Written Answers of 4 June 1998

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Investments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons the format of investment holdings in the 1997 Annual report and Accounts has been changed from that in the 1996 edition in respect of information concerning overseas trusts. [44231]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The list of larger investments in the 1997 Annual Report and Accounts adopted a higher threshold (£6 million) than that in the 1996 Report (which applied a threshold of £3 million for UK equities and £1 million for overseas investments with overseas trusts listed as a separate category under the list of overseas investments). This focuses clearly on the largest holdings, which contribute the greater part of the fund's performance, and also reflects the overall increase in the Commissioners' investments since the threshold was last reviewed. No overseas investments over £6 million were held.

  In view of the Commissioners' decision to increase its overseas equities in 1997 and to outsource the management of the overseas portfolio to three separate

  £

  Company

  Date

  Market value

  Total proceeds

  i. Edinburgh Dragon Trust

  31 December 1996

  4,225,000.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  2,723,789.75

  ii. Fidelity Japanese Values

  31 December 1996

  1,299,375.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  768,459.75

  iii. Fleming Japanese Investment Trust

  31 December 1996

  6,514,324.00

  31 December 1997

  4,749,684.00

  iv. Fleming Select Japanese Fund

  31 December 1996

  3,354,565.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  2,721,183.92

  v. Fleming Select Pacific Fund

  31 December 1996

  2,775,689.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  1,881,573.14

  vi. Foreign and Colonial Pacific Investment Trust

  31 December 1996

  3,460,063.00

  31 December 1997

  2,370,688.00

  vii. Govett Oriental Investment Trust

  31 December 1996

  4,074,000.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  2,488,137.50

  viii. JF Fledgling Japan

  31 December 1996

  2,239,050.00

  31 December 1997

  1,228,200.00

  ix. Mercury European Privatisation Trust

  31 December 1996

  1,080,000.00

  31 December 1997

  1,914,000.00

  includes purchases

  x. Old Mutual South Africa Trust

  31 December 1996

  1,207,500.00

  31 December 1997

  1,361,500.00

  xi. Pacific Assets Trust

  31 December 1996

  2,552,000.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  1,235,024.75

  296
  external fund managers during 1997, with a consequent large increase in the number of individual overseas equity holdings, it was considered opportune to align the disclosure threshold for overseas holdings with that for UK equities.

  The overseas investment trusts held at 31 December 1996 represented the Commissioners' only exposure to the markets of the Far East. As a result of the appointment of external overseas equity managers during 1997, many of the overseas investment trust holdings were disposed of by the end of 1997.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list in tabular form(a) the investment holdings in pounds at 31 December (1) 1996 and (2) 1997 and (b) the sums realised in pounds from the disposal of holdings between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1997 in (i) Edinburgh Dragon Trust, (ii) Fidelity Japanese Values, (iii) Fleming Japanese Investment Trust, (iv) Fleming Select Japanese Fund, (v) Fleming Select Pacific Fund, (vi) Foreign and Colonial Pacific Investment Trust, (vii) Govett Oriental Investment Trust, (viii) JF Fledgeling Japan, (ix) Mercury European Privatisation Trust, (x) Old Mutual South Africa Trust, (xi) Pacific Assets Trust, (xii) Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, (xiii) Schroder Emerging Countries, (xiv) Schroder Japan Growth Fund, (xv) Schroder Pacific Growth Fund, (xvi) Schroder Tokyo Fund, (xvii) TR European Growth Trust and (xix) Templeton Emerging Markets. [44230]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The relevant information to the question is as follows. The information given provides market valuation at specific dates only, and does not indicate gains or losses.
  297

  £

  Company

  Date

  Market value

  Total proceeds

  xii. Schroder Asia Pacific Fund

  31 December 1996

  2,572,075.00

  31 December 1997

  11,382,975.00

  xiii. Schroder Emerging Countries

  31 December 1996

  1,625,000.00

  31 December 1997

  11,439,000.00

  xiv. Schroder Japan Growth Fund

  31 December 1996

  1,170,000.00

  31 December 1997

  11,040,000.00

  xv. Schroder Pacific Growth Fund

  31 December 1996

  4,968,164.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  2,904,068.53

  xvi. Schroder Tokyo Fund

  31 December 1996

  5,540,129.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  4,861,229.78

  xvii. TR European Growth "C" Conversion to Ordinary

  31 December 1996

  1,485,000.00

  31 December 1997

  0.00

  1,782,973.65

  xix. Templeton Emerging Markets

  31 December 1996

  1,869,146.00

  31 December 1997

  1,672,763.00

  1Indicates a transfer to an Overseas Fund Manager

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Dorchester Road Relief Road
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when a decision will be made on the financing of the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth. [43341]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Dorchester Road Relief Road scheme was submitted by Dorset County Council for consideration as a PFI scheme for the February 1998 list of local authority PFI projects. Announcing decisions on the list, the Government made it clear that decisions on support for a number of local road schemes (including the Weymouth road scheme) had been deferred until the approach to the appraisal and prioritisation of road schemes had been clarified in the national Roads Review.

  Fire Safety
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will introduce measures to limit the generation of smoke from building products; [44025]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the timetable for implementing individual member state's new European Union standards relating to test methods used to determine the fire resistance of construction products; [44023]

  (3) if the test method in British Standard 476 Part 33 permits the evaluation of the generation of smoke from building products; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of this as a performance standard for regulatory purposes. [44024]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Building Regulations 1991 are intended to secure the health and safety in and around buildings, and paragraph B of Schedule 1 to the Regulations makes functional requirements to cover fire safety. Guidance on how these requirements may be met 298
  are given in Approved Document B, and, as far as materials used in construction are concerned, performance standards are set based on recognised test methods.

  With regard to the generation of smoke from building products, the only recognised method of test available that measures smoke production is BS 476: Part 33 which relates to a full scale room test for surface products. This test gives an indication of the toxic hazard by the measurement of certain toxic gases and also the hazard of reduced visibility can be estimated by the measurement of the production of light-obscuring smoke. Because of the size of this test, it is not considered practicable to introduce it as a performance standard for regulatory purposes.

  Approved Document B (Fire Safety) makes reference to a number of BS 476 parts that are considered to give acceptable methods of test and the key parameters usually considered in fire tests are the heat release rate and flame spread. These in themselves will also have an effect on smoke production. I therefore have no proposals at present to introduce the large-scale test given in BS 476 Part 33 as part of the performance standard for regulatory purpose. However, the use of a fire engineering approach is recognised in Approved Document B and the BS 476: Part 33 method of test could be used as part of the justification for a particular fire engineering solution.

  The Single Burning Item (SBI) test being developed in support of the Construction Products Directive, does also address smoke production and we will need to take account of this when revising Approved Document B in the light of any future harmonised European Standards.

  The European standards for resistance to fire have been passed to National Standards bodies (in the United Kingdom, the British Standards Institution) by CEN, the European Standards Organisation, for a formal vote, expected to be completed by the end of this month. If there is a positive vote, the test will be ratified and published towards the end of this year by the national standards bodies. Decisions have yet to be taken on the

  299
  period for which European and national standards will co-exist but a reasonable period will be allowed for industry to adjust before the latter are withdrawn.

  Environmental Standards (Prosecution)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many businesses have been prosecuted successfully since 1990 for violating environmental standards in(a) the West Midlands and (b) the United Kingdom. [43223]

  Angela Eagle
  This information is not held centrally. The Environment Agency took on responsibility for managing and regulating the water environment and controlling industrial pollution and wastes in England and Wales on 1 April 1996. Between then and 31 March 1998, it undertook 1,233 successful prosecutions, of which 229 were in its Midlands region. Local authorities and other bodies also have responsibility for enforcing some environmental controls.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in devising a regulatory framework for the carbon dioxide emissions trading regime outlined in the Kyoto agreement. [43303]

  Angela Eagle
  Negotiations began on 2 June, at the 8th session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, on a framework for the international emissions trading regime outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, with a view to developing the necessary principles, modalities and guidelines at the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the Convention in November this year.

  Litter Offences
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many on-the-spot litter fines have been issued by Chelmsford Borough Council in each of the last three years; and how many warnings for litter offences were issued in each of the last three years. [44176]

  Angela Eagle
  Chelmsford Borough Council litter wardens warned 302 people for litter offences in 1995–96 and 347 people in 1996–97. Figures for warnings given in 1997–98 are not yet available. No fixed penalty fines have been issued by Chelmsford Borough Council over the last three years.

  Private Landlords
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities operate voluntary accreditation schemes for private landlords. [44302]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department does not collect information on this. However, we encourage local authorities, through the Housing Investment Programme guidance, to consider initiatives such as accreditation 300
  schemes for private landlords as part of their enabling role in securing an effective private rented sector in their areas. We are aware that a growing number of local authorities are operating such schemes.

  "Policy Guidance on Policy Appraisal and the Environment"
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures have been put in place in the Government Office for the Eastern Region to ensure that Policy Guidance on Policy Appraisal and the Environment is implemented. [42660]

  Mr. Meacher
  The document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" was sent last month to the Government Office for Eastern Region, as to all Government Offices for the Regions. They are currently establishing the mechanisms to ensure that these criteria are systematically applied in all their investment and programme evaluations.

PRIME MINISTER

  Technique LLC
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what information is held by Government departments on Technique LLC; [38551]

  (2) what was the nature of any relationship between Her Majesty's Government and Technique LLC in the period 1995 to 1998; [38549]

  (3) on what date Her Majesty's Government were informed of the commission payments made by Astra and related companies to Technique LLC; [38548]

  (4) on what date Her Majesty's Government were informed of commission payments made to Technique LLC in relation to contracts to supply goods by Astra. [38544]

  The Prime Minister
  Technique LLC has been the agent in Oman for several UK companies for a number of years. In view of this, HMG officials have had some contact with company staff, primarily through the British Embassy in Muscat. From information readily available within Government, I am not aware of any evidence that HMG was informed of any commission payments to Technique LLC by Astra. Any commission payment made by a non-state company such as Astra, or companies related to it, to a foreign company such as Technique LLC, would have been a matter solely for the companies concerned.

  Correspondence
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct Ministers to sign their letters to hon. Members. [43421]

  The Prime Minister
  It is the responsibility of individual Ministers to determine how correspondence is dealt with in their departments. However, I am not aware of any Minister adopting a policy of deliberately not signing their correspondence.
  301

  Sierra Leone
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he first became aware of the HM Customs and Excise investigation of allegations against Sandline. [43622]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: As has already been made public, I was briefed by the Cabinet Secretary on this matter on 30 April.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 30 October 1997,Official Report, column 861, what action is taken in circumstances where a member of the public who is subject to telephone interception makes a telephone call to an hon. Member; and if he will make a statement. [43604]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 June 1998]: The Secretary of State may issue a warrant only if he is satisfied that it is necessary for one of the purposes in the Interception of Communications Act 1985; namely, in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or for the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom. It is then for the responsible Service to decide how to respond to any communications lawfully intercepted under the warrant, having regard to the safeguards provided in section 6 of the Act.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of the responses received to the Consultation on Legal Aid Reform were from(a) lawyers or lawyers' organisations, (b) members of the public or consumers' organisations and (c) hon. or right hon. Members; and if he will make a statement. [43291]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have now received 238 responses to the consultation paper Access to Justice with Conditional Fees; 145 from lawyers and lawyers' associations, 28 from members of the public or consumers' organisations and one from an hon. Member, although many hon. and right hon. Members have passed on responses which have been sent to them by constituents.

  Community Legal Service
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for pilots for the Community Legal Service; and if he will make a statement. [43292]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor has announced that proposals for a Community Legal Service will be finalised by the beginning of next year. A consultation paper will be issued in January 1999. Until the Lord Chancellor and I reach our final decisions based on the responses to that consultation paper, I cannot predict whether any pilot projects will be appropriate.

  Stephen Lawrence Case
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what amount of legal aid was given to those charged with the murder of Stephen Lawrence. [44177]

  Mr. Hoon
  The total amount of legal aid paid in respect of proceedings in the magistrates' court was £76,962. A further £129,007 was paid in respect of proceedings in the Crown Court.

  Court Payments
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that courts pay out within a reasonable time scale moneys they hold on behalf of parties. [42750]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Charter for Court Users states that court staff are expected to instruct the Court Funds Office (where moneys are held on interest-bearing accounts) within 10 working days of the court order, to arrange payments to the parties. Management information systems are in place to identify any work not dealt with within 5 working days. Once the requests are received, the Court Funds Office aims to process them within 5 working days.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Youth Clubs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the proportion of Lottery funding awarded to youth clubs. [43607]

  Mr. Banks
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives many representation on Lottery funding, but he has received none specifically relating to youth clubs. However, over 1,300 awards worth in excess of £170 million have been made to projects which are specifically designed to benefit young people and youth groups.

  S4C
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the level of subsidy provided to S4C Welsh Television Channel, for the 1997–98 financial year. [44109]

  Mr. Fisher
  S4C is funded on a calendar year basis, under a statutory formula, and the level of funding from 1998 is linked to the Retail Prices Index (RPI). The grant in 1997 was £72.223 million; the grant for 1998 is £74.895 million.

  Elgin Marbles
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Government of Greece since 1 May 1997 requesting the return of the Elgin Marbles. [44332]

  Mr. Fisher
  There have been no formal representations from the Government of the Hellenic Republic requesting the return of the Elgin Marbles.
  303

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drivers (Mobile Telephones)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of motorists for driving a motor vehicle while using a mobile telephone there were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [43632]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is not available.

  There is no separate offence of driving a vehicle while using a mobile telephone, and any prosecution is likely to be driving without due care and attention, for which there were 66,858 prosecutions in England and Wales in 1996 (73,015 in 1995, 76,251 in 1994 and 79,415 in 1993). Figures for 1997 are not yet available.

  Trial area

  Total offenders sentenced

  Sentences completed

  Total sentences revoked

  Revoked through breach 1

  Revoked for other reasons

  Currently being monitored

  Berkshire

  96

  68

  14

  6

  1

  15

  Greater Manchester

  843

  542

  105

  36

  8

  192

  Norfolk

  354

  231

  31

  23

  8

  92

  Cambridgeshire2

  20

  2

  1

  1

  0

  17

  Middlesex

  29

  3

  3

  3

  0

  22

  Suffolk

  13

  1

  1

  1

  0

  11

  West Yorkshire

  22

  5

  1

  1

  0

  15

  Total

  1,377

  852

  156

  71

  17

  364

  1 Separate figures on the reasons for breaches were only collected in all trial areas from August 1997

  2 The trials in Cambridgeshire, Middlesex, Suffolk and West Yorkshire began in January 1998

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is planned to extend curfew orders on a national basis; and which companies will be competing for the contract. [43878]

  Ms Quin
  Further to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker), of 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 559–60, four bidders have been short-listed for the electronic monitoring services contracts. They are General Security Services Corporation, Securicor Custodial Services, Premier Prisons Limited and Group 4 Prison and Court Services Limited. National roll-out of court-ordered curfews is unlikely to be before late 1999.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categorisation his Department has made of sex offenders to indicate the estimated degree of risk each one poses to the public; and if he will make a statement. [43711]

  Mr. Michael
  Agencies are increasingly co-operating to pool the information they hold so that they can asses the risk presented by any individual sex offender and devise plans to monitor the offender's behaviour and reduce risk to the public. The Government are encouraging this multi-agency approach to both assessment and management in the community.
  304
  It is also possible for such drivers to be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty for not being in proper control of a vehicle (Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986), but such cases cannot be separately identified in the statistics collected centrally.

  Curfew Orders
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many curfew orders backed by electronic tagging have been made by the courts in the pilot areas of(a) Norfolk and East Anglia, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) Reading and Berkshire since the trial commenced in July 1995; how many have been (i) completed satisfactorily and (ii) breached; and how many are still current. [43880]

  Ms Quin
  The following table shows the position in relation to curfew orders made in the seven pilot areas as of 26 May 1998.

  Sex offenders are subject to a risk assessment by the agency (or agencies) responsible for them on release from prison and/or whilst under supervision in the community. In the case of offenders subject to restrictions under the Mental Health Act, this assessment takes place before consent is given to their being granted leave of absence or transferred or discharged from hospital.

