Written Answers of 29 July 1998

PRIME MINISTER

  Royal Household
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have for funding the procurement of communication and information services for the Royal Household. [53933]

  The Prime Minister
  The cost of communication and information services in connection with official Royal functions and engagements which are currently the responsibility of the Central Office of Information will be met from funds provided to the Royal Household by way of grant-in-aid from the Central Office of Information Vote.

  This change, which involves no increase in public expenditure, will bring the treatment of these costs into line with that of property services and travel. With this change, the Royal Household will assume financial control to match operational responsibility, with the continuing aim of achieving best value for money from this public money. Parliamentary accountability will follow the pattern of the existing grants-in-aid payable to the Royal Household, and there will be an annual report to Parliament.

  Security Commission
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the membership of the Security Commission. [53934]

  The Prime Minister
  I have recently appointed Sir John Foley and Sir Clive Whitmore to serve as members of the Security Commission. They have succeeded Sir Derek Boorman and Sir Christopher Curwen.

  The current membership of the Commission is:

  The right hon. the Lord Lloyd of Berwick (Chairman)

  The right hon. Lady Justice Butler-Sloss DBE (Alternative Chairman)

  Sir John Blelloch KCB

  Sir John Foley KCB OBE MC

  Lord Tombs of Brailes

  Sir Clive Whitmore GCB CVO

  Lord Wright of Richmond.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the cost of all research undertaken by her Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green 234
  papers and other public consultation documents drafted by her officials; and if she will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52704]

  Mrs. Beckett
  No research has been commissioned by my Department since May 1997.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Refreshment Department
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what was the net cost of running the Refreshment Department outlets in the Palace of Westminster; and if he will list the major items of capital expenditure in 1997–98. [53026]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  This information will be given in the Annual Report from the House of Commons Commission and in the Refreshment Department's Trading Account for 199–98, neither of which has yet been published. I shall ensure that copies of both documents are sent to my hon. Friend as soon as they are available.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  New Settlements (Traffic)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the traffic generating effects of smaller new settlements. [52264]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department has not yet commissioned research on the travel effects of smaller new settlements. The Department needs first to investigate the factors determining location decisions and how these in turn affect travel decisions in order to determine the travel generating characteristics of different patterns, types and scale of development. We hope to commission research in the next year.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52306]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department has published guidance on asbestos, "Asbestos Materials in Buildings", available from the Stationery Office.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the number of council-owned properties in the London Borough of Wandsworth that have been empty for(a) over three months, (b) over six months and (c) over one year; and if he will make a statement. [52287]
  235
  Mr. Raynsford
  Details of the number of vacant council dwellings on 1 April, by reason for vacancy and time vacant are collected from local authorities for the annual Housing Investment Programme exercise. Wandsworth's 1997 return reported a total of 134 dwellings vacant for over 6 weeks and up to 6 months, 46 vacant for over 6 months and up to one year and 37 vacant for over year. The data collected do not separately identify dwellings vacant for over 3 months.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people his Department is committed to employing during 1998 under(a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52587]

  Mr. Meacher
  Within my Department, some ten posts have so far been identified as suitable for young people under the job option (whether subsidised or unsubsidised) of the New Deal programme. We aim to fill as many of these posts as possible through the programme, subject to suitable candidates being found.

  Railways
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will ensure that adequate investment in new rolling stock is promised by rail operators before extending rail franchises; [52519]

  (2) what targets he will lay down for rail operators to meet before rail franchises are extended. [52518]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 28 October 1997,Official Report, column 806, and the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 20 July 1998, Official Report, column 786. The early re-negotiation or extension of franchises will be considered only where train operators offer improved investment and services and more demanding performance standards on a basis that provides value for public money. Cases will be considered on their merits against these objectives.

  Bus Companies
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives he has taken to encourage public-private partnerships between bus companies and local authorities. [52520]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The further development of bus Quality Partnerships between local authorities and operators is an important part of the proposals announced in New Deal for transport. We will introduce legislation to put such partnerships on a firmer footing by giving them a statutory basis. They will also form part of the new local transport plans to be drawn up by local authorities as described in the White Paper.

  Quarry Sites
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend the provisions of the Environment Act 1995 covering the reactivation of dormant and active quarry sites to provide greater protection for(a) areas of outstanding natural
  236
  beauty, (b) sites of special interest and (c) other environmentally sensitive locations; and if he will make a statement. [52322]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have no plans to amend the Environment Act 1995. The powers in Schedule 13 to the Act to review old mineral permissions and ensure that they are brought up to date with modern operating and restoration conditions are generally working well.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many quarry sites for which mining permission has been approved since the implementation of Schedule 13 of the Environment Act 1995 are(a) wholly and (b) partly within (i) sites of special scientific interest and (ii) areas of outstanding natural beauty. [52321]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many dormant quarry sites have been reactivated since the implementation of Schedule 13 to the Environment Act 1995. [52320]

  Mr. Raynsford
  According to information prepared by the Planning Officers' Society, there are 879 dormant sites in England and Wales. As at January 1997, 61 of these have had new conditions determined by mineral planning authorities, who are responsible for conducting minerals reviews under Schedule 13 to the 1995 Act. Dormant quarry sites cannot be re-activated until full modern conditions have been approved by the relevant mineral planning authority.

  Traffic Diversions (Disruption)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what circumstances compensation is payable to residents of properties on local authority roads who suffer disruption as a result of traffic diversions resulting from the temporary closure of nearby trunk roads. [52373]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There is no liability for loss of damage caused by the lawful exercise of statutory powers unless the statute provides a remedy or there has been some negligence by the authority in the way they have carried out their functions.

  Brown Land
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the area of brown land in the(a) Dudley, (b) Sandwell, (c) Birmingham, (d) Wolverhampton, (e) Solihull and (f) Walsall local authorities. [52436]

  Mr. Caborn
  There is no specific definition of 'brown land', but it is usually taken to mean land previously developed for urban uses. This includes vacant previously developed and derelict land. Estimates of the amount of derelict land in each English local authority district were published in 'Survey of Derelict Land in England 1993', a copy of which is in the Library. Phase 1 of the National Land Use Database, for which I announced plans on 19 May, will provide information on previously developed vacant and derelict land, and vacant
  237
  buildings which may be available for development, for local authorities in England. Summary results are expected by March 1999.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the standard spending assessments for 1997–98 and 1998–99, (b) the standard spending assessments for 1997–98 and 1998–99 as they would have been had the Elliot report on area cost adjustment been implemented and (c) the difference between these two figures expressed in (i) percentage, (ii) cash and (iii) pounds per head terms for (1) Buckinghamshire County Council, (2) Aylesbury Vale District Council, (3) Chiltern District Council, (4) South Buckinghamshire District Council, (5) Wycombe District Council and (6) Thames Valley Police Authority. [52633]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information requested is in tables that have been placed in the Library. They show the effects of re-calculating the standard spending assessments for 1997–98 and 1998–99 using the method of calculating the area cost adjustment proposed by the 1996 Review of the Area Cost Adjustment but keeping the indicators of need used in the current SSA formulae.

  Mine Works (Pollution)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to assess the risks of pollution from waste flowing from old mine works. [52375]

  Mr. Meacher
  Contaminated minewaters from abandoned coal mines are dealt with by the Coal Authority under a prioritised programme agreed with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. The Authority spent £3 million in 1997–98 in tackling water pollution from abandoned coal mines, and this is anticipated to rise to £3.9 million in 1998–99. The Authority has undertaken detailed feasibility studies on 21 of the most environmentally significant overflows from abandoned mines, and works are in place or nearing completion at a number of these sites.

  In addition, the Agency is continuing to operate the treatment plant at the Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall, having spent £9.5 million since 1990 on research and treatment. The Agency is also continuing to monitor the situation at the recently abandoned South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall, carrying out further work to predict the timing of any outbreak, the likely quality of the minewater discharge and the appropriate treatment options. Similar monitoring is being undertaken by the Agency at the recently abandoned Whittle coal mine in Northumberland.

  Local Agenda 21 Initiatives
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support his Department(a) is giving and (b) plans to give to Local Agenda 21 initiatives (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02. [52424]
  238
  Mr. Meacher
  DETR's main role in the Local Agenda 21 process is to provide advice and encouragement to local authorities. In this capacity, during 1998–99 it is supporting the following, specific projects:Providing a telephone helpdesk and introductory guide for local authorities on the Eco-management and audit scheme (LA-EMAS)—£39,100.
  Supporting the collection and publication of best practice Local Agenda 21 case studies—£15,600.
  A seminar to consult on a menu of indicators of sustainable development for local use—£20,000.
  Contributing towards the cost of producing Sustainable local Communities for the 21st century which provides guidance to local authorities on why and how to prepare an effective Local Agenda 21 strategy—£2,600.

  In addition, through Government Offices, DETR supports a range of regional projects, events and seminars to promote Local Agenda 21, expenditure on which is estimated to be £55,000 during 1998–99.

  At this stage, it is not possible to provide details of spending in future years.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many Local Agenda 21 initiatives include allotment groups. [52425]

  Mr. Meacher
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce his decisions on the applications for Transport and Works Act Orders for(a) Stratford International Station and (b) the Channel Tunnel Rail Link connection to the West Coast Main Line. [52593]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  These proposed works are the subject of a single application, for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Stratford Station and Subsidiary Works) Order. The Inspector's report following the public local inquiry into this Order is being considered by the Secretary of State. A decision will be made as soon as possible.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of the £3 billion benefits identified in A New Deal for Transport from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [52592]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  It is anticipated that the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) will provide £3 billion NPV of benefits to the UK comprising (with some overlaps between categories):

  £1,800 million from time savings to UK resident Eurostar passengers;

  £600 million from domestic services on the CTRL;

  £120 million of environmental and decongestion benefits;

  £1,000 million representing the regeneration programmes which would be required to deliver the same regeneration benefits as the CTRL.

  Disabled People (Transport)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make
  239
  a statement on the provisions in the Transport White Paper which will assist disabled people to be able to use public transport over the next 12 months [52872]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The White Paper sets the framework to promote better transport choice for disabled people. Measures include implementation of the transport provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, starting with the rail regulations which will apply accessibility requirements to rolling stock coming into service from 31 December 1998. Dates for implementation of the regulations requiring buses, coaches and licensed taxis to be accessible to disabled people will be set in the light of recent consultation.

  Looking beyond the next 12 months, the new local transport plans will specifically address accessibility issues and the new Strategic Rail Authority will have a specific duty to promote the provision of accessible transport for disabled people.

  Land-fill Tax Credits
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make available unused land-fill tax credits for environmental enhancement purposes. [52823]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have no power to compel landfill operators to make contributions to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. However, many have taken advantage of the tax credits available. £85.5 million has been contributed to date to fund schemes that provide clear environmental benefits including research into waste management, land reclamation and the provision of public amenity areas such as parks. HM Customs and Excise, together with other departments, are currently considering whether the scheme could be further improved, and in particular whether it could be amended to bring recycling within its scope.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria his Department uses to evaluate the environmental and waste management activity of local authorities. [52822]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department does not systematically evaluate the waste management performance of individual local authorities. Different waste management choices will make environmental sense in different local authority areas, depending on geography and local markets.

  Information and statistics on local authority waste management are available in "Municipal Waste Management 1995–96", published by my Department last year; data on 1996–97 are due to be published shortly.

  The consultation paper "Less waste: more value" explains our view that there is a case for individual local authorities or regions to be given an indication of the contribution towards national targets that the Government expect from them, taking into account their geographical circumstances. We are also considering what performance indicators on waste management should be prescribed under the new Best Value regime for local authority services, to support local accountability.

  Brownfield Sites
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he is considering which will expedite the planning permission system for developers who wish to build on brownfield sites. [52825]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Current planning policy guidance already encourages the re-use of previously developed (or brown field) sites. The Government are currently revising Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (Housing) to reflect the higher target for building new homes on previously-developed land announced in Planning for the Communities of the Future, published in February. We hope to issue a draft PPG3 for consultation later this year.

  The Government are also helping local authorities and developers through their preparation of a national land use database which will for the first time produce a comprehensive picture of previously-developed land. The Government have also set up the Urban Task Force which will provide guidance on how local authorities can make better and more innovative use of such land. In addition, the Government are currently considering what role economic instruments might play in helping to bring forward more previously used land for development.

  Whales
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he supports the US proposal for establishing mandatory ship reporting systems to reduce ship strikes on endangered large whales; and if he will make a statement. [52826]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The United States proposals were discussed at the International Maritime Organisation's 44th session of its Safety of Navigation Sub-Committee (NAV 44) from 20–24 July, where they received the full backing of the United Kingdom Delegation. We believe that the proposed mandatory ship-reporting systems off the eastern coast of the United States will make a positive contribution to reducing the number of ship strikes on right whales. We will support the formal adoption of the systems at the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee in December.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the appeal decisions for each of the last two years where the local planning authority has refused planning permission for a change of use of shop unit into a public house and the inspector has upheld the refusal. [52280]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 29 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about appeal decisions where the local planning authority has refused planning permission for a change of use of a shop unit into a public house and the Inspector has upheld the refusal.
  I enclose details of 17 planning appeals which were dismissed in 1996–97, and 38 which were dismissed in 1997–98. I believe this is an exhaustive list. The list includes all cases of a change of use

  241
  to a public house, not only those from a shop unit. It may also contain some appeals against the failure of the local planning authority to determine the application within the time limit.
  Should you require copies of the Inspector's decision letters for any appeal, please contact Colin Stevens (Room 1208 at the above address) directly and he will arrange for them to be sent to you. From these you will be able to see whether the Inspector agreed or disagreed with any reasons for refusal by the local authority.

  Taxis (Smoking)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce further measures to allow licensed taxi drivers to exclude passengers who wish to smoke from their vehicles. [53581]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  When Parliamentary time permits, we intend to propose a change in the law to enable licensed taxi drivers to designate their vehicles as "no-smoking cabs", thereby relieving them of the obligation to carry passengers who insist on smoking.

  Overhead Power Lines
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations(a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had with (i) the Secretary of State for Health, (ii) health ministers and (iii) officials from the Department of Health, concerning the possible carcinogenic effects of overhead power lines. [53136]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Secretaries of State and Ministers of both Departments are aware of public interest in this area through correspondence and questions raised in the House. Officials from DETR and other Government Departments with a direct interest meet regularly with the national Radiological Protection Board to review information and consider developments regarding non-ionising radiation, including the alleged carcinogenic effects of overhead power lines.

  An investigation into electromagnetic fields and childhood cancer is being funded by the Department of Health and forms part of the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. When the results of this study are published, the Secretary of State for Health will consult colleagues as appropriate.

  The current consensus view is that in normal domestic circumstances there is no quantifiable risk to health from electromagnetic field from power lines or sub-stations.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue planning guidance notes to local authorities to advise against building homes underneath overhead power cables and next to pylons; and if he will make a statement. [53135]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 June 1998,Official Report, column 331, which explained that the Government intend, later this year, to issue a draft circular for consultation on development in proximity to electromagnetic fields. This would include the health and safety aspects of overhead power lines.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list 242
  the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52693]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The provision for DETR research spend in 1997/98 and the planned spend for 1998/99 were published in March in `DETR Opportunities for Research and Development', which is available on the DETR Website. A summary is given in the table. Records on all research contractors are not currently kept centrally. This information is now being collected with a view to publishing it in the next edition of `DETR Opportunities for Research and Development'. I will arrange for this information to be sent to the hon. Gentleman when it is ready.

  DETR science and technology expenditure

  £ million

  Research area

  Provision 1997–1998

  Plan 1998–1999

  Air Quality

  9.7

  9.7

  Global Atmosphere

  13.56

  13.56

  Radioactive Substances

  0.88

  0.88

  Water and Contaminated Land

  3.5

  3.5

  Chemicals and Biotechnology

  3.0

  3.0

  Noise

  0.45

  0.45

  Environmental Policy Analysis

  0.45

  0.45

  Waste Policy

  0.25

  0.25

  Planning and Minerals

  3.7

  3.7

  Countryside

  1.3

  1.4

  Darwin Initiative

  3.0

  3.0

  Local Government

  0.82

  0.8

  Housing and Regeneration

  6.5

  6.5

  Construction

  22.9

  22.0

  Environment Technology ETBPP and ETIS

  0.25

  0.25

  Land Transport

  18.1

  18.8

  Road Safety

  4.3

  4.5

  Vehicle Standards and Engineering

  5.9

  6.2

  Urban and Local Transport

  4.8

  4.8

  National Roads Policy

  1.2

  1.3

  Cross-cutting central programmes

  1.9

  2.0

  Civil Aviation Services

  0.7

  0.4

  Transport Security

  1.7

  1.7

  Highways Agency

  12.8

  13.2

  Total Research and Development

  103.56

  103.54

  Technology Transfer

  Construction

  0.5

  0.5

  Environment Technology EEBPP and ETIS

  2.5

  2.5

  Energy Efficiency

  15.0

  15.0

  Total Science and Technology

  121.56

  121.54

  Private Hire Vehicles
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure that the provisions allowing private hire operators to subcontract services to operators licensed outside London are not used to introduce lower standards than those which apply in London. [52197]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The matter will be considered as necessary in the light of circumstances as indicated by Public Carriage Office's monitoring.
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  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria the Public Carriage Office will use when it monitors the use of subcontracting by London's private hire industry. [52198]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The matter will be considered as part of the implementation arrangements for the legislation on London minicab regulation.

  Federal Aviation Administration
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to the US Government concerning the delays by the Federal Aviation Administration in processing applications by United Kingdom companies for FAA approval. [53012]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None.

  Concessionary Fares (Pensioners)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to introduce concessionary bus fares for pensioners. [53579]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Most local authorities do already offer concessionary travel schemes for pensioners. Our White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" (Cm3950) said that we will introduce a national minimum standard for local authority concessionary fares schemes for elderly people, with a maximum £5 per year charge for a pass entitling the holder to travel at half fare on buses. The necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to bring forward reforms to the Mobile Homes Act 1983; and if he will make a statement. [53570]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard) on 6 May 1998,Official Report, column 389 and to the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 17 June 1998, Official Report, column 204.

  M25, Spelthorne
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposal to widen the M25 in the Spelthorne constituency. [53218]

  Dr. Reid
  We plan to make an announcement on the outcome of the Roads Review before the Recess.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about the current planning controls on the erection of telecommunications masts. [53841]
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  Mr. Caborn
  We have received a number of representations from local authorities, from industry and from the working group which has been considering the effectiveness of my Department's Code of Best Practice for telecommunications prior approval procedures.

  After careful consideration, I have concluded that the use of permitted development rights continues to be appropriate for this type of development but that there is scope for improving procedures in order to address a number of concerns.

  In doing this, we aim to strike the right balance between facilitating a competitive national telecommunications network and protecting our environment. I have today published a consultation paper on proposals for changes to the control of development by licensed telecommunications operators under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library.

  The main change proposed is a new two-stage procedure for ground-based masts erected under permitted development rights, to allow time for greater public consultation over their siting and appearance. This will give the public a clear opportunity to comment upon the installation of a mast in sensitive cases where such development would impact upon their amenity. We also propose to increase the protection currently afforded to Sites of Special Scientific Interest in this context by making telecommunications development in these areas subject to similar constraints as already apply in areas such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This would include development such as the installation of masts and antennas being made subject to a full planning application in SSSIs.

  Planning (Sport and Recreation)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to revise Planning Guidance Note 17 on Sport and Recreation. [53940]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department will shortly be publishing a research report which examines the Effectiveness of Planning Policy Guidance on Sport and Recreation. The findings and recommendations in that research point clearly towards the need to revise PPG17. We agree. The PPG, which dates from September 1991, urgently needs to be brought up to date, not least to take account of the Government's sustainable development objectives. Work on a revision will therefore start later in the Summer, and I hope that a draft revised PPG17 will be issued for public consultation around the turn of the year.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to appoint chairs for the boards of the proposed regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [53941]

  Mr. Caborn
  Formal appointments to the boards of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) cannot be made until the Regional Development Agencies Bill, currently before Parliament, has received Royal Assent. However,
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  we propose to engage a chairman designate for each RDA on an advisory basis prior to Royal Assent to assist in preparations for the establishment of the RDAs.

  Our choices are as follows:
  Eastern RDA: Vincent Watts—Vice Chancellor of the University of East Anglia
  East Midlands RDA: Derek Mapp—Formerly Chairman of Tom Cobleigh plc. Currently part-time Executive Chairman of Leapfrog Day Nurseries
  North East RDA: John Bridge—Chief Executive of the Northern Development Company
  North West RDA: Lord Thomas of Macclesfield—Formerly Managing Director of the Co-operative Bank and founding Chairman of the North West Partnership
  South East RDA Ltd: Allan Willett—Chairman and founder of Willett International
  South West RDA: Sir Michael Lickiss—Chairman of Edexcel Foundation (previously BTEC)
  West Midlands RDA: Alex Stephenson—Managing Director of Rover Group Power Train
  Yorkshire and Humber RDA: Graham Hall—Chief Executive of Yorkshire Electricity Group plc.

  There was a strong list of candidates in each region and we were able to appoint people of the highest calibre to lead each RDA. Candidates for chairman of each RDA were sought from a wide range of sources, including a public advertisement, nominations from regional and national stakeholders, and details of people who had previously expressed an interest in public service. Independent assessors were involved both in the short listing process and in interviews. All appointments have been made on merit and in accordance with guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  There will also be a development agency in London. The creation of the London Development Agency will take account of the new arrangements for the government of London including the way that appointments are made.

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets he has set the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Executive Agency for 1998–99. [54062]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Agency's principal financial target for 1998–99 is to achieve a minimum contribution to the Exchequer of £963,000.

  Operational targets have been set to increase occupancy of the Churchill Auditorium to 190 days; the Fleming Room to 210 days; and the Mountbatten Room to 165 days.

  The Agency is also being required to achieve additional room hire revenue from banqueting of £75,000, and has the following key customer service targets to meet:

  1. An overall score for quality of service from client questionnaires of at least 78 per cent.

  2. 98 per cent of clients to report that they would use the centre again.

  3. The number of complaints received to be less than 4 per 100 events.

  4. An average response time when answering complaints of less than 4 working days.

  5. An overall score for quality of service by catering staff of at least 88 per cent.

  Non-domestic Rating
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for legislation on valuation for non-domestic rating; and if he will make a statement. [54063]

  Ms Armstrong
  In its decision dated 11 March 1998 in the case of Benjamin v Anston Properties, the Lands Tribunal decided that, in valuing a property for non-domestic rating purposes, it cannot be assumed that the property is in a reasonable state of repair if, on the material day, it is not. This decision runs counter to the approach adopted for compiling and maintaining rating lists under the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The Government therefore propose to introduce legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows to reverse the effect of the Lands Tribunal decision.

  It is intended that this legislation will have effect from 1 April 1990, when the first rating lists under the 1988 Act were compiled. However, outstanding cases in which the proposal for reduction in the rateable value was made on or before 11 March 1998, will not be affected.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will undertake public consultation on the review of legislation relating to the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. [54134]

  Mr. Meacher
  I announced on 8 April 1998,Official Report, columns 306–07, that we would review the legislation relating to the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, with a view to identifying any barriers preventing the Agencies from taking an integrated approach to the environment. We are issuing the relevant consultation paper today, copies of which have been placed in the Library. We are sending it to a wide range of bodies, and publishing it on the Internet.

  Countryside and Rural Programmes
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out his spending plans for the countryside and rural programmes of his Department following the Comprehensive Spending Review. [54135]

  Mr. Meacher
  The review of countryside and rural policy, conducted jointly by my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has concluded that there is a strong case for Government intervention to support rural communities, protect the landscape and wildlife resources of the countryside, and promote access to and enjoyment of the countryside. This Government want to see a living, working and sustainable countryside, and are determined both to increase resources towards meeting these objectives, and to improve the co-ordination and delivery of countryside and rural programmes in the future.
  247
  Support for individual DETR agencies or programmes will be as follows:

  English Nature's allocation will rise from £38.5 million in 1998–99 to £44.6 million in 1999–2000. This will allow the agency to continue and develop its nature conservation work, deliver obligations under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, improve the management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and accelerate the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan's species and habitats plans. We have asked English Nature to assist its smaller voluntary partners to play a full part in the Biodiversity Action Plan process.

  The merged agency to be formed on 1 April 1999 from the Rural Development Commission and the Countryside Commission will receive an increase of £8.68 million in 1999–2000. This will give the agency an effective start by strengthening its work protecting and conserving the natural landscape, supporting rural communities, and promoting access to and enjoyment of the countryside, and will also provide for pilot projects. Part will be used for necessary restructuring costs.

  The National parks and Broads Authority grant will increase from £17.412 million in 1998–99 to £19.277 million in 1999–2000.

  Support for the National Forest Company will increase from £2.5 million in 1998–99 to £3.1 million in 1999–2000, to help meet its planting targets, increase the resources available for partnership formation and bidding, and begin to develop the tourism potential of the Forest.

  Funding for DETR's countryside research will grow from £1.527 million in 1998–99 to £1.727 million in 1999–2000, and countryside publicity from £0.257 million in 1998–99 to £0.317 million in 1999–2000.

  In addition to increasing resources, we also intend to improve the delivery and co-ordination of programmes for the countryside. The Regional Development Agencies, which will begin operation in April next year, will be responsible for developing an integrated approach to economic development and regeneration in rural areas, in a way that contributes to sustainable development. At the centre, DETR and MAFF already work closely together in many ways, but there is room for improvement in the way the Government deliver rural policy in an integrated way. Together with the decision already taken to merge the Rural Development and the Countryside Commissions from 1 April 1999, we will be taking forward steps to improve co-ordination of the countryside programmes across the two Departments, to ensure that our countryside and rural policy objectives are fully met.

  Further decisions on the level of resources for the following two years will be announced in 1999, in the light of the joint financial planning to be developed by DETR and MAFF.

  Sewage Treatment and Disposal
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish his response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report on Sewage Treatment and Disposal, HC 266-I of Session 1997–98. [54147]
  248
  Mr. Meacher
  I will be laying before the House tomorrow the Government's formal response to the Second Report of the Environmental, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee on Sewage Treatment and Disposal tomorrow. Copies will be placed in both Libraries of the House.

  Within days of taking office, we called a Water Summit to signal our intention to ensure a world-class, water efficient, environmentally sustainable water industry. We remain firmly committed to that goal. We welcomed the publication of the Select Committee's report as an important contribution to the debate.

  Within our broad objective, the Government's response to the Select Committee will set out significant elements of our approach to the quality of the water environment. Our approach will strike a balance between the need for and value of environmental improvements by the water industry and the need to protect consumers from large increases in their water bills as a result of those improvements.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  National Disability Council
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the National Disability Council will report on its activities during the 1997–98 financial year. [54064]

  Ms Hodge
  I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today laid the National Disability Council's third annual report before Parliament. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries.

  The Council has worked very hard during the year on an impressive array of initiatives and to develop proposals for a code of practice on improved rights of access to goods and services for disabled people. These new rights will be introduced in October 1999. The Council, therefore, has another busy year ahead as it consults on and refines the proposals. I look forward to continuing to work with the Council on this and on other initiatives to help end discrimination against disabled people.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the report of the quinquennial review of the Equal Opportunities Commission to be published; and if he will make a statement. [52504]

  Ms Hodge
  We expect to publish the report immediately after the summer adjournment.

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will ensure that all year 11 pupils receive information on appropriate post-16 providers who operate courses in their immediate locality. [52809]

  Mr. Mudie
  To improve the current system of providing information on post-16 learning opportunities, the Government have proposed that careers services, in
  249
  their role as independent broker, are best placed to take responsibility for ensuring that all young people in years 10 and 11 have access to the full range of information at times, and in ways, appropriate to their needs. To do this, careers services would need to work closely with local schools, colleges and other training providers arrangements for the provision of this information would be agreed locally.

  Design
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many full-time students in higher education are currently enrolled on design-related courses; and how many there were(a) five and (b) 10 years ago. [52291]

  Mr. Mudie
  The available information is given in the table:

  Full-time students1 on courses of design studies

  Thousand

  Academic year

  Number

  1987–88

  18.6

  1992–93

  31.8

  1997–982

  44.7

  1 In former UFC establishments in the GB, and former polytechnics, HEIs and FEIs in England

  2 Provisional

  Further Education Colleges (Hampshire)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding has been allocated to further education colleges in Hampshire in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [52189]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: Funding has been allocated to further education colleges in Hampshire for academic years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 as follows:

  £000

  Year

  Amount

  1996–97

  112,116

  1997–98

  109,956

  1998–99

  110,381

  Training
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements are in place to harmonise legal requirements between New Deal trainees and those being trained with TEC or private sector funding separately identifying those relating to health and safety measures. [52342]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: The contracts which the Employment Service has entered into with all organisations delivering New Deal set out the obligations of New Deal providers, including their statutory obligations. The contract places a duty of care on the provider requiring that Health and Safety requirements are met. Fulfilment of these responsibilities will be evaluated by ES together with other aspects of
  250
  contract compliance; with these arrangements in place there is not a current need to harmonise regulation with that operated by TECs and other training providers.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the New Deal partnerships which expressed an interest in leading a pilot for the New Deal for over 25 year olds; and what percentage of these has been invited to submit a full proposal for a pilot in their area. [52778]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  73 partnerships expressed an interest in leading a New Deal 25+ partnership pilot. The following 43 partnerships have been shortlisted for around 20 pilots:

  Argyle and the Islands

  Ayrshire

  Bexley and Greenwich

  Birmingham

  Bolton

  Bradford

  Brighton

  Bristol and South Gloucester

  Camden and North Islington

  Cardiff and the Vale

  Cornwal

  Coventry

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Ealing

  Eastbourne

  Fulham

  Grampian

  Hammersmith

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hounslow and Richmond

  Hull

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Lanarkshire

  Leeds

  Manchester

  North Derbyshire

  Oldham

  Oxfordshire

  Peterborough

  Portsmouth and S.E. Hampshire

  Powys and Ceredigan West Wales

  Rotherham

  Sheffield

  South Derbyshire

  Southampton and S.W. Hampshire

  Stockport

  Suffolk and Waveney

  Sunderland

  Sutton, Epsom, Merton and Wandsworth

  Teesside

  West Norfolk

  Western Isles

  Wigan.

  251
  50 organisations completed 79 expressions of interest to take part in the New Deal 25+ private sector led pilots. 22 organisations have now been shortlisted and have submitted 38 bids for the 10 private sector led pilots. These are as follows:

  Action for Employment Ltd.

  Belgrave Development and Enterprises

  BTCV Enterprises Ltd.

  Christian Care Training

  DHP Enterprise Trust

  Fernly Business Services Ltd.

  Instant Muscle Ltd.

  JHP Group Ltd.

  Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

  Lothian Training Ltd.

  Manpower plc

  Pelcombe Training Ltd.

  Pertemps Group Ltd.

  Reed W2W Ltd.

  Scout Enterprises (Western) Ltd.

  SEETEC Business Technology Centre Ltd.

  The MARI Group Ltd.

  The Shaw Trust

  The Training and Business Group (London) Ltd.

  TP Training Ltd.

  Triage Central Ltd.

  Van Hee Transport Ltd.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Security Service
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide further information about files held by the Security Service; and if he will make a statement. [54146]

  Mr. Straw
  During an adjournment debate in this House on 25 February 1998,Official Report, columns 341–48, I undertook to make an announcement, before the summer recess, on the subject of the Security Service's file holdings and on the Service's file destruction programme. I now fulfil that commitment. I do so having consulted the Director General of the Security Service, and having been advised by him that the information which I shall be revealing for the first time today may be disclosed without detriment to the requirements of national security or to the operational effectiveness of the Service.

  The Security Service currently holds in total about 440,000 files which have been opened at some time since its establishment in 1909. Of these, approximately 35,000 files relate to Service administration, policy and staff. A further 40,000 concern subjects and organisations studied by the Service. About 75,000 files relate to people or groups of people who have never been investigated by the Service, such as those who have received protective security advice. This leaves about 290,000 files relating to individuals who, at some time during the last 90 years, may have been the subject of Security Service inquiry or investigation. Of this 290,000, some 40,000 have been reduced to microfilm and placed in a restricted category to which Security Service staff have access only for specific
  252
  research purposes. A further 230,000 files are closed so that Security Service officers may use them where necessary in the course of their current work, but may not make inquiries about the subjects of the files.

