Written Answers of 8 June 1998

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Trust Office
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines are followed by the Public Trust Office on consulting relatives when a transfer of receivership is proposed. [43673]

  Mr. Hoon
  The guidelines followed by the Public Trust Office to consult relatives when a transfer of receivership is proposed are set out in the Court of Protection Rules 1994 at rule 27.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many clients under the supervision of the Public Trust Office have suffered financial losses under its supervision in each year since 1990. [43671]

  Mr. Hoon
  No client under the supervision of the Public Trust Office has suffered a financial loss since 1990. Any loss that has occurred as a result of a mistake by the Public Trust Office is made good.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of clients under the supervision of the Public Trust Office in each year since 1990. [43672]

  Mr. Hoon
  It is only from the 1993/94 financial year that caseload figures in the Public Trust Office have been monitored on the same basis year on year. Although figures prior to 1993/94 exist, they have not been formulated in the same manner as those available from that date. On this basis, I am able to provide the figures from 1993/94 which include those cases in the Trust and Funds Sector of the Public Trust Office, as well as the Mental Health Sector caseload:

  1993–94—261,603;

  1994–95—262,409;

  1995–96—284,619;

  1996–97—297,195;

  1997–98—302,506.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list how many times a complaint against the Public Trust Office has been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner; and how many were upheld, for each year since 1990. [43685]

  Mr. Hoon
  No separate records are available before 1995 as, prior to the Public Trust Office being established as an executive agency on 1 July 1994, complaints referred to the parliamentary Commissioner were not separately recorded. Since 1995, one formal complaint has been received from the Parliamentary Commissioner 412
  which he is currently investigating and he has made preliminary inquiries into three complaints which were taken no further.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints were received by(a) the Public Trust Office and (b) his Department in respect of the operation of the Public Trust Office in each year since 1990. [43674]

  Mr. Hoon
  I am able to supply the figures for each financial year from 1990–91. However, it should be noted that the introduction of Charter Standards by the Public Trust Office, to coincide with the launch of the Office as an executive agency on 1 July 1994, together with the recommendations made by the Citizen's Charter Complaints Task Force, meant that, from 1994–95, complaints were monitored in a more rigorous and consistent fashion across the Office.

  The figures for each year from 1990–91, showing the number of complaints received by the Public Trust Office, and the number of complaints received by the Lord Chancellor's Department in respect of the operation of the Public Trust Office, respectively are as follows:

  1990–91: 64 and none;

  1991–92: 101 and none;

  1992–93: 115 and none;

  1993–94: 136 and 13;

  1994–95: 169 and 8;

  1995–96: 331 and 21;

  1996–97: 443 and 33;

  1997–98: 512 and 20.

  Magistrates Court, Worcester
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress is being made on the building of a new magistrates court in Worcester. [43724]

  Mr. Hoon
  A new magistrates court for Worcester is being procured though the Private Finance Initiative. Final offers have been submitted by two bidders. It is hoped that a preferred bidder will be announced shortly with the contract finalised later this year. The new accommodation is expected to be available in 2001.

  Legal Aid
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of legal aid cases are solely for parental access. [43888]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Legal Aid Board is unable to provide the information in the format requested. Legal aid cases relating solely to parental access are not separately recorded by the Board. Such cases could be covered by a certificate issued in response to applications for residence and contact orders; or by combined certificates including injunctions ancillary relief, residence and contact orders. Applications for residence and contact orders are not solely covered by civil legal aid. Work relating to such orders could also be included under Legal Advice and Assistance (Green Form Scheme) and ABWOR.
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  The table sets out the figures available for certificates issued and ABWOR bills paid which related specifically to residence and contact orders, as reported in the Board's annual report (Tables Civil 6, Civil 6A and Civil 7 refer).

  Proceedings

  Total civil legal aid certificates issued 1996/97

  Certificate issued for residence and contact orders

  Percentages of all certificates issued which relate to residence and contact

  Matrimonial proceedings

  91,911

  12,099

  13.16

  Private Law proceedings1

  69,889

  58,072

  83.09

  Non-matrimonial proceedings

  162,752

  n/a

  n/a

  Public Law proceedings1

  21,434

  n/a

  n/a

  Total certificates

  345,986

  70,171

  20.28

  ABWOR bills paid

  7,703

  6,272

  81.42

  1 Applications for the various different orders available under the Children Act 1989 can be made under either Public or Private law proceedings. Application for residence and contact orders made under the Children Act 1989 are specifically included under Private law proceedings above.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the training of administrators on the Legal Aid Board. [43889]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Legal Aid Board is an independent body and I do not interfere in the day-to-day running of the organisation. There are two executive members of the Legal Aid Board who are administrators, the Chief Executive and the Director of Resources and Supplier Development. Their training is monitored by the Board's Top Management and Personnel Committee. The Committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Board and oversees the performance of all senior executives and is responsible for ensuring that they are adequately trained. We have no plans to review arrangements.

  Adult Protective Legislation
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to introduce legislation to reform(a) adult protective legislation and (b) enduring power of attorney. [43959]

  Mr. Hoon
  Consultation on the Green Paper "Who Decides—Making Decisions on Behalf of Mentally Incapacitated Adults" has not closed. Well over 3,000 responses have been received and are being collated for analysis by an interdepartmental working group of officials. No decision has yet been made as to a timetable for taking matters forward if it is decided to proceed to legislation in these areas.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Nuclear Deterrence
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 218, what factors underlie the delay in replying to the letter from the hon. Member for New Forest, East. [43624]

  Mr. Prescott
  I responded to the points raised in the letter in my answer of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 218, and I now consider the matter closed.
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  However, these figures do not include combined civil legal aid certificates or any green form bills paid, as neither are separately recognised.

  Bicycle Lanes (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of cycle lanes there are currently within the Greater London area. [44120]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Taking together the London Cycle Network, the Thames Cycle Route, the Priority (Red Routes) programme, and other measures on London's trunk roads, approximately 225 miles of cycle lanes had been introduced by March 1998. Highway authorities have also provided cycle lanes on local roads, outside of the London Cycle Network and the Red Routes, but mileage figures are not held centrally.

  Nuclear Materials (Transportation)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received from his French counterpart, concerning her decision to halt movement of spent irradiated nuclear fuel transport flasks on 6 May; how many flasks of this type have been transported into the United Kingdom; and if he will place the safety of spent fuel transportation on the Agenda for the next European Environment and Transport Council meetings. [44108]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand that consignments of irradiated nuclear fuel from power stations are currently suspended in both France and Germany following revelations of high levels of non-fixed radioactive contamination arising during shipments to the reprocessing facility at La Hague. I am not aware of any shipments from European power stations to Sellafield revealing similarly high levels of contamination in the United Kingdom. I further understand that my counterparts in France and Germany have set up a working group of the representatives of their safety authorities, charged to organise the bilateral co-operation of the specialists in the disciplines concerned. My officials have offered to participate in this working group. I believe it would be appropriate to await the findings and recommendations of this working group before consideration is given to putting this item on to the Agenda for the European Environment and Transport Council meeting.

  New Parishes
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications for the creation of new parishes under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 his Department has received; what is the average time taken to determine the applications; and what were the outcomes of such determinations. [44391]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Since 1 May 1997, my right hon. Friend has received seven requests for new parishes in the form of petitions and 13 from district councils following parish reviews. To date, he has decided that three new parishes should be created; he has yet to decide on the other requests.

  The three parishes for East Cowes, Beverley and Cottingham were all requested by petition and took, on average, around six months from receipt of paperwork to the decision being made.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many days during May the Government's ozone health safety guideline in atmospheric air was breached in High Peak; and if he will make a statement. [44376]

  Angela Eagle
  My Department measures air quality at the Ladybower site in Derbyshire.

  There were six days during May when the National Air Quality standard for ozone (50 parts per billion (ppb) as an 8-hour running mean) was exceeded at Ladybower. The levels on these days reached the "moderate" air pollution band. There were no days during May when air pollution reached "high" (greater than 90ppb as an hourly mean). The highest hourly ozone concentration recorded during May at Ladybower was 69ppb.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set and measures he has put in place to reduce atmospheric ozone to below the Government's ozone health safety limit. [44377]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government have adopted a provisional objective for ozone of 50 parts per billion as a running 8-hour mean, to be achieved at the 97th percentile level, i.e. on all but 10 days per year assuming perfect operation of the monitoring station with 100 per cent. data capture throughout the year, by 2005.

  Ozone is a secondary pollutant found in the atmosphere from the reaction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of sunlight. It is a transboundary pollutant in that precursors emitted in one country can contribute to ozone formation in others. Action to tackle ozone formation needs, therefore, to be taken in a coherent fashion at a European scale in order to optimise the cost effectiveness of abatement measures.

  The United Kingdom has implemented many measures aimed at reducing ozone precursor emissions. These include ratification of the UNECE-CLRTAP (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe-Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution) Protocol to reduce emissions of VOCs by 30 per cent. relative to 1988, ratification of a UNECE-CLRTAP Protocol to
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  stabilise emissions of nitrogen oxides at 1987 levels, implementation of several European Community Directives to reduce exhaust emissions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides from road vehicles, implementation of an EC Directive to reduce emissions of VOCs from the storage and distribution of petrol and implementation of the European Community Directive limiting the emissions from Large Combustion Plant.

  In addition, the Government are currently actively participating in discussions on further European measures to reduce emissions of VOCs from the use of solvents and further measures to reduce emissions from road vehicles planned for the years 2000 and 2005. Furthermore, and due to the international nature of ozone formation, the Government are actively participating in discussions to develop a further UNECE-CLRTAP protocol and a European Community Strategy to address ozone.

  Highways Maintenance (Cumbria)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the Highways Maintenance Budget for Cumbria for each of the last 10 years. [44859]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Figures for Cumbria County
  Council's net current expenditure on highways maintenance are only available for the last eight years, as listed.

  Year

  £000

  1990–91

  23,460

  1991–92

  24,031

  1992–93

  24,358

  1993–94

  22,607

  1994–95

  23,558

  1995–96

  22,066

  1996–97

  23,974

  1997–98

  122,365

  1 Provisional outturn

  The budget estimate for 1998–99 is £22,781,000.

  Disabled Facility Grants
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the expenditure in 1996–97 and 1997–98 on disabled facilities grants; how many such grants were awarded in each of these years; and what was the average cost of a disabled facilities grant in each year. [44664]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In 1996–97, more than 22,000 mandatory and discretionary disabled facilities grants were given at a cost of over £90 million in public expenditure. The average grant was just over £4,100. No figures are yet available for 1997–98.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 June 1998,Official Report, column 17, concerning disabled facility grants, if he will set out the timetable for developing policy; and what plans he has to consult on the matter. [44618]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We will be considering policy on disabled facilities grants during the forthcoming year. We have no current plans to consult formally.

  Prison Planning Inquiry, Morecambe
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what questions were asked in the telephone survey mentioned in the planning inspector's report carried out on holidaymakers to Middleton Sands, Morecambe, relating to the proposed prison there; if he will provide a breakdown of the results; and if he will make a statement. [44395]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 5 June 1998]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Duty Free
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the increase in the costs of transporting freight on the cross-Channel ferries that will arise from the abolition of the duty-free trade and consequent increase in ticket prices. [44810]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 May 1998,Official Report, columns 117–18.

  National Air Quality Strategy
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he will take of the findings of the Atmospheric Particles Expert Group on the extent of pollution from coal-fired and oil-fired power stations in his review of the National Air Quality Strategy. [44639]

  Angela Eagle
  We will be considering information from a variety of experts, including the Airborne Particles Expert Group, during the process of the review of the National Air Quality Strategy. The report of the Airborne Particles Expert Group has yet to be published. A draft of the report will be circulated for peer review in the summer. The final report is due to be published towards the end of this year.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research has been carried out into the effects of genetically modified crops planted in England on(a) surrounding areas and (b) those who consume the food and into the risks of cross-fertilisation with non-genetically modified crops planted nearby. [44581]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions funds a research programme to support the risk assessment of proposed releases of genetically modified organisms into the environment. Copies of all our published research reports have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Six completed reports are awaiting publication and seven projects are currently under way. Our assessment of the likely effects of the GMOs always includes the surrounding area. This would include, for example, gene transfer to wild relatives and other crops, effects on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and the safety of those living in the vicinity of the release. Therefore, all our research projects contribute to our assessment of applications for consent in this respect.
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  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are responsible for safety of GMOs and products derived from GMOs which may be consumed as food and animal feed. MAFF are currently funding 25 research projects which address specific risk assessment issues with respect to use for food. Completed reports are publicly available in the MAFF library.

  With respect to cross fertilisation, the risk assessment for applications for consent to release GMOs always considers firstly, the likelihood of gene transfer occurring and secondly, the consequences of gene transfer for human health or the environment. In coming to a view on gene transfer, we also take into account internationally agreed standards for seed purity which have been developed over years of plant breeding experience. These set out required isolation distances to achieve the required level of seed purity for seed certification.

  A number of research projects have been carried out by both my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to investigate transgene movement.

  Gene flow in natural populations of Brassica and Beta (DETR)

  Genetically Modified crops and their wild relatives (DETR)

  Investigation of feral oilseed rape populations (DETR—to be published shortly)

  Local and regional scale movement of an oilseed rape transgene (MAFF);

  Risk assessment of transgene movement (MAFF).

  In addition to this research, my Department has commissioned monitoring of releases of genetically modified oilseed rape being planted for seed production under a marketing consent. This includes field sampling and testing for evidence of gene transfer. A report of the first three years' work will be published in due course.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many acres in England have been given over to genetically modified crops; and if he will make a statement as to the acreage of the different crops involved. [44580]

  Angela Eagle
  Currently, there are 64 experimental trials of genetically modified crops in progress covering a total of approximately 841 acres. Of these, one site is 494 acres, with the remainder consisting of small size plots with an average area of less than 2 acres. In addition to the sites for experimental releases, there is one oilseed rape trial for commercial seed production covering 17.5 acres.

  The majority of the experimental trials are for oilseed rape (27), sugar beet (16), and potatoes (14), although GM wheat (3), maize (2), chicory (1) and barley (1) are also grown.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be done with genetically modified crops sown in Staverton and under the control of his Department once they have been harvested. [44579]

  Angela Eagle
  The genetically modified maize crop sown at Staverton has animal feed safety clearance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and it is normal practice for such material to be used as animal fodder after harvest. In addition, some of the crop may be used for analysis of seed production and yield, as it forms part of the National List Trials for maize.

  Kent County Council
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the salary bill for Kent County Council for the years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99 anticipated. [44211]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Kent County Council have reported employee expenses in 1995–96 and 1996–97 as £539 million and £558 million respectively. Employee expenses are not separately identified within the available data on 1997–98 provisional outturn and 1998–99 budgeted expenditure.

  The above figures for employee expenses include indirect expenditures such as relocation and training expenses as well as the direct salary bill.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff were employed by Kent County Council in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99. [44210]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The available information refers to the position at June each year, so data for 1998 are not yet available. The figures for earlier years are as follows:

  Staff employed by Kent County Council at June of each year

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total staff

  (a) 1995

  19,300

  21,000

  40,300

  (b) 1996

  19,000

  21,100

  40,100

  (c) 1997

  18,700

  20,200

  38,900

  Source:

  Joint staffing watch for England

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff left the employ of Kent County Council in 1997–98 to join the staff at the Medway Unitary Authority. [44212]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I understand from Kent County Council that 5,873 staff transferred from their employment to that of the Medway Unitary Authority in 1997–98.

  Waste Strategy
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in developing a new waste strategy for England and Wales. [45124]

  Mr. Meacher
  I promised earlier this year that I would begin the process of preparing a new national waste strategy with a wide ranging public consultation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I will be launching tomorrow, at the Institute of Waste Management Centenary Conference in Torbay, a consultation paper: "Less Waste: More Value", which sets out the key principles underlying our approach, and seeks views on how to improve the way our society deals with its waste.

