992, into the circumstances of the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers plc; and what is the current state of progress with the report. [50836]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 16 July 1998]The inspectors have not yet reported to me. A decision on publication will be taken when the report has been received and fully considered. It is not our policy to comment on an inspection during its progress.

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on United Kingdom trade with Libya of sanctions against that country. [49435]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 16 July 1998]The Department keeps a watching brief on trade between the United Kingdom and Libya. The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Libya on 15 April 1992. These sanctions relate to a ban on the sale of goods related to the Military and Aviation sectors, a world-wide ban on flights to and from Libya, and restrictions on diplomatic movement. Further sanctions were introduced on 1 December 1993 and relate to oil-related goods and equipment; material for Libyan airfields, making aircraft available to Libya; and extending the earlier provisions related to technical advice and training. The extended measures also introduced a limited assets freeze. The effect of sanctions on United Kingdom trade with Libya has been minimal. Britain's exports to Libya for 1997
  401
  were £269 million, which equates to a 2.5 per cent. decrease on the end-of-year figure for 1993, the year sanctions were introduced. Imports from Libya for 1997 were £231.4 million compared with £156.6 million in 1993.

  Electrical Goods
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she is taking to monitor the electrical goods market to ensure that price fixing is not occurring. [51218]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Under UK competition legislation the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for keeping the operation of markets under review, and considering allegations of anti-competitive behaviour, abuse of monopoly power or restrictive trade practices, including price fixing.

  As part of his responsibilities, the Director General will keep under review compliance with the Order made by my right. hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 19 May 1998, following the 1997 Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of eight categories of domestic electrical goods. The Order prohibits suppliers of those goods from recommending retail prices to retailers, and from influencing the prices at which retailers sell their goods, and comes into force on 1 September 1998.

  Branded Goods
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will take steps to ensure that United Kingdom consumers continue to benefit from high street retailers importing branded goods from outside the EU on a parallel basis. [51217]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Under present United Kingdom legislation (the Trade Marks Act 1994) trade mark rights cannot be used to prevent or control parallel importation into this country of genuine goods, that is, goods already put on the market by, or with the consent of, trade mark owners, but this reduction in their rights applies only to goods put on the market in the European Economic Area (EEA). Under current legislation, goods put on the market outside the EEA do not come within this exception. Trade mark owners may, if they wish, use their rights to prevent or control the importation into the United Kingdom of such goods. However, the effects of the exercise of rights in this way is subject to the requirements of European and domestic law governing supply and competition.

  The issue of parallel importation from outside the EEA into EC Member States is important for the operation of the European Single Market. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major study to investigate the economic effects of the use of trade marks and other intellectual property rights in relation to parallel importation. We will consider the results of this work very carefully when they emerge towards the beginning of next year, and we intend to take a strong part in the discussions and decisions which follow.

  The Trade Marks Act implements Directive 89/104/EC.

  In implementing, the UK Parliament, along with all other Member States, took the view that the Directive required that trade mark owners should be able to use
  402
  their rights to control or prevent parallel imports from non-EEA countries. This is reflected in the UK Act at Section 12. A recent case before the ECJ (the Silhouette case) questioned this interpretation. The judgment confirms that this interpretation is correct.

  The Commission's study into intellectual property rights and their effects on parallel importation was instigated following Dutch objections to provisions in a Directive concerning industrial designs protection, which provisions mirror those of the trade marks Directive.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures she will take to ensure that fuel poverty does not increase as a result of the introduction of competition into the gas and electricity supply industries; and if she will make a statement. [50927]

  Mr. Battle
  The Green Paper "A Fair Deal for Consumers: Modernising the Framework for Utility Regulation" highlighted a particular concern that disadvantaged consumers may be benefiting least from emerging competition in gas and electricity supply. Competition has, and will, continue to benefit all consumers in these markets by driving prices down and services standards and choice up. But it is important that these benefits should be enjoyed fairly by all. The gas and electricity regulators and energy companies, in consultation with consumer representative bodies, were therefore asked to draw up an action plan to ensure that disadvantaged consumers benefit from improved efficiency, more choice, and greater fairness. That action plan has now been received and is being considered carefully, along with the many representations submitted on these issues. The President of the Board of Trade will be announcing the Government's response as soon as possible.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library a copy of the 93+2 protocol on international nuclear safeguards agreed in June between Euratom, IAEA and other relevant parties. [51400]

  Mr. Battle
  I have arranged for a copy of the Council Decision of 8 June approving the three Additional Protocols, with the text of the three Additional protocols attached as annexes, to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The three Additional Protocols were also approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 11 June.

  We expect the agreement to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities in due course.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the impact on the United Kingdom aerospace industry of the award of the contract to Airbus Industries to provide aircraft for US Airways. [51038]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]The UK's industrial partner in Airbus, British Aerospace, has a 20 per cent. stake in Airbus which brings considerable
  403
  economic benefits to the UK. Airbus and related businesses support 25,000 UK jobs in 300 companies, and contribute £1 billion to the UK trade balance. Airbus is an excellent example of European industrial co-operation. In the first half of this year Airbus has estimated that it has won 52 per cent. of the world market for large civil aircraft.

  The US Airways order was for up to thirty A330–300 aircraft, comprising 7 firm orders, 7 options, and 16 reserved production positions. The 14 orders and options are estimated to be worth over $1,500 million. Orders such as this demonstrate Airbus' continuing technical and commercial excellence.

  Departmental Invoices
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of her Department's invoices were paid within the target period during the last year; and what was the figure for each of the three preceding years. [50014]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade and Industry will publish details of the payment performance of all Government Departments for the 1997–98 financial year before the Summer Recess. Following is the information for the Department of Trade and Industry, for the three preceding years:

  Percentage

  1994–95

  84

  1995–96

  93

  1996–97

  97.9

  Export Licences
  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library statistics on export licences issued and refused for the period 1 January to 1 March 1997. [51650]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The statistics on export licences issued and refused for this period were placed in the House Library today.

  Acquired Rights Directive
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research she has conducted on whether former local authority employees transferring employment under the Acquired Rights Directive are likely to receive their full anticipated retirement pension in cases of one or more subsequent transfers of employment. [51248]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  None. The coverage of occupational pensions is, however, one of the issues that the Government have under active consideration in the context of their intended revision of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (the TUPE Regulations) which implement the Acquired Rights Directive in the UK.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she plans to publish the results of the review of renewable energy policy; and if she will make a statement. [50827]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government expect to make an announcement about the Review later in the summer.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research she has commissioned to assess the potential of renewable energy in contributing to the Government's 12.5 per cent. target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. [51317]

  Mr. Battle
  In June 1997 the Government initiated a review of new and renewable energy policy, including what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010, and what contribution new and renewable technologies could make to meeting greenhouse gas reduction commitments. The Review is considering, inter alia, the current status and potential of the relevant new and renewable energy technologies. The Review is also addressing the need for research, development, demonstration and dissemination, and the barriers to the deployment of new and renewable energy and the measures which may be necessary to overcome them.

  The Government expect to make an announcement about the Review later this summer.

  Business Links
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the latest survey of Business Links' level of activity, with particular reference to the number of small businesses using Business Links. [50013]

  Mrs. Roche
  In the period January to March 1998 just over 112,000 businesses in England used Business Link. Of those of known size, over 56,000 of these businesses had less than 10 employees, and more than 29,000 had from 10 to 49 employees.

  Sombrero Island (Rocket-launching Platform)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to discuss with the Government and Governor of Anguilla the plans of Beale Aerospace to build a rocket-launching platform on Sombrero Island. [50127]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government's approach to the proposal by Beale Aerospace to develop a satellite launch site on Sombrero Island is being co-ordinated by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) which is seeking advice on the proposal from a range of Government Departments. Officials from BNSC are in close contact
  405
  with both the Governor of Anguilla and officials from the Anguillan Government. I have no immediate plans to discuss the issue with the Governor or Government personally.