  Because most of these assessments are made on a case-by-case basis, there are no all-inclusive central statistics or categorisations of them.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to prevent sex offenders from being employed in occupations with access to children and to prevent children being abused by people who are in a position of trust over them. [44827]

  Mr. Michael
  There are a number of statutory safeguards already in place. Criminal record checks are available on people working in the statutory sector where they have substantial unsupervised access to children. They are also available on teachers in the private and voluntary sectors. The Police Act 1997 contains provisions which will widen access to criminal record checks when they are implemented. The Sex Offenders Act 1997 imposes a requirement on those convicted or cautioned for sex offences against children and other serious sex offences to notify the police of their name and address and any changes to these. This allows the police to monitor sex offenders in the community and to take action where appropriate to warn potential employers of
  305
  any risk they might present. The Government have made it clear that such information must not just sit on a computer or gather dust on a file and the police and probation services have responded positively and responsibly using this information for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, as intended. The Government are also introducing sex offender orders in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] which will apply to sex offenders if their behaviour indicates a possible threat to the public. The courts will be able to make an order to impose prohibitions necessary to protect the community. There are also a number of other measures in place to prevent those considered unsuitable to work with children from gaining employment with them. The Department for Education and Employment maintains "List 99" which contains information about people whom the Secretary of State has barred from working in schools; the Department of Health operates a Consultancy Service Index which enables local authorities and private and voluntary childcare organisations in England and Wales to check on suitability of those they propose to employ; and many professional bodies have codes of conduct which set out members' responsibilities in this area and provide for disciplinary action to be taken when these codes are breached.

  We are concerned that these safeguards are not fully integrated and that there is a need for a more streamlined approached to ensure that there are no loopholes. For this reason, the Government are setting up an interdepartmental working group of officials to consider additional safeguards to prevent those who are unsuitable from working with children, including the possibility of a central register backed up by a new criminal offence to prevent those on the register applying for work with children. In looking at this subject, the group will draw upon the consultation exercise "Sex Offenders: A Ban on Working with Children"; and on recommendations made in the report of Sir William Utting's review of safeguards for children living away from home (particularly those recommendations dealing with choosing the right staff) and the Government's response to this review which is expected to be published by the Ministerial Task Force on the Children's Safeguards Review in the summer. The group will also consider whether further measures are necessary to protect 16 and 17 years olds who may be vulnerable to abuse by those in a position of trust, such as carers, teachers and leaders of organised residential activities. It is expected that the group will make its final recommendations to Ministers by the end of the year.

  Metropolitan Police Force (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women from ethnic minorities were serving in the Metropolitan Police Force on 1 May. [43657]

  Mr. Michael
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the closest date for which it is possible to provide these figures is 5 May, as figures are collated on the first Monday of each month. The numbers of ethnic minorities serving in the Metropolitan Police on 5 May were(a) 665 men and (b) 190 women. The current percentage of ethnic minority officers is 3.2 per cent.
  306
  During the 1996–97 financial year, 694 new officers were recruited, of whom 6.7 per cent. came from ethnic minority backgrounds. The following table shows how the percentage of ethnic minority officers has increased steadily from 1.98 per cent. in 1991–92.

  Financial year

  Ethnic minorities strength

  Percentage of force

  1991–92

  563

  1.98

  1992–93

  614

  2.2

  1993–94

  671

  2.4

  1994–95

  730

  2.6

  1995–96

  797

  2.9

  1996–97

  822

  3.0

  1997–98

  856

  3.2

  Note:

  Figures from Commissioner's annual reports

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women committed suicide in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [43664]

  Ms Quin
  The term used by Prison Service to refer to an apparent suicide is "self-inflicted death". This is a broader definition and includes all those deaths where it is clear that the person has acted specifically to take his or her own life. It is not restricted to the official verdict from the Coroner's inquest, where verdicts of "suicide", "open" or "misadventure" may be recorded in cases where there was doubt about a person's intent to end their life.

  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Self-inflicted deaths in prisons in England and Wales 1995–97

  Year

  Women

  Men

  Total

  1995

  2

  57

  59

  1996

  2

  62

  64

  1997

  3

  67

  70

  UK Visa Applications (Nigeria)
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Nigerian nationals applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom as visitors; how many visitor visas were issued; and how many recipients of those visas returned to Nigeria before their visas expired in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997. [43336]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information on the number of Nigerian nationals applying for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom as visitors, and the number of recipients of such visas who return to Nigeria before their visas expire, is not collected centrally.

  The total number of entry clearance applications to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes made in Nigeria in 1994 to 1997, and the total numbers granted, initially or on appeal, are shown in the table. Visitor applications

  307
  are not separately identified, but they form the main part of applications for temporary purposes: also included are applications from students.

  Applications received in Nigeria for entry clearance to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, and applications granted, 1994 to 1997

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Applications received

  53,362

  41,580

  49,438

  49,471

  Applications granted

  36,089

  28,466

  38,680

  33,365

  Prison Service Property, Freckleton
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the prices received by the Prison Service for each of its properties sold in the Mede, Freckleton, this year to date and in each of the last five years, identifying the house concerned by number and indicating if it was bricked or unbricked. [43870]

  Ms Quin
  The Prison Service has sold only one property on the Mede estate within the last five years; the property concerned was 6, The Mede. The District Valuer placed a value of £38,000 on the property as at 6 April 1993. It was purchased under the discount sale scheme and the applicant was entitled to 59 per cent. discount; the purchase price therefore was £15,580.

  The property was of Cornish type construction or "unbricked".

  Road Traffic Offences
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of road accidents involving one or more(a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight injuries at least one driver or rider was convicted of a road traffic offence, in the latest year for which figures are available. [44000]

  Findings of guilt at all courts for selected offence groups, by age and sex of offender, England and Wales—1996

  Male

  Female

  All ages1

  17–24

  25–59

  60+

  All ages1

  17–24

  25–59

  60+

  Causing death or bodily harm

  348

  157

  169

  14

  22

  2

  20

  —

  Dangerous driving

  5,584

  2,801

  2,454

  42

  166

  63

  92

  6

  Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  87,956

  22,018

  63,119

  2,373

  7,749

  1,565

  6,014

  147

  1 Includes offences committed by persons under 17

  The exact age of persons over 20 is not collected centrally for offences of careless driving, speed limit offences or offences of neglect of traffic directions, but

  Findings of guilt at all courts for selected offence groups, by age and sex of offender, England and Wales—1996

  Male

  Female

  All ages1

  Under 21

  21 and over

  All ages

  Under 21

  21 and over

  Careless driving

  48,790

  7,796

  40,994

  8,632

  992

  7,640

  Speed limit offences

  115,388

  6,854

  108,535

  14,651

  666

  13,985

  Neglect of traffic directions

  30,223

  2,549

  27,674

  5,083

  264

  4,819

  1 Includes offences committed by persons under 17

  308
  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is not available. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions collects statistics of road accidents, but its records do not show whether persons involved are subsequently convicted of a road traffic offence.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convictions for road traffic offences heard in(a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts related to incidents involving one or more fatal, serious or slight injuries, in the latest year for which figures are available. [44001]

  Mr. Michael
  The available information relates to convictions for offences of causing death by dangerous or careless driving, by aggravated vehicle taking and causing bodily harm in England and Wales in 1996.

  Convictions for offences of causing death numbered ten at magistrates' courts and offences of causing bodily harm three. The total number of convictions for motoring offences at magistrates' courts was 1,476,991. The Crown Court figures were 329 and 28 respectively, and the total convictions for motoring offences 15,397.

  The information held centrally does not enable other offences involving injury to be identified.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female motorists aged (i) 17 to 24, (ii) 25 to 59 and (iii) 60 years and over were convicted in relation to motoring of (1) causing death or bodily harm, (2) dangerous driving, (3) alcohol or drug-related offences, (4) careless driving, (5) speed limit offences and (6) offences related to neglect of traffic directions, in the latest year for which figures are available. [43997]

  Mr. Michael
  The following table gives the information in relation to offences of causing death or bodily harm, dangerous driving and driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. The figures relate to the number of offences for which persons of the relevant age and sex were convicted, not the number of persons involved.

  the following table gives the nearest information to that requested.
  309
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many random roadside checks on motorists were carried out by police; and how many of these motorists were driving while disqualified, in the latest year for which figures are available. [43996]

  Mr. Michael
  Information is not available on the number of random roadside checks carried out by the police on motorists. There were 42,508 convictions for driving while disqualified in England and Wales in 1996.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines were issued for motoring offences; and of these how many(a) were paid without a reminder, (b) were paid after a reminder and (c) remained unpaid after 12 months in 1996. [43994]

  Mr. Michael
  1,032,897 fines were issued in England and Wales during 1996, but it is not known how many were paid or unpaid.

  Fines are collected from the courts by the Lord Chancellor's Department for passing to the Treasury, and it is not possible to distinguish the offences for which the fines were given.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions motorists were found guilty of a motoring offence for which they had(a) already received a written warning during the previous three years and (b) already been convicted in the previous three years, in the latest year for which figures are available; [43999]

  (2) on how many occasions motorists were issued with a written warning for a motoring offence for which they had already received a written warning during the latest year for which figures are available and the previous three years. [43998]

  Mr. Michael
  The information held centrally does not enable the previous records of motorists to be compared with the latest offence committed or dealt with. The Home Office Offenders' Index covers the criminal history of offenders, but this is limited to convictions for standard list offences and covers very few motoring offences.

  Alcohol (Young Persons)
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken to clarify the law on the use of children in test purchases of alcohol; [44032]

  (2) what steps he has taken to introduce legislation to prevent adults from buying alcohol on behalf of unsupervised children. [44033]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government's statement of 17 July 1997 on alcopops and alcohol misuse by those under age included commitments to legislate on both these subjects. We shall do so as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.
  310

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish on the same date, in the Welsh and English languages, the firearms and shotgun application forms and certificates that are currently under revision. [44097]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government's priority in revising the Firearms Rules is to implement the changes to firearms licensing provided for in the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 and as recommended by Lord Cullen in his report on the Dunblane tragedy. Because of the pressing need to introduce the new Rules, the prescribed firearms licensing forms will be published in English in the first instance but we have discussed with the Welsh Language Board our wish to produce these complex forms in Welsh as well as English. We will publish Welsh language versions of the forms as soon as possible.

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total numbers of prisoners who have been found in random tests to have taken(a) cocaine, (b) methadone, (c) amphetamines, (d) benzodiazepines, (e) barbiturates and (f) LSD, since the tests were introduced; what percentage of prisoners had taken the drugs in each case; and what changes have taken place in the proportions of these six categories of drugs. [44345]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Table A shows how many samples tested positive for each drug since all prisons began testing in April 1996, and the percentage of all samples tested that represents, calculated to one decimal place. It is not possible to say how many different prisoners tested positive because the data are anonymised when collated centrally.

  Tables B and C show the percentage of random samples positive for all drug types tested for in each month of the last two financial years. There has been no significant change in the percentages of samples testing positive for the drug types named in this question.

  Random mandatory drug test samples testing positive by drug type, 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1998

  Table A

  Drug type

  Number of tests positive

  Percentage of samples tested positive

  Cocaine

  311

  0.3

  Methadone

  211

  0.2

  Amphetamines

  298

  0.3

  Benzodiazepines

  1,664

  1.4

  Barbiturates

  45

  0

  LSD

  0

  0

  311

  Monthly percentage of random samples taken testing positive: April 1996—March 1997

  Table B

  Drug group

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  Cannabis

  20.9

  19.7

  18.5

  19.3

  19.6

  19.7

  20.2

  20.4

  20.5

  20.8

  19.6

  19.2

  Opiates

  5.1

  5.1

  4.6

  6.0

  5.9

  6.0

  5.4

  5.6

  6.4

  5.3

  4.4

  4.6

  Cocaine

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  Benzodiazepines

  1.5

  2.1

  1.9

  1.3

  1.3

  1.4

  1.2

  1.2

  1.1

  1.5

  1.2

  1.4

  Methadone

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  0.1

  0.4

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  Amphetamines

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  Barbiturates

  0.0

  0.0

  0.1

  0.1

  0.0

  0.1

  0.0

  0.1

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  LSD

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Monthly percentage of random samples taken testing positive: April 1997—March 1998

  Table C

  Drug group

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  Cannabis

  20.3

  19.8

  17.8

  16.6

  15.4

  15.9

  15.8

  15.3

  16.7

  15.8

  13.8

  15.1

  Opiates

  4.3

  3.8

  3.8

  4.2

  3.7

  4.0

  4.2

  4.1

  4.6

  4.3

  4.3

  4.6

  Cocaine

  0.2

  0.4

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.4

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  Benzodiazepines

  1.2

  1.1

  1.4

  1.3

  1.3

  0.8

  1.0

  1.6

  1.5

  1.4

  1.5

  1.3

  Methadone

  0.2

  0.2

  0.1

  0.1

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  0.1

  0.1

  0.2

  0.1

  0.1

  Amphetamines

  0.3

  0.4

  0.3

  0.3

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  0.3

  0.4

  Barbiturates

  0.0

  0.0

  0.1

  0.1

  0.0

  0.0

  0.1

  0.0

  0.1

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  LSD

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Human Rights
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body will monitor the United Kingdom's adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights. [44564]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A person claiming to be a victim of a violation of the Convention rights may petition the European Commission of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A case may then go from the Commission to the European Court of Human Rights, whose decision is binding. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe supervises the execution of the Court's judgment.

  The Human Rights Bill does not change this position, but it will additionally enable people in the United Kingdom to assert their Convention rights in domestic legal proceedings.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the incorporation into United Kingdom law of the European Convention on Human Rights on individuals' privacy. [44565]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The United Kingdom is already under an international obligation, as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, not to violate Article 8 of the Convention which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.

  The Human Rights Bill will make it possible for this and the other Convention rights to be invoked in domestic proceedings in the United Kingdom. Decisions will be for the courts.
  312

DEFENCE

  Armed Service Personnel
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women are currently serving in each of the three armed services. [44117]

  Dr. Reid
  As at 1 April 1998, the number of women serving in the Armed Forces was:

  Officers

  Other ranks

  Total

  Naval Service

  453 (7.3%)

  2,809 (7.7%)

  3,262 (7.3%)

  Army

  1,172 (8.4%)

  6,260 (6.5%)

  7,432 (6.8%)

  Royal Air Force

  939 (9.4%)

  4,067 (9.1%)

  5,006 (9.0%)

  All Services

  2,564 (7.9%)

  13,136 (7.4%)

  15,700 (7.5%)

  National Data Centre
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the contract to run the United Kingdom National Data Centre was put out to tender; [44340]

  (2) the contract to run the United Kingdom National Data Centre was advertised; [44342]

  (3) if the United Kingdom National Data Centre has responsibility for monitoring data provided by the United Nations on nuclear testing. [44341]

  Mr. Spellar
  Invitations to tender for the contract to establish the UK National Data Centre were issued in June 1997, the project having been advertised in the MOD Contracts Bulletin on 15 January 1997. Tenders were received from the British Geological Survey, BGS, and a consortium comprising AWE, Serco and Assessment Services. The contract was subsequently awarded to the BGS and took effect in January 1998. When operational, the National Data Centre will be responsible for evaluating technical data supplied by the International Data Centre, IDC, which is being established in Vienna
  313
  under the provisions of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The technical data will be provided by the IDC from monitoring stations established throughout the world as part of the International Monitoring System, IMS.

  Procurement Contracts
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of defence manufacturing contracts in the United Kingdom in terms of the(a) number and (b) value of contracts were undertaken for (i) the United Kingdom Government, (ii) other EU states and (iii) states outside the EU in the years 1991–92 to 1997–98. [43412]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information is not available in the form requested, but:UK Defence Statistics 1997—Table 1.5 gives net expenditure for equipment procurement for production and repair and spares for 1997–98 of £7,173 million as an estimate of the value of manufacturing contracts placed by UK Government in total.
  Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996—Figure 8 shows that the proportion of equipment expenditure over the previous five years in the UK and on collaborative projects was 91 per cent. of the total equipment expenditure.
  UK Defence Statistics 1997—Table 1.13 shows exports of defence equipment (deliveries) for 1996 to NATO and other Western European countries at £1,055 million and to other countries at £2,347 million.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what EU rules and regulations govern the competitive tendering of defence procurement contracts by his Department; [43414]

  (2) what EU rules and regulations govern the competitive tendering of defence procurement contracts by member state Governments of the EU; [43413]

  (3) if defence procurement contracts in all EU member states are open to competitive tendering to manufacturing companies in other EU member states. [43415]

  Mr. Spellar
  Procurement contracts for Defence goods and services in all EU member states are open to competitive tendering by companies in other EU member states, in accordance with the four EC Directives:

  Supplies Directive: 93/36/EEC

  Works Directive: 93/37/EEC

  Services Directive: 92/50/EEC

  Compliance Directive: 89/665/EEC.