  It will be apparent that only a small proportion of the Security Service's file holdings relate to individuals who may be under current investigation by the Service. The number of files which fall within that category is around 20,000. Of that number, about one third relate to foreign nationals—typically, members or associates of foreign intelligence services or terrorist groups. This leaves in the order of 13,000 active files on United Kingdom citizens. To place it in context, this compares with about 5.7 million records on individuals on the Police National Computer. It represents about 3/100ths of one per cent. of the current adult population, and only a tiny proportion of the 13,000 are likely ever to be under close investigation at any one time.

  Of those 13,000 files, more than half are for individuals who have come to the Service's attention in a terrorist related context, while the remainder relate to the Service's other fields of investigation, such as espionage, proliferation and serious crime. A proportion of these files are for individuals who are co-operating with the Service against these threats to national security. Following the collapse of Soviet Communism and the decline in the threat from subversive groups, the Service scaled down its counter-subversion work over a number of years to the point where it is no longer running any investigations in the field of subversion.

  Detailed criteria govern the opening of files on individuals and organisations. These criteria specify the circumstances in which opening a file and initiating inquiries are justified within the terms of the Service's statutory functions. They are kept under continual review and are formally checked on an annual basis for currency, relevance and propriety.

  It has long been the policy of the Security Service to review its file holdings and to destroy those files which it no longer requires for operational purposes and which do not merit retention on grounds of historical interest. In the period between its formation in 1909 and the early 1970s, the Service destroyed well over 175,000 files. The destruction programme was then halted in response to concern that it had impeded investigations into espionage cases. In the early 1990s, following the collapse of Soviet communism and the associated decline in the threat from subversion, the review and destruction programme was reinstated. Since then, more than 110,000 files have been destroyed or have been earmarked for destruction.

  In reviewing files for destruction, the Service takes account of their operational value, their historical significance, and the Service's obligation to retain certain categories of records against the possibility of a complaint to the Security Service Tribunal. With these criteria in mind, the Security Service continues to review its holdings of closed files for destruction and will continue to destroy files which no longer need to be retained on those grounds. The rate of review and destruction is dependent upon the resources which the Service can afford to spare for the task.

  I have said that the Service takes account of the likely historical significance of each file before sending it for destruction. It is a matter of interest to professional

  253
  historians, writers and journalists that records which might be of real historical value should be kept for posterity. It might, therefore, be helpful if I explain how that process is governed.

  The Security Service, as with Government Departments, is subject to the Public Records Act 1958. This Act, among other things, regulates policy on the selection of files for preservation. In common with many other Departments, the Service has drawn up guidance to govern this process and this has been approved by the Public Record Office. I published the criteria applied by the Service in response to a Question from the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), on 20 January 1998, Official Report, columns 519–20. The Service also takes advice from the Public Record Office on the retention, preservation and release of historical records.

  The operations of the Public Record Office are, in turn, scrutinised by the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council on Public Records, chaired by the Master of the Rolls. There are three eminent historians on the Advisory Council and others with an academic or professional interest in 20th century records, including a Professor of Politics and Mr. Andreas Whittam Smith, former founding editor of The Independent newspaper.

  Panel of Historians

  Earlier this year, in response to a question from the Public Administration Committee, I said that I was looking at whether there was a need for a panel of historians to advise the Security Service on the retention of its files for historical reasons. With the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and the Director General, I have asked the Advisory Council specially to review the criteria which the Service currently apply in determining whether files which they would otherwise destroy should be kept on grounds of historical interest. The Council has agreed to carry out such a review, and I am grateful to the Chairman for accepting the invitation. The Council will welcome submissions from those with an interest in the subject. Representation should be submitted, in writing, to the Advisory Council at the following address:

  Tim Padfield

  Secretary, Advisory Council on Public Records

  Public Record Office

  Kew

  Richmond

  Surrey

  TW9 4DU

  Telephone: 0181 876 3444 ext. 2351

  Fax: 0181 392 5295

  E-Mail: tim.padfield@pro.gov.uk

  Correspondence should be received by 30 September. The Council will aim to report by the end of the year.

  Release of Security Service files into the public domain

  The Security Service is fully committed to a policy of releasing as much material of historical significance as it can. But in determining which files may safely be released, there are important considerations which the Service will always have to take into account. These include: the need to protect sensitive investigative techniques; to protect information supplied in confidence by agents and liaison services; and to bear in mind the potential impact of release on those individuals concerned and their families. The Service's current programme of reviewing its early records of historical interest has
  254
  already resulted in the release of almost all the surviving material covering the years 1909–1919. The Service is now actively reviewing its more extensive stock of records from World War Two, but, as with the review for destruction, this process will continue to depend upon the resources available for the task.

  I am aware, however, that the Intelligence and Security Committee has, itself, been reviewing these issues and may have more to say about the subject in its Annual Report. I look forward with great interest to seeing what they have to say.

  Booklet

  Finally, I am pleased to announce that the Security Service is, today, publishing the third edition of the booklet which describes the Service and its work. The booklet is even more informative than its predecessors. This reflects our policy of making available as much information about the Service as we sensibly can, without undermining the effectiveness of its operations or risking the safety of its staff or its agents.

  I have arranged for copies of the booklet to be placed in the Library.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make additional appointments to the Metropolitan Police Committee. [54138]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today appointed the following as members of the Metropolitan Police Committee:

  Councillor Lincoln Beswick (Labour, Brent)

  Councillor Toby Harris (Labour, Haringey)

  Councillor Barbara Hughes (Labour, Camden)

  Councillor Tim Joiner (Conservative, Westminster)

  Councillor Serge Lourie (Liberal Democrat, Richmond upon Thames)

  Councillor Maggie Mansell (Labour, Croydon)

  Councillor Derek Sawyer (Labour, Islington)

  Councillor Michael Slaughter (Conservative, Bexley)

  Councillor Ala Uddin (Labour, Tower Hamlets)

  Councillor Ron Gee (Independent, Epsom & Ewell).

  They will join the eleven existing members, who are Sir John Quinton, who will remain Chair, Miss Maria Callaghan, Mr. Thomas Chan, Councillor Maurice Heaster (Conservative, Wandsworth), Major General Malcolm Hunt, Councillor Margaret O'Neill (Labour, Bexley), Mrs. Shahwar Sadeque, Mr. Mark Souhami, Mr. Inder Uppal, Mr. Reginald Watts and Ms Rachel Whittaker.

  Nine of the new members were nominated by the Association of Local Government, in response to my request for nominations reflecting the current make-up of London Boroughs. The tenth is the representative of the Outer London Metropolitan Police Group.

  The new members will take up their appointments on 1 September 1998. The Committee's task will continue to be to advise me in relation to the discharge of certain of my functions as police authority for the Metropolitan Police. The functions in question are based on those

  255
  which, outside London, are the responsibility of the police authorities established under the Police Act 1964, as amended by the Police Act 1996.

  In particular, I look to the Committee to prepare for the Metropolitan Police Authority which we intend to establish as part of our proposals for a Mayor and Assembly for London.

  The next couple of years bring new challenges, with the Crime and Disorder Bill, efficiency plans and the preparation for the Metropolitan Police Authority. The whole Committee has much to contribute on these and other key issues.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the funding of the transitional arrangements necessary to enable those parts of the Metropolitan Police District not within the Greater London boundary to be transferred to neighbouring police force areas in April 2000. [53213]

  Mr. Michael
  The changes to the Metropolitan Police District boundaries are expected to come into effect in April 2000. It is likely that transitional costs in transferring those areas not within the boundary of the proposed Greater London Authority to other forces will fall in the financial year 1999–2000. It is too early to give an accurate estimate of the size of such costs but they will be taken into account when considering the needs of the police areas affected.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 255, about the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, when he expects to issue a consultation document on the Government's proposals for the amendments; and if he will make a statement. [54140]

  Mr. George Howarth
  As I explained on 8 April, the European Commission has expressed some concern about our implementation of the fire safety aspects of the European Framework Directive (89/391/EEC). We expect to be in a position to publish a consultative document on our proposals for amendments, to allay the Commission's concerns, in early August. Copies of the document will be available to hon. Members through the usual sources. However, as the House will be in recess at the time of publication, my hon. Friend and others may like to know that copies may also be had, free of charge, from Christians Limited, whose details are as follows:

  Orderline/telephone number: 0181-867-3434

  Fax number: 0181-867-3234

  E-mail address: firesafe@echristians.co.uk

  Freepost address:

  Fire Safety Consultation Document,

  FREEPOST HA 4441,

  Hayes,

  Middlesex UB3 1BR.

  Juveniles (Secure Accommodation)
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the provision of secure accommodation for juveniles. [54141]
  256
  Mr. Straw
  The Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] will provide courts with more appropriate custodial remand and sentencing powers to deal with the most serious and persistent young offenders. To complement these changes, the Government have undertaken a review of all forms of secure accommodation for young offenders and young people held on remand. The Government believe that present arrangements for the provision and management of secure accommodation are inefficient and incoherent and are in need of reform. The review of juvenile secure accommodation was completed at the end of March and the Government have decided now on a programme of further work to be undertaken, a summary of which has been placed in the Library.

  The main focus of this further work involves extending the role of the new Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, expected to be in place by October this year. The Crime and Disorder Bill already provides for the Youth Justice Board to advise on the setting of standards for secure accommodation for remanded and sentenced juveniles and to monitor the delivery of those standards. The Government have decided in principle to extend this role to include the commissioning and purchasing of secure accommodation for juveniles on remand and under sentence. This additional function will enable the Youth Justice Board to provide a much-needed central focus for the delivery of high quality secure facilities for remanded and sentenced young people. Subject to the outcome of further detailed work, the Government envisage that it should be possible for the Youth Justice Board to take on the function of commissioning and purchasing secure accommodation by April 2000. This will involve making an order under clause 42 (6) of the Crime and Disorder Bill.

  A priority for immediate action is to improve the standard of care and quality of regimes in accommodation currently used for those remanded and sentenced as juveniles. Ninety per cent. of these young people are held in Prison Service accommodation. The Prison Service is already working on the development of new regime standards for juveniles and is planning to pilot improved regimes in two establishments, Werrington and Huntercombe Young Offender Institutions. Proposals to help achieve greater separation of juveniles from adult prisoners are also being taken forward. This work will pave the way for the introduction of the detention and training order, contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill, which will involve a programme of improved education and training to tackle offending behaviour, undertaken partly in custody and partly in the community.

  The Government plan to set out their detailed proposals on the future role of the Youth Justice Board in respect of secure accommodation early next year.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. Darvill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to make further appointments to the Police Complaints Authority. [54142]

  Mr. Straw
  I have decided to appoint Mr. Ian Bynoe and Miss Mehmuda Mian as Members of the Authority.
  257
  Mr. Bynoe has most recently been engaged in research work commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Research. He was previously Legal Director of MIND (The National Association for Mental Health). He will take up his post on 3 August.

  Miss Mian was until recently a senior caseworker in the Solicitors Practice Unit of the Office for Supervision of Solicitors. She will take up her post in the autumn.

  Their appointments, which are initially for three years, bring to 13 the number of Members of the Authority, including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 21 July 1998,Official Report, columns 914–28 on crime prevention, how much will be spent on the extension of closed circuit television in each of the next three years. [52522]

  Mr. Michael
  Further announcements on how the £250 million crime reduction strategy will operate will be made in the autumn.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52314]

  Mr. Straw
  In each building contract that the Home Office enters, the contractor warrants that asbestos will not be used in constructing the works.

  CS Spray
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the numbers of incidents when CS spray has been used by the police force in Gloucestershire for the most recent five years for which records are available; [51391]

  (2) what representations he has received on the potential dangers posed by CS spray; [51393]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the police use of CS spray. [51394]

  Mr. Michael
  Since 1 January 1996, there have been 46 Parliamentary Questions about police use of CS spray, and the Home Office has received 55 letters from hon. Members on the subject. Since 1 April 1997, 69 letters on the subject have been received from members of the public.

  CS sprays have been discharged by Gloucestershire police officers in 138 incidents since its introduction there on 14 April 1997.

  In December 1996, the Home Office Police Research Group published an assessment of police operational trials of CS spray. The trials involved 16 forces and took place between March and August 1996.

  In October 1997, my right hon. Friend reviewed the available evidence relating to the use of CS spray by the police and confirmed our support for its use. During operational trials, it was found that CS typically took
  258
  effect within five seconds. We have no doubt that, in many cases, its use has not only prevented injury to police officers and members of the public but prevented any injury to the person who would otherwise have been subject to physical restraint.

  Violence in Families
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will evaluate the cost to his Department arising from violence within families; and if he will make a statement. [52440]

  Mr. Straw
  The way in which statistics are held centrally does not readily allow a comprehensive estimate of these costs.

  However, a report by Professor Elizabeth Stanko (Brunel University) and others, "Counting the costs; estimating the impact of domestic violence in the London Borough of Hackney", has recently been published by Crime Concern. This estimates the total cost in 1996 to the public sector of providing services for women and children facing domestic violence in Hackney at around £90 per annum per household. This report estimates the total cost for Greater London to be around £278 million per annum.

  I have placed a copy of this report in the Library.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people his Department is committed to employing during 1998 under(a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52585]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department is actively considering proposals for recruiting under the New Deal scheme and expects to sign up formally to participation as a New Deal Employer by autumn 1998.

  The Home Office will act as an employer for the subsidised employment option and will aim to recruit approximately two to three per cent. of new intakes into appointments suitable for New Deal participants. Those seeking employment through the New Deal unsubsidised option may apply through open competition for posts in the Home Department. Selection will be made on the basis of merit alone.

  Crime Prevention (North-west)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effects of the extra £250 million investment on crime prevention in(a) the North West and (b) Chorley. [52458]

  Mr. Straw
  The crime reduction strategy which I announced on 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 913, is designed to produce long term benefits in reducing offending as well as having a more immediate impact on certain kinds of crime, such as burglary. I shall make further announcements in the autumn on how the crime reduction strategy will operate.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the impact on the number of police officers on the beat of the creation of a North West regional police force; [52459]
  259
  (2) what assessment he has made of the savings and efficiencies which will be created through the development of a North West regional police force based on the RDA. [52460]

  Mr. Michael
  We have no proposals to create regional police forces in England and Wales, and consequently have made no assessment of the effects of doing so.

  It is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers on the beat within available resources. We are working with the police to ensure that the resources which the Government make available to them are used as efficiently as possible, with the emphasis on outputs and outcomes rather than on inputs.

  British Board of Film Censors
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the annual report 1997–98 of the British Board of Film Censors to be published. [53266]

  Mr. Michael
  My right hon. Friend expects to receive the 1997–98 Annual Report from the British Board of Film Classification and to lay it before Parliament by the end of this week.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review staffing levels at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. [52506]

  Mr. Michael
  Staffing and other resources required for the operation of the 1990 scheme under the aegis of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and of the tariff-based scheme by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) are reviewed regularly, as shown in CICA' s business plans. Copies of the plan for 1998–99 should shortly be available in the Library.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeal cases against decisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are pending; and what assessment he has made of the total capacity of the Board to process decisions annually. [52505]

  Mr. Michael
  The Board advises that there are currently some 16,800 appeals and other hearings cases pending under the 1990 scheme. The plan for clearing such cases at an annual rate of 10,000 was set against the overall target for this year of clearing over 90,000 claims under both the 1990 scheme and the new, tariff-based one (effective for claims made on or after 1 April 1996). That will result in payments of over £200 million, thereby giving victims of violent crime a high degree of priority in the allocation of finite resources.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the withholding of benefit payable by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board where a complainant appeals against a reduction; and if he will make a statement. [52507]

  Mr. Michael
  I have no plans to review the withholding of an award in these circumstances. The position under the schemes is that a claimant has no title to any award offered until he accepts it in full and final settlement. Where he appeals, any earlier decision 260
  falls; the case must be examined completely afresh and a new decision made upon it. That may be a full award, a reduced award, or no award at all.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the vehicles due for replacement by(a) his Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01 will be replaced by vehicles using (1) petrol, (2) diesel, (3) natural gas, (4) electric batteries and (5) other. [52616]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: It is not possible to make accurate predictions two or three years in advance, as each case is considered on merit at the time of replacement. Factors such as fitness for purpose, expected rate of use, location, available funds, technical developments, fuel cost etc. are taken into account.

  Our best estimate is that like for like replacements will continue until further technical developments take place in alternative power sources.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what parking facilities for cycles exist at each office or site for which his Department is responsible and for each agency for which he is responsible. [52686]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The Home Office Central London estate provides 41 secure spaces for parking bicycles. The formal facilities include:
  the provision of a bicycle shed in one car park where bicycles can be chained to metal loops
  the provision in another car park of spaces where bicycles can be chained to a metal frame secured to the ground by concrete
  spaces in a basement storage room.

  Generally, there is some provision for parking bicycles for most offices and sites throughout the rest of the Home Office estate (including those occupied by the Agencies). However, details of these are not available centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the employees of his Department and of the employees of each agency for which he is responsible cycle to work; and what measures he plans to increase that proportion. [52687]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My Department has no record of the mode of transport used by its staff to travel to work.

  Existing measures to encourage the use of cycling to work include the provision of secure cycle parking, showers, and interest free loans for bicycle purchase.

  Measures to increase the proportion of employees cycling to work are being considered as part of the development of green transport plans for building occupied by the Department and its Agencies.

  Bedfordshire Police
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish the numbers and
  261
  rank of (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff employed in the administration support units of Bedfordshire Police Force. [52658]

  Mr. Michael
  I understand from the Chief Constable that there are 66 civilian staff employed in the Administration Support Units of the Bedfordshire Police. No police officers are deployed to these units. The Bedfordshire Police is restructuring its Criminal Justice Department, which will include the provision of new IT systems. These changes are likely to reduce the number of civilian staff employed in Administration Support Units.

  Custody (Girls)
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls aged under 18 years from Wales were sentenced to custody in each year since 1992. [53256]

  Ms Quin
  The available information relates to the number of girls aged under 18 years sentenced to immediate custody in Welsh courts and is given in the table.

  Number of girls aged under 18 years sentenced to immediate custody1 at all courts for all offences, Wales, 1992–96

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total sentenced immediate custody1

  11

  4

  9

  15

  10

  Detained under S53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 19332

  —

  2

  —

  1

  4

  1 Sentenced to imprisonment at a Young Offender Institution

  2 Detainees may be held either in Prison Service establishments or in local authority secure or open community homes or Department of Health Youth Treatment Centres. The youngest detainees are automatically held outside Prison Service establishments

  Juries
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he is proposing to the way juries(a) in serious fraud and (b) in other cases are compiled and appointed; and if he will make a statement. [52858]

  Mr. Michael
  We are currently considering the responses to the recent consultation exercise on the use of juries in serious fraud trials. We will consider the issue further in the light of the responses.

  New Voting Systems
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action his Department is taking to increase public awareness of the new electoral systems which will be used in(a) European Parliament elections and (b) elections for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly; [52824]

  (2) what budget he has allocated for informing the public of new voting systems to be used for (a) the European Parliament elections and (b) the elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly; [52828]
  262
  (3) how much his Department will be spending in informing and educating the public on the new electoral system to be used for the European elections. [53683]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No budget has been allocated for informing the public of the new electoral system for European Parliamentary elections.

  The Government are supporting the efforts of the Institute of Citizenship and the London office of the European Parliament and others to publicise the new electoral system.

  Publicity arrangements for elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales respectively.

  Women's Prison, Ashford
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to submit a formal planning application to build a Women's Prison at Woodthorpe Road, Ashford (Middlesex). [53214]

  Ms Quin
  The Prison Service is aiming to submit a formal planning application to Spelthorne Borough Council during August.

  Football Hooliganism
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many England supporters were(a) arrested, (b) detained and (c) removed from France by the French authorities during the World Cup. [51995]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The latest information that we have available is as follows:

  Arrests in France during the World Cup: 275

  Given custodial sentences: 20

  Expelled from France during the World Cup: 14

  Refused entry to France during the World Cup: 363

  Awaiting trial or on bail for offences committed during the World Cup: 11.

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have been sentenced to imprisonment in England and Wales in each of the last five years for offences relating to (i) physical abuse of children, (ii) sexual abuse towards children, (iii) manslaughter of a child and (iv) murder of a child under the age of five years. [52089]

  Mr. Michael
  Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in Table A. It should be noted that it is not possible to identify all violent (including sexual) offences where the victim is aged 16 years or under.
  263
  Table B provides information taken from the Homicide Index.

  Table A—Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for violent offences against children by sex and type of offence, England and Wales, 1992–1996

  Offence

  Gender

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  Murder of infant under 1 year of age

  M

  —

  2

  2

  4

  8

  F

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Infanticide

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Child destruction

  M

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cruelty to, or neglect of children

  M

  41

  44

  32

  55

  64

  F

  12

  15

  12

  29

  37

  Abandoning children under 2 years

  M

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Child abduction

  M

  11

  14

  15

  35

  29

  F

  2

  2

  1

  4

  4

  Sexual offences

  Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal

  M

  113

  106

  93

  75

  5

  F

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal

  M

  12

  10

  12

  11

  2

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buggery by a male of a male under 161

  M

  —

  —

  —

  28

  62

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 171

  M

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged 16 or 171

  M

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buggery by a male with a female under 161

  M

  —

  —

  —

  4

  14

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 171

  M

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a female aged 16 or 171

  M

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Indecent assault on male person under 16 years

  M

  140

  152

  170

  203

  213

  F

  2

  3

  2

  1

  1

  Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 182

  M

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gross indecency by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged under 182

  M

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rape of a female aged under 163

  M

  —

  —

  —

  94

  185

  F

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Rape of a male aged under 163

  M

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Attempted rape of a female aged under 163

  M

  —

  —

  —

  16

  27

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Attempted rape of a male aged under 163

  M

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Indecent assault on a female under 16

  M

  559

  609

  654

  823

  911

  F

  2

  4

  3

  3

  3

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13

  M

  48

  50

  36

  54

  35

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16

  M

  47

  55

  64

  85

  86

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Incest with a girl under 13

  M

  36

  44

  25

  12

  18

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse

  M

  1

  1

  4

  2

  —

  F

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16

  M

  —

  2

  2

  1

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc.

  M

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male2

  M

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Abduction of unmarried girl under 16

  M

  5

  3

  5

  5

  1

  Gross indecency with boys aged 14 or under

  M

  30

  35

  32

  28

  20

  F

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  Gross indecency with girls aged 14 or under

  M

  60

  54

  46

  57

  58

  F

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  264 265

  Table A—Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for violent offences against children by sex and type of offence, England and Wales, 1992–1996

  Offence

  Gender

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Summary Offences

  Violent offence

  Cruelty to or neglect of children

  M

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  F

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 143

  2 Indecency between males offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 144

  3 Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 142.

  Source:

  Home Office Court Proceedings database

  Table B—Persons1 sentenced to imprisonment for offences of manslaughter of a child2 and murder of a child under the age of five years by sex, England and Wales, 1992–1996

  Offence

  Gender

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Homicide offences

  Manslaughter of a child2

  M

  17

  19

  16

  11

  16

  F

  3

  3

  5

  1

  4

  of which:

  Manslaughter of a child under the age of 5 years

  M

  15

  14

  14

  5

  7

  F

  2

  3

  5

  1

  2

  Murder of a child under the age of 5 years

  M

  14

  5

  11

  12

  6

  F

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1 As at 1 August 1997; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available

  2 Child aged 16 years or older.

  Source:

  Homicide Index

  Fire Stations
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Surrey County Council's application for permission to close Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames fire stations and replace them with a single new fire station based in the Spelthorne constituency. [53216]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Surrey County Council has applied for approval, under section 19(4) of the Fire Services Act 1947, to the above change in fire cover arrangements. In considering such an application, my right hon. Friend grants approval only where he is satisfied that the fire authority has consulted as appropriate and that the national standards of fire cover will be maintained. The County Council's application, and the representations that we have received, are being carefully considered in consultation with her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate.

  Voting System Commission
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he expects to announce the conclusions of the Independent Commission on the Voting System. [53181]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I understand from the Commission that they hope to complete their work at the end of October. Their report will be published very shortly thereafter.

  Mr. Peter Bleach
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Mr. Peter Bleach met officials of Her Majesty's Government and its agencies in relation to the issue of arms exports; and on what dates and where. [51878]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 23 July 1998]: Mr. Bleach was interviewed by officers of North Yorkshire Police at his home address on 14 September, 22 September and 8 December 1995 about an alleged illegal shipment of arms. I understand that he also met officials at the London office of the Defence Export Services Organisation of the Ministry of Defence in late 1994 regarding the supply of helicopters to Bangladesh. This led to subsequent meetings with the British Defence Attaché in Dhaka.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the refurbishment of A and B wings at Wandsworth Prison; and when this work is planned to be completed. [52786]

  Ms Quin
  Wandsworth prison's A and B wings were decommissioned shortly before 1 April 1996 because they did not meet the stipulation that all prisoners from 1 April 1996 must have 24 hour access to sanitation. A refurbishment and modernisation programme for the wings (covering integral sanitation, cell doors/windows,
  267
  roofs, electrics, heating, health and safety, security measures, food services and prisoner and staff facilities) is nearing completion. The programme has encountered construction and labour difficulties which have necessitated programme revisions. Replanning the work and extending working hours has enabled acceleration of the works to be achieved. Work to A wing is now due to finish this week with occupation in September; B wing is now programmed to finish in early October in time to meet the planned programme of occupation in late October or early November.

  Norwich Prison
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to(a) receive and (b) publish the report on the suicides of prisoners at Norwich Prison. [52763]

  Ms Quin
  The area manager has received a copy of the review of suicide awareness procedures at Norwich prison following the recent sequence of self-inflicted deaths at the establishment, as he commissioned that review. This is an internal review which is confidential. The current Prison Service policy is that internal reviews or reports are not disclosed. This policy is currently being reviewed but any change will not apply retrospectively.

  Police (Racial Discrimination)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many outstanding cases of racial discrimination brought against police forces are awaiting a hearing by industrial tribunals; how many in each case were brought by(a) officers and (b) civilians; and if he will provide a breakdown by police force; [53094]

  (2) how many cases of racial discrimination against police forces have (a) been settled out of court and (b) been won by civilian and officer applicants in the last five years; how many in each were brought by (i) officers and (ii) civilians; and if he will provide a breakdown by police force. [53095]

  Mr. Michael
  It is a matter for each chief officer to investigate claims of racial discrimination made to his or her force and to the police authority, in consultation with the police authority. The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by contacting each police force.

  1993–94

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  37,600.00

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  148,100.00

  —

  FAIT

  —

  39,700.00

  —

  Victim Support (NI)

  207,000.00*

  —

  —

  Women Together

  —

  25,100.00

  —

  Hunting
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to ban hunting with hounds. [52898]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Several approaches to the question of hunting with hounds are being discussed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Victim Support
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those self-help groups, organisations and agencies offering assistance to victims of the conflict and their families funded by her Department; how much public funding each body has received in each of the past five years; and how much is earmarked to each for the current year and each of the next three years. [48469]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments fund a number of self-help groups, organisations, and agencies which assist victims of the conflict and their families. Some of these organisations do not, however, exist solely to help victims, and there are other organisations which assist victims but do not receive public funding. I have set out the available information, for each of the years requested.

  With the exception of the NIO's grant to Victim Support (NI) (those sums marked *), payments made by NIO represent 25 per cent. fully additional funding towards projects which have received 75 per cent. funding from the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (EUSSPPR), which began in 1995.

  In the case of the EU Special Support Programme, it is not possible to indicate current and future funding specifically for groups assisting victims, as the Government's commitment is to the Programme as a whole, however the Government expect to pay some £157,405 to those bodies listed for the lifetime of already approved projects.

  Funding made available by DOE has been provided through Making Belfast Work; and that by DFP through the Central Community Relations Unit.

  I plan to initiate an analysis of the number of support groups, organisations and agencies which assist victims of the conflict and their families and the funding which they receive. Once this has been completed I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the House of Commons Library.
  269

  1994–95

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  38,000.00

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  148,100.00

  —

  FAIT

  —

  15,000.00

  —

  Newtownabbey Victim Support

  —

  —

  750.00

  Victim Support (NI)

  280,500.00*

  —

  —

  WAVE

  —

  —

  2,740.00

  Women Together

  —

  25,000.00

  —

  1995–96

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  Ballynafeigh Community Development Initiative

  —

  7,300.00

  —

  CALMS

  —

  9,000.00

  —

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  41,600.00

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  165,000.00

  —

  CRUSE

  7,000.00

  —

  —

  FAIT

  —

  43,400.00

  —

  Victim Support (NI)

  370,000.00*

  —

  —

  WAVE

  —

  24,000.00

  280.00

  Women Together

  —

  25,800.00

  —

  1996–97

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  European Union

  Ballynafeigh Community Development Initiative

  —

  21,000.00

  —

  —

  CALMS

  7,000.00

  18,000.00

  —

  28,000.00

  Community Development Centre North Belfast

  —

  16,500.00

  —

  —

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  44,600.00

  —

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  165,000.00

  —

  —

  CRUSE

  5,682.50

  —

  —

  22,730.00

  Institute for Counselling

  2,200.00

  —

  —

  8,800.00

  FAIT

  —

  30,200.00

  —

  —

  NI Music Therapy

  4,000.00

  —

  —

  16,000.00

  Newtownabbey Victim Support

  —

  —

  570.00

  —

  Partnership for those affected by the Troubles

  10,000.00

  —

  —

  40,000.00

  Shankill Stress

  750.00

  —

  —

  3,000.00

  Survivors of Trauma

  9,200.00

  —

  —

  36,800.00

  Treetops

  187.50

  —

  —

  750.00

  Victim Support (NI)

  3,000.00

  —

  —

  12,000.00

  398,000.00*

  WAVE

  9,000.00

  33,000.00

  —

  36,000.00

  Women Together

  —

  37,100.00

  —

  —

  1997–98

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  European Union-Peace and Reconciliation

  Ballynafeigh Community Development Initiative

  —

  21,000.00

  —

  —

  Barnardos

  8,650.00

  —

  —

  34,600.00

  Bogside and Brandywell Initiative

  7,536.25

  —

  —

  30,145.00

  CALMS

  8,750.00

  —

  —

  35,000.00

  Coleraine/Ballymoney Branch Reg UDR

  750.00

  —

  —

  3,000.00

  Columba Support Services

  2,358.00

  —

  —

  9,432.00

  Community Development Centre North Belfast

  —

  44,000.00

  —

  —

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  44,600.00

  —

  —

  270 271

  1997–98

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  European Union-Peace and Reconciliation

  Corrymeela

  —

  165,000.00

  —

  —

  Cost of the Troubles Study

  —

  —

  10,125.00

  —

  CRUSE

  8,977.75

  —

  —

  35,911.00

  DPOA

  5,025.00

  —

  —

  20,100.00

  Institute for Counselling

  550.00

  —

  —

  2,200.00

  FAIT

  —

  31,600.00

  —

  —

  FEAR

  750.00

  —

  —

  3,000.00

  Lifeline

  800.00

  —

  —

  3,200.00

  NI Intermediate Treatment Association

  9,600.00

  —

  —

  38,400.00

  NI Music Therapy

  1,000.00

  —

  —

  4,000.00

  Partnership for those affected by the Troubles

  2,500.00

  —

  —

  10,000.00

  St. James Community Forum

  5,300.00

  —

  —

  21,200.00

  Shankill Stress

  17,075.00

  —

  —

  68,300.00

  Survivors of Trauma

  10,507.50

  —

  8,300.00

  42,030.00

  Victim Support (NI)

  3,750.00

  —

  —

  15,000.00

  480,000.00*

  WAVE

  17,865.00

  36,400.00

  13,414.00

  71,460.00

  Women Together

  —

  32,100.00

  —

  —

  1998–99

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  Ballynafeigh Community Development Initiative

  —

  21,000.00

  —

  Community Development Centre North Belfast

  —

  44,000.00

  —

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  44,600.00

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  165,000.00

  —

  Cost of the Troubles Study

  —

  —

  1,687.00

  FAIT

  —

  33,500.00

  —

  Survivors of Trauma

  —

  —

  800.00

  Victim Support (NI)

  667,000.00*

  —

  —

  WAVE

  —

  35,000.00

  12,264.00

  Women Together

  —

  32,100.00

  —

  1999–00

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of the Environment

  European Union

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  44,600.00

  —

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  165,000.00

  —

  —

  Survivors of Trauma

  —

  —

  191,000.00

  1274,000.00

  Victim Support (NI)

  747,000.00*

  —

  —

  —

  WAVE

  —

  35,000.00

  —

  —

  Women Together

  —

  32,100.00

  —

  —

  1 Over three years

  2000–01

  £

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Department of Environment

  Cornerstone Community

  —

  44,600.00

  —

  Corrymeela

  —

  165,000.00

  —

  Victim Support (NI)

  747,000.00*

  —

  —

  WAVE

  —

  35,000.00

  —

  272 273
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total budget for assisting victims and their families in(a) each of the last five years, (b) the current year and (c) each of the next five years. [48470]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: Assistance for victims and their families has been provided from resources within a number of Government Departments. It has never been a separate Government Programme and has, therefore, no specific budget.

