Written Answers of 18 May 1998

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Brown-field Sites
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure there are no procedural delays in the contracting of decontaminated brown-field land sites. [39497]

  Angela Eagle
  Contractual arrangements are a matter for the parties concerned and it is their responsibility to take account of compliance with any regulatory requirements in their project planning. In cases where a waste management licence is required for the remediation of contaminated land, the effect of section 36(9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is to provide the Environment Agency with a basic period of four months in which to carry out statutory consultations and to determine an application. The Environment Agency is committed to providing an efficient and effective service and its Customer Charter includes the following commitment:"We will make decisions on applications for waste licences within four months of receiving a full filled-in application, with all supporting information. For example, we may need proof of planning permission and financial guarantees. We will decide on any modifications to licences within two months of receipt and will deal with licences you send back to us within three months of receiving them. Complicated cases may take longer and we will agree upon a period when we will get back to you."

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the capacity of NATS in terms of aircraft movements per hour over all of the peak hours at(a) City, (b) Southend and (c) Biggin Hill airports; and on what evidence this estimate was based. [39769]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand that discussions between National Air Traffic Services Limited and the airport operators are on-going. I have asked the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to write to the hon. Gentleman on their completion.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year of its operation the number of incidents where drivers of trains using the Channel Tunnel have passed signals at red, broken down by(a) Eurostar, (b) freight and (c) car shuttle services. [41558]
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  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is as follows:

  Signals passed at red

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (a) Eurostar

  2

  0

  0

  (b) Freight

  0

  0

  1

  (c) Car shuttle

  3

  6

  6

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year of its operation the number of incidents where trains have been routed on to tracks where works were in progress in the Channel Tunnel. [41565]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is as follows:

  Trains routed on to tracks where works were in progress

  Year

  Number of incidents

  1995–96

  0

  1996–97

  2

  1997–98

  2

  All these incidents occurred on tracks within terminals.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year of its operation the number of incidents involving staff working without protection on tracks in or approaching the Channel Tunnel. [41561]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is as follows:

  Staff working without protection on tracks in or approaching the Channel Tunnel

  Year

  Number of staff

  1995–96

  1

  1996–97

  0

  1997–98

  0

  Nuclear Deterrence
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his oral answer of 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 349, on nuclear deterrence, on what basis he asserted that the question asked by the hon. Member for New Forest, East was not truthful; and for what reasons he has not replied to the letter from the hon. Member for New Forest, East on this matter. [41661]

  Mr. Prescott
  My reply to the hon. Gentleman on 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 349, was based on the following:
  I do not consider it "deplorable" to support unilateral nuclear disarmament
  I have no difficulty in the approval of nuclear deterrence
  neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has ever emulated "evasive and slippery techniques".

  The hon. Gentleman should also be aware that CND supported unilateral and multilateral disarmament.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if ministerial advisers are eligible for consideration as members of the proposed regional development agencies; and what sources of advisers Ministers are using in respect of such appointments. [41713]

  Mr. Caborn
  Civil servants, and special advisers holding temporary Civil Service status, are not eligible to be considered for membership of Regional Development Agency Boards. The selection process will be subject to independent scrutiny as required by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Lorries
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the United Kingdom's obligations to allow 40 tonne lorries onto the roads after 1 January 1999 apply to lorries other than those involved in carrying international traffic; [41900]

  (2) what plans he has to allow 44 tonne lorries onto United Kingdom roads; [41899]

  (3) if he will ensure that drivers of 40 tonne lorries will be required to demonstrate to enforcement officers that they are engaged in an international journey by producing appropriate documentation. [41901]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The obligation to allow 40 tonne, 5 axle lorries on UK roads from 1 January 1999 applies only to international movements. We are considering whether or not 40 tonne vehicles should also be allowed for domestic movements and will announce the outcome in the White Paper on Integrated Transport. Enforcement issues will be taken into account in reaching our decision. 44 tonne, 6 axle vehicles have been allowed in the UK since 1994 for certain road/rail movements. We are considering whether or not to allow any wider use of these vehicles and will announce the outcome in the White Paper on Integrated Transport.

  Refrigeration
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to encourage the development of sustainable refrigeration technologies. [41904]

  Angela Eagle
  The DETR, through its Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, encourages the development of sustainable refrigeration technologies by the dissemination of independent, authoritative information such as Guides and Case Study material, on energy efficiency best practice. Also, through the future element of the Programme, it is able to offer financial assistance to those companies who are interested in researching and developing the energy efficiency technologies and techniques of the future.

  There are other programmes under which proposals of this type could be considered, for example LINK, SMART, and research funding through the relevant Research Councils. Consideration is also given to such technologies under the Partners in Technology scheme.
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  The Government also encourage the refrigeration industry to sign up to the declaration of intent which it has agreed with the industry. This discourages the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) for any application where a risk of high emissions exists, by promoting the use of safe, reasonably practical, environmentally acceptable and energy efficient alternatives where available.

  Hydrofluorocarbons
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the 4th report of the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development published in February in respect of the use of hydrofluorocarbons. [41903]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government welcome the Fourth Annual Report of the Government Panel on Sustainable Development. The Panel's recommendations in respect of the use of hydrofluorocarbons are currently being considered along with the Panel's other recommendations and the Government aim to publish their response shortly.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority(a) the amount collected as national non-domestic business rates, (b) the amount paid back to the local authority via Government grant and (c) the net gain or loss in the current financial year. [41906]

  Ms Armstrong
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing(a) the amounts calculated by English billing authorities as their provisional contribution to the non-domestic rates pool for 1998–99, and (b) the amounts of redistributed non-domestic rates payable to each receiving authority in England for 1998–99.

  The two amounts cannot be compared directly because (i) contributions to the non-domestic rates pool are made by billing authorities (eg London boroughs and district councils), whereas redistributed non-domestic rates are paid to all receiving authorities (including preceptors such as county councils and police authorities); (ii) the total redistributed from the pool includes amounts other than those received from billing authorities—ie payments in lieu of rates from Crown properties, payments from properties on the Central List, and Exchequer contributions to compensate the pool for income forgone as a result of transitional schemes.

  Road Traffic Reduction Act
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress by local authorities towards implementing the provisions of the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. [41949]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Guidance to local authorities on implementing the provisions of the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 was issued in draft on 15 January for public consultation. The consultation closed on 20 April, and we are now considering the responses received with a view to issuing the final version of the guidance later this year.
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  Local authorities will need to take account of this guidance in deciding how they intend to meet their duties under the Act. However, they have been asked to report on the broad approach they envisage taking, and the role they see for traffic reduction targets in their area, as part of their bids for Transport Policies and Programme funding, to be submitted by 31 July 1998.

  Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review standard spending assessment formulae with a view to including incentives for local authorities to use vehicles which use liquid petroleum gas. [41950]

  Angela Eagle
  Proposals for changing standard spending assessment (SSA) formulae should be brought to the SSA Sub-Group of the Settlement Working Group, where possible changes to formulae are discussed by central and local government representatives. It should be noted, however, that SSAs are a measure of what an authority would need to spend in order to provide a similar level of service as other authorities, taking account of its demographic, social, economic and geographical characteristics. SSAs are not intended to provide incentives for local authorities to behave in any particular way. We seek to achieve this by using measures which do not depend upon the policies of local authorities.

  A number of local authorities have benefited from grants from the Energy Saving Trust towards the purchase of vehicles which use liquefied petroleum gas and other alternative fuels. These grants, which are made through the Trust's Powershift programme, are funded by my Department.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which have adopted strategies to reduce air pollution by(a) five per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 15 per cent., (d) 20 per cent. and (e) over 20 per cent. [41951]

  Angela Eagle
  This information is not held centrally. Under the new Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) system, which came into effect at the end of December 1997, district and unitary local authorities are currently reviewing the quality of the air within their area assessing it against statutory objectives for seven key pollutants. These objectives are based on those in the UK National Air Quality Strategy.

  Localities must be designated Air Quality Management Areas where the review and assessment show that national measures will not ensure the objectives are achieved by the end of 2005. The relevant local authority must then prepare an action plan in pursuit of the objective(s).

  The LAQM guidance which we have published to assist local authorities is listed in Environment Circular 15/97 (Welsh Office Circular 63/97) and is available in the Library.
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  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what circumstances it is permitted to proceed with road-widening schemes where the consequential PM10 pollution levels exceed 50 microgrammes per cubic metre of air as a 24-hour running average; and if he will make a statement. [41791]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 13 May 1998]: The objectives contained in the National Air Quality Strategy for achievement for 2005, including the one for PM10 would be taken into account in the appraisal of a proposed road scheme against the Government's five criteria of integration, accessibility, environment, economy and safety.

  Where an exceedence of a National Air Quality Strategy objective is forecast, whether or not as a consequence of the scheme proceeding, the local authority would be required to declare an air quality management area covering the area of anticipated exceedance. An action plan would then have to be prepared by the local authority, in consultation with the highways authorities, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders. The action plan would identify a range of measures, to be applied either locally or further afield, aimed at securing the achievement of the objectives throughout the air quality management area. Such measures might include enhanced traffic management, the application of more stringent emission limits to industrial processes or increased domestic smoke control.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates his Department has evaluated from(a) North West Water and (b) Ofwat of (i) the total cost and (ii) the impact of average annual household bills in the period 2000 to 2005 of meeting EU bathing water standards on the Fylde coast. [42037]

  Angela Eagle
  The open letter of 30 April from the Director General of Water Services, "Setting the quality framework", includes assessments of the costs of meeting a wide range of potential obligations, including measures under EU Directives, based both on cost estimates provided by companies and on the preliminary challenge of that information by OFWAT. The letter expresses those costs both as total capital costs and as illustrative impacts on average household bills.

  The Environment Agency and North West Water estimated a cost of £100 million for their plans, announced in February this year, for work in the Fylde coast area to improve compliance with Directive bathing water standards. My Department, in consultation with OFWAT, is now considering the plans, their cost and the effect on customer bills.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he will be giving the Director General of Water Services under the periodic review of water price limits to apply from 1 April 2000, on(a) the scope for water companies to transfer the costs of meeting mandatory EU bathing water standards onto their customers and (b) the Government's priorities for improvements in water and environmental quality. [42035]
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  Angela Eagle
  In response to the open letter of 30 April from the Director General of Water Services ("Setting the quality framework", a copy of which is in the library), my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales will publish in the summer their guidance on the environmental obligations which they will expect the water and sewerage companies to meet, including their EU obligations. This guidance will take into account the advice of the Environment Agency and the views of other interested persons, and will reflect the Government's priorities for improvements in water quality and the water environment. It will then be for the Director General, in setting price limits, to ensure that companies are able to meet these obligations.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of North West Water's record in meeting mandatory EU bathing water standards along the Fylde coast; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of their recent bathing water improvement scheme in this area; [42034]

  (2) what undertakings he has received from North West Water that the latest investment programme to improve bathing water quality along the Fylde coast will result in compliance with EU Directive standards; and what reports he has received from the Environment Agency on this matter. [42054]

  Angela Eagle
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced the 1997 bathing water quality results in December and said that the results in the North West were especially poor and that this was particularly disappointing given that major bathing water improvement schemes had been completed in the area. In February this year, the Environment Agency and North West Water announced plans for further work in the Fylde coast area which they regard as necessary to improve compliance with the Directive standards. My Department has received a detailed report from the Environment Agency on these measures and the progress made.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received from the Director General of Water Services, under part of the periodic review of water price limits for the period 2000 to 2005, on the scope for further improvements in efficiency by North West Water to offset the cost of meeting EU bathing water standards on the Fylde coast. [42036]

  Angela Eagle
  The Director General has outlined his proposed approach to assessing the efficiency of the water companies at the next periodic review in "Assessing the scope for future improvements in water companies' efficiency—a technical paper" published in April 1998, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Fuel Poverty Working Group
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the Fuel Poverty Working Group to report its findings; what plans he has to make the group's conclusions publicly available; and what opportunity there will be for external agencies and individuals to respond to the group's findings. [41907]
  224
  Angela Eagle
  The inter-departmental group of officials is providing internal analysis and policy options for Ministers, and it is not proposed to make its findings and recommendations public. However, I launched a national debate on this subject in my speech on 14 May to the National Right to Fuel Campaign's conference on fuel poverty and invited interested parties to contribute. We will consult on any proposals for developing policies and programmes for tackling fuel poverty which flow from this process.