  The Directives have been implemented in UK law by Regulations made by the Treasury under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, as follows:

  The Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/201)

  The Public Works Contracts Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2680)

  The Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/3228).

  The fundamental principles of the Directives are that there should be an equal opportunity to bid for work without discrimination on grounds of nationality, that the award criteria should be stated clearly at the outset, and that there should be transparency in the award decision.

  There is an exemption under the Directive for those goods and services to which the provision of Article 223 of the Treaty of Rome apply.
  314

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 June 1998,Official Report, column 103, on awards of the Military Cross, how many United Kingdom forces were serving in Sierra Leone in the two weeks either side of the occasion in which a service man was awarded the Military Cross in 1997; and which units they served in. [44232]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 255–57, and to my subsequent letter of 1 June 1998, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Widow's Pension
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women were widowed aged under 45 years in each of the last three years; what percentage of these received(a) the widowed mother's allowance and (b) widow's pension and in each case at what cost; and if she will make a statement. [41630]

  Mr. Denham
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  The number of new widows under 45 years receiving Widowed Mother's Allowance and associated cost

  Year widowed

  Number

  Overall cost

  October 1994-September 1995

  4,640

  18

  October 1995-September 1996

  4,480

  19

  October 1996-September 1997

  3,920

  17

  Notes:

  1. The table is based on the Pension Strategy Computer System and only includes cases in Great Britain. The percentage figures are based on information from the Family Resources Survey 1995–96

  2. Women widowed aged under 45 since 1988 are not entitled to a Widows Pension

  3. Monetary amounts are rounded to the nearest £1 million and are in cash prices

  4. Percentages are rounded to the nearest one per cent.

  The percentage of all widows aged under 45 who received Widowed Mothers Allowance in 1994–95 was 62 per cent.

  The percentage of all widows aged under 45 who received Widowed Mothers Allowance in 1995–96 was 65 per cent.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assumptions about the rate of response to initial letters to lone parents underlay the budgeting for the Parent Plus pilots; and what has been the actual response rate to initial letters under the New Deal for lone parents. [40209]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Budgeting for the Parent Plus pilots was based on the assumption that 35 per cent. of lone parents sent a letter would attend an initial interview and, of those, 50 per cent. would agree to participate,
  315
  giving a take-up rate of 17.5 per cent. The same assumptions were made in the initial plans for the New Deal for Lone Parents.

  Lone parents have attended interviews in response to various contacts: directly in response to letters of invitation, and indirectly in response to publicity, and word of mouth. As of 24 April 1998, there were 25,805 contacts with lone parents, which includes 22,402 lone parents who had been sent letters. 5,508 lone parents have attended an interview in response to a letter or other publicity; and 4,901 have agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents, following an interview. This means that approximately 90 per cent. of those attending an interview have agreed to participate; and produces a take-up rate of 19 per cent., higher than the original assumption.

  A full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is being undertaken, to report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the average income of an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children in(a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Glasgow and (e) Edinburgh in each year between 1993–94 and 1998–99 broken down by benefit. [43915]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Data on the average incomes of unemployed lone mothers in each of the cities named in the question are not available.

  There may be unemployed lone mothers with income (from other sources, for example child maintenance) of a level which will affect their entitlement to Income Support or JSA, Free School Meals and Welfare Food. Child Benefit is payable in full irrespective of income.

  Social Security (SS) benefit entitlement—1993–94 to 1997–98 and (existing claimants only) 1998–99 for an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children

  £

  Year

  IS/JSA

  Child benefit

  Free school meals and welfare foods

  SS benefit entitlement

  1993–94

  78.55

  32.25

  10.49

  121.29

  1994–95

  82.30

  32.85

  10.84

  125.99

  1995–96

  83.65

  33.60

  11.40

  128.65

  1996–97

  85.95

  34.70

  10.76

  131.41

  1997–98

  88.35

  35.10

  10.90

  134.35

  from April 1998

  90.35

  35.70

  10.96

  137.01

  from November 1998

  95.35

  35.70

  10.96

  142.01

  Note:

  From 6 April 1998, new claimants receive different rates.
  316

  Social Security (SS) benefit entitlement—1998–99 for an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children

  £

  IS/JSA

  Child benefit

  Free school meals and welfare foods

  SS benefit entitlement

  from April 1998

  85.65

  35.70

  10.96

  132.31

  from July 1998

  91.30

  30.05

  10.96

  132.31

  from November 1998

  96.30

  30.05

  10.96

  137.31

  Notes:

  1. These tables show lone parents' Social Security benefit entitlements (excluding Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit)

  2. An unemployed lone mother's Social Security benefit entitlement (excluding Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) is made up of (a) Income Support (IS) or, for some lone mothers, JSA; (b) Child Benefit (ChB); and (c) Free School Meals and Welfare Foods (FSM & WF). There is no regional variation in the rates of these benefits

  3. Lone mothers who are unemployed and in receipt of Income Support (IS) or JSA may receive help with their housing costs—hrough Housing Benefit (HB) or Income Support Mortgage Interest (ISMI)—and with their council tax—through Council Tax Benefit (CTB)

  4. Gross benefit entitlement figures for lone mothers (ie before housing costs) would show a variation by city, since rents and Council Tax (and therefore Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) vary by city

  5. IS claimants are entitled to welfare foods (free milk tokens and vitamins) for any children they have under 5 years old and free school meals for children they have aged 5 and over. The value of free school meals is based on the January 1991 figure uprated by the RPI food component each year. The value of welfare foods is an estimate based on the average cost of a pint of milk

  6. The figures assume:

  (a) take up of full benefit entitlement, and

  (b) the family has no capital or disregarded income

  7. The figures shown assume one child to be under 5, another between 5 and 10 years old and the third between 11 and 15 years old

  8. The removal of the lone parent rate of Child Benefit, which is reflected in table 2, is subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary regulations

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people qualify for concessionary television licences under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Acts; and how many are currently claiming their entitlement. [43803]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Concessionary television licences are not provided under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, but under the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1997 (made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1947) which is the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Under these Regulations, a concessionary television licence costing £5 is available to people living in residential homes and certain types of sheltered accommodation. There are currently 651,000 beneficiaries under this scheme. It is not known how many people qualify for the concession and fail to claim, but the number is likely to be low, since applications for the concession have to be submitted by housing managers, who are generally well aware of the existence of the concessionary scheme.
  317
  Registered blind people are also eligible for a reduction of £1.25 in the television licence fee. Approximately 34,400 people are currently claiming this reduction. At 31 March 1997, there were 158,590 registered blind people in England.

  The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (Section 2(1)(b)) places a duty upon local authorities to make arrangements to provide a disabled person with, or to assist that person in obtaining, wireless, television, library or similar recreational facilities, where the authority is satisfied that this is necessary in order to meet that person's needs. The number of persons receiving such provision is not known.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Ministerial Papers
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what instructions she has given on the information which she wishes to be drawn to her attention(a) in red boxes and (b) otherwise; and if she will indicate when and how these instructions have been modified. [42587]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 18 May 1998]: I expect information to be drawn to my attention by my Private Office, according to its urgency and importance. The only instructions I have given on handling such information are that I prefer to deal with papers as and when possible throughout the day, rather than having them put aside to go in red boxes if this is unnecessary. These instructions are unchanged.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what time and on what date she first saw a copy of the letter addressed to the Foreign Secretary from S J Berwin & Co. on behalf of Sandline International dated 24 April. [42130]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My Department provided advice to Ministers on this letter on Wednesday 6 May 1998, when I was overseas. Following my return I saw the text of the letter on Tuesday 12 May.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) on what dates since 1 May 1997 the Restricted Enforcement Unit has met; and on how many occasions the Unit has invited Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to commence an investigation into illegal arms exports in breach on UN Security Council resolutions; [42693]

  (2) if she will list the officials who attended the Cross-departmental Restricted Enforcement Unit on 18 February. [42695]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 19 May 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House during the debate on 18 May 1998, Official Report, columns 606–08, in which he announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the
  318
  Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary intends to publish the report of the investigation.

  Restricted Enforcement Unit
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which departments are represented on the Restricted Enforcement Unit. [42692]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 19 May 1998]: The following Departments are represented at the Restricted Enforcement Unit:

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  The Department of Trade and Industry

  The Ministry of Defence

  HM Customs and Excise

  The Security Service

  The Secret Intelligence Service

  Government Communications Headquarters.

  Printing, Packaging and Graphics Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what fiscal steps her Department has taken to encourage entrepreneurial investment in the United Kingdom printing, packaging and graphic communications industry. [43693]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have taken a number of steps to encourage long-term investment and enterprise in all our industries. These include measures to promote economic stability, cuts in corporation tax, increased first-year capital allowances for SMEs, and the reform of capital gains tax and the Enterprise Investment Scheme. The Government have also published a document, "Innovating for the Future: Investing in R&D" as the basis for a wide-ranging consultation to see how we can improve our record on investment in research and development. Furthermore, the Chancellor recently announced three new venture capital funds totalling £240 million to support small and medium businesses.

  Straw Burning
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to develop straw burning as an alternative form of energy in the United Kingdom. [43551]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: A 31 MW straw-powered project at Ely, Cambridgeshire, was contracted under the third non-fossil fuel obligation, NFFO-3, and is now at an advanced stage of development. I shall monitor the progress of this project in order to inform decisions resulting from my review of new and renewable energy policy on the prospects for straw as a fuel, and on the eligibility of this energy source in any future NFFO arrangements.

  County Courts
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for the re-division of county courts between official receivers' officers; if she will list which courts are to be moved to which official receivers' offices; and when these changes will be implemented. [43848]
  319
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  This is an operational matter for the Inspector General and Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service. I have asked him to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 4 June 1998:
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths MP, Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs, has asked me as Inspector General and Chief Executive of The Insolvency Service Executive Agency to reply to your question about the re-division of county courts between official receivers' offices.
  The Insolvency Service is implementing a new grading and pay system to come into effect on 1 August 1998. As part of that, it is looking at some adjustments to the case loads of some official receivers' offices, which will be achieved by the re-allocation of the work of some county courts between those offices. Consideration of those re-allocations has yet to be concluded, and I am therefore not yet in a position to provide a full list of the changes. I have however given an undertaking to supply the list to the Trade Union Side of the Agency National Whitley Committee by 2 July, and a copy will be made available to relevant staff: that timetable is expected to be met. The changes will take place over a period of time. The timing will be dependent on a number of factors, including current staffing levels in offices, but I do not see them involving any redundancies, compulsory transfers or office closures.

  Post Office Review
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contacts she has had with private sector carriers in the context of the Post Office review. [43807]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I met several leading private sector carriers, and a representative organisation (AICES), during the first phase of the review last year. I am also aware of the evidence presented to the Trade and Industry Select Committee last Autumn by certain private sector carriers. Since the announcement of the second phase of the review, my officials have had contact with a number of carriers and have met some of them.

  Population Statistics
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the populations of South Yorkshire, Merseyside, Wales, Northern Ireland, NUTS II regions and Cornwall NUTS III region. [43627]

  Mrs. Roche
  The latest published regional population estimates for these NUTS areas are for 1995:

  Population

  South Yorkshire

  1,303,900

  Merseyside

  1,427,200

  Glwyd, Dyfed, Gwynedd, and Powys

  1,132,700

  Gwent, and Mid, South, and West Glamorgan

  1,784,100

  Northern Ireland

  1,649,000

  Cornwall

  482,700

  Note:

  The boundaries and names of the two Welsh NUTS level II areas are based on the former counties

  Source:

  Regional Trends

  Objective 1 Funding
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the populations of those regions currently receiving Objective 1 structural funds from the European Union. [43626]
  320
  Mrs. Roche
  The population in regions covered by current Objective 1 programmes in each EU Member State is:

  million

  Austria

  0.269

  Belgium

  1.279

  Germany

  16.447

  Greece

  10.209

  Spain

  23.269

  France

  2.546

  Ireland

  3.500

  Italy

  21.133

  Netherlands

  0.217

  Portugal

  9.868

  United Kingdom

  3.414

  Source:

  European Commission, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund 1994–99 Regulations and Commentary

  ACPO Ltd.
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Directors of ACPO Ltd. are being considered for prosecution for non-compliance with the Companies Acts in respect of(a) their appointments as directors of ACPO Ltd. and (b) the contents of their Memorandum and Articles of Association. [44104]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  No. As far as Companies House is aware, the requirements of the Companies Act in respect of appointment of directors and Memorandum and Articles have now been met. In this situation Companies House would not consider prosecution. This is on the basis of advice applicable to such situations that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps Companies House have taken to ensure that the directors of ACPO Ltd. comply fully with the disclosure requirements of Companies Act Form 288a. [44103]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Companies House has no information which leads it to the view that the directors of ACPO Ltd. have not now complied fully with the disclosure requirements of Companies Act form 288a. Companies House accepts documents in good faith. If, however, it is brought to notice that information disclosed under section 288 of the Companies Act is in any way inaccurate or incomplete, the directors concerned would be asked to provide corrected information. Failure to do so could lead to consideration of prosecution.

  EZ Test
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communication her Department has had with the UK distributors of the ecstasy kit, EZ Test. [44171]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  As far as I am aware, there have been no communications between this Department and the UK distributors of this product.
  321

  Agenda 2000
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on rural communities of the Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals for reform of the structural funds. [42724]

  Mrs. Roche
  It will not be possible to make such an assessment until the Commission publishes its detailed financial plans for individual Member States. The Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals are complex; we will also need further details from the Commission on the new Structural Fund framework, the related rural development measures, and proposed rural Community Initiative before we are able to make an assessment. One of the Government's objectives is to see that there is a sensible balance between rural and urban areas, which will be helped if Member States have flexibility in administering the funds.

  Genetic Engineering
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government have taken to act on the recommendation of the Review of the Inter-Relationships between the Science, Engineering and Technology Expenditure of Government Departments that they should review their mechanisms for interdepartmental co-ordination in respect of genetic modification. [44792]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government have recently completed a review of the role, membership, and operation of the Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology (IGGMOT), the official level committee for the co-ordination of policy on genetic modification. Copies of the outcome of the review, which found that IGGMOT remains the best way to co-ordinate policy on genetic modification at official level across Government and should continue to exist with no change to its terms of reference, are available in the Library.

  Export Credits
  Helen Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the response to the ECGD's consultation paper, Finance for UK Capital Goods and Project Exports; and what action the Government propose. [44791]

  Mrs. Beckett
  ECGD has received an excellent response from the UK exporting and financial community to its Consultation Paper. The Minister for Trade will be leading discussions which ECGD will be having with banks and exporters to consider the various suggestions made. The focus will be on ways of enhancing exporter competitiveness and improving the cost-effectiveness of ECGD interest rate support. This work will inevitably take several months and extend beyond the scheduled 30 June expiry date of ECGD's current support facility, the Fixed Rate Export Finance scheme. Therefore, to ensure continuity of service to exporters and banks while this work is being undertaken, the Government have decided to extend the validity of the current scheme for six months until 31 December 1998.
  322

  International Market Council
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what topics were discussed at the EU Ministerial Council on the Internal Market on 18 May; and what matters were voted upon. [44790]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My noble Friend the Minister for European Trade and Competitiveness chaired the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 18 May 1998.

  The Council considered three elements of the Single Market Action Plan, which aim to improve the operation of the Single Market. Council adopted conclusions on standardisation, which open the way to making the production of European standards quicker and more efficient; the Presidency drew conclusions following a discussion on how to improve transposition and enforcement of the Single Market legislation; and the Commission presented the latest Single Market Scoreboard, which showed that Member States are improving their performance on the transposition of Single Market directives into their national laws: at 1 May 1998 over 80% of Single Market Directives had been adopted in all 15 Member States compared with only 65% in June 1997.

