Written Answers of 12 May 1998

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Trust Ports
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in relation to the Review of Trust Ports in Northern Ireland announced on 26 August 1997; and if she will make a statement. [41803]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Review of Trust Ports in Northern Ireland which I announced last year has now been concluded. In general, the review findings serve to reinforce the strategic importance of the commercial Trusts Ports in relation to the Northern Ireland economy. However the review has identified the need to broaden and extend the powers of the commercial Trust Ports and to ease the financial controls under which they currently operate, to enable them to meet the challenges of the future. Further detailed consideration will now be given to these recommendations with a view to bringing forward suitable legislation at the earliest opportunity.

  During the course of the review, Belfast Harbour Commissioners submitted to the Department of the Environment (NI) a proposal for the future development of the Port of Belfast. This followed careful consideration by the Commissioners of a range of possible future options. BHC's preferred option envisaged the transfer of the Port to the private sector by means of a placed flotation and the establishment of a public/private partnership, through the retention by the Government of a golden share in the successor company.

  The Harbour Commissioners consider that such a change to the status of the port is necessary to assure its long-term viability and competitive position, and offers the benefit of enabling the successor company to raise private equity and debt to finance its future development. The golden share arrangement is intended to ensure that the wider interests of the Northern Ireland economy are safeguarded.

  The Department accepts that transfer of the port to the private sector and the establishment of a public/private partnership, as outlined in BHC's proposal, represents the best option for the future and will enable the port to realise its full commercial potential. Accordingly the Department has today conveyed to BHC its agreement, in principle, to the proposal (subject to certain conditions) and invited the Commissioners to further develop the proposal with a view to bringing forward a Scheme for the Department's detailed consideration. Under the Ports (NI) Order 1994, any such Scheme will be subject to public consultation.

  There are no plans to change the current status of any other Trust Ports in Northern Ireland. However, following the review, in addition to widening the powers and easing the financial controls on the other commercial Trust ports,
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  further consideration will now be given to improving their accountability by increasing District Council representation on the boards.

  Crime and Disorder Legislation
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to introduce legislation for Northern Ireland containing provisions similar to those of the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords]. [40635]

  Mr. Ingram
  Different local administrative and legislative arrangements limit the applicability of much of the Crime and Disorder Bill to Northern Ireland. However, a small number of provisions will be introduced to Northern Ireland by means of a negative resolution clause in the Bill. These are the sex offender order, the drug treatment and testing order, TV links for pre-trial hearings, the abolition of doli incapax and powers for youth courts to deal with unrelated charges. In addition, should Parliament decide to retain the clause, introduced in the House of Lords, which abolishes the death penalty in respect of treason and piracy, then the relevant legislation in respect of Northern Ireland will be repealed by the Bill.

  The potential impact of the remaining provisions will be assessed, taking account of experience in England and Wales, in order to determine whether similar measures should be incorporated in future Northern Ireland legislation.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [40734]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information requested is not available. Dates of birth of appointees were not recorded before 1 July 1996, the date on which the Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments took effect. Details covering the period 1996–97 are available in the Secretary of State's First Annual Report on Public Appointments, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates, including young people, to apply for positions on public bodies. 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.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits to each district council area by potential inward investors were arranged by the Industrial Development Board between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [40927]
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  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is as follows:

  Visits to district council areas by potential investors 1 April 1997–31 March 1998

  District council

  Number of visits

  Antrim

  21

  Ards

  1

  Armagh

  2

  Ballymena

  5

  Ballymoney

  2

  Banbridge

  1

  Belfast

  82

  Carrickfergus

  15

  Castlereagh

  2

  Coleraine

  7

  Cookstown

  9

  Craigavon

  16

  Derry

  14

  Down

  3

  Dungannon

  3

  Fermanagh

  5

  Larne

  9

  Limavady

  2

  Lisburn

  23

  Magherafelt

  1

  Moyle

  0

  Newry & Mourne

  5

  Newtownabbey

  19

  North Down

  4

  Omagh

  5

  Strabane

  2

  Total

  258

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Countryside Access
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many grants have been made from the National Lottery(a) to encourage walking and footpath development and restoration and (b) to increase access to the countryside. [40431]

  Mr. Banks
  The Lottery distributors estimate they have awarded some £440 million to projects designed to encourage walking, footpath development and restoration, and access to the countryside. The distributors do not however record these awards separately. Details are set out in the table:

  Distributor

  Number of awards

  Value of awards (£)

  Arts Council for England1

  0

  0

  English Sports Council

  389

  51,593,435

  Scottish Arts Council

  0

  0

  Scottish Sports Council

  27

  1,954,154

  Arts Council for Wales

  0

  0

  Sports Council for Wales

  5

  159,327

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  0

  0

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  0

  0

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  356

  153,679,679

  Millennium Commission

  33

  232,991,684

  National Lottery Charities Board

  12

  554,215

  Total

  822

  440,932,494

  1 ACE has made some 375 capital grants totalling £370 million to rural projects. Some of these will cover the areas specified but they cannot be precisely identified.

  Football (Racism)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what response he has made to the Football Task Force report into racism in football. [41866]

  Mr. Banks
  I welcome and fully support the practical recommendations made in the Task Force's report, which I believe can make a significant contribution to eliminating racism within the game. I have written today to the bodies identified in the report, asking them how they intend to take the measures relevant to them forward, and seeking a clear timetable for action.

  There are two specific recommendations that fall to Government: that the Football Offences Act 1991 should be amended to make racist abuse by individual spectators an offence; and that schoolchildren should have access to playing fields on a regular basis.

  The Government will be amending the Football Offences Act 1991 as soon as legislative priorities allow. There is no suitable legislative opportunity available at this time. In the meantime, the Home Office has written to all chief police officers in England and Wales reminding them of existing powers under the Public Order Act 1986, which makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intention of causing harassment, alarm or distress to the person to whom such words or behaviour are directed.

  The Government recognise that schoolchildren should have access to playing fields to enable them to participate in a range of sports. We recently announced how we will protect existing playing fields needed by schools and communities through new legislation requiring schools to seek consent for the sale of playing fields and by tightening planning controls.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Housing (Disabled Access)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require local authorities to build new housing which is funded by capital receipts to those standards for accessibility which are proposed to be included in an extension of Part M of the building regulations. [40336]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We announced on 9 March 1998,Official Report, columns 12–13, that Part M of the Building Regulations would be extended to include new dwellings. Part M will cover all new dwellings, including those built as a result of the additional resources released under the Capital Receipts Initiative. Amendment Regulations will be laid later this year and will come into force 12 months after publication.

  New housing built by Registered Social Landlords has to meet standards prescribed by the Housing Corporation which already covers most of the requirements of Part M.

  Diving
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will re-activate the Newcastle diving registry records as a basis for a comprehensive database of divers. [41128]

  Angela Eagle
  The Health and Safety Executive has no plans to re-activate the Newcastle diving registry, but is investigating whether the information collected in the registry can provide information which could be useful in the proposed research project into the long-term health effects associated with diving.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action was taken by the Health and Safety Executive in response to the Offshore Technology report, OTO 94 009 Neurological and Cerebrovascular Abnormalities in Divers, issued in August 1994, in respect of its findings relating to damage caused to the central nervous system by diving. [41127]

  Angela Eagle
  In my written reply, given on 22 January 1998,Official Report, columns 614–15, to one of the hon. Friend's earlier questions, I explained that HSE was commissioning research into the long-term health effects associated with diving. This was, partly, in response to the report referred to.

  The initial advertisement and tendering exercise for this research project was not concluded successfully and so the scope of the project is being reconsidered with a view to readvertising it.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many professional divers he estimates there were in each year since 1979; and how many have had their medical certificates revoked or not reissued due to medical conditions directly attributable to diving. [41130]

  Angela Eagle
  The best estimates of the numbers of active professional divers in Great Britain come from the numbers of medical examinations notified to the Health and Safety Executive by approved medical examiners of divers under the Diving Operations at Work Regulations 1981 and the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. These figures are readily available only from 1989 and are shown in the table. Information for the period between 1985 and 1989 could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

  The medical condition causing divers to fail their medicals is reported to the Health and Safety Executive, but not the cause of that condition. The conditions are often those prevalent in the general population, for example hypertension, which may, or may not, be attributable to diving. It is not, therefore, possible to state which of the failures were the result of conditions caused by diving. The numbers of divers failing their medicals from 1989 is shown in the table.

  Since 1995, only one medical certificate has been revoked. The diver concerned had a serious medical condition, unrelated to diving, which was not disclosed to the examining doctor. This condition put the diver at a
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  serious risk. Information on other revocations is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

  Year

  Medicals

  Failures

  1989–90

  3,943

  30

  1990–91

  4,746

  33

  1991–92

  4,749

  60

  1992–93

  5,054

  43

  1993–94

  4,984

  78

  1994–95

  4,911

  23

  1995–96

  4,867

  54

  1996–97

  4,780

  34

  1997–98

  4,889

  36

  Pipelines
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the development of pipelines for the movement of fluids and freight in the United Kingdom. [41102]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are a number of pipeline networks in the UK for the transport of gases and liquids such as oil and water. I am not aware of any major movements of freight by pipeline, but if my hon. Friend has a particular issue in mind, perhaps she could write to me.

  Wildlife Sites
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he plans to take to protect wildlife sites affected by abstraction and sewage effluent. [41201]

  Angela Eagle
  After consulting interested parties, my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales will publish in July their guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the environmental obligations which they will expect the water companies to meet during the period covered by the Director's current water price review—that is, the years 2000 to 2005.

  Roads (Warrington)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on Warrington's economic development of(a) building and (b) not building a new Junction 8 on the M62. [40897]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 7 May 1998]This scheme is being considered as part of the Government's strategic Roads Review. The economic impact of the scheme is being assessed as part of the new appraisal technique that has been developed as part of that Roads Review.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the level of traffic-related pollutants on the A49 in Warrington over the next five years(a) if a new Junction 8 is built on the M62 and (b) if no new junction is constructed; [40896]
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  (2) what estimate he has made of traffic flows on the A49 in Warrington over the next five years (a) if a new Junction 8 is built on the M62 and (b) if no new junction is constructed. [40898]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 7 May 1998]I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Helen Jones, dated 12 May 1998:
  The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the effects of the proposed new Junction 8 on the M62 on the traffic flows and related pollutants on the A49 in Warrington. The proposal for a new junction is linked with that to widen the M62 between Junctions 8 to 9 and all the information given in this reply assumes that the full scheme is implemented.
  We have carried out air quality assessments at two locations adjacent to the A49 in Warrington: Winwick Link junction, north of M62, and Forton Leisure Centre, south of the motorway.
  At the northern location, traffic related pollutant concentrations are currently well within air quality standards and will remain so by the year 2003, with or without the construction of M62 New Junction 8.
  Concentrations of particulates south of the motorway are within air quality standards but, because of the large volume of traffic on the A49, standards for carbon monoxide, benzene and oxides of nitrogen are already exceeded. However, by the year 2003, tighter emission controls which have already been introduced on new vehicles are expected to bring about an improvement, and traffic relief from the introduction of the new junction would mean that levels of all pollutants would be significantly lower than would otherwise be the case. Oxides of nitrogen are, however, still expected to exceed current standards with or without scheme.
  Taking the busiest peak hour, and assuming high growth in order to present a worst case, the estimated traffic flows on the A49 in Warrington are:
  On the A49 at Winwick Link, north of M62 Junction 9:
  2381 vehicles/hour in 1998

  (a) 2436 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is built

  (b) 2534 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is not built

  On the A49 Winwick Road, south of M62 Junction 9:
  4645 vehicles/hour in 1998

  (a) 3785 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is built

  (b) 4793 vehicles/hour in 2003 if Junction 8 is not built

  In the light of recent traffic surveys we are reviewing these forecasts for the forthcoming Public Inquiry into the Junction 8 proposals but we do not expect the level of traffic relief offered by the new junction to change significantly.

  Electoral Arrangements (North Somerset)
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to give effect to the Local Government Commission's recommendations for electoral arrangements in North Somerset. [41527]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We are currently considering the representations which we have received on the Commission's recommendations, and intend to announce our preliminary response to those recommendations as soon as practicable.

  Freight Transport
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy towards the levels of freight transported internationally. [41457]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  International freight movements are a reflection of economic activity. While growth in this area is evidence of a healthy economy, such traffic should take place efficiently and with regard to its environmental impact.

  Bangladeshi-registered Airlines
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list air services operated by Bangladeshi-registered airlines operating to or from the United Kingdom. [41557]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the Bangladeshi-registered airline designated to operate scheduled services to and from the UK. It currently operates five passenger services per week between Dhaka and London Heathrow using DC-10 aircraft.