  In anticipation of the publication of the Report of the Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner, the Prime Minister announced, in May of this year, that £5 million would be made available to provide support for victims and their families in the current year.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been commissioned and what estimate her Department has made of the future expenditure that might be required to support the victims of the conflict and their families. [48471]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland established on 24 October 1997, a Commission, headed by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield,
  "to examine the feasibility of providing greater recognition for those who have become victims in the last thirty years as a consequence of events in Northern Ireland".

  Sir Kenneth's subsequent Report, launched on 13 May 1998, entitled "We Will Remember Them", and the recently published report of the Social Services Inspectorate, "Living with the Trauma of the Troubles", which aimed to
  "examine and promote the further development of services to meet the social and psychological needs of individuals affected by the conflict",
  contain a series of recommendations relating to the needs of people who have become victims of the conflict and their families. Both reports are currently the subject of extensive consultation and, until the outcome of this is known, it will not be possible to estimate what future expenditure might be required.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation preceded allocation of the additional £5 million victim support fund announced by the Prime Minister in May; when this money will be distributed, and to whom. [48472]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The recommendations in Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's Report, "We Will Remember Them", were the result of a 6-month consultation exercise with victims, their families and their representatives. I announced on 30 June 1998 a number of initiatives representing an expenditure of almost £1 million. The remainder of the additional £5 million is yet to be allocated and the Victims Liaison Unit, which I have established to drive forward progress in implementing the recommendations in Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report, is currently carrying out a consultation exercise which will help to identify and prioritise a package of measures for victims, and inform the future allocation of funding, including the remainder of that £5 million.
  274
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her policy towards the provision of statutory and voluntary sector services for victim support; and what measures she is planning to promote this policy. [48473]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: I acknowledge the excellent work currently undertaken by both the statutory and voluntary sectors. Both deliver an important and diverse range of services, and I have already given a commitment that any measures put in place for the future assistance of victims will take full account of the need to sustain a balance of both sectors' interests.

  Ulster-Scots Language
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in assisting the further development of the Ulster-Scots language. [49982]

  Mr. Ingram
  In 1997–98 the Ulster-Scots movement received Government funding amounting to some £108,000. The Government also propose to commission independent academic research which will help to determine whether Ulster-Scots should be treated as a language for the purposes of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

  Churches (Attacks)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant churches have been attacked in each month since January 1996. [50195]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 14 July 1998]: The table shows the number of attacks on churches during the period in question. The records do not distinguish between Protestant and Catholic (or other) churches.

  Month

  1996

  1997

  1998

  January

  1

  1

  3

  February

  0

  1

  2

  March

  1

  1

  0

  April

  2

  13

  0

  May

  0

  3

  4

  June

  3

  2

  3

  July

  24

  10

  111

  August

  6

  3

  —

  September

  2

  3

  —

  October

  1

  1

  —

  November

  7

  2

  —

  December

  5

  1

  —

  Totals

  52

  41

  23

  1 to 3 July

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance her Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52311]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Those constructing buildings for which my Department is responsible are required to comply with the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations (NI) 1995 which cover the use of hazardous materials such as those containing asbestos. These
  275
  regulations in turn require compliance with other statutory regulations, approved codes of practice and Health and Safety Executive guidance notes relating specifically to, and giving guidance on, the use of materials containing asbestos.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52970]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The net cumulative increase in compliance costs as estimated in compliance cost assessments published by Northern Ireland Departments during the period 1 May 1997 to 30 June 1998 is as follows:

  Estimated compliance costs

  £ million

  Range

  Non-recurring

  19.6–13.4

  Recurring (annually)

  2.3–1.2

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the compliance cost assessments published by her Department since 1 May 1997. [52971]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Between 1 May 1997 and 30 June 1998 compliance cost assessments were published in respect of the following Northern Ireland measures laid before Parliament at Westminster.
  Horse Racing (Charges on Bookmakers) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997
  Industrial Pollution Control (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
  Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
  Company Accounts (Disclosure of Directors Emoluments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997
  Activity Centres (Young Persons Safety) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
  Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
  Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998
  Horse Racing (Charges on Bookmakers) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997 in which there is a net reduction in compliance costs resulting from a legislative proposal. [52972]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: There is presently no requirement on Departments to carry out compliance cost assessments where legislative proposals are expected to be cost neutral or result in a saving to business.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for North-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Moss) of 21 July 1998,276
  Official Report, column 439, at what (a) age and (b) mileage level the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service considers ambulances become out of standard and requiring replacement. [52788]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: DHSS Guidelines for the replacement of accident and emergency ambulances stipulate that vehicles should be replaced after they have reached 7 years of age or whenever they have covered 140,000 miles, whichever is the sooner. For patient care service vehicles this is 5 years or 70,000 miles.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency's 1997–98 Annual report and Accounts will be published. [53935]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Northern Ireland Child Support Agency will publish its 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts today. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  It is pleasing to note that the Agency has met all Ministerial and Milestone targets for the second year running. Given the strong emphasis which the Agency has placed on improving the quality of service, it is particularly gratifying to see that the bulk of new maintenance applications (94℅) are now being cleared within 26 weeks. The report also records continuing progress on all major fronts over the past three years.

  During the year the Agency collected £7.6 million in maintenance, a 43℅ increase on 1996–97 and is striving to improve the collection rate further through additional measures, such as the recruitment of staff to work alternative working patterns including evenings and Saturdays.

  Closer working with the Social Security Agency to improve working practices, contribution to the Lone Parent Initiative and the successful transfer of all pre-Maintenance Assessment work to the Area Offices is yet a further demonstration of the Agency's commitment to make its services more efficient and accessible to its clients.

  The Agency has delivered an effective performance during 1997–98 within the allocated resources. With the substantial progress made to date the Northern Ireland CSA is well placed to contribute effectively to the Active Modern Service Programme.

  Valuation and Lands Agency
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Valuation and Lands Agency in 1998–99. [53936]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  For 1998–99 the following key performance targets have been set for the Agency:

  1. To complete rating and client service cases—equivalent to 48,600 casework units.

  2. To achieve a productivity for caseworking valuers of 355 work units.

  3. To reduce the unit cost of casework by 2 per cent. in real terms.

  4. To achieve a standard in domestic rating valuations such that 90 per cent. of those determined on appeal are within plus or minus 10 per cent. of the initial assessment.

  277

  5. To achieve a standard in non-domestic rating valuations such that 80 per cent. of those determined on appeal are within plus or minus 10 per cent. of the initial assessment.

  6. To complete 93 per cent. of domestic rating appeals within 6 months of receipt.

  7. To complete 82 per cent. of non-domestic rating appeals within 6 months of receipt.

  8. To complete 93 per cent. of a representative sample of client services casework within agreed time limits.

  9. To issue 90 per cent. of certificates for Continuous Revision Cases subject to retrospective backdating within 12 months of the event giving rise to the revision of the Valuation List.

  Full details are set out in the Agency's Corporate and Business Plans, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Military Complaints
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she has taken to fill the post of Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures. [53937]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have today re-appointed Mr. Jim McDonald as Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures in Northern Ireland. Mr. McDonald's appointment will continue, while an Army presence is required in Northern Ireland to act in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, until 24 August 2000.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she will take to monitor the effectiveness of her Department's increased support for education resulting from the Comprehensive Spending Review. [51327]

  Clare Short
  We are committed in our Development White Paper to mobilising the international community to meet the agreed target that every child should be in quality primary education by 2015. We are increasing our spending on this objective. We have also reviewed our scholarship programmes to ensure that we support training that assists development. We monitor and evaluate all our programmes and are strongly committed to the comprehensive spending review emphasis on measuring success by measuring outputs, which is why we place such stress on the poverty eradication targets.

  Mr. Patrick Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how she intends to spend the increased resources made available for international development assistance following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review, with particular reference to anti-poverty programmes. [51342]

  Clare Short
  Our budgetary increase of £1.6 billion provides substantial new resources for development. The additional resources will be used to fund partnerships with developing country Governments who are committed to policies which will reduce poverty and increase support to multilateral agencies committed to this objective. We plan to agree allocations in the autumn.

  British Council
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what priority her Department gives to the activities of the British Council. [51328]

  Clare Short
  We have concluded that it would be more efficient for the British Council to be responsible to a single department. The FCO will, therefore, assume responsibility for the British Council and the resources previously set aside in DFID' s budget for the Council's grant in aid will transfer to the FCO. We have agreed that at the least the transferred element of the grant in aid must continue to benefit poorer countries and will therefore qualify as official development assistance.

  Bilateral Aid
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money out of the increased resources allocated to her Department in the comprehensive spending review will be spent on bilateral aid. [51330]

  Clare Short
  We will agree the allocation of our increased resources in the Autumn. The International Development White Paper makes clear that we are now giving greater priority to seeking to influence multilateral systems to achieve a stronger commitment to the international poverty eradication targets. We are also redirecting our bilateral efforts to this purpose.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the principal priorities within her bilateral aid programmes on which the additional funding over the next three years announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 14 July will be spent. [51344]

  Clare Short
  The primary objective of the development assistance programme, as our White Paper sets out, is to contribute to the elimination of poverty through the implementation of the international development strategy. The key target of the strategy is to reduce by one half the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. The additional resources available to the Department for International Development (DFID) as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be allocated to contribute to the realisation of that target.

  We have set out as part of the CSR some specific targets for DFID. For the twenty largest recipients of British assistance we will aim to achieve by 2002 an annual increase in GDP per capita for the poorest 20 per cent. of the population, a reduction in the under five and maternal mortality rates and an increase in the number of children in primary school.

  Latin America
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase British support for development projects in Latin America. [51331]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We are not a major donor in Latin America, but our programmes are set to increase by 40 per cent. over the next 3 years and we contribute through our support for international agencies. We are also collaborating more closely with the major multilateral
  279
  agencies in the region. Our support will be firmly focused on promoting the sustainable elimination of poverty, which includes improved management of environmental resources.

  India (Child Immunisation)
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken in respect of the immunisation of children in the Indian sub-continent since May 1997. [51332]

  Clare Short
  Vaccine preventable diseases kill 9 million people every year. Immunisation programmes are the backbone of our efforts to meet the target of reducing by two-thirds the death rate of children under 5 years by 2015. In 1997, we committed £51 million to the polio eradication programme in India—the largest contribution to immunisation in developing countries Britain has ever made. We have also made new contributions to immunisation programmes in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In Sri Lanka, we are helping the Ministry of Health improve vaccination delivery to those displaced by conflict.

  Tanzania
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the help her Department gives to Tanzania. [51333]

  Clare Short
  Our development assistance for Tanzania last year was £38 million. This included £25 million of support for debt relief, and support for projects in areas such as health, education and public administration. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced a new £18 million commitment to work with the WHO to eradicate polio in East Africa which of course includes Tanzania. I plan to visit Tanzania next month and will be reviewing our strategy.

  Russia
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to assist the Government of Russia with economic and political reform. [51334]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We are assisting the Russian Government, and other Russian organisations, with economic political and social reform.

  We also provide assistance through multilateral agencies, especially the EU Tacis programme.

  A copy of our new Country Strategy Paper for Russia, which places an increased emphasis on the need to reduce poverty, has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Debt
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to reduce the debt burden of the world's poorest and most indebted countries. [51335]

  Clare Short
  As part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative, my Department has provided over £6 million to help the African Development Bank meet its share of the costs for Uganda, as well as 280
  making £10 million funds available to help Mozambique qualify for HIPC relief. We have also provided over £25 million of interim debt relief to Tanzania and Mozambique. Part of a new £30 million pledge for Rwanda will be earmarked for a multilateral debt trust fund, established to ensure Rwanda is able to meet its debt obligations during the period leading up to HIPC eligibility. Under the Commonwealth Debt Initiative, eight countries have benefited so far, at a cost of £25 million, and we have provided £400,000 to enable Debt Relief International to assist countries with their debt management. With the additional resources provided under the Comprehensive Spending Review, I look forward to doing more to help reduce the constraints which debt imposes on development.

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress to reduce the debt of poorer developing nations. [51348]

  Clare Short
  The Government's Mauritius Mandate presses for the speedy and flexible implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. This was endorsed by G8 Leaders at their Summit held in Birmingham in May. So far, six countries have qualified for debt relief under the Initiative, and decisions on a further three countries are expected this year. The IMF and World Bank are currently undertaking a review of HIPC which will be considered by Governors at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in October.

  Farmers (Caribbean)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to assist small farmers in Caribbean countries to diversify their crops. [51337]

  Clare Short
  Substantial EC resources to which we contribute are available to promote efficiency in the banana industry, agricultural and economic diversification. We also provide help for infrastructure and education. We are currently in the process of drafting a strategy paper for the Windwards. We are consulting widely and are open to ideas for new initiatives that have a poverty focus.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the St. Helena island authority about providing facilities for air travel and improved seaport facilities. [51339]

  Clare Short
  My Department and the St. Helena Government have agreed to undertake in 1998, a preliminary desk study into the basic technical and economic viability of an airlink to St. Helena. We have agreed to a feasibility study if the outcome of this desk study is positive. European Development Fund resources have been approved in principle for a major wharf improvement project at Jamestown. In the meantime, improved cargo handling equipment funded by my Department will be delivered later this year.

  Development Issues
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to promote greater public understanding of development issues; and if she will make a statement. [51340]

  Clare Short
  My Department runs an active information and development awareness programme.

  As outlined in the development White Paper, the Department attaches high priority to promoting greater awareness of development issues. I have recently doubled the budget for work in this field. I have also set up a Development Awareness Working Group to agree strategies for this work. In November, we will hold the first Development Policy Forum which will enable a wide public debate on development issues.

  In addition, the Department produces publications on its work, attends exhibitions, runs a mobile roadshow, produces its own magazine, "Developments", and has its own internet site. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and I are currently undertaking a series of regional visits to promote greater understanding of development issues.

  Malawi
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the review of aid to Malawi. [51341]

  Clare Short
  I have approved a new Department for International Development Country Strategy Paper for Malawi which has been agreed with the Malawi Government. The Paper envisages a strong long-term partnership to promote sustainable development, equity and human rights in Malawi.

  I will send the hon. Member a copy of the Country Strategy Paper and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Southern Africa
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the Government's plans for new aid expenditure in southern Africa. [51343]

  Clare Short
  During my visit to South Africa and Mozambique last week, I saw the impressive progress that has been made. But much more needs to be done to reduce poverty and create opportunities for some of the poorest people in the world. Our programmes with all countries in Southern Africa are being reviewed this year to ensure we implement the commitments of the development White Paper. Proposals for future allocations are being prepared for all the Department for International Development's programmes.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate how much additional aid will be committed to sub-Saharan African countries over the next three years as a result of the comprehensive spending review. [51345]
  282
  Clare Short
  We are working on proposals for the internal allocation of resources over the next three years. Allocations will be finalised for all programmes in the Autumn and will be published in the Departmental Report early in 1999. We expect to increase our allocations to sub-Saharan African countries, to enable us to further our work on the objectives set out in the White Paper.

  Sudan
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions her Department has held with other Governments and international organisations about the situation in Sudan. [51346]

  Clare Short
  I have had various discussions and contacts with other Governments and international organisations about Sudan among these are the following:On 30 April, I met the Coordinator of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) (Southern Sector)
  On 18 May, I chaired a discussion of EU Development Ministers on Sudan
  On 4 June, I met the UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
  On 9 June, I spoke to the Executive Director of the World Food Programme
  On 23 June, I met the Heads of Save the Children Fund, OXFAM, Action Aid, Christian Aid and CAFOD
  On 9 July, I met the Executive Director of UNICEF
  On 14 July, I wrote to Development Minister colleagues urging them to make additional resources available for the relief effort in Sudan
  On 16 July, I spoke on the telephone to the Administrator of USAID.

  I addition, my officials maintain frequent contact with all agencies looking for a negotiated settlement to the crisis in Sudan. They regularly update me on the situation. For example, they attended the meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the OLS on 18 May and on 24 June they were at a World Food Programme briefing session.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many tons of food aid have been allowed through to the south of Sudan by(a) train, (b) road and (c) air since the ceasefires by the Government of Sudan and the SPLA. [53245]

  Clare Short
  The World Food Programme report that between 15 July, when the cease-fire began, and 26 July 2,753 tonnes of food have been delivered to the south of Sudan by air and 323 tonnes by road. No food aid has yet been delivered by train. In addition, on 23 July, a barge carrying 2,125 tonnes of food left Kosti in northern Sudan. It will drop food at 33 points in the south.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups in Indonesia. [51347]

  Clare Short
  Indonesian community groups are working to prepare a Community Recovery Programme. I have agreed that we should provide an amount up to £6 million needed to complete the programme design and
  283
  run its first six months of operation as a pilot phase. The Community Recovery Programme will provide rapid response grant assistance for the most vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Indonesia. It will focus particularly on people without land or jobs and look to meet needs otherwise unmet by existing support mechanisms in such areas as food security, basic social services, income generation and job creation. Ultimately, the Programme will look to secure funding of up to £25 million from various donors.

  EU Development Programmes
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that European Union development programmes are targeted at the poorest people in recipient countries. [51349]

  Clare Short
  Our aim is for the EC's external development programmes to make an effective contribution in meeting the international poverty eradication goal. My Department seeks to work closely with the European Union to help improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of the Community's aid programmes.

  In agreeing the EU mandate for negotiation with those Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) party to the Lomé Convention, we succeeded in securing stronger backing for the International Development Strategy and targets. When negotiations open in September, we will strongly argue that aid allocations should focus on poverty.

  We are also seeking to ensure that a larger share of external assistance allocations goes to poorer countries. We are trying to influence the new Financial Perspectives, which will set the ceiling for spending on external assistance through the EC Budget for the years 2000–2006, and the 1999 EC Budget.

  Iraq
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has provided to treat or help the victims of Halabja in northern Iraq following the chemical weapons attack by Iraqi military forces on the town in March 1988; what work her Department has funded to monitor the long-term effects of the chemical weapons on the residents of the town since the attack; and if she will make a statement. [53091]

  Clare Short
  We share the widespread concern for the people of Halabja, who are suffering from the continuing effects of the chemical weapons attack. We have been working with NGOs, other donors and medical experts to determine what best can be done to help. Earlier this year, we funded an initial delivery of basic medical supplies to Halabja. We have also contracted a medical specialist to carry out research into the types of illnesses suffered by the people and possible treatments, with a view to developing immediate and longer term health care programme in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, taking into account the difficulties of working in northern Iraq. Other donors have expressed an interest in providing funding towards such a programme and we continue to liaise with them closely.

  Multinationals (OECD Guidelines)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 7 July 1998,Official Report, column 436, on the OECD, when she will publish the specific objectives of the current review of the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. [53137]

  Clare Short
  The next meeting of the committee responsible within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development for reviewing the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises will be in November 1998. Prior to that meeting, the Department of Trade and Industry, (DTI) in conjunction with my Department and other interested Departments, will be drawing together UK experience with the Guidelines and objectives for the review. The DTI will be consulting business and trade union representatives, together with those NGOs who have expressed an interest in the Guidelines, and our aims for the review will take account of the views that they express. We expect to make our objectives public nearer the time.

  World Day for the Eradication of Poverty
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to mark 17 October as the World Day for the Eradication of Poverty. [53005]

  Clare Short
  The eradication of poverty in developing countries is the Department for International Development's purpose, and the focus of our work throughout the year. We currently have no plans to single out 17 October as a specific day for the eradication of poverty. However, we will consider any opportunities that do arise for taking forward our work in the context of the day.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance her Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52309]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) does not undertake the construction of any buildings. In those buildings that it occupies there are strict guidelines laid down to protect staff and visitors from any hazard to health. All areas in which such a hazard exists (such as certain partitions in the Victoria Street Headquarters) are clearly marked.

  Construction standards for buildings constructed with DFID assistance in developing countries do not permit the use of asbestos.

  Occasionally DFID has assisted with projects involving the modification of buildings which are found to contain asbestos. One such case occurred with the Zimbabwe Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in the upgrading of air traffic control systems. DFID introduced specialist technical assistance for DCA staff and contractors to deal with this problem in the short term and to be aware of it for the future.

SCOTLAND

  Departmental Reviews
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the reviews his Department initiated in the years(a) 1974–75, (b) 1979–80 and (c) 1992–93. [48524]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The information is not held centrally by my Department and comprehensive details of all such reviews cannot be provided. The following table lists certain reviews for the years in question which have been obtained from published information.

  Year

  Review

  1974–75

  Review of financial support for shipping services to the Islands

  Review of school leaving date arrangements

  Dunning Committee on O Grade examination structure

  1979–80

  Committee of Inquiry into Local Government in Scotland

  Working party on provision of non-university tertiary education in the Dundee area

  1992–93

  Review of bursaries scheme for non-advanced further education students

  Review of councillors' expenses

  Loch Lomond and Trossachs working party

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52301]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Scottish Office issues copies of the common guidance prepared by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, "Asbestos Materials in Buildings" to those who require it.

  Domestic Abuse
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the links between domestic abuse and child abuse will be recognised in the Scottish Strategy against domestic abuse, and that children's experiences of domestic abuse will be included. [52269]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: The links between domestic abuse and child abuse are increasingly becoming recognised. The Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence can be expected to take account of this as it develops the Scottish strategy on domestic violence. The wide range of membership of the Partnership should ensure that all aspects of domestic abuse are considered.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to follow up the research on service provision to women experiencing domestic violence in Scotland, published by the Scottish Office Central Research Unit with initiatives and research to address the needs of children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. [52268]
  286
  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: The research we have already published "Service Provision to Women Experiencing Domestic Violence in Scotland" has provided us with a good basis for the improvement of services. We will consider the need for further initiatives and research in the light of the recommendations which will be received from the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to facilitate consultation with children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse in developing policy, practice and provision. [52262]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: Our aim in establishing the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence is to ensure that it contains a wide range of interests, including those who are knowledgeable about the problems faced by children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, so that they can reflect this in the work of the Partnership. It will also be open to the Partnership to carry out its own consultations with children and young people.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legal safeguards to prevent women and children being placed at risk of further abuse due to contact between children and abusive fathers. [52261]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 provides for parental responsibilities and rights (such as contact) to continue after separation or divorce. If contact results in risk of abuse, a range of protective measures are available. The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 allows a court to deprive a person of parental responsibilities and rights. The Act also introduced orders to protect children and to exclude a named person from the family home. As part of its remit, the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence will take full account of the impact of domestic violence and will consider the adequacy of existing safeguards. The matter of consultation will be for the Partnership to determine as its work progresses.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase access to support and protection following domestic abuse for(a) women and children from rural areas, (b) ethnic minority women and children and (c) those who have a family member with disabilities or special educational needs. [52260]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: The remit of our proposed Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence will include a requirement to consider particularly the problems in obtaining access to services which affect women and children living in rural areas; women and children from ethnic minorities; and women or children who have disabilities.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the treatment of children and young people experiencing domestic abuse in local authorities' children's services plans. [52793]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Extensive guidance on the provisions of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 was issued last year. Although the guidance does not specifically refer to children and young people who experience domestic abuse, it does identify children

  287
  who are in need of protection and children whose health and development is suffering among those categories of children for whom local authorities should plan services.

  I do not propose to issue further guidance at this stage, but the existing guidance will be reviewed in due course in the light of experience and of any recommendations received from the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence.

  Football Clubs
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on soccer in Scotland of UEFA's proposed ban on multi-club ownership. [52330]

  Mr. Dewar
  I appreciate the concern about the potential impact of the ruling, and it is very important that the integrity of football competitions is not undermined. The football authorities are best placed to decide how far the new ruling is required to ensure fair competition, and pursue as necessary with UEFA.

  Scottish Parliament (Parking)
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many car spaces are planned to be provided for the new Scottish Parliamentary building; to whom these spaces will be made available; and how much they will cost to provide. [53101]

  Mr. Dewar
  On present plans, the proposed number of car parking spaces to be provided in the new Scottish Parliament building is 170. This figure comprises 129 secure dedicated spaces for MSPs with the remainder being available for visitors and staff, including special provision for disabled users. The cost of providing car parking facilities will be met within the overall project budget.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52945]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: It is not practicable to give a single net figure, because of the diverse detail contained within some of the individual compliance cost assessments.

  In the majority of the compliance cost assessments produced by The Scottish Office, measures have been confirmed as being cost neutral or not imposing any cost on business. The compliance costs for 3 of the measures, however, have been estimated as follows:
  the building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997—amendments to Part J of the Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The net cumulative increase in compliance costs in respect of any typical year, range from a minimum of £30m to £60m per annum. The amendments will lead to an improvement in the energy performance of buildings resulting in a reduction of energy costs. Overall, the measures can be expected to pay for themselves in approximately 8–15 years.
  the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997; and the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment
  288
  Order 1997. The recurring cost of compliance across all business sectors affected will be in the range £50,000 to £100,000.
  the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997—amendments to Part K of the Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The building construction costs are likely to increase by about £75 for an average sized house. This, as a percentage of total construction costs, is considered negligible and should have little effect on construction costs, is considered negligible and should have little effect on construction firms. It is estimated that the total additional building costs for the Scottish house building industry as a whole will be —1.7m per annum.

  For the detail, I refer the hon. Member to Cmnd Paper 3938 and the individual compliance cost assessments held in the House Library.

  Environmental Agencies
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Government will undertake public consultation on the review of legislation relating to integration within the Environmental Agency for England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. [54144]

  Mr. Dewar
  I announced on 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 241, that we would review the legislation relating to the Environment Agency for England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, with a view to identifying any barriers preventing the Agencies from taking an integrated approach to the environment. We are issuing the relevant consultation paper today. We are sending it to a wide range of bodies, and publishing it on the Internet.

  Scottish Education Unit
  Mrs. McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the forthcoming policy and financial management review of the Scottish Education Unit. [54145]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Department will conduct a review of the Scottish Further Education Unit during 1998 under the programme of five-yearly non-departmental public body reviews. The review will examine the status and functions of the Scottish Further Education Unit in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance.

  The review will be conducted in two distinct stages. The initial stage of the review—the "prior options" stage—will focus on whether the body is required at all, whether NDPB status is correct, and whether the functions are being delivered in the most effective manner. As part of this, The Scottish Office will thoroughly examine the case for abolition, transferring part or all of the functions to another body, rationalisation, privatisation, and continuation as an NDPB. The second stage of the review will then examine the Scottish Further Education Unit's financial management and control systems.

  The first part of the review will also examine the roles of other organisations involved in the development and support of further education in Scotland and the scope for co-ordination of their activities with those of the Unit to ensure maximum value for money from the central government resources available for further education in Scotland.
  289
  This study will commence in the autumn and will be carried out by the Scottish Office Management and Organisation Unit.

  In order to help ensure that all options are considered fully, comments from interested parties will be welcome. Comments should be sent by mid October 1998 to:

  Dr. David McAllister

  Further Education Funding Division

  The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department

  Area 1-C

  Victoria Quay

  Edinburgh

  EH6 6QQ.

  Leases
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many leases of residential properties extend to a period of 99 years or more in Scotland; and how many of these tenants are liable to be affected by the expiry of such long leases and consequential claims by the Landlords for excessive payments. [53138]

  Mr. Dewar
  It would require a time-consuming and exhaustive search of the Register of Sasines and the Land Register of Scotland to establish how many leases of residential properties in Scotland extend to a period of 99 years or more. It is therefore impossible to verify how many of these tenants are liable to be affected by the expiry of such long leases. The Government are aware of the difficulty of assessing compensation payable to a landlord if the tenant wishes to buy the property when the lease expires. Because of this and other difficulties caused to the tenant, residential leases of more than 20 years' duration were prohibited by the Land Tenure Reform (Scotland) Act 1974. The Scottish Law Commission will examine leasehold tenure when it completes its work on abolition of the feudal system and the reform of real burdens.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned by his Department into the number of tenants holding long leases and the levels of rent payable thereunder. [53139]

  Mr. Dewar
  No specific research has been commissioned into the number of tenants holding long leases in Scotland, which are leases for more than 20 years. Leasehold tenure is relatively rare in Scotland and is concentrated in specific geographical areas. The vast majority of property is held under feudal tenure. Long leases, for example for 999 years, were very often granted as an alternative to feuing because of restrictions on the power to feu. Levels of rent payable under these long leases tend to be minimal.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has commissioned from the Law Commission into the law of Scotland relating to long leases; and if he will assess the advantages of converting tenant's interest into(a) a registered title in the Land Register of Scotland and (b) a recorded title in the Register of Sasines. [52811]

  Mr. Dewar
  Under its Fifth Programme of Law Reform, the Scottish Law Commission has an objective to undertake, as a long-term project, an examination of leasehold tenure, in particular long leases of residential subjects. Although some work has already been carried 290
  out, it is unlikely that the Commission will be able to resume its work on this subject until it has completed its work on abolition of the feudal system and the reform of real burdens, which takes priority because the vast majority of property in Scotland is held under feudal tenure.

  It has been possible to record the tenants' interest in a long lease in the Register of Sasines since the passing of the Registration of Leases (Scotland) Act 1857. The Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 allows the tenant's interest in a long lease to be registered in the Land Register of Scotland.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52701]

  Mr. Dewar
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were on(a) in-patient waiting lists and (b) out-patient waiting lists, by quarter in each of the last three years. [53258]

  Mr. Dewar
  The number of patients on waiting lists for in-patient and day case treatment in NHS hospitals in Scotland at the end of each quarter for the last three years is given in the following table. Information on the number of patients waiting for out-patient appointments on a given date is not collected centrally.

  Date

  In-patient and day care waiting list

  30 June 1995

  78,582

  30 September 1995

  80,482

  31 December 1995

  82,811

  31 March 1996

  82,640

  30 June 1996

  81,106

  30 September 1996

  79,843

  31 December 1996

  82,848

  31 March 1997

  84,649

  30 June 1997

  84,813

  30 September 1997

  84,981

  31 December 1997

  87,766

  31 March 1998

  89,525

  Source:

  ISD Scotland

  Ambulance Age
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ambulances and similar vehicles operated in each of the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust's 10 regional divisions are(a) under one year old, (b) between one and three years old, (c) between three and five years old, (d) between five and seven years old and (e) over seven years old. [52540]
  291
  Mr. Dewar
  The information is set out in the table.

  Number of vehicles at 31 March 1998 by age band

  Ambulance Division

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  Total

  Argyll and Clyde

  19

  27

  36

  21

  29

  132

  Ayrshire and Arran

  4

  27

  23

  15

  16

  85

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  11

  22

  12

  7

  53

  Greater Glasgow

  27

  56

  32

  12

  19

  146

  Fife

  11

  18

  12

  17

  13

  71

  Lothian, Borders

  27

  34

  28

  44

  25

  158

  Forth Valley, Lanarkshire

  23

  29

  28

  5

  40

  125

  Grampian, Orkney, Shetland

  13

  31

  31

  31

  12

  118

  Highland, Western Isles

  9

  27

  30

  22

  10

  98

  Tayside

  10

  21

  19

  28

  15

  93

  Total

  144

  281

  261

  207

  186

  1,079

  Scotland AEU1

  71

  130

  135

  109

  7

  452

  PTV2

  47

  94

  84

  86

  154

  465

  Support3

  26

  57

  42

  12

  25

  162

  1 Accident and Emergency Units

  2 Patient Transport Vehicles

  3 Mobile Ambulance Control Units, Emergency Support Units, Response Units, Motorcycles, District Ambulance Officers' Cars and Workshop Vehicles

  Elections
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of advantages of making the times of the opening and closing of the poll the same for the elections to both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish local authorities on 6 May 1999. [52630]

  Mr. McLeish
  A Working Group has been set up comprising officials from the Scottish Office, the main political parties, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Association of Electoral Administrators to look at the arrangements for the conduct of elections on 6 May 1999, including the polling hours.

  The current assumption is that the polling hours should be the same for both elections, but no conclusion has yet been reached on the precise times.

  Bed Blocking
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each health board in Scotland the number of beds blocked on average in March of the current year. [52629]

  Mr. Dewar
  Information on the number of patients occupying beds although they are ready for discharge to the community is not collected routinely.