  London Government
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will legislate to provide in the election for the Mayor of London for the option of voting for "none of the above" candidates and for a further round of nominations and voting, if those voting in that way constitute the largest vote. [41896]

  Mr. Raynsford
  No.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy towards the proportion of the total London electorate required to vote in the elections for a mayor and assembly for the result to be binding. [41898]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The results of elections for the Mayor and Assembly will be binding irrespective of turnout, as is the case for all parliamentary, European and local government elections.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in reducing discharge into the sea from nuclear installations at Sellafield. [42259]

  Angela Eagle
  The Environment Agency have recently completed a two month public consultation into applications for variations to the discharge authorisations for the Sellafield site and are now considering the responses received. The Government have reiterated to the Environment Agency that they wish to see progressive reductions in discharges and discharge limits at Sellafield. There have been requests for Ministers to `call-in' these applications and decide the matter for themselves and these requests are being considered.

  Insulin-dependent Drivers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the British Government do not allow in special circumstances the exemption of insulin-dependent drivers from the EU Driving Licence Directive as provided for under the Directive. [41372]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The Directive provides for licences to be issued to or renewed for those whose diabetes is treated by insulin for driving passenger-carrying and goods vehicles (minibuses, medium-sized lorries, buses, coaches and large goods vehicles) "only in very exceptional cases", and subject to further conditions. The Secretary of State's Honorary Advisory Panel on Diabetes and Driving has hitherto advised that, in their opinion, there are no

  225
  exceptional cases. That is because treatment by insulin can lead to hypoglycaemic attacks which may occur suddenly and unpredictably, and which can lead to loss of consciousness without warning. A number of collapses at the wheel have been found to be associated with insulin treatment. UK legislation has therefore reflected the Panel's advice. However, in the light of evidence from the British Diabetic Association and other which claims that modern treatment and control methods minimise the risks, the Advisory Panel have, at the request of Ministers, been re-examining the issues in respect of the driving of minibuses and medium-sized lorries. The outcome of that re-examination will be made public shortly.

  Elections (Purley)
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the percentage turnouts in each of the polling districts in Purley, Croydon, for(a) 1994 and (b) 1998. [42237]

  Ms Armstrong
  A record of local election returns is not kept centrally by any Government Department. Inquiries relating to the turnout in an individual local authority should be directed to the Returning Officer for that authority.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the experimental polling station location at Tesco's in Purley, Croydon. [42238]

  Ms Armstrong
  Improving turnout in local elections is an important part of the Government's modernising local government agenda. The London Borough of Croydon should be congratulated on their efforts to make voting more convenient. We will be looking at the lessons from Croydon's initiative, as well as the responses to our consultation papers as we work up our Local Government White Paper to be published this Summer.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in securing the future of the channel rail link; and if he will make a statement. [42137]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In his answer of 27 March 1998,Official Report, columns 295–96, to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), my right hon. Friend said that the cure period under the CTRL Development Agreement within which London and Continental Railways (LCR) could bring forward their improved proposals to the Government had been extended to 29 May 1998. Discussions with LCR are continuing and we await their final proposals. My right hon. Friend will make a statement in due course.

  London Underground
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the different options for restructuring London Underground put forward by London Transport; and if he will make a statement. [42363]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  London Transport presented their evaluation of options for the future of London Underground to the Deputy Prime Minister in September 226
  1997. In the following months, there were numerous meetings, with different Departments, at Ministerial and official level, with LT and their advisers at which all the issues were debated. We fully considered London Transport's proposals in reaching our decisions on a Public/Private Partnership.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of who will be liable in the case of a serious infrastructure failure on London Underground after concessions for managing the infrastructure of London Underground have been awarded to private companies; and if he will make a statement. [42365]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Under our proposals, the private sector will be responsible for financing, maintaining and modernising the Underground's infrastructure. The contractor, or contractors, will be subject to a tough performance regime with penalties for failure or poor performance. We will be working with London Transport and expert advisers to establish the details of the division of specific risks and liabilities between the public sector operating company and infrastructure contractor(s).

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential impact on London Underground fares of a fall in net revenues after concessions for managing the infrastructure of London Underground have been awarded to private companies; and if he will make a statement. [42364]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government's financial advisers looked at a range of assumptions about passenger revenues. Their analysis showed that the option announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 20 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1539–56, is robust against a fall in revenues, and that substantial fare increases would therefore not be necessary to pay infrastructure contractors or meet the operating costs of the London Underground operating company. Once the GLA is established, London Underground fares will be a matter for the Mayor.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what controls there will be on the charges contractors can make to London Underground for use of track, signals and stations under his proposals; what estimate he has made of the likely impact on fares; and if he will make a statement. [42394]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The infrastructure contractor, or contractors, will be responsible for financing, maintaining and modernising the Underground's infrastructure, and will be paid by London Underground according to their contract. We will be working with London Transport and expert advisers to establish the details of the contractual payment mechanism, which will be based on paying the contractor according to performance.

  There is no reason to expect large increases in fares, which, once the GLA is established, will be a matter for the Mayor.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the transitional costs and ongoing costs of(a) keeping London Underground in the public sector,

  227
  (b) privatising the whole of London Underground as a single unit and (c) creating a number of concessions to take over the London Underground infrastructure; and if he will make a statement. [42362]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government's financial advisers made assessments of the transitional and ongoing costs of keeping London Underground in the public sector, and of awarding a contract, or contracts to finance, maintain and modernise the Underground's infrastructure. These assessments, along with other important factors such as safety, were fully considered by the Government in reaching our decision on a Public/Private partnership for London Underground. The financial comparisons showed that the Government's preferred option is likely to represent better value for money than retaining London Underground in its current form. No assessment was made of privatising the Underground, which was ruled out in the Manifesto.

  Minibus Drivers (Medical Tests)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what plans he has to compensate car licence holders over the age of 70 years for the fee of £55 for the medical test which is required to enable them to drive minibuses. [41854]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: It is not the Government's practice to reimburse or compensate for the cost of medical examinations required for obtaining or renewing a driving licence, and we have no plans to do so for licence holders over the age of 70 years who wish to drive minibuses.

  Priority Estates Project (Coventry)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Priority Estates Project in Coventry. [41918]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am not aware of any Priority Estates Project in Coventry. If the question is a reference to the Willenhall Estate in Coventry then I understand that satisfactory progress is being made in its refurbishment through Estate Action and English Partnerships and private sector investment.

  Mon-Fri open

  Mon-Fri closed

  Sat open

  Sat closed

  Sun open

  Sun closed

  Fenchurch Street

  0545

  2140

  0630

  2140

  0715

  2140

  Barking

  0515

  2200

  0545

  2200

  0645

  2210

  Upminster

  0545

  2100

  0615

  2110

  0645

  2140

  West Horndon

  0615

  2000

  0815

  1740

  Closed

  Closed

  Laindon

  0530

  2000

  0615

  2100

  0615

  2100

  Basildon

  0530

  2200

  0615

  2100

  0645

  2000

  Pitsea

  0515

  2200

  0815

  2330

  0715

  2145

  Benfleet

  0515

  2200

  0615

  2200

  0615

  2145

  Leigh-on-Sea

  0545

  2200

  0715

  2000

  0815

  1930

  Chalkwell

  0615

  2000

  0815

  1740

  0815

  1540

  Westcliff-on-Sea

  0545

  2200

  0815

  1740

  0815

  1540

  Southend Central

  0545

  2200

  0615

  2200

  0745

  2200

  Southend East

  0515

  2200

  0815

  1540

  0815

  1540

  Thorpe Bay

  0515

  2200

  0815

  1540

  0815

  1540

  Shoeburyness

  0615

  2200

  0815

  1740

  0815

  1540

  Dagenham Dock

  0615

  1340

  Closed

  Closed

  Closed

  Closed

  Rainham

  0615

  2200

  0815

  1540

  Closed

  Closed

  Purfleet

  0615

  1300

  0615

  1340

  Closed

  Closed

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications were made in England in each year from 1992 to 1997. [42152]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The number of applications for planning permission and other related consents in England is shown in the table. Figures include 'county matters' applications, which are predominantly concerned with minerals extraction and waste disposal developments.

  Year

  All applications received (thousand)

  1992

  473

  1993

  474

  1994

  485

  1995

  459

  1996

  475

  1997

  496

  More detailed information is published quarterly by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in its Statistics of Planning Applications Information Bulletin. Copies are available in the House of Commons library.

  LTS Rail
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the terms of the franchise granted to LTS Rail in respect of the times for the opening of booking offices. [42414]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The franchise agreement requires LTS Rail to comply with the terms of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA), which is overseen by the Rail Regulator. The TSA sets out the ticket office opening hours which each operator has agreed to as a signatory to the agreement. These hours may be varied only with the approval of the Rail Regulator (any short-term issues affecting station opening, such as staff shortage, are for the operator to manage in the light of its other business commitments). The table shows the ticket office opening hours set out in the TSA for stations managed by LTS Rail.
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  Mon-Fri open

  Mon-Fri closed

  Sat open

  Sat closed

  Sun open

  Sun closed

  Grays

  0520

  2200

  0715

  2210

  0715

  2140

  Tilbury Town

  0545

  2200

  0645

  2200

  0800

  1525

  East Tilbury

  0645

  1334

  0745

  2200

  Closed

  Closed

  Stanford-le-Hope

  0540

  2200

  0645

  2200

  0715

  1440

  Ockendon

  0645

  1300

  0815

  1540

  Closed

  Closed

  1515

  1840

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Chafford Hundred

  0600

  2000

  0800

  1600

  0800

  1610

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many sites of special scientific interest there were in England on 31 March; and what was their total area in hectares. [42441]

  Angela Eagle
  At 31 March, there were 3,987 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England covering 967,365 hectares.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take on pitch fees for owners of mobile homes. [42361]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department has established a working party to examine a number of concerns facing mobile home residents, including pitch fees. It comprises representatives from national residents' groups, the two main trade associations, local authorities and officials from my Department. The group is aiming to present its recommendations to Ministers by Spring 1999.