  In addition, any airline registered in Bangladesh may apply to the Department for permission to operate ad-hoc charter services.

  Cycle Routes
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of cycle way have been introduced since May 1997; and what(a) encouragement and (b) support is given to local authorities to introduce cycle ways. [41589]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Information about the lengths of cycle tracks or cycle routes provided in local authority areas in England is not held centrally. We encourage all local authorities to respond to the National Cycling Strategy by establishing local cycling strategies, and by setting local targets for increases in cycle use. We support local authorities efforts with funding from the annual local transport budget, based on their Transport Policies and Programme submissions. This year, over 70 package bids are being supported, all containing cycling measures. We also provide technical support through an extensive range of Traffic Advisory Leaflets and other publications on cycling, and in response to day-to-day inquiries.

  Housing (Disabled Conversions)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total level of grants made to convert housing to enable people with spinal cord injury to live in their own homes; and how many properties were converted in each year since 1990–91. [40865]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Information on the level of disabled facilities grants given to those suffering from spinal cord injuries, and the number of homes converted, is not collected by the Department. However, research published by the Department in 1996 estimates that in 1993–94, such grants were given to 1,141 people with spinal problems.

  Roads (Litter Clearance)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which body is responsible under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the clearance of litter in Cambridgeshire on(a) the M11, (b) the All, (c) the A 1 4 and (d) the A10. [41604]

  Angela Eagle
  Under Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Highways Agency are responsible for the clearance of litter on the M11. Responsibility for litter clearance on the All, A14 and A10 falls to the relevant district councils along those routes.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications were made under section 91 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the issue of litter abatement orders in(a) Cambridgeshire, (b) the Eastern Region and (c) England in the last year for which figures are available; and how many orders were made in each case. [41605]

  Angela Eagle
  These figures have not been collected centrally. However, the Tidy Britain Group will be requesting information on applications for litter abatement orders and the number that are issued when they carry out their local authority enforcement survey later this year.

  Lifebelts
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to standardise the lifebelt regulations for inshore fishing boats which also operate as pleasure boats. [41606]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Inshore fishing boats which also operate as boats used commercially for sport or pleasure must comply with safety requirements depending on the distance they operate from a safe haven.

  Boats operating more than 3 miles out to sea or more than 15 miles from a nominated departure point must comply with a Code of Practice—The Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels, which sets out the standard safety requirements including those relating to the carriage of life jackets and lifebuoys.

  Boats operating less than 3 miles out to sea and less than 15 miles from a nominated departure point must comply with safety requirements laid down by local authorities. A draft safety code which will standardise safety requirements for these vessels has been developed, and Ministers have agreed that public consultation on this code may take place.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the HSE Working Party on Freedom of Information Memorandum on Persistent Inquirers for Information, Special Monitoring, dated 18 December 1997. [41601]

  Angela Eagle
  I have placed a copy of the memorandum in the library, anonymised to protect personal privacy. The purpose of the memorandum is to 66
  ensure that the named inquirers get all the information to which they are entitled in a consistent, fully explained and usable form.

  Access Committee for England
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future financial support from his Department for disabled persons and disability groups through the Access Committee for England. [40558]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The question is taken to refer to funding for the Access Committee for England (ACE), for which this Department's involvement has always been peripheral, confined normally to occasional research projects. In the event of the Department inviting ACE to bid, in accordance with the Department's specification, for any future project requirements, a bid from ACE would be considered on its merits alongside other bids invited for that work.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the Government's proposals for implementing the requirements of the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (97/11/EC); and if he will make a statement. [41888]

  Mr. Caborn
  Following an initial consultation last Summer, a second consultation paper on the implementation of the amended EIA Directive was issued on 19 December 1997. It set out our detailed proposals for refining the way in which the need for EIA is determined in the UK. To date, 195 responses have been received from business, government and environmental organisations across the UK, as well as members of the public. In addition, one response was submitted on a confidential basis. A list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies of the responses themselves have been placed in my Department's library.

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. [41925]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The following key targets have been set for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The targets are set out in MCA's Business Plan, copies of which will be placed in the Library.ensure that at least 60 per cent. of operators and crew of UK registered fishing vessels are aware of the safety standards promulgated by MCA.
  follow up at least 95 per cent. of significant breaches of safety and environmental aspects of Merchant Shipping legislation to determine whether prosecution is appropriate.
  decide on the search and rescue (S AR) response to accidents and life-threatening situations, and to initiate action, if necessary, within 5 minutes of being alerted in at least 95 per cent. of cases.
  complete at least 90 per cent. of key tasks and also complete at least 95 per cent. of the agreed planned programme of inspections and surveys.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to expand on previous guidance on the application of Articles 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive to sites which have been submitted to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive and classified as special protection areas under the Birds Directive. [42065]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have today restated our commitment to carrying out our legal obligations to implement the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives and, as part of that process, to contribute to the Natura 2000 network by designating Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and provides further guidance to competent authorities on the application of Articles 6(3) and 6(4). I have given a clearer policy lead to local planning authorities on how issues should be resolved where obligations to review extant planning permissions arise under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and guiding principles for all competent authorities on what might constitute overriding public interest.

  A paper setting out the Government's outline position has been placed in the Library.

  Inclusive Regeneration Report
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the research report on Inclusive Regeneration: Local Authorities' Corporate Strategies for Tackling Disadvantage will be published. [41889]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am today placing in the Libraries of the House copies of the research report by Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to implement measures to ensure that an economic link exists between UK-flagged vessels and the fishing communities in the UK intending to benefit from quotas allocated to the UK under the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement. [41893]

  Mr. Morley
  There has been extensive consultation with the various interests affected and we have also been having detailed discussions with the European Commission on the basis of the guidance contained in the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the President of the Commission which took place at the Amsterdam meeting of the European Council last year.

  Specific proposal by the UK are currently under consideration by the Commission and we expect to receive their advice on them shortly so that we can make early progress with implementation.
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  A copy of the UK proposals under current consideration by the Commission has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review approvals of pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [41892]

  Mr. Rooker
  As part of the national arrangements for the running review of past approvals of pesticides, I have agreed with my colleagues in the other regulatory Departments that there should be a review of those organophosphate pesticides approved for agricultural use under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The review will not extend to sheep dips and other veterinary medicines which are authorised and subject to scrutiny under separate legislation. On the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) the review will also cover carbamate pesticides as these have similar modes of action.

  I welcome the ACP's intention that the review should be informed by all relevant sources of information.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Children's Rights Convention
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights. [40371]

  Mr. Hoon
  The European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights was opened for signature on 25 January 1996 and has not yet been ratified by sufficient states to bring it into force. The Government will give this matter careful consideration as soon as their programme of business permits.

  Patents (Great Seals)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the public holding arrangements for the Great Seals for the period 1617 and 1831 concerning patents granted. [40133]

  Mr. Hoon
  Copies of letters patent issued over the great seal between 1617 and 1831 could be enrolled in the Chancery patent rolls. Under the Public Records Act 1958, these patent rolls are open for consultation by the public in the Public Records Office.

  Not all letters patent were thus enrolled and the system of enrolment broke down between 1648 and 1659, for which period few rolls survive. Original letters patent over the great seal were issued to the person to whom the grant was made. They thus passed into private hands, and were not subject to public holdings arrangements.

  The matrix for a new seal is cast at the beginning of the reign of each Sovereign or when the Seal wears out. In the past, the old Seal was broken into several pieces but more recently, it has been the custom for the Sovereign to 'damask' (deface) the old Seal by means of a special

  69
  hammer, to render it unfit for use. The old Seal is then presented to the Lord Chancellor as a personal gift of the Sovereign.

  Prisoners (Civil Justice)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to deny 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. [41022]

  Mr. Hoon
  It is not legally possible to interfere with a person's right of access to the civil courts solely because they are in custody. Where alternative procedures exist, however, it is in order for these to be brought to the attention of the individual.

  Contingency Fee Payments
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations he has received from interested parties which were supportive of his proposals for contingency fee payments to lawyers; and if he will make a statement. [40933]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government have not made any proposals for contingency payments to lawyers. We have received 233 responses to the Consultation Paper Access to Justice with Conditional Fees by the closing date of 30 April 1998. These are currently being analysed.

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to what extent his Department uses political affiliation as a criterion in the selection of justices of the peace for advisory committees; and if he will make a statement. [40863]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor requires that the composition of Advisory Committees should broadly reflect the communities which they serve and should include at least one acknowledged supporter of each of the main political parties. Both magistrate and non-magistrate members of committees are asked to declare their political affiliation when applying for appointments and this, together with age, gender, ethnic origin, place of residence and occupation, is taken into account in the appointment of suitable candidates.

  Deaf Jurors
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines his Department has published for judges in respect of deaf jury members receiving communication support in(a) open court and (b) the jury room. [40819]

  Mr. Hoon
  Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) which is a non-departmental government body. The JSB has an advisory committee whose remit has recently been extended to cover all aspects of equal treatment training, including training on increasing awareness of the needs of people with hearing 70
  difficulties, including jury members. The Committee will be considering guidance for members of the judiciary on handling those with hearing difficulties.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in the last year a judge has permitted a deaf person carrying out jury service to receive communication support from (i) a palantypist and (ii) a sign language interpreter. [40818]

  Mr. Hoon
  Palantypists are not available in the Crown Court. Details of those jurors using the support of a sign language interpreter are not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's 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. [40744]

  Mr. Hoon
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 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.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the guidance which will be given to governors concerning the assessment of the suitability of eligible prisoners for home detention curfew. [41865]

  Ms Quin
  We have today placed in the Library a draft version of the guidance to governors which would be used in assessing prisoners' suitability for Home Detention Curfew. A final version of the guidance will be included in a Prison Service Order which the Prison Service expects to issue to governors in October. Copies of that Order will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns 359–61, on prisoners, to what dates in 1998 the figures in Table A are provided. [41354]

  Ms Quin
  The 1998 figures in table A of my reply of 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns 359–61 refer to the period 1 January to 31 March.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the disbursement of revenues from prison work. [40234]
  71
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 30 April 1998]Planned income generated by activities in prison industries and farms is included in the voted provision contained in the annual Supply Estimate for the Prison Service as part of the receipts appropriated in aid of the gross expenditure borne on the Estimate. The relevant level of appropriations in aid is included in the budget allocated to each prison. We are shortly to issue guidance on new arrangements which will give governors greater flexibility to take up commercial opportunities which develop during the year.

  Firearms Compensation
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 1997,Official Report, column 542, on firearms compensation claims, when all compensation claims made under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 under (a) options A and B and (b) option C, will be complete. [41225]

  Mr. Michael
  The estimated timetable for completion of compensation payments under the large calibre handgun compensation scheme remains as set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 6 April 1998,Official Report, columns 19–20, that is to say, completion by around the end of May for payments under Options A and B and by the end of the year for most, if not all, payments under Option C.

  Immigration
  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women who are British Overseas citizens have been admitted for settlement under the quota voucher system in each year since quota vouchers were introduced; [41148]

  (2) how many women British Overseas citizens would qualify for admission to the United Kingdom for settlement, if women were treated in the same way as men under the quota voucher system; [41150]

  (3) under what circumstances a woman who is a British Overseas citizen can be admitted for settlement under the quota voucher system; [41147]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the advantages of treating women British Overseas citizens in the same way as men under the quota voucher system. [41149]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Immigration Rules, set out in House of Commons Paper 395, provide for a British Overseas citizen to be granted indefinite leave to enter the United Kingdom if he or she is in possession of a special voucher. This provision applies equally to both men and women.

  A British Overseas citizen may be issued with a special voucher if he or she fulfils a number of requirements, one of which is that the person concerned is the head of their household. Women will be considered to be the head of their household if they are single, widowed, divorced or married to a man who is incapable of fulfilling the role of head of household for medical reasons, in accordance with a House of Lords ruling that this is not unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
  72
  The available data on the number of women who have been admitted for settlement as special voucher holders in each year are given in the table.

