Written Answers of 31 July 1998

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Official Entertainment
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what sums(a) he and (b) the Lord Chancellor have spent on official entertaining since 1 May 1997. [49877]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since 1 May 1997 I have spent £814.33 on official entertainment. The Lord Chancellor has spent £20,964. This sum includes £10,638.94 for the Lord Chancellor's Breakfast, an annual event hosted by the Lord Chancellor as head of the judiciary and attended last year by 830 people, as well as a number of other events including a dinner for foreign judges to mark the Opening of the Legal Year; and a dinner in honour of the Chief Justice of Hong Kong.

  Power of Attorney
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the obligations to maintain accounts and other disclosures required of attorneys who have been granted enduring power of attorney. [53900]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Public Trust office acts as registration authority for Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) under the Enduring Powers of Attorney Act 1985.

  Arrangements for keeping accounts of an Attorney's dealings under an unregistered EPA would be for the Donor and the Attorney to decide, since an Attorney can act under an unregistered EPA only while the Donor maintains his mental capacity, and wishes the Attorney to act for him. When the Attorney believes that the Donor is or is becoming mentally incapable, he has a duty to apply to the Court of Protection to register the EPA. It is presumed therefore that this question refers to registered EPAs.

  The Attorney has a duty under common law to keep accounts of his transactions involving the Donor's money. However, the Act does not require any routine checks on an Attorney's dealings with a Donor's estate. Nor does the Attorney have to prepare accounts in a special form.

  The Law Commission, who first proposed the legislation in their Report of 1983 (Law Com No. 122, The Incapacitated Principal), recognised that to impose requirements to keep accounts would be not only a burden on the Attorney but also an expensive charge on the Donor's estate. The matter is thus left to the Court's discretion.

  Under section 8(2) of the Act the Court may call for accounts to be submitted regularly at the time of registration, if the circumstances of the individual case
  568
  require it. It may also call for accounts to be submitted after registration, if it has reason to inquire into an Attorney's dealings.

  The Attorney has a duty of confidentiality to the Donor and there are no "other disclosures" required of him.

  In 1995 the Law Commission produced a report called Mental Incapacity (Law Com No. 231) as part of their programme of law reform. The Report covers a wide field, including EPAs. It recommends that a new form of Power of Attorney, to be called a "Continuing Power of Attorney", should be introduced, which would enable an Attorney to deal with the Donor's personal and health care matters as well as his financial affairs. A Green Paper, "Who Decides", was issued in December 1997; the consultation period closed at the end of March 1998.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54275]

  Mr. Hoon
  No external publications are published by the Lord Chancellor's Department in these formats. However, a number of in-house publications such as LCD News, Talkback, Direct Brief and the staff magazine, Hearsay, are regularly produced in Braille or large print for visually impaired staff in LCD HQ and the Court Service who require it.

  Within the Court Service, The Charter for Court Users has been available in Braille and audio cassette since its publication in 1995. An audio cassette which describes the work of the Court Service is due for publication later in 1998. This represents a small part of the total number of publications, an accurate figure for which is not available.

  Immigration
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date the IAA received from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office the papers relating to immigration appeal No. GV100/46408/AP; and if he will make a statement. [54280]

  Mr. Hoon
  The IAA received the papers on 14 April 1998 and are currently awaiting instruction from the appellant's solicitors on whether an oral hearing is required.

  Mr. Hoon
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
  569
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 297, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54015]

  Mr. Hoon
  My Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport", that all headquarters and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.

  Since my previous reply, new arrangements for our Departmental car fleet have been finalised: the cars will be diesel powered, and the use of low sulphur diesel is being promoted to users.

  Public Trust Office
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints have been received by the Public Trust Office in each of the last three years. [53899]

  Mr. Hoon
  Complaints are received and reported to year ending 31 March. The table gives figures for complaints received year ending 31 March.

  Minister

  Venue

  Purpose of visit

  Accompanied by

  Reason for inclusion

  Cost to public funds of those accompanying (£)

  Lord Chancellor

  Trinidad and Tobago 4 January 1998–10 January 1998

  Attendance at the Commonwealth Speakers Conference

  Lady Irvine Jenny Rowe (Private Secretary)

  It is customary for spouses to accompany minister's to these conferences and they are specifically invited by the organisers. To provide practical and policy advice

  5,332.00 (Lady Irvine's costs were met from House of Lords funds)

  Parliamentary Secretary

  Brussels 2 February 1998

  Address to the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, as part of the EU Presidency

  Jonathan Freeman (Private Secretary) Edwin Kilby (International Branch Policy Officer)

  To provide practical and policy advice

  538.00

  Lord Chancellor

  Paris 26 February 1998–1 March 1998

  Speech to the Cour de Cassation and meetings with senior judiciary and members of the government

  Lady Irvine Sir Thomas Legg (Permanent Secretary) and Lady Legg Jenny Rowe

  To provide practical and policy advice

  478.00 (Lady Irvine's and Lady Legg's costs were not paid out of public funds)

  Parliamentary Secretary

  Brussels 24 Apr 98

  Speech to the CCBE (European Lawyers' organisation), as part of the EU Presidency

  Jonathan Freeman (Private Secretary) Edwin Kilby (International Branch Policy Officer

  To provide practical and policy advice

  692.10

  Lord Chancellor

  Luxembourg 29 April 1998

  Visit to the European Courts of Justice

  Jenny Rowe (Private Secretary)

  To provide practical and policy advice

  435.90

  Parliamentary Secretary

  Lisbon and Madrid 5 May 1998–7 May 1998

  Meeting with Portuguese and Spanish Ministers of Justice as part of the UK's EU Presidency

  Jonathan Freeman (Private Secretary) Edwin Kilby (International Branch Policy Officer)

  To provide practical and policy advice

  1,502.74

  Lord Chancellor

  Washington D.C. 9 May 1998–12 May 1998

  To deliver US Supreme Court Heritage Society Lecture, the Oxford and Cambridge Society speech and to hold meetings with senior members of the judiciary and the government

  Lady Irvine Jenny Rowe (Private Secretary)

  To provide practical and policy advice

  2,666.00 (Lady Irvine's costs were not paid out of public funds)

  570

  Year ending 31 March

  Number of complaint received by the Public Trust Office

  Number of complaints received by Lord Chancellor's Department in respect of operation of the Public Trust Office

  1996

  331

  21

  19971

  443

  33

  19981

  512

  20

  1 In order to analyse customer satisfaction in greater depth, complaints to SEO Managers were monitored form 1 July 1996. The figures from 1997 onwards include complaints to SEO Managers

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those who have accompanied (i) him and (ii) his departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved, (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53837]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since 1 January the Lord Chancellor and I have undertaken a number of official overseas visits. The details requested about these visits are given in the table.
  571

  Minister

  Venue

  Purpose of visit

  Accompanied by

  Reason for inclusion

  Cost to public funds of those accompanying (£)

  Parliamentary Secretary

  Stockholm and Copenhagen 13 May 1998–14 May 1998

  Meeting with Swedish and Danish Ministers of Justice as part of the UK's EU Presidency

  Jonathan Freeman (Private Secretary) Edwin Kilby (International Branch Policy Officer)

  To provide practical and policy advice

  1,177.96

  Parliamentary Secretary

  Bonn and Vienna 24 June 1998–26 June 1998

  Meeting with German and Austrian Ministers of Justice as part of the UK's EU Presidency

  Jonathan Freeman (Private Secretary) Edwin Kilby (International Branch Policy Officer)

  To provide practical and policy advice

  1,344.15

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much his Department spent on IT, itemising(a) personal computers, (b) mainframe, (c) mini-computers and (d) file servers in the last year for which figures are available. [52878]

  £

  Organisation

  PC spend

  Main-frame spend

  Mini-computer spend

  File server spend

  Total spend

  Lord Chancellor's Department HQ and Associated Offices

  80,696

  0

  0

  117,646

  198,342

  Court Service

  518,380

  0

  0

  0

  518,380

  Public Trust Office

  166,737

  0

  14,253

  7,737

  188,727

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  125,000

  0

  0

  173,000

  298,000

  Public Record Office

  215,857

  0

  0

  24,763

  240,620

  HM Land Registry

  4,016,000

  2,136,000

  0

  597,000

  6,749,000

  Total

  4,523,593

  2,136,000

  14,253

  802,500

  7,476,347

  Note:

  Figures include VAT

  Freemasonry
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he has taken to implement the measures outlined in the Government's response to the Third report of the Home Affairs Committee, Session 1996–97, on Freemasonry in the Police and Judiciary; if he will set out his proposed timetable for the remaining measures; and if he will make a statement. [52918]

  Mr. Hoon
  All new appointees to the judiciary, including the magistracy, are now asked, as a condition of appointment, to state, for the purpose of a public register, whether or not they are Freemasons and, if not, to give notice if they subsequently join. Serving members of the judiciary were recently invited, by means of a copy of a letter from the Lord Chancellor to the Lord Chief Justice, to declare their Masonic status voluntarily for the purposes of the public register. Secretaries to Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace have also recently been asked to distribute a questionnaire to serving lay magistrates, inviting them to declare their Masonic status voluntarily for the same purpose. The information is currently being collected and will be made publicly available in due course.
  572
  Mr. Hoon
  The IT equipment purchased by the Department and other organisations reporting to the Lord Chancellor in the financial year 1997–98 is shown in the table.

  For both the Lord Chancellor's Department Headquarters and the Court Service, future IT services and equipment will be provided under Private Finance Initiative Agreements and charged on a usage basis.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's 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. [52579]

  Mr. Hoon
  12, all under the subsidised job option of the New Deal programme.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Homosexuals
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his Department's policy towards the prosecution of men aged between 16 and 18 years for engaging in consenting homosexual acts in private. [53925]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service, which is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, subject to statutory superintendence by me as a Law Officer of the Crown, reviews and prosecutes all cases in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, issued under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.
  573

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Council (1) what was the total amount paid in hon. Members' mileage allowances in respect of(a) travel within the constituency and (b) travel between the constituency and Westminster for (i) May 1995 to April 1996, (ii) May 1996 to April 1997 and (iii) May 1997 to April 1998; and what was the total mileage recorded in each case; [54185]

  (2) how many hon. Members submitted claims for more than ten car journeys between constituency and Westminster during (a) May 1995 to April 1996,(b) May 1996 to April 1997 and (c) May 1997 to April 1998; [54186]

  (3) how many hon. Members requested rail warrants for use between constituency and Westminster in (a) May 1995 to April 1996, (b) May 1996 to April 1997 and (c) May 1997 to April 1998; [54188]

  (4) how many hon. Members claimed for in excess of 350 miles driven within the constituency for any week within the last month for which figures are available. [54190]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Records are not maintained in a form that would allow this question to be answered, without a disproportionately lengthy and costly clerical exercise.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members' cars were registered as being within each engine size capacity for which records are held at(a) May 1995, (b) May 1996 and (c) May 1997. [54187]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The records maintained show usage of cars and the following details reflect the position at the dates requested.

  Number

  (a) May 1995

  Up to 1300cc

  15

  1301cc to 2300cc

  176

  2301cc plus

  343

  (b) May 1996

  Up to 1300cc

  15

  1301cc to 2300cc

  164

  2301cc plus

  315

  (c) May 1997

  Up to 1300cc

  8

  1301cc to 2300cc

  80

  2301cc plus

  150

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members have claimed a bicycle allowance since its introduction. [54189]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The number of hon. Members who have claimed the Bicycle Allowance since its introduction is one.
  574

SCOTLAND

  Further and Higher Education
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations cover the teaching of courses in further and higher education colleges by unqualified lecturers. [48348]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: 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.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [52883]

  Mr. Dewar
  The information for my Departments and agencies is detailed. The costs shown are capital purchase costs, including VAT, rounded to the nearest £100,000, for financial year 1997–98.

  Total expenditure on information technology, 1997–98

  Item

  £ million

  (a) Personal computers

  3.5

  (b) Mainframe

  nil

  (c) Mini-computers

  nil

  (d) Servers

  1.4

  Council and Social Housing
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money will be allocated to the renovation and new building of housing in the council and social housing sector over the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review; what proportion of this funding has been set aside for debt commutation; and what will be the criteria for that commutation. [52915]

  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.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [52619]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: 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.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much his Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements; [54989]
  575
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998, Official Report, column 63, concerning departmental vehicles, how many of the vehicles use (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) LPG; and how many vehicles fall into each engine cubic capacity group. [54209]

  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.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [52684]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: 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.

  Thomas Hamilton
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what powers he has to lift the 100 year closure placed upon the report by Sergeant Hughes of the Central Police into Thomas Hamilton; [53244]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by Sergeant Hughes of the Central Police, into Thomas Hamilton, listing the charges to which he recommended consideration for prosecution. [53241]

  Mr. McLeish
  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.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) nurses are and (b) management and administrative staff were employed by the NHS (i) on 1 May 1997 and (ii) at the latest available date. [53221]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: An annual census of staff in post is conducted in September. Data from September 1998 census will not be available until end 1998.

  The information available is shown in the table.

  Staff employed by the NHS in Scotland: selected staff groups1 Headcount and whole time equivalent: at 30 September 1997

  Number

  Whole time equivalent

  Nursing and Midwifery2

  61,954

  51,472.2

  Qualified

  41,414

  35,244.6

  Unqualified

  20,540

  16,227.6

  Management and administrative staff3,4

  21,881

  18,825.1

  1 Excludes staff employed on a casual 'as and when required' basis,for example Bank/Agency nurses

  2 Excludes nurse teachers, nurses in training and students on '1992' courses

  3 The figures include some, but not all, senior managers of professional staff, for example nurses. Some managers of these professional groups remain employed under the terms and conditions of these professions and are not included

  4 Comprises staff on senior management, administrative and clerical (A&C) and protected grades, ambulance officers and control assistants

  Source:

  National Manpower Statistics for payroll ISD Scotland
  576

  Nursing Vacancies
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many NHS nursing vacancies there were on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date. [53220]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: An annual census of nursing staff vacancies is conducted in March. The census of vacancies at 31 March 1998 is currently underway but not yet complete.

  The information available centrally is shown in the table.

  Nursing staff vacancies1,2 by qualification in the NHS in Scotland Whole Time Equivalent: at 31 March 1997

  Vacancies

  Qualified

  1,223.6

  Unqualified

  422.5

  Total

  1,646.1

  1 The vacancy figures relate to vacant posts at 31 March, irrespective of when the vacancy arose

  2 Returns for the following NHS Trusts were not submitted: Fife Healthcare NHS Trust Yorkhill NHS Trust

  Source:

  ISD(M)36

  ISD Scotland

  Structural Funds (Reform)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to ensure that the particular circumstances of Scotland's islands are taken into account in the reform of the structural funds. [53371]

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

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53854]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: 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.

  Employees Over 60
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) men and (b) women aged over 60 years were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies on 1 January. [53063]
  577
  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]The number of male and female staff aged 60 years or over in The Scottish Office and its Executive Agencies at

  All permanent staff in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies as at 1 January 1998

  Headcount

  Full-time equivalents

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Scottish Office Core

  14

  2

  16

  13.5

  2.0

  15.5

  Executive Agencies:

  —Scottish Prison Service

  41

  7

  48

  24.0

  3.5

  27.5

  —Other

  2

  1

  3

  2.0

  1.0

  3.0

  The Scottish Office

  57

  10

  67

  39.5

  6.5

  46.0

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) men and (b) women employed by (1) his Department and (2) his Department's agencies have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60 birthday. [53057]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: 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.

  Scottish Tourist Board
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the proposed grant-in aid for the Scottish Tourist Board for each of the next five years. [53458]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: 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.

  Persistent Inquiries
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53942]

  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.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those who have accompanied (i) him and (ii) his departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved, (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53849]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: 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.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 1998,Official Report, column 611, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [53989]
  578
  1 January 1998 are detailed in the table. Figures are shown separately for the policy core and Executive Agencies of The Scottish Office.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 63, concerning vehicle replacement, what guidance (a) he and (b) his Green Minister have issued concerning the vehicle fleet. [54847]

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

  Schools (Computers)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many networked computers are currently in use in schools in Scotland. [54094]

  Mrs. Liddell
  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.

  Women's Aid Projects
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for providing additional funding for womens' aid projects across Scotland. [54956]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54270]

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

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Scottish Office policy regarding restrictions on senior officers of local enterprise companies transferring directly to work for companies who might benefit from inside knowledge gained through the person's work for the enterprise company. [54581]

  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.
  579

  Health Service External (Consultants)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the financial savings to(a) the NHS and (b) Government health agencies as a result of hiring external consultants in each year since 1995. [53464]

  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.

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the financial savings made by the NHS and Government health agencies as a result of employing external consultants, by year, since 1995. [53755]

  Mr. Dewar
  Estimates of savings from employing external consultants are neither set nor collected centrally. The responsibility for ensuring that such appointments are cost effective rests with individual Trusts and Boards.

  Roads
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the figures for capital expenditure on(a) new build and (b) improvements on (i) motorways and (ii) trunk roads in Scotland for each of the last three years; and what are the projected figures for the next three years. [54183]

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

  Local Transport
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 of local government expenditure in Scotland on local transport under capital and current headings as set out in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1997". [54180]

  Cancellations of hospital admissions' for in-patient and day case treatment by health board area

  1995

  1996

  1996

  1998

  June

  September

  December

  March

  June

  September

  December

  March

  June4

  September4

  December4

  March4

  Argyll and Clyde

  43

  56

  78

  76

  89

  146

  168

  231

  231

  134

  108

  201

  Ayrshire and Arran

  61

  41

  37

  45

  37

  64

  34

  44

  49

  49

  45

  98

  Borders

  77

  55

  34

  54

  54

  55

  100

  74

  97

  25

  94

  56

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  4

  14

  24

  14

  24

  7

  13

  13

  22

  2

  62

  Fife

  120

  131

  183

  220

  216

  216

  145

  303

  151

  238

  218

  270

  Forth Valley

  20

  20

  34

  38

  19

  35

  60

  68

  76

  80

  39

  88

  Grampian

  381

  391

  335

  257

  312

  305

  330

  488

  340

  301

  333

  458

  Greater Glasgow2

  410

  460

  441

  612

  476

  389

  271

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  5—

  Highland

  189

  251

  189

  283

  248

  181

  231

  227

  156

  220

  139

  172

  Lanarkshire

  40

  57

  64

  91

  57

  85

  64

  56

  45

  21

  16

  11

  Lothian

  365

  461

  448

  758

  610

  589

  471

  837

  501

  474

  438

  465

  Orkney

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  23

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  9

  4

  —

  —

  8

  9

  3

  6

  1

  10

  3

  2

  Tayside

  164

  184

  173

  360

  189

  125

  163

  288

  248

  232

  194

  263

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  3

  2

  1

  2

  3

  4

  2

  —

  —

  2

  Scotland2

  1,881

  2,115

  2,036

  2,820

  2,330

  2,225

  2,050

  2,652

  1,933

  1,806

  1,629

  2,148

  1 Cancellations made by hospital of admission of patients from the waiting list

  2 Scotland figures for quarter ending September 1996 to 31 March 1998, should be treated with caution due to the incompleteness of the Greater Glasgow Health Board area figures (see note 3)

  3 Information is not available for the following hospitals in the Glasgow area; Quarters ending 31 March 1997 to31 March 1998; Canniesburn, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Southern General and Stobhill. Quarters ending 31 December 1996 to 31 March 1998; Victoria Infirmary. Quarters ending 30 September 1996 to 31 March 1998; Western Infirmary/Gartnavel General

  4 Provisional

  5 Not available

  Source:

  ISD Scotland
  580
  Mr. McLeish
  The table lists current and capital expenditure, as reported by local authorities.

  Local government expenditure on transport 1995–96 to 1996–97 Scotland

  £000

  Local transport

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Capital

  174

  102

  Roads

  164

  87

  Car parks

  1—

  1—

  Public transport

  10

  15

  Current

  369

  428

  Roads

  251

  247

  Car Parks

  -8

  -13

  Revenue support to public transport

  82

  150

  Concessionary fares

  44

  44

  1 Data not available

  Capital—Capital Monitoring Return (CPR5) as reported by Local Authorities

  Current—Local Financial Return (LFR) as reported by Local Authorities.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library figures(a) by health board and (b) overall, on the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to a hospital, and the numbers of those patients not readmitted within a month, by quarter, for the last three years. [53309]

  Mr. Dewar
  Information on cancellations of hospital admissions at the level of detail requested, is not held centrally. Details of cancellations of planned admissions for in-patient and day case treatment are given in the table. Information on cancellations of hospital planned admissions is published annually in the NHS in Scotland Annual Report, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
  581

  Hospital Maintenance
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by NHS board the hospital maintenance backlog on 1 July. [53294]

  Mr. Dewar
  The information requested is unavailable both in total and by Health Board. However, 81 per cent. of the essential building is considered to be in physical condition A or B which is evidence of the general soundness of the NHS estate.

  Nurses and midwives

  £000

  Health Board

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Argyll and Clyde

  69,888

  73,976

  60,624

  25,621

  1,952

  1,090

  Ayrshire and Arran

  50,042

  41,108

  1,996

  1,140

  862

  351

  Borders

  16,972

  18,625

  18,810

  19,795

  535

  216

  Dumfries and Galloway

  27,744

  30,558

  28,700

  18,377

  702

  315

  Fife

  50,734

  53,720

  51,569

  2,072

  1,137

  732

  Forth Valley

  50,045

  53,481

  34,638

  13,394

  1,189

  457

  Grampian

  87,057

  67,963

  6,870

  4,316

  2,552

  1,726

  Greater Glasgow

  207,025

  216,874

  160,303

  16,580

  4,030

  1,857

  Highland

  38,328

  39,874

  22,893

  1,580

  1,315

  703

  Lanarkshire

  78,836

  81,404

  93,957

  37,506

  1,533

  639

  Lothian

  135,489

  142,748

  115,109

  15,481

  4,305

  2,557

  Orkney

  3,562

  3,902

  4,151

  4,290

  4,318

  4,390

  Shetland

  3,650

  3,927

  4,101

  4,293

  4,222

  4,123

  Tayside

  85,761

  91,120

  65,583

  4,565

  2,335

  1,021

  Western Isles

  5,192

  5,849

  6,445

  6,650

  6,661

  6,604

  Health Board totals

  910,325

  925,129

  675,749

  175,660

  37,648

  26,781

  Note:

  The majority of nurses and midwives transferred to NHS Trusts following their establishment. The salaries and wages of student nurses are not included in the figures for 1995–96 due to the introduction of Project 2000

  Administrative and clerical (including general and senior managers)

  £000

  Health Board

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Argyll and Clyde

  14,178

  15,743

  14,377

  8,945

  4,566

  3,559

  Ayrshire and Arran

  10,118

  9,603

  1,627

  1,750

  2,367

  2,523

  Borders

  2,105

  2,518

  2,801

  4,141

  1,455

  1,325

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4,277

  5,292

  5,608

  4,563

  1,669

  1,494

  Fife

  9,508

  10,462

  11,494

  2,521

  2,694

  2,530

  Forth Valley

  8,381

  9,724

  7,414

  4,585

  2,690

  2,559

  Grampian

  17,061

  14,364

  4,726

  5,180

  4,595

  5,028

  Greater Glasgow

  41,749

  47,473

  37,480

  12,515

  8,938

  7,841

  Highland

  7,263

  8,264

  5,535

  2,968

  2,832

  2,519

  Lanarkshire

  13,350

  14,240

  28,033

  5,760

  3,350

  3,375

  Lothian

  28,451

  32,352

  31,685

  7,388

  7,075

  6,408

  Orkney

  480

  553

  671

  774

  827

  932

  Shetland

  770

  868

  1,012

  1,109

  1,222

  1,351

  Tayside

  17,180

  19,415

  14,716

  6,360

  5,440

  4,746

  Western Isles

  919

  1,107

  1,392

  1,478

  1,511

  1,647

  Health Board totals

  175,718

  191,978

  168,571

  70,037

  51,231

  47,837

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much Scottish Homes invested in housing associations to provide rented housing in (i) rural areas of Scotland excluding the Islands areas and (ii) the Scottish Islands areas, in each year since 1992–93; and what proportion of Scottish Homes' total budget for rented housing for each of those years is represented by those figures; [54224]
  582

  NHS (Salaries)
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount spent on salaries and wages costs for(a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff by NHS board for each financial year from 1991–92 to 1997–98. [53297]

  Mr. Dewar
  The information available is listed in the tables. The table for administrative and clerical staff includes the salaries of general and senior managers, the costs of which are not detailed separately in the annual accounts. Figures for 1997–98 are not yet available.

  (2) how much Scottish Homes has invested in housing associations to provide low-cost home ownership in (i) rural areas of Scotland excluding the Scottish Islands areas and (ii) the Scottish Islands areas in each year since 1992–93; and what proportion of Scottish Homes' total low-cost home ownership budget is represented by those figures; [54225]

  (3) how many houses were completed for rent in (i) rural areas of Scotland excluding the Scottish Islands areas and (ii) the Scottish Islands areas using Housing Association

  583
  grants in each year from 1992–93 to 1997–98; and how many units were completed in each of the foregoing years by each housing association; [54226]

  (4) how many houses were completed for shared ownership and improvement for sale by each housing association in (i) rural areas of Scotland excluding the Scottish Islands areas and (ii) the Scottish Islands areas in each year from 1992–93 to 1997–98; [54227]

  (5) how many tenants incentive scheme grants and rural home ownership grants were administered by each housing association in (i) the rural areas of Scotland, excluding the Scottish Islands areas and (ii) the Scottish Islands areas in each year from 1992–93 to 1997–98; [54228]

  (6) what definition of rural has been adopted by Scottish Homes in each year since 1992–93 for the purpose of making investment decisions. [54229]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked the Chairman, Mr. John Ward, to write to the hon. and learned Member with the relevant information.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal or reported to the Children's Panel, where the principal drugs offence was possession of cannabis, how many persons in Scotland were (i) proceeded against at court and (ii) dealt with other than at court in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997. [54420]

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

  Unfit Homes
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of homes in Scotland which will be (i) unfit for human habitation, (ii) suffer from dampness or condensation and (iii) have lead piping in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02 in each region of Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [54445]

  Mr. Macdonald
  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.

  Departmental Equipment
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) computers, (b) printers, (c) fax machines, (d) photocopiers, (e) telephones, (f) telephone answering machines, (g) filing cases, (h) office chairs and (i) office tables were disposed of by his Department in each year since 1995–96 surplus to requirements; how and to whom these items were disposed of; and how much was obtained through sales of such items in each year. [54461]

  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.
  584

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for(a) her Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register, how 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. [49226]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the vehicles due for replacement by(a) her 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. [52613]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 22 April 1998,Official Report, column 645, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes she has made. [53988]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport", that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices should have transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000. We have put in place an action plan for meeting this target and we are in the process of identifying the buildings for which transport plans will be prepared.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements. [54994]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Belfast Agreement
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the legislative provisions that are required to be enacted prior to the entry into force of the 10 April 1998 Agreement between the British and Irish Governments; if she will list the legislative measures required to implement provisions of the Multi-party Agreement; and what is the proposed timetable for consultation and publication of draft legislation. [48468]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 7 July 1998]: The House is today taking the Third Reading of the third and last of the Bills necessary for the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, the Northern Ireland Bill, on which we have had consultations both before and since introduction.

  Some subordinate legislation will be necessary to complete the implementation process and to permit effect to be given to the Agreement between the British and Irish

  585
  Governments. This will include orders to implement any proposals for changes in the structure of the Northern Ireland Departments that may be agreed, and orders to provide the necessary statutory underpinning for the initial implementation bodies envisaged in the Strand Two section of the Belfast Agreement.

  Community Policing
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the level of expertise in community policing held by members of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland from(a) South Africa, (b) New York and (c) Toronto. [52223]

  Mr. Ingram
  A careful assessment was conducted of the experience and expertise of the members of the Independent Commission on Policing. I am satisfied that they bring together a range of appropriate skills. These include a very high degree of expertise in policing, from both operational and academic perspectives, including community policing.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her 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. [52889]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I shall write to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Terrorist Incidents
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many petrol bomb and arson attacks there have been over the last 12 months in the Ballymoney area; and which were assessed to be of(a) Loyalist and (b) Republican origin; [52767]

  (2) if he will list the organisations her Department has assessed to be responsible for each terrorist incident in July; [52765]

  (3) how many members of the security forces, including the Royal Irish Regiment, have received threats to their life since July 1997; and from what alleged source. [52766]

  Mr. Ingram
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the employees of her Department and of the employees of each agency for which she is responsible cycle to work; and what measures she plans to increase that proportion. [52665]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: In the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments it is estimated that between 1–2 per cent. of employees cycle to work. Measures to increase the proportion of employees cycling to work are being considered as part of the development of green transport plans for buildings occupied by the Department and its
  586
  Agencies. The Northern Ireland Office also has provision for an interest free loan for any employee to purchase a bicycle for travel to work purposes.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what parking facilities for cycles exist at each office or site for which her Department is responsible and for each agency for which he is responsible. [52664]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the cost of all research undertaken by her Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by her officials; and if she will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52708]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Devolved Institutions
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of the Prime Minister on 10 July 1998,Official Report, column 641, what institutions are included in the description
  "devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales when established and, if appropriate, elsewhere in the United Kingdom";
  if the description extends to regional chambers and regional assemblies. [53580]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The institutions include the Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. In the absence of elected regional Assemblies in England we have yet to determine the best means of reflecting the views of regional interests in England in the Council.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if she will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies her Department currently is responsible for. [53859]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The information requested is as follows:

  (a) NDPBs disbanded since 1 May 1997:

  1. NI Citizens Charter Advisory Panel

  2. Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  3. Ulster Museum

  4. North Down and Ards Community HSS Trust

  5. Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospital HSS Trust

  587

  (b) NDPBs which will be disbanded in the next 12 months:

  1. Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights

  2. Health and Safety Agency

  3. Commission for Racial Equality in NI

  4. Fair Employment Commission

  5. Equal Opportunities Commission

  6. NI Disability Council

  7. Independent Commission Police Complaints

  (c) NDPBs which have had their functions transferred to:

  (i) another NDPB—the functions of the North Down and Ards Community HSS Trust and the Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospital HSS Trust were transferred to the Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust with effect from 1 April 1998. Ulster Folk and Transport Museums, and Ulster Museum were transferred to the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland with effect from 1 April 1998;

  (ii) a democratically elected body (naming the relevant successor body): None.

  (d) NDPBs which have been renamed but continuing to perform a similar role: Rathgeal and Whiteabbey Training Schools Management Board will become the Juvenile Justice Board with effect from 1 August 1998.

  (e) Details of all other NDPBs in existence on 1 May 1997 are listed in Public Bodies 1997.

  (f) New NDPBs which have been established since 1 May 1998: The Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust with effect from 1 April 1998 Commission for Racial Equality in Northern Ireland with effect from 29 July 1997 National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland with effect from 1 April 1998.

  (g) The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is currently responsible for 131 Non Departmental Public Bodies.

  Employees Over 60
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) men and (b) women aged over 60 years were employed by (i) her Department and (ii) her Department's agencies on 1 January. [53067]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The information for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:

  (a)(i): 104

  (a)(ii): 352

  (b)(i): 63

  (b)(ii): 98.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) men and (b) women employed by (1) her Department and (2) her Department's agencies have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday. [53044]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 30 July 19981: The information for (1) the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments and (2) their Agencies is as follows:

  (a) Men

  (b) Women

  (1) Departments

  1,107

  1,811

  (2) Agencies

  4,655

  4,502

  Total

  5,762

  6,313

  588

  Public Registers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to respond to the question from the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead, to which a holding answer was given on 29 June, concerning the public registers for which her Department is responsible. [54021]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 28 July 1998,Official Report, columns 130–31.

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of her Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53943]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 May 1998,Official Report, column 313.

  NHS Expenditure
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the additional funding for the NHS announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review will be made available to Northern Ireland; and on what basis it has been calculated. [54157]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Barnett formula provided Northern Ireland with its population share (2.91 per cent.) of changes in comparable spending programmes in Great Britain, including the increases for the NHS. Allocations to individual Northern Ireland spending programmes will be announced later this year.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those who have accompanied (i) her and (ii) her departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved, (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53848]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of her Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54265]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Information on the numbers of documents published in alternative formats, such as audio tapes, will normally be held by officials with responsibility for the documents in question. This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  589

  Criminal Appeals
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions in cases tried on indictment were referred by the Secretary of State to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal for each year between 1990–91 and 1996–97. [54103]

  Mr. Ingram
  During the period 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1997, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State referred six cases back to the Court of Appeal for Northern Ireland. They were during the years 1991–92; four cases; and 1996–97; two cases.

  Mr. W. J. McGarry
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when the PBNI informed the RUC Care Unit of the release of Mr. W. J. McGarry from prison; [54133]

  (2) what were the reasons for the delay in the Prison Service notifying the social services of the release of Mr. W. J. McGarry from prison; and what steps are being taken to improve the procedures. [54029]

  Mr. Ingram
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Housing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schemes from the Housing Association have received project approval from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in the past 12 months; and how many schemes were submitted for approval in that same period. [54660]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose Chief Executive has advised as follows:

  The Northern Ireland Housing Executive issued Scheme Approval for 26 schemes in the 12 month period July 1997 to July 1998.

  The Northern Ireland Housing Executive received 25 applications from Housing Associations for Scheme Approval in the same period.

WALES

  Arms Park Millennium Stadium
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that delays in the completion of the new Arms Park Millennium Stadium do not result in the loss of the rugby world cup final to Cardiff; what are the links between his Department and the committee overseeing this project; and if he will make a statement. [53578]

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

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what meetings he and any of his ministers or advisers 590
  have had with principals of the lobby company, Political Context or its Cardiff-based offshoot, Welsh Context, what were the dates of those meetings; who was present at those meetings; and what were the subjects discussed at those meetings; [54532]

  (2) what contracts (a) his Department and (b) other public bodies in Wales have awarded to the lobby company, Political Context, or its Cardiff-based offshoot, Welsh Context; [54530]

  (3) what contracts (a) his Department and (b) other public bodies in Wales have awarded to the public relations company, Morgan Allan. [54531]

  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.

  Local Government Modernisation
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce his proposals for modernising local government in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [55189]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of a White Paper entitled "Local Voices: Modernising Local Government in Wales". The Paper sets out an agenda for bringing Welsh local government back to the people. It places the policy in the context of Wales and the potential for a strong partnership between local government and the National Assembly.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements. [54995]

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

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 28 July 1998,Official Report, columns 180–81, concerning vehicle replacement, what guidance he has issued concerning the replacement policy for vehicle fleets. [54479]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  My Department currently operates a policy of replacing diesel driven vehicles with those which run on unleaded petrol and which are fitted with 'three way' catalytic converters. This policy is reviewed annually as part of the Department's Green Housekeeping Action Plan which takes account of developments in alternative fuels, having regard also to economic, financial and environmental factors.

  Where practicable, these factors will also be applied to the replacement of the specialist diesel powered highway vehicles.

  Schools (Rate Relief)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about discretionary rate relief granted by local authorities to their own schools. [55190]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  My Department has advised local authorities that rate relief cannot be granted to Local Education Authority (County) schools under section 47 of
  591
  the Local Government Finance Act 1988. In this respect, local authority schools are treated in the same manner as other types of local authority property. The Government's funding of local authority expenditure has always taken account of the fact that full rates are payable on local authority property.

  Like all other rate income, the rates paid by local authorities are pooled and redistributed. Those authorities who do not pay their full rates bills do so to the disadvantage of others. My Department intends to ensure that the outstanding rates are paid into the national pool for redistribution to all authorities.

  Sea Empress
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to respond to the report on the Sea Empress Environmental Evaluation Committee. [55191]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have carefully considered the findings of the report and intend publishing the Government's response shortly. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Departmental Reviews
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the reviews his Department initiated in the years(a) 1974–75, (b) 1979–80 and (c) 1992–93. [48518]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  [holding answer 6 July 1998]: Present Ministers are not responsible to Parliament for events which took place under a previous Administration and do not normally have access to relevant papers. Information on those reviews which have been published is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 354, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54005]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" (Cm 3950), was published on 20 July. The Welsh Transport Policy Statement, "Transporting Wales into the Future", was published on 24 July.

  My Department has given an undertaking that a Green Transport Plan, covering commuting and travel in the course of work at the Department's main offices will be in place by March 1999.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54264]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
  592

  Blackwood Bypass
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the Blackwood Bypass (Sirhowy Enterprise Way). [54101]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations from Caerphilly County Borough Council concerning this scheme.

  NHS Dental Services
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are in hand to improve access to NHS dental services in Wales. [54614]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Welsh Office £3m dental initiative, first launched in September 1995, enabled Welsh Health Authorities to offer unprecedented levels of grant (up to £50,000 in certain areas) to dentists for new or expanding practices, and to NHS Trusts to expand the Community Dental Service. An additional £0.25m for the continuation of the dental initiative was announced on 17 July 1997 as part of the comprehensive primary care initiative "Delivering Care: Meeting Need".

  Sixty-one grants have already been paid but there are still some areas where certain categories of patients may find it difficult to register with an NHS dentist close to home. This can be a particular problem in the more rural parts of Wales.

  Stage 2 of the initiative, launched on 10 July this year, introduces more flexibility into the grant scheme, both in terms of the extent and length of commitment required. It also offers more help to dentists who want to open new part-time or branch practices in certain areas, where this would be the best way of meeting local needs.

  The Government are committed to ensuring that a comprehensive, good quality, NHS dental service is available to all who wish to use it no matter where they live, and the continuation of this Welsh Office initiative demonstrates our determination to tackle any remaining inequity of access to health care.

  Sterile Service Units
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he made of the impact on sterile service units within other trusts in Wales of the contract between UHW NHS Trust and SSI. [54957]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Private Finance Initiative contract between UHW NHS Trust and SSI is justified on the basis of present activity levels. I do not anticipate any impact on sterile services units in other NHS Trusts.

  Ynys Môn Council
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Ynys Môn Council on the financial arrangements relating to the resignation of the Chief Executive. [54179]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None, and it would not be appropriate for my Department to do so.

  Local Transport
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the figures for 1996–97 of local government
  593
  expenditure in Wales on local transport under capital and current headings as set out in Transport Statistics Great Britain, 1997. [54181]

  Mr. Hain
  The information is given in the table.

  Local government expenditure on transport 1996–97

  £ million

  Local transport

  268

  Capital

  104

  Roads

  99

  Car parks

  5

  Public transport

  1

  Current

  165

  Roads

  148

  Car parks

  -4

  Revenue support to public transport

  11

  Concessionary fares

  9

  NHS Staff Salaries
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount spent on salaries and wages costs for(a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff by NHS authority for each financial year from 1991–92 to 1997–98. [53298]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The information is as follows:

  £000

  Financial year

  General and senior managers

  Nurses and midwives

  Administrative and clerical staff

  1991–92

  19,432

  402,501

  79,134

  1992–93

  20,919

  425,736

  96,059

  1993–94

  30,836

  421,737

  110,832

  1994–95

  38,753

  433,661

  110,620

  1995–96

  42,605

  442,604

  118,049

  1996–97

  50,172

  441,996

  112,627

  1997–98

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1 Figures not yet available

  Sources:

  Financial returns of Health Authorities, NHS Trusts, Family Health Services Authorities, The Health Promotion Authority for Wales and the Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  Hospital Maintenance
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by NHS authority the hospital maintenance backlog on 1 July. [53293]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Since 31 March 1995, statistics for backlog maintenance have been collected and presented on a Trust basis. Figures for July 1998 will not be available until November this year but figures are available for July 1997.

  £

  Trust name

  Backlog maintenance

  Bridgend and district

  5,760

  Cardiff Community Healthcare

  21,943

  Carmarthen and District

  6,895

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  6,095

  Clwydian community Care

  8,375

  Dental Hospital, Heath

  6,607

  594

  £000

  Trust name

  Backlog maintenance

  Derwen

  8,711

  East Glamorgan

  9,955

  Glan Clwyd

  19,786

  Glan Hafren

  28,815

  Glan Y Mor

  22,054

  Gwent Community

  8,016

  Gwynedd Community

  4,344

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  5,188

  Llandough

  21,892

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  3,280

  Morriston

  6,070

  Nevill Hall and District

  1,390

  North Glamorgan

  23,832

  Pembrokeshire

  8,097

  Powys Healthcare

  5,645

  Rhondda Healthcare

  6,968

  Nevill Hall and District

  1,390

  North Glamorgan

  23,832

  Pembrokeshire

  8,097

  Powys Healthcare

  5,645

  Rhondda Healthcare

  6,968

  Swansea

  2,154

  UHW/Royal Group

  56,689

  Velindre

  480

  Wrexham Maelor

  4,527

  Total

  303,568

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of(a) NHS clerical, administrative and management staff, (b) NHS hospital doctors and general practitioners and (c) NHS nurses and midwives in each year since 1995. [53292]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The information is given in the table:

  Thousands

  Staff in post at 30 September (whole-time equivalent):

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Administration and clerical1

  —

  9.7

  9.7

  Hospital doctors

  3.0

  3.1

  3.2

  Nursing, midwifery and health visiting1

  23.3

  23.5

  23.4

  Staff in post at 1 October (Numbers):

  General Medical Practitioners2

  1,719

  1,736

  1,753

  1 The system used to classify directly employed non-medical NHS staff changed during 1995, moving from groups which were based on payscales to groups which are based on new occupation codes. Data for 1996 onwards are for the new occupation groups and are from NHS personnel systems. Data prior to 1996 are based on numbers from the NHS payroll system; the allocation of these to the new occupation groups have been estimated. As the data shown for administration and clerical are a sub set of the full group, "Administration and estates staff, a reliable figure cannot be given for 1995

  2 Unrestricted principals

  NHS (External Consultants)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has made of the financial savings made by the NHS and Government health agencies as a result of employing external consultants, by year, since 1995. [53754]
  595
  Mr. Ron Davies
  Decisions by NHS bodies to employ management consultants, either to identify opportunities for savings or for other purposes, rest with the bodies concerned and information about outcomes of consultancy assignments is not collected centrally.

  Operations (Cancellations)
  Mr. Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library figures (a) by health authority

  Number of patients no re-admitted within one month following a cancelled operation

  Quarter ending

  NHS Trust

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  March 1996

  June 1996

  September 1996

  December 1996

  Bridgend and District

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiff Community Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Carmarthen and District

  —

  —

  7

  6

  20

  10

  13

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  4

  2

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Clwydian Community Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Glamorgan

  11

  —

  19

  12

  5

  2

  4

  Glan-Y-Mor

  3

  2

  1

  11

  —

  4

  2

  Glan Clwyd Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Glan Hafren

  —

  —

  —

  3

  6

  3

  2

  Gwent Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  1

  —

  Llandough Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Llanelli Dinefwr

  —

  —

  1

  —

  5

  2

  6

  Morriston Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Nevill Hall and District

  1

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  3

  North Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Pembrokeshire and Derwen

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  1

  Powys Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rhondda Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Swansea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  University Dental Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  University of Wales Healthcare

  46

  25

  12

  21

  3

  3

  12

  Velindre

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  —

  —

  3

  20

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  65

  30

  50

  76

  43

  34

  47

  Quarter ending

  NHS Trust

  March 1997

  June 1997

  September 1997

  December 1997

  March 1998

  Bridgend and District

  8

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Cardiff Community Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Carmarthen and District

  12

  12

  11

  9

  8

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  1

  3

  —

  1

  —

  Clwydian Community Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Glamorgan

  194

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Glan-Y-Mor

  10

  5

  —

  1

  —

  Glan Clwyd Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Glan Hafren

  8

  3

  12

  5

  11

  Gwent Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Llandough Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Llanelli Dinefwr

  —

  3

  —

  —

  8

  Morriston Hospital

  5

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Nevill Hall and District

  2

  —

  7

  21

  8

  North Glamorgan

  1

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Pembrokeshire and Derwen

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Powys Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rhondda Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Swansea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  University Dental Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  University of Wales Healthcare

  170

  44

  83

  51

  113

  Velindre

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham

  —

  —

  12

  4

  18

  Total

  413

  70

  127

  94

  178

  and (b) overall on the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to a hospital, and the numbers of those patients not readmitted within a month, by quarter, for the last three years. [53308]
  Mr. Ron Davies
  Information on the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to a hospital is not collected centrally. Information on the numbers of patients not re-admitted within a month of a cancelled operation is available on a Trust basis only and is given in the table:
  597

  Sustrans Cycle Network
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on the North Wales section of the Sustrans national cycle network; and if he will make a statement. [53921]

  Mr. Hain
  The North Wales section of the Sustrans national cycle network runs from Bangor to Cheshire and comprises 69 miles, of which nine miles are open and available for cycling on. The remaining 60 miles will be open and available for cycling by the year 2000.

  Farmers' Markets
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to introduce farmers' markets in Wales. [53920]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Farmers' markets are a useful feature of the agricultural economy, particularly in rural areas. However, decisions about the provision of such markets are a matter for the industry.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been(a) created and (b) sustained in (i) the Vale of Clwyd constituency and (ii) Denbighshire by (1) foreign inward investment and (2) domestic inward investment in each of the last five years. [53919]

  Mr. Hain
  Inward investment information for the areas of the Vale of Clwyd constituency and Denbighshire Unitary Authority, much of which is non-assisted, is available for the last two financial years only. There were no inward investment projects recorded by the Welsh Development Agency for the Vale of Clwyd in those years. Information on Denbighshire is set out below. For the previous three years, it has only been possible to assemble meaningful information for the former Rhuddlan, Glyndwr and part of Colwyn.

  Year

  Source

  New jobs

  Safeguarded jobs

  1993–94

  UK

  51

  127

  Overseas

  24

  65

  1994–95

  UK

  60

  —

  Overseas

  —

  —

  1995–96

  UK

  23

  21

  Overseas

  —

  —

  1996–97

  UK

  15

  —

  Overseas

  —

  —

  1997–98

  UK

  12

  —

  Overseas

  —

  —

  Target Investment Zone
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if North Denbighshire is included in the target investment zone in Wales. [53918]

  Mr. Hain
  North Denbighshire is included in the North West Wales Prototype Employment Zone.

  Kwik Save, Prestatyn
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action his Department has taken following the redundances at Kwik Save Prestatyn. [53926]
  598
  Mr. Hain
  The Welsh Office and its agencies continue to offer every assistance. I understand that the majority of the 100 or so employees who have already left the company have found new jobs.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the total funding available through gaining Objective 1 status for Wales; and how that money will be apportioned to the counties within the Objective 1 Area. [53924]

  Mr. Hain
  We cannot at present predict with any certainty what might be the implications of Structural Fund reform for individual regions within the UK, and in particular the future financial arrangements. All these issues depend on the resolution of the final Regulations for which the Cardiff European Council set a target date of March 1999. My hon. Friend can be assured, however, that I am keeping in very close touch with this issue.

  ENT Treatment
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the size of current waiting lists for ENT treatment in each health authority in Wales. [53923]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The table shows the position on ear, nose and throat (ENT) waiting lists at 31 May 1998.

  Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) waiting lists, by Health Authority, at 31 May 1998

  Health Authority

  Residents waiting for ENT outpatient appointments

  Residents waiting for ENT inpatient or daycase treatment

  Gwent Health Authority

  2,678

  1,182

  Bro Taf Health Authority

  3,644

  2,021

  Dyfed Powys Health Authority

  2,186

  1,397

  North Wales Health Authority

  2,931

  2,386

  Morgannwg Health Authority

  2,812

  1,217

  All Welsh Health Authorities

  14,251

  8,203

  IVF Treatment
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current average waiting times for IVF treatment in each health authority in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [53922]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Information on waiting times for the specialised IVF treatment is not collected centrally.

PRIME MINISTER

  Dounreay
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate memorandum, "A Summary of the Dounreay FCA Inspection Findings", was brought to his attention; what assurances he(a) sought and (b) received from the HSE that Dounreay was a suitable destination for the waste from Georgia; what action he took in response to the document; and if he will make a statement. [46785]
  599
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 June 1998]: This was brought to my attention in the usual way at the time of publication.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry on 23 July 1998, Official Report, columns 641–42.

  Lobbyists
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the business relationships notified to him by Mr. Roger Liddle. [49655]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]: In accordance with the Civil Service Management Code, on appointment as a Special Adviser to the No. 10 Policy Unit, Mr. Liddle notified the Cabinet Office that he was Managing Director of Prima Europe Ltd. and that he was a shareholder in the company.

  Mr. Liddle has consented to the release of this information.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he gives to(a) Cabinet Ministers and (b) other Ministers concerning participation at events organised or facilitated by lobbying companies; and what account this guidance takes of Chatham House rules. [50466]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 July 1998]: Ministers participating in any outside event—whether under the Chatham House rule or not—must conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set out in the Ministerial Code.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister in respect of section 9, "Guidance For Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists", whether media contacts are deemed to be lobbyists for the purpose of the guidance. [54481]

  The Prime Minister
  Civil servants are under a duty, set out in the Civil Service Code, not to misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. The practical examples outlined in Section 9 of the guidance focus on dealings with lobbyists but these principles apply to all contacts between civil servants and people outside Government.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if the guidance issued to civil servants concerning dealings with lobbyists will extend to civil servants working to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. [54437]

  The Prime Minister
  The Guidance is a clarification of the existing rules set out in the Civil Service Code. Its purpose is to set out some practical guidelines to staff who come into contact with groups and people outside Government. The Guidance applies to all civil servants. Its principles will therefore apply to members of the Home Civil Service working in the Scottish Executive and to the Welsh Assembly.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister in drawing up the guidance to civil servants on dealings with lobbyists, to what extent he drew on practice in other member states of the European Union. [54438]

  The Prime Minister
  The Guidance is essentially a clarification of existing rules and principles which have long applied to civil servants in the United Kingdom.600
  However, in drafting the Guidance which sets out practical guidelines for staff who may come into contact with groups and people outside Government, experience and practice overseas was, of course, considered.

  No. 10 Policy Unit
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy regarding the provision of political information or advice by the No. 10 Policy Unit to people outside Parliament who have been invited to appear on television or radio programmes. [50069]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Model Contract for Special Advisers sets out the duties and responsibilities of Special Advisers including their briefing role. In doing so, they are required not to misuse their official position or information required in the course of their duties or do anything which might breach Parliamentary privilege or offend against the conventions of Parliament.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Prime Minister how many meetings members of his policy unit have had with (i) Tesco plc, (ii) Marks and Spencer plc and (iii) Manpower since 1 February; and on what matters. [54494]

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, private sector organisations, trade unions and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. But they must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance they must not provide confidential information without authorisation, or allow improper influence on policy. It is not our policy to make information on meetings or their content public.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Prime Minister how much his office spent on IT, itemising(a) personal computers, (b) mainframe, (c) mini-computers and (d) file servers in the last year for which figures are available. [52899]

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is being collated and I will write to my right hon. Friend in due course.

  Genetically Modified Foods
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what (i) discussions he has had with and (ii) representations he has received from the President of the United States in respect of genetically modified foods or crops; when, and what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [52854]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Officials are in regular contact with their United States counterparts and this issue was discussed during the recent European Union-United States summit.
  601

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [52806]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 28 July 1998, Official Report, column 221.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister what parking facilities for cycles exist at each office or site for which his Department is responsible; and for each agency for which he has responsibility. [52805]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]For these purposes my Office is part of the Cabinet Office.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 28 July, Official Report, column 221.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [52711]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: For these purposes my Office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 30 July, Official Report, column 502.

  Lord-Lieutenants
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Lord-Lieutenants and their deputies for Greater London indicating the dates when they were appointed, the term each will serve before re-appointment and the dates when each post will next be due for appointment or reappointment. [53682]

  The Prime Minister
  This week I have announced the appointment of Sir Peter Imbert QPM as the new Lord Lieutenant of London to succeed Lord Bramall later in the year.

  As the appointment of Deputy Lord-Lieutenants is made by Lord Lieutenants, I have asked the Clerk to the Lieutenancy to write to my hon. Friend with the information he has requested.

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will assess the factors which led to an increase in the cost of lord-lieutenants in England over the past 10 years. [53278]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The majority of Lord-Lieutenants receive assistance from their local authority by the voluntary provision of accommodation and staff; and some meet all or most of their day-to-day running costs from their own resources. But contributions from these two sources have
  602
  fallen over the last 10 years and the proportion of total expenditure on Lord-Lieutenants which is met from central Government funds has risen accordingly.

  Life Peerages
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, column 626, if he will invite the Speaker to nominate persons for life peerages. [53203]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: There is no obstacle to the Speaker proposing a candidate for a life peerage.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will issue guidance to Ministers about making public criticisms of their departments' civil servants. [52868]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: Paragraphs 56–61 of the Ministerial Code provide guidance in relation to civil servants.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the public criticisms made by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) of civil servants in the Department of Trade and Industry. [52866]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the then President of the Council on 23 July 1998, Official Report, column 1258.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister what topics the Social Exclusion Unit will focus on in its next phase. [55137]

  The Prime Minister
  In its next phase, the Unit will follow up its reports on Truancy and School Exclusion, and Rough Sleeping, and conduct further work arising from its "worst estates" project: the framework for this will be set out in the Unit's first report on the subject, which will be published in September.

  In addition, I have asked the Unit to take on two new topics:
  teenage parents. The Unit should work with other departments, building particularly on the work already undertaken by the Department of Health to develop an integrated strategy to cut rates of teenage parenthood, particularly under-age parenthood, towards the European average, and propose better solutions to combat the risk of social exclusion for vulnerable teenage parents and their children. This work should report to Ministers by December.
  16 to 18 year olds. The Unit should work with other departments to assess how many 16 to 18 year olds are not in education, work or training, analyse the reasons why, and produce proposals to reduce the numbers significantly. This work should report to Ministers by Easter.

  Open Government
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in fulfilling the Government's commitment to more open government; and if he will make a statement. [55221]
  603
  The Prime Minister
  Citizens have the right to more information on what their Government are doing and this is why we have published our proposals for a Freedom of Information Act. A draft Bill is being prepared for public consultation and submission to the Public Services Select Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. In order to co-ordinate the detailed preparation and implementation of Freedom of Information alongside related legislation on data protection and human rights, the Home Office will take on the responsibility for this Bill. These arrangements will deliver our commitment to end unnecessary secrecy in government as part of our programme to modernise the constitution.

  Genetic Engineering
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs Dunwoody), of 28 July 1998,Official Report, columns 132–34, if the Performance and Innovation Unit within the Cabinet Office will consider the delivery of policies in respect of (a) genetic engineering and (b) animal welfare; and if he will make a statement. [54483]

  The Prime Minister
  The first group of projects to be carried out by the Performance and Innovation Unit will be announced in the Autumn.

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the previous Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was required to relinquish his Cabinet position; and if he will make a statement. [54572]

  The Prime Minister
  With regard to the composition of my Government, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 29 July 1998,Official Report, column 367.

  Media Contacts
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy in respect of contacts between Ministers and the representatives of the media, where such contacts concern other Ministers. [54482]

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers are expected to operate at all times in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

  Ministers (VIP Lounges)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate for each Department and for each Minister(a) the number of occasions on which they used VIP airport lounges and at what cost in the past year and (b) the miles travelled and at what cost in (i) official cars and (ii) trains in the past year. [54127]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not possible to provide such an estimate. Information in the form requested is not held centrally or by Departments.

  Mr. Peter Penfold
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what factors led him to say on 11 May that Mr. Peter Penfold had done a superb job in working closely with President Kabbah. [54261]
  604
  The Prime Minister
  Like my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, I have consistently recognised the contribution made by Mr. Penfold to relations between Britain and Sierra Leone, and to Britain's standing with the people of Sierra Leone. His close relationship with President Kabbah has been an important part of that contribution.

  Cabinet Meetings
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions the Cabinet has met since May 1997; and what was the duration of each meeting. [54904]

  The Prime Minister
  Since May 1997 Cabinet has usually met once a week when Parliament is in session; no record is routinely kept of the duration of each Cabinet meeting.

  Government Publications
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Prime Minister what factors underlay the retail cost of(a) the "Government Annual Report" CM 3969 and (b) "In Touch with the People" CM 4014; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the difference. [55138]

  The Prime Minister
  In line with established practice, the price of the Government's Annual Report 97/98 CM 3969 and the Local Government White Paper "In Touch with the People" CM 4014 were determined by The Stationery Office after discussion with the relevant Government departments and in line with the HMSO guidelines for Command Papers. The price of documents produced by The Stationery Office varies according to a range of factors including production costs, estimated sales and print run.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he was first consulted concerning the planned involvement of UK Government personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone. [41832]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The Legg Report makes clear Ministerial knowledge of Sandline's activities.

  Reviews and Task Forces
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the reviews and task forces announced by the Government since 1 May 1997 and in each case the date they reported or the date they are expected to report. [55136]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I have been asked to reply.

  A fully updated list of reviews and task forces notified to this Parliament since 1 May 1997 has been made available in the Library, with details of their report dates. To ensure comprehensive coverage, a trawl has been undertaken across all Departments and the list therefore includes for the first time a number of reviews already announced to the House in the usual way since 1 May 1997.
  605

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Road Noise
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposals for noise mitigation measures on existing trunk roads in rural areas in the White Paper, A New Deal for Transport. [52251]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The White Paper states that we are examining the scope for noise mitigation measures on trunk roads built before the current standards of road construction were created. The report on the review of trunk roads in Wales expands on this, explaining that a separate announcement will be made on revised criteria for dealing with requests for noise mitigation in such cases. The White Paper also announces a new policy of considering the use of quieter road surfaces whenever a road needs to be resurfaced.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources are being made available to the Highways Agency for new measures to reduce motorway noise. [54679]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As indicated in the report A New Deal for Trunk Roads, a separate announcement will be made in due course about the budget to be made available for the Highways Agency to deal with the most serious and pressing cases and the new criteria to be used.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the plutonium contamination incident at AWE Aldermaston on 15 December 1997; and if he will place copies of the HSE reports on this incident in the Library; [52173]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of all HSE reports on incidents and accidents which have occurred at AWE Aldermaston in the last 30 years. [52174]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Technetium-99
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to Paragraph 7 of the United Kingdom submission to the OSPAR Convention ministerial meeting in Sintra, on 20 to 24 July, if he has asked British Nuclear Fuels plc for an explanation for the measurement of technetium-99 discovered in lobsters reported to the Government by BNFL in May 1997; [52777]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52937]
  606
  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Compliance cost assessments are not directly comparable, and do not include savings, so it is not possible to provide a simple figure for the cumulative net increase in compliance costs over the period in question. I have placed in the Library summary information of costs from the compliance cost assessments carried out since July 1997. Information before that date is not held centrally, but I will arrange for it to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  Trunk Road Accidents
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of recent trends in(a) injuries to residents and (b) damage to their property in respect of residences alongside (i) trunk roads and (ii) the A10 (London); [53250]

  (2) what assessment he has made of recent trends in (a) accidents, (b) injuries and (c) deaths on the A10 due to (i) car and (ii) motorcycle accidents. [53248]

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

  Letter from Laurence Haynes to Ms Joan Ryan, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson has asked me to reply to your recent questions about the Assessment of accident trends on the A10.
  The Highways Agency obtains accident records on a regular basis from the London Accident Analysis Unit which is part of the London Research Centre. The Unit performs regular statistical analysis such as ranking of sites and breakdown of accident figures by type of vehicle, severity, road and weather conditions. The Unit also carries out a rolling programme of route studies that make specific recommendations for safety improvements based on the accident record of a route.
  The Agency's network managers are also able to commission specific safety studies on an ad hoc basis if accident figures of our normal oversight of the network show that there might be a safety problem at a specific location. One such study was recently commissioned on the A10 in north London. The study will include work on traffic signal installations and an examination of road geometry, speeding and environmental issues. The results of the study will be available in about three months' time.
  We monitor continuously trends in complaints or claims for damage or injury to persons or properties along side trunk roads, including the A10 in London. We have not detected any significant changes in the numbers of complaints or claims for damage or injuries either nationally or on the A10 in London.

  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the protection for residents living alongside trunk roads. [53249]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my hon. right Friend the Minister of Transport setting out our policy on trunk roads, today Official Report, columns 653–560.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what
  607
  occasions Ministers in his Department have had meetings with (a) Friends of the Earth and (b) CPRE in the last six months. [53695]

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with Marks and Spencer plc since 1 February; and on what matters; [54396]

  (2) how many meetings ministers have had with Tesco plc since 1 February; and on what matters; [54429]

  (3) how many meetings ministers have had with BAA since 1 February; and on what matters. [54430]

  Mr. Meale
  Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, private sector organisations, trade unions and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. But they must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance they must not provide confidential information without authorisation, or allow improper influence on policy. It is not our policy to make information on meetings or their content public.

  Housing Co-operatives
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the housing corporation grant has been allocated to the housing cooperatives in each of the last five years; what plans he has to increase expenditure on housing cooperatives; and if he will make a statement. [53336]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The proportion of Housing Corporation grant allocated to housing co-operatives in the last five years is set out in the table.

  The Housing Corporation is currently reviewing its housing co-operative policy with the intention of producing a consultation document later in the year.

  Funding of co-operatives in England in the last five years

  Year

  Proportion of HC rented programme for co-operatives (%)

  1993–94

  2.6

  1994–95

  1.1

  1995–96

  0.7

  1996–97

  0.7

  1997–98

  0.1

  608

  Local Authority Rents
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the projected level of average local authority rents in(a) England and Wales and (b) Greater London arising from the proposed increases of (i) one per cent. next year and (ii) two per cent. in the following two years; and what estimate he has made of the level of average local authority rents (1) as a proportion of registered social landlord rents and (2) as a proportion of average eligible rents in the private sector. [53574]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The provision for Housing Revenue Account Subsidy announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 14 July 1998,Official Report, columns 187–94, allows for a real increase in local authority rents in England of one per cent. in 1999–2000 and of two per cent. in each of the following two years. Actual rent increases may differ from these guideline rent increases used in the calculation of Housing Revenue Account Subsidy.

  We will be consulting individual local authorities on their guideline rent increases for 1999–2000 in the autumn. Local authorities will not have all the information they need to set their rents for 1999–2000 until the beginning of 1999.

  Data on average weekly rents for local authority, registered social landlord and private sector tenants for 1996–97 are set out in the table. The figures are not directly comparable as they take no account of differences in size and quality of accommodation.

  £

  England

  London

  Local authority

  40.17

  53.11

  Registered social landlord1

  46.74

  53.12

  Privately rented

  77

  2—

  1 Rents at 31 March 1997

  2 The Survey of English Housing sample size is not lare enough to produce estimates for London for individual financial years. Combined data for 1995–96 and 1996–97 give an average private sector rent of £111 for London (£for England as a whole).

