Written Answers of 17 June 1998

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Belmont Stables, Mill Hill
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the public inquiry into the planning issues arising from Belmont Stables, Mill Hill, will recommence. [45439]

  Mr. Caborn
  The principal parties and representatives of third parties were notified by a letter, dated 1 May 1998 that the inquiry into the appeals by Belmont Riding Centre Ltd, would resume on 4 August 1998 with Mr. Palmer, the original Inspector, if he were fit or, alternatively, if he were not, recommenced by a new Inspector. The letter also stated that the principal parties would be given 1 month's notice as to which alternative is adopted.

  The principal parties and representatives of third parties were told in letters dated 10 June 1998 that Mr. Palmer would not be returning from sick leave before 4 August. At present, therefore, an Inspector would be available to recommence the inquiry on that date. However, the parties have indicated that they may not wish to do so and other alternatives are being actively and urgently investigated.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates his Department has made of the number of passengers the London Underground's Jubilee Line extension will carry per week when the Millennium Dome is open to the public. [45760]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand from London Transport that an approximate estimate of Jubilee Line Extension passenger journeys per week, during the busiest period for the Millennium Dome, would be 1.6 million. (If visitors to the Dome are excluded, the estimate falls to 1.1 million passenger journeys per week).

  Traffic Commissioner
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place copies in the Library of the Traffic Commissioner's business plans. [45816]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 15 June 1998]Traffic Commissioners are required to submit annual reports to the Secretary of State on discharge of their Goods and Public Service Vehicle licensing functions and other responsibilities. Copies of these reports are placed in the Library. The Business Plan of the Traffic Area Network has not hitherto been published but I am placing a copy of the 1998–99 Plan in the Library.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the working group on the operation of present legislation for mobile homes has been set up; what the terms of reference and programme of work are to be; when the working group is expected to report; and if he will make a statement. [46143]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Park Homes Working Party held its first meeting on 14 May. Its aim and terms of reference are as follows:

  Aim: To promote the effective and equitable operation of existing statutory controls on permanent residential park homes and to consider what changes, if any, in these might be desirable to achieve a fair and workable balance between the needs and interests of park home residents and park owners/operators.

  Terms of Reference: To review the statutory framework of park homes legislation and, in particular, the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, Caravan Sites Act 1968 and Mobile Homes Act 1983, and consider:

  (a) what is the best current practice in the application and enforcement of these controls by local authorities, and how it might best be disseminated;

  (b) whether there is further scope to achieve the effective operation of existing controls through initiatives generated by the park homes industry; and

  (c) whether there are significant weaknesses in the content of the existing controls which might be remedied, without disproportionate increases in public expenditure and in costs to operators and residents, through changes to secondary and, if appropriate and when Parliamentary time allows, primary legislation.

  The Working Party is aiming to present recommendations to Ministers by Spring 1999.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulation of the deposit scheme for people who rent property in the private sector. [46081]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We are concerned about the problem of tenants' rental deposits being withheld unreasonably by landlords at the end of tenancies. We are currently looking at legislation operating overseas to see whether there is an appropriate model for dealing with those problems. But we will need to be satisfied that any new requirements would not deter reputable small landlords, or potential landlords, and that they would achieve a fair balance between the interests of tenants and landlords.

  Second Homes
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1998,Official Report, columns 575–76, if he will provide a regional breakdown of the households which own or rent a second home, indicating where the second homes are located. [46092]
  205
  Mr. Raynsford
  The table shows estimates based on data from the Survey of English Housing for the three years ending March 1997.

  Location of second homes in England

  thousands

  Region

  Homes

  North and North West

  30

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  12

  East Midlands

  15

  London

  26

  South East and East Anglia

  60

  South West

  41

  West Midlands

  15

  England

  201

  Notes:

  1. The table shows second homes in England owned or rented by households with their main residence also in England. It excludes second homes which are the main residence of another household, and those which the owners are intending to sell

  2. Like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sampling variability. Data for three years, and for some regions, have been combined to preserve a reasonable sample size

  3. Data shown are based on the former Standard Statistical Regions rather than the present Government Office Regions, as this was the only regional definition available at the start of the survey period

  Education Expenditure
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish a table showing for each education authority the amount allocated per pupil for each of the education SSA sub-blocks in 1998–99 attributable to the relevant population sparsity factor. [45828]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A table showing these figures has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates his Department has made of the(a) advantages and (b) savings to business and commerce which would result from the construction of the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [46065]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: The Department's case for proceeding with the Birmingham Northern Relief Road was fully set out in evidence given to the 1994–95 public inquiry. Its construction would provide a high quality alternative route to the heavily congested section of the M6 through the West Midlands for commercial and other traffic. It would better facilitate the movement of through traffic from Scotland and the North West through the West Midlands to the South East, the Channel Tunnel and ports.

  In strongly supporting the proposed scheme at the public inquiry, representative road haulage and business organisations pointed out the damage which the present levels of congestion on the M6 were causing in terms of delays and to competitiveness.
  206
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the cost benefit analysis of the construction of the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [46064]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: A formal cost benefit analysis of the scheme was not carried out because it is to be privately financed. However, before deciding to award the concession to Midland Expressway Ltd., the previous Government took into account a comparative analysis of the economic benefits of the scheme with a publicly financed tolled road and a publicly financed untolled road. This showed the scheme having a benefit: cost ratio of more than 2:1. This information was contained in Department of Transport evidence on toll policy and its application to the Birmingham Northern Relief Road put to the 1994–95 public inquiry. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  Merchant Navy
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from(a) the Merchant Navy Association and (b) others about the establishment of a Merchant Navy Day on 3 September. [45536]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Since the election, there have been five written representations from the Merchant Navy Association, and twelve from members of the Association writing in a personal capacity.

  Nuclear Deterrence
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 1998,Official Report, column 32, on how many occasions he has not answered written questions from hon. Members on the grounds that he considered a matter to be closed. [46363]

  Mr. Prescott
  This is the latest in a series of related questions from the hon. Member. I have nothing to add to my answers of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 218, 8 June 1998, Official Report, column 413 and 15 June 1998, Official Report, columns 32 and 40.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will introduce proposals for the payment to English local authorities of the new grant for rural bus services; and if he will be issuing guidance to the authorities concerned on use of the grant. [46645]

  Dr. Strang
  I announced a provisional distribution of this grant on 28 April, subject to approval by Parliament in due course. Following consultation with interested parties, I have now laid before the House a Special Grant Report under Section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. This incorporates my detailed proposals for the payment of the grant and the conditions which will apply to its use. My Department is also circulating guidance to local authorities; a copy has been placed in the Library.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Personal Injury Cases
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the legal aid bill in 1996–97 and 1997–98 for personal injury cases was for cases won by the plaintiffs and resulted in the expenditure on legal aid being recovered from the defendants at the conclusion of the proceedings. [45166]

  Mr. Hoon
  This information is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The proportion of the gross legal aid costs recovered in all personal injury cases closed (including medical negligence matters) during 1996/97 can be broken down as follows:

  All personal injury litigation (including medical negligence)—cases closed 1996–97

  £ million

  Percentage of gross cost

  Gross payments

  274.1

  n/a

  Costs received

  206.7

  75

  Damages retained

  4.1

  1

  Contributions retained

  2

  1

  Net costs

  61.8

  23

  No equivalent information is currently available for 1997–98.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the legal aid bill in 1996–97 and 1997–98 for personal injury cases was liable to VAT and resulted in a revenue to the Treasury. [45167]

  Mr. Hoon
  The information requested is not available since the Legal Aid Board is not required to account separately for VAT.

TREASURY

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances he was asked to leave the room during the Meeting of the Euro XI to discuss the single currency at Senningen Castle, Luxembourg on 4 June; and what factors led to the Austrian finance minister taking the chair. [46254]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: As President of ECOFIN, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was invited to attend the informal meeting on 4 June. The Chancellor took part in a constructive discussion of issues for consideration at the September meeting of Euro-XI which will involve all Member States. At an appropriate point, when issues falling within the specific responsibility of Member States joining the single currency were to be discussed, the Chancellor left the meeting.

  All meetings of Euro-XI will be chaired by the Presidency or, if the Presidency is held by a nonparticipating Member State, by the next Presidency in office. That is why Mr. Edlinger chaired the 4 June meeting.
  208
  These arrangements are entirely in line with Luxembourg European Council conclusions and were agreed by all Member States in advance.

  Registered Businesses
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many registered businesses in the United Kingdom he estimates have a value of £250,000 or less. [43612]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]On December 31 1997, there were approximately 1.11 million VAT-registered businesses in the UK with a turnover of less than £250,000.

  Lending Policies
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the United Kingdom representatives at the(a) World Bank, (b) IMF and (c) African Development Bank will ensure that the multilateral institutions pursue lending policies which take a realistic account of the ability of the debtor Government to repay. [43471]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The UK Government have played a leading role in encouraging the IMF, World Bank and the Multilateral Development Banks, including the African Development Bank, to pursue policies designed to promote sustainable economic growth and reductions in poverty. In particular, it attaches importance to ensuring that lending decisions are based on a careful assessment of a country's ability to absorb new lending and repay existing loans, to ensure that their debt burden is not increased.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of progress made by pension firms in providing redress to the victims of mis-sold personal pensions. [46554]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The table shows the progress made in the period to end May 1998 by the 41 firms whose figures I have been publishing. Some 78 per cent. of all the cases these firms must review have now been completed.

  Many firms are now making good progress with their priority reviews. I expect the laggards to do their utmost to better the targets set for them by the regulators. I hope all firms will demonstrate the same commitment they have shown of late when they begin phase 2 of the review.

  I am still disappointed by the poor progress being made by many IFAs. On 10 June, PIA fined Financial Options Ltd. and Investment Options Ltd. a total of £400,000 for various failings, mostly related to the review of personal pensions. I expect IFAs to deal with their priority cases as a matter of the utmost urgency and hope the industry will continue to pursue the ABI's lifeboat initiative to help IFAs finance their reviews and process cases. Mis-selling damages the reputation of the entire industry. It is in everyone's interests to work together to complete the review.

  I am aware of criticisms by a number of IFAs of the FSA and PIA proposals for phase 2 of the review. Some

  209
  even deny that there is a problem while others try to pass the buck. Their poor attitude tarnishes those IFAs with integrity who are making a concerted effort to complete their case reviews.

  Progress by pensions firms in resolving cases of personal pensions mis-selling in the period to the end of May 1998

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  Under 50% of cases resolved

  DBS

  1,889

  298

  259

  76

  183

  134

  7

  27

  Burns Anderson

  1,178

  308

  227

  128

  99

  82

  7

  44

  Financial options

  363

  121

  43

  20

  23

  19

  5

  44

  50–75% of cases resolved

  Gan

  11,598

  1,368

  5,434

  632

  4,802

  3,836

  33

  50

  Countrywide

  4,857

  2,239

  268

  166

  103

  79

  2

  51

  Lincoln National

  13,475

  1,774

  6,941

  1,114

  5,827

  4,856

  36

  57

  Windsor Life

  9,558

  3,332

  3,064

  291

  2,386

  1,896

  20

  58

  Abbey Life

  17,446

  4,551

  6,690

  1,015

  5,675

  4,798

  28

  59

  London and Manchester

  8,430

  1,271

  4,540

  537

  4,003

  3,603

  43

  64

  IFA Network

  333

  97

  120

  84

  36

  33

  10

  64

  Colonial

  8,421

  2,531

  3,598

  420

  3,178

  2,610

  31

  66

  Friends Provident

  6,964

  1,049

  3,948

  601

  3,347

  2,984

  43

  67

  Standard Life

  7,052

  780

  4,284

  999

  3,285

  2,932

  42

  67

  Hill Samuel

  6,114

  862

  3,678

  653

  3,025

  2,663

  44

  68

  Canada Life

  5,575

  340

  3,937

  588

  3,349

  2,893

  52

  69

  Royal & Sun Alliance

  16,109

  3,028

  9,953

  1,158

  8,795

  7,100

  44

  70

  NatWest

  15,085

  4,522

  7,211

  1,099

  6,122

  4,990

  33

  70

  CIS

  43,459

  4,912

  30,279

  13,196

  17,083

  13,256

  31

  72

  Sun Life of Canada

  27,720

  9,999

  11,681

  2,150

  9,531

  7,951

  29

  73

  Berkeley Independent

  173

  104

  22

  18

  4

  4

  2

  73

  Sedgwick

  16,064

  8,145

  4,061

  1,556

  2,505

  2,231

  14

  74

  Over 75% of cases resolved

  Albany Life

  2,950

  640

  1,974

  185

  1,789

  1,410

  48

  76

  Allied Dunbar

  19,197

  4,050

  12,176

  3,507

  8,669

  7,251

  38

  77

  M&E Network

  315

  173

  78

  26

  52

  48

  15

  78

  Equitable Life

  7,540

  1,856

  4,378

  1,629

  2,749

  2,459

  33

  79

  Guardian

  9,161

  1,260

  6,569

  974

  5,595

  5,017

  55

  79

  Legal & General

  36,804

  14,872

  18,372

  1,743

  16,629

  13,440

  37

  82

  Britannic

  19,639

  5,411

  12,313

  3,067

  9,246

  7,782

  40

  83

  Wesleyan

  4,178

  267

  3,378

  987

  2,391

  2,264

  54

  84

  Lloyd's TSB

  50,018

  12,382

  32,508

  6,281

  26,227

  23,855

  48

  85

  Hogg Robinson

  2,178

  807

  1,163

  399

  764

  651

  30

  85

  United Assurance

  13,252

  1,253

  11,066

  2,040

  9,026

  8,114

  61

  86

  Commercial Union

  7,887

  1,299

  5,849

  799

  5,050

  4,708

  60

  86

  Pearl

  46,814

  3,887

  39,356

  5,641

  33,715

  31,080

  66

  87

  Prudential

  72,172

  19,410

  52,681

  3,875

  48,806

  40,239

  56

  88

  Royal London

  12,806

  1,128

  11,470

  1,498

  9,972

  8,951

  70

  90

  Barclays

  17,035

  6,050

  10,293

  2,306

  7,987

  7,146

  42

  91

  Norwich Union

  7,464

  2,237

  4,763

  740

  4,023

  3,824

  51

  91

  AXA Equity and Law

  4,006

  764

  3,035

  618

  2,417

  2,301

  57

  92

  Godwins

  1,478

  114

  1,354

  455

  899

  839

  57

  95

  Midland

  4,862

  553

  4,196

  493

  3,703

  3,622

  74

  96

  Notes:

  A: cases identified as requiring review

  B: of A, cases where investor was informed that information gained during assessment excluded cases from review

  C: number of assessments completed

  D: cases where the investor has been informed that no redress is due

  E: cases where redress has been offered

  F: cases where redress has been accepted

  G: cases where redress has been accepted as a percentage of cases for review ((F/A) x 100)

  H: cases completed, including exclusions, as a percentage of cases identified for review (((B+D+F)/A) x 100)

  Alcohol and Tobacco Imports
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if personal imports of alcohol and tobacco from France are taken into account in calculating the RPI. [46459]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  210
  The FSA asked trade bodies and product providers to consider how they could help to ensure that, where appropriate, investors who had bought a personal pension through an IFA could receive speedy redress.

  Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 17 June 1998:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on calculating the RPI.
  Personal imports of alcohol and tobacco from France are not reflected in the RPI either in the expenditure weights used to represent spending patterns or in the prices collected to form the index.

  Wages (Worcestershire)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) men and (b) women, working (i) full-time and (ii) part-time, in (1) Worcester and (2) Worcestershire earn less than (x) £3 per hour and (y) £3.60 per hour. [46112]

  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 M. P. G Pepper to Mr. Michael J. Foster dated 17 June 1998:
  In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on earnings.
  Latest estimates of the percentage of employees in Worcester, and Worcester and Hereford earning less than the hourly rates you mention, may be obtained from the April 1997 New Earnings Survey which is based upon a one percent. sample of employees in the PAYE system. As such, the estimates which relate to low earnings and part-time employment should be treated with a degree of caution.
  Results are presented for the Worcester parliamentary constituency, and for the county of Hereford and Worcester. Worcestershire is no longer a statistically defined geographical area.

  Employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey pay-period was unaffected by absence—New Earnings Survey—April 1997

  Percentage of employees with hourly earnings (excluding overtime) less than:

  £3.00

  £3.60

  Worcester1

  Full-time men

  2.5

  2.5

  Part-time men

  2—

  2—

  Full-time women

  1.2

  3.5

  Part-time women

  4.7

  14.1

  All employees

  2.9

  6.8

  Hereford and Worcester Country

  Full-time men

  1.3

  3.2

  Part-time men

  1.9

  26.4

  Full-time women

  1.9

  6.6

  Part-time women

  7.4

  21.6

  All employees

  2.8

  8.9

  1 Parliamentary constituency

  2 Denotes an estimate which is unavailable because the sample size is too small

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43325]

  Dr. Howells
  For details of the numbers of Special Advisers and the annual cost of employing them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 11 June 1998,Official Report, column 664.
  212
  National Insurance contributions are excluded from the figure but are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for other civil servants. Information on the paybill costs for Special Advisers within individual Departments is not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  Information on the cost of employing Special Advisers in previous years was given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73.

  European Voluntary Service
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the sub-contracting of the pastoral supervision role of the European Voluntary Service to third parties; and if he will list the agencies his Department has approved for this purpose. [45316]

  Dr. Howells
  The Youth Exchange Centre is the national agency for the European Voluntary Service programme in the UK. Projects wishing to host young volunteers undergo rigorous scrutiny before being accepted into the programme. Provision for pastoral supervision is an important component of that scrutiny.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the merging of Youth for Europe and the European Voluntary Service after 1999.[46132]

  Dr. Howells
  Youth for Europe and the European Voluntary Service will conclude at the end of 1999. The European Commission has recently published proposals to establish a Youth Community Action Programme (2000–2004) incorporating both these programmes. The draft Decision will be considered by Member States with a view to enabling Council to reach a common position on the proposals in due course.

  Buddhism (Educational Material)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received concerning the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and their educational material; and if he will assess the authenticity of the material on their website and its coverage of Buddhist traditions with a view to advising local authorities on the suitability of the material for schools. [45434]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a letter from Lord Avebury concerning allegations on another website. The Department is investigating the allegations concerning religious education and will consider whether further action is necessary.

  New Deal (Ethnic Monitoring)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements are in place for the ongoing ethnic monitoring of the progress of those placed on one of the New Deal options; and if he will make a statement. [45437]
  213
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We have arrangements in place to provide comprehensive management information on the participation of ethnic minorities in New Deal. Our evaluation strategy will also enable us to determine the final destinations of all New Deal clients including those from ethnic minorities.

  School/College Transport (Essex)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide additional financial support to Essex County Council to fund the retention from September of the current free home to school/college transport for pupils and students from the age of 16.[45473]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 8 May 1998,Official Report, column 524.

  Teaching (New Entrants)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new entrants into the teaching profession there were for the years 1979 to 1997. [45551]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The numbers of new entrants to full-time teaching, in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector', for the years 1979 to 1996, are shown in the table. New entrants to part-time teaching are shown for the years 1993 to 1996. Information for previous years is not readily available.

  Full-time entrants

  Part-time entrants

  1979

  25,490

  —

  1980

  21,650

  —

  1981

  16,280

  —

  1982

  13,190

  —

  1983

  13,270

  —

  1984

  12,810

  —

  1985

  11,140

  —

  1986

  11,900

  —

  1987

  12,600

  —

  1988

  12,580

  —

  1989

  13,950

  —

  1990

  15,240

  —

  1991

  14,900

  —

  1992

  15,440

  —

  1993

  16,120

  1,000

  1994

  17,800

  1,300

  19952

  19,300

  1,300

  19962

  19,300

  1,400

  1 Excluding sixth form colleges from 1994

  2Data for 1995 and 1996 are provisional

  New Deal for Schools
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what criteria he used for the recently-awarded funding under the New Deal for Schools Capital Programme Phase 2 for the North Somerset council area; [45992]

  (2) what criteria are used for awarding funding under the New Deal for Schools Capital Programme Phase 2. [45993]

  Mr. Byers
  Applications for funding received from all Local Education Authorities (and the Funding Agency for Schools) under Phase 2 of the New Deal for Schools initiative were considered against the priorities and 214
  criteria set out in the guidance issued by this Department on 5 November 1997. A copy of the full guidance has been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets were transferred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission on 1 April. [46642]

  Mr. Michael
  The Criminal Cases Review Commission has been notified that certain Crown assets have been transferred to it, effective from 1 April 1998. The transfer will be free of charge. The assets comprise:

  Assets

  Estimated value (£)

  Furniture and miscellaneous items of office equipment

  87,000

  Information Technology and communications equipment

  496,000

  Total

  583,000

  Sierra Leone (Asylum Seekers)
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on asylum seekers from Sierra Leone. [46715]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 1 July 1997,Official Report, column 78, that he had made a declaration under the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 that Sierra Leone had undergone such an upheaval that we would not seek to enforce the return of refused asylum seekers to that country for the time being.

  Since that time, the situation in the country has been carefully monitored, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. More information has become available since the liberation of Freetown by ECOMOG troops in February this year.

  The democratically elected President returned to the country in March and announced his new broad-based government. Although there is fighting in the east, the rest of the country appears secure.

  The information received about conditions in Sierra Leone enables me to make an informed assessment of the merits of asylum applications made prior to the upheaval and subsequently, in accordance with our international obligations. If an applicant is able to demonstrate that his fear of persecution is well-founded, then asylum will be granted. In other cases, if there are clear compelling humanitarian reasons not to require a person to return, exceptional leave to enter or remain will be granted. If asylum or exceptional treatment is not merited, the normal course will be to expect applicants to return to Sierra Leone. We will continue to monitor developments in the region.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the results of local bids for CCTV under round four of the CCTV challenge competition. [46096]

  Mr. Michael
  I have placed in the Library earlier today the results of round 4 of the Closed Circuit Television Challenge competition. I am pleased to be able to inform the hon. Member that a partnership in his constituency led by Warminster Town Council has been offered an award of £74,525.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance his Department is providing in the current financial year to London local authorities that wish to install CCTV cameras within their areas. [45519]

  Mr. Michael
  I have placed in the Library the results of round 4 of the Close Circuit Television Challenge competition. The awards offered to crime reduction partnerships in London boroughs under the latest competition, together with the balance of awards made to schemes under earlier rounds which have yet to be paid, are listed in the table. All awards have to be taken up in the current financial year.

  Closed circuit television expenditure for London (1998–99)

  Scheme

  Award

  Amount outstanding

  Round 2

  Church Street Village, Marylebone

  55,600

  37,100

  Wimbledon Town Centre

  96,500

  64,400

  Morden Town Centre

  81,000

  54,000

  155,500

  Round 3

  The Roding Valley, Barking

  56,205

  18,770

  Broadway West; Bexleyheath Town Centre

  61,088

  40,788

  Coopers Lane Estate and Purchase Street Open Space, Camden

  74,250

  49,500

  Southall Town Centre

  109,868

  73,245

  Woolwich Town Centre and Car Parks

  67,500

  45,000

  Greenwich Town Centre

  135,000

  90,000

  Hackney Housing Estates

  54,000

  36,000

  Pembury Neighbourhood, Hackney

  135,000

  90,000

  Broadway Market Neighbourhood, Hackney

  135,000

  90,000

  Charing Cross Hospital and Surrounding Area

  111,023

  74,014

  Hammersmith Hospital and Surrounding Area

  59,446

  39,630

  Station Areas & New Malden High Street, Kingston upon Thames, New Malden, Surbiton, Chessington, Worcester Park

  135,000

  90,000

  Streatham Town Centre

  103,500

  69,000

  South Wimbledon/Colliers Wood/Merton Abbey

  94,320

  62,920

  The Canons Leisure Centre, Mitcham

  52,313

  34,913

  Newham "Hot Spots"

  50,000

  15,000

  Knightsbridge and Lupus Street

  131,463

  43,000

  Paddington Recreation Ground

  75,600

  50,400

  1,012,180

  Round 4

  London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

  75,000

  Green Street Town Centre

  75,000

  London Borough of Lewisham

  18,500

  London Borough of Merton

  50,000

  London Borough of Brent

  74.710

  London Borough of Bexley—Control Room

  40,000

  333,210

  Local Authorities (Pilot Schemes)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the pilot schemes announced since 1 May by his Department that involve local authorities in a lead or partnership capacity; if he will list each of the local authorities involved in each case; and what revenue and capital funding each local authority will receive through the pilot in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–2001. [45335]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 11 June 1998]: As I announced in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, column 219, we have identified nine local authority areas in which, in principle, we would like to pilot the new youth justice measures contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords].

  Four areas—the London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster (jointly); Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight (jointly); Wolverhampton; and Sheffield—have been identified to pilot the final warning scheme; the reparation order, action plan order, child safety order and parenting order; and youth offending teams.

  Five areas—the London Borough of Lewisham; Luton and Bedfordshire (jointly); Devon; St. Helens; and Sunderland—have been identified to pilot the child safety order and parenting order, together with youth offending teams.

  In addition, Blackburn and Northamptonshire are to pilot the final warning scheme and youth offending teams in the context of pilots of procedural changes recommended by the Review of Delay in the Criminal Justice System, to which my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North also referred.