  Female British overseas citizens1 granted settlement as special voucher holders 1968–97

  Year

  Number

  1968

  2—

  1969

  150

  1970

  140

  1971

  260

  1972

  330

  1973

  2—

  1974

  590

  1975

  800

  1976

  790

  1977

  490

  1978

  490

  1979

  530

  1980

  430

  1981

  390

  1982

  420

  1983

  530

  1984

  380

  1985

  320

  1986

  270

  1987

  270

  1988

  360

  1989

  290

  1990

  290

  1991

  260

  1992

  240

  1993

  170

  1994

  120

  1995

  120

  1996

  120

  1997

  90

  1 United Kingdom Passport Holders prior to 1 January 1983

  2 Not available

  Human Rights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ratify Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [41754]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have no plans to ratify Protocol 4 at present. Ratification will be possible only if potential conflicts with our domestic laws can be resolved. There is a particular concern in relation to Article 3(2) of the Protocol, which protects the right of nationals not to be excluded from their home state. This could be taken as conferring the right of abode in the United Kingdom on various categories of British nationals who do not have it.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which optional provisions under UN and Council of Europe human rights agreements he is reviewing possible UK accession; which reservations to human rights treaties he is assessing the advantages of lifting; to which additional conventions he is assessing the advantages of acceding; and if he will make a statement. [41153]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government announced on 3 July 1997,Official Report, column 221, that they intended to review the United Kingdom's position under various international human rights instruments. This includes the question of whether to accept the right of individuals to submit complaints under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and

  73
  Political Rights, under Article 22 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and under Article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The review is in progress and the outcome will be announced when it has been concluded.

  In preparing the Human Rights Bill, we also reviewed the United Kingdom's position on Protocols 4, 6 and 7 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Our conclusions were set out in the White paper "Rights Brought Home" (CM 3782).

  In addition, the Government have a commitment to review unratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. The Government fully support the principles embodied in the core ILO Conventions and are currently reviewing the United Kingdom's position with regard to ratification of the Conventions on minimum age and discrimination in employment.

  Name of APC member

  January

  March

  May

  June

  July

  September

  November

  December

  (a) 1996

  Prof. Brazier

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  Prof. Anderson

  +

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  -

  Prof. Boden

  +

  +

  -

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  Prof. Bridges

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Broughton Pipkin

  +

  -

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  Dr. Christopher

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  Dr. Cripps

  +

  -

  -

  +

  -

  -

  -

  +

  Dr. Flack1

  +

  +

  Prof. Flecknell

  +

  -

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Iversen

  +

  -

  -

  -

  +

  -

  +

  +

  Mrs. Macarthur Clark

  +

  -

  +

  -

  -

  +

  -

  -

  Miss Milburn

  +

  -

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Dr. Purchase

  +

  -

  -

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  Dr. Southee

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Spyer

  -

  -

  -

  +

  -

  +

  +

  -

  Dr. Suckling

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Mr. Ward

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  1 Dr. Flack resigned from the Committee in March 1996

  Name of APC member

  January

  February

  April

  May

  June

  July

  September

  October

  November

  December

  (b) 1997

  Prof. Brazier

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  Prof. Anderson

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Boden

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  -

  Prof. Bridges1

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  Prof. Broughton Pipkin1

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  -

  +

  Dr. Christopher2

  +

  +

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Dr. Cripps

  -

  +

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  +

  -

  Prof. Dunbar3

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  -

  +

  -

  Prof. Flecknell

  -

  -

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  Mr. Gregory3

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  Prof. Iversen1

  -

  +

  +

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  -

  Mrs. Macarthur Clark

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  -

  -

  Miss Milburn

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  Dr. Purchase

  -

  -

  -

  +

  -

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  Dr. Southee

  +

  +

  +

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  Prof. Spyer1

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  Dr. Suckling

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Turner3

  -

  +

  +

  -

  -

  -

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Mr. Ward

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  +

  1 Professors Bridges, Broughton Pipkin, Iversen and Spyer retired from the Committee in December 1997.

  2 Dr. Christopher resigned from the Committee in August.

  3 Professors Dunbar and Turner and Mr. Gregory were appointed to the Committee with effect from 1 January 1997.

  Proxy Voting
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to eliminate fraud in respect of proxy voting. [41584]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which I chair, will be examining both proxy and postal voting. We will pay particular attention to the need to achieve a balance between accessibility and the prevention of abuse.

  Animal Procedures Committee
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the Animal Procedures Committee, and their records of attendance for each of the meetings in(a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [41343]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The membership of the Animal Procedures Committee and records of attendance have been as follows (attendance is signified by + and their absence by -):
  75

  Name of APC Member

  January

  March

  April

  May

  (c) 1998

  Prof. Brazier1

  +

  Prof. Banner2

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Anderson

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Boden

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Dr. Clark

  +

  +

  Dr. Cripps

  -

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Dunbar

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Flecknell

  +

  -

  +

  +

  Mr. Gregory

  +

  -

  +

  +

  Dr. Jennings3

  +

  +

  Dr. Langley3

  +

  +

  Mrs. Macarthur Clark3

  +

  -

  +

  -

  Prof. Martin3

  -

  +

  Miss Milburn

  +

  -

  -

  Dr. Purchase

  +

  -

  +

  +

  Dr. Southee

  ,

  ,

  +

  +

  Dr. Suckling

  +

  +

  +

  Prof. Turner

  +

  +

  +

  +

  Mr. Ward

  +

  +

  +

  +

  1 Professor Brazier resigned from the Committee in January 1998.

  2 Professor Banner joined the Committee on 1 February 1998.

  3 Professor Martin and Drs. Clark, Jennings and Langley joined the Committee on 1 April 1998.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to publish members' attendances at future meetings of the Animal Procedures Committee. [41342]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I will ask the Animal Procedures Committee to consider publishing this information in its annual report.

  Incapacitants
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the possible incapacitant agents which were assessed before the CS sprays were adopted for police use; [38609]

  (2) how many published and internal papers have been written by his Department on the health effects of CR gas sprays since 1991; and what are the current security classifications of the internal reports. [38608]

  Mr. Michael
  CR (Dibenz (b.f)-1:4-oxazepine) was considered in a report by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, commissioned by the Home Office, which reviewed the toxicology of CS (Orthochlorobenzylidene Malonitrile). The report, which was produced in December 1994, is unclassified and copies have been placed in the Library. The Home Office has not produce any other published or internal reports on CR.

  Incapacitants considered in the 1994 report apart from CS and CR were CN (chloroacetophenone, commonly known as Mace) and oleoresin capsicum (commonly known as pepper spray). None of the alternatives to CS is considered to be an appropriate incapacitant for use by police officers in this country.

DEFENCE

  Officers
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of(a) 4 star, (b) 3 star, (c) 2 star and (d) 1 star officers in respect of the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army, (iii) Royal Marines and (iv) Royal Air Force and the total number of service personnel based in each of the Government's standard regions of England and in Scotland and in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available. [40997]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of 1 to 4 star officers, by Service, and the total number of Service personnel, based in each of the Government's standard regions of England, Scotland, and Wales, as at 1 July 1997 (the latest breakdown figures available) are set out in the tables.

  Number of 1 to 4 star officers by region

  All services

  Royal Navy

  Royal Marines

  Army

  RAF

  North West

  4 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 star

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Yorks & Humberside

  4 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 star

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1 star

  5

  —

  —

  5

  —

  East Midlands

  4 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 star

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1 star

  4

  —

  —

  1

  3

  West Midlands

  4 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 star

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1 star

  3

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Eastern

  4 star

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  3 star

  3

  2

  —

  1

  —

  2 star

  7

  1

  —

  —

  6

  1 star

  27

  8

  1

  4

  14

  London

  4 star

  6

  1

  —

  2

  3

  3 star

  7

  —

  —

  4

  3

  2 star

  29

  7

  —

  10

  12

  1 star

  64

  20

  1

  24

  19

  South East

  4 star

  3

  1

  —

  —

  2

  3 star

  4

  2

  —

  1

  1

  2 star

  21

  7

  2

  7

  5

  1 star

  86

  25

  5

  42

  14

  South West

  4 star

  3

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3 star

  4

  1

  —

  2

  1

  2 star

  26

  7

  —

  10

  9

  1 star

  81

  17

  2

  41

  21

  Wales

  4 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 star

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Scotland

  4 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3 star

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 star

  3

  1

  —

  2

  —

  1 star

  6

  1

  —

  4

  1

  Note:

  No 1 to 4 star officers are based in North East or Merseyside regions
  77

  Total number of service personnel by region

  All services

  Naval services

  Army

  RAF

  North East

  1,294

  25

  784

  485

  North West

  1,981

  18

  1,786

  177

  Merseyside

  200

  28

  151

  21

  Yorks & Humberside

  10,958

  103

  8,838

  2,017

  East Midlands

  7,791

  110

  934

  6,747

  West Midlands

  5,102

  91

  3,480

  1,531

  Eastern

  17,039

  1,081

  7,511

  8,447

  London

  7,338

  916

  4,088

  2,334

  South East

  46,567

  15,337

  22,865

  8,365

  South West

  44,367

  18,657

  16,211

  9,499

  Wales

  3,333

  27

  929

  2,377

  Scotland

  13,891

  5,283

  2,953

  5,655

  Departmental Personnel
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Royal Marines personnel(a) above the rank of captain and (b) at or below the rank of captain are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39936]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of former Royal Marines service personnel above the rank of captain employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 10; none is employed on a part-time basis. The number at or below the rank of captain employed on a full time basis is 174; none is employed on a part time basis.

  The number of former Royal Marines service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Royal Navy service personnel(a) above the rank of lieutenant commander and (b) at or below the rank of lieutenant commander are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39934]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of former Royal Navy service personnel above the rank of lieutenant commander employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 69; the number employed on a part-time basis is one. The number at or below the rank of lieutenant commander employed on a full-time basis is 953; the number employed on a part-time basis is seven.

  The number of former Royal Navy service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former RAF service personnel(a) above the rank of squadron leader and (b) at or below the rank of squadron are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39933]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of former RAF service personnel above the rank of squadron leader employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 122; the number employed on a part-time basis is two. The number 78
  at or below the rank of squadron leader employed on a full-time basis is 1,598; the number employed on a part-time basis is 19.

  The number of former RAF service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former army personnel(a) above the rank of major and (b) at or below the rank of major are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39935]

  Dr. Reid
  The number of former army service personnel above the rank of major employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 514; the number employed on a part-time basis is two. The number at or below the rank of major employed on a full-time basis is 2,404; the number employed on a part-time basis is 11.

  The number of former army service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Field Marshals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) serving and (b) retired field marshals there are; and, in respect of the latter, what continuing duties or obligations they have. [41223]

  Dr. Reid
  One of the recommendations made in the Independent Review of the Armed Forces' Manpower, Career and Remuneration Structures by Sir Michael Bett was that promotion to 5-star rank should cease in peacetime. There is now no serving officer at Field Marshal rank. There are, however, eight retired Field Marshals retained on the active list. In terms of continuing duties and obligations some have retained honorary appointments connected with the Army which tend to be ceremonial and do not involve official commitment. These are: Constable Tower of London, Master Gunner St. James's Park, Vice Lord Lieutenant Wiltshire and Lord Lieutenant Greater London. In addition, two members of The Royal Family hold the honorary rank of Field Marshal, as does HM The King of Nepal.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 16 February 1998,Official Report, column 483, what was the nature of the exercises conducted by the Royal Navy with Indonesian forces in the South China Sea in 1997; and what was the cost of those exercises. [41551]

  Dr. Reid
  HMS Richmond visited Jakarta from 9 to 12 April 1997 as part of the Royal Navy'sOcean Wave 97 deployment to the Asia-Pacific region. She participated in a low-key, passing exercise (PASSEX) with a ship from the Indonesian Navy as she left Jakarta following the visit. The PASSEX comprised a communications exercise and practice approaches for replenishment at sea. HMS Richmond also gave a demonstration of her Lynx helicopter as she left port. Exercises of this type are

  79
  routinely undertaken with host navies by Royal Navy ships either at the beginning or upon completion of a visit to an overseas port. No separate costings of this activity were made.

TREASURY

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 1998,Official Report, column 664, if he will place in the Library his Department's latest assessment of the effect of the sale of excess reserves of (a) gold and (b) foreign currency by central banks participating in EMU on (i) world gold prices and (ii) international exchanges; and what assessment his Department has made of the need to modify Bank of England holdings of such prior to the settling of the Frankfurt reserves of the Central Bank. [41509]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  No.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the quarterly growth rate of the combined industrial, construction and agricultural sector of the United Kingdom economy in(a) the fourth quarter of 1997 and (b) the first quarter of 1998; and if he will make a statement. [41162]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 11 May 1998]Output in the combined industrial, construction and agricultural sector fell by 0.5 per cent. in the fourth quarter of 1997. Estimates for the first quarter of 1998 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 22 May.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [41163]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 11 May 1998]The CSR is proceeding to timetable. It is on schedule for completion this Summer.