  Science and Engineering Research
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much of the proposed £1.1 billion extra spending on science and engineering research will be spent in the North West; [51040]

  (2) where the extra funding recently announced for science and engineering research will be spent in the North West. [51039]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will make decisions on the allocation of the Science Budget in the usual way, being advised by the Director General of Research Councils (DGRC). Decisions on the Research Council's programmes will be announced in the Autumn. The Research Councils and other funded bodies will then take decisions on the basis of the quality of the proposal and its relevance to sustainable growth and quality of life. The arrangements for the £600 million joint Infrastructure Fund with the Wellcome Trust will involve the peer review of proposals, as agreed between the DGRC and the Director of the Wellcome Trust. It is not possible to specify in advance which research proposals at which universities/institutes will get funding.

  European Monetary Union
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what ways she has been involved in the Government's consideration of European monetary union. [13040]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My Department is playing a full role in the key task of ensuring that British business is fully ready for the launch of the euro on 1 January next year. We are also working with business on what we must do to prepare for possible UK entry. In this way, the UK could be in a position to join early in the next parliament if the single currency is successful and if Government, Parliament and the people agree.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to answer the questions for answer on(a) 29 October 1997 (13040), (b) 28 January (25826), (c) 25 June (47544) and (d) 29 June (48339) from the right hon. Member for Wokingham. [51441]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have answered q13040 today. The delay arose because the question did not appear in the electronic system used to transmit such information to my Parliamentary Branch, and we were thus unaware it had been tabled. Action has been taken which should prevent this recurring.

  Q25826 was answered on 3 February and the text will appear in the bound volume of the Official Report.

  I have answered q48339 today and will answer q47544 shortly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Hon. Members (Facilities)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Council what steps she is taking to improve the range of facilities available to hon. Members to increase the effectiveness of their offices. [49613]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The Accommodation and Works, Administration, Broadcasting and Information Committees have responsibilities which affect the effectiveness of Members offices and I am sure that those Committees would be willing to consider any specific matters within their terms of reference which my hon. Friend wishes to raise.

  Staff Costs
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the impact on staff costs per week of the House sitting in August. [49609]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  Staff of the House are paid on an annual basis. If the House were to sit in August, the additional staff costs would therefore be confined to overtime and additional hours payments together with the cost of late night transport. The precise amount would depend on the hours of Sitting but could be of the order of £10,000 per week.

  Refreshment Department
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what ethical and environmental policies are in place in respect of the purchasing of food by the Refreshment Department. [49860]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  In the purchasing of food, the Refreshment Department not only considers the price being offered, but also takes into account criteria such as the quality and wholesomeness of the produce available, food safety issues and consumer confidence; the latter requires the Department's procurement officer to be aware of ethical and environmental issues relating to the food chain and to advise the Department's management in order that customer confidence can be maintained at all times.

  The Refreshment Department maintains purchasing guidelines which include the following food-related issues:

  1. animal husbandry and, in particular, the procurement of fresh meat and poultry only from sources approved under an accredited 'farm assurance' scheme;

  2. the purchase of 'dolphin friendly' tinned and fresh tuna;

  3. the purchase of free-range eggs only;

  4. the purchase of coffee which has been accredited by the Fairtrade Foundation;

  5. to support the aims of the Lomé Convention, specifically with reference to the purchase of Caribbean bananas and cane sugar;

  6. to encourage food suppliers to minimise the use of packaging materials and wherever practicable, to use packaging manufactured from recycled materials;

  7. to maximise the recycling of food packaging, disposable products, glass, plastics, cans and waste oils;

  407

  8. to maintain close contacts with organisations such as Freedom Foods, the Soil Association, the Fairtrade Foundation and others who operate schemes promoting the availability and quality of ethical or environmentally-friendly foods; in particular, to work with and encourage such organisations to extend their schemes into the catering food supply chain;

  9. to avoid, wherever identifiable, the procurement of foods which contain genetically modified organisms.

  PDVN
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what was the cost of the Parliamentary Data and Video Network in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [51021]

  Mr. Allan
  The Capital and Revenue cost of providing the PDVN, in the financial year 1997–98, including expenditure on upgrade and improvement projects, but excluding expenditure on IT from the Office Cost Allowance and money spent by Departments of the House in providing information services on the PDVN (such as POLLS) was £2,207,000. Associated staff costs over the same period were an additional £647,000. It is estimated that some £750,000 was spent by the House of Commons on PDVN cabling in 1997–98.

HEALTH

  Medicines (Children)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the newly established system for licensing medicines for the treatment of children in the United States of America and the advantages and disadvantages of such a system for the United Kingdom. [43821]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]There is a newly established system for licensing medicines for the treatment of children in the United States of America. There have been recent amendments and proposed amendments to the already existing legislation which applies to the licensing of medicinal products for the treatment of all age groups.

  In December 1994 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the Final Rule on paediatric labelling. The Final Rule required applicants to examine their existing data for already approved drugs to determine whether there was enough information to permit a paediatric indication. If appropriate, applicants were to apply for the addition to their licence by April 1997. This rule has not been very successful in adding paediatric age groups to existing licences as the available data were generally inadequate.

  In November 1997 the FDA Modernisation Act of 1997 was signed into law. Section 111 deals with paediatric studies of drugs. Where appropriate, studies are encouraged in children for all newly authorised drugs so that new medicines will be available for use in children. For certain already approved drugs (list published in May 1998) applicants will be required to carry out studies in paediatric age groups with the aim of obtaining a licence for use in children. The Act allows 6 extra months of market exclusivity for pharmaceutical manufacturers who conduct acceptable studies in children of drugs identified by the FDA for which paediatric information would be beneficial.
  408
  There is also a proposed rule, published in August 1997, which would require manufacturers to conduct studies in children if requested to do so by the FDA. If the incentives in the Modernisation Act are successful this additional regulation may be unnecessary.

  The spirit of these amendments is reflected in new European guidance on licensing medicines in children which came into operation in September 19971. The United Kingdom played a major role in developing this new guidance which strongly encourages the pharmaceutical industry to develop medicines for use in children. It states that clinical trials in children should be submitted to the regulatory authorities as soon as possible if a product is likely to be of benefit to children or widely used in that age group.

  In the European Union there is no legal requirement to conduct studies in children although a change to the Directives may be considered if companies do not respond to the new guideline. There is no extra market exclusivity in the EU for applicants who conduct studies in children.
  1CPMP/EWP/462/95: Note for Guidance on clinical investigation of medicinal products in children.

  Action Zones
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the initiatives undertaken by his Department since 1 May 1997 which have involved the establishment of(a) action zones and (b) pilot schemes limited to particular geographical areas, indicating the name of the programme and the action zone or pilot scheme areas covered in each instance. [47060]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Pharmacists
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies he has commissioned into the role of pharmacists in the National Health Service. [48231]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 1 July 1998]A number of pilot projects have been funded by the Department to appraise the value to the National Health Service of community pharmacists providing a wider range of services. There were 17 pilots on prescribing advice during 1995–96 there are currently six pilot projects on repeat and instalment dispensing (whereby patients receive certain medicines dispensed in instalments) and a further six pilot projects evaluating services to help various patient groups to obtain best outcomes from their medicines. In addition, the Department has commissioned specific pieces of research relevant to the role of community pharmacists from university departments. The results will inform decisions on which if any of these services proceed to implementation.

  We propose to publish a document in the autumn setting out proposals for the future role of community pharmacy within the NHS.

  Family Planning
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list, by health authority, the number of nurses waiting for a place on the ENB family planning course; [48966]
  409
  (2) if he will list, by health authority, the number of places available for nurses to take the ENB family planning course. [48967]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested for the number of nurses waiting for a place on the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting family planning course is not collected centrally in the format requested.