WALES

  Agricultural Grants Department
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the availability of Welsh speakers in Cardiff with suitable qualifications to staff a centralised agricultural grants department. [40912]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  On 16 March 1998,Official Report, column 459, I announced my plans to engage consultants for a study to assess the options for securing improved administration of Common Agriculture Policy payments in Wales.

  At this stage, the consultants have been asked to consider all feasible options. These could include options for centralising the service, for transferring responsibility for administering payments to MAFF or the Intervention Board, or for developing the service using the existing office structure.

  All options will be assessed in terms of the costs, benefits and risks they represent for the Welsh Office, including their ability to deliver a local bilingual service to farmers.

  60 per cent. of Welsh Office staff who have expressed an ability in the use of the Welsh language are Cardiff-based.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has met the Wales TUC to discuss(a) inward investment and (b) the prospects for industry in Wales. [41647]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend and I are in frequent touch with the Wales TUC and constituent unions on a wide variety of issues and both attended the Wales TUC conference last month.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the CBI to discuss(a) inward investment and (b) the prospects for industry in Wales. [41646]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend has not met the CBI. However, I have met them on several occasions, most recently on 27 April. Welsh Office officials are also in regular contact with the CBI on a wide variety of issues.

  Local Government Boundaries
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many responses from Wrexham community and town councils to his letter of consultation on the proposed boundary review of Llangollen dated 22 August 1997 he had received prior to the reminder letter sent from his Office on 2 October to Denbighshire town and community councils extending the deadline for replies to 18 October 1997; [41793]

  (2) how many responses from Denbighshire community and town councils to his letter of consultation on the proposed boundary review of Llangollen dated 22 August 1997 he had received prior to the reminder letter sent from his office on 2 October 1997 extending the deadline to 18 October. [41795]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Prior to 2 October 1997, 4 responses were received from community and town councils in Wrexham and 8 from those in Denbighshire.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria he uses to establish the need to request a review of local government boundaries. [41796]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Under section 54(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, when making proposals to the Secretary of State, the Local Government Boundary Commission needs to be able to demonstrate that any changes are judged by the Commission to be desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government.

  Consequently, the Secretary of State, in considering whether to request a review, will also have regard to any relevant information that could suggest that the existing boundary may no longer provide for effective and convenient local government.
  231
  The Secretary of State would give careful consideration to the nature and level of representations from local councils, other elected representatives and the community at large.

  Given the diversity of local government areas, each request would be considered on its merit.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons no letter of reminder was sent to community councils in the Wrexham area following his request to them for their views on the boundary review of Llangollen and Llantysilio wards on 22 August 1997. [41794]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  On 22 August 1997, consultation letters on the proposed boundary review were sent to all local councils in both counties.

  On 28 September 1997, the Denbighshire Association of Local Councils sought an extension of the time allocated for responding to the consultation as it had information that the letter of 22 August had not reached all councils in the country. Community councils in that area were therefore given a further 2 weeks to respond.

  No representations were received then or since from community councils in the Wrexham area to indicate that they had not received the consultation letter or been denied the opportunity to make representations before the Secretary of State announced his decision in February 1998.

  Responses to the consultation from individuals and organisations received up to February 1998 were taken into account by the Secretary of State in reaching his decision on this matter.

  Gwent Tertiary College
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 1998,Official Report, column 513, on Gwent Tertiary College, if he will place copies of the letters from the Chairman of Gwent Tertiary College Further Education Corporation in the Library. [42147]

  Mr. Hain
  As the Chairman of Gwent Tertiary College Further Education Corporation has written to me on an in confidence basis, I think it would be better if my hon. Friend approached the College directly for a copy of his letters.

SCOTLAND

  A848
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in upgrading the A848 Salen to Tobermory Road since 1992; when the upgrade is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [41631]

  Mr. McLeish
  Since 1992 there have been 4 schemes to upgrade specific sections of this local road. The current project which upgrades 4.8km of single track road to 2 lane carriageway from Tobermory is expected to be largely completed by the end of May. Further improvements are a matter for Argyll and Bute Council as local roads authority for Mull.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland had been on waiting lists for NHS treatment for(a) 0 to 3 months, (b) 3 to 6 months, (c) 6 to 9 months, (d) 9 to 12 months and (e) over 12 months on 31 March. [42337]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on the number of patients with a guarantee, and the time spent on waiting lists for NHS treatment in Scotland at 31 March 1998, is provided in the table:

  NHS patients on waiting list in Scottish hospitals: Number and time spent on waiting list at 31 March 1998

  Months1

  Number

  Under 3

  55,591

  3 to 6

  19,217

  6 to 9

  8,392

  9 to 12

  3,565

  Over 12

  0

  1 Length of time patients with a waiting time guarantee have waited on the waiting list. (Source SMR3).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Over-the-counter Medicines
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review resale price maintenance on over-the-counter medicine prices. [41578]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 12 May 1998]: None. This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading, who has already brought proceedings before the Restrictive Practices Court asking it to review the matter.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she had received in respect of the future of resale price maintenance in the field of over-the-counter medicines; what proposals she has to safeguard the position of local pharmacies and to protect the supply of such medicines to consumers; and if she will make a statement. [42108]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have received a number of representations from right hon. and hon. Members and from pharmacists and their representatives about resale price maintenance on over-the-counter medicines. Proceedings before the Restrictive Practices Court have been initiated by the Director General of Fair Trading and I would expect the Court to examine fully all the issues which might arise from the retention or abolition of resale price maintenance in this sector, including the effect on local communities of the possible closure of pharmacies.

  Genetically Engineered Animals
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the United Kingdom patents which have been published since 1 June 1997 in respect of genetically engineered animals and processes for creating such animals. [42273]

  Mr. Battle
  There have been a total of three patent applications under the Patents Act 1997 published since 1 June 1997. Two of these are Patent Co-operation Treaty Applications which have entered the national phase and have been published as applications Nos. GB 2318792
  233
  and GB 2318578. They relate to the manipulation of animal embryos and the animals produced therefrom. The third, GB 2312899, relates to transgenic animals encoding an agent involved in the regulation of bone marrow. None of these applications has yet been granted. This information does not include applications filed at the European Patent Office and which may have the legal effect of UK patents if granted by that office.

  Mobile Telecommunications Networks
  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the preparations for issuing licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts for operators of third generation mobile telecommunications networks. [42794]

  Mrs. Roche
  The UK has been at the forefront of developing mobile telecommunications in Europe, and I am determined that it should retain that position. Third generation mobile—also known as UMTS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems—offers exciting prospects for new jobs, new services and new investment, and I aim to ensure that the UK benefits fully from this new technology.

  To that end, we intend to hold an auction of UMTS licences in the summer of 1999, subject to market and other developments and to final decisions nearer the time. This timetable takes account of responses to the Government's consultation document 'Multimedia Communications on the Move', further discussions with industry, and advice from N M Rothschild and Sons.

  In offering through an auction licences to use specified frequencies for the delivery of UMTS, the Government's overall aim is to secure, for the long-term benefit of UK consumers and the national economy, the timely and economically advantageous development and sustained provision of UMTS services in the UK.

  Subject to this overall aim, the Government's objectives are to (i) utilise the available UMTS spectrum with optimum efficiency, (ii) promote effective and sustainable competition for the provision of UMTS services, and (iii) subject to the above objectives, design an auction which is best judged to realise the full economic value to consumers, industry and the taxpayer of the spectrum.

  In developing detailed auction proposals, my Department will continue fully to consult industry.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the pricing structure for the sale of motor vehicles in the UK relative to that in other EU countries; and what plans she has to review the pricing structure for the sale of motor vehicles in the UK. [42046]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Following an initiative by the Government at the meeting of European Union Finance Ministers at York in March, the European Commission has been asked to carry out an investigation into price disparities between different EU markets of a range of products and services, including cars.
  234
  I propose to await the outcome of this investigation, before considering whether it would be appropriate to take any further action.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the export from the UK of second-hand cars which do not meet environmental standards in the UK. [42048]

  Mr. Battle
  All vehicles sold in the UK must meet EU environmental standards for emissions. Any vehicle being exported outside the EU will have to meet the standards of the importing country, which may differ significantly from EU standards.

  It is not possible from Customs and Excise export figures to identify separately those used motor vehicles which do not comply with UK environmental standards,

  Nuclear Materials (Georgia)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions she sought to prevent the importation of nuclear materials from Georgia. [42087]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The issue of whether the UK should accept approximately 5 kg of high enriched uranium from Georgia was considered in the normal way through consultation among relevant Government departments and discussion by the appropriate Cabinet committee. Following these discussions, all departments involved, including the Department of Trade and Industry, agreed that, given the non-proliferation and nuclear safety arguments, the UK should agree to accept the material.

  Medical Isotopes
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), of 22 April 1998,Official Report, column 821, if she will list the locations at which the UKAEA makes medical isotope targets. [42088]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The UKAEA manufacture targets, for use in the production of medical isotopes, at their Dounreay site in Caithness.

  Oil Platforms
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many oil platforms there are in British waters; what is the estimated date of decommissioning for each; what decommissioning options are currently being considered for each oil platform in operation in British waters; and what is the Government's preferred option for disposing of oil platforms in British waters; [41123]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the potential cost to public funds of tax reliefs for the decommissioning of oil platforms in the North Sea over the next 10 years; [41124]

  (3) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the disposal of oil platforms at sea. [41125]

  Mrs. Beckett
  There are approximately 250 offshore oil and gas installations currently located on the UK Continental Shelf. The majority will reach the end of their
  235
  useful lives during the next 25 years but the peak years for decommissioning activity are expected to be between 2003 and 2012.

  Our policy is based on a presumption in favour of land disposal except where, taking account of the environment as a whole, such a course is neither safe nor practicable. Generic studies have demonstrated that the great majority of existing installations will be brought onshore for re-use, recycling or disposal. These studies have also shown that the current generic solution for large concrete installations is to leave them in place. There is no single generic solution for heavy steel installations located in deeper water and we consider that these structures should be assessed on a case-by-case basis with decisions based on solid analysis and in the light of open and transparent consultations.

  Gross decommissioning costs over the next 25 years are estimated to be in the range of £7 billion to £10 billion at current day prices. The Inland Revenue estimates that around 50 per cent. of the costs will be met by the Exchequer through tax relief. Decommissioning costs generally qualify for tax relief under the normal Petroleum Revenue Tax and Corporation Tax rules. Royalty relief is currently available where royalty has been paid on that licence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Security Clearance
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account her Department takes of criminal records consisting solely of homosexual activity engaged in prior to 1982, where such activity has been decriminalised, in determining(a) security clearance and (b) employment within the RUC; and what changes to regulations have taken place since 1994. [41156]

  Mr. Ingram
  A candidate must meet the recruiting criteria in every respect. The RUC will take into account convictions for any and all criminal offences. The fact that an offence may have been decriminalised is not considered relevant.