  NVQ Training Providers
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if flying instructors registered with the Inland Revenue as training providers under the NVQ scheme will be able to continue to provide to existing clients training at a cost reduced by the standard rate of income tax beyond 30 June; and if he will make a statement. [41351]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 11 May 1998]Vocational training relief, the tax relief for certain training expenses, is available on payments for training which can count towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). Notice has been given by the Qualifications Authorities that the Piloting Transport Aircraft and Piloting Rotary Wing Transport Aircraft qualifications will cease to be accredited as NVQs or SVQs from 30 June 1998. Trainees who have registered with an Awarding Body for these qualifications before 30 June 1998 will be able to complete their training towards the NVQ or SVQ during the three years after 30 June (four years in Scotland).80
  These trainees will be able to continue to obtain vocational training relief on the cost of training which takes place after 30 June 1998. The Inland Revenue is writing to all training providers who operate vocational training relief to explain the arrangements for giving tax relief on flight training after 30 June 1998.

  North Sea Fiscal Regime
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish his consultation paper on the North Sea fiscal regime; and if he will make a statement. [41575]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 12 April 1998]The consultative document on the North Sea fiscal regime is expected to be issued shortly.

  Mozambique (Debt Repayments)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in debt service is expected to be paid by Mozambique, in US dollars, in each year from 1998 to 2002, following the recent agreement under the HIPC initiative, according to(a) the HIPC final document, and (b) the latest estimates. [41207]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 8 May 1998]The HIPC Final document produced by the IMF does not give figures of debt service after full debt relief under the HIPC initiative.

  The latest estimates of the debt service that Mozambique will have to pay after receiving debt relief under the HIPC initiative are:

  Year

  Debt service $ million

  1998

  124

  1999

  147

  2000

  97

  2001

  101

  2002

  97

  Debt relief under the HIPC initiative will reduce Mozambique's stock of debt by $1,487 million in Net Present Value terms. Without this debt relief, Mozambique would have been due to pay an average of over $450 million a year in debt service over this period.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in debt service by Mozambique, in US dollars, in each year from 1995 to 1997. [41206]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 8 May 1998]The debt service paid by Mozambique between 1995 and 1997 was:

  Year

  Debt service paid $ million

  1995

  112

  1996

  131

  1997

  97

  The debt service paid in these years was, however, only a fraction of the total debt service due, which was some $375 million a year.

  Tax-free Sales
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on(a) income and (b) employment, in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales in 1999, with particular reference to the Scotch whisky sector; and if he will make a statement. [41171]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No assessment has been made of the effect on income or employment in the Scotch Whisky sector in the United Kingdom of the abolition of intra-EU duty and tax-free sales in 1999.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages to the United Kingdom of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales in 1999. [41174]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise have advised me that the abolition of intra-EU and duty-free sales in 1999 may result in an increase in Customs' receipts of about £100 million in a full year. This is very much a provisional estimate.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales will be on the agenda of the next ECOFIN meeting. [41172]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This issue is on the agenda for the next ECOFIN Council meeting to be held on 19 May 1998.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with European finance ministers regarding possible structural assistance to industries and areas which face a loss of business as a result of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales; and if he will press for such financial assistance to be given. [41173]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have had no such discussions with European finance ministers regarding possible structural assistance to be given to industries or areas which face a loss of business as a result of the abolition of intra-EU duty and tax-free sales in 1999.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on patterns of tourism to and from the United Kingdom of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [41170]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No assessment has been made of the impact on patterns of tourism to and from the United Kingdom of the abolition of intra-EU duty and tax-free sales in 1999.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to respond to the resolution of the Transport Ministers Council on 17 March calling on ECOFIN to ensure that a study is undertaken of the impact of abolition of duty free within the European Union. [41222]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This matter is on the agenda for the next ECOFIN Council meeting to be held on 19 May 1998.

  Government Information (Access)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to state which exemption of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information is being invoked to prevent the release of information in answer to parliamentary questions. [40873]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury Ministers would expect to explain the reasons why information could not be provided in answer to parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1998,Official Report, column 817, which exemption in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information makes publication of the correspondence inappropriate; [40870]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 313, on VAT rates on housing works, which exemption in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information makes publication of the correspondence inappropriate. [40874]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Exemptions 1 and 2 apply.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many answers to parliamentary questions his Department has declined to provide information because it was inappropriate under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information since 1 May 1997; and what subjects those questions concerned. [40867]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury records show that in the case of some 19 of the 3,500 or so parliamentary answers given by Ministers in the present Parliament the information sought was not made available as is permitted under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. These questions concerned such matters as individuals' tax affairs, personal information relating to officials, representations made to Ministers in confidence on commercial and other matters and internal discussions and advice on various policy issues.

  Additionally, Treasury Ministers have traditionally declined to disclose in advance information relating to the Chancellor' s Budget statement. In innumerable other instances, statistical and other information either is not available or cannot be presented in the form requested.

  Civil Registration Records
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to improve access to historic registration records. [41349]

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for allowing free public access to the records of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths. [41341]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 455.

  Cornwall
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Office for National Statistics first proposed that Cornwall should be considered as a NUTS 2 area in its
  83
  own right for Eurostat purposes; and on what date his Department notified Eurostat that such a unit should be considered for structural fund purposes. [41106]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 12 May 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the proposal to consider Cornwall as a separate NUTS-2 area for European purposes.
  I wrote to Eurostat on 30 June 1997 with proposals for a new NUTS structure for the UK, which included the designation of Cornwall as a separate NUTS-2 area. Those proposals are still being discussed between Eurostat and the Government Statistical Service.
  The consideration of any areas for Structural Funds purposes is not a matter for the ONS or for Eurostat.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 1998,Official Report, column 278, if the Financial Secretary will in future keep a record of the number of letters sent to hon. Members which are not personally signed. [38186]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury Ministers see no need to maintain such a record.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Staff Car Mileage Allowance
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of the staff of all grades employed by his Department were eligible to claim a car mileage allowance on 31 March in each year since 1990; [40435]

  (2) what were (a) the total value in real terms of staff car mileage claims paid, (b) the total value in real terms of staff rail fares paid, (c) the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and (d) the percentage change from the previous year in each case, for his Department in each year since 1989–90. [40440]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average number of years of full-time equivalent post-school specialist learning provided per head of population for the age group 16 to 25 years in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EU countries. [41105]
  84
  Dr. Howells
  An average1 of 2.7 full-time equivalent years are spent studying in UK further and higher education institutions, between the ages of 16 and 25. If post-compulsory school-age studies in a school setting are included, this increases to 3.4 full-time equivalent years. Comparable information is unavailable for other EU countries.

  1 Enrolment and population data for 1996–97 are used to calculate an "expected" number of years in education

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost per head per year of full-time education in(a) the higher education sector and (b) the further education sector. [41099]

  Dr. Howells
  In 1996–97, the average funding for teaching and research per full-time equivalent per year was £4,700 in the higher education sector. In the further education sector the unit funding, for teaching only, was £2,920. Figures are presented at 1996–97 prices.

  Standard Assessment Tests
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage, to three decimal places, of all year 2(a) pupils, (b) boys and (c) girls, attained (i) Level 2 or better, (ii) Level 3 or better, (iii) Level 4 or better and (iv) Level 5 or better in the Key Stage 1 English SAT tests for (1) reading, (2) writing and (3) English, in each local education authority area; and what was the national average level attained per pupil and by each gender in (A) 1996 and (B) 1997. [38160]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 April 1998]The full information is not available in the form requested.

  Child Care
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of individuals offered training in childcare, as part of the New Deal, achieving sufficient qualifications to work in that intended capacity for local authority social services or education departments; [41528]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of individuals offered training in childcare, as part of the New Deal, subsequently achieving NVQ level 3 as a result of continued employer support after the initial six months of New Deal funding. [41529]

  (3) if he will extend the New Deal arrangements for training to ensure that participants seeking qualifications for employment in childcare can continue beyond NVQ level 2. [41530]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Young people on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds, who wish to train to work with children, can work towards an NVQ level 3 childcare qualification during their New Deal placement, if their previous experience and qualifications are appropriate. If they gain an NVQ level 2 or 3 qualification, this will help them find employment whether in the voluntary sector, private sector or with a local authority. There is currently no formal requirement within the Children Act 1989 that childcare workers should have qualifications, but, in
  85
  registering a provider, the authority will look at the range of experience, qualifications and maturity of the person concerned and any other staff.

  In some areas, individual local authorities have introduced, through their discretionary powers, requirements of registration to the effect that providers must either have, or be working towards, certain qualification levels. This should not, however, prevent childcare providers, including local authorities, from employing these young people under supervision, after their New Deal placement ends. Moreover, the local New Deal partnership may be able to arrange for the young person to work towards an NVQ level 3 qualification, after their New Deal placement ends, as part of the New Deal 'follow through' strategy. This could be arranged through the Training and Enterprise Council, using funding from the employer, or other sources—for example, the Single Regeneration Budget and the European Social Fund.

  We are not in a position to predict the proportion of young people on New Deal who train to work with children who will thereafter work for local authorities, nor the number who will gain NVQ level 3 qualifications with employer support after their New Deal placement ends, as this will vary according to individual and local circumstances.

  The Department and the Department of Health recently issued a consultation paper on the regulation of early education and daycare. The consultation paper outlines the Government's intention to introduce more consistent regulatory standards across different sectors and localities. We have also asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the relevant National Training Organisations to look at qualifications for childcare and early years workers.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will publish the Green Paper on Child Care Strategies. [41654]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Our Green Paper on the national child care strategy will be published shortly. This will set out the broad principles of the strategy covering the whole of the United Kingdom and detailed proposals for England. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland will be publishing in due course their own documents on implementation of the strategy in those countries.

  National Grid for Learning
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what technological barriers have been developed by his Department in the introduction of the National Grid for Learning, to secure children from access and exposure to unsuitable and damaging Internet material. [41345]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department has commissioned the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency to publish good practice guidance on the use of information and communications technologies in schools. This includes up to date advice on installing controlling software on classroom computers as well as more general advice on access by pupils to the Internet. LEAs and schools are required as a condition of the Standards Fund grant for the National Grid for Learning to have in place 86
  policies on protecting pupils from on-line access to undesirable materials. Industry is of course sensitive to the need to develop improved mechanisms to screen out such material.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provisions have been made to monitor children's use of classroom computers when searching the Internet. [41347]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department has commissioned the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency to publish good practice guidance on the use of information and communications technologies in schools. This includes advice on proper monitoring of pupil's use of the Internet in the classroom. LEAs and schools are required as a condition of the Standards Fund grant for the National Grid for Learning to have in place policies on protecting pupils from on-line access to undesirable materials.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial provision he will make available to local education authorities to meet the costs of(a) installing and (b) maintaining the National Grid for Learning in their area. [41346]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government are supporting £100 million of ICT-related expenditure by LEA-maintained schools in 1998–99 through the Standards Fund. By building on LEAs' own development plans for information and communications technology (ICT) and those of their schools these grants will help schools to gain access to the National Grid for Learning by enabling them progressively to improve their provision. Support for future years will be determined in the light of the outcomes of consultation on the NGfL and the progress of overall strategy.

  Pre-school Learning
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the average hourly rates of pay of employees of pre-school learning groups. [41655]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Rates of pay will vary with the type of group. Most pre-schools are sessional: I understand that average hourly rates of pay for staff in such pre-schools in membership of the Pre-school Learning Alliance are £4.40 for pre-school leaders.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how he intends to allocate the £500,000 announced on 6 April for the purposes of stopping further closures of pre-schools; and how he will ensure that the money achieves his stated objective. [41656]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  With the help of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and other playgroup organisations, Early Years Development Partnerships will be asked to identify good pre-schools where some short-term funding may avert the threat of closure. Criteria for the distribution of funds will be discussed with the Local Government Association and the pre-school organisations.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the future financial support from his Department for disabled persons and disability groups through the Access Committee for England. [40559]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department of Education and Employment has only once provided financial support for ACE. That was in respect of a research project into the settlement of disputes between disabled people and service providers. There is a small balance to pay£2,501—on successful completion of the project.

  ACE are free to bid for funding for future project work. All such applications are considered on their merits.

SCOTLAND

  Local Authority Elections
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Boundary Commission in respect of the 1999 local authorities elections. [41200]

  Mr. Macdonald
  To date, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland have submitted reports on five council areas, namely Angus, East Lothian, Perth and Kinross, East Dunbartonshire and Moray, and we are expecting them to send in reports for all other authorities within the next few months.

