Written Answers of 11 May 1998

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Drugs
  Mr. Green
  To ask the President of the Council what is the budget under the direct control of the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator. [40262]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, Keith Hellawell, is a special adviser to the Government, and as such has no budget to spend. As part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, he has overseen a review of existing drug resources. This has informed the Government's new anti-drugs strategy, 'Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain', launched last month. This estimated that the Government currently spend about £1.4 billion a year on anti-drugs activity within departmental programmes. An announcement on funding from 1999–2000 will be made later in the year, following the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which SSNs are presently undergoing refit; when the work commenced; and when they are expected to be rededicated. [40868]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following submarines are currently in refit with the dates of commencement and rededication as shown:

  Submarine

  Date of commencement

  Rededication

  HMS Tireless

  June 1996

  January 1999

  HMS Torbay

  January 1998

  Estimated February 2001

  HMS Superb

  August 1994

  April 1998

  HMS Sceptre

  May 1997

  June 2000

  Weapon Diagnostic Division, Aldermaston
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Weapon Diagnostic Division at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, was set up; what is the purpose of this division; how many series of technical papers or reports are currently being produced by this division; and what are the names of each series. [40754]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Weapon Diagnostic Division of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston was created in 1979 and disbanded in 1994. Its function 2
  was to diagnose underground test programme results. As it no longer exists, there are no documents currently being produced by the Weapon Diagnostic Division.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 April 1998,Official Report, columns 552–53, on the Atomic Weapons Establishment, how many audit reports have been produced by the Directorate of Quality Assurance since 1 January 1995; and how many of these reports are unclassified. [40768]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Directorate of Quality Assurance has produced over 1,200 audit reports since 1 January 1995. Of these, only one was classified.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 April 1998,Official Report, column 553, on the Atomic Weapons Establishment, if he will list the unclassified reports in the untitled series of papers produced by the Warhead Engineering Division, indicating the title of each paper and the date on which each paper was produced. [40753]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am today placing a list in the Library of the House.

  Computers (Hacking)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring his Department conducts on the extent to which outside individuals have attempted to hack into his Department's computer system; how often reports are made on this matter; and what is the current security classification of such reports. [40755]

  Mr. Spellar
  Ministry of Defence policy on the connection of computer systems to external data networks, such as the Internet, is that the computer system should be dedicated to the purpose and, unless the system processes only unclassified data, be protected by a security architecture which includes firewall technology that monitors attempts at hacking. There is no evidence of a successful intrusion from an external source to any MOD computer system.

  The MOD is a contributing Department to the Government-wide Unified Incident Reporting and Alert Scheme, UNIRAS, run by the Security Service. Security incidents, including attempts at hacking, are reported to UNIRAS and an annual report, classified RESTRICTED, is produced by the Security Service.

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many authors of submissions by outside organisations and individuals to the Strategic Defence Review have consented to their submissions being made public; and by what means members of the public may view these submissions. [40668]

  Mr. George Robertson
  486 authors of submissions by outside organisations and individuals to the Strategic Defence Review have consented to their submissions being made public. We are offering to supply copies of the submissions on microfiche to libraries in London,
  3
  Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Birmingham, Bath, Exeter and Oxford. These copies are currently in production.

  Tank Regiments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional opportunities for training tank regiments are likely to occur with the proposed expansion of NATO to include Poland and Hungary. [41224]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Extensive facilities for brigade-level armoured training in Poland are already available for use by other nations, and the United Kingdom makes regular use of them. The enlargement of NATO is unlikely in itself to result in additional opportunities for armoured training in Poland, Hungary or the Czech Republic.

  NATO Enlargement
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the NATO study on the costs of enlargement. [41543]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The NATO study on the costs of enlargement is a classified document, and I am therefore withholding it under exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and do not propose to publish it. I have however provided a copy of the study to the Defence Select Committee, whose Third Report of Session 1997–98 (HC 469) reproduces the unclassified information provided to it.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Pre-school Care
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how he will ensure that the needs of three year old children are appropriately met in pre-school care. [41660]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The pre-school needs of children up to the age of eight are safeguarded by statute under the Children Act 1989. This requires every local authority to keep a register of persons who act as childminders on domestic premises and also of persons who provide day care in non-domestic premises. The local authority has to be satisfied that those registered are suitable to be looking after children up to this age and have adequate regard to the needs of all children. The Department published, on 27 March 1998, a Consultation Paper on the Regulation of Early Education and Day Care.

  Pathfinder Areas
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much public money each New Deal Pathfinder area received from the Government between 1 January and 6 April; and if he will make a statement. [40825]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Although approximately £3.2 million was earmarked to meet the cost of operating the New Deal Pathfinders in 1997–98, with £5m programme expenditure held centrally, it is not possible to give actual expenditure figures at this stage.

  Mature Students
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage change has taken place in the numbers of(a) mature students entering higher education and (b) lone parents entering higher education as mature students in the last year over the previous year. [40823]

  Dr. Howells
  The number of mature students entering higher education courses in higher education institutions in the UK rose by 1 per cent. between 1996–97 and 1997–98, from 339,100 to 342,900. Mature students are defined as postgraduates aged 25 and over, and undergraduates aged 21 and over. Information on the numbers of lone parents entering higher education as mature students is not held centrally. However, data from the Labour Force Survey show that the number of lone parents aged 21 or over in full-time higher or further education rose from 207,000 in 1996–97 to 222,000 in 1997–98, representing an increase of 7 per cent.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what proportion of his Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40742]

  Dr. Howells
  The number of appointees to Non-Departmental Public Bodies sponsored by this Department, within the specified age ranges, is as follows:

  (i) aged under 25—nil;

  (ii) aged 24 to 30—nil;

  (iii) aged 31 to 35—one.

  This one appointee under 35 years of age, represents 0.6% of the 160 current appointees.

  The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates to apply for positions on the boards of public bodies, reflecting the diverse society in which we live. This includes encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointments. All appointments are made on merit, and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department will publish the design of the new deal for the long-term unemployed; when he expects the new deal to begin; and if he will make a statement. [40665]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I will publish this month the design document for the New Deal for people aged 25 and over. The New Deal for people aged 25 and over will begin on 29 June.

  Departmental Energy Use
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the Department's energy usage was from(a) renewable energy and (b) combined heating in each year since 1989–90. [40410]
  5
  Dr. Howells
  The Department does not, at present, utilise any renewable energy. Since 1995–96, some of the Department's energy has been supplied by combined heat and power. The proportions in each year since 1995–96 are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1995–96

  7.53

  1996–97

  8.14

  1997–98

  18.76

  1 End of year figures for 1997–98 are not yet available. Therefore, the figure has been estimated against the projected outturn

  Oil, gas and electricity consumption in accommodation occupied by DfEE

  Year

  Gas consumption (kWh)

  Actual cost £

  Gas oil (kWh)

  Actual cost £

  Electricity (kWh)

  Actual cost £

  Total consumption (kWh)

  Actual cost £

  1990–91

  16,362,479

  194,586

  4,155,560

  63,202

  19,359,731

  1,205,638

  39,877,770

  1,463,426

  1991–92

  16,543,141

  215,385

  4,290,339

  47,135

  21,365,033

  1,513,544

  42,189,514

  1,776,064

  1992–93

  17,388,136

  215,174

  74,401

  900

  21,020,158

  1,444,586

  38,482,695

  1,660,660

  1993–94

  19,236,941

  228,908

  42,400

  600

  20,753,014

  1,468,543

  40,032,355

  1,698,051

  1994–95

  17,229,941

  186,135

  —

  —

  22,012,900

  1,407,250

  39,242,841

  1,593,386

  1995–96

  14,074,182

  113,704

  —

  —

  21,223,204

  1,350,526

  34,297,386

  1,464,230

  1996–97

  13,588,165

  132,708

  —

  —

  22,342,299

  1,205,667

  35,930,464

  1,337,963

  1997–981

  7,110,025

  29,116

  —

  —

  14,565,570

  295,481

  21,675,595

  324,597

  1 Only the first three quarters' figures are available

  Local Authority Youth Services
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the establishment of a statutory base for local authority youth services. [40136]

  Dr. Howells
  Local authorities have an existing duty under the Education Act 1996 to secure provision of adequate facilities for further education, of which the youth service forms a part. The Green Paper The Learning Age reaffirmed the Government's commitment to placing the youth service on a stronger footing. A consultation paper on the future of the youth service will be issued later this year.

  Dentists (Training)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average cost to public funds of training an NHS dentist in the last year for which figures are available. [40104]

  Dr. Howells
  The average cost to public funds of training a dentist over five years on the basis of 1996/97 figures was some £120,000 per student, including the costs to the NHS of providing clinical placements but excluding the cost of student support.

  Higher Education Funding
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will ensure that higher education funding is not reduced following the introduction of tuition fees. [41228]
  6
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what quantity of(a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity, was purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by his Department in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year. [40413]

  Dr. Howells
  The following table details the information which is available on DfEE consumption and costs for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1997–98. Central records were not held prior to 1990–91; therefore, information for 1989–90 is not included.

  Dr. Howells
  As my right hon. Friend said in the House on 23 July 1997,Official Report, column 951, the Government will ensure that savings promised from the new funding arrangements for higher education are used to improve quality, standards and opportunities for all in further and higher education. As evidence of our intention, the funding package announced by my right hon. Friend on 23 September 1997 will allow an extra £165 million to be spent on higher education in 1998–99.

  Graduate Earnings
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the earnings of graduates relative to those of non-graduates; and what assessment he has made of the impact of gender on the earnings of graduates. [41593]

  Dr. Howells
  Compared with those who obtain the qualifications to go to university but choose not to do so, graduates on average see their earnings rise by broadly a fifth by their early 30s as a direct result of their higher qualifications.

  Comparing the gross weekly earnings of people whose highest qualification is a degree with the gross weekly earnings of people whose highest qualification is 2 or more A levels shows that both male and female graduates earn more than male and female non-graduates throughout their working life.

  The pattern of earnings for young women graduates is broadly similar to men, but diverges after the age of 30. Women's earnings are lower than men's on average, reflecting a greater likelihood of part-time work or time out of the labour force. However, after allowing for this, the earnings of graduates compared with non-graduates remains greater for women than men.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Sport (Lottery Funding)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received in favour of making the care and repair of existing sports facilities eligible for lottery funding; and if he will make a statement. [41134]

  Mr. Banks
  I have received several representations calling for Lottery funding to be made available for the care and repair of existing sporting facilities.

  The English Sports Council, who are responsible for the distribution in England of the Lottery Sports Fund, are in constant dialogue with the Local Government Association, Chief Leisure Officers and Governing Bodies of Sport about the need for the funding of existing sports facilities.

  The Bill to reform the National Lottery will widen access to the benefits of the Lottery and allow a more strategic and co-ordinated approach to distribution to reflect identified needs. As part of this new approach, I hope the English Sports Council will plan to introduce in future a suitable programme under which existing sporting facilities can apply for funding from the Lottery.

  Television Advertising
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take action to reduce the average number of minutes of advertising per hour on commercial television. [41461]

  Mr. Fisher
  Under the Broadcasting Act 1990 it is for the Independent Television Commission to determine the maximum amount of time to be given to advertisements on licensed television services.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Radioactive Materials (Dumping at Sea)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has held concerning the early release of files containing information on the historic dumping of radioactive materials at sea. [40871]

  Angela Eagle
  Representatives of the Committee of Nuclear Free Local Authorities raised questions about the availability of information on historic dumping of radioactive material at sea when they met the Minister for the Environment on 8 April. The Minister is writing to the Committee in response to the points raised.

  Journey Lengths
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of all journeys made in Britain are(a) under one mile and (b) under four miles in length. [41131]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  29 per cent. of journeys made by residents of Great Britain are under 1 mile in length, and 63 per cent. are under four miles. (Data from the National Travel Survey, averaged over the years 1994–96.)

  MV Rema
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times the merchant vessel Rema was inspected under port state control arrangements in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the loss of the vessel. [40350]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Four port state inspections were carried out on the merchant vessel REMA in the UK in the past five years. An additional five inspections were carried out in other countries within the region of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding in the period since 20 August 1996. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch will be investigating the loss of the REMA on behalf of the Belize Authorities. A report detailing their findings will be published in due course.

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the minimum certificate of competency requirements for the seafarers on the vessel Rema; what was the issuing authority of those certificates of competency; and if the vessel complied with these on the day of her loss. [40349]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The minimum certificate of competency requirements for the seafarers on the vessel REMA being registered in Belize are stipulated by the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize in accordance with Regulation V/13(b) of SOLAS. The vessel's Minimum Safe Manning Certificate, issued 10 February 1998, specifies One Master, One First Mate and One Engineer Officer. These were the only personnel required to hold certificates of competency. When the vessel was inspected in February 1998, the certificates of competency were issued by the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize. It is not possible to say if the vessel complied with the requirements of the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate on the day of her loss.