  Sources:

  Local authority—Housing Subsidy Claim forms; Registered social landlords—Housing Corporation HAR 10/1 return; Privately rented—Survey of English Housing (like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sampling variability)

  Regeneration
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the annual expenditure of the current programme of pathway networks in local authorities in Greater London; what are the objectives of the programme; and if he will make a statement; [53568]

  (2) if he will list the criteria for qualification as a locally-driven initiative in future regeneration activity; and if he will make a statement on the role of pathway networks in developing comprehensive local strategies for regeneration and on the relationship between those local partnerships and the RDAs. [53905]
  609
  Mr. Caborn
  The information is as follows:

  New Deal for Regeneration

  Under the new deal for regeneration, locally driven initiatives will be developed by inclusive local partnerships and will:
  enhance the employment prospects, education and skills of local people
  address social exclusion and enhance opportunities for the disadvantaged through community development
  promote sustainable regeneration, improving and protecting the environment and infrastructure
  improve the quality of life of local people and their capacity to participate in regeneration activities
  encourage more effective integration of programmes through partnerships and the involvement of local communities and voluntary groups
  support and promote growth in local economies and businesses Further details of the arrangements for local partnership led initiatives will be included in the Bidding Guidance for the re-shaped Single Regeneration Budget due to be published in the near future.

  Bids will have to show how they fit with other new area-based initiatives and strategies Regeneration partnerships will have to make clear the linkages between housing, regeneration and other initiatives and demonstrate that their local strategies complement the regional strategies that the Regional Development Agencies will develop.

  Pathway Partnerships

  The East London and Lea Valley Objective 2 Programme Monitoring Committee agreed that the programme should be implemented through a range of existing local and regional partnerships. As part of this process Strategic and Pathway Partnerships evolved to implement parts of the programme. There are no formal qualification criteria other than that they should be representative, accessible and that their procedures in relation to the identification of potential projects should be fully transparent. A number of area based and thematic strategic partnerships have been formed as a result of this process, including 14 community led Pathway Partnerships. The Objective 2 Monitoring Committee has recognised the value of these partnerships and has resolved to strengthen their role in future bidding rounds. However, at this stage there have been no discussions concerning the future of these partnerships in relation to the activity of the RDA.

  Pathway Partnerships are based in areas of acute urban deprivation within the East London and Lea Valley Objective 2 area. £952,000 has been made available from ERDF funds and matched by local authorities; a total of £1.7 million of support has been provided to date. The Pathway Partnerships are made up of representatives from the local community, voluntary, public and the private sector. Each Pathway has drawn up a regeneration strategy for the local area and is in the process of identifying projects for support from Priority 4 of the Objective 2 fund which targets community economic development.
  610
  The table shows the name of the Pathway Partnerships, the Borough they are situated in and the amount of grant agreed to date.

  £

  Pathway Partnership

  London Borough

  Total Grant

  Heart of Hackney

  Hackney

  130,500

  Hackney Wick

  Hackney

  49,300

  Hoxton and Shoreditch

  Hackney

  31,900

  Haggerston

  Hackney

  78,300

  Edmonton

  Enfield

  70,000

  Bridging the Gap

  Newham

  100,000

  Tottenham Community

  Haringey

  60,000

  Little Ilford Development Partnership

  Newham

  16,800

  Green Street

  Newham

  83,000

  Canning Town West Ham

  Newham

  66,000

  Stratford

  Newham

  51,450

  Tower Hamlets West

  Tower Hamlets

  78,904

  Tower Hamlets East

  Tower Hamlets

  55,450

  Central Stepney and Locksley

  Tower Hamlets

  80,626

  Total

  952,230

  Home Repairs and Improvements
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will commission research into the use of equity release mechanisms to assist home owners to fund essential repairs and improvements to their dwellings; and if he will make a statement. [53907]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department currently has no plans to commission research into the use of equity release schemes. However, we have been informing ourselves about the schemes that are currently available. There is interdepartmental interest in the potential of such schemes.

  Waste Incineration Plants
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the criteria used by the Environment Agency when considering an application for an environmental licence to(a) build and (b) extend a waste to energy incineration plant; and if he will make a statement on the role of public consultation in determining such applications. [53908]

  Mr. Meacher
  In considering an application under Integrated Pollution Control to(a) build or (b) extend a waste to energy incineration plant, the Environment Agency are under a duty to assess the best practicable environmental option and ensure that the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost are used to prevent or minimise and render harmless potentially harmful emissions. In particular the Agency will assess the suitability of the design of the plant to meet stringent emission limits, the impact of emissions on the local environment and the ability of the company to operate the plant satisfactorily.

  The IPC system was designed to encourage public involvement in the decision making process. The public are given the opportunity to comment in respect of an authorisation and variation of authorisations involving a substantial change. The Environment Agency must consider any representation it receives when determining the application.
  611
  The Agency has recognised that it should carry out more detailed consultation with respect to certain high profile licence application and is currently piloting an extended consultation process for these cases.

  Owner-occupied Housing
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the current(a) number and (b) estimated value of owner-occupied properties and the total value of mortgages outstanding on those properties. [53909]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The latest available figures on a consistent timing basis for the UK relate to the end of March 1998, and are as follows:

  Number of owner occupied properties: 16.7 million (provisional)

  Estimated value of owner occupied property: £1,340 billion

  Value of mortgages outstanding (at June 1998): £436 billion

  Source:

  DETR estimates and Bank of England.

  Schools (Discretionary Rate Relief)
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about discretionary rate relief granted by local authorities to their own schools. [54625]

  Ms Armstrong
  As my Department has advised local authorities, rate relief cannot be granted to Local Education Authority (County) schools under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. In this respect local authority schools are treated the same as other types of local authority property. The fact that the full rates are payable on local authority property has always been taken into account in the Government's funding of local authority expenditure.

  The rates paid by local authorities, like all other rate income, are pooled and redistributed among all local authorities. Therefore if, some authorities do not pay their full rate bills, they do so to the detriment of all authorities. My Department intends to ensure that the outstanding rates are paid into the national rate pool for redistribution to all authorities.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on the spacing of motorway service areas; and if he will make a statement. [54626]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Motorway service areas (MSAs) exist to meet a road safety need by giving drivers somewhere to stop and rest. It is nevertheless important to strike a balance between the needs of motorists and the protection of the countryside from unnecessary development.

  Policy on MSAs was last set out by the previous administration in Annexe A to PPG13 and Roads Circular 1/94. In summary, MSAs were to be not more than around thirty miles apart and, to increase competition and choice, could be provided as frequently as about every fifteen miles.
  612
  Some six years after its introduction, there is little evidence of new operators entering the MSA sector. I am, however, concerned that additional MSA provision has been at the expense of other considerations, particularly in areas of planning restraint. We therefore intend to return to a policy based on the provision of MSAs approximately every thirty miles in order to provide drivers with adequate opportunities to stop and rest. Services at closer intervals will not be ruled out completely but we will in future expect to approve them only where there are exceptional need and safety grounds for doing so.

  I am today issuing detailed guidance on this and a number of related MSA matters. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This new advice will take effect immediately and we will expect developers, planners and others to take account of it when considering proposals for new MSAs. Where it differs from previous statements of policy, the new guidance should be regarded as taking precedence. It will be incorporated in a consolidated circular on MSA policy in due course.

  Soap and Detergent Industry
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy on the soap and detergent industry's code of good environmental practice; to what extent this code complies with the proposed standards and initiatives his Department is considering for greater eco-efficiency in the home; and if he will make a statement. [54817]

  Mr. Meale
  The code is a welcome initiative by the soap and detergent industry. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy and is in line with the Government's market transformation approach for consumer products. In particular, the industry's proposal to provide guidance to consumers on the responsible use of laundry detergents and their packaging, and to set quantifiable targets against which progress can be audited independently, provides a positive example for other industry sectors to follow.

  In order to meet the Government's wider aims for reducing energy consumption and other environmental impacts, the industry will need to demonstrate that the targets it has set for itself are being achieved. My Department is currently in discussion with the Soap and Detergent Industry Association on this point, and on how we can work together to integrate this initiative within our wider environment strategies.

  Housing (Expenditure)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the gross public expenditure in 1997 prices on capital investment in housing in England and Wales for each financial year from 1968 to 1997; and what were the levels of expenditure in 1997 prices for(a) local authority new build and acquisitions, (b) renovation of local authority housing stock, (c) private sector renovation, (d) housing association new build, (e) housing association rehabilitation, (f) low cost home ownership and (g) other in each of these years; and what are the projections for expenditure under each of these headings for each year between 1997–98 and 2001–02. [54541]
  613
  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to my hon. Friend with the available data shortly.

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53864]

  Mr. Meale
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 12 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by this Department have been wound-up since 1 may 1997; 9 Urban Development Corporations—Birmingham Heartlands, Black Country, London Docklands, Merseyside, Plymouth, Sheffield, Trafford Park, Teesside and Tyne & Wear—which were executive NDPBs, and 3 advisory bodies—the Assessment Panel for Construction Research, the Advisory Committee on Plant and Machinery and the Local Government Staff Commission (England).

  (b) North Hull Housing Action Trust, an executive NDPB, is due to be wound-up early in 1999.

  (c) No bodies have had their functions transferred to either (i) another NDPB or (ii) a democratically elected body.

  (d) None have been renamed but continue to perform a similar function.

  (e) Details of other NDPBs in existence on 1 May 1997 sponsored by this Department are listed in "Public Bodies 1997".

  Four advisory NDPBs have been established since 1 May 1997; the Committee on Chemicals and Materials on Construction for use in Public Water Supplies and Swimming Pools, the Expert Group on Airborne Particles, the Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies, and the Expert Panel on Sustainable Development Education. Docklands Light Railway was reclassified as an executive NDPB, to enable it to receive grant-in-aid from the Department, on 1 April 1998 following the wind-up of London Docklands Development Corporation.

  This Department currently sponsors 50 NDPBs—28 executive and 22 advisory bodies.

  The Government are committed to keeping the number of NDPBs to a minimum and to ensuring that those which remain are open, accountable and effective. Many of the new NDPBs established since 1 May 1997 will be essential in helping the Government to deliver their Manifesto commitments.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1998,Official Report, column 15, what is the current projection of traffic flows on the M42 and M6 if the Birmingham Northern Relief Road is built. [53730]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
  614
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Brian Jenkins, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.
  The current traffic forecasts are those prepared during the BNRR Public Inquiries and a table showing these is attached. The forecasts are for the design year 2011, and they assumed that the Western Orbital Route would not be built. Traffic forecasts are currently being updated and I shall let you know details when they are available.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road Year 2011 indicative annual average daily traffic two-way modelled/lows; with the BNRR scheme, but excluding the western orbital route

  Total

  M42

  J 7A–8

  148,000

  J 8–9

  179,200

  M6

  J 4–4A

  100,900

  J 4A–5

  151,200

  J 5–6

  141,600

  J 6–7

  147,300

  J 8E–8W

  83,900

  J 8W–9

  165,300

  J 9–10

  155,300

  J 10–10A

  143,800

  J 10A–11

  97,900

  J 11–11A

  91,400

  J 11A–12

  142,400

  J 12–13

  162,900

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the contract between MEL and the contractor for BNRR is in the possession of his Department; and if the Government would(a) be liable in respect of categories of damages and (b) be liable for penalties to the contractor if the Government had not decided to proceed with BNRR. [53075]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department has a copy of the construction contact let by MEL in 1992, although I understand MEL will be reviewing it in the light of decisions over the last six years. The Government have no direct liabilities to MEL's contractors.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make public(a) part or (b) all of the concession agreement for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 in the event of the High Court ruling that he has a discretion. [53077]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I am considering the Judgment given on 29 July by the High Court.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what categories of damage the Government would have been liable if they had decided not to proceed with the Birmingham Northern Relief Road; and what estimate was made of the size of the possible damages in such categories. [53078]
  615
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  As Section 1(4) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 requires, the Birmingham Northern Relief Road Concession Agreement makes provision in certain circumstances for compensation payments to the Concessionaire in respect of costs incurred by him. The details are, however, confidential.

  Poplar II HARCA Ballot
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure the votes of the eight separate estates being balloted for the Poplar II HARCA will be counted separately. [53972]

  Mr. Raynsford
  No. The conduct of the count is a matter for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the results of the Poplar II HARCA ballot will be published estate by estate. [53971]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The publication of the Poplar ballot result is a matter for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to ensure that the votes of leaseholders are given equal weight to those of tenants in the Poplar II HARCA ballot. [53973]

  Mr. Raynsford
  When deciding whether or not to give consent to a transfer under section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 the Secretary of State has to be satisfied that the majority of secure tenants are not opposed to the proposals. There is no such requirement in relation to leaseholders, although the Secretary of State will take their views into account when making his decision.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list all UK legislation currently in force regarding the health and safety of children and young people at work. [54075]

  Mr. Meale
  The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and its relevant statutory provisions apply to persons at work and those affected by work activities in Great Britain including children and young people. In particular, the following legislation applies restrictions to protect the health and safety of children and young people at work:

  The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920;

  The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997;

  The Explosives Act 1875 (amended by the Explosives Act 1923);

  The Carriage of Explosives by Road Regulations 1996;

  The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985;

  The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1998;

  The Power Presses Regulations 1965;

  The Woodworking Machines Regulations 1974;

  The Agriculture (Circular Saws) Regulations 1959;

  The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 1996;

  The Agriculture (Avoidance of Accidents to Children) Regulations 1958;

  The Docks Regulations 1988;

  616

  The Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961;

  The Mines and Quarries Act 1954;

  The Coal and Other Mines (Sidings) Regulations 1956;

  The Coal and Other Mines (Locomotives) Regulations 1956;

  The Quarries (General) Regulations 1956;

  The Quarries (Ropeways and Vehicles) Regulations 1958;

  The Quarries Vehicles Regulations 1970;

  The Quarries (Explosives) Regulations 1988;

  The Miscellaneous (Mines Explosives) Regulations 1959;

  The Coal and Other Safety Lamp Mines (Explosives) Regulations 1993; and

  The Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing Regulations 1960.

  Additionally, the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, as amended, control conditions and hours that children can work.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 293, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54016]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department has asked its property managers to prepare green transport plans and held a workshop to discuss what is involved. It has issued further internal guidance on green transport plan proposals for 1998–99 and drafted a site survey form for use in preparing a first plan, taking account of the experience with the earlier pilot studies. Good progress is being made. For example, DVLA has persuaded a local bus operator to improve services to its main site in Swansea.

  Driving Penalties
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of replacing the charge of reckless driving with that of dangerous driving in terms of improving the safety of vulnerable road users. [53304]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory, on 1 May 1998, to study the effect of the Road Traffic Act 1991 on prosecutions for dangerous driving.

  The study will examine whether there is sufficiently clear guidance on the law and its purpose, and how this affects the choice of penalty. The study will include a comparison of sentencing trends before and since the 1991 Act and will assess how the changes in the definition of "bad driving" offences have been implemented by police and courts.

  We shall try to gain an understanding of what leads prosecutors and courts to select one offence or one penalty rather than another. We hope that, by examining the whole procedure from charging to sentencing, we shall be able to identify ways of improving practice, so as to deter poor driving more effectively. We expect to complete this study by October 2000.
  617

  Pedestrians
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on trends in (1) numbers of pedestrians and (2) the number of pedestrian deaths over the last 30 years. [53306]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Data on the number of trips made by pedestrians, and the distance they travel, are collected regularly as part of the National Travel Survey. In 1994–96 the distance walked per person per year averaged 200 miles, compared to 244 miles in 1985–86 and 255 miles in 1975–76.

  Trends in pedestrian deaths are available from data on accidents collected by the police and local authorities. Deaths have fallen from 2,964 in 1967 to 973 in 1997. A comprehensive list of research on pedestrian safety over the last 30 years is not available, but a wide range of relevant research has been carried out including a study of pedestrian accident causation, and research on traffic calming and safety measures in urban areas. A study of pedestrian behaviour and exposure to risk has recently been completed.

  The Department is developing a Walking Strategy which will take account of a wide range of information and research findings on pedestrian safety.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into (1) the number or child pedestrian deaths over the last 30 years and (2) how the number of child pedestrian deaths compares with other Western European countries. [53307]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Child pedestrian deaths, aged 0–14, have reduced from 541 a year in 1967 to 133 in 1997. But this still represents an unsatisfactory rate of 1.1 child pedestrian deaths per 100,000 children, higher than the European average of 1.0.

  A summary of recent research on child pedestrians is contained in the booklet my Department produced in June which covers the road safety education of children. A copy of the booklet was placed in the Library.

  We have also commissioned MVA and the Institute of Transport Studies at Leeds University to undertake an international study of children's exposure to accidents, and of previous child pedestrian accidents. The study aims to identify the reasons for differences in child pedestrian accident rates between countries and hence identify ways of, and policies for, reducing the child pedestrian accident risk.

  Radioactive Emissions
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the limits on radioactive emissions over a quarter of a mile from(a) coal-fired power stations and (b) nuclear power stations. [53313]

  Mr. Meacher
  Discharges of radioactivity to the environment must be authorised by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The guiding principle in authorising discharges from a particular site is the need to restrict the radiation doses that might be received by the most exposed members of the 618
  public, or "critical group", since adequate protection of this group will ensure that others are also protected. Exposure may result from a number of pathways, for example, through inhalation of airborne activity, through drinking water, or through uptake by animals and transfer to foodstuffs. For the purposes of discharge authorisations, the UK has since 1986 applied a limit of 1 millisievert per year (mSv/y) to members of the public from all man-made sources of radioactivity other than medical exposure and furthermore requires that such doses are
  'as low as reasonably achievable'.

  Coal-fired power stations are exempt from regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 because levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the fuel and waste products are below the levels specified in that Act.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the safe disposal of radioactive flyash discharged by coal-fired power stations. [53312]

  Mr. Meale
  Coal-fired power stations are exempt from regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 because levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the fuel and waste products are below the levels specified in that Act and indeed can be lower than those found in natural deposits. Flyash from such power stations which is disposed of as a waste is therefore managed in the following ways:

  (i) Some ash is stored on site at the power stations, pending processing such as grading. This activity is controlled by the Environment Agency under an IPC authorisation.

  (ii) The majority of the flyash is landfilled, under local authority planning and Environment Agency waste management regulatory controls. The material is regarded as virtually inert. Waste management licensing requirements ensure the protection of human health and the environment.

  A significant amount of ash is also used in the construction industry. It is a by-product in this context and as such falls outside waste disposal controls. The best known application is in light-weight concrete blocks used to form internal walls of houses and other buildings. It is a useful civil engineering material and an increasing range of uses are being found.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements his Department has made for public consultation concerning the proposal for a temporary increase in radioactive emissions from AWE, Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement. [54958]

  Mr. Meale
  I understand that in respect of the applications made by Hunting-BRAE Ltd. and AWE plc to dispose of radioactive wastes from the Atomic Weapons Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield the Environment Agency is preparing to consult with public bodies, local authorities and members of the public before making any decision. The Agency has placed copies of the applications on its public register at its regional office in Reading and the public register of the local authority, West Berkshire Council, in Newbury. These are available for inspection during normal office hours. The Agency has held two public meetings, one at Reading and one at Newbury, to explain the consultation process, and it will publish a consultative document later this year.
  619

  HFCs
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made of likely levels of HFC emissions in 2010. [53321]

  Mr. Meacher
  Based on research funded by my Department, the Government estimate that UK emissions of HFCs will be just over 3 thousand tonnes in 2010.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) whether the consultation paper on ways to reach the United Kingdom targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will include a commitment to phase out HFCs; [53320]

  (2) what proportion of the commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. would be advised by the phasing out of HFCs. [53322]

  Mr. Meacher
  We intend to issue shortly a consultation paper on policy options for delivering our climate change targets. This will cover the options for reducing all greenhouse gas emissions, including HFCs. HFCs are necessary replacements for ozone depleting substances in some applications, and enable us to meet our commitments under the Montreal Protocol. Following consultation we will develop a balanced climate change programme which will focus on cost effective options for reducing emissions across all six greenhouse gases.

  Road Traffic Law
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the road traffic law to protect vulnerable road users. [53305]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are no plans to do so at present. The aim of the road traffic law is to provide protection for all road users. It contains general rules and regulation making powers which govern correct behaviour and so has safety benefits for all road users.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to conclude the consultation process on ways to reach United Kingdom targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions agreed at Kyoto. [53326]

  Mr. Meacher
  We intend to issue a consultation paper shortly on policy options for delivering our climate change targets. We expect the consultation period to last for 3 months.

  Housing (Disabled People)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to include in the guidance to local authorities on the use of moneys released by the capital receipts initiative a requirement that(a) all new homes will be built to be accessible for disabled people and (b) renovations and refurbishments where appropriate should improve access for disabled people. [54112]
  620
  Mr. Raynsford
  Within the Capital Receipts Initiative in 1999–2000 it will be for each local authority to decide, within its allocation, how best to use the resources in the light of local circumstances. It will remain open to local authorities to use their allocations to improve accessibility of housing to disabled people where to do so is consistent with both the local housing strategy and the authority's own priorities. We will issue guidance shortly.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions following the Government's decision to cut funding to the Access Committee for England, what action the Government are taking to ensure that issues of access for disabled people are addressed by(a) Government departments and (b) local authorities; and which Government department takes lead responsibility on policy for access for disabled people. [54039]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 22 July 1998,Official Report, columns 535–36, concerning the vehicle replacement programme, how many vehicles due for replacement in 1998–99 are planned to be replaced by vehicles using (i) petrol, (ii) diesel, (iii) natural gas, (iv) electric batteries and (v) other fuels. [54184]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer of 28 July 1998,Official Report, column 117.

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for officials to liaise with representatives of local government on the implementation of the national minimum standard for local authority concessionary fares. [54247]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There will be consultation with local government when the legislation is being prepared.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what date he expects implementation of the national minimum standard for local authority concessionary fares for elderly people, as proposed in the Transport White Paper, to start. [54248]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The necessary primary legislation will be brought forward as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54278]

  Mr. Meale
  Information on the numbers of documents published in alternative formats such as audio tapes will normally be considered by officials with responsibility for
  621
  the documents in question. This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Unlicensed Vehicles
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the DVLA's recent We Are Clamping Down campaign. [54613]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The national scheme to wheelclamp and impound unlicensed vehicles was introduced in August 1997 and is being extended progressively across the country. In the 8 months to March 1998, it is estimated that some 80,000 additional vehicles were licensed as a result of the campaign, raising an extra £8.5 million. Support from the police, local authorities and the public has been enthusiastic.

  Environmental Agreements
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each international environmental agreement(a) signed by the UK Government and (b) ratified by the UK parliament during the last 10 years. [54850]

  Mr. Meale
  I will place the information in the Library as soon as possible and ensure that my hon. Friend receives a copy.

  Traffic Speeds
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the most recent assessment of the average speed of traffic in(a) central London, (b) inner London and (c) each of the 10 largest conurbations in England. [54851]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 28 July 1998,Official Report, column 117, for details of the Department's traffic speed surveys. The results from the latest surveys are as follows:

  mph

  Morning peak

  Daytime off-peak

  Evening peak

  Central London

  10.0

  10.0

  10.2

  Rest of inner London

  13.4

  15.0

  12.8

  Outer London

  17.0

  19.1

  19.0

  mph

  Morning/evening peak

  Daytime off-peak

  Bournemouth/Poole

  20.2

  25.3

  Brighton/Hove

  25.6

  25.7

  Bristol

  18.5

  22.7

  Coventry

  20.9

  25.8

  Derby

  22.7

  28.4

  Greater Manchester

  21.3

  27.4

  Grimsby/Cleethorpes

  23.1

  23.2

  Hull

  19.5

  23.1

  Leeds/Bradford

  19.5

  23.9

  Leicester

  17.6

  20.6

  Luton/Dunstable

  18.5

  23.3

  Merseyside

  21.1

  21.5

  Norwich

  19.1

  22.4

  622

  mph

  Morning/evening peak

  Daytime off-peak

  Nottingham

  18.0

  23.5

  Oxford

  20.0

  24.2

  Peterborough

  34.2

  33.7

  Plymouth

  24.1

  25.9

  Sheffield

  17.3

  21.1

  Southampton

  18.6

  24.4

  Stoke/Newcastle-under-Lyme

  20.7

  24.2

  Swindon

  24.9

  29.5

  Teesside

  29.0

  35.0

  Tyneside

  17.3

  21.1

  West Midlands

  20.2

  27.3

  The latest traffic speed survey in central London was conducted in 1997, in the rest of inner London was conducted in 1995, in outer London in 1996–97, and in other cities in England in 1996.

  More detailed results from these surveys are available from DETR statistical publications.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of reducing the maximum speed limit to 20 miles per hour in built up areas on road deaths and injuries. [54911]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to study the effectiveness of 20 mph speed limit zones with traffic calming. TRL published their report, Review of Traffic Calming in 20 mph Zones, number 215, in 1996 and found that 20 mph zones with traffic calming reduced accidents by 60 per cent., and accidents involving child pedestrians and child cyclists by 67 per cent. Accidents to cyclists were reduced by 29 per cent. Only in those 20 mph speed limit zones with traffic calming was this degree of casualty reduction achieved. This corresponded to an average reduction in vehicle speed of nearly 10 mph, to less than 20 mph.

  This week TRL has published the findings of its latest study for the Department on Urban Speed Management Methods, TRL report number 363. It concludes that where speeds of around 20 mph are desired in urban areas, traffic calming remains the best option to achieve this. The use of static signs only without traffic calming appears insufficiently effective to reduce speeds to 20 mph or to achieve accident reductions. Speed reductions of only 1 to 2 mph were found. Small additional speed reductions and accident savings can be achieved with associated publicity and enforcement campaigns, but speeds are still likely to remain well above the 20 mph speed limit.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the appointment of the chairmen and other members of the regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [54428]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 July 1998,Official Report, columns 244–45, to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Hope),

  623
  concerning the appointment of Chairmen. A further announcement on other board appointments will be made in the Autumn.

  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to issue further guidance on the criteria which regional chambers must meet in order to be designated for the purposes of regional development agencies. [55195]

  Mr. Caborn
  I propose to write shortly to representatives of the emerging chambers and to other interested parties setting out our views.

  Manchester Metrolink
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has evaluated relating to the extension of the Manchester Metrolink tramway to Leigh. [54170]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No such proposals have been put to my Department for evaluation.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 16 July MR/PSO/8216/98, what is his timetable for moving towards the electronic publishing of headline indicators. [54055]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department plans to publish proposals for a core set of indicators of Sustainable Development in the Autumn. A final set of indicators, following consultation on the proposals, will be published alongside the Sustainable Development Strategy itself, around the turn of the year. Electronic publication of the core indicators will follow as soon as practicable thereafter, probably in the Spring of 1999.

  Agriculture (Environmental Effects)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish the report of the study of the Environmental Effects of Agriculture commissioned by his Department. [53670]

  Mr. Meale
  We have published the report "Environmental Effects of Agriculture" today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Leaded Petrol
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce how(a) the EU directive banning lead in petrol and (b) the derogation for the continued supply of leaded petrol will be incorporated into UK law. [53978]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The provisions in the EU directive which require a general ban on leaded petrol whilst allowing the continuance of a limited supply of leaded petrol, will be incorporated into UK law by means of an amendment to the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1994. The amendment will also incorporate the directive requirements introducing improved specifications for petrol and diesel fuel commencing from 1 January 2000. The process of amendment, which includes statutory consultation and 624
  Parliamentary approval, will begin as soon as the directive has been formally adopted—which is currently expected later this year.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) which oil companies have notified him that they propose to market lead replacement petrol by 1 January 2000; [53979]

  (2) if he will ensure that petrol containing lead substitutes will be widely available in rural areas from 1 January 2000. [54517]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Oil companies will not commit to the marketing of lead replacement petrol until UK regulations are enacted which ban the general sale of leaded petrol. These regulations will follow the adoption of the EC Directive, expected later this year, which introduces the leaded petrol ban. However, the UK Petroleum Industry Association have stated that the commercial opportunities for such a product are sufficiently high to ensure that few, if any, UK oil companies will decline to offer lead replacement additives from 1 January 2000, either pre-mixed with high octane unleaded petrol or offered in measured doses for use at point-of-sale. Such supplies will be widely available wherever there is a demand and there is no indication that rural areas will be disadvantaged in this regard. In the light of this, the Government do not consider it necessary to require provision of these substitutes on a statutory basis.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which interest groups he is liaising with about the proposed ban on leaded petrol from 1 January 2000; and how often he has met them since 1 May 1997. [53991]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The following special interest groups have been approached regarding implementation of the ban on leaded petrol:

  The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA)

  The Association of UK Oil Independents (AUKOI)

  The Petroleum Retailers Association (PRA)

  The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT)

  The Royal Automobile Club (RAC)

  The Automobile Association (AA)

  The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC).

  Two meetings with UKPIA have taken place and one meeting with each of the SMMT, AUKOI, RAC and FBHVC. Department officials will be meeting with representatives from PRA and the AA next week.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which specialist interest groups will distribute leaded petrol after 1 January 2000. [53992]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  No information is available at this stage. Department officials are continuing to discuss options with interested organisations. However, the continued supply of leaded petrol will ultimately be a commercial decision which will need to take into account such matters as the practicality, safety and security of distribution—including the necessity to comply with the regulations relating to the storage of petrol—as well as potential demand. The Department's objective is to ensure
  625
  that, within the constraints imposed by the directive, there are no obstacles, legal or otherwise, to prevent this happening.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish publicity material about the proposed ban on leaded petrol; and where he plans to distribute it. [54516]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department is preparing information about the proposed ban on leaded petrol. We are looking into the possibilities of distribution through MOT test centres, petrol stations and at specialist car events in the Autumn. The motoring organisations are also preparing publicity.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of and how much petrol used in Britain contained lead in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [54647]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Figures for petrol deliveries in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years are as follows:

  Year

  Total petrol deliveries Tonnes

  Leaded petrol deliveries Tonnes

  Leaded petrol as proportion of total (percentage)

  1987

  22,183,848

  22,165,669

  99.9

  1988

  23,238,048

  22,980,953

  98.9

  1989

  23,927,632

  19,275,687

  80.6

  1990

  24,307,594

  16,051,618

  66.0

  1991

  24,021,384

  14,152,924

  58.9

  1992

  23,906,094

  12,701,808

  53.1

  1993

  23,799,019

  11,253,604

  47.3

  1994

  22,842,969

  9,681,199

  42.4

  1995

  18,087,034

  6,855,080

  37.9

  1996

  22,408,607

  7,177,229

  32.0

  1997

  22,237,923

  6,256,041

  28.1

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to discourage the use of petrol containing lead. [54645]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Sales of leaded petrol have already fallen to approximately 22 per cent. of total petrol sales as a result of measures such as the duty differential between leaded and unleaded petrol. This decline is expected to continue until 1 January 2000 when an EU ban on leaded petrol, as agreed by the European Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, will come into effect.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reduce the use by his Department of petrol containing lead. [54644]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department does not use leaded petrol. Of the cars supplied on contract by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for Ministerial use, six use unleaded petrol and three use liquified petroleum gas.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the percentage of harmful vehicle emissions 626
  attributable to vehicles over 10 years old; and what percentage of the United Kingdom vehicle fleet such vehicles represent. [54463]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Although my Department regularly estimates emissions from road transport by vehicle type and emission standard, we have no ready-to-hand estimate of the proportion of emissions from vehicles over 10 years old. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as an estimate is available, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  26 per cent. of the United Kingdom vehicles fleet were over 10 years old at the end of 1997.

  Vehicle Conversions
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme gives grants for the conversion of cars, buses and taxi cabs to use(a) liquid propane gas and (b) natural compressed gas. [54896]

  Mr. Meale
  The Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme provides grants for funding partnerships to promote the manufacture of cars, buses and taxi cabs fuelled by these fuels. So far, out of the 350 clean fuel vehicles to receive funding, 290 have been vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas. Grants for a further 500 clean fuel vehicles have been approved.

  Bus and Railway Station Facilities
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce measures to require a minimum standard of facilities at bus and railway stations. [54171]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" stresses the importance of better facilities at stations and other places of interchange. We expect the local transport plans developed by local authorities to include an audit of existing facilities against key attributes of good provision and to identify improvements that need to be made.

  In addition, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will place specific requirements on operators of bus and rail stations to provide facilities that meet the needs of disabled passengers.

  Canals and Waterways
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support his Department is providing for the restoration and development of canals and waterways; and if he will make a statement. [54639]

  Mr. Meale
  The Government value the social, economic and environmental benefits that inland waterways can bring and are keen to maximise the full potential of the canal network.

  We have provided financial help to a range of canal restoration projects through the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund, Land Reclamation Programme grant and the Environmental Action Fund. Projects are also eligible for funding from the various Lottery distribution boards, from local authorities and from

  627
  Europe. The forthcoming report by the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council on their prioritisation of restoration projects will help to ensure that available funding is more effectively targeted.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages of increasing the level of freight traffic on the United Kingdom's canals and waterways. [54640]

  Mr. Meale
  Research in 1993 indicated that there may be potential to divert about 3.5 per cent. of the UK's road freight traffic to water although the majority of this would be to ships rather than barges. The Government recognise the environmental benefits of making use of waterways for carrying freight. As stated in the White Paper on the Future of Transport, the Government will encourage greater use of inland waterways as an alternative to road transport where this is a practical and economic option.

  Sunlight Reflectors
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the Space Regatta Consortium's proposal to place reflectors in space to direct sunlight to the Arctic region; and if he will make a statement; [54650]

  (2) if he will assess the environmental impact of the Znamya 2.5 experiment; and if he will make a statement. [54649]

  Mr. Meale
  The Znamya 2.5 experiment is planned by the Space Regatta Consortium to assess the feasibility of illuminating dark areas of the Earth's surface, particularly during winter. The experiment would last for a single night and is intended to be visible from a given point on the Earth for only a few minutes every 90 minutes. Even if the experiment occurs and is successful, which is by no means certain, the eventual operational deployment of an array of deflectors would be at least 10 years away. The environmental impact is such an array would need to be assessed in light of the conclusions of the small scale experiment and, if necessary, addressed in the appropriate international bodies.

  Teesside Development Corporation
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the arrangements for the provision of advice during the lifetime of Teesside Development Corporation to its board by officers of the Corporation. [53443]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have made no such assessment. The arrangements are covered in the published reports of the Corporation's external auditors, and in reports by the Department's Internal Audit Service, which are confidential between the Department and the Corporation.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the costs of carrying out works on structural problems of the Tees Barrage. [53460]
  628
  Mr. Caborn
  These matters are now the responsibility of the Commission for the New Towns. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have made further inquiries.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 29 July 1998,Official Report, column 237, if he will give equivalent figures for standard spending assessments for Milton Keynes Borough Council. [54955]

  Ms Armstrong
  The information requested is in the tables. 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.

  Table 1: Standard Spending Assessments for 1997–98

  Milton Keynes

  1997–98 SSA £ million1

  149.397

  1997–98 SSA

  Using method proposed in Elliott Report2 (£ million)

  156.155

  Difference (£ million)

  6,758

  Difference (percentage)

  4.5

  Difference (£/head3)

  34.28

  1 The figures for 1997–98 are indicative SSAs to allow for the effects of local authority reorganisation on 1 April 1998

  2 The figures are taken from Standard Spending Assessments Sub-Group: Report for 1998–99. They show the effect of using the method of calculating the ACA proposed by the 1996 Review of the Area Cost Adjustment using data available at August 1997 to determine the coefficients on the SSA formulae while keeping the same indicators in the formulae.

  3 The population figures are as at 30 June 1996

  Table 2: Standard Spending Assessments for 1998–99

  Milton Keynes

  1998–99 SSA £ million

  157.475

  1998–99 SSA

  Using method proposed in Elliott Report1 (£ million)

  163.554

  Difference (£ million)

  6.079

  Difference (percentage)

  3.9

  Difference (£/head2)

  30.84

  1 The figures show the effect of using the method of calculation proposed by the 1996 Review of the Area Coast Adjustment using data available at July 1998 to determine the coefficients on the SSA formulae while keeping the same indicators in the formulae

  2 The population figures are as at 30 June 1996.

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the amounts allocated per head of population for the cost effects of population density and sparsity in the other services sub-block of the Personal Social Services SSA for each local authority in England; [54197]
  629
  (2) if he will list for each SSA block and sub-block the proportion which is determined by regression analysis of previous expenditure; [54198]

  (3) if he will list for each fire authority in England the amounts allocated per head of population for the cost effects of population density or sparsity; [54199]

  (4) if he will estimate for each education authority the change in SSA if the Other Education Sub-block SSA were to include a sparsity effect equivalent in effect to the average of the factor in all other education sub-blocks; [54200]

  (5) if he will estimate the changes in SSA for Norfolk if all elements of the Social Services SSA that can be expressed in unit cost terms were calculated using average unit cost SSA data for all authorities within (i) the Eastern Region (ii) all Shire counties (iii) England and Wales and (iv) London; [54231]

  (6) if, for Norfolk County Council, he will estimate (a) the change in the SSA highways block if the SSA per kilometre of road were calculated at the average rate for England, (b) the change in SSA Fire Service block if calculated at the average rate per head of population for England and (c) the change in total SSA if calculated at the same average rate per head of population as that pertaining to (i) the Eastern Region, (ii) all shire counties, (iii) England and Wales and (iv) London; [54234]

  (7) if he will estimate the changes in SSA for Norfolk if the SSA per pupil in (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) post 16 and (d) under 5 SSA blocks were calculated using the average for local education authorities within (i) the Eastern Region, (ii) all shire counties, (iii) England and Wales and (iv) London. [54235]

  Ms Armstrong
  When the calculations requested have been completed, the information requested will be placed in the Library.

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a sparsity factor in the Other Education Sub-block of the SSA. [54201]

  Ms Armstrong
  We expect to announce our proposals for Standard Spending Assessments for 1999–2000 around the beginning of December. No proposal of the kind described has been developed in this year's discussions with the Local Government Association about Standard Spending Assessments.

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take account in future SSA calculations of the Highways SSA block for Norfolk of (i) the maintenance costs of minor roads which have not been constructed to a high standard and (ii) the number of summer visitors. [54230]

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Trunk road maintenance

  651

  740

  794

  780

  Making Better Use of trunk road network

  139

  139

  193

  220

  Existing Road schemes

  445

  350

  259

  137

  New schemes in Targeted Programme of Improvements

  0

  0

  51

  234

  Private Finance

  114

  177

  238

  208

  Total

  1,349

  1,406

  1,535

  1,579

  630
  Ms Armstrong
  The formula already takes account of the length of roads, including minor roads, which each Highways Authority is responsible for maintaining. It also takes account of traffic flow, making no distinction between traffic flow arising from residents and that arising from visitors.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will consult on proposed changes to the planning appeals system as part of the Government's Modernising Planning Initiative. [54978]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have today issued a consultation paper, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House, on our proposals for recovering the cost of holding inquiries into planning appeals as part of our drive to modernise the planning system. If implemented, this will provide the Planning Inspectorate with some additional resources to benefit the appeals system as a whole.

  Costs would be recovered by means of a standard daily rate for all public local inquiries, although they would not be recovered where their imposition appears unreasonable.

  Recovery of costs is already established practice for other public inquiries into development proposals covered by the Electricity Act 1989, the Harbours Act 1964 and the Transport and Works Act 1992. This change would, therefore, also bring about greater consistency in inquiry practice.

  Subject to public consultation, it is proposed that this change would take effect from April 1999. It would not apply to planning applications and appeals received by the Planning Inspectorate before that date.

  Roads Review
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to announce the results of the Roads Review. [55131]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer my hon. Friend to oral statement today,Official Report, columns 653–56.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he intends to make for investment in trunk roads in England. [55132]

  Dr. Reid
  I have today announced our new priorities for Trunk Road investment. Planned provision for the Highways Agency's programmes for the next three financial years is as follows:
  631
  The Highways Agency will work up more detailed plans for delivering this programme which will be published as part of its normal planning cycle.

  Car Use
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he will take of the impact of proposals set out in the Integrated Transport White Paper for reducing car use when considering proposals by county councils to construct new settlements in the countryside; and if he will make a statement. [54458]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We are in the process of drawing up draft planning guidance on housing and transport and will be considering this issue, among others, as part of that process.

  The New Deal for Transport announced that, in updating the guidance on locations for major growth, we will give an increased emphasis on accessibility to jobs, leisure and services by foot, bicycle and public transport, including the promotion of major development in public transport corridors and other areas where good public transport exists or can be provided.

  Rolling Stock
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence between OPRAF and the Health and Safety Executive relating to the use of mark 1 rolling stock; [54521]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence between his Department and the Health and Safety Executive relating to the use of mark 1 rolling stock. [54522]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of the Channel Tunnel night-train rolling-stock. [54114]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This rolling stock is now the responsibility of the manufacturer, Metro Cammel. In the event that the rolling stock were sold on, European Night Services will take a share of any profit, which will be subject to a Government clawback.

  Airport Noise
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 4.217 of the White Paper on Transport, when measures will be put in place to mitigate noise pollution from airports; and who will bear the cost of these measures. [54116]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Measures are already in place to mitigate noise pollution from airports. At Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted certain such measures are prescribed by the Secretary of State under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982; elsewhere, by airports either independently or by agreement with local authorities through the planning system. The costs of compliance are normally borne by the aviation industry, consistent with 632
  the 'polluter pays' principle. This principle will be integral to the airports policy, which we have undertaken in the White Paper to develop.

  Queensway Hall, Dunstable
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call in for determination by his Department the prospective planning application for the redevelopment of the Queensway Hall site in Dunstable; and if he will make a statement. [54052]

  Mr. Caborn
  No planning application for this proposal has yet been submitted. If an application is made, the Secretary of State will consider the need for call-in in the usual way.

  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a decision on the application of South Bedfordshire District Council to his Department to disregard the highest bidder for the purchase of the Queensway Hall, Dunstable; and if he will make a statement. [54051]

  Mr. Caborn
  We are currently considering the Council's application, and will issue our decision as soon as possible.

  Transport Statistics
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to publish complete information on central and local government expenditure on transport in Great Britain in future editions of Transport Statistics Great Britain, 1997. [54182]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Transport Statistics Great Britain (TSGB) is a compendium of Transport Statistics, generally relying on information already in the public domain.

  The publication of information on central and local government expenditure in TSGB has always included summary results drawn from the most recently published editions of Scottish Transport Statistics, Welsh Transport Statistics, and DETR Annual Report: Government Expenditure Plans (or formerly The Transport Report: Government Expenditure Plans). I have no plans to change this policy, but we will continue to consult with the Welsh and Scottish Offices to ensure that TSGB contains the most up-to-date publicly available information.

  Building Regulations
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those disability organisations that have been consulted in preparing draft building regulations for life-time homes. [54041]

  Mr. Raynsford
  When the Department consulted on proposals to extend Part M of the Building Regulations covering access and facilities for disabled people to new housing on 12 January 1995, a list of organisations being consulted, including disability organisations, was included as an annexe to the consultation letter.
  633
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environme0nt, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish draft building regulations for life-time homes; what consultations will take place on the draft regulation; and when he expects to lay final regulations before the House. [54042]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department consulted on proposals to extend Part M of the Building Regulations covering access and facilities for disabled people to new housing on 12 January 1995. I expect to lay final regulations before the House in October this year.

  M4 Service Area
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to issue a decision on the report he has received from the Planning Inspectorate on the public inquiry into three applications for a motorway service area on the M4 between junction 8/9 and 10. [54710]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Inspector's Report was received on 28 July. I am not yet able to say when the decision will be issued.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government's consultation paper on climate change will be published; and if he will make a statement. [54219]

  Mr. Meacher
  We intend to issue a consultation paper shortly on policy options for delivering our climate change targets.

  Energy-efficient Lighting
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the country's annual electricity consumption for lighting; and what plans he has to encourage energy-efficient lighting. [54220]

  Mr. Meacher
  Our most recent estimate is that lighting uses about 20 per cent. (58 TWh) of electricity in the UK, accounting for about 6.4 per cent. of UK CO, emissions and is projected to rise.

  My department supports a comprehensive programme of national and European-wide measures to encourage energy efficient lighting. At a national level, provisions in the Building Regulations to set lighting efficiency requirements are currently being reviewed; and I have just agreed increased funding for the Best Practice Programme which, among other things, provides guidance on cost-effective energy efficiency lighting measures to building owners, equipment specifiers and users. The planned budget for the Energy Saving Trust's work to promote energy efficiency for the Department has also been increased, and a new project "Lightswitch" has been approved to promote energy efficient lighting to the non-domestic sector. The Market Transformation Programme will inform Government plans to continue to support Common and Co-ordinated Policy Measures at European level to provide product information, raise product standards and facilitate the procurement of energy
  634
  efficient lighting products. We plan to introduce a regulation for the mandatory energy labelling of light bulbs next June.

  Eurostar
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many paths are currently allocated for regional Eurostar services; how many of these train paths are non-operational; what is the cost of maintaining these paths; and what plans he has to release these train paths for other operational rail services. [54901]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Eurostar (UK) Ltd. have an access contract with Railtrack which provides for 2 paths on the East Coast Main Line and 3 paths on the West Coast Main line each way per day for Regional Eurostar services. As no passenger-carrying regional Eurostar services are operating at the present time, these paths are not being used by EUKL although other paths are being used for testing the trainsets. The cost of maintaining these paths is a matter for Railtrack and EUKL as would be their release for other operational rail services.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the plans of the consortium selected to run Eurostar require regulatory approval; and if he will make a statement; [54206]

  (2) what share British Airways will have of the consortium selected to run Eurostar; and if he will make a statement. [54208]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The consortium arrangements are a matter for the consortium members and will be notified separately by them to the European Commission and/or UK authorities, as the case may be, fully in accordance with relevant EU and UK competition rules. British Airways is proposing to take an initial shareholding of 10 per cent.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who is the current owner of the regional Eurostar sets. [54205]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Eurostar (UK) Ltd. has the beneficial ownership rights to the regional Eurostar sets.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of(a) Eurostar's and (b) British Airways' share of the London-Paris rail/air market. [54207]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My Department have made no estimate of either Eurostar's or British Airways' share of the London-Paris rail/air market.

  Shipping
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the report of the Shipping Working Group on ways to promote British shipping. [53901]

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he will put in place to attract commercial shipping companies away from flags of convenience. [54113]
  635
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Integrated Transport White Paper set out the broad aims of a shipping policy. A shipping paper, based on the work of the Shipping Working Group, will be published shortly.

  Cycling
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken in the last six months to protect the safety of cyclists, with particular reference to those on rural roads. [54910]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Forty per cent. fewer cyclists were killed or seriously injured on our roads in 1997 compared with the 1981–85 annual average. We are continuing to build on this improvement by encouraging local authorities to provide for safe cycling in their transport policies and programmes. £50 million funding was made available in 1998–99 for local safety schemes and traffic calming measures which have proven safety benefits for vulnerable road users, including cyclists. It is for local authorities to decide on which roads their work to improve the safety of cyclists will be most effective.

  We have also continued with our road safety education, publicity and research projects concerning cyclists' safety.

  Rough Sleepers
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many homeless people have used Admiralty Arch(a) in total and (b) in each week since the homeless unit's establishment. [54707]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Last winter Admiralty Arch was used by Centrepoint as one of the temporary winter shelters for rough sleepers funded by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions as part of the Government's Winter Shelter Programme. Almost 500 additional beds for rough sleepers were provided in London as part of the Winter Shelter Programme and about 50 in Bristol and Cambridge. The Admiralty Arch shelter provided 60 beds and was open from 15 December 1997 to 31 March 1998. During that time a total of 253 admissions were made by 234 individuals. Weekly breakdown figures are not available but for each month the shelter was open the average daily occupancy figures were:

  December 1997: 28.37 beds occupied

  January 1998: 45.22 beds occupied

  February 1998: 44.5 beds occupied

  March 1998: 37 beds occupied.

  The figures for December and March are lower due to staggered opening and phased closing.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Green Paper Cm. 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p84), what is the number of people sleeping rough at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54592]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Information on the number of people sleeping rough is not collected by the Department. The last systematic count was undertaken as part of the 1991 Census of Population and found 2,674 people sleeping 636
  rough on Census night in England. The recent Social Exclusion Unit report Rough Sleeping Cm 4008 reviewed more recent information collected through twice yearly street counts in central London and ad hoc counts in various other towns and cities undertaken by the voluntary sector, and estimated that around 2,000 people sleep rough in England each night.

  Fatal Accidents (Manslaughter charges)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many manslaughter charges have been brought following fatal accidents at work in each of the last 10 years; how many have been brought against(a) employees and (b) managers; and how many have resulted in convictions. [54846]

  Mr. Meale
  The number of manslaughter charges brought following fatal accidents at work which have been investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the outcome, in each of the last six years is as follows:

  Manslaughter charges

  Year

  Against employees

  Against managers

  Convictions

  1992–93

  —

  —

  —

  1993–94

  —

  2

  1

  1994–95

  1

  4

  1

  1995–96

  1

  —

  —

  1996–97

  —

  2

  —

  1997–98

  —

  —

  —

  HSE has not collated data for previous years.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many manslaughter charges have been brought following fatal rail crashes in each of the last 10 years; how many have been brought against(a) drivers and (b) managers; and how many have resulted in convictions. [54845]

  Mr. Meale
  A train driver was charged with manslaughter and convicted following a fatal rail crash on 4 March 1989. Following a further fatal crash on 8 August 1996 charges were laid against a driver who was subsequently found not guilty. A driver has also been charged following a fatal crash on 19 September 1997. There have been no manslaughter charges brought against managers in this period.

  Stockton University
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a decision on grants to the University of Stockton. [54977]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am pleased to advise my hon. Friend that I have today given my approval to the payment of two grants to the University College Stockton; £800,000 to endow a Chair in Urban Regeneration and Change, and £500,000 towards the construction of amenity facilities for staff and students.

  I firmly believe that expanding higher education facilities into areas of economic and social disadvantage makes a vital contribution towards their development and regeneration.
  637

  Coastguard
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on the outcome of consultation on HM Coastguard's five-year strategy; and if he will make a statement in the context of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency merger. [55233]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Following extensive consultation which included staff, trades unions and members of the House, and in the light of the new Maritime and Coastguard Agency created on 1 April, I have decided that the 5-year Coastguard strategy will be taken forward as proposed, though with some changes in timing.

  The 5-year strategy involves a major investment o £5 million—£10 million in new digital technology to re-equip and improve the operation of a major rescue service. The new equipment will provide an integrated communications system, replacing outdated equipment which is approaching life-expiry. Associated with the new investment is a programme to close selected Coastguard co-ordination centres which will effectively be replaced by the greater capability of the new equipment. The timing of these closures has also been revised following the consultation process. The centres at Oban and Pentland were proposed for closure by the end of 1999, and this has been revised to Autumn 2000; for Tyne Tees and Liverpool the proposed closure date by the end of 2000 has been revised to Autumn 2001; while the co-location of Portland and Lee on Solent, formerly proposed for the end of 2002, has been revised to Autumn 2003.

  The new equipment will provide more effective backup to the frontline Coastguard whose local knowledge will be supported by modern technology. In view of interest in the relationship between the new technology and the station closures, we will keep the reequipment programme under close monitoring to ensure high standards of service are maintained.

  I have arranged for copies of the Operational Research Unit's analysis of responses to the consultation document to be placed in the Library of each House.

  I have also agreed proposals for management changes within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency which will yield further progress in the closer integration of its two predecessor agencies, to the benefit of all the new Agency's customers.

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the Government's proposals for the future of the British Transport Police. [55234]

  Dr. Reid
  The British Railways Board are currently under a duty to maintain a railway police force for the national railway, the London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and are in consequence the employer of the British Transport Police (BTP). In order to improve the public status and accountability of the force, the Government have decided, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, to seek to establish an independent national police authority for the BTP on similar lines to the existing police authorities for Home 638
  Office forces, with its members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  The Force's jurisdiction on railway land at present depends on contracts with the privatised rail industry. These contracts can cause problems in defining jurisdiction (eg to company premises which are not part of the railway network and are already properly policed by Home Office forces), they can overlap and there are parts of the network which are not covered. The proposed legislation would seek to put the jurisdiction of the force on all railway land (including the London Underground and the DLR) on a statutory basis.

  In 1996 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary recommended extending the BTP's jurisdiction outside the railway in three specific circumstances: when called on for assistance by a Home Office police officer, when called on for assistance by a member of the public, and in an emergency. The Home Office are undertaking a further consultation exercise with a view to assessing the acceptability of such an extension of jurisdiction.

  Public Safety Zones
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what decisions he has reached on public safety zone policy and administration following the public consultation. [54628]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We received about 100 responses to the consultation document which we published last December and I am grateful to all those who replied. The broad policy objective, that once a Public Safety Zone has been established, there should be no significant increase in the number of people living, working or congregating within it, remains unchanged. In general the consultation responses supported the proposed adoption of a policy based on risk contour modelling and setting limits on the degree of risk which is tolerable for people on the ground near airports.

  We have therefore decided to use risk contour modelling as a basis for developing Public Safety Zone policy. This will mean the introduction of Zones which will taper from the runway end, in contrast to the current Zones which broaden out from it. In setting the areas of the Zones we shall make broad assumptions about the number and type of aircraft movements at the respective airports in fifteen years time; and we shall roll these assumptions forward every ten years. This will provide a sensible balance between imposing unduly onerous controls on the use of land around airports and failing to anticipate the effects on third party risk of the forecast increase of aircraft movements.

  We consider that Public Safety Zones should correspond essentially to the areas which may be expected to experience individual risk of death of 1 in 100,000 per year or greater in fifteen years time. We shall redefine the existing Public Safety Zones accordingly. A decision on whether to have a few standard sizes of Public Safety Zone or separate sizes for each airport will be taken later.

  We shall prepare and publish guidance to local planning authorities for use in considering planning applications arising within Public Safety Zones. The guidance will recommend that new housing development,

  639
  and most types of non-housing development, should not be approved within Public Safety Zones. We intend to go ahead with the proposal that existing development need be removed only where people would be subject to an individual risk of death of 1 in 10,000 per year or greater.

  We have also considered with the Civil Aviation Authority the future administration of Public Safety Zone policy. At present a planning application arising within Public Safety Zones is notified to the CAA, which advises local planning authorities whether it should be approved. The CAA has carried out this function on behalf of the Department for many years but now wishes to relinquish it. We are minded that the CAA's role should be discontinued and that the residual work in administering the policy should be transferred to the Department. We shall consult those concerned about this proposal.

  Our objective is to introduce these new arrangements as early as possible in 1999. Meanwhile in considering planning applications within existing Public Safety Zones the CAA will have regard to whether the site in question is likely to remain within a Public Safety Zone.

  Cowboy Builders
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to take forward the proposals contained in his Department's consultation paper "Combating Cowboy Builders". [54875]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I am pleased to announce the formation of a working group chaired by Anthony Merricks CBE to drive forward the Government's campaign against cowboy builders.

  This follows the publication of our consultation paper "Combating Cowboy Builders" to which we received over 130 responses from the construction industry, local government and consumer interests.

  The tone of these responses, a summary of which I am placing in the Library, was very encouraging, with the overwhelming majority supporting the two key proposals in the consultation paper: the development of an approved list (or lists) of reputable contractors to empower consumers; and a kitemark or badge of quality which would indicate that a trader subscribed to agreed standards of quality backed by a warranty and an effective means of redress if things go wrong.

  The new working group's terms of reference include a commitment to deliver a tangible outcome by this time next year. It will include key representatives from the construction industry, local government, consumer interests and the insurance industry.

  Compost
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take to develop the markets for compost. [54942]

  Mr. Meacher
  A Composting Development Group was established last year to identify the problems and obstacles of marketing compost to a range of sectors, including landscaping, horticulture, agriculture and land restoration, and to develop proposals for overcoming them. The Group, whose members were drawn from the composting industry,640
  research organisations, agricultural and composting trade associations, and central government, has completed its discussions and submitted its report to DETR Ministers.

  It contains a number of proposals for improving the markets for compost, including the need to agree national standards to cover both the product and the process, and to develop a coherent and comprehensive programme of publicity and information measures, supported by research, demonstrations and trials, to improve public perception. The report recommends that securing the participation and cooperation of professional institutes and trade associations is the key to gaining greater access to individual sectors.

  It also proposes that compost producers develop a more innovative approach, for example by setting up temporary on-site composting schemes to restore land, or by local authority producers maximising the use of compost in their own parks and gardens. I am today issuing the report for consultation, and will consider its recommendations in the light of comments received. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

  The increased composting of organic waste has an important part to play in an integrated approach to sustainable waste management, and to meeting the targets of the landfill directive. I welcome the Group's report as a positive contribution to developing the markets for compost, and am grateful to its members for the time and effort they have put into the Group's work.

  British Railways (Surplus Land)
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the BR board are to conduct their review of surplus land. [54943]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government announced in the White Paper "A New Deal For Transport: Better for Everyone" that the British Railways Board was suspending land sales while it conducted an audit of the remaining sites. These amount to some 1,200, with a book value of about £137 million.

  The Board will immediately enter into discussions with key players in the rail industry on the latter's plans for the future. It will report to the Government, as the review progresses, on sites which in the light of these discussions appear to the Board to have a realistic prospect of use for transport purposes in the foreseeable future, so that they may in due course be offered for sale to Railtrack, the rail businesses, other transport operators and relevant local authorities at open market value.

  Sites which appear to the Board to have no realistic use for transport purposes in the foreseeable future will be put on sale, but local authorities and the rail industry will be given at least two months notice of the intention to sell any site in the category so that they will still have full opportunity to bid for it. The Board will consider sympathetically any request to delay the sale of such a site where it can be shown that a transport use is already under active consideration.

  Fastship Project
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Fastship project. [53964]
  641
  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

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

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the organisations which are requested to suggest names for public appointment. [53383]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I have been asked to reply.

  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Annual Report
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Government intend to publish their annual report. [54137]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has today published the Government's Annual Report 97/98 (CM 3969). Copies of the document are available from the Vote Office and the Libraries of both Houses.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance his Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52307]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54262]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Electronic Red Box
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant) of 8 July 1998,Official Report, column 567, on the electronic red box, if the new prototype is now in use in his office; and if he will make a statement. [54577]
  642
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I am aware of the innovative work done by my predecessor my right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark). The prototype is not currently in use in my office.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) of 8 July 1998,Official Report, column 565, on millennium compliance, if he will write to all hon. Members during the summer to report the results of the next quarterly report. [54515]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 379, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54020]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Cabinet Office
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what is the estimated cost of relocating part of the Cabinet Office including the new Performance and Innovation Unit and the Centre for Management and Policy Studies in Admiralty Arch; [54705]

  (2) what is the estimated cost of setting up the new Centre for Management and Policy Studies in the Cabinet Office; and how many additional civil servants will be employed; [54703]

  (3) what will be the effect of the proposed Cabinet Office move to Admiralty Arch on the homeless unit currently there; how many homeless persons are currently in Admiralty Arch; and what efforts have been made to rehouse them. [54706]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements. [54997]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the Summer Recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.
  643

  Correspondence
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish the latest figures on his Department's handling of correspondence from hon. Members; and if he will make a statement. [55134]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and Agency Chief Executives from hon. Members in 1997, the targets set for reply and the percentage of replies sent within target are set out in the table. The table also includes comparative figures for 1996—first published on 17 June 1997,Official Report, columns 107–12.

  Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and agency Chief Executives

  1996

  1997

  Department or Agency

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  15

  10,645

  62

  15

  7,423

  76

  Intervention Board1

  —

  —

  —

  10

  27

  85

  Cabinet Office

  15

  21,067

  63

  15

  341

  96

  Minister Without Portfolio's Office

  —

  —

  —

  15

  3247

  87

  Crown Prosecution Service

  15

  92

  91

  15

  39

  85

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport4

  18

  5,476

  81

  18

  2,939

  78

  Royal Parks Agency

  10

  29

  86

  18

  18

  100

  HM Customs and Excise

  18

  4,303

  63

  18

  54,291

  20

  Ministry of Defence

  15

  5,897

  66

  15

  64,719

  65

  Army Personnel Centre

  —

  —

  —

  15

  119

  64

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

  10

  377

  74

  12

  27

  93

  Department for International Development7

  15

  3,508

  94

  15

  82,994

  89

  Department for Education and Employment

  20

  16,774

  88

  15

  22,460

  71

  Employment Service

  15

  1,044

  98

  15

  1,837

  93

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions9

  15

  930,324

  59

  15

  1031,798

  58

  DVLA

  7

  373

  100

  7

  299

  96

  Driving Standards Agency

  15

  273

  91

  15

  194

  78

  Highways Agency

  15

  662

  98

  12

  468

  71

  Marine and Coastguard Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  25

  100

  Planning Inspectorate

  8

  481

  84

  8

  296

  94

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  15

  37

  97

  15

  24

  96

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  10

  9,756

  95

  7

  118,735

  95

  Department of Health

  20

  11,376

  87

  20

  14,547

  76

  NHS Pensions Agency

  15

  46

  70

  15

  78

  76

  Home Office

  15

  12,072

  32

  15

  1416,831

  1320

  25

  10,371

  57

  20

  151,175

  1622

  HM Prison Service

  15

  2,911

  89

  1215

  2,702

  61

  UK Passport Agency

  10

  245

  87

  1310

  101

  97

  Inland Revenue

  18

  3,914

  41

  18

  173,323

  40

  23

  682

  85

  23

  18375

  79

  Valuation Office

  23

  256

  46

  23

  74

  31

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  15

  515

  76

  15

  19301

  88

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  20

  2,876

  68

  20

  2,458

  76

  Court Service

  20

  1,217

  93

  20

  20,211,391

  99

  HM Land Registry

  20

  53

  98

  20

  2137

  100

  Public Trust Office

  15

  113

  100

  15

  2165

  98

  Northern Ireland Office (including Northern Ireland Departments)

  10

  4,195

  52

  10

  222,163

  59

  Child Support Agency

  10

  69

  86

  10

  144

  67

  Northern Ireland Prison Service

  10

  127

  99

  10

  48

  92

  644
  The Government attach great importance to the effective handling by departments of correspondence from hon. Members, and individual Ministers have already taken action to improve response times where their department's performance has not been satisfactory. However, the nature of correspondence and caseload varies greatly between departments and between agencies. In some departments and agencies, for example, a high proportion of correspondence requires reference to individual casework before a reply can be sent. Targets are set to reflect the particular circumstances of departments and agencies and performance against target is not therefore directly comparable. My Department will be producing shortly central guidance for all departments and agencies reminding them of the correct procedures to be followed when handling Ministerial correspondence.
  645

  Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and agency Chief Executives

  1996

  1997

  Department or Agency

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Planning Service

  15

  163

  99

  15

  78

  77

  Rate Collection Agency

  5

  19

  100

  5

  12

  92

  Rivers Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  13

  85

  Road Service

  15

  91

  100

  15

  23

  87

  Social Security Agency

  10

  75

  87

  10

  94

  78

  Training and Employment Agency

  —

  —

  —

  5

  11

  100

  Water Service

  15

  52

  92

  15

  37

  92

  Office for National Statistics

  10

  199

  54

  10

  23269

  92

  President of the Council's Office

  —

  —

  —

  15

  3102

  91

  Scottish Office

  Historic Scotland

  17

  5,226

  61

  17

  4,722

  65

  Scottish Courts Service

  17

  59

  93

  17

  23

  91

  Scottish Office

  —

  —

  —

  17

  11

  82

  Pensions Agency

  17

  31

  97

  17

  38

  97

  Scottish Prison Service

  17

  112

  99

  17

  145

  97

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  17

  120

  97

  17

  240

  70

  Department of Social Security

  20

  18,091

  74

  20

  17,585

  51

  Benefits Agency

  20

  2,175

  98

  20

  3,314

  89

  Child Support Agency

  20

  9,110

  62

  20

  8,182

  99

  Contributions Agency

  20

  395

  61

  20

  338

  89

  War Pensions Agency

  20

  1,283

  99

  20

  693

  99

  Department of Trade and Industry

  10

  15,483

  74

  10

  519,459

  61

  Companies House

  10

  48

  100

  10

  41

  100

  Insolvency Service

  10

  42

  98

  10

  27

  100

  Patent Office

  10

  26

  100

  10

  12

  100

  Radiocommunications Agency

  10

  23

  100

  10

  27

  96

  HM Treasury

  15

  4,331

  57

  15

  4,553

  54

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  —

  —

  —

  15

  2439

  100

  Welsh Office

  12

  2,989

  80

  15

  2,998

  75

  CADW (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  10

  35

  97

  12

  65

  83

  Notes on 1997 Figures: 25

  1 The Intervention Board is not a MAFF Agency but a separate Government Department reporting to MAFF Ministers

  2 Includes correspondence from MPs to the then Deputy Prime Minister

  3 Figures from 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1997

  4 The Department of National Heritage was renamed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 July 1997

  5 Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replies to Members of Parliament

  6 Excludes 447 letters where Agency Chief Executives replied on Ministers' behalf

  7 The Overseas Development Administration became the Department for International Development on 1 May 1997

  8 Since 1 May 1997, DFID no longer handles correspondence on political matters in Africa. 1996 and 1997 figures are therefore not directly comparable

  9The former DOE and DOT merged on 1 May 1997 to form the DETR. 1996 correspondence figures for the former DOE and DOT have been added together for ease of reference

  10 74 per cent, of letters were replied to within 20 working days

  11 In addition, the FCO's migration and visa department received 9,818 letters direct from MPs in 1997, of which 42 per cent, were replied to within 15 working days

  12 HM Prison Service DG cases

  13 UK Passport Agency DG cases

  14 Includes letters from January 1997 where the target time was reduced for IND and UKPA cases from 25 to 15 working days. Excludes letters where Agency Chief Executives have replied on Ministers' behalf

  15 Includes letters from February 1997 where the target time was reduced for HMP cases from 25 to 20 working days. Excludes letters where Agency Chief Executives have replied on Ministers' behalf

  16 The Home Office is reviewing its procedures and has appointed a team to improve the timeliness of Ministerial replies and to establish that its statistics are prepared on the same basis as other departments

  17 Head Office figures

  18 Local Office and "delegated" figures (where local officials reply direct to MPs)

  19 This figure excludes letters which were subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions

  20 Part estimated

  21 Includes letters where the Chief Executive has replied on Ministers' behalf

  22 Excludes DOE (NI) which received 368 letters from MPs in 1997 (77 per cent, of which were replied to within 5–15 working days). The figures given in the table, however, include an element of all letters which received a Ministerial reply, where figures for MPs' letters only were not held separately

  23 Includes 208 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf

  24 Includes 11 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers behalf

  25 The 1996 figures are taken from the Official Report, 17 June 1997, columns 107–112. Please also refer to notes given with that reply,Departments and Agencies which received a total of between 1 and 10 letters from MPs during 1997 are not shown in this table
  646 647

  Service Standards
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the performance of the main departments and agencies against the six service standards for central Government. [55135]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The six standards came into effect on 1 April 1997. An analysis of the main departments' performance over the 12 months to 31 March 1998 showed that they generally had both telephone inquiry

  Department

  Target (working days)

  Total volume

  Percentage of responses within target

  Target 1998–99

  Agencies included

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food1

  15

  65,410

  89

  15

  yes

  Cabinet Office (OPS)

  15

  6,226

  95.6

  15

  yes

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport2

  18

  21,162

  68

  18

  no

  Customs and Excise

  10

  572,430

  89

  10

  n/a

  Ministry of Defence3

  20

  5,922

  96

  20

  yes

  Department for Education and Employment

  15

  116,417

  88

  15

  no

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions4

  15

  672,980

  96

  15

  yes

  Department of Health1

  20

  46,675

  66

  20

  yes

  Home Office

  20

  5173,285

  81

  20

  6—

  Inland Revenue

  20

  785m

  873.7

  20

  n/a

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  20

  10,200

  77

  20

  no

  Northern Ireland Office (including Northern Ireland Departments)

  15

  198,160

  94

  15

  9—

  Department of Social Security

  20

  1032,618

  77

  20

  no

  Scottish Office

  20

  200,000

  71

  20

  yes

  Department of Trade and Industry

  15

  133,200

  95

  15

  no

  Welsh Office

  15

  65,087

  86

  15

  yes

  Benefits Agency2

  20

  25,816

  92

  20

  n/a

  Child Support Agency

  10

  11—

  67

  10

  n/a

  Child Support Agency (Northern Ireland)

  10

  2,981

  89

  10

  n/a

  Contributions Agency

  20

  259,302

  92

  20

  n/a

  Court Service

  10

  74,534,387

  99.5

  10

  n/a

  Employment Service

  10

  12—

  91

  10

  n/a

  Social Security Agency (Northern Ireland)

  15

  41,609

  96.5

  15

  n/a

  1 Correspondence received between 1 November 1997 and 31 March 1998

  2 Figures relate to correspondence addressed to Ministers

  3 Correspondence addressed to Ministers, e-mailed to the MOD web site, and mail on defence issues received by other departments between 1 August 1997 and 31 March 1998

  4 As a result of the large increase in correspondence after the General Election it was often impossible for letters to be passed to answering the division within 15 days. Consequently many parts of the Department have interpreted the target as being a response within 15 days of receipt in the responding division, rather than from when the letter was actually received in the Department

  5 The number of letters received by the Central Correspondence Unit from members of the public, and the percentage of letters meeting the target, was taken from a statistically monitored sample

  6 Includes all Home Office agencies except the Prison Service

  7 This is the number of items of post received by the Department's network of offices

  8 Holding replies are not counted in order to maximise the incentive to issue full replies quickly

  9 Includes all Northern Ireland departments' agencies except the Prison Service, and the CSA(NI) and SSA(NI) whose performance is shown separately

  10 In addition 17,151 letters were received from DSS HQ but were passed on to the Department's executive agencies for reply and are therefore included in the agencies' return

  11 Total volumes are not recorded. Performance is calculated through a sample, which in 1997–98 was just under 25,000 letters

  12 Total volume not known. The performance against target was calculated by evaluating 4,000 letters sent out by a research company. In the same period some 780 letters were received addressed to Ministers—80.6 per cent, of these were cleared within 15 days

  I will be placing a more detailed summary of performance by the main departments and agencies against the six standards in the Libraries of the House. I believe the Whitehall Standards are an important tool for improving the quality of Central Government services. This is the first time such information has
  648
  points and complaints procedures in place, were consulting their users, and were trying to make their services more accessible, for example, through greater use of new technology and the publication of information in minority languages. On appointments, the results showed that people were generally seen within 10 minutes of a pre-arranged appointment.

  The performance of the main departments and agencies in responding to letters from the public is set out in the table.

  been made available. It shows our commitment to open government and to reporting transparently on our performance. We plan to retain the standards in their present form until 31 March 1999, when they will be reviewed and if necessary revised.
  649

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the long term effectiveness of the 1998 IMF agreement with Nicaragua. [54818]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

TREASURY

  Foreign Earnings Deduction
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 June 1998,Official Report, column 652, on foreign earnings deduction (1) if he will define the phrase, "very high incomes", used in paragraph 22 of the Inland Revenue Explanatory Notes to Clause 63 of the Finance (No. 2) Bill; [46401]

  (2) if he will define the phrase, "very high earning individuals" used in paragraph 2 of the Inland Revenue Press Release 33 of 17 March. [46402]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 18 June 1998]: As I explained in my answer of 11 June, there is no standard definition of what constitutes very high earnings.

  Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current net annual cost to the Exchequer of the operation of(a) the National Air Traffic Services, (b) student loans, (c) residual debt in British Energy plc., (d) Radio Spectrum, (e) Belfast Port, (f) the Commonwealth Development Corporation, (g) the Royal Mint and (h) the Tote. [47037]

  Mr. Byers
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  North Sea Fiscal Regime
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish his consultation paper on the North Sea fiscal regime; and if he will make a statement. [49369]

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to adjust the tax regime on oil companies. [47769]

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the consultation document on the taxation of North Sea oil. [54118]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide a
  650
  substantive answer before the Summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Gentlemen shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Inland Revenue on the feasibility of delivering the working families tax credit via the PAYE system; and if he will place a copy of any such representations in the Library. [50252]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 13 July 1998]: The advice of officials to Ministers is confidential, but I can refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Caplin) on 9 July 1998, Official Report, column 576, on the question of how the WFTC will be delivered to employees.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what date he has set for achieving the target of an £180 per week income for all working families with a full-time worker under the working families tax credit scheme. [53115]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The WFTC will guarantee an income of £180 for families with a full time worker from when it is introduced in October 1999.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the number of people expected to be entitled to, and to claim, the working families tax credit in Scotland. [53172]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: It is estimated that in 2000–01, the first full year of WFTC, around 130,000 families in Scotland will be in receipt of WFTC and we intend to ensure that as many families as are entitled receive the tax credit.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which computer system will be used to collect(a) tax and national insurance information and (b) information required under the working families tax credit; and which company/consortium has been awarded the contract to oversee the computer system. [52747]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The current, separate, IT systems for collecting tax and NIC will continue to be used and the Working Family Tax Credit will build on existing Family Credit IT systems. The current IT support for Family Credit will transfer to the Inland Revenue to enable them to successfully deliver the Working Family Tax Credit. There has been no new award of contracts resulting from Working Family Tax Credits or the proposed merger of The Contributions Agency.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems have been set up to allow for direct payments from the Inland Revenue of the working families tax credit where the credit is not made through the pay packet. [52803]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
  651
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are expected to be eligible for, and to claim, the child care credit within the working families tax credit; and if his Department has estimated the costs involved in Scotland. [53173]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  £ per week

  Single earner married couple (1 child aged 4)

  Gross Income

  150

  200

  250

  300

  350

  400

  Net Income (after taxes and benefits)

  245.73

  260.99

  276.07

  291.14

  306.22

  321.29

  Equivalised Net Income

  208.25

  221.18

  233.96

  246.73

  259.51

  272.28

  The figures include the effect of Budget measures taking effect in 1999–2000 (abolishing the employee NICs entry fee, MCA at 10 per cent. and £2.50 additional child benefit for the first child, although at 1998–99 levels of tax and benefits.

  The data assume that the earner in the household is working over 30 hours a week for Working Family Tax Credit purposes; that earnings are from employment; and that there are no other sources of income.

  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.At some levels of earnings this family 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.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the basis for his assumption that 20 per cent. of the working families tax credit is to be accounted for as tax forgone. [53720]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The assumption that 20 per cent. of the Working Families Tax Credit will be accounted for as tax forgone is based on an estimate of the proportion of WFTC payments which are paid up to an individual's gross income tax liability. WFTC payments paid over an individual's gross income tax liability will be accounted for as expenditure in the national accounts, under current conventions.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury has reached agreement with the Office for National Statistics on the treatment of the working families tax credit for the purposes of the national accounts. [54121]

  Mr. Byers
  Decisions on classification for the national accounts are for Office for National Statistics alone following international standards.
  652
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1998,Official Report, column 133–34, if he will give the corresponding figures for a single earner married couple with one child aged four years. [53692]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table shows the net income (after income tax, including WFTC, NICs and child benefit), and equivalised net income, of a single earner married couple with 1 child aged 4, at different levels of gross income, with an additional £48.80 of basic WFTC.

  International Debt
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list by country the value of the outstanding debts on(a) United Kingdom aid loans and (b) loans guaranteed by the British Government through the ECGD for (i) each developing country which reports under the Debtor reporting System of the World Bank, (ii) Afghanistan, (iii) Antigua and Barbuda, (iv) Bahrain, (v) Cuba, (vi) Gibraltar, (vii) Iraq, (viii) Kiribati, (ix) the Democratic Republic of Korea, (x) Libya, (xi) Namibia, (xii) Saudi Arabia and (xiii) Surinam; [51422]

  (2) if he will list by country the amounts of (a) interest and (b) principal received by (i) the ECGD and (ii) the Department for International Development, in each year since 1979, from (1) each developing country which reports under the Debtor reporting System of the World Bank, (2) Afghanistan, (3) Antigua and Barbuda, (4) Bahrain, (5) Cuba, (6) Gibraltar, (7) Iraq, (8) Kiribati, (9) the Democratic Republic of Korea, (10) Libya, (11) Namibia, (12) Saudi Arabia and (13) Surinam. [51424]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 20 July 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Domestic Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the cost of reducing VAT on domestic fuel for, and estimate the benefit to,(a) non-pensioners, (b) pensioners on income support and (c) pensioners not on income support; [52035]

  (2) if he will estimate the average annual benefit for households that include (a) a person on income support, (b) a person paying higher rate tax and (c) no person on income support and no person paying higher rate tax, of reducing VAT on domestic fuel. [52036]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people his Department is committed to
  653
  employing during 1998 under (a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52591]

  Ms Hewitt
  As a major UK employer, Government departments are being actively encouraged to consider the important supply of potential new recruits that New Deal can offer. So far as the Chancellor's main departments are concerned, the Inland Revenue will have a programme in place this autumn under which it hopes to employ over 100 people in subsidised jobs in the first full year, more if there are people who fit the department's needs. About 30 people will be in post by the end of December. Customs and Excise expect to recruit up to 6 people into unsubsidised jobs over the next year. HM Treasury, though not undertaking much recruitment at the moment, will recruit at least one person from the New Deal Gateway into an unsubsidised job, before the end of the year. Of the Chancellor's smaller departments, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) hopes to recruit up to 11 staff in subsidised jobs.

  Charities' Taxation
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from charities about the abolition of the repayment of dividend tax credits; and if he will list the individual organisations, indicating how many(a) supported and (b) opposed the policy. [52552]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: About 250 charities, many in response to the Charities Taxation Review, have written asking for changes to the current treatment of dividend tax credits. We have made generous transitional arrangements to help charities adjust to the withdrawal of payable tax credits.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Mr. Eason's letter of 19 May regarding the McKinsey report. [52722]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury has no record of having received Mr. Eason's letter. I will be happy to respond promptly when I do receive it.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Spelthorne of 20 January, concerning Mr. F. R. Cannings of Ashford, Middlesex, reference 1/03342/1998. [53797]

  Ms Hewitt:
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I regret the long delay in replying to this letter. The correspondence was unfortunately mislaid due to a problem with the computer system used to handle Ministerial correspondence between the Inland Revenue and the Treasury. In view of its subject matter, the correspondence has now been passed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Council and Leader of the House and I understand the hon. Member can expect to receive a reply in the near future.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter dated 22 June regarding a constituent (ref: 0603/19). [54100]
  654
  Dawn Primarolo
  I replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 28 July.

  Sport (VAT)
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received in the period 9 April to 24 July regarding the VAT (Sports, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1998. [53333]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have received a number of representations which have been taken into account by Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total revenue forgone from 1 April to 30 June as a result of the withdrawal of the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1998. [53331]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise estimate the avoidance of VAT during that period to have been £2 million.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the redrafting of the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1998 to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [53335]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise will consult on any proposals before a further announcement is made.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding VAT treatment for sporting facilities provided by(a) local authorities and (b) private individuals and organisations. [53332]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have received a number of representations concerning the VAT treatment of sporting facilities and the VAT (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1998.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise News Release 06/98, when the consultation exercise regarding VAT exemption on sporting services commenced; and when it will be completed. [53334]

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the revised draft order on the VAT treatment of sports clubs will be published for consultation. [52856]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The arrangements for the consultation exercise will be announced by means of a Customs and Excise News Release.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of revenue which would accrue from the taxation of disability living allowance. [53035]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write

  655
  to the hon. Member shortly and a place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to stimulate investment in and expansion of small business; what consideration he has given to allowing the retention of profits for the purpose of investment in and the expansion of small businesses; and if he will make a statement. [53124]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The Government announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review that they will refocus business support programmes to promote innovation and enterprise, with a particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises that have the potential for high growth.

  The Government said in the last Budget that they will continue to examine how best to create an environment which encourages investment by small and medium-sized businesses. This includes reviewing the case for continuing with enhanced capital allowances.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he will take to ensure that the tax take on small businesses is redistributed to provide incentives for the retention of earnings for investment. [54941]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent of tax barriers to long-term investment in small companies. [54940]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Capital Gains Tax regime encourages long-term investment in all companies, irrespective of their size.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52963]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The estimated net cumulative increase in compliance costs assessments published by the Chancellor's departments during the period 1 May 1997 to 30 June 1998 is as follows:

  Recurring: £7 million

  Non-recurring: In the range of £44 million—£94 million.

  Of the non-recurring costs, some £25 million to £75 million is accounted for by the Modernisation of the Transfer Pricing Legislation arising out of the Finance (No.2) Bill 1998. This estimate is based on the minimum and maximum cost figures arising from consultation with parties who would be affected by the legislation and represents best and worst case assumptions.

  Inland Revenue Office, Evesham
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the Evesham Inland Revenue Office. [52735]
  656
  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Least Cost Procurement
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed his Department's proposals for least cost procurement. [52799]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 20 July 1998, Official Report, column 430.

  Government Receipts
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the receipts from(a) tobacco duty, (b) alcohol duty and (c) other duties expressed (i) in cash terms, (ii) at June 1998 prices and (iii) as a percentage of total Government receipts for each year since 1982–83. [53208]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The figures for (a) tobacco are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Cash terms

  June 1998 prices

  Percentage of total general Government receipts

  1982–83

  3,446

  6,853

  2.8

  1983–84

  3,806

  7,231

  2.9

  1984–85

  4,140

  7,488

  2.9

  1985–86

  4,459

  7,614

  2.9

  1986–87

  4,755

  7,868

  3.0

  1987–88

  4,767

  7,585

  2.7

  1988–89

  4,990

  7,491

  2.6

  1989–90

  5,035

  7,012

  2.4

  1990–91

  5,636

  7,155

  2.6

  1991–92

  6,290

  7,623

  2.8

  1992–93

  6,041

  7.098

  2.7

  1993–94

  6,518

  7,530

  2.8

  1994–95

  7,388

  8,308

  2.9

  1995–96

  7,291

  7,940

  2.7

  1996–97

  8,039

  8,547

  2.8

  1997–98

  8,356

  8,600

  2.7

  The figures for (b) alcohol duty are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Cash terms

  June 1998 prices

  Percentage of total general Government receipts

  1982–83

  3,021

  6,008

  2.5

  1983–84

  4,035

  7,667

  3.1

  1984–85

  3,761

  6,802

  2.7

  1985–86

  4,197

  7,167

  2.8

  1986–87

  4,184

  6,923

  2.6

  1987–88

  4,343

  6,911

  2.5

  1988–89

  4,518

  6,783

  2.4

  1989–90

  4,438

  6,180

  2.1

  1990–91

  4,856

  6,165

  2.2

  1991–92

  5,065

  6,140

  2.3

  657

  £ million

  Year

  Cash terms

  June 1998 prices

  Percentage of total general Government receipts

  1992–93

  5,108

  6,002

  2.3

  1993–94

  5,172

  5,975

  2.3

  1994–95

  5,560

  6,252

  2.2

  1995–96

  5,617

  6,118

  2.1

  1996–97

  5,631

  5,987

  2.0

  1997–98

  5,742

  5,909

  1.8

  The figures for (c) other duties are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Cash terms

  June 1998 prices

  Percentage of total general Government receipts

  1982–83

  8,714

  17,329

  7.1

  1983–84

  9,427

  17,911

  7.2

  1984–85

  10,422

  18,851

  7.4

  1985–86

  10,846

  18,519

  7.1

  1986–87

  12,161

  20,124

  7.6

  1987–88

  12,824

  20,406

  7.3

  1988–89

  14,096

  21,162

  7.4

  1989–90

  14,455

  20,129

  7.0

  1990–91

  15,307

  19,434

  7.0

  1991–92

  16,748

  20,300

  7.5

  1992–93

  17,476

  20,534

  7.8

  1993–94

  19,609

  22,653

  8.5

  1994–95

  21,368

  24,028

  8.5

  1995–96

  24,119

  26,268

  8.9

  1996–97

  25,487

  27,099

  8.0

  1997–98

  28,313

  29,140

  9.0

  Note:

  Other duties include vehicle excise duty, hydrocarbon oils duty, betting and gaming duties, matches and mechanical lighters (until information requested is in the following table: 1993), air passenger duty and customs duties.

  £ million

  Income tax

  Capital gains tax1

  Year

  In cash terms

  At 1998 Q1 prices1

  As a % of general government receipts

  In cash terms

  At 1998 Q1 prices

  As a % of general government receipts

  1982–83

  30.361

  86.050

  24.8

  632

  1,791

  0.5

  1983–84

  31,108

  81,293

  23.8

  671

  1,753

  0.5

  1984–85

  32,507

  79,286

  23.0

  730

  1,781

  0.5

  1985–86

  33,353

  78,484

  23.3

  908

  2,016

  0.6

  1986–87

  39,499

  79,403

  24.1

  1,064

  2,194

  0.7

  1987–88

  41,402

  77,135

  23.6

  1,379

  2,569

  0.8

  1988–89

  43,433

  72,680

  22.7

  2,323

  3,887

  1.2

  1989–90

  48,801

  75,170

  23.5

  1,854

  2,856

  0.9

  1990–91

  55,287

  80,447

  25.3

  1,852

  2,695

  0.8

  1991–92

  57,493

  80,115

  25.9

  1,140

  1,589

  0.5

  1992–93

  56,797

  75,822

  25.5

  982

  1,311

  0.4

  1993–94

  58,442

  73,948

  25.4

  710

  898

  0.3

  1994–95

  63,100

  75,337

  25.2

  926

  1,105

  0.4

  1995–96

  68,049

  77,263

  25.1

  796

  904

  0.3

  1996–97

  69,071

  74,385

  24.1

  1,131

  1,218

  0.4

  1997–983

  76,700

  77,981

  24.4

  1,450

  1,474

  0.5

  658
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the receipts from VAT expressed (i) in cash Percentage of terms, (ii) at June 1998 prices and (iii) as a percentage total general June 1998 Government of total Government receipts for each year since Year Cash terms prices receipts 1982–83. [53207]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The figures are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Cash terms

  June 1998 prices

  Percentage of total general Government receipts

  1982–83

  13,816

  27,474

  11.3

  1983–84

  15,218

  28,916

  11.7

  1984–85

  18,535

  33,525

  13.1

  1985–86

  19,331

  33,008

  12.7

  1986–87

  21,365

  35,354

  13.4

  1987–88

  24,067

  38,297

  13.7

  1988–89

  27,328

  41,026

  14.3

  1989–90

  29,482

  41,055

  14.2

  1990–91

  31,006

  39,364

  14.2

  1991–92

  35,626

  43,181

  16.0

  1992–93

  37,246

  43,763

  16.7

  1993–94

  38,959

  45,008

  17.0

  1994–95

  41,817

  47,024

  16.7

  1995–96

  43,069

  46,907

  15.9

  1996–97

  46,657

  49,608

  16.3

  1997–98

  50,865

  52,351

  16.2

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what were the receipts from(a) inheritance tax and (b) corporation tax expressed (i) in cash terms, (ii) at June 1998 prices and (iii) as a percentage of total Government receipts for each year since 1982–83; [53206]

  (2) what were the receipts from (a) income tax and (b) capital gains tax expressed (i) in cash terms, (ii) at June 1998 prices and (iii) as a percentage of total Government receipts for each year since 1982–83. [53205]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 july 1998]: The information requested is the following table:

  659

  £ million

  Inheritance tax

  Corporation tax1

  Year

  In cash terms

  At 1998 Q1 prices2

  As a % of general government receipts

  In cash terms

  At 1998 Q1 prices

  As a % of general government receipts

  1982–83

  499

  1,414

  0.4

  5,677

  16,090

  4.6

  1983–84

  599

  1,565

  0.5

  6,184

  16,160

  4.7

  1984–85

  658

  1,605

  0.5

  8,341

  20,344

  5.8

  1985–86

  881

  1,956

  0.6

  10,708

  23,772

  7.1

  1986–87

  988

  2,038

  0.6

  13,495

  27,833

  8.4

  1987–88

  1,078

  2,008

  0.6

  15,734

  29,314

  9.0

  1988–89

  1,071

  1,792

  0.6

  18,537

  31,019

  9.7

  1989–90

  1,232

  1,898

  0.6

  21,495

  33,110

  10.4

  1990–91

  1,262

  1,836

  0.6

  21,495

  31,277

  9.8

  1991–92

  1,299

  1,810

  0.6

  18,263

  25,449

  8.2

  1992–93

  1,211

  1,617

  0.5

  15,783

  21,070

  7.1

  1993–94

  1,333

  1,687

  0.6

  14,887

  18,837

  6.5

  1994–95

  1,411

  1,685

  0.6

  19,390

  23,150

  7.7

  1995–96

  1,518

  1,724

  0.6

  23,570

  26,762

  8.7

  1996–97

  1,558

  1,678

  0.5

  27,788

  29,926

  9.7

  1997–983

  1,700

  1,728

  0.5

  30,500

  31,009

  9.7

  1 Tax on capital gains realised by companies is included in corporation tax

  2 Using the GDP deflator at market prices adjusted for the abolition of domestic rates

  3 Provisional

  Aircraft and Ship Sales
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the implementation of the opinion of the European Commission on the successor regime for duty and tax-paid sales on aircraft and ships after the end of June 1999 will require a change in(a) EU and (b) United Kingdom law. [52536]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The Commission's view is that there is no requirement for a change in EU legislation in order to enact their suggestion for the successor regime and it has said that, to the extent necessary, certain legal provisions may be disregarded by mutual agreement. The UK has reserved its position on this to examine all options.

  Dividend Tax Credits
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government will issue a statement on the ability of non-taxpayers to claim tax credits on dividend income. [53969]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 23 July 1998,Official Report, column 652, and 28 July 1998, Official Report, column 217.

  Children's Fund
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Department will have prime responsibility for administering the children's fund. [53890]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]The Children's Fund will be set up to fund Sure Start, a new programme for 0–3 year olds and their families in areas 660
  of need. It will be located on the budget of the Department for Education and Employment and administered by new inter-departmental arrangements.

  VAT Group Treatment
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual lost revenue resulting from VAT avoidance from schemes using the VAT grouping concessions. [53721]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: There is no reliable estimate of the VAT loss arising from exploitation of the grouping facility for tax avoidance purposes. The revenue cost of the normal operation of the facility has been estimated at £400 million.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the additional revenue which will be raised from(a) the education sector, (b) the health sector, (c) the property industry, (d) the banking sector, (e) the financial services industry, (f) the insurance industry and (g) charities as a result of the restriction of VAT group treatment to fully-taxable corporate bodies; [54693]

  (2) what amount of additional revenue will be raised by the Government's proposals to restrict VAT group treatment to fully-taxable corporate bodies; [54840]

  (3) what estimate his Department has made of the effect on customer charges for financial services products of the restriction of VAT group treatment to fully-taxable corporate bodies; [54701]

  (4) what basis the estimated revenue cost of £400 million of current VAT grouping structures is calculated; [54819]

  (5) what research the Treasury has carried out since 1 May 1997 on the revenue cost of current VAT grouping structures; [54837]
  661
  (6) what estimate his Department has made of the (a) compliance costs and (b) restructuring costs resulting from the restriction of VAT group treatment to fully taxable corporate bodies. [54832]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No reliable or up-to-date estimates exist of the costs associated with the VAT grouping facility, either for business or the Exchequer. It is one of the main purposes of the consultation process that the extent of such costs, and the associated revenue implications, should be established. As part of this process Customs and Excise will be meeting representatives from a number of key business sectors in the autumn to discuss, in detail, these and other aspects of the proposal to restrict the VAT grouping facility.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rules relating to VAT group treatment in each other member state of the European Union. [54694]

  Dawn Primarolo
  VAT grouping facilities exist in eight of the fifteen member States of the EU: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Germany and the Netherlands operate systems which are obligatory and which encompass the entire corporate group. In Sweden and Finland grouping is restricted to the financial sector. The Danish facility is broadly similar to the current system operated in the UK. VAT grouping in the Republic of Ireland is granted at the absolute discretion of the Revenue Commissioners.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place with other European Ministers about the harmonisation of VAT rates; and if he will make a statement. [54633]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There have been no recent discussions in ECOFIN about the harmonisation of VAT rates. However, the European Commission's suggestion for an optional reduced rate of VAT for some local, labour-intensive services was discussed at February's ECOFIN.

  Any change to the EC VAT system requires the unanimous agreement of member states. The Government, while supportive of efforts to simplify and modernise the current European Community VAT system, are opposed to further harmonisation at the Community level.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the level of abuse of the current rules on VAT grouping in order to avoid tax; and how much tax he estimates to have been lost as a result of this abuse; [54831]

  (2) how much of the revenue raised by the Government's proposals to restrict VAT group treatment to fully-taxable corporate bodies will come from closing down tax avoidance schemes. [54839]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no reliable estimate of the VAT loss arising from exploitation of the grouping facility for tax avoidance purposes. The revenue cost of the normal operation of the facility has been estimated at £400 million.
  662
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with other European Finance Ministers about the proposed changes to the VAT grouping rules. [54695]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No such discussions have been held.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies which because of regulatory requirements cannot restructure their organisation to avoid being affected by the proposed restriction of VAT group treatment to fully-taxable corporate bodies; [54696]

  (2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies which will be able to restructure their organisation to avoid being affected by the proposed restriction of VAT group treatment to fully-taxable corporate bodies; [54697]

  (3) how many companies, broken down by sector, will be affected by the Government's proposals to restrict VAT group treatment to fully taxable corporate bodies. [54838]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are no detailed estimates as to the number of companies which would be affected by the proposal to restrict VAT grouping. The main purposes of the consultation process are to give businesses the opportunity to comment in detail on the potential implications that such a proposal would have for them and to obtain better information about the numbers and types of companies affected.

  Taxation (Guernsey)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will enter into negotiations with the Government of Guernsey to alter the United Kingdom's tax treaty with Guernsey so that the treatment of dividends from Guernsey companies is put on an equal footing with tax dividends from other EU countries. [53809]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind. The tax treatment of a dividend paid by a Guernsey company and received in the UK is no different from the tax treatment of a dividend payable by a company resident in an EU country. In both cases, where the recipient of the dividend is a UK resident company which controls at least 10 per cent. of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, tax credit relief is allowed for the amount of tax actually paid on the profits out of which the dividend is paid; a UK resident individual is not entitled to such relief.

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequers which of his agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53955]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executives of the Royal Mint, the Valuation Office, the Debt Management Office, National Savings and the Office for National Statistics. I have asked each of them to reply directly.
  663
  Letter from Allan E. Pearce to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 31 July 1998:
  Thank you for your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding procedures to identify persistent inquirers.I am replying on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Royal Mint.
  Whilst we do on occasion receive calls from persistent inquirers, the Mint does not monitor these independently of general enquiries.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful.

  Letter from Michael A. Johns to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 31 July 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Chancellor (ref 53955) where you ask which of his agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquiries for information.
  The Valuation Office Agency monitors correspondence which requires a substantive reply, but we do not log incoming telephone calls.
  We do not have specific procedures in place to identify persistent inquiries as we have not experienced any problems with this to date.
  I trust that this answers your query, but if I can help further please let me know.

  Letter from Mike Williams to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply direct to the Parliamentary Question you asked about procedures for identifying persistent inquiries for information, insofar as it relates to the UK Debt Management Office ("DMO").
  The DMO does not maintain a formal record of persistent telephone inquirers although, by the nature of our business, we have a large number of regular telephone inquirers and monitor informally the sources of all telephone inquiries made. The great majority of inquiries from the general public are seeking factual information on gilt-edged stock.
  We do maintain a formal record of all written inquiries to the DMO and have a published target deadline within which to respond to these. A written acknowledgement will be sent to inquirers within two weeks of the receipt of the correspondence and, for at least 95 per cent. of inquirers, a substantive reply will be sent within four weeks.

  Letter from Peter Bareau to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 31 July 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question 53955 about whether National Savings has procedures to identify persistent inquiries for information.
  National Savings receives thousands of calls for information each day from savers. We keep records of many of the calls, but do not monitor specifically for calls from persistent inquirers.
  National Savings does, however, keep a record of the main subjects of inquiry and ensures that the staff who handle inquiries are equipped to deal with them.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on Treasury agencies having procedures to identify persistent inquiries for information.
  The ONS Public Enquiry Line staff record the total number of calls they have answered. However, whilst they do receive calls from persistent inquirers, these are not monitored independently.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those who have accompanied (i) him and (ii) his departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved,
  664
  (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53838]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: All overseas visits by Treasury Ministers are conducted in accordance with the principles set out in the Ministerial code.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53868]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The Government are committed to keeping the number of NDPBs to a minimum, and to ensuring that those which remain are open, accountable and effective. Details of all Non-departmental Public Bodies in existence since 1 May 1997 are listed in "Public Bodies 1997". Since publication, the Policyholder's Protection Board has transferred from the DTI to the Treasury.

  ICL Pathway Project
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 652–53, on the ICL Pathway Project, what is the extent of the Government's commitment to the completion of the project. [53454]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The Government are committed to providing a secure and cost effective method of paying benefits over post office counters. ICL pathway have contracted with the Benefits Agency (on behalf of DSS) and Post Office Counters Ltd. to deliver this using the benefit payment card.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the main activities of the Euro Preparations Unit since December 1997; [53741]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the programme of the Standing Committee on Preparations for EMU in 1998–99; [53737]

  (3) if he will publish a breakdown of the Euro Preparations Unit's programme of co-ordination with external organisations. [53740]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The Treasury published on 28 July "Getting Ready for the Euro, first report July 1998". Copies were placed in the Library of the House. The report includes a description of the activities undertaken by the Treasury's Euro Preparations Unit, including its extensive contacts with business. The report also sets out the programme of

  665
  activities relating to practical preparations for the euro over the next six months, including the next meeting of the Standing Committee on preparations for EMU. The Standing Committee is expected to consider preparations for the launch of the euro on 1 January 1999, communications with business, and progress on the outline national changeover plan, which will set out the steps which would need to be followed if the United Kingdom were to decide to join the single currency.

  Task Forces
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the task forces and advisory groups composed of independent members which have been set up by his Department since 1 May 1997, indicating in each case(a) their remit, (b) their membership, (c) how many members are (i) scientists, (ii) engineers, (iii) small business people or representatives of small businesses,(d) any remuneration members receive for their services and (e) their budget. [53282]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]The task forces and advisory groups composed of independent members, which have been set up by the Treasury since 1 May 1997 are as follows:

  1. Private Finance Taskforce

  (a) remit:
  to advance the private finance initiative and private/public partnerships across government;

  (b) membership: twenty two;

  (c) composition:

  (i) scientists: none;

  (ii) engineers: two;

  (iii) small business: two

  (d) remuneration:

  thirteen members of the Taskforce are full time employees of Treasury Taskforce Limited and receive salaries and benefits under contracts of employment with that company: 6 are civil servants employed under normal civil service terms and conditions and three are secondees from the private sector whose terms and conditions are determined by their employers;

  (e) budget: £2,317,000per year;

  2. Task force on Banks' Assistance to Credit Unions

  (a) remit:
  to explore ways in which banks and building societies can work more closely with credit unions to increase their effectiveness; to look at ways to widen the range of services provided to credit union customers; and to encourage the continued expansion of the movement;

  (b) membership:
  yet to be announced;

  (c) composition:
  yet to be announced;

  (d) remuneration: none;

  (e) budget:
  out of pocket expenses only;

  3. Working Group on the Financing of High Technology Companies

  (a) remit:
  to identify financing barriers experienced by UK high technology companies and to bring forward proposals to help overcome those barriers;

  (b) membership: 15;

  666

  (c)composition:

  (i) scientists: none;

  (ii) engineers: none;

  (iii) small business: one;

  (d) remuneration: none;

  (e) budget: none;

  4. Standing Committee on preparations for EMU

  (a) remit:
  to oversee preparations for EMU;

  (b) membership:
  14, including seven ministers;

  (c) composition:

  (i) scientists: none;

  (ii) engineers: none;

  (iii) small business: the President of the CBI and the President of the British Chambers of Commerce are members;

  (d) remuneration: none;

  (e) budget: none;

  5. Business Advisory Group on EMU

  (a) remit:

  to provide advice on the practical and strategic implications of EMU;

  (b) membership: 22;

  (c) composition:1

  (i) scientists: none;

  (ii) engineers: the Engineering Employers' Federation is represented;

  (iii) small business: many of the associations represented on the Business Advisory Group have members which are small businesses, and two of the associations have memberships entirely composed of small businesses;

  (d) remuneration: none;

  (e) budget: none.

  In addition, a number of temporary working parties and other committees have been organised to consider detailed aspects of preparations for the euro. Their membership is drawn largely from the associations represented on the Business Advisory Group, including small business representatives, and from the Government departments and other public authorities. None offers remuneration or has a budget. Details are available in "Getting Ready for the Euro, first report July 1998", published by the Treasury on 28 April. Copies of this report are available in the Library of the House.

  Local Telephone Calls (VAT)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was collected in value added tax from local telephone calls in each of the last five years. [54642]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The VAT collected from businesses classified to telecommunications as a whole is as follows:

  1993: £1,500 million

  1994: £1,400 million

  1995: £1,450 million

  1996: £1,550 million

  1997: £1,400 million.

  Prior to 1996, telecommunications were included in the trade classification for post and telecommunications. HM Customs and Excise have therefore estimated the

  667
  amount that related to telecommunications based on the yield in subsequent years. Unfortunately they are unable to estimate the amount of this relating specifically to local telephone calls.

  Environmental Taxation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the working party on environmental taxation. [54692]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no single Government working party that is looking at environmental taxation.

  In the last Budget my right hon. Friend the Chancellor appointed Lord Marshall, assisted by a Government Task Force to examine the potential for the use of economic instruments—such as an industrial energy tax and/or other market mechanisms—to improve business energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from this sector. Lord Marshall has been asked to report back to the Chancellor by the start of November. A consultation document was released by the Task Force on 5 June. Responses have been requested by 31 July.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the working group on the taxation of the extraction of aggregates to report. [54691]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are two aspects to this. First, the Customs and Excise consultation on how such a tax could operate asked for replies by the end of August. Second key results from the further work on the environment costs and benefits of the supply of aggregates are due in January. Both will be feeding into further consideration of the case for a tax or other measures.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the 20 per cent. of the landfill tax available through the Environmental Trust was(a) used for environmental purposes and (b) not used and retained by Customs and Excise. [54689]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Credits claimed at 22 July amounted to £78.4 million. In the same period (1 October 1996 to 22 July 1998) total landfill tax revenue declared was £650 million, giving rise to a maximum credit that could have been claimed of £130 million. The majority of credits are claimed at the end of landfill site operators contribution years which mainly fall between October and December.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was generated by the landfill tax in its first year of operation. [54690]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As I told my hon. Friend on 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 503, the most accurate figures I now have for revenue received in the first year of the landfill tax are £420 million gross and £396 million net of tax credits claimed.
  668

  Savings Income
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy on the proposed withholding tax on savings income of residents of other EU member states. [54698]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are in principle in favour of effective international action to tackle tax evasion. But the Government would need to be satisfied that any proposals would not do serious damage to financial markets.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with other European Finance Ministers about the proposed imposition of a withholding tax on savings income of residents of other EU member states. [54699]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Last December's meeting of Finance Ministers at ECOFIN invited the Commission to produce a draft directive on this subject. The draft has now been published and is being considered and discussed.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK financial services industry of the imposition of a withholding tax on the savings income of residents of other EU member states. [54700]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Draft Directive would involve some compliance costs for payers who would have to withhold tax and/or provide information. The Government are concerned about its possible impact on the financial markets. It is holding discussions with interested parties and will publish a fuller assessment in the light of these.

  Zero-rated VAT
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those goods and services which are zero-rated for VAT in each member state of the European Union. [54631]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The goods and services which are zero-rated for VAT in other Member States are shown on the list below.

  Coverage of zero rates in EC member states

  Belgium

  Supplies of newspapers and magazines, subject to certain conditions

  Supplies of certain recovered materials and by-products

  Supplies of genuine pearls and precious stones to persons who are exclusively traders in such goods

  Denmark

  Sales of newspapers normally published more frequently than one issue per month

  Finland

  Newspapers and periodicals provided that they are sold on subscription for a period of at least one month

  Printing services for membership publications of non-profit making organisations

  Ireland

  Books and pamphlets (excluding newspapers, periodicals, catalogues, diaries etc.)

  Food and drink for human consumption (excluding alcohol, manufactured beverages, ice-cream and confectionery)

  Seeds, plants, trees etc. used for food production

  669

  Fertiliser in units of not less than 10kg

  Animal feed (excluding pet food)

  Oral medicines for human and animal (excluding pet) consumption

  Sanitary towels and tampons

  Medical equipment and aids for the handicapped

  Children's clothing and footwear

  Wax candles

  Certain services provided by the Commissioners of Irish Lights

  Life-saving services provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

  Italy

  Unwrought gold (ingots etc.)

  Land not capable of being used as building land

  Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal

  Sweden

  Printing of certain membership publications

  Medicines on prescription

  Supply or hire of vessels for rescue at sea to the Swedish Society for Rescue at sea

  Fuel for aircraft

  United Kingdom

  Books, newspapers and periodicals

  Food for human consumption (excluding alcohol, manufactured beverages, confectionery)

  Animal feeding stuffs (excluding pet foods)

  Seeds and plants for food production

  Live animals used for food production

  Water and sewerage services for domestic use

  Pharmaceuticals, medicines and aids for the handicapped

  Young children's clothing and footwear

  Construction of domestic buildings

  Alterations to listed buildings

  Goods donated to charities

  Talking books and radios for the blind

  Public passenger transport

  Large caravans and houseboats

  Protective boots and helmets.

  Excise Duties
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place with other European Ministers about the harmonisation of excise duties; and if he will make a statement. [54632]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Excise duty rates on alcohol, tobacco and oils within the EU were discussed in ECOFIN on 23 October 1995.

  In relation to oils, a proposal for a directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products was introduced at the 17 March 1997 ECOFIN. The Presidency created a High Level Working Group at official level to discuss the proposal, and produced a brief progress report to ECOFIN on 12 May 1997. ECOFIN called on the Commission to do further work on the single market case for the proposal, its environmental and economic justification, and the impact on competitiveness. A number of discussions took place at official working group level under the Dutch, Luxembourg and UK Presidencies to examine technical aspects of the proposal. The last Ministerial level
  670
  discussion took place in the Tax Policy Group, under the chairmanship of Commissioner Monti, on 3 July this year at which I represented the UK.

  For tobacco products, the Commission published its report on its biennial review of the minimum rates in June. The first discussion, at official working group level, is scheduled to take place in September. Discussion in ECOFIN is expected to follow.

  The Commission's report on alcohol minimum rates, due by 31 December 1996, is awaited.

  Direct Taxes
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place with other European Ministers about the harmonisation of direct taxes; and if he will make a statement. [54634]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government's view is that direct taxation is a matter for national Governments. Decisions on European tax issues are subject to unanimity.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54277]

  Ms Hewitt
  If requested Treasury publications would be made available in Braille using Braille transcription services. Similarly, if requested, the Treasury would make arrangements to have publications produced on audio tape. However to date these services have not been requested.

  All public Treasury documents are produced in the optimum typeface sizes for legibility. These are also available on the Internet, where they can be heard by visually handicapped people who have access to a 'talking computer', or can be displayed and printed out as text of any size.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many meetings Ministers have had with BSkyB since 1 February; and on what matters; [54491]

  (2) how many meetings Ministers have had with BAA plc since 1 February; and on what matters; [54493]

  (3) how many meetings Ministers have had with Manpower since 1 February; and on what matters; [54489]

  (4) how many meetings Ministers have had with Tesco plc since 1 February; and on what matters; [54490]

  (5) how many meetings Ministers have had with Marks and Spencer plc since 1 February; and on what matters. [54488]

  Ms Hewitt
  Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations,
  671
  private sector organisations, trade unions and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. But they must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance they must not provide confidential information without authorisation, or allow improper influence on policy. It is not our policy to make information on meetings or their content public.

  Welfare Reform
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", page 82, what is the proportion of working age people living in workless households at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998; [54606]

  (2) pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, "New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", page 84, what is the proportion of children living in workless households at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54596]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions about proportions of people living in workless households.
  The ONS defines workless households as those where there is no one in employment and normally applies this where there is at least one person of working age.
  Estimates from the quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) giving the proportion of working age people and dependent children living in workless households are shown in the table.
  ONS will shortly be releasing LFS Household Datasets, designed specifically for analysis at household level, which will enable improved estimates of these measures to be produced. The figures given should therefore be regarded as provisional, and I will send you estimates based on the LFS Household Datasets when they are available. An article describing these new datasets will be published in Labour Market Trends on 6 August and will be available in the House of Commons Library.
  The LFS is a household survey and therefore the institutional population is largely excluded apart from students in halls of residence who are sampled via their parental home and staff in NHS accommodation who are sampled separately.

  Proportions of people living in workless households

  Spring 1997

  Spring 1996

  Percentage of people of working age living in workless households1

  13.6

  13.4

  Percentage of dependent children2 living in working age households who live in workless households1

  18.2

  18.5

  1 Households where there is at least one person of working age (men aged 16–56, women aged 16–59) and there is no one in employment

  2 All aged 0–15 and 16–18 year olds in full-time education

  Source:

  ONS, Labour Force Survey
  672
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, "New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", page 83, what is the non-Governmental proportion of personal savings and insurance at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54609]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on personal savings and insurance.
  63 per cent. of contributions for social insurance were paid to non-governmental schemes in 1996 (the latest period for which information is available).
  The figures underlying these calculations are:

  £ billion

  Contributions to life assurance and pension funds

  36.8

  Individual premiums for life policies

  42.9

  Social Security contributions

  46.3

  Total contributions

  126.0

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contingency reserve for each year since 1970–71 until and including those years forecast in the latest Government expenditure forecasts(a) in cash, (b) as a percentage of GGE and (c) as a percentage of GDP; where figures for the reserve were published for more than one year, if he will calculate (a) to (c) for each published figure; and for those years for which cash figures are not available if he will publish the equivalent figures based on survey prices. [52816]

  Mr. Byers
  Before 1981, public expenditure was planned in volume terms. Figures for the planned reserves on a comparable basis are available starting from the 1981 Public Expenditure Survey, the first year of public expenditure cash planning. These may be found in the annual Financial Statement and Budget Reports (FSBRs), with the exception of plans for Departmental Expenditure Limits for the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02 which were set out in the July 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper (Cm 4011).

  The scope of expenditure covered by the main control aggregate has varied since 1981, especially at the point of regime changes (i.e. from planning total to Control Total, and from Control Total to Departmental Expenditure Limits). In particular, the coverage of Departmental Expenditure Limits is substantially narrower than that of the Control Total. This needs to be taken into account if making comparisons over time.

  Figures for the percentage of GGE may be calculated using the figures for GCE contained in Table A6 of Cm 4011. Figures for the percentage of GDP can be

  673
  calculated using the table, which gives figures for GDP since 1982–83 and projections of GDP consistent with Cm 4011.

  £ billion

  Year

  GDP1

  1982–83

  280.7

  1983–84

  304.4

  1984–85

  326.2

  1985–86

  358.4

  1986–87

  385.7

  1987–88

  427.0

  1988–89

  475.4

  1989–90

  517.1

  1990–91

  556.7

  1991–92

  581.3

  1992–93

  606.8

  1993–94

  640.2

  1994–95

  678.5

  1995–96

  713.4

  1996–97

  752.2

  1997–98

  796.7

  1998–99

  833.6

  1999–00

  872.3

  2000–01

  914.3

  2001–02

  958.3

  1 Figures up to 1997–98 are outturn GDP figures, adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates; figures for the period 1998–99 to 2001–02 are calculated using projections of GDP consistent with those used in Cm 4011

  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Annex A, Table A6 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, what factors underlie the differences between the figures for General Government Expenditure and Total Managed Expenditure; and what Government documents set out the distinction between the two aggregates. [52817]

  Mr. Byers
  For an explanation of the differences between Total Managed Expenditure (TME) and General Government Expenditure (GGE) I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the former Chief Secretary gave to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 25 June 1998,Official Report, column 616.

  TME was described in the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm 4011), Paragraph B1. GGE was described in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 1998–99 (Cm 3901) paragraph 1.8.

  Government Spending
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts of non-BSE related Government spending on agriculture in real terms for(a) each of the last 10 years and (b) the next three years. [54947]

  Mr. Byers
  Historical expenditure series for government expenditure on agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry are given in tables 3.2 and 3.3 of the "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses" publication. The table excludes BSE expenditure. Provision for UK agriculture 674
  over the next three years has not yet been finalised, pending consultations in Wales and Northern Ireland on the allocation of their settlements.

  £ billion

  Year

  Expenditure1

  1988–89

  3.3

  1989–90

  3.0

  1990–91

  3.7

  1991–92

  3.7

  1992–93

  3.6

  1993–94

  4.5

  1994–95

  4.0

  1995–96

  4.4

  1996–97

  4.6

  1997–98

  4.0

  1998–99

  3.7

  1 At 1997–98 prices

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will calculate the real increase or decrease in Government expenditure(a) for each Department and (b) in total, relative to his Department's forecasts for growth in the economy in each of the next three years; and what assumptions underlie these projections; [54962]

  (2) what is the forecast growth for Government capital and current spending combined, relative to the predicted growth of the economy in each of the next three years. [54961]

  Mr. Byers
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contingency planning his Department has undertaken in respect of funding his expenditure plans if real growth is less than 1.75 per cent. rising to 2.25 per cent. in two years' time. [54963]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government have adopted a prudent approach so that it meets its fiscal rules over the economic cycle. We are planning for surpluses on current budget, including a margin within Annually Managed Expenditure and are basing our fiscal projections on cautious assumptions, audited by the National Audit Office. This prudent approach and the significant reduction in public borrowing since 1996–97 leave the public finances well placed to cope with the effects of any changes to the short-term economic outlook.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the size of the fiscal surplus or deficit resulting from combined Government spending on(a) capital and (b) current account over the next three years. [54948]

  Mr. Byers
  Forecasts for public sector net borrowing and the surplus on current budget consistent with the Government's spending plans were set out in tables 4.4 and 4.5 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 1998 (Cm 3978).

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income will be spent on capital investment by the Government in the current year; and what was the average percentage in each of the last 10 years. [54952]
  675
  Mr. Byers
  Public sector net investment as a share of GDP for the current year and for the previous 10 years is set out in table 4A.1 in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, June 1998.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the expected capital savings on PFI contracts over the next three years; and what will be the resultant additional current spending. [54946]

  Mr. Byers
  Departments enter into PFI contracts when they are satisfied that the PFI route offers the best means of securing improved public services and value for money for the taxpayer over the lifetime of the contract.

  Table B15 of the March 1998 Financial Statement and Budget Report provides a breakdown of anticipated investment by the private sector on PFI projects, with Table B16 providing a breakdown of the service payments the Government is committed to in respect of contracts that have been signed. These tables will be updated, and published, in September this year.

  Funding (Wales and Scotland)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the funding formula for(a) Scotland and (b) Wales for the next three years. [54954]

  Mr. Byers
  The White Papers "Scotland's Parliament" (Cm 3658) and "A Voice for Wales" (Cm 3718) explained that the funding formula will be updated from time to time to take account of population and other technical changes.

  Matching Funds
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the policy of encouraging matching funds from the private sector in those areas which lack access to significant private funds; and if he will make a statement. [54907]

  Mr. Byers
  Attracting matching funds from the private sector forms an important part of public private partnerships in a number of areas of government and brings important benefits to the taxpayer.

  Registration Records
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timescale he has set for the Registrar General to present to Ministers an options paper on access to registration records. [54960]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Lidington, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on a timescale for an options paper on access to registration records.
  No timetable has been set for the production of the options paper.
  The options paper will consider the use of information technology to improve the service to customers and to provide better data management. It will also consider the possibility of working with a wide variety of organisations outside the public sector.
  676

  Educational Qualifications
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Green Paper, "New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", Cm. 3805, page 83, what is the proportion of the adult population with educational qualifications at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54603]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the percentage of adults with qualifications.
  Estimates from the quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) are shown in the table below. Figures have been given both for all those of working age (16-state retirement age) and also those aged 18 to state retirement age (ie adults of working age). The LFS does not ask respondents above working age about their qualifications unless they are in employment.
  The LFS is a household survey and therefore the institutional population is largely excluded apart from students in halls of residence who are sampled via their parental home and staff in NHS accommodation who are sampled separately.

  Percentage of people with educational qualifications (United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage

  All working age1

  At least 18 and working age1

  Spring 1997

  81.3

  82.0

  Spring 1997

  81.9

  82.6

  1 Working age is 16–64 for men and 16–59 for women

  Source:

  ONS, UK Labour Force Survey

  Conception Statistics
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Green Paper Cm. 3805, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", (p84), what is the rate of conceptions among girls aged under 16 years in the areas where the rate is highest, at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54594]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the rate of conceptions among girls aged under 16.
  The conception rates in 1996 for the three Health Authority Areas with the highest rates are shown in the table. Figures for 1997 and 1998 are not yet available.

  Conception rates for girls aged under 16 in 1996

  Health authority

  Rate per 1,000 girls aged 13–15

  Sunderland

  19.5

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  19.5

  South Humber

  18.3

  677
  Conception rates for the remaining Health Authority areas are published in the ONS Monitor Ref FM1 98/1 which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Foreign Earnings
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of the 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) contractor and (d) industries in the UK which supply goods and services for British consultants and contractors operating overseas. [53665]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 July 1998,Official Report, columns 292–93.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the impact of the changes to the foreign earnings deduction arrangements on the gross and tax revenues accruing to the Exchequer; [53667]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the impact of the changes to the foreign earnings deduction arrangements on the overseas operating costs of British charities. [53666]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 29 July 1998,Official Report, column 292.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 1998,Official Report, column 619, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [53987]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Her Majesty's Treasury is working towards the target announced in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport". The Treasury should have green transport plans in place by March 1999.

  Lear's Macaws
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he is sending to the Brazilian authorities about their representations over the handling by HM Customs of three Lear's Macaws. [53461]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs inquiries concerning the three Lear's Macaws are still in progress. Until these are completed the birds will remain in this country. Officials are, however, already in contact with the Brazilian authorities who have been offered the opportunity to view the birds to alleviate any concerns about their current welfare. The final re-homing of the birds will take full account of their welfare and the need to maximise the breeding potential of such an endangered species.

  Public Service Agreement
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the terms of the public service agreement negotiated between the Treasury and the spending departments. [54119]

  Mr. Byers
  We will make available a collected set of Public Service Agreements in due course.
  678

  Republic of Ireland
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has given to banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms with registered headquarters in Northern Ireland on conducting business in the Republic of Ireland. [54565]

  Ms Hewitt
  None.

  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms with registered headquarters in Northern Ireland which own or partly own banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms in the Republic of Ireland; [54562]

  (2) if he will list the banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms with registered headquarters in England which own or partly own banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms in the Republic of Ireland; [54563]

  (3) if he will list the banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms with registered headquarters in Scotland which own or partly own banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms in the Republic of Ireland; [54564]

  (4) if he will list the banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms with registered headquarters in Wales which own or partly own banks, building societies, insurance and assurance firms in the Republic of Ireland. [54561]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  EU Budget
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net EU Budget contributions for each member state(a) in 1996 and (b) estimated for 1997, indicating the sources of the figures. [54202]

  Ms Hewitt
  Indicative net contributions for all Member States for the budgetary year 1996 are set out in the table. The Community does not publish forward estimates of the net contributions for Member States. Information on the 1997 outturn for Member States, after account is taken of the United Kingdom's abatement, will be available later this year when the European Court of Auditors publishes its report on the 1997 European Community Budget.

  Net contributions to the EC Budget in 1996

  Member State

  million ecu

  Belgium

  746.2

  Denmark

  -193.4

  Germany

  10,894.9

  Greece

  -3,932.7

  Spain

  -5,972.2

  France

  459.8

  Ireland

  -2,260.3

  Italy

  1,402.3

  Luxembourg

  79.3

  Netherlands

  2,446.8

  Austria

  272.2

  Portugal

  -2,774.3

  679

  Net contributions to the EC Budget in 1996

  Member State

  million ecu

  Finland

  -27.1

  Sweden

  752.5

  UK

  2,276.0

  Notes:

  1. The Court of Auditors uses European Currency Unit figures, the unit of account for the EC Budget

  2. The Court of Auditors does not allocate all Community spending to the Member States. Consequently the figures in the table are likely only to be indicative of the amount of Member States' net positions. For example, if all administrative expenditure were allocated to the country in which it is paid, the net position of Belgium and Luxembourg would be substantially improved

  Source:

  Figures derived from information on Member States' contributions and receipts published in the European Court of Auditors report on the 1996 Budget

  Single Currency
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the arrangements for paying tax in euros after the single currency is introduced on 1 January 1999. [54980]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his speech to the CBI on 10 November 1997 that businesses, if they wished, would be able to pay their taxes in euro from 1 January 1999. The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise are today publishing a joint press release setting out further details of the arrangements and inviting comments from interested parties on any aspects of the proposals.

  Environmental Trust
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that sufficient of the funds allocated by the Environmental Trust flows into research and development projects. [53391]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Research and Development work on sustainable waste management is one of the approved objects under the landfill tax credit scheme, which gives tax credits to site operators who make contributions to environmental bodies. Neither the Government nor the private sector regulator of the scheme, Entrust Ltd., may direct to which of the approved objects site operators choose to make their contributions. However, Customs and Excise are currently examining, together with other interested departments, whether and how the scheme could be altered to encourage recycling.

  Equity Release Mechanisms
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research into the use of equity release mechanisms to assist elderly home owners to unlock additional income in retirement; and if he will make a statement. [53906]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have no plans to commission any such research. However, the issue of equity release is currently being considered on a cross-departmental basis.
  680

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 356, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54017]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Fiji
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of British Government assistance to Fiji; and what plans he has to increase the level of support. [52057]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday, 30 July 1998, Official Report, column 460.

  Public Registers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the public registers for which his Department has responsibility. [47354]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 29 June 1998]: I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to respond to the question from the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead, to which a holding answer was given on 29 June, concerning the public registers for which his Department is responsible. [54023]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department holds copies of all the certificates, signed by Cabinet Ministers since 1984, under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984. [47387]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 29 June 1998]: I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Diplomatic Service
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 1968 a United Kingdom ambassador or high commissioner has followed a deposed democratic leader or Government into exile. [51861]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 23 July 1998]: Since April 1980, HMG has recognised states, not governments (whether in exile or otherwise).
  681
  The original decision that the High Commissioner in Freetown should leave for Conakry, was taken out of concern for his safety, and that of his staff, as a result of the fighting in Freetown. His presence in Conakry, from where he monitored the situation in Sierra Leone, also allowed him to remain in contact with President Kabbah, who was based in Conakry between May 1997 and March 1998. There are no direct parallels with this case.

  Two indirect parallels, however, are:
  HMG continued to deal with the Kuwaiti government in Saudi Arabia as the legitimate government of Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion of August 1990. HMA Kuwait was unable to leave Kuwait City after the Iraqi invasion;
  following the coup in Haiti in September 1991, HMG along with the EU, the OAS and the UN continued to regard President Aristide as Haiti's democratically elected Head of State. In exile he met FCO officials, including the UK's non-resident Ambassador to Haiti based in Jamaica.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in posts overseas are working full-time to win inward investments projects for the United Kingdom, and in which countries they are serving. [54554]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Biological Warfare
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made since 1990 of the implications of information being exchanged between Libya and the biological warfare programme organised by South Africa's former apartheid regime; what were the conclusions of this assessment; when this assessment was started and finished; what action has been taken in the light of this assessment; and if he will make a statement; [53103]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the extent and nature of the biological warfare programme organised by South Africa's former apartheid regime; what were the conclusions of this assessment; when this assessment was started and finished; what action has been taken in the light of this assessment; and if he will make a statement. [53102]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon Friend the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar) today,Official Report, column 711.

  Mrs. Farrukh Sheikh
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he proposes to make to French Customs officials over the case of Mrs. Farrukh Sheikh of Leicester. [52753]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Denis Halliday
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the resignation of Mr. Denis Halliday, UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq. [53459]
  682
  Mr. Fatchett
  Mr. Halliday's resignation is matter for the UN.