  We aim to establish the pilot projects from October 1998. The pilots will operate for a period of 18 months. We envisage that, in addition to funding for the evaluation of the pilots, some Home Office funding will be available to help the pilot areas put in place the programmes and forms of intervention needed to undertake work under the final warning scheme and the new court orders. Funding will also be available to support any seminars based on experience in the pilot areas run during the pilots for benefit of other areas. We will discuss with the selected pilot areas how available funds can be used most effectively within their area.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been issued to asylum seekers since November 1996 informing them of a refusal of their claim at the same time that the Benefits Agency have been informed of the decision; and how many asylum seekers have not been issued with such a letter. [45642]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Between 4 November 1996 and 29 May 1998, 3,023 such letters were issued to applicants or their representatives. Letters could not be sent in a further 516 cases as an address was not readily available.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force are(a) female and (b) from ethnic minorities. [45645]

  Female and ethnic minority police officers As at 31 March 1998

  Police Force

  Police strength

  Female officers

  % Female officers of strength

  Ethnic minority officers

  % Ethnic minority officers of strength

  Avon and Somerset

  2,975,9

  389.9

  13.1

  34

  1.1

  Bedfordshire

  1,078.5

  189.5

  17.6

  37

  3.4

  Cambridgeshire

  1,291.4

  189.8

  14.7

  31

  2.4

  Cheshire

  2,035.9

  307.3

  15.1

  6

  0.29

  Cleveland

  1,483.4

  225.9

  15.2

  18

  1.2

  City of London

  824.9

  121.9

  14.8

  20

  2.4

  Cumbria

  1,163.5

  187

  16.1

  2

  0.17

  Derbyshire

  1,772.2

  226.2

  12.8

  37

  2.1

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,961.5

  454.5

  15.3

  5

  0.17

  Dorset

  1,110

  206

  18.6

  5

  0.45

  Durham

  1,514.8

  262.8

  17.3

  7

  0.46

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,002.3

  129.3

  12.9

  1

  0.10

  Essex

  2,928.5

  475.5

  16.2

  36

  1.2

  Gloucestershire

  1,103.9

  165.9

  15.0

  12

  1.1

  Greater Manchester

  6,948.7

  1,225.4

  17.6

  164

  2.4

  Gwent

  1,232.8

  178.8

  14.5

  13

  1.1

  Hampshire

  3,489.5

  569.6

  16.3

  27

  0.77

  Hertfordshire

  1,739.9

  311.1

  17.9

  20

  1.2

  Humberside

  2,021.2

  290.2

  14.4

  13

  0.6

  Kent

  3,251.8

  547.2

  16.8

  34

  1.0

  Lancashire

  3,258.1

  535.6

  16.4

  39

  1.2

  Leicestershire

  1,983.1

  320.4

  16.2

  89

  4.5

  Lincolnshire

  1,191.1

  151.5

  12.7

  6

  0.5

  Merseyside

  4,217.4

  667.4

  15.8

  72

  1.7

  Metropolitan Police

  26,192.7

  3,910.9

  14.9

  861

  3.3

  Norfolk

  1,429.6

  208.6

  14.6

  9

  0.63

  North Wales

  1,396

  199

  14.3

  1

  0.07

  North Yorkshire

  1,367.2

  193.2

  14.1

  7

  0.51

  Northamptonshire

  1,168.7

  181.4

  15.5

  31

  2.7

  Northumbria

  3,766.7

  563.4

  15.0

  33

  0.88

  Nottinghamshire

  2,322.6

  337.6

  14.5

  61

  2.6

  South Wales

  2,986.2

  354.2

  11.9

  29

  0.97

  South Yorkshire

  3,182

  497

  15.6

  70

  2.2

  Staffordshire

  2,292.1

  439.1

  19.2

  33

  1.4

  Suffolk

  1,185.8

  188.6

  15.9

  13

  1.1

  Surrey

  1,608.4

  242.9

  15.1

  20

  1.2

  Sussex

  3,037.7

  471.6

  15.5

  23

  0.76

  Thames Valley

  3,775.5

  633

  16.8

  78

  2.1

  Warwickshire

  924.1

  139.1

  15.1

  23

  2.5

  West Mercia

  2,011.8

  308.8

  15.3

  26

  1.3

  West Midlands

  7,180.5

  1,442.8

  20.1

  294

  4.1

  West Yorkshire

  5,154.7

  808.6

  15.7

  133

  2.6

  Wiltshire

  1,148.3

  166.3

  14.5

  10

  0.87

  Total

  124,710.9

  19,614.5

  15.7

  2,483

  2.0

  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase recruitment to the police force from those sections of society currently under-represented. [45710]

  Mr. Michael
  The responsibility for making appointments to the police service in England and Wales lies with the chief officer of each police force. It is also their responsibility, with the assistance of their police authorities, to ensure that their forces represent the communities they serve. This includes those people from under-represented groups, such as those from ethnic minority communities.
  218
  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures are provisional and are subject to validation.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have issued two thematic inspection reports: "Developing Diversity in the Police Service" and "Winning the Race", copies of which are in the Library. Both reports offer advice on the recruitment of people from under-represented sections of society. The latter report includes "a guide to assist forces in the area of ethnic minority recruitment", which should provide a helpful checklist of action for forces to take. My right hon. Friend has made it clear that he expects each police force in England and Wales to consider the conclusions of the latter report and to act on its findings during the course of 1998. Later this year, chief constables will be asked to report on action taken.

  Police (Medical Retirement)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many medical retirements of police officers there were for each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [45655]

  Mr. Michael
  Provisional figures for medical retirements from forces in England and Wales in 1997–98 are set out in the table. Similar data for the years from 1990 to 1996–97 are included in the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary "Lost Time: The Management of Sickness Absence and Medical Retirement in the Police Service", published in December 1997. A copy of the report is in the Library. Such information is not available for the period before 1990.

  Number of medical retirements from police forces in England and Wales, 1997–98 (provisional)

  Number

  Avon and Somerset

  66

  Bedfordshire

  23

  Cambridgeshire

  12

  Cheshire

  n/a

  City of London

  6

  Cleveland

  8

  Cumbria

  20

  Derbyshire

  51

  Devon and Cornwall

  22

  Dorset

  10

  Durham

  17

  Dyfed-Powys

  11

  Essex

  29

  Number of police officers medically retiring England and Wales

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Avon and Somerset

  57

  52

  54

  68

  105

  29

  66

  Bedfordshire

  9

  15

  7

  9

  17

  14

  15

  Cambridgeshire

  23

  19

  9

  19

  18

  26

  20

  Cheshire

  20

  22

  34

  31

  33

  16

  19

  City of London

  13

  9

  10

  11

  8

  14

  7

  Cleveland1

  57

  56

  52

  40

  45

  25

  22

  Cumbria

  16

  14

  20

  26

  30

  9

  18

  Derbyshire

  39

  32

  55

  54

  38

  49

  39

  Devon and Cornwall1

  30

  35

  40

  49

  25

  27

  21

  Dorset

  19

  27

  12

  26

  13

  9

  11

  Durham

  23

  21

  21

  39

  42

  23

  23

  Dyfed-Powys

  12

  25

  22

  22

  22

  22

  12

  Essex

  26

  31

  27

  25

  32

  31

  29

  Gloucestershire

  14

  14

  15

  13

  13

  7

  11

  Greater Manchester1

  188

  165

  149

  162

  198

  168

  207

  Gwent

  6

  15

  23

  18

  29

  19

  28

  Hampshire1

  24

  39

  32

  40

  43

  31

  21

  Hertfordshire

  19

  20

  12

  19

  13

  22

  10

  Humberside

  22

  26

  26

  40

  47

  26

  19

  Kent1

  46

  63

  57

  80

  59

  46

  15

  Lancashire

  63

  87

  52

  86

  70

  56

  36

  Leicestershire

  34

  39

  46

  60

  55

  45

  29

  Lincolnshire

  12

  22

  24

  24

  35

  31

  11

  Merseyside1

  95

  102

  99

  132

  181

  195

  167

  Metropolitan Police

  224

  272

  310

  344

  454

  430

  457

  Norfolk

  13

  19

  15

  17

  20

  15

  15

  North Wales

  23

  34

  35

  39

  41

  36

  33

  North Yorkshire1

  42

  32

  30

  78

  44

  29

  39

  Northamptonshire

  26

  19

  26

  15

  44

  10

  14

  Northumbria1

  65

  105

  89

  97

  124

  123

  85

  Nottinghamshire

  46

  34

  56

  59

  62

  41

  34

  South Wales1

  48

  60

  29

  31

  41

  74

  43

  South Yorkshire

  40

  41

  64

  82

  48

  46

  33

  Staffordshire

  42

  52

  67

  74

  45

  30

  47

  220

  Number of medical retirements from police forces in England and Wales, 1997–98 (provisional)

  Number

  Gloucestershire

  n/a

  Greater Manchester

  199

  Gwent

  15

  Hampshire

  30

  Hertfordshire

  17

  Humberside

  27

  Kent

  n/a

  Lancashire

  27

  Leicestershire

  25

  Lincolnshire

  28

  Merseyside

  82

  Metropolitan Police

  n/a

  Norfolk

  15

  North Wales

  11

  North Yorkshire

  22

  Northamptonshire

  18

  South Wales

  n/a

  Northumbria

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire

  40

  South Yorkshire

  29

  Staffordshire

  66

  Suffolk

  20

  Surrey

  10

  Sussex

  23

  Thames Valley

  40

  Warwickshire

  18

  West Mercia

  27

  West Midlands

  81

  West Yorkshire

  n/a

  Wiltshire

  9

  Note:

  n/a = not available
  221

  Number of police officers medically retiring England and Wales

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Suffolk1

  10

  16

  19

  20

  14

  25

  22

  Surrey1

  28

  30

  19

  16

  40

  24

  24

  Sussex1

  26

  42

  38

  36

  29

  61

  42

  Thames Valley

  47

  45

  38

  30

  66

  58

  55

  Warwickshire

  7

  10

  10

  19

  12

  14

  10

  West Mercia

  22

  29

  28

  23

  41

  27

  39

  West Midlands

  45

  57

  67

  71

  176

  105

  86

  West Yorkshire1

  164

  127

  228

  150

  107

  48

  57

  Wiltshire

  5

  14

  8

  10

  8

  4

  11

  Provincial Total

  1,566

  1,716

  1,764

  1,960

  2,133

  1,720

  1,545

  England and Wales Total

  1,790

  1,988

  2,074

  2,304

  2,587

  2,150

  2,002

  England and Wales Average

  42

  46

  48

  54

  60

  50

  47

  Provincial Average

  37

  41

  42

  47

  51

  41

  37

  1Force visited

  Police (Ethnic Employees)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) black and (b) Asian people are employed in (i) West Midlands Police force and (ii) Leicestershire Police force; and at what grade. [45686]

  Mr. Michael
  It may be helpful if I provide tables showing the numbers employed and the percentage in that category of employment for (i) black people, (ii) Asian people and (iii) ethnic minorities.

  (i) Black staff—as at 31 March 1998 (provisional figures)

  Leicestershire Constabulary

  West Midlands Police

  Total number

  Percentage of total

  Total number

  Percentage of total

  Superintendent

  1

  5.6

  —

  —

  Chief Inspector

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Inspector

  1

  1.1

  —

  —

  Sergeant

  2

  0.8

  18

  1.8

  Constable

  22

  1.4

  114

  6.5

  Civilian staff

  3

  0.4

  102

  3.6

  (ii) Asian staff—as at 31 March 1998 (provisional figures)

  Leicestershire Constabulary

  West Midlands Police

  Total number

  Percentage of total

  Total number

  Percentage of total

  Superintendent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Chief Inspector

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Inspector

  —

  —

  2

  0.6

  Sergeant

  9

  3.5

  10

  1.0

  Constable

  36

  2.3

  111

  6.3

  Civilian staff

  29

  3.7

  81

  2.9

  (iii) All ethnic minority employees—as at 31 March 1998 (provisional figures)

  Leicestershire Constabulary

  West Midlands Police

  Total number

  Percentage of total

  Total number

  Percentage of total

  Superintendent

  1

  5.6

  1

  1.9

  Chief Inspector

  —

  —

  1

  1.5

  Inspector

  2

  2.2

  2

  0.6

  Sergeant

  12

  4.6

  38

  3.9

  Constable

  74

  4.7

  252

  14.4

  Civilian staff

  48

  6.2

  185

  6.6

  Total

  137

  5.0

  479

  4.8

  222
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to investigate claims of race discrimination in West Midlands police force. [45676]

  Mr. Michael
  No allegations of racial discrimination in West Midlands Police have been made to me. It would be a matter for the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police to investigate any such claims made to him or the police authority, in consultation with the police authority as necessary. In general, I would expect such allegations to be put direct to the individual police force.

  Police (Compensation)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid out by the English police forces in compensation cases in the last year for which figures are available. [46015]

  Mr. Michael
  Payment of compensation by police forces, which is provided for in section 88 of the Police Act 1996, is a matter for individual police forces, and information about amounts paid out by individual forces is not held centrally.

  Police (CS Gas)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue rules to police forces on the use of CS gas. [46014]

  Mr. Michael
  Any use of force is governed by section
  3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967, which provides that a person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders. It must be remembered that the use of CS spray can prevent serious physical injury not only to police officers but also to bystanders and to the person who is being restrained. It is a form of force, but one whose effects are normally very short-term and transitory. Each individual police officer is responsible for his actions, and it is ultimately for the courts to judge whether the force used in any particular circumstances was reasonable. The Home Office has issued general guidelines to chief police officers on the use of CS grenades for dealing with serious public disorder. The routine carriage by officers of CS spray for self-defence is an operational matter and not something on which it would be appropriate for the Home
  223
  Office to issue guidelines. Operational guidelines, copies of which have been placed in the Library, have been issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the Sunday Trading Act 1994 to prevent shops with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres from trading on Easter Sunday by conducting their transactions in the open air. [46190]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have no plans to do so. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 prohibits large shops from opening on Easter Sunday for the serving of retail customers. Interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts. I understand that a recent judgment by the High Court has upheld the conviction of a large store for trading from the external areas of its premises on Easter Sunday.

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he has had, or plans to have, with owners of large retail outlets with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres who open on Easter Sunday. [46214]

  Mr. George Howarth
  None.

  Fazakerley Prison
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions it has been necessary for neighbouring prisons to provide support to Fazakerley Prison; and in what circumstances. [46073]

  Ms Quin
  There have been no occasions on which neighbouring prisons have provided support to Altcourse Prison, Fazakerley.