  There have been no changes in policy relating to sexual orientation since 1994.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances(a) non-criminal homosexual activity and (b) sexual orientation would debar a candidate from security clearance to become an RUC officer; and what changes in the regulations have occurred since 1994. [41157]

  Mr. Ingram
  A candidate must meet the recruiting criteria in every respect. There is nothing to debar a person who had engaged in non-criminal homosexual activity or to debar a person because of their sexual orientation.

  There have been no changes in policy relating to sexual orientation since 1994.

  Petrol Stations
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many petrol stations have closed in Northern Ireland in(a) 1997 and (b) in 1998 to date. [41532]
  236
  Mr. Ingram
  This information is not held by NI Departments.

  Petroleum Products (Smuggling)
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she had held with the RUC about the illegal importation of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [41533]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have not held any discussions with the RUC about the illegal importation of petroleum products into Northern Ireland. This is a matter for HM Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has received from the Petrol Retailers Association about the illegal importation of petroleum products; and what response she made. [41531]

  Mr. Ingram
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a letter from the Petrol Retailers Association concerning these issues. As importation of products across UK national boundaries is a matter for Customs and Excise and HMT, the letter was passed to HMT for answer.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action she is taking to prevent the illegal importation of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [41536]

  Mr. Ingram
  Illegal importation of products across UK national boundaries is a matter for Customs and Excise and HMT and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Financial Secretary on 14 May 1998,Official Report, columns 174–75.

  Castle Buildings Agreement
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the new commissions and other bodies that will be brought into being under the Castle Buildings Agreement, stating the estimated(a) annual running costs and (b) number of staff to be employed by each entity. [42161]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The new commissions and other bodies which will (or may) be brought into being under the Agreement are listed. No reliable estimates for annual running costs and the number of staff to be employed by each entity are yet available.>Northern Ireland Assembly
  Civic Forum
  North/South Ministerial Council
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  British/Irish Council
  British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

  In addition an independent Commission on policing for Northern Ireland will be established with the aim of publishing a final report by summer 1999.

  Assembly Members (Pay)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what salary and expenses she proposes to pay to(a) each member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and (b) each Minister. [42163]
  237
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The salary and expenses payable to members and Ministers in the New Assembly (depending on whether Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act 1998 is brought into force) are under consideration and I am not therefore in a position to reply.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the decision concerning the number of graduate management trainees to be recruited to the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1997. [42167]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  No trainees were recruited into the Management Trainee programme in 1997 but it is proposed to recruit a minimum of 10 trainees in 1998.

  Additionally, 20 trainees were recruited in 1996, the first year of operation of the scheme. This pattern of recruitment reflects Departmental manpower requirements.

  Election Personation
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the implications of the use of forged medical cards for election personation; and what recent progress has been made in eliminating this form of fraud. [42166]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Government are aware of concern over forged medical cards for election personation. While the medical card cannot be withdrawn from the list of specified documents without an adequate replacement, the hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that my own Election Review is currently looking at every part of the polling process, both to enhance polling station procedures and accessibility, but also to consider alterations to present identity requirements.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Centres
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the court centres to which(a) he and (b) the Lord Chancellor have paid official visits since 1 May 1997, and the date of each such visit. [41714]

  Total legal aid budget (£ million)

  Personal injury cases (£ million)

  % of total

  Contractual disputes (£ million)

  % of total

  Judicial review cases (£ million)

  % of total

  Criminal cases1 (£ million)

  % of total

  Family law cases2 (£ million)

  % of total

  1992–93

  646.9

  85.1

  13.16

  29.1

  4.49

  5.0

  0.78

  283.9

  44

  272.4

  42.10

  1993–94

  813.9

  121.2

  14.89

  40.2

  4.94

  6.7

  0.82

  321.6

  40

  332.0

  40.79

  1994–95

  922.5

  151.5

  16.42

  44.1

  4.78

  7.9

  0.86

  362.1

  39

  351.2

  38.06

  1995–96

  1,071.5

  189.4

  17.67

  56.0

  5.23

  10.1

  0.94

  384.3

  36

  373.5

  34.86

  1996–97

  1,178.0

  219.8

  18.66

  60.3

  5.12

  10.5

  0.90

  411.1

  35

  392.5

  33.32

  1 The category Criminal cases includes details of criminal higher, criminal magistrates, duty solicitors and green form scheme

  2 The category family law cases includes divorce, divorce injunction, ancillary relief, residence and contract, nullity, domestic violence, Child Support Act 1995 and the Children Act 1989.

  Note:

  These figures are based on cases closed within each year.
  238
  Mr. Hoon
  Since 1 May 1997, the following visits to court centres have been undertaken by the Lord Chancellor and by me.

  Date

  Court centres

  Lord Chancellor

  27 June 1997

  Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast

  30 July 1997

  Central Criminal Court, London

  7 November 1997

  Chippenham Magistrates' Court

  6 February 1998

  Luton Crown Court

  Luton County Court

  20 February 1998

  Londonderry Court

  3 April 1998

  Royal Courts of Justice, London

  24 April 1998

  Birmingham Combined Court Centre

  15 May 1998

  Manchester Crown Court

  Manchester County Court

  Mr. Geoff Hoon MP

  18 July 1997

  Nottingham Magistrates' Court

  Ilkeston Magistrates' Court

  24 July 1997

  Royal Courts of Justice, London

  25 July 1997

  Stockport Magistrates' Court

  10 September 1997

  Coventry Combined Court Centre

  Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates' Court

  24 September 1997

  Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court

  Durham County Court

  Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Magistrates' Court

  25 September 1997

  Liverpool Combined Court Centre

  6 October 1997

  Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast Craigavon Combined Court

  Belfast Crown Court

  2 December 1997

  Central London County Court

  11 December 1997

  Snaresbrook Crown Court

  9 January 1997

  Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates' Court

  26 January 1998

  Uxbridge Magistrates' Court

  13 March 1998

  Cheltenham Magistrates' Court

  Gloucester Magistrates' Court

  22 April 1998

  Central London County Court

  1 May 1998

  Nottingham County Court

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Garner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list(a) the sums of money and (b) the proportions of the total legal aid budget for each of the last five years for which figures are available taken up by (i) personal injury cases, (ii) contractual disputes, (iii) judicial review cases, (iv) criminal cases and (v) family law cases. [41503]

  Mr. Hoon
  Gross expenditure in cases closed as a proportion of total expenditure in cases closed in each of the last five years for (i) personal injury cases, (ii) contractual cases, (iii) judicial review cases, (iv) criminal cases and (v) family law cases was as follows:

  Harassment
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which sections of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 have been implemented; and what are his plans for the implementation of outstanding sections. [42288]

  Mr. Hoon
  So far as England and Wales are concerned, all relevant parts of the Act have been commenced with the exception of section 3 sub-sections 3–9. These sub-sections will be commenced as soon as rules designed to facilitate the operation of the Act have been approved. The final consultation process on the rules is under way at present and will be completed as quickly as possible.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drivers (Leaflets)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to act against individuals distributing(a) leaflets and (b) other items to those in vehicles on the highway. [41792]

  Mr. Michael
  The situation described would be an operational matter for the police. Police officers could deal with it by a verbal warning and moving those distributing the material from the roadway. Alternatively, if they thought it appropriate, they could charge the offenders under a number of different statutes ranging from those concerned with obstruction of the highway to possible public order offences. The offences charged would depend on the precise circumstances of the incident.

  Foreign Nationals
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals were charged with(a) possession of a false instrument and (b) attempting to obtain services by deception; how many were subsequently sentenced to a term of imprisonment; and what was the average sentence length in the last year for which figures are available. [41816]

  Mr. Michael
  Under section 26(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1971, a foreign national is guilty of a criminal offence if, without lawful authority, he alters any certificate of entitlement, entry clearance, work permit or other document made under or for the purpose of the Act; or if he has in his possession any passport, certificate of entitlement, entry clearance, work permit or other document which is known (or he has reasonable cause to believe) to be false. However, it is also possible that other legislation, which although not referring exclusively to passports, may be used to deal with foreign nationals arrested for this type of crime.

  Detailed information on persons charged by offence is not collected centrally. Information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings database for 1996 (latest available) shows nine prosecutions and five convictions under section 26(1)(d) of the Act. Only one offender was given a custodial sentence which was for the period of one month.
  240
  The Court Proceedings database does not record a person's nationality and is unable to identify all benefit fraud cases, as the majority are dealt with under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968, which covers a multitude of circumstances.

  Police Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what directions he has given to police authorities on the conversion of vehicles in existing fleets to(a) liquid petroleum gas and (b) compressed natural gas. [42066]

  Mr. Michael
  No directions have been given, but a number of police forces are currently engaged in trials of alternative fuels, the results of which will be disseminated by the National Association of Police Fleet Managers.

  CS Gas
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department issues on the use of CS gas against individuals being restrained by police officers. [41980]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Office has not issued guidelines to the police on the use of CS spray. This is an operational matter and the responsibility of individual chief police officers. A copy of the guidance issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers, has been placed in the Library.

  Animal Care (Universities)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of Lord Williams of Mostyn AP/981/10/207, what assessment he has made of the quality of animal care in British universities. [41121]

  Mr. George Howarth
  All designated establishments are regularly inspected, on both an announced and unannounced basis, by members of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate.

  I am satisfied that the quality of animal care in British universities generally attains the high standards required under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and the Codes of Practice issued under the Act. Where unexpected problems do occur, it is important that, in addition to any action taken by the Inspectorate, local controls are in place to ensure appropriate remedial action is taken.

  We announced on 6 November 1997, Official Report, column 285, that local ethical review processes would become mandatory in all establishments. These will play an important role in promoting the care and welfare of animals within each establishment.

  Firearms Compensation
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department has disposed of the guns and ancillary equipment surrendered under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [42241]

  Mr. Michael
  The majority of guns and ancillary equipment surrendered will be destroyed in accordance with local police force arrangements. Some will be retained by the police for training purposes or acquired by suitably authorised museums.
  241
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to handle disputes over levels of compensation under Category C claims of the Firearms Compensation Scheme. [42310]

  Mr. Michael
  The arrangements are set out in paragraphs 26 and 27 of the booklet on the original Scheme. Under the terms of Option C, claimants must submit valid documentary evidence of the value of the items claimed as at 16 October 1996. Where that evidence supports the amount claimed, then the claim will be paid. If the evidence is unsatisfactory, then the Firearms Compensation Section will request further evidence from the claimant. If that evidence is satisfactory, then the claim will be met. Where no additional evidence is submitted or the additional evidence remains unsatisfactory, the claim will be paid at the listed value or, where appropriate, the police force involved will be asked to obtain a further valuation from an independent source, selected at the discretion of the chief officer. Where this is obtained, the valuation will normally be used to calculate the payment to the claimant.