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide details of the last port state control inspection of the vessel Rema, listing the areas of deficiency; and what actions were taken by the vessel's owners to remedy the deficiencies. [40354]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The last port State inspection of the vessel REMA in Montrose, UK, on 9 February 1998 resulted in detention of the vessel. It was released on 13 February 1998, after all detainable deficiencies had been rectified.

  Deficiencies

  Action taken by owners

  Detainable deficiencies

  Captain unable to produce certificate of competency

  Rectified

  No personnel on board able to produce radio certificate

  Rectified

  Various navigation charts out of date

  Rectified

  Various nautical publications out of date

  Rectified

  No fire fighting system in paint locker

  Rectified

  Fire hose leaking

  Rectified

  No lifeboats or equivalent on board as required by SOLAS 60

  Rectified

  Radio batteries found dry and in need of replacement

  Rectified

  9

  Deficiencies

  Action taken by owners

  Other deficiencies

  6" of oil in engine room

  Rectified

  Waste tank open to atmosphere

  Rectified

  No receipt on board for last waste tank discharge—Master informed

  Not recorded

  Navigation (NVC) white light not working

  Rectified

  Navigation (NUC) white light without appropriate bulb and shade

  Rectified

  Lifebuoy light not working

  Rectified

  Light out in engine room

  Rectified

  Mate's ticket has no STCW endorsement

  Flag state/consul Informed by MCA

  MF/HF wire antenna insulation readings very low—lead in insulator to be cleaned. Master instructed to rectify before departure.

  Not recorded

  MF/HF wire antenna connector to be re-made. Master instructed to rectify before departure.

  Not recorded

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the minimum manning requirements were for the vessel Rema; and if the ship complied with these on the date of her loss. [40352]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The minimum manning requirement for the vessel REMA, being registered in Belize, is as stipulated by the International Merchant Marine Register of Belize in the vessel's Minimum Safe Manning Certificate. When the vessel was inspected in Montrose in February 1998, the minimum safe manning required by Belize was four and it was noted that there was no Engineer Officer aboard. When this was queried, Belize responded by producing a Minimum Safe Manning Certificate for seven, including an Engineer officer, but the ship had life-saving appliances and accommodation for only five. As this was approximately the manning that could be reasonably expected on a vessel of this size and type, the REMA was released from detention with a crew of five, including an Engineer Officer, on the condition that the discrepancy between the Safe Manning Document and life saving appliance was rectified, by Belize, before departure from the next port after release from detention. Once again we cannot say whether there were five aboard the vessel at the time of her loss.

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions the vessel Rema was detained following port state control inspections in the past five years; and if he will list the dates of and reasons for the detentions. [40351]

  Belize flag vessels detained by United Kingdom: 1993–31 March 1998

  Name of vessel

  Ship type

  GT

  Date detained

  Date released

  Date Place of detention

  Reasons for detention

  Rose

  General cargo

  299

  14/7/93

  5/8/93

  Topsham

  Manning, fire-fighting and life-saving appliance deficiencies.

  Eagle

  Bulk carrier

  499

  5/1/94

  28/1/94

  Montrose

  No certificated master or deck officer on board. Certificates issued by non-recognised authority.

  Eastwind

  Supply vessel

  110

  1/9/94

  8/9/94

  Grangemouth

  No loadline certificate. No liferafts, no lifejackets, no certificated mate, inadequate navigation lights, inadequate charts and tide tables.

  10
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The vessel REMA was detained once following port state inspections in the UK in the past five years, and once by another member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding in the period since 20 August 1996.

  Date

  Reasons for detention

  9 February 1998 UK

  Captain unable to produce certificate of competency

  No personnel on board able to produce a radio certificate

  Various navigation charts out of date

  Various nautical publications out of date

  No fire fighting system in paint locker

  Fire hose leaking

  No lifeboats or equivalent on board as required by SOLAS 60

  Radio batteries found dry and in need of replacement

  Note

  All detainable deficiencies were rectified before release on 13 February 1998

  Date

  Areas of deficiencies

  14 March 1997

  Hull damage impairing seaworthiness

  Germany

  Decks cracking

  Railing cat walks

  Ventilator air pipes

  Anchoring devices

  Musters and drills

  Minimum safe manning certificates

  Charts

  Auxiliary engines

  Steering gear

  Certificates of competency

  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if she will publish the report of the investigation into the loss of the 'Rema' vessel by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. [41000]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The MAIB will be investigating the loss of the REMA on behalf of the Belize authorities. A report detailing their findings will be published in due course.

  Port State Controls
  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the reasons for the detention of all Belize-registered vessels under Port State Control arrangements in the past five years. [40998]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The table gives details on the 23 Belize-flag vessels detained by the UK from April 1993 to March 1998.
  11

  Belize flag vessels detained by United Kingdom: 1993–31 March 1998

  Name of vessel

  Ship type

  GT

  Date detained

  Date released

  Place of detention

  Reasons for detention

  Westwind

  Supply vessel

  111

  1/9/94

  8/9/94

  Grangemouth

  No loadline certificate. No liferafts, inadequate navigation lights, no certificated mate, no pilot books or tide tables.

  Caribe 1

  General cargo

  209

  27/3/95

  13/5/95

  Newhaven

  Numerous air vents and pipes not closing. Hatch covers not watertight, various weathertight doors not closing, seawater leaking into master's cabin. Numerous deficiencies in life-saving equipment. No stability information, no certificated officers other than master.

  Claire

  General cargo

  2,774

  4/10/95

  6/10/95

  Aberdeen

  Starboard lifeboat engine inoperative. No emergency fire pump. Fuel oil emergency shut-off valves inoperative. Engine room fire hoses perished.

  Atlantic Princess

  Fish factory ship

  1,322

  10/10/95

  13/10/95

  Birkenhead

  International oil pollution prevention certificate not on board. Oily water separator inoperative.

  Tamar

  Tug

  161

  21/12/95

  5/1/96

  Portsmouth

  No satellite distress beacon (EPIRB). Liferafts incorrectly rigged. Liferafts incorrectly rigged and stowed. Bilges clogged with oil. Equipment missing from lifeboats. No master on board. Numerous additional deficiencies to load line, life-saving appliances, radio equipment and charts and publications.

  Reina

  General cargo

  1,249

  19/2/96

  23/2/96

  Teignmouth

  Oily water separator inoperative. One certificated radio officer missing, survival craft hand-held VHF missing.

  Tina M

  General cargo

  447

  14/3/96

  15/3/96

  Plymouth

  Ballast tank perforated due to grounding.

  Seabreeze

  General cargo

  3,170

  25/3/96

  27/3/96

  Tees

  Lifeboard launching equipment inoperative. Bunker tank emergency shut-off valves inoperative. Main radio transmitter inoperative.

  Orca

  Fishing vessel

  133

  27/6/96

  1/7/96

  Holyhead

  Liferafts incorrectly stowed and one expired. Distress flares expired. Fire extinguishers expired. Forecastle and accommodation doors unsecured.

  Lucie

  General cargo

  919

  3/7/96

  4/7/96

  Leith

  Insufficient liferaft capacity for crew on board. Lifejackets lacking lights. No gas leak detectors. Spare gas bottles incorrectly stowed.

  Reina

  General cargo

  1,250

  3/7/96

  9/7/96

  Barking Creek, London

  Main engine manoeuvring system defective. Fuel oil emergency shut-off valves inoperative. Fire dampers inoperative. Ballast tank vent pipes defective.

  Tramp

  General cargo

  1,181

  24/2/97

  21/4/97

  Newport

  Main propulsion inoperative in astern mode. Galley fire door missing. Emergency radio batteries defective.

  Veria

  General cargo

  574

  2/7/97

  4/7/97

  Teesside

  Number of crew on board less than that stated on safe manning certificate. Hold bilges unable to be pumped free of water. Hull corrosion at forepeak store. Fire main leaking. Not under command lights inoperative. Engine room vent flap unable to be secured.

  Star Anna

  General cargo

  1,044

  9/7/97

  11/7/97

  Mistley

  Engine room and harbour generator fuel oil emergency shut-off valves inoperative. Oily water separator defective.

  Almilan 1

  Supply vessel

  386

  24/7/97

  28/8/97

  Marchwood

  Safe manning certificate inadequate for intended voyage. Master's certificate invalid for vessel.

  Ladoga-8

  General cargo

  1,511

  18/9/97

  20/9/97

  Bromborough

  Radio telephony operator missing. Lifeboat equipment incomplete engine vent trunking on deck missing in several places.

  Skylark

  General cargo

  2,456

  22/9/97

  3/10/97

  Goole

  Oily water separator inoperative. Lifeboat thwarts and rudder damaged. Nautical publications missing. Navigation lights inoperative. Navtex receiver inoperative.

  Niral

  General cargo

  1,948

  17/10/97

  21/10/97

  Avonmmouth

  Vessel operating beyond class limits. No valid exemption from carriage of radio telegraphy on board. Oil water separator inoperative.

  12 13

  Belize flag vessels detained by United Kingdom: 1993–31 March 1998

  Name of vessel

  Ship type

  GT

  Date detained

  Date released

  Place of detention

  Reasons for detention

  Seacombe Trader

  Bulk carrier

  507

  30/10/97

  14/11/97

  London

  Oily water filtering equipment inoperative. Excess oily water in engine room bilges. Manning not in accordance with safe manning certificate. Emergency fire pump inoperative. Reserve radio battery defective. Charts for area of operation out of date. Hand-held radio missing. Fire hoses holed.

  Sea Pink

  General cargo

  1,203

  20/01/98

  21/01/98

  Hull

  Emergency fire pump inoperative.

  Rema

  General cargo

  748

  09/02/98

  13/02/98

  Montrose

  No lifeboat on board. Master unable to produce certificate of competency. No qualified radio officers on board. Charts out of date. Nautical publications out of date. Fire hose leaking. No fixed fire fighting system in paint locker. Radio batteries found dry and in need of replacement.

  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions(a) how many and (b) what percentage of vessels passing through British ports have been inspected under Port State Control arrangements (i) in the past year, (ii) in the past two years and (iii) in the past five years. [40999]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The number inspected during the periods requested is as follows:

  PSC inspections by UK

  Number inspected

  % inspected

  April 1997–March 1998

  1,890

  27.6

  April 1996–March 1998

  3,770

  27.5

  April 1993–March 1998

  10,239

  30.4

  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions(a) how many and (b) what percentage of vessels that have been inspected by Port State Control arrangements have subsequently been detained (i) in the past year, (ii) in the past two years and (iii) in the past five years. [41007]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The number inspected and detained during the periods requested is as follows:

  Number detained

  % detained

  April 1997–March 1998

  179

  9.4

  April 1996–March 1998

  336

  8.9

  April 1993–March 1998

  963

  9.4

  Yvette Cooper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions(a) how many and (b) what percentage of vessels that have been detained following an inspection by the Port State Control (i) in the past year, (ii) in the past two years and (iii) in the past five years had (a) a British port of registry and (b) a Belize port of registry. [41009]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The number detained as figures and percentages of total detentions during the periods requested is given in the table. These figures are based on inspections conducted under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. The British-flag vessels include those registered in overseas Territories.
  14

  Detention of British and Belize flag vessels

  Number of British vessels detained

  Percentage of total detentions

  Number of Belize vessels detained

  Percentage of total detentions

  1997

  18

  1.1

  50

  3.1

  1996–97

  32

  1.0

  72

  2.2

  1993–97

  68

  0.9

  92

  1.2

  Millennium Experience (Contaminated Soil)
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 294, if he will list (a) the names and locations of licensed landfill sites used in the disposal of contaminated soil from the area of the Greenwich Peninsula which is to be leased to the New Millennium Experience Company, (b) the names of contractors used for the disposal, (c) the statutory provisions under which consultations were carried out with local residents at selected licensed landfill sites, (d) the total cost of removal and (e) the cost to Government funds of the disposal. [40599]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is:

  (a) the names and location of licensed landfill sites used, by owner are:
  Shanks and McEwan (Southern Waste Services) Ltd.:
  Calvert Landfill Site, Brackley Lane, Calvert, Buckinghamshire MK18 2EN
  "L" Field Landfill Site, Green Lane, Stewartby, Bedfordshire MK43 9LZ
  Brogborough Landfill Site, Woburn Road, Brogborough, Bedfordshire MK43 0TN
  Weldon Landfill Site, Kettering Road, Welcon, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 3JG
  Biffa Waste Services Ltd.:
  Redhill Landfill Site, Cormongers Lane, Nuffield, Redhill, Surrey RH1 4ER
  Shakespeare Farm Landfill Site, Shakespeare Farm Road, St. Mary Hod, Rochester, Kent NE3 8RN
  Welford Landfill Site, Welford Quarry, Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire NN6 7JF
  Sandspinner' s Ltd.:
  Wootton Landfill Site, A508 (southbound), Collingtree, Northamptonshire NN4 0LY

  15
  EEB Cliff Ltd., Erith Group:
  Mardyke Farm Landfill Site, Dagenham Road, South Homchurch, Rainham, Essex
  William Boyer and Sons Ltd.:
  Area "A" Harmondsworth, Egglesey Farm, Harmondsworth, Middlesex
  Leigh Environmental (Southern) Ltd.:
  Wapsey's Wood Landfill Site, Oxford Road, Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 8TE
  Pioneer Aggregates:
  Brazier Landfill Site, Ware Quarry, Westmill Road, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 0AP
  St. Albans Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd.:
  Westmill Landfill Site, Watton Road, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0ES
  Hales Waste Control Ltd.:
  Kilsby Landfill Site, Daventry Road, Kilsbury, Rugby, Warwickshire CV23 8XF
  Thames Waste Management:
  Norlands Lane, Thorpe, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8SS.