  Sally Becker
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department has taken in respect of the imprisonment of Sally Becker in Lipjan prison; what representations he has made to the Serbian authorities on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [52729]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Our staff have visited Ms Becker almost daily since they were informed of her arrest on 18 July. She has appointed a local lawyer who lodged an appeal against her sentence. The appeal hearing has been postponed to 3 August. Ms Becker started a hunger strike on 23 July. Our Embassy asked the prison Governor to monitor her condition carefully and to ensure she was regularly examined by the prison doctor. Our Ambassador spoke to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 July to request that Ms Becker's hunger strike be handled sensitively with her health as the priority. When our Ambassador visited her on 29 July she had abandoned her hunger strike. Our continuing concern about Ms Becker's situation is being raised with the local authorities.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for (1) Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997; [52966]

  (2) 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; [52964]

  (3) what cumulative net increase in compliance costs has been estimated in compliance cost assessments published by his Department since 1 May 1997. [52965]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 28 July]: There have been no compliance cost assessments published by this Department during this period.

  National Employment Plans
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the section "Jobs" in the document, "UK Presidency of the EU Half Way Mark", if he will make a statement on the purpose of national employment plans; how many jobs they will create; and if such plans existed prior to the United Kingdom presidency. [53783]

  Ms Quin
  National employment action plans describe the measures taken by each Member State to meet the collectively agreed Employment Guidelines. It is the measures in these action plans which should encourage job creation. No national employment action plans were submitted by Member States and subject to peer review before the UK Presidency.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the document,
  683
  "UK Presidency of the EU Half Way Mark", if he will list the agreements reached on millennium compliance by the close of the UK presidency. [53782]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our aim to raise awareness of this issue across Europe and work together on responses to it was a high priority during the UK Presidency. We contributed to the preparation of a European Commission information paper on the Millennium Bug, which was presented at various Councils to encourage early and vigorous action by Member States. We hosted a workshop in May, involving senior representatives from each Member State to promote Millennium compliance throughout the EU. We secured an important statement in the Conclusions of the Cardiff European Council, highlighting the urgency of action by all Members. This helped to promote a sense of common purpose within the EU on the Millennium problem. We expect there to be further discussions in the Council of Ministers and in other EU contexts under the Austrian Presidency.

  Belarus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department is having with the Belarus Government regarding the policy of the Belarus Government towards embassies of foreign countries based in Belarus. [53700]

  Ms Quin
  We, our EU partners and other countries affected by the Belarusian decision to exclude Ambassadors from their residencies at Drozdy are in regular contact with the Belarusian authorities. The Troika of EU chargés d'affaires met Deputy Foreign Minister Gerasimovich on 20 July. They underlined the need for the Belarusian authorities to comply with international law on the inviolability of diplomatic premises, and called on the Belarusian authorities to put forward concrete proposals to resolve the problem.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [52695]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The FCO maintains a specialised cadre of Research Analysts, who provide research support to the Office as a whole. The approximate annual cost of this research facility is £3 million. Specialised and ad hoc research is done by other departments including Economic Advisers, Legal Advisers and the Library and Records Department. This is only part of their duties and expenditure on such research is not managed centrally.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Sri Lanka; what discussions he has had regarding the political situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [53556]
  684
  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to visit Sri Lanka. I hope to reinstate my postponed visit from April as soon as possible. In a range of discussions on Sri Lanka, we have made clear our view that a lasting solution to the conflict there can only be reached through a political settlement. We have said publicly that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if the parties involved ask us to play a role.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government initiatives(a) have been taken since 1 January and (b) are currently being planned to bring about a peaceful end to the conflict in Sri Lanka. [54097]

  Mr. Fatchett
  A lasting solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka requires a political settlement between the parties. We have made clear that we stand ready to help if both sides ask us to play a role.

  Sudan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 491, what reports his Department received on what dates from the British Embassy in Khartoum of impending famine in Southern Sudan. [53553]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  EU Staff (Security Vetting)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security vetting procedures for the selection of United Kingdom candidates for the European Community's senior staff; what level of staff are involved; and what political opinions on the European Union are held to invalidate candidature. [53772]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Commission of the European Communities and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) are the only EC offices that impose personnel security obligations on member nations. Security vetting is a requirement for all UK nationals directly recruited for work at the Commission and is the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Staff are cleared to SECRET level following a request from the Commission on the basis of personal particulars provided by the candidate on a completed security questionnaire. The procedure is broadly similar to the process for SC clearance in respect of UK Civil Servants as set out in the then Prime Minister's Statement on Security Vetting dated 14 December 1994. For the EC, it involves a check against the National Collection of Criminal records and a check against Security Service records.

  No account is taken of a candidate's political opinions.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's publications have been made available in
  685
  (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54276]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The FCO leaflet on British Consular Services Abroad is available in large print. The FCO also provides an automated telephone answering service offering recorded travel advice on destinations which give rise to the most inquiries. Advice on other destinations is available from the FCO's Travel Advice Unit whose members can read out the advice or provide hard copies in large print. Other FCO publications aimed at overseas audiences are not available in Braille, audio tape or large print.

  Task Forces
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the taskforces and advisory groups composed of independent members which have been set up by his Department since 1 May 1997 and in each case(a) their remit, (b) their membership, (c) how many members are (i) scientists, (ii) engineers and (iii) small businesspeople or representatives of small businesses, (d) any remuneration members receive for their services and (e) their budget. [53149]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: Since 1 May 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has established one advisory group which includes independent members—Panel 2000 set up on 1 April 1998—but no task forces.

  Panel 2000's remit is:

  to produce a strategy to improve the way Britain is seen overseas;

  to look at the methods and tools available to do this;

  to make sure that the public and private sectors are working together to do this; and

  to modernise the way the Foreign and Commonwealth Office communicates with the public.

  Membership of the Panel, drawn from both the public and private sectors, is as follows:
  Waheed Alli Zeinab Bedawi, Martin Bell MP, Baroness Chalker, Dr. Frances D'Souza, David John, Mark Leonard, Lord Levy, Ruth Mackenzie, Sir Cohn Marshall, Lord Paul, Shahwar Sadeque, Judy Simpson, Martin Sorrell, John Sorrell, Harriet Ware-Austin, Baroness Blackstone, Lord Clinton-Davies, Dr. David Drewry, Mark Fisher MP, Andrew Fisher, Tom Harris, Roger Liddle, Peter Mandelson MP, David Quarmby, Baroness Symons, Sir John Kerr, Sir Michael Jay, Claire Fulton, Priya Guha and Vivien Life.
  Of these, one member is a scientist, four are from small and medium sized businesses. There are no engineers on the panel. The members are unpaid, but can claim travel expenses. No budget has been allocated to the Panel.

  International Exhibitions
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the value of financial support provided to United Kingdom companies attending, (b) those Ministers and other Government officials who attended and the cost of their attendance and (c) any other costs incurred by (i) his Department and (ii) Defence Export Services Organisation in connection with (1) IMDEX Asia 97, (2) the Paris Air Show 1997, (3) IDEF 97, (4) IMDEX 97, (5) the
  686
  Underwater Defence Technology Conference and Exhibition, (6) the International Defence and Security Technology Fair, Brno, Czech Republic, May 1997, (7) the 3rd International Civil and Military Aerospace Exhibition, Prague and (8) the 3rd Central European Defence Equipment and Aviation Exhibition and Conference, Budapest. [54168]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Turkish Government on the overflying of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkish military aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [54412]

  Ms Quin
  We have repeatedly made clear to all concerned, including the Turkish Government, our concerns about military activity in Cyprus. In line with the relevant UN resolutions, we have urged all parties to refrain from any action, particularly in the vicinity of the buffer zone, which would exacerbate tension.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had and with whom in Northern Cyprus on the offer of President Clerides of Cyprus for Northern Cyprus to take part in the Cypriot team discussing that country's application for membership of the European Union; [54416]

  (2) what discussions has he had with Turkish representatives on the offer made by President Clerides of the Republic of Cyprus to include Turkish Cypriots within the Cypriot delegation to discuss the application of Cyprus for membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement; [54413]

  (3) what discussions has he had with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on their offer to Turkish Cypriot representatives in northern Cyprus to participate in the negotiating team representing Cyprus in their application for membership of the European Union. [54414]

  Ms Quin
  We welcome President Clerides's offer to the Turkish Cypriot community to participate in the team negotiating Cyprus's EU accession. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made this clear when he met President Clerides on 12 March. We continue to urge both sides to work actively to promote such participation. Sir David Hannay, acting in his capacity as UK Special Representative for Cyprus and as the Austrian EU Presidency Representative for Cyprus, visited the island on 20–22 July and discussed with President Clerides the importance of continued efforts to encourage Turkish Cypriot acceptance of his offer. The then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) conveyed the same message to Cyprus's Chief EU Negotiator, George Vassiliou, when the latter visited the UK on 2 July.

  We are in regular contact with the Turkish Cypriot community in northern Cyprus, including Mr. Denktash, through our High Commission in Nicosia. We have made clear on several occasions that we consider President Clerides's offer to the Turkish Cypriots to participate in

  687
  Cyprus's EU accession negotiations to be reasonable. We continue to urge them to agree with the Greek Cypriot side an arrangement acceptable to both parties allowing their participation in those negotiations. Sir David Hannay reiterated this message to representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community during his recent visit to Cyprus.

  We remain in regular contact on this issue with the Turkish Government through our Embassy in Ankara. We continue to stress to them the importance of Turkey's constructive cooperation on Cyprus.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Austrian Government as holders of the presidency of the European Union on the application by the Republic of Cyprus for membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [54415]

  Ms Quin
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Peter Penfold's position as High Commissioner to Sierra Leone will end. [53871]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Mr. Penfold became High Commissioner to Sierra Leone in March 1997. Staff in the High Commission normally serve two tours of duty of 12 months each, with an option of a third. This tour length reflects the classification of Freetown as a "difficult post".

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those private military companies on which explicit guidance will be given to officials on handling their contacts with such companies. [53873]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]There is no such list. We are in the process of preparing more detailed guidance, in consultation with other Whitehall departments.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department informed the Prime Minister before 11 May that Mr. Penfold had displayed a lack of caution in his dealings with Colonel Spicer. [54256]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  No. That Mr. Penfold displayed a lack of caution in his dealings with Mr. Spicer is a finding of the Report of the Sierra Leone Arms Investigation. I have stated previously that it would have been improper to draw conclusions on the actions of individuals in advance of the full, independent findings of Sir Thomas Legg's investigation.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will place in the Library the Permanent Under Secretary's letter to Mr. Peter Penfold; [54257]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the Permanent Under Secretary's interview with Mr. Peter Penfold. [54255]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  No. Such matters are in confidence between the FCO and its employees.
  688
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 27 July 19998,Official Report, column 19, what advice has been received from Sierra Leone authorities on the role of Mr. Peter Penfold in the restoration of civilian Government. [54254]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  President Kabbah wrote to the Prime Minister in May 1998 to thank him for HMG's support. He stated that Mr. Penfold had encouraged his Government to remain committed to the ideals of democracy and not to lose hope. The letter said that Mr. Penfold had been a source of moral strength.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice was given to Mr. Peter Penfold at CHOGM in Edinburgh, on his relations with President Kabbah. [54260]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  None.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to section 10 of the report of the Sierra Leone Arms Investigation for what reasons Mr. Penfold was not informed that in banning the supply of arms to Sierra Leone, the resulting embargo covered all parties. [54259]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Report notes that Mr. Penfold was sent the full text of Security Council Resolution 1132 on 8 October.

  We have accepted the finding of the Report that FCO officials were not as alert to the importance of sanctions enforcement as they should have been. We have set up a new Sanctions Enforcement Unit, which has responsibility for ensuring that the relevant terms of any Security Council Resolution, and the details of the Order in Council giving effect to the Resolution in UK law, are drawn to the attention of all officials in London and to all diplomatic missions.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 31, what factors underlie his description of Britain's record in Sierra Leone as positive. [54258]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Britain has a consistent record of supporting democracy in Sierra Leone. The UK provided funding for the elections in 1996. After the military coup in 1997 we led international efforts to support peaceful restoration of the democratic government. DfID gave assistance to President Kabbah while in Conakry to enable him to plan for the resumption of his government. We provided assistance to refugees through the ICRC.

  Britain was first on the scene with humanitarian aid after the restoration of President Kabbah. We have sponsored the UN resolution providing for military observers to help the process of demilitarisation, and we are providing four Military Officers to serve as UN Military Observers. We are providing aid to fund the process of strengthening democracy, civil reconstruction and military demobilisation. We are the first donor to the UN Trust Fund for Sierra Leone.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Sandline paper itemised as document 49 dated 2 February in Annex D of the Legg report; if this
  689
  document is identical the Sandline planning paper dated 28 January noted in Annex B; and if both documents were viewed by the Legg investigation. [54543]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The two references refer to the same document. It was seen by the Legg investigation. The paper in question is not an FCO document and was not given to us on the basis that it would be published. I do not therefore intend to place it in the Library of the House, but I have told the Foreign Affairs Committee that I would be willing to consider any specific request to have access to documents listed in the Annex to the Legg report.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the reference to a helicopter in FCO telegram 37 to Abuja relates to aviation operated by Sandline in a military context; and if he will make a statement. [54474]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The telegram refers to reports of several helicopter flights carrying Kamajors from Lungi airport and says that the helicopter is assumed to be an MI17. No further information is given about the helicopter or its operators.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Legg report, if he will make a statement on the nature of the work undertaken by Ann Grant of AD(E) in Brussels on 4 to 6 February; when the work was planned; and who organised the work. [54553]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Ms Grant was attending, as representative of the UK Presidency of the European Union, a monthly meeting of the Africa Working Group of the Council of the European Union.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the reasons Sir Thomas Legg QC advertised for witnesses for his investigation in national newspapers; what response he gave to Sir Thomas Legg on being informed that such a move was intended; and what was the response achieved from them. [54548]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The investigation advertised in order that people outside the public service could contribute any relevant evidence. 35 responses were received. The investigation was entirely independent and I gave no comment to Sir Thomas Legg on its working practices.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the random checks undertaken by the Legg Inquiry to verify that all relevant material had successfully been collated. [54475]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The random check of the relevant files in the FCO referred to in paragraph 2.12 of the Legg report was conducted by a member of the Secretariat at an early stage in the investigation. This involved a thorough trawl of the records and files held in the relevant registry in Africa Command.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Penfold communicated with staff of Sandline during his visit to Canada and North America at the turn of 1998; and what reports were dispatched to Whitehall in consequence. [54544]
  690
  Mr. Robin Cook
  Mr. Penfold spent three days in New York with Mr. Flynn, the Foreign Secretary's Special Representative on Sierra Leone, between 14–16 January. While Mr. Penfold was in New York, he telephoned Mr. Spicer to ask whether he had any up-to-date information on the security situation in Sierra Leone. Mr. Penfold sent no reports to London while he was in the USA or Canada.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ministers who saw press releases pertaining to SCR1132(a) before and (b) after release of such internal FCO documents assessing the effect of the arms embargo on forces opposed to the Sierra Leone coup; and on what dates. [54547]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The press line announcing the adoption of UNSCR 1132 was seen at the time by the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd).

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those documents requested by the Legg inquiry which (i) had been destroyed, (ii) had been mislaid and (iii) of which no trace in the records existed. [54550]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  No documents requested by Sir Thomas Legg were unavailable to him for any of the reasons cited.

  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the recommendations of the Legg Inquiry what proposals he has to improve communications between Ministers in his Department. [53976]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Report of the Sierra Leone Arms Investigation contains no findings to suggest that communications between Ministers were unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, guidance issued in the light of the Report covers the processing of papers to and between Ministers.

  Immigration
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long applicants(a) who are being interviewed in July 1998 and (b) who applied in July 1998 have waited, or may expect to wait, for interview in the settlement queues in (i) Islamabad, (ii) Karachi, (iii) New Delhi, (iv) Bombay, (v) Madras, (vi) Colombo, (vii) Lagos, (viii) Abuja, (ix) Moscow and (x) Bogota. [53962]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Statistics for July from Entry Clearance Posts are not yet available. We have asked the Posts to which my hon. Friend refers to provide the information required as soon as possible. Once the figures are available they will be sent to my hon. Friend in writing.

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53947]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.
  691

  Lockerbie
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent contacts there have been with(a) officials and (b) ministers of the Libyan Government on the arrangements for a trial of suspects in the Lockerbie case in The Hague; and if it is his intention that discussions on this issue should continue; [54066]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the arrangements which would be acceptable to Her Majesty's Government for a trial of suspects of the Lockerbie bombing to take place in The Hague. [54067]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my noble Friend the Lord Advocate in another place on 30 July 1998,Official Report, House of Lords, column 1618.

  UN Budget Deficit
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what options are currently under review to address the UN budget deficit. [54025]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The best option currently under consideration to address the UN's financial difficulties is the package of financial reform proposals developed by the UK and France and tabled by the EU in New York in January 1996. These comprise full payment of all member states' arrears; revision of the UN Regular Budget and peacekeeping scales of assessment to reflect more closely member states' capacity to pay; and penalties and incentives to encourage prompt payment in future.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in respect of the USA's current membership of the UN General Assembly; what dues are currently owed by the United States of America to the UN; and what percentage of total arrears this constitutes. [54024]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  All UN member states, including the US, have the right to be represented on the UN General Assembly's six Main Committees. Those states whose arrears exceed two years' contributions (of which the US is not one) may not vote in the General Assembly. At 30 June the US owed $569 million to the UN Regular Budget and $966 million to UN peacekeeping budgets in respect of prior year arrears and unpaid 1998 dues. This represents 62 per cent. of total unpaid dues to the Regular Budget and 63 per cent. of total unpaid dues to peacekeeping budgets.

  Ethiopia and Eritrea (Arms)
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in light of the recent press reports on the shipment of arms to Ethiopia and Eritrea. [55186]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are aware of reports of shipments of arms from China to Ethiopia, and from Bulgaria to Eritrea on a Ukranian aircraft. We are seeking to establish whether these arms were ordered before or after the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea had broken out.
  692
  There are no arms embargoes against either Ethiopia or Eritrea. But we are nevertheless extremely concerned that both countries, two of the poorest in the world, should apparently be seeking to rearm themselves at a time when the OAU, supported by the United Nations and the EU, are engaged in mediation efforts to settle their dispute by peaceful means.

  We remind all countries who might be considering supplying arms to either Ethiopia or Eritrea of their responsibility to exercise responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms in line with their international commitments.

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available. [55187]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Copies of the Foundation's Annual Report for 1997/98 have been placed in the libraries of both Houses.

  The Foundation received £2,713,650 from the FCO, along with £139,099 from other sources, for its activities in 1997/98. With these funds it supported 256 new projects in 47 countries. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa, and also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world. It makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Projects have included work with political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trades unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.

  Landmines
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will ratify the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. [55188]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Our instrument of ratification will be deposited with the UN Secretary General in New York today, thus fulfilling our pledge to be among the first forty ratifications and helping to bring the Convention into force.

  We have placed in the Library the note accompanying the instrument of ratification, which sets out our understanding that the mere participation in the planning or execution of operations, exercises or other military activity by the United Kingdom's Armed Forces, or individual United Kingdom nationals, conducted in combination with armed forces of States not party to the Ottawa Convention, is not, by itself, assistance, encouragement or inducement for the purposes of Article 1, paragraph 1(c) of the Convention.

  Know-How Fund
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the UK based recipients of Know-How Fund support for 1997–98 indicating in each case what the funding is provided for; [54820]
  693
  (2) what procedures are in place to ensure that Know-How Funding is used effectively. [54821]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development will write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Burma
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans the Government have made in the event of a deterioration in the human rights situation in Burma. [53663]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North East (Mr. Crausby) on 29 July 1998,Official Report, column 303. We have been deeply concerned by the regime's recent interference with Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom of movement and association. I have made clear to the Burmese Foreign Minister on 28 July that such harassment is unacceptable and I called on the Burmese authorities to enter into immediate dialogue with the NLD and other opposition groups. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

  New Agenda Coalition
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the recent Irish initiative known as the New Agenda Coalition. [54964]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Library.

  Nuclear Export Controls
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 27 June, what discussions he has had with the Chinese on nuclear export controls with particular reference to Pakistan. [54054]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  FCO officials have raised with China the issue of their nuclear export controls, with particular reference to Pakistan, on numerous occasions, and with some success. In October 1997 China introduced export controls on nuclear items using the same control lists as the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The one point on which Chinese controls fall short of NSG standards is that they do not require all nuclear facilities in a country to be subject to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards in order to export. They do, however, require the importing facility to be subject to safeguards. This means that they export to Pakistan's safeguarded civil nuclear facilities only, and not to facilities linked to the weapons programme.

  In May this year China introduced export controls on dual-use items usable in a nuclear programme. We will continue to work to persuade China to strengthen its conditions of supply on nuclear exports, so that it fully meets the international norm, requiring all facilities in an importing country to be safeguarded.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to paragraph 694
  15.7 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, if he will list those British missions that are being considered for upgrading of their premises; [54568]

  (2) if he will list the residential accommodation that is being reviewed under paragraph 15.9 of the Comprehensive Spending Review; [54570]

  (3) if he will list those assets that are to be recycled and the value attributable to such assets that gave rise to the £90 million figure in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [54424]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 21 July 1998,Official Report, columns 491–92.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out, pursuant to chapter 15 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the method of calculating the number of British jobs secured through foreign direct investment; how many such jobs have been created since 1 May 1997; and how many such jobs have been lost through the withdrawal of foreign direct investment since 1 May 1997. [54571]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 15.5 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, if he will list the posts that(a) are being considered for closure and (b) will be strengthened. [54567]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in another place by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the FCO, Baroness Symons, on 29 July 1998,Official Report, House of Lords, column 1499.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 15.8 of the Comprehensive Spending Review, if he will list the services and the changes being proposed for firms benefiting commercially from his Department's services. [54569]

  Mr. Fatchett
  A wide range of overseas trade services are available to companies—some are free of charge, others are chargeable.

  Posts abroad and country and sectoral help desks in London deal with initial and some other inquiries free of charge. Published and pre-prepared information is available from DTI free of charge.

  Commercial Officers at overseas posts produce tailor-made reports for UK companies on request. Reports can include basic market information, identification and assessment of potential agents/distributors, customised local contact lists, market assessments for a companies product or service, advice on market approach, information about potential local business contacts and general information on overseas investment opportunities. Some posts can arrange a programme of visits to potential business contacts and offer support during the visit.
  695
  Charges for these services are based on the number of hours research required for the inquiry and currently stand as follows:

  £

  Information held by Commercial Sections

  50

  Up to 4 hours research

  100

  4–8 hours research

  200

  8–12 hours research

  300

  12–24 hours research

  600

  24–48 hours research

  1,200

  Each additional 24 hours research

  600

  Services are also available to help publicise new products and services abroad. A professionally written article can be targeted at trade journals and other media in chosen markets by overseas posts. The cost is £100 for an article in one chosen market and £50 for additional markets.

  Besides these services, grant support is available from the DTI for trade missions, trade fairs and seminars abroad. Export Development Counsellors located in most Business Link offices in the UK can help companies develop an export strategy. Their services are free or chargeable depending on the level of help required.

  Embassies
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are the total costs of the new Embassy in Berlin and the date of completion; [54558]

  (2) what is the cost of the refurbishment of the Embassy in Cairo and the date of completion; [54551]

  (3) what are the total costs of the new Embassy in Moscow and the date of completion. [54559]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Staff Secondments
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his Department's staff on secondment to other Government departments and the periods they are spending on secondment. [54556]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As of 1 July 1998, 97 employees at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are on secondment to other government departments. These include:

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Cabinet Office

  Ministry of Defence

  Prime Minister's Office

  Buckingham Palace

  DFID (includes Aid posts in London and overseas)

  St. James' Palace

  HM Treasury

  House of Lords

  Northern Ireland Office

  Department of Health.

  The periods of secondment vary between 1 and 4 years.
  696
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people working for his Department have been seconded from other organisations; for what periods they will be seconded; and what areas they are working in. [54421]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As of 1 July 1998, there are 270 people from other organisations working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) servicing in London and at Diplomatic Posts overseas. The peri?ods of secondment vary from 2 to 4½ years, depending on where they are serving.

  Officers seconded to the FCO work in the wide range of jobs. Overseas, these include jobs in Immigration, economic, agriculture and science and technology.

  Departmental Estate
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all properties(a) owned and (b) rented or leased by his Department outside the United Kingdom, the purposes for which they are designated and the annual running costs for each property. [54443]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  France (Death of Britons)
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to press the French authorities to bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of British subjects in France. [54680]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Uganda
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of the Acholi people in Uganda. [54653]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Non-Governmental Organisations
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's officials are currently seconded to non-Governmental organisations; and for what periods. [54422]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As of 1 July 1998, there are 12 private sector secondments. In addition, two officers are currently working for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The periods of secondment vary between 6 months and 2 years.

  Vehicle Services (PFI)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those
  697
  contracts for vehicle services provision that have been let under the PFI initiative and the companies providing the service. [54557]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have the following contracts for the provision and management of the overseas transport fleets, which have been let under the PFI initiative:

  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

  Rover Group Ltd, and ABN AMRO Lease Holding N.V.

  The services under the terms of these contracts are provided by Rolls-Royce Motor Cards Ltd, the Rover Group and Lease Plan International, a Division of ABN AMRO Lease Holding.

  Women Employers
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women there were in senior grades in his Department on(a) 1 November 1997 and (b) 1 May 1998; and how many there are currently. [54555]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  There are currently 34 women in the Senior Management Structure of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The figure for 1 November 1997 and for 1 May 1998 was 32.

  These figures include three officers who have not yet taken up their appointments and three on Special Unpaid Leave who retain the right to return to the department.

  Bill Payment
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of bills were paid by his Department within 30 days between October 1997 and June 1998. [54552]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Between October 1997 and end-June 1998 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid 97.26 per cent. of bills on time. During the same period the FCO's sole executive agency, Wilton Park, paid 95 per cent. of bills on time.

  Consultancies
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the external consultancy contracts that have been awarded by his Department since 1 May 1997, and the companies to which they have been awarded and the scope of the projects. [54423]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  External Consultancy contracts awarded by the FCO since 1 May 1997 are set out below.

  A Management Framework Agreement has recently been signed with five management consultancy firms: BDO Stoy Hayward, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ernst & Young, PA Consulting Group and Pannell Kerr Forster. This will enable simpler and quicker tendering procedures saving time and money.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with what frequency and regularity meetings are held between Ministers within his Department. [53977]
  698
  Mr. Robin Cook
  Ministers meet whenever necessary to address specific issues of policy, and hold collective discussion of strategic issues from time to time.

  Royal Family
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cost to public funds for each official visit made by a member of the Royal Family outside the immediate Royal Family in each of the last three years; and what criteria determine which such visits are official visits. [54894]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  East Timor
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Indonesia's withdrawal of troops from East Timor. [54616]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Asia (Financial Crisis)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the financial crisis in Asia on the military modernisation plans of(a) Malaysia, (b) Thailand and (c) Indonesia. [54651]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences for the UK arms industry of the financial crisis in Asia. [54652]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Drug Gangs (Latin America)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what data his Department has collated on the purchase of advanced military hardware by drug gangs in Latin America; and what steps the Government are taking to prevent UK-manufactured arms from reaching these gangs. [54648]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Visas
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the waiting period between interviews and application for settlement
  699
  in each category in the most recent period for which figures are available in (a) Islamabad, (b) Karachi, (c) New Dehli, (d) Mumbai, (e) Calcutta, (f) Madras, (g) Dhaka, (h) Colombo, (i) Lagos and (j) Moscow; what was the average delay at each post between application and decision on visas which have been granted in each category leading to settlement in the last month for which figures are available; and what estimates he has made of the waiting time in each post for a decision. [54944]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Date

  Minister

  Venue

  Purpose

  Officials

  Total cost including Ministers £

  January 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Stockholm

  Opening city of culture

  1 official

  1,315.32

  January 1998

  Mr. C. Smith

  Cannes

  Midem music festival

  none

  1,077.26

  January 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Brussels

  European committee on culture, youth, education and the media

  1 official

  689.07

  January 1998

  Mr. T. Clarke

  Los Angeles

  Sundance film festival and promotion of

  1 official

  17,859.11

  British film

  1 special adviser

  January 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Copenhagen

  Launch of EU presidency/bacon exhibition

  1 official

  1,233.20

  January 1998

  Mr. T. Banks

  Brussels

  Attend intergroup meeting

  2 officials

  1,004.55

  January 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Brussels

  EU conference

  1 official

  586.77

  February 1998

  Mr. T. Banks

  Tokyo/Seoul/Bangkok

  Winter olympics/campaign for 2006

  1 official

  11,156.94

  March 1998

  Mr. T. Clarke

  Berlin

  Ministerial conference on tourism

  1 official

  1,682.10

  March 1998

  Mr. T. Banks

  Paraguay/Argentina

  World cup campaign for 2006 with FA

  1 official

  8,662.90

  March 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Stockholm

  Global economic affairs conference

  1 official

  2,065.14

  April 1998

  Mr. T. Banks

  Quatar

  World cup campaign for 2006 with FA

  1 official

  9,150.58

  April 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Brussels

  Launch euro theatre festival 1998

  1 official

  636.90

  May 1998

  Mr. T. Clarke

  Cannes

  File festival and promotion of British film

  2 officials

  3,142.44

  May 1998

  Mr. C. Smith

  Cannes

  Film festival and promotion of British film

  2 officials

  13,414.41

  1 special adviser

  May 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Brussels

  European union cultural council

  none

  618.72

  June 1998

  Mr. T. Banks

  Paris

  European sports ministers meeting

  1 official

  467.00

  June 1998

  Mr. C. Smith

  Lens

  World cup—EngIand v Colombia

  none

  292.50

  June 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Portugal

  Expo 98 with HRH Prince Charles

  1 official

  1,952.03

  June 1998

  Mr. T. Clarke

  Hong Kong

  Representative at opening of new airport

  1 official

  10,391.45

  June 1998

  Mr. M. Fisher

  Ottawa

  Canada: Round table on international cooperation on cultural property

  1 official

  2,788.31

  July 1998

  Mr. T. Banks

  Paris

  Reception at French embassy by FIFA

  1 official

  777.94

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  —

  80,991.64

  1Denotes full figures not yet available

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how staff numbers in his Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48880]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Staff numbers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have increased from 360 on 1 May 1997 to 373 on 31 March 1998.

  BBC
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what was the cost of advertising for recent appointments to the Board of Governors of the BBC; [53271]

  (2) what account was taken of the political affiliations of persons recently appointed to the Board of Governors of the BBC; [53263]
  700

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those who have accompanied (i) him and (ii) his departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved, (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53834]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The details requested are laid out in the accompanying table.

  (3) what representations he received from the Chairman of the BBC about the recent appointments of (a) the Deputy Chairman and (b) other governors of the BBC; [53264]

  (4) what political affiliations were disclosed by the successful candidates during the recent selection process for appointments to the Board of Governors of the BBC; [53262]

  (5) what criteria were used in determining recent appointments to the Board of Governors of the BBC; [53265]

  (6) what discussions he held with the Union of Communications Workers about recent appointments to the Board of Governors of the BBC. [53260]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The process for appointing the BBC Vice-Chairman and two Governors was based on the principles set down by the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments.
  701
  Candidates had to have, or be able to acquire quickly, the ability to represent the interests of BBC viewers and listeners and of the public at large; an appreciation of the requirements of operating as a board and the management of a large and complex public service and commercial undertaking; sensitivity to and the ability to keep in touch with public opinion on broadcasting issues; and the ability to work in an effective and collegiate manner with other Governors and the senior management of the BBC. Candidates for the position of Vice-Chairman were, in addition, expected to have the qualifications and experience to deputise for the Chairman and possess sufficient influence, experience and weight to act as an effective bridge between the BBC and Parliament. Candidates for the position of the Governor who chairs the English National Forum were expected to have knowledge of the English Regions and be willing to travel extensively within England. These were the primary criteria for selection. Considerations such as the political balance of the Board of Governors and the overall gender/ethnic minority representation were also taken into account, but were not determining factors.

  The cost of advertising for recent BBC Governor appointments was £40,486.98.

  All candidates for appointment to major public bodies are asked to provide information on significant political activity in the past five years. This reflects the guidance set down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and is used for overall monitoring purposes only. The information is confidential.

  Role specifications for the Vice-Chairmanship and the two Governor positions were agreed with the BBC. The BBC Chairman was invited to suggest names for consideration alongside respondents to the advertisement, and to comment on the shortlist for each position. The Chairman was a member of the selection panel that interviewed candidates for the Vice-Chairmanship, and also interviewed the final shortlist of candidates for the two Governor positions. The final decision on all three appointments was taken by Her Majesty the Queen in Council, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

  I held no discussions with the Union of Communication Workers about the appointments.

  Departmental Assets
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to dispose of assets held by his Department. [46451]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 18 June 1998]: Apart from the usual disposal of obsolete furniture and IT equipment, my Department has no plans to dispose of any assets at present, although I am considering options for the future of the land to the north of the British Library at St. Pancras and of 6 Burlington Gardens, formerly the Museum of Mankind.

  Dance and Drama Students
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about the training of dance and drama students; and if he will make a statement. [52652]
  702
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: During the last few months my Department has received a number of letters on this subject, largely focusing on the issue of funding. I am concerned that talented students should have access to the best possible training and my Department is presently working in conjunction with DfEE to establish a long term solution, to be in place when the Arts Council of England's Interim Funding Scheme expires.

  Millennium Youth Games
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Minister has for the creation of a national millennium youth games in the UK. [52720]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his question about Millennium Sport Competitions on 28 July 1998,Official Report, column 162.

  Millennium (Christianity)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangement he is making for commemorating the Christian element of the millennium. [53722]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The Christian Churches in the UK have a well-advanced programme of events to mark the Millennium, including a special programme of celebrations at Pentecost 2000. My Department is working closely with the Christian Churches and other faiths, through the Lambeth Consultation Group, to ensure that the importance of the year 2000 as a Christian anniversary is reflected more generally in the celebrations. The Group has produced guidelines for events organisers on how Millennium activities can be made relevant and accessible to Christians and other members of faiths. Members of the Group are also working with my Department to draw up plans for special Millennium Church Services on the first Sunday of the year 2000. With the assistance of the Lambeth Group, the New Millennium Experience Company is working to ensure that the Christian significance of the year 2000 is reflected in the Dome at Greenwich and its associated national programme of activities.

  Film Industry (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that talented people from ethnic minorities participate in the British film industry. [54050]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Action Committee taking forward the recommendations of the Film Policy Review Group includes ethnic minority representation and will be considering a paper later in the year on the question of improving opportunities for ethnic minority film makers. The British Film Institute is committed to improving access for all to moving image culture and has recently run a number of schemes aimed at new black writers and has also established a new post dedicated to black and minority film cultures. It is encouraging to note that to date more than £10 million of National Lottery money has
  703
  been awarded by the Arts Council of England to films with black or Asian involvement, representing almost 19 per cent. of the total funds allocated.

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53952]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Royal Parks Agency is the only Agency of my Department. The Agency does not have procedures for identifying persistent inquirers for information.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public; and how such response times are monitored. [48643]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 14 July 1998,Official Report, column 159.

  Sky Television
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with BSkyB since 1 February; and on what matters. [54394]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since 1 February DCMS Ministers have met BSkyB on four occasions, covering a range of broadcasting and related issues. In addition, representatives of BSkyB along with other industry players attended the European Audiovisual Conference in Birmingham on 6 April which I attended.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54267]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  In 1997–98 the Departmental produced the White Paper 'The People's Lottery' in both Braille and large print.

  This represented 3 per cent. of the total number of publications produced.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 1 April 1998,Official Report, column 524, on departmental transport arrangements, what progress he has made on the development of green transport plans. [54107]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport", that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions should have green 704
  transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000. The Department provides bicycle storage, and has only very limited car parking spaces. We are reviewing the position on business travel and business deliveries.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [52677]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Between 1 per cent. and 2 per cent. of the Department's staff currently cycle to work. The equivalent figure for the Royal Parks Agency is 5.6 per cent.

  To encourage cycling to work, parking space is provided and this could be increased if necessary. There are showers and changing rooms at the Department's main building, 2–4 Cockspur Street, and the same is planned for a second building, Grove House. Staff who wish to buy bicycles can apply for an advance of salary of up to £300 towards the cost of purchase.

  Further measures to increase the proportion of employees cycling to work are being considered as part of the development of green transport plans for buildings occupied by the Department and the Royal Parks Agency.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [52676]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: Secure parking for bicycles is provided at Grove House, for the benefit of the Department's staff at its offices at 2–4 Cockspur Street, Grove House, and Haymarket House. Parking space is also available at the Government Art Collection and at the properties occupied by the Royal Parks Agency.

  Tobacco Sponsorship
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will include within the remit of the Tobacco Sponsorship Task Force assistance to the arts. [52516]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: I have no plans to do so. I have set up the Task Force to address the impact of the European Union Tobacco Advertising Directive on sport.

  Regional Theatres
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list box office income, as a percentage of operating costs, among all regional producing theatres in England and Wales; [50606]

  (2) if he will list box office income, as a percentage of operating costs, among the producing theatres in the region covered by Southern Arts. [50605]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 14 July 1998]: Figures for 'box office income' are not available. The following figures for core earned income as a percentage

  705
  of operating costs are taken from the data received as part of the Arts Council of England's Annual Survey of Regularly Funded Organisations for 1996–97.

  (a) 76 per cent. for all regional producing theatres in England

  (b) 94 per cent. for all producing theatres in the region covered by Southern Arts.

  Notes:

  1. The Survey uses 'core earned income' which includes box office, but also all other forms of earned income.

  2. Operating costs are 'staff costs' plus 'overheads'.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43320]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  For details of the numbers of Special Advisers and the annual cost of employing them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 1 1 June 1998,Official Report, column 664.

  National Insurance contributions are excluded from this figure but are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for other civil servants. Information on the paybill costs for the two Special Advisers within DCMS and other individual Departments is not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  Information on the costs of employing Special Advisers in previous years was given by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73.

  Cricket
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what new initiatives he has taken to promote cricket in schools at a junior level; [52631]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the advantages of locating the national cricket centre of excellence in the North West; [54661]

  (3) how many women's cricket leagues there are in England. [54702]

  Mr. Banks
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what national sporting tournaments he has planned in order to celebrate the millennium. [52606]
  706
  Mr. Banks
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Television Channels
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve compliance with the Television without Frontiers quota requirements. [52141]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Casale
  To ask "the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many UK licensed television channels met the quota(a) for European works in Article 4 and (b) for independent productions in Article 5 of the Television Without Frontiers directive; [52139]

  (2) which UK licensed television channels had a lower proportion of (a) European originating programmes and (b) independent productions in 1996 than 1995. [52140]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: In April 1998, the European Commission published its third monitoring report of Member States' compliance with the quota provisions under Articles 4 and 5 of the EC Broadcasting Directive. The report covers the period 1995–96. An Explanatory Memorandum was submitted to Parliament on 5 May, and copies of the Commission's report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The report showed an upward progression in the proportion of European and independently produced programming transmitted by UK broadcasters. In 1996, the latest year for which data are publicly available, 40 of the 80 UK-licensed channels subject to the quota provisions met the requirements for European works and 49 met the requirement for independent productions. The following tables, derived from the European Commission's third monitoring report, list those channels that had a lower proportion of European works and independent productions in 1996 than 1995.

  Channels which had a lower proportion of European works in 1996 than 19951

  Percentage

  Channel

  1995

  1996

  Asianet

  10

  7

  BBC1

  68

  67

  Bravo

  54

  47

  Carlton Select

  91

  80

  EBN

  90

  80

  ITV

  71

  70

  Kindernet CV

  90

  77

  MED TV

  99

  78

  Movie Channel

  18

  17

  Muslim Television Ahmadiyya

  94

  81

  Nickelodeon

  27

  25

  Parliamentary Channel

  100

  95

  Sky Movies

  25

  13

  Sky Movies Gold

  27

  20

  TLC

  67

  50

  TV 1000 Sverige AB

  36

  32

  707

  Channels which had a lower proportion of European works in 1996 than 19951

  Percentage

  Channel

  1995

  1996

  UK Gold

  54

  51

  UK Living

  66

  54

  VT4

  32

  27

  1 Article 4 of the EC Broadcasting Directive requires Member States to ensure, where practicable and by appropriate means, that broadcasters reserve a majority of their transmission time for European works, excluding the time appointed to news, sports events, games, advertising and teletext services

  Channels which had a lower proportion of independent productions in 1996 than 19951

  Percentage

  Channel

  1995

  1996

  Asianet

  9

  1

  BBC Prime

  9

  4

  BBC World

  11

  7

  BBC2

  21

  20

  Disney Channel UK

  6

  5

  ITV

  26

  24

  Kindernet CV

  78

  63

  Landmark Travel Channel

  42

  41

  MED TV

  74

  47

  Movie Channel

  11

  7

  MTV Central

  62

  60

  MTV North

  62

  60

  MTV South

  62

  60

  Paramount Comedy Channel

  7

  3

  Parliamentary Channel

  75

  25

  S4C

  76

  74

  Sky Movies

  10

  5

  Sky Movies Gold

  16

  12

  Sky One

  10

  4

  Sky Travel Channel

  17

  13

  TLC

  45

  35

  TV3 Norway

  18

  12

  TV3 Sweden

  26

  22

  UK Living

  66

  54

  V11–1

  98

  88

  VT4

  26

  18

  Zee TV

  2

  0

  1 Article 5 of the EC Broadcasting Directive requires Member States to ensure, where practicable and by appropriate means, that broadcasters reserve at least 10 per cent. of their transmission time, excluding the time appointed to news, sports events, games, advertising and teletext services, for independent European works, or alternatively, at the discretion of the Member State, at least 10 per cent. of their programming budget

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [52705]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: I regret that is has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
  708

  Public Appointment
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the public appointments for which he is responsible indicating the dates of(a) appointment and (b) retirement for those currently in post; and what proposals he has to widen the range of individuals who will be considered for such appointments in future. [54892]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  BBC Governors
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) who were the members of the advisory panel for public appointments which considered the short-listed candidates for the two BBC governor positions; and who were the independent members; [54889]

  (2) if the Chairman of the BBC Governors is normally a member of a selection panel interviewing for the post of vice-chairman of the governors; [54888]

  (3) what changes were made to the final short list of candidates to the two governor positions after it had been seen by Sir Christopher Bland and the head of the Department's Broadcasting and Media Group; [54891]

  (4) if the Chairman of the BBC Governors informed the existing governors that he was to be involved in the interviewing of new governors; [54887]

  (5) for what reasons Sir Christopher Bland and the head of the Department's Broadcasting and Media group were shown a final short list of candidates for the two governor positions. [54890]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements. [54992]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  D'Oyly Carte
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to secure the future of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. [53748]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: D'Oyly Carte is an independent company, responsible to its Board and backers for the operational decisions it takes. Public funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of England who take decisions on the funding of individual arts organisations without the

  709
  involvement of Ministers. Ministers have, however, drawn to the attention of the Arts Council the representations made in Parliament on this issue.

  Sports Hooligans
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with sports governing bodies on measures for dealing with sports supporters who bring their sport, teams or country into disrepute. [53596]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The Government deplore all acts of hooliganism at sporting events. I know from my regular dealings with sports governing bodies that they share this sentiment. The actions of thugs and hooligans who constitute a tiny minority detract from the good behaviour of the vast majority who are sport's true supporters. Of course, the full weight of the criminal law can be used to deal with incidents of serious disorder at sports grounds but increasingly sports organisers are tightening their own rules in response to bad behaviour.

  Employees Over 60
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) men and (b) women aged over 60 years were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies on 1 January. [53066]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: On 1 January my Department employed four women aged over 60. No staff over 60 were employed by the Royal Parks Agency on that date.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) men and (b) women employed by (1) his Department and (2) his Department's agencies have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday. [53042]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: No staff in my Department have terms and conditions of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday. However, staff may be retained beyond age 60 if there is an exceptional need for their services. In the Royal Parks Agency one man and two women have contracts which specifically allow them to work beyond 60 subject to the needs of the Agency, continued good health and efficient performance. These are reviewed annually.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53857]
  710
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The answer is as follows:

  (a) None

  (b) None

  (c) (i) None, (ii) None

  (d) Treasure Valuation Committee (formerly the Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee)1

  New Millennium Experience Company (formerly Millennium Central Ltd.)2

  (e) Details of all other NDPBs in existence on 1 May 1997 sponsored by this department are listed in "Public Bodies 1997".

  The following NDPBs have been established since 1 May 1997:

  (i) National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

  (ii) New Opportunities Fund

  (iii) Football Taskforce

  (iv) Historic Royal Palaces (formerly the Historic Royal Palaces Agency).

  1 The Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee was reconstituted as the Treasure Valuation Committee in September as a result of the Treasure Act 1996.

  2 Millennium Central Ltd. was reconstituted as the New Millennium Experience Company following the review of the Millennium Dome Project by the Government during May and June 1997.
  My Department is responsible for 54 public bodies which include executive and advisory NDPBs and public corporations.

  Ancient Monuments Laboratory
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 59, (1) if he will request the Chief Executive of English Heritage to answer questions 47396, 43400 and 47397 tabled by the hon. Member for the City of York (Mr. Bayley) on 24 June; [53719]

  (2) what discussions he has held with the Chief Executive of English Heritage about the proposed relocation of its Ancient Monuments Laboratory to Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth, with reference to (a) potential job losses, (b) the accuracy of the figures in the Chief Executive's letter dated 21 July to the hon. Member for the City of York (Mr. Bayley) and (c) the need to consult widely before relocating. [53608]

  Mr. Banks
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to the hon. and learned Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

DEFENCE

  Overseas Travel
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of Ministerial overseas travel in his Department in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 to date. [26638]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide the full details requested in the hon. Member's question before

  711
  now. I will write to the hon. Member in due course and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49848]

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

  Biological Warfare
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made since 1990 of the implications of information being exchanged between Libya and the biological warfare programme organised by South Africa's former apartheid regime; what were the conclusions of this assessment; when this assessment was started and finished; what action has been taken in the light of this assessment; and if he will make a statement; [53088]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the extent and nature of the biological warfare programme organised by South Africa's former apartheid regime, what were the conclusions of this assessment; when this assessment was started and finished; what action has been taken in the light of this assessment; and if he will make a statement. [53087]

  Mr. Spellar
  A thorough assessment of South Africa's biological warfare programme was made as part of the continuous process by which the UK Government monitor the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. I am withholding further details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice for Access to Government Information, relating to Defence, Security and International relations.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of British service personnel deployed to the Gulf in 1998 refused to take anti-anthrax injections; for what reasons such injections are currently voluntary; and if he plans to make such injections compulsory. [50001]

  Mr. George Robertson
  On 3 March this year, the Ministry of Defence announced that UK Service personnel and MOD civilians posted to the Gulf region were being offered immunisation against anthrax. As of 13 July, our records showed that 4,482 UK Service and MOD personnel have been offered immunisation and 1,469 are recorded as having commenced a course of anthrax immunisation. Hence an estimated 67 per cent. of personnel offered anthrax immunisation have declined to accept it. The level of uptake appears to be related to where an individual is serving and may be based on his or her personnel judgment as to the threat they personally face or faced. For example, 66 per cent. of personnel who were offered their first vaccination whilst serving in Kuwait have chosen to be vaccinated, but of personnel who were offered their first vaccination whilst serving on RN ships in the Gulf only 18 per cent. have chosen to accept.
  712
  We consider Immunisation to be vitally important for the protection of UK Service personnel against disease, in the context of public health threats as well as defence against biological warfare agents. At present, MOD policy is that immunisation for both purposes is voluntary, on the basis of informed consent. However, the means of protecting our personnel against such threats are continually reviewed and updated in the light of changing circumstances.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 7, what estimate he has made of the numbers, breeds and species of animals required at Porton Down for the experiments relating to Gulf War Syndrome; how many experiments involving animals will be required; and what representations he has received concerning the experiments. [50625]

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

  DERA
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the qualifications held by senior civil servants which are relevant to their duties in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. [52047]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. Ian Gibson, dated 31 July 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about qualifications held by senior civil servants relevant to their duties in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  Senior civil servants employed in DERA are assessed and appointed against the criteria applied across Government, which embrace experience, competence and, on initial recruitment, appropriate academic and professional qualifications.
  In addition, DERA's specialist staff generally have one or more of a wide spectrum of scientific, engineering and other degrees, about half at PhD level. The majority are also either members or fellows of prestigious learned and professional institutions. A number also hold visiting Professorships.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what redundancies have(a) taken place and (b) are pending in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. [52045]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since DERA was formed in 1995, there have been 878 redundancies, of which 65 were compulsory. At present there are 13 members of staff in a surplus position who might be made redundant if suitable alternative employment cannot be found.

  As a result of the outcome of the review of the DERA's land ranges, announced today, a further reduction of 291 jobs is planned. The implementation of the reduction is dependent on the outcome of the detailed consultation with staff and Trades Unions but will certainly involve some redundancies.
  713
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of DERA's land ranges at Eskmeals, Shoeburyness and Pendine. [55200]

  Mr. Spellar
  The initial period of consultation on the second stage of the review to address the long term future of DERA's land ranges is now complete. In order to maintain the necessary facilities, and to keep the affordable within projected income, we have decided to concentrate as much of the test and evaluation work as possible at Eskmeals and to use the ranges at Shoeburyness and Pendine only as required. The proposals put forward in January have been modified slightly in the light of the consultation process, with the retention of 6 additional jobs at the range at Shoeburyness and 10 at Pendine, and the loss of 20 jobs at Eskmeals. Plans for the Environmental Test Centre and demilitarisation facilities at Shoeburyness are unchanged. The planned figures are shown in the following table:

  Staff levels

  Site

  Current

  Future

  Difference

  Shoeburyness

  Range

  182

  31

  -151

  Environmental Test Centre

  69

  34

  -35

  Demilitarisations

  72

  72

  —

  Pendine

  115

  30

  -85

  Eskmeals

  140

  120

  -20

  Total

  578

  287

  -291

  The implementation of these measures will be phased to ensure that customer requirements are still met during the process. It is anticipated that most of the changes will have taken place by April 1999, though the exact timing is dependent on the work programme and on the completion of the next stage of detailed consultation with staff and Trades Unions.

  Submarines
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions permission has been(a) granted, (b) deferred and (c) refused to lift submarines on the shiplift at Faslane; and if he will make a statement. [52167]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Clyde Naval Base Shiplift has been used to lift submarines on 15 occasions. Of these, 13 have been on VANGUARD Class SSBNs and 2 on SSNs. No planned or unplanned lifts have been refused permission. The shiplift returned to operational use in June 1998 having been withdrawn from service from October 1997 to March 1998 to allow modification to the platform rails. Two dockings planned in this period were deferred. Docking dates frequently change from a variety of reasons, not directly linked to the Shiplift. The docking programme is optimised for submarine operational commitments, for which SSBNs have the priority, the tasking of submarine maintenance and repair staff on other priority tasks, and the maintenance requirements of the shiplift.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of each of the Astute class submarines currently on order. [53760]
  714
  Mr. George Robertson
  The total cost of procuring the first three Astute Class submarines is expected to be around £2 billion. This includes design, build and some in-service support as a package.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's future plans for the storage of spent submarine reactor cores at BNFL Sellafield; [54080]

  (2) what was the average running cost of transporting used submarine reactor cores in (a) 1986, (b) 1991 and (c) 1996. [54084]

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

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of each used submarine reactor core. [54096]

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

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department has spent to date on the new fuel transport flasks for the transport of submarine reactor cores; and what he estimates the total cost of this project will be; [54082]

  (2) if he will make a statement on progress being made towards introducing the new fuel transport flasks for the transport of submarine reactor cores. [54083]

  Mr. Spellar
  Good progress is being made towards introducing the new used core transport package flasks for the transport of spent submarine reactor cores at the end of 1998. Manufacture of the flasks is nearing completion and they will soon be tested before delivery. I am withholding the cost of the contract under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to Third Party's commercial confidences.

  Transport Aircraft
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options he is assessing for replacing RAF transport aircraft. [51066]

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

  Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions and on what dates the Army Board has considered the question of discharge of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright; and what plans it has to consider this matter further; [48364]

  (2) from which public relations companies he has received representations concerning the interests of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright; and if he will estimate the cost to public funds of replying to these representations. [54028]
  715
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  RAF Aircraft (Gulf)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make statement about the RAF aircraft deployed in the Gulf. [52542]

  Mr. George Robertson
  At present 6 RAF Tornado aircraft and 243 personnel are based in Saudi Arabia, 2 VC-10 tankers and 36 personnel are based in Bahrain and 12 RAF Tornados and 380 personnel are based in Kuwait. These forces remain in the Gulf to demonstrate our determination that Iraq should comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

  In addition, HMS Grafton maintains a Royal Naval presence in the Gulf and will shortly be joined by HMS York. The Armilla patrol has displayed the UK's commitment to the region since 1980 and plays an important part in enforcing United Nations sanctions.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he agreed with the US Defence Secretary to increase co-operation to combat chemical and biological weapons; for what reasons he has agreed to increase such co-operation; what are the objectives of the increased co-operation; and if he will list the areas of chemical and biological warfare which are covered by this agreement. [49494]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I agreed with Secretary Cohen on 3 June, during my recent visit to the United States, that our two countries would enhance our co-operation efforts to combat chemical and biological weapons.

  There is a clear and growing international consensus that the possession of chemical and biological weapons is unacceptable. Recent events in Iraq have demonstrated why co-operation between the US and UK in this area is absolutely vital. The US and UK already work closely together in this area, and technical and research co-operation in areas such as vaccines is well established. The June agreement will provide more precise high level policy and strategic direction. A full range of activities will be addressed. This will ensure both nations benefit fully from military and technical expertise and understanding in responding to all chemical and biological warfare risks.

  The detailed programme of co-operation has not yet been established.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what progress has been made in appointing an independent scientist to review the trial reports of the germ warfare trials in the south of England which took place between 1964 and 1977; and if he will make a statement; [54534]

  (2) what is the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's evaluation of whether short-term exposure to mustard gas causes (a) psychological disorders and (b) sexual dysfunction in the long term. [54533]
  716
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the library of the House.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [52884]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Defence Attachés
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he plans to develop the role of defence attachés in providing training for armed forces from(a) Central and Eastern Europe and (b) the rest of the world with regard to the importance of democratic accountability and the use of civilians in defence management roles. [53243]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Reservists' Pensions
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many people have been awarded attributable benefits for reservist pensions in each of the last 18 years; [53190]

  (2) how many applications from reservists and Territorial Army personnel for attributable benefits for reservists' pensions have been rejected by the War Pensions Agency in each of the last 18 years. [53189]

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

  Merchant Navy Personnel (Arctic Medal)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the eligibility of the merchant navymen who served and died while on convoy to Russia for the Arctic Medal; and if he will make a statement. [53187]

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

  Land Quality Assessments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many land quality assessments of Ministry of Defence sites have been completed since April 1996; if the reports of the assessments and of land quality statements are available to the public; and if he will place a list of their titles in the Library specifying the dates on which they were produced and the locations concerned. [53377]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  717
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence sites have been sold, or disposed of, by his Department since April 1996; how many of these sites have been the subject of land quality assessments and land quality statements; and if he will place a list of the titles of the assessments and statements in the Library specifying the dates on which they were produced and the locations concerned. [53379]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I will write to the hon. Member.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Mathematical Physics Division at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston was set up; what is the purpose of this division; how many series of technical papers or reports are currently being produced by this division; and what are the names of each series. [53929]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Mathematical Physics Division at AWE Aldermaston has been in existence since the setting up of the then Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in the 1950s. Its purpose is to provide theoretical and computer models of nuclear weapons. The division produces two series of reports, which are:

  Theoretical physics notes

  Senior Superintendent Physics Division/USA.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 July 1998,Official Report, column 429, regarding AWE Aldermaston, if he will list the departments and divisions within the (a) assurance, (b) physics research, (c) programmes and(d) technology directorates. [53930]

  Mr. Spellar
  The departments and divisions within the(a) assurance, (b) physics research, (c) programmes and (d) technology directorates are respectively:

  (a) Safety, Environment, Health, Quality, Security, Operations and Assurance Services.

  (b) Hydrodynamics, Radiation Physics and Design Mathematics and Seismology.

  (c) Research Co-ordination, Corporate Systems, Strategy Development and Strategy Co-ordination.

  (d) The Technology Directorate has the following Business areas—Explosives, Chemistry, Nuclear Materials, Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium, Waste Management, Engineering Workshops and Metallic Materials, Burghfield Group Facility and Quality Control.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards completing the A91 liquid waste treatment plant at AWE Aldermaston. [54088]

  Mr. Spellar
  The A91 facility is currently in the final stages of inactive commissioning. The building is currently expected to become operational by the end of 1999.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards decontaminating the north ponds area of AWE Aldermaston. [54087]
  718
  Mr. Spellar
  One of the North Ponds has been decontaminated and decommissioned. An extensive new water management system, which will allow the decontamination of the other ponds to be carried out, is currently being built on the site. The new water management system is now nearing completion and is expected to be in use in early 1999.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the stated running costs of the atomic weapons establishments of £302 million in 1997–98 includes all staff costs and management fees to Hunting-BRAE Ltd. [53762]

  Mr. Spellar
  Yes.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amounts paid to Hunting-BRAE in each of the last five years for administering and managing the atomic weapons establishments. [53763]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Payments to Hunting-BRAE are commercially confidential and I am, therefore, withholding this information under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to Third Party commercial confidences. My hon. Friend will, however, find a general breakdown of costs for the nuclear warhead programme for financial year 1997–98 in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper Supporting Essay Five, Figure 5, which shows that the total running costs of AWE in 1997–98 were £302 million.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reduction in radioactive emissions from AWE Aldermaston would follow from an end to production. [54448]

  Mr. Spellar
  Activities such as decommissioning and maintaining safety standards within facilities make up by far the largest proportion of discharges from AWE Aldermaston. Were production of nuclear warheads to cease, there would, therefore, be a minimal effect on emissions from the site.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what environmental assessment of toxic and radioactive contamination levels present in the soil at AWE(a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield, (c) Cardiff and (d) Foulness has been conducted; and if he will place a copy of each such assessment in the Library; [54086]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of additional nuclear waste stores, and of what cubic capacity required at AWE Aldermaston up to 2020 (a) to meet future arisings and (b) to replace those stores which do not meet regulatory requirements; [54091]

  (3) if he will list the amount spent meeting all the requirements of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate at the Atomic Weapons Establishments at (a) Aldermaston and (b) Burghfield in each of the last five years; and how much he expects to spend at each in total; [54092]

  (4) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Atomic Weapons Establishment's Waste Management and Decommissioning Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [54090]

  (5) how many buildings are currently in use for storing radioactive waste at AWE Aldermaston. [54085]
  719
  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Exercise Dimming Sun
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 14, regarding the Dimming Sun nuclear weapon exercise, how many people are expected to take part in this exercise; what will be its scenario; which other Government departments are expected to take part in it; and on which Government properties in Norfolk it will take place. [53931]

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

  Air Force Board
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 437, if he will place in the Library a list of the items discussed at the meetings of the Air Force Board on (a) 17 June 1998 and (b) 17 July 1997. [53375]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I regret that in the answer of 7 May the date of the annual meeting of the Air Force Board in 1997 was wrong. The meeting took place on 16, not 17, July.

  On that occasion, and again at this year's meeting on 17 June, the only item on the Board's agenda was the RAF's End of Year Performance Report 1996–97 and 1997–98 respectively.

  Indonesian Army Officers
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 June 1998,Official Report, columns 102–03, on Indonesian army officers, if any Indonesian army officers being taught at non-military educational institutions in the UK as part of programmes provided on a private and commercial basis are being funded by United Kingdom defence companies. [54417]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1998,Official Report, column 422 on defence exports, if he will list the fixed percentage rates referred to in his reply and the factors governing their application. [54404]

  Mr. Spellar
  The rates for Commercial Exploitation Levy will vary according to the type of equipment involved and whether the use of Government-funded jigs and tools is intended. Details of the individual rates, and the circumstances in which they might apply, are withheld under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to Third Party's commercial confidences. Higher values sales would normally employ profit sharing schemes rather than the 720
  application of rates of levy. The circumstances of individual sales may also permit some variation to the levy arrangements which are negotiated case by case.

  Promotional Events
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies were involved in defence industry promotional events on board Her Majesty's ships engaged in Ocean Wave; what was the cost to his Department of defence industry promotional events staged during Ocean Wave; and what contributions towards these costs were provided by the defence companies involved. [54405]

  Mr. Spellar
  A total of 47 companies, including divisions of companies, took part in promotional events on board a variety of ships and submarines. The majority of this activity was in the form of eight single day "Defence Industry Days", where the costs of the event were met by a flat rate contribution of £588, including VAT, per company per event. An average of twelve companies attended each of the eight days generating a total of £57,624. In addition some companies made use of other ship visits on an individual basis; there were no additional costs to the MOD as a result of these activities.

  Tornado Lease (Italy)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of the countertrade and offset commitments entered into as part of the deal to lease Tornado aircraft to Italy; and what percentage of the value of the contract those commitments represent. [54169]

  Mr. Spellar
  The arrangements with Italy for the lease of Tornado aircraft provide for 100 per cent. offset of the lease value of £100 million.

  Overseas Sales Demonstrations
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been charged to defence companies for the cost of overseas sales demonstrations by MoD teams in each of the last two years; and what percentage of the total cost of such demonstrations this represents. [54167]

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

  Infantry Export Support Team
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Infantry Export Support Team was created; what was its annual cost in each of the last two years; how much of this was funded by(a) DESO and (b) industry; and what other export support teams have been created. [54418]

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

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53948]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  721

  Commercially Confidential Information
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines exist in his Department governing the publication of commercially confidential information; and what is his Department's definition of commercially confidential information. [54164]

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

  Non-operational Warheads (Storage)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to store non-operational warheads. [54450]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Operationally available warheads are either deployed on Trident submarines or stored in secure facilities ashore. Warheads in the processing margin or required for technical surveillance purposes are also held at secure locations ashore. In addition, obsolete Chevaline warheads and a few WE177 weapons remain in storage awaiting dismantlement. Where Trident warheads are replaced rather than refurbished during their service life, those withdrawn will also be stored for periods pending dismantling. We plan to dismantle all surplus warheads as quickly as possible.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the events which led to Sandline personnel being invited onto HMS Cornwall on 20 March. [54546]

  Mr. George Robertson
  HMS Cornwall sailed from Freetown on 20 March. No Sandline personnel were invited aboard on that day.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the logs of HMS Monmouth for the period of its deployment off Sierra Leone in 1998; when that vessel departed from the United Kingdom for that deployment; if he will publish the orders that were issued to the captain on the issue of involvement in that country's civil war; and if he will make a statement on the bearing of restricted FCO Telegram 44 to Abuja in this context. [54545]

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

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (i) position and (ii) orders of(a) HMS Cornwall, (b) HMS Monmouth and (c) RFA Orangeleaf at the time of ECOMOG initial military action against the Sierra Leone junta; and what was the date of issuing of those orders. [54473]

  Mr. George Robertson
  At the time of ECOMOG initial military action in February 1998, HMS Cornwall was alongside in Devonport, England, HMS Monmouth was alongside in Cape Verde Islands and RFA Orangeleaf was alongside in Gibraltar. These ships were under no specific orders at that time.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature of the land contact enjoyed by RFA 'Orangeleaf' during its stationing 722
  off Sierra Leone with HMS 'Monmouth' and HMS 'Cornwall', what contact took place between that vessel and (i) ECOMOG and (ii) Sandline; and if any of its supplies were transferred to shore. [54549]

  Mr. George Robertson
  FRA Orangeleaf had no direct land contact during the period she was stationed off Sierra Leone. She did not go alongside. No supplies were transferreed ashore. There was no contact between Orangeleaf and ECOMAG or Sandline.