  The consultation exercise will last through the Summer. We will be looking for views from a wide range of people and organisations, and want to provoke a wide debate on the options open to us and the best way to take waste management into the twenty-first century. The
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  consultation period will end on 25 September, after which we will carefully study all the views presented to us and start drafting the new waste strategy.

  Copies will be sent to hon. Members, and will also be available tomorrow morning in the Library of the House.

  Derbyshire County Council
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his decision on the final cap for Derbyshire County Council; and if he will make a statement. [45125]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have today laid before the House a draft Order, under section 57 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, setting out our decision on the final cap for Derbyshire County Council.

  We have considered very carefully all the available relevant information, including the case made by the Council in support of a higher cap, before taking our decision. We have decided to increase the cap proposed for Derbyshire, by £2.9 million.

  Derbyshire's cap is, in our view, reasonable, appropriate and achievable in all the circumstances of the County Council. This decision will reduce public expenditure and the burden on council taxpayers in the County by £1 million in 1998–99. This will result in a council tax reduction (at Band D) of around £4.31.

  Paper Pulp Disposal
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many breaches of regulations in respect of the disposal of paper pulp on agricultural land there have been in the last three years; and what action was taken against those responsible. [43640]

  Angela Eagle
  [pursuant to her reply, 1 June 1998, c. 28]: Under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is unlawful to deposit, recover or dispose of controlled waste without a waste management licence, contrary to the conditions of a licence or in a way which causes pollution of the environment or harm to human health. Where someone purports to be carrying out an activity which is exempt from waste management licensing but fails to comply with the terms of the exemption, that person may be prosecuted under section 33 of the 1990 Act for carrying out a licensable activity without a licence. The Environment Agency is responsible for the enforcement of these provisions in England and Wales.

  Most landspreading of waste is carried out under the terms of the exemption from waste management licensing in paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. I understand that the Environment Agency is developing a central prosecution database. However, I am advised that, at present, the Agency does not maintain a central record of occasions or sites on which waste may have been landspread in a manner which is inconsistent with the terms of the exemption in the 1994 Regulations.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Territorial Army headquarters Ministers have visited since 1 May 1997. [43644]

  Dr. Reid
  No visits have yet been made to Territorial Army Headquarters by any Ministers in my Department. Ministers have, however, met both senior TA officers and representatives of the TVRAs on a number of occasions since 1 May 1997.

  Aircraft
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) Tornado, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Harrier, (d) Jaguar, (e) Hawk, (f) Nimrod, (g) Sentry, (h) TriStar, (i) Puma, (j) Sea King and (k) Chinook were(i) allocated to frontline RAF units, (ii) fully serviceable, (iii) undergoing major maintenance and (iv) held as in use reserve on 1 June. [44130]

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

  C-17 Aircraft
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the procurement of C-17; [44467]

  (2) how many companies are involved in the production of C-17s; and what guidelines are being used for the purchase of C-17. [44468]

  Mr. Spellar
  Our future air transport requirement is being scrutinised closely in the Strategic Defence Review and no decisions have yet been taken. Any future airlift procurement will be subject to normal procurement rules. In reply to the specific question on C-17, the aircraft is produced by the Boeing Company.

  Future Large Aircraft
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the British Government's commitment to the Future Large Aircraft. [44469]

  Mr. Spellar
  A provisional request for proposals has been issued to Airbus, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Alenia and FLABEL pending the formation of Airbus Military Company, AMC. We are still discussing with our partners when Requests for Proposals will be issued to potential suppliers under competitive arrangements. A procurement decision will be made in the light of the conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review and of the responses to the Request for Proposals.

  Defence Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what rate commercial exploitation levies are normally levied against the export of defence equipment whose development has been funded by his Department. [44511]

  Mr. Spellar
  Commercial Exploitation Levy rates are negotiated case by case, either on the basis of fixed percentage rates according to the nature of the equipment, or through profit sharing schemes. Details of levy 422
  arrangements for individual equipments are commercially confidential, as are the amounts of levy received in respect of specific sales.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost to public funds for each year since 1990 incurred by branches of his Department other than DESO in the promotion of British defence exports; [44435]

  (2) what was the cost to his Department of the attendance of (a) Ministers and (b) officials at defence and aerospace shows and trade fairs in each of the last eight years; what other costs were incurred in each year; and which bodies have funded these costs. [44437]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of the commercial exploitation levies paid by Vickers to the Government as a result of each of the contracts from the Government of Oman for the export of Challenger II tanks; and what percentage of the contract this represents. [44509]

  Mr. Spellar
  Disclosure of this information would harm the competitive position of contractors and I am therefore withholding it under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Military Assistance Fund
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the Defence Military Assistance Fund; when it was set up; and what was its budget in the last year. [44434]

  Dr. Reid
  The Defence Military Assistance Fund is a cash fund which is available to subsidise the cost of overseas military assistance in support of defence objectives, including training, loan service personnel and other support activities. It was introduced on 1 April 1996 to replace the Defence Policy Fund and the Defence Sales Fund. The budget allocated for the Defence Military Assistance Fund last year was £10.506 million.

  Ex-Service Men (Mental Welfare)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has provided in financial assistance to the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) in each of the last five years. [44386]

  Dr. Reid
  In keeping with the practice that central Government do not provide funding in support of charities' core activities, the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) does not receive any financial support from the Ministry of Defence and is responsible for raising its own funding.

  Service Families Quarters (Kingston)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has made for the disposal of The Keep in Kingston; and if he will make a statement. [44563]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department has no plans to dispose of Service Families Quarters at The Keep in Kingston.

  Joint Command and Staff Training
  Mr. Alan Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on joint command and staff training matters. [45105]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The establishment of the Joint Services' Command and Staff College at its interim site at Bracknell has highlighted the considerable benefits to be had from a joint approach to command and staff training within a multinational environment. Opportunities for the common understanding of warfare and Defence as a whole are maximised. Specially selected officers have their command, analytical and communication skills tested against challenging scenarios ranging from Peace Support Operations to modern warfare. As part of our commitment to joint training, my Department has signed a PFI contract with Defence Management (Watchfield) Ltd. to build a new Joint College at Shrivenham (Watchfield) and to provide a range of facility management services. The new College is scheduled to open in September 2000.

  Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition. [45141]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following consultations with the UK Defence Trade Associations, we propose to change the future arrangements for the exhibition of naval and land systems equipment. In future, the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition will be replaced by an international defence exhibition, run by a professional exhibition company, in a partnership to be formed with the Trade Associations. Subject to the conclusion of satisfactory arrangements, including a decision on the venue, the first exhibition will be held in September 1999. The Ministry of Defence will ensure that the exhibition is run fully in line with Government policy on defence exports and MOD officials will be closely involved to ensure that comprehensive security and emergency arrangements are in place. The move to an international format reflects the wide involvement of UK industry in collaborative projects and joint ventures and the Government's encouragement of these trends.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to assist in the global elimination of anti-personnel land mines. [45140]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I have on a number of occasions underlined my commitment to doing as much as possible to achieve this objective. My hon. Friend will recall my letter of 27 January, in which I set out our plans to destroy all of the Army's operational stockpiles of anti-personnel land mines by 1 January 2000—well ahead of the deadline set by the Ottawa Convention. I am delighted to say that plans have now also been put in place to destroy the HB 876 anti-personnel submunition of the RAF's JP233 Airfield Denial Weapon by the same date.

  The MOD is also heavily involved in addressing the problem of the millions of mines that are the legacy of devastating conflicts around the world. We have made good progress in implementing the five point action plan on humanitarian demining I announced in October last year—in particular, the Mine Information and Training
  424
  Centre at Minley is now fully operational—and we continue to look for ways to do more; the recent gifting of 10 demining tractors to the HALO Trust is one example of our commitment in this area.

  Aircraft Noise Measurement Trial (Tewkesbury)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the results of the noise measurement trial relating to low-flying aircraft in the Tewkesbury area; and if he will make a statement. [44403]

  Mr. Spellar
  A paper on the results of the noise monitoring trial is in preparation. It is our intention that this paper will be submitted for consideration for critical peer review at an international noise conference due to take place in New Zealand later this year. I will arrange for copies to be sent to the hon. Member, and placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

PRIME MINISTER

  Rebuttal Officers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister on what dates each Government and agency rebuttal officer was thus designated. [43552]

  The Prime Minister
  The early and effective response to criticism of Government policy has always been an important and non-political duty of all departmental and agency press officers under all administrations. Titles of officers is a matter for Departments and agencies and is not centrally determined.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health said in his reply to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 11 May 1998, Official Report, column 40, one officer in his Departments has been designated a rebuttal officer.

  Evacuees Reunion Association
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to promote the 1999 anniversary celebrations of the Evacuees Reunion Association. [44591]

  The Prime Minister
  The Evacuees Reunion Association (ERA) contacted me last year seeking Government support for their proposal to mark the 60th anniversary of wartime evacuation with a church service and rally in central London. The Home Office, which has responsibility for remaining civilian wartime matters, has taken a lead on this issue and will be seconding an official to provide help and guidance with the preparations.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Prime Minister which(a) Ministers in HM Government and (b) parliamentary private secretaries have spoken to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on matters relating to the Committee's First Special report of Session 1997–98 (HC 760) Sierra Leone: Exchange of Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary. [44321]
  425
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 June 1998]: I would expect Ministers and parliamentary private secretaries to have spoken both formally and informally to members of the Foreign Affairs Committee from all parties over the last few weeks on issues relating to Sierra Leone. This is part of the normal interface between Select Committees and Government.

  Child Pornography
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made by the G8 countries in preventing the international production and distribution of child pornography, with particular reference to the Internet; if this matter was considered at the Birmingham Summit; and if he will make a statement. [43951]

  The Prime Minister
  At our summit in Birmingham last month, we agreed to implement rapidly the Principles and 10-point Action Plan against high-tech crime adopted by our Justice and Interior Ministers in Washington last December. Our governments are engaged in co-ordinated discussions with relevant industries in our countries, including Internet Service Providers, to develop better arrangements for obtaining electronic evidence of crimes and making it available to investigators and prosecutors in other jurisdictions. This will help us to combat a wide range of crimes including abuse of the Internet for the distribution of child pornography.

  The UK has an absolute prohibition on the production, circulation and possession of child pornography and these stringent laws equally apply to the Internet.

  The Government support the work of the Internet Watch Foundation which was established in September 1996 by Internet Service Providers primarily in response to growing concern about child pornography on the Internet. The Foundation passes all child pornography reports to the National Criminal Intelligence Service who route these to the relevant enforcement agency of the country concerned when the material appears to have originated outside the UK.

  The UK Government are committed to tackling the problem of child pornography and will continue to support initiatives to curb this gross misuse of our computer networks.

  Mr. Stephen Kock
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister what sums of money were paid(a) by Her Majesty's Government and (b) by those acting on their behalf in salary and expenses to Mr. Stephen Kock between 1985 and 1992. [44809]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

WALES

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the costs were in each year since 1990 of administering European Structural Fund programmes in Wales. [43844]
  426
  Mr. Hain
  The separately identifiable administrative costs to the Welsh Office from 1992–93 onwards are set out in the following table. Information on a comparable basis is not readily available for earlier years.

  £

  Financial year

  Expenditure

  1992–93

  501,457

  1993–94

  588,834

  1994–95

  623,738

  1995–96

  601,340

  1996–97

  706,973

  1997–98

  590,200

  The Welsh European Programme Executive Ltd. was incorporated on 15 October 1996. The financial transactions of the company commenced on 1 January 1997. Responsibility for most Structural Funds programme management was delegated to the company by the Welsh Office from 1 July 1997.

  The administration costs for the company from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997 amounted to £854,384. These costs are not directly comparable to those given for the Welsh Office as they include setting-up costs and a range of overheads not included in the Welsh Office figures.

  European Affairs Forum
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he has made in establishing a Welsh Forum on European Affairs; if he will list the names of those who attended the meeting of the preparatory group on 7 May; and if he will make a statement. [44062]

  Mr. Hain
  No such meeting was held on that date. The future relationship between Wales and Europe is, however, under review by Ministers.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Historic Properties
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to provide new resources to repair historic properties; and if he will make a statement on the recent English Heritage report on neglected historic properties. [44005]

  Mr. Banks
  The majority of Government funding for the repair of historic properties is channelled through English Heritage (EH), which will receive £102.0 million in funding this year from my Department. EH plans to offer £34.5 million in conservation grants for 1998–99. This includes £2 million for a new fast track grants scheme for repairs needed to limit further deterioration, and a further £5.3 million for grants schemes under its new Buildings at Risk initiative. The Government welcome EH's Register of Buildings at Risk, which highlights the most important historic buildings in need of repair. Combined with the new grants scheme, it marks the start of a new strategy to encourage best practice in the preservation of historic buildings, in accordance with the Government's planning and policy guidance note 15—"planning and the historic environment".

  Bradenstoke Priory Barn
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received from the villagers of Bradenstoke in Wiltshire concerning their attempt to repatriate the mediaeval barn of Bradenstoke Priory from California; and if he will make a statement; [44331]

  (2) what applications the National Lottery has received from the villagers of Bradenstoke concerning the mediaeval barn of Bradenstoke Priory. [44330]

  Mr. Banks
  My Department has received no representations concerning the barn, although I am aware of the proposal to restore it to its original site. The Government have no locus to intervene in the matter. I understand that no application for Lottery funding in respect of the barn has so far been made. The Heritage Lottery Fund would in principle be prepared to consider such an application. Its success would depend upon the Trustees' assessment of the project against their normal funding criteria, which centre on heritage merit and benefit to the public.

SCOTLAND

  Hunts
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if hunts which are licensed to hunt on Forestry Commission land have to follow the same rules as members of the public with respect to control of dogs and use of authorised routes only. [43747]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its Chief Executive, Dr. Bob McIntosh, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Bob McIntosh to Jackie Ballard, dated 8 June 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Scotland has asked me to reply to your question regarding the licensing of hunts on Forestry Commission land and whether hunts have to follow the same rules as members of the public with respect to the control of dogs and use of authorised routes only.
  As you will be aware, the Forestry Commission welcomes members of the public to its estate through a policy of freedom of access on foot where there are no legal or other restrictions. To help manage this freedom of access the Forestry Commission's Byelaws 1982 apply to all land managed by the Forestry Commission to which access is provided.
  The control of dogs is specifically mentioned in the Byelaws. Under Byelaw 5 (xiii) it is an offence for a person to permit any animal in his charge to be out of control, while Byelaw 5 (xiv) makes it an offence for a person to permit any dog for which he is responsible to disturb, worry or chase any bird or animal or, on being requested by an officer of the Commissioners, fail to keep the dog on a leash.
  Fox hunting is an activity which is controlled by licence on the Forestry Commission estate, the licences restricting the areas where hunting can take place and the activities which can be carried out.
  The licences which are used to authorise hunting all contain enforceable conditions, including one requiring compliance with the Forestry Commission byelaws, except as expressly authorised by the licence. I would like to assure you that the conditions are designed to ensure that hounds and terriers are kept under control, and it is the Forestry Commission's intention to tighten these conditions further in the near future.
  428
  At present, the licences include conditions which:
  Designate the specific areas of land over which the Hunt may operate
  Provide specific instructions for Masters of Foxhounds on the use of terriers
  Require Masters of Foxhounds to ensure compliance with requirements relating to the protection and welfare of animals including the Protection of Badgers Act 1992
  Require Masters to call off hounds in the event of them starting to hunt deer
  Provide for monitoring of the activities of Hunts by Forest District Managers to ensure compliance with all the terms and conditions. In the event of non compliance, the licence may be revoked.
  I hope that this reassures you that the activities of fox hunts and in particular hounds and terriers associated with hunting are rigorously controlled.