  The Council reached political agreement on a Regulation for a Commission intervention mechanism for the elimination of certain obstacles to the free movement of goods, and an associated Council Resolution which reaffirmed Member States' political commitment to preserving the free movement of goods. This includes notifying their economic operators, each other, and the Commission, of such obstacles and steps being taken to overcome them, and respecting tight deadlines imposed by the Commission in dealing with related infraction proceedings.

  The Council discussed a new Regulation on the labelling of genetically modified soya and maize, which aims to provide information to consumers. It reached political agreement on much of the substance of the company law Regulation, which forms part of the European Company Statute. It reached political agreement on three common positions. It agreed (by a qualified majority with Sweden and Portugal voting against and Ireland abstaining) on a Directive on mutual recognition of qualifications, which consolidates the existing legislation providing for certain professionals to work in Member States other than their own. It agreed common positions by unanimity on draft Directives on the legal protection of conditional access services, ie, that is, services where access is conditional upon prior authorisation and payment, such as pay-per-view TV; and on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations, which consolidates existing health and safety legislation in this field, extending its scope slightly and promoting environmental protection.

  The Council adopted four other sets of formal conclusions. These were on the Single Market for pharmaceutical products, asking the Commission to develop proposals to tackle Single Market problems; on public procurement, taking forward Commission proposals for modernisation of the rules; on Commercial Communications, endorsing a new Commission-chaired committee furthering the Single Market in advertising services; and on the improvement of the EU preferential tariff regime for certain developing countries.
  323
  Council also discussed the draft Directive on chocolate; and the Commission reported on the progress of the negotiations of a draft Directive extending product liability to primary agricultural products.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Methadone Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of deaths in Northern Ireland from methadone in each of the last four years; and if she will make a statement. [44012]

  Mr. Worthington
  None.

  Smoking
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of teenage(a) boys and (b) girls in Northern Ireland was smoking tobacco (i) in 1988 and (ii) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [44014]

  Mr. Worthington
  The information is not available in the format requested. Available data are shown in the following table:

  Year

  Age

  % Smokers

  Boys

  1986

  11–15

  17

  1988

  16–19

  25

  1994

  11, 13 and 15

  12

  1996–97

  16–19

  23

  Girls

  1986

  11–15

  13

  1988

  16–19

  20

  1994

  11, 13 and 15

  14

  1996–97

  16–19

  23

  Occupational Health
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to make occupational health services available to staff working in primary care in the National Health Service. [43600]

  Mr. Worthington
  Primary care staff who are employed by HSS Trusts receive an appropriate occupational health service as defined in guidance issued by the Department of Health and Social Services. General medical and dental practitioners and their staff are not covered by such arrangements but any general practice may contract with a HSS Trust for the provision of an occupational health service.

WALES

  Smoking
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of teenage(a) boys and (b) girls in Wales was smoking tobacco (i) in 1988 and (ii) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [44017]
  324
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Details of the percentage of teenagers (11–16 year old) who regularly (weekly) smoke tobacco in 1998 and 1996, the most recent date for which figures are available, are set out as follows:

  Percentage

  Yesr

  Boys

  Girls

  1988

  8.00

  11.30

  1996

  11.90

  16.20

  Source:

  Health Promotion Authority for Wales

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the estimated gross cost of anti-smoking campaigns in Wales aimed at children and young people has been since 1988; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the campaigns on teenage(a) boys and (b) girls. [44016]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The main body in Wales responsible for undertaking anti-smoking campaigns is the Health Promotion Authority for Wales (HPAW), whose role is to work with others to promote good health in Wales.

  The cost of anti-smoking campaigns since 1990–91 undertaken by HPAW aimed at children and young people is set out in the table. Detailed information is not available prior to 1990–91.

  £000

  Year

  Expenditure

  1990–91

  86

  1991–92

  350

  1992–93

  343

  1993–94

  345

  1994–95

  281

  1995–96

  240

  1996–97

  369

  1997–98

  219

  1998–99

  (estimated) 227

  Source:

  Health Promotion Authority for Wales

  The information relates to initiatives directed solely at smoking. Smoking cessation advice also features strongly in other general health promotion initiatives funded by HPAW.

  Research by HPAW indicates that there has been some success in delaying the age at which young people begin to experiment with tobacco.

  Dairies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria the Welsh Office uses to decide which individual dairies in Wales receive grant aid; to what extent such grant aid relates to(a) the provision of new jobs and (b) the securing of existing jobs; and what consideration is given to the possible distortion of competition by such grants. [44052]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Assistance to dairies is available through a number of Welsh Office grant schemes such as Regional Selective Assistance, Processing and Marketing Grant and the Marketing Development Scheme.
  325
  The criteria used depend on the grant scheme in question. I have arranged for copies of the literature relating to the schemes to be sent to the right hon. Gentleman.

  Creating and safeguarding jobs is an important factor in deciding which grant applications to support but the Marketing Development Scheme and the Processing and Marketing Grant are specifically geared to improving the marketing and processing infrastructure of companies. Such projects will not necessarily lead to job creation but will assist in the expansion of business. However, for grants such as Regional Selective Assistance, the level of employment generated or retained is a crucial factor and due weight is given to this element when assessing applications.

  Applications for grant aid are considered from any eligible business and all applications are considered on their individual merits.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money was provided by her Department to President Kabbah's Government in exile. [42691]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development provided £50,000 to support the basic services of President Kabbah's Government in exile. This was in addition to £250,000 for a workshop and seminar in the United Kingdom to plan for the restoration of Government and for communications equipment.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is currently providing in Sierra Leone. [41751]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development is currently supporting the work of NGOs in the provision of emergency seeds and tools, community healthcare, and reconstruction in Sierra Leone. We are also funding two Sierra Leoneans in key advisory posts.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support and advice, other than financial assistance, was rendered to President Kabbah of Sierra Leone between 25 May 1997 and 10 March 1998 by her Department. [42690]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development assisted President Kabbah's planning for a return to government by supporting basic services in exile, providing communications equipment, and through a workshop and seminar in the United Kingdom in October 1997.

  North Korea
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the current humanitarian situation in North Korea. [43712]

  Clare Short
  The report of the UK-led European Union Technical Mission to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and discussions at the United Nations 326
  Development Programme (UNDP) Round Table on DPRK in May indicate that nutrition has improved and the immediate emergency has abated. However there are selective humanitarian needs, especially in health, and the population remains at risk from possible future disasters. My Department is discussing with relevant authorities in DPRK, UN agencies and partners in the European Union how targeted support can help to promote sustainable recovery and reduce future vulnerability. I will place a copy of the report on this mission in the Library.

  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what revision of her current policies towards North Korea will result from the recent visit to that country by officials from her Department leading an EU team. [43713]

  Clare Short
  I have considered the report of the UK-led Technical Mission and the conclusions of the United Nations Development Programme Round Table on Agricultural Recovery and Environmental Protection (AREP). The emphasis for future assistance to North Korea is to support a transition from food aid dependency to food security and rehabilitation of the rural sector within the context of promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. We will support a common European Union approach to target assistance to help poor households, reduce vulnerability to future disasters, promote confidence and trust between North Korea and the outside world and gain greater access for international agencies to implement their humanitarian activities more effectively. We support the implementation of the European Commission's 1998 programme. In addition we will consider proposals for support from NGOs and UN agencies, within the above framework. I will place a copy of the report on this mission in the Library.

TREASURY

  Brewing Industry (Duty Changes)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment his Department has made of the duty lost to the Inland Revenue as predicted by the model used by Oxford Economic Forecasts to assess changes in duty on the brewing industry; [42969]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact of reducing duty on the (a) brewing industry, (b) gross domestic product, (c) the retail prices index, (d) the total duty collected and (e) levels of employment. [44119]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There would be no tax lost to the Inland Revenue. Moreover, we do not believe that any cut in duty on beer would provide a sustainable benefit to the economy.

  Staff Car Mileage Allowance
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total real terms value of(a) staff car mileage claims paid and (b) staff rail fares paid; and what was the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and the percentage change year on year, for each year since 1989–90. [44083]
  327
  Mrs. Liddell
  The real terms value of Treasury staff travel is:

  Staff car mileage costs £000

  Staff UK rail/air fares £000

  Staff car mileage

  1995–96

  8

  153

  n/a

  1996–97

  6

  135

  n/a

  1997–98

  6

  89

  7,841

  Figures for years prior to 1995 are in summary form and a breakdown at the level required could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Israeli Exports
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current status of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise investigation into the origin of certain Israeli exports to the United Kingdom; and if he will publish the results. [43863]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The outcome of investigations co-ordinated by the European Commission into the origin of orange juice exported from Israel is being analysed by the Member States. In line with normal procedure, the detailed results are notified to the individual importers, who are liable under Community law for any customs duty liability. They are not published generally. Investigations by HM Customs and Excise into the origin of other products have so far revealed duty liabilities in excess of £100,000.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from each of the taxes payable on each category of tobacco product in the last year for which figures are available. [44006]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table shows receipts in 1997 and 1997–98:

  Duty receipts

  £million

  Year

  Cigarette

  Cigar

  Hand rolling tobacco

  Other smoking and chewing tobacco

  1VAT

  1997

  8,035

  139

  166

  50

  1,915

  1997–98

  8,009

  140

  158

  48

  n/a

  1 Value added tax has been estimated using non-seasonally adjusted figures for consumers' expenditure at current prices on tobacco (from ONS publication Consumer Trends-Quarter 4 1997, Table 4.1). It is not possible to calculate the VAT for 1997–98 because the ONS estimate for consumers' expenditure on tobacco in Quarter 1 1998 is not yet available.

  EU Debt
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the statistics produced by the International Monetary Fund for the purposes of measuring the ratio of debt to Gross Domestic Product are on the same basis for each EU country. [43871]
  328
  Mrs. Liddell
  The International Monetary Fund published the ratio of government debt to GDP for EU countries in their May 1998 World Economic Outlook. The outturn data were from national sources and the IMF noted they were not in all cases based on the same definition.

  Housing (VAT)
  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be lost by reducing the rate of VAT on refurbishment and conversions of existing dwellings from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. [43860]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The cost of reducing VAT on all house repair and maintenance to 5 per cent. is estimated to be £1.1 billion. From the source data, it is not possible to separate refurbishment from repairs and maintenance.

  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be generated by introducing value-added tax on(a) new construction and (b) new housing at a rate of 5 per cent. [43859]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The additional revenue yield from introducing VAT at 5 per cent. on the construction of new dwellings is estimated to be £550 million. There is no official estimate of the expected yield from introducing VAT on the construction of other new buildings currently qualifying for zero-rating.

  Duty Free
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will draw up plans to support the ferry industry and the ports of Ramsgate and Dover if duty-free sales are abolished in the European Union. [43795]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Responsibility for the transport industry lies with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. However, the impact on the ferry industry and on the ports of Ramsgate and Dover of the abolition of duty free will depend on the nature of the successor regimes which are being discussed at official level in Brussels.

  Mail
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the liability to customs checks is of(a) mail sent by national postal administrations to the United Kingdom and (b) mail carried by express couriers to the United Kingdom. [43800]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The liability to customs checks for anti-smuggling purposes is the same for mail sent by a National Postal Administration and that carried by express couriers. Provision for such checks is contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Checks on both types of traffic are also undertaken for fiscal and regulatory purposes under the Community Customs Code, which is European legislation. However, some differences apply to the treatment of postal packets, which is subject to national provisions under the Post Office Act 1953 and the Postal Packets (C&E) (Amendment) Regulation 1992.

  Lloyd's of London
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 7 April 1998,
  329
  Official Report, column 151, regarding discussions between officials of the British Embassy in Washington and the United States authorities concerning Lloyd's of London, who initiated those discussions; what matters were discussed; who was present on each occasion; what requests were made to the United States authorities by the British representatives present; and what requests were made to the British representatives present by the United States authorities. [44339]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The discussions were initiated by the British Embassy and concerned the case of Richards et al v Lloyd's of London then before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Only one such meeting took place at which a First Secretary from the Embassy met four Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) attorneys. The Embassy asked the SEC to recognise that any intervention by them in the Richards case should take account both of the British Government's interest in protecting policyholders by insurers continuing to meet their insurance obligations and the regulatory role of Lloyd's in protecting the interests of policyholders. The SEC made no requests to the British Government.

  Monetary Policy Committee
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the remit of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. [44793]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  In accordance with Section 12 of the Bank of England Act 1998, I have written to the Governor re-stating the Monetary Policy Committee's remit and how it will be held accountable for meeting the remit.

  My letter has been laid before Parliament today and a copy has been sent to the Chairman of the Treasury Committee. Copies are also being deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how banking regulations and supervision of participant members of the euro will be brought into line; and who is responsible for ensuring this occurs. [44457]

  Financial year

  Council stock as at 31 March (thousands)

  Stock owned by other publicly financed bodies1,4 as at 31 March (thousands)

  Estimated total stock2 as at 31 December (thousands)

  Council stock as percent of all stock (col 2/col 4) (%)

  Stock owned by other publicly financed bodies as percent of all stock (col 3/col 4) (%)

  1978–79

  901

  144

  1,964

  45.9

  7.3

  1979–80

  904

  147

  1,982

  45.6

  7.4

  1980–81

  902

  146

  1,997

  45.2

  7.3

  1981–82

  896

  145

  1,970

  45.5

  7.4

  1982–83

  886

  143

  1,983

  44.7

  7.2

  1983–84

  871

  139

  1,998

  43.6

  7

  1984–85

  862

  135

  2,015

  42.8

  6.7

  1985–86

  853

  132

  2,032

  42

  6.5

  1986–87

  842

  128

  2,050

  41.1

  6.2

  1987–88

  824

  124

  2,067

  39.9

  6

  1988–89

  795

  114

  2,084

  38.1

  5.5

  1989–90

  764

  105

  2,104

  36.3

  5.0

  1990–91

  738

  100

  2,124

  34.7

  4.7

  1991–92

  711

  94

  2.160

  32.9

  4.4

  1992–93

  675

  90

  2.175

  31

  4.1

  330
  Mrs. Liddell
  The supervision of European Union credit institutions is already subject to a series of harmonising Directives, which impose minimum standards in a wide range of areas and help facilitate the Single Market. The Commission is responsible for ensuring that they remain up to date, and take account of developments in financial markets. The advent of Stage 3 of EMU does not change this responsibility.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibility to protect bank deposits in circumstances when banks lend transnationally under Economic and Monetary Union. [44448]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Deposits in UK banks, along with those in banks of other EU members, are covered by arrangements drawn up under the Deposit Guarantee Directive, which sets out minimum standards that apply throughout the Union. Stage 3 of Economic and Monetary Union has no effect on those arrangements.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will supervise and regulate transnational banks under Stage 3 of Economic and Monetary Union. [44458]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The European Banking Directives, which harmonise standards of supervision of credit institutions within the EU, are based on the principle of Home State supervision. Although they may operate or offer services anywhere in the Union, credit institutions are required to have their registered office and head office in the same Member State, and the supervisory authorities there are responsible for its supervision throughout the EU. Stage 3 of Economic and Monetary Union will not change these arrangements.

SCOTLAND

  Housing
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of homes in Scotland were (i) council owned and (ii) owned by publicly financed bodies in each year since 1978–79.[43393]

  Mr. Macdonald
  (holding answer 2 June 1998]: The information available is set out in the table.
  331

  Financial year

  Council stock as at 31 March (thousands)

  Stock owned by other publicly financed bodies1,4 as at 31 March (thousands)

  Estimated total stock2 as at 31 December (thousands)

  Council stock as percent of all stock (col 2/col 4) (%)

  Stock owned by other publicly financed bodies as percent of all stock (col 3/col 4) (%)

  1993–94

  649

  82

  2.193

  29.6

  3.7

  1994–95

  596

  73

  2.210

  27.0

  3.3

  1995–96

  632

  43

  2.229

  28.4

  1.9

  1996–97

  622

  29

  2.246

  27.7

  1.3

  1997–983

  613

  19

  5—

  5—

  5—

  1 Figures for the years up to and including 1988–89 are for the Scottish Special Housing Association (SSHA) and New Towns. From 1989–90 to 1995–96, figures are for stock owned by Scottish Homes and New Towns. For 1996–97, figures are for Scottish Homes stock only—New Town stock was transferred to councils, Scottish Homes and Housing Associations during the course of 1995–96 and 1996–97

  2 Estimates from December 1991 onwards are based on the 1991 Population Census. Estimates for earlier years are based on the 1981 Census and are not strictly comparable

  3 The council stock figure for 1997–98 is as at September 1997

  4 Housing associations, although not public bodies, receive public subsidy from Scottish Homes. At 31 March 1997, the latest date for which information is available, housing associations owned around 105,000 dwellings, 4.7 per cent. of the total estimated housing stock at December 1996

  5 Not yet available

  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a full system of licensing for houses in multiple occupation. [44654]

  Mr. Macdonald
  We are committed to protecting the rights of tenants, and those in shared accommodation are no exception. We have issued a consultation paper today proposing the introduction of a full system of licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), in line with our Manifesto commitment.