SCOTLAND

  Solway Firth and Border Esk Rivers
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce a decision on the fishing rights for the Solway Firth and Border Esk rivers. [45687]

  Mr. Macdonald
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have carried out a consultation on the management arrangements which should apply to the Border Esk. The responses, together with concerns that have been expressed about the future exercise of fishing rights in the Solway Firth, are being taken into account in the consideration of the provision at clause 100 of the Scotland Bill.

  Fisheries Research Services
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the key performance targets he has set for the Fisheries Research Services in 1998–99.[46644]
  224
  Mr. Macdonald
  My right hon. Friend has set the following targets for Fisheries Research Services:

  Delivery of Service

  To achieve 85 per cent. of the performance targets set in the schedules to the Service Level Agreement.

  To achieve 80 per cent. of the milestones agreed for Research and Development projects.

  To maintain, pro rata, FRS's publication output.

  Quality of Service

  To review the work of the Fish Cultivation Team at the Marine Laboratory through a visiting group and to report by December 1997.

  To submit by 1999/2000 the quality manuals and documentation which are required for the accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, of the monitoring programmes for algal toxins, microbiological contamination of shellfish, List II viral diseases of fish, and sampling of fish for residues of veterinary medicines.

  Efficiency targets

  To carry out the agreed programme for the Scottish Office within the agreed costs.

  To recover full economic costs from external customers.

  To restrict administrative costs to 18 per cent. of the total running costs.

  To restrict unit costs of fish farms inspection programmes to £320 per farm visit.

  To increase research vessels utilisation to 540 days, operating at a daily cost of £5,200 (Scotia) and £2,100 (Clupea).

  These various tasks should provide a sound basis for evaluating performance by establishing a time series for certain indicators and by requiring external scrutiny by external accreditors and scientific peers.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library on a monthly basis a report on those archaeological discoveries his advisers assess to be(a) significant and (b) less significant in the course of excavations relating to work on the building to house the Scottish Parliament, together with relevant diagrams conveying information relating to each stratum uncovered of the Holyrood site. [44647]

  Mr. Dewar
  It would not be possible to provide meaningful information of the kind requested on a regular basis, because of the complexity of the project. However, I am arranging to have a copy of the desk assessment of the site placed in the Library and will be happy to place further reports there as significant stages of the archaeological work are completed.

  Radioactivity (Merse Sites)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1994–95 HMIPI study into radioactive doses received by people living or working on selected merse sites. [45863]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information referred to was published at Annexe E, in the final report of Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate for Scotland, for the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1996. I have arranged to have copies of the report placed in the Library.

  Radiation Monitoring Stations
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the radiation monitoring stations on the West Coast of Scotland between the English border on the Solway and Cape Wrath; and what factors underlie the siting of these stations. [45862]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information can best be obtained from the report "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 1996". Copies of that report are held in the Library of the House.

  The factors underlying the selection of monitoring locations are given in the report at chapter 3 and sub-chapters 7.3 and 9.7.

  Leukaemia
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many leukaemias were(a) recorded and (b) expected in the 0 to 24 age group in the postcode sectors (i) DG5.4, (ii) DG7.1 and (iii) DG6.4 in the periods (a) 1980 to 1984, (b) 1985 to 1989, (c) 1990 to 1994, and (d) 1995 to present. [45864]

  Mr. Galbraith
  No cases of leukaemia were observed in the 0–24 age group in postcode sector DG5.4 and DG6.4 during the periods 1980–84, 1985–89, 1990–94 or 1995–96 (the most recent year for which information is available). There were two cases of leukaemia registered in residents of postcode sector DG7.1; one in the period 1980–84 and one in the period 1985–84.

  The numbers of cases observed and the expected number of cases of leukaemia, based on background rates in Scotland as a whole, for each of the postcode sectors are shown in the tables:

  (i) Observed and expected numbers of cases of leukaemia in age group 0–24 years in DG5.4

  Time period

  Observed number of cases

  Expected number of cases

  1980–84

  0

  0.22

  1985–89

  0

  0.24

  1990–94

  0

  0.26

  1995–96

  0

  0.08

  (ii) Observed and expected numbers of cases of leukaemia in age group 0–24 years in DG7.1

  Time period

  Observed number of cases

  Expected number of cases

  1980–84

  1

  0.24

  1985–89

  1

  0.26

  1990–94

  0

  0.28

  1995–96

  0

  0.18

  (iii) Observed and expected numbers of cases of leukaemia in age group 0–24 years in DG6.4

  Time period

  Observed number of cases

  Expected number of cases

  1980–84

  0

  0.24

  1985–89

  0

  0.25

  1990–94

  0

  0.27

  1995–96

  0

  0.18

  Hip Operations
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of how many cases of hip joint replacement operations conducted in Scotland since 1980, patients have been readmitted to hospital for further hip replacement surgery within(a) five years and (b) 10 years of the original operation. [45775]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the number of discharges following total hip replacement operations in the years 1980 to 1990, and the number of patients readmitted within 5 years and 10 years following their original operation is provided in the tables.

  The number of readmissions do not directly relate to revision or failure of the original total hip replacement operations. Patients may be readmitted for operations on their other hip without any fault or problem with their earlier operation, if better or newer types of hip joint become available which would improve their quality of life.

  Table 1: Discharges following a total hip replacement operation and the number of readmissions within 5 years of the original operation

  Year of operation

  Number of discharges

  Discharges1

  Readmitted within 5 years

  Readmission2 rate (%)

  1981

  2,417

  2,032

  395

  19.4

  1982

  2,144

  1,746

  379

  21.7

  1983

  2,728

  2,248

  464

  20.6

  1984

  2,814

  2,305

  460

  20.0

  1985

  3,055

  2,526

  525

  20.8

  1986

  3,218

  2,636

  501

  19.0

  1987

  3,481

  2,887

  564

  19.5

  1988

  3,772

  3,149

  674

  21.4

  1989

  3,513

  2,931

  597

  20.4

  1990

  3,686

  3,076

  651

  21.2

  1If a patient has died within the 5 year period then the procedure prior to death has been excluded. No account can be taken of the migration of patients

  2 Readmission rate—number of readmissions within 5 years expressed as a percentage of the number of operations for total hip replacement (excluding patients who had died). This is NOT the total hip replacement revision or failure rate as for example the first operation could be the left hip and the second operation the right hip

  Source:

  ISD Scotland, SMRI linked database

  Table 2: Discharges following a total hip replacement operation and the number of readmissions within 10 years of the original operation

  Year of operation

  Number of discharges

  Discharges1

  Readmitted within 10 years

  Readmission2 rate (%)

  1981

  2,417

  1,623

  607

  37.4

  1982

  2,144

  1,399

  545

  39.0

  1983

  2,728

  1,814

  669

  36.9

  1984

  2,814

  1,830

  673

  36.8

  1985

  3,055

  2,060

  804

  39.0

  1If a patient has died within the 10 year period then the procedure prior to death has been excluded. No account can be taken of the migration of patients

  2Readmission rate—number of readmissions within 10 years expressed as a percentage of the number of operations for total hip replacement (excluding patients who had died). This is NOT the total hip replacement revision or failure rate as for example the first operation could be the left hip and the second operation the right hip

  Source:

  ISD Scotland, SMRI linked database

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Sudan
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the latest situation in Sudan. [46643]

  Clare Short
  The World Food Programme have reassessed the humanitarian needs in southern Sudan. They now estimate the numbers in need of assistance at approximately 1.226 million. This includes those in the Bahr-el-Ghazal region and is a significant increase on previous assessments.

  In response to this, my Department is committing a further £15 million of assistance to the relief operation in Sudan. £10 million will be provided immediately for food and logistics to support the World Food Programme's enhanced food distribution in southern Sudan. The remaining £5 million will be available to support the relief work of UN agencies and non-governmental organisations participating in Operation Lifeline Sudan and to support selected operations outside Operation Lifeline Sudan where new needs are emerging. This will bring our total assistance since February to £25.23 million and since 1991 to £160 million.

  As I have made clear since the beginning of the current emergency, we alongside other governments will provide the funding needed for the Sudanese emergency. The problem remains 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 in order to provide help to the people in need.

WALES

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43314]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  For details of the numbers of Special Advisers and the annual cost of employing them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 11 June 1998,Official Report, column 664.

  National Insurance contributions are excluded from the figure but are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for other civil servants. Information on the paybill costs for Special Advisers within individual Departments is not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  Information on the costs of employing Special Advisers in previous years was given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on class sizes in Wales. [45887]

  Mr. Hain:
  At January 1997, the average size of registered classes in primary schools was 25.9 pupils, the same as in 1996. Results from the January 1998 Schools Census are not yet available. No information is collected centrally about class sizes in secondary schools, however in 1997 the pupil-teacher ratio in secondary schools was 16.2, compared with 16.0 in 1996.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the North Wales Region of the WDA; and if he will make a statement.[45892]

  Mr. Hain
  The allocation of its resources is primarily an operational matter for the Welsh Development Agency to determine in the light of its overall budget, commitments and priorities. I will, therefore, ask the Agency's Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend with information on its funding for the North Wales area; and will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums were allocated to assisted places in Wales in(a) 1990 and (b) 1997; and if he will make a statement.[45888]

  Mr. Hain
  The sums spent on assisted places in Wales in financial years(a) 1990–91 and (b) 1997–98 were £1,756,283 and £4,105,238 respectively.

DEFENCE

  Nerve Agent Pretreatment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the impurities produced when Pyridostigmine Bromide is(a) exposed to intense sunlight,(b) subjected to large temperature variations and (c) stored for long periods under these conditions.[40142]

  Dr. Reid
  Between 1987 and 1992, the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency conducted studies to assess the storage stability of the Ministry of Defence's Nerve Agent Pretreatment Set (NAPS) tablets, which contain pyridostigmine bromide (PB) as the active ingredient. The tablets were exposed to a range of temperatures between 5 and 41°C and storage times of up to 5 years.

  The only significant detectable degradation product of PB identified during these studies was 3-hydroxy1-methyl pyridinium bromide, which is also the major metabolite produced when PB is taken orally. The other known degradation products of PB, which were not detected in any long term stability studies due to their

  229
  transitory nature, are 3-hydroxy pyridine and pyridy1- 3-dimethyl carbamate. Neither of these, nor 3-hydroxy1-methyl pyridinium bromide, are known to be harmful to humans.

  My Department is not aware of any research having been conducted to investigate the way in which PB reacts when exposed to intense sunlight. However, the specification for NAPS tablets for use by UK forces requires that they are wrapped in lacquered aluminium foil which is light impermeable, and they would not therefore normally be exposed to sunlight until this wrapping had been broken open to allow the first tablet to be extracted for immediate consumption. As each packet of NAPS contains 21 tablets, one to be taken every 8 hours, a packet would normally be consumed within a week.

  Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition. [45544]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) on 8 June 1998,Official Report, column 423.

  Project Horizon Frigate
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he estimates the first contract to build a Project Horizon frigate will be placed; [45846]

  (2) what is his estimate of the overall cost of Project Horizon; [45845]

  (3) how many Project Horizon frigates the United Kingdom will purchase; [45843]

  (4) what is his estimate of the (a) delivery date and (b) in-service date of the first Project Horizon frigate. [45844]

  Mr. Spellar
  The contract for completion of the design and build of the three first of class Horizon frigates, i.e. one for each nation, UK, France and Italy, is expected to be placed next year. The total project cost is commercially confidential. It is currently expected that we will order 12 ships, but any decisions will, of course, be subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. The current projected in service date of 2004 is subject to discussions and negotiations with industry.

  Defence Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 April 1998,Official Report, column 556, what is the value of defence exports against which his forecast that £56 million of commercial exploitation levies would be raised from defence export sales in the next financial year was made; and what is the levy income as a percentage of the export sales figure. [44433]

  Mr. Spellar
  The target figure for new defence export orders in 1998–99 is £5 billion. The forecast of £56 million is a broad estimate of the commercial exploitation levies that are likely to be raised against those exports which may attract such levies in financial year 230
  1998–99. There is, however, no direct correlation between this estimate and the overall export target for two main reasons. First, there is a delay between the agreement of export contracts and the receipt of commercial exploitation levies. Secondly, such levies are payable only on contracts covering the supply of equipment the development costs of which were funded wholly or partly by the Ministry of Defence. Contracts for the supply or equipment developed by the commercial sector, or for support, training and construction series, do not attract commercial exploitation levies. The rate of levy charged will vary for each item depending on the extent to which its development was funded by the MOD.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds for the last two years incurred by branches of his Department other than DESO in the promotion of British defence exports. [46110]

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

  Riot Control Agents
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998,Official Report, column 324, on riot control agents, for what reasons his Department is currently reviewing the quantity of CS which it holds; when the review started; who is carrying it out; and when it is expected to be completed. [45312]

  Mr. Spellar
  Stockholdings of riot control agents are regularly reviewed as a normal part of the equipment management and procurement process. In addition, MOD began in March to review our future requirements. This review will assist us to decide on the planned disposal of certain stocks and the modernisation, as necessary, of others. The review is being carried out by MOD operational requirements staff. The aim is to complete it by the end of August.