  Further Education Funding
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria are being used to determine the distribution of the strategic fund element of the recurrent grant-in-aid funding for Scottish colleges in 1998–99. [40895]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 7 May 1998]Of the £6.76 million Strategic Fund for 1998–99, £4.21 million has already been allocated to 13 colleges to limit their grant losses this year under the funding formula to no more than 6 per cent. The criteria which will be used to determine the allocation of the balance, which will largely be used to support strategic initiatives within the further education sector, are still under consideration.

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of the fixed element cost of the grant-in-aid funding for Scottish colleges in 1998–99; and what was the level in financial years(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96, (d) 1996–97 and (e) 1997–98. [40893]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 7 May 1998]The annual fixed element of recurrent grant-in-aid for Scotland further education colleges is shown in the table, on a 'per college' basis.

  Years

  £

  1993–94

  Nil

  1994–95

  Nil

  1995–96

  207,500

  1996–97

  250,000

  1997–98

  250,000

  1998–99

  200,000

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total cost of the building to house the Scottish Parliament, broken down into the costs of(a) securing the land, (b) construction of the debating chamber and associated administrative offices, (c) construction of offices for members and (d) equipping and furnishing it. [41110]

  Mr. Dewar
  The estimated construction cost of the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood is around £55 million, including site acquisition costs and demolition costs but excluding fees and VAT. The estimated total cost of acquiring and preparing the Holyrood site is approximately £4 million. A detailed breakdown between the cost elements for the debating chamber, the administrative offices, Members' offices, equipment and furniture is not yet available. These costs cannot be estimated until the design team is appointed in the summer of 1998 and has undertaken further detailed work.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the length of time during which the Scottish Parliament will have to meet in temporary premises; and what is the(a) cost of renting this facility and (b) capital cost of adapting, furnishing and equipping this facility. [41101]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Scottish Parliament is expected to meet in temporary accommodation from May 1999 until the new building at Holyrood, Edinburgh, is ready for occupation in the second half of 2001. The estimated cost of preparing the temporary accommodation for use by the Parliament and for rent and rates over a 2-year period is estimated at £6 million. This does not include heating, lighting, security or other building-related costs, or the provision of IT and broadcasting equipment, furniture and services. These costs are still being assessed.

  Student Awards Agency
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recommendations he has received following the review he established into the operations of the Students Awards Agency for Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [41894]

  Mr. Wilson
  In view of the unacceptable situation experienced last year, in which students experienced very considerable delays in the processing of their applications for awards, I requested a Review of the Agency's operation arrangements; and established an independent Steering Committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr. G. Wilson CB, Head of The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, to oversee the review. I asked for a report by April.

  The Steering Committee reported to me on schedule, with a statement covering the Review report. The problems identified in relation to last year were difficulties with the new computer system and inadequate staff resources (as a result of staff reductions which took place during the period for the previous Government) to deal with the consequences of these difficulties. I am arranging for copies of the report and statement to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses; and to be made publicly available.
  89
  The Review has produced a number of recommendations relating both to the staffing resources and processing arrangements of the Agency. I accept these recommendations, and am arranging for additional resources, of up to £380,000 to be available to the Agency. I am also strengthening the senior management of the Agency to ensure that the recommended improvements to the processing arrangements are taken forward quickly.

  I am grateful to the Steering Committee for their advice. They will continue in existence to monitor implementation of these arrangements, and to be available to offer further advice as required.

  I am confident that the steps I have taken will ensure that the Agency provides a good service, especially to the students.

  Tweed and Eye Protection Order

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those persons and organisations recently consulted about the Tweed/Eye River protection order prior to his decision to revoke the order other than for those with angling interests in the Whiteadder area. [41469]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The difficulties with access in the area covered by the Tweed and Eye Protection Order came to light during a wider consultation exercise on the effectiveness of Protection Orders. A list of respondees has been placed in the Library of the House. Fifty-four responses were received, of which seven were from angling interests outwith the Whiteadder area.

  A further two representations were received by angling interests outwith the area after the consultation exercise closed.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors led him to conclude that it was necessary to revoke the protection order covering the Tweed/Eye River system; and what account he took of recent discussions between interested parties in the Whiteadder area. [41471]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Protection Orders are first and foremost intended to provide greater public access to angling. This has not been the case for some time with the Tweed and Eye Protection Order, despite attempts by the River Tweed Commissioners, Tweed Liaison Committee and the Scottish Anglers' National Association to resolve access problems. I am aware that discussions concerning the Whiteadder are continuing.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses to the consultation process on the operation of protection orders commenced in 1997 he has received; and how many of those responses referred to difficulties in the operation of the Tweed/Eye order. [41473]

  Mr. Macdonald
  A total of 54 responses were received. Of these, 11 referred to difficulties in the operation of the Tweed and Eye Protection Order.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from angling interests, other than those in the Whiteadder area,90
  about riparian owners denying access to anglers in the Tweed/Eye River catchment area covered by the current protection order. [41470]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Six representations from angling interests outwith the Whiteadder area have been received about reductions in angling access in the area covered by the Tweed and Eye Protection Order. Those responses draw attention to areas where previously available access to freshwater fishing has been withdrawn.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will delay the publication of the formal notice of his intention to revoke the River Tweed/Eye protection order until he is able to consider further representations on the implications of the revocation. [41472]

  Mr. Macdonald
  No. It is the Government's intention to give formal notice of proposed revocation action in the Edinburgh Gazette shortly.

  River Protection Orders
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the advantages of introducing protection orders which allow him to deal separately with sections of rivers within the protection order area without disturbing the protection in other parts of the river system. [41474]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Protection Orders are made in response to applications. When such an application is made, consideration is given as to whether it meets the terms of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976. Before an Order is granted, the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the required standards will be met and maintained throughout the prescribed area.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Age Discrimination
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1998,Official Report, columns 420–22, when he expects to issue guidance to departments and agencies to help them avoid unfair discrimination on the basis of age. [41363]

  Dr. David Clark
  My Department will be issuing the guidance referred to in my answer of 2 March 1998,Official Report, columns 420–21 in the summer.

WALES

  NHS Survey
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to initiate a national survey of patients' and users' experience of the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [40648]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  A new national survey of patient and user experience is intended in Wales. Consultation on the conduct, content and use of the survey, including its timing, will be undertaken with the NHS and interested organisations.

  New Deal (NHS)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to extend the New Deal into the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [40649]

  Mr. Hain
  The New Deal will provide employment opportunities in both the private and public sectors. The NHS is a major employer in Wales and can offer good quality jobs with training to young people.

  The Employment Service has actively marketed the health sector and several Health Trusts have already indicated their commitment to the New Deal.

  Teaching Hospitals
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the teaching hospitals in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [40650]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff is the main teaching centre but teaching also takes place at most District General Hospitals in Wales—most notably at Morriston, Wrexham and the Royal Gwent Hospitals.

  Spinal Injury Units
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many spinal injury units there are in Wales. [40914]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The designated regional service for spinal injuries is based in the University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust and comprises acute spinal trauma surgery at Cardiff Royal Infirmary with rehabilitation at the Spinal Injuries Unit, Rookwood Hospital. Some acute spinal surgery for trauma is carried out at other acute hospitals.

  Further Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new moneys he has released to colleges of further education in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [41495]

  Mr. Hain
  In recognition of the pressures on the further education sector in Wales, we increased the Further Education Funding Council for Wales's 1998–99 grant by £5.4 million in November 1997. In March this year, we made £1 million capital available to the sector in 1997–98 and £360,000 for FE developments associated with the New Deal. Furthermore, arising from the Budget on 17 March, we have made an additional £3.5 million available to the FEFCW to set up an 'Education for Industry Challenge Fund' to meet local adult skills needs and develop outreach provision. This amounts to a total of over £10 million of new money to the further education sector.

  Rural Job Creation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to create more jobs in rural Wales. [41491]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government aim to create job opportunities in rural Wales by attracting new investors and ensuring that indigenous businesses have access to 92
  comprehensive and effective support services so that they can develop and prosper in a vibrant and healthy rural economy.

  Many small rural businesses looking to expand, but unable to take the initial risk of recruiting additional employees, will benefit from the employer subsidy available under the New Deal for 18–24 year olds. This, working in tandem with the Sole Traders Initiative, will encourage the self-employed to create new jobs. Others will be created under the self-employment route of the New Deal for 18–24 year-olds where young people can receive the support and guidance needed to set up their own businesses. A revamped Business Connect also means that new and small businesses now have access to the one-stop assistance they need.

  The Welsh Development Agency (WDA) has consistently met its targets for job creation beyond the eastern M4 and A55 corridors and will continue—wherever possible—to encourage and steer industry to the more rural parts of Wales. The rural unit of the new enlarged WDA being established later this year will also provide the interface for a wide range of rural interests helping to stimulate the introduction of new and innovative approaches to economic development and job creation.

  School Sixth Forms
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current teacher to student ratio in school sixth forms in Gwent; and what were the figures in(a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [41484]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is not available centrally. Teacher to student ratios are not available for year groups and can be calculated only for entire schools.

  Autistic Children
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision is made for the educational needs of autistic children in each local authority area in Wales. [40631]

  Mr. Hain
  Responsibility for identifying and making appropriate provision for children with special educational needs, including learning difficulties associated with autism, rests with LEAs and schools. Such children are educated in a variety of settings depending on each child's particular needs. These include mainstream schools, special schools and independent schools. Information on how individual LEAs organise provision for autistic children is not held centrally.

  Public Appointments
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his public appointments since 1 May 1997 have been in full accordance with the guidance from the Commissioner for Public Appointments; and if he will make a statement. [41761]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have sought to make all appointments since 1 May 1997 for which I have sole responsibility in full accordance with the guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
  93
  I am keen to ensure that all appointments to public bodies in Wales, whether made by me alone or made jointly with other Government Departments, obey the principles of fair and open competition and appointment on merit. Where appropriate, I have extended the application of those principles to those bodies currently outside the Commissioner's remit.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with CADW in relation to the maintenance cost of the Pierhead building; what conclusions he has drawn as to the amount of useable office and meeting space in the Pierhead building; and what use he proposes to make of that space for Welsh Assembly purposes. [41764]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None. A condition survey of the Pierhead building has been completed. Having considered the layout of the building, I propose, subject to further consideration, to use it for offices for the more senior members of the Assembly, the Leaders of each Party, and a number of support staff.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what costings he has obtained in relation to the deterioration of the foundations of the Pierhead building and the stability of the superstructure at the front end of the building; if the costs of shoring up the foundations are to be carried out by Grosvenor Waterside as a condition of the lease; and over what period of time the work will be carried out. [41768]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  A condition survey has been completed, and I am considering what essential work needs to be undertaken to Pierhead building. The terms of the lease will require that the building, on termination of the lease, will be in no worse a condition that upon commencement.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 5 May 1998,Official Report, column 299, what is the estimated cost of adapting the computer mainframe room to become the temporary debating chamber of the National Assembly. [41772]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have not yet decided which part of Crickhowell House should be used for the temporary debating chamber.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the legal obstacles to a system of twinning of constituencies for election to the Welsh Assembly; and what discussions he has had on this matter with the Lord Chancellor. [41755]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Government's view is that the procedure a party adopts for selecting candidates for the National Assembly for Wales is a matter for the party itself. The parties will have to have regard to the framework provided by domestic and European employment law in respect of equality of opportunity for all. The Government's view on this issue was set out by my hon. Friend the Minister for Home Affairs and Devolution in the House on 31 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1144–46.
  94
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has made of the costs of providing temporary accommodation for the Welsh Assembly at(a) City Hall and (b) Crickhowell House. [41891]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The estimated cost of capital works to bring City Hall into suitable condition for use as the temporary home for the National Assembly for Wales is at least £3 million.

  None of this expenditure would benefit the National Assembly once it moved to its permanent home. There would in addition be removal costs of an estimated £100,000.

  The cost of fitting out Crickhowell House as a temporary home is expected to be between £750,000 and £1 million. Members will be in their permanent offices from day one, so there will be no nugatory expenditure on their accommodation. Much of the equipment and furnishings of the temporary chamber will be re-used as part of the permanent arrangements, and the chamber itself will be available for other uses the Assembly decides.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce the members of the assessment panel for the design competition for the new National Assembly for Wales building. [41890]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Lord Callaghan will chair the Assessment Panel which will have as lay members Elinor Bennet, Angela Gidden, Mike Reilly and Professor Robin Williams together with two eminent architects nominated by RIBA.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to permit the successful architect in the RIBA competition for the design of the Welsh Assembly debating chamber to co-ordinate the design with that of the office building on the adjoining part of the Pierhead site. [41766]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  It is not for me to decide who will design the office building for Grosvenor Waterside but they have indicated a willingness to consider using the same architect as the one who designs the Assembly building, should that be appropriate.