  We value the contribution of the private rented sector, and HMOs play their part by accommodating a wide range of households including mobile workers and other single people. However, while many HMO landlords are providing perfectly acceptable accommodation, there is concern about both the physical condition and management of some HMOs.

  Licensing would allow authorities to refuse a licence where an applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold an HMO licence. This will provide a powerful mechanism for preventing exploitation of tenants. For example, licences could be refused for those with relevant criminal convictions. Depending on the circumstances of the particular case, this could include Housing Benefit fraud.

  Licensing would also enable local authorities to take a co-ordinated approach to regulating HMOs across departments. This should be a benefit for landlords.

  We therefore propose to make it mandatory for all local authorities in Scotland to introduce HMO licensing. Councils were given discretionary powers to licence in 1991, but so far only seven have used them.

  A consultation paper setting out our proposals has been sent today to a wide range of bodies with an interest in HMOs, with a request for comments by 30 October 1998. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the House Libraries.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the criteria under which the New Housing Partnership schemes were assessed. [44044]

  Mr. Dewar
  The criteria were set out in a letter issued by the Scottish Office Development Department to Chief Executives of local authorities on 5 December 1997 332
  inviting local authorities to submit bids and also in a summary report issued on 5 May 1998 explaining how the bids were assessed. Copies of both documents have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Unemployment
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage change in the number of registered unemployed amongst 18 to 25-year-olds in(a) Dundee, (b) Perth and Kinross and (c) Angus in (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March and (iv) April in each year since 1986. [43409]

  Mr. Dewar
  A full analysis of the claimant count statistics by age (and duration) is available quarterly for the months of January, April, July and October. An analysis excluding clerical claims (which currently represent about 1 per cent. of all claims) is available monthly. Information is not readily available for those aged 18 to 25. Information for those aged 18 to 24 is available through the Nomis database in the House of Commons Library. Library staff are ready to assist in accessing the information.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage change in the number of registered unemployed in(a) Dundee, (b) Perth and Kinross and (c) Angus in (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March and (iv) April in each year since 1986. [43410]

  Mr. Dewar
  Information is available through the Norris database in the House of Commons Library. Library staff are ready to assist in accessing the information.

  Moray College
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what representations he has had from BARMAC Fabrication Yard concerning the training in welding and fabrication at Moray College; [43416]

  (2) what representations he has had from trade union representatives at Moray College concerning the plans to discontinue the welding and fabrication course. [43417]
  333
  Mr. Dewar
  I have received no such representations from either source.

  Each further education college in Scotland has a Board of Management which is responsible for ensuring the provision of suitable and efficient further education. I understand that Moray College decided not to offer welding provision in 1997–98 in view of the small number of students who had presented for enrolment. After reviewing the demands and costs, the College has since decided to withdraw welding provision.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings has he had with the principal or members of the Board of Directors of Moray College concerning its involvement in the University of the Highlands and Islands project. [43418]

  Mr. Dewar
  My Ministerial colleagues and I have not had any such meetings but officials of the Scottish Office have twice met the Principal and members of the Board of Management concerning Moray College's involvement in the University of the Highlands and Islands Project.

  Housing Rents
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what weekly rental levels he proposes for the rented housing elements of each of the successful New Housing Partnership bids. [44042]

  Mr. Dewar
  It is for each New Housing Partnership landlord to determine appropriate, affordable rental levels for the rented housing element of successful New Housing Partnership bids. I would expect these levels to be in line with existing rental levels for comparable types of housing in the local area.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what weekly rental levels he proposes for the rented housing elements of the New Housing Partnership bid from Glasgow City Council. [44043]

  Mr. Dewar
  The rental levels of the rented housing elements of the New Housing Partnership bids in Glasgow are a matter for each New Housing Partnership landlord to determine. However, I would expect these to be in line with rents for comparable types of housing in the city.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information in a systematic form is held in respect of each of the New Housing Partnership in relation to(a) rental levels for all the rented housing elements of the New Housing Partnership bids, (b) tenancy agreements for all the rented housing elements of the New Housing Partnership bids and (c) allocation priorities of non-local authority housing providers for the rented housing elements of the New Housing Partnership bids; and if he will make such information available. [44045]

  Mr. Dewar
  Matters relating to rental levels, tenancy agreements and allocation arrangements will be settled locally as New Housing Partnerships are developed. The Scottish Office will be commissioning research to assess the impact of partnership projects, and this will include information on the characteristics of each project. The results of the research will be published.
  334

HEALTH

  Consultation Papers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the consultation papers published since 1 May 1997 giving the date of publication, closing date for submissions and the number of respondents. [42244]

  Ms Jowell
  Copies of a table containing the information requested have been placed in the Library.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the provision of wheelchairs to those who become long-term or permanently disabled; [43159]

  (2) if he will list for each health authority the average waiting time for provision of a wheelchair to those who become long-term or permanently disabled. [43158]

  Mr. Boateng
  Wheelchairs are provided free on loan by the National Health Service to anyone who has a clinical need for one due to limited mobility. People who require a wheelchair are usually referred by their general practitioner or other local health care professional to their local wheelchair service centre for assessment of their needs.

  Information on the provision of wheelchairs specifically to those who become long-term or permanently disabled and any waiting time is not collected centrally. However, information on the total provision of wheelchairs is reported to the NHS Executive by providers and health authorities. The number of wheelchairs issued by providers covers all wheelchairs supplied through consultant clinics and through physiotherapy departments. The figures for England are in the table.

  Year

  Number of wheelchairs issued by providers

  1994–95

  203,160

  1995–96

  200,073

  1996–97

  195,606

  Note:

  1996–97 figures include estimates for Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton NHS Trust who failed to submit a return

  Copies of the information that health authorities report on wheelchairs have been placed in the Library.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the office responsible for the performance of wheelchair services in(a) each health authority, (b) each NHS region, (c) the NHS Executive and (d) central Government. [43208]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The information requested for health authorities is not held centrally. All communications with the National Health Service are conducted through the chief executives concerned. Responsibility for wheelchair policy in the NHS Executive rests with the Continuing Health Services branch of the Health Services Directorate. Performance is measured through the regional offices of the NHS Executive.
  335
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the budget for the voucher scheme for manual wheelchairs is ring-fenced. [43569]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Additional funding has been made available to health authorities specifically to meet the cost of the introduction of the National Health Service wheelchair voucher scheme since it began in 1996. The additional funding has been allocated in phased amounts each year as services have built up over time.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken to monitor spending on(a) indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair funding schemes and (b) the voucher funding schemes for manual wheelchairs. [43568]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Spending on the indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair funding schemes and the voucher funding scheme for manual wheelchairs is monitored centrally through the routine quarterly return process.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the voucher scheme for manual wheelchairs to the provision of indoor outdoor powered wheelchairs. [43567]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: When the voucher scheme was introduced, guidance made it clear that it was not intended that vouchers should be issued for powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in the short term. Any decision to extend the scheme will be reviewed locally once the scheme for manually operated chairs has been fully established.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions Ministers and officials have had with user organisations on their concerns about performance management of the wheelchair service; [43216]

  (2) what action he has taken to address the concerns of user organisations about the management performance of the separate funding schemes for indoor and outdoor powered wheelchairs and vouchers. [43215]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State held a meeting with representatives of the Limbless Association on 2 December 1997 at which they expressed their concerns about the wheelchair service. I will shortly be holding a meeting with representatives of the users consortium emPOWER at which they are expected to raise similar concerns. Officials regularly exchange information and views with representatives of user organisations.

  Progress on implementation of the wheelchair initiatives is performance managed through National Health Service Executive regional offices. Regional directors of performance management have been reminded of the importance of ensuring implementation of these changes for service users.

  An evaluation study of the operation of the powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair and voucher schemes will be conducted later in the year. We have set up a steering group, whose membership includes representatives of user organisations, to oversee the evaluation.
  336
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations were held with user groups in advance of communication of the Health Service Circular, Wheelchair Voucher Scheme: funding in 1997–98 and 1998–99 (HSC 1998/004). [43867]

  Mr. Boateng
  The circular authorised health authorities to use surplus funds from the National Health Service wheelchair voucher scheme for powered indoor/outdoor and other wheelchair provision. It was a short-term initiative which ensured that available funds were kept within wheelchair services in 1997–98. It did not affect the funding available for the NHS wheelchair voucher scheme and powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair provision in subsequent years and did not involve any change in policy towards the two schemes.

  No consultations with user groups were therefore held in advance of the issue of the circular.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Department of Health-funded paper, "National Prosthetic and Wheelchair Services Report 1993–96", with particular reference to those for(a) a mechanism to provide a national focus on wheelchair services and (b) an auditing procedure by which wheelchair services can measure their effectiveness. [43370]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department funded the national prosthetic and wheelchair services project to give continued support to wheelchair services for a three-year period following their devolution to the National Health Service. A number of professional groups (including a Wheelchair Managers Committee) continue to provide a national focus, and the Department supports this work. For example, the Department is funding work on a national training framework for wheelchair services.

  The audit of service effectiveness is a matter for individual health authorities and their providers. Standards were recommended in the national prosthetic and wheelchair services project. These may form the basis for local audit.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to(a) monitor and (b) address disparities between health authorities in the provision of (i) indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and (ii) vouchers by wheelchair services. [43441]

  Mr. Boateng
  Health authorities routinely report to the National Health Service Executive on the provision of indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and vouchers for wheelchair services as part of the quarterly monitoring process. Regional directors of performance have recently been reminded of the importance of ensuring that the wheelchair voucher scheme is implemented. An evaluation study of the operation of the powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair and voucher schemes will be conducted later in the year.

  Drug Treatment Services
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums the Government have allocated to drug treatment services specialising in(a) alcohol and (b) illegal drugs in each of the last five years. [43670]
  337
  Ms Jowell
  The Department has given £555,000 in 1998/99, £1,055,000 in 1997/98, £1,055,000 in 1996/97, £555,000 in 1995/96 and £968,000 in 1994/95 to Alcohol Concern to run a grants programme specifically for alcohol treatment services.

  The Department provides a cash contribution to health authorities to purchase drug services under a special allocation. In each of the last five years, the special allocation for drug services was £41.3 million in 1998/99, £37.19 million in 1997/98, £33.39 million in 1996/97, £26.75 million in 1995/96 and £25.50 million in 1994/95.

  The Department also administers the specific grant for making payments to voluntary organisations providing services for drug and alcohol misusers, which will distribute £2.5 million in 1998/99, and has previously distributed £2.5 million in 1997/98, 1996/97 and 1995/96, and £2.4 million in 1994/95.

  Paediatric Cardiac Services
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will order an immediate public inquiry into the paediatric cardiac surgery services at the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust. [44293]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have made clear our commitment to holding an inquiry into the paediatric cardiac surgery services at the United Bristol Healthcare National Health Service Trust prior to 1996. The exact form, timing and scope of the inquiry and the membership of the inquiry team are currently under consideration. A final decision will be made after the General Medical Council have completed their proceedings later this month.

  Nurses
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about protecting the use of the title, nurse; and if he will make a statement. [44207]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 21 May 1998,Official Report, column 503.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Attorney-General what progress is being made in associating the work of the Crown Prosecution Service more closely with local police forces and magistrates courts. [42755]

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress of his plans to reorganise the Crown Prosecution Service. [42758]

  The Attorney-General
  I announced in May last year the decision to divide the CPS into 42 areas coterminous with police areas. The report of the Review of the Crown Prosecution Service which I published on Monday endorses that decision and makes detailed proposals as to how that should be effected, and they are being considered. A first major step will be the selection of the 42 chief crown prosecutors and the new DPP will proceed with that once in post.
  338
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions initiated by the Crown Prosecution Service in 1996 and 1997 were discontinued subsequently; and if he will make a statement. [42756]

  The Attorney-General
  In 1996, proceedings were discontinued in respect of 153,274 defendants, or 12 per cent. of completed cases. In 1997, proceedings were discontinued in respect of 161,461 defendants, or 12.2 per cent. of completed cases.

  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the use of information technology in the Crown Prosecution Service. [42759]

  The Attorney-General
  The CPS is using information technology to increase the speed and efficiency of its internal communications, facilitate its case tracking and performance management and, through a Private/Public Partnerships Initiative, is examining a possible solution for its future IT needs in close collaboration with CJS partners.

  Company Collapses (Phoenix Operations)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his Department's policy in relation to the prosecution of individuals who mount phoenix operations following the collapse of companies in which they have been previously involved. [42757]

  The Attorney-General
  A so called "Phoenix Operation" does not, in itself, constitute a criminal offence. However, where there is evidence that a "Phoenix Operation" may have involved an offence or offences—for example there has been fraudulent trading—then the prosecuting authorities adopt the same policy as with other suspected offences, namely, to assess whether there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction; and if so, to assess whether it is in the public interest that there should be a prosecution.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on reform of the set-aside scheme. [42735]

  Mr. Morley
  In the current discussions on CAP reform, the Government have said that they would like to see compulsory set-aside abolished and the rules on voluntary set-aside made more flexible.

  Egg Production
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the EU Commission's proposals on egg production. [42736]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have received a number of representations and my officials have met industry representatives, at their request, to hear their views on the proposals.
  339

  County Council Small Holdings
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on county council small holdings. [42737]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government recognise the important role of county council smallholdings as a first rung on the farming ladder. I congratulate those local authorities which pursue policies to develop their estates, but emphasise that such decisions are properly taken at local level.

  Unpasteurised Milk
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for unpasteurised milk products. [42738]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have no proposals relating to unpasteurised milk products.

  Gang Masters
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures his Department is taking to control the activities of gang masters in the horticulture and agriculture industries. [42739]

  Mr. Morley
  We have a number of measures in hand and will be making a detailed announcement shortly.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implementation of his policy in respect of the Food Standards Agency. [42740]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are making excellent progress with fulfilling our manifesto commitment to establish a Food Standards Agency. More than 1,000 responses were received to our consultation on the White Paper "The Food Standards Agency: A Force for Change" and a summary has been placed in the Library. It is our intention to publish a draft Bill before the Summer Recess for further consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny by this House.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in lifting the EU ban on exports of British beef; [42741]

  Ms Ward
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress towards lifting the ban on British beef. [42745]

  Mr. Rooker
  We expect the Commission to set a date next week for the resumption of exports from Northern Ireland under the Export Certified Herds Scheme.

  Following constructive discussions with Commission officials the Commission are now preparing their proposal for a Date Based Export Scheme, which would permit the
  340
  export of beef and beef products from animals born after 1 August 1996. 1 hope that the proposal will be discussed in the Standing Veterinary Committee in June.

  Consumer Information
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals his Department has to improve the information on food made available to consumers. [42742]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 will be amended on 1 July this year to introduce new EC requirements for quantitative ingredient declarations. They will also require starch and modified starch used as ingredients of foods to indicate their specific vegetable origin if they are likely to contain gluten. These changes will become compulsory with effect from 14 February 2000. The UK has taken the lead in the EC on guidelines' to explain the new rules on quantitative ingredient declarations so that consumers are given consistent and uniform information on food labels.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote organic farming, with particular reference to less-favoured areas. [42743]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister on 2 April 1998,Official Report, columns 655–56.