  Service Men's Wives
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the payment to Army service men's wives of allotment was introduced; how many wives currently receive payment; and by what means the allotment has been paid throughout the period of its operation. [45631]

  Dr. Reid
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Shows and Trade Fairs
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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 two years up to June 1998; what other costs were incurred in respect of such shows and trade fairs in each of those years; and which bodies have funded these costs. [46075]

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

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who has responsibility for carrying out seismic
  231
  assessments of suspicious events under the contract for a National Data Centre; and who has been carrying out assessments of nuclear tests in India and Pakistan under the same contract.[45525]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 June 1998]: The Atomic Weapons Establishment, AWE, at Blacknest have been carrying out assessments of the recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. This work is being carried out under an MOD contract for support to nuclear test ban verification. Establishment of the National Data Centre, resulting from the requirements of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, is a new task being carried out by the British Geological Survey under sub-contract to AWE.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Westland Lynx were(a) allocated to frontline Army units, (b) fully serviceable, (c) undergoing major maintenance and (d) held as in use reserve on 1 June. [44127]

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

  Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a)Challenger/Challenger II, (b) Sabre, (c) Striker, (d) Scimitar, (e) AFV432, (f) Warrior, (g) Spartan and (h) Saxon armoured vehicles were (i) in service with frontline Army units and (ii) fully serviceable on 1 June. [44128]

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

  Anthrax Vaccination
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has given to Her Majesty's forces personnel about their rights in the event that, having given written consent for vaccination against anthrax, they subsequently suffer illness directly related to the vaccine.[34515]

  Mr. George Robertson
  British Service personnel who were involved in the Gulf conflict have the same entitlement to claim compensation for negligence from the Ministry of Defence as any civilian employee has to claim against his or her employer. The fact that a Service person has consented to receive anthrax vaccination in no way affects that right; in view of this, no advice has been given to UK Service personnel about their rights were they to suffer illness directly related to the current programme of immunisation against anthrax.

  Year of award

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Distributing body

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  Total No. of awards

  Total(£)

  Sport

  0

  0

  1

  231,581

  1

  8,600

  0

  0

  2

  240,181

  Heritage

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  242,000

  2

  242,000

  Charities

  1

  3,000

  2

  194,579

  2

  352,899

  1

  337,739

  6

  713,097

  232
  All UK Service personnel serving in the Gulf region have been provided with comprehensive information concerning anthrax and the UK licensed anthrax vaccine. A package of documentation has been prepared which includes a description of the symptoms of the disease and an explanation that a vaccine exists to protect against it. This also explains that many doses of the vaccine are administered in the UK each year to a wide variety of people who may be exposed to the disease as a consequence of their occupations; and that such people include those who work in the tannery, leather and wool industries as well as those persons who may have direct contact with infected animals, such as veterinary surgeons. The documentation also explains the process of vaccination and its protective qualities, and make clear that in the past 21 years only minor side effects from the use of this vaccine have been reported in a small number of people.

  In addition, all Service personnel who are being offered anthrax immunisation are given an oral briefing on the vaccine by medical officers. Records have been kept of the individuals who received the oral briefing and the package of documentation, and of their subsequent decision whether to be vaccinated.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Arts Council of England
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will name the members he proposes to appoint to the Arts Council of England. [46692]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I announced this morning the new membership of the Arts Council of England. I have appointed Derrick Anderson, Deborah Bull, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Joanna MacGregor and Hilary Strong to the Council. In addition, I have re-appointed David Brierley, Christopher Frayling, Andrew Motion and Prue Skene.

  National Lottery Funding (Leigh)
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, for each of the last three years, the number of awards and the total financial grant made, in each category of good cause, to organisations in Leigh constituency from proceeds of the National Lottery. [45515]

  Mr. Banks
  To date, the constituency of Leigh has received 15 lottery awards totalling £1.24 million. A breakdown by good cause is shown in the table. Information on the National Lottery awards is now available on the Department's website www.lottery.culture.gov.uk.
  233

  Year of award

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Distributing body

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  No. of awards

  Value(£)

  Total No. of awards

  Total(£)

  Millennium

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Arts

  0

  0

  1

  27,500

  4

  16,622

  0

  0

  5

  44,122

  Totals per year

  1

  3,000

  4

  453,660

  7

  378,121

  3

  579,739

  15

  1,239,400

  Sources:

  The table has been constructed using information from the distributing bodies

  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has granted to Sportsmatch projects in Leigh; and if he will list these projects.[45965]

  Mr. Banks
  Sportsmatch has made the following awards in Leigh: £1,000 and £3,000 to Wigan MBC for the preparation of the Wigan team for the Manchester Youth Games, in 1994 and 1998 respectively; £10,000 to Leigh RMI AFC for the appointment of a youth development officer in 1996; and £4,000 for Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club towards its community and schools development programme in 1996.

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  (a) Terrestrial

  Olympic Games

  8.05

  —

  —

  —

  2.72

  —

  FIFA World Cup Final

  —

  —

  17.48

  —

  —

  —

  FIFA World Cup—other matches

  —

  —

  8.59

  —

  —

  —

  FA Cup Final

  12.33

  12.18

  11.76

  8.64

  13.33

  11.1

  FA Cup Final (Scotland only)

  n/a

  n/a

  0.67

  0.77

  0.90

  0.64

  Wimbledon—finals weekend

  n/a

  7.33

  7.15

  7.34

  7.31

  5.25

  Wimbledon—other play

  n/a

  2.78

  2.39

  2.22

  3.00

  3.51

  Home Test Matches

  2.59

  2.60

  2.04

  2.02

  2.15

  2.26

  Grand National

  n/a

  15.17

  16.72

  8.87

  11.24

  12.02

  The Derby

  n/a

  4.30

  4.30

  3.87

  2.03

  3.45

  Cricket World Cup

  —

  —

  —

  n/a

  —

  —

  Rugby World Cup

  —

  —

  —

  n/a

  —

  —

  European Football Championships Final

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  16.83

  —

  European Football Championships—other matches

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  9.48

  —

  European Football Championships—matches involving England

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  14.29

  —

  Commonwealth Games

  —

  —

  5.29

  —

  —

  —

  World Athletics Championships

  —

  6.12

  —

  3.89

  —

  n/a

  British Grand Prix

  n/a

  5.78

  4.88

  n/a

  5.59

  5.02

  Five Nations Rugby

  5.8

  5.19

  5.49

  5.79

  6.43

  5.55

  The Open (golf)

  3.08

  3.00

  2.07

  2.77

  2.37

  n/a

  The Ryder Cup

  —

  3.37

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Satellite

  Ryder Cup

  —

  —

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  The Advisory Group also considered the following audience figures, either in considering events for recommendation for inclusion on the list or for comparative purposes:

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  (a) Terrestrial

  Rugby League Challenge Cup Final

  4.37

  3.33

  3.2

  4.07

  n/a

  2.71

  GB Rugby League Internationals

  4.44

  3.36

  3.80

  n/a

  —

  —

  England Football Internationals—qualifying matches

  n/a

  7.21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England Football Internationals—friendlies

  n/a

  8.40

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland Football Internationals (Scotland only)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.87

  0.64

  England Rugby Union Internationals (non-Five Nations)

  5.50

  6.36

  3.21

  4.24

  n/a

  n/a

  Scotland Rugby Union Internationals (Scotland only)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0.80

  0.70

  England One-Day Cricket Internationals

  2.59

  2.85

  2.37

  —

  —

  —

  Cheltenham Gold Cup

  n/a

  2.20

  2.07

  2.30

  1.30

  2.00

  Listed Sporting Events
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the estimated viewing figures for television audiences for sporting events on(a) terrestrial and (b) satellite television which were taken into account by the advisory group on de-listing which reported to him in March. [46052]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  For the events included in the consultation exercise carried out last year, the Advisory Group on Listed Events took the following figures into account in making its recommendations to me (the figures are in millions, and averaged where necessary):
  235

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  (b) Satellite

  England Football Internationals—qualifying matches

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.67

  n/a

  England Football Internationals—friendlies

  —

  —

  1.29

  1.37

  1.52

  n/a

  England One-Day Cricket Internationals

  —

  —

  —

  0.23

  0.21

  n/a

  Audience ratings figures, although important, are not necessarily an accurate guide to the national importance of sports events. Guided by the criteria for listing that I announced last November, the Advisory Group took a number of other factors into account for each event that it considered:

  the significance of the event to those who do not usually follow the sport concerned;

  the position of the event on the national calendar;

  whether the event is pre-eminent in its sport;

  whether it involves a national team or participants;

  whether the event has a history of being broadcast live on free-to-air services;

  the practicality of live coverage of the event on general channels;

  the availability of secondary coverage;

  the effects of listing the event on the sport concerned and on the broadcasting market.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the European Commission over the listing of sporting events for terrestrial television. [46050]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  If it is to be recognised by other Member States, a national list of events protected for transmission on free-to-air television in a European Union Member State must be in accordance with Article 3A of the European Commission's 'Television Without Frontiers' Directive (number 89/552/EEC as amended by Directive 97/36/EC). I shall inform the Commission of any changes to the list when I announce my decisions. Meanwhile, my Department has discussed informally with the Commission how the revised regulatory framework proposed by Lord Gordon's Advisory Group might be applied in accordance with Article 3A.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to make a final decision on the listing of sporting events for terrestrial television. [46051]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I shall announce my decision shortly.

  National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sporting activities the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts will fund; and if individual sportsmen and sportswomen will be sponsored. [45564]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 15 June 1998]: NESTA' s responsibilities are to be in the fields of science, technology and the arts. Neither the promotion of sporting activities nor the provision of support for individual sports men and women fall within NESTA's remit. However, in
  236
  helping people turn good ideas into products and services, it would be open to NESTA to support the development of technological or scientific products or services for sports men and women. Decisions on how NESTA will go about meeting its statutory objects will be a matter for its Trustees.

  Libraries
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money was used to support the lending of(a) recorded music and (b) videos by public libraries in the last year for which figures are available. [45832]

  Mr. Fisher
  In 1996–97, public library authorities in England spent £6.3 million on sound recordings, and £3.8 million on video recordings. Information is not held centrally about the operating costs of music or video lending services, or about the specific level expenditure on music material other than recordings.

  Elgin Marbles
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 June 1998,Official Report, columns 3–4 on the Elgin Marbles, what assessment he has made of evidence that the Elgin Marbles were damaged whilst in the care of the British Museum. [45369]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  It is not for me to make an assessment. However, I understand that the British Museum intends to host a gathering of experts from both the Museum and outside sometime next year. This will involve scholars from other countries, including the Hellenic Republic, to examine the evidence about the damage which it is claimed has been made to the sculptures. I very much welcome this initiative from the Museum.

  Mediaeval Church Buildings
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will instruct English Heritage to restore grants for the repair of mediaeval church buildings. [45830]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government continue to support historic church buildings through English Heritage. The joint scheme for places of worship which English Heritage has established with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is providing offers of £20 million in 1998–99 (£10 million from each body). English Heritage and the HLF have, however, stopped accepting new applications in this financial year because the scheme is massively oversubscribed. They will re-open the scheme later under revised guidelines.

  Departmental Objectives and Performance
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's Fifth report on the objectives and performance of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [45893]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 June 1998]: We shall consider the Report carefully and respond to the Committee in due course.

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts for the UK Sports Institute have been(a) put out to tender and (b) signed. [44727]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 10 June 1998]: No contracts have as yet been put out to tender or signed for the development of the United Kingdom Sports Institute Headquarters. We anticipate the first contract being signed within the next two months.

  Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives his Department has taken to promote millennium celebrations in southern England; and if he will make a statement. [45440]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  In Bristol on 27 February, I launched a series of eight Regional Millennium Conferences, which culminated on 16 April in London. The conferences were designed to explain the Government's vision for the Millennium celebrations; publicise the Millennium Commission's various programmes, including the £100m nationwide Millennium Festival; give details of the New Millennium Experience Company's national programme of activities; provide guidance for events organisers on how to apply for funding under the various schemes; and promote co-ordination and the sharing of good practice. 82 organisations attended the South Western conference and 213 the South Eastern, a good coverage which effectively spread useful information about the Millennium to local authorities and other organisations throughout the South of England.

  The Millennium Commission (of which I am Chairman) has to date offered grant totalling nearly £210 million to capital projects in the South East and South West regions, ranging from international-scale projects like the Millennium Seed Bank in Sussex and the Eden Project in Cornwall, to small Village Halls from Ashurst to Avon.

  Football
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the decision of the Nationwide Football League and Football Association to arrange for the Division Three play-off between Colchester United and Torquay United to take place on Friday 22 May; and if he will make a statement. [45546]

  Mr. Banks
  My Department has received one letter on this subject, which is a matter for the Football League. I understand that the Football League's decision to stage 238
  the Division Three play-off Final on 22 May was taken following careful consideration of other venue and date options, and full consultation with all interested parties including the Football Association.

  Radio Stations
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if his Department has given guidance to the Radio Authority about the suitability of(a) topless darts, (b) bouncing dwarfs and (c) news-presenting rabbits on national radio stations; and if he will make a statement. [46278]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: The Government have not given guidance to the Radio Authority on topless darts, bouncing dwarves, rabbits as news presenters or indeed any other animals in key roles. It is entirely for the Radio Authority to interpret the provisions of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 and to determine their licensing procedures accordingly.