  (b) the names of the main waste haulage firms who were employed as sub-contractors to the main contractors are:

  Erith Haulage Group

  Shanks and McEwan (Southern Waste Services) Ltd.

  McArdle.

  (c) The statutory provisions relating to consultation on applications for waste management licences, or applications to modify the conditions of licences, are set out in sections 36(4) and 37(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended following the establishment of the Environment Agency). There is no statutory requirement for consultation with local residents. The objective of the licensing system is to ensure that waste is disposed of without harming the environment or human health and the Environment Agency has a statutory duty to supervise licensed sites. It is a criminal offence to dispose of waste in breach of licence conditions or in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.

  (d) and (e) Separate figures are not maintained on the cost of removal which forms part of larger contracts. It is estimated that £8.2m was spent on removal and disposal of which an estimated £6m was a cost to Government funds.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what agreements have been reached in respect of the importation of toxic waste from South Africa for disposal by Rechem in South Wales; what quantities are involved; and if he will make a statement. [41196]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 8 May 1998]No agreements have been reached in respect of the import of toxic waste from South Africa. In March 1998, the Environment Agency received a request from the Government of the Republic of South Africa to export 5,550 tonnes of wastes into the United Kingdom over a three year period. The wastes in question were a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and hexachlorobenzene, destined for disposal by high 16
  temperature incineration. This request was technically deficient and contained unacceptable caveats. It was therefore refused.

  On 24 April 1998, a revised request was received from the Republic of South Africa for an increased total of 5,850 tonnes of wastes. The Agency is currently considering this request.

  The Agency is obliged to consider each such "duly motivated request" on its own merits, within the terms of the policies set out in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste. It is Agency policy to determine a completed request within two months of receipt.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement in respect of the importation of toxic waste for incineration. [41195]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 8 May 1998]The importation of waste into the UK is governed by Council Regulation EEC 259/93 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community (the Waste Shipment Regulation). The UK's policy is set out in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste, which came into effect on 1 June 1996. The Plan:generally prohibits imports of waste from EC Member States for high temperature incineration in the UK after 1 June 1999. At present, imports are permitted on a reducing basis, to assist other Member States, pending completion of their own high temperature incineration facilities;
  excepts Ireland and Portugal from this ban, as the Government accept that neither country produces sufficient hazardous wastes per year to make the provision of their own high temperature incinerators economically viable;
  generally prohibits imports for high temperature incineration from OECD countries outside the EC, except in cases of emergency;
  allows imports from developing (non-OECD) countries, where the UK Government or its Environment Agency are satisfied that the exporting country does not have and cannot reasonably acquire the technical capacity and necessary facilities to deal with the waste in an environmentally sound manner.

  Maritime Rescue Subcentre (Liverpool)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will review the decision to close the Maritime Rescue Subcentre in Liverpool; [41573]

  (2) for what reason no operational reasons were given for the closure of the Maritime Rescue Subcentre in Liverpool; [41570]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the saving resulting from the closure of the Maritime Rescue Subcentre in Liverpool. [41574]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Coastguard Agency (now part of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency) issued a consultation document on 19 January which set out a 5-year strategy for Her Majesty's Coastguard. The document included, among other things, operational aspects of the proposed closure of four Coastguard stations and the co-location of two others. Analysis of the consultation, including the proposed closure of the
  17
  Liverpool Maritime Rescue Subcentre, is currently being considered and an announcement will be made shortly. During the life of the strategy, we expect there to be a major contribution to the cost of investment in the Service.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 30 March concerning a constituent, Ref PT/AG/PSO 7452/98. [41462]

  Ms Armstrong
  I replied to my hon. Friend's letter on Friday 1 May.

  Trawsfyndd Power Station
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans to decommission the nuclear power station at Trawsfyndd. [40872]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have been asked to reply.

  Subject to meeting the requirements of the Regulators, decommissioning of the Trawsfyndd nuclear power station is a matter for its operator, Magnox Electric plc, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

PRIME MINISTER

  School Exclusions
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the work of the Social Exclusion Unit on school exclusions and truancy. [41752]

  The Prime Minister
  I launched the Social Exclusion Unit last December, with a remit to co-ordinate and improve Government action to reduce social exclusion. As one of its first priorities, I asked it to report by Easter on how to make a step change in the scale of truancy and exclusions from school, and to find better solutions for those who have to be excluded. The Unit has worked closely on this task with other Government Departments, drawing on outside expertise and research, as well as a wide programme of visits and meetings and a written consultation exercise.

  The Government have now reached their conclusions. These decisions, and the underlying analysis, are set out in the Unit's report Truancy and School Exclusions, published today. Copies of the report are available in the Libraries.

  The report sets out what we know about the scale of truancy and exclusion.

  Our information on both is imperfect. For truancy, figures compiled from registration statistics suggest that around 1 million pupils take at least one half day off without authority. But in confidential surveys pupils admit to much higher levels: one survey suggested nearly one in ten 15 year olds truanted at least once a week.
  18
  The numbers permanently excluded from school stand at around 13,000 a year and have been rising fast. Over 100,000 are excluded temporarily. 83 per cent. of excluded pupils are boys, and half are aged fourteen or fifteen. African Caribbean children are 6 times more likely than average to be excluded, and children in care 10 times more likely.

  The causes of both problems are complex. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school, and poor parental supervision is often the cause of truancy. Peer group and community attitudes are also important, as are anxiety about exams, poor basic skills, fear of bullying or boredom with school.

  The reasons for exclusions vary widely, from relatively minor issues which should not have warranted such a response, to serious, even criminal, behaviour. The rise in exclusion has been attributed to a wide mix of factors, including poor basic skills, limited aspirations and opportunities, high levels of family stress, as well as lack of training and support in schools, and pressures on academic standards.

  More often than not, excluded children do not get reintegrated into school quickly, Those who are educated outside school rarely receive a full timetable and many get little more than a few hours tuition per week, and are otherwise left to their own devices.

  Both truancy and exclusion are strongly associated with a range of other problems including unemployment and homelessness, but above all with crime. An Audit Commission study showed that nearly half of all school age offenders have been excluded from school and a quarter truanted significantly. The problems cut across departments and agencies and therefore require coherent solutions that involve not only schools, but also the police and social services, as well as parents.

  There is much good practice to learn from. Where it is followed, exclusion and truancy have been greatly reduced. As a result, there are wide variations in the levels of exclusion and truancy between regions and between schools with similar intakes and results.

  The report published today draws on the lessons of what works. It commits the Government to the goal of cutting levels of both exclusions and truancy by a third by 2002. The measure to deliver this span a range of departments and local agencies, as well as schools, parents and pupils, reflecting the multi-dimensional nature of the problem.

  The national target will be underpinned by local authority level targets for truancy and exclusion reductions. The Government will consult on the detail of how targets should be set. The Secretary of State for Education and Employment will introduce an amendment to the Schools Standards and Framework Bill to permit school level targets for the worst performers on truancy.

  The Crime and Disorder Bill introduces parenting orders for parents who fail to ensure their children attend school. The Home Secretary will introduce an amendment to the Bill to give the police a new power to pick up truants in areas where the local education authority has agreed with the Chief Constable designated places to where they may be taken.
  19
  To cut down on inappropriate exclusions, the Government will lay down clear rules on when exclusion is justified and give them legal force. There will be special Ofsted inspections for schools with particularly high levels of exclusions. Children excluded from school during the two GCSE years will stay in their original school for league table purposes, so there is no advantage in excluding poor performers.

  The number of children from ethnic minorities who are excluded will be measured and reported at school level. The DfEE task group on raising achievement of ethnic minority pupils will look at what can be done to promote community mentoring in ethnic minority communities. There will be a major push to improve the school performance of children in local authority care, with more detailed proposals announced later this summer.

  The Government will develop proposals to target more resources on preventive work with children at risk of exclusion. Local education authorities will also have incentives to provide more support to schools. There will be a requirement that all excluded pupils receive full time education so that their discipline or other problems are tackled in controlled environments and they are not abandoned to roam the streets. Decisions on the extra funding that is necessary, and on how funding will be organised, will be taken in the Comprehensive Spending Reviews. Full provision will be phased in over no more than three years.

  In addition, Education Action Zones will have a special focus on areas with particularly high levels of exclusion and truancy, to give extra encouragement for innovative approaches to bringing them down.

  A Ministerial Task Force under the Minister for School Standards will oversee the implementation of these policies.

  Together, these measures will ensure that far fewer young people lose time from school. In the short-term, children themselves will benefit from keeping up with their education. The wider community will benefit from less crime. In the long-term there will be benefits as fewer young people leave school without qualifications.

  These measures will require schools, police, and parents to play a part in ensuring that education is no longer optional, and they will end a situation where failure to attend school has been tolerated and sometimes even condoned.

  Consultation Papers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the consultation papers published since 1 May 1997, giving date of publication, closing date for submissions and, where relevant, the number of respondents. [39907]

  The Prime Minister
  The details requested by my hon. Friend are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the relevance of the evidence of Mr. James T. Thurman to 20
  the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will discuss that evidence with the relatives of the victims. [41577]

  The Prime Minister
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate gave his assurance in another place on 25 June 1997,Official Report, House of Lords, column 1572, that he was satisfied on the information available to him that there was no reason not to proceed with the petition warrants issued in respect of the two Libyan accused. On 6 October 1995, the then Lord Advocate wrote to my hon. Friend confirming that proof of the case against the two Libyan accused does not depend on evidence which Mr. Thurman might give. That remains the position. The evidence available to the prosecuting and investigation authorities cannot be discussed while criminal proceedings are pending for fear of prejudicing the prospects of a criminal trial.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Montserrat
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Governments of Caribbean and other countries where Montserrat citizens rendered homeless by volcanic activity are resident about their eligibility for social security and other benefits; and if she will make a statement. [40921]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Department for International Development (DFID) officials have raised this matter in discussions with the Governments in the region and in North America who have received the largest number of evacuees. These have indicated their willingness to allow Montserratian evacuees who are legally resident to have equal access to their education, health and social services as afforded to their own citizens. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) survey will provide information on whether evacuees are experiencing any difficulties in this area.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) when she will establish a charitable fund for Montserratian refugees in the Caribbean who are unable to become independent because of age or disability; what will be its size and scope; and if she will take a statement; [41026]

  (2) what will be the cost to her Department of the Hardship Fund for Montserratian refugees in the Caribbean region; how many people will benefit; and if she will make a statement. [41031]

  Mr. Foulkes
  A Special Needs Fund (previously called the Hardship and Charitable Fund) is being established to support Non-Governmental Organisations assisting these groups. We have advertised, seeking expressions of interest from NGOs in the region. The size of the Fund will depend upon the initial response.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the six month scientific re-assessment of volcanic risks in Montserrat. [41035]
  21
  Mr. Foulkes
  A summary of the latest scientific reassessment of volcanic risks was published by a joint committee of scientists from the British Geological Survey and the University of the West Indies on Montserrat on Tuesday 5 May. Copies are being made available to Montserratian community groups in the UK and in the region. I have today laid a copy in the Library of the House.

  The full report will be available shortly.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her officials have conducted with officers of the Montserrat Building Society; and if she will make a statement. [40916]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Discussions have been limited to a brief presentation by Montserrat Building Society officers to Department for International Development (DFID) officials in January 1998. My officials passed on their comments to officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is responsible for co-ordinating HMG's policy towards Montserrat, at the subsequent Montserrat Action group.