  There are currently 3,952 approved places per annum on education programmes in family planning and reproductive sexual health. This is broken down by region as follows:

  Region

  Number

  Anglia and Oxford

  407

  Northern and Yorkshire

  550

  North Thames

  715

  South Thames

  607

  North West

  330

  South and West

  428

  Trent

  560

  West Midlands

  355

  Source

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many formal complaints were made to the Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [48950]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is in the table:

  Table: Number of written complaints for Essex Rivers Healthcare National Health Service Trust 1992–93 to 1996–97

  Year

  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust

  1992–93

  388

  1993–94

  609

  1994–95

  563

  1995–96

  431

  1996–971

  492

  1Department of Health publication, Handling complaints: monitoring the NHS complaints procedure, England 1996–97

  Source

  Department of Health publications, Written complaints by, or on behalf of, patients, England, 1992–93 to 1995–96.

  Social Service Provision (London)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what additional costs are incurred within London in the social service provision of adult care(a) in residential establishments and (b) in the community; and what allowance is made for this in the funding of London local government; [49441]

  (2) what additional costs he estimates are incurred within London in the social service provision of children's care; and what allowance he makes for this in his Department's funding of such provision. [49419]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government's estimates of the costs of providing social services are reflected in local authorities' standard spending assessment (SSAs). SSAs for 1998–99,410
  per head of population of the relevant age-group, for London authorities, non-London authorities, and all English authorities, are shown in the table.

  £ per head

  London

  England outside London

  England

  Residential services for the elderly

  485

  343

  361

  Non-residential services for the elderly

  270

  206

  213

  Services for adults aged 18 and 64 years

  80

  46

  51

  Children's services

  346

  162

  132

  Chiropody
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each relevant NHS trust(a) the number of patient contacts with the chiropody service, (b) the number of chiropody staff employed and (c) total expenditure on community chiropody services in each of the last three years. [49551]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]Information about the number of patient contacts with their chiropody services for each National Health Service trust is contained in the Department of Health publication "Chiropody services, summary information, England". Copies of the summary information for 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97, the latest year available, are available in the Library.

  Copies of the information about the number of chiropody staff employed in each NHS trust in the last three years up to 1996–97, the latest year available, will be placed in the Library.

  NHS trusts provide figures for total expenditure on community chiropody services in the annual financial returns. Analysis of these data by individual trust in England for the years 1994–95 to 1996–97 are available in the Library.

  Mental Health Challenge Fund
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the cases of misuse of Mental Health Challenge Fund moneys which have been uncovered by(a) audit and (b) other means; and if he will make a statement. [50074]

  Ms Jowell
  We are not aware of any misuse of Mental Health Challenge Fund moneys.

  NHS Magazine
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the National Health Service, net of advertising, sponsorship and sales, of the production and distribution of the NHS Magazine in each month since its introduction; and what its budget is for the next 12 months. [50130]

  Ms Jowell
  The "NHS Magazine", which was first published in June 1995, acts as a vehicle for sharing best practice within the National Health Service. It also carries
  411
  the most up to date quarterly data about NHS performance, helping to ensure the service remains accountable to those it serves.

  The new costs of production of each issue of the magazine, all of which have been met from the communications budget of the NHS Executive, were:

  Date

  Net Cost (£)

  Costs per issue (pence)

  Summer 1995

  33,711

  1.12

  Autumn 1995

  31,276

  0.89

  Winter 1995

  27,611

  0.79

  Spring 1996

  30,169

  0.86

  Summer 1996

  26,812

  0.72

  Autumn 1996

  33,154

  0.95

  Winter 1996

  35,536

  1

  Spring 1997

  29,815

  0.85

  Summer 1997

  32,491

  0.90

  Autumn 1997

  29,959

  0.83

  Winter 1997

  40,285

  1.15

  Spring 1998

  41,468

  1.18

  Summer 1998

  50,030

  1

  Distribution costs of the magazine were met from a central Departmental budget and cannot be readily identified separately. There is no separately identified budget for the future production costs of the magazine, which will continue to be met from within the NHS Executive's overall budget.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data his Department has collated on synergetic or potentiating effects of exposure to organophosphates to an individual taking the H2 inhibitors Cimetidine and Ranatidine. [50417]

  Ms Jowell
  We are not aware of any data on possible interactions of organophosphates and human medicines containing H2 inhibitors.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has evaluated into the effects on pulmonary, immune, neurological and psychoneurological functions of infants and young children exposed to organophosphates used domestically; and if he will make a statement. [50530]

  Ms Jowell
  The Pesticides Safety Directorate, an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, is responsible for the registration and safety evaluation of pesticides for amateur garden use in Great Britain. The Department has not evaluated any research into the effects on pulmonary, immune, neurological and psychoneurological functions of infants and young children exposed to organophosphates used domestically in gardens.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the correlation between the incidence of asthma in children of sheep farmers and(a) sheep dipping and (b) spraying of crops with organophosphates. [50529]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department's policy research programme (PRP) and the central National Health Service research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research into the correlation between the 412
  incidence of asthma in children of sheep farmers and sheep dipping and spraying crops with organophosphates. The Medical Research Council, which is funded by the Office of Science and Technology, commissions most of the Government's research into bio-medical and clinical issues. The Council is always open to new sound scientific proposals in competition with other applications. The Department's PRP supports the formulation of health and social care policies and the NHS programmes support the needs of the health service. Records are not held centrally of all research carried out in the NHS.

  Antidepressants
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to the NHS of antidepressants prescribed by community pharmacists in England in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997; and what proportion of this was attributable to SSRIs. [50444]

  Mr. Milburn
  Pharmacists do not prescribe any medication. The information on prescriptions written by doctors is shown in the table.

  The net ingredient cost of prescription items dispensed in the community for antidepressant drugs and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), 1996 and 1997 England

  1996

  1997

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  SSRIs

  142.3

  74

  183.0

  77

  Other antidepressants

  49.0

  26

  56.2

  23

  Total for antidepressant drugs

  191.2

  100

  239.1

  100

  Notes

  1. Antidepressant drugs are those described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.3, "Antidepressant drugs". The therapeutic classifications are based on BNF, Number 32 (September 1996)

  2. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered

  3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees. It does not include any adjustment for income obtained where a prescription charge is paid at the time the prescription is dispensed or where the patient has purchased a pre-payment certificate

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of each type of antidepressant was prescribed by community pharmacists in England in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997. [50445]

  Mr. Milburn
  Pharmacists do not prescribe any medication. The information on prescriptions written by doctors is shown in the table.

  Number of prescription items dispensed in the community for antidepressant drugs, 1996 and 1997 England

  Thousand

  Drug group

  1996

  1997

  Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs

  Dothiepin Hydrochloride

  3,357

  3,389

  Amitriptyline Hydrochloride

  2,787

  3,062

  Lofepramine Hydrochloride

  918

  894

  Clomipramine Hydrochloride

  529

  516

  Imipramine Hydrochloride

  424

  407

  413

  Number of prescription items dispensed in the community for antidepressant drugs, 1996 and 1997 England

  Thousand

  Drug group

  1996

  1997

  Trazodone Hydrochloride

  274

  324

  Trimipramine Maleate

  300

  281

  Doxepin

  171

  165

  Nortriptyline

  158

  151

  Mianserin Hydrochloride

  103

  85

  Amitriptyline Embonate

  29

  28

  Maprotiline Hydrochloride

  24

  21

  Protriptyline Hydrochloride

  12

  11

  Amoxapine

  11

  9

  Mirtazapine

  —

  8

  Desipramine Hydrochloride

  8

  6

  Viloxazine Hydrochloride

  1

  1

  Total for Tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs

  9,106

  9,358

  Monoamine-Oxidase Ihibitors (Maois)