  Higher Education Students
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a document for the guidance of students and higher and further education institutes setting out the new arrangements on fees, grants, loans, access funds and hardship loans; and if he will do so in consultation with students and institutions to ensure that it answers the questions frequently asked. [43874]

  Mr. Wilson
  In October 1997, we published the booklet "Scottish Higher Education for the 21st Century" which gave those proposing to enter higher education in 1998–99 and beyond a guide to the new arrangements. The arrangements have also been the subject of discussions with representatives of institutions.

  The annual information booklet, "Student Support in Scotland—A Guide for Undergraduate Students 1998–99", was subsequently published by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland at Easter and has been widely available to both students and institutions. The booklet is part of the student support applications package and it provides full details of the assistance available to meet tuition fees, together with the grant and loan entitlements of new students entering higher education in session 1998–99. It also explains how students can apply for hardship loans and assistance form the Access Funds.

  We will be publishing additional factsheets this month which set out in bullet format answers to the questions most frequently asked in relation to specific types of students.

  Further information will be published later in the year and we will be happy to consider suggestions about the content.

  Derelict and Contaminated Land
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on the acreage of(a) derelict and (b) contaminated land in each constituency in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [43332]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Information on derelict and contaminated land is collected for the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey by local authorities and is supplied to the Scottish Office who publish this in aggregated form. Further development of the survey would be required in consultation with the data

  429
  providers before analyses could be provided at Parliamentary Constituency level. While the information supplied to the Scottish Office provides a grid reference for each affected site, assembling and publication of the information by Parliamentary Constituency would require geographic coding of sites and additional preparatory work by local authorities. As with all official statistics, the Survey is kept under review.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places currently exist in Scotland for secure accommodation for children; how many there were in each year since 1988; how many children are waiting for secure accommodation to become available; and if he will make a statement. [44026]

  Mr. Galbraith
  There are currently 86 secure places for children in Scotland, proportionately twice the number of secure places available in England and Wales. We therefore have no plans to increase significantly the number of places. Information on the number of secure places has been collected since 1991 and is noted in the table.

  Year

  Number

  1991

  84

  1992

  84

  1993

  84

  1994

  84

  1995

  88

  1996

  88

  1997

  86

  1998

  86

  Details of the number of children waiting for a secure place are not held centrally, but peaks and troughs of demand arising from the combined needs of Courts and Children's Hearings mean that from time to time there will be situations where a secure place may not be available. A National Planning Group was set up in June last year to advise on the planning, management and development of secure accommodation and its alternatives. A report on its work to date is expected in the next few months.

  Housing Budget
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's budget was for council and other publicly financed housing (i) in cash terms and (ii) in real terms, in 1998–99 prices and (iii) as a percentage of Scottish GDP each year since 1978–79; and how much was spent per council tenant and publicly financed housing tenant in Scotland in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms, in 1998–99 prices, in each of these years. [43392]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: The available information is set out in the table. To provide meaningful information relating expenditure on housing to GDP, it would be necessary to include not only housing expenditure by the Scottish Office but also other public housing expenditure including, in particular, Housing Benefit which has increased substantially over the period.
  430
  Given that Scottish Homes' grant in aid is used largely to support housing development by housing associations and private developers, it is not meaningful to divide the totals in the table by the numbers of public sector tenants in each year.

  £ million

  Year

  Scottish Office housing budget in cash terms 1,2

  Column 2 at estimated 1998–99 prices

  1978–79

  542

  1,760

  1979–80

  691

  1,922

  1980–81

  738

  1,736

  1981–82

  667

  1,430

  1982–83

  616

  1,233

  1983–84

  535

  1,023

  1984–85

  516

  940

  1985–86

  430

  742

  1986–87

  457

  766

  1987–88

  504

  802

  1988–89

  434

  647

  1989–90

  459

  640

  1990–91

  539

  696

  1991–92

  604

  733

  1992–93

  536

  624

  1993–94

  541

  612

  1994–95

  552

  615

  1995–96

  497

  539

  1996–97

  449

  474

  1997–98

  531

  546

  1998–99

  508

  508

  1 The figures for the Scottish Office housing budget in columns 2 and 3 include Housing Support Grant, Housing Revenue Account capital allocations, Scottish Homes grant-in-aid (prior to 1989–90, expenditure on the Housing Corporation and Scottish Special Housing Association), allocations to the former New Town Development Corporations, and resources made available in 1997–98 and 1998–99 under the capital receipts initiative.

  2 The figures exclude, however, repairs and improvement grants made by local authorities to owner occupiers, expenditure on Housing Benefit, local authorities' capital receipts and local authority capital funded from current revenue. They also exclude private sector investment levered in as a result of Scottish Homes' grants to housing associations and private developers.

  Chief Police Officers
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which grades so entitled within the police service have refused to join the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. [44099]

  Mr. McLeish
  I am not aware of any eligible grades so entitled who have refused to join the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy of the full accounts of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland for the last year for which the accounts are available in the Library. [44095]

  Mr. McLeish
  The accounts of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are contained in the Association's annual report. I have arranged for a copy of the 1997–98 report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what dates his Department held consultative meetings on the Review of the Firearms Forms and Rules with (i) the British Medical Association and other professional medical representative bodies, (ii) the National Farmers Union (England and Wales), (iii) the National Farmers Union (Scotland), (iv) the Country Landowners Association (England and Wales), (v) the Country Landowners Association (Scotland), (vi) firearms clubs and associations, (vii) the British Deer Society, and the Deer Commission for Scotland and (viii) the British Sports Association for the Disabled; when he plans to conclude the review of firearms forms and rules; when he plans to implement the proposed new forms and rules; for what reasons the Home Office Note of the main issues raised at the meeting on 19 February to discuss the forms, was not sent to all consultees when requesting further written submissions; and when he intends to meet consultees to discuss these matters. [44100]

  Mr. McLeish
  These are matters for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary who has overall responsibility for policy in relation to firearms in Great Britain.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children received free school meals in each year since 1979; and what proportion of children this represents. [44205]

  Mr. Wilson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Education authority schools: number and percentage of pupils receiving free school meals in Scotland 1979–80 to 1996–97

  Year

  Number of pupils present on census day

  Number of pupils taking free school meals

  Percentage of pupils taking free school meals

  1979–80

  867,816

  122,618

  14.1

  1980–81

  867,786

  114,711

  13.2

  1981–82

  823,646

  124,547

  15.1

  1982–83

  814,506

  132,953

  16.3

  1983–84

  756,735

  129,335

  17.1

  1984–85

  752,073

  136,669

  18.2

  1985–86

  735,543

  136,627

  18.6

  1986–87

  729,869

  143,194

  19.6

  1987–88

  729,505

  145,219

  19.9

  1988–89

  713,034

  105,232

  14.8

  1989–90

  704,357

  99,303

  14.1

  1990–91

  698,554

  101,915

  14.6

  1991–92

  695,201

  107,186

  15.4

  1992–93

  687,081

  107,709

  15.7

  1993–94

  727,101

  121,479

  16.7

  1994–95

  729,089

  121,123

  16.6

  1995–96

  730,835

  121,318

  16.6

  1996–97

  731,096

  115,421

  15.8

  Insolvencies
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) individual and (b) corporate insolvencies there have been in each of the last eight years. [44202]
  432
  Mr. Wilson
  Statistics on insolvencies are produced by statisticians in the Department of Trade and Industry. The information requested is shown in the table:

  Insolvencies in Scotland

  Individuals

  Companies

  Sequestrations

  Total

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  1990

  4,350

  470

  251

  219

  1991

  7,665

  616

  304

  312

  1992

  10,845

  670

  310

  360

  1993

  6,828

  551

  286

  265

  1994

  2,182

  444

  242

  202

  1995

  2,188

  441

  252

  189

  1996

  2,503

  441

  266

  175

  1997

  2,502

  447

  254

  223

  Education Funding (Argyll and Bute)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of his Department's funding for education has been allocated to Argyll and Bute; for what purpose; and under what headings since May 1997. [44576]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department's funding for education extends principally to the further and higher education sectors, including grants to students. Such expenditure is not readily identifiable for particular geographical areas. Responsibility for school education in the Argyll and Bute area lies with Argyll and Bute Council and is funded through the general arrangements for local authority resources. Resources have also been allocated to Argyll and Bute Council since May 1997 for the following specified purposes related to school education:

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Early Intervention

  118,289

  107,450

  Alternatives to Exclusion

  23,663

  54,000

  School Security

  239,000

  239,000

  In-Service Training for SEN

  21,437

  17,278

  In-Service Training for Pre-school

  21,693

  —

  Pre-School capital

  70,008

  —

  New Deal for Schools

  202,000

  607,000

  School Rationalisation

  —

  440,000

  Spend to Save

  —

  341,000

  Main Pre-school Grant

  —

  758,480

  Additional Pre-school Grant

  —

  388,430

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Lisnevin Disturbances (Children)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) Catholic and (b) Protestant children were held in Lisnevin at the time of each disturbance there in 1994; how many of each group were prosecuted and convicted arising out of the disturbances; and how many were transferred to the Young Offenders Centre, Hydebank. [31626]
  433
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 27 February 1998]: There have been no serious disturbances in Lisnevin since 1994. In that year, two incidents occurred. The first in April and the second in November. The details requested are as follows:

  Protestant

  Catholic

  Total

  April 1994

  Population

  16

  16

  32

  Transferred to YOC

  6

  11

  17

  Prosecuted

  5

  8

  13

  Convicted

  4

  5

  9

  November 1994

  Population

  14

  27

  41

  Transferred to YOC

  1

  8

  9

  Prosecuted

  1

  6

  7

  Convicted

  1

  6

  7

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Non-custodial Sentences
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated annual cost of running(a) home detention orders and (b) community curfew orders backed by electronic tagging. [43876]

  Ms Quin
  The proposals in the Crime and Disorder Bill relating to Home Detention Curfew are estimated to cost up to £35 million per year, but are expected to avoid the need for estimated expenditure of up to £180 million a year on new prison places. Research conducted on the current trials of curfew orders estimated that a national roll-out of curfew orders could cost up to £22 million per year. However, this estimate does not take account of the effect of providing electronic monitoring for curfew orders simultaneously with Home Detention Curfew.

  The Home Office is currently letting contracts for electronic monitoring services under which contractors will be responsible for providing a range of applications of electronic monitoring. The final cost of electronic monitoring services will depend on the outcome of the procurement process.

  Ecstasy
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take in respect of the supply of ecstasy testing kits; and if he will make a statement. [44169]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Kits which test for the presence of ecstasy are, in our view, of doubtful value in reducing risks to users. Ecstasy itself is a drug with well-documented short-term risks; and there are worries about its long-term effects. Ecstasy tablets seized in this country which have been tested by the Forensic Science Service have not been contaminated by substances more harmful than ecstasy itself. While the situation will be kept under review, there is no present intention to introduce specific controls on the supply of these kits. But it should be noted that possession of a substance 434
  for the purpose of testing it would be an offence if the substance was a controlled drug or a preparation or product containing one.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the UK Drugs Tsar regarding the E-Z ecstasy testing kits. [44167]

  Mr. George Howarth
  My officials anticipated such representations and advised the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit on 28 May that it appeared that the E-Z Test kit did not contain any controlled substance which would require it to be licensed.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice his Department has given to the distributors of the E-Z Test ecstasy testing kits; [44170]

  (2) what communications his Department has received from the United Kingdom distributor of the E-Z Test ecstasy testing kits; and when they were received. [44168]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Department was asked by E-Z Limited on 23 March for its view of the ecstasy testing kit it proposed selling. In reply, officials explained that the Home Office did not endorse such products, and that the Government believed that testing could give a false sense of security and would not help to reduce the risks involved in taking the drug.

  Nightclubs (Illegal Drugs)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many night clubs have(a) had their licence revoked and (b) been refused a renewal of their licence by local authorities following receipt of a report from a chief police officer concerning problems with illegal drugs on their premises under recent legislation; [44161]

  (2) how many club licences have been (a) revoked and (b) refused a renewal as a result of conviction of the licensee for operating in breach of conditions as a result of problems with illegal drugs in each of the last five years; [44159]

  (3) how many night clubs have been the subject of reports from chief police officers concerning problems with illegal drugs on their premises in each of the last five years. [44160]

  Mr. George Howarth
  This information is not held centrally.

  In practice, many clubs are already doing a good deal to tackle drugs misuse in partnership with the police, local authorities and other agencies. For those not able or willing to do so, the Public Entertainments Licences (Drugs Misuse) Act 1997 was brought into effect on 1 May 1998. This gives local authorities new powers of immediate closure where there are serious problems with the supply or use of controlled drugs at premises controlled by a club licence holder.

  Drivers (Drugs)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Mr. Ennis)
  435
  on 21 May 1998, Official Report, column 454, regarding driving under the influence of drugs, what is the most recent estimate made by the Forensic Science Service regarding the prevalence of drug/driving cases; and what were estimates for each of the last 10 years. [44200]

  Mr. Michael
  The Forensic Science Service (FSS) has not made such an estimate. Figures are available for the last three years on cases submitted to the FSS by police forces. These are:

  Year

  Number

  1995–96

  1,218

  1996–97

  1,343

  1997–98

  1,700

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken for fingerprint analysis to be carried out by the Forensic Science Service at the request of the police. [44166]

  Mr. Michael
  It should be remembered that the Forensic Science Service (FSS) is involved in a minority of cases, where the technology is complex and technical/chemical enhancement of fingerprints is requested, not in the vast bulk of routine cases. The average turn-around time (taken over the year 1997–98) is 50 days. Where a result is needed urgently, the FSS endeavours to respond accordingly and fast-track responses are included in these overall figures.

  Greyhounds
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what factors underlie the priority which the Government have given to introducing legislation to cover the welfare of greyhounds; [44156]

  (2) if he will provide independently funded vets to attend all greyhound tracks; [44154]

  (3) if he will implement a levy on betting on greyhound racing to provide a fund for improving tracks, veterinary support and greyhound welfare; [44155]

  (4) what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in the Sixth report of the Home Affairs Committee of Session 1990–91 (HC 463) on the Financing of Greyhound Racing (a) relating to the increase in the registration fee to owners (paragraph 44) and (b) a requirement on track owners and on and-off course bookmakers to donate a part of their profits to the Retired Greyhound Trust (paragraph 44). [44157]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The present law, principally the Protection of Animals Act 1911, makes it an offence to ill-treat any animals, including greyhounds. We have no plans for further legislation in this area. The greyhound racing industry already takes greyhound welfare most seriously—both during and after the dogs' racing careers.

  Neither the 1978 Royal Commission on Gambling nor the 1991 Home Affairs Committee report recommended a levy on greyhound betting. Both regarded this as a commercial activity that did not demand direct Government involvement. We take the same view.
  436
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include independent greyhound tracks within the legislation which oversees standards for dogs in competitive sport. [44153]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Independent greyhound tracks are already covered by the animal protection and gambling laws—in particular, the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963. There are no plans to make separate provision for them.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a statutory body concerned with greyhound racing. [44152]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There are no plans to establish such a body.

  Public Safety Radio Communications Project
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to (i) promote and (ii) support the public safety radio communications project in North Yorkshire. [44220]

  Mr. Michael
  The Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is intended to replace all radio infrastructures for the police service with the new generation of digital radio communication systems from 1999 onwards. The project is being managed by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) which became a Non-Departmental Public Body in April this year. Under the PSRCP, a national co-ordinated approach is being taken to the planning, design and implementation of the new communications systems, and PITO has been supporting North Yorkshire Police, along with all other forces in England and Wales, to achieve this. A Business Case for the implementation of the project will be completed this year, and a decision taken on whether to proceed. If a contract is awarded, the North Yorkshire Police force is scheduled to be one of the first forces to receive the new service.