  HMG has decided that we cannot support the Montserrat Building Society, a private institution, which is insolvent, only partially liquid and not commercially viable. This decision has been conveyed to the Government of Montserrat.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the(a) Red Cross and (b) other agencies about the future of food vouchers for citizens of Montserrat rendered homeless by volcanic activity; and if she will make a statement. [40920]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development (DFID) officials have regular contact with the Red Cross and other agencies about a range of matters concerning Montserratian citizens. We will shortly appoint Consultants to review the social welfare system on the island.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will introduce a soft mortgage scheme for citizens of Montserrat. [41033]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has previously said that she is prepared to provide funding for a soft mortgage facility. We have engaged consultants to identify regional financial institutions which might be interested in co-financing the project. We hope that it will be possible to reach agreement with such an institution by June.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the report by UNICEF into the needs of Montserratian evacuees in the Caribbean region. [41028]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We expect to receive UNICEF's report by the end of July and will discuss with them how the report's findings can be made publicly available.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the results of the feasibility study for an airstrip in Montserrat. [41034]
  22
  Mr. Foulkes
  A draft airstrip feasibility study is currently under discussion between the consultants, HMG and the Government of Montserrat. We expect to receive a final report in June. The results of the study will be made known shortly thereafter.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in Montserrat are currently living in shelters; and when they will be rehoused. [41036]

  Mr. Foulkes
  There are currently some 512 people living in shelters. The vast majority of individuals with special needs and families currently in shelters will be re-housed by the end of this year.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requests for assistance she has received from Governments other than Antigua who have received Montserratian refugees; and what has been her response. [41032]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has requested assistance to cover additional costs related to providing Montserratian evacuees access to health, education and social services. We have told them we are not prepared to reimburse them directly for such costs, but would consider assistance for specific additional education or health facilities if there is an established need. No requests for assistance have been received from other Governments. Antigua has received a much larger number of Montserratian evacuees than any other country in the region.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the sustainable development plan for Montserrat. [40931]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We are currently considering a draft sustainable development plan with the Government of Montserrat. Assuming that agreement can be reached on the outstanding points this month, a draft will be made available to the public in June.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has to assist the improvement of police accommodation in Montserrat. [41027]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We have just received outline proposals from the Government of Montserrat for the improvement of police accommodation on the island. These are under consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has for future financial support for Montserrat citizens rendered homeless by volcanic activity; and if she will make a statement. [40929]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has previously said that she is prepared to fund the servicing of additional land required to meet the needs of those remaining on Montserrat. The Department for International Development (DFID) and Government of Montserrat officials are discussing the amount of land required and the location. The Secretary of State has also indicated her willingness to provide funding for a soft mortgage facility.
  23
  When added to the housing we, and other donors, are already providing, these projects should meet the housing needs of the current population in shelters.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the employment prospects of Montserratians rendered homeless by volcanic activity who are resident in(a) Montserrat, (b) Antigua and (c) elsewhere; and if she will make a statement. [40915]

  Mr. Foulkes
  An assessment of Montserratians' employment projects was undertaken for the development of the small enterprise initiatives for Montserrat and Antigua. The conclusion was that assistance was required to improve employment and income earning potential: arrangements are now in place on Montserrat and planned to be later this month, on Antigua. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) survey currently underway will provide the information on the employment prospects of those evacuees located elsewhere in the region.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide a breakdown of how the funds so far spent on helping Montserrat deal with the volcanic crisis have been applied; and how the further £14 million committed will be applied. [41025]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Since the start of the crisis, the Department for International Development (DFID) has committed £62 million in assistance to Montserrat of which about £50 million has been spent: £16 million of budgetary aid and £34 million of emergency and development aid. Of the remaining £12 million, £7 million is additional budgetary support for 1998 with the balance being primarily allocated for housing.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many businesses have been started in Antigua by Montserratian evacuees with support from her Department; and at what cost. [41029]

  Mr. Foulkes
  A project to assist those Montserratian evacuees in Antigua wishing to start their own business is currently being developed with the assistance of regional consultants. We hope that the project will start by the end of May.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what will be the cost of the Community Empowerment Project for Montserratian evacuees in the Caribbean region; how many will benefit; and if she will make a statement. [41030]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Up to £250,000 has been allocated for the Community Empowerment Project. It is intended that the project will help Montserratian evacuees to become financially independent. All Montserratian evacuees in the region will be able to seek advice from the organisations supported by the project and to improve their access to host Government social services.

  Environmental Resources Management
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the findings of the Environmental Resources Management report of March 1997, Evaluation of Environmental Performance of EC Programmes in Developing Countries. [41108]
  24
  Mr. Foulkes
  The report, entitled Evaluation of the Environmental Performance of EC Programmes in Developing Countries, was recently published and distributed by the European Commission. The evaluation is acknowledged within and outside the Commission to have been a very useful exercise, which presents detailed findings and recommendations on aspects of policy and practice.

  We are waiting for the Commission's response to the report. We then intend to monitor follow-up work and examine ways in which we can assist the Commission in their efforts. However, the Commission is reorganising its foreign policy services in order to rationalise and streamline policy formulation and implementation. This reorganisation can be expected to address many issues raised by the report. In particular, the Commission's capacity to implement recommendations should be strengthened as manpower and technical resource deficiencies are addressed. The Commission is also in the process of substantially revising its Environment Manual for development assistance. We welcome this positive action and would urge the commission to continue in this direction.

  Development Assistance
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to ensure that European Commission development assistance is spent in an effective and efficient way and that environmental and social procedures are improved and implemented. [41109]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We continue to seek to ensure resources are spent effectively and efficiently through dialogue with Commission officials in Brussels and in delegations, and through our active participation in the Commission's management committees. We have also seconded 13 staff to work in the external development Directorates-General to use their expertise to assist the Commission. Amongst those seconded are a social development adviser and a forestry specialist.

  Although the European Commission's own internal project cycle management guidance stresses the importance of cross cutting issues such as environmental and social issues in the project cycle, continuing efforts are required to ensure this is always fully reflected in the design and implementation of projects and programmes.

  This is why one of DFID's priorities during the UK Presidency has been to try and improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of the Community's aid programmes. This has involved reviewing the implementation of important previous policy resolutions, on poverty and gender, to see how effective we have been and consider what more needs to be done to improve performance and impact in these key areas. We expect conclusions on this work to be adopted at the Development Council on 18 May.

  In addition, we are seeking to promote the integration of environmental and social issues into the programme and project cycle through: our participation on the Commission's Scientific Environmental Monitoring Group and the forestry and water expert groups; providing a project leader to prepare an EC/Member States strategy for bio-diversity conservation; working closely with the

  25
  European Commission to develop procedural guidelines on the integration of social and environmental issues into development projects.

TREASURY

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the inward investment projects located in intermediate status areas for which his Department permitted the higher development areas job subsidy limit to apply in each of the years from 1987 to 1992. [39723]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  From 1987 to 1992, the Treasury approved two offers of Regional Selective Assistance for inward investment into an intermediate status area where the cost per job ceiling for intermediate status areas was exceeded. Approval was granted in 1991 for Heller Machine Tools (UK) Ltd for a project in the West Midlands, and in 1989 for Koya Bearings (Europe) Ltd for a project in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the National Audit Office retains the necessary powers to audit the Scottish block, following the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. [40930]

  Mr. Darling
  The National Audit Office will retain the powers to audit the expenditure of the Secretary of State for Scotland, including the payment of grant into the Scottish Consolidated Fund. Expenditure out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund will be audited by an independent auditor or auditors reporting to the Scottish Parliament as provided for in clause 66(1)(c) of the Scotland Bill.

SCOTLAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of his Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40739]

  Mr. Dewar
  The information is as follows:(i) 32, 1.0%; (ii) 123, 3.7%; (iii) 212, 6.4%.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the criteria used by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in drawing up their list of ports proposed for designation. [41353]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Proposals to introduce designated ports for vessels of 20 metres overall length or above landing non-pelagic fish into the UK were announced by the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 3 March 1998,Official Report, column 593. The proposed designated landing
  26
  ports in Scotland are essentially those where the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency currently has a Sea Fisheries Inspectorate office and where there is a recognised auction market. There are, however, two exceptions. Excluded from the list is the port of Arbroath where the local office will be closed on 1 July 1998 following a decrease of whitefish landings into the port. Scalloway has no SFI office, but has been included in recognition of the scale of landings made there. Additionally, the Scottish ports listed in the consultation paper account for approximately 90% of all non-pelagic landings in terms of tonnage and value made by the vessels to be included in the proposed scheme.

  The proposed arrangements are currently the subject of a consultation exercise with the industry and harbour authorities. Careful consideration will be given to all comments received, including those relating to the list of ports which are to be designated.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Beef Exports
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if exports of beef to the European Union have recommenced; what support she is giving to the Northern Ireland beef industry to regain their markets in Europe; and if she will make a statement about the prospects of the Northern Ireland beef industry. [40861]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  While the Export Certified Herds Scheme has been approved, exports of Northern Ireland beef cannot resume until the European Commission sets a date for the lifting of the ban. That will depend on the outcome of the recent visit to Northern Ireland by European Commission Inspectors.

  The industry has submitted a case for Government assistance towards regaining export markets as part of an overall redmeat development strategy agreed by the relevant industry interest. The case for Government support is being considered.

  The Government recognise the importance of the beef sector to the Northern Ireland agricultural industry and is aware of the serious difficulties which it has faced since March 1996. Within the context of the declining long-term trend in consumption of beef and the direction of reform of the beef regime set out by the European Commission in Agenda 2000, the Government would wish to see the Northern Ireland beef industry re-establish itself as a significant force in export markets.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cocoa
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to(a) support Ivory Coast cocoa producers in efforts to deal with black pod disease and (b) support Brazilian cocoa producers in efforts to suppress the witches broom fungus and to preserve rainforests in which cacao trees grow; and if he will make a statement on the threatened world shortage of chocolate. [41370]
  27
  Mr. Rooker
  Despite the recent reports in the press, there is no evidence that black pod disease is adversely affecting cocoa production in the Ivory Coast. Nevertheless, a wide range of cocoa diseases are being tackled by the world-wide research programmes. The International Cocoa Organisation, of which the UK Government are an active member, is co-ordinating various projects aimed at combating cocoa diseases and addressing other difficulties affecting cocoa production. There is a specific project to fight witches broom disease in Brazil.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for consultation over any proposed changes to the quarantine laws. [41001]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Sir R. Powell) on 20 April 1998,Official Report, column 488.

  Departmental Research
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what percentage of applications, in relation to his Department's research budget, were from women, for(a) project grants, (b) programme grants, (c) special grants intended for new investigators, (d) studentships and (e) fellowships, in 1997 and each of the two previous years; [40885]

  (2) what percentage of applications from women, in relation to his Department's research budget, were successful for (a) project grants, (b) programme grants, (c) special grants intended for new investigators, (d) studentships and (e) fellowships, in 1997 and each of the two previous years. [40884]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Ministry places its R and D work, through contracts and commissions, with research establishments and universities rather than individuals. I regret, therefore, that the information sought in these questions is not available to us.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will ensure that the Child Support Agency updates the common inquiry system when there are changes in the level of child maintenance owing to a lone parent receiving income support; and if she will make a statement; [40207]

  (2) what is the average time taken between an application by the Benefits Agency to the Child Support Agency for child maintenance to be paid direct to a lone parent following a move off income support and implementation of that request; and if she will make a statement. [40211]
  28
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Regular payments of maintenance can transform the lives of lone mothers and their children, providing a stable income that can help them off Income Support and into work. We expect the Child Support Agency to provide a consistent, fair and efficient service to all its clients.

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 8 May 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about maintenance due to parents with care who are receiving or moving off Income Support.
  In cases where the parent with care is receiving Income Support and the maintenance liability changes, the Child Support Agency notifies the Benefits Agency to advise them of the change. Benefits Agency staff then access the Income Support Computer System and input the revised amount of maintenance liability, and Income Support is adjusted accordingly. This revised information will then be available via Common Enquiry Services.
  Where the parent with care is moving off Income Support, the Benefit Agency notify the Child Support Agency of the date from which Income Support is no longer payable so that maintenance payments can be passed onto the parent with care.
  Statistics are not collated on the time between the notification and payment as these details would not prove very informative due to the several factors that have an influence on when a payment is due and in turn actually made. The length of time is influenced by the complexity of the change, the payment preferences of the parent with care and the absent parent, and also the absent parent's pay frequency. It is therefore difficult to estimate an average length of time for this process.
  The Agency is very aware of the need to deal with changes and ensure payments are passed on to the parent with care as quickly as possible. Where the change is straightforward all aspects can be dealt with in 2 weeks; in more involved cases (e.g., where a deduction from earnings order is in place) the change can take 8 weeks. During 1997–98, the Agency exceeded its Secretary of State target which required that 97% of payments be passed to the parent with care within ten days of receipt from the absent parent.
  We are constantly looking at how we can adapt and improve our procedures to speed up the time taken. The timescales achieved for many cases have shortened over the last 2 years. Such an example is that the Agency is building more pro-active use of the telephone into its procedures between assessment and first payment to ensure that timescales are shortened wherever possible. The vast majority of payment advice is now conducted by telephone.
  As part of the Welfare to Work programme, the Agency is committed to ensuring that the disincentives and barriers to entering employment are minimised, and that obstacles are removed which jeopardise the prospect of lone parents moving from welfare dependency to work. The Agency has agreed to process as a priority cases where the parent with care has signed up to a New Deal for Lone Parents Action Plan. Also the Agency has agreed to answer straightforward inquiries from New Deal for Lone Parents Personal Advisers on behalf of lone parents immediately, and more complex ones within five working days.
  As the Department moves towards a more Active Modem Service, one of the key elements is to provide staff with a system which cuts across all Agencies where they will have access to information regarding payments and records of other Social Security systems. This should alleviate problems encountered by staff acting in ignorance of information held by other Agencies.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Focus Group Research
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb), of 21 April 1998,Official Report, columns 607–08, on focus group research, if she will list for each research project (a) the expected completion date and (b) the means by which the findings from the completed research projects will be made public. [40836]

  Mr. Field
  The expected completion dates of those projects which were commissioned as part of the Department's Research Programme, and which relate to the development and evaluation of policy, are as follows:

  1998: April-June
  Alan Hedges—Pensions and Retirement Planning.
  Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University—Invalidity Benefit and the contributory principle.
  Market Opinion Research International—Attitudes towards disability benefits.
  Market Opinion Research International—Attitudes towards welfare reform.