  This final independent valuation stage provides a last resort arrangement to ensure that no claim should be incapable of being resolved satisfactorily.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects claim reference HER 13040 to be settled under the firearms compensation scheme; and if interest will be paid on this claim. [41983]

  Mr. Michael
  The claim with the police reference number HER 13040 was received in the Firearms Compensation Section on 15 October 1997, and the Option A and B elements are now being processed. The Option C elements, which will require individual consideration of the evidence of value provided, will be dealt with at a later date.

  There is no provision in the compensation scheme for the payment of interest if claims are not dealt with in a particular time. As I have said to the House on many occasions, this is a complex and generous compensation scheme which Parliament approved, and which is being implemented as quickly as possible, having regard to the need for close scrutiny of claims to guard against fraud and incorrect payment.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates in the last 12 months on which members of the Association of Chief Police Officers Administration of Firearms and Explosives Licensing Sub-Committee attended the Home Office Working Groups on(a) the Reference Panel on Historic Firearms, (b) the Firearms Forms, (c) the Approved Club Criteria and (d) the Home Office Memorandum of Guidance on the Administration of Firearms revision; and if he will list the names of the (i) committee members, and (ii) others attending each of these meetings. [42412]

  Mr. Michael
  Details of those attending each meeting of the first three Working Groups (including members absent) for each date on which the Groups met in the last 242
  12 months are set out in the table. There is no working group on the revision of the Home Office Memorandum of Guidance to the Police.

  Members

  The Historic Firearms Reference Panel

  12 September 1997

  Mr. Graham Widdecombe (Chair)

  Home Office

  Mr. Simon Barrett

  Home Office

  DCC Graham Bennet

  Fife Constabulary

  Superintendent Jim Duncan

  Grampian Police

  Mr. Michael Lobb

  Northamptonshire Police

  Mr. Ian McColl

  Cambridgeshire Constabulary

  Mr. Richard Milner

  RFD

  Mr. David Penn

  Imperial War Museum

  Mr. Bob Pitcher

  London Proof House

  Dr. Christopher Roads

  Historic Arms Rescue

  Mr. Tom Warlow

  Forensic Science Service

  Mr. Herbert Woodend

  MOD Pattern Room

  Mr. Richard Worth (minutes)

  Home Office

  17 September 1997

  Mr. Graham Widdecombe (Chair)

  Home Office

  Mr. Simon Barrett

  Home Office

  Chief Inspector David Morris

  South Wales Constabulary

  Superintendent Jim Duncan

  Grampian Police

  Mr. Michael Lobb

  Northamptonshire Police

  Mr. Ian McColl

  Cambridgeshire Constabulary

  Mr. Richard Milner

  RFD

  Mr. David Penn

  Imperial War Museum

  Dr. Christopher Roads

  Historic Arms Rescue

  Mr. Tom Warlow

  Forensic Science Service

  Mr. Richard Worth (minutes)

  Home Office

  The Forms Working Group

  19 February 1998

  Mr. Simon Barrett

  Home Office

  Mr. Richard Worth

  Home Office

  Mr. Alec Moffat

  Fife Constabulary

  Superintendent Jim Duncan

  Grampian Police

  Sgt. Peter Johnson

  Merseyside Police

  Mr. Ian McColl

  Cambridgeshire Constabulary

  Ms Helene Rogers

  South Wales Constabulary

  B. G. Carter Esq

  Director, The Gun Trade Association Ltd.

  C. A. Ewing Esq OBE

  National Rifle Association

  Mr. Bill Harriman

  British Shooting Sports Council

  Mr. Derek Phillips

  Office of Legislative Affairs

  Mr. R. V. Malbon

  The Sportsman's Association

  David Penn Esq

  Imperial War Museum/Muzzle Loader's Association

  The Clubs Criteria Working Group

  17 November 19971

  Mr. Barrett (Chair)

  Home Office

  Mr. Courtney

  Muzzle Loaders Association

  Superintendent Duncan

  Grampian Police

  Mr. Ewing

  FCC/NRA

  Mr. Hoare

  BSSC/FCC/NRA

  Mark Groothuis

  Firearms Licensing Officer, Hampshire Constabulary

  Ch. Insp. Talbot

  Hampshire Constabulary

  Mr. Bottomley (Secretary)

  Home Office

  1 Apologies from Mr. Fruin, Home Office, and Ms McGlynn, Scottish Office

  Everthorpe Prison
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of recent measures to remove drugs and alcohol from Everthorpe Prison on discipline at that prison. [42062]
  243
  Mr. George Howarth
  Everthorpe has 96 prisoners in units reserved for those who are committed not to use drugs. These units were introduced three years ago. Places in them are available only to prisoners whose general behaviour also qualifies them for the enhanced regime, and the standard of behaviour in the units is good. On average, two prisoners per month are removed from the drug-free units, either for failing a drugs test or for failing to maintain the standard of behaviour required of prisoners on the enhanced regime.

  An alcohol counsellor has recently been re-engaged after a nine month gap, so it is too soon to comment on the effects of her work. However, there are no indications that alcohol is a particular problem at Everthorpe.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the current numbers and percentages of the prison population using(a) cannabis, (b) ecstasy and (c) heroin. [41639]

  Ms Quin
  Our best estimate of the numbers of prisoners using illegal drugs is drawn from the results of random mandatory drug testing (MDT). While it is recognised that, for a number of reasons, MDT results cannot be a complete measure of prevalence of drug misuse in prisons, the results do provide for the first time a reliable and statistically valid way of measuring patterns and trends of drug misuse across establishments and over time.

  Laboratory screening does not differentiate ecstasy from the amphetamine group as a whole, or heroin from other opiates, so it is not possible to provide figures specifically for ecstasy or heroin.

  There were 45,613 random tests in total during the first three quarters of 1997–98. Of these, 7,754 (17 per cent.) were positive for cannabis; 91 (0.2 per cent.) for amphetamines; and 1,870 (4.1 per cent.) for opiates. Final figures are not yet available for the fourth quarter.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisons he forecasts will be free of the use of illegal drugs by 2002. [42060]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Our best estimate of the numbers of prisoners using illegal drugs is drawn from the results of random mandatory drug testing (MDT). A number of prisons do return entirely negative results of drug testing. But, because random testing involves the testing of only a proportion of a prison's population each month and, for a number of reasons, MDT results cannot be a complete measure of prevalence of drug misuse in prisons, it would not be safe to claim that a prison is free of drug misuse.

  We are committed to the aim of enabling all prisoners to have access to voluntary testing units in order to demonstrate that they are drug free.

  Over 4,000 places can now be provided in voluntary testing units and the Prison Service is working to expand this number to achieve our aim.

  It would be unrealistic to put a figure on the future number of drug free prisons, since there are too many unpredictable variables. However, we aim through
  244
  measures already underway and those planned for the future to reduce the number of prisons where illegal drugs are misused.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) longest and (b) shortest jail sentence handed down to a person convicted of growing cannabis other than for his or her own use since 1980. [42138]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information is not available as to whether people convicted or cautioned for growing cannabis were cultivating it for their own use.

  Information on the length of jail sentences imposed for offences of the cultivation/production of cannabis is not available before 1986. Information for the period 1986–92 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Available data for 1993–95 are given in the table; similar data for 1996 are not yet available.

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for production of cannabis

  England and Wales, 1993–95

  Length of sentence

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Up to and including 1 month

  20

  38

  40

  Over 1 month and up to 3 months

  16

  28

  43

  Over 3 months and up to 6 months

  8

  19

  33

  Over 6 months and up to 1 year

  5

  22

  32

  Over 1 year and up to 2 years

  3

  11

  25

  Over 2 years and up to 5 years

  1

  9

  15

  Over 5 years and up to 7 years

  0

  0

  3

  Over 7 years

  1

  0

  0

  Total

  54

  127

  191

  Average (months)

  6.7

  8.1

  10.2

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Equestrian Establishments
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the most appropriate way to support small equestrian establishments. [41667]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 12 May 1998]: None directly. However, the Government recognise the importance of sport and we want to ensure access to a wide range of facilities, including equestrian, for the many not the few. The English and UK Sports Councils continue to work with local authorities and governing bodies on the best way of meeting this aim.

  Swimming
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure that the teaching of swimming is eligible for funding under the New Opportunities Fund. [41454]

  Mr. Banks
  Swimming teaching will be eligible for funding under the New Opportunities Fund, particularly under the out of school hours activities initiative which will include sporting activities which aim to assist the social development of children and young people. The
  245
  healthy living centres initiative could also raise awareness of the importance of healthy physical activity such as swimming since centres will be designed to provide information, advice and support to help people improve their health and wellbeing. Future initiatives supported by the New Opportunities Fund could also potentially provide funding for swimming. Swimming is, of course, already eligible for Lottery funding from the four national Sports Councils.

  Heritage Lottery Fund
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure equity of distribution between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the distribution of Heritage Lottery funds. [41450]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government are determined to ensure that Lottery money is allocated more fairly and equitably in the light of need across the whole of the United Kingdom and between different groups in society. The National Lottery Bill requires the Heritage Lottery Fund and the other Lottery distributors to demonstrate in their strategic plans how they will achieve this. The Bill also gives distributors new powers to encourage specific applications which do not come forward spontaneously. In addition, proposed new Policy Directions, drafts of which are in the Libraries of the House, emphasise the need to ensure that all parts of the country have equal access to Lottery funds. These measures should help areas that have benefited less in the past.

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria the Heritage Lottery Fund uses to decide whether an application has outstanding merit. [41451]

  Mr. Banks
  The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) uses seven main criteria to assess applications. These are as follows:Importance of the project to the heritage
  Conservation benefits of the project
  Access benefits of the project
  Additional public benefits
  Quality of design of the project
  Financial need and viability
  Strengths of the organisation.

  Further information on the assessment process is set out in the HLF's application pack, which has recently been updated. Copies are available in the House Libraries.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Regional Grand Committees
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has for regional Grand Committees. [41335]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  Standing Order No. 117 already provides for the establishment of a Standing Committee on Regional Affairs.

  Back Benchers' Debates
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to improve opportunities for debates for Back Benchers. [41336]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  I am prepared to listen to any suggestions, but it will not be easy to find extra time for such debates within the current sitting hours of the House.

  Ministerial Replies
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on her progress in ensuring earlier replies to hon. Members from her ministerial colleagues. [41338]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  Further to my comments in the House on 12 March 1998,Official Report, column 752, I wrote to my Ministerial colleagues on 31 March 1998 asking them to take action where necessary and Sir Richard Wilson has written to all Permanent Secretaries asking them to make every effort to ensure high quality and timely replies.

  Modernisation Committee
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the President of the Council what representations she has received on the reports of the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons. [41331]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  Almost all the representations I have received support the recommendations of the Committee. The House will be able to consider the third and fourth reports in a debate after the Whitsun recess.

  Parliamentary Working Hours
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to alter the working hours of the House. [41334]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The Modernisation Committee will shortly be considering the parliamentary calendar, including the working hours of the House.

  Number of Members
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the President of the Council if she will undertake a review of the total number of hon. Members of the House. [41337]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The Scotland Bill, currently before the House, provides for some reduction in the number of Members of the House after the next Boundary Commission report is implemented. I have no other plans to review the size of the House.