  Crickhowell House
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the total area of Crickhowell House occupied by(a) the Prescription Pricing Unit, (b) Information Technology and Health Solutions Wales Group and (c) Contracts and Supplies; and what is the rent paid per square foot where it differs from the rent level for Crickhowell House as a whole; [41769]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 6 May 1998, Official Report, column 416, what rent he has agreed for Crickhowell House for the next five years as a percentage of the rent currently paid by the market-tested sections of WHCSA occupying areas of Crickhowell House; and what are the two levels of rent expressed in pounds per square foot per annum. [41770]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The rent for Crickhowell House for the next 5 years shows no increase on the current level, ie £16 per square feet (£172.22 per sq.m). The other
  95
  matters raised are the responsibility of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my Friend.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 6 May 1998,Official Report, column 416, what flexibility is built into the leases he is proposing to take on Crickhowell House on behalf of the National Assembly as regards (a) break clauses, (b) privity of contract, (c) repairs and insurance and (d) permission to sub-let or assign. [41771]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  There are no break clauses in the leases on Crickhowell House. In common with Government office accommodation, it is intended that leases will be held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, with all ownership responsibilities vested in me. The leases contain full repairing obligations and I have dispensation to self insure. The existing provisions to sub-let or assign the lease remain constant.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for relocating the Legal Services Unit of Welsh Health Common Services Authority; and what amendments he proposes for its chain of command. [41763]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Discussions are under way between the Authority and Glan Clwyd NHS Trust about the transfer of Welsh Health Legal Services to the Trust. The management structure is a matter for the Authority and the Trust to consider as part of the transfer arrangements.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the office staff of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning(a) transfer arrangements to (i) the National Assembly and (ii) trusts and health authorities, and (b) where those staff currently working at Crickhowell House will work in future. [41765]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None. My Department involved staff representatives when options for the location of business units were being considered but consultations with staff about transfer arrangements are a matter for the Authority as employer. No decision has been taken about accommodation for staff currently working in Crickhowell House.

  Museums
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the President of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales in relation to the closure of the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum. [41767]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  My officials have held frequent discussions with the Museum's Director and his senior staff and I have been kept fully informed of the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum.
  96
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the President of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales concerning the provision of a suitable place for exhibiting the mediaeval ship recovered from Magor Pill. [41762]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Decisions regarding the display of the remains of the Magor Pill boat are a matter for the professional staff of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales.

  Incomes
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the income per capita for each of the unitary authorities in Wales(a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom average and (c) as a percentage of the European Community average in the last year for which figures are available. [40089]

  Mr. Hain
  The available information, provided by the Office for National Statistics, is given in the following table, in respect of the former counties of Wales. A single figure is given for the counties of Dyfed and Powys, because separate estimates cannot reliably be made.

  Unitary Authority estimates and European Community comparisons are not currently available.

  Household income, 1994

  £ per head

  Percentage of UK

  Clwyd

  8,751

  90.2

  Dyfed & Powys

  8,391

  86.5

  Gwent

  8,414

  86.7

  Gwynedd

  8,983

  92.6

  Mid Glamorgan

  7,781

  80.2

  South Glamorgan

  9,509

  98.0

  West Glamorgan

  8,460

  7.2

  Wales

  8,549

  88.1

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

HEALTH

  Commission for Health Improvement
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement regarding the powers of the proposed Commission for Health Improvement to intervene in the running of NHS trusts and the proposed primary care groups. [29049]

  Mr. Milburn
  We will consult on the role and responsibilities of the Commission for Health Improvement before bringing forward legislation.

  Haemophiliacs (Hepatitis C)
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with haemophilia in the United Kingdom are currently infected with hepatitis C as a result of their treatment in the NHS with contaminated blood products. [33612]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department estimates that around 4,000 people with haemophilia were infected with hepatitis C through blood products prior to the introduction of viral inactivation processes in 1985.
  97
  The latest figure quoted by the Haemophilia Society shows that they now assess the total number of haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C at 4,800.

  NHS Trusts (Mergers)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy with regard to merging the functions of NHS trusts; how many trusts will be involved; and if he will make a statement. [39286]

  Mr. Milburn
  Any proposal to merge National Health Service trusts will be considered on its own merits. Most importantly, mergers must lead to benefits for patients in improved health care and lead to savings in management costs.

  Proposals for merging NHS trusts are initiated locally. There is no central programme of NHS trust mergers.

  Devonshire Royal Hospital
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will have the responsibility for the upkeep of the Devonshire Royal Hospital building in Buxton when it is no longer required as a hospital by Stockport Health Authority. [38971]

  Mr. Milburn
  Responsibility will remain with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health until such time as the building is disposed of to a third party. Every effort will be made to find a new owner before health services are withdrawn and the building is decommissioned for healthcare purposes, which is expected to be in 2000.

  GP Research Database
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the role of the General Practitioners Research Database in formulating policy in respect of(a) reducing waiting lists and (b) applying resources to where they are most needed; [41221]

  (2) what steps he has taken to use the data contained on the General Practitioners Research Database to ensure that the use of NHS funds is based on scientifically recorded data; [41219]

  (3) what programmes are in operation to categorise the information on drugs, treatment and medical procedures which is recorded on the General Practitioners Research Database to provide doctors and patients with information that is not currently available elsewhere; [41220]

  (4) what plans he has to analyse the recorded data on the General Practitioners Research Database concerning the long-term results of treatments, drugs and medical procedures in order to inform doctors of the ongoing results of these treatments. [41218]

  Mr. Milburn
  The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) is owned by the Department and is a powerful research and analytical tool. It is one of a number of data sources available to the Department, each of which has its strengths and limitations for specific purposes. For example, because of its general practice focus, the GPRD is well suited for many drug safety and pharmaco-epidemiological studies. However, because it is based on a sample of general practices, it is less valuable for making comparisons between health authorities. This would limit its use in resource allocation or in 98
  understanding waiting list issues at local level. The GPRD's lack of socio-economic data is also a factor in the way it can be used.

  Data from the GPRD are published in Key Health Statistics from General Practice1, and extracts have also been used in the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report. The Department has used data from the GPRD on a number of occasions. The Medicines Control Agency, which is responsible for medicines regulation, uses data from the GPRD to investigate and evaluate drug safety issues.

  Overall, the number of applications to use the GPRD for research studies has increased in the past year and we are keen that this trend should continue.

  1 published through The Stationery Office by the Office for National Statistics in 1996

  Extra-contractual Referrals
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all National Health trusts which received more than 15 per cent of their income from extra-contractual referrals in 1996–97, indicating the total amount of revenue from ECRs for each trust and the percentage this represents of total revenues. [41538]

  Mr. Milburn
  In 1996–97, the following National Health Service trusts received more than 15 per cent. of their income from extra-contractual referrals (ECRs):

  ECR income £000

  ECR as per cent. of total income

  The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases NHS Trust

  2,561

  33.19

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

  11,793

  32.04

  Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital NHS Trust

  1,044

  31.72

  The Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust

  4,895

  26.82

  Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic & District Hospital NHS Trust

  4,446

  19.80

  Oncologists
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department issues on the maximum number of new patients annually a clinical oncologist should take on. [41546]

  Mr. Milburn
  None. It is for local health service employers to estimate the level of staff required in the light of professional guidance and local population needs and priorities.

  Sodium Bicarbonate
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the increase in prices between March and May of sodium bicarbonate supplied to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [41024]

  Mr. Milburn
  We understand there is a single supplier of sodium bicarbonate capsules 500 milligrammes in the United Kingdom. The company concerned increased its
  99
  list price from £2.05 to £30.56 for 100 capsules between March and April 1998. Officials have written to the company seeking a justification.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sources, in each case, of the fluoride used to fluoridate water supplies in England. [41004]

  Ms Jowell
  About half a million people in this country receive water which is naturally fluoridated at or about the optimum level of one part per million. A further one million people receive water which is naturally fluoridated at a lower level, but which still confers some dental benefit. Some 5 million people receive water where the fluoride content has been artificially increased to a level of one part per million. Information on the sources from which water companies obtain fluoride is commercially confidential and is not routinely collected by government.

  Laser Surgery
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to review the safety and appropriateness of laser surgery to correct short sight. [41586]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department is consulting the Royal College of Ophthalmologists about this procedure, which is not available under the National Health Service but carried out in private clinics. The College has undertaken to provide information on complications and clinical standards. This will inform a judgment about the adequacy of the regulatory provisions currently available.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond), on 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns 347–48, concerning hospital waiting times, for how many trusts figures were supplied, what assessment he has made of the reliability and accuracy of the data he published on 1 April and if he will provide a breakdown of the ways in which the patients who had been on the waiting list for more than 18 months prior to 1 April were removed from the waiting list. [41720]

  Mr. Milburn
  As I made clear in my reply to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) of 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns 347–48, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State based his announcement about the number of patients waiting longer than 18 months on 31 March on management intelligence. This was obtained by regional offices of the National Health Service Executive as a special exercise as part of their performance management function. Provisional waiting list/time information for 31 March 1998, based on the well-established series of quarterly returns from health authorities and trusts, will be published in week commencing 18 May 1998. Information on removals from waiting lists collected centrally does not differentiate between the various reasons for removal, nor does it show how long patients had been waiting at the time of removal.

  Closures and Service Reduction
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list those hospitals whose accident and emergency departments have been(a) closed and (b) downgraded to Minor Injuries Clinics since 1 May 1997 which are subject to consultation which might lead to such closure or downgrading; [41757]

  (2) if he will list the hospitals and health units which have been closed since 1 May 1997 or which are subject to consultation which might lead to closure; [41756]

  (3) if he will list those hospitals or health units which have been subject to a major reduction in services provided on site. [41758]

  Mr. Milburn
  In line with the practice of previous Administrations, this information is not collected centrally.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which authority will make the final decisions regarding the boundaries of primary care groups, with particular reference to where centres of population are on the borders of a health authority area; and if it will be possible for a primary care group to cross health authority borders. [41602]

  Mr. Milburn
  Guidance issued at Easter (HSC 1998/065) made clear that Primary Care Groups will be based on natural geographical communities of people, typically covering around 100,000 population, and taking account of social services organisational structures. Health authorities are charged with responsibility for establishing the Primary Care Groups and will be required to notify the National Health Service Executive of their local configuration by July 1998.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future financial support from his Department for disabled persons and disability groups through the Access Committee for England. [40557]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is open to the Access Committee for England (ACE) to apply for funding for projects under the general section 64 grant scheme administered by the Department for the financial year 1999–2000 onwards. Each project application will be considered carefully in the light of its likely furtherance of the Department's objectives, other applications received and the amount of money available. The decision was taken in March this year, following an inter-departmental review, not to renew core funding for ACE from the current financial year (1998–99). This was in line with our policy of time-limiting core grants of which all voluntary organisations receiving support from the Department under section 64 have been made aware. It is, therefore, unlikely that any future application for core funding from ACE would be successful.

  Eastbourne District General Hospital
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received treatment at Eastbourne District General Hospital in each of the last five years. [41475]
  101
  Mr. Milburn
  Information on numbers and patients treated is not collected centrally. In-patient activity is recorded in terms of finished consultant episodes (FCEs), and outpatient activity is recorded in terms of consultant outpatient attendances.

  The information provided in the table is for Eastbourne Hospitals National Health Service Trust. The trust consists of Eastbourne District General Hospital and All Saints Hospital. A breakdown of the information between the hospitals is not available centrally, but may be available from the Chief Executive of the trust.

  Data are taken from the publications, "Ordinary and day case admissions for England" and "Outpatients and ward attenders for England", 1996–97, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Table: Finished consultant episodes and first consultant outpatient attendances for Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust, 1992–93 to 1996–97

  Finished consultant episodes

  Year

  Ordinary admissions

  Day case admissions

  First consultant outpatient attendances

  1992–93

  30,163

  5,040

  134,861

  1993–94

  31,434

  6,554

  135,800

  1994–95

  31,707

  7,140

  136,074

  1995–96

  34,866

  8,226

  134,971

  1996–97

  32,273

  10,026

  138,864

  Source:

  Finished consultant episode data—Department of Health form KP70.