  1998: July-September
  Social and Community Planning Research—Work Incentives and Intermediaries.\
  Social and Community Planning Research—Survey of Women; developmental work.
  Newchurch and Company—Child Support Agency customer and compliance research.
  British Market Research Bureau International—Attitudes towards housing benefits.
  Institute for Employment Studies—People management in DSS Headquarters (summary report).

  1998: October-December
  Social and Community Planning Research—Take Up of Income Support amongst Older Citizens.
  Social and Community Planning Research—Preparation for Women's Juries.

  Number and proportion of appointees aged

  Non-Departmental Public Body

  Total number of appointees

  under 25

  aged 25–30

  aged 31–35

  Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions (CACWP)1

  20

  0

  0

  0

  Child Support, Disability, Medical & Social Security Appeal Tribunals and Vaccine Damage Tribunals

  5,929

  0

  15 (0.3%)

  72 (1.2%)

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board (DLAAB)2

  20

  0

  0

  0

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)3

  15

  0

  0

  2 (13%)

  Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

  9

  0

  0

  1 (11%)

  Pensions Compensation Board

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Pensions Ombudsman

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Social Security Advisory Committee

  13

  0

  0

  0

  War Pensions Committees (WPCs)1

  858

  0

  0

  0

  Women's National Commission (WNC)4

  52

  —

  —

  —

  1The legislation which governs CACWP and the WPCs requires there to be, among others, representatives of ex-service organisations or persons with ex-service experience. Many of the ex-service organisations, from which the appointees are drawn, have problems recruiting younger members which effects the scope of interested individuals from which suitable candidates can be selected.

  2 Members of DLAAB are required to be professionally qualified and/or experienced which makes it difficult to appoint people under 36.

  3 50 per cent. of posts on IIAC are nominated by organisations representing employees and employers. These organisations are aware of the principles that should govern appointments to public bodies and additionally, have been sent Guidance produced by the Commissioner for Public Appointments on nominating people for public service. The other 50 per cent. need to come from experts in the field of occupational health and related fields. If their advice is to carry the required authority and weight these appointees need to be drawn from the top of their profession. People who have reached a position of eminence in their professional field will tend to be at the higher end of the age scale.

  4 The WNC membership is determined by the individual member organisations and therefore no records concerning the appointees are kept by this Department.

  30
  1999: January-March
  Alan Hedges—Behavioural Response to the evidence requirements.

  2000: Summer
  Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University—Earnings Top Up Staff Panel.

  The ongoing contract with Social and Community Planning Research for qualitative research on welfare reform issues allows us to commission small projects as required.

  All studies within the Department's Research Programme will be published. Decisions on means of publication are not taken until the project has been completed.

  As explained in my written answer to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 29 April 1998, Official Report, columns 170–72, reports for those contracts commissioned to develop and evaluate publicity campaigns or to inform other presentational issues, would be published once the decision-making process is completed and/or the relevant publicity campaign has started. Two projects are nearing completion and will be placed in the Library by the end of July:
  One World—New Deal for Lone Parents; development of publicity work
  Cragg Ross Dawson—Creative Development Research for a New Deal for Lone Parents Newsletter.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. £pik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of her Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40735]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is set out in the table.
  31
  The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates to apply for positions on the boards of public bodies, reflecting the diverse society in which we live. This includes encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointments. All appointments are made on merit and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what dates each of the monthly statistics for the Benefit Integrity Project for each month since November 1997 were placed in the Library; and when the next monthly statistics will be available. [41504]

  Mr. Denham
  A full set of Benefit Integrity Project statistics up to the end of March 1998 was placed in the Library on 8 May 1998. Owing to an error, statistics relating to earlier months were not previously placed in the Library.

  The release of statistics for February and March was delayed as work was undertaken to improve presentation of the data. The Disability Benefits Consortium have been invited to comment on the revised format. Their comments and suggestions will be reflected in the presentation of statistics relating to May 1998 and beyond.

  Any comments Members may have on the new format would also be welcome.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Plutonium Dispersal
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will adopt a plutonium dispersal strategy. [40329]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 7 May 1998]All civil plutonium in the United Kingdom, whether separated or in spent fuel, is stored safely and securely under relevant national and international regulations. It is for the owners of spent nuclear fuel and plutonium to choose their preferred management options subject to meeting the necessary environmental and regulatory requirements.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review current policy on the reprocessing of nuclear waste. [41167]

  Mr. Battle
  Almost all spent nuclear fuel can be recycled to provide further energy supplies, and accordingly is not classified as waste. The Government have no plans to review their current policy on the management of spent nuclear fuel, which was set out most recently in the policy document entitled "United Kingdom Civil Nuclear Policy including Plutonium", a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 30 January.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of(a) the economic benefits and (b) the safety implications of (i) dry storage and (ii) reprocessing of nuclear waste. [41168]
  32
  Mr. Battle
  Almost all spent nuclear fuel can be recycled to provide further energy supplies and accordingly is not classified as waste. Government policy is that it is for the owner of spent nuclear fuel to determine the economic aspects of the various options for its management. The Health and Safety Executive will ensure that no option is carried out unless it meets adequate standards of safety.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of spent fuel have been reprocessed to date through the Thorp Plant at Sellafield; and if she will list the throughput targets provided to her Department by BNFL before active commissioning of the plant in March 1994. [40637]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I understand from BNFL that, as at the end of March 1998, the Thorp plant had sheared some 1,450 tonnes of spent fuel since the plant was actively commissioned in March 1994.

  In July 1993 BNFL published a document entitled 'The Economic & Commercial Justification for Thorp'. That document stated that the expected throughput for the first ten years of Thorp's operation would be 7,000 tonnes.

  I understand that there are currently no plans to change this target.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current estimated cost of refurbishment of the reprocessing facility at Dounreay to be used to process the uranium fuel recently received from Georgia; when the plant is expected to be ready; and what further foreign customers she expects to use the plant. [40670]

  Mr. Battle
  The unirradiated fuel, which amounts to eighty per cent of the uranium fuel received from Georgia, will be processed in existing equipment at Dounreay which does not require refurbishment. It is likely to be two years before the remaining twenty per cent., which has been irradiated, will be reprocessed. This could be done in one of a number of different plants and a decision has yet to be made about which one to use. As the plant used will also be used to reprocess other material, it is not possible to say at this stage what share of the refurbishment cost will fall to the irradiated Georgian fuel.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements currently govern the period over which radioactive waste arising from reprocessing foreign fuel at Dounreay may be stored at the site before it is repatriated to the country of origin; and if he will place in the Library a specimen contract covering such arrangements. [40641]

  Mrs. Beckett
  All waste arising from reprocessing activities at Dounreay will continue to be stored in accordance with the regulatory requirements in force at the time. UKAEA contracts for reprocessing foreign nuclear materials are commercially confidential but they all comply with Government policy on nuclear waste repatriation (in force since 1976) by including a clause stipulating that waste will be returned. In all such cases this return of waste condition is backed by a Government to Government agreement. The Georgian highly enriched uranium (HEU) was recently transferred to Dounreay to improve international security. In this case, an exception
  33
  to the general policy on return of waste was agreed because the Georgians do not have the capability to deal with the small quantity of waste involved.

  Engineering Design
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives the Government are taking to promote United Kingdom engineering design during their Presidency of the EU. [41104]

  Mr. Battle
  As well as the on-going promotion of design by the Design Council and Business Link, during the term of the UK Presidency the Government have promoted the best use of design, including engineering. Most recently, on 2 April my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister launched the `powerhouse::uk' exhibition in London. Funded by DTI as a showcase of British design and creativity, the exhibition was timed to coincide with the second ASEM Summit, attracting some 20,000 visitors over a two-week period, and included examples of world class UK engineering.

  £ million

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  UK exports of services

  Malaysia

  258

  311

  441

  602

  591

  636

  966

  1,310

  1,190

  1,160

  1,206

  Thailand

  207

  281

  429

  417

  466

  475

  664

  749

  835

  974

  862

  Argentina

  10

  13

  14

  35

  70

  119

  179

  229

  234

  332

  487

  Brazil

  348

  305

  339

  320

  339

  273

  415

  525

  675

  847

  1,028

  Venezuela

  158

  178

  125

  205

  167

  189

  227

  197

  179

  180

  204

  Peru

  49

  31

  30

  29

  33

  31

  33

  45

  58

  63

  86

  Zambia

  75

  86

  119

  93

  63

  65

  74

  45

  50

  52

  46

  Tanzania

  92

  89

  93

  85

  73

  79

  109

  89

  87

  82

  77

  Egypt

  342

  289

  296

  298

  283

  252

  337

  369

  384

  431

  499

  UK imports of goods

  Malaysia

  397

  526

  676

  776

  914

  1,104

  1,397

  1,204

  1,489

  2,381

  2,026

  Thailand

  239

  321

  444

  484

  635

  643

  772

  914

  1,040

  1,188

  1,222

  Argentina

  65

  66

  99

  144

  136

  125

  141

  171

  252

  285

  270

  Brazil

  637

  740

  817

  720

  766

  886

  904

  919

  987

  983

  955

  Venezuela

  92

  77

  111

  102

  100

  138

  126

  134

  204

  189

  157

  Peru

  92

  91

  126

  97

  84

  92

  126

  113

  123

  130

  148

  Zambia

  30

  25

  22

  19

  22

  7

  12

  13

  19

  18

  32

  Tanzania

  26

  27

  23

  26

  21

  21

  26

  22

  27

  29

  33

  Egypt

  127

  164

  213

  145

  136

  137

  188

  252

  247

  282

  270

  UK exports of services

  Malaysia

  n/a

  227

  244

  272

  271

  315

  358

  404

  454

  580

  n/a

  Thailand

  n/a

  171

  196

  225

  230

  201

  233

  260

  338

  335

  n/a

  Brazil

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  192

  209

  218

  258

  266

  n/a

  UK imports of services

  Malaysia

  n/a

  81

  167

  180

  177

  137

  163

  188

  194

  220

  n/a

  Thailand

  n/a

  115

  161

  178

  141

  172

  210

  216

  273

  274

  n/a

  Brazil

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  49

  56

  63

  68

  73

  n/a

  Notes

  Figures for trade in goods are on an Overseas Trade Statistics (OTS) basis. Figures for trade in services are on a Balance of Payments (BOP) basis.

  Figures for trade in services are available only for approximately forty of the UK's largest trading partners and generally only from 1988. Information for many of the countries requested is not available. Services data for 1997 will be available in August 1998.

  Sources:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs & Excise

  Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics (MRETS), ONS

  UK Balance of Payments, The Pink Book, ONS

  Exploration Wells
  Mr. Page
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many exploration oil and gas wells were drilled in the first quarter of (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [40348]
  34
  In addition, last September, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister launched the Millennium Products project which is managed by the Design Council. The project aims to identify up to 2,000 successful products and services that have been created in the United Kingdom and which exemplify our creativity and innovation. The first 200 products to receive the accolade `Millennium Product' were announced in April.

  International Trade
  Ms Drown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the values of imports to the United Kingdom from and exports from the United Kingdom to(a) Malaysia, (b) Thailand, (c) Argentina, (d) Brazil, (e) Venezuela, (f) Peru, (g) Zambia, (h) Tanzania and (i) Egypt in each of the years between 1987 and 1997. [39681]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The available information is given in the table:

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 May 1998]Twenty-one exploration wells for oil and gas commenced drilling in the first quarter of 1997. In the same period of 1998, thirteen exploration wells were started.

  Petrol Consumption
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual per capita petrol consumption in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany, (c) Holland, (d) Sweden and (e) the USA. [41133]

  Mr. Battle
  The latest full year for which data for all five countries are available is 1996, and are given in the table:

  Petrol consumption per capita 1996

  Country

  Tonnes per head of population

  United Kingdom

  0.38

  Germany

  0.37

  Holland

  0.27

  Sweden

  0.48

  U.S.A.