  Whaling
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the role of the consultative forum on whaling. [42744]

  Mr. Morley
  We have had very positive and supportive feedback about the first meeting of the Consultative Forum held in April. We look forward to building on this encouraging beginning.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the latest meeting of the International Whaling Commission. [42748]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Lock) on 2 June 1998,Official Report, columns 199–201.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the change in farm income levels since 1 May 1997. [42746]

  Mr. Morley
  Government statistics published in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom" show that, in 1997 as a whole, farm incomes fell by an average of 37 per cent. in real terms. The fall in total income from farming in 1997 is largely due to lower prices received by farmers for all major commodities. The relative strength of sterling compared with 1996 has been a major factor underlying the fall in prices.
  341

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning milk quotas and the current levels of income of dairy farmers. [42747]

  Mr. Rooker
  I receive regular representations on a range of milk quota issues and on current levels of farm income, including that of dairy farmers, from farming organisations and individual milk producers. Milk quota still has a considerable positive value which demonstrates that the market believes that there is still sufficient profitability to justify this expenditure. The incomes of dairy farmers in 1998–99 are expected to be lower than in 1997–98, mainly as a result of lower milk prices.

  Sea Levels (South-East)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his oral answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 1132, on sea levels in the Thames Estuary and River Medway, what progress the Environment Agency has made in respect of its surveys into projected sea level rises. [42749]

  Mr. Morley
  I regret that my reply of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 1132, may have been misleading. The Environment Agency undertakes surveys of areas at risk of flooding and as preliminary studies for proposed defences. The interpretation of such surveys and studies take into account Ministry guidance on sea level rise. However the Agency is not carrying out surveys relating solely to projected sea level rise.

  International Horticultural Event, China
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his recent visit to China; and what United Kingdom participation there will be in the 1998 International Horticultural Event in Kunming, Yunnan. [42349]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  During April, I led a UK agricultural trade mission to China and our participation in the agricultural trade exposition AGRO EXPO China '98. I also had bilateral meetings with senior representatives of the Chinese government including Vice Premier Li Lanqing and Minister of Agriculture Chen Yaobang and representatives from the Hong Kong administration. I was highly impressed by the wide range of UK technical expertise on the mission and understand that new commercial business was agreed during the visit.

  The Government hope that the International Horticultural Exposition due to be held in Kunming in 1999 will include a United Kingdom exhibit. A proposal for an exhibit is currently the subject of discussion between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in how many cases reports of bullying, intimidation and threats by staff or employees of abattoirs against veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Service staff have been referred to officers of the 342
  Crown Prosecution Service with a view to prosecution; and in how many cases prosecutions have taken place in the last year; [43379]

  (2) how many incidents of intimidation, threats and bullying by owners or employees of abattoirs of Meat Hygiene Service staff and veterinarians have been referred to the police in the last year. [43378]

  Mr. Rooker
  Cases of intimidation against Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) staff are referred to the Investigations Branch of MAFF Legal for investigation with a view to prosecution for obstruction or assault under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995. Two successful prosecutions have been taken for obstruction.

  The first successful prosecution for assault has been taken. I referred to this case when winding up the Common Agricultural Policy debate on 21 May 1998, Official Report, column 1174.

  One case of alleged assault against a former MHS employee has been referred to the police by MAFF Investigation Officers. This case is now being investigated with a view to consideration of prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service in the criminal courts.

  Other allegations of intimidation are currently under consideration by MAFF Investigation Officers.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to close down abattoirs where Meat Hygiene Service staff or veterinarians have been subject to intimidation, bullying, or threats from abattoir owners or employees. [43377]

  Mr. Rooker
  Any form of intimidation of Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) staff, and in particular that which prevents staff from carrying out their duties to protect public health, is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. All available measures are used against those responsible, and, in all possible cases, the MHS refers incidents for investigation with a view to prosecution. Obstruction of MHS staff in the performance of their duties is an offence under section 33 (1) of the Food Safety Act 1990. Serious cases of assault are referred to the police.

  In accordance with EU rules, current GB meat hygiene legislation provides for the mandatory licensing (by the GB Agriculture Departments) of all abattoirs, cutting plants and cold stores producing meat which is intended for sale for human consumption. Although this legislation provides powers for Ministers to revoke such licences in certain specified circumstances, notably in respect of hygiene failures, these circumstances do not include intimidation, bullying or threats to MHS staff from the owners or operators of licensed premises or from their employees.

  Nevertheless, the assault of MHS staff in the course of carrying out their duties at licensed premises would probably amount to the hampering of adequate health inspection for the purposes of the GB meat hygiene legislation. In such circumstances MHS staff have powers to serve a notice on the operator of the premises prohibiting the use of the part or parts of the premises concerned until such time as it is clear that the safety of MHS staff is secured. The effect of such

  343
  action could result in the stopping of some or all of the production of the premises involved. Because the Government will not tolerate assaults on MHS staff, I have instructed the MHS to remind the industry of the powers available, and that where the MHS exercises those powers, it will do so with the full support of Ministers.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many incidents of intimidation, threats and bullying against representatives of the Meat Hygiene Service veterinarians by employees or owners of abattoirs have occurred in the last year; [43375]

  (2) if he will establish an inquiry into the scale of bullying, threats and intimidation by abattoir owners or staff against Meat Hygiene Service staff or veterinarians. [43380]

  Mr. Rooker
  No information is available on the number of instances of intimidation, threats and bullying against Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) staff which have occurred in the last year.

  However, to get a better understanding of the true extent of instances of intimidation of its staff, the Meat Hygiene Service, together with UNISON, has sent out a Violence/Intimidation at Work Questionnaire to all its operational staff. The survey sought information on the number of instances of threats, verbal abuse and harassment as well as physical attack or injury that MHS staff had been subject to since 1 April 1995.

  The questionnaire was sent to the 1,500 operational staff of the MHS. The provisional results of the survey indicate that staff have reported 403 instances of some form of intimidation and violence since 1 April 1995, the date the Agency was launched. This comprises 273 instances relating to verbal threat or abuse and 130 to more serious instances of injury to MHS staff, physical threat with a weapon, racial and sexual harassment and damage to personal property.

  The results of the survey will inform future policy on the issue of intimidation/violence in the workplace.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from staff of the Meat Hygiene Service and veterinarians concerning bullying by owners and staff of abattoirs. [43381]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) Chief Executive has expressed his concern to me about these unacceptable instances of intimidation and threats against MHS staff. The MHS takes the health and safety and welfare of its staff very seriously and will take any and all necessary action to prevent intimidation in the workplace.

  At my request, the MHS keeps me fully aware of all instances of intimidation, abuse and assault against MHS staff by abattoir owners and staff.

  As my hon. Friend will note from other answers I have given him today, we are taking the issue seriously and support and encourage the MHS to take a robust line on behalf of MHS staff carrying out their vital duties on behalf of the public.
  344

  Tobacco
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was paid by the EU to subsidise the growing of tobacco in the last year for which figures are available. [44034]

  Mr. Rooker
  In 1997 the EU spent 998 million ecu (£725 million)1 on subsidies under the EU tobacco regime. None of this was spent in the United Kingdom.
  1 1997 exchange rate used: £1 = 1.3758 ecu

  Flood and Coastal Defences
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to remove coast protection functions from coastal local authorities. [43939]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 85.

  Bees
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a compensation scheme for professional bee keepers whose hives have been subject to attack from the varroa mite. [44089]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government take the threat to beekeeping from varroa very seriously and this year are spending around £1.5 million on a range of measures to tackle this problem. The emphasis is on training and education to help bee keepers become more self-reliant. We consider this to be the best use of the available resources.

  Drift Nets
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual number of non-target species that would avoid death through trapping if an EU ban on drift nets were introduced. [43221]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: Observers on the UK drift net boats in 1995 recorded 46 dolphin casualties over 9 fishing trips. This implies that 165 dolphins were killed by the UK fleet in that season. A number of other species including sharks are also caught.

  France, Ireland and Italy also have active drift net fleets.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made on phasing out the use of those drift nets which are dangerous to dolphins. [42726]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  Preparations have been made for a decision at the Fisheries Council on 8 June.

  Milk Producers (Italy)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the Italian Government have failed to collect by way of super-levy from over-quota milk producers in each of the last five years; when the Commission initiated infraction proceedings;
  345
  how much they are for and over what period; and how many Commission officials are currently employed in enforcing milk quotas. [43166]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 3 June 1998]: In 1995–96 of a total superlevy bill of 316 billion lire, 42 billion lire was paid by the Italian Authorities and the remainder was withheld by the Commission from FEOGA payments to Italy; in 1996–97 the total superlevy bill of 155 billion lire was withheld from FEOGA payments. No superlevy was payable by Italy with respect to the previous three years. The Commission initiated infraction proceedings against Italy on 12 January 1998 for their failure to definitively close the periods 1995–96 and 1996–97 by obliging purchasers to pay over superlevy due to the competent authority. The number of Commission officials dealing with enforcement fluctuates according to the requirements at a given time.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which he and the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), have met President Kabbah of Sierra Leone since 1 May 1997; and if he will publish the minutes of such meetings. [42094]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: Officials from the High Commission had numerous meetings with President Kabbah in Conakry. Officials also met him when he visited the UK in October 1997.

  My hon. Friend the Minister of State met President Kabbah on 20 October, when he addressed the seminar "Restoring Sierra Leone to Democracy"; on 25 October, with the Under-Secretary of State for International Development; and on 31 March 1998, when he visited Sierra Leone as a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group mission.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met him informally during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh in October 1997. I met the Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone in the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in September 1997.

  It is not normal practice to release the records of discussion with foreign governments, but all relevant documents will be available to Sir Thomas Legg for his investigation.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application of Security Council Resolution 1132 to the Nigerian-led military observers group of the Economic Community of West African States at the time it was seeking to restore democracy in Sierra Leone. [42560]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 18 May 1998]: Operative paragraph 6 of Security Council Resolution 1132 provides that the Security Council
  "Decides that all States shall prevent the sale or supply to Sierra Leone, by their nationals or from their flag vessels or aircraft, of petroleum and petroleum products and arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territory".
  346
  No exceptions were made to the embargo.

  Now that the conditions set out in SCR 1132 for the lifting of the embargo have been met United Nations Security Council Members have agreed that a new resolution is required. This should lift the arms embargo on the Sierra Leone Government and ECOMOG but maintain it on non-governmental forces. Urgent discussions on the precise terms of the resolution are underway in New York.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the role of his Department was in drafting United Nations Security Resolution 1132; what representations his Department made to ensure clarity of definition in determining the target of the embargo; and when the possibility of misinterpretation was first brought to his attention. [42712]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 20 May 1998]: The UK took a leading role in negotiating the text of Resolution 1132, in September and October 1997. We were satisfied that there were no exceptions to the arms embargo. Differences in interpretation did not emerge until May 1998.

  Mr. Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 May 1998,Official Report, column 525, on what dates the telegram of 6 February was copied to (a) his private office and (b) the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd); and if it was drawn to (i) his and (ii) the Minister of State's attention. [43976]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: From 6 February onwards, a number of telegrams referring to the ECOMOG intervention in Sierra Leone were received within the FCO. These telegrams were seen in my Private Office and the Private Office of the Minister of State, and, as is standard practice, the key ones were drawn to my, and his, attention. None made any reference to Sandline.

  Visas
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the African countries in which there are no local facilities for applicants for United Kingdom visas to be interviewed, indicating in each case the country to which applicants must travel for interview. [43690]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Those African countries in which there are no local facilities for applicants for United Kingdom visas to be interviewed are listed. Applicants for visit visas may apply at any designated British diplomatic or consular Post offering a full entry clearance service. Applicants for other categories of visa should apply at the designated Post as stipulated.

  Country

  Designated Country/(Post)

  Rwanda1

  Kenya (Nairobi) or Tanzania (Dar Es Salam)

  Algeria2

  Tunisia (Tunis) or France (Paris)

  Libya3

  Malta (Valletta)

  Benin

  Nigeria (Lagos)

  Burkina Faso

  Cote d'Ivoire (Abidjan)

  Burundi

  Most accessible Post

  Cape Verde

  Senegal (Dakar)

  347

  Country

  Designated Country/(Post)

  Central Africa Republic

  Cameroon (Yaounde)

  Chad

  Nigeria (Lagos or Abuja)

  Congo

  Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)

  Djibouti

  Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

  Equatorial Guinea

  Cameroon (Yaounde) or most accessible Post

  Eritrea

  Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

  Equatorial Guinea

  Cameroon (Yaounde) or most accessible Post

  Eritrea

  Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

  Gabon

  Cameroon (Yaounde) or most accessible Post

  Guinea

  Senegal (Dakar)

  Guinea-Bassau

  Senegal (Dakar)

  Liberia

  Cote d'Ivoire (Abidjan)

  Mali

  Senegal (Dakar)

  Mauritania

  Morocco (Casablanca)

  Niger

  Cote d'Ivoire (Abidjan)

  Sao Tome and Principe

  Angola (Luanda)

  Togo

  Ghana (Accra)

  Somalia

  Kenya (Nairobi) or Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

  Sierra Leone4

  Senegal (Dakar), The Gambia (Banjul), Cote d'Ivoire (Abidjan)

  1 Rwanda is designated to offer a limited visa service to members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps (including international Organisations) there and officials of the host country

  2 Algeria is designated to offer a limited visa service to diplomats, government officials and representatives of major companies travelling on official business

  3 Libya is designated to offer a limited service to Libyan diplomats and officials, travelling on official business only; certain business applications sponsored by UK companies, urgent medical cases and compassionate family applications, including family reunion cases where the applicant can demonstrate that it is not possible to leave Libya in order to apply in a third country

  4 Sierra Leone has been temporarily closed

  Israel
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU on the European Union's position on the export by Israel to Europe of goods originating in Jerusalem. [43834]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Commission issued a Communication to the Council on 13 May on the implementation of the EC/Israel agreement, including the export to the EU of goods originating in Jerusalem. The UK Presidency is discussing the issues raised in the communication at technical level with other member states and the Commission. The Commission is also in consultation with Israeli officials, and will report back to the Council in due course. The EU position on the status of Jerusalem remains unchanged.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU to the Governments of(a) France and (b) Belgium concerning domestic ratification of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [43832]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Parliamentary ratification procedures are a matter for individual member states. The United Kingdom has not
  348
  made any representations to the French or Belgian governments on this issue, though our officials remain in close contact on the progress of the ratification procedure.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the operation of the EU-Israel association agreement during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU. [43828]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The EU/Israel Association Agreement has not been ratified by all EU member states, and is therefore not yet in force. Its trade provisions are in operation under a separate EC/Israel Interim Agreement. The EU is now studying questions raised by the Commission in its Communication of 13 May about the implementations of the Interim Agreement.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made during the UK presidency of the EU to the European Commission concerning Israeli implementation of the EU-Israel association agreement. [43829]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The EU/Israel Association Agreement is not yet in force. As EU Presidency, the UK is in close contact with the Commission and other member states about the implementation of the EC/Israel Interim Agreement, on which the Commission issued a Communication on 13 May.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU to Israel concerning the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [43830]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The EU/Israel Association Agreement is not yet in force, pending ratification by individual Member States. The United Kingdom has therefore made no formal representation to the Israeli government on this issue. We remain in close contact with Israel on the implementation of the EC/Israel Interim Agreement.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with other EU Governments during the United Kingdom presidency concerning the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [43831]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The EU/Israel Association Agreement is not yet in force. As Presidency of the EU, the UK holds regular discussions with EU governments on the EC/Israel Interim Agreement, including on the Commission Communication on implementation of that agreement.

  Dependent Territories
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each visit made to the Turks and Caicos Islands by(a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department since 1990. [43425]
  349
  Mr. Fatchett
  Records are unavailable for the period dating back to 1990. However, since 1992 there have been six Ministerial visits to the TCI:

  Date

  July 1992

  Mr. Mark Lennox-Boyd, PUSS, FCO

  September 1993

  Mr. Anthony Nelson, Economic Secretary to the Treasury

  October 1994

  Mr. Tony Baldry, PUSS, FCO

  April 95

  Sir Derek Spencer, Solicitor-General

  April 1996

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor, FCO Minister

  May 1997

  Lord Hardie, Lord Advocate

  Since 1994 there have been at least eight visits by officials from the relevant political Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There have also been numerous visits by officials from the Dependent Territories Regional Secretariat in Bridgetown and from DFID/ODA.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much grant support was given to the Turks and Caicos Islands in each year since 1994–95. [43426]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The figures, including Good Government Fund disbursements, are as follows:

  1994–95: £4.618 million

  1995–96: £3.045 million

  1996–97: £4.1 10 million.