  Tranylcypromine Sulphate

  50

  45

  Pheneizine Sulphate

  47

  44

  Moclobemide

  48

  43

  Isocarboxazid

  9

  8

  Total for Monoamine-Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

  153

  140

  SSRIs and related antidepressants

  Fluoxetine Hydrochloride

  2,514

  3,036

  Paroxetine Hydrochloride

  1,692

  2,287

  Sertraline Hydrochloride

  727

  905

  Venlafaxine

  176

  364

  Citalopram

  126

  264

  Nefazodone Hydrochloride

  88

  101

  Fluvoxamine Maleate

  77

  63

  Total for SSRIs and related antidepressants

  5,400

  7,021

  Other antidepressant drugs

  Flupenthixol Hydrochloride

  298

  293

  Reboxetine

  —

  7

  Tryptophan

  4

  4

  Total for other antidepressant drugs

  302

  304

  Total for all antidepressant drugs

  14,961

  16,823

  Notes

  1. Antidepressant drugs are those described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.3, "Antidepressant drugs". The therapeutic classifications are based on BNF, Number 32 (September 1996)

  2. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed in the community, ie by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered

  Bristol Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the public aspects of the public inquiry into cardiac surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary will start; what factors will determine the start date; and if he will make a statement. [50479]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is our intention to begin the public inquiry as soon as is practicable. Following my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's oral announcement on 18 June 1998,Official Report, columns 529–39, Professor Ian Kennedy is currently considering all aspects of the inquiry which he will be leading, including the terms of reference and the selection of other panel members. We will be making a further announcement shortly.
  414
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Her Majesty's Government will meet the costs of group legal representation for families bereaved following malpractice at Bristol Royal Infirmary. [50478]

  Mr. Milburn
  Issues concerning the terms of reference of the Inquiry and participation in it are still be decided.

  Benzodiazepines
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of each individual type of benzodiazepine was prescribed by community pharmacists in England in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997. [50446]

  Mr. Milburn
  Pharmacists do not prescribe any medication. The information on prescriptions written by doctors is shown in the table.

  Benzodiazepines: number of prescription items dispensed in the community England, 1996 and 1997

  Thousand

  Drug group

  1996

  1997

  Temazepam

  5,540

  5,252

  Diazepam

  3,600

  3,798

  Nitrazepam

  2,539

  2,426

  Lorazepam

  785

  758

  Chlordiazepoxide

  428

  423

  Oxazepam

  304

  306

  Lormetazepam

  234

  249

  Loprazolam

  221

  215

  Clonazepam

  180

  196

  Clobazam

  74

  74

  Triazolam

  0

  0

  Totals

  13,905

  13,698

  Notes

  1. Date cover all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered

  2. An "O" indicates less than 500 prescription items

  3. Figures may not add up due to rounding

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to provide financial assistance for people with haemophilia infected with the hepatitis C virus. [50436]

  Ms Jowell
  We are considering the representations which have been made to us on this subject and will announce the outcome as soon as we are in a position to do so.

  Cancer
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money his Department spent in each of the last three years on research into(a) breast (b) lung and (c) prostate cancer. [50206]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 14 July 1998]We are committed to encouraging research into the causes, prevention, early detection and treatment of all cancers.
  415
  Departmental expenditure on research into (a) breast, (b) lung and (c) prostate cancer is:

  £000

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Breast cancer

  Department's policy research programme (PRP)

  849

  637

  304

  National Health Service research and development programme

  123

  316

  528

  Total

  972

  953

  832

  Lung cancer

  Department's PRP

  144

  231

  0

  NHS research and development

  27

  197

  187

  Total

  171

  428

  187

  Prostate cancer

  Department's PRP

  20

  21

  17

  NHS research and development

  49

  47

  12

  Total

  69

  68

  29

  In addition, the Medical Research Council (which is funded by grant-in-aid from the Department of Trade and Industry and is the main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research) invested in 1997–98: £3.3 million in breast cancer research, £691,000 in lung cancer research and £18,000 in prostate cancer research. Cancer charities and industry are also major investors, spending an estimated total of £122 million and £115 million per year respectively on cancer research.

  NHS resources also support the NHS service costs of projects funded by non-commercial funders of research and development. This could include cancer research projects in the above areas.

  Departmental resources going into cancer research complement these other funders, and the fluctuating spend stems from the cycle of commissioning as projects and programmes start and finish rather than any established policy to change funding levels.

  NHS Trust Boards
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women he has appointed to National Health Service trust boards since 1 May 1997. [50731]

  Mr. Milburn
  Since 1 May 1997 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has appointed 469 women and 451 men as non-executive directors of National Health Service trusts, including chairmen.

  Health Visitors
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of ending the separate registration of health visitors on public safety and quality of nursing care. [50829]

  Mr. Milburn
  This is an issue which was raised during the consultation stage of the current review of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979. United Kingdom Health Ministers expect to receive the review report shortly and will be considering its recommendations over the summer.

  Nursing Students
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to implement the increase to non-means-tested nursing student bursaries announced at the recent Royal College of Nursing Congress. [51208]

  Mr. Milburn
  1 September 1998.

  General Practitioner Lists
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people(a) in total and (b) aged over state retirement age, were removed from their general practitioner list in 1997. [51146]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on the number of people removed from their general practitioner's list is collected annually and is published in the GMP Census Additional Data Collection, copies of which are available in the Library.

  The latest published information relates to the year 1995–96.

  No information is held centrally analysing these figures within age bands.

  Medical Records
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has taken to ensure that patients are not obstructed from access to their medical records by general practitioners. [51043]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]All general practitioners are bound by the provisions of the Access to Health Records Act 1990 and the Department has issued clear guidance on the operation of the Act. When instances of apparent flagrant violation of the Act are brought to our attention (for example excessive charging), we have written to the record-holder concerned reminding them of their responsibilities under the Act. Further, since 1 April 1996, patients have been able to pursue complaints about any aspect of how an application under the Act has been handled under the National Health Service Complaints Procedure. This provides an opportunity for the complaint to be heard by an independent review panel if local complaints officers are unable to resolve the matter satisfactorily.

  Linear Accelerators
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Royal College of Radiologists' recent report, if he will assess the cost to public funds of(a) providing 48 new linear accelerators and (b) replacing 44 existing linear accelerators. [50949]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]Linear accelerators cost around £1 million each depending on local circumstances such as the model selected and optional extras. The pair of reports from the Royal College of Radiologists will provide valuable information for local planning of services; the National Health Service Executive, health authorities and trusts will find them useful for formulating and assessing proposals for radiotherapy services.

  Residential and Domiciliary Care
  Mr. Burst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage increase in charges to service users for(a) domiciliary care services, (b) day care and (c) meals on wheels for the latest year for which figures are available for each local authority. [51508]

  Ms Jowell
  Information on charges made to individuals for social services provision is not collected centrally. However, the total amounts reported by local authorities as having been received from clients in the form of fees and charges, in 1996–97, for different services are collected centrally, and are available in the form of computer tables on the DH World Wide Web pages for all local authorities in England (Internet reference http:\\www.open.gov.uk/doh/public/pss—stat.htm).

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons his Department has not issued guidance under section 7 of the Local Government Act 1970 to local authorities on the provisions of section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983. [51503]

  Ms Jowell
  Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 places a duty on health authorities and local social services authorities to provide after-care services to a specified group of patients. It is a responsibility imposed on both authorities. Guidance on section 117 is contained in the Code of Practice to the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Spinal Cord Injuries
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the incidence of spinal cord injury; [49724]

  (2) how many people with spinal cord injury were awaiting admission into a spinal injury Unit in each year from 1990 to 1997; [49725]

  (3) what is the total number of beds in spinal injury units; [49726]

  (4) how many people with spinal cord injuries waiting for a bed in a spinal injury unit were (a) dealt with in the community and (b) admitted to a district general hospital in each year between 1990 and 1997; [49727]

  (5) what assessment he has made of the protocol for the treatment of spinal cord injuries drawn up by the Spinal Injuries Association. [49898]

  Ms Jowell
  Information on the incidence of spinal cord injury is not held centrally. However, estimates based upon the number of hospital admissions suggest that there are about 400 new cases of spinal cord injury in England each year. We know this figure is an overestimate, since spinal injury patients who are transferred to Spinal Injuries Units in other trusts will count as two admissions.