  Members of the European Parliament
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the procedures which will apply when vacancies for UK MEPs occur. [44194]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Our intention is that, where a vacancy arises from the death or resignation of an MEP who was a candidate on a party list, the vacancy will be filled by the next eligible and willing candidate on that list, provided that the party concerned is still content to be represented by that person.

  Where a party list has been exhausted or where the person whose death or resignation has caused the vacancy stood as an independent candidate, a by-election will be held.

  If a vacancy occurs in Northern Ireland it will, as now, be filled by means of a by-election.

  Emergency Services
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 20 April 1998,Official Report, columns 524–27, if he will list for each fire and civil defence authority the total amount of

  437
  grant aid given to such authorities for emergency planning in 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 and the provision for 1998–99, identifying where applicable any allocations transferred to fire and civil defence authorities by metropolitan district or London borough councils. [44562]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information required is given in the table.

  Civil Defence Grant Allocations (£000s)

  Fire and Civil Defence Authorities

  1995/96

  1996/97

  1997/98

  1998/99

  London

  388

  388

  338

  318

  Greater Manchester

  1364

  2229

  2204

  2194

  Merseyside

  3369

  3369

  3342

  3335

  South Yorkshire

  4229

  4229

  4204

  159

  Tyne and Wear

  5369

  5369

  5345

  5335

  West Midlands

  194

  194

  169

  159

  West Yorkshire

  194

  194

  169

  159

  Metropolitan Districts transferring their allocations to FCDA:

  1 Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Wigan

  2 Stockport

  3 All Districts in Merseyside

  4 Sheffield

  5 All Districts in Tyne and Wear

  Police Staffing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has evaluated into staffing demands for the police during bank holiday periods. [44179]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Office has not commissioned or evaluated any research into staffing demands for the police during bank holiday periods and we are not aware of any research in this area. The allocation of resources and the deployment of officers is decided locally by chief constables.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to increase the number of police officers since 1 May 1997. [44178]

  Mr. Michael
  The last Government removed from Ministers any direct control over police numbers or the deployment of police officers. Under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force within the resources available to them. Resources for the police in England and Wales this year increased by 3.7 per cent., or £258 million, to £7.15 billion.

  We are working with the police to ensure that these resources are used as effectively as possible, and to reduce administrative burdens in order to enable chief constables to put more officers back into the community.

  Asylum Seekers
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many current applicants for political asylum have been granted work permits pending consideration of their cases; and if he will make a statement; [44633]
  438
  (2) how many applications for political asylum are currently pending; what is the average length of time for consideration of an application; and if he will make a statement; [44632]

  (3) what plans he has for speeding up the process of dealing with applications for political asylum; and if he will make a statement. [44634]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  At the end of April 1998, there were 51,465 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, a reduction on the previous year. Applications are currently estimated to be taking, on average, 14 months to reach an initial decision in cases lodged after the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, and 58 months for those lodged prior to that Act. Both these figures reflect the proportion of inherited old cases within the system. But figures for 1997 show that 38 per cent. of initial decisions on asylum applications were taken within six months, as against only 10 per cent. in 1992.

  We are committed to bringing a fresh approach to asylum: one that is fairer, faster and firmer than the one we inherited. We will make announcements on the way ahead as soon as we can.

  I regret that information on the number of asylum applicants granted permission to work is not available.

  Firearms Compensation
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims under the firearms compensation scheme currently remain outstanding under each of options A, B and C; and by what dates he expects all claims under each option to be settled. [44470]

  Mr. Michael
  Payments under Options A and B of the large calibre handgun compensation scheme and the parallel ex gratia scheme for small calibre pistols were completed by the end of May, as planned. The only exceptions are around 300 cases involving firearms dealers and individual owners where payment cannot be finalised because of outstanding queries over the eligibility of items claimed for, difficulties in obtaining the required details to enable payment to be made, or where the claimant has declined to complete the required Declaration on the claim form. Payment on these remaining claims will completed as soon as the necessary information and signatures are provided.

  The Firearms Compensation Section (FCS) is now devoting the bulk of its resources to processing the Option C claims, which are fewer in number but more complicated. There are around 24,500 Option C claims to be processed, the great majority of which are mixed claims on which payments have been made already under Option A or B. The rate of payment on these claims will increase now that we have more staff allocated to this task. In the interests of fairness, Option C claims are being dealt with in the order in which the guns were surrendered to the police, so that the claimant will not be penalised by any subsequent delay in forwarding the claim to the Home Office. The target is to complete most of these payments by the end of the year, if not all, and we will do everything that can be done to clear these claims in a shorter time if at all possible.
  439
  Around 11,000 claims were submitted during February under the statutory surrender scheme for small calibre pistols. These are being registered on the FCS computer system by data-processing staff, and substantive work will begin on them when the overall work position permits. Until the claims have been examined in detail, it is not possible to give a firm date for completion.

  The FCS Information Line on 0171 271 8977 gives regularly updated details of the current processing times for all classes of claim, to enable claimants to monitor the progress of their claims.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be made on the application by Wootton Bassett Town Council for funds to install closed circuit television. [44708]

  Mr. Michael
  The results of round 4 of the Closed Circuit Television challenge competition will be announced shortly.

  Wymott and Garth Prisons
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives he is taking to extend the prison accommodation at the HM Wymott and Garth Prison sites. [44624]

  Ms Quin
  The Prison Service has no immediate plans to extend prisoner accommodation at these prisons. A programme of general maintenance and building repair works continues at the prisons.

  The Prison Service keeps under regular review the need to house the rising prison population. The issues taken into account when determining how to meet this demand are strategic need, timing, cost and implications for the establishment concerned.

  Prisons (Illegal Substances)
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of visitors to prisons found to be in possession of illegal substances in the last year; and how many were subsequently charged with an offence. [44715]

  Mr. George Howarth
  In the 12 months ending 31 May 1998, a total of 1,071 people visiting prisons were arrested by the police in connection with possible drug-related offences.

  The Prison Service does not record what action was subsequently taken by the police.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Mobile Telephones
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will require mobile telephones to be sold and labelled with a health warning; and if she will make a statement. [43698]
  440
  Mrs. Roche
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on 8 December 1997,Official Report, column 456.

  The Department is aware of public concern on this subject, which is taken seriously. Advice on the health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields from mobile telecommunications equipment is discussed with the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and also with the Department of Health.

  The exposure guidelines of the NRPB for fields associated with mobile telecommunications equipment are based on well-established thermal effects. NRPB's view is that mobile phones currently used in the United Kingdom comply with the recommended exposure limit. There are no plans to require mobile phones to have a health warning.

  I would add that Type Approval of mobile phones is required before they can be connected to a mobile telecommunications network. This includes testing of the power output to the antenna. Mobile telecommunications equipment must also comply with the EU Directive on Electromagnetic Compatibility.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if ancillary equipment in(a) standard individual export licences and (b) open individual licence categories, may be included with the delivery of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia in 1998. [44436]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Ancillary equipment in standard individual export licences and open individual licence categories has been approved for supply to Indonesia in support of the sale of Hawk aircraft. The timing of delivery of any equipment is a matter for the exporter subject to the conditions of any export licence necessary.

TREASURY

  Departmental Energy Use
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the Department's energy usage was from(a) renewable energy and (b) combined heating in each year since 1989–90. [44081]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Treasury does not use energy(a) from a renewable source or (b) combined heat and power.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much(a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity was purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of accommodation occupied by his Department within the United Kingdom in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total cost in real terms of each in each year. [44086]
  441
  Mrs. Liddell
  The table shows the costs and quantity of oil, gas and electricity purchased for heating, lighting and power in Treasury accommodation since 1989–90.

  Fuel

  Actual expenditure (£)

  Annual consumption units k Wh

  1990–91

  Gas

  46,951

  1,438,663

  Oil

  37,536

  2,724,116

  Electricity

  245,470

  4,423,000

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  43,272

  5,751,128

  1991–92

  Gas

  59,674

  1,847,046

  Oil

  84,855

  806,088

  Electricity

  230,835

  4,123,618

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  45,872

  5,930,656

  1992–93

  Gas

  12,942

  813,156

  Oil

  5,251

  19,714

  Electricity

  242,357

  3,094,580

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  48,468

  6,203,602

  1993–94

  Gas

  6,066

  331,358

  Oil

  Nil

  —

  Electricity

  219,911

  3,555,058

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  40,143

  5,977,659

  1994–95

  Gas

  12,995

  1,087,116

  Oil

  6,785

  40,869

  Electricity

  218,583

  3,553,202

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  47,864

  5,987,000

  1995–96

  Gas

  22,734

  1,192,052

  Oil

  1,844

  14,053

  Electricity

  161,086

  3,474,725

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  47,535

  4,596,833

  1996–97

  Gas

  20,810

  843,163

  Oil

  Nil

  —

  Electricity

  215,958

  3,994,845

  Whitehall District Heating System1

  194,081

  5,292,210

  1 Whitehall District Heating System (WDHS) is run by Property Advisers Civil Estate (PACE) and provides heating to Government buildings in Whitehall including GOGGS.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which body will guarantee the value of notional euro in Phase B of Stage Three of EMU from January 1999 to July 2002. [44459]

  Mrs. Liddell
  On 1 January 1999, the euro will become the actual and sole currency of participating member states. The old national currencies of these member states will continue only as denominations of the euro. The conversion rates between these currencies and the euro will be legally fixed. The European Central Bank will become responsible for euro monetary policy from this date onward.
  442
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what profits he estimates will derive to the United Kingdom from seigniorage if the United Kingdom participates in Stage Three of Economic and Monetary Union. [44456]

  Mrs. Liddell
  If the UK participated in Economic and Monetary Union, its share of the monetary income accruing to the national central banks would depend on a number of factors, including the number of other Member States in EMU, the level of note issue by the European Central Bank, and the level of ECB reserve requirements. It is impossible to estimate with any degree of certainty now the size of the UK's allocation if and when it joined the single currency.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how profits of seigniorage on euro notes and coins will be distributed among participants. [44453]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The method for allocating monetary income between national central banks in Stage Three of EMU is described in the Statute of the ESCB. The sum of monetary income accruing to the national central banks in the performance of the ESCB's monetary policy function will be allocated in proportion to each central bank's paid-up share in the capital of the ECB. National central banks' contributions to the capital of the ECB will be based on Member States' relative population and GDP.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent changes have been made to the remit of the European Union Monetary Committee; and what is its role in relation to(a) the EMI and (b) the ECB. [44455]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The remit of the Monetary Committee continues to be as set out in Article 109c(1) of the Treaty. In accordance with Article 109c(2) of the Treaty, the Monetary Committee will be replaced by an Economic and Financial Committee at the start of Stage Three of EMU. The ECB shall appoint two members of the Economic and Financial Committee. The Monetary Committee and the Economic and Financial Committee contribute to the preparation of the work of the Council, including with respect to matters involving the EMI and the ECB.

  Population Statistics
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated or projected numbers of people aged(a) 65 years or over, (b) 75 years or over and (c) 85 years or over in (i) North Staffordshire Health Authority area (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) the United Kingdom for (1) 1996, (2) 2001 and (3) 2006; and in each case what the figures are as a percentage of the total population. [44327]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Ms Joan Walley, dated 8 June 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question asking for the

  443
  estimated or projected numbers of people aged (a) 65 years or over, (b) 75 years or over, (c) 85 years or over in North Staffordshire Health Authority area, the West Midlands and the United Kingdom

  Resident population of North Staffordshire Health Authority, West Midlands Health area and the UK in 1996, 2001 and 2006

  All ages (thousands)

  Age 65 and over (thousands)

  Age 75 and over (thousands)

  Age 85 and over (thousands)

  Percentage aged 65 and over of all persons

  Percentage aged 75 and over of all persons

  Percentage aged 85 and over of all persons

  North Staffordshire Health Authority

  1996

  471.2

  76.1

  32.5

  7.8

  16.2

  6.9

  1.7

  2001

  484.9

  74.0

  34.1

  8.3

  15.3

  7.0

  1.7

  2006

  492.6

  73.7

  34.7

  9.0

  15.0

  7.1

  1.8

  West Midlands Health area

  1996

  5,316.6

  828.1

  363.0

  86.5

  15.6

  6.8

  1.6

  2001

  5,375.0

  831.6

  390.9

  100.7

  15.5

  7.3

  1.9

  2006

  5,417.2

  849.4

  406.4

  111.4

  15.7

  7.5

  2.1

  United Kingdom

  1996

  58,801.5

  9,250.8

  4,192.5

  1,067.2

  15.7

  7.1

  1.8

  2001

  59,618.1

  9,298.7

  4,405.6

  1,162.5

  15.6

  7.4

  1.9

  2006

  60,286.6

  9,467.4

  4,504.1

  1,208.4

  15.7

  7.5

  2.0

  Sources:

  Population Estimates Unit, ONS

  Migration & Subnational Population Projections Unit, ONS

  Government Actuary's Department

  Jersey
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the fiscal and monetary responsibilities of(a) the Government and (b) the Bank of England in relation to the financial institutions and affairs of Jersey; to what extent the liabilities of the Jersey financial institutions are underwritten by each; and if he will make a statement. [43922]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 3 June 1998]: The responsibilities of the UK Government in relation to Jersey and the other Crown Dependencies were last set out in the Kilbrandon report in 1973. In essence, the Government are responsible for Jersey's external relations and defence, and the Crown has ultimate responsibility for the good governance of the Bailiwick.

  Although Jersey is in monetary union with the UK, neither the Government nor the Bank of England have responsibility for the fiscal or monetary affairs of the

  New cases of thyroid cancer (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, ICD9, 193) in children aged under 18, diagnosed in 1982–91, by regional health authority of residence, England and Wales

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Northern

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  1

  2

  Yorkshire

  0

  0

  4

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  4

  1

  Trent

  2

  3

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  3

  0

  0

  E. Anglian

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  N.W. Thames

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  2

  0

  1

  N.E. Thames

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  1

  0

  1

  2

  S.E. Thames

  2

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  S.W. Thames

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wessex

  3

  2

  2

  1

  2

  1

  4

  1

  0

  0

  Oxford

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  3

  0

  0

  1

  0

  S. Western

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  W. Midlands

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Mersey

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  N. Western

  2

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Wales

  0

  1

  0

  4

  2

  0

  3

  l

  1

  0

  England and Wales

  11

  17

  14

  11

  17

  14

  15

  10

  12

  9

  444
  for (1) 1996, (2) 2001 and (3) 2006 and in each case, what the figures are as a percentage of the total population.

  The table provides the information requested.

  Bailiwick, nor for underwriting the liabilities of Jersey's financial institutions.

  Thyroid Cancers
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many incidents of thyroid cancer in young people under the age of 18 years there were in each health authority for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [44319]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Nigel Jones, dated June 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary question on thyroid cancer.
  The number of newly diagnosed cases in persons aged under 18 by regional health authority in England and Wales, 1982–91 (the latest ten year for which data are available), are shown in the following table.
  445

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, column 454, if he will list the real interest rates in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the USA, (c) Germany and (d) Japan, defined as actual interest rates less the rate of inflation for these countries. [43443]

  Mrs. Liddell
  These approximate measures can be readily calculated using actual interest rates and rates of inflation, both of which are listed for the named countries in OECD Main Economic Indicators and in other publications available in the House of Commons library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Sierra Leone
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the level of United Kingdom bilateral aid for basic social services in Sierra Leone(a) in the year before and (b) in the period since the 1997 coup d'état; and what efforts her Department made to ensure that these services were maintained for particularly vulnerable groups following the coup. [44172]

  Clare Short
  (a) In financial year 1996–97 the level of UK bilateral aid for basic social services (water and sanitation, education, health and welfare, and humanitarian aid) in Sierra Leone was £2.87 million.