  Independent radio licensees are required by the Authority to ensure that their programme content meets a 'promise of performance', which forms part of their licence and which continues in force if ownership or control of the licence changes.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what statutory or other criteria the Radio Authority would assess the suitability to hold an independent national radio licence of any company taking over the current holder of such a licence; and if he will make a statement. [46275]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: The Radio Authority applies the restrictions on the control of national analogue radio licences set out in the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. As such, the Authority must refuse to issue such a licence to individuals who, or companies which, are specifically excluded under that legislation. As well as restrictions on individuals from, or companies registered, outside the European Economic Area, licences may not be controlled by advertising agencies or by bodies whose primary purposes are political or religious. The authority must also refuse licences to applicants whose holdings in other sectors of the media exceed the limits set out in the Acts, or in cases where the Authority is not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

  Media Ownership
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers(a) his Department and (b) the Radio Authority have to intervene in the take-over of one or more of the three companies holding independent national radio licences; and if he will make a statement. [46273]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: The Radio Authority is solely responsible for licencing independent radio services in the UK. The Authority enforces the strict limits on the holding of national analogue radio licences by companies active in other sectors of the media, and the other restrictions on the holding of licences set by the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It may refuse to issue a national radio licence and has powers to rescind licences already issued.
  239
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for plurality and diversity of ownership within the media industries of the proposed take-over by News International companies of Talk Radio UK Ltd; and if he will make a statement; [46272]

  (2) what plans he has to prevent further expansion in the United Kingdom broadcasting sector by News International and associated companies; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which such expansion is in the public interest; [46276]

  (3) what steps he is taking to promote plurality and diversity of ownership within the United Kingdom media industries. [46271]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: The media ownership controls included in the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 are designed to protect plurality and diversity in the broadcasting industry. I have no plans to introduce further legislation. One of the effects of the Broadcasting Acts is that, since its newspaper titles have over 20 per cent. of national circulation, News International cannot control a national analogue radio licence nor have a holding of more than 20 per cent. in a company which controls such a licence.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Car Manufacturers
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will provide details of Government grants provided to car manufacturers to establish or expand car or component factories in the UK in each of the last five years. [46091]

  Mr. Battle
  Under the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme, grant offers totalling £210 million were made between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1998 in support of 187 investment projects by motor vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers. Offers in each financial year were as follows:

  £ million

  Motor vehicle manufacturers (SIC 3410)

  Motor vehicle parts and accessories suppliers(SIC 3430)

  1993–94

  5.85

  13.70

  1994–95

  11.57

  11.26

  1995–96

  .54

  15.84

  1996–97

  60.34

  17.80

  1997–98

  65.97

  7.45

  Science Research
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to increase private funding for science research. [46218]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: The Government are looking at ways in which the private sector's contribution to science research can be increased. My Department has recently published, in conjunction with H.M. Treasury, a consultative document, "Innovating
  240
  for the Future: Investing in R&D" seeking views on this matter. This area is also being addressed in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  It is also important to ensure that the private sector takes advantage of the output of the UK's highly rated Science Base and the recently announced "University Challenge" fund will assist in this process.

  Foresight Programme
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she is taking to raise the profile of the Foresight programme. [45874]

  Mr. Battle
  There is substantial activity across a broad front. Shortly after the general election the President of the Board of Trade called for an audit of Foresight activities across Government. The audit provided a baseline against which future agendas could be set and progress monitored.

  In response to the audit, a group of Ministers with responsibility for Foresight in Government Departments was set up to provide top-level co-ordination of Foresight across Whitehall. The President of the Board of Trade requested regular progress reports. The first of these was published on 16 June.

  The progress report shows that Government departments and public sector organisations have substantially increased their involvement in Foresight over the last six months, to its highest level ever.

  The Foresight Steering Group has been restructured to broaden the range of interests represented in Foresight.

  The success of projects such as the Foresight Vehicle—which develops technologies for cleaner, greener, and safer cars of the future—and the Clear Zones initiative for innovative urban transport systems, highlights the contribution that Foresight is making to sustained competitive advantage and enhanced quality of life.

  The Foresight LINK Awards attracted 91 bids from consortia wishing to pursue projects addressing Foresight priorities. This builds on the earlier Foresight Challenge competition.

  Research Councils and Departments are supporting nineteen LINK programmes that reflect Foresight priorities, worth a total of £170 million.

  The first of the new SMART Foresight Awards, recognising visionary work in smaller firms, will be made on 17 June.

  Proposals for consultation on the next round of Foresight were published in March. Over 35,000 copies have already been distributed. Many of the early responses come from organisations which are new to Foresight.

  The next round of Foresight will include a number of cross-cutting themes which reflect the Government's high-level priorities. These include sustainable development, future cities, crime control, and the aging population. Early work to develop plans for particular themes is involving a number of departments.

  Eastern Electricity
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on Eastern Electricity's Eco Power Pricing Scheme. [46232]

  Mr. Battle
  Specific schemes are for the companies concerned. Competition in electricity supply will provide suppliers with the opportunity to offer innovative tariffs and services throughout the country, including promoting green energy schemes. I welcome the fact that companies are beginning to take up this challenge—in particular those which support renewable energy projects.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which minister represented the United Kingdom at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 18 May; and what was Her Majesty's Government's policy on the chocolate draft directive. [45669]

  Mrs. Roche
  Lord Simon chaired the Council. William Stow, Deputy Director General, Trade Policy and Europe, in the Department of Trade and Industry, represented the UK.

  In our Presidency, the Government continue to seek an agreed solution on chocolate which fully respects all established manufacturing traditions within the Member States. Whilst some progress has been made, agreement has been blocked by five Member States who object to the addition of non-cocoa vegetable fats to chocolate. Since the May Council there have been signs that some of these countries may be reconsidering their position, and our efforts to negotiate an acceptable common position are continuing.

  Metrication Policy
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if her reappraisal of metrication policy is complete; and when she expects to publish the results. [46142]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I expect the re-appraisal of metrication, including the obligation to use metric units of measurement for specified purposes, to be completed later this summer. The publication of results will follow completion of the re-appraisal.

  Wind Power
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans she has to encourage off-shore wind power generation; [45984]

  (2) what involvement her Department has in the exploratory work of Border Wind off the coast at Blyth in Northumberland; [45985]

  (3) if she will assess the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Administration's report on the failures of the Danish wind power programme. [45986]

  Mr. Battle
  I am currently reviewing policy for new and renewable sources of energy, including potential for offshore wind. From work undertaken so far, it seems that the achievement of 10%of the UK's electricity from renewables by 2010 would almost certainly require bringing forward technologies in addition to those proposed to be supported under fifth Non-Fossil Fuel 242
  Obligation (NFFO-05), including offshore wind energy, I plan to participate through our renewable energy programme in a European Union JOULE project to study the structural loading of a wind turbine off the coast of Blyth in Northumberland. We are aware of the Norwegian report to which my hon. Friend refers.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she has powers to re-examine, or cause to be re-examined by some other authority, closed DTI investigations into alleged insider share dealing. [46140]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  It is always open to the Secretary of State to appoint inspectors to investigate alleged insider dealing if there is evidence justifying such appointment.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice she has sought from the Government's Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in respect of possible methods of handling the remaining irradiated spent fuel at Dounreay in the period of decommissioning the plant. [45450]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government believe that nothing is more important than safety in the management of nuclear facilities which is why we welcomed the investigation into the management of safety at Dounreay by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I shall be considering the UKAEA's future proposals for Dounreay in the light of any recommendation by the HSE and SEPA and will consult with the Government's Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and other interested groups as appropriate.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to implement Commission decision 92/194 EURATOM of 4 March 1992, in respect of remediation of waste management arrangements at Dounreay. [45873]

  Mr. Battle
  92/194/Euratom: Commission Decision of 4 March 1992 imposed a formal "warning" concerning the standard of the nuclear material accountancy and control procedures in a facility at Dounreay.

  To rectify the situation, modifications were made to the plant and to management procedures, and improvements were made to the accounting, measurement and associated record systems across the whole facility, including the relevant waste streams.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she, other Ministers, and officials of her Department have had with(a) British Energy, (b) BNFL and (c) the UK Atomic Energy Authority in respect of the year 2000 millennium compliance of their computer systems. [45517]

  Mr. Battle
  Ministers and officials are in regular contact with British Energy, BNFL and UKAEA. Officials have raised with them the actions they are taking to address the potential impact of the century date change on their computer systems. All nuclear operators have
  243
  major programmes of work underway to address the matter, and are working in close co-operation with the relevant safety, security and environment regulators. I understand that all essential work is due to be completed by the end of April 1999. Through a specially formed liaison group involving all civil nuclear site licensees and the independent nuclear safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive, the nuclear industry is exchanging information on the issue and trying to ensure the adoption of best practice in addressing it.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Sickness and Disability Benefits
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to set up a forum to discuss

  Organisation

  Peter Adeane

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

  David Behan

  Local Government Association

  Ian Bruce

  Royal National Institute for the Blind and co-chair of the Disability Benefits Consortium

  Jane Campbell

  National Centre for Independent Living

  Alison Cobb

  MIND

  Nicole Davoud

  Independent Disability Consultant

  Marilyn Howard

  Independent Disability Consultant

  Professor R. Grahame

  Chairman of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board

  Jill Harrison

  Carers National Association

  Rachel Hurst

  Rights Now!

  Brian Lamb

  SCOPE

  Margaret Lavery

  RADAR

  Carol Lee

  People First

  Colin Low

  National Federation of the Blind of the UK

  Brian McGinnis

  MENCAP

  Dr. Lotte Newman

  Former President of the Royal College of General Practitioners

  Lorna Reith

  Disability Alliance

  Roy Sainsbury

  University of York—Social Policy Research Unit

  James Strachan

  RNID

  Pauline Thompson

  Disablement Income Group

  Richard Wood

  British Council of Organisations of Disabled People and co-chair of the Disability Benefits Forum

  National Insurance
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the effect on Treasury revenue of abolishing the ceiling on national insurance contributions. [46134]

  Mr. Denham
  If the Upper Earnings Limit on employees' Class 1 contributions and the Upper Profits Limit on Class 4 contributions had been removed in 1998/99, estimated additional revenue of some £4.6 billion would have been raised in respect of earnings in that year.

  The figure assumes that the current 10 per cent. contribution rate would apply to earnings above the present Upper Earnings Limit and that the current Class 4 contribution rate of 6 per cent. would apply to profits above the present Upper Profits Limit. The figure also assumes that the Upper Earnings Limit would remain in place for the calculation of employee and employer contracted-out rebates.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.
  244
  sickness and disability benefits as outlined in The Green Paper, "New Ambitions for our Country: a New Contract for Welfare". [46714]

  Ms Harman
  I am pleased to announce the first meeting of the Disability Benefits Forum took place today. This is an important step forward to ensure a proper dialogue between Government and disability organisations.

  The terms of reference of the Forum are: To consider possible options for changes in the gateways to benefits for long-term sick and disabled people and carers, and how to ensure that help is directed to those who need it.

  The Forum will bring together representatives of disabled people and experts in disability issues, to conduct an open and detailed dialogue with the Government.

  The members of the Forum are:

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43323]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  For details of the numbers of Special Advisers and the annual cost of employing them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Mr. Fox) on 11 June 1998,Official Report, column 664.

  Amsterdam Treaty (Asylum and Immigration)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what view the German Foreign Secretary expressed in his recent letter on Article
  245
  73K of the Amsterdam Treaty concerning the relationship of national legislation and community legislation in the field of asylum and Immigration policy. [45790]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The letter from the German Foreign Minister expresses the view that nothing in the Amsterdam Treaty provisions on immigration policy prevents national immigration rules as long as they are compatible with the Treaty. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House shortly.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence which has been exchanged with the German Government regarding interpretation of Article 73K of the Amsterdam Treaty. [45791]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Copies of letters on this subject from Chancellor Kohl and from the German Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel, which have already been made available to the German parliament, will be deposited in the Library shortly, together with a copy of the letter from the Foreign Secretary under which the German Foreign Minister's letter was circulated to other Member States.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has provided to Gibraltar following recent incidents involving Spanish vessels in British waters. [46123]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Governor has assured the Royal Gibraltar Police of his full support, and that of HMG, in any measures needed to enforce the laws within the British waters around Gibraltar.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the United Kingdom's budget contribution to the Council of Europe with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. [46016]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The views of Her Majesty's Government on the UK's contribution to the Council of Europe budget are relayed to the Secretary General in meetings of Ministers' Deputies on a regular basis by our Permanent Representative in Strasbourg.

  Intergovernmental Authority on Development
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives were agreed at the recent meeting of the IGAD Partners Forum in The Hague; what role the United Kingdom Government will play in efforts to achieve peace; and if he will make a statement. [45960]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The IGAD Partners Forum in The Hague has yet to take place. It is due to meet from 17 to 18 June. I will represent the UK.

  The conference will provide an opportunity to reinvigorate the IGAD peace process by developing an action plan for consideration when the talks resume in Addis Ababa in August. The UK will play a full part in the meeting and will remain engaged thereafter.
  246
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the United Kingdom Government are planning to make to the IGAD members and the warring parties in Sudan before the forthcoming meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in August.[45961]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Partnership Forum, of which we are a member, has convened a meeting in the Hague from 17 to 18 June. The objective is to re-invigorate the IGAD peace process and to propose an action plan that will be put forward when the IGAD peace talks reconvene in Addis Ababa in August.

  All the Sudanese parties will be represented along with the members of IGAD and international partners. I will represent HMG.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial support the United Kingdom Government have given for the IGAD peace talks; and to whom it has been given. [45963]

  Mr. Fatchett
  HMG have offered financial support to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for work on the Sudan peace process in the past. The offer has not been taken up.