  Data on waiting times for individual procedures are not collected centrally. Information on people waiting for a bed in a spinal injury unit and where they were treated is not available.

  1995–96 was the last financial year in which bed data were collected separately for spinal unit wards. In 1996–97, beds in spinal units were added to beds in other units and classified as "Younger Physically Disabled". The information is given in the table. Information on beds is
  418
  contained in the publication "Bed availability and occupancy for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Table: Average daily number of available beds in Younger Physically Disabled wards, open night and day (ie 24 hours) England, 1995–96 and 1996–97

  1995–96

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1996–97

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Younger Physically Disabled

  1,364

  100

  11,294

  100

  Spinal Unit

  221

  16.2

  —

  —

  Other

  1.143

  83.8

  —

  —

  1Figure includes spinal units and other units

  Source

  1. Bed Availability for England, 1995–96

  2. Bed Availability for England, 1996–97

  The Department is aware of the protocol drawn up by the Spinal Injuries Association. At present, the drawing up of guidelines for good practice in any area of medicine, including spinal injury, is a matter for the Medical Royal Colleges.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the funding provision of NHS dentistry in Herefordshire. [51249]

  Mr. Milburn
  The amount spent on general dental services is dependent upon the activity of National Health Service dentists. Dentists providing general dental services receive payment from the NHS for the dental treatment and care they provide.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide guidance to local authorities on the funding responsibility for residential accommodation for elderly people who have chosen to move from a residential home in one council's area to a residential home in another council's area. [51225]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Cotter) on 7 July 1998,Official Report, column 453.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled Student Allowance
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if local education authorities are required to follow national criteria when allocating disabled student allowance; and if he will make a statement. [51427]

  Dr. Howells
  Disabled Students Allowances can be paid by local education authorities to students who can prove that they have a disability or medical condition which affects their ability to study. These allowances are payable as part of a mandatory award. The Mandatory Awards Regulations therefore provide the legal framework under which LEAs administer the allowances.
  419
  They have written guidance from my Department available to them on how to assess a student's eligibility for these allowances within that framework.

  Education Action Zones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if businesses contributing in cash or in kind to education action zones will be prevented from entering into any form of preferred trading agreements with the schools in those zones, or with the Education Action Forum; and how such arrangements will be monitored. [51307]

  Mr. Byers
  Education Action Forums must secure best value in any contract they enter into. We will be issuing guidance to them on how to do this.

  Each Forum will be under a legal duty to send its accounts to the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Comptroller and Auditor General will report on them to Parliament.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria he has set for the receipt of contributions in kind from businesses involved in the education action zones. [51303]

  Mr. Byers
  Each zone will raise £250,000 a year in cash or kind from the private sector.

  Contact Sports (Gum Shields)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice his Department provides to schools on the use of gum shields in contact sports. [51389]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not issue advice to schools on the use of gum shields in contact sports.

  The National Curriculum for physical education requires schools to ensure safe practice and to teach pupils why particular protection is worn for different activities.

  School Meals (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of the fixed-price school meals provided by Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire education authorities for the most recent five years for which records are available. [51125]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Industrial Accidents and Illnesses
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average estimated cost to public funds of an industrial accident or illness resulting in(a) death, (b) serious injury incapacitating the victim from further employment, (c) other serious injury and (d) minor injury; and if he will make a statement. [50627]

  Angela Eagle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The costs to public funds of work-related accidents or work-related ill-health arise principally through social security payments and medical provision. However, the
  420
  records maintained do not enable the costs to public funds of injury accidents or ill-health arising from work activities to be separately identified.

  Students (St. Helena)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial help has been given in each of the last five years towards the education costs of young people from St. Helena studying in the United Kingdom. [50707]

  Clare Short
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since 1993 the overseas aid programme to St. Helena has provided the sum of £659,542 towards the education costs of St. Helenians studying in the United Kingdom which is broken down in each of the last five years as follows:

  1993–94: £144,365

  1994–95: £102,740

  1995–96: £143,472

  1996–97: £166,804

  1997–98: £102,161.

  Easternside Primary School, Middlesbrough
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria were used in determining the need for an OFSTED inspection of Easternside Primary School in Middlesbrough within three years of the previous inspection. [50874]

  Mr. Byers
  The timing of school inspections is a matter for Ofsted. Easternside Primary School, Middlesbrough, was inspected in July 1995 and I understand that HM Chief Inspector has arranged for the school to be inspected in October 1998. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend, to explain the reasons for that decision, and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Beacon Schools
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures are in place to assess the effectiveness of the investment of extra resources in beacon schools. [50910]

  Mr. Byers
  Each beacon school will be required to produce an annual report accounting for the additional expenditure and assessing the impact of its activities on raising standards in other schools. Those schools receiving support and advice from beacon schools will also be asked to evaluate its impact.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what basis beacon schools were selected; and what involvement local education authorities had in the process. [50954]

  Mr. Byers
  The beacon schools were selected from those commended in Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools' latest Annual Report as the best performing during 1996–97. Local Education Authorities were not involved in the process.
  421
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of beacon schools on the planning of school admission limits and the management of empty places in schools. [50911]

  Mr. Byers
  Beacon schools will have no impact on the planning of school admissions limits or the management of empty places in schools.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 1998,Official Report, column 490, what was the education standard spending assessment for (1) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98 and (g) 1998–99 for Hereford and Worcester local education authorities in (i) cash terms and (ii) 1998–99 prices for the categories (1) primary education, (2) secondary education, (3) post 16 education, (4) under-5 education and (5) other education. [50431]

  Mr. Byers
  The following tables set out the five education SSA sub-blocks for Hereford and Worcester local education authority for each year since 1992–93 in cash terms and in 1998–99 prices. It is not possible to calculate underlying year-on-year changes, adjusted for all local authority changes of function, at the level of individual SSA sub-blocks.

  Hereford and Worcester local education authority

  £million cash terms

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  Post-16

  Under-fives

  Other

  1992–93

  81.9

  94.0

  46.7

  9.3

  10.0

  1993–94

  82.6

  95.7

  13.7

  9.4

  10.2

  1994–95

  86.0

  97.1

  13.6

  10.6

  9.2

  1995–96

  88.3

  96.9

  14.1

  11.0

  9.6

  1996–97

  94.0

  99.7

  14.2

  11.8

  9.3

  1997–98

  98.3

  100.8

  15.3

  8.2

  8.2

  1998–99

  104.7

  105.6

  15.5

  11.7

  7.5

  £ million at 1998–99 prices

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  Post-16

  Under-fives

  Other

  1992–93

  95.6

  109.7

  54.5

  10.9

  11.7

  1993–94

  93.8

  108.6

  15.6

  10.6

  11.6

  1994–95

  96.1

  108.5

  15.2

  11.8

  10.3

  1995–96

  96.0

  105.4

  15.3

  12.0

  10.5

  1996–97

  99.3

  105.4

  15.0

  12.5

  9.8

  1997–98

  101.1

  103.7

  15.7

  8.4

  8.5

  1998–99

  104.7

  105.6

  15.5

  11.7

  7.5

  Notes

  1. All figures in table 1 are in £ million cash terms

  2. All figures in table 2 are in £ million at 1998–99 prices

  3. The figures for 1998–99 represent the aggregate totals for Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  Schools (Worcestershire)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money local education authority schools in Worcestershire held in reserves(a) as a total amount (cash), (b) in real terms at 1998 prices and (c) as a percentage of the total available to be spent on schools in each year since 1991–92. [50920]
  422
  Mr. Byers
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Key Stage 2 and 3
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will make a statement about the problems which delayed the provision of Key Stage 2 results to certain schools this year; [50385]

  (2) what measures are being undertaken by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to ensure that the problems in making available this year's Key Stage 2 results do not occur again. [50386]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) are responsible for the collection and notification of Key Stage 2 results to schools. The problems affecting this year's exercise also apply to Key Stage 3 test results.