  Mental Illness Grant
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the mental illness specific grant for 1999–2000 and subsequent years; and if he will make a statement. [52503]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Mental Illness Specific Grant (MISG) will continue to provide ring-fenced resources totalling £18 million a year towards community-based mental health projects in Scotland.

  In addition to the MISG, the Mental Health Development Fund is providing £9 million over 3 years up to 2000–2001 to assist local agencies to work together to provide integrated support for people with mental
  292
  health problems, in line with the principles set out in the Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the non-ring-fenced Grant Aided Expenditure allowances to local authorities for their social work responsibilities, including for mental health services, will increase by £279 million over the next 3 years. Over £90 million is also transferred each year from Health Boards to local authorities to reflect the shift from psychiatric and other NHS hospital care to care in the community.

TREASURY

  Foreign Earnings (Deductions)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the impact of recent changes to the foreign earnings deduction arrangements on(a) operating costs of British charities and (b) in the gross and net tax revenues accruing to Government. [52539]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In reaching the decision to end the general Foreign Earnings Deduction, full consideration was given to all likely practical consequences. Based on information provided on behalf of UK charities, any costs arising as a result of this legislative change will be very low. Most aid agency employees working abroad will not be UK resident for tax purposes and so will be unaffected by the change. The net full year Exchequer yield from the withdrawal of the general Foreign Earnings Deduction is forecast to be at least £250 million a year and the gross figure will be higher than this.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the impact of recent changes to the foreign earnings deduction arrangements, on the overseas earnings and competitive position outside the United Kingdom of(a) the consultancy sector, (b) consulting engineers, (c) contractors and (d) industries in the United Kingdom which supply goods and services for British consultants and contractors operating overseas. [52538]
  293
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  In reaching the decision to end the general Foreign Earnings deduction, full consideration was given to all likely practical consequences. It is important to note that FED was available to all employees and provided a loophole exploited not only by UK employers. It is, therefore, impossible to measure precisely the effect on overseas earnings of the withdrawal of this relief. More importantly, in terms of international competitiveness, it is misleading to look at one feature of the tax system in isolation. We believe in support for all businesses through economic stability and broad based relief. We have already reduced the main rate of corporation tax by two percentage points. A further one per cent. reduction is proposed for 1999. Advance corporation tax is also being abolished. It is measures such as these which makes the UK attractive to business and which will result in the creation of jobs and closing discredited loopholes such as FED helps to fund these measures.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide his assumptions for(a) the number of people unemployed and (b) the percentage of the workforce unemployed in respect of his estimates for social security expenditure in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [51472]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 20 July 1998]: The unemployment assumption was set in line with the convention, audited and approved by the National Audit Office—a flat profile for future years based on the most recent outturn.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52694]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 July 1998,Official Report, columns 581–82.

  The organisations which undertook the research projects listed are as follows:
  SA public information campaign: Research International
  SA budget payments Plans: NOP
  Two alcohol and tobacco smuggling surveys: Customs and Excise (Monitored by the Government Statistical service)
  Presentational aspects of the individual savings account: Fishburn Hedges
  Presentational aspects of the working families tax credit: Ogilvy and Mather
  Various surveys of PEP/TESSA holders: NOP, ONS, MORI.

  The aggregate cost of the projects is £350,250. Pricing information can be commercially sensitive and the contractors have asked for certain individual project costs not to be disclosed. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 19 May 1998, Official
  294
  Report, column 303 and on 30 March 1998, Official Report, column 441, which gave information on the individual costs of some of these projects.

  Euro
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned on the impact of the euro on the United Kingdom mortgage market. [53009]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have not commissioned research into the impact of the euro on the United Kingdom mortgage market. However, the Government are familiar with the range of outside studies on the subject.

  Ecu Mortgages
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many United Kingdom home buyers have taken out ecu mortgages in each year since 1989. [53010]

  Ms Hewitt
  These statistics are not readily available.

  Houses-builders Federation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with(a) the House-builders Federation and (b) other organisations concerning the implications for the United Kingdom housing market of the introduction of the euro. [53011]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer holds regular discussions with a wide range of organisations on the implications of EMU for the UK economy, including the housing market.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of disability living allowance are liable for taxation at(a) the highest, (b) the standard and (c) the basic rate; and what proportion these constitute of all recipients of disability living allowance. [53034]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The information requested is given for 1998–99 in the table. It is estimated that there are 2.1 million recipients of disability living allowance in 1998–99. Very few recipients, if any, are liable at the higher rate.

  Marginal rate tax

  Number of recipients of disability living allowance

  Percentage of total recipients

  Basic rate

  200,000

  10

  Lower rate

  200,000

  10

  ICL Pathway Project
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 652–53, on the ICL Pathway Project, (1) if he will list the firm or firms who have supplied the consultants; [53160]

  (2) on what date the consultants were appointed; and whether their appointment followed a competitive tender. [53164]
  295
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The PA Consulting Group, Mr. Alec Wylie and Mr. Bill Robins were engaged to assist with the monitoring of the ICL Pathway project. The Government have a call off contract with PA Consulting through the CCTA service catalogue. PA Consulting started work on 28 April 1998. Mr. Wylie and Mr. Robins, with whom contracts were signed on 1 May, were selected after a number of candidates were interviewed.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 652–53, when the objectives set by the Government will be achieved by the ICL Pathway Project. [53161]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Present plans provide that the programme to automate all post offices will be completed by end 2000.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 652–53, on the ICL Pathway Project, if he will list the parties involved. [53163]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The parties to the contracts are: the Benefits Agency (on behalf of DSS), Post Office Counters Limited and ICL Pathway.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 652–53, for what reasons the Government have decided not to assess alternative options to the ICL Pathway Project. [53162]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: ICL Pathway are engaged in a project to automate post office counters under contracts agreed in 1996. The Government remain committed to the objectives of the project.

  Coinage
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) planned and (b) current sterling coins match the dimensions of euro coinage; what discussions have taken place (i) on potential problems arising from duplication, (ii) between the Commission and his Department and (iii) with representatives of British business; and if he will make a statement. [53829]

  Ms Hewitt
  None.

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on public access to the January ECOFIN Council; what publicity was given to the meeting; if representatives from(a) political parties and (b) lobby groups were admitted; what audience vetting took place; and to what proportion of the conference public attendance was permitted. [53773]

  Ms Hewitt
  The first agenda item of the 19 January Council Meeting was the presentation and discussion of the Presidency and Commission work programmes for the UK Presidency. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence) on 28 January 296
  1998, Official Report, column 264, this took the form of an "open debate". This was the only agenda item to which public attendance was permitted.

  Open debates are regularly held, but as part of the UK commitment to openness, took a higher profile during our Presidency. Eight open debates were held during the UK Presidency. More than three times as many members of the public attended the UK's open debates as under the previous Presidency, and the Presidency took the initiative actively to invite the public to watch the debates. The Council Secretariat sent invitations to the first two open debates (ECOFIN work programme, 19 January and GAC work programme 26 January) to 2,800 Brussels based organisations, including NGOs, consultants, law firms, educational organisations and thinktanks.

  Some 200 people pre-registered for the ECOFIN debate, and the Secretariat estimate that this number, together with about 100 journalists, watched the debate through a video link to Justus Lipsius Press Conference room, which was full to capacity. Europe by Satellite also broadcast the debate. The Chancellor referred to the initiative in his post-Council press conference.

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the non-requirement for the Personal Investment Authority's disciplinary committee to publish its rules of procedure. [53780]

  Ms Hewitt
  None. The rules governing discipline are published in the rulebook of the PIA.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what form practitioner involvement will take in the operation of the Financial Services Authority; and when such arrangements will be in place; [53779]

  (2) what is the timetable for the Financial Services Authority in drawing up the guides envisaged in its consultation document designing the FSA handbook of rules and guidance; [53785]

  (3) when the Financial Services Authority will publish details of the system it intends to operate for monitoring independent financial advisers. [53778]

  Ms Hewitt
  I understand that the Financial Services Authority intends to publish further details of its approach to regulation shortly.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what activities his Department's Green Minister has undertaken relating to his environmental responsibilities since being appointed. [52437]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As the Treasury's Green Minister, I am committed to 'greening' the Department's operations, to integrating environmental considerations into other policy areas, and to improving the economic analysis underpinning the Government's environmental initiatives.
  297
  Information campaigns have been run on the recycling schemes in place and energy awareness. The Treasury also has the "Bag It and Bin It" campaign, and the "Going for Green" campaign.

  The Statement of Intent on Environmental Taxation, released with the July 1997 Budget, committed the Government to exploring the scope for using taxes to help reduce environmental damage. The last two Budgets contained a considerable package of environmental tax measures and commitments to further action. I was involved in its preparation, and in drawing up the assessment of the environmental impact that appeared within the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  On a number of occasions I have met environmental non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) and other interested bodies to discuss, among other matters, their proposals for environmental taxes. I have also given evidence on the Treasury's environmental performance, and on the Government's use of environmental taxes, to both the Environmental Audit Committee and the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from(a) friendly societies, (b) building societies and (c) co-operative societies on the individual savings account and its regulation; and if he will make a statement. [53904]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The Inland Revenue has received over 100 responses to the draft regulations for the individual savings account, which were issued for consultation in May. Six of these were from individual building societies and two from friendly societies, and

  Tax, National Insurance, Child Benefit and Family Credit payments at multiple of gross earnings

  Gross earnings (£ per week)

  150

  200

  250

  300

  400

  2 earner married couple with 1 child under 4

  National Insurance

  3.88

  9.76

  14.76

  19.76

  29.76

  Income Tax

  0.00

  2.38

  12.25

  22.75

  44.55

  Child Benefit

  11.45

  11.45

  11.45

  11.45

  11.45

  Family Credit

  24.97

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Tax and NICs less Child Benefit and Family Credit as a percentage of gross earnings

  -21.69

  0.35

  6.22

  10.35

  15.71

  Net income

  182.54

  199.31

  234.44

  268.94

  337.14

  Equivalised Net Income

  154.69

  168.90

  198.68

  227.92

  285.71

  2 earner married couple with 1 child aged 4 and 1 child aged 6

  National Insurance

  3.88

  9.76

  14.76

  19.76

  29.76

  Income Tax

  0.00

  2.38

  12.25

  22.75

  44.55

  Child Benefit

  20.75

  20.75

  20.75

  20.75

  20.75

  Family Credit

  37.32

  8.10

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  Tax and NICs less Child Benefit and Family Credit as a percentage of gross earnings

  -36.13

  -8.35

  2.50

  7.25

  13.39

  Net income

  204.19

  216.71

  243.74

  278.24

  346.44

  Equivalised Net Income

  146.90

  155.90

  175.35

  200.17

  249.24

  Note:

  The figures are calculated on the basis that all earnings are from employment and that there are no other sources of income

  The Married Couples Allowance has been allocated to the person earning 60 per cent. of the total

  The standard McClements scales have been used to determine equivalised income. This is the same process that is used in the DSS's Households Below Average Income publication

  Some of these families may also be entitled to housing benefit and council tax benefit. However, as this will depend upon the composition of the housing costs (between mortgage payments, council tax, and rent) housing benefit and council tax benefit have been left out of these figures
  298
  responses were also received from the relevant representative bodies. No representations were received from co-operative societies. We are grateful for all the points made to us, which have been carefully considered.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax payers there were in each of the tax years from 1990–91 to 1998–99. [51735]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The number of income taxpayers in each of the specified years is given in the table. They are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for 1995–96 and earlier years. Figures for 1996–97 onwards are projected in line with the March 1998 Budget forecast.

  Number of income taxpayers (million)

  1990–91

  26.1

  1991–92

  25.7

  1992–93

  25.4

  1993–94

  25.0

  1994–95

  25.3

  1995–96

  25.8

  1996–971

  25.9

  1997–981

  26.1

  1998–991

  26.2

  1 Provisional

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 577, if he will provide comparable figures for two earner married couples with (a) one child aged four and (b) two children aged four and six. [51165]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The data requested are given in the table.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on reform of the regulations governing credit unions; and if he will make a statement. [53777]

  Ms Hewitt
  A number of representations have been received on reforming credit unions, including one from the Association of British Credit Unions. We will shortly be issuing a consultation document containing a package of measures designed to lift some of the restrictions in existing legislation, whilst maintaining the movement's focus on the less well off.

  Widowers and Widows Benefits
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will extend the entitlement to widows bereavement allowance to widowers. [53342]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 3 July 1998,Official Report, columns 330–31.

  Self-assessment
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many late-filing penalty notices have been issued by the Inland Revenue to taxpayers due to submit 1996–97 self-assessment income tax returns; and how many of the penalty notices have proved(a) to be incorrect or (b) to be issued in error. [52761]

  Dawn Primarolo
  670,000 late filing penalties have been issued to taxpayers whose 1996–97 self assessment tax returns were received after the filing deadline. About 8 million tax returns were filed on time. There are a number of circumstances in which a penalty notice may need to be cancelled. A common example would be where the taxpayer turns out to have a reasonable excuse for delivering the return late. However, there are no available statistics for the numbers of penalties which were discharged simply because they were incorrect or issued in error.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on IT, itemising(a) personal computers, (b) main-frame, (c) mini-computers and (d) file servers in the last year for which figure are available. [52876]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In 1997–98 Her Majesty's Treasury spent as follows:

  (a) on Personal Computers £612,512.00

  (b) on Main-frame Nil

  (c) on Mini-Computers Nil

  (d) on File Servers £653,495.00.

  Alcohol and Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many successful prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for smuggling(a) alcohol and (b) tobacco into the United Kingdom from mainland Europe. [52297]
  300
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The information requested is not available in this form, however, specific figures are available for the number of prosecutions generated by Excise Verification Officers for the smuggling of alcohol and/or tobacco from within the European Union.

  1993–94: 44

  1994–95: 515

  1995–96: 438

  1996–97: 502

  1997–98: 417.

  Charities Taxation
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress on the Review of Charities Taxation. [53938]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Over 3,000 replies were received in the first phase of the Review. The Government are determined to devote the time and attention necessary to do justice to all these contributions before launching the next phase. We expect to publish a Consultation Document in the autumn.

  Funeral Payments
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to regulate pre-payments for funerals. [53939]

  Ms Hewitt
  The planned legislation to establish the Financial Services Authority as a single financial regulator provides the opportunity to put in place some essential protections for pre-payments for funerals. Pre-payments for funerals will be included in the scope of regulation under the Bill. However, we will be looking at ways of excluding from direct regulation under the Bill arrangements that offer sufficient protection, such as plans backed by life insurance policies, which meet certain criteria. Consumer concerns about the conduct of the funeral business will remain the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.

  The Government will be consulting on the proposals in due course. A consultation document will explain our plans in more detail. As part of the consultation we will be seeking views on possible criteria which life policies backing pre-paid funeral plans might meet if the plans are to stay outside the scope of the Bill. The key aim in setting these criteria will be to see that appropriate safeguards exists, so that when the funeral is delivered, the money is there to pay for it.

  I am determined to see that pre-payments for funerals are kept safely and are sufficient to meet the funeral costs. The framework I propose is designed to ensure that, as far as possible, consumers get the funeral for which they have paid.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people his Department is committed to employing during 1998 under(a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52586]
  301
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to the following programme in support of the New Deal programme:Phase 1—Plans are underway to employ eight (8) people under the subsidised job option and no members of staff under the unsubsidised job option in 1998.
  Phase 2—We will look at employing people under the unsubsidised job option, and increasing the number of people employed under the subsidised option in the next calendar year.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposals outlined by General Abubakar in his national broadcast on Tuesday 21 July. [52755]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We welcome General Abubakar's commitment to the restoration of democratic civilian government by May 1999, after free and fair elections in early 1999. We also welcome his undertaking to respect human rights and democracy, including the release of the remaining political prisoners. This is the best news that we have had from Nigeria for a long time.

  The time has now come to re-establish dialogue between Nigeria and Britain and the wider international community. We are working to secure the agreement of EU partners that members of the Nigerian Government should now be allowed to visit EU member states where that would help General Abubakar's programme and promote constructive dialogue.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist with arrangements for the international monitoring of the forthcoming Nigerian elections. [52758]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are considering, with our Commonwealth and other partners, how to respond to General Abubakar's invitation to observe the elections in Nigeria.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from British industry concerning the situation in Nigeria. [52757]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I am in contact with a range of companies, either individually or through the West Africa Committee, who represent the majority of British companies active in Nigeria. A welcome has been expressed for recent positive developments in Nigeria.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the restoration of air services between Nigeria and the UK by British Airways. [52760]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I am pleased to announce that on 23 July General Abubakar, with immediate effect, lifted the ban on British Airways' flights to Nigeria.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official contact the Government have had with the Head of State of Nigeria since the visit of the Minister of State. [52756]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to General Abubakar by telephone on 24 July. He welcomed General Abubakar's statement of 20 July committing himself to the restoration of 302
  democratic civilian government by May 1999, after free and fair elections. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister re-iterated that Britain was ready to help Nigeria with the implementation of the programme. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also thanked General Abubakar for resolving the air services dispute.

  Biological Warfare
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the laboratory tests on the fresh samples of missile warhead fragments which were removed from Iraq earlier this year and are alleged to contain traces of VX nerve gas and VX stabiliser are expected to be completed. [53104]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On 14 July, fresh samples were collected from missile warhead fragments in Iraq by an UNSCOM team including French and Swiss experts. The samples are now being analysed in Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) accredited laboratories in France and Switzerland. UNSCOM does not expect to receive the full results of the new tests before September.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the vehicles due for replacement by(a) his Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01 will be replaced by vehicles using (1) petrol, (2) diesel, (3) natural gas, (4) electric batteries and (5) other. [52621]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The expected replacement programme for official vehicles at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is:

  Year

  Overseas

  Home

  1998–1999

  189

  5

  1999–2000

  254

  9

  2000–2001

  160

  8

  Detailed information about the fuel types to be chosen for replacement vehicles to be purchased at FCO Posts overseas is not known. In each case, this will depend on the type of vehicle required, and the availability of fuel types in each country at the time of purchase.

  Of the vehicles to be replaced in the FCO home fleet, the five replacement vehicles for 1998–99, have already been bought and consist of 3 petrol saloon cars and 2 diesel commercial vehicles. No advance decisions have been taken about the types of fuel for the replacement vehicles needed in future years. This will be carefully assessed at the time, based on vehicle requirements, technical advances in commercially available fuel types and availability.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what parking facilities for cycles exist at each office or site for which his Department is responsible and for each agency for which he is responsible. [52688]
  303
  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: This Department has 200 secure cycling spaces—108 in London and 92 at Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes.

  Burma
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the situation in Burma. [54149]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We continue to deplore the authorities' disregard for human rights and democracy. Ministerial statements have unequivocally condemned abuses. We continue to exert pressure on the regime to engage in substantive dialogue with opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi. We used our Presidency to renew EU measures against Burma and to draft the tough resolution agreed by the UN Commission on Human Rights in April.

  We do not encourage trade with or investment in Burma: in present circumstances we will include in any responses to inquiries about the market from British companies a very clear statement about the nature of the regime; and any briefings will emphasise the Burmese political and human rights situation and the state of the economy.

  We also wish to draw attention to the views of the pro-democracy leaders in Burma that it would be inappropriate for tourists to visit Burma at present.

  Panel 2000
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Panel 2000 will be making public its recommendations. [54150]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Panel 2000 is in the final stages of producing a Consultation Document. This is intended to stimulate public debate on how Britain's identity is projected abroad. The Panel will welcome comments from all those with an interest in how Britain is perceived overseas. As soon as the document is finalised it will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Sudan
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the approval of an export licence for the supply of two Bedford trucks to Church Ecumenical Action in Sudan. [54151]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Government recently approved the export of two Bedford trucks to CEAS to help with the distribution of humanitarian aid in southern Sudan. While the trucks were once owned by the MOD, they have been stripped of all military hardware and painted white. They will now be used to help ease the terrible crisis in southern Sudan of which we are all aware. We were therefore glad to be able to approve this export as an exception to our interpretation of the EU arms embargo on Sudan. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Sudan.

  Entry Clearance Report
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to lay before 304
  the House the report covering 1997 by Dame Elizabeth Anson, the Independent Monitor, of refusal of entry clearance where there is no right of appeal. [54152]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I have arranged for copies of Dame Elizabeth's Report covering 1997 to be placed in the Libraries of the House today. I welcome the Report and note Dame Elizabeth's recommendations, which will receive careful consideration.

  Wilton Park
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Wilton Park executive agency performed against the targets agreed for 1997–98; and what are the agreed targets for the current year. [54154]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Wilton Park exceeded all four of the agreed targets set for the 1997–98 financial year, for the number of conference participants, income, cost recovery and cost per head to the FCO overall. The 1997–98 targets were:Income: £1,554K
  Recovery of costs from commercial activities: 78 per cent.
  Number of Wilton Park Conference participants: 1,750
  Costs to FCO per conference participant: £247.

  The following key targets have been agreed for the financial year, 1998–99.
  To increase overall income to £2,051 K.
  To increase cost recovery to 81 per cent.
  To increase the target for the overall number of Wilton Park Conference participants to 2,000.
  To reduce the average cost to the FCO of each participant to £240.

  Chagos Archipelago
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to designate vulnerable areas of the Chagos Archipelago as marine protected areas. [51336]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 July 1998,Official Report, column 713.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Small Claims Courts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will establish performance measures for small claims courts for the(a) implementation of orders and (b) response times to correspondence from the public. [51850]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Court Service is not responsible for implementing court orders. This is for the parties to decide. However, the Court Service aims to prepare court orders and reply to correspondence from the public within 5 working days, but no longer than 10 working days. The target for 1997–98 was 92 per cent. within 5 working days, although the courts' achieved 98.3 per cent. This includes the performance of all county courts and the Supreme Court Group.
  305
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement procedures for orders made by small claims courts; and if he will make a statement. [51849]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor recognises that there are widespread concerns about the enforcement of civil court judgments, including judgments resulting from the small claims procedure.

  For that reason, the Lord Chancellor has directed that a Review be carried out to examine the effectiveness of current methods of enforcement, identify changes necessary to enhance their effectiveness and make recommendations. The full Terms of Reference are set out in my reply of 25 March 1998, Official Report, column 141–42.

  Ms Marian Temple
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects the Chief

  LCD Research projects completed May-December 1997

  Project title

  Cost (£)

  Date completed

  Researcher details

  Law-and-Economics: State of the Art and Questions for the Future

  4,000

  May 1997

  Professor Anthony Ogus, Rachel Amass University of Manchester

  Rationing and Cost-containment in Legal Services

  8,000

  June 1997

  Professor Robert Dingwall, Professor Paul Fenn, Jackie Tuck University of Nottingham

  The Workings of the Child Abduction Conventions

  6,457

  June 1997

  Professor Nigel Lowe, Alison Perry University of Wales, Cardiff

  Omnibus Survey: Court Customers Experience of the Courts

  2,400

  July 1997

  Office of National Statistics

  Review of the Court of Appeal

  13,486

  July 1997

  Professor Hazel Genn University College London Joyce Plotnikoff and Richard Woolfson Consultants in Management, IT and the Law

  Regulating Legal Services

  9,000

  August 1997

  Professor Robert Baldwin London School of Economics

  The use of Judicial Appointment Commissions: A Review of the US and Canadian Models

  2,250

  August 1997

  Dr. Kate Malleson London School of Economics

  Judicial Appointments in Continental Europe

  8,400

  August 1997

  Dr. Cheryl Thomas Wolfson College, Oxford University

  Contracting for civil litigation: modeling volumes, access and regional distributions for certified non-matrimonial civil legal aid

  1,800

  September 1997

  Tamara Goriely TPR Social and Legal Research

  The Division of Marital Assets Following Divorce With Particular Reference to Pensions

  4,900

  October 1997

  Professor Antony Dnes University of Hertfordshire

  Monitoring the Small Claims Limit: Litigants' Experiences of Different Forms of Adjudication

  22,800

  November 1997

  Professor John Baldwin University of Birmingham

  Ethnic monitoring of defendants appearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court 1995

  3,000

  November 1997

  Professor Phillip Bean Loughborough University

  Total

  86,493

  306
  Clerk of Bow County Court to reply to the letter of 17 April 1998 from Ms Marian Temple, 43a Grove Park Road, Wanstead. [51851]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Chief Executive of the Court Service wrote to my hon. Friend about this matter on 2 June of this year. This letter was also in reply to Ms Temple's letter of 17 April. At the time Ms Temple wrote, the court was experiencing difficulties and delays largely due to the introduction of a new computerised system, which has been introduced in all county courts. These problems and delays have now been resolved.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52696]

  Mr. Hoon
  The information requested is listed in the following tables.
  307

  LCD Research projects completed or due to complete in 1998

  Project title

  Cost (£)

  Date completed

  Researcher details

  Contracting For Legal Services with Different Cost Rules

  6,200

  March 1998

  Gwyn Bevan London School of Economics and Political Science Professor Paul Fenn University of Nottingham Dr. Neil Rickman University of Surrey

  Costing Fast Track Procedures Through Hypothetical Case Studies

  96,000

  March 1998

  Tamara Goriely, Farah Butt, Professor Avrom Sherr Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

  Review Papers on Marriage causes, and ways of preventing marital breakdown

  79,150

  March 1998

  One plus one

  ADR in the Court of Appeal—Preliminary Work

  5,000

  March 1998

  Professor Hazel Genn University College London

  Economic Impact of Law on Ancillary Relief

  4,000

  April 1998

  Professor Antony Dnes University of Hertfordshire

  The Central London County Court Pilot Mediation Scheme—Evaluation Report

  23,615

  May 1998

  Professor Hazel Genn University College London

  Effect On Magistrates Of Learning That The Defendant Has A Previous Conviction

  33,940

  May 1998

  Dr. Sally Lloyd-Bostock University of Birmingham

  Criminal Justice Reform and the Organisation of Criminal Defence Services

  15,200

  June 1998

  Professor Lee Bridges University of Warwick

  Toward a Civil Justice Audit

  32,168

  June 1998

  Professor Joanna Shapland University of Sheffield

  Study of the services to litigants in person provided by the Citizens' Advice Bureau in the Royal Courts of Justice

  10,693

  June 1998

  Joyce Plotnikoff and Richard Woolfson Consultants in Management, IT and the Law

  Court Customer Needs

  4,200

  July 1998

  Sarah Beinart (Independant consultant)

  Empirical Analysis of Standard Fees in Magistrates' Courts

  6,000

  July 1998

  Professor Paul Fenn University of Nottingham

  Review of the law relating to profits from crime

  7,500

  July 1998

  Professor Gareth Jones Trinity College, Cambridge University

  Government Policies and Lawyers' Roles

  11,075

  September 1998

  Phillip Lewis Wolfson College, Oxford University

  Ancillary Relief Pilot Scheme

  206,703

  September 1998

  KPMG

  Applicability to other tribunals and court jurisdictions of organisational principles/practices of the London Parking Appeals Service

  22,787

  October 1998

  Dr. John Raine University of Birmingham

  Economic Impact of the Quality of Legal Machinery

  2,500

  October 1998

  Dr. Alice Belcher University of Dundee

  Fast Track Simulation Pilot

  31,386

  December1998

  John Peysner Nottingham Trent University

  Information Meeting pilots a monitoring, evaluation, consultation and spatial mapping exercise

  692,876 —since May 1997

  1998

  University of Newcastle

  Safeguarding Children's Welfare After Divorce

  78,080 —since May 1997

  1998

  University of Wales

  Total

  1,369,073

  308 309

  Combined research costs May 1997–98

  £

  May-December 1997

  86,493

  January-December 1998

  1,369,073

  Grand Total

  1,455,566

  In addition, £18,853 has been contributed to a study entitled 'Baseline Customer Research' commissioned by the Legal Services Ombudsman. The study is being run by Customer Management Consultancy Ltd and is due to complete in March 1999.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Tobacco Sponsorship
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what definite offers he has received from companies willing to replace moneys currently received from tobacco companies for sports sponsorship; [52515]

  (2) when the Tobacco Sponsorship Task Force last met; who attended the meeting; and what recommendations were agreed; [52514]

  (3) what research his Department has evaluated into the extent to which companies would be prepared to replace tobacco sponsorship of sport. [52509]

  Mr. Banks
  The Task Force has not yet been formally constituted, although I have had an initial informal meeting with sports and business interest, and will hold a further meeting in the autumn when the current exercise to collect sponsorship information from the sports concerned should be completed.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from arts organisations in the United Kingdom regarding withdrawal of tobacco companies' support. [52512]

  Mr. Banks
  In the last 15 months, my Department has received written representations from four arts organisations in the United Kingdom, expressing concern about the potential impact of any future withdrawal of support by tobacco companies.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of whether the period of time set out by the EU Directive on Tobacco Advertising for the withdrawal of sports sponsorship will be complied with; [52511]

  (2) if he will list those events his Department will treat as world level events in accordance with the terms of the EU Directive on tobacco advertising. [52513]

  Mr. Banks
  The future individual sponsorship arrangements are matters for the sports and businesses concerned, although they will have to comply with the legal requirements of the European Union Tobacco Advertising Directive. The Government's detailed proposals for implementing the Directive will be set out in a White Paper to be issued later this year.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will undertake a study into the financial implications for sport of the EU Directive on Tobacco Advertising. [52508]
  310
  Mr. Banks
  I have no plans to do so. I have set up a Task Force of sports and business interests to help identify and secure alternative sponsors.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997 in which there is a net reduction in compliance costs resulting from a legislative proposal. [52949]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: My Department has not undertaken any compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52948]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: My Department has not published any compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52950]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: My Department has not published any compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997. There is presently no requirement on Departments to carry out compliance cost assessments where legislative proposals are expected to be cost neutral or resulting in a saving to business.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people his Department is committed to employing during 1998 under(a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52577]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department is currently considering how best to support the New Deal programme and will be finalising plans shortly.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance his Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52292]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  For any significant construction of buildings, the Department employs professional project managers, and, where applicable, planning supervisors. They would be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. If the project did not require notification under those regulations, they would be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Control of Asbestos at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1992, plus others where specialist work is required.

  Cricket Test Matches (Live Coverage)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations he has received
  311
  opposing the Gordon Committee's recommendations to remove live coverage of cricket test matches played in England from the events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996; and how many of those representations have been from hon. Members. [52451]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Between the publication of the report of Lord Gordon's Advisory Group on 20 March and my announcement of the revised list on 25 June, I received 699 representations opposing the Group's recommendations on Test cricket. Of the 103 hon. Members whose representations are included in that figure, 36 expressed opposition to the Gordon proposals. 67 hon. Members enclosed letters from their constituents without comment.

  Football Clubs
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on soccer in England of UEFA's proposed ban on multi-club ownership. [52332]

  Mr. Banks
  I appreciate the concern about the potential impact of the ruling, and it is very important that the integrity of football competitions is not undermined. The football authorities are best placed to decide how far the new ruling is required to ensure fair competition, and pursue as necessary with UEFA. I am discussing the implications with interested parties.

  Departmental Reviews
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the reviews his Department and its predecessors, initiated in the years(a) 1974–75, (b) 1979–80 and (c) 1992–93. [48514]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was created in July 1997. Its predecessor, the Department of National Heritage (DNH), was created in April 1992 from parts of six Government Departments, and for that reason it is not possible to answer the question in respect of 1974–75 or 1979–80. In 1992–93, DNH initiated the following reviews: review of competitive tendering and market testing in museums and galleries; policy review of the public library service in England and Wales; review of library and information provision in rural areas; study of library services for children and young people; consultation on the future role and financing of the BBC and the Calcutt Review of Press Self-Regulation.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on IT itemising(a) personal computers, (b) main-frame,(c) mini-computers and (d) file servers in the last year for which figures are available. [52887]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent £64,962 on personal computers and £66,678 on file servers in financial year 1997–98. The Department has no mainframes or any mini-computers.

  Rugby League
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made for finding a new sponsor for the Rugby League Challenge Cup. [52718]
  312
  Mr. Banks
  I will chair a Task Force to help all sports in receipt of tobacco sponsorship to identify alternative sponsors. The Task Force has not yet been formally constituted, although I have had an initial informal meeting with sports and business interests, and will hold a further meeting in the autumn when the current exercise to collect sponsorship information from the sports concerned should be completed.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on proposals for a national centre of excellence for Rugby League. [52604]

  Mr. Banks
  Discussions are ongoing between the Rugby Football League, the British Amateur Rugby League and the English Sports Council with a view to formulating a facilities strategy for rugby league at all levels. Fundamental to that strategy will be the identification of a national centre of excellence as a keystone to a network of local centres, and a feasibility study will shortly be launched to establish a critical path to bring the requirements of the game to fruition.