  (b) Since the military coup on 25 May 1997, we provided £3.24m to support the humanitarian work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), NGO programmes in neighbouring countries for Sierra Leonean refugees, and NGO relief and development work restarted since the return of President Kabbah's Government.

  Following the coup, DFID provided funds to ICRC and contributed to EU humanitarian programmes. We contributed funds for the UN Humanitarian Aid Co-ordination Unit (HACU) which co-ordinated humanitarian activities of the UN agencies and NGOs working in Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries. HACU produced a code of conduct to ensure that humanitarian aid reached targeted groups. DFID officials also joined the EU humanitarian assessment mission to Conakry, Guinea, in September 1997.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what British Government co-funded NGO projects were cancelled or postponed as a result of the decision to suspend aid to Sierra Leone following the 1997 coup d'état. [44173]

  Clare Short
  The following projects were suspended when aid to Sierra Leone was discontinued following the 1997 Coup:

  Action Aid—Water and Sanitation project

  Cause Canada—Water and Sanitation project

  Primary Health Care—Medical Research Centre, Bo

  Christian Children's Fund—Children affected by war/ Community based support

  Concern Universal—Assistance to Children Affected by War Programme.

  446
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources her Department provided to the Kabbah Government in exile; and for what purposes. [44199]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) provided £240,000 to President Kabbah's government in exile. £50,000 of this was to enable them to pursue activities to promote the return of the democratically elected government, and £190,000 for a workshop and seminar in the United Kingdom in October 1997 to plan for the restoration of government after their return.

  European Development Assistance
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the names and positions of her Department's officials who are currently working in the external development Directorate-Generals of the EC. [44314]

  Clare Short
  My Department currently has 10 staff on secondment to the external development directorates of the EC.

  Name

  Directorate-General

  Specialism

  Guy Mustard

  DGIA

  Administrator

  Matthew Wyatt

  DGIA

  Administrator

  David Daniels

  DGIB

  Health

  Andrew Hall

  DGIB

  Economist

  Alex Kremer

  DGIB

  Economist

  Andy Roby

  DGIB

  Environment—(Forestry)

  Sean Conlin

  DGVIII

  Social Development

  Michael Parkes

  DGVIII

  Urban Development

  John Roberts

  DGVIII

  Economist

  Digby Swift

  DGVIII

  Education

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the United Kingdom Government are taking to increase access to information in Europe and recipient countries on projects funded by the European Commission's development assistance programme. [44311]

  Clare Short
  The UK Government are committed to increasing transparency in EU decision making, including the activities of the EU institutions. During our Presidency, I have taken part in a debate at the European Parliament on development assistance and given evidence on two occasions to its Development Committee. The UK has supported the Commission's proposals on Information and Communication programmes for TACIS and Phare and the Department for Trade and Industry maintains a database of projects being funded by major multilateral agencies, including the EC.

  Some progress has been made on our initiatives to improve openness in the EU. We have also begun preparatory work with the European Commission and European Parliament on implementing the openness provisions in the Amsterdam Treaty. These provisions will cover all areas of EU activity, including development assistance programmes.
  447
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase the number of her Department's officials working in the external development Directorate-Generals of the
  EC. [44315]

  Clare Short
  My officials frequently talk to the Commission in Brussels and in delegations about the opportunities for placing secondees in the external development Directorate-Generals.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the meeting of the European development ministers on 18 May. [44313]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) of 3 June 1998,Official Report, column 236.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what is Government policy in respect of environmental impact assessments of projects within the European Commission's aid programme; [44308]

  (2) what is the Government's policy on the integration of environmental and social considerations into European Commission-funded infrastructure development
  projects. [44306]

  Clare Short
  As stated in the White Paper Eliminating World Poverty: a Challenge for the 21 Century, this Government are committed to encouraging all multilateral developments institutions—including the European Commission—to integrate environmental and social sustainability into their projects and devote more attention to evaluating and monitoring their activities. DFID worked closely with the European Commission to develop procedural guidelines for this purpose. However, continuing efforts are required to ensure the Commission's guidance is always fully reflected in the design and implementation of projects and programmes. My Department continues to work with the Commission to seek to improve effectiveness in this area.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to one of his previous questions on 11 May 1998, Official Report, column 24, for details of the ways my Department has been doing this.

  Cameroon
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made to the European Commission regarding the implementation of an Environmental Impact Assessment of the Commission's road rehabilitation programme in Cameroon. [44307]

  Clare Short
  My Department made representations to the European Commission regarding implementation of an Environmental Impact Assessment when notification of the new road rehabilitation programme was received last year. The EC has assured us that appropriate environmental protection measures will be clearly spelt out in the project document. The project will be considered towards the end of this year by the European Development Fund Committee on which my Department sits.
  448

  Lomé Convention
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will place in the Library records of decisions and approvals of Government disbursements to the EDF; [44310]

  (2) if she will list with dates the amounts of the United Kingdom's disbursements to the EDF under the current Lomé Convention; and when the next disbursements are due to be called from the Commission. [44309]

  Clare Short
  Disbursements against the Lomé Convention began under the Seventh European Development (EDF) in 1994. The Commission calls down funds from Member States as it needs them. There are usually four quarterly payments each year, normally in January, April, July and October. The table sets out the payments for each quarter under the seventh EDF.

  Year

  Quarter

  Payment (£)

  1994

  Third

  82,902,220

  Fourth

  70,505,090

  1995

  First

  25,759,245

  Second

  53,782,341

  Third

  82,158,009

  Fourth

  60,110,159

  1996

  Second

  27,013,201

  Third

  39,493,366

  Fourth

  58,673,835

  1997

  First

  11,768,512

  Second

  40,895,789

  Third

  44,363,144

  Fourth

  39,042,589

  1998

  First

  21,603,431

  Second

  31,848,249

  The next disbursement is expected in July.

  Stabex Projects
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, (1) pursuant to her answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, column 276, on Stabex, what steps she has taken to press for the reform or abolition of the Stabex programme; [44317]

  (2) what mechanisms exist to ensure that the European Commission takes account of her Department's views on environmental and social impact in Stabex funding proposals; [44316]

  (3) if she will place in the Library records of the Government's recommendations to the European Commission on Stabex funding proposals. [44312]

  Clare Short
  The UK clearly set out its position on Stabex for the Commission and other Member States in the Government's paper on the future of Lomé in October 1997. I have placed a copy of this paper in the Library. There has been strong opposition to the abolition of Stabex from some Member States in subsequent discussions on the EU' s negotiating mandate for the successor to the Lomé Convention. However, the UK has been negotiating vigorously to reform this instrument, most recently at the Development Council on 18 May which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State and I attended.
  449
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 5 May 1998, Official Report, column 276, on the procedures my Department uses to assess Stabex projects. There are no formal mechanisms under the Lomé Convention to ensure the UK's views are taken account of by the Commission. Information on the views my Department has fed to the Commission on Stabex proposals could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

  Sudan
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial aid has been given by Her Majesty's Government to alleviate child hunger in Southern Sudan; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of feeding one child for a year. [44709]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The British Government allocated £6.2 million for the crisis in Southern Sudan during May bringing our overall assistance to Sudan since February to £10.2 million. This assistance is in support of vulnerable groups and families, including children. There is no useful estimate of the costs of feeding one child for a year since the figure can vary a great deal depending on the circumstances.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase aid from her Department to help people in the Sudan suffering from famine; and if she will make a statement. [44335]

  Clare Short
  Since 1991, my Department has provided £145 million in humanitarian assistance for Sudan.

  Since my statement to the House on 29 April 1998, Official Report, columns 331–38, the Government of Sudan have been gradually improving access to the worst affected areas, particularly in Bahr El Ghazal. I approved further British contributions during May totalling £6.23 million which brings our overall assistance to Sudan since February to £10.23 million. I have made it clear since the beginning of the current emergency that we alongside other governments will provide the funding needed for the Sudanese emergency and that the problem is one of access rather than resources. The EU General Affairs Council on 25 May again called for a ceasefire for humanitarian purposes, which remains the most urgent requirement. This is why we have been pressing for a ceasefire for humanitarian purposes, which remains the most important requirement in order to provide help to the people in need.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal (Thanet)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many eligible participants have to date registered interest in the New Deal within the Thanet travel-to-work area; [44472]

  (2) how many eligible participants are currently undergoing Gateway preparation for the New Deal within the Thanet travel-to-work area to date; [44473]
  450
  (3) how many eligible participants have within the Thanet travel-to-work area currently obtained New Deal placements with (a) the private and (b) the public sector. [44474]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  New Deal was launched nationally on 6 April and it is of course early days for this ambitious undertaking. I am encouraged by the start in the Canterbury Unit of Delivery which includes the Thanet travel-to-work area. 223 young people have attended their initial New Deal interview and of these 115 have requested early entry. 62 clients are currently participating in the Gateway process and 26 have found work in the Private Sector.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) private and (b) public sector employers have expressed interest within the Thanet travel-to-work area in offering New Deal placements; and if he will list them. [44475]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Within the Employment Service Canterbury District, which forms the major part of the Thanet travel-to-work area, 71 employers have so far signed formal agreements to enable them to offer jobs under the New Deal employer option to young unemployed people.

  Of these, 68 employers are from the private sector and three are from the public sector. I have asked the local Employment Service District Manager to supply the list of employers.

  Education and Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Education and Social Affairs Council of Ministers meeting on 4 June. [43020]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry and I chaired the joint Council of Education and Social Affairs Ministers on 3–4 June. My hon. Friend the Scottish Office Minister of State for Education and Industry and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales also attended.

  The Council discussed National Employment Action Plans which all Member States have provided in accordance with the process agreed at last November's Luxembourg 'Jobs Summit', and completed its assessment of the Plans in preparation for the European Council at Cardiff on 15–16 June.

  The Council reached political agreement on a Regulation extending Regulation 1408/71 (social security for migrant workers) to civil servants in special schemes and adopted a package of annual amendments to Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72. The Council also reached political agreement on a Directive safeguarding the supplementary (i.e. occupational and private) pension rights of migrant workers, subject to the lifting of a Danish Parliamentary scrutiny reserve and a Portuguese linguistic reserve.

  The Council adopted a Recommendation on a Parking Card for people with disabilities.
  451
  The Council reached political agreement on the text of a common position on the promotion of European pathways for work-linked training (Europass).

  The Council reached a common position on a Directive amending the Acquired Rights Directive, subject to the lifting of a German Parliamentary scrutiny reserve. The Council made further progress on the employee involvement aspects of the proposed European Company Statute.

  The Council heard presentations from the Presidency on a pilot project to promote teacher mobility across the EU and from the Commission on its proposals for a new generation of programmes on education, training and youth. A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library when it becomes available. The Commission also made presentations on its Communication on developing the social dialogue at Community level; its Communications on a new Social Action Programme (1998–2000); and on the proposed ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Correspondence
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the system used in his Department to monitor correspondence from hon. Members; and what plans he has to improve
  it. [43004]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: Letters from hon. Members and Peers are recorded on a computerised database. Correspondence is carefully monitored to ensure letters are dealt with as soon as possible after receipt.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will issue guidance

  £

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Simplified Scheme1

  857,573

  962,047

  1,257,807

  1,174,990

  1,064,093

  Main Scheme:

  Cereals

  17,558,515

  24,991,146

  36,871,045

  38,482,551

  37,831,102

  Oilseeds

  4,319,060

  4,272,686

  4,818,064

  4,834,745

  5,999,961

  Proteins

  6,026,268

  4,244,039

  3,771,947

  3,269,814

  3,202,411

  Linseed

  2—

  1,384,788

  1,376,113

  1,052,701

  1,803,395

  Set-aside

  6,864,098

  9,367,276

  9,281,101

  7,343,384

  4,152,753

  1 All eligible crops under the Simplified Scheme are paid at the cereals rate

  2 In 1993 linseed growers received subsidy under the linseed subsidy scheme but this cannot be broken down by county

  Subsidy was also paid on hemp as follows:

  Year

  £

  1993

  7,090

  1994

  79,241

  1995

  176,484

  1996

  125,638

  1997

  234,432

  452
  as to arrangements for the reporting of acts of intimidation by abattoir employers and owners against Meat Hygiene Service staff and veterinarians. [43376]

  Mr. Rooker
  Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) operational staff (Official Veterinary Surgeons, Meat Hygiene Inspectors and Meat Technicians) have been instructed to inform their Senior Managers immediately of any instances of intimidation which prevent them from carrying out their duties to protect public health. A confidential helpline has been set up to assist any MHS employee who feels intimidated or subject to threatening behaviour from plant operators or employees.

  Information on prosecutions relating to instances of intimidation, obstruction and aggression against MHS staff is published in the Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House each month.

  All successful prosecutions relating to acts against MHS staff will be published immediately via a separate Press Notice.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses there are in Great Britain; and how many of these slaughter(a) poultry, (b) pigs, (c) cattle and (d) horses. [44236]

  Mr. Rooker
  At 1 May, there were 607 slaughterhouses in Great Britain licensed to produce meat for sale for human consumption. Of these, 153 were licensed to slaughter poultry, 310 pigs, 399 cattle and 12 horses. Licences are generally not required for slaughterhouses with an annual production of less than 10,000 birds for sale for human consumption.

  Suffolk Farmers (Subsidy)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, by crop, the total amount of subsidy paid to farmers in Suffolk for each of the past five years. [44292]

  Mr. Rooker
  The following table gives information for payments to farmers in Suffolk under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS).

  In addition farmers in Suffolk will have benefited indirectly from a number of other EU support measures but this cannot be quantified on a county basis.

  Knackers
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to take to encourage farmers to make better use of the knackers' trade. [44358]
  453
  Mr. Rooker
  It is for the livestock industry to take responsibility for disposing of its waste in a safe and sustainable manner. Nevertheless, the Department will continue to urge the industry to use knackers' yards and hunt kennels to dispose of fallen stock wherever possible. Officials will also continue to liaise with representatives of the knacker and farming industries over future arrangements for the disposal of fallen stock.

  EU Support Payments
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the impact of the euro on(a) EU support payments, (b) farm incomes and (c) United Kingdom agricultural exports. [44143]

  Mr. Rooker
  The European Commission is expected to make proposals during June on the future of the EU agrimonetary arrangements. A detailed examination of the impact of the Euro on UK agriculture will need to be made in the light of those proposals.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to give United Kingdom farmers the choice of receiving EU support payments in sterling or euros; what assessment he has made of the impact of such a system; and if he will make a statement. [44144]

  Mr. Rooker
  We intend to examine this question in the light of the proposals on the future of the EU agrimonetary system which we expect from the European Commission in June.

  Novel Foods
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Article 8 of the Novel Foods Regulations (258/97/EC), with particular reference to the substantial equivalence criteria; and what plans he has to review those criteria. [44291]

  Mr. Rooker
  The labelling rules in the Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulation (258/97) apply to all foods and food ingredients covered by the regulation including those considered under the simplified criteria on the grounds of substantial equivalence. There are no plans to review this regulation at this time. However, last month, detailed rules for labelling of genetically modified (GM) soya and maize ingredients were agreed which require all foods to be labelled where any material arising from the genetic modification process is present. These rules are expected to set a precedent for the way all future GM foods will be required to be labelled in Europe.

  Milk Prices
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of reasons for the decrease in milk prices over the last year; and if he will make a statement. [44122]

  Mr. Rooker
  In March this year, milk producers received an average of about 19.7p per litre, which was nearly 4p lower than for the same period in 1997. The main factor was probably the strength of sterling and the related revaluations of the green pound. More generally, at the request of the Director General of Fair Trading, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is currently 454
  investigating the supply of raw milk in Great Britain. It is due to report to the President of the Board of Trade in October.