  The Department was informed by QCA that there were significant problems, primarily relating to delays in the completion of the necessary work. On being informed we immediately told QCA to take action as a matter of urgency to both minimise disruption to schools and to ensure the accuracy and quality of results.

  On 14 July QCA wrote to all schools explaining that it would not be possible to notify all results before the end of the summer term but that all schools would receive a complete set of accurate results by the end of August at the latest.

  Ministers regard this whole episode as being an unacceptable state of affairs and an inquiry will be conducted to find the cause of the difficulties and to make sure this does not happen again.

  The Chief Executive of QCA has written to all schools to apologise.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many schools will not receive their Key Stage 2 test results before the end of the summer term; [49508]

  (2) how many schools have not received their (a) Key Stage 2 test results and (b) Key Stage 3 test results; [49509]

  (3) what is the nature of the technical problems which have prevented the contractor employed to process and notify Key Stage 2 and 3 test results from completing the work on time; [49511]

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 2 July 1998, Official Report, column 268, concerning Key Stage 2 and 3 test results, if he will identify the contractor and place a copy of the contract in the Library. [49513]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 8 July 1998]I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) today.

  The contract is commercial-in-confidence and not available for general inspection.

  Charity Collectors
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 12 November 1997,Official Report, column 557,

  423
  concerning charity collectors, what studies he has undertaken of the effectiveness of the precautions against jobcentres assisting recruitment of collectors for bogus charities; and if he will make a statement. [50398]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 20 July 1998 The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning studies he has undertaken into the effectiveness of the precautions against Jobcentres assisting in the recruitment of collectors for bogus charities. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Since you last raised this issue, in November of last year, we have taken action to strengthen our guidance to Jobcentres in consultation with the Charity Commission.
  As I explained in my reply to you in November 1997, our guidance already told Jobcentres not to accept vacancies from or on behalf of any charity unless it was registered with the Charity Commission or, in Scotland, the Financial Intermediary Claims Office (FICO). Where any doubt arises about the registration, or the actions of a charity, the local Jobcentre is now instructed to forward details to a team in the Employment Service Head Office in Sheffield for investigation. This team will check the organisation's registration with the Charity Commission or the Financial Intermediary Claims Office, as appropriate, and advise the Jobcentre whether or not to accept the vacancy. Where necessary we will ask the Charity Commission or the FICO to investigate the organisation. This will confirm whether the organisation is registered and whether the Commission or FICO, through their Investigations Division, are aware of any other information about them which would lead us to doubt whether their vacancies were suitable for display in Jobcentres. If the organisation is not registered, or the Commission expresses any doubt about them, the team will instruct Jobcentres not to display any vacancies from them.
  These strengthened processes mean that a single team at our Head Office is now able quickly to tell Jobcentre staff about the steps they should take to safeguard jobseekers, and seek the advice of the Charity Commission or FICO about organisations whose activities are causing concern to staff or jobseekers. It also allows us to inform all our Jobcentres quickly of any organisations about which the Charity Commission or FICO have concerns and thus stop them accepting any vacancies from them.
  You ask what studies we have undertaken on our precautions. We have not undertaken any specific research, although our Head Office team will themselves monitor carefully any feedback from our Jobcentres and from our clients about charities which appear to have doubts attaching to them. If you have any examples or problems of which you would like us to be aware we would of course, be very happy to investigate them.
  I hope this is helpful.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army centres have been identified for(a) closure and (b) sale as part of his Department's efficiency savings. [49591]

  Dr. Reid
  Prior to the announcement of the Strategic Defence Review, and following its normal annual assessment of the usage of its assets my Department had identified 18 Territorial Army centres for closure and subsequent sale. In addition, and as an element of the 424
  Strategic Defence Review, we have already announced that the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea will be sold and its Territorial Army occupants re-accommodated as necessary. Further closures will arise from the forthcoming restructuring of the Territorial Army, but we do not expect to be in a position to announce these until the autumn.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the measures announced in the Strategic Defence Review on the effectiveness of the Territorial Army. [49576]

  Dr. Reid
  The aim of the Strategic Defence Review has been to ensure that our forces are more capable of performing their primary defence tasks. The conclusions we have reached are designed to increase the utility and efficacy of our Armed Forces, of which our Reserve Forces are an important and fully integrated part. The improvements made by the Review will, therefore, enhance the effectiveness of the Territorial Army in the new strategic setting.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Strategic Defence Review, if he will make a statement on the future of the Territorial Army in Chorley. [51030]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]Following the announcement of the results of the Strategic Defence Review, work has now commenced to establish the future organisation and structure of the Territorial Army. It is too early to say how this work will affect TA units in any particular area, but we expect to be in a position to make detailed announcements by the Autumn.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how many fewer men and women on current retention rates will have served in the Territorial Army by the end of the year 2015 under the Government's plans for the future establishment of the TA compared to the current establishment. [49578]

  Dr. Reid
  We estimate that, based on current retention rates, some 68,000 fewer individuals will have served in the Territorial Army by the end of 2015 under our plans for the future establishment of the TA compared to the current establishment. This will represent a decline of no more than around 6 per cent. in the number of people who will have had some experience in the forces—excluding those gaining experience with the Combined Cadet Corps in schools.

  Army (Recruitment)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Army's most recent recruitment figures. [49592]

  Dr. Reid
  Recruitment is one of our highest priorities and we are therefore actively pursuing a number of recruiting initiatives. Reversing the problems we have inherited will take some time, but we are making promising headway. I am pleased to be able to report that as at 1 June we have 1,500 more people on the total strength than there were at 1 May last year.

  Royal Navy (Anti-submarine Warfare)
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Royal Navy. [49593]

  Dr. Reid
  The Royal Navy continues to have a world-class anti-submarine warfare capability. However, the nature and scale of the submarine threat has changed since the end of the Cold War, towards a wide range of operations in coastal areas. We have decided therefore as part of the Strategic Defence Review to focus more on this threat and reduce the emphasis on open ocean operations.

  United Nations Operations
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to enhance the UN's ability to mount peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. [49594]

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to enhance the UN's ability to mount peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. [49605]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Strategic Defence Review has reaffirmed that the UK will continue to make an important military contribution to the United Nations. We are planning a significant UK initiative to underline the Government's commitment to support UN operations by declaring a much larger proportion of our front line capabilities as potentially available to the UN, including all of our rapidly deployable forces; and by incorporating this declaration in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UN.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact of the strategic defence review on the tri-service medical services. [49595]

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the Defence Medical Services. [49596]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The Strategic Defence Review included measures to address current personnel and equipment shortfalls across all three Services as a matter of priority and to provide an acceptable level of medical support for deployed operations. These measures include recruiting approximately 250 hospital specialists, nurses, technicians and other personnel to bring the Defence Secondary Care Agency up to its manpower establishment.

  As part of this major new initiative, we intend to enhance our arms control programme, including restoration of our 'Open Skies' air inspection capability; expand our Outreach and wider military assistance programmes, including greater use of attachments and short term training teams; revitalise our pool of defence attaches; and introduce new education and training initiatives, including a new defence diplomacy scholarship scheme. These measures will greatly enhance the British contribution to conflict prevention.