  Trident
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the production of the first Trident warheads to cease; and when replacement production will begin. [54451]

  Mr. George Robertson
  A programme of refurbishment or replacement of Trident warheads will continue throughout the service life of the Trident system, in order to maintain its safety and reliability. Those warheads which are replaced rather than refurbished will be dismantled.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost of(a) constructing and (b) equipping each of the four Trident nuclear submarines. [53759]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The latest estimate of the cost of constructing each of the four Vanguard Class Trident submarines, at 1997–87 prices, is:

  £ million

  HMS Vanguard

  11,644

  HMS Victorious

  879

  HMS Vigilant

  891

  HMS Vengeance

  863

  1 Includes First of Class Costs

  The estimated cost of their associated integrated strategic weapon system and tactical weapon system equipments is:

  £million

  HMS Vanguard

  218

  HMS Victorious

  182

  HMS Vigilant

  151

  HMS Vengeance

  166

  Armed Service Personnel
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the five most common destinations as careers for armed services personnel following their departure from the services. [54932]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54269]
  723
  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  HMS Vanguard
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident on board HMS Vanguard in June. [53758]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Chevaline Warhead Assembly
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Chevaline warhead assembly programme to be completed. [54446]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the disassembly programme for Chevaline warheads, in which case I refer him to the answer given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 7 May 1998,Official Report, columns 436–37, by my hon. Friend the then Minister for the Armed Forces.

  Royal Hospital, Haslar
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar. [54662]

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

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish his Department's Spending Defence Review on the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement. [54897]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  NIREX
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amounts paid to NIREX by(a) his Department, (b) the Atomic Weapons Establishment, (c) Devonport Dockyard, and (d) Rosyth Dockyard in each of the last five years. [54093]

  Mr. Spellar
  Payments by the MOD to Nirex in respect of the development of a Deep Waste depository are made centrally. They began in financial year 1994–95 and the sums paid so far are:

  FY 94–95: £5.9m

  FY 95–96: £5.3m

  FY 96–97: £4.1m

  FY 97–98: £2.7m.

  I will write further to the hon. Member with information on other payments which may have been made to Nirex in respect of advice given on the packaging of waste material.
  724

  Departmental Property
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all properties(a) owned and (b) leased or rented by his Department outside the United Kingdom, the purposes for which they are designated and the annual running costs for each property. [54444]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information regarding properties owned, leased or rented is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The annual running costs for each property are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ion Exchange Resin
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress being made to construct building D151 to store ion exchange resin. [54089]

  Mr. Spellar
  The construction of the upgraded Nuclear Utilities Building at Devonport Royal Dockyard (Project D151) is complete.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many modified Magnox flasks and resin catch tanks are in use at Rosyth and Devonport to store ion exchange resin. [54081]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are 35 resin catch tanks currently in use at Rosyth Royal Dockyard, and 29 resin catch tanks and 9 modified magnox flasks currently in use at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace the spent nuclear submarine fuel ponds at BNFL Sellafield; and if he will make a statement. [53757]

  Mr. Spellar
  The current 'B27' store at BNFL Sellafield has a finite life. MOD has contracted BNFL to provide a replacement used fuel storage service for spent submarine reactor fuel for a period of forty years from 1 December 2001. Using their own funds, BNFL are currently designing and constructing the new facility and will transfer all submarine reactor fuel from the existing B27 store by 2011. The sums invested by BNFL will be recovered within the agreed charge for the storage service.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what budget headings costs directly related to nuclear weapons appear. [53761]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Costs of the nuclear warhead programme are contained in Vote 3 Subhead A which covers the Chief of Defence Procurement's Top Level Budget. Other costs associated with the acquisition, operation and support of the Trident deterrent are contained in Vote 3 Subhead D (Director General Submarines/Chief Strategic Systems Executive), Vote 1 Subhead A (Commander in Chief Fleet) and Vote 2 Subhead A (Chief of Fleet Support).
  725
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all WE177 warheads have been dismantled; and if the highly enriched uranium has been recycled. [54513]

  Mr. George Robertson
  97 per cent. of WE177 warheads have now been dismantled and the dismantling programme will be complete by end of August 1998. Nuclear material will be retained for Defence purposes.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 313, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54013]

  Mr. Spellar
  To inform this process, arrangements are being made for travel surveys to be conducted amongst civilian and Service staff at several representative MOD sites.

  Chemical Technology Division
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 29 January 1998,Official Report, column 345, of which directorate the Chemical Technology Division is now a part; what former AWE chemical plant it operates; and what is its purpose. [54195]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chemical Technology Division has now been absorbed into the chemistry Business Area, which is in the Technology Directorate. Chemical plant continues to be operated for the treatment of radioactive effluents and the recovery of valuable materials from residues and wastes. Such plant is also available to provide adequately pure gases for use in work box atmospheres, where hazardous materials are handled. The purpose of the current chemical technology area includes research and development into a range of materials such as polymers, ceramics and component fabrication using these materials. The work supports research and development and stockpile stewardship of the UK nuclear deterrent.

  MOD Police
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998,Official Report, columns 8–9, on MOD police, what estimate he has made of the cost of disciplinary cases whose procedures took (a) six to 12 months to conclusion and (b) 12 or more months to conclusion in each of the years. [54566]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Transport
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue guidance on the containment of contaminated run-off water produced by the cooling jets which LAESI Guidelines require to be fixed in position and kept in operation in the event of a serious nuclear transport accident. [54447]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  726

  RAF Manston
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the disposal of RAF Manston. [54967]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I am pleased to be able to announce that following a marketing campaign and open competition conducted by my Department, the Wiggins Group plc has been selected as the preferred bidder for the airfield site at RAF Manston and exchange of contracts is expected shortly. The Wiggins Group's plans for the airfield include expanding civil aviation operations and substantial site development which will encompass airport related and general commercial uses together with hotel and leisure development. The company also intends to retain Manston's Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum as a permanent reminder of the historic role of RAF Manston. The Wiggins Group's plans for the airfield are in line with the aspirations of local authorities' own planning objectives for the area. In this respect, maintaining a viable commercial airfield at Manston is considered key to the economic regeneration of Thanet. The Wiggins Group's proposals are good news for the people and business community of East Kent. The proposed development of Manston has the potential to generate increased employment opportunities and to bring long term benefits to the local economy as a whole.

  My Department will continue to offer whatever practical support it can to the Wiggins Group to enable a smooth and uninterrupted transfer from military to civilian airfield operations to meet the RAF's planned withdrawal from Manston on 31 March 1999.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will announce his preferred plans for the disposal of RAF Manston to the private sector as a civilian airfield; and if he will make a statement. [53002]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, South (Dr. Ladyman).

  Catering and Mess Services
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision on the outcome of the catering and mess services market test covering the provision of catering and mess services to the British Army in Germany has been reached. [54979]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following a rigorous competition it has been decided to award a contract for the provision of catering and mess services for the British Army in Germany, to NAAFI, with support from its sub-contractor EUREST. The award of the contract is expected to generate savings in the region of £18 million over the next five years, whilst continuing to deliver the required level of service.

  BNFL Magnox Facility (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work for his Department will be undertaken at the BNFL Magnox facility at Berkeley Centre in Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [55133]

  Mr. Spellar
  A programme of work will be carried out at the Berkeley Centre on a small quantity of nuclear material owned by the Ministry of Defence and held
  727
  outside international safeguards. The Berkeley centre has previously only worked with safeguarded material, as it has not been involved in military nuclear programmes, which are unsafeguarded. The work is essential to meet a clear requirement to provide assurance of the continued safe operation of submarine nuclear reactors, and it is not connected with the nuclear weapons programme. The facilities to be used are unique to the Berkeley centre. The work, which is a short study, will take about seven months to complete. Upon completion of the study and the removal of the unsafeguarded material the Berkeley Centre will return to its fully safeguarded status.

  RAF St. Athan
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF St. Athan. [54976]

  Mr. Spellar
  I indicated earlier this year in the context of the Strategic Defence Review that RAF St. Athan will become a part of the new Defence Aviation Repair Agency. This will form in April 1999 and move as soon as practicable thereafter to a Trading Fund. In the light of these recent decisions, I have now considered the outcome of the competition inaugurated in 1994 under the Competing for Quality programme for the management of the off-aircraft engineering and on-site support activities at RAF St. Athan. I have also taken into account that the competition did not meet all our financial objectives. I have therefore decided that the best value for money for Defence is most likely to be achieved by not proceeding any further with the competition. Challenging efficiency targets will be given to RAF St. Athan, and these will be carried forward within the context of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. These decisions mean that RAF St. Athan can look forward to a clear future which builds upon its important contribution to our defence effort.

  Helicopters
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Lynx of HMS "Cornwall" was replaced by a Sea King; where that helicopter is normally based; and what instructions were issued to the crew on embarkation concerning planned humanitarian or other activities. [54472]

  Mr. George Robertson
  HMS "Cornwall" has operated with a Sea King helicopter since at least February 1996. The Sea King on board HMS "Cornwall" during her deployment to West Africa was previously based at RNAS Culdrose. The Flight Commander attended a brief which covered a wide range of operational issues. The flight did not, however, receive specific instructions on humanitarian activities prior to their embarkation.

  Hunting-BRAE
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the savings achieved by Hunting-BRAE plc from meeting incentive targets of his Department are allocated. [54449]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  728

  Ottawa Convention
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to implement the Government's obligations under the Ottawa Convention. [54970]

  Mr. George Robertson
  As of today, the moratorium we have had in place on the use of anti-personnel landmines, has become a total ban, without exception. Instructions to this effect have been issued to all Command Headquarters and training establishments. We intend this to be an international example to others. Other actions the Ministry of Defence is taking to implement the Convention, such as the destruction of stockpiles and assistance to humanitarian demining, are well known to hon. Members.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hunt Kennels
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those hunt kennels which have been reported to his Department as having unsatisfactory SRM surveillance audits during(a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement on the resultant health risk to animals. [44795]

  Mr. Rooker
  [pursuant to the reply, 15 June 1998, c. 20–26]: In the list of hunt kennels given for 1997 the following should also have been included:

  Teifiside Hunt

  Cefn Lodge Kennels

  Cilgerran

  Cardigan

  Dyfed.

  The following was included in error and should be deleted:

  1998

  Enfield Chase Hunt

  Birch Farm

  White Stubbs Lane

  Broxbourne

  Hertfordshire.

  My officials are writing to the Master of Foxhounds at the Hunt to apologise for the incorrect inclusion of it on the list.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the number of live horses exported for slaughter within the EU by country of destination in each of the last three years. [51378]

  Mr. Morley
  I am in a position to answer only in relation to exports from Great Britain. None of the live equines exported from Great Britain in the years concerned was declared as being moved for the purpose of immediate slaughter.

  Offal and Greaves
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take measures to prevent the export of fresh offal and greaves. [53571]
  729
  Mr. Rooker
  The export from the UK of meat meal, bone meal and meat and bone meal of mammalian origin is prohibited by virtue of Commission Decision 98/256 concerning measures to protect against BSE. This Decision also prohibits the export of offals derived from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK, except for uses other than in food, animal feed, cosmetics, medical or pharmaceutical products. In addition, certain offals from cattle, sheep and goats are covered by national controls on specified risk material which require their destruction. Provided the conditions laid down in national or Community rules, or by the authorities in the countries to which they are dispatched, are respected, exports of other types of greaves or offal are permitted.

  Eggs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure eggs originating from a battery system are clearly labelled as such; and if he will make a statement. [53784]

  Mr. Morley
  The Commission's Communication of 11 March 1998 on the protection of laying hens kept in various systems of rearing envisages the possibility of mandatory labelling of table eggs and packs by type of production. This would require a formal Commission proposal adopted via the Management Committee procedure. I strongly support the principle of mandatory labelling of egg packs and look forward to the eventual adoption of Commission proposals on this matter in the context of wider proposals on improved welfare for laying hens.

  Under 10 Metre Licences
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make under-10m licences area specific; [53602]

  (2) if he will adjust the allocation of the quota between under-10m and over-10m vessels to take account of former over-10m registered vessels that have been re-registered as under-10m vessels without reducing their catching potential; [53604]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of under-10m licence holders now fishing in Area 7D which have no historic connection with the area; [53601]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the extent of the practice of selling former over-10m licences together with the track records the vessels being temporarily shortened,

  Total landings into Hastings by all vessels by quarter

  Liveweight (tonnes)

  Value (£)

  Year

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  1994

  78

  110

  89

  86

  146,800

  203,900

  212,500

  163,000

  1995

  72

  116

  75

  127

  155,700

  226,300

  225,300

  180,900

  1996

  66

  173

  74

  122

  116,000

  320,000

  143,500

  256,000

  1997

  81

  227

  70

  128

  241,000

  397,900

  163,000

  248,800

  1998

  101

  156

  1—

  1—

  161,600

  293,000

  1—

  1—

  1 No data

  Source: MAFF Fisheries Activity Database

  Brown Shrimp Catch (The Wash)
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what offers of compensation have been 730
  and then re-registered as under-10m vessels; and how many prosecutions there have been in respect of this practice. [53603]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: A restrictive licensing scheme has operated for vessels of 10m and under since May 1993. Any one who wishes to bring a vessel into the under-10m fleet, including a vessel which has been reduced in length from over-10m, must acquire a licence from an existing under-10m vessel. Moreover the tonnage, engine power and vessel capacity units (VCUs) of the incoming vessel must not be greater than that of the vessel that is being replaced. The aggregation of licences is permitted up to a maximum of 100 VCUs per transaction.

  Within the UK there are currently some 5,200 under-10m fishing vessels licensed by the Fisheries Departments including 978 vessels licensed by the Ministry's fisheries office at Hastings and its sub office at Poole covering the coastline from Dartford in Kent to Lyme Regis in Dorset. There has not been an overall increase in the number of vessels licensed by the Hastings fisheries office since the introduction of restrictive licensing.

  Examination of licensing transactions in 1996 and 1997 has indicated that some 50 vessels over-10m in overall length were shortened, re-registered and re-licensed as vessels under-10m in overall length. Twelve of the vessels were based within the area administered by the Hastings fisheries office. There have been no prosecutions against such vessels.

  The quota allocations made to the under-10m fleet are based on the proportion of fish caught in the reference period 1994 to 1996. Most allocations are underpinned so that the proportion of fish allocated to the under-10m fleet is not less than the average proportion made available in the period 1991 to 1993. In 1998 nine out of twelve of the whitefish allocations made to the under-10m fleet in the English Channel have benefited from underpinning.

  These arrangements, and the need for changes to them, are kept under review.

  Port of Hastings
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total catch at the port of Hastings in each quarter in the past four years.[53605]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The information on the total catch landed at Hastings is set out in the table.

  made to (a) Wash fishermen and (b) those directly involved in processing brown shrimp, for loss of earnings as a result of his decision not to postpone the dredging and beach replenishment programme at Mablethorpe in 1997. [53747]
  731
  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: This is entirely a matter for the Environment Agency, but I understand an offer of £21,783 has been made to fishermen by the Agency in respect of disturbance in the area where beach replenishment took place in 1997.

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has assessed on the stock level of brown shrimp in the North Sea in(a) 1997 and (b) the period 1993 to 1996; and if he will place such evidence in the Library. [53743]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: An international study group is collecting data on brown shrimp but has not yet made an assessment of the stock in the North Sea as a whole.

  So far as the Wash and adjacent areas are concerned, an index of abundance has been prepared using landings of brown shrimp per unit effort. The data are as follows.

  Landings, effort and index of abundance (landings per unit effort) for brown shrimps from The Wash and adjacent areas 1986 to 1997

  Year

  Landings in tonnes

  Effort in 1000s hours fished

  LPUE in kg/hour

  1986

  497

  15

  32.7

  1987

  1,404

  26

  54.4

  1988

  561

  19

  29.8

  1989

  653

  25

  25.8

  1990

  399

  27

  14.9

  1991

  344

  19

  18.1

  1992

  401

  11

  35.0

  1993

  923

  23

  40.0

  1994

  967

  33

  29.6

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  tonnes liveweight

  £

  tonnes liveweight

  £

  tonnes liveweight

  £s

  tonnes liveweight

  £

  tonnes liveweight

  £

  August

  88.943

  92,288

  67.938

  80,124

  62.217

  88,068

  25.658

  42,862

  30.892

  26,511

  September

  179.967

  196,964

  146.055

  128,260

  132.955

  199,733

  53.290

  61,973

  56.985

  47,169

  October

  183.707

  234,011

  94.297

  79,189

  115.949

  177,163

  107.770

  135,359

  62.298

  54,525

  November

  172.332

  221,715

  109.425

  146,059

  76.909

  119,324

  56.762

  70,700

  42.407

  36,127

  December

  79.923

  104,688

  109.138

  157,323

  29.817

  52,748

  35.174

  44,432

  18.138

  15,502

  Total August-December

  704.872

  849,666

  526,853

  590,955

  417.847

  637,036

  278.654

  355,326

  210.720

  179,834

  Monthly average August-December

  140.974

  169,933

  105.371

  118,191

  83.569

  127,407

  55.731

  71,065

  42.144

  35,967

  Annual total

  871.432

  1,136,913

  925.141

  1,210,682

  786.007

  1,206,595

  347.876

  531,672

  347.144

  324,185

  Monthly average

  72.619

  94,743

  77.095

  100,890

  65.501

  100,550

  28.990

  44,306

  28.929

  27.015

  I have made no estimate of the catch which would have been possible in the absence of dredging in 1997. Variations in catch from year to year reflect a number of factors including stock levels, fishing effort, type of gear employed and market price.

  I have made no estimate of the effect on the incomes of fishermen or processors of variations in catch.

  Ministerial Visit (Cambridgeshire)
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date and by what means the Parliamentary Secretary, the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley),informed the right hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Sir B. Mawhinney) that
  732

  Landings, effort and index of abundance (landings per unit effort) for brown shrimps from The Wash and adjacent areas 1986 to 1997

  Year

  Landings in tones

  Effort in 1000s hours fished

  LPUE in kg/hour

  1995

  869

  38

  22.8

  1996

  548

  19

  29.3

  1997

  495

  19

  26.5

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what by weight was(a) the actual catch of brown shrimp by Wash fishermen, in The Wash or off the Lincolnshire coast during the months August to December 1997 and (b) his estimate of the catch which would have been possible in the absence of the dredging and beach replenishment programme at Mablethorpe; [53745]

  (2) what estimate was made of the shortfall in income to (a) Wash fishermen and (b) those directly involved in processing the catch, which resulted from the difference in catch of brown shrimp in September to December 1997 and the average catch made in the years 1993 to 1996 when the difference is valued using relevant prices for (i) grade A and (ii) grade B brown shrimp; [53746]

  (3) if he will tabulate the catch of brown shrimp by (i) weigh and (ii) monetary value made by Wash fisherman in the Wash or off the Lincolnshire coast, during the months August to December for each of the years 1993 to 1996 and the corresponding average data for these years.[53744]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The following table shows total landings of brown shrimp into the Wash ports by volume and value.

  he would be in the North-West Cambridgeshire constituency on ministerial business. [53452]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I was in the North West Cambridgeshire constituency on ministerial business on 22 July when I visited the East of England Agricultural Show.

  It is usual practice for my Office to inform hon. Members in writing when their constituencies are included in itineraries for my visits. My office did so on this occasion also, but regrettably, were incorrectly advised that the East of England show ground was located in the adjacent constituency of Peterborough. The letter was therefore incorrectly addressed.

  Steps have been taken to ensure that such errors do not recur.
  733

  Healthy Eating
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his Department's priorities in respect of the promotion of healthy eating. [53589]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The Government's role is to provide accurate, unbiased, up-to-date and understandable information on the basis of which people can make their own informed choices about what they eat. This Department will continue to provide such information, and in doing so will emphasise the importance of a varied and balanced diet.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the volume of poultry meat imports from Italy has been in the last three years; and if all imports were processed at establishments approved by the Italian authorities under EC Directive 92/116. [53712]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: Official Trade Statistics record that poultry meat imports into the UK from Italy amounted to 7,210 tonnes, 7,352 tonnes and 5,929 tonnes in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively. These figures remain provisional and subject to amendment. We have no reason to believe that any of the poultry meat imported from Italy in the last 3 years was produced in premises not operating in accordance with the conditions laid down in Directive 92/116.

  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which EU member states it is permitted to feed pigs meat and bone meal. [53715]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: As far as we are aware, the feeding of mammalian meat and bone meal (MBM) to pigs is permitted in all European Union countries except the United Kingdom.

  UK controls prohibit the feeding of mammalian MBM to all farmed livestock, including pigs. This extension of the EU-wide ban was introduced on the specific advice of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), to prevent cross contamination between ruminant and non ruminant feed. Our controls go further in this way than other Member States because we have had to cope with a much higher background level of infectivity.

  Whaling
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the United Kingdom will table at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in respect of the preservation of whale species. [53617]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: At the meeting of the Consultative Forum on Whaling on 15 July, which I chaired, possible issues that the United Kingdom might raise at the next annual meeting of the IWC in June 1999, were discussed. The Forum agreed to give further consideration to the matter at its next meeting in December, and I look forward to receiving its advice.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the(a) promotion and (b) the implementation to date of a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. [53618]
  734
  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: At the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, which took place in Oman from 16 to 21 June, Brazil indicated that it was considering proposing a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. The United Kingdom made clear its support in principle for this idea. However, Brazil did not put forward a formal proposal for such a sanctuary; I understand that the Brazilian delegation felt that more discussion with the range states was needed.

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53853]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: (a) In a News Release on 28 May 1997 my right hon. Friend, the previous Minister, announced the disbanding of the Ministry's nine advisory Regional Panels;

  (b) None.

  (c) None of the MAFF non-departmental public bodies have had their functions transferred to:

  (i) another non-departmental public body;

  (ii) a democratically elected body.

  (d) None of the MAFF non-departmental public bodies have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role.

  (e) Details of all other non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 sponsored by this department are listed in "Public Bodies 1997".

  The Potato Industry Development Council (known as the British Potato Council) was established on 1 July 1997. The council is funded by a levy on the industry.

  My right hon. Friend is currently responsible for 33, including multiple bodies.

  The Government are committed to keeping the number of non-departmental public bodies to a minimum and to ensuring that those which remain are open, accountable and effective. Many of the new non-departmental public bodies established since 1 May 1997 will be essential in helping the Government deliver their Manifesto commitments.

  Employees Over 60
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) men and (b) women aged over 60 years were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies on 1 January. [53073]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: In the core Department, there were 89 men and 72 women aged over

  735
  60 years employed on 1 January. Chief Executives of the Department's Agencies will be replying direct to the hon. Member with information on their staff.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) men and (b) women employed by (1) his Department and (2) his Department's agencies have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60 birthday. [53050]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: In the core Department, the normal retirement age for staff is 60 years. However, staff in non-mobile grades (i.e. administrative assistant, administrative officer level), secretarial and office support grades, industrial grades and farm workers are permitted to remain in service until the age of 65. Staff in mobile grades (i.e. executive officer level and above) with less than 20 years pensionable service may also remain in service beyond the age of 60. Service beyond the age of 60 has to be authorised and is, subject to efficiency fitness and the Ministry's needs.

  In the core Department, there are currently 1,485 men and 2,216 women in non-mobile grades where retirement after 60 years of age is permissible.

  Chief Executives of the Department's Agencies will be replying direct to the hon. Member with information on their staff.

  Letter from Sarah Nason to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  Mr. Nick Brown has asked me to reply, in respect of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA), to your question about how many men and women, aged over 60 years, were employed on 1 January.
  In FRCA there were 3 men and 1 woman employed on 1 January.

  Letter from Sarah Nason. to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  Mr. Nick Brown has asked me to reply, in respect of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA), to your question about how many men and women employed have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday.
  In FRCA, which has the same retirement arrangements as core MAFF, there are currently 40 men and 99 women in grades where retirement after 60 years of age is permissible.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of men and women employed by the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) who have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday.
  The rules which apply in PSD are the same as those applied in the parent Department. The normal retirement age for staff is 60 years. However, staff in non-mobile grades, ie Administrative Assistants, Administrative Officers and their scientific equivalents and secretarial grades are permitted to remain in service until the age of 65. Staff in more senior grades, ie Executive Officers and above and their scientific equivalents, with less than 20 years pensionable service may also remain in service beyond the age of 60. Service beyond the age of 60 has to be authorised and is subject to efficiency, fitness and the needs of the Agency.
  736
  In the Pesticides Safety Directorate, there are currently 16 men and 34 women in grades where retirement after 60 years of age is permissible.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of men and women employed by the Pesticides Safety Directorate aged 60 years and over on 1 January.
  In the Pesticides Safety Directorate, there were no men or women aged over 60 years employed on 1 January.

  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the number of a) men and b) women in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) with contracts of employment which allow them to retire after their 60th birthday, as this is an operational matter for which I have responsibility.
  The normal retirement age for staff in the VMD is 60 years. However, staff in administrative, secretarial and office support grades are permitted to remain in service until the age of 65. Staff in more senior grades with less than 20 years pensionable service may also remain in service beyond the age of 60. Service beyond the age of 60 for all staff has to be authorised and is subject to efficiency, fitness and the VMD's needs.
  In VMD there are currently 7 men and 32 women in grades where retirement after 60 years of age is permissible.

  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the number of a) men and b) women aged over 60 employed in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate on 1 January, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  On 1 January 1998 there were 3 men and no women aged over 60 employed in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), to your questions concerning the number of staff aged over 60 years and those who have contracts that permit them to retire after their 60th birthday.
  On 1 January 1998, CSL employed 5 staff who were over the age of 60. All of these were men.
  The normal retirement age for the majority of staff employed by CSL is 60. However, there are 71 staff working in administrative, secretarial and support posts who, by virtue of their grade, are permitted to continue in post beyond the age of 60. 14 of these are men and 57 are women.
  In addition, staff in more senior grades with less than 20 years pensionable service may also remain in post beyond the age of 60, subject to work, efficiency and fitness requirements.

  Letter from P. W. Greig-Smith to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Agency Chief Executive, I am responding to your questions to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food about employment beyond the age of 60, in relation to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science.
  In the CEFAS Agency, there were 10 men and 3 women aged over 60 years employed on 1 January 1998.
  The normal retirement age for staff employed by CEFAS is 60 years. However, staff in administrative, secretarial, office support and industrial grades and Assistant Scientific Officers are permitted to remain in service until the age of 65. Staff in more senior grades with less than 20 years service may also remain in service beyond the age of 60. Service beyond the age of 60 is subject to efficiency, fitness and the Ministry's needs.

  737
  At CEFAS, there are currently 101 men and 101 women in grades where retirement after 60 years of age is permissible.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on how many men/women aged over 60 years were employed by his Department's Agencies on 1 January.
  In the Veterinary Laboratories Agency there were 19 men and 19 women aged over 60 years employed on 1 January 1998.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on how many men/women employed by his Department's Agencies have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday.
  In the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the normal retirement age for staff is 60 years. However, staff in VLA Pay Bands F, F(1) and G, including administrative, secretarial and scientific support staff and animal technicians are permitted to remain in service until the age of 65. Staff in higher Pay Bands with less than 20 years pensionable service may also remain in service beyond the age of 60. Service beyond the age of 60 has to be authorised and is subject to efficiency, fitness and Agency's needs. In the VLA there are currently 210 men and 453 women in Pay Bands F, F(1) and G where retirement after 60 years of age is permissible.

  Letter from Johnston McNeil to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding the number of men and women employed who have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60th birthday has been passed to me to respond on behalf of this Executive Agency.
  The Meat Hygiene Service was established on 1 April 1995 as an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). It took over from local authorities the responsibility for enforcing meat hygiene, inspection and animal welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed fresh meat premises in Great Britain. The majority of MHS staff transferred from local authorities with their existing contractual benefits under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Act 1981. As a consequence the majority of MHS employees are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme which has a retirement age of 65.
  In the MHS, 1308 men and 164 women have contracts of employment with a retirement age of 65.

  Letter from Johnston McNeil to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 31 July 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) regarding the number of men and women employed who are aged over 60 has been passed to me to reply on behalf of this Executive Agency.
  The MHS employs 84 men and 1 woman who are aged over 60.

  Animal Welfare Survey
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish the Animal Welfare Survey report of the Meat Hygiene Service. [55192]

  Mr. Morley
  I am pleased to announce that the Animal Welfare Survey Report was published by the Meat Hygiene Service today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
  738

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the 1997–98 Annual report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. [55193]

  Mr. Rooker
  I am pleased to announce that the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Laboratories Agency were laid before Parliament on 30 July. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  I should like to congratulate all staff at VLA on their achievements during the year.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff and what financial resources were devoted to fisheries protection and monitoring in Scotland and Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will estimate the financial resources in each year as a proportion of the value of fish landed. [54459]

  Mr. Morley
  Responsibility for providing detailed information on the staff and financial resources devoted to fisheries enforcement and protection in Scotland and Northern Ireland rests respectively with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the proposal by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation for coastal zone management; and what definition of coastal fisheries limits he has used in assessing the proposal. [54579]

  Mr. Morley
  I have welcomed the joint position paper of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Scottish Fishermen's Federation as a good basis for discussion. Their paper contains a number of ideas including the concept of coastal state management whereby coastal states would be responsible for determining conservation rules within their 200 mile fisheries limits, subject to criteria established in zonal management committees whose proposals would be ratified by the Council of Ministers.

  Rendering Industry
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the saving from the phasing out of the support to the rendering industry introduced in March 1996. [54079]

  Mr. Rooker
  Since the previous Government made no financial provision for the support of the rendering industry after March 1998, the present Government made no savings by discontinuing that support when it did.

  Set-aside Land (Staffordshire)
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the hectarage of set-aside land in Staffordshire, (b) the location of the land and (c) the set-aside payments made in respect of the land. [53074]
  739
  Mr. Rooker
  For the 1997 Arable Area Payments Scheme, the latest year for which statistics are available, the information requested is:

  (a) the area of land set-aside in Staffordshire was 3,251 hectares;

  (b) the land would mostly have been situated in Staffordshire although if a holding is located on the border then some may have been allocated to a neighbouring county;

  (c) the amount paid in respect of land set-aside where the main holding is situated in Staffordshire was £1,023,728. The payment rate per hectare were £325.83 for normal set-aside and £228.65 for additional voluntary set-aside.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 503, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [53993]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport", that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.

  A new, small unit is being set up specifically to deal with the co-ordination of the Department's greening operations, which will include the preparation of a Green Transport Plan. Work has already started on the plan for the Department's London offices.

  Bovine TB
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in considering the issue of Bovine TB. [55185]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I am concerned about the rising incidence of tuberculosis in cattle. We cannot stand by while the disease spreads. I intend to consult my colleagues and hope that we will soon be able to make an announcement with details of our plans.

  We need to have a co-ordinated strategy. It must put public health first.

  The Krebs report published last December recommended that in the long term we should look for a cattle vaccine. This is now built into my department's research requirements and we want to draw on the best expertise in the country. Some of the necessary preliminary work has already been undertaken.

  The traditional way of dealing with tuberculosis in cattle has been through testing, removal of reactors and movement controls. We will maintain this policy, which is in any event required under EU legislation. I have asked officials to tell me whether these controls need to be strengthened.

  The Krebs report found that there was indirect but compelling evidence that badgers were a significant source of infection in cattle. It made recommendations that we should have a culling trial. We have now also received detailed recommendations on the design of such a trial from Professor Bourne's Expert Group. I have asked my Department to prepare their report for
  740
  publication, while we consider the best way forward. Any measures taken will take full account of the Government's established commitment to animal welfare.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the arrangements for the forthcoming consultation exercise on genetically modified organisms; and when it will take place. [53385]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  A consultation exercise will explore public views on the wider, including ethical, issues raised by recent developments in the biosciences. The exercise will be managed by the Office of Science and Technology, drawing on expertise from other Government Departments and interested parties. A small advisory group of practitioners in the fields of consultation and science communication has been established to advise on appropriate techniques and the development of a detailed workplan. I expect that the exercise will start in the autumn.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples receiving income support in each year for which estimates are available from 1999–2000 assuming that income support is uprated in line with (i) prices and (ii) earnings, respectively. [50862]

  Mr. Denham
  The increases to Income Support for pensioners from April 1999, announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), are more generous than if current rates were to be uprated in line with either estimated prices or earnings.

  The table therefore estimates for 2000–01 and 2001–02 the numbers of pensioner benefit units on Income Support (IS) if the higher rates announced for 1999–2000 in the CSR were uprated under (i) prices and (ii) average earnings uprating.

  IS pensioner benefit units

  2000–01

  2001–02

  (i) Uprating by prices

  (a) singles

  1,385,000

  1,475,000

  (b) couples

  305,000

  330,000

  (ii) Uprating by average earnings

  (a) singles

  1,435,000

  1,595,000

  (b) couples

  325,000

  385,000

  Notes:

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

  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. Average earnings assumptions are consistent with the latest data on GB earnings growth

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

  5. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 5,000 cases
  741
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 70, for what reason the poverty rate for single female pensioners aged 80 years or above is significantly lower than that for pensioners aged 75 to 79 years when income is measured after housing costs. [54221]

  Mr. Denham
  On the after-housing costs measure, 38 per cent. of single female pensioners aged 75 to 79, and 28 per cent. of single female pensioners aged 80 or over, have incomes below half the national average

  Roughly one third of the difference in the proportion of people with below half average income between the two age groups can be explained by differences in receipt of Attendance Allowance. Attendance Allowance is intended to help to meet the additional costs of disability, the risk of which increases with age. The higher income of recipients does not necessarily imply that they have higher relative living standards than comparable non-recipients as they may have additional disability related costs. If Attendance Allowance is excluded from the definition of income, 38 per cent. of single female pensioners aged 75 to 79 and 31 per cent. of single female pensioners aged 80 or over have incomes below half the national average after housing costs. Other factors may also be important but it has not been possible to isolate them.

  A substantial proportion of pensioners have incomes which are close to half average income. Therefore, small variations in income between different groups of low income pensioners can lead to large differences in the proportion designated as having low incomes. For example, if 60 per cent. of average income is used rather than half average income, 56 per cent. of single female pensioners aged 75 to 79, and 52 per cent. of single female pensioners aged 80 or over, have incomes below the threshold on the after housing costs measure.

  All figures come from the Department's Households Below Average Income (HBAI) dataset based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS) for the financial year 1995–6.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the categories of pensioners who will not have a guaranteed income after the introduction of his proposed pensioner income guarantee; and if he will identify the number of pensioners in each category; [54098]

  (2) how many pensioners have more than £8,000 in savings and also a lower income than the income support rates applicable from April (a) 1999 and (b) 1998; [54173]

  (3) how many pensioners have savings of between £3,000 and £8,000 and a lower income, excluding income from savings, than the income support rates applicable from April (a) 1999 and (b) 1998. [54174]

  Mr. Denham
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Income Support
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase the capital limits for income support. [54176]

  Mr. Denham
  We have no current plans to do so.
  742
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many pensioners will become entitled to(a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit as a result of the increases in the income support rates applicable from April 1999. [54177]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is in the table:

  Thousand

  Year

  Housing Benefit

  Council Tax Benefit

  1999–00

  5

  10

  2000–01

  5

  10

  2001–02

  5

  10

  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 benefit forecasts, following the changes announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and information form the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey

  3. Cases may gain in more than one benefit, so an overall total cannot be summed across benefits

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

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many pensioners will become entitled to income support as a result of the increases in the income support rates applicable from April 1999. [54175]

  r. Denham
  It is estimated that 65,000 pensioners will become entitled to Income Support in each of the three years covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review as a result of the increases in the rates from April 1999.

  Notes:
  1. The 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" as a result of the increases.
  2. Estimates have been based on 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 have been rounded to the nearest 5,000 cases.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount of unclaimed income support by pensioners in the latest year for which figures are available; what would be the amount unclaimed if the expenditure-based take-up rate was applied to the current financial year; and what is his estimate of the additional cost of his proposed income guarantee for pensioners in each of the next three financial years. [54099]

  Mr. Denham
  The amount of unclaimed Income Support by pensioners in 1995–96 (the latest year for which figures are available) was estimated at between £670 million and £890 million. If the current expenditure-based take up rate (of between 72 per cent. and 78 per cent.) was applied to forecast expenditure for the current financial year, the estimated amount unclaimed would be between
  743
  £720 million and £990 million. The additional estimated cost of the benefit measures announced on 17 July is in the table:

  £ million

  CSR total expenditure

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Income Support expenditure

  325

  475

  610

  Total for Income-Related Benefits

  495

  670

  840

  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 benefit forecasts, following the changes announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and information from the 1995–6 Family Resources Survey and the publication Income-related benefits—Estimates of take-up in 1995–96
  3. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest £5 million

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set targets for the rate of take-up of income support by pensioners to reach(a) 70 per cent., (b) 80 per cent., (c) 90 per cent. and (d) 100 per cent. [54172]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are committed to tackling the problem of pensioners living below Income Support levels. This is why we will begin a national programme from next April to identify these pensioners and encourage them to claim.

  Attendance Allowance
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish by local social services authority the number of recipients of attendance allowance aged (i) 65 years and over and (ii) 75 years and over for the most recent available date,(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the resident population aged respectively 65 and 75 years and over. [54204]

  Mr. Denham
  The figures are set out in the table entitled "Recipients of Attendance Allowance at 31 May 1998, by local authority and population" a copy of which has been placed in the library.

  Elderly People (Extra Payments)
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase the extra payment to those aged 80 years or over. [54059]

  Mr. Denham
  We believe that all pensioners should share fairly in rising national prosperity and are committed to examine the means of delivering more help to the poorest pensioners—many of whom are over 80. The Pensions Review is considering all aspects of basic State pension and its value, including the 25p age addition.

  We have already taken action to help the poorest of those pensioners who are aged 80 or over. From April 1999, these older pensioners who are on Income Support and receive the Higher Pensioner Premium will be entitled to £82.25 a week (up from £77.55) if they are single and £125.30 (up from £117.90) for a couple.
  744

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54266]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer given to him on 2 July 1997,Official Report, column 209. Publications available in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98 and the percentage of the total number of publications this represents is given in the table.

  Total number of publications

  percentage of total publications

  272

  Available in Braille

  43

  15.80

  Available in audio

  11

  4.04

  Available in large print

  22

  8.08

  Welfare Reform
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, (1) pursuant to the Green Paper page 83, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what assessment he has made of the quality of housing and housing management at present, and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54602]

  (2) pursuant to the Green Paper, page 84, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what is his definition of transparency about entitlements and costs; and what assessment he has made of the extent of such transparency at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54582]

  (3) pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, page 83, what is the extent of high-quality second-tier pension provision at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998; [54610]

  (4) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p85) what estimate he has made of the proportion of customers who regard the benefit system as personalised and tailored to their individual needs, at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54586]

  (5) pursuant to the Green Paper page 83, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what assessments he has made of the (a) simplicity, (b) clarity and (c) fairness of the system for determining entitlement to disability benefits at present, and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54598]

  (6) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p84) what assessment he has made of the clarity to claimants of the gateways for eligibility for benefits at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54590]

  (7) pursuant to the Green Paper, page 85, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what assessment he has made of the extent of duplication between agencies, and the extent to which the

  745
  best use is being made of new technology to deliver services at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54584]

  (8) pursuant to the Green Paper page 83, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, how many disabled people are able to work at present; and how many were able to do so in April 1997 and March 1998; [54600]

  (9) pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, page 83, what is the Government's definition of a decent income in retirement; how many people receive such an income in retirement at present, and how many did so in April 1997 and March 1998; [54608]

  (10) pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, page 82, what is the proportion of (a) lone parents, (b) people with a long-term illness and (c) disabled people of working age in touch with the labour market; what were the proportions in April 1997 and March 1998; and what is his definition of being in touch with the labour market; [54607]

  (11) pursuant to the Green Paper, page 84, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what assessment he has made of the level of collaboration between the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency to promote jobs rather than benefit dependency at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54583]

  (12) pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, page 83, what assessment he has made of public confidence in the quality and regulation of financial services including pensions, at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54611]

  (13) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p85) what assessment he has made of the level of customer satisfaction with the delivery of benefits at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54587]

  (14) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p84) to what extent he has developed a model for tackling the problems of the most deprived areas; and what the model involves; [54591]

  (15) pursuant to the Green Paper page 83, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what are the level of spending on incapacity benefit, the number of claimants and the expenditure on severely disabled people with greatest needs at present; and what they were in April 1997 and March 1998; [54599]

  Benefit accuracy achievements and targets

  Percentages

  1 1 April 1997–30 April 1997

  1 April 1997–31 March 1998

  1 April 1998–30 June 1998

  Benefit

  Achievement

  Target

  Achievement

  Target

  Achievement

  Target

  Jobseeker's Allowance

  87.1

  87

  85.11

  87

  91.0

  87

  Income Support

  80.81

  87

  81.65

  87

  83.57

  87

  Disability Living Allowance

  97.81

  96

  97.10

  96

  97.66

  96

  Attendance Allowance

  98.25

  96

  98.41

  96

  97.44

  96

  Child Benefit

  99

  98

  98.2

  98

  98.3

  98

  Guardian's Allowance

  99

  98

  98.2

  98

  99.7

  98

  746
  (16) pursuant to the Green Paper page 84, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what is the level of support from the tax and benefit systems going to families with children at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998; [54597]

  (17) pursuant to the Green Paper, page 84, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what assessment he has made of the public service ethos and level of job satisfaction and achievement among those working in welfare services at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54585]

  (18) pursuant to the Green Paper page 83, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what assessment he has made of the extent of discrimination against disabled people at present, and as at April 1997 and March 1998; [54601]

  (19) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p84) what is the level of truancy and school exclusion at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998; [54593]

  (20) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm. 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what definition of people of working age out of work for more than two years underlies his target; and on that definition, what are his estimates for (a) the present, (b) April 1997 and (c) March 1998; [54635]

  (21) pursuant to the Green Paper Cm. 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what definition of working age people in work underlies his target; and on this definition, what are the numbers of such people at present; and what they were in April 1997 and March 1998. [54636]

  Mr. Denham
  The success measures which are the subject of these questions were proposed in the Green Paper on welfare reform, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare". They form part of the consultation exercise on the Green Paper which does not end until 31 July. We will make further announcements in due course.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p84) what is the number of incorrect benefit payments, at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54588]

  Mr. Denham
  Information is not available in the format requested. Accurate payment of benefit is of key importance to the Department. Such information as is available, which relates to the accuracy achievements/targets is in the table.
  747

  Benefit accuracy achievements and targets

  Percentages

  1 1 April 1997–30 April 1997

  1 April 1997–31 March 1998

  1 April 1998–30 June 1998

  Benefit

  Achievement

  Target

  Achievement

  Target

  Achievement

  Target

  Family Credit

  94.7

  91

  92.6

  91

  94.9

  91

  Disability Working Allowance

  95

  95

  92.3

  95

  91.6

  94

  Invalid Care Allowance

  94

  95

  96

  95

  97.36

  95

  Incapacity benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Maternity Allowance

  90.41

  94

  91.66

  94

  94.76

  94

  Retirement Pension and Widows Benefits

  93.28

  98

  94.68

  98

  95.5

  96

  War Pensions

  98.11

  95

  96.16

  95

  89.91

  290

  1 Figures for Jobseeker's Allowance, Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance represents achievement to 1 April 1996–31 March 1997

  2 The checking criteria for 1998–99 were widened to include lay and medical adjudication as well as action taken to implement payments

  Notes:
  1. The Department does not collate information relating to the accuracy of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit
  2. Accuracy levels of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Retirement Pensions and Widows Benefits are based on a statistically valid sample selected at random and changes of circumstance in a relevant period. This methodology has been approved by the National Audit Office. The samples are sufficiently large for the results at a national level to be within a margin of error of less than 0.25 per cent.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Green Paper page 84, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for Our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, what is the proportion of parents meeting their financial obligations to their children after separation at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54595]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Percentage of non-resident parents with a full maintenance assessment and paying through the Child Support Agency collection service

  Percentage

  Fully compliant

  Partially compliant

  May 1997

  31.3

  36.1

  February 1998

  41

  28.7

  Note:

  1. These figures do not include non-resident parents with interim maintenance assessments or those who have been assessed to pay nothing

  2. In addition, 19 per cent. of non-resident parents with full maintenance assessments at May 1997, and 17 per cent at February 1998, were paying maintenance directly to the parent with care.

  Source:

  Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Green Paper Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, (p84) what is the amount of money lost in fraudulent payments at present, and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54589]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available. Since fraud involves deception, it is not possible to state with great precision the amount lost through benefit fraud or to provide meaningful estimates for losses at particular points in time.

  In the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future", we have said that, on a conservative estimate, fraud costs some £2 billion a year but that, if all suspected fraud is included in the estimate, losses could be up to around £7 billion. This is based on the results of a number of studies in which samples of
  748
  cases were investigated. A key element of our new anti-fraud strategy is the development of better measures of the amount of losses from fraud, and the savings which flow from particular preventive and detective activities. This will, over time, allow us to refine our estimates of losses and savings as well as to direct anti-fraud resources to where they are most effective.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare, page 83, what are(a) the level of literacy and numeracy skills among 11 year olds, and (b) the number of school leavers with no recognised qualifications at present; and what each was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54604]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the savings on the welfare budget from the introduction of the minimum wage. [54058]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley), gave the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 25 June 1998,Official Report, column 620.

  Child Support
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how(a) current over and under-payments and (b) outstanding arrears are planned to be dealt with under the proposals outlined in the Green Paper on the Child Support Agency. [54117]

  Mr. Denham
  Non-resident parents have a responsibility to support their children, including paying for their upkeep.

  We are not proposing any reassessment of arrears due under the current formula on the introduction of a new child support scheme, as outlined in the Green Paper "Children First: a new approach to child support" (Cm 3992). Non-resident parents will be expected to pay

  749
  the amounts calculated under the present arrangements and appropriate collection and enforcement action will be taken if there are outstanding underpayments or arrears.

  Where child support has been overpaid, we propose to continue the existing arrangements. Non-resident parents will receive full reimbursement for any child support paid over and above their actual liability either through a reduction in the amount of their child support payments or as a lump sum repayment.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish by local social services authority, the total numbers of recipients of disability living allowance for the most recent available date(a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the population of the authority and, (c) the numbers of pensionable age who retain their eligibility for the care component beyond pensionable age. [54196]

  Mr. Denham
  The figures are set out in the table entitled "Recipients of Disability Living Allowance at 31 May 1998, by local authority and population" a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of disability living allowance in Scotland have had their benefit reduced or stopped under the Benefit Integrity Project; and how much money was saved as a result. [53729]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Rendel, dated 30 July 1998
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in Scotland have had their benefit reduced or stopped as a result of a decision taken as part of the Benefits Integrity Project (BIP) and how much money was saved as a result.
  Information on the BIP is not available in the format requested. To provide geographical information routinely would incur high costs and disrupt the processing of ongoing casework.
  As at 31 May 1998, a total of 217,839 cases, including 34,164 renewal cases, have been selected routinely would incur high costs and disrupt the processing of ongoing casework.
  At the same date a total of 94,634 cases have been examined. Of the total cases dealt with 2,191 have resulted in an increase in benefit. 73,035 have remained unchanged, 12,101 have resulted in a reduction in benefit and 7,307 have resulted in benefit being stopped.
  The total includes 20,054 renewal cases, of which 623 have resulted in an increase in benefit, 10,121 have remained unchanged. 5,539 have resulted in a reduction in benefit and 3,771 have resulted in benefit being stopped.
  The BIP is looking again at some awards of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to collect up to date information about the care and mobility needs of some disabled people and to make sure that the correct amount of benefit is being paid. It is expected that the Project will realise benefit savings of £8 million in the first year, £36 million in the second year and £40 million in the third.
  A monthly statistical report can be found in the House of Commons Library.
  I hope that this is helpful.
  750
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those decisions on the payment of disability living allowance which have been reviewed by the Benefit Integrity Project have been incurred on the basis of calculations(a) including exempt categories, (b) excluding renewals and (c) including exempt categories and excluding renewals. [54906]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of those decisions on the payment of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which have been reviewed by the Benefits Integrity Project (BIP) have been incurred on the following basis of calculations (a) including exempt categories, (b) excluding renewals and (c) including exempt categories and excluding renewals.
  The information is not available in the format requested.
  Customers who are in the categories to be looked at by the BIP are those in receipt of Mobility component at the higher rate with either the middle or highest rate of the Care component.
  The customers included in the BIP are selected by means of computer scans. The names of customers who are in the exemption categories for action by the BIP will not appear on the scans and therefore cannot be identified.
  Some cases input onto the system during the conversion from Mobility Allowance to the Mobility component of DLA in 1992 may appear on the scans but are identified under a separate code. This does not show which disability the customer is suffering from and as a result the customer's papers are checked individually by the BIP Operational Teams. Any customers found to be exempt from the BIP are then removed from the work. New disability codes are then entered onto the system and the remaining cases appropriate to be included are actioned by the BIP Teams.
  The total payload of customers in receipt of Disability Living Allowance is 2,018,619 at 31 May 1998. Of these, 561,100 were in receipt of DLA in the categories for inclusion in the BIP.
  As at the 31 May 1998, a total of 217,839 cases, including 34,164 renewal cases were selected for action under the BIP nationally. This does not include 13,725 cases which were found to be exempt and therefore excluded from selection.
  A monthly statistical report can be found in the House of Commons Library.
  I hope you find this helpful.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 317, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54010]

  Mr. Denham
  This Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper, 'A New Deal for Transport', that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.

  Green Transport Plans and Commuting Action Plans are currently being drafted for 20 DSS sites, including headquarter buildings and the major sites in the northwest of the country. These will be in place by 1 April 1999.
  751
  For official journeys revised guidance on the usage of motor vehicles will be published in the new version of the Departments 'Green Guide'.

  Official vehicles that have reached the end of their life with the department will be replaced, where necessary, with dual fuelled vehicles, particularly in environmental `hot spots' such as inner cities.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost to the Social Security budget of claims by asylum seekers in the years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [53585]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Asylum seekers—estimated income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit annual expenditure

  £ million

  Year

  Total estimated annual expenditure

  1995–96

  300

  1996–97

  310

  1997–98

  340

  Notes:

  1. Estimated annual expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest five million pounds

  2. Estimates for February 1997 onwards will include a number of non-asylum seekers which receive Urgent Case Payments for other reasons

  3. Annual expenditure figures for Income Support have been based on an average of four quarters for the relevant financial year, using number of cases and average weekly amounts. Income Support figures are not available for the years 1997–98, data are therefore provided for May 1997 for the year 1997–98

  4. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit estimates have been calculated using the Housing Benefit Management 1 per cent. sample and Departmental Reports, and exclude asylum seekers receiving Housing Benefit who are not receiving Income Support

  5. Information on the other non-contributory benefits is not available

  Source:

  1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiries, May 1995 to May 1997

  2. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample of claimants in receipt of Income Support, at the end of May in each year given

  3. Departmental Report

  Women's Issues
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security following the changed responsibilities of Ministers in his Department in relation to women's issues, what will happen to the Women's Unit; and to which Department it will be attached. [54194]

  Mr. Denham
  As announced on 28 July, the Women's Unit will continue its work and will be part of the Cabinet Office.

  Industrial Injuries Benefits
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his plans to reform(a) industrial injuries benefits and (b) widow's benefits. [54900]
  752
  Mr. Denham
  Modernising the Social Security system is a key priority for the Government. We are, therefore, reviewing major components of the Social Security system, in line with the principles set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper. We will make announcements in due course.

  Hepple Case
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the current position with regard to the Hepple case. [54034]

  Mr. Denham
  The Hepple case is currently being litigated before the Social Security Commissioner and concerns whether the Reduced Earnings Allowance provisions comply with European Community law on grounds of gender. The Commissioner has referred the case to the European Court of Justice for a ruling. We maintain that the Reduced Earnings Allowance provisions are in accordance with our obligations under Community law.

  Child Support Agency (Telephone Helplines)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the CSA telephone helplines are accessible by hearing-impaired and speech-impaired people through the BT Typetalk relay service. [54061]

  Mr. Denham
  We expect the Child Support Agency to provide an efficient and effective service to all its clients throughout the child support assessment process.

  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. Tom Levitt, dated 31 July 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency telephone helplines.
  BT Typetalk is a service which allows members of the public using text phones to make contact with organisations who do not have similar equipment.
  The Agency's telephone helplines are equipped with text phones, therefore we do not require the BT service. If a customer contacts a complete action service team direct, arrangements are made to call them back using aline with text phone.
  The equipment we have enables the hearing-impaired and speech-impaired to make access direct to the Agency and avoid the necessity of having to disclose personal information to a third party.
  Additionally customers are able to take advantage of the Agency's use of local call rate numbers.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action the Government are taking to ensure that self-employed persons are fairly assessed under the CSA and that their ex-partners receive full payments owing to them; and if he will make a statement. [54060]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are consulting on their proposals for reforming the Child Support scheme set out in the Green Paper "Children First: a new approach to child support" (Cm 3992). We are considering assessing
  753
  the income of self-employed parents on the basis of the most recent year's taxable profit in line with the approach used by the Inland Revenue. We will also be looking into the possibility of using information supplied for tax purposes so as to reduce the delay in collecting maintenance.

  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 Miss Geraldine Smith, dated 31 July 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about how the Child Support Agency deals with the self employed.
  The Agency acknowledges that cases where the non-resident parent is self employed can be more difficult to progress, especially where the non-resident parent does not wish to comply. However, once all the required evidence has been collected, the income of a self employed person is assessed in line with the regulations to ensure that the maintenance assessment accurately reflects that income.
  The key to securing early compliance is by personal contact with our customers. By contacting customers by phone at the initial stages of their assessment we aim to build a better relationship with them, address their concerns promptly and provide an improved level of service.
  We have recently completed a pilot study in the South Western Business Unit, looking at how best to process self employed cases. Trials using dedicated staff dealing exclusively with the self employed have shown a marked reduction in processing time and an increase in the collection of maintenance. We intend to have specific sections, supported by accountants where necessary, in each Business Unit to deal exclusively with self employed customers.
  Additionally, to assist us to trace the whereabouts of self employed non-resident parents, we are exploring the possibility of sharing information with other Agencies and Government Departments. We have also revised staff training and raised staff awareness of the Agency's self employed powers, working practices and related issues.
  If all voluntary methods to secure maintenance from a self employed non-resident parent fail, a liability order is applied for. It is hoped that the threat of such action will be enough to ensure compliance. The majority do agree to make an arrangement and only in a very small minority of cases is legal action actually taken.
  We will use any and all enforcement methods legally available but we experience the same difficulties as other litigants in enforcing a civil debt. During 1997/98 we have been successful in registering debt by County Court Judgment in 522 cases. Where all other action has failed, the Agency has pursued cases for prosecution; between October 1997 and March 1998 a total of 15 suspended custodial sentences were imposed. A self employed non-resident parent was recently committed to prison, as a result of non payment of maintenance.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total wastage rate of staff in the Child Support Agency for the period 1 January to 30 June; and if he intends to take measures to reduce this rate. [54035]

  Mr. Denham
  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. Phil Woolas, dated 31 July 1998
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the total wastage rate of staff in the Child Support Agency.
  754
  When calculating a wastage rate we take into account all leavers from the Agency, including retirements (including voluntary early retirements), and staff transferring to other parts of DSS or to other Government Departments as well as those leaving the Civil Service. The calculation also includes a proportion of short term appointed staff whose contracts have expired, some of whom have rejoined as permanent staff.
  The total wastage rate of staff in the Agency from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 1998 was 15.5 per cent. This includes permanent, fixed term appointed and casual staff.
  We are examining the trends and recurring reasons for resignations, we are also looking at geographical influences and how job rotation may be introduced to develop and retain staff. We are currently undertaking a review of our recruitment policy which will look at all areas from human resources planning to retention strategies.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many compensation payments from the Child Support Agency have been awarded in each of the last four years of(a) under £250, (b) £251 to £500, (c) £501 to £1,000, (d) £1,001 to £2,000, (e) £2,001 to £3,000 and (f) £3,001 to £5,000; [51140]

  (2) what was the number of compensation payments from the Child Support Agency for each of the last four years; and what were the total amounts paid. [51139]

  Mr. Denham
  All children have a right to the emotional and financial support of both their parents wherever they live. 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 Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. John Healey, dated 30 July 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency compensation payments.
  Compensation payments are normally referred to as special payments. A special payment is considered where a clear and unambiguous error by the Agency has resulted in distress or in actual financial loss to the customer which is not recoverable through other means.
  A detailed breakdown of payments made for each of the last four years is shown in the attached table.
  The numbers of payments have risen as a result of our actions over the past year to increase the number of cleared backlog maintenance applications (which had accumulated in the Agency during its first 2–3 years). Where the Agency has taken-on cases, the length of time taken to complete a maintenance assessment is measured, and cases which exceed 52 weeks are considered to be a backlog; this backlog currently stands at approximately 110,000 down from 225,000 at 31 March 1997. In 1997/98 the Agency cleared 595,000 maintenance applications compared with 357,000 in 1996/97.
  Additionally, we have increased our customers' awareness of special payments by advising them, where appropriate, how to apply. This will also have an impact on the number of special payments made.
  I am conscious that there are still far too many complaints about the standards of basic customer contact and the service we provide, and we recognise that doing things right first time is the key to preventing complaints. We are aware that as we further tackle our backlog of cases from the Agency's first 2–3 years, there is potential for the volume of complaints to rise in the short term.

  755
  During 1997/98 we developed a series of measures to improve our customer service over the next four years. Our plans are to improve performance standards; improve significantly, computer generated letters; deal with more of our business by telephone forms review; focus on courtesy and helpfulness; cut down delays and improve the way we handle complaints.
  We expect customers to see some real improvements by the end of 1998/99.
  I hope this is helpful.