  Canadian Pedigree Friesians
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if meat from Canadian pedigree Friesians of over 30 months old slaughtered in the United Kingdom is permitted to be sold in the United Kingdom. [44717]

  Mr. Rooker
  No. The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No 2) Regulations 1996, as amended, prohibit the sale for human consumption of any meat from a bovine animal over 30 months of age at the time of slaughter, whether in Great Britain or elsewhere, unless it is from a herd registered under the Beef Assurance Scheme or from one of the 14 countries exempted under the Regulations.

  Brandy Butter
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is permitted to describe brandy, rum and whisky butters offered for retail sale as butter if they contain less then 34 per cent. milk fat; and if he will make a statement. [44712]

  Mr. Rooker
  From April 1999, only alcoholic butters (including brandy, rum and whisky butters) containing a minimum of 34 per cent. milk fat will be permitted to be described as such. This results from the adoption of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 623/98, which further amends Commission Regulation (EC) No. 577/97 relating to standards for spreadable fats. During the negotiations in Brussels, the UK did not support this particular rule which arbitrarily limits the milkfat content of products described using the term "butter".

  Officials are working with the relevant companies to find ways to minimise the problems for UK manufacturers.

  Hemp
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advantages of hemp as a source for paper; and if it is his policy to promote the growing of hemp for that purpose. [44718]

  Mr. Rooker
  Hemp is a useful alternative crop, producing renewable raw material for a variety of uses including paper. The paper and hemp industries are best placed to examine and develop the market for hemp as a constituent of paper.

  Subsidies
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total sum spent on subsidies for the sale of food, fruit and vegetables from the EU in the most recent annual period for which figures are available. [44325]

  Mr. Rooker
  The total sum spent on directly subsidising sales of fruit and vegetables in 1997 through export refunds was 67 mecu (£49m at an average 1997 exchange rate of £1 = 1.3758 ecu). In addition, 6,214 mecu (£4,516m) was spent on directly subsidising the sale of other CAP
  455
  commodities through export refunds and aid under subsidised food programmes, although it is not possible to determine what proportion of export sales were for human consumption.

  Food Destruction Costs
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total sum spent by the EU on the destruction of food, fruit and vegetables in the most recent annual period for which figures are available. [44326]

  Mr. Rooker
  The total sum spent on withdrawals of fruit and vegetables from the market in 1997 was 293 mecu (£213m at an average 1997 exchange rate of £ 1 = 1.3758 ecu). Statistics on the destination of produce withdrawn in 1997 are not available, but an average 62 per cent. of withdrawn fruit and vegetables was destroyed between the 1989/90 and 1993/94 marketing years. In addition, £1.5m was spent on the disposal of 6,000 tonnes of intervention beef in 1997. This beef was purchased and stored before the restrictions on beef from animals over thirty months old were introduced in March 1996.

  Livestock Support
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the levels of(a) suckler cow, (b) ewe premium and (c) HLCA payments for beef and sheep per animal in cash prices and at 1997 prices for each of the last five years and his proposals for 1998–99. [23484]

  Mr. Rooker
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1998,c. 450]: The information requested is set out in the following table. The proposed rates for 1998–1999 are not yet available.

  Payment rates (£ per head)—Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  Cash prices

  1997 prices

  Sheep annual premium:

  Including LFA supplement

  1993

  24.41

  27.32

  1994

  22.21

  24.28

  1995

  26.95

  28.47

  1996

  19.04

  19.64

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  Excluding LFA supplement

  1993

  19.25

  21.55

  1994

  16.96

  18.54

  1995

  21.26

  22.46

  1996

  13.66

  14.09

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  Suckler cow premium:

  Including extensification premia

  1993

  93.90

  105.12

  1994

  115.12

  125.83

  1995

  143.04

  151.10

  1996

  155.15

  160.03

  1997

  1159.48

  1159.48

  1997

  2146.52

  2146.52

  456

  Payment rates (£ per head)—Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  Cash prices

  1997 prices

  Excluding extensification premia

  1993

  65.73

  73.58

  1994

  87.49

  95.63

  1995

  114.43

  120.88

  1996

  124.12

  128.02

  1997

  117.36

  117.36

  Hill livestock compensatory allowances:

  SDA beef cow

  1993

  63.30

  70.86

  1994

  47.50

  51.92

  1995

  47.50

  50.18

  1996

  47.50

  48.99

  1997

  397.50

  97.50

  DA beef cow

  1993

  31.65

  35.43

  1994

  23.75

  25.96

  1995

  23.75

  25.09

  1996

  23.75

  24.50

  1997

  469.75

  69.75

  SDA high rate ewe

  1993

  6.50

  7.28

  1994

  5.75

  6.28

  1995

  5.75

  6.07

  1996

  5.75

  5.93

  1997

  5.75

  5.75

  SDA lower rate ewe

  1993

  3.60

  4.03

  1994

  3.00

  3.28

  1995

  3.00

  3.17

  1996

  3.00

  3.09

  1997

  3.00

  3.00

  DA ewe rate

  1993

  2.86

  3.20

  1994

  2.44

  2.67

  1995

  2.44

  2.58

  1996

  2.65

  2.73

  1997

  2.65

  2.65

  1 Rate less than 1 livestock unit per hectare

  2 Rate greater than 1 livestock unit and less 1.4 livestock units per hectare

  3 Includes Beef special aid of £50.00

  4 Includes Beef special aid of £46.00

  LFA = Less Favoured Area

  SDA = Severely Disadvantaged Area

  DA = Disadvantaged Area

  Final Sheep Annual Premium rate for 1997 not yet fixed

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), of 19 May 1998,Official Report, column 362, if the briefings supplied to ministers on Sierra Leone contained information pertaining to the five intelligence reports on the supply of military equipment to Sierra Leone. [44036]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer to my statement in the House during the debate on 18 May 1998,Official Report, columns 604–11, in which I announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about the

  457
  Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. I intend to publish the report of the investigation.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department's officials in Canada reported to his Department in London the allegations in the Toronto Globe and Mail of 31 July 1997 referred to by the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 613. [43617]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: The High Commission in Ottawa faxed the press article in question to the FCO under a letter summarising its substance in early August. There was no UN arms embargo on Sierra Leone at the time, nor did the article specify the possible supply of arms to that country.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which(a) Ministers and (b) parliamentary private secretaries in his Department have spoken to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on matters relating to the Committee's First Special report of Session 1997–98 (HC 760), Sierra Leone: Exchange of Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary. [44320]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 5 June 1998]: I refer to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today, Official Report, column 425. I met the Chairman of the Committee on 1 June. Among other issues, we discussed the Committee's request for the release of telegrams relating to Sierra Leone. I wrote to the Chairman of the Committee on this subject later the same day.

  Schools Information (European Union)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the information provided by the Government to schools on(a) the EU and (b) the euro, seeks to set out both the costs and the benefits of each. [43790]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We do not systematically provide schools with information about the EU or euro, although there are a number of Government publications which individual schools can request and all schools received a pack which included information about our EU Presidency at the start of this year. In general, literature produced by Government departments about the EU takes a factual approach, explaining particular policies and the UK's views rather than weighing up arguments for and against EU action. But the Treasury booklet "The Pros and Cons of EMU" sets out the main potential costs and benefits of the euro.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Cyprus and the initiatives being taken by his Department to resolve the conflicts on that island. [43743]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We continue to lend our full support to the United Nations Secretary-General's search for a settlement to the Cyprus problem, including through 458
  regular contacts with the parties and other members of the international community involved in working to end the tragic division of the island of Cyprus.

  Colombia
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Colombian Government regarding the assassination of the human rights lawyer, Eduardo Umana Mendoza, on 18 April 1998; [44149]

  (2) what representations he has made to the Colombian Government regarding the assassination of the former leader of the Communist Party, Maria Arrango Fonnegra, on 16 April. [44150]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The British Ambassador, representing the EU presidency, made representations to the Colombian Government on 29 April unreservedly condemning the murders of the human rights defenders Eduardo Umana and Maria Arrango.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom is taking to protect human rights workers in Colombia. [44151]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  At a political level, we raise the issue of the safety of human rights workers with the Colombian Government whenever the opportunity arises. At a practical level, officials at the British Embassy in Bogota have a regular dialogue with human rights NGOs, and the Ambassador and his Deputy carry out high-profile visits to areas of conflict to demonstrate their support for the work of human rights workers. These visits, in particular, are highly valued by NGOs. The UK and EU partners are also pressing the Colombian Government to make early and practical use of the US$1.2 million they have earmarked for the protection of human rights workers.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the links between sections of the Colombian Armed Forces and the paramilitary groups who are responsible for human rights violations in Colombia. [44148]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have received numerous reports of collaboration between Colombian paramilitary groups and certain units of the Armed forces at local level. The Colombian Government have recently announced the disbanding of a particular Army Unit thought to have been involved in such collaboration.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which are currently party to the Lomé convention which his Department has assessed as failing in human rights terms. [44228]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  No such assessment has been made. But the Government attach great importance to the human rights provisions of the Lomé Convention. We have been working during the UK Presidency to agree an internal procedure allowing the EU to implement the
  459
  human rights suspension clause introduced by the Mid Term Review of the fourth Lomé Convention. We hope this procedure will come into force in the autumn.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to Bulgaria to aid its preparations for eventual membership of the European Union. [44381]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Luxembourg European Council last December agreed to enhance the pre-accession strategy for the Central European EU applicants to help them prepare for membership. The principal new element of this strategy are the Accession Partnerships, which identify the main priority areas for each candidate where progress is necessary to meet the Copenhagen Criteria for membership. The UK Presidency implemented the remit from Luxembourg to conclude the Accession Partnerships by the end of March.

  The EU's Phare programme will target the priorities identified in the Accession Partnerships. Between 1995 and 1999, Phare spending on Bulgaria will be 415 mecu. (UK share approximately £49 million). In addition, the Department for International Development's Know How Fund has provided approximately £15 million of assistance to Bulgaria since 1991. This has been designed to help the transition to democratic pluralism and a market economy, in particular, by supporting the strengthening of civil society and promoting social inclusiveness, paying particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups.

  Mercenaries
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to sign the UN convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries; and if he will make a statement. [44560]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have no plans at present to sign the UN Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. We have doubts concerning its legal enforceability in the UK. We are looking at options for national domestic regulation of private military companies.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom policy on the supply of arms to Nigeria. [44617]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The EU agreed a Common Position on Nigeria on 20 November 1995 which includes a full-scope arms embargo. The UK interprets the embargo to include all goods and technology on the Military List (part III of Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994). The Government enforce the embargo rigorously.

  Algeria
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitor's visas have been granted to Algerian citizens in each of the last five years. [44463]
  460
  Mr. Fatchett
  Information is held centrally on the visas issued by each entry clearance issuing Post, not by nationality.

  Because visit visa applications may be made at any visa issuing Post irrespective of applicant's nationality, the figures requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Sudan
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to sponsor a resolution against Sudan in the UN Security Council as a result of the recent evidence of genocide in the northern area of Bahr Al Ghazal. [44829]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are deeply concerned about the distressing human tragedy in the Sudan, particularly the current crisis in Bahr Al Ghazal region. On hearing of reports of killings in Northern Bahr Al Ghazal, I instructed our Embassy in Khartoum to convene a meeting of EU Ambassadors and arrange for collective EU views and comments. The Sudanese Ambassador was also called by the Foreign Office and asked for the GoS's explanation of what had taken place.

  We will look at any proposals for new UNSCRs against the GoS on their merits and in light of the views of other Security Council members.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to the Government of Sudan in respect of recent evidence of genocide in the northern area of Bahr Al Ghazal. [44828]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Sudanese Ambassador was called on 29 May by a senior Foreign Office official. The official expressed our grave concern at the reports of killings in Northern Bahr Al Ghazal and asked for an explanation from the Government of Suden (GoS).

  We will continue to be active in trying to find a solution to problems in the Sudan. As a next step, we have pressed for an early meeting of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Partnership Forum. I shall represent the UK at a meeting in The Hague on 18 June.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the Sudan in relation to the civil war in that country; and if he will make a statement. [44400]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The UK has long supported the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace process as the best chance to bring an end to the civil war in Sudan through a comprehensive negotiated settlement and this Government are active in promoting and reinvigorating the peace process.

  As Presidency we issued an EU Declaration on 1 May which voiced European concerns and called upon all parties to implement an immediate cease-fire. It also urged parties to make every effort to come to a comprehensive negotiated settlement. At the UK's instigation, Sudan was discussed at the United Nations Security Council on 5 May and we have lobbied countries in the region, including the Government in Khartoum, to facilitate a negotiated settlement. In order to maintain the

  461
  momentum of the peace process, we pressed for an early meeting of the IGAD Partnership Forum, as a result of which the Netherlands will host a meeting on 17/18 June in The Hague. I will represent the UK. The Sudanese Government and Opposition are well aware of our views and my officials are in touch with all parties.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government in Afghanistan regarding human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement. [44397]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We do not consider there to be an effective government in Afghanistan. We remain deeply concerned by the continuing human rights abuses in Afghanistan. At the instigation of the UK, the EU adopted a Common Position on Afghanistan in January which included calls for an improvement in human rights. We regularly make representations to all the warring factions on the issue. We also urge Afghanistan's neighbours, both bilaterally and in the UN, to use their influence over the warring Afghan factions to bring the fighting and the human rights abuses to an end.

  Cardiff Summit Table
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which suppliers of standard conference furniture were asked to submit quotations for the supply of a standard conference table for the European Summit in Cardiff; and what prices they quoted. [44620]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The conference table forms part of the overall event production contract for the European Council. Our event production company established from the major UK conference furniture suppliers that no table which fully met the specification was available for hire, (their researches showed that a conference table which was the right size, not the right configuration, for Cardiff City Hall could be hired, but would still cost more than half as much as having a table made which could be used in Cardiff and subsequently). They put all carpentry involved in the European Council and G8 contracts (for which they were also responsible) out to tender to three companies as a package in order to keep costs to a minimum. The company judged by our event production company to have the capacity to manage this scale of project at lowest cost was awarded the carpentry subcontract. They are making the frame of the table, but have further subcontracted the veneer top and cable management system to a specialist cabinet maker regularly used by them for this type of contract.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the conference table ordered by his Department for the European Summit in Cardiff is not made of British materials. [44622]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The table for the European Council meeting in Cardiff is being made by a UK company, with a UK sub-contractor, who are responsible for sourcing materials for the table against cost and quality criteria. Of the major materials used, the steel is from the UK. The MDF is from the Republic of Ireland, on grounds of cost and availability. The oak for the veneer 462
  top comes from the USA. There are two reasons for using American rather than British oak: it is cheaper (British oak would cost 40 per cent. more); and the knotting grain pattern usually found in British oak would make a consistent veneer finish significantly more difficult to make.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many designers were invited to submit proposals for the conference table ordered by his Department for the European Summit in Cardiff; how many different designs were costed; and if the cheapest design was selected. [44621]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The overall event production contract for the European Council (of which the conference table forms part) was awarded on the basis of an evaluation of the whole package put forward in the tender, not any single element. Six event production companies were invited to tender. Two declined to bid, and two others merged and submitted a joint bid. The three bids were evaluated against a comprehensive set of criteria, including cost and quality. Of those judged to meet an acceptable standard, the cheapest bidder was appointed.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was(a) the originally quoted price and (b) the price paid for the conference table ordered by his Department for the European Summit in Cardiff. [44619]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  In the original tender for the overall event production contract for the European Council (which includes the conference table) in August 1997, the company which won the contract quoted £38,640 for the table. We have not yet received a bill for the table, but expect it to cost about £50,000. We understand from the event production company that the cost has risen (i) because specialist advice on the acoustics of the Assembly room in Cardiff City hall has led to a sound system being built into the table (which was not part of the original specification), and (ii) because we asked the company to have the table made in adaptable modular format so as to be usable in different rooms (the original specification applied only to City Hall in Cardiff)—this involved making two extra endpieces.