  Recycling Sacks
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many recycling sacks were distributed around the Palace of Westminster last year. [41330]

  Mrs. Roe
  In Financial Year 1997–1998, 100,000 paper recycling sacks were issued over the Parliamentary Estate.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  India
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to review aid contributions to the Indian sub-continent. [42563]

  Clare Short
  The British development programmes in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal are being reviewed this year in the light of the new policies set out in the Government'sWhite Paper on International Development.

  Pakistan
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is currently supporting in Pakistan and at what costs; and what was the comparable figure for 1997–98. [42232]

  Clare Short
  The main focus of our development co-operation with Pakistan is improving basic social services, such as elementary education and reproductive health. We are also helping to create better basic infrastructure and livelihoods for poor communities, in both rural and urban areas; and we are supporting various initiatives by Pakistan to enhance the quality of its governance. Final disbursement figures for the 1997–98 UK Financial Year are not yet available, but are expected to maintain the present pattern of spending on our bilateral programme of around £25 million annually.

  Montserrat Building Society
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions she has taken and what actions she proposes to assist the Montserrat Building Society. [41805]

  Clare Short
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on 11 May 1998,Official Report, column 21. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is responsible for co-ordinating HMG's policy in respect of the Montserrat Building Society and other matters.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with(a) the Building Societies Association and (b) the Bank of England about the Montserrat Building Society. [41804]

  Clare Short
  None. HMG's policy towards the Montserrat Building Society is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been in close contact with the Bank of England. The Bank has offered advice but neither it nor the Building Societies Association has regulatory power in this case.

  Sri Lanka
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is currently supporting in Sri Lanka and at what cost; and what was the comparable figure for 1997–98. [42234]
  248
  Clare Short
  We provided around £6 million of bilateral development assistance in 1997–98 to Sri Lanka, and expect to maintain this level of expenditure in the current year. The programme focuses on two major issues: raising the quality of primary education and helping those affected by civil conflict.

  We are working closely with the World Bank in improving education, concentrating on management and planning, and Maths and English. We are financing a relief and rehabilitation programme for families displaced by the civil conflict in the North and East, and contributing to parallel programmes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In addition, we are developing participatory management techniques with the Forest Department, raising the environmental management capacity of the Mahaweli Development Authority and improving the management of Colombo's sewers.

  Afghanistan
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid programmes her Department is currently supporting in Afghanistan and at what cost; and what was the comparable figure for 1997–98. [42258]

  Clare Short
  In March 1998, the Department for International Development (DFID) announced a £7.5 million humanitarian aid package for Afghanistan. This assistance will be disbursed over the 1997–98 and 1998–99 financial years as follows:£2 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for medical relief;
  £4.4 million in response to the UN consolidated appeal for Afghanistan:
  £2 million for demining
  £1.9 million to help international agencies function in Afghanistan; support for strengthening co-ordination between aid agencies and for communications, logistics and aircraft to deliver essential supplies and personnel
  £500,000 for UN Food and Agriculture Organisation for improving livestock production;
  £1.1 million to non governmental organisations for education, health water and sanitation project.

  We do not yet have the final figures for expenditure during 1997–98; however, the expected outturn will be approximately £8 million.

  Consultation Papers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the consultation papers published since 1 May 1997 giving the date of publication, closing date for submissions and the number of respondents. [42242]

  Clare Short
  No consultation papers have been published by the Department for International Development.

  British Council
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures she proposes to take to ensure that the work funded by the grant in aid
  249
  to the British Council reflects her Department's aims of eliminating poverty in poorer countries; and if she will make a statement. [41806]

  Clare Short
  As part of the Departmental Spending Review, we are looking at the present funding arrangements of the Grant-in-Aid and the uses to which the funds are put. The outcome of the Reviews will be known by the summer.

  Sudan
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held with(a) UNICEF, (b) the Red Cross and (c) representatives of the World Food Programme about humanitarian assistance for Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [41870]

  Clare Short
  I met UNICEF representatives on 29 April. My officials are in close contact with the Red Cross and other international non-governmental organisations about the humanitarian situation in Sudan. We are also in regular contact with the World Food Programme in Rome, Khartoum and Nairobi.

  The World Food Programme believes that there are now sufficient resources available and enough flights to deliver the supplies through until August, when the harvests are due to start. But we stand ready to provide more funds if needed.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations she has made to the Government of Sudan about restrictions on flights to Bahr al Ghazal since 9 March; and if she will make a statement; [41873]

  (2) what representations she has made to the Government of Sudan about the opening of relief corridors in Bahr al Ghazal since 9 March; and if she will make a statement. [41872]

  Clare Short
  We have pressed all parties to the conflict bilaterally and in our EU Presidency role for greater access to those in need. At our instigation, Sudan was discussed at the United Nations Security Council on 5 May.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the Commonwealth Development Corporation's new code of conduct. [41746]

  Clare Short
  The Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) existing statement of business principles refer to the annual report. CDC is currently working on a more detailed code of conduct which will be developed during 1998 based on a process of close consultation with interested parties. The new code of conduct will be published.

  UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made about changes to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if she will make a statement. [42229]
  250
  Clare Short
  My Department has not made representations about changes to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We support international efforts to enhance children's well-being through implementation of the Convention. We also promote children's protection and participation alongside the provision of effective and sustainable services.

  Indonesia
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98 on programmes in Indonesia for(a) forestry management, (b) assistance to trade unions and (c) developing non-Governmental organisation activities in East Timor; and what plans she has for comparable expenditure in 1998–99. [42277]

  Clare Short
  Actual and forecast expenditure figures are as follows:

  £000

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Forestry

  4,038

  2,378

  11,350

  Trade Unions

  0

  0

  1250

  NGOs in East Timor

  0

  0

  1350

  1 Forecasts

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to the Indonesian Human Rights Commission; and at what cost. [42276]

  Clare Short
  My Department is not currently assisting the Indonesian Human Rights Commission.

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which assistance programmes in Indonesia have been discontinued by her Department in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–9. [42275]

  Clare Short
  All commitments inherited from the previous administration, some of which run to the year 2000, are running their full course. The Aid and Trade Provision is discontinued. We no longer support Police Training. Future assistance will centre on three areas; forestry management with stronger emphasis on the needs of the poor, trade unions and NGOs in East Timor.

  UN Agencies
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the financial contribution made by her Department to UN agencies during 1997–98; and what is the planned figure for 1998–99. [41748]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) provided an estimated £123 million through multilateral programmes in 1997–98. In 1997, we also provided a further £30 million to UN agencies through our bilateral and emergency programmes in response to specific appeals.

  In 1998–99, we plan to provide at least £117 million to the UN through our multilateral programmes. In addition, we expect to provide further assistance under our bilateral and emergency aid programmes.

DEFENCE

  Army Recruitment
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest recruitment figures for the Army. [41294]

  Mr. George Robertson
  In the year to 31 March, the Army recruited 13,926 soldiers, the highest number since 1991. In addition, 708 officers were granted commissions during that period. The totals are, respectively, 88 per cent. and 97 per cent. of the targets for the year.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future deployment of British troops in the Balkans following the expiry of the SFOR mandate. [41313]

  Mr. George Robertson
  NATO is currently considering options for the size and shape of a force in Bosnia after June 1998. The Government will decide the precise nature of the UK's contribution in light of the recommendations of the NATO authorities and will announce the outcome to Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.

  Whilst the UK is seeking a reduction from its current contribution to SFOR, we expect to remain the second largest contributor after the United States.

  Warships
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many destroyers and frigates are undertaking long-term international commitments; and how many are currently undergoing refit or port maintenance. [41314]

  Dr. Reid
  Seven Destroyers/Frigates are currently undertaking long term international commitments. Four Destroyers/Frigates are undergoing refit or planned maintenance which reduces operational availability. Six Destroyers/Frigates are undergoing routine planned maintenance periods of three to six weeks which do not reduce operational availability and a further one is undergoing unplanned defect rectification.

  Carrier Operations
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those naval vessels which are required to support carrier operations. [41316]

  Dr. Reid
  Carrier operations are invariably supported by anti-submarine frigates, Air Defence destroyers and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries. Additionally, all other Fleet units, including submarines, mine-countermeasure vessels, specialist amphibious shipping and survey vessels may be required to support Carrier Operations depending upon the specific nature of the operation, the role of the carrier and the operating environment.

  Jaguar Squadrons
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each of the two Royal Air Force Jaguar offensive support squadrons and the Jaguar reconnaissance squadron will be disbanded. [41317]
  252
  Dr. Reid
  Under current plans, the first Jaguar squadron will disband in April 2005, the second in March 2006 and the third in October 2008. The Strategic Defence Review has examined all aspects of the structure of the Armed Forces, including the Fast Jet fleet. Proposals on the SDR have been submitted to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Cabinet will now decide collectively on the outcome of the review. Publication of the SDR White Paper will follow as soon as decisions have been made.

  Defence Diversification
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the consultation period on the Government's Green Paper on defence diversification ends. [41318]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson).

  Territorial Army
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Territorial Army infantry. [41319]

  Dr. Reid
  The Strategic Defence Review has examined all aspects of our Armed Forces, including the Territorial Army and its Infantry Battalions. We have not yet taken any final decisions and it would be wrong for me to speculate as to what they might be.

  What I can say is that we clearly need a Territorial Army that is relevant to today's strategic environment, structured for all the roles that we can plausibly foresee. Our aim is to achieve a capable and useable Territorial Army, one that is modern, fit and ready for the service of a modern Britain.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the future of the Territorial Army centres. [41301]

  Dr. Reid
  My Department has received a number of representations concerning the future of many Territorial Army units and the centres they occupy.

  New Deal
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department is making to the Government's new deal initiative. [41320]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins).

  Iraq
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his strategy for military deployment in the middle east to ensure compliance with United Nations resolutions relating to Iraq. [41321]

  Mr. George Robertson
  UK forces remain deployed in the Gulf to help ensure that Saddam Hussein complies with all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. We would wish to see a pattern of Iraqi
  253
  compliance with relevant UNSCRs over a period of time before considering whether to change our military capability in the region.

  Land Mines
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to dispose of the United Kingdom's stocks of anti-personnel land mines. [41322]

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to dispose of the United Kingdom's stocks of anti-personnel land mines. [41326]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Plans have been drawn up to destroy all of the Army's operational stocks of anti-personnel land mines by 1 January 2000, which is well ahead of the timetable laid down by the Ottawa Convention. We are still working on arrangements for the destruction of the HB876 anti-personnel submunition of the RAF's JP233 Airfield denial weapon, but I am confident that this, too, will be achieved well before the Ottawa Convention deadline.

  European Defence Industry
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards restructuring of the European defence industry. [41324]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government are keen to play their part in maintaining the impetus on this important initiative. To this end, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and Spain on 20 April in order to discuss their common interest in restructuring the European defence industry. A joint statement was issued, in which ministers agreed to take action in five key areas: security of supply; export procedures; research and development funding; security of information and personnel clearances; and intellectual property rights. A letter of intent spelling out the objectives and principles for handling these issues and the timetable for the tasks involved is planned to be approved in June 1998.