  Consultant outpatient data—Department of Health form KHO9

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) are currently awaiting admission and (b) were awaiting admission on 1 May 1997 to Eastbourne District General Hospital. [41468]

  Mr. Milburn
  Waiting list information collected centrally shows the number of patients waiting at the end of each quarter and how long they had been waiting broken down by 3 month timebands. Information for 1 May 1997 is not therefore available. On 31 March 1997, there were 4,806 patients awaiting admission to Eastbourne Hospitals National Health Service Trust on either an ordinary or day case basis. The latest information currently available is for 31 December 1997 and this shows 5,079 patients awaiting admission.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Policy Reviews
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many policy reviews are currently being carried out within her Department; what is the cost to date of those reviews; and when each review is expected to report. [40901]

  Mr. Denham
  We are reviewing the major components of the Social Security system. On 26 March, we published a Green Paper, New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract For Welfare, which sets out the Government's principles for welfare reform, indicates the issues to be tackled and identifies a series of proposed success 102
  measures by which we can monitor progress. We are currently seeking views on its contents. The consultation period ends on 31 July.

  In accordance with our manifesto commitment, we have also instigated a review of pensions and we will be publishing a Green Paper on Pensions later this year. Further announcements on other areas will be made in due course.

  The costs of this activity are being met from within existing Departmental running costs.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 7 April 1998,Official Report, column 224, on lone parents, if she will update that answer to cover the period 21 July 1997 to 31 March 1998. [40900]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Information on the operation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is available up to and including 31 March 1998.

  As at 31 March 1998:
  24,795 lone parents have been contacted, or have made contact with their personal advisers
  6,085 initial interviews have been arranged, and 5,178 lone parents have attended interviews
  4,637 lone parents have agreed to participate in the programme following initial interviews
  1,530 lone parents have found jobs following agreement to participate in the programme. A full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is being undertaken, to report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme in helping lone parents move into employment.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 21 April 1998,Official Report, columns 604–05, on lone parents, how many lone parents who gained employment between 1 March and 31 March are now in receipt of income support and have no earnings. [40952]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The number of lone parents who gained employment between 1 and 31 March 1998 was 280, and, of these, 25 are now in receipt of Income Support and have no earnings.

  It is not possible to draw conclusions about exit rates from employment of lone parents on the New Deal for Lone Parents as the data from the New Deal for Lone Parents are insufficient to calculate exit rates. The evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents will identify any factors which have affected the programme's success and will calculate exit rates from employment of lone parents on the New Deal for Lone Parents. The full evaluation will report in Autumn 1999.

  EU Ministers for Women
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the conference of EU Ministers for Women on Childcare in Belfast on 5 and 6 May; if she will place in the Library a list of those who attended and copies of those speeches made in English; and what plans she has to publish a transcript of the conference including translations of speeches made in other languages. [40463]
  103
  Ms Harman
  The theme of the UK Presidency is employability. We have been clear from the outset that this means the employability of women as well as men. That is why we called the meeting of EU Ministers for Women which we held in Belfast on 5–6 May.

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

  Affordable, accessible, and high quality childcare, parental and other leave schemes, and family friendly working policies are essential for women and men to combine work and family responsibilities.
  Equality between women and men must be mainstreamed in all employment policies, both at national and EU level, so that measures to improve employability and support the unemployed take the rights and needs of women and men fully into account.
  Meetings of Ministers for Women and for Equality provide useful opportunities for the exchange of ideas and best practice and developing strategies. They intend to meet at least once a year in future.

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

  The full text of the Belfast Communiqué will be placed in the Library, together with a list of those attending the conference. In keeping with normal practice for informal proceedings at such conferences, transcripts of speeches will not be published, although the programme and the speech to the open session by Secretary of State will be placed in the Library.

  Child Support
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications to the Child Support Agency for maintenance assessment have been outstanding for more than(a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) 18 months; and if he will make a statement. [41352]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  One of our key aims for the Child Support Agency is to ensure that more absent parents pay the maintenance they owe. We are looking closely at all aspects of the child support scheme to see where improvements can be made and we aim to bring forward a consultation document on our proposals.

  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. Christopher Chope, dated 11 May 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance assessments.
  The child maintenance formula can require the Agency to enquire, look at and consider over 100 pieces of information before an assessment can be made and it is inevitable that some time will elapse between an application being made and the maintenance assessment being made.
  From its launch in 1993, the Agency has taken on just under 2.4 million cases. In the last year, the Agency has started to clear the backlog of cases that had built up during the Agency's first two years, with the emphasis being on completing full maintenance assessments. The Agency's increased performance in this area is
  104
  well illustrated by the number of full maintenance assessments completed; in 1997/98 up to 31 January 1998, 132,724 full maintenance assessments had been completed compared to 97,542 for the same period the previous year.
  The Agency is very aware of the need to assess maintenance applications as quickly as possible, and in 1997/98 had a Secretary of State target covering this area which included a volume element for the first time. The target required a total of at least 525,000 maintenance applications to be cleared; 60% of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and on 31 March 1998 no more than 5% of all maintenance applications received by the Agency to be over 52 weeks old. The volume element of the target was exceeded by 13% with 595,000 clearances achieved, a significant increase on clearances of 357,000 in 1996/97. Both percentage targets were also met. 71% of new applications were cleared within 26 weeks, against an achievement of 54% in 1996/97. This represented a total of 278,180 applications cleared within 26 weeks, an increase of 52% over the previous year. At the end of 1997/98, less than 5% of all applications received since the Agency's inception were over 52 weeks old. This was a major improvement on last year, when the target to have no more than 10% of cases over a year old was missed. The 1998/99 Secretary of State target requires 65% of new applications to be cleared within 22 weeks and on 31 March 1999 there to be no applications outstanding over 52 weeks old.
  The latest available information on outstanding maintenance applications (to 31 March 1998) is detailed below:

  applications outstanding over six months and less than 12 months: 45,211

  applications outstanding over twelve months and less than 18 months: 11,593

  applications outstanding over eighteen months: 98,524

  The number of applications outstanding over 6 months and less than 12 months in each Business Unit is approximately 6,500; in 1997/98 each Business Unit cleared on average around 85,000 applications. Any maintenance application which is over 52 weeks old is considered to form part of the Agency's backlog—the large majority of these applications are a legacy from the difficult first two years of the Agency. At the beginning of 1997/98 the number of backlog applications amounted to 224,714; this has more than halved to 110,117 at 31 March 1998.
  The Agency has developed and is now implementing a strategy for meeting its undertaking to clear all its backlogs. All Business Units have put in place operational plans which will guide them towards the achievement of our stated objective of clearing all the backlogs by 31 March 1999.
  We are constantly looking at how we can adapt and improve our procedures to speed up the time taken to clear maintenance applications. The timescales for clearances have shortened considerably over the last 2 years. The Agency is now building more pro-active use of the telephone into its assessment process; an increased use of the telephone to gather information, should have a positive impact on timescales.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what use is made of the Yield Analysis Statistical System in each Contributions Agency region and office. [41463]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of National Insurance contribution records and related issues is a matter for George Bertram, the Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend shortly.
  105
  Letter from George Bertram to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated May 1998:
  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency I have responsibility for answering questions about matters relating to the Contributions Agency. I have been asked to reply to your question about the Yield Analysis and Statistical System (YASS) and its use within the Agency's regions and regional offices.
  The YASS is a personal computer based targeting system that has been rolled out for use by the Contributions Agency's Operations in the Field. Initially, one YASS personal computer was installed into each region, but subsequently nine of the twelve regions have installed additional YASS personal computers.
  YASS is a targeting and modelling tool that was designed to assist CA Field Operations in identifying those employers who:

  Need assistance in completing their end of year returns correctly; or

  Those that are most likely to owe arrears of National Insurance Contributions

  YASS uses data taken from the Agency's Employers Index System (ENDX) and information supplied from the inspections of employers National Insurance records.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Exporters
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department in improving its support for British exporters. [40501]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones).

  Middle East Peace Process
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the middle east peace process. [40508]

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with Israel and surrounding Arab countries regarding peace in the middle east. [40515]

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the initiatives taken by his Department to assist the middle east peace process. [40522]

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the middle east peace process, following the visit by the Prime Minister. [40524]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Ms Morgan).

  Iraq
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in Iraq. [40512]
  106
  Mr. Fatchett
  Iraq's record on human rights is appalling, as our annual report on human rights made clear. The latest report from the UN Special Rapporteur Max Van-Der Stoel concluded that the situation had deteriorated still further since his last report to the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. On 21 April the Commission adopted a tough resolution, drafted by the UK as EU Presidency, which strongly criticised the Iraqi regime.

  South Africa
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other European Foreign Ministers on the EU-South Africa trade negotiations. [40517]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's most recent discussions with European colleagues took place at the General Affairs Council in March. He noted the progress made in the previous negotiating round, and reiterated our wish to complete the negotiations soon. The Commission will report back to the Council in the light of its further negotiations with the South Africans, the next round of which is scheduled for late this month.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands with representatives of the Argentine Government. [40518]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have no plans to discuss the transfer or sharing of the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands with the Argentine Government. We do not regard the sovereignty of the Islands as negotiable.

  Hong Kong
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress towards democracy in Hong Kong. [40519]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We strongly support the goal of a legislature elected by universal suffrage, as provided for by the Basic Law, and welcome the HKSAR Government's commitment to this goal. We hope that this will be achieved according to a timetable reflecting the wishes of the people of Hong Kong.

  The fact that elections will be held on 24 May to replace the unelected provisional legislature is a welcome step towards more representative government, although we have concerns about some of the detailed arrangements, particularly in the functional constituencies.

  EU (Enlargement)
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in achieving agreement within the European Union on the enlargement process. [40521]

  Mr. Fatchett
  In the first four months of our Presidency of the EU, we have taken forward the remit agreed at the Luxembourg European Conference in
  107
  London on 12 March; we launched the Accession Process in Brussels on 30 March; and we opened Accession Negotiations the next day with six of the applicants.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about recent contact group meetings on Kosovo. [40523]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Contact Group has met regularly since January to discuss Kosovo. It has condemned the continuing violence in that province and underlined the need for a meaningful dialogue between the parties if the spiral of violence is to be reversed. We will continue to play a leading role on this issue within the Group, including on the need for further measures against Belgrade if President Milosevic continues to turn his back on dialogue.

  European Integration
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for further European integration. [40525]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We support closer integration with our European partners where it is in the United Kingdom's interest. This Department has made no specific proposals for further integration.

  Sudan
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the crisis in the Sudan. [40527]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Civil war in Sudan has displaced large segments of the population in the South, creating a serious humanitarian problem. Bahr El Ghazal is the area where the current crisis is most acute. We are deeply concerned at this unfolding human tragedy and we have been active in trying to find solutions. We and our EU partners are of the view that a political settlement is essential to bring to an end the suffering of the Sudanese people. As Presidency, we issued an EU Declaration on 1 May which voiced European concerns and called for an immediate cease-fire. At UK instigation, Sudan was discussed at the UN Security Council on 5 May and a press statement was made by the President expressing the UN's concerns. We have lobbied countries in the region to bring pressure to bear on all parties in the civil war to reach a comprehensive negotiated settlement at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace talks held in Nairobi on 2 to 5 May.

  Environmental Protection
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's progress in securing protection of the international environment. [40507]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have raised the profile of international environment issues in foreign policy discussions. As a result, environment will have been a theme at each of the major conferences hosted by the UK from October 1997 to June 1998. Environment is one of 108
  the themes of the UK Presidency of the EU. We are working in international forums with colleagues from other Departments to achieve better protection of the international environment, notably in the area of climate change and protection of the world's oceans.

  Human Rights Annual Report
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's first annual human rights report. [40513]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary undertook last July to publish an Annual Report on the Government's activities to promote human rights.

  He published the first such Report jointly with the Secretary of State for International Development on 21 April. The Report illustrates activities in respect of human rights in a range of activities undertaken by the government in some 70 countries; as well as summarising our activities in the UN and other international organisations.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 July 1997,Official Report, column 708, if he will make a statement on the use of Hawk aircraft in East Timor since 1983. [41447]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have studied all the information available about allegations of Hawk being used in East Timor. We are confident that UK supplied Hawk aircraft have not been used in East Timor or, indeed, in a counter-insurgency role in Indonesia.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure the British and French proposals for a code of conduct governing arms transfers will give priority to the protection of human rights in Indonesia over the maintenance of a strong defence industry. [41550]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Discussions with EU partners on the text of the Code of Conduct are continuing. Our policy is that the Code should apply to all arms exports to all destinations, and should specify that Member States will refuse an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.

  Arms Export Licences
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries are currently refused arms export licences as a consequence of the ethical foreign policy. [41569]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  All applications to export goods entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 are assessed against the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29. The criteria do not specify automatic refusal of licence applications for exports to any country or countries. But they do state that a licence should be refused if approval would be inconsistent with the UK's international obligations and commitments to enforce UN, OSCE and

  109
  EU embargoes together with any national embargoes. I listed all arms embargoes implemented by the UK in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Flynn) of 28 January 1998, Official Report, columns 273–74.