HEALTH

  Emergency Contraception
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what sources emergency contraception can currently be obtained. [43701]

  Ms Jowell
  The emergency contraceptive pill is classified as a prescription-only medicine under United Kingdom and European Community legislation. It is available from most general practitioners and against a prescription from pharmacies, family planning clinics, some accident and emergency units and many genitourinary clinics.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons emergency contraception pills are classified as prescription-only medicines. [43700]
  463
  Ms Jowell
  The emergency contraceptive pill is classified as a prescription-only medicine under criteria embodied in United Kingdom and European Community legislation. It is considered to be a product which is likely to present a direct or indirect danger to human health, even when used correctly, if used without the supervision of a doctor. There is also concern about the potential for the emergency contraceptive pill to be used incorrectly, if used without medical supervision.

  Benzodiazapines
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of harm caused to unborn babies from their mothers taking benzodiazapines during their pregnancy there have been in each of the last five years. [44073]

  Ms Jowell
  Information on the number of babies born to mothers taking benzodiazepines during pregnancy who have congenital abnormalities or experience complications is not available. The number of congenital anomalies and neonatal complications reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines through the United Kingdom's spontaneous adverse drug reaction scheme from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1997 suspected as associated with benzodiazepines is shown in the table.

  Year

  Number of suspected adverse reaction reports of congenital anomalies and neonatal complications associated with benzodiazepines

  1993

  5

  1994

  0

  1995

  0

  1996

  1

  1997

  5

  A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug, as factors such as underlying disease and concomitant medication may be contributory. The level of reporting of adverse drug reactions with particular drugs is influenced by the scale of drug usage, the period of time the drug has been on the market and publicity about the drug.

  Private Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the way in which social services departments interpret the regulations and guidance issued by his Department concerning eligibility for funding elderly people in private residential and nursing homes; [44831]

  (2) what plans he has to issue further guidance to all local authority social services departments setting out their responsibilities to ensure a common approach to eligibility for funding of private residential and nursing homes for older people; [44830]

  (3) what representations his Department has received concerning elderly people in private residential and nursing homes mistakenly using their own savings to pay for accommodation and treatment which should be funded by local authorities. [44832]
  464
  Mr. Boateng
  The contribution to be made by people placed by local authorities in residential or nursing homes towards the costs of their care is governed by the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 No. 2977. We update these Regulations annually and issue clarifying guidance which takes account of points raised in representations made to the Department in the course of the year about the operation of the system. The most recent guidance, Local Authority Circular b(98)8, was issued in March 1998, copies of which are available in the Library. In order to receive local authority support, a person must undergo an assessment of their care needs by the local authority to determine the type and level of care needed, and if residential and nursing home care is arranged, a financial assessment to determine their contribution towards the cost. Concerns have been expressed about the way the elderly residents' savings have been treated in residential care and nursing homes. The Community Care (Residential Accommodation) Bill, will ensure that once a person has been assessed as needing residential or nursing home care they will not have to use savings below the capital threshold set out in the Regulations to contribute towards the costs. Subject to this becoming law, we will issue guidance to accompany it.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available the research his Department has commissioned into the effects of cannabis. [44970]

  Ms Jowell
  Reports of literature reviews addressing the following aspects have now been submitted to the Department in their final form following peer review:

  Clinical and Pharmacological Aspects—Professor Heather Ashton (Newcastle University)

  Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects—Dr. Andrew Johns (Institute of Psychiatry)

  Therapeutic Aspects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids—Dr. Philip Robson (Oxford University).

  These reviews were commissioned by the Department but intellectual property right lies with the authors. The views are their own, and are not necessarily those of the Department of Health. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Heroin
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recent Swiss pilot scheme for the provision of injectable heroin to addicts; and if his Department will be represented in the conference on this subject in the USA in June. [44215]

  Ms Jowell
  There is already experience in the United Kingdom of prescribing the diamorphine (pharmaceutical heroin) albeit only for a small number of people in drug treatment. The Swiss trials indicate that it is feasible to use diamorphine under strictly controlled conditions as part of a comprehensive social and psychological intervention. In the absence of any comparative trials it is difficult to determine the value of the diamorphine provision as distinct from other aspects of the treatment package.
  465
  We will look carefully at the outcome of the New York conference on heroin maintenance that took place on 6 June 1998 and will be represented at the United General Assembly Special Session on drugs in New York this month.

  Smoking
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to tackle the current increase in smoking amongst young women. [42962]

  Ms Jowell
  In 1998/99, we are funding a Health Education Authority run adult smoking education campaign costing £5.5 million, which identifies five key target groups—two of these groups are adults in the 16–24 age group and women and pregnant women.

  We also fund a teenage smoking campaign costing £1 million which especially focuses on teenage girls (ages 11–15). I recently launched the latest phase of the campaign, the "Respect" roadshow, which aims to reach out to teenagers in settings that are attractive to them and involve them in lively, absorbing presentations which illustrate that life without cigarettes is not only possible but desirable.

  We are currently considering possible ways in which to reduce tobacco consumption and our conclusions will form part of the Tobacco Control White Paper, which will be published later this year.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy to limit NHS prescriptions to cover a maximum period of 28 days; and if he will make a statement. [44714]

  Mr. Milburn
  No. Prescribers determine the period of a prescription, taking into account the clinical condition of patients and the need to minimise waste.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the powers of health authorities to rule out prescribing drugs with proven clinical benefits on the grounds of cost; and if he will make a statement. [44399]

  Mr. Milburn
  Health authorities are responsible for using their resources to the best effect to meet the health needs of their populations. We are proposing a national, authoritative source of guidance to help the National Health Service assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of new treatments including new medicines.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he is giving to health authorities on setting up primary care groups in natural communities which have populations of less than 80,000 people. [44402]

  Mr. Milburn
  Health Service Circular 1998/065, which we published in April, said that primary care groups will be based on natural geographical communities of people, typically covering around 100,000 population. However, we have made clear that it is the functions which a primary care group will carry out that will determine its size, shape and configuration.

  Nurses and Doctors
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) nurses and (b) doctors were recruited to the National Health Service in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98; [44477]

  (2) how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were employed in the National Health Service in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [44476]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested about the numbers of doctors and nurses employed by the National Health Service can be found in the Department's statistical bulletins: "Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service Medical and Dental Staff in England: 1986 to 1996" (the latest year for which information is available) and "NHS Hospital and Community Health Services Non-medical Staff in England: 1987–1997", copies of which are available in the Library. Information about the number of nurses joining the NHS is collected by the Office of Manpower and Economics and published in the annual reports of the Review Body for Nursing staff, Midwives, Health Visitors, copies of which are in the Library. Information about the recruitment of doctors is not collected centrally.

  Bed Occupancy
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS beds were occupied by people who were waiting to be transferred to either nursing homes, residential care homes or their own homes in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [44396]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information on the number of patients aged 75 and over, ready for discharge but still occupying a hospital bed, has been collected through the routine quarterly monitoring system since April 1996. Before then, it was collected at six monthly intervals.

  Copies of the information available have been placed in the Library.

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy to establish targets for the average number of months waited by patients; and if he will make a statement. [44716]

  Mr. Milburn
  No. Our commitment over the lifetime of the Parliament is to reduce National Health Service waiting lists by 100,000 from the record level we inherited. Bringing down waiting lists—and keeping them down—will in turn bring down waiting times.

  As a first step, we have achieved our target of eliminating long waits. At the end of March 1998, for the first time in the history of the National Health Service, no English resident has been waiting more than 18 months for treatment.

  We are also committed to ensuring that—by the year 2000—everyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within 2 weeks of urgent practitioner referral. This guarantee will apply from April 1999 for breast cancer.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  New Deal (Lone Parents)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to introduce an element of compulsion into the new deal for lone parents. [42932]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The New Deal for Lone Parents is a voluntary programme. There is no question of us trying to compel lone parents to go out to work rather than looking after their children.

  Pensions
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the proportion of the population which will be covered by the extension of second-tier pensions. [42933]

  Ms Harman
  For the second pensions, the Government have two objectives:

  All those who could be paying into a second pension do so, and;

  when they do pay into a second pension they get good value for money.

  Today, we are publishing a draft bill, 'Pension Sharing on Divorce' which will ensure that, on divorce, women will get a fair share of pension rights.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received from organisations representing pensioners on pension levels. [42959]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department does not maintain information in the form requested. However, the Pensions Review has received over 2,000 written responses as part of its public consultation exercise; 652 of these responses commented on the uprating of State pensions. In addition, Ministers have personally met Pensioner Groups—such as National Pensions Convention, Public Service Pensioners Council, Pensioners Voice, British—Pensioners Trade Union Action Association, National Association of Retired Police Officers, National Federation of British Telecom and Post Office Pensioners and Southwark Pensioners Action Group—as well as groups representing the interests of pensioners—such as Age Concern and Help the Aged—to listen to their views.

  As we promised in our manifesto, we have uprated the basic pension at least in line with prices. From April, the basic pension is £103.40 a week for a couple and £64.70 for a single pensioner. We have also provided additional help of £400 million to help pensioners with their fuel bills for last winter and next winter.

  The Government's pensions review is examining the value of the basic State pension including the future uprating of pensions. The Review will report later this year.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect on current revenues from employee and employer national insurance contributions if all those currently accruing rights to a SERPS pension were to contract out into an approved personal pension. [44629]
  468
  Mr. Denham
  The additional revenue forgone in terms of National Insurance rebates for the tax year 1998/99 is estimated to be £4 billion.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement about the number of pensioners receiving income support. [42947]

  Mr. Denham
  The latest available figures show there are around 1.7 million pensioners receiving income support. In addition, there are an estimated 1 million pensioners who are entitled to Income Support but not claiming it. These figures represent in total around one in four pensioners.

  A key objective of the pensions review is to ensure that pensioners should have an adequate income in retirement; that they should share fairly in rising national prosperity and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable.

  For today's pensioners, we have commissioned research to find out why so many pensioners fail to claim their Income Support entitlement, and we are running pilots in nine areas to find the best ways of getting help to them.

  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) pensioners living alone and (b) pensioner households aged (i) between the state retirement age and 75 years, (ii) 75 and 85 years and (iii) above 85 years are dependent on income support. [43801]

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

  Pensioners claiming income support, November 1997

  Marital status

  State retirement age to 74

  75 to 84

  Age Group 85 years and over

  Couple

  103,000

  56,000

  18,000

  Single

  436,000

  444,000

  250,000

  All

  539,000

  501,000

  268,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures for single claimants are based on claimants without a partner.

  2. Pensioners are defined as men aged 65 and over, and women aged 60 and over. The age of a couple is determined by the age of the eldest partner.

  3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand cases.

  4. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  5. This analysis excludes pensioners in residential care and nursing homes.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, November 1997.

  Benefits Appeals
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps she proposes to introduce within her Department to enable benefits appeals to be dealt with more speedily. [42950]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Social Security Act 1998, which received Royal Assent on 21 May, paves the way for modernising the delivery of social security, including
  469
  the handling of appeals. A wide range of measures—some of which we are introducing immediately—will streamline the administration of appeals and ensure appeals are dealt with more speedily. In particular, the Act enables the Secretary of State to assume responsibility for the administration of the appeals system. She will set and publish demanding targets for the administration of appeals and report on the results.

  Benefits (Marriage and Illegitimacy)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment her Department has made of the likely impact on marriage and illegitimacy of her proposed changes in the benefit system. [42951]

  Mr. Field
  The social implications of all proposed benefit changes are considered carefully. We believe that the family remains the fundamental building block of society and the new welfare system will offer support to families on the basis of the needs of children rather than on family structure or marital status. The Budget announcements of increases to benefits for children, the Childcare Tax Credit and the Working Families Tax Credit are clear evidence of our commitment to supporting families with children.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the new guidelines for the calculation of the minimum funding requirement for pension schemes will be published. [42953]

  Mr. Denham
  The actuarial profession's proposals for a change to the valuation method have been agreed, and their guidance note is being revised. There is an ongoing review of the minimum funding requirement's methodology.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors underlay her decision not to initiate a review of the minimum funding requirement immediately after the July Budget. [42961]

  Mr. Denham
  The methodology and actuarial assumptions in the minimum funding requirement were devised by the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries. We were informed that they would be carrying out a review following the July Budget. We fed into that review a report by the Government Actuary, whose views we had sought on a number of issues.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans the Government have to tax benefits for people with disabilities. [42952]

  Mr. Denham
  We have made it clear in our Green Paper that Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance will remain national and universal benefits and as such they will not be subject to a means test. Taxation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, but we have no current plans to tax DLA: there were no such proposals in the Green Paper. Equally, there are no plans to tax Income Support (the income-related benefit paid to many people with disabilities) War Pensions or Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
  470
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the number of people with some level of disability in the United Kingdom; and how many of them receive state benefits. [42957]

  Mr. Denham
  There is no generally agreed formula for defining disabled people. The Disability Survey suggests that there are some 8.6 million disabled adults in private households. The numbers who receive benefits as a result of their disability are shown in the table.

  Benefit

  Recipients1,6

  Date

  Income Support

  2,4,5892,000

  August 1997

  Disability Working Allowance

  14,813

  September 1997

  Disability Living Allowance

  2,096,000

  February 1998

  Attendance Allowance

  1,279,000

  February 1998

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  3272,000

  7—

  War Disablement Pensions

  258,363

  April 1998

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  369,000

  November 1997

  Incapacity Benefit

  1,701,000

  November 1997

  Jobseeker's Allowance

  17,000

  August 1997

  1 These figures do not take into account any benefit overlap

  2 Numbers for Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance are rounded to the nearest thousand

  3 Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample except Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit which is 10 per cent., Disability Working Allowance and War Disablement Pension which are 100 per cent.

  4 The Income Support figure excludes cases who transferred to Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance with effect from October 1996

  5 Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance are based on claims receiving disability premium when either the claimant or partner is disabled

  6 All figures are for United Kingdom except War Disablement Pensions which is United Kingdom plus Overseas, Severe Disablement Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are for Great Britain

  7 Figures for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit are for Great Britain at April 1997 and Northern Ireland figures are at February 1998

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she will respond to the fourth report of the Social Security Committee on disability living allowance (HC 641). [42954]

  Mr. Denham
  We will be making a full response to the Social Security Select Committee's report in due course and in doing so we will adhere to the usual conventions set out by the Procedure Committee.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been taken off disability benefit in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [42958]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. 269,000 Attendance Allowance awards and 145,000 Disability Living Allowance awards ceased in the 12 months ending April 1998.

  Information is not available on the reasons for cessation, but these will include death, absence abroad, and non-renewal of a fixed period award, as well as withdrawal where the benefits agency found that the conditions of entitlement were no longer satisfied.