  The number of special payments made and the total amounts paid out by the Child Support Agency since April 1995

  Year

  Number of payments

  Amount paid (£)

  1995–96

  186

  114,979

  1996–97

  983

  655,821

  1997–98

  2,136

  1,101,313

  1998–991

  858

  888,670

  Total

  4,163

  2,760,783

  1 Up to 30 June 1998

  Breakdown in bands of the number of special payments made

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1 1998–99

  Under £250

  63

  455

  1,341

  425

  £250–£499.99

  42

  136

  311

  122

  £500–£999.99

  37

  180

  205

  99

  £l,000–£ 1,999.99

  32

  144

  151

  74

  £2,000–£2,999.99

  7

  38

  56

  51

  £3,000–£4,999.99

  2

  21

  59

  51

  £5,000+

  3

  9

  13

  36

  Total

  186

  983

  2,136

  858

  1 Up to 30 June 1998

  Widow's Pensions
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to pay interest to widows who have not received their full pension entitlement on time as a result of computer problems; [53450]

  (2) for how long the computer which regulates the payment of widow's pensions has been operating at less than 100 per cent. efficiency; and if he will estimate for how long this is likely to continue; [53447]

  (3) how many widows have not received their full pension entitlement (a) at all and (b) on time as a result of computer problems; and if he will estimate in each case how many more are likely to be resolved. [53449]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Sir Brian Mawhinney, dated 30 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning computer problems and the payment of Widow's Pensions (WP).
  As a result of the modernisation of the Contributions Agency (CA)'s National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) it was necessary to switch off the existing system to enable the transfer of information to the new one to take place. Payable rates of Widows Benefits (WB) are calculated by the NIRS.
  The special payments scheme includes provision for compensation where the payment of benefit is exceptionally delayed due to official error. Compensation is considered where, the amount owed to the widow exceeds £100; payment of WB is delayed by
  756
  more than 4 months and the potential compensation is £10 or more (compensation is calculated using the Average Shares rate supplied by the Building Societies Commission). Compensation is automatically considered where these criteria are satisfied therefore the widow does not need to apply for it.
  The computer migration began on 19 June 1998 and it is planned that NIRS will resume providing WB calculations from 1 September 1998. All claims will be looked at retrospectively once calculations are available. The correct rate of WB will be put into payment and any arrears which are due will be paid.
  The exact number of widows who have not received their full entitlement to WB as a result of not being able to obtain the payable rates from the NIRS computer is not known. Approximately 48,000 women a year qualify for WB and of these it is estimated about 38,000 (730 a week) qualify for WP or Widowed Mother's Allowance (WMA) in addition to the widows payment.
  Between 6 April 1998 and 19 June 1998, NIRS was not able to supply the full payable rates in respect of all the estimated 300 new claims a week entitled to WP or WMA. Payment on these claims is being made on the 'safe' information provided by NIRS. Where appropriate clerical calculations of the widow's entitlement can be made and to date 208 calculations have been performed.
  Since 20 June 1998 NIRS has not provided any payable rates. For women widowed after this date arrangements are in force to make emergency payments at a basic rate plus increases for children. There will be very few, if indeed any, women who are entitled to WB but who do not receive emergency payments. This includes the £1,000 lump sum widows payment.
  The CA and the Benefits Agency are committed to minimising the impact on customers.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Benefit Payments
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what delays were involved in(a) administering and (b) issuing child benefit payment books; how many child benefit payments due were not received as a result of the delays; and if these payments have now been made. [53708]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of Child Benefit 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. David Rendel, dated 30 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what delays were involved in (a) administering and (b) issuing Child Benefit (ChB) payment books; how many ChB payments due were not received as a result of the delays: and if these payments have now been made.
  The information is not available in the format requested. The ChB Centre (CBC) in Washington has, in general encountered no delays in the administering and the issuing of ChB order books.
  I am aware that there were two minor problems in the administration of ChB recently; the first followed changes to the criteria for ChB (Lone Parent) rate and the second followed the transfer of computer records to a different system. The incidents had an impact on only a very small number of customers as a result of corrective action taken by the CBC.
  I hope this information is useful.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households in Scotland(a) were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment, (b) received their winter fuel payment by (i) January,

  757
  (ii) February and (iii) March 1998, (c) received incorrect winter fuel payments and (d) received duplicate winter fuel payments. [53709]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government has 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 during the statement to the House on 17 July 1998, Official Report, columns 703–15, a further £0.5 billion has been allocated to extend the scheme beyond next winter. This will provide each eligible pensioner household with an annual £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. David Rendel dated 30 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioner households in Scotland (a) were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment, (b) received their winter fuel payment by (i) January, (ii) February and (iii) March 1998, (c) received incorrect winter fuel payments and (d) received duplicate winter fuel payments.
  The information is not available in the format requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  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.
  We issued 1,441,614 £50 payments to the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), by 31 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 and if more than one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £10 was made. By the end of March we issued a further 8,326,715 payments to these eligible customers.
  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 voluntary offer to repay any amount would be accepted.
  Of 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
  758
  represents a 0.68 per cent. error rate. In financial terms the total cost of these errors amounts to £488,400, and against 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 in 438 cases both the original and replacement payments have been cashed.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of confirmed cases of benefit fraud among residents of care homes there were in 1997–98; [53818]

  (2) to what extent care homes are targeted in his Department's measures to combat benefit fraud; [53820]

  (3) what measures his Department is taking to combat benefit fraud among residents of care homes. [53819]

  Mr. Denham
  Tackling fraud and abuse is a top priority for the Government. Operational issues are the responsibility of Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 30 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning benefit fraud among residents of care homes.
  The information is not available in the format requested. In 1997/98 Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service (BASIS) who concentrate on serious attacks on the benefit system by organised criminals carried out 1,742 successful investigations. In the same period Benefit Fraud Investigation Service (BFIS) who deal with locally based fraud investigations carried out 547,000 successful investigations. Figures are not broken down to collate by type of benefit claimant such as by resident of care home.
  The BFIS investigates fraud within the benefit system. Investigation takes place when a suspicion of fraud exists, for example following receipt information that a benefit claimant has not disclosed employment or where a benefit recipient's circumstances change (for example going into care) and the BA is not informed. Enquiries are also made of employers including those of care homes where there is suspicion that employees may be committing benefit fraud. Care homes are not specifically targeted in these types of enquiries.
  The BA is undertaking a range of projects and initiatives all of which are designed to achieve a sustained reduction in the level of fraud across the benefit system. Suspicion of fraud by residents of care homes would be investigated by the BA professionally and sensitively. The Government's recent Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future" sets out a comprehensive strategy for tackling fraud in the wider context of welfare reform.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements. [54993]

  Mr. Denham
  I will write to the hon. Member.
  759

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claimants of incapacity benefit who have been required to undertake the all work test; [53961]

  (2) how many claimants of incapacity benefit have not satisfied the requirements of the all work test in the opinion of the Benefits Agency Medical Services Medical Officer; [53966]

  (3) how many claimants of incapacity benefit who have appealed against decisions of the Benefits Agency Medical Services Medical Officer that they did not satisfy the requirements of the all work test have had their appeals upheld after (a) an oral and (b) a paper hearing. [53967]

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

  Decisions on entitlement to Incapacity Benefit are made by independent Adjudication Officers in the light of all the evidence, including medical advice from the claimant's GP, other medical practitioners where relevant, and the Benefits Agency Medical Services Medical Officer.

  The All Work Test is a functional assessment of a person's ability to carry out a range of work-related activities: in some but not all cases a medical examination by the Benefits Agency Medical Services is required.

  From 13 April 1995 to 30 June 1998, a total of 2,920,2021 All Work Test decisions were made and a total of 565,5832 claims were disallowed.

  Details of appeals outcomes split between oral and paper hearings are only available from July 1997. From July 1997 to April 1998 the Independent Tribunal Service heard 26,778 appeals on Incapacity Benefit (All Work Test). Of these 19,691 were oral hearings with 9,803 being found in favour of the appellant. The remaining 7,087 were paper hearings with 853 found in the appellant's favour.

  Appellants are asked if they want to attend the hearing of their appeal. The Department's appeals leaflet makes it clear that appellants who attend or are represented at hearings have a higher success rate and encourages people to attend the hearing.

  Notes:

  1 Includes Incapacity Benefit recipients and credits only cases, and Severe Disablement Allowance cases allowed following BAMS referral

  2 Includes claimants disallowed for failure to return the IB50 questionnaire or to attend a medical examination, without good cause

  Source:

  1. All Work Test decisions and disallowances—100 per cent. count of the computer system, excludes a small number of cases not on the system

  2. Appeals—provisional data supplied by Analytical Services Division (ASD) from the Independent Tribunal Service Generic Appeals Processing System,

  Benefits (Savings)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate his Department has made of the 760
  average savings in benefit expenditure for each unemployed claimant of benefits who gains full-time employment. [53959]

  Mr. Denham
  The cost of unemployment-related benefits per unemployed person per year, is estimated at 1998–99 benefit levels at £3,8501. The extent of any savings arising from individuals moving from benefits into work would depend on their entitlement to in-work benefits such as Family Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Note:

  1 For the purposes of calculating this figure, unemployment related benefits are defined as Jobseeker's Allowance, and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit payments to people in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Chief Adjudication Officer
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the 14th annual report of the Chief Adjudication Officer; and if he will make a statement. [54885]

  Angela Eagle
  The report is being published today. The Chief Adjudication Officer's findings record a continuing improvement in the majority of decisions made by both the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service.

  It is encouraging to read about the numerous initiatives that have been introduced to tackle weaknesses and improve overall performance. The initiatives are already helping to improve decision making. This is particularly good news as we approach 1999 when the provisions of the Social Security Act 1998 come into force. These provisions will build on current improvements and ensure that the way decisions are made and appealed is straightforward for both customers and decision-makers alike. The changes are a further step in the transformation of the Social Security system into an Active Modern Service. The Act also introduces important changes to the monitoring of decisions. Responsibility for monitoring the standards of decision-making within the Agencies will transfer to the relevant Chief Executives.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many veterans who have been awarded war pensions for illnesses arising out of their service in the 1991 Gulf War are suffering from(a) post-traumatic stress disorder, (b) irritable bowel syndrome, (c) chronic fatigue syndrome, (d) irritable bladder, (e) asthma, (f) respiratory disorders and (g) signs and symptoms of ill-defined conditions; and how many of these have been awarded pensions for suffering two or more of these conditions; [54536]

  (2) how many veterans to date have been awarded war pensions for illnesses arising out of their service in the 1991 Gulf War; [54535]

  (3) how many veterans diagnosed with Gulf War syndrome have been refused war pensions. [54537]

  Mr. Denham
  One of our key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.
  761
  Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 July 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the number of War Pensions awarded for medical conditions relating to the Gulf Conflict.
  I regret that the information is not available in the format requested. The War Pensions Agency does record statistics on claims from Gulf War veterans. However, such claims may relate to injuries etc received at any time whilst serving, not just during service in the Gulf Conflict. A War Pension may be awarded for any disablement which can be causally linked to service. At the end of June 1998, a total of 2315 claims had been identified for medical conditions relating to ex-servicemen whose service included the Gulf Conflict. 1610 awards of War Pension have been made.
  Of the 2315 claims, 537 have been received where a Gulf Veteran had made reference to a "Gulf War related illness". Of these, 283 have been awarded a pension, 44 have been rejected and 22 claims were withdrawn or lapsed. However, I am advised that medical research carried out to date has not identified a specific "Gulf Related illness". Consequently, no claims have been awarded or rejected for "Gulf War Syndrome".
  Information on the number of Gulf Veterans receiving pension payments for the conditions Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bladder, Asthma, Respiratory Disorders and Signs and Symptoms of Ill Defined Conditions is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gas Exploration Industry
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to meet representatives of the gas exploration industry to discuss proposals set out in the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation consultation document. [49635]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 9 July 1998]: The Minister for Science, Energy and Industry met representatives of the UK Offshore Operators Association on 16 July, and of Shell on 27 July to discuss the Review.

  Motor Dealers
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the introduction of the licensing of motor dealers in some Scottish regions; and what plans she has to extend the scheme to other regions. [51206]

  Dr. Howells
  No assessment has been made of the introduction of licensing of second-hand motor dealers which is at the discretion of individual local authorities in Scotland under powers in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 which enables them to license all second-hand dealers for the purposes of preserving public order and safety and the prevention of crime. There are no plans to extend the scheme to other regions beyond Scotland.

  Export Credits (Sri Lanka)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of export credits were available for Sri Lanka for each of the years 1994 to 1997; and in each year what amount was cover for military exports. [51797]
  762
  Mr. Mandelson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 9 June 1998,Official Report, columns 504–05, which will provide the full details requested.

  My hon. Friend will see from this that during these years ECGD issued guarantees for export credits to Sri Lanka totalling £257 million. None of these related to defence business.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans she has to increase the target percentage of electricity to be generated from renewable sources of energy by 2010; [52444]

  (2) if she will increase in real terms Government spending on direct research and development of renewable sources of energy; and if she will make a statement; [52433]

  (3) how much money she plans to allocate to research into renewable energy technologies in each of the years covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review; [52439]

  (4) what is the current level of Government funding of research into (a) offshore wind farms, (b) onshore wind farms, (c) tidal wave power schemes and (d) photovoltaic panels; and what was the value of departmental spending for each in real terms for each of the last four years. [52452]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources in line with our manifesto commitment. To this end, I am reviewing policy towards new and renewable sources of energy, including consideration of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010 and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reductions. The review, which is nearing completion, is examining the status of all the new and renewable energy technologies and the UK industry and their future prospects in both home and export markets. It is also considering what further research, development, and demonstration is needed in the longer term. I expect to announce the outcome of the review later this year.

  Expenditure on the New and Renewable Energy Programme was cut significantly by the previous Government in the years following publication of their policy and strategy in Energy Paper Number 62, entitled "New and Renewable Energy Technology: Future Prospects for the UK", and further cuts were planned. Expenditure under the Wind sub-programme was reduced from £2.7 million in 1994–95 to £1.2 million (net) in 1997–98. Similarly the expenditure under the Solar sub-programme fell from £2.1 million in 1994–95 to £1.6 million (net) in 1997–98.

  Since coming into office, I have reversed the planned cuts in the overall programme budget set by the previous Government, increasing provision for 1998–99 by £2 million to £11.1 million (net). For Wind and Solar energy, expenditure in 1998–99 can be expected to remain broadly in line with that in 1997–98, subject to project recruitment and progress. No expenditure on Tidal energy is expected in 1998–99 following the previous

  763
  Government's earlier decision to close that programme. Beyond 1998–99 expenditure will depend on the outcome of the current policy review.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on Government policy on renewable energy; [54109]

  (2) what plans he has to remove the special treatment offered to renewable energy. [54656]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources in line with our manifesto commitment. To this end, I am reviewing policy towards new and renewable sources of energy, including consideration of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010 and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reductions. The review, which is nearing completion, is examining the status of all the new and renewable energy technologies and the UK industry and their future prospects in both home and export markets. It is also considering what further research, development, and demonstration is needed for the longer term. I expect to announce the outcome of the review later this year.

  Office Hours
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the normal office hours of senior civil servants in her Department. [52565]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: Senior civil servants in my Department are required to sign a personal contract which states (for those with a full time contract):
  "You are required to work a minimum (over a 5 day week) of 41 hours elsewhere, including daily meal breaks of one hour. As a senior civil servant, you will be required to work such additional hours as may from time to time be reasonable and necessary for the efficient performance of your duties."

  The hours worked by part-time senior civil servants are subject to individual arrangements.

  Milk Marque
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to refer the consequences of the major dairy companies' refusal to submit bids in the July 1998 Milk Marque selling round to the MMC; and if she will make a statement. [52555]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 27 June 1998]: The Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) asked the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) to investigate the supply of raw milk in Great Britain on 27 January 1998, under the monopoly provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

  This is now a matter for the MMC. The reference enables the MMC to look at all relevant aspects of the supply of raw milk in England, Scotland and Wales, and it will take on board the actions of the parties to the latest selling round in its inquiry.
  764
  Any evidence that the dairy companies may have colluded in refusing to submit bids in Milk Marque's latest selling round may be a matter to be considered by the DGFT under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976. If the hon. Member has evidence of such collusion he should bring it to the attention of the DGFT at the following address:

  Mr. John Bridgeman

  Director General of Fair-Trading

  Office of Fair Trading

  Field House

  15–25 Bream's Buildings

  LONDON

  EC4A 1PR.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance her Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52308]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department does not undertake the construction of new buildings. However, in the refurbishment of existing buildings the Department meets all its statutory duties related to the removal of asbestos, and the Department's overriding policy is not to use asbestos based materials during the construction phase of the works and not to specify the use of such materials.

  Research Establishments
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment the Government have taken on the previous Administration's Prior Options reviews of the public sector research establishments. [52149]

  Mr. Battle
  During December 1996 the previous Administration completed "prior options" reviews of 38 Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), the results of which were announced in January 1997. The outcome for the majority of the establishments was retention in the public sector.

  Over the last few months, I and my Ministerial colleagues have been considering our joint approach to the specific outcomes of these reviews. The majority of these proposed a range of measures to ensure the establishments were managed as effectively and efficiently as possible, most of which are already being implemented. The Government have concluded that the implementation of these measures should continue, since they improve value-for-money and the provision of high quality services. This was taken forward in the context of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review.

  The following PSREs were involved in the reviews:

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  Central Laboratory for the Research Councils

  Babraham Institute

  Institute for Animal Health

  Institute of Arable Crops Research

  Institute of Food Research

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  John Innes Centre

  Roslin Institute

  Silsoe Research Institute

  British Geological Survey

  765

  Centre for Coastal and Marine Science

  Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

  Dunn Nutrition Unit

  Radiobiological Mechanisms Unit1

  Radiobiological Biology Unit

  Toxicology Unit

  Virology Unit2

  Central Science Laboratory

  Directorate of Fisheries Research3

  Horticulture Research International

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency

  Health and Safety Laboratory

  National Institute of Biological Standards and Control

  National Radiological Protection Board

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  Police Scientific Development Branch

  Fisheries Research Services

  Forestry Commission Research Division

  Hannah Research Institute

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  Moredun Research Institute

  Rowett Research Institute

  Scottish Agriculture Science Agency

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  1 Comprising the former Mammalian Genetics Unit and the Radiation and Genome Stability Unit

  2 Under the previous Administration, it was agreed to transfer the Virology Unit to the University of Glasgow. However, it has since been decided not to transfer the Unit, since the complex practical issues flagged in the original announcement have proved insurmountable, and the benefits are uncertain. Closer scientific links will be pursued in other ways. Staff at the Institute have already been informed

  3 Now named the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

  We shall examine opportunities for commercial exploitation of research ideas originating in these establishments.

  ADAS and the Building Research Establishment were privatised by the previous Administration.

  Funeral Industry
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the regulation of the United Kingdom funeral industry; and if he will make a statement. [53040]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: During the course of discussions with interested parties on the measures to regulate pre-payment funeral plans, the Department has received representations concerning regulation of the "at need" funeral industry. We have called upon the industry to raise standards of consumer services. I do not believe that registration of funeral directors is warranted or justified. I have every confidence that funeral directors are, on the whole, offering high standards of service and believe that it would be unfair to burden them with the additional costs of regulation.
  766

  Credit Interest Rates
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to protect consumers from retailers who charge excessive interest for credit. [53693]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The extortionate credit provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 already apply to retailers and other lenders. The Director General of Fair Trading is consulting on the adequacy of these provisions. Before considering further action I will study the evidence this exercise produces and his proposals.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [52699]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: Disaggregated information in the form requested, which is not held centrally within the Department, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Airports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the issue of the ownership of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports by the same company to the MMC. [54519]

  Dr. Howells
  Any competition concerns arising from the common ownership of these airports should be made to the Director General of Fair Trading, who will investigate.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those organisations that (i) opposed and (ii) supported the ownership of the three south-east of England airports by the same company during the last MMC investigation of this issue. [54518]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The question of the continued ownership of the three airports by BAA plc was not part of the references by the CAA to the MMC initiating the 1996 quinquennial review. The MMC's consideration of whether there should be a change in the structure of ownership was instead based on whether the three airports had been pursuing a course of conduct for which this would be an appropriate remedy. The CAA references did ask whether there had been courses of conduct which operated or might have been expected to operate against the public interest, and this question was the focus of comment from most of the 87 parties which expressed views. The MMC found that there was no such course of conduct for which a change in the structure of ownership would be an appropriate remedy.

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53954]
  767
  Mr. Mandelson
  DTI' s executive agencies provide a considerable amount of information to their customers and to the general public in pursuit of their objectives. None has particular procedures for identifying persistent inquiries for information.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ensure no additional financial resources are provided to BNFL to subsidise the programme of liquid radioactive waste treatment required at Sellafield following decisions agreed at the Ministerial meeting of the Ospar Convention in Sintra. [54400]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government will continue to set financial targets for BNFL which take into account the cost of dealing with the nuclear liabilities for which they are responsible.

  Vanity Publishers
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to regulate vanity publishers. [53429]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I have no plans to introduce specific legislation on vanity publishing. I believe that existing consumer protection legislation is adequate to deal with those unscrupulous companies who may seek to exploit authors. This includes the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, the Misrepresentation Act 1967, the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that conflicts of interest do not arise in cases where political advisers are not paid out of public funds. [53600]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: I do not have any political advisers who are not paid out of public funds.

  Bookmakers' Odds
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to include the display of odds by on-course bookmakers within the scope of legislation implementing the EC Directive 98/6/EC on Consumer Protection in the Indication of Prices of Products Offered to Consumers. [53717]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: No. EC Directive 98/6/EC (in common with previous UK and EU legislation in this area) relates specifically to the prices of products and does not cover betting odds.

  Neither my Department, nor the Home Office, which is responsible for betting policy, has received any representations that the UK's implementing legislation should be extended in this way.

  Policy Agenda Meeting
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he accepted the invitation to 768
  speak to a meeting, organised by GPC Market Access, on the policy agenda of the Labour Party Conference, the European Union and other matters. [53609]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: No formal invitation was issued.

  Welsh Language Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his Department received notification from the Welsh Language Board in relation to the need to prepare a Welsh language scheme; on what date his Department and the Board held consultations on such a scheme; when a scheme was formally submitted to the Board; and if it has been approved. [53354]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: My Department has not received any such notification.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reviews are currently being carried out in respect of(a) the Radiocommunications Agency, (b) Companies House, (c) the Patent Office, (d) Employment Tribunals Service and (e) ACAS; and if he will indicate their remit. [53276]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: No reviews are currently being carried out in respect of these bodies.

  Departmental Policies (Scientific Advice)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Office of Science and Technology's guidelines on the use of Scientific Advice in Policy Making by Government Departments. [55236]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Government place great importance on the implementation of the guidelines as a way of ensuring the highest standards of integrity and openness in their use of scientific advice. The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Robert May, has recently compiled a report in conjunction with departmental Chief Scientists on how the guidelines are being implemented by Departments. The main conclusions from this work are set out in a report, a copy of which has been today placed in the Library of the House.

  The guidelines were prepared only a year ago but it is encouraging to see that there is already a high level of compliance across Departments. The report contains a number of examples of good practice, but it is also clear that there is a good deal of scope for further action. There is a considerable amount which Departments can learn from each other and we look forward to further progress in the next twelve months.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Accounts and Annual Report for the New Millennium Experience Company will be published. [54393]

  Mr. Mandelson
  They were published yesterday.
  769
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of his working week he intends to allocate to the Millennium Experience. [54441]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I will spend as much time as is necessary on matters relating to the New Millennium Experience Company.

  Electricity Industry
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for the supply of electricity following the decision to close eight nuclear power stations within 10 years; and which sectors of the electricity generation market he expects to develop further capacity to account for any shortfall. [53314]

  Mr. Battle
  There has been no decision to close eight nuclear power stations within the next 10 years.

  The Government are currently considering responses to the consultation document on their Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and will announce their policy when the review is complete.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what proportion carbon dioxide emissions are increased per unit of electricity generated by the fitting of FGD technology to an average coal-fired power station. [53311]

  Mr. Battle
  The increase in the production of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity from a coal-fired power station fitted with Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) of the wet limestone type fitted in the UK varies with a number of factors such as the sulphur and chlorine content of the coal and the electrical load, but would be typically in the range 3.5–7 per cent. This would be derived from the sulphur dioxide neutralisation process and from the corresponding drop in thermal efficiency of the power station arising from the electricity needed to power the FGD plant.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of whether the United Kingdom policy of discriminating against new gas-fired power stations will conflict with European Commission competition rules. [53323]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government's proposals arising from the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation, announced for consultation on 25 June, are considered to be fully consistent with European law.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the(a) current and (b) forthcoming rounds of coal contracts for electricity generation involve subsidy from (i) public funds or (ii) the generators; and what the levels of subsidy are likely to be. [53325]

  Mr. Battle
  In the preliminary conclusions of its Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation, the Government made it clear that coal purchase decisions, including price and other terms of supply, were a commercial matter for the generators. They also made it clear that they did not propose to subsidise any part of the UK coal industry.
  770
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the gas-fired electricity generating industry is not damaged by unfair competition. [53324]

  Mr. Battle
  The government's proposals arising from the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation were published for consultation on 25 June. We are now considering the responses and will announce our final conclusions shortly, once the material has been assessed.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the percentage contribution to United Kingdom energy needs of clean coal technology in(a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010, (d) 2015 and (e) 2020. [53327]

  Mr. Battle
  No estimates have been made on the percentage contribution cleaner coal technology will eventually make to UK energy supply or when existing coal capacity will be replaced. The timing for investment in cleaner coal technology is a matter for the generating companies.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the coal-fired electricity generation plant in the United Kingdom, together with the expected operational life of each plant. [54251]

  Mr. Battle
  Electricity generators are private sector companies and the operational life of their plant is a commercial matter for them.

  According to the Electricity Association, the trade association for the electricity industry, there are 24 coal fired power stations in the United Kingdom:
  National Power: Aberthaw B, Blyth A, Blyth B, Didcot A, Drax, Eggborough, Willington B, Tilbury B
  PowerGen: Cottam, Ferrybridge C, Fiddlers Ferry, Ratcliffe, Kingsnorth
  Eastern Group: Drakelow C, High Marnham, Ironbridge, Rugely B, West Burton
  Scottish Power: Cockenzie, Longannet, Methil (coal slurry)
  Alcan: Lynemouth
  Nigen: Belfast West, Kilroot.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will set out for each United Kingdom planning region the estimated capital investment represented by all current outstanding applications for sections 14 and 36 Electricity Act consents; [54252]

  (2) if he will list for each United Kingdom planning region the estimated employment in (a) construction, (b) manufacturing and (c) operation if all current application for sections 14 and 36 Electricity Act consents were granted. [54253]

  Mr. Battle
  No such estimates are available. This is not information collected for the purposes of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and section 14 of the Energy Act 1976.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution to the Government's target of a 20 per cent reduction in Carbon Dioxide emissions will be made by the electricity industry. [53986]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Government will publish shortly a consultation paper on the policy options for achieving their climate change targets. This will focus on their
  771
  legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. as well as looking at measures for moving beyond that to its domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO2. The paper will look at the scope for emission reductions in all sectors, including the electricity industry.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's policy of building(a) gas-fired and (b) coal-fired power stations. [53980]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998j: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2 of chapter 5 of the consultation document on the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation, published on 25 June 1998.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what priority he accords to obtaining cheaper electricity for consumers in determining his energy policy. [53984]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The consultation document of 25 June 1998 proposed the continuation of the existing energy policy objective of secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what international agreements cover the operation of the electricity interconnector between the United Kingdom and France; what principal obligations they impose on the parties; and when they are subject to renegotiation. [54672]

  Mr. Battle
  The operation of the electricity interconnector between the United Kingdom and France is covered by a private commercial agreement between the National Grid Company plc and Electricitè de France signed in 1993, the terms of which are confidential. I understand that this agreement expires in 2001.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the impact on investment of the extended moratorium on the construction of gas-fired power stations. [54003]

  Mr. Battle
  In relation to gas-fired power stations, if, as a result of a stricter consents policy, plant does not proceed which otherwise would have done, then the corresponding investment will obviously not take place. It is not possible to quantify the overall effect precisely, because both the number of applications which would be made, and whether they would have actually gone ahead, are uncertain.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry until what date he proposes to continue the moratorium on the building of new gas-fired power stations. [54237]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2 of chapter 5 of the consultation document on the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation, published on 25 June 1998.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the arrangements under which companies with consent to build or run gas power stations may buy gas on long-term contract. [54120]
  772
  Mr. Mandelson
  This is a matter upon which views were sought in the consultation on the preliminary conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation. We shall be announcing our conclusions shortly, once the responses to the consultation have been assessed.

  Parcelforce
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of Parcelforce. [54243]

  Mr. Mandelson
  As my right hon. Friend the President of the Council announced on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 63, the Government are committed to the Post Office remaining in the public sector. Against that background, the Government are reviewing the Post Office's organisation, structure and financing with a view to ensuring that the Post Office can be given greater commercial freedom to enable it to compete effectively in the UK and overseas. The review includes consideration of the future status of Parcelforce, and the potential for its return to profitability

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the minimum wage on inflation levels. [54108]

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the wage inflation implications of the minimum wage. [54454]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Government do not believe that the decisions they have taken on the National Minimum Wage will have an adverse effect on inflation.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will publish forecasts on employment levels of the impact of the introduction of the minimum wage. [54453]

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if his Department will now publish forecasts of the jobs impact of the minimum wage; [54245]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the different employment impacts in different regions of the United Kingdom of the introduction of the minimum wage. [54936]

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish his Department's forecasts of the effect on jobs of the minimum wage. [54514]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 23 June 1998,Official Report, column 473.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the timetable for the planned implementation of the national minimum wage legislation. [54032]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  In her statement announcing the Government's response to the Low Pay Commission's recommendations on 18 June 1998,Official Report,

  773
  column 507, the then President of the Board of Trade announced that the National Minimum Wage would be implemented from April 1999.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies he has carried out into the indirect impact of implementation of the national minimum wage on wage differentials. [54670]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government share the view of the Low Pay Commission that at the rate it is proposed to set the National Minimum Wage any impact on pay differentials should be limited. There is little empirical evidence to suggest that a minimum wage set at a sensible level, as we have done, should cause workers to press for restoration of differentials.

  Millennium Dome (Sponsors)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard terms and conditions of a corporate sponsorship agreement with the New Millennium Experience Company Limited. [54398]

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 82, if he will list the range of benefits offered to sponsors by the NMEC. [54578]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The uniqueness of the Millennium Experience has required the New Millennium Experience company (NMEC) to develop policies, strategies, and standards across many aspects of the project for which there are no templates, precedents, or off-the-shelf solutions. This has applied to the sponsorship arrangements in particular. The Company's strategy is to deliver its testing sponsorship target through a range of sponsorship categories, each with terms and conditions and benefits commensurate with the level of sponsorship involved. During the first phase the Company has concentrated on the Founding Partner category at a sponsorship value of at least £12 million. The standard terms, conditions, and benefits applying to each category of sponsorship are being documented formally, and I will ensure that copies are placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are completed.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what inducements are offered to companies to sponsor zones in the Millennium Experience; and what advertising is permitted in these zones; [51275]

  (2) what rules will govern the promotion by firms sponsoring zones in the Millennium Dome of themselves and their products and services in the zones sponsored; [52524]

  (3) what advertising by commercial sponsors is to be allowed in the Millennium Experience brochures. [52525]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) retains overall editorial control of all exhibit zones and other features within the Millennium Experience Dome. This enables the company to protect the integrity of the Experience as the focus for the nation's Millennium celebrations and to protect its educational, inspirational and enjoyment values. There are no "inducements" offered to companies to sponsor exhibit zones; each company takes its own commercial decision 774
  as to the benefits of being involved and associated with this unique, once-in-lifetime project. The broad terms, conditions and benefits applying to the different categories of sponsorship are being formally documented by the NMEC and copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are completed.

  Community Pharmacies
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assurances his Department gave to the Community Pharmacy Action Group in relation to resale price maintenance. [54242]

  Dr. Howells
  We have made it clear to the Community Pharmacy Action Group, as we did to the House, that we recognise the important role that community pharmacies play and that we would expect the Restrictive Practices Court to consider fully the issues relating to the retention and abolition of resale price maintenance for over-the-counter medicines, including the effect on local communities of possible pharmacy closures. We have also said that we would wish to take a robust line with the European Commission if, following a decision by the Restrictive Practices Court with respect to the continuation of the exemption for over-the-counter medicines under the Resale Prices Act, the Commission took action which flew in the face of that decision.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of community pharmacies which will close as a result of the ending of resale price maintenance. [54241]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My Department has not made an estimate.

  The Director General of Fair Trading has considered the impact upon community pharmacies of the removal of resale price maintenance in his January 1998 report "Material Changes in the Medicaments Market since 1970". A copy of his report has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Emission Targets
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of projected increases in the quantity of coal to be burned on the UK's emission targets. [54002]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 19 of chapter 5 of the consultation document published on 25 June.

  Energy Prices
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the measures contained in the Government's recent statement on energy policy on prices to consumers. [53999]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 17 and 18 of Chapter 5 of the consultation document published on 25 June.

  Leave Entitlements
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if an annual leave entitlement of three weeks under the Working Time Directive will be applicable in
  775
  those industries which have not normally offered such leave; and what would be the cost to business of this entitlement. [54033]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  All workers under the scope of the working time regulations will have an entitlement to paid annual leave. Workers involved in transport, sea fishing, other work at sea and doctors in training are excluded from the Working Time Directive. An estimate of the costs and benefits are set out in the regulatory appraisal included in the consultation document. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Competition Bill
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the fee to be charged to businesses seeking advice from the Director General of Fair Trading under the provision of the Competition Bill [Lords]. [54095]

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce the fee which will be charged to businesses under the Competition Bill proposals. [54239]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Clauses 51 and 53 of the Competition Bill [Lords] currently before Parliament provide for the Director General of Fair Trading to make rules about procedural matters including the charging of fees. In preparing such rules the Director General must consult such persons as he considers appropriate. Such consultation on fees will take place after Royal Assent, either as part of the general consultation or separately.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has revised its estimates of the compliance costs to business arising from the Competition Bill [Lords] to reflect changes during the Bill's passage. [54240]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Department published a revised estimate of compliance costs to business arising from the Competition Bill when the Bill was introduced into the House to reflect such changes made in another place.

  Millennium Dome (Power)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to promote efficient use of power within the Millennium Dome. [54465]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The Dome structure was conceived and developed as an energy and resource-efficient means of housing a range of exhibits and attractions appropriate to the conditions of the Greenwich peninsular site. The Dome does not provide a conventionally controlled environment; it is not air conditioned, and heating and cooling provisions have been minimised to reflect the fact that visitors will be wearing clothing appropriate to "outdoor" conditions. In addition, the translucency of the Dome cladding material allows the interior to be naturally lit for much of the year. It is inevitable that operating a large-scale visitor attraction requires a significant quantity of power, but the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will seek to minimise this requirement where it is practical to do so.
  776

  Poverty Pay
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will define poverty pay; and what are his plans to eliminate it. [54470]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Poverty pay is where an individual has to work excessive hours at low rates of pay to ensure a decent standard of living for themselves and their families. The National Minimum Wage, along with other measures such as the Working Families Tax Credit, forms part of the Government's strategy to make work pay and put an end to such exploitation.

  Employment Law Reform
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for employment law reform; and in which areas of employment practice. [54471]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government's proposals to reform employment law and to encourage good employment practices based on partnership were published in the Fairness at Work White Paper on 21 May.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long he will give companies to adjust their employment systems once the regulations are passed that will bring into effect the Working Time Directive and the requirement to give three weeks paid holiday. [54466]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Working Time Regulations, which implement the Working Time Directive, come into force on 1 October.

  Tech Stars Steering Group
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the Tech Stars Steering Group; when it last met and what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54511]

  Mr. Battle
  The current membership of the Tech Stars Steering Group is:

  Ronald Cohen (Chair): Apax Partners and Co.

  Peter Agar: CBI

  Sue Birley: Imperial College

  Hermann Hauser: Amadeus Capital Partners Ltd.

  Guy Herrington: DTI SME Policy Directorate

  Alistair Keddie: DTI Innovation Unit

  Craig Pickering: HM Treasury

  Adrian Piper: Bank of England.

  The last meeting was 3 July 1998 (Dr. Hauser was unable to attend) at which the Group discussed progress on current actions in the areas of commercialisation of university research and corporate venturing. It also discussed what actions the Group might take in the area of European risk capital markets, and an interest was shown in understanding more about the US Small Business Innovation Research scheme.

  The next meeting will be in late September, although a date has yet to be fixed.
  777

  Competitiveness Working Party
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on maximising competitiveness in Europe; when it last met; what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54507]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Membership of the competitiveness working party on maximising competitiveness in Europe, chaired by Lord Simon of Highbury, is as follows:

  Peter Agar, Deputy Director-General, Confederation of British Industry

  Keith Bogg, Divisional Director, Marks & Spencer plc

  Sir John Carter, Chief Executive, Commercial Union plc

  C. K. Chow, Chief Executive, GKN plc

  Iain Evans, Chairman, The LEK Partnership

  Donald Hepburn, Senior Business Economist, Unilever plc

  John Langston, Chief Executive Officer—Automotive, TI Group plc

  Peter Lehmann, Commercial Director, Centrica plc

  Christopher King, Chairman, Avon Rubber plc

  Henry Manisty, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Reuters Ltd.

  Keith McCullagh, Chief Executive Officer, British Biotech plc

  John Mellon, Director, Reed Elsevier plc.

  The group last met on 22 April and the agenda comprised four topics: the development of the future White Paper on competitiveness; the current Government campaign to prepare business for the introduction of a single currency in Europe; the Social Chapter and European employment legislation; and standards and mutual recognition within the European Single Market.

  A date has not yet been fixed for the meeting of the group.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the Competitiveness Working Party on enhancing business performance through developing individuals; when it last met and what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54510]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Competitiveness Working Party on enhancing business performance through developing individuals last met under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) on 10 March to discuss employability and the first draft of the report to the Secretary of State. No further meetings are currently planned. The current membership of the Working Party is:

  Brendan Barber, Deputy General Secretary, Trades Union Congress

  Bruce Collings, General Manager, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Ltd.

  David Compston, Managing Director, Allott & Lomax

  Jeremy Crook, Chief Executive, Black Training and Enterprise Group

  Jeannie Drake, Deputy General Secretary, Communication Workers Union

  Anthony Dubbins, General Secretary, GMPU

  John Edmonds, General Secretary, GMB

  Professor Alan Gibb, Chairman, Small Business Centre, Durham University Business School

  Allan Johnston, Personnel Director, British Steel plc

  Mike Kinski, Chief Executive, Stagecoach Holdings

  778

  Anne Minto, Director—Human Resources, Smiths Industries

  Tony Morgan, Managing Director, Industrial Society

  Stephen Moss, Chairman, Springboard

  John Oliver, Chief Executive, Leyland Trucks Ltd.

  Bryan Sanderson, Managing Director, The British Petroleum Company plc

  Peter Smith, Chief Executive, Wigan Borough Council

  Ann Toler, Head of Personnel, Boots The Chemists Ltd.

  Perween Warsi, Managing Director, S&A Foods Ltd.

  Cecilia Wells, HR Consultant

  Gwenda Williams, Human Resource Manager, Hyder plc.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies in the coal mining industry in the next three years. [53985]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Levels of employment in the coal-mining industry will depend upon commercial decisions taken by the private sector coal companies.

  International Space Station
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his predecessor's letter of 27 May, what was the result of the review by the Manned Space Board and the International Relations Committee of ESA of the policy and financial implications of changes to the International Space Station schedule. [54056]

  Mr. Battle
  The Manned Space Board and the International Relations Committee of ESA are continuing to keep these issues under review. There have been no developments affecting the UK since the letter by the then President of the Board of Trade, now President of the Council, of 27 May 1998.

  Coral-Ladbrokes Merger
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the proposed sale of Coral to Ladbrokes; and if he will make a statement. [54668]

  Dr. Howells
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) have delivered their report on the acquisition by Ladbrokes of the Coral betting business to the Secretary of State. The report will be published as soon as practicable.

  New Environmental Technologies
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential market for British manufacturers of new environmental technologies. [54849]

  Mr. Battle
  Research suggests that the total global environmental market is worth $280 billion now and likely to grow to over $640 billion by 2010. More details can be found in "Global Environmental Markets: An Update", published by the Government's Joint Environmental Markets Unit.
  779

  Post Office
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the(a) the Post Office and (b) Parcelforce. [54655]

  Mr. Mandelson
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council when President of the Board of Trade, on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 63, the Government plan to give the Post Office greater commercial freedom so that it can meet the challenges of the domestic and international markets, and deliver improved efficiency, effectiveness and service standards. The Government commissioned a review of public sector options for achieving this. It encompasses consideration of Parcelforce. The review is proceeding apace and I hope to announce our proposals in the Autumn.

  Nuclear Reprocessing Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) of 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 631, when he expects the transport of spent fuel from Germany to Sellafield will resume. [54419]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department has responsibilities for the safe transport of radioactive materials. My German counterpart with these responsibilities announced, on 25 May, a ten point plan which, when fully implemented, would allow shipments to resume. At present I am unaware of any established timetable for this implementation. My officials are in contact with their German counterparts and will give any help possible to enable them to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion. I must emphasise that the resumption of shipments of spent fuel within Germany is a matter for the German Authorities.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total cost to public funds of his recent visit to Brazil including the cost incurred by accompanying officials broken down by(a) travel costs and (b) accommodation and subsistence. [52840]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The cost of my trip to Brazil, as Minister without Portfolio, was approximately £6,400 for travel and £328 for accommodation. I was not accompanied by officials from the UK.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the purpose of his recent visit to Brazil; and how many officials accompanied him on the visit. [52839]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: As Minister without Portfolio I undertook an official programme of meetings and visits in Brazil to cement the close personal relations between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Cardoso, and to deepen ties between the two governments and countries so as to strengthen our economic partnership. This programme included meetings with President Cardoso and Government Ministers and speeches at the University of Brasilia and the British Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo. I was not
  780
  accompanied by officials from the UK but received excellent support from the British Embassy and the Consulate General in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

HEALTH

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [52703]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The term research covers a wide range of activities from scientific and engineering research through to consultancies and public opinion surveys. The information requested is not held centrally.

  Invalid Vehicle Service
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the consultants' report following their review of the invalid vehicle service. [54618]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have considered this report carefully and decided to accept the consultants' recommendations that the Invalid Vehicle Service (IVS) should close on 31 March 2003, with help being given to drivers to take up alternative forms of transport. The scheme was closed to new drivers in 1976 and with around 720 invalid three-wheeler vehicles left on the road, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain this service. We now need to plan ahead and safeguard the interests of the remaining drivers. The long lead-in period before closure will give drivers the time to look at all the options available. Those leaving the scheme will be eligible for the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance and drivers will be able to use this to switch to modern four-wheeler cars, scooters, and powered wheelchairs, possibly taking advantage of the Motability scheme. Help with driving lessons and adaptations to vehicles will be given.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Eleventh Annual report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship. [54619]

  Mr. Dobson
  Shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Trust (Debts)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to change the debt structure of NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement. [55194]

  Mr. Milburn
  The New NHS White Paper made clear the Government's intention to abolish the internal market in the National Health Service and amend the NHS trust financial regime to make it more transparent and more suitable for a public service based partnership. As part of our programme to achieve this aim, we are changing the

  781
  debt structure of NHS trusts. We have already taken steps to stop issuing long-term interest-bearing loans to NHS trusts to finance their capital expenditure. Instead, we are issuing Public Dividend Capital (PDC). The NHS Executive will now be making arrangements to replace existing interest-bearing debt with PDC without the application of premiums or discounts because the Exchequer funds NHS trusts' normal debt servicing costs. This will supersede the present, market driven financial structure, reduce bureaucracy and provide a simpler, clearer and more understandable arrangements, in tune with NHS trusts' status as part of the public sector.

  Clinical Oncologists
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address shortages of clinical oncologists. [54933]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 29 July 1998,Official Report, column 380. Clinical oncology is also known as radiotherapy.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1998,Official Report, column 510, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [53994]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department is working towards the target announced in the White paper, "A New Deal for Transport", that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by executive offices and government offices for the regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000. Work has started on preparing green transport plans but no changes have yet been made to departmental transport arrangements.

  NHS Computers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many networked computers are currently in use in the National Health Service. [54130]

  Mr. Boateng
  This information requested is not available centrally.

  Specialist Workforce Advisory Group
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the advice and practices of the Specialist Workforce Advisory Group on(a) waiting list numbers and (b) the provision of services in smaller hospitals. [54036]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Specialty Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) advises Government about the numbers of doctors in higher specialist training needed to meet estimated requirements for consultants four to six years ahead. SWAG's first set of recommendations was for the year 1996–97. The effect, in terms of the numbers of doctors completing training and taking up consultant posts, and thus contributing to the reduction of waiting lists, is beginning to be felt. SWAG's planning process takes account of the views of the National Health Service and the medical profession about service needs. The 782
  deployment of consultants supplied through national workforce planning is for trusts and health authorities to determine.

  Radiotherapy
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the variation by region in waiting time for cancer patients awaiting radiotherapy in the NHS; and in what percentage of cases this exceeds clinical guidelines. [54115]

  Mr. Boateng
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Eye and Dental Checks
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the amount of money that(a) eye tests and (b) dental checks save the NHS each year by identifying conditions early in those eligible. [53752]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information on which to base these estimates is not available centrally.

  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) NHS eye tests and (b) NHS dental checks were performed in England and Wales, by year, from 1992 to 1998; and how many he estimates will be performed in 1998–99. [53753]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information available is in the table. We do not yet have estimates for 1998/99.

  England and Wales

  million

  Year

  National Health Service sight tests

  Adult dental examinations carried out by General Dental Service dentists

  1991–92

  5.31

  20.6

  1992–93

  5.90

  21.1

  1993–94

  6.33

  20.6

  1994–95

  6.80

  20.4

  1995–96

  6.95

  20.3

  1996–97

  7.27

  20.0

  1997–98

  7.47

  20.6

  Eye Tests
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of pensioners who(a) will be eligible to and (b) will actually take up the Government's extension of free eye tests; what are the estimated costs of this scheme; and what assessment he has made of the potential savings arising from the early diagnosis of eye conditions. [53751]

  Mr. Milburn
  We estimate that between 6 million and 7 million additional people aged 60 or over will become eligible for free National Health Service sight tests from 1 April 1999. Assuming this results in about 2 million more sight tests per annum, additional costs of some £30 million will be incurred over current annual expenditure on sight tests of £110 million. Optometrists regularly identify signs of eye diseases such as glaucoma during sight tests but we cannot yet assess the health gains which result.
  783

  Accolate
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates his Department has made of(a) the potential cost to the NHS of the drug accolate, (b) the number of people who currently use inhalers to control asthma, (c) the cost per dose of the drug and (d) the date when accolate will be available on prescription. [53750]

  Mr. Milburn
  Accolate (Zafirlukast 20mg tablets) was launched by Zeneca on 20 July 1998. It is therefore already available on National Health Service prescription. It is licensed for the treatment of asthma. The dose is 20mg twice daily and costs £25.69 for 56 tablets. No estimate of the potential cost to the National Health Service has been made. The number of people in England with asthma sufficiently severe to require regular medical supervision is estimated to be around 2 million, of whom the majority will be using inhaler treatment for some part of the time.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 93, concerning his Department's guidance LAC (98), what evidence he has submitted to the Royal Commission on topping-up payments. [54128]

  Mr. Boateng
  A factual note on topping-up has been prepared for the Royal Commission and copies are available in the Library.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to issue his Department's forthcoming White Paper on the registration and inspection of residential care homes. [54038]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department's Social Services White Paper will be published when Parliament returns after the summer recess.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 531, concerning his Department's guidance, LAC (98)9, if he will place in the Library the legal advice that led Ministers to issue the revised guidance. [54477]

  Mr. Boateng
  The answer of 21 July 1998 concerned the Department's guidance LAC(98)8, not LAC(98)9. Its purpose was to clarify the legal position which has existed

  1997–98

  Braille

  Audio tape

  Large print

  HB6—A Practical Guide for Disabled People

  HB6—A Practical Guide for Disabled People

  HB6—A Practical Guide for Disabled People

  Our Healthy Nation Green Paper Summary

  Our Healthy Nation Green Paper Summary

  Our Healthy Nation Green Paper Summary

  How to Get the Best from Maternity Services

  Health Service Careers Booklet on the Occupation of Physiotherapist

  How to Use Your Hearing Aid

  Keep Warm Keep Well

  Keep Warm Keep Well

  Well Women Today and Tomorrow

  Health & Well-Being—A Guide for Older People

  The Healthy Way

  Acting on Complaints

  NHS Pension Agency Scheme Guide

  A Guide to Receiving Direct Payments

  Direct Payment—information leaflet

  Sound Advice—'What do I do about Flu' and 'Flu Vaccinations' summaries

  Sound Advice—'Think Malaria' summary

  Sound Advice—'Travel Safe' summary

  784
  since 1948. The Department's view of the legal provisions is set out in chapter 6 of the publication A New Partnership for Care in Old Age which is available as a command paper 3242 in the Library.

  Trust Mergers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to have concluded his evaluation of the expression of interest submitted by Merton and Sutton, Wandsworth and Roehampton, Twickenham and Richmond community health care trusts in relation to trust mergers. [54019]

  Ms Jowell
  We shall consider the merits of the proposal carefully before deciding whether public consultation should take place. We hope to be able to reach a decision shortly.

  National Service Frameworks
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timescale his Department is working to in drawing up national service frameworks. [53996]

  Mr. Boateng
  Each National Service Framework is being developed with the assistance of an expert reference group. The reference groups for coronary heart disease and mental health have begun their work. Their emerging findings will be available in autumn 1998, prior to publication of the National Service Frameworks in Spring 1999. This will enable health authorities, together with their partners, including local authorities, to begin to plan their Health Improvement Programmes for implementation from April 1999.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54268]

  Ms Jowell
  Publications made available in Braille, audio tape and large print by this Department for 1997–98 are given in the table.

  Information on the percentage of the total number of publications this represents in each case could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. The Department does not have a central record of all publications produced.
  785

  Purchasing Pilots
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department has made for evaluating the experience and outcomes of total purchasing pilots; and when the findings will be published. [53995]

  Mr. Boateng
  The total purchasing pilot project has been independently evaluated by a research consortium led by Professor Nick Mays of the King's Fund. An interim report covering the period October 1995 to March 1997 was published by the King's Fund on 7 July 1998 and a final report covering the period up to March 1998 is expected to be published by January 1999.

  Continence Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 94, concerning continence services if he will publish the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement. [54178]

  Mr. Boateng
  An announcement will be made shortly.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if his Department will issue interim instructions to health authorities on the provision of continence services before the new guidance is issued; [54833]

  (2) if he will ensure that there are no reductions in existing continence services before his Department issues new guidance; [54842]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the delays in the review of continence services and the issue of new guidance. [54841]

  Ms Jowell
  I will be making an announcement about the review of continence services shortly.

  Nottingham Health Authority
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to appoint a new chairman of the Nottingham Health Authority; for how long the post has been left vacant; and for what reasons it has been left vacant since the retirement of Sir David White. [54218]

  Mr. Milburn
  The regional chairman will shortly be making further recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the chairmanship of Nottingham Health Authority. This post has been vacant since 1 April 1998 while suitable candidates were identified and interviewed.

  Health Authority Board Members
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities in England and Wales which do not have a general practitioner as a non-executive member of their board. [54895]

  Ms Jowell
  The 58 health authorities in England which do not have a general medical practitioner as a chairman or non-executive member are listed in the table.

  Appointments to Welsh health authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  786
  List of health authorities which do not have GP non-executive members

  Region—Anglia and Oxford

  Bedfordshire

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire and Huntingdon

  East Norfolk

  North West Anglia

  Northamptonshire

  Suffolk

  Region—North Thames

  Barnet

  Brent and Harrow

  Camden and Islington

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  Enfield and Haringey

  Hillingdon

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  North Essex

  South Essex

  West Hertfordshire

  Region—North and West

  Bury and Rochdale

  East Lancashire

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  North Cheshire

  North West Lancashire

  Salford and Trafford

  Sefton

  South Lancashire

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  West Pennine

  Wirral

  Region—Northern and Yorkshire

  North Cumbria

  North Yorkshire

  Sunderland

  Region—South and West

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  Isle of Wight

  North and Mid Hampshire Somerset

  Southampton and South West Hants

  Region—South Thames

  Bromley

  East Kent

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  Region—Trent

  Barnsley

  Leicestershire

  North Nottinghamshire

  Nottingham

  Rotherham

  Sheffield

  South Derbyshire

  South Humber

  787

  Region—West Midlands

  Dudley

  Herefordshire

  North Staffordshire

  Shropshire

  Solihull

  South Staffordshire

  Worcestershire.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 526, on the cost of ensuring millennium compliance throughout the NHS, what factors underlie the discrepancy between the figure given and his Department's earlier estimate of £5.7 million. [54504]

  Mr. Boateng
  The reason for the discrepancy between the figure given in my Answer of 21 July and the Department's earlier estimate of £5.7 million is that the latter refers only to planned expenditure by the central Department, whereas the former is the total cost to the wider National Health Service of ensuring millennium compliance.

  Central Department plans and costs are reported to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on a quarterly basis. He has arranged for completed questionnaires and a summary to be placed in the Library and published on the internet. A further update by the Department will be available in September.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, columns 94–99, on millennium compliance, what checks he carried out to ensure that the data provided by trusts and health authorities as at 31 March were accurate; and how those checks accounted for the delays in his answer. [54576]

  Mr. Milburn
  Further advice was requested from officials on the figures from trusts and health authorities. When this had been provided and considered, a reply was given directly.

  Beta-interferon
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the availability of beta-interferon for treatment of people suffering from multiple sclerosis by health authority, indicating for each health authority the budget for beta-interferon expressed in terms of amount per patient with relapsing remitting MS fulfilling the criteria defined in the relevant Department of Health executive letter. [54938]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not available. It is not our policy to allocate resources centrally for particular treatments. The costs of prescribing all drugs are met from within health authority allocations, taking account of local priorities. The National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness will in due course provide advice to health authorities to enable more consistent availability across the country.
  788

  Sandwell Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the relative position of Sandwell Healthcare NHS Trust in England and Wales in terms of(a) management costs as a percentage of total budget, (b) percentage of surgical cases handled as day cases and (c) costs per completed consultant episode. [53735]

  Mr. Boateng
  In 1997–98, the planned management costs for Sandwell Healthcare National Health Service Trust were £3.7 million, 5.2 per cent. of their trust income. Total trust management costs for England were planned to be £1.2 billion, 5.1 per cent. of total trust income in England.

  In 1996–97 (latest available figures), the Trust treated 69.1 per cent. of its elective surgical admissions as day cases, compared to 53.7 per cent. nationally.

  In 1996–97 (latest available) the average cost per Finished Consultant Episode was £850 for the trust. Nationally the average was £1,120.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Executive.

  Rough Sleepers Initiatives
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities in England have dedicated resources for initiatives relating to the problem of rough sleeping; how much they spent in the last year for which figures are available; and on what projects. [52428]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  However, since 1994–95, funding for five of the six multi-disciplinary community psychiatric outreach teams which form one strand of the Government's Homeless Mentally Ill Initiative (HMII) has been included in the Thames health authorities' regional allocations. In 1994–95, this funding amounted to some £1.76 million. Additionally, in 1998–99, the East London and City Health Authority is allocating £10,000 towards the costs of the HART HMII outreach team. City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust also contributes some £5,000 towards HART' s costs.

  The Department has approved non cash-limited funding of £558,000 in 1998–99 for twenty eight primary care projects for homeless people. These projects are designed to help meet the health care needs of the entire range of homeless people, including rough sleepers.

  Staff Turnover
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the staff turnover rates for each NHS trust for people employed in posts(a) ancillary and maintenance, (b) medical and dental, (c) nursing and midwifery, (d) professional and technical and (e) administrative, clerical and managerial posts; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last five years. [54615]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is not collected centrally. For the information that is available on turnover of staff in the National Health Service, I refer the hon. Member to the reports of the Review Body for Nursing staff, Midwives and Health Visitors, copies of which are in the Library.
  789

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current rates of sickness absence in each health trust for people employed in(a) ancillary and maintenance, (b) medical and dental, (c) nursing and midwifery, (d) professional and technical and (e) administrative, clerical and managerial posts; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last five years. [54612]

  Ms Jowell
  Statistics of the incidence of ill-health among the National Health Service workforce are not collected centrally. Guidance has been issued to help NHS managers locally to collect and act upon sickness absence data.

  Hearing Aids
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to(a) monitor the level of NHS hearing aids that go unused after being provided by adult audiology and hearing aid services and (b) increase the level of use of NHS hearing aids amongst current owners; [54426]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the level of customer satisfaction from users of NHS adult audiology and hearing aid services; [54425]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the level of awareness amongst NHS hearing aid users of the role and benefits of the T switch on hearing aids. [54427]

  Mr. Boateng
  The type of hearing aid provided under the National Health Service is a matter for the clinician concerned, in consultation with the patient. A central unit of the NHS Supplies Authority negotiates contracts with manufacturers for the supply of a standard range of NHS hearing aids which meet the needs of the majority of patients. It is for hearing aid centres to purchase and supply an alternative model if the clinician considers that it is clinically necessary for an individual patient. The NHS does not directly monitor the number of hearing aids that are not used, but independent research suggests that a significant number of hearing aids may not be used or are not used effectively.

  We do not have any plans to commission research into customer satisfaction of audiology services at the moment.

  Total number of patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed because they are:

  Region

  awaiting local authority funding

  awaiting completion of assessment

  Total number of patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed

  Total number of patients aged 75 and over occupying an acute hospital bed

  Northern and Yorkshire

  155

  243

  846

  7,258

  Trent

  37

  95

  454

  4,923

  Anglia and Oxford

  120

  140

  754

  4,608

  North Thames

  347

  376

  1,231

  6,346

  South Thames

  102

  205

  780

  6,617

  790
  The Departmental publication "How to use your hearing aid" which is extremely popular with audiology service users, includes a chapter on using the T position on the control switch of hearing aids.

  Hospital Discharges
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of delayed discharges from hospitals of patients who are awaiting social services funding or assessment. [54638]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department is undertaking a number of relevant activities. Part of the £269 million additional funding for the National Health Service in England which was announced last October is aimed at reducing delayed discharges and some of the money was transferred to social services for this purpose. For 1998–99, the special transitional grant for community care services has a condition attached to it that some funds should be invested in services with the objective of improving procedures for needs assessment, hospital discharge arrangements and preventing unnecessary admission to hospital or residential or nursing home care.

  Part of the £417 million additional funding announced in the budget is aimed at tackling NHS waiting lists by improving primary, community, mental health and social services. The Department's inspectors are routinely involved in an active programme of monitoring local authorities' hospital discharge arrangements and will be publishing a report shortly. Our Better Services for Vulnerable People initiative requires health and local authorities to develop joint investment plans, recuperation and rehabilitation services for older people and improved procedures for multidisciplinary assessment of older people. Our review of hospital discharge guidance will include consideration of how we can resolve the difficulties around delayed discharge.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by region the number of delayed discharge patients currently occupying hospital beds who are awaiting social services funding or assessment. [54637]

  Ms Jowell
  Information is not available in the format requested. However, information is available on the number of people aged 75 and over ready for discharge, but still occupying an acute hospital bed because they are awaiting completion of assessment or local authority funding. The most recent information is provided in the table.
  791

  Total number of patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed because they are:

  Region

  awaiting local authority funding

  awaiting completion of assessment

  Total number of patients aged 75 and over ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed

  Total number of patients aged 75 and over occupying an acute hospital bed

  South and West

  169

  100

  752

  6,876

  West Midlands

  67

  149

  628

  4,647

  North West

  139

  141

  650

  6,225

  England

  1,136

  1,499

  6,095

  47,500

  Source:

  National Health Service Executive Quarterly Monitoring Activity Data—1997–98 Quarter 4

  Hospital Maintenance
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by NHS region the hospital maintenance backlog on 1 July. [53295]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information about backlog maintenance as at 1 July 1998 is not available. The latest available figures relate to the year ended March 1997, and are as follows:

  Cost to upgrade to Condition B

  £000

  Total

  Northern and Yorkshire

  389,804

  Trent

  207,031

  Anglia and Oxford

  241,965

  North Thames

  774,657

  South Thames

  369,546

  South and West

  234,293

  West Midlands

  361,041

  North West

  276,627

  Total

  2,854,964

  Notes:

  1. Backlog maintenance is defined as "the amount of money required to bring the physical condition of the estate, the statutory safety condition and the fire safety condition, up to Condition B

  2. Condition B is broadly defined as 'sound, operationally safe, and exhibits only minor deterioration'

  3. The figures for the year 1997–98 will be available in November 1998

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes his Department has made to the criteria for assessing numbers of patients on(a) in-patient and (b) out-patient waiting lists; and if he will publish the (i) current and (ii) previous criteria. [53316]

  Mr. Milburn
  No changes have been made to the criteria for the assessment of numbers on National Health Service in-patient and out-patient waiting lists. Guidance is set out in the NHS Executive's Data Manual (published in January 1997), the NHS Waiting Times Good Practice Guide and Guidelines for Good Administrative Practice (both published in January 1996). Copies of which are available in the Library.
  792
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the validity and accuracy of the waiting list initiative results submitted to the NHS Executive for the last three quarters. [53317]

  Mr. Milburn
  Waiting list data are subject to well established validation and checking processes.

  Operations (Cancellation)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library figures(a) by health authority and (b) overall on the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to a hospital, and the numbers of those patients not readmitted within a month, by quarter, for each of the last three years. [53318]

  Mr. Milburn
  Copies of Quarterly Statistics on Cancelled Operations by Health Authorities for 1997/98 and information for earlier years are available in the Library.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of(a) NHS clerical, administrative and management staff, (b) NHS hospital doctors and GPs and (c) NHS nurses and midwives in each year since 1995. [53299]

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of(a) NHS clerical, administrative and management staff, (b) NHS hospital doctors and general practitioners and (c) NHS nurses and midwives in each year since 1995. [53291]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested can be found in the Department's statistical bulletins:"Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service Medical and Dental Staff in England: 1986 to 1996" (the latest year for which information is available), "Statistics for General Medical Practitioners in England: 1987 to 1997" and "NHS Hospital and Community Health Services Non-medical Staff in England: 1987 to 1997", copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Salaries
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount spent on salaries and wages costs for(a) general and senior managers,

  793
  (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff by NHS region for each financial year from 1991–92 to 1997–98. [53296]

  Mr. Milburn
  Copies of the information requested have been placed in the Library. Figures for 1997–98 are not yet available.

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much(a) his Department, (b) the NHS and (c) his Department's agencies spent on external consultants in each year since 1995. [53330]

  Ms Jowell
  Expenditure by the Department of Health, its agencies, and the National Health Service1 since 1995 is as follows:

  Year

  DH £ million

  NHS trusts £ million

  Health Authorities £000

  Agencies £ million

  1994–95

  18.469

  68.326

  259.302

  2.331

  1995–96

  18.504

  89.369

  277.982

  2.096

  1996–97

  314.518

  107.152

  21.698

  1.582

  1997–98

  311.848

  4—

  4—

  1.632

  1 Information on consultants is not collected separately for the NHS but is included in information on external contract staffing and consultancy

  2 Includes figures for Regional Health Authorities

  3 Includes figures for Regional Offices of the NHS Executive, which became part of the Department of Health in April 1996

  4 Not yet available

  Note:

  Part of the explanation for the apparently decreasing trend in Departmental and agency expenditure is the adoption of a new definition of consultancy, agreed by Ministers during 1997–98 and implemented in-year

  Hospital Output Measures
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial penalties will be imposed on hospitals which fail to meet their target output measures. [54950]

  Mr. Boateng
  We expect health authorities (and in due course Primary Care Groups) increasingly to develop service agreements with National Health Service trusts which include appropriate incentives and sanctions to reward good performance and support improvement where necessary.

  Health Statistics
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Green Paper, Cm 3805, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", page 83, what assessment he has made of the health of the population as a whole in terms of(a) longevity and (b) years free of illness, at present and as at April 1997 and March 1998. [54605]

  Ms Jowell
  No data on longevity or on years free of illness are available for the present moment in time or for April 1997 or March 1998. The most recent data on expectation of life at birth in England and Wales are based on an average of 1994, 1995 and 1996 and are 74.4 years for males and 79.6 years for females. The most recent estimates available for the average expectation of life free 794
  of self-reported limiting long-standing illness are for 1994 and are 59.2 years in males and 62.2 years in females. The latter figures were presented in the "Our Healthier Nation" Green Paper published in February 1998.

  Ambulance Ages
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 98, if he will provide a breakdown of the estimated cost of his informal assessment of ambulance ages. [54223]

  Mr. Boateng
  The breakdown of the estimated costs of the informal assessment is £2,245 for staff time and £22 for fax and telephone charges.

  Ambulance Services
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance services are currently meeting the standard that life threatening emergencies receive a response in less than eight minutes on 75 per cent. of all occasions; and if he will list those services which currently(a) meet, and (b) fail to meet this standard. [53076]

  Mr. Boateng
  At present ambulance services are expected to reach 95 per cent. of all emergency calls within 14 minutes (urban services) and 19 minutes (rural services). In 1997–98 27 out of 37 ambulance services in England reached this standard. Full details are in the Departmental publication,Ambulance Services, England 1997–98, copies of which are available in the Library.

  By the year 2000–01 ambulance services in England will also be expected to reach 75 per cent. of life-threatening calls within eight minutes. In 1997–98 only Staffordshire Ambulance Service achieved this standard.