  Tour de France
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to bring stages of the Tour de France to the United Kingdom. [52605]

  Mr. Banks
  The British Cycling Federation are constantly lobbying for stages of the Tour de France to return to the United Kingdom. However, with the race's planned visits to other countries already booked for the next few years, they are concentrating their energies on promoting our own annual international stage race, the Prutour.

  English Tourist Board
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many written communications he has received(a) in favour and (b) against the continued existence of the English Tourist Board. [52748]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To date, we have received 178 written communications in response to press speculation, of which

  (a) 176 favour the continued existence of the ETB; and

  (b) 2 are against.

  Sport (Women)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Lottery money has been apportioned to women's sport groups since 1 May 1997. [51780]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 23 July 1998]: All English Sports Council (ESC) Lottery awards, capital or revenue, are accessible to women's sport groups, as openness and equality are essential principles of Lottery Sport funding.

  There are currently 589 female athletes benefiting from Lottery funding under the World Class Performance Programme.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the vehicles due
  313
  for replacement by (a) his Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01 will be replaced by vehicles using (1) petrol, (2) diesel, (3) natural gas, (4) electric batteries and (5) other. [52618]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The information for the Department (including The Royal Parks agency and the Government Art Collection) is as follows:

  Number of vehicles to be replaced each year

  Fuel Type

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–2001

  Petrol (unleaded—vehicles fitted with catalyst)

  3

  —

  —

  Diesel (vehicles fitted with catalyst)

  2

  5

  —

  Natural Gas/Electric

  —

  —

  20

  Total

  5

  5

  20

  The information for the bodies listed in the National Asset Register is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Church Bells
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will(a) provide additional funding and (b) amend the procedures under section 3A of the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, to allow English Heritage to fund the repair and replacement of church bells. [52402]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Under the new spending plans announced on 24 July, DCMS's support for the heritage will increase by £10 million over the next three years. It will be for English Heritage to allocate funding between its various grant schemes. There are no plans to amend procedures under section 3A of the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953. Nevertheless, funding is already available for the repair of church bells under the joint English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Fund scheme for churches and other places of worship.

  British-made Films
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of British-made films he estimates will be accepted into general cinema distribution in 1998. [53039]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: My Department cannot forecast the future distribution of British films. However, the report of the Film Policy Review, "A Bigger Picture", sets out a strategy to strengthen the distribution of British films.

  Sir Rodney Walker
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the directorships and other declarable interests in sports-related companies held by Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of the UK Sports Council. [50741]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 16 July 1998] [pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1998, c. 550–51]: The information provided was incomplete, the full answer is as follows.
  314
  Sir Rodney Walker has the following directorships and other declarable interests in sports-related companies:

  Chairman—Rugby Football League

  Chairman—Leicester City Plc

  Chairman—Brands Hatch Leisure Plc

  Trustee—London Marathon Charitable Trust

  Governor—Sports Aid Foundation

  Vice President—Youth Charter for Sport

  Chairman—Resero Technology Systems Ltd.

  The Council has procedures for Members to declare potential conflicts of interest when decisions come before them and to make appropriate arrangements to handle any potential conflicts which arise.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants (Criticism)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from civil service trade unions about the recent public criticisms of civil servants in the Department of Trade and Industry by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths). [52867]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  None.

DEFENCE

  Animal Experiments
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of animals in defence research. [54399]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen North (Mr. Savidge) on 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 40.

  Cost-effectiveness
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to ensure that his Department remains open to innovative proposals from industry for more cost-effective ways of meeting defence requirements. [54143]

  Mr. Spellar
  The close involvement of Industry in conducting the Strategic Defence Review has been of considerable value to MOD. We are determined to build on this to foster closer and more co-operative relationships for the future. With this in mind, I am pleased to be able to announce that, following consultation with Industry, a MOD "Code of Practice on the Handling of Innovative Proposals" has been published today. The code explains what innovative proposals are, how my Department will deal with them, what they should include, and to whom they should be addressed.

  A copy of the Code has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Royal Naval Hospital Haslar
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the capital expenditure at the Royal Hospital Haslar and its predecessor the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar in each of the last 10 years. [53022]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Major General C. G. Callow to Mr. Peter Viggers, dated 29 July 1998:
  1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about capital expenditure at the Royal Hospital Haslar over the past 10 years as this matter, falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency.
  During the financial year 1997/98, £0.939M was expended on capital works. Unfortunately, prior to that financial year, it is not possible to accurately separate capital expenditure from the Hospital's day to day running costs. However, we estimate that capital expenditure costs were approximately:

  £ million

  1996–97

  13.6

  1995–96

  7.8

  1994–95

  2.6

  1993–94

  3.0

  1992–93

  1.7

  1991–92

  1.7

  1990–91

  1.7

  1989–90

  1.6

  1988–89

  1.6

  Agency Newsletters
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998,Official Report, columns 14–15, for what reasons Post Notes, the staff newsletter of the Defence Postal and Courier Agency, is classified restricted; and if his Department plans to remove this classification. [53372]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Richard Bugler to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 29 July 1998:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the Agency newsletter 'Post Notes', as this matter falls within my area of responsibility in the absence, on leave, of the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency (DPCSA),
  The Chief Executive recently took the decision to classify 'Post Notes' 'Restricted' because he was concerned for the security of both the civilian and military personnel of the Agency, whose personal details and movements are sometimes given in the newsletter. There was some evidence to suggest that the unauthorised reproduction of articles and notes from the newsletter was more widespread than was intended for what is essentially an in-house staff journal. There are currently no plans to remove this classification.

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the Supplementary report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. [50665]
  316
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody), 28 July 1998,Official Report, column 132.

  Army Recruits
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of regular soldiers were recruited from (i) former territorial army personnel, (ii) the public, including school leavers and (iii) former Army cadets in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [51029]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The percentage origins of regular soldiers are as follows:

  percentage

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (i) Former TA personnel1

  7.6

  7.6

  5.4

  (ii) The public (including schools leavers)

  70.7

  71.9

  76.8

  (iii) Former Army or Combined Cadet Force service

  22

  20.5

  17.8

  1 These figures do not include Reservists mobilised for service in Bosnia, or ex-TA personnel on special S Type engagements

  The year 1997–98 represented the best year in numerical terms for recruiting soldiers to the Army since 1991. The increase was largely from among members of the public, reflected in the higher percentage received from this group last year, shown in the table. We are encouraged by this progress, which demonstrates that improving recruitment has been, and continues to be, one of our top priorities.

  NATO Expenditure
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the current and planned levels of expenditure on NATO commitments over the planning period; and if he will make a statement. [51890]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: The estimated costs of UK forces declared to NATO, and associated support costs, is some £13 billion in the current financial year. We expect the level of expenditure in the coming years to be broadly constant. These forces contribute to a number of missions, under NATO, non-NATO, or national command, in support of the Government's security and defence policy. The UK's annual net contribution to NATO's common budgets, at current exchange rates, and other command and HQ costs, are currently some £220 million.

  The costs of the UK contribution to NATO operations in the Balkans for 1997–98 are still being collated.

  The Strategic Defence Review stated that NATO will continue as the cornerstone of our defence planning, and that we intend to build on our role as a leading European member of the Alliance.

  Atomic Weapons Establishments
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 1998,Official Report, column 186, regarding the Atomic Weapons Establishment, if he will place in the Library

  317
  a list of the titles of the research projects, specifying the university concerned, and the duration and value of each project. [53159]

  Mr. Spellar
  Details of the research projects, their duration and values are commercially confidential and I must, therefore, withhold this information in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to Third party commercial confidences.

  As I said in my answer of the 15 July 1998, Official Report, column 186, I will write to my hon. Friend regarding the universities involved and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each incident involving(a) radioactive and (b) toxic material at (i) AWE Burghfield and (ii) AWE Aldermaston in the last five years. [52162]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information, in the form requested, is classified and I am, therefore, withholding it in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to Defence, Security and International Relations.

  However, in total over the last five years, there have been 802 incidents involving radioactive material, 12 of which have been injury incidents and 642 incidents involving toxic material, 281 of which have been injury incidents. All members of staff at AWE are encouraged to report incidents of all types as part of a safety awareness campaign and the majority of the injuries reported are of a very minor nature, such as cuts or abrasions.

  These figures compare very favourably with industry in general and, over the past 5 years there has been a year on year reduction in the number of injury incidents. In fact, AWE have recently been awarded a Gold Award for workplace safety by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduced warhead production programme on radioactive emissions from AWE, Aldermaston. [52212]

  Regular COs

  TA COs

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Royal Armoured Corps

  2

  3

  2

  2

  3

  2

  5

  5

  Royal Artillery

  3

  2

  2

  1

  3

  4

  4

  5

  Royal Engineers

  7

  5

  6

  7

  2

  4

  3

  2

  Royal Signals

  6

  8

  7

  5

  5

  3

  4

  6

  Infantry

  28

  32

  29

  26

  8

  4

  4

  7

  Army Air Corps

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Royal Logistic Corps

  4

  4

  5

  6

  4

  3

  2

  1

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  3

  3

  3

  3

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Army Medical Service

  1

  3

  5

  4

  16

  14

  12

  13

  University Officer Training Corps

  14

  12

  12

  14

  5

  7

  7

  5

  All figures are as at mid July which is the date at which COs would normally take up appointment. The figures for
  318
  Mr. Spellar
  Activities such as decommissioning and maintaining safety standards within facilities make up by far the largest proportion of discharges from AWE, Aldermaston. The reduction in the number of warheads announced in the Strategic Defence Review is expected to have a minimal effect on emissions from the site.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the facilities intended to be decommissioned at AWE Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement on progress in decommissioning each of these facilities. [52163]

  Mr. Spellar
  Buildings A37 and A50 at AWE, Aldermaston are currently undergoing decommissioning. Building A1.1 and parts of A45 are being prepared for decommissioning by Post Operative Clear Out, POCO. There will be a rolling programme of POCO and decommissioning as buildings come out of use in the future.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total amount of radioactive waste to be generated as a result of decommissioning operations at AWE Aldermaston; how much of this waste is intended to be stored on-site; and what the total estimated cost of decommissioning will be. [52164]

  Mr. Spellar
  The current estimate of the amount of radioactive waste expected to result from the decommissioning of buildings at AWE, Aldermaston is based on a relatively small sample of completed work. It is, therefore, subject to confirmation. Measures to reduce the amount of waste generated during decommissioning can be expected to improve as more experience is gained.

  Nonetheless, the current estimate is that a total of 39,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste will be generated in the next 10 years at AWE, Aldermaston. Of this, 3,000 cubic metres is expected to be categorised as Intermediate Level Waste and will be stored on site. The estimated cost of the associated decommissioning work over the 10 year period is some £460m.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army battalions and regiments are commanded by(a) TA commanding officers and (b) regular army commanding officers, broken down by arm and service, and what were the figures (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three years ago. [53257]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The information is as follows:

  Infantry excluding SAS(V), the Gibraltar Regt. and the Royal Irish (Home Service).
  319
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review will have upon the number of Territorial Army soldiers(a) serving in Norfolk and (b) based in Norwich. [53182]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  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 the numbers of TA soldiers serving in any particular area, but we expect to be in a position to make detailed announcements during the Autumn.

  Soldiers (Imprisonment)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving soldiers sentenced to imprisonment or detention in the last 10 years have been(a) discharged and (b) retained. [48362]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 8 July 1998]: Details of those discharged and retained following the imposition of a custodial sentence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the Army Board may decide to discharge a soldier serving a term of imprisonment after that soldier has been retained by his commanding officer; what rules would govern such discharges; and how many such decisions have been made in the last 10 years. [48365]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 8 July 1998]: Under the terms of Queen's Regulations for the Army, paragraph 9.404, a soldier is to be discharged if he has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Commanding Officers do not have the authority to retain soldiers in such circumstances, though they can make a submission to the chain of command for a soldier's retention if there are believed to be exceptional reasons for doing so. It is not required that the Army Board consider these cases, although the Board will adjudicate when the chain of command submits a case to them.

  Guardsmen Wright and Fisher
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns 282–83, by an officer of what rank and on what date the decision was taken to retain Guardsmen Fisher and Wright following their conviction. [48363]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 8 July 1998]: The future of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright is a matter for decision by the Army Board. The Board has not yet made any decision regarding the future in the Army of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright.

  Sri Lankan Army Staff College
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the support in terms of(a) finance, (b) personnel and (c) advice which his Department is supplying to the Sri Lankan Army Staff College at Batafanda. [50940]
  320
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]: My Department currently provides one Colonel as an instructor at the Sri Lankan Army Staff College. The cost of this post, some £116,991 per annum, is shared between the FCO and MOD and includes elements to cover the Colonel's pay and allowances, his national insurance and pension contributions, local overseas allowances, 1oan service pay and incidental movements costs. The Colonel is currently serving on a one year tour of duty.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if each missile on board Trident submarines will carry the same number of warheads; and if he will make a statement. [52217]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (i) minimum and (ii) maximum range of the Trident missile as deployed in accordance with the plans announced in the Strategic Defence Review. [52213]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The maximum range of the Trident D5 missile is in the region of 6,000 miles. I am withholding further details of the performance of the Trident missile under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days each of Britain's Trident submarines has spent on patrol in each of the last four years. [52168]

  Mr. George Robertson
  In each of the last four years the number of days that each Trident submarine spent on patrol is as follows:

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Vanguard

  211

  132

  184

  65

  Victorious

  0

  169

  181

  89

  Vigilant

  0

  0

  0

  49

  Vengeance

  (in build)

  The remaining patrol days in 1995 and 1996 were covered by our last Resolution class submarines. The figures for 1998 cover the period up to 22 July.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the reasons for the payments made to the US Government under the heading Trident Refit Feasibility Study; and if he will list the total amount to be paid for this item. [52166]

  Mr. Spellar
  The feasibility studies were carried out on behalf of the United Kingdom into the emergency dry-docking of United Kingdom Trident submarines in the United States. This has nothing to do with refitting. The studies were undertaken to determine the practicability of conducting an emergency docking and essential repairs in the event that United Kingdom Trident submarines suffered damage or failure while deployed in the United
  321
  States for their work-up trials. The total amount we expect to pay for these studies is in the region of £850,000, subject to exchange rate variations.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it is intended to roll-out the fourth Trident submarine. [52183]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The fourth Trident submarine, HMS Vengeance, is due to be rolled out on 19 September 1998.

  Nuclear Materials (Recycling)
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to recycle the nuclear material extracted from retired nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement. [52169]

  Mr. Spellar
  The amount of nuclear material declared in the Strategic Defence Review includes that to be extracted from retired nuclear weapons. This will be retained for Defence purposes.

  Plutonium Contamination
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the plutonium contamination incident at AWE, Aldermaston on 15 December 1997; and if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's reports on this incident. [52160]

  Mr. Spellar
  This matter is currently the subject of a prosecution of the Atomic Weapons Establishment plc. and Hunting-BRAE Ltd., the Atomic Weapons Establishment's managing contractor, by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. The matter, is therefore, sub judice and I must withhold details under Exemption 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, relating to Law Enforcement and Legal Proceedings.

  HMS Spartan
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of cancelling the planned refit of HMS Spartan at Rosyth. [52737]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: We estimate that the irrecoverable costs which would have arisen from the cancellation of HMS Spartan at Rosyth would have amounted to about £60 million. In addition, we estimate that the cost of reimbursing Babcock Rosyth Defence Limited, the owners of the Dockyard, for their redundancy costs would have been about £30 million.

  Royal Marine Reserve
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of the Royal Marine Reserve following the Strategic Defence Review. [52762]

  Mr. George Robertson
  No changes are planned to the role of the Royal Marines Reserve following the Strategic Defence Review.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the employees of his Department and of the employees of each agency for which he is responsible cycle to work; and what measures he plans to increase that proportion. [52681]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Information on the number of Ministry of Defence and Defence Agency personnel that cycle to work is not available. However, this data and much more covering a very large number of MoD sites will be gathered during the preparation of departmental Green Transport Plans.

  HMS Splendid
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of cancelling the refit of HMS Splendid at Devonport. [52738]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: No costs have been incurred to-date in respect of the decision to cancel HMS Splendid's refit, which had been planned to take place at Devonport in 2003. Devonport Management Limited, the owners of the Dockyard, are required, as far as is possible, to mitigate the loss of the refit. In addition, we may decide to re-profile Devonport's allocated workload to take account of the peaks and troughs in the programme, thereby reducing the effect of the cancellation. Once this work has been completed, nearer to 2003, we anticipate that the irrecoverable costs associated with the loss of Splendid will be minimal, but it is too early to say. It is also too early to say whether any redundancy costs, for which MOD might be liable, will arise.

  Armed Forces Historical Branches
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to combine the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force historical branches. [52800]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The three Service Historical Branches are collocated and work closely together. There are currently no plans to create a Defence Historical Branch.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52702]

  Mr. Spellar
  The latest information on expenditure on defence research can be found in Table 2.1 of "Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics 1998", published on 13 July 1998 (CM 4006). A complete list of all organisations supplying research to MOD is not held. However, the principal sources of research for the MOD are the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, although much of the research activity itself is subcontracted to industry.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals from Defence Costs Study 15 on defence medical services remain outstanding. [53023]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are no proposals outstanding from Defence Costs Study 15. Some recommendations have been subject to further work in the light of subsequent studies.

  West Indies Guard Ship
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the West Indies Guard Ship. [52655]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: We will continue to deploy a West Indies Guard Ship (WIGS). However, following the adjustments in destroyer and frigate numbers as part of the Strategic Defence Review we are adopting a more flexible approach to some of our peacetime Naval tasks, including that in the Caribbean, designed to make more efficient use of our naval assets.

  We will maintain a very high level of commitment to the Caribbean with a destroyer or frigate deployed as WIGS for a large part of the year. It will be present during the whole of the hurricane season with flexibility to increase coverage at other times by adjusting other commitments, if necessary. During that part of the year when a destroyer or frigate is not in the Caribbean, a destroyer or frigate will be earmarked to deploy there at short notice, and when other ships deploy to the region, they will be used to cover some of the WIGS tasks.

  We aim to maintain the effectiveness of our counter drugs efforts by ensuring that the WIGS programme is focused more on counter-drugs operations, and by involving other RN maritime assets in this work when they are in the region.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of remediating depleted uranium contaminated battlefields in Kuwait and Iraq. [43051]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Ministry of Defence has made no assessment of the advantages of remediating areas in Kuwait and Iraq in which depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition was fired during the Gulf conflict; nor has any specific review of the environmental and health effects of firing this ammunition in the Gulf been undertaken by MOD. The Government do not have any information concerning the levels of DU currently present in Kuwait or southern Iraq and cannot, therefore, comment on this matter in any detail. The use of the DU rounds by UK forces was not in conflict with the United Nations Charter or any other International agreement or convention. In the use of these rounds and other weaponry, my Department complies strictly with international law.

  Divisional Headquarters, Shrewsbury
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce his decision on the future of the divisional headquarters in Shrewsbury. [50551]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No proposals on the future of the divisional headquarters at Shrewsbury have been made to Ministers. Closure of the headquarters is not, however, an option being considered under the review by the Army of its divisional and district structure in the UK.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what financial help towards housing costs is available to those claiming jobseeker's allowance who(a) are tenants and (b) have a mortgage. [52372]

  Mr. Denham
  For those Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) claimants who are tenants, help with housing costs is mostly provided through the Housing Benefit scheme. For those with a mortgage, help for those who are eligible is included in their JSA payment.

  Where tenants are receiving income-based JSA they are "passported" to maximum Housing Benefit. Deductions may be made from the maximum Housing Benefit where non-dependents are involved. Tenants who are receiving contribution-based JSA have to make a claim for Housing Benefit on low-income grounds from their local authority.

  Those receiving income-based JSA receive a contribution towards the interest payable on loans to purchase the home and certain home improvements and some other housing costs which are not met by Housing Benefit. It does not cover all mortgage liabilities, for example capital repayments, endowment premiums, insurance or help with arrears. There is no help with mortgage payments for those who are only entitled to contribution-based JSA.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which local authorities in England and Wales do not disregard war pensions totally when assessing housing benefits and local authority charges; what amount of disregard these local authorities currently apply; which political party controls the local authorities concerned or, where there is no overall control, which party has the most seats on the council; if he intends to extend the statutory requirement to disregard only the first £10 of a war pension in England and Wales; what assessment he has made of procedures in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [52572]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) to my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Mr. Goggins) on 29 July 1997,Official Report, column 231.
  325
  Mandatory disregards for War Disablement and War Widow's Pensions already exist in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. This is in recognition of the special nature of these pensions, and ensure pensioners receive preferential treatment. For example, a war pensioner can currently have between £10 and £175 of his pension disregarded on a statutory basis.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the Child Support Agency cost to run in the last financial year. [53555]

  Mr. Denham
  The cost of running the Child Support Agency in 1997/98 was £210.6 million.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the costs to the Child Support Agency of the implementation of the Green Paper, "CHILDREN FIRST: a new approach to child support". [53572]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are consulting over their proposals for reforming the current child support scheme and the detailed arrangements will not be decided until that process has been concluded. It follows that we cannot, at this early stage, estimate the full costs to the Child Support Agency of moving to a radically simpler system. However, excluding computer costs which may form part of a wider Departmental programme, transitional costs could be in the order of £30 million spread over two to three years.

  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the new procedural instructions will be put in place for the payment of arrears in cases of CSA maladministration. [52245]

  Mr. Denham
  We expect the Child Support Agency to provide a consistent, fair and efficient service to all its clients. We have set out proposals for radical reform in our Green Paper "Children First: a new approach to child support" (Cm 3992).

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Ian Pearson, dated 28 July 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about new procedural instructions for payment of arrears in the Child Support Agency.
  The Agency is extending its special payments scheme to make provision in certain circumstances for payments of arrears to be made to parents with care. Where there is clear evidence that the Agency's maladministration has caused the arrears to accrue we will consider the payment of arrears to the parent with care in advance of maintenance being received from the non-resident parent.
  The criteria to be used for considering such payments are expected to be finalised shortly. These have been developed in consultation with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Once the criteria have been agreed, procedures for the consideration and payment of arrears will be written as a matter of urgency so that payments that are appropriate can be made without any further delay.
  Once available, guidance will be placed in the Library.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single pensioners and pensioner couples he expects to qualify for the guaranteed minimum income who would not qualify for income support if it were increased only in line with prices. [52411]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is in the table.

  IS Pensioner Benefit Units

  Thousand

  Floaters-on from April 1999 increases

  Year

  Singles

  Couples

  1999–2000

  55

  10

  2000–01

  50

  10

  2001–02

  50

  10

  Notes:

  1. All estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes as insufficient information is available on these cases to be able accurately to model the additional cases who may float-on under the increases

  2. Estimates have been based upon latest Income Support forecasts, following the changes announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey

  3. Under Income Support rules, one partner in a couple need be aged over 60 years to be classed as a couple pensioner benefit unit

  4. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 5,000 cases

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated additional cost of the guaranteed minimum income compared with that of uprating income support for pensioners in line with prices, assuming no increase in take-up; and by how much this figure would be increased if full take-up were achieved. [52413]

  Mr. Denham
  The table illustrates the estimated additional expenditure effect of increasing the Income Support rates above the normal price uprating for;

  (a) existing cases and those who "float on" as a result of the increase and;

  (b) those pensioners who become entitled as a result of activity to increase take-up.

  Estimated expenditure effects of increases to Income Support rates from April 1999

  £ million, cash prices

  Year

  Increases to IS rates based on current take-up rates

  Increases to IS rates based on 85 per cent, take-up expenditure

  1999–2000

  265

  275

  2000–01

  270

  305

  2001–02

  270

  330

  Notes:

  1. All estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes as insufficient information is available on these cases to be able to accurately model the additional cases who may float-on under the increases

  2. Estimates have been based upon latest Income Support forecasts, following the changes announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey

  3. Estimates relate to the expenditure effects in Income Support only

  4. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest £5 million

  5. Take-up estimates are based on achieving 85 per cent. take-up expenditure by the end of year 3.
  327
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much the guaranteed minimum income will be higher for older pensioners. [52412]

  Mr. Denham
  The current rates of Income Support will be increased by £4.60 per week for single pensioners aged 75 to 79, and by £4.70 per week for pensioners aged 80 and over.

  The full range of the increases is given in the table.

  £

  Age

  Current rate: single

  Rate from April 1999

  Current rate: couple

  Rate from April 1999

  60–74

  70.45

  75.00

  109.35

  116.60

  75–79

  72.70

  77.30

  112.55

  119.85

  80+1

  77.55

  82.25

  117.90

  125.30

  1 The rate for pensioners aged 80+ also applies to pensioners aged 60 and over, who are disabled

  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the full year cost of disregarding the first £10 of income from(a) savings and (b) private pensions when calculating means-tested benefits for all pensioners. [52573]

  Mr. Denham
  No account is taken of actual income from savings. It is not possible to provide information on personal pensions as they cannot be identified separately from other types of annuity income in the Family Resources Survey. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Estimated annual expenditure across the income related benefit system from disregarding the first £10 of income from occupational pensions

  £ million

  Benefit

  Cost 1998–99 prices

  Income Support

  70

  Housing Benefit

  95

  Council Tax Benefit

  45

  Total

  210

  Note:

  Costs have been rounded to the nearest £5 million

  Source:

  Costs in Income Support were obtained from the 1998–99 Income Support Simulation Model, based on the May 1996 Quarterly Statistical Inquiry, and those for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit were calculated from the 1998–99 Policy Simulation Model, which is based on the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate the procedures and regulations followed by the Independent Tribunal Service in relation to the appeal for a disability living allowance appeal lodged on 17 June 1997 by William Kirane of Caernarfon; and if he will review the reply sent by Mr. Peter Mathison of the Benefits Agency dated 25 June sent in response to representations made by the right hon. Member for Caernarfon to the Secretary of State for Social Security of 23 April. [53563]
  328
  Mr. Denham
  The operation of the appeals system is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service. However, one of the purposes of the changes which will be introduced under the Social Security Act 1998 is to speed up the hearing of appeals.

  In respect of the reply sent previously concerning the case of William Kirrane of Caernarfon, I have asked Peter Mathison to look into the matter and to write to you again.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated average cost of(a) a review of a DLA application and (b) an appeal against a DLA award. [52780]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Bill Etherington, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the estimated average cost of (a) a review of a Disability Living Allowance (DLA) application and (b) an appeal against a DLA award.
  The information requested is not readily available since the costs will be made up of a variable number of items, depending on the circumstances of the case.
  Two of the major costs are staff and medical evidence. If a review is requested under 3 months, the staffing costs would be £23.51 per review. If a review is requested over 3 months, the staffing cost would be £16.68. The cost of an appeal would be £34.82.
  Costs attributable to obtaining further medical evidence, depends on the nature of the evidence required. The cost of obtaining a General Practitioners Factual Report is £17.00. The cost of obtaining an Examining Medical Practitioners Report is £56.90.
  Tribunal costs will also vary. An average cost, however, is £85.28 per hearing, derived by dividing the whole cost of setting up a Tribunal, £343.28, by the number of listings per day.
  I hope you find the reply helpful.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the population claiming social security benefits have(a) never paid national insurance contributions and (b) not paid sufficient national insurance contributions to qualify for the contributory benefit claimed; and if he will quantify the total expenditure for (a) and (b) for (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98 and the estimated expenditure for (1) 1998–99, (2) 1990–2000, (3) 2000–01 and (4) 2001–02. [52545]

  Mr. Denham
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those over the retirement age have(a) not paid any national insurance contributions and (b) paid insufficient to qualify for a full contributory pension. [52526]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  There are 10.4 million people over pension age residing in Great Britain. Of these 6.7 million receive a full contributory pension based on either their own or their

  329
  spouse's contributions, and 3.3 million receive a pension at less than the full rate.

  Sources:

  1. 5 per cent. sample of the Pensions Strategy Computer System, at September 1997

  2. Population projections at June 1997 produced by the Government Actuary's Department.

  Great Britain—class 1 and class 1A national insurance contributions

  £billion

  Cash terms

  June 1997 prices

  Year

  Employee

  Class 1 Employer

  Class 1A

  Total

  Employee

  Class 1 Employer

  Class 1A

  Total

  1982–83

  8.3

  12.2

  0.0

  20.5

  16.4

  24.3

  0.0

  40.7

  1983–84

  9.2

  12.1

  0.0

  21.3

  17.5

  22.9

  0.0

  40.4

  1984–85

  9.9

  11.9

  0.0

  21.8

  17.9

  21.6

  0.0

  39.4

  1985–86

  10.7

  12.4

  0.0

  23.1

  18.3

  21.1

  0.0

  39.4

  1986–87

  11.5

  13.5

  0.0

  25.0

  19.0

  22.3

  0.0

  41.3

  1987–88

  12.6

  15.0

  0.0

  27.5

  20.0

  23.8

  0.0

  43.8

  1988–89

  13.9

  17.0

  0.0

  30.9

  20.9

  25.4

  0.0

  46.3

  1989–90

  14.4

  19.1

  0.0

  33.5

  20.0

  26.6

  0.0

  46.7

  1990–91

  14.3

  20.9

  0.0

  35.2

  18.1

  26.5

  0.0

  44.6

  1991–92

  14.9

  21.8

  0.0

  36.7

  18.1

  26.4

  0.0

  44.5

  1992–93

  15.2

  22.2

  0.4

  37.8

  17.8

  26.1

  0.5

  44.4

  1993–94

  15.2

  23.6

  0.4

  39.2

  17.5

  27.3

  0.5

  45.3

  1994–95

  17.8

  23.4

  0.5

  41.6

  20.0

  26.3

  0.6

  46.8

  1995–96

  19.0

  24.4

  0.5

  43.9

  20.7

  26.5

  0.5

  47.7

  1996–97

  19.5

  25.7

  0.5

  45.7

  20.7

  27.3

  0.5

  48.5

  1997–98

  21.3

  27.1

  0.5

  48.8

  21.9

  27.8

  0.5

  50.3

  Notes:

  1. Figures may not sum to totals shown due to rounding

  2. Class 1A figures are in respect of employers only

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the extent of benefit fraud for each of the benefits provided through the Benefits Agency in the current year; and if he will make a statement on plans to tackle fraud. [53252]

  Mr. Denham
  Figures estimating the extent of benefit fraud for each of the benefits provided through the Benefits Agency (BA) are not available for the current year. Reliable estimates of the level of fraud within individual benefits are informed by the BA's Benefit Review programme. These reviews are a snapshot of the level of fraud at the time the review was carried out, and these estimates can change. The first review of each benefit sets a baseline to establish the nature and extent of incorrectness, including fraud and abuse, and repeat

  Estimates of the extent of fraud in benefits provided through the Benefits Agency

  Benefit

  Percentage of claims where fraud is confirmed or strongly suspected

  Estimated level of fraud

  Results announced

  Income Support (First Review)

  9.7

  £1.4 billion

  July 1995

  Unemployment Benefit

  7.8

  £86 million

  July 1995

  Retirement Pension

  up to 0.13

  up to £40 million

  March 1996

  Invalid Care Allowance

  6.5

  £37 million

  July 1996

  330
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the receipts from National Insurance contributions split between (i) employers and (ii) employees in(a) cash terms and (b) at June 1998 prices for each year since 1982–83. [53209]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is in the table.

  exercises enable the Benefits Agency to identify changes in those patterns over time. The programme of Benefit Reviews of all major benefits began in 1994 and the table details the findings of all the reviews of BA benefits completed so far.