  1.27

  Source:

  International Energy Agency

  UKAEA Constabulary
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1), pursuant to the oral answer of 27 April 1998,Official Report, column 21, what is the current force establishment of the UKAEA Constabulary; and what is the planned establishment for each of the next three years; [41084]

  (2) if she will list the sites policed by the UKAEA Constabulary in each of the last five years, indicating (a) when they first assumed responsibility and (b) when they ceased to have responsibility; [41088]

  (3) pursuant to the oral answer of 27 April 1998, Official Report, column 21, over what period of time the Chief Constable had raised his concerns about police numbers at (a) Dounreay and (b) other nuclear installations; [41090]

  (4) pursuant to her answer of 30 April 1998, Official Report, column 237, what reviews have been commissioned which have still to report; what sites these relate to; and if she will make a statement; [41092]

  (5) pursuant to her answer of 30 April 1998, Official Report, column 237, if she will list the two sites referred to; what was the increase in staff; for what period of time the increases were agreed; and what was the consequential effect on the overall police establishment; [41083]

  (6) if she will list the category of each site for which the UKAEA Constabulary had responsibility over the last five years indicating when category changes took place and the associated change in police establishments; [41089]

  (7) pursuant to the oral answer of 27 April 1998, Official Report, column 21, what conditions were attached to the agreement for an increase in police numbers at Dounreay; [41091]

  (8) pursuant to the oral answer of 27 April 1998, Official Report, column 21, for which sites in each of the last three years the Chief Constable has requested extra police staffing; on what dates; and with what outcome; [41087]
  36
  (9) pursuant to the oral answer of 27 April 1998, Official Report, column 21, on what occasions the Chief Constable has made representations on UKAEA police numbers to ministers in the past five years; in relation to which sites; and with what outcome. [41082]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 May 1998]The UKAEA Constabulary polices sites at Chapelcross, Risley, Sellafield, Springfields, Capenhurst, Dounreay, Harwell, and Winfrith. It assumed responsibility for policing these sites in 1955, with the exception of Chapelcross and Winfrith, where the relevant dates are 1956 and 1957 respectively.

  The current force establishment of the UKAEA Constabulary is 471. Police numbers at all sites are subject to a continuing process of review and are approved as necessary by the Police Authority in the light of developing requirements. It is normal security practice not to reveal details relating to the police establishment at particular sites, or the security category of those sites, because this information is of potential use to criminals. The Chief Constable's requests for extra staffing in the past three years have been met in full. He has made no representations to Ministers on UKAEA Constabulary numbers.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the oral answer of 27 April 1998,Official Report, column 21, if she will list the membership of the UKAEA Police Authority, indicating for each member their current employment. [41085]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 May 1998]The members of the Police Authority are Mr. J. Bretherton, Director Corporate Services, UKAEA; Dr. R. L. Nelson OBE, Director of Dounreay, UKAEA; Dr. E. Drage, Director Euratom, Nuclear Safety, Security and Emergency Planning, Department of Trade and Industry (advised by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security); Dr. R. Howsley, Head, Security and International Safeguards, British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL); Mr. G. R. Smith, Head of Sellafield site, BNFL; and Dr. P. Upson, Managing Director Technical, Urenco Limited. Sir John Woodcock CBE QPM, Police adviser to the UKAEA Police Authority, also attends Police Authority meetings.

  Energy Sources
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects the review of energy sources for power generation to be completed. [38826]

  Mr. Battle
  The review is expected to reach conclusions before 30 June.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost to(a) the European Union and (b) the United Kingdom of work done at the Chernobyl site since the accident on 26 April 1986. [40634]

  Mr. Battle
  At the 1992 Summit in Munich, G7 leaders launched a programme of nuclear safety assistance for the countries of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Although the EU was providing some help in identifying options for dealing with the sarcophagus, Chernobyl was not a target for nuclear safety assistance as Ukraine planned to close the plant by the end of 1993. Following
  37
  the Ukrainian Parliament's reversal of that decision in late 1993, the EU at the 1994 Corfu Summit offered Ukraine an action plan leading, amongst other things, to the closure of Chernobyl. After extensive negotiations, the G7 countries, European Commission, and Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1995 which provided for support for Ukraine's energy sector, including help with nuclear safety at Chernobyl and the decommissioning of the plant. The MOU commits Ukraine to close the plant by the year 2000. Of the 100 mecu Tacis assistance offered by the EU at Corfu, 60 mecu has been allocated for work on site. This includes a site survey (0.5 mecu), development of a plan for dealing with the sarcophagus (2.5 mecu) and turnkey projects for three decommissioning facilities (38.5 mecu). An on-site assistance team is now in place primarily to help with the procurement of these facilities.

  In 1993, the UK's Know How Fund supported completion on a £217,000 land remediation study for the benefit of Ukraine's Ministry of Chernobyl Affairs. The EU has financed a number of studies linked to the development of an optimal management route for dealing with the different types of contamination around the site.

  The EU has also contributed 20 mecu to the EBRD-managed Nuclear Safety Account. Of the UK's £18.25 million contribution to that account, £10 million has been specifically scheduled for the Ukraine. The commitments to this fund stand at 270 mecu and the 118 mecu project for Chernobyl includes safety upgrades for Unit 3, as well as a liquid radwaste treatment plant and a spent fuel interim storage facility to assist with decommissioning.

  The G7 and the Ukraine have now agreed on a Shelter Implementation Plan to ensure that the sarcophagus is transformed into a safe and environmentally stable condition. The EU has pledged $100 million to the fund which has been set up to finance this plan. The UK is making a separate bilateral donation of $16.8 million. A project management team has now been appointed and tendering will shortly begin for the first stage of the work. A £20,000 UK Government-financed study into the options for treating the water trapped in the sarcophagus is shortly to be made available to the project management team.

  Arms Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what human rights considerations were taken into account when(a) refusing and (b) granting the ML1 licences to Indonesia. [40389]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I have been asked to reply.

  All applications for licences to export goods entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 to Indonesia or any other country, are considered against the criteria announced by the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29. The criteria are also used for considering applications for the export of dual-use goods where there are grounds for believing that the end-user would be the armed forces or the internal security forces of the recipient country. The criteria include consideration of respect for human rights
  38
  and fundamental freedoms in the recipient country and the risk of the proposed export being used for internal repression.

  Vehicle Licensing
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the costs for each year since 1987 of posting licensing reminders to all licensed vehicle owners. [41048]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following are the postage costs, for financial years 1987–88 onwards, of vehicle licensing reminders:

  £ million

  Year

  Vehicle reminder postage costs

  1987–88

  2.6

  1988–89

  2.7

  1989–90

  2.9

  1990–91

  3.3

  1991–92

  3.7

  1992–93

  3.8

  1993–94

  3.9

  1994–95

  3.9

  1995–96

  4.2

  1996–97

  4.3

  1997–98

  4.5

HEALTH

  EC Workshop on Sexuality
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1997,Official Report, column 229, when he expects to give a substantive reply to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness relating to the EC Workshop on Sexuality. [31232]

  Ms Jowell
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 6 May 1998. Copies of this letter have been placed in the Library.

  In my answer of 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 229, I indicated that I was providing the hon. Member with information available to me at the time about the European Community funded workshop on sexuality. There is now some doubt about whether the workshops were ever held in the United Kingdom, and my letter of 6 May sets out the latest information in full.

  Silicone Breast Implants
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many women have received silicone breast implants in each of the last five years on the NHS; and if he will estimate the number of women who have received such implants privately; [23010]

  (2) how many women have had their silicone breast implants removed on the NHS due to rupturing in each of the past five years; and if he will estimate the equivalent figure for private health care. [23011]

  Mr. Boateng
  The available information for the National Health Service is in the table. We record the number of episodes in which a breast implant was
  39
  inserted, the number of implants removed and the number of revision operations. Whether the implants were filled with silicone-gel or another material is not known. There are no equivalent figures for the private sector.

  Number of episodes by primary operation; ordinary admissions and day cases combined, NHS hospitals, England

  Operation

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Breast

  Implants1

  1,514

  1,680

  1,234

  1,320

  1,435

  Revision/removal1

  289

  333

  274

  363

  412

  Total

  2,188

  2,457

  1,860

  2,097

  2,362

  1 Breast implants

  B30.1 Insertion of prosthesis for breast.

  B31.2 Augmentation mammoplasty.

  B31.8 Other specified plastic operations on breast.

  2 Revision/removal

  B30.2 Revision of prosthesis for breast.

  B30.3 Removal of prosthesis for breast.

  Note:

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

  Source

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Hepatitis C
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the claim for recompense by haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C as a result of treatment with contaminated blood products; and when he will be writing to the Haemophilia Society on this matter. [41008]

  Mr. Boateng
  We fully recognise that those who have made representations on this subject are disappointed that we have not as yet announced our conclusions on the matter. This is, however, a very complex issue which we are still considering. We will announce the outcome of our deliberations, and write to the Haemophilia Society, as soon as we are in a position to do so.

  Children's Rights Commission
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about the office of Children's Rights Commissioner as part of the work leading up to the United Kingdom's response to the United Nations Committee on Children's Rights; and if he will make a statement. [41369]

  Mr. Boateng
  On 12 January 1998, I met a delegation to discuss possible ways of assessing the potential value of a Children's Rights Commissioner for England. We asked officials to prepare an initial assessment of the progress made by other countries who have established a Children's Rights Commissioner or similar office. We expect that report by the end of June. Thereafter, we will consider whether further work should be initiated and within what timetable. The preparation of the United Kingdom's second report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is expected to be concluded by the end of 1998 and the report will be published early in 1999. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  Civil Service Rebuttal Officer
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has appointed a civil service rebuttal officer in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [41165]

  Mr. Dobson
  The Department's communications planning unit includes a rebuttal officer whose job is to make more systematic and orderly the process of responding to criticism of Government policy, and in particular to inaccurate or misleading allegations. This role complies with the official Civil Service "Guidelines on the Work of the Government Information Service" and the person appointed is a career civil servant who reports to a career civil servant.

  Communications Planning Unit
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the cost of establishing and (b) the annual running cost of his communications planning unit; for what reason the unit is to be financed from public funds; and if he will make a statement. [41164]

  Mr. Dobson
  As endorsed in the Report of the Working Group on the Government Information Service (Mountfield Report), the Department's communications planning unit was set up to provide better co-ordination of news handling. The total basic staff cost of the unit is estimated at £86,000, which is from existing running costs. All the staff involved were already employed by the Department.

  Teaching Hospitals (London)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial transitional support was available to London teaching hospitals in 1994–95, 995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98. [41571]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is provided in the table.

  Transitional support to London teaching hospitals 1994/95–1997/98

  £000

  Year

  Total

  1994–95

  61,892

  1995–96

  51,823

  1996–97

  41,716

  1997–98

  48,869

  Notes

  (i) Trusts included in total are: King's College, Guy's & St. Thomas', St. George's, Royal Hospitals, University College Hospital London, Hammersmith, St. Mary's, Chelsea and Westminster

  (ii) In addition to the above, financial transitional support has been made available over the period to other London trusts and to London health authorities. The total central funding for London was included in the Turnberg Report

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the next set of quarterly waiting lists statistics; and if he will make a statement. [41166]
  41
  Mr. Milburn
  The next set of quarterly waiting list statistics for England will be published in week commencing 18 May 1998. The figures will be based on provisional information from health authorities and trusts and will show the position on 31 March 1998.

  NHS Finances (London)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the weighted capitation formula, and the market forces factor, will be reviewed for London. [41572]

  Mr. Milburn
  The national standing Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation is looking at how resources are distributed across both secondary and primary care to ensure that these fully reflect local population needs and operate as fairly as possible.

  One of the Committee's tasks is to undertake a review of the staff market forces factor which has important implications for London.

  The aim is to complete this review in time to inform health authority allocations for 1999–2000.

  NHS (50th Anniversary)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money(a) his Department and (b) the NHS plan to spend on marking the 50th anniversary of the NHS. [40951]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 19 December 1997,Official Report, columns 389–90. In accordance with the principles that the activity will be decentralised and devolved, will promote core National Health Service aims, and that money is not diverted from patient care, it is for individual NHS organisations to consider what funds they are able to use or generate for local activities, and it is not possible to estimate the likely cost to the NHS.

  The costs of central support for the NHS's aims during anniversary year are met from within the Department's publicity and communications budget. In 1997–98, the gross forecast outturn for this element is £1,122,252. In 1998–99, we estimate that the gross contribution will be around £550,000. We intend that this expenditure will be offset by sponsorship wherever possible.

  NHS Nurses
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to NHS trusts on the procedures they should follow in order to check that all applicants for nursing posts are registered nurses. [41116]

  Mr. Milburn
  On 6 May 1998, the Department published guidance (HSC(98)64 "The Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Issues for National Health Service Staff") which reminds managers of their responsibility for taking up references from previous employers and making registration checks with the appropriate regulatory body. Earlier guidance (EL(92)84) advised employers to check registration before applicants take up post and to designate this as the responsibility of a single named officer.