  Diplomacy and Conflict Prevention
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to promote defence diplomacy and conflict prevention. [49597]

  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to promote defence diplomacy and conflict prevention. [49598]

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to promote defence diplomacy and conflict prevention. [49607]

  Mr. George Robertson
  A key decision of the Strategic Defence Review was that defence diplomacy should become one of the eight core Missions of our Armed Forces. As part of this major new initiative, we intend to enhance our arms control programme, including restoration of our 'Open Skies' air inspection capability; expand our Outreach and wider military assistance programmes, including greater use of attachments and short term training terms; revitalise our pool of defence attaches; and introduce new education and training initiatives, including a new defence diplomacy scholarship scheme. These measures will greatly enhance the British contribution to conflict prevention.

  Armed Forces (Training)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) men and (b) women in the armed forces are at present undertaking training which will lead to a formal qualification. [49600]

  Dr. Reid
  Formal qualifications are taken to mean civilian qualifications. The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, considerable numbers of Service personnel are studying for a variety of civilian qualifications at any given time.

  Additionally, a large and growing proportion of Service training is now accredited by civilian award bodies.

  As part of the Strategic Defence Review and our `Policy for People', our new 'Learning Forces' initiative will make further improvements to education and training provision in the Armed Forces, helping Service personnel to gain recognised qualifications.

  Joint Service Co-operation
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to increase joint service co-operation in Britain's armed forces. [49601]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Increasing Joint Service co-operation and integration is a major theme of the Strategic Defence Review. We had already announced the creation of a Joint Services' Command and Staff College at Watchfield. As a result of the Review we will create a pool of Joint Rapid Reaction Forces to include all of our readily available capabilities, bring the Royal Navy and RAF Harriers together in a 'Joint Force 2000' and enhance the role of the Chief of Joint Operations. We will set up a Joint Helicopter Command and new joint arrangements for ground-based air defence and nuclear, chemical and biological defence. We will create a new tri-Service four-star Chief of Defence Logistics and
  427
  significantly expand joint integration in the support area. Finally, we will set up a Joint Defence Centre to develop tri-Service doctrine and planning.

  Colchester Garrison
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated value of the private finance initiative for the re-development of Colchester Garrison; when he expects to announce the name of the chosen contractor; and when he expects work to start. [49602]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have made no estimate of the value to prospective contractors of the private finance initiative for the re-development of Colchester Garrison. Tenders for the PFI project at Colchester were received on 8 July and will now be subject to a full technical and commercial evaluation. The information contained within the tenders is commercial in confidence and is being withheld under section 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. If it is decided that the PFI route represents a viable way forward, a preferred bidder should be announced early next year. I would expect any contract to be awarded in mid-1999 with work starting on a phased basis during the year 2000.

  Armed Forces (Commitments)
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the level of total commitments falling on the armed forces since 1 May 1997. [49603]

  Mr. George Robertson
  On 1 May 1997, 24,359 personnel were involved in major operational commitments in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, the Gulf region and Zaire and in UN deployments in Cyprus, Kuwait and Georgia.

  On 1 June 1998, 24,183 personnel were involved in operational commitments. The operation in Zaire had been completed by this date.

  Armed Forces (Readiness)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current level of readiness of the armed forces. [49604]

  Dr. Reid
  The readiness of the Armed Forces is sufficient to enable them to meet the demanding range of operational tasks they currently undertake. However, some shortfalls have been identified and are being addressed in the Strategic Defence Review.

  Airborne Forces
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the role of airborne forces. [49606]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of state for Defence made on 8 July 1998,Official Report, columns 1073–76, on the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

  Duke of York's Headquarters
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Duke of York's headquarters in Chelsea. [49608]

  Dr. Reid
  We have announced, following the Strategic Defence Review, that the Duke of York's Headquarters will be sold. Further work is needed on the disposal arrangements. Units currently occupying the site will be re-accommodated as necessary.

  Suspected War Criminals (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards the detention of suspected war criminals in the former Yugoslavia. [49585]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Nine people indicted for war crimes have been detained in Bosnia by SFOR. Seven of these detentions took place in the British-commanded sector, and involved British SFOR forces, either directly or in support. A further fifteen indictees have surrendered voluntarily to the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague.

  Armed Forces (Personnel)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the impact of the strategic defence review on the personnel strengths of the armed forces. [49599]

  Mr. George Robertson
  As a result of the Strategic Defence Review, we will increase the size of the Army establishment by 3,300 personnel. Once full manning has been achieved, the net effect of the Review on the Royal Navy's Regular manpower will be a reduction of some 1,400, and the net effect on Regular RAF manpower will be broadly neutral. We intend to achieve full manning in the Royal Air Force by 2000, in the Royal Navy by 2002 and in the Army around 2004.

  The Territorial Army will be reduced from around 56,000 to around 40,000 but we will make it more relevant and usable. The Royal Naval Reserve will increase by 350 personnel. No change is planned to the strength of the Royal Marines Reserve. The Reserve Air Forces will increase by 270 posts.

  RAF Scampton
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Scampton following the Strategic Defence Review. [50453]

  Dr. Reid
  Detailed options for the future use of RAF Scampton are currently being considered taking account of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. An announcement on the future of the site will be made as soon as the work is concluded.

  Royal Military Police (Army)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of Royal Military Police (Army); how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. [51129]
  429
  Mr. Spellar
  The Royal Military Police (Army) have one newsletter the RMP Journal. The Journal, which has no security classification is published three times a year and is received by serving and associated members of the RMP. It was first published in March 1950.

  Research and Development (Universities)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research and development contracts and agreements are currently being funded by his Department in universities; how many of these research projects are classified; and from which of his Department's research establishments these research projects have originated. [51131]

  Mr. Spellar
  A complete list of all research and development contracts and agreements funded by MOD is not kept. However, in 1997 there were over 450 contracts and agreements, involving about 60 UK academic institutions, for extramural research, funded through the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. Fewer than 25 of the 450 projects are classified.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 25 June 1998,Official Report, column 569, if he will list the names of the 11 directorates which currently exist at AWE, Aldermaston. [51134]

  Mr. Spellar
  The 11 Directorates currently existing at AWE Aldermaston are:

  Assurance

  Commercial

  Communications

  Finance

  Performance Management

  Personal

  Physics Research

  Programmes

  Sites Development

  Systems Engineering

  Technology.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what volume of sludge containing(a) plutonium and (b) uranium is presently held at AWE Aldermaston; how this is presently stored; what plans he has to (a) reduce the volume held and (b) improve storage safety of the material; and if he will make a statement. [51156]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are at present some 761 cubic metres of sludge stored at AWE Aldermaston. This material contains both plutonium and uranium. It is safely stored in tanks above ground within bunded areas. These tanks are regularly inspected and maintained.

  A feasibility study is underway, with the aim of reducing the volume of this material.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds have been earmarked in years(a) eight, (b) nine and (c) 10 of his Department's long-term costings for the replacement carriers. [50960]
  430
  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]The Long Term Costings represent projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of constituent elements of the Defence Programme. It has been the position of successive Governments that advice to Ministers, and hence LTC information, should not be published. I am therefore withholding this information under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Procurement
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the basis for his Department's assumption that Smart procurement will achieve savings of two per cent. or £2 billion. [50958]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]The estimate of Smart procurement cost savings over the next 10 years, amounting to £2 billion, has been compiled in consultation with industry and is based on the progressive application, to a range of existing and planned equipment procurements, of the acquisition reforms announced as part of the Strategic Defence Review. The greatest impact of the reforms will be achieved on procurements which are currently in their early formative stages and therefore most open to change.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he intends to implement the Treasury's proposal for least cost procurement. [50955]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]The term "least cost procurement" is not recognised; the Ministry of Defence pursues a policy of value for money procurement. The Strategic Defence Review included a radical reappraisal of the ways in which we carry out defence procurement. The resulting package of measures, grouped under the banner of "Smart Procurement", aims to make defence procurement faster, cheaper, and better.