  Figures for 1997–98 are not yet available.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom continues to impose an arms embargo on Afghanistan in line with the EU' s Common Position of 17 December 1996. [44655]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We remain committed to the EU arms embargo against Afghanistan.

  Following discussions with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence for the export of mine-clearance suits for use by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan in its demining operations. The grant of this licence is for humanitarian purposes, and is consistent with the purpose of the embargo.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions in addition to the overall criteria governing arms exports announced on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, apply to sales to Taiwan. [44656]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We restrict the export to Taiwan of licensable defence-related equipment. Applications for export licences to supply defence-related equipment and technology are considered case by case. All decisions are made in the light of the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1998,Official Report, columns 26–29. In scrutinising applications for Taiwan, we also give particular weight to the implications for regional stability.
  350

  Regional and Minority Languages
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will sign the Council of Europe Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. [44657]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have given thorough consideration to the merits of the United Kingdom becoming a signatory to the Charter, which entered into force on 1 March 1998. We have concluded that it would be appropriate to do so. Part II of the Charter sets out general principles of recognition and support for indigenous minority languages and removal of discrimination against them. We readily subscribe to these principles. We also intend to specify the Welsh Language in Wales and, when the necessary procedural arrangements are in place, the Gaelic language in Scotland under the provisions of Part III which require adherence to a number of specific measures taken to promote the use of these languages in public life. It is also intended to specify the Irish language in Northern Ireland at an early date. Part II of the Charter will apply to the Scots language. We will be considering which, if any, other languages should be bound by the general principles in Part II and might be specified under Part III in due course.

  European Union Council
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June; and if he will list the major European Union events for the next six months. [44658]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The following Councils are scheduled:

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  June 98

  3–4

  Luxembourg

  Education and Social Affairs Council

  5

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  8

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  8–9

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  15–16

  Cardiff

  European Council

  16–17

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  17

  Luxembourg

  Joint Environment and Transport Council

  18

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  22

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  22–23

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  29–30

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  3–4 June 1998: Joint Education and Social Affairs Council

  Adoption of the Agenda.

  A points—Draft Directive extending the Burden of Proof Directive to the UK—Draft Regulation amending 1408/71 (various amendments 1997).

  Preparation of the Cardiff European Council: Debate.

  Commission proposals for draft decisions for the new generation of education, training and youth programmes: Presentation by the Commission and debate.

  Draft decision on European Pathways including Apprenticeship.

  Presidency information on a pilot project on European Teacher Mobility.

  Draft Directive on the Transferability of Supplementary Pension Rights of migrant workers.

  351

  Draft Regulation amending Regulation 1408/71 and 574/72 on social security rights of migrant workers.

  Draft Directive amending the Directive safeguarding the rights of workers in the event of the transfer of undertakings.

  Draft Directive on employee involvement in the European Company Statute: Political agreement.

  Communication on the future of the Social Dialogue: Commission presentation.

  Social Policy Action programme: Commission presentation.

  5 June 1998: ECOFIN Council (provisional agenda)

  Commission and EIB report on the loan guarantee system for lending to third countries.

  Council draft of Broad Economic Policy Guidelines.

  Preparation of Cardiff European Council.

  Preparation of Stage 3 of EMU.

  Adoption of ECB legislation under Article 106(6): Collection of statistical information by the ECB—minimum reserves of financial institutions at the ECB—Powers of the ECB to impose sanctions on institutions failing to comply with monetary regulations.

  Appointment of ECB auditors.

  Rules and composition of Economic and Financial Committee.

  8 June 1998: Fisheries Council

  Post-Amsterdam enforcement proposal: debate, (possible) adoption.

  Commission report on the follow-up to the 1997 Bergan Inter-Ministerial meeting: Council conclusions.

  Commission progress report on the 2002 Review: Progress report.

  Proposal for revision of Structural Funds: Adoption (possible item).

  Revision of basic Marketing Regulation (3759/1992): Policy debate.

  Proposal on rules for mesh size combinations: Policy debate.

  8–9 June 1998: General Affairs Council (provisional agenda)

  Korea: Council Decision on Conclusion of EU/Korea framework Agreement (possible A point).

  China: Council conclusions (possible A point).

  Additional Protocols concerning the IAEA "93+2" Programme (possible A point).

  Schengen.

  Agenda 2000.

  Preparations for Cardiff European Council: Procedural.

  Enlargement.

  Lome.

  Mediterranean Policy (possible item).

  South Africa.

  Western Balkans.

  Middle East Peace Process.

  Great Lakes.

  EU/Mercosur and EU/Chile (possible item).

  Renegotiation of Industrial GSP Regulation.

  15–16 June 1998: European Council

  Not yet available.

  16–17 June 1998: Environment Council

  Proposal for a Council Directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air: Common position, cooperation procedure Art. 189c.

  Proposal for a Council Directive relating to a reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EEC: Common position, cooperation procedure Art. 189c.

  352

  Amended proposal for a Council Directive establishing a framework for a Community action in the field of water policy: Orientation debate, cooperation procedure Art. 189c.

  Proposal for a Council recommendation relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos: Common position, cooperation procedure Art. 189c.

  Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms: Orientation debate.

  Proposal for a Council Directive on emissions from heavy goods vehicles: Orientation debate.

  Community strategy on climate change: Council conclusions.

  Community strategy on biological diversity: Council conclusions (possible item).

  Carbon dioxide emissions from cars: Council conclusions (possible item).

  17 June 1998: Joint Transport and the Environment Council

  Transport and Environment: Orientation debate and Council conclusions.

  18 June 1998: Transport Council (provisional agenda)

  EASA: Adoption.

  Air traffic management: Adoption.

  EU/US aviation: Debate.

  Denied Boarding Compensation: Agreement of Conclusions.

  Hush-kits: Debate, political agreement.

  Computer reservation systems: Common position.

  NOx: Agreement of conclusions.

  Random checks: Debate, political agreement.

  Dangerous goods safety adviser training: Debate, political agreement.

  Railways: Progress report.

  Transport safety: Debate.

  Ferry Operators: Debate, political agreement. Manning conditions: Debate.

  Ports green paper: Report by Commission.

  22 June 1998: Research Council

  Fifth EC Framework Programme—specific programmes: Thematic programmes—International cooperation—Innovation and participation of SMEs—Improving human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base: (possible) agreement.

  Fifth EURATOM Framework Programme—EURATOM part of specific programmes: (possible) Agreement.

  JRC programmes: (possible) Agreement.

  Rules of participation and dissemination of results (Article 130j decisions): (possible) Common position (EC)/decision (EURATOM).

  22–23 June 1998: Agriculture Council

  Not yet available.

  29–30 June: General Affairs Council (provisional agenda)

  Enlargement.

  Follow-up to Cardiff European Council.

  Lomé.

  Transatlantic Relations.

  Western Balkans.

  Middle East Peace Process.

  Iran.

  Pakistan (possible item).

  European Calendar: June—November 1998

  This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

  353

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  June 1998

  2

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  3–4

  Palermo

  Ad-hoc meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers

  3–4

  Luxembourg

  Education and Social Affairs Council

  4

  Luxembourg

  Euro X

  5

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  8

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  8–9

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  8–9

  Glasgow

  Regional Policy/Spatial Planning Ministers' (Informal)

  15–16

  Cardiff

  European Council

  15–19

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  16–17

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  17

  Luxembourg

  Joint Environment and Transport Council

  18

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  19

  Glasgow

  Energy and Environment Conference

  22

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  22–23

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  25

  Brussels

  Presidency Biotechnology Round Table

  29

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  July 1998

  1–2

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  6

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  6–7

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  8–10

  Innsbruck

  Employment/Social Affairs/Women (Informal)

  13

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  13–14

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  17

  Brussels

  Budget Council

  17–19

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council (Informal)

  20–21

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  August 1998

  There are no Councils scheduled for this month

  September 1998

  3

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  5–6

  Salzburg

  Foreign Ministers (Informal)

  7–8

  Brussels

  Special Committee on Agriculture

  10–11

  Linz

  Culture Council

  15–16

  Bregenz

  Transport Council (Informal)

  21

  New York

  Political Committee

  19–22

  St. Wolfgang, Austria

  Agriculture Council (Informal)

  24

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs

  24

  Brussels

  Internal Market

  25–27

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council (Informal)

  28–29

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  October 1998

  1–2

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  2–3

  Luxembourg

  Industry/Research and Technology Council (Informal)

  5

  Luxembourg

  Work and Social Affairs Council

  5–6

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  6

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  12

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  13

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  13

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  16–17

  Vienna

  European Council

  19–20

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  22

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  354

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  23–24

  Luxembourg

  Education Council (Informal)

  26

  Luxembourg

  Political Committee

  26–27

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  28–29

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  29–30

  Luxembourg

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  November 1998

  9

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  9

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  9–10

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  12

  Brussels

  Health Council

  16

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  17

  Brussels

  Culture Council

  20

  Brussels

  Budget Council

  23

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  23–24

  Brussels Brussels

  Agriculture Council Telecommunications Council

  25

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  26

  Brussels

  Youth Council

  30

  Brussels

  Development Council

  30–1 December 1998

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  General Affairs Council
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 25 May. [44659]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The General Affairs Council met in Brussels on 25 May. The Council adopted the A Points, and noted the European Parliament Resolutions of 29–30 April and 2 May listed in document 8115/98. A copy will be placed in the House Library as soon as it becomes available.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary provided a Presidency progress report on Agenda 2000 negotiations. Foreign Ministers set out their positions on a wide range of issues. The GAC agreed the proposed outline of the structure for a draft report to Cardiff. Foreign Ministers also agreed that COREPER should report back to the next GAC on how to respond to the latest letter from EP President Gil-Robles about European Parliament involvement.

  The Council reached agreement on the text of the EU Code of Conduct for arms exports, which will be formally adopted at a future Council meeting. The Code aims to set high common standards for arms exports from all EU Member States. It develops the EU Common Criteria agreed in 1991 and 1992 and includes a mechanism under which a Member State will have to consult a Partner which has denied a licence for a particular export, before granting an essentially identical licence.

  The Council took note of the reports of the EU/US and EU/Canada Summits. It agreed that the EU/US Summit, which made substantial progress towards resolving the problems of US sanctions legislation and endorsed the Transatlantic Economic Partnership, represented an important step.

  The Council agreed a Declaration condemning the Indian nuclear tests and setting out the steps India has to take to rejoin the mainstream of international efforts on non-proliferation.
  355
  The Council underlined EU support for Indonesia, called on President Habibie to continue political reform, welcomed the release of two political prisoners and called on the Indonesian authorities to cooperate constructively with the efforts under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General on East Timor.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary briefed partners on his visit to Ankara on 19 May, and reported Turkey's decision not to attend the Association Council which had been planned for 25 May.

  The Council discussed preparations for the ad hoc meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers in Palermo on 3–4 June. This should give renewed impetus to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and prepare the ground for the third Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference in Stuttgart in April 1999. The Council endorsed the Presidency's handling, and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the meeting is a success.

  The Council took note of developments in the Middle East Peace Process in the light of on-going US efforts. The French Foreign Minister briefed colleagues on the Franco-Egyptian "Call for Peace".

  The Council heard a report from Mr. Felipe Gonzalez, the EU and OSCE Special Representative from the FRY. It noted with concern recent developments in the FRY affecting the freedom of the media. It welcomed the opening of a dialogue between Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian community, while expressing grave concern about the escalating violence in the province. It underlined the need for the parliamentary elections in Montenegro on 31 May to be free and fair and for their results to be respected by all.

  The Council agreed to consider on 29 June whether Croatia should continue to benefit from Autonomous Trade Measures in the light of that country's performance on refugee returns and other important issues such as democratisation and independent media.

  The Council endorsed the principle of financial support for Azerbaijan (beyond that provided under TACIS), as proposed by the Commission, subject to technical examination by Financial Counsellors.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary drew attention to the EU/Russia Summit (15 May) and reported on the outcome of the G8 Birmingham Summit.

  East Timor
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the EU Troika visit to East Timor is expected to take place. [44343]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We still hope that the visit, to which Indonesia has agreed, will take place during the UK Presidency.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visits by(a) ministers and (b) officials of his Department to East Timor (i) undertaken since 1 May 1998 and (ii) planned for the next six months. [44301]
  356
  Mr. Fatchett
  No Ministers or officials have visited East Timor since 1 May 1998. The only visit so far planned for the next six months is one by the British Ambassador in Jakarta as part of an EU Troika Mission. The date is not yet settled.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have ratified the Ottawa convention on land mines. [44209]

  Mr. Fatchett
  By 31 May, the following had ratified the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel land mines:

  Belize

  Canada

  Croatia

  Djibouti

  The Holy See Ireland

  Hungary

  Mauritius

  Niue (a Protectorate of New Zealand)

  San Marino Switzerland

  Trinidad and Tobago

  and Turkmenistan.

  St. Helenians
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many St. Helenians were working on Ascension in the last 10 years for which figures are available. [44061]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The total numbers of St. Helenians working on Ascension Island in the last 10 years are as follows:

  year

  1989

  549

  1990

  569

  1991

  530

  1992

  620

  1993

  599

  1994

  612

  1995

  579

  1996

  563

  1997

  587

  1998

  576

  Entry Clearance Officers
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the complement of extra entry clearance officers provided to deal with the increased volume of summer entry clearance work for(a) Islamabad, (b) New Delhi, (c) Moscow, (d) Peking, (e) Lagos, (f) Bogota and (g) Colombo; how

  357
  many of these have already gone to each post; when the others are expected to travel to each post; and when they will be recalled from each post. [44229]

  Additional entry clearance officers deployed to deal with increased volume of summer entry clearance work

  Post

  Total number of ECOs

  Number already at post

  Dates others expected to travel

  Dates of expected departure from post

  Islamabad

  5

  2

  3 early June

  2 early September

  3 late September

  New Delhi

  8

  6

  1 early July

  2 early/ mid June

  1 end July

  2 early August

  1 late August

  2 early/late September

  Moscow

  8

  7

  —

  1 already returned

  2 early June

  1 late June

  2 end July

  2 late August

  Peking

  3

  1

  2 early July

  2 end August

  1 end September

  Lagos

  4

  1

  2 early July

  2 end August

  1 early August

  2 end September

  Bogota

  1

  1

  —

  1 end July

  Colombo

  No additional Entry Clearance Officers

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Derringham School
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received opposing the proposed closure of Derringham School in Hull. [43151]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Proposals to close Derringham School were first submitted on 8 December 1997. The Secretary of State received 19 letters and a petition containing 2,975 signatures opposing the closure. The proposals were then withdrawn and new proposals were submitted on 9 March 1998. The Department has received two letters opposing the new proposals; the formal objection period ended on 9 May and the LEA has until 9 June to send copies of further objections, plus the LEA's own comments, to the Secretary of State. All relevant representations will be taken into account by the Secretary of State in reaching a final decision.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of TECs in(a) raising skill levels and (b) fostering enterprise. [43111]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government introduced a package of measures in September to raise TEC performance to the level of the best, which includes sharing good practice. As announced in The Learning Age, we have also set up a Training Standards Council to supervise a Training Inspectorate to drive up the standards of training funded through TECs.
  358
  Mr. Fatchett
  The information requested is contained in the following table:

  In addition, on 13 May, the Secretary of State announced a review of the future role, purpose and funding framework for TECs in delivering the Government's education, skills and enterprise objectives. The review will consider how we will give a clear focus to the role of TECs, and will develop proposals for improving efficiency and effectiveness. The review will lead to the publication of new Strategic Guidance in the Autumn which will set out the future role of TECs and the Government's expectations of them.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the surplus achieved by Staffordshire TEC on trading accounts in(a)1995–96 and (b)1996–97. [43113]

  Dr. Howells
  The surplus in 1995–96 was £385,000 and in 1996–97 was £1,548,000.