  The Government are determined to reduce the level of fraud and have set out their new comprehensive anti-fraud strategy in the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future". The strategy will focus on minimising the opportunity to commit fraud in the first place with improved benefit design and tighter operational procedures. We will also seek to establish an environment conducive to anti-fraud work and to work in partnership with others across central and local government and in public bodies and the private sector. A key element is the development of better measures of the amount of fraud, and the savings which flow from particular preventive and detective activities.
  331

  Estimates of the extent of fraud in benefits provided through the Benefits Agency

  Benefit

  Percentage of claims where fraud is confirmed or strongly suspected

  Estimated level of fraud

  Results announced

  Disability Living Allowance

  12.2

  £499 million

  February 1997

  Income Support (Second Review)

  11.1

  £1.77 billion

  July 1997

  Child Benefit/Child Benefit (Lone Parent)

  15.4

  2£184 million

  July 1998

  1 Presented as 1.7 per cent, 'fraud' and 3.7 per cent, 'high suspicion of fraud' in the Child Benefit (CHB) review report

  2 Presented as £51.6 million 'fraud' and £132.5 million 'high suspicion of fraud' in the CHB review report

  Notes:

  1. Information is based on the results of Benefit Reviews completed so far

  2. The total figures from each of the reviews cannot be added together to give total overpayments. This is because an unquantified proportion of the estimate for fraud will not result in losses/overpayments overall. For example, non-entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance can result in payment of a higher rate of another benefit such as Income Support

  3. As explained in the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future", estimating fraud in Disability Living Allowance presents particular difficulties. This is because entitlement depends upon care and mobility needs which are not easily estimated other than through the formal adjudication process. As a result, the estimates of confirmed and strongly suspected fraud for DLA will include errors by customers

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the performance of the London Organised Fraud Investigation Team indicating(a) the number of cases (i) investigated, (ii) completed, (iii) rejected and (iv) resulting in prosecutions and (b) the level of (i) claimant fraud, (ii) landlord fraud, (iii) landlord and claimant fraud and (iv) overpayment; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the team against its agreed objectives; and if he will make a statement. [53582]

  Mr. Denham
  The London Organised Fraud Investigation Team (LOFIT) was established in December 1996 as a specialist dedicated team to investigate and combat organised fraud in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in London.

  The latest available performance figures are for the period from 2 December 1996 to 31 March 1998. During this period, 73 cases were referred to LOFIT. Of these cases, 47 have been, or are being, investigated; 13 cases have been completed; 26 cases were rejected; and 4 reached prosecution stage. The table shows investigation cases categorised by type of fraud and total amount of overpayment identified.

  Number of cases

  Overpayments identified (£)

  Claimant

  13

  192,890

  Claimant and landlord collusion

  10

  729,340

  Landlord

  18

  407,144

  Multiple identity cases not included above

  6

  87.719

  Total

  47

  1,417,093

  The planned end of year Value For Money study by the Audit Commission is in its final stages and will be published shortly. We have also arranged for the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate to undertake a joint study with the Association of London Government to evaluate the effectiveness of LOFIT in tackling organised fraud and in working with other organisations in the field.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of benefit fraud have been detected in each month since 1 May 1997. [53109]
  332
  Mr. Denham
  Tackling fraud and abuse is a top priority for the Government. Questions on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Iain Duncan Smith, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of cases of benefit fraud which have been detected in each month since 1st May 1997.
  The figures in the attached table detail the number of successful investigations carried out by Benefit Fraud Investigation Service month by month since May 1997.
  Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service (BASIS) investigates fraud of an organised or systematic nature which tends to involve longer periods of investigation and results are only available for the year. BASIS carried out 1,742 successful investigations for the period April 1997 to March 1998.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefit fraud investigation service successful investigation figures1 since 1 May 1997

  Number

  May 1997

  45,409

  June 1997

  42,961

  July 1997

  48,059

  August 1997

  41,565

  September 1997

  47,875

  October 1997

  48,822

  November 1997

  46,389

  December 1997

  42,028

  January 1998

  48,486

  February 1998

  41,913

  March 1998

  39,631

  April 1998

  46,513

  May 1998

  38,145

  June 1998

  41,531

  1 Figures are provisional and subject to change

  Income Support
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate for 1999–2000(a) the additional cost, (b) the additional income to parents with care and (c) the likely overall reduction in income support payments to parents with care if a £10 maintenance disregard is introduced in April 1999. [52537]
  333
  Mr. Denham
  The additional cost of a £10 maintenance disregard for parents with care on Income Support would be £100 million in 1999–2000, or £80 million if the Child Maintenance Bonus were also to be abolished. The average gain to parents with care would be around £8.50 a week. There would be no reduction in Income Support payments, although maintenance in excess of £10 a week would continue to be taken into account as now.

  World Day for the Eradication of Poverty
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to mark 17 October as the World Day for the Eradication of Poverty. [53006]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are making tackling poverty a priority for every day through their policies designed to help people into work where appropriate and to make extra help available where it is not, such as the guaranteed minimum income recently announced for pensioners.

  Widowers and Widows Benefit
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to equalise benefits between widowers and widows; and if he will make a statement. [53366]

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

  Low Income Gas Users
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money was paid to British Gas on behalf of low income gas users in the last year for which figures are available in the form of interim payments; how many overpayments were made; how much of the overpayment has been recovered; and to what other companies interim payments are made on behalf of low income customers. [52343]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is as set out.

  In 1997–98 £59.4 million was paid to British Gas in the form of interim payments. We also have the facility to make payments to the following companies:

  Scottish Gas

  Eastern Electricity

  East Midlands Electricity

  London Electricity

  Manweb

  Midlands Electricity

  Northern Electricity

  Seeboard

  Scottish Hydro-electric

  Scottish Power

  South Wales Electric

  South Western Electric

  Southern Electric

  United Utilities

  Yorkshire Electricity.

  Benefits Office, Evesham
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of the Evesham Benefits Office on the service available to residents of the Vale of Evesham; and if he will make a statement. [52843]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Peter Luff, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, asking what assessment she has made of the impact of the closure of the Evesham Benefits Office on the service available to residents of the Vale of Evesham.
  The Benefits Agency (BA)'s Evesham caller office was open on a part-time basis of 2 days per week (5½ hours a day), which offered a service limited to customer enquiries and the provision of advice and information. This office was closed at the end of March 1998 following an extensive consultation exercise. During this exercise the BA identified that services to the customer could be improved with closer working with the Local Authority and by using existing facilities at Worcester BA office and Evesham Employment Service Jobcentre (ESJ).
  Since the introduction of Jobseekers Allowance in October 1996 there is a full-time BA presence in Evesham ESJ and BA representatives in ESJs are prepared and equipped to deal with enquiries from other customers.
  Since the closure of the caller office, the level of enquiries from Evesham customers has been carefully monitored. There has been no noticeable effect on telephone enquiries or personal callers to the Worcester BA office, or on the level of callers to the BA representative located in the Evesham ESJ.
  The Evesham "One Stop Shop", a facility run by the Local Authority, had undertaken to boost its service following the closure of the caller office, and was provided with training and leaflets to this end. The number of enquiries dealt with by the "One Stop Shop" increased from 311 for three months prior to the closure to 390 in the three months ending 30 June 1998. However, this relates to all enquiries, not just BA queries. Nevertheless, the staff there report a greater demand for BA leaflets since the closure of the Evesham caller office. It is perceived therefore that the number of enquiries on BA matters has also increased to some extent. The "One Stop Shop" is able to cope with this extra volume of business.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many failed winter fuel payments there were in the current year; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for failed payments. [53177]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. Originally a total of £400 million was committed for two years (97/98 and 98/99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay.

  As announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State on 17 July 1998, Official Report, columns 703–05 a further £0.5 billion has been allocated to extend the scheme beyond next winter. This will provide each eligible pensioner household with a £20 Winter Fuel payment.
  335
  The administration of Winter Fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Iain Duncan Smith, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many failed winter fuel payments there were and what assessment has been made of the reasons for the failed payments.
  The making of winter fuel payments to almost 10 million pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of March 1998 has been a challenging task for the Benefits Agency (BA). This has been achieved whilst maintaining normal benefit business.
  By 31 January 1998 we had issued £72,080,700 to 1,441,614 of the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). By the end of March we had issued a further £122,930,850 to a further 8,326,715 pensioners.
  Three different methods of payment have been used to make the payments to all eligible pensioners. A number of factors were taken into account in determining the appropriate method. The factors included: the normal method of payment used by the customer to receive their benefit; the ability of the relevant benefit system to make one-off payments by a number of different methods; the speed in which payments could be made; and, the cost and timescales required to introduce new methods of payment on individual computer systems. Payments were made based on information held on our computer systems during week commencing 5 January 1998. Payments have been made by the following three routes:
  Automated Credit Transfer direct to the pensioner's bank or building society account where the qualifying benefit is paid in this way (except where the qualifying benefit was Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, an industrial injury benefit, or one administered by the War Pensions Agency);
  Payable order sent to the pensioner's home address, where the qualifying benefit is Invalid Care Allowance, an industrial injury benefit, or one administered by the War Pensions Agency; otherwise,
  Girocheque sent to the pensioner's home address or the Post Office where the pensioner collects their qualifying benefit.
  The decision to send girocheques to the pensioners' Post Office was based on the fact that these customers represented by far the largest qualifying group and this was considered the most secure method of payment for them.
  However, not all those payments sent to the Post Offices were collected by the pensioners concerned. We have estimated that around 107,000 (2 per cent. of the volume issued) were not collected and these girocheques were returned to the nearest BA office, after 1 May 1998.
  BA District offices have been investigating the reasons for the non-collection, which have included recent death, hospitalisation, absence on holiday or the pensioner using a different Post Office. This is a time consuming process. Our deadline for the clearance of the payments which were returned was 30 June 1998. Feedback from the BA's District offices indicate that the majority of payments have now been made.
  As stated previously, according to our records, all payments should now have been made. The total amount of money paid out in Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners is £195,011,550. Priority was given to making the payments of £50 to the poorest pensioners, those receiving IS or income-based JSA.
  Other eligible pensioner households were entitled to a payment of £20. If there was more than one eligible pensioner in the household, each eligible pensioner was entitled to £10. In order to establish whether a payment of £20 or £10 was appropriate it was necessary to establish eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should
  336
  receive. To achieve this it was necessary to correlate data in around fifteen million computer records, involving fifteen qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems.
  The legislation states that the decision on whether a £10 or £20 payment was due would be based on 'official records'. Where pensioners live alone, or are the only eligible pensioner in a household, they were entitled to £20; otherwise, they were entitled to £10, including each person in a pensioner couple if they were both in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
  The £20 and £10 payments were issued in March 1998 following the data correlation exercise. Due to the huge volume of these payments, over 8 million, they were issued on a staged basis throughout March. Around 5 million of these payments were made by girocheque to the Post Office network and the BA liaised closely with the Post Office Counters Limited to try and ensure the prompt receipt of the payments by the pensioners concerned.
  All eligible pensioners should now have been issued with a Winter Fuel Payment, with the exception of a small number where BA is having difficulties in ascertaining the reason for non-collection from the Post Office. Where someone has not received a payment but is expecting one, they should contact the office which normally deals with their pension or benefit.
  Thank you for the opportunity to explain the position. I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is her Department's deadline for the clearance of all overdue winter fuel payments; [51938]

  (2) how his Department determines the priorities for payment of the winter fuel payment; [51937]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the delays in paying out the winter fuel payment of £20; [51939]

  (4) what is the value of the backlog of the winter fuel payment to pensioners; [51940]

  (5) how much money has been paid out in the winter fuel payment to pensioners; and how much is still owing. [52008]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. A total of £400 million has been committed for two years (1997–98 and 1998–99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay.

  As announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State on 17 July 1998, Official Report, columns 703–05, a further £0.5 billion has been allocated to extend the scheme beyond next winter. This will provide each eligible pensioner household with a £20 winter fuel payment.

  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Michael Colvin, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning winter fuel payments scheme.
  The making of winter fuel payments to almost 10 million pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of March 1998 has been a challenging task for the Benefits Agency (BA). This has been achieved whilst maintaining normal benefit business.

  337
  By 31 January 1998 we had issued £72,080,700 to 1,441,614 of the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). By the end of March we had issued a further £122,930,850 to a further 8,326,715 pensioners.
  Three different methods of payment have been used to make the payments to all eligible pensioners. A number of factors were taken into account in determining the appropriate method. The factors included: the normal method of payment used by the customer to receive their benefit; the ability of the relevant benefit system to make one-off payments by a number of different methods; the speed in which payments could be made; and, the cost and timescales required to introduce new methods of payment on individual computer systems. Payments were made based on information held on our computer systems during week commencing 5 January 1998. Payments have been made by the following three routes:
  Automated Credit Transfer direct to the pensioner's bank or building society account where the qualifying benefit is paid in this way (except where the qualifying benefit was Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, an industrial injury benefit, or one administered by the War Pensions Agency).
  Payable order sent to the pensioner's home address, where the qualifying benefit is Invalid Care Allowance, an industrial injury benefit, or one administered by the War Pensions Agency; otherwise,
  Girocheque sent to the pensioner's home address or the Post Office where the pensioner collects their qualifying benefit.
  The decision to send girocheques to the pensioners' Post Office was based on the fact that these customers represented by far the largest qualifying group and this was considered the most secure method of payment for them.
  However, not all those payments sent to the Post Offices were collected by the pensioners concerned. We have estimated that around 107,000 (2 % of the volume issued) were not collected and these girocheques were returned to the nearest BA office, after 1 May 1998.
  BA District offices have been investigating the reasons for the non-collection, which have included recent death, hospitalisation, absence on holiday or the pensioner using a different Post Office. This is a time consuming process. Our deadline for the clearance of the payments which were returned was 30 June 1998. Feedback from the BA's District offices indicate that the majority of payments have now been made.
  As stated previously, according to our records, all payments should now have been made. The total amount of money paid out in Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners is £195,011,500. Priority was given to making payments to the poorest pensioners, those receiving IS or income-based JSA.
  Other eligible pensioner households were entitled to a payment of £20. If there was more than one eligible pensioner in the household, each eligible pensioner was entitled to £10. In order to establish whether a payment of £20 or £10 was appropriate it was necessary to establish eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive. To achieve this it was necessary to correlate data in around fifteen million computer records, involving fifteen qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems.
  The legislation states that the decision on whether a £10 or £20 payment was due would be based on 'official records'. Where pensioners live alone, or are the only eligible pensioner in a household, they were entitled to £20; otherwise, they were entitled to £10, including each person in a pensioner couple if they were both in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
  The £20 and £10 payments were issued in March 1998 following the data correlation exercise. Due to the huge volume of these payments, over 8 million, they were issued on a staged basis throughout March. Around 5 million of these payments were made by girocheque to the Post Office network and the BA liaised closely with the Post Office Counters Limited to try and ensure the prompt receipt of the payments by the pensioners concerned.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  338
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioners have returned overpayments of winter fuel payment to her Department; [53030]

  (2) how many winter fuel payments were the subject of administrative error; [53032]

  (3) in how many cases official records used for the distribution of winter fuel payments have been found to be incorrect; [53031]

  (4) how many pensioners have complained to his Department about incorrect calculation of their winter fuel payments. [53033]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm this winter. Originally, a total of £400 million was committed for two years (97–98 and 98–99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay.

  As announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State on 17 July 1998, Official Report, column 703–05, a further £0.5 billion has been allocated to extend the scheme beyond next winter. This will provide each eligible pensioner household with a £20 winter fuel payment.

  The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning winter fuel payments.
  The making of winter fuel payments to almost ten million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of March 1998 was a challenging task for the Benefits Agency. This was achieved whilst maintaining normal business.
  Around one and a half million of the poorest pensioners, those receiving income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseekers's Allowance (JSA), received their payment of £50 during January. Other eligible pensioners were entitled to a payment of £20 or £10. Where they lived alone, were the only eligible pensioner in a household, or were of no fixed abode, they were entitled to £20; otherwise, they were entitled to £10.
  In order to establish other eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data. This involved around fifteen million computer records, fifteen qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems. Where only one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £20 was made. Where more than one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £10 was made.
  In excess of 9.7 million Winter Fuel Payments were made automatically by 31 March 1998.
  Three different methods of payment have been used to make the payments to all eligible pensioners. A number of factors were taken into account in determining the appropriate method. The factors included: the normal method of payment used by the customer to receive their benefit; the ability of the relevant benefit system to make one-off payments by a number of different methods; the speed in which payments could be made; and, the cost and timescales required to introduce new methods of payment on individual computer systems. Payments were made based on information held on our computer systems during week commencing 5 January 1998.

  339
  Where official Departmental records were not correct or incomplete, it was possible that the amount of some payments may not have corresponded with the actual circumstances. For example, there were cases where two eligible pensioners lived at the same address and in the same household, but the address details held on the relevant benefit computer records were incorrect or incomplete for either or both of them. In such cases, the data correlation exercise may not have identified more than one eligible person at an address and in accordance with the provisions of the legislation each were entitled to a payment of £20. There is no overprovision in such instances, but any voluntarily offer to repay any amount would be accepted.
  Out of the 1.5 million £50 payments made to IS and income-based JSA pensioners in January we are aware that some payments were incorrectly made or duplicated. We know that 9,357 payments were made where information held within official records indicated payment was inappropriate. A further 211 duplicate payments were made to those pensioners who transferred from IS to Income-based JSA during the qualifying week of 5 January 1998. Of the relevant payments this represents a 0.68 per cent. error rate. In financial terms the total cost of these errors amounts to £488,400, and again this represents 0.68 per cent. of the total sum issued of £72,080,700.
  In addition we also know that due to a computer operator error, 40,801 IS payments were sent out with an incorrect issue date on them. All these girocheques were replaced automatically within 72 hours. To date we are aware that 438 pensioners have cashed both the original and replacement payments.
  Information relating to the number of returned payments is currently being collated. I will provide this figure as soon as it becomes available.
  Information relating to the number of cases where official records have been found to be incorrect is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  Although a dedicated helpline is available to the public, the number of complaints we have received regarding the issuing in error of winter fuel payments is not recorded separately.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Family Credit (Scotland)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claim family credit in Scotland. [53171]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of Family Credit is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Rendel, dated 28 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people currently claim Family Credit (FC) in Scotland.
  The information is not available in the format requested. FC is administered centrally by the FC Unit in Preston and, as such, statistics are produced on a national basis.
  A periodic scan of the FC computer system produces details of the numbers of families in receipt of FC, at that particular date, with each local Benefits Agency (BA) office area. Such information serves as a "snap-shot" of the position at the date of the scan and does not provide details of the number of families in receipt of the benefit annually.
  The latest scan was conducted on 30 April 1998. On that date a total of 69,565 people were in receipt of FC in the areas covered by the BA's Scottish offices. Please note that this figure is provisional and subject to change.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Internet
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her Department's policy on the imposition of tariffs on trade over the Internet. [52903]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  Supplies made over the Internet are treated as services and as such are liable to VAT but not to Customs duty. Goods ordered via the Internet but supplied physically, from outside the EU, are treated as a normal importation and are liable to duty and VAT at the appropriate rate.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Calf Processing Aid Scheme
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take when the operation in the United Kingdom of the calf processing aid scheme becomes voluntary on 30 November. [54381]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  1.2 million calves have been processed under the Scheme since April 1998. The UK has thus made the most significant contribution to reducing beef output in Europe. The obligation to operate this Scheme or the Early Marketing Scheme for Veal Calves expires on 30 November 1998 and it seems unlikely that many Member States will opt to slaughter young calves, that scheme alone being available thereafter on a voluntary basis.

  Throughout its life in the UK, the Calf Processing Aid Scheme has been criticised from a number of quarters. It has also inflated the cost of calves for beef production to the detriment of beef finishers.

  After widespread consultation with industry interests, my colleagues and I have decided that it would be inappropriate to maintain this Scheme in the UK. Its continuation would distort calf prices in the short term and artificially constrain the production of home-reared beef in the medium term. It must be borne in mind that we will continue to make a very significant contribution to balancing the European beef market by operating the Over Thirty Months Scheme for cattle, at very considerable expense to the UK Exchequer.

  The Government have therefore decided that the Scheme will close on 30 November 1998.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the oral statement by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) of 14 July 1998,Official Report, column 262, on what information he based his statement that the decision to close the Calf Processing Aid Scheme on 30 November 1998 was taken before the General Election. [53001]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The EU Agriculture Council meeting on 28–30 October 1996 decided to introduce compulsory measures to reduce the potential surplus of beef. Member States were accordingly required to operate either the Calf Processing Aid Scheme or the Early Marketing Scheme for Veal. It was decided that both Schemes should operate for a period of two years only, i.e. from 1 December 1996 until 30 November 1998. The UK representative voted in favour of this decision in the Council.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report progress in lifting the ban on beef exports from the United Kingdom. [54380]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  In June the EU Commission made a proposal for a Decision that would allow the restarting of beef exports on a UK basis from animals born after 1 August 1996. Some progress has been made in discussions of the proposal, but agreement will not now be possible before the summer break.

  One element of the Commission's proposal is that before beef exports resume a cull of offspring of BSE cases should have been completed. I am anxious that this should not delay the renewal of exports. To this end I am today announcing that from early August the culling of all offspring born on or after 1 August 1996 to BSE cases will begin on a voluntary basis. Details of how the voluntary cull will operate are today being placed in the library of the House.

  Farmers will receive the market value for their animals, in some cases taken from a scale rather than individual valuations. These offspring will be slaughtered at the Government's expense. I believe that, with the active support of the NFU and other farming bodies, rapid progress can be made in tackling the cull.

  Payments for offspring surrendered on a voluntary basis will rest on the sole authority of the Estimates and the confirming Appropriation Act. The voluntary cull will be superseded by a compulsory offspring cull as soon as agreement is reached in Brussels on the Date Based Export Scheme (DBES) and powers exist to make UK regulations. Farmers will be compensated for the market value of their animals under the compulsory cull on the same basis as the voluntary cull, ensuring equal treatment for owners of BSE cases' offspring whether slaughtered under the voluntary or compulsory phases of the cull.

  SEAC's advice is that the UK's existing controls to protect the consumer are sufficient. None the less, I believe that the prompt start of the offspring cull will minimise the time between agreement being reached on the DBES and exports resuming.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his Ministry's spending plans for the next three years following the Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [54382]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The results of the Comprehensive Spending Review for MAFF, and the spending plans that have resulted from them, were summarised in Chapter 18 of the White Paper on "Modern Public Services for Britain: Investing in Reform" (Cm 4011). The key figures for MAFF are as follows:

  £ million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Domestic (England)

  685

  744

  711

  751

  of which:

  Current budget

  551

  589

  590

  572

  Capital budget

  134

  155

  121

  179

  BSE (UK)1

  689

  495

  466

  459

  1 Includes Intervention Board expenditure

  342
  These figures do not include payments made by the Intervention Board under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). I am making a separate statement today about the Intervention Board's spending plans. A major uncertainty at this stage is the impact that Agenda 2000 will have on our spending plans. Details of the additional provision needed to meet the UK's Agenda 2000 commitments will not be known until the negotiations in Brussels have been concluded.

  MAFF will have a new aim:
  "To ensure that consumers benefit from competitively priced food, produced to high standards of safety, environmental care and animal welfare and from a sustainable, efficient food chain; and to contribute to the well-being of rural and coastal communities".

  MAFF will also have the following key targets for delivery by the end of the Parliament:

  set up the Food Standards Agency and establish a new role for MAFF;

  resolve the problem of BSE and take action against other animal diseases;

  press for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and reduce its cost to consumers and taxpayers;

  work to sustain and enhance an attractive and accessible countryside;

  encourage the restructuring of the farming and fishing industries.

  I should like to explain in more detail how the CSR settlement will impact on MAFF's programmes over the next three years and assist the Ministry in pursuing its new aim and delivering the reforms set out in the White Paper.

  Protecting public health

  Protection of the public will continue to be a top priority. The White Paper explained that food safety would be put on a new footing through the establishment of the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) and that MAFF would have new targets for reducing the incidence of animal diseases that have implications for human health.

  We have made it clear that over time the Government will recover from the food industry more of the costs of financing food safety work and protecting the public, in a way that is administratively simple and fair to small business. For the CSR period, the Government intend to recover from industry the new costs associated with the FSA. The final amount to be recovered cannot be determined until nearer the launch of the Agency, but over the CSR period it will not exceed £50 million a year.

  Sustaining and enhancing the countryside

  Another key priority is caring for the environment. We will continue to expand the areas under agreement under the major agri-environment schemes. Subject to the approval of the European Commission we propose from next year:
  to enhance the payment rates under the Organic Aid scheme on the lines of the recommendations which were published in April. I will announce the full details as soon as possible. As explained

  343
  in the April announcement, I plan that those who joined the existing scheme on or after 2 April will be able to switch to the new scheme on the first anniversary of their agreement;
  to introduce new upland options into the Countryside Stewardship scheme and to make those new options available as part of the planned upland experiments in the Forest of Bowland and on Bodmin Moor;
  to keep open the pilot Arable Stewardship scheme for a second and third year in 1999 and 2000; and
  to fund improvements to the six Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) schemes which are under review this year on lines similar to the improvements made in the 16 ESAs which were reviewed in 1996 and 1997.

  The Government remain wholly committed to maintaining the environment and social fabric in the hills, but have concluded that the support mechanisms should be modified to address those objectives more specifically.

  The Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances (HLCA) scheme will continue until it is replaced by new arrangements flowing from the Agenda 2000 proposals. These proposals currently envisage a move away from payments based on the number of sheep and cattle to a system of area-based payments with more clearly defined environmental objectives. We will consult extensively on our proposals to ensure that all interests are taken into account.

  We will bring the Nitrate Sensitive Areas scheme to a close. Existing agreements will run their course and applications already received will be processed and authorised under the existing rules. Since the last application period under the present scheme closed on 6 July, no further applications will be considered. However, we will also consider the scope for retaining at least some of the benefits gained under the Scheme, including the possibility of future enhancements to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

  Rural development

  We will continue to encourage rural development in the various Objective 5b areas with both EU and national funds.

  In addition, we shall (as the CSR White Paper indicated) be taking steps to improve co-ordination of the MAFF and DETR countryside programmes to ensure that the Government's countryside and rural policy objectives are fully met.

  Flood defence and coastal protection

  The level of investment in grant aid for flood and coastal defences will increase significantly, unlocking the door to more new schemes over and above those which we have already indicated that we will consider for grant aid in 1999–2000. This demonstrates our determination to provide increased protection for the developed and natural environment which is currently at risk from flooding and erosion.

  Conserving fish stocks and securing a sustainable future for the fishing industry

  We will continue to conserve fish stocks for future generations and encourage a reduction in excess catching capacity in the fishing fleet.

  There will be additional provision for the commissioning of a new marine research vessel to replace the two aging vessels currently operated by the Centre for
  344
  Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). This will enhance MAFF's contribution to conserving fish stocks and reducing marine pollution.

  New provision will also be made towards restructuring of the fishing fleet, to complement the effort control arrangements already introduced. We will also be continuing the range of other grant assistance currently available to the fishing industry and the ports in which it is based.

  Securing a more economically rational CAP

  MAFF will continue to press for reform of the CAP to reduce production related subsidies, redirect support towards environmental and social objectives and cut the cost of the CAP to consumers and taxpayers. Reform along these lines, as acknowledged in the CSR White Paper, will result in a period of transition for British farmers. The Government will help with this restructuring where it sensibly can.

  I have decided, however, not to introduce at this stage an early retirement scheme for farmers. While the response to our consultation showed clear support for the principle of an early retirement scheme, the limitations imposed by the current EU rules were regarded by the majority of respondents as inappropriate to the UK and a major bar to uniform and effective uptake. I consider that the Agenda 2000 rural development proposals should provide the flexibility to introduce a scheme better adapted to UK circumstances and we will take forward this work under those proposals.

  There will be additional funding to modernise the administration of CAP payments to farmers. A new integrated IT system, incorporating a Geographical Information System (GIS) to control area data for CAP schemes, will enable the Ministry's Regional Service Centres to deliver payments more efficiently and cost-effectively. And they will help safeguard the taxpayer's interest.

  R&D

  We will be seeking a greater contribution from the industry to the funding of that part of the Ministry's research programme from which industry benefits directly. The Postgraduate Agricultural and Food Studentships Scheme will be closed to new applicants. However, we shall continue to fund a substantial and wide-ranging research programme in support of the Department's aim and objectives, ensuring that priority areas such as food safety and consumer protection are maintained.

  BSE

  Expenditure on BSE will continue to fall as the incidence of the disease in cattle declines. After widespread consultation with industry interests, my colleagues and I have decided that it would be inappropriate to maintain the Calf Processing Aid Scheme in the UK. Its continuation would distort calf prices in the short term and artificially constrain the production of home-reared beef in the medium term. It must be borne in mind that we will continue to make a very significant contribution to balancing the European beef market by operating the Over Thirty Months Scheme for cattle, at very considerable expense to the UK Exchequer. The Government have therefore decided that the Calf Processing Scheme will close on 30 November 1998.
  345
  The Government have also decided that 1998–99 will be the last year in which the UK participates in the EU Surplus Food Scheme. We have been disappointed in the uptake of this scheme and we know that charitable organisations distributing beef under it have found the rules overly bureaucratic.

  Conclusion

  MAFF's spending plans over the next three years demonstrate the Government's continuing commitment to protecting consumers, caring for the environment and creating the conditions for a competitive and sustainable industry. Focusing on the needs of the consumer will restore confidence in food. That in turn will benefit the farming industry.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he plans to publish the conclusions of his recent consultation on agricultural restructuring; [53188]

  £ million

  1998–1999

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  CAP (non-BSE programme)

  2,616

  2,503

  2,458

  2,658

  of which:

  Current budget

  2,582

  2,422

  2,369

  2,569

  Capital budget

  34

  81

  89

  89

  CAP (BSE programme)

  591

  436

  417

  412

  of which:

  Current budget

  486

  375

  364

  359

  Capital budget

  105

  61

  63

  53

  CAP Administration (non-BSE)

  46

  45

  46

  46

  of which:

  Current budget

  44

  43

  44

  44

  Capital budget

  2

  2

  2

  2

  CAP Administration (BSE)

  13

  22

  22

  22

  of which:

  Current budget

  13

  22

  22

  22

  Capital budget

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The role of LB is to operate the Common Agriculture Policy Guarantee Section with the UK as economically, efficiently and effectively as possible in accordance with the policies laid down by Agriculture Ministers. I have commented separately on BSE in my answer covering MAFF.

  CAP Programme Expenditure

  CAP expenditure in the UK is annually managed Expenditure and will be subject to review. The forecasts take into account known changes in scheme operations and anticipated levels of activity.

  The capital budget consists almost entirely of intervention purchases of cereals, beef and milk and milk products.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department spent on IT itemising(a) personal computers, (b) main-frame, (c) mini-computers and (d) file servers in the last year for which figures are available. [52882]
  346
  (2) if he will list those who responded to his consultation document on restructuring the United Kingdom beef sector on 18 March. [53201]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean),Official Report, columns 341–45.

  A list of those who responded to the consultation document on Agricultural Restructuring issued on 18 March was placed in the Library of the House on 24 June.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the Intervention Board's spending plans for the next three years following the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement; and if he will make a statement. [54384]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The results of the Comprehensive Spending Review for the Intervention Board (IB) are incorporated into Chapter 18 (MAFF) of the White Paper on "Modern Public Services for Britain: Investing in Reform". The key figures for IB are:

  Mr. Morley
  In 1997–98, the Department (core-MAFF and Agencies) spent some £3.6 million on the procurement of personal computers, and £3.1 million on mini-computers/file servers. There was no expenditure on mainframe computers. Including ancillary/related equipment (eg printers, cabling and network hardware), total capital costs amounted to some £11 million.

  These figures (which are VAT inclusive) exclude related consultancy, support and running costs, as provision of this information would incur disproportionate cost. However, as a further indication of expenditure on IT technology in core-MAFF (only), total IT programme expenditure for 1997–98 amounted to some £41 million.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people his Department is committed to employing during 1998 under(a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52588]
  347
  Mr. Morley
  The Ministry has signed up to the New Deal programme but has not given any commitment to employ a specified number of young people under either category.

  Forest of Dean
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors underlay the decision not to include the Forest of Dean as an area to receive part of the £11 million grant to farmers involved in tourism. [52043]

  Mr. Morley
  The figure of £11 m refers to the total cost of four farm tourism projects approved under the Northern Uplands Objective 5b Structural Funds Programme. The European Commission designated the areas eligible for Objective 5b support in 1994 using criteria which required areas to have a low level of GDP along with a high share of agricultural employment in total employment, a low level of agricultural income and a low population density and/or a significant depopulation trend. A number of other economic, social and environmental factors were also taken into account. The Forest of Dean was not among the areas designated. Only those who live and work within a designated area are able to receive grant from projects supported under an Objective 5b programme.

  Drift Nets
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which EU countries permit the use of drift nets. [52055]

  Mr. Morley
  Drift nets are widely used from the Baltic to the Mediterranean to catch a range of fish species. Because their use is permitted under European Community rules, all Member States must permit the fishermen of other Member States to use drift nets in their waters where there are rights of access. However, the June 1998 Fisheries Council agreed to ban from the end of 2001 the use of drift nets by Community fishermen to catch certain species, including tuna, swordfish, sharks and cephalopods. These particular drift net fisheries are responsible for a high level of casualties among dolphins and other non-target species.