  Stockholdings
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the means by which industry will meet the stockholding requirements of his Department for weapons, equipment and clothing following the disposal of current stocks. [50964]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]As part of the Strategic Defence Review the Department is assessing the stockholding requirements needed to be retained in house and what may more effectively be provided from industry within agreed readiness times. Each equipment area will be examined in detail and a decision taken on stockholding policy requirement. Following this detailed work the Department will invite expressions of interest from industry.

  RAF Chilmark
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom, on what terms and in what numbers are buildings available at the former RAF Chilmark for use as a fireworks factory. [51053]
  431
  Mr. Spellar
  No buildings at the former RAF Chilmark are let or available for use as a fireworks factory. Four buildings have been let on the Ladydown Site on short term leases for fireworks storage and agreement has been reached in principle to let one further building.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the figures for total defence spending for the years 1996–97 and 1997–98 on an outturn basis and 1998–99 to 2001–02 on an estimated or planned basis(a) in cash and (b) at 1996–97 prices using the actual and estimated GDP deflator to make the adjustments. [50843]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The information requested is as follows:

  £million

  Year

  Cash

  1996–97 prices

  1996–97

  22,345

  22,345

  1997–98

  21,554

  20,987

  1998–99

  22,240

  21,045

  1999–2000

  22,295

  20,562

  2000–01

  22,830

  20,542

  2001–02

  22,987

  20,179

  The figure for 1996–97 outturn is that shown in Table 1 (Cash Plans) of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1998–99 Ministry of Defence" (Cm 3902) which excludes the element of receipts arising from the sale of the married quarters estate that were appropriated onto Defence Votes in that year. The figure for 1997–98 represents the provisional outturn as set out in the Public Expenditure 1997–98 Provisional Outturn White Paper (Cm 3988) adjusted to exclude a further receipt from the sale of the married quarters estate.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish detailed Defence Estimates for(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [50842]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The details of the Government's planned expenditure on defence for the years 1999–2000 to 2001–2002 will be presented to Parliament in the Supply Estimates, in the usual manner, by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at the start of each financial year; eg, April 1999 for 1999–2000.

  Torpedo Testing Facilities
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 1998,Official Report, columns 261–62, if he will make a statement on the implications of the Strategic Defence Review for operations at the British Underwater Test Evaluation Centre. [51429]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is too early to assess what implications the Strategic Defence Review may have for the overall operation of the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre. However, with regard to the testing of torpedoes, the answer given to the hon. Member on 25 February 1998,Official Report, columns 261–62, still applies.

  Surplus Property and Land
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sites included in his Department's432
  Forward Disposal Programme referred to in part 16 of Supporting Essay II to the Strategic Defence Review; and if he will provide for each such site an estimate of market value. [50950]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) on 17 July 1998,Official Report, column 330.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the costs of United Kingdom participation in the Bosnia peacekeeping operation for 1998–99 will be charged to the Reserve. [50841]

  Mr. George Robertson
  As in previous years, it remains open for my Department to make a claim on the Reserve, should it not prove possible for the cost of UK participation in Bosnia peacekeeping operations in 1998–99 to be accommodated within the Defence budget without detriment to the underlying defence programme and the delivery of defence outputs.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to paragraph 151 of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's Review of the MOD's Radioactive Waste Management and Practice, what action he plans to take in respect of the storage facilities identified as not constructed for long-term use. [51157]

  Mr. Spellar
  There were two stores at AWE Aldermaston which were identified as not constructed for long-term storage of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. The waste from these two stores will be checked, overpacked and transported to one of the existing purpose built stores by the end of 1999. It remains the intention to construct the new ILW store referred to by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in paragraph 151 of their report on the Ministry of Defence radioactive waste management to deal with future waste arisings.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of radioactive liquid has escaped from nuclear submarines held at (i) Rosyth, (ii) Devonport and (iii) Faslane in each year since 1980. [51155]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  C-17 Aircraft
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the competition for leasing of C-17s indicating the criteria set by his Department. [51502]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 27 April 1998,Official Report, column 23, and to the Strategic Defence Review White Paper, Chapter 5, paragraphs 96 and 147. Requests for Proposals are currently being finalised to meet both the short term strategic airlift requirement announced in the Review and the long term air transport requirement, in parallel

  433
  competitions. The lease of aircraft is one of the contract options that could meet the short term requirement. C-17 is not the only contender in either competition.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the capacity of the European Fighter Aircraft to be used on the new aircraft carriers announced in the Strategic Defence Review. [51438]

  Mr. Spellar
  A 'navalised' Eurofighter is one of the possible solutions currently under consideration to meet the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft requirement.

  Ordnance Manufacturing
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the ordnance manufacturing capability of the UK for the supply of UK armed forces requirement. [51500]

  Mr. Spellar
  UK industry has extensive capability for the development and production of the guns and ammunition required by the Armed Forces. Most requirements are now subject to international competition. However, the principal recent orders for guns, including the AS90 howitzer, the gun for the Challenger 2 tank and the SA 80 small arm, have been awarded to UK industry. UK industry also continues to supply the great majority of the Armed Forces' ammunition needs.

  Joint Services Command and Staff College
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on providing temporary accommodation for the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Bradwell. [51297]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The decision to accommodate the Joint Services Command and Staff College temporarily at Bracknell (not Bradwell) was taken by the previous Government. The accommodation at Bracknell consists of existing buildings previously used by the former RAF Staff College, supplemented by temporary accommodation units. The total spend on providing the temporary accommodation is now estimated to be some £8.9 million, which compares favourably with the original estimate of £10.2 million. This figure includes the provision and maintenance of the temporary units until 2000, the provision of IT and relocation costs.

  Bilderberg Meeting, Turnbern
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his attendance at the Bilderberg Conference in Ayrshire on 14 and 15 May. [49581]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I attended part of the Bilderberg Conference in Ayrshire last May to contribute to one of the discussions relevant to my Ministerial responsibilities.

  EU Tobacco Subsidy
  EU Tobacco Subsidy
  E.coli 0157 and Zoonoses Order
  E.coli 0157 and Zoonoses Order
  Vitamin B6
  Vitamin B6
  East Timor
  East Timor
  EU/Iran Dialogue
  EU/Iran Dialogue
  Children and Young People: Protection from Abuse
  Children and Young People: Protection from Abuse
  Asylum and Immigration Appeals: Presenting Officers
  Asylum and Immigration Appeals: Presenting Officers
  Immigration: Requests for Information
  Immigration: Requests for Information
  Law Enforcement: Requests for Information
  Law Enforcement: Requests for Information
  Legislation: Human Rights Compatibility
  Legislation: Human Rights Compatibility
  Association of Chief Police Officers
  Association of Chief Police Officers
  Independent Commission on the Voting System
  Independent Commission on the Voting System
  Death Rates Following Surgery
  Death Rates Following Surgery
  E.coli 0157
  E.coli 0157
  Food Safety
  Food Safety
  Prostate Cancer Screening
  Prostate Cancer Screening
  Prostate Cancer: Research Expenditure
  Prostate Cancer: Research Expenditure
  Cancer Treatment Waiting Times
  Cancer Treatment Waiting Times
  Haemophiliacs Infected with Hepatitis C
  Haemophiliacs Infected with Hepatitis C
  Department of Health: Reviews
  Department of Health: Reviews
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Code of Practice
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Code of Practice
  Transport Programme Expenditure Plans
  Transport Programme Expenditure Plans
  SSSIs: Improved Protection
  SSSIs: Improved Protection
  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: Reviews
  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: Reviews
  Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Planned Reduction
  Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Planned Reduction
  London Taxis without Seat Belts
  London Taxis without Seat Belts
  Export Licence Refusals
  Export Licence Refusals
  Competition Bill
  Competition Bill