  Public Register
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the public registers which his Department have responsibility for. [47352]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 29 June 1998]: The Department does not have responsibility for any registers which it is required to make public.

  Health Services Accreditation
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the time scale for the disposal of Health Services Accreditation; [48680]

  (2) what criteria will be used to judge the best offer for Health Services Accreditation; [48685]

  (3) how many expressions of interest in Health Services Accreditation had been received by the closing date for application; [48683]

  (4) what is the process to be used for the disposal of Health Services Accreditation. [48684]

  Mr. Boateng
  Health Service Guidelines "NHS Trading Agencies: Future Arrangements" HSG 94/54, copies of which are available in the Library, are being applied to judge the best offer and to dispose of Health Services Accreditation. This says "the objective should be to ensure the best long-term value for money for the NHS".
  795
  The date for the receipt of formal proposals from interested organisations was 30 June 1998. The evaluation panel met for the first time in mid-July to consider these proposals and agree a timetable for the disposal of Health Services Accreditation. Prior to the closing date, 32 expressions of interest had been received of which 5 have proceeded to formal proposals.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters per day his office receives; how many staff are employed to answer these; what targets are set in respect of such letters; and what is the current performance against targets. [50688]

  Ms Jowell
  Currently 11 members of staff are employed solely to deal with correspondence addressed to Ministers, although others provide draft replies as part of their normal duties. With regard to the volume of correspondence received and targets met in respect of that correspondence, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 20 July 1998,Official Record, column 363.

  Women's Issues
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 1998,Official Report, column 557–58, prior to 18 May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement. [49085]

  Adult asylum seekers accommodation grant

  Local Authority

  (a) Total grant due in 1997/98 (£)

  (b) Total grant claimed in 1997/98 (£)

  (c) Percentage of England total grant

  Barking and Dagenham

  365,627.92

  365,627.92

  0.9

  Barnet

  792,668.00

  792,668.00

  2.0

  Bexley

  60,045.00

  60,045.00

  0.2

  Brent

  2,481,633.90

  2,481,633.90

  6.2

  Bromley

  133,420.00

  148,062.38

  0.3

  Camden

  2,921,840.00

  3,592,120.00

  7.3

  Corporation of London

  95,900.00

  96,080.00

  0.2

  Croydon

  628,314.45

  628,314.45

  1.6

  Ealing

  1,565,363.00

  1,565,363.00

  3.9

  Enfield

  231,560.00

  271,739.00

  0.6

  Greenwich

  495,797.93

  495,797.93

  1.2

  Hackney

  3,027,990.00

  3,027,990.00

  7.6

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,406,618.00

  1,406,618.00

  3.5

  Haringey

  1,671,951.00

  1,671,951.00

  4.2

  Harrow

  748,971.00

  748,971.00

  1.9

  Havering

  25,900.00

  33,124.55

  0.1

  Hillingdon

  446,136.00

  446,136.00

  1.1

  Hounslow

  402,322.29

  402,322.29

  1.0

  Islington

  1,339,520.00

  1,823,325.00

  3.4

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,177,140.00

  2,249,217.00

  5.5

  Kingston

  145,047.00

  145,047.00

  0.4

  Lambeth

  3,535,414.00

  3,535,414.00

  8.9

  Lewisham

  1,862,381.00

  1,862,381.00

  4.7

  Merton

  462,308.79

  462,308.79

  1.2

  Newham

  2,496,568.00

  2,496,568.00

  6.3

  Redbridge

  422,810.00

  481,630.00

  1.1

  796
  Ms Jowell
  We actively consult a wide variety of stakeholders including those who have particular expertise on gender related issues, as legislative proposals for health and social services are developed.

  Furthermore, the Cabinet sub committee on women's issues, of which I am a member, reviews and develops the Government's policy and strategy on issues of special concern to women.

  Carers
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of people in the United Kingdom who will be caring for parents and children or parents and grandchildren in 2015 by gender, age and employment status of carer; and if he will make a statement. [54161]

  Mr. Boateng
  As part of my work on the National Carers Strategy, I shall be considering whether, and if so on what basis, to make projections of future numbers of informal carers.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the special grants made to each London borough in 1997–98 for the reimbursement of costs incurred in the support of adult asylum seekers, their children and families and unaccompanied asylum seekers, stating in each case the amounts of grant(a) paid, (b) claimed and (c) paid as a percentage of the total claimed in England and Wales. [49438]

  Ms Jowell
  The following tables show the amount of special grants paid to each London Borough in 1997/98 and the percentage of the total claimed as a percentage of the total claimed in England. The figures requested for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales.
  797

  Adult asylum seekers accommodation grant

  Local Authority

  (a) Total grant due in 1997/98 (£)

  (b) Total grant claimed in 1997/98 (£)

  (c) Percentage of England total grant

  Richmond upon Thames

  263,852.13

  263,852.13

  0.7

  Southwark

  1,198,810.00

  1,605,882.19

  3.0

  Sutton

  115,085.58

  115,085.58

  0.3

  Tower Hamlets

  519,820.00

  555,260.00

  1.3

  Waltham Forest

  623,275.82

  623,275.82

  1.6

  Wandsworth

  585,480.00

  688,417.00

  1.5

  Westminster

  3,838,660.00

  4,623,193.00

  9.6

  Total

  37,088,230.81

  39,765,420.93

  92.94

  Persons from abroad grant claims 1997–98

  Local Authority

  (a) Grant paid to Local Authorities (£)

  (b) Grant claimed by Local Authorities (£)

  (c) Percentage of the total claimed in England

  Barking and Dagenham

  201,340

  201,340

  0.6

  Barnet

  990,504

  990,504

  2.8

  Bexley

  31,210

  31,210

  0.1

  Brent

  1,440,786

  1,440,786

  4.1

  Bromley

  129,941

  129,941

  0.4

  Camden

  1,589,314

  1,589,314

  4.6

  Corporation of London

  6,250

  6,250

  0.02

  Croydon

  233,470

  233,470

  0.7

  Ealing1

  296,636

  1,028,186

  2.9

  Enfield

  1,122,395

  1,122,395

  3.2

  Greenwich

  326,789

  326,789

  0.9

  Hackney

  1,013,572

  1,013,572

  2.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,366,848

  1,366,848

  3.9

  Haringey

  2,170,310

  2,170,310

  6.2

  Harrow

  433,119

  433,119

  1.2

  Hillingdon

  307,517

  307,517

  0.9

  Hounslow

  902,657

  902,657

  2.6

  Islington

  652,092

  652,092

  1.9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,312,224

  1,312,224

  3.8

  Kingston

  242,848

  242,848

  0.7

  Lambeth

  1,705,850

  1,705,850

  4.9

  Lewisham

  937,292

  937,292

  2.7

  Merton

  358,514

  358,514

  1.0

  Newham

  3,026,435

  3,026,435

  8.7

  Redbridge

  789,418

  789,418

  2.3

  Richmond Upon Thames

  85,947

  85,947

  0.2

  Southwark

  1,377,908

  1,377,908

  3.9

  Sutton

  34,878

  34,878

  0.1

  Tower Hamlets

  316,521

  316,521

  0.9

  Waltham Forest

  764,363

  764,363

  2.2

  Wandsworth

  1,183,570

  1,183,570

  3.4

  Westminster

  2,752,307

  2,752,307

  7.9

  Totals

  33,971,635

  28,834,375

  82.6

  1 Ealing revised their claim too late in the last financial year 1997/8. The balance will be paid in the present financial year

  Note:

  In addition the grant claimed by each authority is in accord with the rules of the Special Grant Report No 28

  Unaccompanied childrens' grant

  Local Authority

  (a) Total grant paid in 1997/98 (£)

  (b) Total grant claimed in 1997/98 (£)

  (c) Percentage of England total grant

  Croydon

  741,569.00

  1,584,569.00

  15.24

  Hillingdon

  115,660.00

  1,303,470.00

  2.38

  Westminster

  441,179.00

  897,163.00

  9.06

  Kensington and Chelsea

  255,613.00

  805,731.00

  5.25

  Corporation of London

  32,616.00

  29,254.00

  0.67

  Havering

  —

  12,426.00

  —

  Bromley

  —

  159,184.00

  —

  Merton

  —

  48,880.00

  —

  Total

  1,586,637.00

  4,840,677.00

  32.6

  798 799

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Degree Courses
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's policy on increasing the proportion of the population taking a first degree. [54503]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Government have demonstrated their commitment to the principle that anyone who has the capability for higher education should have the opportunity to benefit from it through the expenditure plans announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 15 July 1998,Official Report, column 411–13. These will allow for some 35,000 extra full-time and part-time students in higher education in England in the academic year 1999–2000 and will give scope for widening access to higher education and increasing the proportion of the population taking a first degree or other undergraduate course. Further details will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of how many United Kingdom students will start degree courses in England and Wales in September; and how many started in(a) 1997 and (b) 1996. [54502]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information for 1996 and 1997 is given in the table:

  Home entrants1 to undergraduate courses in Higher Education Institutions England and Wales

  thousand

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1996–97

  First degree

  244.6

  26.7

  271.4

  Other undergraduate

  42.8

  82.5

  125.4

  Total

  287.5

  109.3

  396.7

  1997–982

  First degree

  252.9

  25.7

  278.5

  Other undergraduate

  41.8

  86.7

  128.5

  Total

  294.7

  112.3

  407.6

  1 Figures exclude the Open University because changes to the way their data are reported between the two years would otherwise distort the comparisons

  2 Provisional

  The Department does not publish forecasts of entrants to higher education. It is therefore too early to say how many students will start a degree course in September 1998.

  School Inspectors
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many HM school inspectors were appointed in the years(a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998 to date; and how many of those appointed were previously (i) headteachers, (ii) deputy head teachers and (iii) teachers. [54934]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for HM Chief Inspector of Schools. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.
  800

  Nansfield School, Brierfield
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the anticipated cost of the Ofsted inspection of Nansfield school, Brierfield, to be carried out in August; and how many inspectors will be involved. [54436]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  That is a matter for HM Chief Inspector, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Teachers
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the minimum pay of a newly qualified teacher relative to the average salary for newly qualified graduates. [54501]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The minimum starting pay of a newly qualified teacher with a good honours degree as at 1 December 1998 will be £15,012 (£17,178 in Inner London). The median salary in 1998 for newly qualified graduates covered by the latest survey of the Association of Graduate Recruiters is £16,500.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers are currently employed in England; and how many were in each of the last five years. [54560]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The full time equivalent number of teachers employed in maintained nursery, primary, secondary, and special schools, pupil referral units and education elsewhere in England in January 1998, and in January in each of the previous five years, is shown in the following table.

  thousand

  Year

  Number

  19931

  415.6

  1994

  409.3

  1995

  411.8

  1996

  412.4

  1997

  412.8

  19982

  411.4

  1 Figures for 1993 include sixth form colleges. Sixth form colleges are excluded from 1994–98

  2 1998 data are provisional

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the reasons given by teachers for leaving their profession prior to normal retirement age; and if he will publish them. [54486]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made no such assessment.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the availability of trained teachers to meet the planned expansion of education provision. [54485]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The supply of an adequate number of well-trained and well-motivated teachers is central to our aim to raise standards in schools.

  We set each year targets for the number of trainees who need to enter initial teacher training courses in order to meet the future demand for newly qualified teachers. The

  801
  calculations take account of the likely demand in future years—including any changes resulting from current education initiatives, such as measures to reduce infant class sizes or improve the provision for under-fives. Details of the process by which targets are set may be found in the recent DfEE publication "Teacher Supply and Demand Modelling: A technical description", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Policies are expected to have a greater effect upon the demand for primary teachers than upon that for secondary teachers. The targets for recruitment to primary training courses have been exceeded in each of the last 10 years.

  We will be reviewing recruitment targets in the autumn and will issue targets for courses starting in 1999/2000.

  Schools (Computers)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the availability of computers in schools; and what plans he has(a) to replace obsolete machines and (b) to increase the number of computers in schools. [54495]

  Mr. Mudie
  Over £100m of additional financial support is being provided to schools through the Standards Fund in 1998–99 to help improve information and communications technology. This will contribute substantially to the replacement of obsolete equipment and increasing the numbers of computers in schools.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to provide funds for additional staff to assist teachers to maintain and operate schools' computers. [54496]

  Mr. Mudie
  Schools are currently free to enter maintenance contracts with their specialist suppliers. Schools may also deploy some of the £100 million of expenditure being made available in 1998–99 for the National Grid for Learning to provide teachers with basic technical training on the use of computers. In addition, an Initial Teacher Training National Curriculum in Information and Communications Technology will commence this September, and some £230 million pounds will be allocated from National Lottery sources over the next four years for the retraining of serving teachers in these new technologies. Advice on maintenance and other aspects of schools' Information and Communication Technology will be available from Local Authority subject advisers and the British Educational Communications and Technology agency.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many networked computers are currently in use in schools in England and Wales. [54129]

  Mr. Mudie
  Evidence of the number of computers in schools in England which are connected to an internal network will be published later this year as part of the Department's statistical survey of ICT in schools. Educational matters in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  802

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many meetings Ministers have had with Manpower since 1 February; and on what matters. [54492]

  Mr. Mudie
  Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, private sector organisations, trade unions and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. But they must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance they must not provide confidential information without authorisation, or allow improper influence on policy. It is not our policy to make information on meetings or their content public.

  University Students (Computers)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that all university students have relevant computer skills before they commence their course. [54688]

  Mr. Mudie
  The requirements for university entry are a matter for the individual institutions to decide.

  The Government recognise however the importance of key skills, including IT skills, and want to move as soon as possible to a position where they are a normal part of everyone's post-16 education and training. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is currently piloting a single key skills qualification in schools which includes IT as a constituent element.

  The Department has also been encouraging universities and their admission tutors to consider a wider set of qualifications and skills, such as IT, than those traditionally considered for entry. One such initiative is the UCAS Tarif Project, which has received substantial Government funding and whose proposals have been considered and supported by Minsters in principle.

  In addition, the Department is funding a number of development projects working with universities to explore and promote the acquisition of key skills (including IT) as part of university study.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 343, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54006]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper 'A New Deal for Transport', that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.

  The DfEE expect to have a green transport plan in place for its main buildings by late autumn 1998.
  803
  The DfEE is currently investigating alternative fuels for use in its official vehicles. A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) car has been ordered for use by the Secretary of State.

  All DfEE main sites took part in the National Cycle Week as part of the programme to raise staff awareness.

  School Sports
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines his Department has issued on the minimum number of sports which schools should offer. [54654]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Physical education must be taught to all children throughout their compulsory schooling. The National Curriculum for physical education consists of six areas of activity and schools have a degree of freedom in deciding which activities to teach.

  The Department does not issue guidelines on which sports schools should offer. However, primary schools are required to teach swimming; and secondary schools must teach competitive team and individual games.

  Pre-school Education
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of pre-school education places in Gloucestershire to be commissioned by local authorities from registered partner providers in the voluntary and private sectors in the academic year 1998–99. [54646]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Gloucestershire's Early Years Development Plan for 1998–99, which was approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in March, offers a free place for every eligible four-year-old in the local authority area. The Plan estimates that 273 places will be in the private, independent and voluntary sectors in the autumn term 1998, 2,109 in the spring term 1999, and 4,394 in the summer term 1999.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are currently employed by the Employment Service; how many there were two years ago; and what is his forecast of the number that will be employed in two years' time. [54497]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Ian Bruce, dated 31 July 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply direct to your question which asks the number of people currently employed by the Employment Service, how many there were two years ago and what the forecast number will be in two years time. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  On 1 July the Employment Service employed 33,607 people; on 1 July 1996 the number employed was 41,820. Staffing for future years will be determined nearer the time according to our business needs.
  I hope this is helpful.
  804
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department spent on training Employment Service staff in cash terms and as a percentage of the costs of running the service in 1997–98; and what are his plans for 1998–99. [54498]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Ian Bruce, dated 31 July 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your questions concerning the costs of training Employment Service staff. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  In 1997–98, the Employment Service invested £12.8 million in the delivery and support of training for its staff. This represented 1.4 per cent. of the Agency's total running costs.
  These costs do not include the salary, travel and subsistence costs of staff while receiving training. These are estimated at a further £11.8 million.
  For 1998–99, we plan to invest approximately £12 million in the training and development of our staff. This is likely, again to represent 1.4 per cent. of the Agency's total running costs. We project that a further £10.7 million will be spent on the salary, travel and subsistence costs of staff while receiving training.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the proposed balloting arrangements for grammar schools; and if he will raise the threshold to trigger a ballot to 25 per cent. of school registered parents. [54935]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The deadline for responses on the draft grammar school ballot regulations is today. As at 30 July, 196 responses had been received. All responses will be analysed and we will be considering carefully the points raised before laying the regulations before Parliament. This includes determining the appropriate threshold for petitions.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many United Kingdom pupils were in(a) private education, (b) state education and (c) funded under the assisted places scheme in each of the last five years. [54484]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information for pupils in the United Kingdom is shown in the table.

  thousand

  Private education

  State education

  Assisted places scheme1

  1992–93

  612.9

  8,900.3

  32.4

  1993–94

  607.7

  8,963.3

  33.0

  1994–95

  607.5

  9,106.1

  33.5

  1995–96

  609.4

  9,207.0

  233.7

  1996–97

  615.9

  9,291.0

  237.6

  1 Great Britain only. The assisted places scheme does not operate in Northern Ireland

  2 Provisional

  805

  Advanced Skills Teachers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the procedures for the assessment and identification of advanced skills teachers; [52990]

  (2) who will be responsible for identifying teachers to be appointed as advanced skills teachers. [52991]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  It is for schools to create Advanced Skills Teacher posts and identify candidates to fill those posts. Before a candidate can be appointed to an AST post, he or she must undergo an assessment against national standards appropriate to the best teachers. The assessors are suitably qualified persons employed by Westminster Education Consultants. The assessors are responsible for confirming that candidates are suitable for AST status; the schools may then appoint such candidates to AST posts.

  Local Government Finance, Dorset
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much Dorset County Council spent on education relative to the Government's standard spending assessment level in 1997–98; and if he will revise the standard spending assessment to reflect this. [54499]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Dorset's financial returns indicate that it spent some £14.5 million (12.4 per cent.) above the level of its education SSA in 1997–98. We are reviewing the education SSA formula to make it fairer for 1999–2000, but it would be wrong to use individual LEA patterns of spending directly in the formula, since they are not independent of local authority policies.

  Special Needs
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what date has been set for publication of the Government's proposals on special educational needs following the recent consultation exercise on the Government's paper, "Excellence for All Children". [54040]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A date has not yet been set. Taking account of the many thoughtful comments on "Excellence for all Children", and of advice from the National Advisory Group on special educational needs, we expect to publish an action programme in the early autumn.

  School Finances
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many head teachers have been(a) suspended and then reinstated and (b) dismissed following investigations of financial irregularities concerning their school's finances in each year since 1987; and how many were subsequently convicted of a criminal offence. [54435]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Of the information requested(a) is not collected centrally, and (b) could be provided only at disproportionate cost, since manual searches through individual records would be required.
  806

  University Research
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the system of dual funding for research in universities; and what plans he has to change the system; [47048]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of the dual funding system for university research; and if he will make a statement. [47049]

  Mr. Mudie
  The outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review
  has demonstrated the Government's commitment to invest in strengthening the science base and modernise the UK's research performance through the dual support system, while ensuring that the Higher Education Funding Councils and the Research Councils work closely together to deliver better value for money and transparency in the use of research funds. Over the three years up to 2001–02, an additional £1.4 billion will be provided for research, including £1.1 billion through the science budget and the Wellcome Trust and a further £0.3 billion to support universities' research through the Higher Education Funding Council for England. This additional investment responds to the concerns expressed by the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Committee) about research infrastructure in universities and to the conclusion by that Committee, which was endorsed in the responses to consultation on the Committee's report and more recently by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, that the dual support system should remain in place.

  Miners' Retraining
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the training programmes to support miners to retrain for employment in other industries since 1979. [49354]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Between 1979 and 1984, training programmes were not offered to miners because many of those affected by colliery closures either took early redundancy or were relocated at another colliery. From 1984 to 1988, miners who left the industry and wished to receive training for alternative employment received funding for such training from the British Coal Corporation. From 1988 to 1994, miners were able to attend centres run by British Coal Enterprise (BCE), a subsidiary company of the British Coal Corporation and discuss their training needs with qualified job consultants.

  In cases where there was a reasonable chance of job-specific or skills enhancement training resulting in successful employment, then such training was funded by BCE. There was no definitive list of training courses available. At privatisation at the end of 1994, training programmes for miners seeking employment in other industries are the responsibility of the private coal companies. However, this Government will provide assistance to mining communities through Welfare to Work and other schemes, and to specific projects through the Single Regeneration Budget. EU funding is also available through EU Structural Funds which provide financial assistance that supports training and retraining in coalfield areas via RECHAR programmes. Moreover,

  807
  training programmes are provided through the Department for Education and Employment, and are available to ex-miners who satisfy the eligibility criteria. These programmes include Employment Training and Training for Work. Support is also available under the New Deal. In addition, the Government have recently received the report of the Coalfields Taskforce. They have warmly welcomed the report and have promised positive action to follow up the recommendations. The Government wish to see regeneration in all areas of need, regardless of the date of collier closures.

  New Deal
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [52589]

  Mr. Mudie
  During this year the wider Education and Employment Department comprising the DfEE Headquarters and the Employment Service aim to recruit up to 320 subsidised New Deal Participants.

  In addition we expect that a number of unsubsidised participants will be recruited during or after the Gateway stage through the normal recruitment channels via fair and open competition.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people, by Employment Service region, are(a) refusing to participate in the New Deal and (b) have had their jobseeker's allowance sanctioned as a consequence of refusal. [52549]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The total number of sanctions to be included in the quarterly analysis of Adjudication Office decisions for the period 30 June 1998 is 68, for:

  failing to attend a place on a New Deal opportunity,

  giving up a place on a New Deal opportunity without good cause, or

  losing a place on a New Deal opportunity through misconduct, as follows:

  Employment Service Region

  Number of Sanctions

  London and South East

  6

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3

  South West

  3

  West Midlands

  8

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  12

  North West

  8

  Northern

  12

  Wales

  9

  Scotland

  7

  Great Britain Total

  68

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people to date have been sanctioned under the New Deal for the young unemployed. [54122]
  808
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The total number of sanctions to be included in the quarterly analysis of Adjudication Office decisions for the period 30 June 1998 is 68, for:

  failing to attend a place on a New Deal opportunity,

  giving up a place on a New Deal opportunity without good cause, or

  losing a place on a New Deal opportunity through misconduct.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the first figures and results of the New Deal 25 Plus to be available; and if he will publish them. [54123]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We are only a month into the New Deal 25+ and it is too soon to report on actual or likely take-up of opportunities. The Government Statistical Service will publish the first robust and reliable statistics, covering the period July-September, in December. I am considering whether it will be possible to make provisional management information available earlier than that; and will do so if I can.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been to date the unit cost for each trainee in the New Deal Gateway. [54191]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The amount spent on each participant in the Gateway depends on their individual needs and the amount of time they spend on the Gateway. It is too early to give an accurate average cost for participants.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52313]

  Mr. Mudie
  Any construction contracts let by DfEE prohibit the use of asbestos. The most recent such contract for Castle View House, Runcorn ensured that no asbestos was used in the construction.

  Guidance on use of asbestos in buildings is contained in the PACE property management guidance. Health and Safety Executive publications and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will evaluate the cost to his Department arising from violence within families; and if he will make a statement. [52441]

  Mr. Mudie
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Depatment on 29 July 1998,Official Report, column 258.

  Grants and Loans
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the names of the non-statutory organisations or bodies in receipt of section 17 grants or loans from his Department in 1997–98 and 1998–99, stating in each case(a) the amount, (b) whether a grant or loan, and (c) the purpose of making the grant or loan. [48645]
  809
  Ms Estelle Morris
  Regulation 17 of the Education (Grant) Regulations 1983 has been superseded by Regulation 15 of the Education (Grant) Regulation 1990. Grants made under the Education (Grant) Regulations 1990 in 1997–98 and 1998–99 and their purpose, are shown in a table, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for(a) the

  Replacement cycle

  Engine cc

  Petrol

  Diesel

  Owned

  Leased

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Up to 1600cc

  321

  64

  364

  21

  1

  1

  1

  1600–1799cc

  145

  265

  325

  85

  392

  257

  145

  1800–2000cc

  284

  516

  560

  240

  337

  120

  15

  2001–2500cc

  132

  57

  61

  128

  18

  8

  5

  2501–3000cc

  18

  6

  5

  19

  4

  2

  1

  3001–3500cc

  0

  0

  0

  0

  —

  —

  —

  3501–4000cc

  0

  0

  0

  0

  —

  —

  —

  4001–4500cc

  0

  0

  0

  0

  —

  —

  —

  4501–5000cc

  0

  0

  0

  0

  —

  —

  —

  5000+ cc

  0

  1

  1

  0

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  900

  909

  1,316

  493

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 28 July 1998,Official Report, column 143, concerning vehicle replacement, what guidance he has issued concerning the replacement policy for the vehicle fleet. [54480]

  Teachers' Pay
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been provided in the budget for his Department set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review for performance related pay for teachers in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [52254]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 27 July 1998]: The £19 billion additional resources for education announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 June to allow for an investment in modernisation. A Green Paper will be published before the end of the year on the Future of the Teaching Profession. Decisions on teachers pay which may result from those consultations will be taken at a later stage.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he will give to the independent review body on teachers' salaries. [54500]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will write in the near future to give the School Teachers' Review Body its remit for the 1999–2000 pay round, and will follow this up with detailed evidence and representations in September. The Review Body's terms of reference will be consistent with those published in 810
  Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register how many vehicles are currently (i) owned and (ii) leased; if he will indicate their (1) fuel types and (2) engine cubic capacities; and how many vehicles are expected to fall due for replacement in each of the years 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [49222]

  Mr. Mudie
  The information provided below is in respect of vehicles owned and leased by the DfEE, its Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and the Employment Service Agency (ES).

  Currently 1,316 vehicles owned and 493 vehicles leased, 900 of which are petrol and 909 diesel.

  Paper Modern Public Services for Britain (Cm 4011).

  School Standards and Framework Bill
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when he intends to publish the regulations provided for in Clauses(a) 9, (b) 12, (c) 1 and 3, (d) 23, (e) 21, (f) 26, (g) 25, (h) 27, (i) 32, (j) 37, (k) 40, (l) 41, (m) 42, (n) 43 and (o) 64 of the School Standards and Framework Bill (HL 94); [52568]

  (2) when he intends to publish the regulations provided in Clauses (a) 68, (b) 69, (c) 84, (d) 85, (e) 86, (f) 87, (g) 88, (h) 93, (i) 99, (j) 100, (k) 102, (l) 107 and (m) 120 of the School Standards and Framework Bill. [52570]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 27 July 1998]: It is not possible to give precise details of the timing of publication of regulations at this stage. The Government will make sure that all relevant parties are kept fully informed of how and when they will be affected by the various sets of regulations.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [52880]
  811
  Mr. Mudie
  My Department has spent the following amounts on buying new IT products in the 1997–98 financial year:

  Department For Education and Employment Head Office: £5.06 million made up of

  Personal Computers (including portable computers): £4.08 million

  Mainframe: £0.03 million

  Servers (including mini-computers): £0.95 million

  Employment Service

  The majority of purchases of these items were as part of projects which also included the purchase of other products and services, such as printers and installation or configuration. It is not possible to isolate the spend on these items. The Employment Service total capital spend on buying IT was £11 million for 1997–98.

  Accountancy Qualifications
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons funds are made available to further and higher education institutions to support students studying towards AAT, LIMA, ACCA and ACA qualifications. [52243]

  Mr. Mudie
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: Funds are made available to support students studying for accountancy qualifications on the same basis as for other professional qualifications.

  LEAs (Performance Results)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will ensure that the publication of performance results for local education authorities includes information about the number of schools covered and indicates clearly when schools covered have changed because of a temporary closure. [52993]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: There are no plans to list in school performance tables, schools which may have closed since the previous year's tables were published. However, where a secondary school opens during the academic year in question, this is made clear in that year's tables.

  Teachers (Time Off)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued to schools and local education authorities on the granting of time off to school teachers who are also local councillors in respect of their council duties. [52975]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: Guidance in the Department's Circular 13/89 (paragraph 36) makes clear that this is one of the activities for which teachers must be allowed to take reasonable time off work.

  Personal, Social and Health Education Advisory Group
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what resources his Department has given to the Advisory Group on Personal, Social and Health Education in Schools. [52742]
  812
  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: The Department has provided the National Advisory Group on Personal, Social and Health Education in Schools with accommodation and administrative support for their meetings. The members of the Advisory Group and those of its Expert Panel of Advisers have been reimbursed for the travel and other expenses they have incurred in attending meetings.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the work of the Advisory Group on Personal, Social and Health Education in Schools since its inception. [52743]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: The National Advisory Group on Personal, Social and Health Education in Schools has met four times since it was established in May. It will provide initial advice in September on a national framework for Personal, Social and Health Education in schools. The curriculum aspects of this advice will be considered by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the context of the review of the National Curriculum.

  Parent Education
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the schools which(a) he has visited and (b) plans to visit which have parent education programmes to develop relationship skills and improve children's behaviour and achievements in the classroom; and if he will make a statement; [52739]

  (2) if he will list the parent education programmes receiving Government financial support and the amounts of the awards since 1 May 1997; [52740]

  (3) what funding priority is given to supporting parent education programmes that have been established for four years or more; [52741]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the value of extending parent education to (a) all families and (b) families with recognised difficulties. [52745]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: In the Education White Paper "Excellence in schools" (Cm 3681), my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State emphasises the important role parents have in helping their children learn. There are many exemplary local projects aimed at developing parenting skills and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is always eager to learn about these whenever he visits schools.

  Since May 1997, the Department has contributed some £84,000 to the Community Education and Development Centre Share project which supports parents in helping their children at home with early reading, writing and maths. In addition, we are funding a joint National Stepfamily Association/Parentline project to provide training courses for their helpers on ways in which parents and the wider extended family can support and promote children's learning.

  The Government are also committed to extending the Family Literacy Initiative and are giving £4 million to support it in this financial year. This Initiative enables parents and their children to learn literacy skills in small, intensive courses run in co-operation with local schools. There are currently 600 courses in 126 LEAs reaching around 6,000 parents and their children. An independent

  813
  evaluation by the National Foundation for Educational Research has shown the Initiative to be effective in assisting both children and parents to improve their literacy skills.

  The Sure Start programme, announced on 15 July by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, will include the provision of parent education, among other services, to all families in areas of deprivation. Some of the pilot phase of Early Excellence Centres also offers parent education.

  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State will be closely involved in the establishment of the new Family and Parenting Institute announced on 23 July by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. This Institute will be funded by Government to increase the profile of parenting and encourage the development of support for all parents.

  Bedfordshire County Council
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will assess the level of education provision made by Bedfordshire County Council. [53003]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: A recent Ofsted/Audit Commission inspection of Bedfordshire LEA found that overall the LEA provided effective support in contributing to improvements in the quality of education. The report also confirmed that the authority had a high level of surplus school places. The LEA is currently undertaking a review to identify the scope for reducing surplus capacity.

  School Closures
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assistance his Department makes available to schools which have to accommodate increased numbers as a result of the temporary closure of a nearby school. [52992]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: The Department has no specific programme of assistance to schools in the general circumstances described. Where proposals are published to close a school and fall to the Secretary of State for decision, the effects on other schools are among the factors taken into account by the Department before a decision is made. However, funding for those other schools depends on the terms of the local management of schools scheme for the LEA concerned. Where capital building work is the issue, LEAs can apply to this Department for support in the form of Supplementary Credit Approvals. However, resources are very limited and all requests are considered alongside other competing claims.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on temporary school closures; and what advice his Department has given to local education authorities on such closures. [52995]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: Where proposals to close schools and establish new schools in the premises fall to the Secretary of State to decide under current legislation, they are considered on their individual merits, in the light of the circumstances
  814
  of each case and of objections received. The Department has not given any specific advice to local education authorities on such closures.

  Christ's School
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he has received a proposal from the London Borough of Richmond to close Christ's School in the Borough and reopen it after a 12 month period. [52994]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: No proposal has been received from the London Borough of Richmond in respect of Christ's School.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for Christ's School in the London Borough of Richmond(a) the number of pupils on roll at the beginning of the summer term 1998, (b) the boroughs of residence of the pupils and (c) the ethnic minority communities from which pupils are drawn. [52997]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: Information on pupils in schools at the beginning of the summer term is not collected centrally. The 1997 Secondary School Performance Tables contain the latest available information on the number of pupils at Christ's School. They show that there were 546 pupils at Christ's School in January 1997. Information on the ethnicity of pupils at individual schools is not published centrally.

  Information on the residence of pupils is not collected centrally.

  Standards and Effectiveness Unit
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit of his Department; and what is the budgeted cost of the unit for(a) the current year and (b) the next three years. [52989]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answers 28 July 1998]: The number of staff is 117. The projected salary cost for these staff is £3.4 million in financial year 1998–99. Decisions about the level of funding for the next three years have not yet been determined.

  Jobs (East London)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) jobs created and (b) jobs secured by the (i) East London and (ii) Lea Valley Objective 2 Area in each year since its creation, broken down into (1) manufacturing, (2) service and (3) distribution sectors; and if he will make a statement. [53254]

  Mr. Mudie
  Since its introduction in 1994 the East London and Lea Valley Objective 2 programme has received support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Over this period 32,637 jobs have been created or retained (tables 1 and 2).
  815
  We do not hold information on the number of jobs created broken down by sector and we can only provide calendar year information for ESF because this is based on annual approvals. We do not hold information in this way for ERDF.

  Table 1: ESF

  Year

  Employment

  From training into self employment

  Total

  1994

  845

  132

  977

  1995

  2,278

  138

  2,416

  1996

  4,256

  539

  4,795

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  1,777

  Total

  7,379

  809

  9,965

  Table 2: ERDF

  1994 to June 1998

  Jobs created (inc. temporary jobs)

  9,394

  Jobs retained

  13,278

  Total

  22,672

  Statistics
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for each education authority area, the percentage of the school population which has been permanently excluded from school, by ethnic origin. [53566]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on the percentage of the school population who were permanently excluded from school in the 1996–97 school year, by ethnic group, will be published in a Statistical Press Notice in September.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for each local authority area, the number and percentage of pupils categorised as being in each of the categories of ethnic origin for which data are collected. [53565]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on the number and percentage of pupils in each ethnic group in each local education authority area in England in January 1997 was published in the Department's Statistical Press Notice 341/97, which is available in the Library.

  Additional Funding
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional funds have been allocated to the Bradford area since 1 May 1997 over

  Project title

  Contractor

  Total cost (£)

  Perceptions of the Audit Burden

  Belvedere Associates

  5,000

  Long term labour market changes and implications for skill requirements

  Business Strategies Ltd.

  7,313.50

  Development of HEQED's dissemination strategy

  Communication Management PR

  24,400

  Evaluation of the Higher Education Regional Development Fund

  ECOTEC Research and Consulting

  65,540

  Evaluation of the 1997 Prospectus projects

  ECOTEC Research and Consulting

  148,000

  Progress and retention on Youth Programmes

  ECOTEC Research and Consulting

  15,900

  An Evaluation of Careers Service Work with Disaffected Young People (SBU-EORP1 Paying Invoices)

  ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd.

  83,833.00

  Research on the Role of Informal Learning in the Workplace

  ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd.

  47,904.00

  816
  and above previous plans listed by (i) capital and (ii) revenue, indicating for each whether they were subject to a bidding process. [53212]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Nationally, the Government have provided an additional £835 million for revenue purposes in 1998–99 over and above the previous Administration's plans and an additional £423 million for capital purposes. The table shows the capital and revenue allocations for 1997–98 and 1998–99 for Bradford. The allocations were wholly or partly subject to a bidding process except the education standard spending assessment.

  £million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Revenue Funding

  Education SSA

  215.6

  225.1

  GEST/Standards Fund

  3.8

  5.9

  Capital Funding

  ACG+SCA

  3.6

  4.8

  New Deal for Schools 1

  1.1

  —

  New Deal for Schools 2

  —

  1.4

  Class size reduction

  —

  0.2

  Outside toilets

  —

  0.1

  Energy efficiency

  —

  0.2

  Notes:

  1. The 1997–98 Education SSA figure has been adjusted to take account of nursery vouchers

  2. The specific grant programme was known as Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) in 1997–98 and the Standards Fund in 1998–99. The figures relate to the size of the programme and therefore include the LEA contribution as well as the grant

  3. Annual Capital Guidelines (ACGs) and Supplementary Credit Approvals (SCAs) represent loan sanction

  4. The New Deal for Schools allocations in both 1997–98 and 1998–99 represent new funding over and above previous plans. Funds to reduce class sizes, replace outside toilets and energy efficiency projects are all additional to previous plans

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [52698]

  Mr. Mudie
  I refer the hon. Member to the Department's Annual Report on Research, published on 31 July 1998, which details all the research funded by the Department in the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998. Copies of this report have been placed in the Library. Details of research commissioned since 1 April 1998 are shown in the following table.
  817

  Project title

  Contractor

  Total cost (£)

  Early Career Paths of Graduates and Diplomats

  Higher Education Careers Service

  82,250

  Modern Apprenticeships in Licensed premises

  HRH Associates

  13,600

  TECs as Market Makers—Update

  HRH Associates

  4,000

  Family friendly employment—the business case

  Institute for Employment Studies

  54,001.00

  Value for Money Case Study

  Jennifer Green Ltd.

  1,300

  TEC/CCTE Core Business (Block 4)

  John Embleton

  6,750

  An Evaluation of the Premier League Football Club Initiative

  National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)

  48,120.00

  OECD International Research Project: Programme for Developing Indicators on Student Achievement on a Regular Basis

  Office for National Statistics

  544,601.00

  Sub-degree provision: Employer and Student Focus Groups

  Public Attitude Surveys

  45,401

  Employer Support for part-time study by employees

  Public Attitude Surveys

  27,891

  Survey of Training Provider Views of Post Training Follow-up

  Scriven Associates

  1,000

  YCS database manipulation and enhancement

  Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR)

  3,800.00

  Government Offices Role in Education

  Steve Brooking and Brian Richards

  1,970

  Evaluation of new approaches to work experience and the work related curriculum (ORF)

  SWA Consulting

  119,421.00

  The impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995: The employers' response

  SWA Consulting

  97,560.00

  Research on the Labour Market Relevance of TEC Activities

  The Host Consultancy

  45,686.00

  Evaluation of effectiveness of "Cities in Schools" provision

  University of Cambridge

  60,000.00

  The Effective Use of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) and their Training Needs

  University of Manchester

  57,783.00

  Evaluating the impact of the Enterprise in Higher education programme

  York Consulting

  47,700

  Schools (London)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils attended(a) local authority comprehensive, (b) grant maintained, (c) grammar and (d) independent secondary schools in each London borough in each of the last five years. [53559]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in a set of tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Family-friendly Policies
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Government's family-friendly policies. [54026]

  Ms Hodge
  The White Paper "Fairness at Work" set out the Government's intentions on rights concerned with parental leave, part-time and working time. The framework document "Meeting the Childcare Challenge" describes the Government's plans for the National Childcare Strategy. Following consultation exercises on both documents, the Government will be making further announcements in the autumn. Other aspects of family friendly policy, including promotion of the business benefits and examples of effective practice, are also being taken forward.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the(a) training achievements and effectiveness and (b) value for money of training and enterprise councils. [54403]

  Mr. Mudie
  The work of each TEC is assessed by its Government Office on an ongoing basis. All TECs are required to meet a set of minimum licensing standards designed to demonstrate continuous improvement, value 818
  for money and accountability. Government Offices will, for the first time this year, publish annual reports on their assessment of the performance of their TECs.

  We have also implemented a research and evaluation programme on TECs and copies of study reports are available in the Library.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the proportion and amount of budget spent on management and administration costs by each training and enterprise council in 1997–98. [54402]

  Mr. Mudie
  This information is not yet available for 1997–98. Copies of the audited accounts are placed in the Library as they become available.

  Information on administrative costs and the proportion of overall income spent on administration is stated in the consolidated annual statutory audited accounts of most of the English TECs. Companies law allows TECs to present their income and expenditure accounts using two different formats which can be adapted by adding further detail. Most TECs have chosen the format which includes disclosure of administrative costs which include staff and premises costs and other overhead. We are asking that those TECs that do not currently identify administrative costs reconsider the format they have adopted for the presentation of their accounts.

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53953]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  819
  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 31 July 1998:
  The Employment Service is the only Executive Agency of the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) and the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question about which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent enquiries for information. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The Employment Service has no formal procedure to identify persistent enquiries for information. Like the DfEE, we handle all requests for information in line with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information: second edition (1997), and the 6 Whitehall Standards.
  Our Regions and Head Office Divisions can forward to our Head Office Secretariat details of anyone who appears to be repeatedly dissatisfied with the way in which their enquiries have been handled. In these cases our Head Office Secretariat will generally deal with all further enquiries from the individual concerned.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those who have accompanied (i) him and (ii) his departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved, (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53846]

  Mr. Mudie
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54273]

  Mr. Mudie
  To give a precise answer to this question could only be done at disproportionate cost. During 1997–98, however, the Department produced 22 Braille editions of publications and 23 audio tape versions for people with visual impairments.

  The Department's policy is to ensure that publications that will be of very wide public interest are available in formats that are suitable for people with visual impairments.

  Additional Educational Needs
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what representations he has received concerning the impact of proposed changes to the methodology for relating to the index for additional educational needs; [53997]

  (2) what evaluation he has made of the impact on funding for London local authorities if the current indicators contained in the additional educational needs index are replaced with a two stage process for picking indicators. [53998]
  820
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government have received a number of different representations supporting and opposing proposals to revise the current index for additional educational needs. The Government will not evaluate any of the options or take final decisions on the education SSA methodology for 1999–2000 until the autumn, after they have considered the views of local government as a whole. We have a manifesto commitment to ensure a fair distribution of grant.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Reviews
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the reviews his Department initiated in the years(a) 1974–75, (b) 1979–80 and (c) 1992–93. [48521]

  Mr. Straw
  The information requested is as follows:Session 1974 (6 March-31 July 1994)
  British nationality law: discussion of possible changes, HMSO 1977, Cmnd 6795, ISBN 0101679505
  ("Shortly after taking office the Government, in accordance with the Labour Party Manifesto of February 1974, set up a group to examine what should be done. This discussion document is based largely on this work"—preface, page 4)
  Report of the Committee on the Future of Broadcasting, HMSO, 1977 Cmnd 6753, ISBN 0101675305 (Chairman: Lord Annan)
  ("On 10 April 1974, Mr. Roy Jenkins, then Home Secretary, announced his decision to set up our Committee and appointed our Chairman …"—page 3)
  Report of the Working Party on the Special Constabulary, Home Office, 1996
  (A report by the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales.—"We were set up in July 1974 as a Working Party of the Police Advisory Board with instructions to review such aspects of the employment and conditions of service of special constables".—introduction)
  The Red Lion square disorders of 15 June 1974: report of inquiry by the right hon. Lord Justice Scarman, HMSO, 1975, Cmnd 5919, ISBN 010159190X
  (Appointed by the Home Secretary pursuant to section 32 of the Police Act 1964 to "review the events and actions which led to disorder in Red Lion Square on 15 June …"—page 1)
  Session 1974–75 (22 October 1974–12 November 1975
  *Future fire policy: a consultative document HMSO 1980 ISBN 0113407319
  Report of the Advisory Group on the Law of Rape, HMSO, 1975, Cmnd 6532. ISBN 0101635206 (Chairman: The hon. Mrs. Justice Helibron DBE)
  "The Home Secretary appointed us in July 1975 with the following terms of reference …"—introduction
  The feasibility of an experiment in the tape-recording of police interrogations: report of a Committee appointed by the Home Secretary, HMSO, 1976, Cmnd 6630, ISBN 0101663005 (Chairman: W N Hyde, Home Office)
  ("We were appointed by you (The right hon. Roy Jenkins) to consider the feasibility of an experiment in the tape-recording of police interrogations …We have had 12 meetings between April 1975 and July 1976"—introduction, page 1)
  Session 1979–80 (9 May 1979–13 November 1980)
  Home Office statement on the background, circumstances and action subsequently taken relative to the disturbance in "D" wing at Her Majesty's Prison Wormwood Scrubs on 31 August 1979; together with the report on an Inquiry by the Regional

  821
  Director of the South East Region of the Prison Department, HMSO, 1982, House of Commons Paper 199, Session 1981–82, ISBN 0102199825:
  "On 19 October 1979, the Secretary of State instructed Mr. Keith Gibson, Regional Director of the South East Region of the Prison Department, to provide a comprehensive report …" (introduction page 3)
  Review of the Public Order Act 1936 and related legislation, HMSO, 1980 Cmnd 7891, ISBN 0101789106:
  "In a statement in the House of Commons on 27 June 1979 about the disturbances at Southall on 23 April, the Home Secretary announced that he was instituting a review of the Public Order Act 1936…"
  The establishment of an independent element in the investigation of complaints against the police:
  Report of a Working Party appointed by the Home Secretary HMSO, 1981 Cmnd 8193 ISBN 0101818307
  ("We were appointed by you (the right hon. William Whitehall) …We have held five meetings between July and December 1980")
  Young offenders, HMSO, 1980, Cmnd 8045, ISBN 0101804504
  ("In the Queen's speech at the opening of the present parliament, the Government undertook to publish before the end of the session, proposals for strengthening the law relating to juvenile and young offenders in England and Wales"—page 1)
  Session 1992–93 (27 April 1992–5 November 1993)
  Compensating victims of violent crime: changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, HMSO, 1993 Cm 2434, ISBN 0101243421
  ("On 28 November 1992, the then Home Secretary (Kenneth Clarke) answered a Parliamentary Question from Sir John Wheeler MP in which he reaffirmed the Government's commitment to improving services to victims of crime (Official Report, column 457 …This White Paper sets out the Government's plans in more" —page 1)
  Disclosure of criminal records for employment vetting purposes; a consultation paper by the Home Office, Home Office, 1993, Cm 2319, ISBN 010123192X
  Inquiry into policy responsibilities and rewards: report, HMSO, 1993. Cm 2280, ISBN 0101228023
  ("Our Inquiry was established in July (1992) last year …—page iii)
  Police reform: the Government's proposals for the Police Service in England and Wales: White Paper, Home Office, 1993, Cm 2281, ISBN 0101228120
  (Statement by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in House of Commons on 28 June 1993 (Official report Vol 227, column 665–676)
  Reforming the law on Sunday trading: a guide to the options for reform, HMSO 1993, Cm 2300, ISBN 0101230028
  ("The Government is to introduce a bill which will enable Parliament to decide whether Sunday trading should be regulated by law …" —page 1)
  Review of Police discipline procedures: a consultation paper, Home Office, 1993
  (Statement on consultation document by Home Secretary in a written answer to a question by Sir John Wheeler MP on 30 March 1993 (Official Report Vol 222, column 111–112))

  Prisons (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the education budget for each London prison in 1998–99. [52782]
  822
  Mr. George Howarth
  The education budget for each London prison is listed in the table.

  London prisons education budgets, 1998–99

  Establishment

  Education budget £

  Brixton

  359,500

  Feltham

  571,500

  Holloway

  388,000

  Latchmere House

  18,000

  Pentonville

  278,000

  Wandsworth

  225,000

  Wormwood scrubs

  280,000

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff vacancies for prison officers there were in each London prison on 1 July. [52784]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There are currently 53.5 vacancies for prison officers in the eight London prisons. Details are shown in the table.

  Prison officer vacancies in London on 1 July 1998

  Establishment

  Prison officer vacancies as at 1 July

  Belmarsh

  14

  Brixton

  17

  Feltham

  10

  Holloway

  2

  Latchmere House

  0

  Pentonville

  0

  Wandsworth

  0

  Wormwood Scrubs

  20.5

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for future work projects for Wandsworth Prison. [52783]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Funds have been made available for the following works projects at Wandsworth for the current financial year:refurbish A and B wings (work commenced, to open in the Autumn);
  convert workshop to chapel/mosque/workshop (work commenced);
  convert F wing chapel/gym to visits area (work commenced);
  redevelop existing accommodation to legal visits area (work commenced);
  new gymnasium (at tender stage);
  provision of new fire and general alarms (to commence later this financial year);
  submetering for energy management programme (work almost complete).

  The following projects have been identified and will be considered if funds become available this financial year: new external store; reinstate E wing exercise yard; repairs to temporary kitchen; repair chimneys; structural repairs to G and K wing dry area and gable ends to officers' mess.

  The following projects have been identified and will be prioritised for bidding in the next financial year, 1999–2000: a new gate, new visitors' centre; new main stores; disperse boilers, new kitchen, new laundry, new industries and training; refurbish E. G. H. and K wings.
  823
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women held in each London prison on 20 July were classified as category A inmates. [52785]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Belmarsh is the only London prison which holds category A prisoners. On 20 July, there were 73 male category A prisoners held in Belmarsh prison. There are currently no category A females held in London prisons. Additionally, 18 male category A prisoners were held in Highdown prison, Surrey, which also serves the London area.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates there were at each London prison on 20 July. [52787]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The latest available information is for 30 June 1998 is given in the table.

  Population in London Prison Service establishments on 30 June 1998

  Prison Service establishment

  Population on 30 June 1998

  Belmarsh

  866

  Brixton

  557

  Feltham

  886

  Holloway

  516

  Latchmere House

  189

  Pentonville

  1,146

  Wandsworth

  907

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,340

  Information Technology
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [52879]

  Mr. Straw
  During the financial year 1997–98, the Home Office, inclusive of the Prison Service, spent £9,430,500 in total on Information Technology hardware, software and maintenance services. More precise details covering expenditure for some smaller agencies and other associated bodies would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research(a) his Department and (b) the Police Scientific Development Branch have carried out to analyse the concentrations of CS and CS sprays which have been purchased by police forces since 1996; when this research was carried out; what were the results of this research; and if he will place the results of this research in the Library; [53152]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1998, Official Report, columns 173–4, on CS spray, if he will place in the Library copies of the documentation of the competitive national tendering process managed by the Metropolitan Police on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers on the purchase of CS sprays; [53155]
  824
  (3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the aerosol incapacitants guidelines governing the use of CS spray by police officers; [53154]

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1998, Official Report, columns 173–74, on CS spray, what studies his Department has undertaken into the concentrations of CS in CS sprays which are used by police officers in the United States of America; and what conclusions were drawn from them; [53151]

  (5) if his Department or the Police Scientific Development Branch are aware of, or have been informed of, any research carried out by police forces to analyse the concentrations of CS in CS sprays which have been purchased by police forces since 1996; when this research was carried out; who carried out this research; what were the results of this research; and if he will make a statement. [53156]

  Mr. Michael
  A copy of the invitation to tender is being obtained and will be placed in the Library shortly. Documents submitted by tenderers will not be placed in the Library because of their commercially sensitive nature.

  CS spray has not been widely used by police officers in the United States of America. From the limited information available from its use there, it appears that concentrations of 1 or 2 per cent. are not effective as an incapacitant. The reasons for choosing a 5 per cent. concentration were given in the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 16 June 1998, Official Report, column 266.

  In November 1996, an analysis arranged by Avon and Somerset Constabulary of one canister showed a concentration of 6.8 per cent. weight to volume. The Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch arranged for a further two canisters to be analysed, and discovered concentrations of 5.4 per cent. and 6.1 per cent. Canisters were not withdrawn because the small additional amounts of CS which would be delivered operationally were not significant. A copy of a note by the Police Scientific Development Branch dated 4 February 1997 and entitled "CS Concentration in Alsetes Spray" has been placed in the Library. The concentration of CS in equipment supplied to police forces is set out in the specification issued jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Police Scientific Development Branch in March 1997, copies of which have previously been placed in the Library. CS concentrations were tested as part of the national tendering process and any product purchased as part of that process should comply with the specification.

  Individual chief officers are responsible for ensuring that the equipment they issue to their officers is of the appropriate specification. Copies of guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers on police use of CS spray are already in the Library.

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts or agreements have been commissioned by his Department with the
  825
  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of the Ministry of Defence since January 1996; and what was the duration, nature and value of each. [53153]

  Mr. Straw
  Two contracts have been let by the Police Information Technology Organisation with the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of the Ministry of Defence since January 1996. Details are:

  1. A consultancy contract for the operation of a Trials and Testing Programme for the TCAS 791 Collision Warning System, which commenced on 1 November 1997 and was completed on 15 March 1998.

  2. A consultancy contract for a study to consider the introduction of Packet Data Base Stations in Home Office Allocations, which commenced on 28 January and was completed on 20 February 1998.

  The value of the contracts was £109,301.

  Prisoners
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of(a) male and (b) female prisoners had (i) no previous convictions, (ii) one or two previous convictions and (iii) three or more previous convictions on the most recent available date. [52837]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The available information regarding prisoners with previous convictions is based on samples of the sentenced prison population in England and Wales taken at the end of June each year. As this information is based on samples, the results can only be expressed in percentage terms.

  The most recently available data relate to samples of those adult males, adult females and male young offenders in prison at the end of June 1996 and are given in the table. Information relating to female young offenders with previous convictions is not available due to the relatively small number of such prisoners.

  Population in prison under sentence by number of previous convictions1, 30 June 1996

  Percentage2

  Number of previous convictions

  All

  Previous convictions not found

  Nil

  1–2

  3 and over

  Adult males3

  34,848

  9

  22

  16

  54

  Adult females4

  1,476

  17

  37

  15

  30

  Young male offenders5

  6,349

  10

  21

  21

  48

  1 Excludes fine defaulters

  2 Rounded estimate which therefore may not add to 100

  3 Based on a sample of 8,601 adult males

  4 Based on a sample of 1,536 adult females

  5 Based on a sample of 3,281 young male offenders

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were on(a) basic level, (b) standard level and (c) enhanced level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme, in each prison in England and Wales on the last date for which figures were available. [53339]
  826
  Mr. George Howarth
  The provisional figures for 1 June 1998, which are subject to final validation, are given in the table.

  Prisoners on basic, standard and enhanced regimes

  Prison name

  Basic

  Standard

  Enhanced

  Acklington

  7

  274

  361

  Agecroft

  0

  0

  0

  Albany

  5

  135

  311

  Aldington

  4

  74

  62

  Altcourse

  25

  384

  201

  Ashwell

  79

  248

  161

  Askham Grange

  0

  30

  92

  Aylesbury

  10

  238

  52

  Bedford

  7

  334

  23

  Belmarsh

  12

  695

  93

  Birmingham

  109

  851

  89

  Blakenhurst

  21

  549

  64

  Blantyre House

  24

  34

  60

  Blundeston

  16

  249

  72

  Brinsford

  127

  258

  120

  Bristol

  29

  432

  94

  Brixton

  27

  147

  305

  Brockhill

  0

  117

  21

  Buckley Hall

  6

  210

  162

  Bullingdon

  39

  715

  80

  Bullwood Hall

  11

  82

  47

  Camp Hill

  9

  333

  91

  Canterbury

  6

  271

  2

  Cardiff

  86

  403

  207

  Castington

  19

  44

  267

  Channings Wood

  20

  276

  295

  Chelmsford

  5

  397

  39

  Coldingley

  8

  203

  83

  Cookham Wood

  1

  102

  57

  Dartmoor

  11

  556

  69

  Deerbolt

  64

  268

  86

  Doncaster

  63

  798

  215

  Dorchester

  5

  172

  16

  Dover

  8

  279

  28

  Down view

  0

  108

  234

  Drake Hall

  0

  151

  115

  Durham

  31

  715

  148

  East Sutton Park

  0

  61

  36

  Eastwood Park

  4

  198

  51

  Elmley

  6

  658

  228

  Erlestoke

  9

  125

  169

  Everthorpe

  11

  355

  96

  Exeter

  2

  349

  73

  Feathers tone

  10

  541

  41

  Feltham

  71

  613

  207

  Ford

  0

  267

  161

  Foston Hall

  0

  98

  35

  Frankland

  24

  250

  155

  Full Sutton

  19

  266

  251

  Garth

  3

  533

  105

  Gartree

  8

  80

  277

  Glen Parva

  80

  618

  96

  Gloucester

  22

  248

  23

  Grendon

  4

  4

  86

  Guys Marsh

  12

  313

  77

  Haslar

  0

  138

  16

  Hatfield

  18

  114

  13

  Haverigg

  4

  313

  212

  Hewell Grange

  0

  132

  59

  Highdown

  8

  710

  51

  Highpoint

  25

  462

  202

  Hindley

  11

  428

  29

  Hollesley Bay

  16

  16

  261

  Holloway

  26

  411

  77

  Holme House

  15

  870

  78

  Hull

  18

  328

  138

  Huntercombe

  21

  197

  101

  Kingston

  0

  0

  141

  827

  Prisoners on basic, standard and enhanced regimes

  Prison name

  Basic

  Standard

  Enhanced

  Kirkham

  33

  200

  167

  Kirklevington

  0

  42

  134

  Lancaster

  57

  73

  87

  Lancaster Farms

  29

  260

  160

  Latchmere House

  6

  14

  168

  Leeds

  35

  889

  223

  Leicester

  17

  303

  38

  Lewes

  5

  431

  28

  Leyhill

  0

  164

  227

  Lincoln

  12

  414

  150

  Lindholme

  0

  581

  92

  Littlehey

  22

  497

  112

  Liverpool

  12

  1,125

  303

  Long Lartin

  44

  121

  177

  Low Newton

  4

  258

  37

  Lowdham Grange

  4

  73

  414

  Maidstone

  9

  312

  238

  Manchester

  27

  299

  798

  Marchington

  0

  0

  0

  Moorland

  57

  593

  119

  Morton Hall

  11

  118

  71

  Mount

  8

  447

  146

  New Hall

  7

  274

  75

  North Sea Camp

  0

  140

  66

  Northallerton

  8

  238

  5

  Norwich

  34

  534

  130

  Nottingham

  2

  344

  59

  Onley

  53

  454

  91

  Pare

  10

  598

  88

  Parkhurst

  31

  242

  138

  Pentonville

  4

  852

  270

  Portland

  10

  433

  121

  Preston

  75

  540

  46

  Ranby

  19

  414

  137

  Reading

  1

  108

  98

  Risley

  13

  322

  351

  Rochester

  13

  316

  53

  Send

  0

  29

  36

  Shepton Mallet

  7

  198

  10

  Shrewsbury

  150

  108

  78

  Stafford

  146

  375

  104

  Standford Hill

  0

  151

  220

  Stocken

  3

  349

  105

  Stoke Heath

  258

  195

  136

  Styal

  0

  244

  34

  Sudbury

  0

  240

  261

  Swaleside

  214

  367

  17

  Swansea

  2

  246

  75

  Swinfen Hall

  21

  158

  123

  Thorn Cross

  1

  140

  79

  Usk

  1

  1

  219

  Verne

  3

  323

  246

  Wakefield

  25

  332

  256

  Wandsworth

  69

  627

  197

  Wayland

  2

  417

  217

  Wealstun

  7

  7

  285

  Weare

  0

  342

  25

  Wellingborough

  1

  291

  34

  Werrington

  82

  45

  37

  Wetherby

  15

  194

  96

  Whatton

  2

  140

  94

  Whitemoor

  38

  260

  200

  Winchester

  0

  436

  179

  Wolds

  29

  192

  177

  Woodhill

  40

  584

  70

  Wormwood Scrubs

  6

  816

  358

  Wymott

  14

  617

  151

  Note:

  Agecroft and Marchington prisons not yet open
  828

  British Nationality (Applications)
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British nationality are currently outstanding for applicants registered as resident in Enfield North. [53247]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information is not available in the form requested as applications are not recorded according to the parliamentary constituency in which an applicant is living. Nationality Directorate records indicate that there are 481 applications outstanding from persons who have given an address with an Enfield postcode.

  Remand Prisoners
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners were remanded in custody to await trial or sentence in 1997; what was the average daily number on remand; and what percentage subsequently received custodial sentences. [52838]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In 1997, 58,092 males and 3,974 females were remanded in custody awaiting trial. 33,988 convicted males and 2,426 convicted females were remanded in custody awaiting sentence. The average monthly remand population in 1997 was 8,057 untried males and 3,475 convicted unsentenced males. The corresponding figures for females were 396 and 203 respectively.

  Of those remanded in custody at some stage in magistrates' courts proceedings, provisional information shows that 46 per cent. of males and 31 per cent. of females were sentenced to immediate custody.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data his Department has collated on the average time spent by prisoners on remand in custody awaiting trial over each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [54027]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is given in the table. Information on the estimated average number of days in custody for untried prisoners is published in "Prison statistics England and Wales" (table 2.1 of the 1996 edition, Cm 3732), a copy of which is in the Library. Information for 1997 has been taken from draft tables prepared for the 1997 edition of "Prison statistics England and Wales" which is due to be published today.

  Estimated average time spent in custody for untried prisoners in prisons in England and Wales, 1993–97

  Estimated average number of days in custody1, 2

  Year

  Males

  Females

  1993

  55

  39

  1994

  59

  44

  1995

  56

  43

  1996

  53

  41

  1997

  51

  36

  1 Time spent in Prison Service establishments before conviction, acquittal etc.

  2 Estimated from number of receptions and average population

  Women Prisoners
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were received into prison under sentence, excluding those sentenced for fine default, in 1997; and what was the breakdown of their offence categories. [52835]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 28 July 1998]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Receptions of sentenced females into prisons in England and Wales by offence in 1997

  Offence

  Number1

  Violence against the person

  660

  Sexual offences

  14

  Burglary

  180

  Robbery

  173

  Theft and handling

  1,734

  Fraud and forgery

  403

  Drugs offences

  750

  Other offences

  787

  Offence not recorded

  146

  Total

  4,847

  1 Provisional figures

  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 in custody at the last date for which figures are available. [53261]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The available information is for those 15, 16 and 17 year old females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales who were first committed to custody from a Welsh court. As at 30 June, provisional information indicates that there was one such prisoner.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [52697]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 29 July 1998]: The term 'research' covers a wide range of activities, from scientific and engineering research through to consultancies and public opinion surveys. The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review, he will list the real terms changes in spending on the(a) Prison Service, (b) police and (c) Probation Service, in each of the next three years. [53337]
  830
  Mr. Straw
  The table shows the real terms year on year increases produced by the allocation of total Home Office provision to the three services. The allocation may be subject to adjustment, particularly in the second and third years.