  Tobacco (EU Subsidies)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost to the EU of subsidies for tobacco production in the EU per individual member state for the most recent five years for which figures are available. [52106]

  Mr. Rooker
  Expenditure on subsidising tobacco production for the last five years to the nearest £ million is as follows:

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Belgium

  8

  4

  3

  3

  2

  Germany

  36

  22

  21

  20

  20

  Greece

  431

  326

  332

  302

  254

  Spain

  86

  92

  102

  113

  89

  France

  54

  60

  66

  71

  59

  348

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Italy

  291

  302

  268

  328

  287

  Austria

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  1

  0

  Portugal

  11

  4

  11

  11

  13

  Total (EU)

  916

  810

  802

  852

  725

  Note:

  Totals may not add, due to rounding

  Source:

  EAGGF Guarantee annual reports

  Departmental Reviews
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the reviews his Department and its predecessors, initiated in the years(a) 1974–75, (b) 1979–80 and (c) 1992–93. [48519]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The following is a list of published review reports initiated in the years 1979–80 and 1992–93. No published reports of reviews initiated in 1974–75 have been identified.

  1979–80:
  Consultation Paper on the review of inland and coastal fisheries in England and Wales. MAFF, Welsh Office, 1981.
  Mineral, trace element and vitamin allowances for ruminant livestock. The report of an interdepartmental Working Party set up to consider the findings contained in the ARC (1980) Technical Review "The nutrient requirements of Ruminant Livestock". ADAS, MAFF, DAFS, FANI, UKASTA, BVA, ADAS, 1983.
  Review report on food safety and food quality and spoilage. MAFF, 1981.
  Review of statistical services. MAFF, 1982.
  Survey of mycotoxins in the United Kingdom: the fourth report of the Steering Group on Food Surveillance. HMSO, 1980.
  Survey of vinylidene chloride levels in food contact materials and in foods: the third report of the Steering Group on Food Surveillance. HMSO, 1980.

  1992–93:
  Food Advisory Committee review of food labelling: table of recommendations and the government's final response. Food Advisory Committee, 1992.
  Hill livestock compensatory allowances: review of the economic conditions in the hills and uplands 1992. MAFF, 1993.
  Report on the review of the emulsifiers and stabilisers in food regulations. HMSO, 1992.
  Report on the review of the use of additives in foods specially prepared for infants and young children. HMSO, 1992.
  A review of radioactivity in the Irish Sea: a report prepared for the Marine Pollution Monitoring Management Group. MAFF, Directorate of Fisheries Research, 1992.
  Sources of mortality and associated life-cycle traits of selected benthic species: a review. MAFF, Directorate of Fisheries Research, 1993.
  Review of the rules for sewage sludge application to agricultural land: food safety and relevant animal health aspects of potentially toxic elements: report of the Steering Group on Chemical Aspects of Food Surveillance. MAFF, 1993.
  Review of the rules for sewage sludge application to agricultural land: soil fertility aspects of potentially toxic elements: report of the Independent Scientific Committee. MAFF, 1993.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for(a) his Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register, how

  349
  many vehicles are currently (i) owned and (ii) leased; if he will indicate their (A) fuel types and (B) engine cubic capacities; and how many vehicles are expected to fall due for replacement in each of the years (1) 1998–99, (2) 1999–2000 and (3) 2000–01. [49228]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The Department and its Agencies currently own 533 vehicles—none is leased. Detailed information about engine capacities, fuel type and projected replacement dates is not maintained centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to change the method by which the incidence of TB in cattle is calculated to one based on cattle numbers. [52857]

  Mr. Rooker
  The definition of incidence in EU legislation has recently changed, but it is still based on the number of confirmed herd breakdowns as a percentage of the total number of herds. We will be reviewing the testing frequencies to be used in different parts of the country on this basis.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the trial areas in which badgers can be culled. [53021]

  Mr. Rooker
  An independent scientific group was established in February this year to advise on the implementation of recommendations in the Krebs Report, including the design of the culling trial which will produce scientifically robust results. The Group's advice has just been presented to Ministers. An announcement will be made once this advice has been fully considered.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the incidence of TB in cattle in areas where badgers are rare. [53013]

  Mr. Rooker
  A report by Wilson, Harris and McLaren entitled "Changes in the British badger population 1988 to 1997", published in 1997 by the People's Trust for Endangered Species, shows the areas of lowest badger main sett density in Great Britain to be Scotland and East Anglia, with the north of England also being estimated to be relatively low. Outside areas of high incidence of TB in cattle in the west of England and in south Wales, the incidence of TB in cattle herds in Great Britain is less than 0.1 per cent. However, Professor Krebs concluded that there was a considerable local variation in risk of TB incidents and recommended that further work should be done to assess the reasons for this.

  Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each establishment producing meat in third countries which exports to the United Kingdom, indicating when it was last inspected by the Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection or its approved agents. [53191]

  Mr. Rooker
  Lists of the many hundreds of establishments in third countries from which imports of fresh meat are permitted can be found at the Ministry's350
  Internet site. We do not have information on the dates on which these establishments were last inspected by or for the European Commission.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how frequently the Office of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection visits plants in each country of the EU. [53199]

  Mr. Rooker
  Regular inspections and audits covering all parts of the food production chain are carried out by the Commission's inspectorate. They involve visits to all EU Member States and to countries outside the EU. Most visits are carried out by small, multidisciplinary, inspections teams. We do not have data on the frequency of visits to each member state.

  Animal Waste
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1998,Official Report, columns 317–18, what guidance his Department has issued on how the livestock industry will dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner. [53234]

  Mr. Rooker
  In March 1998, the Department wrote to representatives of the farming industries, asking them to urge their members to continue to use knackers' yards or hunt kennels to dispose of their fallen stock, particularly for larger animals. The letter reminded them that, if carcases are buried on-farm, the provisions in the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water (published in 1991) must be followed to minimise the risk of causing water pollution. On 2 July 1998, the Department issued a guidance note on the disposal of animal waste, including burial.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's consultation with farming representatives on disposal of fallen stock. [53194]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is for the livestock industry to take responsibility for disposing of its waste in a safe and sustainable manner, and to work out how best to achieve this. Nevertheless, the Department is willing to facilitate a solution and met with representatives of the National Farmers' Union, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, the Farmers' Union of Wales, the Ulster Farmers' Union, the Tenant Farmers' Association, the British Pig Association, the National Sheep Association and the National Cattle Association on 9 February 1998, and with the National Farmers' Union on 19 March 1998, to discuss the disposal of fallen stock and possible future arrangements. Officials are continuing to maintain contact with the National Farmers' Union.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy towards the building of incineration plants. [53195]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government recognise that, in the absence of a viable market for some animal waste products, incineration plants could play a useful role in their disposal. Such plants must, however, comply with all relevant environmental legislation and be subject to the usual requirements of Local Planning Authorities.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the inspection, approval and monitoring of establishments producing meat in third countries. [53200]

  Mr. Rooker
  Council Directive 72/462 provides for lists of establishments from which Member States may authorise the importation of fresh meat or meat products to be drawn up by the Commission and considered by the Standing Veterinary Committee. In deciding whether an establishment should appear on the lists, particular account is taken of the guarantees offered by the third country with regard to compliance with Community rules; regulations with regard to administration of substances which might affect the wholesomeness of the meat; the establishment's compliance with the conditions for approval of fresh meat plants situated in the Community; and the organisation, powers and supervision of the country's meat inspection services. The Directive also provides for inspections to be carried out on the spot by veterinary experts of the Member States and the Commission to verify whether the conditions for approval of establishments are being applied in practice.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each occasion when an approved border inspection post has refused meat imports from third countries. [53192]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is not possible to list all occasions on which meat has been rejected at a Border Inspection Post, except at disproportionate cost. But in the first quarter of this year 186 consignments of products of animal origin (which included meat) were rejected at Border Inspection Posts. The numbers of rejections because of failure to comply with national legislation concerning specified risk material are set out in the Ministry's monthly BSE Enforcement Bulletin, copies of which can be found in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the means by which the European Commission enforces harmonised Community rules in third countries. [53197]

  Mr. Rooker
  The principal means by which Community standards are upheld in third countries is through the negotiations of bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements by the Commission on behalf of the European Union.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that consumers are informed of the country of origin of imported meat by labelling. [53240]

  Mr. Rooker
  Food labelling rules already require the place of origin of any food, including meat, to be given if omitting it could mislead the purchaser about the true place of origin of that food.

  More specifically, the labels on pre-packaged poultrymeat must give an indication of the country of origin when it is imported from outside the Community and we are currently taking steps to require this information to appear on labels, tickets or notices near where unpackaged poultrymeat is offered for sale. Poultrymeat produced in the Community must include the registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant
  352
  which supplied the produce (except where cutting and boning is carried out at the place of sale). These registered numbers are prefixed with the initials of the member state concerned.

  Livestock Carcases (Classification)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1998,Official Report, column 415, if he will list the criteria used to measure the performance of British livestock. [53180]

  Mr. Rooker
  The criteria used to classify carcases of livestock are set out in Council Regulation 3220/84 (as amended) for pigs; Council Regulation 2137/92 (as amended) for sheep; and Council Regulation 1208/81 (as amended) and Commission Regulation 2930/81 (as amended) for cattle.

  Genetically Modified Maize
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food following the Court of Appeal judgment on Tuesday 21 July, Regina v Watson, if he will instruct NIAB to de-tassle the genetically modified maize at Hood Barton. [52850]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: No. The Court of Appeal drew a clear distinction between the health and safety implications of releasing genetically modified organisms dealt with by the Environment Protection Act 1990 and the National List regime, which is essentially concerned with marketing. The Court rejected the application to order destruction of the genetically modified maize. Moreover, it said explicitly that the Minister himself could not properly destroy or require destruction of these plants under the National List regime.

  Seed Listings
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 May 1998,Official Report, columns 198–99, how many National Seed List applications have been made since 14 May; and how many of those (a) are now listed, (b) were unsuccessful and (c) are still awaiting approval. [52848]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Since 14 May 1998 a total of 11 National List applications have been made. As indicated in my answer of 14 May 1998, DUS tests and VCU trials are conducted on such applications pursuant to Regulation 11 (1) of the Seeds (National List of Varieties) Regulations 1982 as amended. Such tests and trials normally involve a minimum of two growing seasons and therefore in answer to (a) none is currently listed, (b) none is yet unsuccessful, and (c) none will be considered for approval until completion of the necessary tests and trials.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 May 1998,Official Report, columns 198–99, on which date in 1995 the decision was made not to require applicants for National Seeds Lists to comply with Regulation 11(3) and by whom; and for what reasons the information was deemed of little value. [52847]
  353
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The requirement to submit the results of replicated trials was introduced (in 1979 initially) to reduce the volume of National List applications for the common species to a manageable level. Its purpose was to encourage breeders to screen varieties before entering them into the statutory system and to deter them from entering varieties which had little chance of addition to the National List, at a time when the trialling system was overloaded and also heavily subsidised by the tax payer.

  A fundamental review of the National List trials system was undertaken in 1992, in consultation with plant breeders. Following this, a streamlined system of trials for Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) was introduced, which reduced the burdens on the trials system. The staged reintroduction of fees for official VCU trials in 1994 and 1995 reinforced these measures. The requirement to submit the results of replicated trials had no value once the pressure on the system was relieved. So far as we can tell from the records, no formal decision was taken that applicants need not comply with Regulation 11(3), though industry representatives were aware that the requirement was not enforced as the need for it no longer existed. It appears that enforcement of the requirement finally ceased on or around April 1995.

  Seed and Biotechnology Companies
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the dates of each meeting he or other members of his Department have had with(a) seed and (b) biotechnology companies since 9 July 1998 and in each case the names of those met. [52849]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The meetings listed have taken place between officials and Ministers with seed and biotechnology companies since 9 July 1998.

  The then Minister, the right hon. Jack Cunningham MP, met Mr. H. Grant and Ms A. Foster from Monsanto on 15 July.

  Officials met on 15 July with Mr. J. Gilbert from Germinal Holdings and Mr. N. Bark from British Seed Houses, and on 24 July with Mr. H. Manning from AgrEvo and Mr. M. Coy from the English Sugar Beet Seed Company.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who will have responsibility for investigating cases of carbon monoxide poisoning following the introduction of competition into the domestic gas market. [50928]

  Mr. Battle
  I am advised that Regulation 7(14) of the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 places a specific duty on the person who has supplied the gas to cause an investigation to be carried out to establish, as far as is reasonably practicable, the cause of the escape and accumulation of the carbon monoxide gas. During last Autumn and Winter, my Department circulated a safety advice leaflet on the dangers of carbon monoxide, through 354
  doctors' surgeries and direct to 19 million households with their gas bills. A new campaign is planned for later this year, to coincide with the onset of colder weather.

  Energy Review
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with environmental groups since her statement on the Government's energy review on 25 June 1998,Official Report, columns 1169–85. [51282]

  Mr. Mandelson
  My office has received six written representations from environmental groups since the statement. None has sought a meeting.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her oral statement of 25 June 1998,Official Report, columns 1169–72, when she expects to announce the conclusions of her Department's energy review. [52636]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: My Department is giving careful consideration to all the contributions we have received in response to the Consultation Document dated 25 June 1998. It is our intention to reach and announce conclusions on the Review shortly, after assessing the material we have received.

  UK Firms' Competitiveness
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to improve the competitiveness of UK firms. [52390]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Improving productivity is at the heart of the Government's drive to improve the competitiveness of UK companies.

  The responsibility for this lies largely with business itself, but Government have a role in partnership with business. It is for this reason that my predecessor set up six business-led working parties last year to make recommendations about how such a partnership can help to promote competitiveness. I am also co-hosting, with the Chancellor, a series of seminars on the UK's productivity gap over the Summer and Autumn.

  This work will contribute to a White Paper on competitiveness to be published in the Autumn.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research her Department has evaluated into the competitiveness of UK firms, with particular reference to their funding, management and production functions. [52391]

  Mr. Mandelson
  My Department monitors research into factors affecting competitiveness, including funding, management, and production functions. The results are used to produce reports such as the Competitiveness UK document 'Benchmarking for Business' published in November last year.

  Foresight Programme
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assessment she has made of the outcome of the Foresight Programme. [53084]
  355
  Mr. Battle
  The Foresight Programme develops visions of the future to guide today's decision-makers and stimulate innovation. It aims to increase wealth creation and enhance quality of life but, given the nature of its objectives, it will inevitably be some time before its ultimate impacts can objectively be assessed.

  In the meantime, it is clear that Foresight is creating new networks of people from business, academe, and Government working together for mutual advantage. Well over £350 million has also been committed since 1995 to public and private sector collaborative research programmes and projects reflecting Foresight priorities. These include:
  Nineteen new LINK programmes worth some £160 million which have been launched in Foresight priority areas.
  The Foresight Challenge Competition which brought together £30 million of public funds with over £60 million from the private sector in a range of projects, some involving businesses with no history of collaboration with the science base and
  The Foresight LINK Awards which have stimulated an exciting range of proposals for further projects. £10 million of public funds will be matched by at least the same amount from the public sector.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on the United Kingdom science base and the competitiveness of the United Kingdom's science-based industries of the burden of regulation on applications for research and development projects involving animals. [50701]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: It is important that the use of animals in regulated procedures is properly controlled to ensure that animals are used only where it is fully justified. Applications need to be carefully scrutinised and processed. There is a responsibility to ensure that alternatives which replace or reduce animal use, and which refine procedures to minimise suffering, are used wherever possible.

  We do not consider that scientific research and the competitiveness of the UK's science-based industries is unduly hampered. The Animal Procedures Committee is carrying out a review of the operation of the Animals (Scientific procedures) Act 1986 which is due to be published later this year.

  Management Costs
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of management costs on the competiveness of UK firms. [52392]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: My Department has not made any assessment of the impact of management costs on the competitiveness of UK firms. The focus of my Department's work in this area is on the 'quality' of management in companies.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of EU structural funding for the United Kingdom will go to rural areas in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [52596]
  356
  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Rural areas of the United Kingdom receive funding under Objective 1 in the Highlands and Islands, and under Objective 5b and the LEADER Community Initiative. Structural Funds allocations for these programmes for both 1998 and 1999 are some 9 per cent. of the total Structural Funds allocation to the United Kingdom. Allocations for 2000 are not yet known. Part of the funding under the national Objective 3, 4, and 5a programmes and under the Northern Ireland Objective 1 programme, also goes to rural areas; however, the amount is not separately identifiable without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much EU structural funding rural areas of the United Kingdom received in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997. [52595]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Rural areas of the United Kingdom receive funding under Objective 1 in the Highlands and Islands, and under Objective 5b and the LEADER Community Initiative. Structural Funds allocations for these are shown in the table. Part of the funding under the national Objective 3, 4, and 5a programmes and under the Northern Ireland Objective 1 programme also goes to rural areas; however, the amount is not separately identifiable without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Structural funds allocations to UK rural areas—1998 prices

  million ecu

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Highlands and Islands SPD

  50

  53

  56

  UK Objective 5b SPDs

  136

  156

  157

  LEADER Community Initiative

  13

  15

  15

  Total

  199

  224

  228

  Gas Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what external forecasts on job losses in the gas industry resulting from the moratorium on gas-fired power status she has evaluated. [52601]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: A great deal of material has been submitted to my Department in response to the Consultation Document dated 25 June 1998, and it is being evaluated.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what mechanisms prevent the Scottish and Welsh Offices from competing against(a) each other and (b) her Department for inward investment. [52597]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Neither Scotland, Wales, or any other part of the UK do not compete with my Department for inward investment. The Invest in Britain Bureau chairs the Committee on Overseas Promotion, part of whose role is to monitor rules agreed by Departments to avoid wasteful competition between the inward investment agencies of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the English regions.
  357
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she has completed her discussions on the co-ordination of inward investment; and when she expects to announce her conclusions; [52598]

  (2) when the Concordat on Inward Investment will be published. [52599]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: There will be an announcement when, through collective discussion and agreement, Ministers have concluded arrangements which will ensure that offers made to inward investors are value for money for the taxpayer and fair to all parts of the UK.

  European Regional Aid
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much European regional aid the UK received in each of the last five years; and how much is forecast in the next three. [52603]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Total allocations to the United Kingdom under the EU Structural Funds for the last five years (1994–98) and for 1999 are shown in the table. No decisions on funding post-1999 have yet been made.

  Total structural funds allocations to the UK (including community initiative)

  billion ecu, 1998 prices

  Year

  Total

  1994

  1.83

  1995

  2.28

  1996

  2.39

  1997

  2.48

  1998

  2.50

  1999

  2.60

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to announce the conclusions of her review of the pool price for electricity. [52602]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: The recent Report on Pool Price Increases in Winter 1997–98 is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  Nuclear Material
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will set out the number of withdrawals of nuclear materials from safeguards that have been notified to the relevant authorities under the 1978 United Kingdom-EURATOM-IAEA tripartite safeguards agreement since it entered into force; how many were permanent withdrawals; what quantities and types of nuclear material were involved in the permanent withdrawals; and if she will provide details of the purpose to which the materials involved in the permanent withdrawals were put in each case. [53096]

  Mr. Battle
  A total of 591 advance notifications of the withdrawal of nuclear material from safeguards have been made in accordance with the provisions of Article 14 of the UK/Euratom/IAEA Safeguards Agreement. The majority of these have involved either the temporary withdrawal of the material concerned or, in the case of 358
  permanent transfers to MOD sites, the withdrawal from safeguards of material such as depleted uranium for source shielding or small amounts of other nuclear materials for R&D or analytical purposes.

  As part of the Strategic Defence review, the Government have indicated that future withdrawals of nuclear material from safeguards will be limited to small quantities of material not suitable for explosive purposes, and that information on these withdrawals will be published from time to time.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she will take to increase investment in the Post Office. [52094]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Individual decisions in investment within the Post Office are for the Post Office Board within the overall framework of financial targets set by Government. We plan to give the Post Office greater commercial freedom so that it can meet the challenges of domestic and international markets. The second phase of the Post Office Review, which my predecessor announced on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 63, will be making recommendations on the Post Office's future structure, organisation, and financing that will best deliver greater commercial freedom for the Post Office within the public sector. In the meantime, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) announced, with immediate effect, limited freedoms for the Post Office to enter into joint ventures in the domestic market in a similar way to those they have in the international market. Further details are set out in the Government's observations to the Trade and Industry Select Committee on the third report of the 1997/98 session on the Post Office, which was published by the Committee on 14 April.

  Private Office Staff
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many private office staff have left the offices of each Minister in his Department in the past 12 months. [52859]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Twelve staff out of a total of 53 have left private offices in the Department of Trade and Industry over the past 12 months. This movement rate of 23 per cent. is slightly lower than the average for DTI Headquarters as a whole, which is 28 per cent.

  Gas Storage Bullets
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will instruct OFGAS to draw up plans for the removal of pressurised gas storage bullets from residential areas; and if she will make a statement. [52324]

  Mr. Battle
  Gas storage bullets are a means of providing the short-term storage capacity necessary to handle short-term (within the day) fluctuations in demand for gas, and are an integral part of the gas transportation system. In order to fulfil this function, they must be situated near to the gas consumer. Their location is an operational matter for the public gas transporter concerned, subject to planning considerations and to meeting the requirements of safety legislation enforced by
  359
  the HSE. The HSE has the power to prohibit any activity, including the storage of gas, if it involves the risk of serious personal injury.

  Research Studentships
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council financial level of research studentships for postgraduate students. [52071]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 24 July 1998]: I am pleased to announce that additional funds are being made available to the Research Councils. As a result, from this Autumn, the minimum stipend for a Research Council student will be £6,455 which, for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, is £1,000 above the previously planned level. The Government attach much importance to the investment which the Research Councils' provision for post graduate students represents.

  The Research Councils will be publishing further details, and I will ensure that my hon. Friend receives a copy.

  Written Answers
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the average time taken by her Department to provide a substantive reply to a written question tabled for answer on the first available named day since 1 May 1997. [52334]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. However, up to 24 July, my Department has answered 77.33 per cent. of the

  Title of regulation

  Compliance Costs (£) Recurring

  Non recurring

  The Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) (Amendment) Order 1997

  62,360

  144,720

  The Telecommunications (Voice Telephony) Regulations 1997

  20,000 to 60,000

  180,000

  The Wireless Telegraphy (Control of Interference from Videosenders) Order 1997

  375,000 to 450,000

  —

  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997

  1,700,000

  810,000

  The Copyright and Rights in Database Regulations 1997

  3,500,000

  17,500,000

  The Telecommunications (Interconnection) Regulations 1997

  250,000

  250,000 to 300,000

  The Consumer Credit (Increase of Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order 1998

  40,000

  60,000

  The Consumer Credit (Further Increase of Monetary Amounts) Order 1998

  The Consumer Credit (Realisation of Pawn) (Amendment) Regulations 1998

  The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipelines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1998

  10,000,000

  —

  The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1998

  11,372,000

  5,021,000

  The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours (Amendments) Regulations 1998

  2,000,000 to 4,000,000

  —

  The Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Specified Domestic Electrical Goods) Order 1998

  2,200,000 to 4,400,000

  250,000 to 500,000

  Total

  31,519,360 to 35,834,360

  24,215,720 to 24,515,720

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52942]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Details of all published compliance cost assessments are contained in the bi-annual Command Papers of Compliance Cost Assessments. Details of final compliance cost assessments published by my Department between 1 May 1997 and 31 May 1998 are as follows:

  June 1997
  The Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) (Amendment) Order 1997
  360
  named questions within five sitting days of the named day, with 29.24 per cent. of these being answered on the day.

  Dounreay
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much spent fuel, in tonnes, is currently in storage in the Dounreay nuclear establishment; and of this total how much is(a) fast reactor spent fuel, (b) UK research reactor spent fuel and (c) foreign research reactor spent fuel. [48029]

  Mr. Battle
  There are 58 tonnes of spent fuel in storage at Dounreay. Of this, fast reactor fuel, including breeder material, accounts for 99 per cent. This includes a small amount (less than half a per cent.) from foreign fast reactors. The remaining 1 per cent. comes from foreign power reactors. There is no spent fuel from other UK research reactors, and the only spent fuel from other foreign research reactors is the 4.364 kilogrammes from Georgia.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52943]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The net cumulative increase in compliance costs, as estimated in final compliance cost assessments published by my Department between 1 May 1997 and 31 May 1998, is as follows:

  July 1997
  The Telecommunications (Voice Telephony) Regulations 1997
  The Wireless Telegraphy (Control of Interference from Videosenders) Orders 1997

  September 1997
  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997

  November 1997
  The Copyright and Rights in Database Regulations 1997

  December 1997
  The Telecommunications (Interconnection) Regulations 1997
  The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Statements) (Amendment) Regulations 1997
  361
  April 1998
  The Consumer Credit (Increase of Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order 1998;
  The Consumer Credit (Further Increase of Monetary Amounts) Order 1998; and The Consumer Credit (Realisation of Pawn) (Amendment) Regulations 1998
  The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipelines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1998

  May 1998
  The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1998
  The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours (Amendment) Regulations 1998
  The Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Specified Domestic Electrical Goods) Order 1998.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997 in which there is a net reduction in compliance costs resulting from a legislative proposal. [52944]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: There is presently no requirement for Departments to carry out compliance cost assessments where regulatory proposals are expected to be cost neutral or result in a saving to business. However, between 1 May 1997 and 31 May 1998 my Department laid eight amending regulations which resulted in compliance cost savings to business. These are as follows:
  The Wireless Telegraphy (Network User Stations) (Exemption) Regulations 1997
  The Gas Act 1986 (Exemption) Order 1997
  The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Statements) (Amendment) Regulations 1997
  The Restrictive Trade Practices (Non-Notifiable Agreements) (Sale and Purchase, Share Subscription and Franchise Agreements) Order 1997
  The Restrictive Trade Practices (Non-Notifiable Agreements) (Turnover Threshold) Amendment Order 1997
  The Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1997
  The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1998
  The Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 1998.

  Motor Industry
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the number of jobs in the UK which are dependent upon the motor industry. [53185]

  Mr. Battle
  It is estimated that 714,600 jobs at the end of March 1998 were directly reliant on the UK automotive industry: 222,300 in vehicle and component manufacturing and 492,300 in the retail, distribution, servicing and repair (but excluding petrol sales) sectors.Source:
  Labour Market Trends.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs in Britain are accounted for by the production of cars and automobile components. [53184]

  Mr. Battle
  The vehicle and component manufacturing sectors at the end of March 1998 were estimated to employ 222,300 people in the United Kingdom.Source:
  Labour Market Trends.

WALES

  NHS Staff Absences
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many working days were lost through sickness, ill health or injury by NHS staff in Wales for the latest year for which figures are available; and what was the estimated total cost of those lost days. [51237]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  [holding answer 17 July 1998]: The information requested is not available centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. However, deaths and injuries at work are reported to the Health and Safety Executive. Based on provisional estimates, there were 686 cases reported to them relating to NHS employees in Wales in 1997–98. However, the HSE do not collect the number of working days lost due to injuries more generally, or to sickness absence.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what are the Government's priorities for expenditure in tackling social exclusion in Wales; [52429]

  (2) how much money will be dedicated to tackling social exclusion in Wales in 1999–2000; [52426]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the factors underlying differences in his Department's spending priorities for tackling social exclusion in Wales relative to those in (a) England and (b) Scotland; [52431]

  (4) what initiatives his Department (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to tackle social exclusion in Wales; [52435]

  (5) what funding will be made available for tackling social exclusion in Wales in 1998–99. [52450]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Social Exclusion Programme for Wales—"People in Communities"—was launched on 1 May. It aims to tackle social exclusion in a co-ordinated way through community development with an emphasis on action research. We have invited local authorities to put forward bids from which we will select, this autumn, around six pilot communities on which the programme will focus. The programme has been drawn up in response to the particular needs of Wales, and taking account of existing development programmes. We have, however, taken note of the work of the Social Exclusion Unit in England in devising our programme for Wales.

  £750,000 is being made available for the initial twelve month development phase. This will enable the six or so selected communities to undertake an extensive needs assessment to identify local priorities for action. In the second stage of the programme, funding will be made available through mainstream Programmes, and my Department will be seeking ways to ensure that pilot communities have access to a wide range of sources of support.

  We want to identify and to promote what works in securing long-term and sustainable community-based regeneration. We will look, for example, at the way we bring on board initiatives such as Employment Zones and New Deal Pilot Projects, or handle Capital Challenge and

  363
  Strategic Development Scheme money. We will aim to disseminate good practice as widely as possible across Wales.

  In addition to the "People in Communities" Programme, my Department is taking account of the impact on social exclusion in developing policies in other areas such as the "Better Health Better Wales" Green Paper and housing policy.

  My Department is also taking forward for Wales the commitments given in relation to England in the Social Exclusion Unit report on Exclusions and truancy to reduce levels of permanent and fixed term exclusions from school and unauthorised absence.

  Rough Sleeping
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which health authorities in Wales have dedicated resources for initiatives related to the problem of rough sleeping; how much they spent in the last year for which figures are available; and on what projects. [52430]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The information requested is not held centrally. 1 understand that Bro Taf, Iechyd Morgannwg and Gwent Health Authorities directly support projects, including the provision of GP sessions and district nurse hours, to help meet the health needs of people sleeping rough.

  Millennium Stadium
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure the effective supervision of the Millennium Stadium project and its timely completion; and if he will make a statement. [47243]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  On 3 July in response to proposals from Millennium Stadium PLC, I announced that I would be prepared to make available a grant of £3 million towards the River Walk project, which is necessary to ensure the timely operation of the stadium at full capacity for the Rugby World Cup finals next year. My Department is in discussion with the company on the detail of those proposals including the company's plans to make fresh appointments to the PLC Board. The Chairman of Millennium Stadium PLC has assured me that the construction of the new stadium will be completed on time.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on IT itemising(a) personal computers, (b) main-frame, (c) minicomputers and (d) file servers in the last year for which figures are available. [52890]

  Mr. Hain
  The Welsh Office has a Private Finance Initiative contract for the supply of IT services to the desk. These services consist of personal computer workstations, a suite of office automation products, the underlying network infrastructure, hardware and software maintenance and education and training. The inclusive cost for 1997–98 was £3.878 million. The contract serviced 1,965 personal computers and 27 file servers at the end of the year. In addition, in 1997–98 the Department spent £0.031 million on a mainframe computer and £0.892 million on minicomputers.

  Reviews
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what internal and external reviews have been established by him; and what is the remit, starting and concluding date of each. [53097]

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

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the size and location of landfill sites in Wales; and if he will make a statement on his plans to tackle pollution from these sites. [53690]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Details of landfill sites which are licensed or registered as exempt from licensing are available in public registers held by the Environment Agency at its principal Area Offices. The Agency monitors these sites on a regular basis and if pollution is detected, they will take appropriate action.

  Full information is not available on landfill sites that closed prior to the introduction of licensing. However, when the new contaminated land regime is implemented in Wales, this will provide for the identification of such sites, and for their remediation where necessary.

  North Wales Coast
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many incidents of illegal dumping of dredged material have been recorded off the North Wales coast in each of the last 20 years. [53691]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None.

  A licence is required under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to dispose of dredged material at sea: licences involving deposits in waters adjacent to Wales are issued on my behalf by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Data on illegal dumping are not readily available prior to 1991 when amendments to the 1985 Act introduced under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 required information about convictions to be held on a public register. Since 1991 a number of alleged breaches of licence conditions and other infringements under the Act have been investigated but none has involved the disposal of dredged material off the North Wales coast.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which(a) organisation's and (b) company's working computer models of the hydrographic regimes of the North Wales coastal region have been commissioned by the Environment Agency. [53686]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 23 July 1998,Official Report, column 629.

  Clinical Psychologists
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current waiting time for a child to be referred to a clinical psychologist in each of the health authorities in Wales. [53688]
  365
  Mr. Ron Davies
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Welsh Language Board
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to make changes to the membership of the Welsh Language Board prior to the establishment of the National Assembly. [53369]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have no such plans at present. The terms of office of none of the Board's members expires before or soon after the establishment of the National Assembly.