  Medical Retirement
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many teacher ill health retirement cases have been(a) approved and (b) turned down since April 1997 in each local education authority area; [43117]

  (2) how many (a) heads and (b) deputy heads have (i) sought ill health retirement and (ii) had their applications for ill health retirement rejected since April 1997 in each local education authority. [43118]

  Dr. Howells
  The table shows the number of teachers in each local education authority who were awarded ill-health retirement in financial year 1997–98. The table
  359
  covers the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special education sectors in England. Information is not held by LEA of the number of applications which are

  Ill-health retirees whose last known service was in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary or special sector— England 1997–98 provisional

  Last known grade on or before 31 March 1997

  Last known LEA

  Headteachers

  Deputy Headteachers

  Classroom Teachers

  Total

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  *

  0

  6

  7

  Greenwich

  *

  0

  9

  11

  Hackney

  *

  0

  5

  7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  *

  5

  14

  21

  Islington

  0

  0

  16

  16

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0

  *

  *

  Lambeth

  *

  0

  10

  11

  Lewisham

  0

  0

  7

  7

  Southwark

  0

  *

  8

  9

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  *

  11

  13

  Wandsworth

  *

  5

  5

  13

  City of Westminster

  0

  *

  5

  6

  Barking and Dagenham

  *

  *

  8

  10

  Barnet

  *

  0

  14

  15

  Bexley

  *

  *

  6

  10

  Brent

  0

  0

  9

  9

  Bromley

  0

  *

  6

  8

  Croydon

  *

  0

  10

  11

  Ealing

  0

  0

  9

  9

  Enfield

  0

  0

  9

  9

  Haringey

  *

  0

  *

  7

  Harrow

  *

  0

  5

  7

  Havering

  *

  0

  13

  14

  Hillingdon

  *

  0

  6

  7

  Hounslow

  *

  *

  5

  7

  Kingston upon Thames

  *

  *

  7

  9

  Merton

  *

  *

  6

  8

  Newham

  0

  *

  11

  12

  Redbridge

  *

  *

  *

  6

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  0

  6

  6

  Sutton

  0

  *

  6

  7

  Waltham Forest

  *

  *

  9

  13

  Birmingham

  8

  7

  64

  79

  Coventry

  *

  0

  18

  19

  Dudley

  *

  *

  12

  17

  Sand well

  *

  0

  15

  17

  Solihull

  *

  0

  12

  14

  Walsall

  *

  0

  17

  20

  Wolverhampton

  *

  0

  23

  25

  Knowlsey

  *

  *

  11

  13

  Liverpool

  7

  *

  29

  38

  St. Helens

  *

  *

  12

  14

  Sefton

  *

  *

  24

  31

  Wirral

  *

  0

  21

  23

  Bolton

  5

  *

  26

  33

  Bury

  *

  0

  7

  8

  Manchester

  6

  0

  27

  33

  Oldham

  *

  *

  20

  25

  Rochdale

  *

  *

  13

  15

  Salford

  *

  *

  13

  19

  Stockport

  *

  *

  18

  23

  Tameside

  *

  0

  11

  13

  Trafford

  *

  0

  14

  16

  Wigan

  *

  *

  21

  23

  Barnsley

  *

  *

  11

  19

  Doncaster

  *

  0

  13

  14

  Rotherham

  *

  *

  14

  17

  Sheffield

  5

  *

  25

  34

  Bradford

  *

  *

  29

  36

  Calderdale

  *

  *

  13

  16

  Kirklees

  *

  0

  33

  37

  Leeds

  8

  *

  50

  62

  360
  rejected. The rejected rate is approximately 30 per cent. of all applications received.
  361

  Ill-health retirees whose last known service was in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary or special sector— England 1997–98 provisional

  Last known grade on or before 31 March 1997

  Last known LEA

  Headteachers

  Deputy Headteachers

  Classroom Teachers

  Total

  Wakefield

  *

  *

  13

  16

  Gateshead

  *

  *

  13

  15

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  *

  0

  14

  16

  North Tyneside

  0

  *

  7

  8

  South Tyneside

  *

  *

  18

  20

  Sunderland

  *

  *

  23

  29

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bath and North East Somerset

  *

  *

  5

  8

  City of Bristol

  *

  *

  21

  24

  North Somerset

  *

  *

  10

  13

  South Gloucestershire

  *

  *

  8

  10

  Hartlepool

  *

  *

  *

  7

  Middlesbrough

  *

  0

  7

  10

  Redcar and Cleveland

  *

  *

  16

  19

  Stockton-on-Tees

  0

  *

  20

  21

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  *

  *

  14

  16

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  *

  *

  12

  15

  North East Lincolnshire

  *

  *

  10

  14

  North Lincolnshire

  *

  *

  12

  15

  North Yorkshire

  9

  *

  20

  31

  York

  *

  0

  9

  11

  Bedfordshire

  *

  0

  9

  12

  Luton

  0

  0

  8

  8

  Buckinghamshire

  *

  *

  11

  14

  Milton Keynes

  *

  0

  *

  *

  Derbyshire

  6

  *

  20

  30

  City of Derby

  *

  *

  8

  10

  Dorset

  *

  *

  14

  17

  Poole

  *

  0

  *

  *

  Bournemouth

  0

  *

  *

  5

  Durham

  0

  *

  35

  37

  Darlington

  0

  0

  5

  5

  East Sussex

  *

  *

  18

  21

  Brighton and Hove

  *

  *

  7

  10

  Hampshire

  *

  *

  40

  47

  Portsmouth

  0

  0

  10

  10

  Southampton

  0

  0

  *

  *

  Leicestershire

  *

  *

  16

  19

  Leicester City

  *

  0

  10

  11

  Rutland

  0

  0

  *

  *

  Staffordshire

  *

  *

  31

  36

  Sotke on Trent

  *

  *

  22

  25

  Wiltshire

  *

  *

  11

  17

  Swindon

  *

  0

  *

  *

  Berkshire

  6

  *

  30

  37

  Cambridgeshire

  *

  *

  27

  35

  Cheshire

  *

  5

  34

  43

  Cornwall

  7

  *

  32

  40

  Cumbria

  9

  *

  25

  35

  Devon

  9

  *

  70

  82

  Essex

  8

  8

  52

  68

  Gloucestershire

  *

  *

  21

  27

  Hereford and Worcester

  *

  *

  25

  31

  Hertfordshire

  *

  5

  45

  52

  Isle of Wight

  *

  *

  7

  10

  Kent

  14

  *

  72

  90

  Lancashire

  9

  10

  104

  123

  Lincolnshire

  6

  *

  29

  36

  Norfolk

  6

  5

  43

  54

  Northampton shire

  *

  *

  28

  32

  Northumberland

  *

  *

  18

  26

  Nottinghamshire

  *

  *

  54

  62

  Oxfordshire

  *

  *

  23

  29

  Shropshire

  9

  *

  19

  29

  Somerset

  5

  *

  24

  32

  Suffolk

  *

  6

  24

  34

  Surrey

  *

  *

  31

  37

  362 363

  Ill-health retirees whose last known service was in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary or special sector— England 1997–98 provisional

  Last known grade on or before 31 March 1997

  Last known LEA Warwickshire

  Headteachers

  Deputy Headteachers

  Classroom Teachers

  Total

  Warwickshire

  *

  *

  20

  27

  West Sussex

  *

  *

  44

  49

  Not known

  27

  16

  163

  206

  Total

  349

  227

  2,477

  3,053

  Notes:

  1. Includes all retirees whether or not retiring directly from teaching service.

  2. The LEA shown is the last known before retirement.

  3. To avoid disclosure of sensitive information on individuals, numbers less than 5 are shown as asterisks.

  4. Not known category includes teachers whose last known LEA no longer exists due to local government re-organisation.

  Source:

  DfEE Database of Teacher Records and Pensioner statistics database.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students undertook teacher training courses in each year since 1979. [43676]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The table shows the number of new entrants to initial teacher training for the years 1981–82 to 1997–98. Information for 1979–80 and 1980–81 is not available.

  Recruitment to initial teacher training (ITT) courses1 in England and Wales, 1981–82 to 1997–98

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  2Total

  1981–82

  6,171

  12,512

  18,683

  1982–83

  6,435

  10,493

  16,928

  1983–84

  7,422

  8,796

  16,218

  1984–85

  8,257

  8,450

  16,707

  1985–86

  8,794

  7,931

  16,725

  1986–87

  8,964

  7,925

  16,889

  1987–88

  10,104

  9,076

  19,180

  1988–89

  11,373

  8,810

  20,183

  1989–90

  12,814

  8,943

  21,757

  1990–91

  14,331

  9,464

  23,795

  1991–92

  16,263

  12,529

  28,792

  1992–93

  18,364

  13,616

  31,980

  1993–94

  17,486

  14,556

  32,042

  1994–95

  15,087

  16,407

  31,494

  1995–96

  14,932

  16,086

  31,018

  1996–97

  13,817

  16,842

  30,659

  1997–983

  13,020

  16,912

  29,932

  1 Includes School Centred ITT and Open University

  2 Where figures have been rounded, there may be discrepancies between the sum of the constituent items and the totals shown

  3 Data for 1997–98 are provisional

  Sources:

  England:

  1981–82 to 1993–94: DFE ITT Annual Recruitment Survey

  1994–95: Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) Early Statistics Survey

  1995–96 to 1997–98: TTA ITT recruitment survey

  Wales:

  1981–82 to 1993–94: DFE ITT Annual Recruitment Survey

  1994–95 to 1997–98: Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) Early Statistics Survey
  364

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what proportion of(a) three year olds and (b) four year olds currently have nursery places in (i) Barnsley and (ii) Doncaster. [43360]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  1,264 three year olds, 1,732 four year olds and 49 per cent. of children under 5 were in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in the Barnsley Local Education Authority area in January 1997.

  2,364 three year olds, 1,200 four year olds and 44 per cent. of children under 5 were in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in the Doncaster Local Education Authority area in January 1997.

  Training
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department has taken to encourage the establishment of a stable training infrastructure for the United Kingdom printing, packaging and graphic communications industry. [43444]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department is establishing a network of National Training Organisations (NTOs), employer led bodies with the key responsibility for developing education and training arrangements in their sectors. The independent NTO Recognition Panel has recently considered a bid from the Printing and Graphics Industry. The Secretary of State will be considering advice from the Panel and making a decision shortly on whether to grant NTO status.

  Welfare to Work
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action his Department is taking to enable severely disabled people to participate in Welfare to Work. [43374]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Severely disabled people, including those in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance, are part of the client group for the New Deal for Disabled People. They will be invited to meet a Personal Adviser to explore ways to overcome the particular barriers to work they may face. The Government are consulting
  365
  widely to ensure that appropriate help and support are in place to enable severely disabled people to benefit from the programme.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what contact his Department has had with the Department of Health concerning interdepartmental co-operation to enable severely-disabled people to participate in Welfare to Work. [43371]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department for Education and Employment has close contact with the Department of Health on a range of issues. The Department of Health were represented on the inter-departmental working group which set the policy framework for the New Deal for Disabled People. They continue to contribute to the development of the New Deal for Disabled People.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what procedures exist to monitor the receipt, processing and outcome of applications for financial assistance to purchase wheelchairs through Access to Work; [43934]

  (2) how much financial assistance was given to purchase wheelchairs through Access to Work (a) in total and (b) broken down by Employment Service district in each of the last five years; [43936]

  (3) how many applications have been (a) received and (b) accepted for financial assistance to purchase wheelchairs through Access to Work (i) in total and (ii) broken down by Employment Service district in each of the last five years; [43935]

  (4) what proportion of the financial assistance to purchase wheelchairs through Access to Work during the past five years has been spent on (a) indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and (b) manual wheelchairs; [43937]

  (5) what was the average cost of (a) all wheelchairs, (b) manual wheelchairs and (c) indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs obtained through Access to Work in each of the last five years. [43938]

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

  Letter from Peter Collis to Mr. John Healey, dated 2 June 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis, the Chief Executive of the Employment Service, to reply to your questions about applications for Access to Work, and the financial assistance given towards the purchase of wheelchairs through the programme during the last five years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis. I am replying in his absence.
  I must start by saying that we do not monitor separately the number of applications for wheelchairs or their cost. We do, of course, note details of equipment provided in individual case files but the Employment Service does not analyse information to the level of detail you requested. However, we can supply the following related information.
  The Employment Service does monitor regularly the receipt, processing and outcomes of all applications for Access to Work. In addition, the Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams have standards to meet when dealing with applications. For all
  366
  applications for the 12 months ending in March, 93% of applicants had a decision on help within the standard of 12 working days, and 83% received at least initial help within 60 working days.
  The Employment Service analyses cost information by broad categories. Wheelchairs come within the Special Aids and Equipment category but their cost cannot be separately identified. Expenditure on Special Aids and Equipment is not broken down below regional level and is available only for the last four years. This is since the introduction of Access to Work in June 1994. Table 1 below offers a regional breakdown.
  Table 2 sets out the total number of people benefiting nationally over the past five years under Access to Work (and the previous Special Schemes), which include people given help with wheelchairs. We do not identify applications for wheelchairs separately but we have details, for the past two years, of the number of people making applications for Special Aids and Equipment. Again, we have a regional, but not a district, breakdown.
  I am sorry I have not been able to answer your questions more fully. However, if you would like to discuss this further, you may care to contact Tom Gawn from the Disability Services Division, with policy responsibility for Access to Work. He can be contacted at Rockingham House, 123 West Street, Sheffield, S1 4ER or on 0114 259 6960.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Table 1: Cost of special aids and equipment by region: 1994–95 to 1997–98

  £ million

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  East Midlands

  1.1

  1.1

  0.6

  0.4

  London and South East

  3.2

  4.2

  2.0

  2.0

  North West

  1.2

  1.3

  0.7

  0.8

  Northern

  0.6

  0.7

  0.3

  0.3

  Scotland

  0.8

  1.0

  0.3

  0.5

  South West

  0.9

  1.2

  0.6

  0.6

  Wales

  0.5

  0.5

  0.2

  0.3

  West Midlands

  1.2

  1.2

  0.5

  0.7

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  1.2

  1.2

  0.4

  0.6

  Total (rounded)

  10.7

  12.5

  5.5

  6.2

  Table 2: Number of people helped through Access to Work 1993–94 to 1997–98; number of people receiving special aids and equipment (SAE) by region: 1996–97 and 1997–98

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  East Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  389

  447

  London and South East

  —

  —

  —

  1,443

  2,421

  North West

  —

  —

  —

  759

  1,098

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  252

  498

  Scotland

  —

  —

  —

  350

  429

  South West

  —

  —

  —

  450

  611

  Wales

  —

  —

  —

  235

  298

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  551

  828

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  —

  —

  —

  618

  753

  Total SAE

  —

  —

  —

  5,047

  7,383

  All applications

  8,172

  10,394

  13,577

  10,119

  12,825

  Learning Support Assistants
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce a national training framework for learning-support assistants. [43884]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Green Paper, "Excellence for all children: meeting special educational needs", sought views on the action we might take to improve the training of learning support assistants, including the option of a
  367
  national training framework. In the light of the responses to the Green Paper, we expect to publish proposals on this and other issues shortly after the Summer recess.

  School Exclusions (Warrington)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children at(a) primary and (b) secondary level in Warrington, North constituency were excluded from school in each of the past five years. [44208]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on the number of pupils permanently excluded from schools in the Warrington, North constituency is shown in the table. Information on permanent exclusions was not collected prior to 1994/95. The Department does not currently collect information on fixed period exclusions:

  Permanent exclusions from maintained schools
  in the Warrington North constituency

  Type of school

  1994/95

  1995/96

  Primary

  3

  4

  Secondary

  17

  12

  Special—

  0

  0

  Total

  20

  16

  Exclusions data for 1996/97 are currently being collated and will be published later this year.

  Job Vacancies (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many job vacancies were notified to the Chelmsford jobcentre in each of the last six months. [44175]
  368
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 4 June 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question in which you asked for information about the number of job vacancies notified to Chelmsford Jobcentre in each of the last six months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  Vacancies notified to the Jobcentre were as follows:

  November 1997: 782

  December 1997: 584

  January 1998: 248

  February 1998: 591

  March 1998: 549

  April 1998: 483

  I hope this is helpful.

  Autism
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of school age in West Sussex are currently statemented on account of problems relating to autism. [43283]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The national figures which the Department collects on the number of children with special educational needs are not disaggregated by type of special need; it is for West Sussex—as for other individual local education authorities—to identify children with autism and other types of special educational needs in their areas and to make appropriate provision. West Sussex LEA estimates that approximately 150 children with autism, including Asperger's Syndrome, currently have statements in the county. There may be other children with autistic spectrum disorders whose statements relate primarily to other types of special education needs.

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