  £million 1998–99 prices

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Prison service

  110

  11

  11

  Police2

  3

  23

  107

  Probation service2

  12

  19

  21

  1 Based on planned spend in 1998–99, which includes an additional £112m above the original baseline

  2 The increases shown are based on Total Standard Spending for these services.

  Prisons (Expenditure)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total expenditure needed to meet each of the Prison Service's three projections for the required number of prison places, in each year until 2005; if he will give the figures at constant real terms cost per prison place; and if he will make a statement. [53341]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Prison Service has not based its expenditure projections on any one of the three population scenarios. The Comprehensive Spending Review settlement, which includes £179 million over the period to complete the programme for increasing capacity, provides the Service with a realistic plan for coping with rising numbers over the period.

  But, as recent experience has shown, it is very difficult to forecast trends precisely several years ahead. It is expected that the policies that we are pursuing to increase public confidence in community-based punishment will have an impact on population trends by the end of the period.

  The Comprehensive Spending Review covers only the years 1999–2002 and the forecasts of cost per uncrowded place only over that period.

  The Comprehensive Spending Review Settlement provides for a real terms cost per uncrowded place' increase of 0.9 per cent. over the three years. Expressed as a year-on-year basis, this represents a 1.7 per cent. increase in the first year (1999–2000); a 0.2 per cent. reduction in the second year (2000–01) and a 0.6 per cent. reduction in the third year (2001–02).

  The costs per uncrowded prison place underlying these percentages at 1992–93 prices (the year used by the Prison Service against which to measure its Key Performance Indicators, as this was the year before it became an agency) are listed with the equivalent figures at 1998–99 prices:

  £

  1992–93 prices

  1998–99 prices

  1999–2000

  20,540

  23,986

  2000–01

  20,498

  23,937

  2001–02

  20,379

  23,798

  1 Figures do not include costs or places of prisons designed, constructed, managed and financed (DCMF) by the private sector

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the need for extra(a) prison places and (b) prisons in each of the next

  831
  three years; what is the planned spending per prison place over the next three years; and what is the expected capital spending on prisons over the next three years. [53338]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Resources are in place to increase the operational capacity of the prison estate by a further 4,500 places over the next three financial years.

  The building programme will deliver 1,350 places in 1998–99 and 550 in 1999–2000 in the form of houseblocks and cell reclamation places at existing prisons.

  New prisons will provide an additional 1,200 places in 1999–2000 and 1,400 places in 2000–01.

  The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) settlement provides for a real terms cost per uncrowded place1 increase of 0.9 per cent. over the three years of the CSR. Expressed as a year-on-year basis this represents a 1.7 per cent. increase in the first year (1999–2000); a 0.2 per cent. reduction in the second year (2000–01); and a 0.6 per cent. reduction in the third year (2001–02).

  The CSR settlement provides, in real terms at 1998–99 prices, capital expenditure for the Prison Service of £150 million (1999–2000), £131 million (2000–01) and £130 million (2001–02).
  1 Figures do not include costs or places of prisons designed, constructed, managed and financed (DCMF) by the private sector.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review, if he will provide a breakdown of the total amount of extra funding which will be allocated to(a) prison places and (b) rehabilitation and other programmes in prison, in each of the next three years, in real terms; and if he will make a statement. [53340]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In the three years from 1999–2002, the Prison Service will spend an extra £62 million (1999–2000), £54 million (2000–01) and £54 million, in real terms at 1998–99 prices, on prison places.

  In the three years from 1999–2002, the Prison Service will spend an extra £72 million (1999–2000), £60 million (2000–01) and £70 million (2001–02), in real terms at 1998-99 prices, on rehabilitation and other programmes in prison. These funds are in addition to the previous Government's planned expenditure for the Prison Service.

  Security Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those European Community working groups attended by the security services. [53775]

  Name of Minister

  Dates

  Place visited

  Purpose

  Accompanied by

  Cost (£)

  Michael O'Brien MP

  4 January to 14 January 1998

  Pakistan, India and Bangladesh

  To observe entry clearance posts

  2 officials

  7,133

  Secretary of State

  13 to 14 January 1998

  Madrid

  Meetings with the Spanish Minister of The Interior and the Spanish Minister of Justice

  3 officials

  1,700

  Secretary of State

  26 January 1998

  Brussels

  Meetings with the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, the EPLP and the ELDR

  3 officials, 1 Special adviser

  1,120

  Joyce Quin MP

  28 January 1998

  Brussels

  To address the European Presidency Racism and Xenophobia Debate

  4 officials

  1,630

  832
  Mr. Straw
  Members of the Security Service routinely attend the Terrorism Working Group under the Justice and Home Affairs Council. They may attend other European Union Working Group meetings in a supporting role where the Security Service has a direct interest in the subject matter under discussion or where its expertise is needed.

  EU K4 Committee
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the United Kingdom delegation to the European Community's K4 Committee. [53776]

  Mr. Straw
  The United Kingdom representative on the Committee set up under Article K4 of the Treaty on European Union is Mr. Timothy Walker, Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office. He is accompanied by other members of the Home Office and members of the United Kingdom Permanent Representation in Brussels. Representatives from other Government Departments, such as the Lord Chancellor's Department and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, sometimes attend in a supporting role, depending on the subject matter under discussion.

  Youth Justice
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources will be provided to local areas piloting the youth justice provisions set out in the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords]. [53965]

  Mr. Michael
  There will be some funding available to help the pilot areas put in place the programmes and forms of intervention needed to undertake work under the final warning scheme and the new court orders which are to be piloted. We will discuss with the pilot areas how available funds can be used most effectively within their area.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those who have accompanied (i) him and (ii) his departmental Ministers on overseas visits since 1 January indicating(a) the venue of the visit, (b) the purpose of the visit, (c) the names of those involved, (d) the job of those involved, (e) the reasons why they were included in the visit and (f) the cost to public funds. [53836]

  Mr. Straw
  All overseas visits by Ministers are conducted in accordance with the principles set out in the Ministerial Code. Information in the precise form requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The available information is set out in the table.
  833

  Name of Minister

  Dates

  Place visited

  Purpose

  Accompanied by

  Cost (£)

  Secretary of State

  4 to 6 February 1998

  Washington, USA

  Accompany Prime Minister—meetings with National Institute of Justice, Baltimore Police Department, Department, of Justice and Attorney General Reno

  1 official, 1 Special adviser

  283

  Michael O'Brien MP

  10 to 11 February 1998

  Brussels

  To attend the 'Let's Kick Racism Out of Football' Seminar

  2 officials

  635

  Lord Williams of Mostyn QC

  15 to 16 February 1998

  Paris

  To address the OECD Workshop on Global Network Society

  1 official

  350

  Joyce Quin MP

  8 to 9 March 1998

  Prague

  To discuss EU enlargement

  2 officials

  1,300

  Secretary of State and Joyce Quin MP

  18 to 19 March 1998

  Brussels

  To attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting

  11 officials

  5,400

  Lord Williams of Mostyn QC

  21 to 25 March 1998

  Thailand

  To launch a UK funded course on Child Sex Exploitation

  1 official

  3,000

  Joyce Quin MP

  26 March 98

  Amsterdam

  To address the Dutch Probation Conference

  1 official

  366

  Joyce Quin MP

  16 to 17 April 1998

  Warsaw

  To discuss EU enlargement

  2 officials

  1,622

  Joyce Quin MP

  21 to 22 April 1998

  Vienna

  To address the UN Crime Commission

  1 official

  1,255

  Joyce Quin MP

  28 April to 1 May 1998

  Budapest

  To discuss EU enlargement

  2 officials

  1,600

  Secretary of State

  14 May 98

  Vienna

  Meetings with the Austrian Interior Minister and Minister of Justice

  2 officials

  1,225

  Lord Williams of Mostyn QC

  26 to 27 May 1998

  Milan

  To visit the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM)

  3 officials

  1,500

  Secretary of State and Joyce Quin MP

  27 to 29 May 1998

  Brussels

  To attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting

  10 officials

  3,500

  George Howarth MP

  7 to 10 June 1998

  New York

  To attend the UN Special Commission on Drugs

  2 officials

  3,980

  Joyce Quin MP

  29 to 30 June 1998

  Brussels

  To address the European Presidency Civil Liberties and Legal Affairs Committees

  2 officials

  704

  George Howarth MP

  30 June 1998

  Brussels

  To address a meeting of the EU Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Committee

  4 officials

  1,531

  1 Travel and accommodation costs not met by Home Office

  Police (Numbers)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers in each of the police authorities in Wales for each of the last five years and the projections for the next three years. [54540]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested in respect of the last five years is set out in the table.

  Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force, on the basis of the resources made available to them. No decisions have yet been made on funding allocations for individual police authorities over the next three years.

  Total police officer strength, Welsh forces, 1994–981

  Police force

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19982

  Dyfed Powys

  965

  976

  991

  1,005

  1,002

  Gwent

  993

  997

  1,044

  1,243

  1,233

  North Wales

  1,352

  1,366

  1,378

  1,369

  1,396

  South Wales

  3,131

  3,014

  3,027

  2,976

  2,986

  Total

  6,441

  6,353

  6,440

  6,593

  6,617

  1 As at 31 March each year

  2 Provisional figures

  834

  Persistent Inquirers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's agencies have procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. [53950]

  Mr. Straw
  Home Office Agencies do not operate procedures to identify persistent inquirers for information. All requests for information received under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information are routinely monitored, but no Agency has found it necessary to introduce specific procedures.

  Police (Bicycle Patrols)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force in England the number of officers who routinely patrol on a bicycle. [54408]

  Mr. Michael
  The use of bicycles to patrol is an operational matter for the chief officer of the force concerned and information on the number of officers deployed in this way is not recorded centrally.

  Homosexuality
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted for voluntarily engaging in homosexual acts involving persons of between 16 and 18 years of age in each of the years since 1994. [53970]
  835
  Mr. Michael
  Information for 1994 to 1996 (latest available) is given in the table. It does not include offences such as male rape or indecent assault on a male.

  Number of males cautioned, prosecuted and convicted 1 for specific homosexual offences by age, 1994–96 England and Wales

  Year/offence

  Aged 16

  Aged 17

  1994

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  5

  3

  Prosecuted

  9

  13

  Convicted

  4

  6

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  3

  5

  Prosecuted

  1

  3

  Convicted

  1

  2

  1995

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  1

  —

  Prosecuted

  3

  3

  Convicted

  —

  5

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  1

  1

  Prosecuted

  —

  4

  Convicted

  —

  2

  1996

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  3

  1

  Prosecuted

  4

  —

  Convicted

  1

  —

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  2

  5

  Prosecuted

  —

  —

  Convicted

  —

  —

  1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years were arrested for consenting homosexual activity but then released without charge in the latest year for which figures are available. [54659]

  Mr. Michael
  Information on the particular offence for which a person is arrested is not collected centrally.

  Police (Community Relationships)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he plans to develop better relationships between the police and(a) inner city and (b) ethnic minority communities. [53963]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government are committed to developing better relationships between the police and all sections of the society they serve. My right hon. Friend gave his full personal endorsement to the thematic report on Police Community and Race Relations, published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) last October.

  The report concluded that, although much work had been done by police forces in this area, performance was patchy and further steps needed to be taken to ensure that racism and discrimination were eliminated.

  The main recommendations of the report were that forces should: publicly re-affirm their commitment to investing in good community and race relations as a core
  836
  function of policing; give a higher priority to dealing with neighbourhood incidents and anti-social behaviour; clearly state that they regard the behaviour of officers who show racial or other prejudice in their behaviour and language as completely unacceptable; continue to attract minority ethnic recruits and retain them; and consider a community and race relations audit to identify areas needing improvement. The report also recommended that training in community and race relations should be given greater emphasis, and that priority should initially be targeted towards first line supervision.

  In order to co-ordinate the implementation of the report, a working group has been set up under Home Office chairmanship, on which the Association of Chief Police Officers, HMIC, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Black Police Associations are represented. A key part of the work to follow up the report will be undertaken by HMIC in the autumn. All forces will be asked to report on the progress they have made on the issues raised in the report and a further inspection will be undertaken of 15 forces.

  The Home Office is currently tendering for a new contract to provide independent specialist support to the police service in community and race relations training. The new contract will contain two elements: integration of community and race relations throughout the national curriculum of police training; and support and training to individual forces to place community and race relations firmly within operational policing. One of the ways in which a better relationship can be developed between the police and the community will be through the involvement of the community in the needs analysis, the implementation and the evaluation of this new training strategy.

  On 24 July, the Home Office submitted written evidence to the Inquiry into matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence. That evidence gives a fuller account of work in progress or planned to improve relations between the police and the communities they serve. That evidence is available in the Library.

  Party Conferences
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 617–18, (1) what assessment he has made of the means available to the Lancashire Police Authority to fund the shortfall between the estimated cost of policing the Labour Party Conference in 1998 and the special grant made available to it under the Police and Magistrates' Court Act 1994; [54077]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998, Official Report, columns 617–18, what estimate he has made of the shortfall between the estimated cost of policing the Labour Party Conference in 1998 and the special grant made available to the Lancashire Police Authority. [54076]

  Mr. Michael
  It should be borne in mind that until 1996 no contribution was made from central funds to help with the costs of political party conferences. The Government have maintained the level of total grant at £1.5 million in 1997 and 1998. We are currently reviewing the arrangements.
  837
  The Lancashire Police Authority has estimated that the additional costs of policing the Labour Party Conference at Blackpool will be £1.284 million. This is £534,000 more than the special grant they will receive from my Department, but it represents less than 0.5 per cent. of the force's budget of £177 million.

  It is for the Chief Constable to decide how to find the additional resources. The force could use its reserves, which were expected to be around £2.9 million as at 31 March, or find the money from efficiency savings elsewhere in the force budget.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) pursuant to his oral statement of 27 July 1998,Official Report, columns 35–38, what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing new national machinery to plan and co-ordinate provision for asylum seekers; [54388]

  (2) pursuant to his oral statement of 21 July 1998, Official Report, column 918, if he will give a breakdown of the funding transferred to his Department from other departments for the support of asylum seekers; and what assumptions he has made about the number of asylum seekers who will be in receipt of such support in that period. [54386]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The provisional level of funding for asylum seeker support allocated to the Home Office is £350 million in 1999–2000, £300 million in 2000/01 and £250 million in 2001/02. Detailed plans have yet to be developed and the cost of establishing new national machinery to plan and co-ordinate this provision has not yet been assessed.

  The funding assumes that the numbers of asylum decisions and appeals disposals will be in line with the provisional plans set out in the White Paper published on 27 July. We aim that, by April 2001, most initial asylum decisions will be made within two months of receipt and most appeals to an adjudicator will be heard within a further four months.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 27 July 1998,Official Report, columns 35–38, what estimate he has made of the number of asylum seekers who will receive leave to enter or remain and who applied for asylum (a) before 1 July 1993 and (b) between 1 July 1994 and 31 December 1995. [54389]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The proportion of the estimated 10,000 asylum claims made before 1 July 1993 awaiting an initial decision and the estimated 20,000 claims awaiting an initial decision made between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995 which will qualify for leave to enter or remain will depend upon the numbers to whom the special considerations set out in paragraphs 8.29 and 8.30 of the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modem Approach to Immigration and Asylum" (Cm 4018) are found to apply. Some of these people will not be granted either indefinite leave to remain or exceptional leave to remain under our proposal.
  838
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if staff will be transferred from the Department of Social Security to his Department to run the new benefit in kind support system for political asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [54046]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No decision has yet been taken on the kinds of staff needed to operate such a scheme, or how they might be recruited.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to disperse political asylum seekers around the country; what kind of accommodation will be provided; and if he will make a statement. [54049]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government's proposals for new support arrangements for asylum seekers are set out in paragraphs 8.17–8.26 of the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum" (Cm 4018). The aim is that, where asylum seekers are in genuine need of accommodation, this should be provided at a wider range of locations than under present arrangements, which have resulted in a heavy concentration in London and certain other areas. The type of accommodation offered to any particular asylum seeker is likely to vary: it will depend on what is available and at what cost, and on such factors as the presence or otherwise of dependants.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects that the 30,000 applications for political asylum made prior to December 1995 will be determined; and if he will make a statement. [54048]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As indicated in the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modem Approach to Immigration and Asylum" (Cm 4018), we are aiming to clear the backlog of undecided asylum claims before April 2001.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects that his proposed system of benefits in kind for asylum seekers will be operational; what benefits in kind will be available; and if he will make a statement. [54044]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The date on which such a system becomes operational will depend on when the necessary legislation is enacted. The type of provision envisaged is explained in paragraph 8.21 of the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum" (Cm 4018).

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all those who made an application for political asylum prior to July 1993 and whose applications are still outstanding will be individually interviewed before any decision is taken on their application; and if he will make a statement. [54043]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. It is unlikely that very many of these applicants will need to be interviewed. Some applicants will already have been interviewed and others will have provided full details of their asylum claim by way of a self-completion questionnaire commonly in use at the time these applications were made. The decision whether to interview will be taken individually as each case is examined.

  Employees Over 60
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women employed by (1) his Department and (2) his Department's agencies have contracts of employment which permit them to retire after their 60 birthday. [53055]

  Mr. Straw
  The normal retirement age for staff in the Home Office is 60, with the following exceptions:prison officer grades who were in post prior to 1 September 1987 have a minimum retirement age of 55 and a maximum retirement age of 60.
  operational service grades, prison auxiliaries and night patrol officers in the Prison Service and industrial grade staff throughout the Home Office have a minimum retirement age of 60 but may remain in employment up to the age of 65 subject to continued fitness and efficiency.

  The numbers of industrial grades employed on 24 July 1998 were as follows:

  Department

  Men

  Women

  (1) Home Office (excluding agencies)

  39

  6

  (2) Agencies

  (i) Prison service

  2,610

  230

  (ii) UK Passport agency

  0

  0

  (iii) Forensic science service

  0

  0

  (iv) Fire service college

  41

  0

  The numbers of operational service grades, prison auxiliaries and night patrol staff in the Prison Service employed on 30 June 1998 were as follows:

  Men

  Women

  (1) Operational service grades

  3,247

  951

  (2) Prison auxiliaries

  573

  238

  (3) Night patrol staff

  252

  324

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women aged over 60 years were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies on 1 January. [53060]

  Mr. Straw
  Figures for staff aged over 60 on 1 January in the Home Office and Agencies are set out below:

  Number over 60 (male)

  Number over 60 (female)

  Total

  Home Office excluding Agencies1

  34

  14

  48

  Fire Service College1

  5

  0

  5

  Forensic Science Service1

  2

  0

  2

  United Kingdom Passport Agency1

  14

  14

  28

  Her Majesty's Prison Service2

  987

  60

  1,047

  Total

  2,028

  148

  1,129

  1 The Home Office and Agency figures (excluding the Prison Service) include 11 industrial grade staff. These staff have a minimum retirement age of 60 but may remain in service until 65 subject to continued fitness and efficiency

  2 The Prison Service figures include industrial grade staff. These account for approximately a third of the total. Of the remainder, the majority are operational service grades, prison auxiliaries, and night patrol staff. All these staff have a minimum retirement age of 60 but may continue in service up to age 65 subject to continued fitness and efficiency

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that(a) have been disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months,(c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c) (ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [53865]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: None of the non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) for which my Department is responsible, has been disbanded since 1 May 1997, although I expect that, subject to Parliamentary approval, the Advisory Committee on Service Candidates will be abolished shortly.

  No Home Office NDPB has had its functions transferred either to another NDPB or a democratically elected body, and none has continued to perform a similar function under a different name.

  Details of all NDPBs in existence on 1 May 1997 sponsored by this Department are listed in "Public Bodies 1997". Since that date, we have established as NDPBs the Police Information Technology Organisation and the Race Relations Forum.

  My Department is currently responsible for 35 NDPBs, plus 135 Boards of Visitors to penal establishments.

  Child Sex Abuse
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sexual abuse offences were committed within the family by(a) natural parents and (b) step parents in each of the last five years. [54072]

  Mr. Michael
  From the figures collected centrally on the numbers of sexual offences recorded by the police, it is not possible to distinguish the relationship between the offender and the victim.

  Task Forces
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the task forces and advisory groups composed of independent members which have been set up by his Department since 1 May 1997, indicating in each case(a) their remit, (b) their membership, (c) how many members are (i) scientists, (ii) engineers, (iii) small business people or representatives of small businesses, (d) any remuneration members receive for their services and (e) their budget. [53286]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 30 July 1998]: A Task Force on Youth Justice was established in June 1997 and is being wound up this month. Its remit and membership were published in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 17 June 1997, Official Report, columns 99–100. The membership of the Task Force drawn from outside the civil service remained unchanged. One independent member came

  841
  from the business community, the others from public services business community, the others from public services dealing with young people who offend or are at high risk of offending. None were employed as engineers, scientists or by small businesses. The Task Force had no budget and members were not remunerated. To date, £2,440 of their travel expenses have been refunded from the running costs of my Department.

  I announced the membership of the Race Relations Forum in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 21 May 1998, Official Report, columns 450–51. Detailed terms of reference have not yet been finalised, but the purpose of the Forum is to advise the Government, in the formulation and implementation of their policies, on issues affecting ethnic minority communities. I am not aware that any of the Forum's members is a scientist, engineer or a representative of small business. The Forum has no budget and members are not remunerated.

  Following its first meeting on 23 June, £257.90 has so far been refunded to members from the running costs of my Department for their travel and subsistence.

  Court Welfare Service
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Government intend to take forward consideration of the case for setting up a new court welfare service. [54870]

  Mr. Straw
  Following my announcement on 16 February 1998,Official Report, column 465, of a review of the scope for improving the effectiveness of the welfare services currently provided by several agencies in family proceedings through the creation of a new unified service, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and Wales and I are today publishing a consultation paper seeking wider views on these issues. Copies of the paper are being placed in the Library, are being sent to a wide range of interested bodies and will be gladly sent to individuals on request. The closing date for response is 13 November.

  Criminal Appeals
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of the cases tried on indictment where convictions were quashed following referral to the Court of Appeal by the Secretary of State, exercising his powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, compensation was paid to the appellant; what was the amount of compensation paid in each case; and how many such compensation claims remain outstanding for each year between 1990–91 and 1996–97. [54106]

  Mr. Michael
  The consideration of eligibility for compensation is subject to an application being made. It does not follow that all those whose cases were referred to the Court of Appeal during the period in question, and whose convictions were subsequently quashed, will 842
  necessarily have applied to the Home Office for compensation. Of the relevant individuals who did apply, the available information is as follows:

  Year conviction referred1

  Number who subsequently qualified for compensation

  Number of claims not yet settled

  1990

  17

  12

  1991

  11

  1

  1992

  8

  3

  1993

  4

  2

  1994

  2

  1

  1995

  4

  3

  1996

  6

  4

  19972

  —

  —

  1 The year in which a case is referred to the Court of Appeal will not usually be the same year in which the appeal is heard, nor in which a decision to pay compensation is taken

  2 The eligibility for compensation of one individual whose conviction was referred to and quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1997 has yet to be determined

  Note:

  It is not practice to give details of the amounts awarded in individual cases

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases, for each year between 1990–91 and 1996–97, where convictions tried on indictment were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in exercise of his powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968(a) the appeal was allowed, (b) the appeal was dismissed, (c) a re-trial was ordered and (d) the appeal is awaited; [54104]

  (2) how many convictions in cases tried on indictment were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Secretary of State in exercise of his powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 for each year between 1990–91 and 1996–97. [54102]

  Mr. Michael
  The number of convictions referred to the Court of Appeal from 1990–97, and the outcome, are given in the table.

  Convictions in cases tried on indictment referred to the Court of Appeal by the Home Secretary under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, 1990–1997

  Outcome of Appeal

  Case (defendants)

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  1990

  7(20

  7(20)

  0

  1991

  10(12)

  110(12)

  0

  1992

  8(11)

  15(8)

  3(3)

  1993

  8(9)

  15(6)

  3(3)

  1994

  9(12)

  5(5)

  4(7)

  1995

  215(17)

  9(9)

  5(7)

  1996

  39(12)

  6(9)

  2(2)

  1997

  33(3)

  1(1)

  1 1(1)

  1 Court of Appeal ordered a re-trial in one case

  2 One case has been stayed by order of the Registrar

  3 One case outstanding

  Mr. Diarmuid O'Neill
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the steps taken by the Police Complaints Authority investigating the shooting of Diarmuid O'Neill to obtain statements from(a) Brian

  843
  McHugh and (b) Patrick Kelly since December 1997, indicating when (i) letters were sent and (ii) appointments made and with what notice; how many appointments were cancelled following approaches to legal representatives; what responses were received; when statements were taken; what assessment has been made of the impact of a transfer of the prisoners on the investigation; and what further steps are necessary to complete the investigation. [53990]

  Mr. Michael
  I understand that the investigating team wrote to solicitors representing Brian McHugh on 13 January to arrange an interview with their client. The solicitors were subsequently notified on 23 March that an appointment had been made to visit Mr. McHugh in prison. The solicitors replied on 1 April to say that Mr. McHugh would not make a statement. Officers visited Mr. McHugh on 7 April and he declined to co-operate with the investigation.

  The investigating team wrote to solicitors representing Patrick Kelly on 28 January. An appointment to interview him in prison on 10 March was cancelled because his legal representative could not be present. The solicitors were notified on 25 March that another appointment had been made and he was eventually seen on 8 April in the presence of his legal representative. He declined to provide a statement.

  The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) subsequently wrote to the solicitors representing the men on 27 May to make another request for their co-operation with the investigation, but no reply has been received.

  The investigating officer is continuing his inquiries and has yet to complete the interviews of the police officers involved in the incident. The PCA has not made any assessment of the impact of a transfer of the prisoners.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will lay a copy of the first annual report of the Criminal Cases Review Commission before Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [54105]

  Mr. Michael
  The Commission's first annual report was laid before Parliament on 20 July, and copies were placed in the Library. I welcome the report, and am pleased to note that the Commission is able to record a generally favourable reception to its openness, accessibility and independence, and of the thoroughness and professional competence of its case reviews.

  Homosexual Acts (Prosecution)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men, aged between 16 and 18 years, during the last 10 years, have been(a) prosecuted and (b) convicted, for activities relating to homosexual acts in private. [54937]

  Mr. Michael
  Information for 1986 to 1996 (latest available) is given in the table. It does not include offences such as male rape or indecent assault on a male.
  844

  Number of males cautioned, prosecuted and convicted1 for specific homosexual offences by age, 1986–96 England and Wales

  Year/offence

  Aged 16

  Aged 17

  1986

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  6

  7

  Prosecuted

  2

  9

  Convicted

  3

  9

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  20

  7

  Prosecuted

  2

  5

  Convicted

  —

  5

  1987

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  2—

  2—

  Prosecuted

  8

  7

  Convicted

  3

  7

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  2—

  2—

  Prosecuted

  —

  1

  Convicted

  —

  —

  1988

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  2—

  2—

  Prosecuted

  9

  17

  Convicted

  7

  8

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  2—

  2—

  Prosecuted

  1

  12

  Convicted

  1

  10

  1989

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  11

  3

  Prosecuted

  11

  6

  Convicted

  7

  4

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  16

  12

  Prosecuted

  7

  12

  Convicted

  3

  11

  1990

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  8

  6

  Prosecuted

  7

  17

  Convicted

  6

  8

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  10

  10

  Prosecuted

  4

  12

  Convicted

  2

  10

  1991

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  9

  6

  Prosecuted

  9

  14

  Convicted

  3

  9

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  3

  7

  Prosecuted

  1

  3

  Convicted

  1

  3

  1992

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  5

  5

  Prosecuted

  10

  7

  Convicted

  6

  4

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  6

  10

  Prosecuted

  2

  5

  Convicted

  —

  2

  845

  Number of males cautioned, prosecuted and convicted1 for specific homosexual offences by age, 1986–96 England and Wales

  Year/offence

  Aged 16

  Aged 17

  1993

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  5

  4

  Prosecuted

  9

  9

  Convicted

  4

  1

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  1

  4

  Prosecuted

  1

  1

  Convicted

  —

  —

  1994

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  5

  3

  Prosecuted

  9

  13

  Convicted

  4

  6

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  3

  5

  Prosecuted

  1

  3

  Convicted

  1

  2

  1995

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  1

  —

  Prosecuted

  3

  3

  Convicted

  —

  5

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  1

  1

  Prosecuted

  —

  4

  Convicted

  —

  2

  1996

  Buggery offences

  Cautioned

  3

  1

  Prosecuted

  4

  —

  Convicted

  1

  —

  Indecency between males

  Cautioned

  2

  5

  Prosecuted

  —

  —

  Convicted

  —

  —

  1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences

  2 Not available

  Paedophiles
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to require convicted paedophiles subject to the Sex Offences Register to inform the authorities if they plan to travel abroad. [53981]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We will shortly be starting a review of the effectiveness of the registration provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. The question of convicted sex offenders who travel abroad will form part of that review.

  Asia Europe Child Welfare Initiative
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is towards the objectives of the Asia Europe Child Welfare Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [53982]

  Mr. Michael
  The objective of the ASEM child welfare initiative is to develop practical co-operation between Asia and Europe in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation of children through the exchange of ideas and 846
  information and the promotion of models of good practice. The initiative is led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with the full support and participation of the Home Office, the police, the Department of Health and other Government Departments, as well as the non-governmental organisations concerned with children who have been closely involved.

  The Government take the combating of the commercial sexual exploitation of children very seriously. This Government have implemented the Sex Offenders Act 1997, which both creates a requirement for sex offenders to register their names and addresses, and any changes to these, with the police, and enables crimes against children abroad to be prosecuted in this country. The United Kingdom police have carried out training courses for police and prosecutors in the Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Within the United Kingdom, the Government have undertaken to issue joint Home Office/Department of Health guidance to the police and social services on dealing with children in prostitution on an inter-agency basis with the intention of diverting them from prostitution.

  The ASEM child welfare initiative is breaking new ground in seeking to develop practical responses to this most difficult problem. We regard it as making a valuable contribution to our own strategy to combat the sexual exploitation of children at home and abroad.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the procedure whereby minor offences committed by a young offender remain on their record and affect opportunities for employment. [54687]

  Mr. Michael
  The retention of records of convictions and cautions held in national or local police records are subject to the Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) weeding guidelines, which are currently under review. In general, the retention period for criminal records depends on the seriousness of the offence and whether the subject of the record reoffends. Criminal records are retained for the purposes of crime prevention and detection and the apprehension and prosecution of offenders. The weeding guidelines do not differentiate between the criminal records of juvenile and adult offenders.

  Police records are only disclosed for the purpose of viewing a person's suitability for employment where there are important considerations of public interest to justify departure from the general rule of confidentiality. In addition, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 applies to all convictions of the court. The length of the rehabilitation period, after which a conviction is spent, depends on the sentence passed by the court, and, for offenders aged under 18, the rehabilitation period for many sentences is halved. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to cautions, reprimands and final warnings. We shall be considering whether the Act should apply to these non-judicial disposals and will be consulting on the issue.

  Fatal Road Crashes
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many manslaughter charges have been
  847
  brought following fatal road crashes for each of the last 10 years; how many have been brought against (a) drivers and (b) managers; and how many have resulted in convictions. [54844]

  Mr. Michael
  The numbers shown below for a charge of manslaughter following road incidents between the years 1987–96, are those initially recorded as manslaughter by the police.

  The numbers for conviction are those currently recorded as manslaughter.

  There is not information held centrally on the number of convictions brought against drivers and managers.

  Number of manslaughter cases initially recorded by the police following fatal road incidents and those currently recorded as manslaughter, 1987–1996

  Year

  Manslaughter charges

  Manslaughter convictions

  1987

  6

  3

  1988

  8

  1

  1989

  28

  4

  1990

  16

  7

  1991

  21

  3

  1992

  3

  2

  1993

  12

  4

  1994

  11

  —

  1995

  9

  —

  1996

  8

  1

  Hillgrove Farm, Minster Lovell
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department last inspected the animal breeding establishment Hillgrove Farm, Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire; with what results; and what assessment he has made of the standard of animal welfare at this establishment. [54222]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The establishment was last visited by a member of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate in early May. The visit was unannounced. The inspector reported that standards of care, accommodation and animal welfare were satisfactory. On the basis of this advice, I am satisfied that Hillgrove Farm continues to operate both within the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and the conditions of its Certificate of Designation.

  Prisons (Gardening)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 July 1998,Official Report, column 544, what are the ingredients of the five commercial chemical products used in gardening at the three Isle of Sheppey prisons. [54959]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The ingredients of the five commercial chemical products used at Elmley prison are listed below:Casoron G: used for weed control in shrub beds a granular product containing 6.75 per cent. dichlobenil/2.6—dichlorobenzonitrite
  Mosstox: used for moss control contains dichlorophen 340 grams/litre(g/l) used in dilution, 27.9 per cent. with water (w/w)
  Roundup Biactive: used for weed control contains 360 g/l glyphosate, present as 480 g/l (41.1 per cent. w/w) of the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate
  848
  Supertox 30: used for control of broad leaf weeds in grass contains 190 g/l (16.9 per cent. w/w) mecoprop and 90 g/l (8.03 per cent. w/w) 2.4—D as diethanolamine salts
  Trik: used for weed control contains aminotriazole 28 per cent. w/w, diuron, sodium hydroxide and 2.4—D.

  My hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), said in the answer she gave my hon. Friend on 22 July 1998, Official Report, column 544, that all three prisons are happy to discuss environmental issues with interested parties.

  European Children
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will support the proposal put to his Office for a millennium lottery specifically to fund longitudinal studies of European children in the next century, sponsored by the European Forum for Child Welfare; and if he will make a statement. [54203]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have not received any proposals. They would need to be put to the Gaming Board, and would have to comply with the requirements of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. Under the Act, it is unlawful for tickets in unauthorised lotteries, including overseas lotteries, to be sold, or for such lotteries to be advertised, in Great Britain.

  Probation Service
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to publish his proposals on the future of the Probation Service and for improving their joint effectiveness with the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement. [54968]

  Mr. Straw
  I shall be publishing a consultation document shortly, entitled "Joining Forces to Protect the Public", which seeks views on my plans for reforming the organisational structure of the probation services, and for improving its systems of accountability and its joint effectiveness with the Prison Service. Copies will then be placed in the Library.

  The proposals are the product of the emerging findings of the Prisons-Probation Review which I announced on 16 July 1998, last year, Official Report, columns 172–73, and which formed part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Among other things, the document sets out our proposals for creating a modern unified national Probation Service as a Next Steps Agency, forming part of the Home Office, directly accountable to the Home Secretary through a Chief Executive. The proposals form one part of our wide-ranging programme to modernise and improve the performance of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The consultation exercise will continue until 27 November, and I shall announce final decisions before the end of the year.

  To assist the consultation process, I shall also make available the report of the review of options which has informed our proposals.

  Europol
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being put in place to ensure that the United Kingdom complies with the
  849
  provisions in the Europol Convention related to breaches of discretion or confidentiality following its entry into force on 1 October. [54969]

  Mr. Straw
  Article 32(4) of the Europol Convention requires that prior to the entry into force of the Convention, each member state shall introduce the provisions required under national law to proceed against breaches of discretion or confidentiality. To this end, I am certifying the Europol Convention as an agreement to which an international organisation is a party, under section 12(2)(b) of the Official Secrets Act 1989. This will have the effect of ensuring that members and employees of Europol will be treated as "government contractors" for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act, and will ensure that the United Kingdom will comply fully with the relevant provisions in the Convention.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom role in data exchange in Europol. [54953]

  Mr. Michael
  The role of Europol and European Union member states in relation to Europol is set out in the Europol Convention. The role of the United Kingdom will be the same as any other member state.

  Corruption
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform and consolidate the law on corruption; and what progress has been made on the recommendations by the Committee on Standards in Public Life to (i) clarify the law on corruption in relation to hon. Members and (ii) introduce a new statutory offence of misuse of public office. [55130]

  Mr. Straw
  As a Government, we are committed to ensuring high standards in both public and private life. On 9 June last year, I published a consultation document on the reform of the corruption statutes entitled "The Prevention of Corruption: Consolidation and Amendment of the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889–1916: A Government Statement", a copy of which is in the Library. This had been preceded in December 1996 by the publication of the Home Office discussion document "Clarification of the Law Relating to the Bribery of Members of Parliament", an issue on which the Committee on Standards in Public Life had earlier reported. In November last, the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege embarked on its current inquiry into Parliamentary Privilege, including the law of corruption as it relates to hon. Members: and in March, the Law Commission for England and Wales helpfully published its proposals in its report No. 248: "Legislating the Criminal Code: Corruption". We are also committed to supporting and giving effect to international efforts through the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to deal with international aspects of corruption, including implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. These domestic and international initiatives taken together provide us with a sound basis on which to review and modernise the law of corruption.

  Although we are still awaiting the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege we have (as I announced on 24 June 1998, Official Report,
  850
  column 520) set up two inter-departmental groups to examine (i) the Law Commission's Report on Corruption and (ii) the possibility of a new statutory offence of misuse of public office. It is clear from the many representations received that there is much to support the Law Commission's recommendations for the common law of bribery and the present statutory offences of corruption to be restated in a modern statute, with a clear definition of what is meant by acting in a corrupt manner. At this stage, we also accept, in principle, the Law Commission's proposal that there should be a single offence of corruption to cover both public and private sectors. This reflects the reality that some functions which would, in the past, have been carried out by the public sector are now carried out by public/private partnerships or in the private sector. It also reflects the importance of ensuring equally high standards of probity in all aspects of life, whether in the public or the private sector. The inter-departmental working group on corruption expects to complete its work by the end of the year. When it has done so, I propose to publish a paper setting out the Government's detailed proposals for the consolidation and amendment of the law on corruption. When available, I will also take into account the views of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege.

  The level of response to the consultation paper about a possible new offence of misuse of public office and the quality of replies demonstrates the importance of, and interest in, public probity. The Committee on Standards in Public Life in its third report recommended that all holders of public office should be covered equally by a statutory offence of misuse of public office, which enables action to be taken against them in the event of misconduct which is serious, but does not entail bribery and corruption. This is a complex area. The inter-departmental working group set up to consider the recommendation by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in this area, with the assistance of the Criminal Law Commissioner as recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, is looking carefully at the inter-relationship between any new offence, existing offences, civil remedies and disciplinary codes. It is also taking into account proposals being developed by my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the establishment of a new Standards Board for local government and the creation of a new code of conduct for local councillors. As with corruption, this interdepartmental working group also expects to complete its work by the end of the year.

  Green Transport
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, column 302, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [54014]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My Department is working towards the target announced in the White Paper 'A New Deal for Transport', that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies should have green transport plans by March 1999, and all other key buildings by March 2000. These targets have been incorporated into my Department's Greening Operations Policy. The policy also includes the following aim:
  851
  "to minimise the impact of the Department's travel arrangements on the environment by reducing the level of unnecessary travel and encouraging those who have to travel to do so in a way that minimises the environmental impact".

  Listening Devices
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance he has given to(a) police forces and (b) MI5 in respect of the use of long-range microphones and the civil liberty implications thereof; [54193]

  (2) if it is the practice that the use by (a) police and (b) MI5 of listening devices which do not require his prior authorisation, of comparable effectiveness of those which do, are used only against targets and in cases where authorisation for those listening devices which do require such authorisation might reasonably be expected to be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement; [54574]

  (3) what steps he has taken to ensure that listening devices not requiring approval by warrant are not used by (a) the police and (b) MI5 to conduct exercises that would be unlikely to be approved by warrant were they conducted by listening devices that did require such authorisation; and if he will make a statement; [54573]

  (4) what steps he intends to take to ensure those listening devices presently available to the police and the security services but not covered by legislation requiring specific authorisation before their use are brought within the remit of legislation to require such specific authorisation to be obtained. [54192]

  Mr. Michael
  The deployment by the police and the Security Service of listening devices in circumstances not covered by the Intelligence Services Act 1994 or the Police Act 1977 (when implemented) is an operational matter for chief constables and the Director General respectively.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers is overseeing a project to establish national standards for police and Customs activity in relation to a range of covert law enforcement activity. The Security Service operates in accordance with its statutory functions and subject to statutory oversight. In accordance with long standing policy, I do not propose to comment on matters relating to its operations, including the equipment and sensitive techniques which it employs.

  Table A: Average court penalties given for offences1 of (a) causing death by dangerous driving and (b) careless driving, 1986–96 England and Wales

  Offence/court penalty

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Causing death by dangerous driving

  Immediate custody

  Average sentence length (months)

  15.3

  16.8

  18.4

  16.3

  16.8

  18.5

  20.7

  22.7

  27.4

  34.6

  31.4

  Careless driving

  Fine

  Average fine (£)

  66

  70

  75

  90

  100

  105

  106

  122

  127

  127

  127

  1 The data are based on instances where the offence is the principal offence

  Source:

  Home Office Court Proceedings database
  852
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances warrants for interception are agreed to where the prevention or detection of serious crime is not a factor. [54575]

  Mr. Straw
  The Interception of Communications Act 1985 provides that the Secretary of State may issue an interception warrant if he considers that it is necessary in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or for the purpose of safeguarding the economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom. In deciding whether a warrant is necessary, the Secretary of State is required to consider whether the information could reasonably be acquired by other means. And, where the purpose of the warrant is to safeguard the economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom, the information which is required must relate to the acts or intentions of persons outside the British Islands.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his Department's publications have been made available in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in 1997–98; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents. [54274]

  Mr. Straw
  Information on the numbers of documents published in alternative formats such as audio tapes will normally be considered by officials with responsibility for the documents in question. This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Driving Offences
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average penalty for(a) causing death by dangerous driving and (b) careless driving in each of the last 10 years; [53302]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of charges of causing death by dangerous driving that are reduced to careless driving during the course of trials. [53301]

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

  No estimate has been made of the number of charges of causing death by dangerous driving that are reduced to careless driving during the course of trials. Table B, which uses data from the same database, compares the number of persons committed for trial from the magistrates' courts to the Crown Court for these two offences with the number tried in the Crown Court.
  853

  Table B: Number of defendants prosecuted, committed for trial and tried for offences1 of (a) causing death by dangerous driving and (b) careless driving, 1994–96 England and Wales

  Offence/court

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Causing death by dangerous driving

  Magistrates' courts

  Prosecutions

  235

  247

  260

  Committed for trial

  229

  229

  244

  The Crown Court

  Total tried2

  231

  240

  241

  Careless driving

  Magistrates' courts

  Prosecutions

  56,657

  54,939

  50,291

  Committed for trial

  3

  2

  6

  The Crown Court

  Total tried2

  151

  190

  228

  1 The data are based on instances where the offence is the principal offence

  Prosecutions

  Percentage of all road deaths

  Convictions

  Percentage of all road deaths

  Manslaughter

  4

  0.1

  1

  0.1

  Causing death by dangerous/careless driving1

  333

  9.3

  245

  6.8

  Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink and drugs

  63

  1.8

  265

  1.8

  Causing death by aggravated taking

  27

  0.8

  18

  0.5

  No prosecution

  3,171

  88.1

  —

  —

  No conviction

  —

  —

  3,269

  90.7

  1 Figures for causing death by dangerous and careless driving have been counted together since 1992

  2 Includes 2 cases of manslaughter charges reduced at court

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if juries are informed of the maximum penalties attached to the offences of(a) careless driving and (b) dangerous driving. [53303]

  Mr. Michael
  The jury's role is solely to determine the facts of the case and to reach a verdict. Juries are not made aware of the consequences of conviction.

  Schengen Information System
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his document, "UK Presidency of the EU, Half Way Mark", if he will make a statement on the application of openness to UK nationals under the Schengen Information System. [54951]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Schengen, and the Schengen Information System in particular, is currently an intergovernmental arrangement outside the structures of the European Union. The United Kingdom is not a party to, or a participant in, Schengen.

  When the Treaty of Amsterdam comes into force, the Schengen arrangements will be brought within the structures of the European Union but will not apply to the United Kingdom unless we choose to take part. The arrangements for data protection and subject access in respect of the Schengen Information System, once within the European Union, have not yet been decided.
  854
  2 The data cover defendants either acquitted or convicted of the offence. Hence they cover those who were prosecuted under a more serious offence but acquitted or convicted of the offence and do not cover those prosecuted for the offence but acquitted or convicted of a lesser offence

  Source:

  Home Office Court Proceedings database

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of road deaths resulted in convictions for(a) manslaughter, (b) causing death by dangerous driving, (c) careless driving, (d) causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs and (e) no conviction, in the last year for which figures are available. [53300]

  Mr. Michael
  There were 3,598 road deaths for England and Wales in 1996. The number of prosecutions and convictions in 1996 are shown in the table for the offences specified, and the respective proportion of all road deaths.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the minutes of the 19 March Justice and Home Affairs Council on new openness measures in the Library. [54949]

  Mr. Straw
  The openness measures agreed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 19 March did not extend to Council minutes, which are not made publicly available in the interests of protecting the confidentiality of Council proceedings. But I reported on the outcome of the meeting in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 8 April 1998,Official Report, columns 256–67. The openness measures which were under discussion by the Justice and Home Affairs Council are set out in Council document 6407/98 (JAI 6), a copy of which was placed in the Library following the Council meeting.

  Household Insurance (No-claims Bonus)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the trends in the numbers of no-claims bonuses for household insurance on reporting rates of household crimes. [54822]

  Mr. Michael
  It is not possible to determine the effect of trends in the number of no-claims bonuses on reporting rates of household crimes. This is because there are no
  855
  centrally held figures on the proportion of household insurance policies that have a no-claims bonus, or on whether the number has changed over time.

  Evidence from the 1996 British Crime Survey suggests, however, that any drop in claims, for whatever reason, is likely to reduce levels of reporting. Victims of nearly three-quarters of incidents not reported to the police said they would have reported if they had made a claim.

  No claim was made in about two-thirds of incidents covered by insurance. Protecting a no-claims bonus was the reason given in only a fifth of these. There are no comparative figures to assess whether this proportion is higher than it would have been in the past.

  Active Community Task Force
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current membership of the Prime Minister's task force on the active community; and when it will next meet. [54487]

  Mr. Michael
  The task force has not yet been established.

  Metropolitan Police (Malpractice)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the level of malpractice within the Metropolitan Police. [54037]

  Mr. Michael
  We have received a number or representations from hon. Members and from members of the public on subjects related to corruption within the Metropolitan Police.

  The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis has publicly stated his determination to tackle corruption in the Metropolitan Police. The Commissioner tells me that, unfortunately, while the overwhelming majority of his officers are honest, professional and brave, and will never do anything wrong throughout their service, there is a small number who are involved in corrupt, dishonest and unethical behaviour. The actions of these officers sap the morale of their honest colleagues and undermine the confidence of the public in the police service.

  My right hon. Friend and I are regularly updated by the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner on their progress in tackling corruption in the Metropolitan Police.

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary will be conducting a review into integrity in police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I welcome this review, which will inform chief constables of good practice and ensure corrective action so that the high standards of service and integrity set by British police officers will be maintained.

  DNA Techniques
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his letter FC/98 333/1039/3 of 18 June 1998, what progress has been made by the Forensic Science Service in exploring how the police might utilise DNA techniques. [54053]
  856
  Mr. Michael
  The National DNA Database was established in April 1995. The success of the database has stimulated joint research between the Forensic Science Service and police forces on how to make best use of the information that DNA analysis can provide to support crime investigation. Some progress has been made in developing tests that may help to determine the race, hair and eye colour, for example, of the suspect from a stain left at the scene of a crime. Research presently underway with several police forces is aimed at evaluating the usefulness of this information in helping to identify suspects.

  Prisoners (Prescription Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce new guidelines on prescription drugs for prisoners, with particular reference to(a) Largactil, (b) Melleril and (c) other neuroleptic drugs. [54213]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Published Prison Service healthcare standards set out guidelines on the prescription of medicinal drugs to prisoners. The guidelines require prison doctors to exercise appropriate clinical judgment, and for Prison Service establishments to provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective pharmaceutical service to prisoners which complies with legal requirements, professional standards and ethical codes, commensurate with those in the National Health Service.

  There are no plans at present to revise these guidelines.

  Prisoners (Psychiatric Help)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the quality and the amount of psychiatric help provided to prisoners with problems of mental ill health. [54214]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The provision of mental healthcare in prisons was reviewed by the independent standing Health Advisory Committee (HAC) for the Prison Service, which published a report containing 16 recommendations for improvements last autumn. Implementation of the HAC's recommendations is being considered by the Joint Prison Service/National Health Service Executive working group, established to advise on options for improving prisoners' health care. The joint working group has been looking at, among other improvements, ways of increasing the contributions made by the NHS to mental health services for prisoners.

  Reasoning and Rehabilitation Programme
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation programme, in Holloway and Cookham Wood; and what plans he has to extend this scheme. [54215]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Reasoning and Rehabilitation is a nationally accredited offending behaviour programme. Its delivery at individual establishments is reviewed annually as part of the Prison Service's offending behaviour programme accreditation process. The 1996–97 review showed that Cookham Wood and Holloway are implementing the programme well.
  857
  To maintain the quality of programme delivery, the Prison Service modifies the number of successful completions of the programme by prisoners by reference to an implementation quality rating. In 1997–98, the adjusted figure for Cookham Wood was 14 completions and for Holloway 20.9. Under plans made before the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review was announced, Cookham Wood was predicting 24 completions for 1998–99 and Holloway 21.

  The Prison Service plans to increase significantly the number of completions of accredited offending behaviour programmes across the whole estate over the next three years.

  Prisoners (Statistics)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are(a) the numbers and (b) the proportions of prisoners who are (i) Asian and (ii) Afro-Caribbean. [54212]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The latest available information on the ethnicity of prisoners is for 30 June 1998 and is given in the table.

  Percentage of prisoners in prison by ethnic group on 30 June 19981

  Ethnic group

  Number

  Percentage of total prison population

  White

  53,647

  82

  Black

  African

  1,396

  2

  Caribbean

  4,870

  7

  Other

  1,747

  3

  Total

  8,013

  12

  South Asian

  Indian

  694

  1

  Pakistani

  1,151

  2

  Bangladeshi

  169

  2—

  Total

  2,014

  3

  Chinese and other

  2,053

  3

  Total

  65,727

  100

  1 Provisional figures

  2 Less than 0.5 per cent.

  Note:

  Percentages have been calculated independently and may not sum to 100

  Prison Medical Staff
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure that the qualifications of medical staff in prisons are parallel to those of the National Health Service. [54217]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Directorate of Health Care is working with an expert committee, comprising representatives of the Royal Colleges of General Practitioners, Medicine and Psychiatry, to establish a Health Care Standard for the continuing professional 858
  development of doctors working in prisons in England and Wales. This new Standard will include essential person specifications and competencies for the employment of prison doctors.

  Women's Prisons (Staff)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the numbers of women doctors, nurses and gynaecologists employed in women's prisons. [54216]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The overwhelming majority of nurses employed in women's prisons are female. The number of women doctors employed in women's prisons can vary due to the use of external general practitioners and other locum doctors. The most recent available figures show that 10 out of 31 doctors employed in women's or mixed prisons were female.

  Women prisoners who wish to see a female doctor or nurse have their wishes met wherever possible. A Women's Health Care Standard is being developed, which will include a requirement for protocols, to be agreed locally, for women prisoners who wish to consult female doctors or nurses to have their wishes respected.

  Prison Officers (Statistics)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are(a) the numbers and (b) the proportions of prison officers who are (i) Asian and (ii) Afro-Caribbean. [54211]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested is as follows:

  The number of prison officer grades who are

  (i) Asian: 159

  (ii) Afro-Caribbean: 172

  The proportion of prison officer grades who are

  (i) Asian: 0.68 per cent.

  (ii) Afro-Caribbean: 0.73 per cent.

  Primary Purpose Rule
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current estimate of the effect that the abolition of the primary purpose rule has had upon the number of spouses granted leave to enter the United Kingdom for a probationary year prior to settlement; and if he will make a statement. [54047]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I will write to the right hon. Member.

  Police Service
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the strength of the police service in England and Wales, broken down to show(a) police and (b) civil staff (i) in total and (ii) by police force. [54045]

  Mr. Michael
  At the end of March 1998, there were in total 126,944 police officers and 53,480 civilian support
  859
  staff. This is 214 fewer police officers and 469 more civilians than there were on 31 March 1997. The table sets out the information requested.

  Force

  Police officers

  Civilian Support Staff

  Avon and Somerset

  2,975.9

  1,392.8

  Bedfordshire

  1,078.5

  522.7

  Cambridgeshire

  1,291.4

  573.6

  Cheshire

  2,035.9

  813.9

  City of London

  824.9

  348.4

  Cleveland

  1,483.4

  586.4

  Cumbria

  1,163.5

  451.5

  Derbyshire

  1,772.2

  787

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,961.5

  1,185.8

  Dorset

  1,310

  700.4

  Durham

  1,514.8

  556.5

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,002.3

  340.6

  Essex

  2,928.5

  1,252.5

  Gloucestershire

  1,103.9

  422.7

  Greater Manchester

  6,948.7

  2,660.6

  Gwent

  1,232.8

  467

  Hampshire

  3,489.5

  1,330.9

  Hertfordshire

  1,739.9

  830.8

  Humberside

  2,021.2

  786.2

  Kent

  3,251.8

  1,521.3

  Lancashire

  3,257.1

  1,142.7

  Leicestershire

  1,983.1

  774.1

  Lincolnshire

  1,191.1

  539.8

  Merseyside

  4,217.4

  1,502.4

  Metropolitan Police

  26,192.7

  12,432.3

  Norfolk

  1,429.6

  646.4

  Northamptonshire

  1,168.7

  577

  Northumbria

  3,766.7

  1,356.8

  North Wales

  1,396

  525

  North Yorkshire

  1,367.2

  542.9

  Nottinghamshire

  2,322.6

  986.6

  South Wales

  2,986.2

  1,241.3

  South Yorkshire

  3,182

  1,243

  Staffordshire

  2,292.1

  900.5

  Suffolk

  1,185.8

  583.4

  Surrey

  1,608.4

  743.2

  Sussex

  3,037.7

  1,201

  Thames Valley

  3,775.5

  1,826.7

  Warwickshire

  924.1

  409.8

  West Mercia

  2,011.8

  1,007.6

  West Midlands

  7,156.5

  2,816.5

  West Yorkshire

  5,154.7

  2,429.9

  Wiltshire

  1,148.3

  519.2

  Total strength of the forces

  124,885.9

  53,479.7

  Central services1

  736

  —

  Regional Crime Squads2

  1,289

  —

  Inter-force units3

  33

  —

  Total police service strength

  126,943.9

  53,479.7

  1 Central services includes officers seconded by forces to national police training, NCIS, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Information Technology Organisation

  2 From 1 April 1998 regional crime squads became the National Crime Squad

  3 These are units set up between forces to provide a common service. An example of this is the Regional Driving School at Devizes

  Age of Consent
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the provisions in the Sex Offenders Act 1997 relating to those convicted for crimes which would be legal if the age of consent were reduced to 16 years for homosexual acts. [53927]
  860
  Mr. Michael
  The issue will be considered in due course.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue new guidance on the sentencing of men aged between 16 and 18 years for engaging in consenting homosexual acts in private. [53928]

  Mr. Michael
  None. Sentencing guidelines are a matter for the Court of Appeal, which provides guidance on the appropriate sentencing range for criminal offences through its judgments in individual cases.

  The Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] also contains provisions to build on and improve the current system of sentencing guidelines. Provisions in the Bill place a statutory duty on the Court of Appeal to consider producing sentencing guidelines. There will also be a new sentencing advisory panel established by the Bill, which will give advice to the Court of Appeal on sentencing.

  Mohammed Al Fayed
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on the application for British citizenship by Mr. Mohammed Al Fayed. [54903]

  Mr. Straw
  It is not our practice to comment on individual applications. Decisions are taken when we have completed our consideration of whether an applicant meets the statutory requirements for British citizenship.

  Prison Farms
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the privatisation of HM prison farms. [54110]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There are no plans to privatise prison farms. However, a number of prisons are involved in Private Finance Initiative projects or partnership agreements.

  In May 1997, the Prisons Board agreed to the recommendations of the Prison Service Agricultural Review team, which was commissioned to consider the need and size of prison agricultural activities. The implementation of these recommendations will result in agricultural land which is no longer required by the Prison Service being sold, and the phasing out of potato and pig production. Any staff employment places in these particular enterprises would be absorbed into other activities. Work is continuing with the monitoring of dairy herds and developing the role of vegetable distribution centres.

  The review recommended continued involvement with private sector companies. The primary purpose of seeking such partnerships is to offer good value for money in providing prisoners with work, maximising current unrealised production and, more importantly, the injection of capital funds.

  The largest current Private Finance Initiative project operating in the prison farms sector involves mushroom packaging at Kirkham prison. Discussions are taking place on establishing other such enterprises in a number of prisons.
  861
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on livestock and produce grown and reared in prisons for sale on the open market. [54111]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There are a number of commercial sales generated from agricultural and horticultural activities in prisons. They are regarded as sources of income which can be offset against the cost of running the establishment from which the sales have been generated. Prison Service policy is that prices obtained should be in line with the local, and, where appropriate, national, price for a comparable product.

  Immigration
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the presenting officer's Unit in his Department received the papers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office relating to immigration appeal GV100/46408/AP; and if he will make a statement. [54279]
  862
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The explanatory statement was sent from the British High Commission, Islamabad, on 5 February. It was received within my Department on 17 February, it was processed and forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority on 7 April for the appeal to be listed.

  Race Relations Act
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to assess the recommendations relating to Employment in the Public Service, as contained in the document Proposals for Change, submitted to him by the Commission for Racial Equality, on the reform of the Race Relations Act 1976. [53242]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Commission for Racial Equality's Third Review of the Race Relations Act 1976 contains a large number of proposals for amending the Act. My right hon. Friend announced on 23 June that the Home Office would welcome views on these and other proposals he has received. This consultation period will run until 6 November. The Government will reach a view on all the proposals once the consultation has finished.

  Europol Convention
  Europol Convention
  Probation Service
  Probation Service
  Corruption and Misuse of Public Office
  Corruption and Misuse of Public Office
  School Inspections and Road Safety
  School Inspections and Road Safety
  Kensington Gardens: Visitor Numbers
  Kensington Gardens: Visitor Numbers
  Somerset House: Removal of Inland Revenue Personnel
  Somerset House: Removal of Inland Revenue Personnel
  Greater London Authority: Location
  Greater London Authority: Location
  Opencast Coal Mining: Planning Policy
  Opencast Coal Mining: Planning Policy
  Car Parking Charges for the Disabled
  Car Parking Charges for the Disabled
  Shopping Centres: Planning Policy
  Shopping Centres: Planning Policy
  Social Exclusion Unit: Rough Sleeping Report
  Social Exclusion Unit: Rough Sleeping Report
  Motorway Service Areas
  Motorway Service Areas
  Water Abstraction: Environmental Damage
  Water Abstraction: Environmental Damage
  Genetically Modified Crops
  Genetically Modified Crops
  Ashford International Station
  Ashford International Station
  Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Strategy
  Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Strategy
  Trunk Roads: Investment
  Trunk Roads: Investment
  NHS Trusts: Debt Structure
  NHS Trusts: Debt Structure
  "Investing in Dentistry" Initiative
  "Investing in Dentistry" Initiative
  Xenotransplantation: Regulation
  Xenotransplantation: Regulation
  Breast Cancer: Radiotherapy (START) Trial
  Breast Cancer: Radiotherapy (START) Trial
  Invalid Vehicle Service
  Invalid Vehicle Service
  Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship
  Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship
  Ministerial and Departmental Meetings: Record
  Ministerial and Departmental Meetings: Record
  H.M. Prisons: Use of Illegal Software
  H.M. Prisons: Use of Illegal Software
  Negotiating Boards for Salaries and Wages: Funding
  Negotiating Boards for Salaries and Wages: Funding
  Asylum Seekers Sleeping Rough
  Asylum Seekers Sleeping Rough
  Rough Sleepers Disentitled to Social Security Benefits
  Rough Sleepers Disentitled to Social Security Benefits
  Special Advisers: Salaries
  Special Advisers: Salaries
  Task Forces and Reviews: Report Dates
  Task Forces and Reviews: Report Dates
  Written Question
  Written Question
  Armed Forces: Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Missions
  Armed Forces: Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Missions
  RAF St. Athan
  RAF St. Athan
  Ottawa Convention: Implementation
  Ottawa Convention: Implementation
  Berkeley Centre Magnox Facility: Nuclear Material Study
  Berkeley Centre Magnox Facility: Nuclear Material Study
  Fishing Research Laboratory, Conwy
  Fishing Research Laboratory, Conwy
  Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee
  Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Senior Staff and Business Appointments
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Senior Staff and Business Appointments
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts
  Meat Hygiene Service: Annual Report and Accounts
  Meat Hygiene Service: Annual Report and Accounts
  Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts
  Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts
  Central Science Laboratory: Annual Report and Accounts
  Central Science Laboratory: Annual Report and Accounts
  Calf Processing Aid Scheme
  Calf Processing Aid Scheme
  Beef Export Ban
  Beef Export Ban
  British-registered Fishing Vessels: UK Economic Link
  British-registered Fishing Vessels: UK Economic Link
  Organic Aid Scheme
  Organic Aid Scheme
  ACP Banana Regime
  ACP Banana Regime
  BSE Statistics
  BSE Statistics
  Court Welfare Service
  Court Welfare Service
  Kosovo: Arms Control Measures
  Kosovo: Arms Control Measures
  Kosovo: Moscow Agreement Implementation
  Kosovo: Moscow Agreement Implementation
  International Criminal Court
  International Criminal Court
  Security Threats: Countermeasures
  Security Threats: Countermeasures
  United States' UN Dues
  United States' UN Dues
  Latvia
  Latvia
  Turkey: Outstanding ECHR Fines
  Turkey: Outstanding ECHR Fines
  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  Ottawa Convention
  Ottawa Convention
  Sanctions: Humanitarian Exemptions
  Sanctions: Humanitarian Exemptions
  Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Annual Report
  Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Annual Report
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Shipments
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Shipments
  Papua New Guinea: Tidal Wave
  Papua New Guinea: Tidal Wave
  Belize: Debt Relief
  Belize: Debt Relief
  Homeless Persons: Permanent Accommodation
  Homeless Persons: Permanent Accommodation
  War Disablement Pensioners: Age Allowances
  War Disablement Pensioners: Age Allowances