  We are currently considering offering further material support in the context of discussions with IGAD and the Partners Forum.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support the establishment of a permanent secretariat for the current peace talks on Sudan under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. [45962]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Intergovernmental Authority on Development already has a permanent secretariat.

  Youth for Europe
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the expansion of Youth for Europe to non-EU countries in respect of the themes of(a) developing European solidarity and (b) developing European awareness in such. [46072]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  One of the objectives of the "Youth for Europe" programme is"to promote exchanges with young people from non-member countries".

  We welcome and support action in this field.

  Panel 2000
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Panel 2000 has met; and if he will list the agenda for each occasion. [46066]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There have been three plenary sessions of Panel 2000. These were held on 1 April, 6 May and 11 June. The agenda items for each meeting are set out in the list.
  247
  There have also been several meetings of five specialised subgroups in which members of the Panel have taken part.

  1 April 1998

  1. Paper by Demos Think Tank on the international projection of Britain

  2. Discussion of Key Messages and audiences

  3. Discussion of existing projection methods. Commissioning of four papers (see agenda for 6 May)

  6 May 1998

  1. Consideration of papers commissioned from the FCO by the Panel

  Inventory of Information Practice (an overview of international projection of the United Kingdom)

  International perceptions of the UK

  Implications of UK devolution for the international projection of the UK
  Specific promotional projects and events

  2. Strategy: Discussion of recommendations by Panel subgroups

  Subgroup 1: Key Messages about the UK

  Subgroup 2: The means of delivery

  3. Public Sector co-operation in projection: Presentation by the Director General of the British Council on the FCO/British Council/DTI new Images initiative in Australia

  4. Panel 2000 and Millennium events

  5. Further work, including preparations for Expo Hanover 2000 and new British Embassies in Berlin and Moscow

  11 June 1998

  1. Consideration of further sub-group reports:

  Public/private sector co-operation in promoting Britain abroad FCO communication at home and abroad

  Recommendations on further major promotional events

  2. Panel draft Interim Report

  Key Messages

  Recommendations

  3. Other elements of the Interim Report

  4. Arrangements for launch of Interim Report.

  India and Pakistan
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support membership of India and Pakistan of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty as nuclear weapon states. [46082]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The NPT defines nuclear weapon states as those which exploded a nuclear device before 1967 (before the Treaty existed). Notwithstanding their recent nuclear tests, neither India nor Pakistan has the status of a nuclear weapon state in accordance with the NPT. They cannot, therefore, accede to the NPT as nuclear weapon states.

  The UK continues to urge India and Pakistan to accede to the NPT as it stands and without modification. All NPT states parties commit to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and undertake to pursue negotiations on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to address the current problems in Kosovo; and what co-operation it has sought from other EU and European countries on this issue. [46055]
  248
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The UK has taken a leading role in coordinating international efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the problems in Kosovo, both as a member of the Contact Group and as EU Presidency. With our European partners, we have taken a number of steps to register our concern at the gravity of the situation and to persuade the government in Belgrade to offer a meaningful political process to the Kosovar Albanian leadership, rather than to continue violent repression. Most recently, the European Council in Cardiff on 15 June agreed to take steps to impose a ban on flights by Yugoslav carriers between the FRY and EU member states. The UK has also been active in the contingency military planning taking place in NATO, and at the UN has proposed a Chapter VII resolution designed to meet the threat to regional security and stability. British aircraft also took part in a NATO exercise on 15 June designed to demonstrate NATO's ability to project airpower rapidly into the area.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the provision of further support from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial agencies to Indonesia. [44225]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK will continue to support Indonesia, including through the international financial institutions, provided economic reforms continue to be implemented vigorously, and recognising that successful economic reform also requires continued progress on political reform. An IMF team is currently in Jakarta discussing Indonesia's economic adjustment programme, and lending may resume next month. The UK also recognises the economic hardship faced by the people of Indonesia and welcomes the steps being taken to alleviate the impact of the crisis on poor people.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pig Farming
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will visit Beverley to meet the editor of Pig World to discuss the future of the pig industry. [43000]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: 1 have no plans to visit Beverley in the near future.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requests he has received to contribute an article for the magazine Pig World on the state of the sector and its prospects; and what response he has made. [43002]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: The hon. Member wrote asking if I would contribute an article for "Pig World", and I replied to him on 18 May.

  Periodicals
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on writing and contributing articles for sectoral periodicals. [43005]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: I take decisions on requests for contributions to periodicals on the merits of each individual case.

  Agricultural Shows
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for himself and each of his Ministers the agricultural shows and similar events which(a) they have attended in the United Kingdom so far this year and (b) they have made commitment to attend during the remainder of the year. [44871]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 8 June 1998]: So far this year, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has attended the Suffolk Show on 27 May and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has attended the Cornwall Show on 5 June.

  At present, I plan to attend the Royal Show on 6 July, my hon. Friend the Minister of State plans to attend the Three Counties Show on 16 June, the Royal Show on 6 July and the Westmoreland Show on 10 September. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary will be attending the Lincolnshire Show on 25 June, the Royal Show on 6 July, the Great Yorkshire Show on 14 July and the East of England Show on 22 July. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary will be attending the Royal Show on 5 July.

  Fishing
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of fish caught at sea by British fishing vessels were(a) landed and (b) sold for human consumption in the last year for which figures are available. [46034]

  Mr. Morley
  In 1997, 89 per cent. of the fish landed by the UK fleet was sold for human consumption. Information on the percentage of fish which is caught but not landed is not available.

  Fish Quotas
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of their allocated cod quota French fishing vessels have caught in the English Channel in each of the past five years. [46038]

  Mr. Morley
  Catches of cod in the English Channel by the French fishing fleet, as reported to the EU, and their respective quotas are set out in the table.

  Catches and quotas for cod in the English Channel: France

  Quota and catch are in tonnes liveweight

  Year

  Quota

  Catch

  Uptake (per cent.)

  1993

  13,815.0

  10,702.0

  77

  1994

  12,832.0

  10,985.5

  86

  1995

  12,940.0

  13,596.1

  105

  1996

  15,030.0

  13,420.4

  89

  1997

  15,272.0

  15,372.4

  101

  Source:

  EU catch reports
  250
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of their allocated haddock quota British fishing vessels have caught in the North Sea in each of the past five years. [46039]

  Mr. Morley
  The percentage of the UK's haddock quota caught by British fishing vessels in the North Sea in each of the past five years is as follows:

  Year

  UK quota (tonnes)

  UK landings (tonnes)

  Landings as percentage of quota

  1993

  77,620

  70,779

  91.2

  1994

  91,820

  77,791

  84.7

  1995

  68,030

  67,005

  98.5

  1996

  67,830

  68,560

  101.1

  1997

  64,241

  64,434

  100.3

  Distant Water Fleet
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the tonnage of the British distant water fleet in each of the years since 1976. [46036]

  Mr. Morley
  The most recent available information, on a consistent basis, is set out in Table A2.2 of 'UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 1996', a copy of which is available in the Library. Comparable information prior to 1991 is not available.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Ministry has undertaken to compare the food safety requirements, animal welfare requirements and agrochemical safety requirements of the United Kingdom with those of each of the countries which export food to the United Kingdom. [45496]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 15 June 1998]: Legislation at EU and UK levels exists to ensure that food products entering the UK meet acceptable standards of safety. Developments in other countries are kept under general review and the Government are committed to improving standards of food safety and farm animal welfare at home and throughout Europe.

  Legislation
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which of the requirements of the primary and secondary legislation relating to agriculture, fisheries and food currently in force within the United Kingdom are applicable only in the United Kingdom; [45498]

  (2) which of the requirements of the primary and secondary legislation relating to agriculture, fisheries and food currently in force in the United Kingdom are also applicable in other EU countries; and if he will publish the data his Department has collated on the cost compliance for each EU member state where the requirements apply. [45497]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 15 June I998]: The agriculture, fisheries and food industries are subject to legislation which applies generally, such as employment law, as well as that which is sector specific. Much of the legislation, which is the responsibility of

  251
  several Government departments, derives from EU requirements which apply to all other member states. The specific information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  BSE
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next be asking SEAC to consider the need for maintaining the over thirty months scheme. [45499]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 15 June 1998]: I recently met Professor Sir John Pattison, chairman of SEAC, to discuss a number of issues in relation to the future work of the Committee. The Committee advises Government on all issues in relation to the spongiform encephalopathy diseases and that includes keeping under review the measures currently in force to protect public and animal health. If the Committee considered, in the light of developments, that some measures were no longer necessary or could be altered while at the same time maintaining a proper degree of protection for public and animal health, I would expect the Committee to make such recommendations to the Government, but I have not specifically asked the Committee to review this legislation. I have always made it clear that our first priority must be to protect consumers and I will continue to operate on that basis.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the report of the Advisory Group on Quarantine. [46641]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Chairman of the Advisory Group on Quarantine, Professor Kennedy, envisages a delay in the Advisory Group's report, which had been expected this month. It is important that all the evidence be considered most carefully, and given due weight, before the Advisory Group's report is submitted. I now expect that the report of the Advisory Group on Quarantine will be published in the summer or early autumn. A full public consultation will then be held.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Parades
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost of policing the Drumcree parade in each of the last three years. [44749]

  Mr. Ingram
  The cost of police manpower directly employed in policing the Drumcree parade for each of the last three years has been calculated as follows: £960,000 in 1995, £2,110,000 in 1996 and £680,000 in 1997.

  Confidence-building Measures
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on new proposals for confidence-building measures in Northern Ireland. [44750]

  Mr. Worthington
  We have taken a very close interest in measures to build confidence in all parts of the community in line with manifesto commitments.
  252
  Of course the Good Friday Agreement is the most substantial confidence building measure that any of us could have hoped for because it provides an agreed long-term basis for tackling the deep historical divisions within the community.

  Following the referendums the best way to go on building confidence is to implement the Agreement in a positive spirit and for all of us to use our influence to minimise tensions during what could otherwise be a difficult summer period.

  New Northern Ireland Assembly
  13. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on arrangements for the first meeting of the Northern Ireland assembly. [44752]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes) and for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart).

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government are taking to ensure maximum participation in the assembly election. [44740]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Over 80 per cent. turnout for the referendum suggests a high turnout for the consequential Assembly elections. The Government sent every household in Northern Ireland a copy of the Agreement and an information leaflet stating where, when and how to vote for the New Assembly elections. Additionally, advertisements were placed in Northern Ireland newspapers on 24 and 25 May with details of application procedures for absent votes.

  Policing
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has for the future of policing in Northern Ireland. [44753]

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on her Department's plans for the future policing of Northern Ireland. [44755]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government are committed to securing the best possible police service for Northern Ireland. The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill, currently under consideration in another place, is intended to improve efficiency, effectiveness and accountability arrangements, within the tripartite structure. It will also establish the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Work is in hand on implementing changes to police discipline and performance management systems, flowing from the Police (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 1995. Policing is also part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and of the Cross Cutting Review of Criminal Justice, both of which seek improvements to service delivery and value for money. The Government recently published a consultation paper "Your Voice—Your Choice" on the community police interface and on the make up of, and method of appointment to, the Police Authority; we are considering the responses. In addition, the Belfast Agreement (Cmnd 3883) sets out principles for policing and terms of reference for an independent
  253
  Commission on Policing. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maginnis) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 216-17.

  The Government will continue to work with the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Authority to look for, and implement, improvements to the police service in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, if a peaceful society is achieved, then inevitably questions will have to be faced about the size of the police service. We are on the record as saying that any changes in this area will be handled sensitively and with generosity.

  Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will facilitate the early release of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright following recent legal decisions. [44754]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State is currently considering these cases in light of the content of the recent judicial review judgment. The cases remain scheduled for further review by the Life Sentence Review Board in October 1998.

  Minimum Wage
  17. Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the effect on employment in Northern Ireland of a minimum wage of £3.60 an hour.[44756]

  Mr. Ingram
  With tax and benefit reform, the national minimum wage is part of the Government's range of policies to make work pay. It will, therefore, encourage people to move from dependence on state benefits into employment.

  Downe Hospital
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will undertake a review of the document entitled, "Securing the Future for Downe Hospital", issued on 29 May.[44757]

  Mr. Worthington
  A review of this document is not appropriate. The issues which it highlights reflect the consensus of medical advice across the UK. Since its publication the paper has attracted a great deal of support including that of a number of prominent Northern Ireland doctors.

  Secondary Schools
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to provide a controlled secondary school in inner south Belfast. [44758]

  Mr. Worthington
  There are no plans to provide a controlled secondary school in Inner South Belfast. It is a matter for the Belfast Education and Library Board, in the first instance, to establish the need for such school provision and prepare suitable plans.

  Irish Language
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in establishing opportunities for the use of the Irish language in education in Northern Ireland. [44759]

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in establishing opportunities for the use of the Irish language in Northern Ireland education. [44762]

  Mr. Worthington
  In fulfilment of the commitment in the Good Friday Agreement a Draft Order in Council was recently laid before the House placing a statutory duty on the Department of Education to encourage and facilitate Irish-medium education. The Order also includes provision for day one recurrent funding of new Irish-medium schools and powers to fund a promotional body in line with current arrangements for integrated education. Seven primary schools and one secondary school currently receive 100 per cent. grant-aid for recurrent expenditure and these cater for 90 per cent. of the 1,400 pupils educated through the medium of Irish in Northern Ireland. In addition, plans to expand pre-school provision this year will include a number of places in Irish-medium settings.