  Psychotherapists
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he intends to take to ensure that those practising as psychotherapists subscribe to a recognised code of practice and ethics; [41118]

  (2) what action he intends to take to ensure that those practising as psychotherapists are trained by, and registered with, a reputable body. [41117]

  Mr. Milburn
  Counselling and psychotherapy services are provided by a wide diversity of professionals. A large number of professional bodies and organisations exist to provide guidance on training, professional practice, ethics and conduct. It is for those professional bodies to agree on matters concerning training and standards of psychotherapists.

  We have required National Health Service employers to satisfy themselves that all staff, including those practising as psychotherapists, have the skills and training appropriate to the roles they are required to carry out.

  Health Care Assistants
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to prevent nurses who are struck off the register from obtaining posts as health care assistants. [41119]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is a matter for employers to check that all prospective employees are suitably qualified and experienced for the post to be filled, and to take up references.

  Alcohol
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to take forward the strategy set out in the green paper, Our Healthier Nation, on alcohol; and what is his Department's timetable for producing this strategy. [41508]

  Ms Jowell
  We intend to produce a coherent strategy which reinforces our messages about sensible drinking and provides an effective framework for action to tackle alcohol misuse in all its forms. It will need to reflect all of the issues of major concern about alcohol across Government, as well as for other interested parties, including the alcohol industry. Much new co-ordinated work on alcohol is already taking place, for example through the Ministerial group on under-age drinking; the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions' consultation exercise on drink-driving and the Home Office's recently announced review of liquor licensing. But that work will be more successful if it can take place within the context of a clearer framework for activity. Alcohol Concern have secured private sector support to carry out an extensive consultation exercise by the end of 1998 on what form an alcohol strategy might take. All interests should be reflected in this process and we will await its results before taking further action.

  Ritalin
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority the levels of prescribing
  43
  of Ritalin (methylphenidate) in terms of (a) numbers of people and (b) cost in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96 and (iv) 1996–97. [41203]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 8 May 1998]Information on the number of people receiving Ritalin is not available. Information on prescriptions dispensed for individual products such as Ritalin is not released at health authority level. This is in order to preserve patient, contractor and commercial confidentiality.

  The net ingredient cost of prescription items dispensed for Ritalin in the community in England from 1993–94 to 1996–97 is shown in the table. Data on prescriptions dispensed in hospital are not available.

  The net ingredient cost of prescription items for Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride) dispensed in the community, 1993–94 to 1996–97 in England

  £000

  Year

  Net ingredient cost

  1993–94

  30.6

  1994–95

  61.2

  1995–96

  365.6

  1996–97

  998.7

  Notes

  1. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England

  2. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees. It does not include any adjustment for income obtained where a prescription charge is paid at the time the prescription is dispensed or where the patient has purchased a pre-payment certificate

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sierra Leone
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action was taken by Ministers following publication of the article, "Britain holds talks with hired killers", in The Observer on 8 March. [41576]

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many officials or diplomats in his Department have been cited in allegations that at least one official or diplomat had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41243]

  (2) if he will list all the meetings that have taken place between Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Spicer and (a) the current British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, (b) himself or other ministers and (c) other officials or diplomats of his Department, stating (i) the dates when they took place, (ii) who was present, (iii) at whose request the meetings took place, (iv) where they took place and (v) what was discussed; [41229]

  (3) what contacts (a) he, (b) his ministers and (c) his officials or diplomats have had with Sandline International concerning the supply by that company of arms and aid to Sierra Leone; [41238]
  44
  (4) on what date (a) he and (b) his ministers were told about the allegations that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41242]

  (5) on what date officials in his Department first became aware of allegations that at least one official or diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41245]

  (6) if the provision of arms and aid to Sierra Leone by Sandline International was contrary to United Nations resolution 1132; [41230]

  (7) if he will list all the meetings that have taken place between Sandline International and (a) the current British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, (b) himself or other ministers and (c) other officials or diplomats of his Department, stating (i) the dates when they took place, (ii) who was present, (iii) at whose request the meetings took place, (iv) where they took place and (v) what was discussed; [41235]

  (8) what are the terms of reference of his departmental inquiry into the allegations that at least one diplomat had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; who will be conducting it; when it will start work; and when will it finish; [41237]

  (9) what (a) formal and (b) informal approaches were made by Sandline International to (i) him, (ii) his ministers and (iii) officials or diplomats in his Department regarding the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone; [41239]

  (10) on what date (a) he and (b) his ministers were first told that the allegations that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo had been referred to HM Customs and Excise; [41241]

  (11) on what date officials in his Department referred the allegation that at least one official or diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo to HM Customs and Excise; [41244]

  (12) on what date and for what reasons he decided to hold an internal departmental inquiry into the allegations that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41231]

  (13) if he will make it his policy to publish the report and findings of the internal departmental inquiry into the allegations that at least one diplomat had dealings with Sandline International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; [41236]

  (14) when (a) he and (b) his ministers were first told of the allegations made in The Observer in March that at least one diplomat had had dealings with Sandline

  45
  International in connection with the supply of arms and aid to Sierra Leone in contravention of a United Nations embargo; and what action he or they then took, and when. [41240]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer the right hon. and hon. Members to the answer I gave to the Private Notice Question tabled by the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 6 May 1998,Official Report, columns 721–31.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help given by the current British High Commissioner in respect of the successful counter-coup in Sierra Leone led him to congratulate the High Commissioner to Sierra Leone on giving such help. [41234]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I congratulated the British High Commissioner in June 1997 on his role in the evacuation of British citizens and others from Sierra Leone during the coup in May. I have sent no message since.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of a picture of the current British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone on T-shirts being sold in that country. [41232]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We are not selling any such T-shirts, and have no stake in any commercial enterprise that is.

  Soviet Union (Nuclear Reactors)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what data he has collated on the risks in respect of nuclear reactors in the former Soviet Union. [40903]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have been asked to reply.

  The International Atomic Energy Agency has published a series of technical documents on the Soviet-designed WER and RBMK (Chernobyl types) reactor types. A major European Union-financed report on the safety of the RBMK reactors has also been completed. These identify and prioritise the main safety issues which need to be addressed. These documents are being used by the countries concerned and international donors, to help shape safety upgrading programmes. The UK continues to work with our G7 and European Union partners to improve nuclear safety in the countries concerned and to encourage them to develop viable energy sector strategies that enable alternative generating capacity to be brought on line, allowing the older, less safe, reactors to close.

  Berlin Airlift
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what events the Government are planning to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Berlin airlift. [40639]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Berlin Airlift was a remarkable expression of Allied cooperation and it is fitting that our commemoration of this event should also reflect that spirit.
  46
  The annual wreath laying ceremony in Berlin is to take place on 12 May 1998, and will be supported by the RAF Western Band. The British Ambassador to Germany will lay a wreath on behalf of the nation.

  The Queen's Colour Squadron of the RAF, the RAF Western Band, RAF aircraft and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota will participate in various ceremonies marking the 50th Anniversary of the start of the Airlift. These will include those at the former RAF Airlift base at Gatow, the Tempelhof Airbridge Open Days and the opening celebrations for the Allied Museum Berlin which my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, has accepted an invitation to attend. The RAF will also be represented at the Berlin Air Show in May which has been dedicated to the Airlift and at a military history symposium in Berlin during July.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Organised Crime
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on European Union initiatives to combat organised crime. [40264]

  Mr. Straw
  This has been a major priority for the United Kingdom Presidency.

  We have made good progress in implementing the Action Plans on organised crime and drugs, which have included: negotiation of a Pre-Accession Pact with the countries of central and eastern Europe and Cyprus; a new funding programme [to support further action against organised crime]; the new convention on mutual legal assistance.

  And we have resolved most of the outstanding difficulties to allow Europol to become fully functional in the autumn.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure effective responses to evidence of sophisticated syndicates of organised criminals operating across national borders. [40285]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government have used the opportunity of the Presidency of the European Union to drive forward the fight against transnational organised crime and the menace it poses. The National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad provide a focus for operational activity which contributes to efficient and effective international co-operation.

  Sex Offenders
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement the powers for the supervision of sex offenders contained in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. [40269]

  Mr. Michael
  The provisions for the extended supervision of sex offenders in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 were not implemented as they were linked to other provisions on release and post-release supervision which were unnecessarily complicated. Instead, we have brought
  47
  forward fresh provisions for extended supervision of sexual and violent offenders, which are contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill.

  Racial Violence
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce measures to combat racial violence. [40284]

  Mr. Michael
  The lives of far too many people have been damaged or destroyed by racial violence and harassment. In our manifesto, Labour promised to crack down on mindless, racist thuggery and the Crime and Disorder Bill introduces new offences of racial violence, harassment and criminal damage. These will send out a strong message to society that racist crime is unacceptable, while the inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence will identify the lessons to be learnt for the investigation and prosecution of racially motivated crime.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage the extension of arrest referral schemes by the police as a means of combating drug use. [40286]

  Mr. George Howarth
  One of the four key aims of the Government's recently published drugs strategy is to protect communities from drug-related crime. Action planned in support of this aim will include promotion of arrest referral schemes. Currently, just over half the police forces in England and Wales have arrest referral schemes.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has commissioned into the link between drugs and crime. [40291]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Research currently in progress includes work on the criminal lifestyles of crack addicts, on the effects of treatment of addicts' criminality, and on developing performance indicators for police anti-drugs strategies. Consideration is also being given to extending a project on drug testing and interviewing arrestees, the first results of which were published last month.

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people arrested by the police are addicted to heroin and other opiates. [40294]

  Mr. Michael
  Information on what proportion of people arrested by the police are addicted to heroin and other opiates is not available. However, a study conducted for the Home Office by the University of Cambridge of drug use by samples of people arrested by the police in various English cities was published recently, and a copy is in the Library.

  Urine tests showed high levels of recent drug consumption among arrestees—61 per cent. had taken at least one illegal drug. Comparatively high proportions of arrestees across all sample areas tested positive for heroin/opiates (18 per cent.). The proportion of interviewees who said they were dependent on heroin was 11 per cent.; 9 per cent. admitted dependency on methadone; and a further 2 per cent. on dipipanone
  48
  (Diconal). It should be noted that the proportions admitting drug dependence varied from one sample to another.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit the drugs awareness scheme in Bethnal Green and Bow to discuss community-based projects to tackle drug abuse among young people. [40295]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I am happy to receive information about the scheme but have no plans to visit.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the priorities of his Department for the UK presidency of the European Union in respect of drug abuse. [40298]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The United Kingdom Presidency has given priority to action against drug trafficking and drugs misuse, in particular by building on the wide range of work already underway across the three pillars of the European Union, which covers the responsibilities of a number of Government Departments. A main objective for the Home Office, in addition to ongoing practical activity, such as implementation of the Joint Actions on new synthetic drugs and approximation of drugs laws and practices, has been to launch consideration of a new five-year European Union drugs strategy, which would take effect from 2000. We have tabled detailed proposals of the key aims and goals of the new strategy.

  We have also played a significant part in ensuring an effective input to European Union co-ordination in the preparatory process for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs, being held in New York in June, particularly in areas of direct interest to the Home Office, such as precursor chemicals, amphetamine-type stimulants, judicial co-operation, money laundering and drugs demand reduction.

  Paedophiles
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the length of sentences given to paedophiles. [40287]

  Mr. Michael
  Since the beginning of the year, my right hon. Friend and I have received 76 representations from hon. Members relating to sex offenders, and the Criminal Policy Directorate has received over 400 letters and petitions from members of the public.

  Women Prisoners
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the custody of women prisoners. [40288]

  Ms Quin
  Following the very helpful report published last year by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, a new Directorate of Regimes has been established with an Assistant Director who has direct responsibility for women in prison. Within that framework, the needs of women prisoners are being re-examined, with particular attention to the development of constructive regimes and programmes to address offending behaviour.

  Prisoners' Paid Employment
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern paid employment for a person serving a custodial sentence. [40289]

  Ms Quin
  Regulations governing prisoners' pay and earning are set out in Prison Service Standing Order 6 and the Prisoners' Pay Manual which was introduced in 1992, copies of which are in the Library.

  The manual sets out a framework within which prisoners can be rewarded for taking part in purposeful activities. Properly balanced incentives encourage sustained effort from prisoners engaging in those activities. We are looking again at this to see whether further changes need to be made.

  Computer Pornography
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding control of pornography in computer magazines. [40290]

  Mr. Michael
  Since December 1997, seven representations about computer magazines have been received, three from hon. Members, one from a Member of another place and three from members of the public. None of them specifically concerned explicit sexual material.

  Human Rights Bill
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the churches about measures contained in the Human Rights Bill[Lords]. [40292]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend has had meetings with representatives of a number of churches, and my noble Friend has met a delegation from the group "Christians for Human Rights". We have also received a good deal of correspondence. We are taking account of all the various views expressed in considering how to respond to the amendments made to the Bill in another place.

  Immigration
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the Dublin convention on British control of the immigration of non-EU nationals from EU member states. [40293]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Dublin Convention has made it more difficult and time consuming to secure the return to other member states from the United Kingdom of non-European Union nationals who claim asylum on arrival here. Under our Presidency of the European Union, we are seeking agreement on a programme of action aimed at improving the operation of the Dublin Convention.