  Health authority waiting lists, by length of wait, 1992–96 Numbers waiting for treatment as an inpatient or daycase

  Length of wait

  31 March 19921

  31 March 19931

  Waiting list at 31 March 1994

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  Clwyd Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  7,597

  7,990

  8,518

  9,071

  8,441

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  641

  453

  270

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  86

  74

  41

  12–24 months

  900

  625

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  87

  1

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  8,584

  8,616

  9,245

  9,598

  8,752

  Dyfed Health Authority (an amalgamation of East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire Health Authority figures)

  Less than 12 months

  7,940

  7,679

  8,651

  8,277

  8,778

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  900

  570

  837

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  288

  109

  130

  12–24 months

  1,330

  883

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  0

  48

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  9,270

  8,610

  9,839

  8,956

  9,745

  Gwent Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  9,165

  8,313

  8,797

  8,391

  9,327

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  846

  306

  962

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  207

  2

  185

  12–24 months

  1,170

  1,586

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  456

  23

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  10,791

  9,922

  9,850

  8,699

  10,474

  Gwynedd Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  4,084

  3,974

  4,534

  4,943

  4,738

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  481

  93

  224

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  62

  22

  6

  12–24 months

  626

  513

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  233

  1

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  4,943

  4,488

  5,077

  5,058

  4,968

  Mid Glamorgan Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  8,662

  8,636

  10,102

  11,643

  10,301

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  780

  846

  848

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  375

  203

  148

  12–24 months

  503

  1,332

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  1,004

  130

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  10,169

  10,098

  11,257

  12,692

  11,297

  Powys Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  1,756

  1,722

  1,775

  2,334

  2,697

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  105

  0

  66

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  1

  0

  6

  12–24 months

  102

  202

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  0

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  1,858

  1,929

  1,881

  2,334

  2,769

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients in each health authority area were waiting for treatment under the NHS in January each year since 1992 for(a) six months and under, (b) six to 12 months, (c) 12 to 18 months and (d) over 18 months; and if he will make a statement. [48189]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Information on waiting lists by area of residence was not collected in January until 1997. Data for 31 March are therefore, provided for each year since 1992.
  367

  Health authority waiting lists, by length of wait, 1992–96 Numbers waiting for treatment as an inpatient or daycase

  Length of wait

  31 March 19921

  31 March 19931

  Waiting list at 31 March 1994

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  South Glamorgan Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  6,585

  6,264

  7,295

  7,582

  8,567

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  915

  785

  827

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  311

  156

  255

  12–24 months

  849

  998

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  263

  89

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  7,697

  7,351

  8,521

  8,523

  9,649

  West Glamorgan Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  5,542

  5,102

  6,467

  6,174

  5,934

  12–18 months

  2—

  2—

  437

  339

  260

  More than 18 months

  2—

  2—

  258

  100

  53

  12–24 months

  994

  620

  2—

  2—

  2—

  More than 24 months

  208

  5

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  6,744

  5,727

  7,162

  6,613

  6,247

  Notes:

  1Indicates that complete data in respect of GP fund holding practices were not reported until March 1994

  2Indicates that the requested breakdown by time of wait is not available

  Health authority waiting lists, by length of wait, 1997–98 Numbers waiting for treatment as inpatient or daycase

  Length of wait

  31st March 1997

  Waiting list at 31st March 1998

  Gwent Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  11,998

  11,894

  12–18 months

  1,534

  1,654

  More than 18 months

  612

  809

  Total

  14,144

  14,357

  Bro Taf Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  15,672

  15,588

  12–18 months

  1,371

  2,092

  More than 18 months

  378

  844

  Total

  17,421

  18,524

  Dyfed Powys Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  11,644

  13,346

  12–18 months

  1,274

  895

  More than 18 months

  180

  187

  Total

  13,098

  14,428

  North Wales Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  12,530

  15,094

  12–18 months

  275

  808

  More than 18 months

  42

  77

  Total

  12,847

  15,979

  368

  Health authority waiting lists, by length of wait, 1997–98 Numbers waiting for treatment as inpatient or daycase

  Length of wait

  31st March 1997

  Waiting list at 31st March 1998

  Morgannwg Health Authority

  Less than 12 months

  9,491

  9,495

  12–18 months

  418

  433

  More than 18 months

  190

  203

  Total

  10,099

  10,131

  Agricultural Payments
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors underlie the delays in payments of(a) HLCA, (b) sheep annual premium and (c) suckler cow premium. [53246]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Payments were delayed because of the need to comply with additional EC finance data requirements, requirements under the SCP Scheme to administer a BSE-related compensation scheme, and to process Agrimonetary compensation schemes under SAP and SCP on top of the usual business commitment. The need to complete Integrated Administration and Control System (IASC) Whole Farm Inspections was also a delaying factor.

HEALTH

  Cancer Services
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for a centralised audit to ensure Calman-Hine plans are being implemented across the country. [50214]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: We are committed to improving the quality of and speed of access to cancer services, including breast and cervical screening and palliative care, to deliver a consistently high standard of care for all patients and thereby maximise their chance of cure and increase their quality of life. The measures set out in A First Class Service will strengthen our capacity to monitor and evaluate all aspects of care; providing information which can be used to improve standards still further. We will work with the National Cancer Forum, regional and professional groups and the voluntary sector to ensure that we meet national quality and evidence-based clinical standards within the National Service Framework for the provision of cancer screening and the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49851]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 July 1998, Official Report, column 315, regarding corresponding electronically with hon. Members.

  The Department has set up a number of mechanisms to correspond electronically with members of the public. On the central DH internet site, a number of specific email boxes are available covering a number of areas, including open government, research and development and the regional offices. In addition, a number of committees, including the Royal Commission for the Long Term Care of the Elderly, the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment also have email boxes. Among the Department's Agencies, the Medical Devices Agency have an email mailbox for general inquiries, the Medicines Control Agency have an email mailbox for the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and National Health Service Estates has an email mailbox used for complaints and general inquiries.

  The Department's internet site also has a number of web pages with electronic feedback forms, including those for the Chief Medical Officer, performance tables, NHS Annual Report 95/96, as well as a general feedback form for the whole site.

  As well as the range of specific email boxes the Department has, it is also currently examining the setting up of a corporate email box for general correspondence.
  370
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 16 March, 18 May and 22 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to support of the section 64 funding application by HIV Alliance. [53259]

  Mr. Dobson
  I have replied today to my right hon. Friend's letter of 16 March 1998. The Department has no record of receiving the letters dated 18 May or 22 June, but I understand that they were reminders relating to his earlier letter.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how staff numbers in his Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48879]

  Ms Jowell
  Staff in post information is provided to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis from 1 April each year so is not available for the exact dates requested. It is provided in the table for the nearest available dates. For the purposes of staff in post information, staff are counted as full-time equivalent (FTE)1 not headcount.

  1 April 19972

  / April 1998

  Permanent staff

  Departmental (excluding agencies)

  3,682.7

  3,491.2

  Medicines Control Agency

  389.2

  435.2

  Medical Devices Agency

  117.7

  132.7

  NHS Pensions Agency

  362.6

  403.4

  NHS Estates Agency

  144

  133

  Casual staff

  Departmental (excluding agencies)

  73.4

  90.9

  Medicines Control Agency

  25

  44

  Medical Devices Agency

  8.6

  3.6

  NHS Pensions Agency

  9

  18.5

  NHS Estates Agency

  3

  6

  1 In FTE part-time staff are counted as a proportion of full-time hours worked

  2 Civil Service Staff in Post Summary, copies of which are available in the Library or on the internet at www.open.gov.uk/co/cseg/pmcsd/stats/apr97int.htm

  Lariam
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on the basis of what prior trials and other research Lariam (Mefloquine) was granted marketing authorisation in the UK in 1989; and if he will make a statement. [48749]

  Ms Jowell
  The decision to grant a marketing authorisation for lariam (mefloquine) was based on all the available evidence, published or unpublished and whether or not favourable to the application. The data submitted by the company were assessed by the Medicines Control Agency, who sought the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), the Government's independent drug safety advisory body. The CSM was satisfied as to the safety, quality and efficacy of the product, the sole criteria under both European Community and national legislation.

  Breast Implants
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many silicone gel breast implants were undertaken in the past five years by(a) the NHS and (b) the private sector. [51676]
  371
  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 22 July 1998]: The available information is in the table. We record the number of episodes in which a breast implant was inserted; whether the implants were filled with silicone-gel or another material is not known. There are no equivalent figures for the private sector.

  Number of episodes by primary operation; ordinary admissions and day cases combined, National Health Service hospitals, England

  Year

  Breast implants

  1991–92

  1,514

  1992–93

  1,680

  1993–94

  1,234

  1994–95

  1,320

  1995–96

  1,435

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics OPCS4R Codes B30.1 Insertion of prosthesis for breast, B31.2 augmentation mammoplasty and B31.8 other specified plastic operations on breast

  We have accepted the recommendation of the Independent Review Group on Silicone Gel Breast Implants for the compulsory registration of details of each breast implant and explant operation with the National Breast Implant Registry. This will, over time, give fuller data on the annual number of operations carried out in the United Kingdom.

  Smoking
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department is currently providing to initiatives to tackle(a) under-age smoking, (b) teenage smoking and (c) passive smoking. [52154]

  Ms Jowell
  In 1998/99, we are funding:the "Respect" anti-smoking campaign at a cost of £1 million, which is targeting 11–15 year olds, addressing why young people start smoking and seeking to create a positive lifestyle as relevant to the two thirds of teenagers who don't smoke as to the third who do; and
  the Health Education Authority's adult anti-smoking campaign at a cost of £5.5 million, which especially targets young people (and in particular women) in the 16–24 age range.

  Both the teenage and adult smoking education campaigns include information on the dangers associated with passive smoking.

  Our future plans to tackle smoking prevalence will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper on Tobacco Control.

  Group B Streptococcus
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born with meningitis as a result of the mother carrying the Group B streptococcus bacteria in each of the last three years. [52039]

  Mr. Boateng
  The figures presented are derived from laboratory reports of culture-confirmed cases in England presenting in the first week of life. This may not be a complete estimate of neonatal disease due to Group B streptococci since not all cases are reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service. The laboratory reports are either from blood or cerebrospinal fluid or other specimens which indicated meningitis as a clinical feature.
  372
  The disease in neonates may present as bacteraemia or meningitis or both. It is difficult to establish, beyond doubt, whether Group B streptococcal infection is the result of vertical transmission, but infection in the first week of life is highly likely to have been acquired from the mother. This association decreases as the age of the baby increases.

  Year

  Number of reports

  1995

  243

  1996

  220

  19971

  258

  1 Data for 1997 are provisional at this stage. Data supplied by Public Health Laboratory Service

  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will carry out a comparative cost analysis of conducting a standard urine test for all pregnant mothers to detect Group B streptococcus and the cost of treatment for babies born with meningitis; [52040]

  (2) if a standard urine test is carried out for all pregnant women to determine if they are Group B streptococcus carriers. [52042]

  Mr. Boateng
  The National Screening Committee considers the effectiveness and feasibility of individual population screening programmes and advises Ministers about their introduction. It is currently not known whether the introduction of screening for asymptomatic urinary infection (including Group B streptococcus) would be beneficial in reducing the risk of meningitis in new-born babies, but all the related research evidence will be taken into account by the National Screening Committee's Antenatal sub-group in its forward programme, before making recommendations to Ministers.

  The standard urine test given to all pregnant women checks for, among other things, signs of protein which may indicate the presence of an infection. If an infection is indicated, a urine sample is sent for further laboratory investigation which would identify women who are Group B streptococcus carriers.

  HIV-AIDS
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage change in the number of HIV positive cases has been over the last five years. [52225]

  Ms Jowell
  The number of new HIV diagnoses reported each year has remained constant at about 2,500 but the number of deaths among people with HIV infection has fallen, especially since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy. This increasing life expectancy means that the number of HIV-infected people in the population has increased but data are not available to calculate the percentage change.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage change in the number of HIV-positive cases in the next five years. [52228]

  Ms Jowell
  Projections for AIDS cases and severe HIV disease for 1995 to 1999 were published in November 1995 and work is currently under way to evaluate the effect on these projections of introducing combination therapy.
  373
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been unable to take up places in HIV wards in the United Kingdom over the last five years owing to a lack of beds. [52438]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department is aware that the length of in patient stays needed by people with HIV/AIDS has been declining since the introduction of combination therapies. The Department does not have any evidence that any patient with HIV has been denied in-patient treatment because of a lack of beds.

  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of advances in drug treatments for people with HIV/AIDS; and what plans he has to introduce drug resistance testing for people with HIV/AIDS to ensure that new drug treatments are used as cost effectively as possible across the whole of the United Kingdom. [52300]

  Ms Jowell
  We are aware of the continued success of combination therapies in the treatment of people with HIV/AIDS, in that the onset of symptoms is delayed, more people are being managed on an out patient basis and the number of deaths has fallen. The latest surveillance data show that the numbers of deaths from HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom have declined since 1995 and this decline in deaths has accelerated with the introduction of combination therapies in 1996. Between 1995 and 1997, the numbers of deaths fell by nearly two thirds, from 1533 to 525, in men and by nearly a half, from 234 to 125, in women.

  The issue of testing for drug resistance—as are all the complicated issues around the prescribing and monitoring of combination therapies—is one for the physician in discussion with the patient. The current clinical guidelines on the use of combination therapies, issued by the British HIV Association, contain guidance in the event of drug failure due to resistance, and how best to avoid this. The Department continues to monitor developments in drug treatment and draws such guidelines to the attention of health authorities in the annual guidance circular on HIV/AIDS.

  Stroke Patients
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to hospital in(a) the North West and (b) England in each of the past five years having suffered a stroke. [52289]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is shown in the table for the financial years 1992–93 to 1996–97 (the latest year for which figures are available).

  Primary diagnosis of stroke—number of admissions in North West Regional Office (RO) and England, National Health Service hospitals, England

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  11996–97

  North West RO2

  16,059

  17,453

  17,628

  13,442

  12,874

  Other ROs

  98,661

  102,517

  103,932

  81,582

  73,940

  England

  114,720

  119,970

  121,560

  95,024

  86,814

  Notes:

  1 1996–97 is derived from ungrossed Hospital Episode Statistics data

  2 For the years 1992–93 and 1993–94 data for North Western and Mersey regions were amalgamated

  1992–93 to 1994–95—ICD-9 codes: 430–438

  374
  1995–96 and 1996–97—ICD-10 codes: 160–164, 167.2–167.9, 169 Because of the change in classification, data for 1995–96 and 1996–97 may not be directly comparable with earlier years 1992–93 and 1995–96 data are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics

  NHS Costs
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to the NHS of(a) treating non-United Kingdom residents for all medical care and (b) providing abortion services to Irish citizens in the last year for which figures are available. [52180]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Juveniles (Secure Accommodation)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answers of 11 March 1998,Official Report, column 203 and 18 March 1998, Official Report, column 614, how many places in local authority secure accommodation the Government plan in addition to those referred to in his answers. [52382]

  Mr. Boateng
  The review of juvenile secure accommodation was completed at the end of March and we have decided now on a programme of further work to be undertaken. A summary has been placed in the Library. This further work will include consideration of the creation of a new mechanism to determine the volume of places provided in juvenile secure accommodation, the cost of these and the standards which apply. It is proposed that the Youth Justice Board should take on this responsibility which should help ensure the appropriate volume and geographical spread of secure places.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those compliance cost assessments since 1 May 1997 in which there is a net reduction in compliance costs resulting from a legislative proposal. [52959]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]There is presently no requirement on Departments to carry out compliance cost assessments where legislative proposals are expected to be cost neutral or resulting in a saving to business.

  Two compliance cost assessments which identified savings were:
  Proposal for a Council Directive on the Advertising of Tobacco Products
  The Medicines for Human Use and Medical Devices (Fees & Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1998.

  Medical Devices Agency
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the 1997–98 Annual report and Accounts of the Medical Devices Agency. [54139]
  375
  Ms Jowell
  We have received the Report and Accounts of the Medical Devices Agency and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

  Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the remit of the independent inquiry into the situation at Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust concerning the postgraduate qualifications of a thoracic surgeon; who will chair the inquiry; which individuals he has appointed to the inquiry; when it will report; to whom it will report; and what plans he has to extend the investigation into similar instances in other NHS trusts. [53255]

  Mr. Milburn
  On Thursday 23 July 1998, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State announced the establishment of an independent review of the investigation by Plymouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust into concerns raised about Mr. Joe Rahamim and the thoracic surgical services at the trust. The membership of the review team, its remit and its terms of reference will be announced shortly.

  Adoption
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to prevent individuals from evading established procedures by making private arrangements for the adoption of children from overseas. [52199]

  Mr. Boateng
  Guidance issued by the Department to social services departments and voluntary adoption agencies sets out the arrangements put in place for adoption from overseas. The procedures are designed to safeguard the welfare of children who are to be adopted, and to assist with the process of obtaining entry clearance for such children to enter the United Kingdom. The Department makes no secret of its opposition to the use of private home study reports, which attempt to circumvent the proper procedures for intercountry adoptions. The commissioning of private home study reports has recently been found to be illegal by a recent High Court judgment. The Department continues to oppose privately commissioned home study reports both in its guidance and in correspondence.

  Officials continue to liaise with authorities overseas seeking their co-operation in accepting only those homestudy reports which have been prepared by social services departments in the United Kingdom and are accompanied by the Department of Health's Certificate of Eligibility. In addition, officials are negotiating with a number of countries to obtain formal agreements about the handling of adoption applications. An agreement with Romania came into force earlier this year. These agreements are drafted on the principles and procedures outlined in the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

  Applications to courts in the United Kingdom to adopt children under the Adoption Act 1976 who have been adopted overseas with the help of a privately commissioned home study report are normally referred to the High Court.
  376
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the 1993 Hague Convention on intercountry adoption. [52200]

  Mr. Boateng
  Legislation to ratify the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.

  Sunburn and Sunstroke
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost to the National Health Service of treating sunburn and sunstroke in each of the last three years. [53142]

  Ms Jowell
  There has been no study specifically into the costs to the National Health Service of sunburn and sun stroke. However, sunburn is a risk factor for certain types of skin cancer, notably the most dangerous form, malignant melanoma. It has been estimated that in 1992/93 in England, malignant melanoma accounted for 0.06 per cent. of total hospital in and out patient expenditure of about £16,200 million1. There are about 3–4,000 new cases of malignant melanoma and approximately 1,300 deaths from this cancer in England each year.
  1 Source: "Burdens of Disease", NHSE, 1996.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received treatment in National Health Service hospitals for sunburn and sunstroke in each of the last three years. [53141]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information shown in the table is for in-patient treatment in National Health Service hospitals for the financial years 1994–95 to 1996–97 (the latest year for which figures are available), and is based on Finished Consultant Episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants.

  Primary diagnosis

  Year

  Sunburn

  Heatstroke and sunstroke

  1994–95

  385

  38

  1995–96

  156

  82

  1996–97

  88

  42

  Notes:

  ICD Coding

  1. 1994–95—ICD-9 codes—Contact dermatitis due to solar radiation (sunburn)—692.0; heatstroke and sunstroke—992.0

  2. 1995–96 and 1996–97—ICD10 codes sunburn L55; heatstroke and sunstroke T67.0. Because of the change in classification, data for 1995–96 and 1996–97 may not be directly comparable with 1994–95

  3. 1994–95 and 1995–96 data are grossed for both coverage and unknown invalid clinical data

  4. 1996–97 is derived from ungrossed HES data, and may not be directly comparable with earlier years

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)

  Estimated number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) by primary diagnosis: ordinary admissions and day cases combined, NHS hospitals, England.

  Bradford (Funding)
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funds have been allocated to the Bradford area since 1 May 1997 over and above previous plans listed by (i) capital and (ii) revenue, indicating for each whether they were subject to a bidding process. [53211]

  Mr. Milburn
  The table shows Bradford Health Authority's share of the additional resources announced to date since 1 May 1997. These additions were all for revenue and comprise proportions of:The extra £10 million for breast cancer services announced in May 1997
  The extra £1 billion announced in July 1997
  The extra £300 million announced in October 1997
  The extra £500 million announced in March 1998

  Bradford health authority—additional funding—1997–98

  Purpose

  Addition (£000)

  Winter pressures1

  1,700

  GMS Cash Limited—salaried doctor scheme

  37

  Breast cancer services1

  93

  Initial revenue allocation for 1998–99 includes an additional £ 11.229m growth/uplift, £6.323m higher than sustainable under the previous plan

  6,326

  Waiting list addition

  2,883

  Whole systems support for waiting lists1

  659

  Total

  11,698

  1 Regional budgets were established pro rata to the general allocations of their health authorities. Health authorities submitted proposals to regional offices for spending the regional budgets

  Women Doctors
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of (i) all and (ii) women medical graduates from medical schools who are practising medicine 10 years after qualification(a) full-time and (b) part-time. [52862]

  Mr. Milburn
  Studies commissioned by the Department in respect of medical students who graduated in 1983 (the latest cohert for which data are currently available) show that, in 1993, the patterns of employment of those doctors working in the National Health Service were:

  Percentage

  Women

  Total

  Full time employment

  57.6

  81.35

  Part time employment

  42.4

  18.7

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage women doctors back to work in(a) hospitals and (b) primary care. [52863]

  Mr. Milburn
  The increasing numbers of women in medical schools and at all levels within the medical profession is producing more demand for flexible working and training opportunities in the National Health Service, including facilities for taking a career break and then returning to practice. There is also a more general trend in the economy which is seeing a greater demand from both men and women for working arrangements which 378
  reflect domestic and family responsibilities; and we are committed to supporting working parents in balancing the demands of their work and home life.

  A number of measures are already in place to make the NHS a more "family friendly" place for women doctors to work. The new arrangements for flexible training, which were introduced with the specialist registrar (SpR) grade, devolved the funding of flexible training to the postgraduate deans where it could be more responsive to local and specialty demands. The National Training Number (NTN) allows new entrant SpRs who want to train flexibly to have a place reserved for them so that they can take up training as quickly as possible without further competitive barriers. If a complete career break is needed, they have a "passport" back into training via their personal NTN which they hold throughout training. Trusts are continuing (under the New Deal on Juniors' Hours) to introduce working patterns and practices that enable doctors to balance the demands of work with family life. The Quality Framework for hospital and community medical staffing, which was issued as a draft compendium of guidance in April last year, emphasises the need for trusts to develop flexible working and training arrangements as part of their medical workforce planning.

  Over the past year, we have introduced a new retainer scheme and a salaried general practitioner scheme for NHS general practitioners each of which will encourage women doctors back to work in primary care.

  Information about the career paths and working needs of women doctors is collected regularly through the Medical Careers Research Group, whose work is funded by the Department and informs the medical workforce planning process. A separate survey is also under way at present, examining the working preferences and career development needs of doctors now in higher specialist training. The results are intended to inform the design of hospital consultant posts, helping to ensure that women doctors with family responsibilities are able to work within the NHS at a level commensurate with their skills and abilities. The Department is also funding a support network for consultants who are working part-time.

  A number of initiatives are under way to support family friendly working and to encourage women doctors to return to the NHS. The Don't Waste Doctors project in the North West Region looked at ways to prevent doctors from leaving the service, or to bring them back. In Wessex, a pilot scheme has been running to assess the needs of unemployed GPs and to help them back into the NHS. We hope that both schemes will provide models for wider use. The Department has also funded trials of a self-rostering software package in the NHS. Most of the participants in the trials have been nurses, but the package may have much wider application. This scheme is currently being carefully evaluated, and a report is expected early in the autumn.

  Health Authorities (Overspending)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health authorities which overspent in 1997–98. [52864]

  Mr. Milburn
  No health authorities overspent their cash limits in 1997–98.

  Radiotherapy
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to replace cobalt sources with linear acceleration machines in radiotherapy units. [52813]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have made no central plans, as this is a matter for local decision making. A report about availability of radiotherapy was published by the Royal College of Radiologists on 8 July 1998; it provides valuable information for the local planning of services. The report indicates that in 1997 there were 22 cobalt machines in use in the United Kingdom, of which only 3 were less than five years old. This suggests that recent purchases have been of linear accelerators; it is expected that this trend will continue as cobalt machines reach the end of their useful lives and are replaced.

  Breast Cancer
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a list of the measures which NHS trusts have taken using the funding made available for breast cancer services in 1997–98. [52812]

  Mr. Boateng
  Over 300 projects are being supported by the £10 million made available recurrently in 1997–98 for improvements to breast cancer services. These focus primarily on rapid access to diagnostic services, speedy access to treatment and the provision of high quality care delivered in line with published guidance by specialist multi-professional, multi-disciplinary teams.

  Health authorities are monitoring achievement of all the approved funding and will provide a comprehensive report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State this autumn on the measurable improvements delivered in the services they provide.

  Health Spending
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the projected annual average percentage increase in health spending between 1999–2000 and 2001–02 for(a) England and (b) the United Kingdom. [53130]

  Mr. Milburn
  The projected annual average real-terms percentage increase in National Health Service Total Expenditure between 1999–2000 and 2001–2002 is 4.2 per cent. net in England. The United Kingdom net figure is 4.0 per cent.

  Radiotherapists
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to increase the number of radiotherapists in the National Health Service. [53144]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department maintains an overview of the supply of trained personnel for 'the National Health Service.

  Local employers should plan the numbers of radiotherapists (doctors) and therapy radiographers needed to deliver their radiotherapy services. These plans are used in assessing levels of training needed to produce the required numbers of fully-trained staff for the future.
  380
  At the same time, Specialty Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) advises the National Health Service Executive and the Welsh Office on the number of higher specialist trainees needed, to ensure an adequate supply of properly trained doctors in each specialty. It carries out annual reviews of each specialty's need for consultants. SWAG has identified the specialty of radiotherapy (or clinical oncology) as having significant shortages.

  For 1998–99, SWAG recommended further increases in the number of higher specialist trainees, in radiotherapy. It has recommended that these increases be treated as a priority.

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients were suspended from National Health Service waiting lists for reasons other than clinical unfitness for surgery in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997; [53016]

  (2) what projection he has made of the number of patients who will be suspended from National Health Service waiting lists for reasons other than clinical unfitness for surgery in 1998; [53015]

  (3) what proportion of the estimated reduction in waiting lists based on provisional figures is accounted for by (a) administrative clean-up and (b) reprioritisation of the list; and if he will make a statement; [53140]

  (4) if he will estimate the number of patients who have been removed from waiting lists since 2 May 1997 without their consent and without having received the treatment originally intended; and if he will make a statement. [53008]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  Cancer Surgeons
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if cancer surgeons are currently receiving higher rates of remuneration for waiting list operation surgery than for other surgery performed as part of their regular duties; [53007]

  (2) if he will make a statement on pay disparities between health authorities for cancer surgeons. [53014]

  Mr. Milburn
  The national salary rates applicable from 1 April 1998 for hospital consultants are specified in Advance Letter (MD) 1/98, copies of which are available in the Library. The salary rates apply to all consultants on national terms regardless of the speciality concerned. However, under arrangements introduced by the previous administration, trusts do have the flexibility to employ consultants on individual contracts of employment which may be remunerated on a higher basis than national terms and conditions of service. Trusts must ensure that the expenditure incurred represents good value for money and it will be open to scrutiny by auditors at the end of the financial year.

  GP Resignations
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of GP resignations since the publication of his White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [53020]
  381
  Mr. Milburn
  Information on the number of general practitioner resignations and their causes is not held centrally.

  Spending Statistics
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the annual percentage average increase in health spending between 1990–91 and 1992–93 for(a) England and (b) the United Kingdom. [531431

  Mr. Milburn
  The information is in the table.

  Real Terms Growth in National Health Service total expenditure

  Percentage

  1990–91 and 1992–93

  England (net)

  6.3

  England (gross)

  5.8

  United Kingdom (gross)

  5.8

  Notes:

  1. UK net figure is not available on a comparable basis

  2. Consistent with Gross Domestic Product deflator figures used in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the actual annual average percentage increase in overall health spending for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) England in real terms between 1979–80 and 1996–97. [53131]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is in the table.

  Percentage

  Real terms annual average growth in NHS total expenditure between 1979–80 and 1996–97

  England net

  3.1

  England gross

  3.3

  UK gross

  3.1

  Notes:

  1. United Kingdom net figure is not available on a comparable basis

  2. Consistent with the Gross Domestic Product deflator figures used in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the projected annual average percentage increase in overall health spending for(a) England and (b) the United Kingdom in real terms between 1997–98 and 2001–02. [53133]

  Mr. Milburn
  The projected annual average real terms percentage increase in National Health Service total net expenditure between 1997–98 and 2001–02 is 4.1 per cent. in England and 3.9 per cent. in the United Kingdom.

  Millennium Compliance
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the planned timescale for the verification of equipment replaced or altered in order to achieve year 2000 compliance for all systems within the Health Service and his Department. [53179]

  Mr. Milburn
  Chief Executives of health authorities and trusts have been instructed to ensure that by 31 December 1998 they have identified and resourced effective solutions for all Year 2000 problems that would 382
  otherwise compromise the safety of patients and staff, and the continuity of services.

  In addition, chief executives have been instructed to ensure that by 30 September 1999 all parts of the National Health Service are fully prepared with compliant equipment or effective contingency plans in place.

  The Department plans to complete Year 2000 compliance testing on all business critical systems by September 1999.

  The plans were analysed by the Central Information Technology Unit and the Central Communications Technology Agency and their conclusions reported to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He arranged for the completed questionnaires and a summary to be placed in the Library and published on the internet. An update on the progress by the Department will be available in the autumn.

  Ashford Hospital
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to oppose further transfers of services from Ashford (Middlesex) hospital to St. Peter's hospital, Chertsey; [53219]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of the intensive care unit at Ashford (Middlesex) hospital. [53215]

  Mr. Milburn
  Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals National Health Service Trust was established on 1 April 1998 from the merger of two neighbouring acute NHS trusts. The trust is currently reviewing its services and the configuration of these between the two sites at Ashford and St. Peter's. We expect the trust and its health authorities to consider the interests of patients in any changes to service delivery. There will be public consultation on any significant service changes.

  The trust is reviewing the capabilities of both hospital sites in view of the need to provide hospital services, including intensive care, that are fit for the 21st century. The trust must be able to meet accreditation standards for training doctors, and must be able to deliver high quality treatment and care. In considering its reconfiguration plans, the trust will be expected to maintain a broad range of services on site for the local population.

  Mental Health Act 1983
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the Mental Health Act 1983; and if he will make a statement. [53678]

  Mr. Dobson
  I am setting up a review of the Mental Health Act 1983. The aim of this review will be to ensure that mental health legislation supports the safe and effective delivery of modern patterns of clinical and social care for people with a mental disorder, and to ensure that we achieve a proper balance between individual rights and the requirements of the safety of both the individual and the wider community.

  As a first step in this process, I am going to appoint a small team of experts to advise me on the areas of the current legislation which need to be revised or

  383
  supplemented to support effective, modern mental health services. The group will comprise representatives from the legal profession, professional groups involved in the delivery of mental health services and user/public interests, and they will report to me next spring. I will specifically want their advice to include consideration of possible measures such as compliance orders and community treatment orders.
  384
  We aim to ensure that the legal framework that we will put in place for the new millennium is appropriate to deliver a full range of services in line with our proposals for a national service framework for mental health services, and will provide a prompt and effective legal basis to ensure individuals get supervised care if they fail to comply with their medication or if their condition deteriorates for any other reason.

  Security Commission: Membership
  Security Commission: Membership
  Continental Coach and Lorry Drivers
  Continental Coach and Lorry Drivers
  Vehicle Recalls
  Vehicle Recalls
  Allotments: Report
  Allotments: Report
  Customs and Immigration Facilities: Cost
  Customs and Immigration Facilities: Cost
  Entry Clearance Refusals: Independent Monitor's Report
  Entry Clearance Refusals: Independent Monitor's Report
  Burma
  Burma
  Wilton Park Executive Agency
  Wilton Park Executive Agency
  Panel 2000
  Panel 2000
  Sudan: Supply of Trucks to Church Ecumenical Action
  Sudan: Supply of Trucks to Church Ecumenical Action
  Law Commission Reports
  Law Commission Reports
  Prisoners with Disabilities
  Prisoners with Disabilities
  Police Service: Sickness Absence
  Police Service: Sickness Absence
  Prisons: Private Finance Initiative
  Prisons: Private Finance Initiative
  Metropolitan Police Committee: Membership
  Metropolitan Police Committee: Membership
  Security Service: File Holdings
  Security Service: File Holdings
  Police Complaints Authority: Appointments
  Police Complaints Authority: Appointments
  Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
  Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
  Plant Breeding International Cambridge Ltd.
  Plant Breeding International Cambridge Ltd.
  Household Division Ethnic Minority soldiers
  Household Division Ethnic Minority soldiers
  Scholarships Provided by Public Bodies
  Scholarships Provided by Public Bodies
  Rough Sleeping: Single Room Rent Restriction
  Rough Sleeping: Single Room Rent Restriction
  Rough Sleeping: Housing Benefit for Prisoners
  Rough Sleeping: Housing Benefit for Prisoners
  Northern Ireland Assembly: Briefing Programme
  Northern Ireland Assembly: Briefing Programme