  The teaching of Irish meets the foreign language requirement in the statutory curriculum and it is estimated that some 24,000 pupils are studying Irish at present in other secondary schools.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the development of the peace process. [44760]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Following the result of the referendum of 22 May when the people of Ireland, North and South, overwhelmingly endorsed the Belfast Agreement, I am confirmed in my view that we now have the best chance for a generation to bring lasting peace and political stability to Northern Ireland.

  Employment Equality White Paper
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses she has received to the consultation on the employment equality White Paper. [44761]

  25. Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses she has received to the consultation on the employment equality White Paper. [44765]

  Mr. Worthington
  Written comments on the consultation elements of the White Paper, "Partnership for Equality" were to be sent to Central Community Relations Unit by 12 June 1998. We have received 114 replies which are now being given careful consideration before taking further action.

  Victims of Violence
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to help the victims of violence in Northern Ireland. [44764]

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to help the victims of violence in Northern Ireland. [44768]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friends to the oral reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble).

  Council of the Isles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress on establishing the Council of the Isles. [44766]

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to make progress in establishing the Council of the Isles. [44767]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Good Friday Agreement allows for the establishment of a British-Irish Council which reflects an earlier proposal for a Council of the Isles.

  We are currently making preparations for the establishment of all the various institutions prescribed by the Agreement. In the case of the British-Irish Council this will include consultations with the interested parties, including the Irish Government, to prepare for the inaugural meeting in shadow form later this year.

  Security Situation
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the current security situation. [44769]

  Mr. Ingram
  Since the signing of the Agreement on 10 April there have been four murders. In addition several attempts have been made to detonate explosive devices, thwarted by excellent work by the security forces, north and south. Sadly a continuing threat exists from some terrorist groups opposed to the Agreement. The security forces remain alert to deal with this.

  Prisoners (Early Release)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received concerning the early release of prisoners. [44751]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have received a number of representations from various political parties, groups and individual members of the public concerning the early release of prisoners.

  Sinn Fein
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America regarding the proposed employment by Sinn Fein of Ms Rita O'Hare in the United States of America. [46308]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

  Paedophiles
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the families and victims of the convicted paedophile W. J. McGarry were not informed of his release on 2 April. [45741]

  Mr. Ingram
  Mr. William John McGarry, who had been convicted on 4 April 1995 of 61 offences of assault and gross indecency against female children, was released from prison, time served, on 2 April 1998.

  In accordance with agreed joint protocols, the majority of which are contained in CIRCULAR HSS (CC) 3/96—a copy of which has been placed in the Library—the Prison Service served Mr. McGarry with a Notice detailing his requirement—in line with the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 1997—to register with Police within 14 days of his discharge from custody and, on 2 April 1998, it notified the Police that McGarry was being discharged and was a person required to register.

  I understand that Mr. McGarry's release date was notified to the relevant Social Services authority shortly after his committal to prison under sentence in 1996 but that the usual reminders, which are generally issued three months prior to final discharge, were not sent and that is something that I very much regret.

  I must stress, however, that all the relevant authorities were notified of Mr. McGarry's release before he was discharged.

  Steps have now been taken to ensure that the agreed protocols are rigorously followed.

  I would remind my hon. Friend that, while the Prison Service has no liability to identify and notify the victims, or their relatives, of offenders discharged upon completion of their sentence, the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Probation Service Northern Ireland work very closely with the Social Services in the local area and are confident that the existing arrangements take account of both the needs of the Community and of the offender. Even so, an inter-agency working group is currently considering how best to improve the communication about and the management of the release of such offenders. I expect to receive their conclusions and recommendations shortly.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the RUC Case Unit was informed of the release of W. J. McGarry. [45742]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RUC CARE Unit, on inquiry, was informed by the Prison Service on 1 April of Mr. McGarry's impending release.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the normal procedures followed and the relevant agencies involved when the release of a paedophile is pending, including informing the victims and their families. [45743]

  Mr. Ingram
  Any person convicted of one of the sexual offences listed in Schedule 1 to the Sex Offenders Act 1997 is required, within 14 days of discharge from custody, to register with Police.

  The Northern Ireland Prison Service serves such prisoners, during their release interview, with a Notice detailing this requirement. In addition, the Prison Service

  257
  routinely and automatically notifies the Force Information Bureau of the RUC of the temporary or final release of every prisoner. In the case of Schedule 1 offenders, the FIB is additionally supplied with a copy of the Notice of Requirement to Register served on the discharged prisoner.

  As I indicated to my hon. Friend in an earlier reply, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, in addition to liaising with the Police, works closely with the Courts, Probation Service Northern Ireland and the relevant Social Services authorities as well as with Psychiatrists, Psychologists and other professionals involved in case management prior to the release of the offender.

  The Prison Service, in common with other agencies, remains seriously concerned that the unregulated release of information about persons convicted of sexual offences may prejudice the work of those agencies assisting the process of re-settlement and re-integration and may also lead—as in recently widely reported cases in England and Wales—to public disorder and the commission of crime.

  The Prison Service has, however, in co-operation with other Agencies, agreed procedures to manage the disclosure of information relating to the release of sex offenders where this is judged to be appropriate and is already dealing with such cases.

HEALTH

  Road Accidents (Payment for Treatment)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on the recovery of NHS expenditure on the treatment of road accident victims from those responsible for the accidents in question; and if he will make a statement. [45522]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service recovers around £13 million per year towards the cost of treatment of the victims of road traffic accidents under the terms of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A draft Bill outlining a revised scheme will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

  The intention in the Bill will be to improve the administration of collection and increase the amounts collected more closely in line with actual costs.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to further extend the recovery of NHS expenditure on accident victims from those responsible for accidents (i) in the workplace and (ii) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [45510]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are currently no plans to extend the recovery of the costs of National Health Service treatment, as provided for by the Road Traffic Act 1988, to other forms of accident. The suggestion that such an extension might be made, as raised by the Law Commission in their consultation document "Damages for personal injury: Medical, nursing and other expenses", is being considered.

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners' staff have taken advantage of the NHS Pension Scheme. [45754]
  258
  Mr. Milburn
  It is not possible to calculate a precise percentage of practice staff in the National Health Service Pension Scheme as the figures available relate to different months. However, data from the NHS Pension Agency show 59,064 practice staff in the pension scheme at February 1998. Data from the General Medical Services Census show 60,579 whole-time equivalent practice staff at October 1997.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he will take to maintain a balance of interests within the make-up of primary care groups in the new NHS. [45483]

  Mr. Milburn
  Primary Care Groups will be established as a committee or sub-committee of the health authority. The chief executive of the health authority is the accountable officer and must ensure that proper arrangements are in place for ensuring that the Primary Care Group operates within the authority it has been delegated. The health authority will also ensure that arrangements are in place that meet the needs of the local population, within the terms of the health improvement programme. Governing arrangements of a Primary Care Group will include input from doctors and community nurses, and representation of social services.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms he proposes to ensure that medical justification is the prime motive for spending decisions within primary care groups in the new NHS. [45481]

  Mr. Milburn
  Medical justification will remain the prime motive for spending decisions in Primary Care Groups. Individual general practitioners will use their clinical judgment to decide, as they do now, what is best for the individual patient. Patients will continue to be guaranteed the drugs and the treatments they need. Participation by GPs within a Primary Care Group, or membership of a Primary Care Group board, will not interfere with their terms of service obligation always to refer and prescribe in the best interests of their patients.

  Varicose Veins (Operating Waiting Lists)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of hospital operation waiting lists in each health authority are accounted for by women waiting for varicose vein operations. [45751]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not available centrally, since waiting list information is collected only by medical specialty. Varicose vein operations are part of general surgery and not separately identified.

  Insulin Injection Pen Needles
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in consideration of whether general practitioners should be allowed to prescribe insulin injection pen needles on the National Health Service. [45545]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Campbell) on 28 April 1998,Official Report, column 121.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the current level of access to NHS dentistry; and what measures he is taking to increase access to dental healthcare. [45532]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 16 June 1998]: We are aware that there are localised problems of access to National Health Service dental services in some areas of the country. That is why, in September 1997, we introduced the Investing in Dentistry (IID) scheme. We have made £19 million available through this scheme to help dentists to expand existing practices and to set up new ones in areas of the country where access problems are most acute. To date, we have received over 450 IID proposals from health authorities. In the longer term, we will be piloting the personal dental services which will provide health authorities with the flexibility to tailor dental services more closely to local need. I recently announced 15 pilot schemes, involving over 150 dentists, to be launched in October this year.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the costs of introducing universal screening of children for cystic fibrosis. [45983]

  Mr. Boateng
  Research evidence about antenatal and neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis, which will include some estimates of costs, is due to be published shortly. The National Screening Committee, which offers Ministers advice about the case for introducing or changing individual screening programmes, will consider this evidence and offer advice about the next steps later in the year.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish details of the public appointments made by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the involvement of members of the local community on NHS boards. [46426]

  Mr. Dobson
  A report with details of all public appointments made to bodies sponsored by the Department of Health is published today. It contains details of 3,794 individuals appointed to 586 bodies at 1 March 1998. It relates to chairs and non-executives in National Health Service trust and health authority boards, members of Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and, for the first time, contains details of those who serve on the 41 Advisory NDPBs which give specialist technical and professional advice to my Department.

  Of those people named in the report, around 1,000 have been appointed by me since 1 May 1997, predominantly to NHS trusts and Executive NDPBs.

  All these appointments have been made on merit to the exacting procedures laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, which ensure an open and transparent process and encourage people from all walks of life to come forward.
  260
  We have honoured the Government's commitment to increase the local accountability of NHS boards, by publicly advertising posts and by seeking nominations from local authorities and Members of Parliament. We have appointed people who live within the local community wherever possible and have substantially increased the participation of women and people from ethnic minorities. In the year to 1 May 1998, 36 per cent. of chairs, and 52 per cent. of non-executives appointed were women and 9 per cent. of appointees were drawn from the ethnic minority population.

  We have significantly changed the make-up of NHS trust boards to reflect the abolition of the internal market and the new local partnership which we expect NHS trusts to develop. Of those people appointed since 1 May 1997, over 30 per cent.—the largest single group—are NHS users, carers or voluntary workers.

  We intend to maintain this progress and are currently in the process of appointing around 300 people to serve on health authority boards. When completed, details of these new appointments will be placed in the Library and published on the Internet. Copies of the Department of Health Public Appointments Annual Report 1998 are available in the Library.

  Hip Operations
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of how many cases of hip joint replacement operations conducted in England and Wales since 1980, patients have been readmitted to hospital for further hip replacement surgery within(a) five years and (b) 10 years of the original operation. [45776]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are currently no mechanisms within the data collection systems in England which allow hospital operations to be linked to individual patients. We are, however, discussing with the professions how we might get better information on the outcome of primary hip replacement operations. The table shows the number of primary and revision hip replacement operations carried out in England since 1990–91.

  Information about hip operations in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Total hip replacement and revision of hip replacement operations

  Year

  Primary operations1

  Revision operations2

  1990–91

  28,227

  2,489

  1991–92

  32,153

  2,843

  1992–93

  33,190

  3,111

  1993–94

  34,129

  2,939

  1994–95

  36,502

  3,330

  1995–96

  39,387

  3,693

  1OPCS4R codes W37-W39, W46-W48, excluding emergency admissions and episodes with a primary diagnosis of ICD-10 codes, 572.0, S72.1 and S72.2

  2OPCS4R codes W37.3, W38.3, W39.3, W46.3, W47.3, W48.3, excluding emergency admissions and episodes with a primary diagnosis of ICD-10 codes, 572.0, S72.1 and S72.2

  Note:

  Data in this table are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

  Community Health Councils
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the role of community health councils, with particular reference to their independence vis-a-vis local health authorities and the regional offices of the NHS; and if chairmen and members of community health councils can be removed before their appointment period expires. [46133]
  262
  Mr. Milburn:
  Community Health Councils are statutory bodies which are independent of health authorities. Regional offices of the National Health Service Executive provide operational support to facilitate CHCs' fulfilment of their functions. Regulations provide that members, including chairmen appointments, can be terminated by resignation, failure to attend meetings for 4 months, and if the Secretary of State considers that it is not in the best interests of the health service for a person to continue as a member.

  Local Authority Nuclear Free Committees
  Local Authority Nuclear Free Committees
  Marine Science and Technology: Inter-Agency Committee
  Marine Science and Technology: Inter-Agency Committee
  Department of Health: Public Appointments
  Department of Health: Public Appointments
  Alcohol "Tsar"
  Alcohol "Tsar"
  Alcohol Misuse
  Alcohol Misuse
  Disability Benefits Forum
  Disability Benefits Forum
  Fish Quotas
  Fish Quotas
  Biodiversity Convention: Conference
  Biodiversity Convention: Conference
  Medway Secure Training Centre
  Medway Secure Training Centre
  Firearms Licensing: Home Office Circulars
  Firearms Licensing: Home Office Circulars
  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Sierra Leone: Asylum Seekers
  Sierra Leone: Asylum Seekers
  Perjury and Perverting the Course of Justice: Prosecutions
  Perjury and Perverting the Course of Justice: Prosecutions