  Lord Whitty
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Lord Whitty's salary in his capacity as Minister with Special Responsibility for the EU Presidency. [41383]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As a Government Whip, my noble Friend Lord Whitty receives the salary of a Lord in Waiting. He receives no further salary for performing other official duties on behalf of the FCO or other Departments.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Pakistan Government expressing concern about the death sentence passed on Ayub Masih for blasphemy. [41385]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 483.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will monitor the case of Pakistani Christian, Ayub Masih, who was sentenced to death on 27 April at Punjab District Court for blasphemy. [41384]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our High Commission in Islamabad is monitoring Ayub Masih's case closely. His lawyers have lodged an appeal in the Punjab High Court against his sentence. I was shocked to hear of the suicide of Bishop John Joseph on 6 May, apparently in protest at Ayub Masih's sentence. Our High Commission has sent condolences to his family and community.

  Name

  Company

  Post/department

  Job

  A. Heffernan

  CBTG

  Peking

  Commercial Secretary

  Mr. Hallington

  BNF

  Tokyo

  First Secretary Financial

  A. Vaudrey

  CAA

  Washington

  Counsellor Atomic Energy

  G. Bentley

  Standard Chartered Bank

  South East Asia Department

  Desk Officer, ASEM

  T. Witton

  BP

  Middle East Department

  Desk Officer, Yemen, UAE

  J. Paxman

  BP

  Washington

  Environment Secretary

  M. Davies

  Barclays

  Sydney

  Inward Investment Officer

  S. Wayne

  Barclays

  Los Angles

  Inward Investment Officer

  J. Miller

  Lovell White Durant

  San Francisco

  Inward Investment Officer

  J. Butler

  BT

  New York

  Inward Investment Officer

  M. Mullins

  NatWest

  New York

  Inward Investment Officer

  M. Economou

  Coopers & Lybrand

  Chicago

  Inward Investment Officer

  Short-Term Business Attachment Scheme

  D. Watson

  AMEC

  Johannesburg

  Commercial Adviser

  G. Doyle

  Levitt Bernstein

  Paris

  Commercial Adviser

  M. Stephenson

  Midland Bank

  Kuala Lumpur

  Commercial Adviser

  E. Bailey

  Rolls Royce

  Brasilia/Sao Paulo

  Commercial Adviser

  D. Scammell

  Quantel

  Los Angeles

  Commercial Adviser

  M. Groundsell

  Halcrow

  Lisbon

  Commercial Adviser

  Strategic Arms Exports
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he plans to publish his annual report on strategic arms exports. [41729]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We hope to publish the annual report on strategic arms exports during the current session.

  Seconded Staff
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the secondment of individuals from private companies to his Department. [41068]

  Mr. Fatchett
  This Department has had a long-standing programme of interchange with business. We aim to build on this. Last July, we announced a new programme of short-term business attachments to our missions overseas of business people to work on specific projects. The 14 recruited so far have added their expertise to our commercial effort. We also open some longer-term positions within this Department, at home and overseas, to business people. In addition, we second FCO staff to companies so that they can gain first-hand business experience.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role individuals on secondment from private companies to his Department have in advising Ministers; and what access such individuals have to Ministers on issues concerning their company. [41072]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Secondees contribute towards the work of departments and posts and are managed by civil servants. To avoid conflict of interest, individuals do not have access to Ministers on issues directly concerning their company. Steps are put in place to ensure no conflict of interest.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individuals are currently on secondment from private companies to his Department; and if he will list them, indicating their responsibilities. [41073]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We currently have 21 staff seconded from private companies, including 10 secondees under the Business Attachment Scheme. Details are shown.
  111

  Name

  Company

  Post/department

  Job

  L. Clarke

  NatWest

  Kuala Lumpur

  Commercial Adviser

  R. Pitfield

  Taylor Woodrow

  New York

  Commercial Adviser

  R. Soderstrom

  Coopers & Lybrand

  Bangkok

  Commercial Adviser

  D. Healey

  ADH Inc. Export Consultants

  Istanbul

  Commercial Adviser

  European Court of Justice
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which body has final jurisdiction in respect of the interpretation of framework decisions taken under the proposed Article K.6(2)(b) and (c) of the Treaty of Amsterdam where Her Majesty's Government under Article K.7 does not accept a preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice. [41507]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 11 May 1998]Article K.7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, as amended by the Treaty of Amsterdam, confers jurisdiction on the European Court of Justice to give preliminary rulings on the interpretation of framework decisions and decisions adopted by the Council pursuant to Article K.6(2)(b) and (c). By virtue of Article K.7(2) a Member State may choose whether or not to accept that jurisdiction. Since the Government do not intend to accept that jurisdiction, if a framework decision or decision adopted pursuant to Article K.6(2)(b) or (c) fell to be interpreted by the British courts, the House of Lords would ultimately be the Court of final jurisdiction as far as the United Kingdom was concerned.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  North American Free Trade Agreement
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the recent proposals to bring Britain and the European Union closer to NAFTA. [40503]

  Mrs. Beckett
  There are many ties of trade, culture and history between the UK and North America, and we are also a committed member of the European Union. In trade matters we act primarily as part of the EU. During its Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, the UK has sought to develop our multilateral trading relations and our relations with North America so that these relations are closer and mutually supportive.

  Employment Protection
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been paid to employees of insolvent employers through the provisions of sections 63 to 65 of the Employment Protection Act 1975 and successive acts incorporating those provisions in each year since 1976. [41360]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The information is not available as such payments are part of general payments which may be made to employees of insolvent employers and are not separately identified.

  Vehicle Licensing
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used to decide whether a post office in rural Scotland provides a vehicle licensing service. [41046]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency determine the total number of post office outlets from which the motor vehicle licensing service operates. Post Office Counters Ltd then determine the most suitable post office locations for the service taking account of various criteria, including local car parking facilities, space within the office to cope with demand for service at peak times, level of customer demand and proximity to alternative offices to achieve a suitable geographical spread.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of post offices in Scotland have been able to offer vehicle licensing facilities for each year since 1987. [41043]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Post Office tell me that the percentages of post offices in Scotland offering vehicle licensing facilities for each year since 1987 for which the information is available are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1992

  22.2

  1993

  22.4

  1994

  22.6

  1995

  22.8

  1996

  23.0

  1997

  23.2

  1998

  23.5

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of post offices in England have been able to offer vehicle licensing facilities for each year since 1987. [41044]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Post Office tell me that the percentages of post offices in England offering vehicle licensing facilities for each year since 1987 for which the information is available are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1992

  20.1

  1993

  20.3

  1994

  20.5

  1995

  20.7

  1996

  20.9

  1997

  21.1

  1998

  21.3

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [40741]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As far as I am aware, none of my Department's public appointments is held by people aged under 25; three are held by those aged 25–30 and 51 by those aged 31–35. This represents approximately 0.1 per cent. and 1.7 per cent. respectively of the overall number of appointments. These figures exclude a few appointments to advisory bodies (approximately 2 per cent. of the total) for which details are not available.

  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.

  Import Quotas
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which import quotas have been exceeded, and by how much, in each of the last five years; and what(a) penalties and (b) sanctions the United Kingdom has imposed. [40626]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since 1994, all quantitative restrictions on imports have been established at the level of the European Union.

  I am aware of one case where the European Commission established that products subject to quota were imported into the European Union under false declarations of origin, and where an equivalent reduction was made to that country's quota for a later year.

  I am not aware from the information that is readily available, and after taking account of the flexibilities provided for under the various regimes, of other instances in the past five years of imports of products subject to quota exceeding permitted levels.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the tests listed by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to evaluate the suitability of nuclear materials for import, in its publication on the import and export of radioactive materials, were applied to the consignment of enriched uranium due to be sent from Georgia to Dounreay. [40672]

  Mr. Battle
  The tests listed by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) were applied to the consignment of enriched uranium recently 114
  sent from Georgia to Dounreay. For the majority of the material which is unirradiated, Tests 4 and 5 are relevant, in that useful material with a positive economic value to the UK can be recovered from it. Based on these tests alone, there would be an expectation that wastes produced would be returned to the country of origin. This is also true of the wastes arising from the reprocessing of the small quantity of spent reactor fuel.

  However, Tests 9 and 12 are overriding for the whole consignment in that the quantity of radioactive waste arising would be too small for the recovery processes to be practicable in the country of origin. Furthermore, Georgia could not reasonably be expected to develop suitable disposal facilities of its own for such a small amount of waste. Test 10 is also relevant in that the material accepted does not significantly add to the wastes needing to be disposed of in the UK.

  UKAEA Constabulary
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 30 April 1998,Official Report, column 237 if she will place a copy of the most recent HMI Constabulary report relating to security at UKAEA Constabulary-policed sites in the Library; and if she will list the security organisations which advised HMI on the report. [41086]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 May 1998]The Director of Civil Nuclear Security, not HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, is responsible for auditing security at UKAEA Constabulary policed sites. HMI of Constabulary is tasked by the Police Authority to report on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the force. As his reports relate to detailed arrangements concerning the internal security of nuclear material, it would not be appropriate to release them.

  Ethical Trading
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent initiatives involving private sector and non-Governmental organisations her Department has promoted to develop the ethical trading initiative. [41039]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Ethical Trading Initiative is a partnership between the private sector, non-governmental organisations and trades unions which is part-funded by the Department for International Development. DTI supports the ETI and similar partnerships which are promoted by the partners involved.

  Information and Communication Technologies
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to monitor and assess the United Kingdom's progress in the uptake of information and communication technologies in the United Kingdom compared with other countries. [41927]
  115
  Mrs. Roche
  An understanding of the UK's position in the global information age is essential for development of relevant and timely government policies, and is an important tool for UK companies in benchmarking their own development. This is why the Department of Trade and Industry has been carrying out a series of benchmarking studies, as part of the Information Society Initiative (ISI), to compare progress in the UK with other major economies (USA, Japan, Germany, and France). Today I published the latest report 'Moving into the Information Age—International Benchmarking Study 1998' and copies have been place in the Library of the House. Copies of the 1998 report (and last year's report) are also available by calling the ISI Business Infoline on 0345 15 2000, or by e-mailing info@isi.gov.uk, or through the ISI website at http://www.isi.gov.uk.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Departmental Reviews
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Attorney-General how many reviews are currently in train in his Department; what is the cost to date of each review; and when each review is expected to report. [41152]

  The Attorney-General
  The only review currently in train in my Department is the Review of the Crown Prosecution Service under the chairmanship of Sir Iain Glidewell. The costs incurred in the financial year 1997–98 were £508,000.

  I expect to receive the Report before the Spring Bank Holiday.

  UN Dues: United States Arrears
  UN Dues: United States Arrears
  Turkey: Trade Union Federation and ILO
  Turkey: Trade Union Federation and ILO
  Turkey: Human Rights Abuses
  Turkey: Human Rights Abuses
  Mr. Pius Njawe
  Mr. Pius Njawe
  Ocean Charter
  Ocean Charter
  Parliamentary Constituencies in National Parks
  Parliamentary Constituencies in National Parks
  Environmental Impact Assessment Directive: Consultation Responses
  Environmental Impact Assessment Directive: Consultation Responses
  Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Key Targets
  Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Key Targets
  NHS, Scotland: Expenditure Data
  NHS, Scotland: Expenditure Data
  NHS, Scotland: Projected Allocations
  NHS, Scotland: Projected Allocations
  Thomas Hamilton: Inspector Hughes' Report
  Thomas Hamilton: Inspector Hughes' Report
  Dunblane Inquiry: Chief Constable's Report
  Dunblane Inquiry: Chief Constable's Report
  House of Lords: Paper Recycling
  House of Lords: Paper Recycling
  Local Authority Computer Equipment Disposals
  Local Authority Computer Equipment Disposals
  Home Detention Curfew
  Home Detention Curfew
  Institute of Animal Technology: Annual Congress Venue
  Institute of Animal Technology: Annual Congress Venue
  Firearms Acts
  Firearms Acts
  Senior Police Officers and Surrendered Firearms
  Senior Police Officers and Surrendered Firearms
  Immigration Act Detainees: Location and Detention Period
  Immigration Act Detainees: Location and Detention Period
  Fishery Laboratories
  Fishery Laboratories
  Fishery Research Vessels
  Fishery Research Vessels
  Meat Imports from non-EU Countries 1998–99
  Meat Imports from non-EU Countries 1998–99