  Note:

  Figures based on 100 per cent. data, rounded to the nearest thousand.
  471
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the percentage of people who, following a review, are denied the care component payments of the disability living allowance; how many of these people are terminally ill; and if she will make a statement. [44398]

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

  Disability living allowance review decisions in 1997–98

  Decisions

  Amount

  All Decisions

  370,054

  Review allowed1

  44,288

  Award increased2

  90,075

  Other decisions3

  235,691

  Notes:

  1 Reviews within three months of the original decision determined in the claimant's favour

  2 Reviews where there are relevant changes in circumstances and the rates of either component increased

  3 Cases where benefit is disallowed, decreased or unchanged

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data

  DLA terminally ill cases1

  Cases

  1996–972

  21997–98

  Cleared3

  26,890

  23,907

  Awarded on initial claim4

  24,830

  22,160

  Awarded on review4

  5,760

  4,380

  1 Figures relate to terminally ill cases which are classed as 'special rule'. For these cases the three month qualifying period is not required and processing takes priority over other cases

  2 Figures relate to 12 months ending February

  Note:

  The cleared figure which relates to initial claims only, includes people awarded benefit, disallowed benefit and also cases withdrawn before being decided. These figures indicate that the success rate for terminal ill claimants is high

  Sources:

  3 Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data

  4 Analytical Services Division: 5 per cent. data

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions she has had with medical authorities regarding terminally-ill people who are denied the care component element of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement. [44404]

  Mr. Denham
  None. When a claim is received and the information contained on the medical condition is not sufficient to determine the claim, advice is sought from Benefits Agency Medical Service doctors. They will consult with the claimant's General Practitioner, Consultant or other health professional to ascertain the nature of the condition and the effects on that person's needs.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to reform the process of awarding the care component element of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement. [44405]

  Mr. Denham
  The Green Paper, "New ambitions for our country: A new contract for welfare", published on 26 March makes clear our commitment to the principle of providing special allowances to help with the extra costs of disability. We will maintain Disability Living 472
  Allowance and Attendance Allowance as universal national benefits for those who meet the conditions of entitlement. These benefits will not be means tested.

  We have also given a clear commitment that, in taking forward any proposals to change these benefits, we will consult disabled people, their organisations and others with an interest. For this reason, we are setting up a new Disability Benefits Forum with organisations of and for disabled people, to discuss how the system can be reformed to ensure that benefits go to those who need them. Details of the Forum will be published shortly.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of the review system for terminally ill people receiving the care component of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement. [44406]

  Mr. Denham
  Procedures are already in place to fast track initial claims and any subsequent review requests from people who are terminally ill.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors are taken into account when assessing whether a claimant is entitled to receive the care component of disability living allowance. [44407]

  Mr. Denham
  The factors taken into account are the effects of a person's disability on their day to day life as described in their self-reporting claim form. Information provided by a person's General Practitioner and/or hospital consultant or other health professional is also factored into these considerations. Adjudication Officers consult Benefits Agency Medical Services doctors on the nature and effects of disabilities. Information is also available to Adjudication Officers in the Disability Handbook which is compiled by senior doctors of this Department and approved and monitored by the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board.

  Benefit Advisers
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to increase the number of benefit advisers working in the Benefits Agency. [42955]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Staff throughout the Agency offer a range of advice to customers. In line with Ministers' aims of achieving welfare reform and providing an Active Modern Service, we are developing an integrated approach to provision of advice, both in respect of benefit entitlement and in terms of broader welfare considerations. This approach reflects the principle that customers can be better served by greater co-ordination of services which have traditionally been provided by wholly separate organisations.

  We are currently evaluating the ways in which such co-ordination might best be achieved. This may involve the deployment of more caseworkers, not only within the Benefits Agency, but also in partner organisations such as Employment Services, Local Authorities, other DSS Agencies and the wider welfare community including the private sector.
  473

  Children
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the action the Government have taken to improve the support for children through the social security system. [42956]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  In his Budget Statement, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out a number of measures for families with children. From November 1998, there will be a £2.50 increase in the under-11 child allowance in Income Support (IS), Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Housing Benefit (HB), Council Tax Benefit (CTB), Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance. From April 1999, Child Benefit for the eldest child and the family premium in IS, JSA, HB and CTB will be increased by £2.50.

  Support for children will also be substantially improved by the introduction of a childcare tax credit which is designed to make support for children through the tax system more generous and more transparent.

  In addition to these measures, increases in the childcare disregard for in-work benefits came into force from 1 June. The maximum disregard is now £100 a week for families incurring childcare costs for two or more children of qualifying age and the upper age limit for children has been extended by a year.

  Long-term Sick and Disabled People
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps she has taken to help the long-term sick and disabled into work. [42960]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are committed to improving opportunities and incentives for disabled people who want to work, whilst providing appropriate support to those who cannot. There are four strands to our strategy for helping people with disabilities or long-term sickness who want to work; taking action to help make work pay; providing the active help and encouragement people with disabilities need to move into work; removing obstacles to work from the benefits system; and promoting radical change in the work place to ensure equality and opportunity.

  Specific initiatives include the New Deal for Disabled People, under which we will pilot a new Personal Adviser Service and fund a number of innovative schemes to test ways of helping disabled people who want to work; changes to benefit rules, including a new 52 week linking rule for incapacity benefits to be introduced from this October; the Disabled Persons Tax Credit, which we are developing to replace and enhance Disability Working Allowance; and the Disability Rights Task Force, which we have set up to advise on the best ways to secure civil rights and maximise the benefits of the Disability Discrimination Act (the remaining provisions of which we are committed to implementing). We are also setting up a Disability Rights Commission, to promote, protect and enforce the rights of disabled people.

  Ministers for Women
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the priorities of the Ministers for Women during the UK presidency of the European Union. [42963]
  474
  Ms Harman
  The theme of the UK Presidency is employability. We have been clear from the outset that this means the employability of women as well as men. The importance of child care and family friendly employment policies—two of the priorities of the Ministers for Women—are key to this.

  On 5–6 May we called a meeting of the EU Ministers for Women to discuss women's employability—at this highly successful conference.

  a consensus was reached on the importance of affordable, accessible and high quality child care and family friendly working policies;

  it was agreed that the Ministers for Women would meet at least once a year in the future to exchange ideas and best practice in these areas; and

  the need to include women's concerns through all employment policies, both at a national and EU level, has been firmly placed on the EU agenda.

  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting in Belfast on the EU Presidency Conclusions on Women and Employability. [42927]

  Ms Harman
  The theme of the UK Presidency is employability. We have been clear from the outset that this means the employability of women as well as men. That is why we called the meeting of EU Ministers for Women which we held in Belfast on 5–6 May.

  The meeting focused in particular on the importance of child care and family friendly employment policies, and provided a valuable opportunity to share best practice with our EU partners. The meeting reached a consensus on the following key points.

  Affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care, parental and other leave schemes, and family-friendly working policies are essential for women and men to combine work and family responsibilities.

  Equality between women and men must be included in all employment polices, both at national and EU level; so that measures to improve employability and support the unemployed take the rights and needs of women and men fully in account.

  Meetings of Ministers for Women and for Equality provide useful opportunities for the exchange of ideas and best practice and developing strategies. They intend to meet at least once a year in future.

  Member states expressed their commitment to drive forward these initiatives and will use proposed future meetings to do so.

  Benefits (Young People)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations she has recently received on the inability of 16 and 17-year-olds to claim benefits; and if she will make a statement. [42964]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  As well as informal approaches, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 28 letters in the last year relating to the benefit entitlement of 16 and 17-year-olds. Sixteen of these related to Income Support and 12 to Jobseeker's Allowance. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has received four letters and one Parliamentary Question on this topic in the last year.
  475

  Service Delivery
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on Government actions to improve the quality of service delivery in the social security system during the last year. [42965]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Improved service delivery is central to our approach to welfare reform. Our services must actively help people to move off welfare and into work.

  In December 1997, we launched our Active Modern Service programme to transform Social Security by building a system that commands the support and confidence of those who use it, those who administer it and those who fund it, providing a better, simpler, more efficient service to clients.

  The focus of our effort will be to provide services that clients need. We will achieve a much better outcome if we include them in the debate. On 18 June 1998, we will be speaking to client representatives to begin to tell them of our plans and consult them about the way forward.

  Much has begun to be put in place, enhanced quality of service delivery by improving decision making, closer working initiatives with Local Authorities, pilots to test the automatic delivery of benefit for pensioners and personal advisors for Lone Parents and the Disabled.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 27 February 1998,Official Report, column 380, if she will provide a breakdown of the figures for non-cyclical social security expenditure between benefits for the (a) elderly and (b) non-elderly. [44653]

  Mr. Field
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Non-cyclical social security expenditure

  £ million

  Year

  Elderly

  Non-elderly

  1978–79

  26,918

  16,882

  1979–80

  26,718

  18,277

  1980–81

  27,025

  17,392

  1981–82

  29,157

  18,926

  1982–83

  30,532

  19,626

  1983–84

  31,627

  21,328

  1984–85

  31,943

  22,213

  1985–86

  33,082

  22,694

  1986–87

  34,453

  23,774

  1987–88

  34,475

  24,085

  1988–89

  33,423

  23,802

  1989–90

  33,958

  23,903

  1990–91

  34,835

  25,139

  1991–92

  36,517

  27,735

  1992–93

  37,673

  31,283

  1993–94

  39,196

  34,333

  1994–95

  39,456

  35,661

  1995–96

  39,826

  37,007

  1996–97

  40,799

  38,312

  1997–98

  41,311

  38,740

  1998–99

  41,820

  39,212

  1999–2000

  42,274

  39,819

  476
  Notes:

  1. Figures have been taken from the 1997 Social Security Departmental Report as well as earlier equivalent publications. The figures exclude the cost of Administration

  2. The figures for 1996–97 are estimates of expenditure in that year. Revised figures for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99 have been included in the 1998 Social Security Departmental Report. Figures for subsequent years are not included as they are subject to the findings of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the results of which are expected later this year

  3. Benefits have been allocated according to the main reason they are paid in order to provide figures consistent with tables in the Social Security Departmental Report. This means that some benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, have been included in the non-elderly totals shown in the table, even though they may be paid to elderly people.

  Family Income
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates she has made of the level of income required to support a family with children relative to a family with no children. [44630]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  There are many factors which affect the financial needs of a family, including the presence of children. These are reflected in the structure of allowances in the income-related benefits.

  The new welfare system will provide better support to families with children. That is why we have announced a £2.50 increase in Child Benefit for the eldest child and a £2.50 increase in the family premium in the income-related benefits. We have announced further help for vulnerable families with young children through a £2.50 increase in the under 11 child allowances.

  These measures will help families to give every child a better start.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have lost their entitlement to incapacity benefit because of the all work test since its introduction; and what percentage of those were(a) over 50 and (b) over 55 years. [43046]

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

  Incapacity Benefit recipients found capable of work following application of the all work test

  Number

  13 April 1995 to 31 August 1996

  Numbers (all ages)

  178,000

  1 September 1996 to 30 November 1997

  Numbers (all ages)

  251,000

  Percentage aged 50 and over

  31

  Percentage aged 55 and over

  18

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand

  2. Due to initial data collection problems, the proportion of recipients found capable of work broken down by age is not available from 13 April 1995 to 31 August 1996

  3. Figures include recipients found capable after initial referral for the all work test and after re-referrals

  4. The all work test is not applicable to Incapacity Benefit recipients aged 58 or over on 13 April 1995 who had been in receipt of Invalidity Benefit continuously between 1 December 1993 and 12 April 1995
  477
  Source:

  13 April 1995 to 31 August 1997. 100 per cent. count of the computer system; excludes a small number of cases not on the system

  1 September 1996 to 30 November 1997. 5 per cent. sample of the computer system; excludes a small number of cases not on the system

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what support her Department gives to those fleeing domestic violence. [42928]

  Ms Ruddock
  Income-related benefits are available to women fleeing domestic violence. However, we are aware that women are not always offered the full range of support services they may need.

  As Ministers for Women, tackling violence against women is one of out three key priorities. In drawing up our National Strategy, we are consulting with experts in the field of domestic violence, and listening to the views of women who have suffered domestic violence, to build a strategy to help prevent domestic violence; protect those who suffer it; and bring to justice those who perpetrate it.

  Pensioners (Scotland)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people and what proportion of those over 60 years old in Scotland receive(a) income support, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit and (d) income from disability benefits. [43812]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is set out in the table.

  Benefit

  Number

  Proportion of population per cent.

  Income Support1

  172,000

  16.6

  All Housing Benefit2

  230,000

  22.2

  All Council Tax Benefit=

  292,000

  28.2

  Income Support claimants receiving a disability related premium1,3

  79,000

  7.6

  Housing Benefit recipients with income from disability benefits2,4

  81,000

  7.9

  Council Tax Benefit recipients with income from disability benefits2,4

  91,000

  8.8

  Attendance Allowance5

  122,000

  11.7

  Disability Living Allowance5

  83,000

  8.0

  War Disablement Pensioners6

  25,000

  2.4

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit7

  12,000

  1.1

  Incapacity Benefit8

  56,000

  5.4

  Severe Disablement Allowance8

  6,000

  0.6

  1 Claimants as at November 1997. Number of claimants aged 60 or over is based on benefit units who receive a pensioner premium. It may therefore include some claimants who are under 60 years whose partner is aged 60 or over

  2 Figures as at May 1996. The information refers to benefit units which may be a single person or a couple. The data do not include second adult rebate cases

  3 Claimants with a disability premium are also included in the total of 172,000 IS claimants in Scotland aged 60 or over. Claimants with disability related premiums are claimants aged 60 to 79 with a Higher Pensioner Premium or claimants with Severe Disability Premium

  4 Information for recipients with income from disability benefits refers to benefit units where there is either a disability premium or a higher pensioner premium in payment
  478
  5 Figures relate to November 1997

  6 Figures as at February 1998

  7 Figures as at April 1997

  8 Recipients as at November 1997

  Notes:

  1. As at October 1997 there were only a negligible number of Disability Working Allowance recipients in Scotland aged 60 or over

  2. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand

  Sources:

  1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry—a 5 per cent. sample

  2. Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit with income from disability benefits and Council Tax Benefit with income from disability benefits are from Housing Benefit Management Information System—a 1 per cent. sample with and without Income Support

  3. Attendance Allowance, Disability Allowance figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of data from the Analytical Services Division

  4. War Disablement Pensioner figures are derived from a 5 per cent. sample from the War Pensions Computer System

  5. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit figures are based on a 10 per cent. sample of data from the Analytical Services Division which includes an adjustment for late statistical returns

  6. Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the PSCS(INCAP) system which excludes a small number of cases held clerically

  7. Population figures are from the Office of National Statistics as at June 1996

  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate her Department has made of the number of people of pensionable age in Scotland in each year to 2010. [43809]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is set out in the table.

  Projected numbers of people of pensionable age for Scotland 1998–010

  000s

  Year

  Population estimate

  1998

  918

  1999

  920

  2000

  922

  2001

  923

  2002

  925

  2003

  930

  2004

  935

  2005

  938

  2006

  942

  2007

  956

  2008

  968

  2009

  980

  2010

  984

  Notes:

  1. The table is based on population projections for Scotland provided by the Government Actuary's Department based on population estimates for 1996

  2. The estimates take account of the equalisation of State Pension Age from 2010

  3. All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand

  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of people aged (i) 64 to 74 years and (ii) 75 years and over in Scotland live alone. [43813]

  Mr. Denham
  The proportion of people aged 64 to 74 years and 75 years and over in Scotland who live alone is 32 per cent. and 55 per cent. respectively.
  479
  Notes:

  1. The figures are based on information from the Family Resources Survey 1995–96.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent.

  3. Calculations for the number of people living alone are based on the number of people who report no other adults or children in their household. For this reason figures may be subject to misreporting.

  4. The Family Resources Survey does not cover those pensioners who are in hospital or residential care and therefore these people are not included in the estimates.

  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of pensioners in Scotland currently receive the state retirement pension. [43814]

  Mr. Denham
  The number and percentage of people above State pension age in Scotland currently receiving the State Retirement Pension is 863,500 and 94 per cent. respectively.
  480
  Notes:

  1. The figures are based on information from the Pensions Strategy Computer System and from the Scottish Registrar's population estimates.

  2. Figures for the number in receipt of State Retirement Pension are rounded to the nearest one hundred. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent.

  Housing Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the level of fraud in housing benefit. [42941]

  Mr. Field
  We have made it clear in our Green Paper that rooting out fraud is an essential part of welfare reform. We are undertaking a fundamental review of the Department's counter-fraud strategies to ensure a coherent, well-prioritised programme to reduce overall fraud levels through earlier prevention, more effective deterrence and better detection.

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  Scotland: Per Capita Spending
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