  Protection for the Elderly
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to give 50
  greater protection to older people in respect of (a) mugging, (b) burglary and (c) fear of crime; and if he will make a statement. [40296]

  Mr. Michael
  The well-being of elderly people is a very high priority for this Government. Crimes against the elderly are particularly shocking, and we are determined to ensure that they are effectively addressed. Measures in the Crime and Disorder Bill will help achieve this goal.

  Under the Bill, the police and local authorities will be required to form partnerships to identify and to reduce crime and disorder. These partnerships will bring together many agencies and, importantly, will entail the full involvement of the local community. Implementation will involve local consultation, and guidance which we plan to issue in July will include specific reference to the need for public meetings and other forms of consultation to be accessible to all members of the community, including the elderly. The partnerships will be required to conduct an audit of current levels of crime and disorder and to devise a strategy to tackle specific local problems, including those affecting the elderly.

  Fortunately, crime risks for the elderly are lower than they might appear from media coverage. The British Crime Survey found that, across a wide range of offence categories, risks for those aged 16 to 29 were at least treble the risks for the elderly. For assault, young people were 37 times more at risk.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for political asylum are currently detained in secure accommodation while their case is being investigated. [40297]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As at 31 March 1998, the most recent date for which information is available, a total of 765 persons who had sought asylum at some stage were recorded as being detained solely under Immigration Act powers.

  Prisoners' Meals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure prisoners receive varied and nutritious meals. [40299]

  Ms Quin
  All prison establishments offer multi-choice menus with about 50 per cent. offering prisoners the opportunity to pre-select their meals. These pre-select meals also incorporate information which allows prisoners to select healthy eating options.

  Home Security
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's initiatives to increase the security of people in their homes. [40300]

  Mr. Michael
  The Crime and Disorder Bill includes a range of measures to reduce crime and disorder, and the fear of crime. Foremost of these is the proposal for the police and local authorities together to undertake a crime and disorder audit in the district, borough or unitary authority area, in consultation with other agencies and the wider community. They will then have to develop a local
  51
  strategy to tackle the identified crime and disorder problems. The work of the partnerships created to implement the local strategies, which will include clear targets, will include action at a much more local level within the local authority area. I am confident that these measures will have a significant effect on local levels of crime and disorder, and that this will in turn help people to feel more secure both in their homes and their communities.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of animal experiments that will be carried out in 1998–99 under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [40301]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Statistics on animal use can be collated only in retrospect and this is done on a calendar year basis. We expect to publish the figures for 1997 in July. We do not expect a significant increase.

  We cannot predict the number of procedures that will take place in the coming year. Although project licence applicants must estimate how many animals are to be used per year in each protocol, these figures are not collated centrally and, in practice, the number of animals actually used falls short of this estimate. We cannot predict the number of new project licence applications that we will receive during the year, or the number of animals that each will seek authority to use.

  The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 does not make provision for controlling the overall number of procedures; it requires that project licences be granted only if the benefits have been weighed against the costs and the purpose of the work cannot be achieved by other means. Whilst we can ensure that the number of animals used in each programme of work is minimised, we cannot dictate how many applications for new project licences will be submitted nor how many proposed programmes will satisfy the requirements of the Act, particularly the cost/benefit assessment. The number of scientific procedures involving animals is dependent on a number of factors, including the implications of scientific breakthroughs and the buoyancy of United Kingdom industry.

  The primary purpose of the 1986 Act is to reduce suffering. In consequence, where there is a choice between one protocol involving a certain number of animals and a more severe protocol involving fewer animals, the former will, in many cases, be authorised. One of the roles played by the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate is to ensure that applications to use animals have taken full account of the 3Rs concept of alternatives (refining procedures to minimise suffering; reducing the number of animals used; and replacing procedures with ones not involving protected animals), while ensuring that the scientific integrity and value of the work is not compromised.

  The overall number of procedures is not a true indication of the effectiveness of the Act.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to end the testing of cosmetics on animals; and if he will make a statement. [41097]
  52
  Mr. George Howarth
  We have already announced an end to the testing of finished cosmetic products on animals in the United Kingdom and we are exploring the possibility of extending this ban to cover ingredients intended primarily for "vanity products". (The European definition of cosmetics includes sun screens, toothpastes and other products which may be considered to be pharmaceuticals in other countries).

  European Directives require that new and, in certain circumstances, existing ingredients be tested to ensure that they are safe to use, manufacture and transport. For these purposes, animal tests are still required.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of experiments conducted on animals in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [41098]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 does not make provision for controlling the overall number of procedures; it requires that project licences be granted only if the benefits have been weighed against the costs and the purpose of the work cannot be achieved by other means. We cannot dictate how many applications for new project licences will be submitted, or how many proposed programmes will satisfy the requirements of the Act, particularly the cost/benefit assessment.

  We are promoting the development, validation and use of alternative methods which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals needed and refine procedures to minimise suffering (the 3Rs). To this end: we have announced our intention to explore, with the Animal Procedures Committee and the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), the possibility of promoting databases on alternative methods; we have increased the money made available to the Animal Procedures Committee to sponsor research on alternatives from £182,000 to £259,000; we will be requiring project licence applicants to state what consideration they have given to alternatives before a licence is granted; and we are discussing with regulators how best to apply the 3Rs to regulatory safety testing.

  Air Guns
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the law controlling air guns. [41155]

  Mr. Michael
  It is illegal to carry a loaded air weapon in a public place, to discharge an air weapon within 50 feet of a road or to use one to shoot birds or other protected animals.

  The Government have no current plans to introduce further legislation on firearms controls, but will keep under close scrutiny the way in which air weapons are used. We shall consult widely with all interested parties if further steps are considered necessary.

  Suicides
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 21 years have committed suicide or attempted suicide while on remand awaiting trial, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [40025]
  53
  Ms Quin
  Some of the information requested is shown in the table. It should be noted that the number of deaths shown are of self-inflicted deaths, a broader definition than that of suicide, particularly as the inquest into some deaths have yet to take place. The information requested on attempted suicides is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Age

  1995

  1996

  1997

  16

  0

  0

  0

  17

  0

  0

  1

  18

  1

  2

  2

  19

  2

  5

  1

  20

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  4

  8

  5

  Probation Constables
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the proposal to relocate the District Training Centre for probationer constables in Durham away from the North East; what factors underlay this proposal; and if he will consult with local parties on this matter. [41467]

  Mr. Michael
  My right hon. Friend has received correspondence from Councillor George Gill, the Chairman of the Northumbria Police Authority and from eight right hon. or hon. Members who have written in support.

  The future of probationer training in the North East is under examination in the light of the forthcoming expiry of the lease of the present site at Durham in December 1999 and against the background of the demand for probationer training places generally. A working group composed of representatives of the Association of Police Authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the police staff associations, National Police Training (NPT) and the Home Office, has been set up to consider NPT's accommodation requirements in the North East and more generally, and to make recommendations. No final decision has been made and there is no preconceived view that probationer training should not take place in the North East. The working group, whose members include the Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, will take full account of the views of the police authorities and forces in the North East. The correspondence from Councillor Gill has also been circulated to the working group.

  In view of the approaching expiry of the lease for the site at Durham, it was considered right to make plans on the basis that the centre would then close. However, the working group will consider any proposals which may be made for an extension of the lease alongside any other options which may emerge. In doing so, they will take account of the shortcomings in the facilities at the centre and the cost of the premises compared to alternatives, including the possibility of a Public Private Partnership.

  Children (Supervision)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of unsupervised gatherings of children aged under 10 years at night. [41210]

  Mr. Michael
  Research by the Home Office and others has shown that one of the strongest factors in relation to the commencement of offending by juveniles is poor parental supervision. One of the measures which the Government will introduce as part of their youth justice reform programme will be the local child curfew.

  The Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] will give local authorities a permissive power to introduce local child curfews for unsupervised children under 10 who are out on the streets late at night. The aim of such curfews is two-fold. They will address the need to protect young children from being drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour, and they will protect communities from the misery and distress which can be caused by groups of unsupervised children.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that anti-social behaviour orders are not used improperly. [41211]

  Mr. Michael
  The fact that only local authorities and the police, in consultation with one another, will be able to apply to the courts for orders will help to avoid any risk of improper use. It will be up to the courts to decide whether an anti-social behaviour order can be granted. We are producing detailed guidance to make clear the kind of circumstances in which applications should or should not be made.

  We have already given an undertaking to Parliament to review the effectiveness of the provisions and report our findings. This review will cover the types of behaviour for which orders are sought.

  Europol Convention
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for (i) the Convention of the European Police Office (Europol Convention), European Communities No. 12 (1995) CM 3050 and (ii) the Protocol to that Convention concerning Privileges and Immunities of its Organs and Staff, European Communities No. 12 (1997) CM 3767(a) which members of the European Union have ratified it and (b) when it came into force, and in respect of (ii) for what reasons privileges and immunities apply to its staff, members of its Management Board and Financial Committee, and its Financial Controller, when they have ceased serving in those capacities. [41233]

  Mr. Michael
  The Europol Convention has been ratified in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiry of a three-month period after ratification by the final member state.
  55
  The Protocol on Privileges and Immunities has been ratified in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It will enter into force on the first day of the second month following ratification by the final member state.

  Article 8 of the Protocol deals with the immunities which will apply to Europol staff and members of its organs
  "in respect of words spoken or written, and acts performed by them, in the exercise of their official functions".

  There may well be situations in which individuals would be obliged to fulfil such official functions (such as the giving of evidence in judicial proceedings) after they had ceased to serve in those capacities, and therefore the same Article goes on to provide that in those circumstances the immunities would still apply.

  Cocoon Watch Scheme
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the Cocoon Watch Scheme. [40561]

  Mr. Michael
  Cocoon Watch is an approach which the police and other agencies may choose to adopt as part of local strategies, depending on local circumstances. The early indications of its success to combat domestic violence in Killingbeck are welcome and I am looking forward to seeing a further report on its use in the Killingbeck project later this year. Any wider adoption of this approach would be a matter for local decision.

  Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the review on the treatment of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses to be complete. [41591]
  56
  Mr. Michael
  In consultation with colleagues, my right hon. Friend and I are currently considering how to take forward the final report of the inter-departmental working group on vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, which we received recently.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with the Lord Chancellor the possibility of denying prisoners serving custodial sentences access to civil justice in matters relating to the conduct of the Prison Service unless they have first exhausted all internal grievance procedures and taken their case to the Prisons Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement. [41023]

  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to him on 20 April 1998,Official Report, columns 515–16, and 5 May 1998, Official Report, column 367. I shall ask Prison Service officials to advise on prisoners' access to civil justice generally at the same time as advising on their use of small claims court procedures.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of his Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40743]

  Mr. Straw
  Of the 526 appointees to my Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), one is aged under 25 years, one is aged between 25 and 30 and two are aged between 31 and 35 years. This includes appointments made by the Prime Minister to NDPBs sponsored by my Department.

  The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates to apply for positions on the boards of public bodies, reflecting the diverse society in which we live. This includes encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointments. All appointments are made on merit and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Social Exclusion Unit
  "Mistakes by the Inland Revenue": Booklet
  "Mistakes by the Inland Revenue": Booklet
  Firearms Smuggling: Customs Seizures
  Firearms Smuggling: Customs Seizures
  Parliamentary Questions
  Parliamentary Questions
  Association of Chief Police Officers: Funding
  Association of Chief Police Officers: Funding
  Europol Convention and Protocols
  Europol Convention and Protocols
  EU Committee on Justice and Home Affairs: UK Representative
  EU Committee on Justice and Home Affairs: UK Representative
  Motoring Offences: Convictions
  Motoring Offences: Convictions
  Identity Cards
  Identity Cards
  Asylum Applications
  Asylum Applications
  Prison Service Drug Strategy
  Prison Service Drug Strategy
  Mobility Equipment Fund and Drivers Fund
  Mobility Equipment Fund and Drivers Fund
  Self-Employed: Pension Contributions
  Self-Employed: Pension Contributions
  SERPS: Contracting-Out Terms
  SERPS: Contracting-Out Terms
  Personal Pension Contributions
  Personal Pension Contributions
  Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: Originating Applications
  Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: Originating Applications
  Asylum Appeals
  Asylum Appeals
  RAF Feltwell: Deep Space Tracking Facility
  RAF Feltwell: Deep Space Tracking Facility
  Navigation Warfare Demonstration: UK Involvement
  Navigation Warfare Demonstration: UK Involvement
  Veterinary Drugs: Registration Fees for Merchants and Saddlers
  Veterinary Drugs: Registration Fees for Merchants and Saddlers
  Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals
  Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals
  Vitamin B6
  Vitamin B6
  Integrated Healthcare
  Integrated Healthcare
  President of Armenia: Message of Congratulations
  President of Armenia: Message of Congratulations