  Equal Treatment
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the equal treatment of men and women serving in the armed forces. [41325]

  Dr. Reid
  The Armed Forces are committed, within the limits of the law, to being an equal opportunities employer, and to ensuring that progression through the Services is based solely on merit and ability. Men and women are recruited, interviewed and trained using the same procedures, and no special or preferential treatment is given to anyone who wishes to join the Armed Forces.

  We are determined to recruit the brightest and the best to the Armed Forces, irrespective of gender, ethnic origin or religious beliefs. We have increased opportunities for
  254
  women in the Army and have commissioned a fundamental review of the remaining areas where women are excluded on combat effectiveness grounds.

  Future Large Aircraft
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government will order the FLA troop and tank-carrying aircraft made by British firms. [41327]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Request for Proposals has been issued to Airbus, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Alenia and FLABEL on a provisional basis pending the formation of Airbus Military Company. We are still discussing with our partners when Requests for Proposals will be issued to other potential suppliers. A procurement decision will be made in the light of the conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review and of the responses to the Request for Proposals. FLA, as currently envisaged, will not be able to carry Main Battle Tanks.

  Armoured Fighting Vehicle Training
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his progress in finding alternative uses for(a) the Royal Navy facilities being released by the move of HMS Osprey and (b) the facilities at Bovington made available by the civilianisation of armoured fighting vehicle training. [41328]

  Dr. Reid
  At present, no alternative defence uses for the site at HMS Osprey have been identified. The Army Training and Recruiting Agency is looking at the site in the context of a study into options for rationalisation of the Adjutant General's Corps Training Group, which currently occupies a number of sites in the South. The results of the study will be published at the end of June. The awards of the facilities management contract at the Royal Armoured Corps Centre at Bovington and Lulworth has not resulted in the release of any specific facilities.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in respect of members, or former members, of the reserve forces suffering from Gulf war syndrome. [41304]

  Dr. Reid
  Since coming into office, the Government have taken a wide range of initiatives to address the health concerns of Gulf veterans. These include work on issues of particular concern to those veterans who were mobilised from the reserves to serve during the conflict.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of his Department's plutonium holdings. [41323]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces on 13 March 1998,Official Report, column 432.

  Departmental Research
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of applications from women, in relation to his Department's research budget, were successful for(a) project grants, (b) programme grants, (c) special grants intended for new investigators, (d) studentships and (e) fellowships, in 1997 and each of the two previous years; [40880]

  (2) what percentage of applications, in relation to his Department's research budget, were from women, for (a) project grants, (b) programme grants, (c) special grants intended for new investigators, (d) studentships and (e) fellowships, in 1997 and each of the two previous years. [40881]

  Mr. Spellar
  Funding from the Defence research budget in respect of project grants and programme grants is specified not by individual names but by research packages and technology groups. New researchers may apply for funding under the Joint Grants Scheme, under which the relevant Research Council and MOD may each make up to a 50% contribution to research proposals with potential Defence application. Information on grants provided is not available in the form requested, as applicants are not required to give information about their sex. Studentships in engineering, both pre-university and for sponsorship until University finals, are funded from a central MOD budget and not from the Defence research budget. Historic figures are not kept but, of those currently sponsored by MOD to read engineering, 6.8% are women. A system of Research fellowships is being introduced in the current financial year. The process is at an early stage and information on the percentage of applications from women is not yet available.

  Sierra Leone
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when British aid was first delivered to the towns of(a) Bo, (b) Kenema and (c) Makeni in Sierra Leone by HMS Cornwall. [41938]

  Mr. George Robertson
  British aid was first delivered by HMS Cornwall to Bo on 2 March, Kenema on 3 March and Makeni on 7 March.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the ship's programme for HMS Cornwall which include her visit to Sierra Leone in March. [41880]

  Date

  Rank

  Role

  October 1995-March 1996

  Lt. Col.

  British Military Liaison Officer (BMLO), providing advice to the British High Commissioner and to Sierra Leone Armed forces on restructuring and training

  March 1996-October 1996

  Lt. Col.

  BMLO

  22–26 September 1996

  1 × Lt. Col.

  To advise the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Forces on civil-military relations

  October 1996-April 1997

  Lt. Col.

  BMLO

  24 November-1 December 1996

  1 × Lt. Cdr RN 1 × Lt. RN

  Advice on structure, capability and operating procedures of Navy

  23 March-7 June 1997

  1 × Capt. 1 × WO2

  Advice on basic military skills. (WO2 withdrawn on medical grounds on 16 May 1997)

  256
  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The information on HMS Cornwall's programme of port visits since leaving the UK on 16 February is as follows:

  Date

  18–19 February 1998

  Routine port visit to Gibraltar to refuel.

  25 February 1998

  Arrived Conakry, Guinea.

  27 February 1998

  Sailed Conakry.

  1 March 1998

  Arrived Freetown, Sierra Leone.

  During the period 1 to 20 March, Cornwall left Freetown on a number of occasions as follows:

  Date

  3–5 March 1998

  Moved further south along the coast to position closer to Bo and Kenema and to replenish fresh water.

  7–9 March 1998

  Off the coast of Sierra Leone to make fresh water and for ship's company R and R.

  11–12 March 1998

  Overnight off the coast of Sierra Leone to make fresh water.

  13–14 March 1998

  Off the coast of Sierra Leone for ship's company R and R.

  15–16 March 1998

  Off the coast of Sierra Leone to replenish water stocks.

  20 March 1998

  Sailed Freetown.

  3–6 April 1998

  Agadir.

  8–19 April 1998

  Tenerife.

  20–22 April 1998

  Nouadhibou, Mauritania.

  24–27 April 1998

  Conakry, Guinea.

  1–5 May 1998

  Douala, Cameroon.

  7–11 May 1998

  Owendo, Gabon.

  14–18 May 1998

  Luanda, Angola.

  The remainder of Cornwall's programme currently includes visits to Namibia, South Africa, Ascension Island, and Ghana. There are also plans for her to pay a return visit to Freetown. Cornwall returns to the UK in August.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those British military personnel who have served in Sierra Leone since 1 January 1996 indicating their(a) name, rank and post held, (b) dates of service and (c) tasks undertaken. [41819]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The details of British military personnel who have served in Sierra Leone since 1 January 1996 are as follows:
  257
  I am considering whether to release the names of those concerned, having regard to their current appointments and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, Lt. Col. Hicks deployed to Conakry, Guinea, on 15 February prior to moving to Sierra Leone from 5–17 March 1998, as a military liaison officer in support of the British High Commissioner. He also visited Sierra Leone from 28 April-8 May 1998. Col. Gale who was the Defence Adviser in Accra, Ghana with non-resident accreditation (NRA) to Freetown between 1 January 1996 and February 1998, is currently serving in Sierra Leone as the Military Adviser to the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy. Lt. Col. Glover succeeded Col. Gale as Defence Adviser in Accra, with NRA to Freetown in February 1998; he visited Sierra Leone from 17–20 March 1998.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Cornwall received orders to proceed to Sierra Leone. [42098]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: HMS Cornwall was instructed on 27 February 1998 to enter Freetown on 1 March.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the latitude and longitude of HMS Cornwall at 0400 on 28 February. [41878]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: On 28 February at 0400, HMS Cornwall was at the position 08–53.2N8 latitude and 013–47.SW3 longitude.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the ship's log of HMS Cornwall between 1 January and 1 April. [41879]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The logs requested are being collected in the UK and I will write to the hon. Member about the possible release of copies as soon as I am able.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates between 2 May 1997 and 4 May 1998 his Private Office received submissions or briefing notes on the situation in Sierra Leone. [42084]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: A large number of submissions and briefing notes which contained reference to the situation in Sierra Leone were received in my private office throughout the period in question.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Minister for the Armed Forces was first consulted about making available his Department's resources, equipment, communications facilities, military bases and service and civilian personnel in support of Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41844]

  (2) on what date he was first consulted about making available his Department's equipment, communications facilities, military bases and service and civilian personnel in support of Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone. [41843]
  258
  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: Neither my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces nor I was consulted about any such proposal.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what day(a) his officials or (b) his Private Office first gave him papers relating to potential operations by Sandline or others in Sierra Leone; and on what date he acknowledged them; [41958]

  (2) on what day the Defence Intelligence Organisation first passed him details of potential operations by Sandline and others in Sierra Leone. [41959]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: As far as I have been able to ascertain, the first report which my office received of Sandline's involvement in Sierra Leone was circulated on 11 March, referring to allegations of Sandline training the Kamajor. There was no mention in this report of arms supplies or a breach of the arms embargo. Potential operations and activities of others, primarily ECOMOG forces, were referred to in a number of reports circulated within the Department, including to Ministers' Offices, dating back to May 1997.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the aircraft and helicopters maintained, serviced and repaired by Royal Navy personnel based aboard HMS Cornwall since 1 January 1996 indicating(a) the type of aircraft or helicopter, (b) the owner of the aircraft or helicopter, (c) the dates when the work was carried out, (d) the location where the work was carried out and (e) the nature of the work done. [41818]

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical assistance has been given by British military personnel on board HMS Cornwall or on land in Sierra Leone, Guinea or Liberia to Sandline International since 1 January. [41877]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The information back to 1996 is not readily available. However, HMS Cornwall has reported that, in March 1998, the ship's crew gave assistance on two occasions to an HIP MI 17 helicopter operated by Sandline in support of the ECOMOG Operations. On 6 March, the ECOMOG helicopter, carrying their Task Force Commander, landed at a heliport alongside HMS Cornwall after a bird strike. HMS Cornwall staff spent 2 hours repairing the aircraft. On 13 March the same helicopter sought and received minor assistance at the same heliport.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the inquiry announced by the Foreign Secretary on 6 May will cover the role of Ministers and civil servants in his Department. [41858]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: Yes, where relevant.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the role of HMS Cornwall in the waters off Sierra Leone in February and March. [41861]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: Following the ousting of the military junta by ECOMOG forces, HMS Cornwall was deployed to Sierra Leone to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to

  259
  the people of Sierra Leone, to support our diplomatic efforts there, and to assist in the return of the British High Commissioner.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role was played by British armed services in the recent overthrow of the military junta in Sierra Leone and the restoration to power of President Kabbah; [41860]

  (2) when officials in his Department were informed of the role of the UK armed services in the recent overthrow of the military junta and the restoration to power of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone; [41859]

  (3) when Ministers were informed of the role of UK armed services in the recent overthrow of the military junta and the restoration to power of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone. [41857]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The UK armed services did not have such a role.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what specific departmental resources, equipment, communication facilities, military bases and service and civilian personnel supported Sandline International's involvement in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41842]

  (2) on what date the Chief of the Air Staff, the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff and their outer offices were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41836]

  (3) on what date the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and their outer offices were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41838]

  (4) on what date the Permanent Secretary and his outer office staff were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41840]

  (5) on what date the Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations and Security) and his outer office were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41835]

  (6) on what date the Chief of the General Staff, the Assistant Chief of General Staff and their outer offices were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41837]

  (7) on what date the Chief of Defence Intelligence and his staff were first informed about the involvement of his Department's personnel and military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone; [41839]
  260
  (8) on what date the Chief of the Defence Staff and his outer office were first informed about the involvement and his Department's personnel of military assets in support of Sandline International in restoring the Government of Sierra Leone. [41841]

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what day and at what level his Department first discussed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office potential operations by Sandline or others in Sierra Leone. [41960]

  Mr. George Robertson
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear his intention, following the Customs investigation, to ask someone from outside the Foreign Office or Diplomatic Service to conduct a full investigation into events surrounding this case. The report of that investigation will be published.

  Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Minister for the Armed Forces had at his recent meeting with representatives of the Scots Guards Association on the effect of the case of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright on the morale of the regiment. [41227]

  Dr. Reid
  I had a worthwhile exchange of views at my meeting on 13 May with representatives of the Scots Guards Association. The effect of the case of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright on the morale of the Regiment was not raised, although the issue of morale was raised in more general terms.

  Military Law
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for changes to the present system of military law and courts martial. [41813]

  Dr. Reid
  The court-martial system was reformed by a series of measures included in the Armed Forces Act 1996. These reforms were wide ranging and were designed to reinforce, the independence of the court-martial, principally by reducing the apparent influence of the chain of command, whilst preserving its necessary involvement.

  We are satisfied that these recent changes to the court-martial system will ensure its continuing effectiveness into the next millennium. However, we are aware that we cannot afford to be complacent, so the system is kept under constant review to ensure it remains efficient procedurally as well as substantively. To this end, we are currently investigating ways of preventing backlogs within the system.

  Resettlement Courses
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will extend(a) the size of the grant and (b) the length of time allowed for the individual refund scheme for military personnel to attend approved resettlement courses. [41867]

  Dr. Reid
  The Individual Refund Scheme (IRS) permits all serving members of the Armed Forces to reclaim a proportion of the cost of fees paid to civilian
  261
  bodies for certain personal development courses and examinations. The Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC) grant is a separate allowance payable to personnel with five years or more Service, in their final year, to help meet the costs of resettlement training courses. As part of the Strategic Defence Review, we are examining possible enhancement of the provision of education for Servicemen and Servicewomen.

  Foxes
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foxes were taken in each of the last three years on his Department's land(a) by hunts, (b) by shoots and (c) by vermin controllers. [41869]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 25 November 1997,Official Report, column 499.

  Army Engineers
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Army's engineer resources. [42870]

  Dr. Reid
  The consultation process on the conclusions of the Engineer Logistics Review has now ended. The review recommended that the Engineer Resources functions carried out at Long Marston should be disaggregated to new service providers and not transfer to Chilwell, as previously announced. A number of representations were received from the trades unions, local councils, individual employees and hon. Members. Having considered these representations very carefully, I am satisfied that no issues have arisen which would call into question the study's recommendations. I intend, therefore, to proceed to implement disaggregation with the objective of ceasing operations at the Long Marston Depot by December 1999.

  Hunting
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the agreement was signed between him and the Masters of Foxhounds Association establishing the terms and conditions whereby the Association and recognised hunts may have access to his Department's land for the purpose of fox hunting; [41886]

  (2) if under his proposals to harmonise the issuing of all hunting licences across his Department's estate, his policy on hunting practices and conditions laid down in previous licences will be changed; [42150]

  (3) if licence applications to hunt with hounds on his Department's land in the 1998–99 season will be determined before the beginning of August. [42151]

  Mr. Spellar
  The new standardised licence is currently being drawn up by my officials in the Defence Estate Organisation. The Master of the Foxhounds Association will be consulted as part of the finalisation process which is planned to be complete by the beginning of August 1998. The licence will contain amended terms and conditions and will reflect those changes in hunting practices which were introduced on the Defence Estate during the last season.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procurement contracts have been placed since May 1997 by the armed services for trucks and other heavy goods vehicles. [42575]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since May 1997, 20 contracts have been placed by the armed services for 163 trucks and other heavy goods vehicles, which are defined as any logistic vehicle with a capacity over four tonnes. These details are:

  Quantity

  Vehicle type

  2

  Tractor unit 60 tonne 6x4

  15

  Truck cargo 4 tonne 4x4

  16

  Commercial trucks 16 tonne

  6

  Commercial trucks 16 tonne

  1

  Six yard skip handling

  1

  Rough terrain crane

  20

  Truck mounted runway sweeper

  1

  Tractor unit with crane

  1

  Truck mounted servicing platform

  41

  Tractor unit semi-trailer

  4

  Tractor unit semi-trailer

  4

  Truck van postal

  1

  Volvo FL1O tractor unit

  7

  Truck fire fighting

  1

  38 metre servicing platform

  1

  Truck van laboratory

  5

  Truck various

  14

  Airportable fuel dispense truck

  11

  A/C potable water/toilet servicing truck

  11

  De-ionised water tanker

  Training
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many man training days per year are spent on training on private land; and what would be the cost to his Department if charges were raised at the current rate of £1.50 per man day. [41885]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The three Services spend some 900,000 man training days per year on private land in the United Kingdom.

  If charges were raised for this training, at the current rate of £1.50 per man per day, the cost for a year would be approximately £1.35 million.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Party Political Meetings
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what factors underlay the decision of the Prime Minister to address the Party of European Socialists at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 April; [40750]

  (2) if he will set out the rules concerning the holding of party political meetings in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [40751]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  When available, the historical rooms in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are on occasion used by outside organisations (usually with an
  263
  international dimension) for meetings or receptions, and subject to payment of a fee: there must be no cost to public funds.

  The only occasion since the General Election when these premises have been used for a party occasion was a meeting of the Party of European Socialists in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 April. This meeting was attended by eight European Prime Ministers, and represented a valuable opportunity to set out the Government's approach on employability and economic reform in advance of the Cardiff Summit. The meeting was held at no additional cost to public funds.

  Ambassadors for British Business
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Ambassadors for British Business sit on Government committees. [42055]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I will write to the hon. Member with these details, and copies will be placed in the libraries of the House.

  EU Legislation
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) European Council and (b) European Commission (i) directives, (ii) regulations and (iii) decisions there were in 1997. [41956]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  According to information from the Commission Annual Report for 1997, in 1997 the Council, either alone or acting jointly with European Parliament, enacted 34 Directives, 209 Regulations and 164 Decisions. The Commission enacted 35 Directives, 760 Regulations and 635 Decisions. A lot of these were implementing measures enacted under secondary legislation powers.

  These figures exclude instruments not published in the Official Journal and routine management instruments valid for a limited period.

  The Report also notes that, in the same period, more than 700 Commission instruments, and over 350 Council or Council and EP instruments, either expired or were repealed.

  Edgar Fernandes
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what liaison took place between the British consulate and the Turkish authorities on the disappearance of Edgar Fernandes; what subsequent liaison has taken place; and at what level. [42104]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The British Consulate General in Istanbul formally requested the Head Prosecutor in Istanbul to investigate urgently the disappearance of Edgar Fernandes. The Consul had meetings with the Deputy Chief of Police and the Head of Interpol about the matter. The Vice Consul accompanied a member of the Fernandes family to the Prosecutor's office following confirmation of Edgar Fernandes's death.
  264
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Egyptian authorities to further the investigation into Edgar Fernandes's death. [42107]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our Embassy in Cairo had asked the Egyptian authorities for a photograph of an Egyptian national suspected of being involved in Edgar Fernandes's death to assist in police investigations. The Egyptian national has been detained by the police in Malta. The Turkish authorities are investigating the death of Mr. Fernandes in Turkey.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to recover Edgar Fernandes's passport. [42106]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The British Consulate-General in Istanbul was informed by the Turkish authorities on 5 May that they had a record of Edgar Fernandes's passport leaving Turkey at the Bulgarian border on 20 April. Further checks by the British Embassy in Sofia on 6 May showed that a person using that passport entered Bulgaria by train from Turkey on 20 April and left by foot at Kulhata on the Greek border on 21 April.

  Unfortunately, the Greek authorities do not keep records of EU passport holders entering/departing Greece. Interpol UK are currently following this matter up with the Greek authorities.

  Japan
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Association of British Civilian Internees in respect of their treatment by Japanese forces during the Second World War; what recent discussions he has had on these matters with his Japanese counterparts; and if he will make a statement. [42071]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made during the adjournment debate on 29 April 1998,Official Report, columns 284–87.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call on the Government of Indonesia to show restraint when dealing with unarmed student demonstrators. [42458]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have done so on a number of occasions.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from Mr. Martin Cadman in response to the Adjournment Debate of 29 April 1998 on Lockerbie. [42393]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs received a letter from Mr. Cadman on 14 May. It will be studied carefully and a reply will be issued shortly.

  Defence Exports
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has
  265
  taken to ensure that defence exports promoted by his Department are not used to repress internal dissent in the purchasing countries. [41307]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The most effective way of ensuring that defence exports are not used for internal repression including the repression of internal dissent is to carry out a thorough assessment of this risk when considering whether to authorise an export. This includes consideration of the human rights record of the recipient country and of the specific end-user, including its use of similar equipment, and the likelihood of diversion from the stated end-use or end-user. The export licensing criteria specify that exports will not be authorised if there is a clearly identifiable risk that the goods concerned might be used for internal repression.

HEALTH

  Children's Rights
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if legislation is planned to develop those children's rights provided for by the Children Act 1989. [24336]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have no plans to legislate for the development of any children's rights provided for by the Children Act 1989. Development is a continuing process, often achieved by the dissemination of good practice and policies between local authorities and other organisations providing services to children.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department is giving to the establishment of a children's commissioner for the United Kingdom. [27637]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have no plans to establish an office of Children's Rights Commissioner. During 1998 the Government will be preparing the Second United Kingdom Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with the requirements of Article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. We will take into account possible advantages of such an Office and seek progress in other countries where such an Office has been established.

  Hospital Closures (Cornwall and Scilly)
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, column 354, what factors will determine the timing of the announcement of his decision on the hospital closure programme proposed by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority. [41943]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision when he has given full and proper consideration to the proposals put forward by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority.

  Bogus Doctors
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bogus doctors have been discovered(a) in private practices, (b) working as general practitioners in the NHS and (c) as hospital doctors in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [42069]
  266
  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not collected centrally. The General Medical Council (GMC) is responsible for maintaining the register of medical practitioners in order to distinguish the qualified from the unqualified medical practitioner.

  Before doctors can practise anywhere in the United Kingdom, they must have obtained registration with the GMC. In each case the GMC requires originals of the diplomas and certificates confirming the applicant's qualifications and detailed documentation concerning experience.

  The GMC keep their registration procedure under constant review to ensure that they are as secure as possible against fraud. As a further safeguard, the Department has issued guidance (PM(87)7, EL(92)53 and EL(92)84) reminding employing authorities that appointment procedures must ensure that candidates are properly registered with the GMC.

  The GMC operates a 24 hour automated telephone inquiry service which can be accessed by authorities wishing to check a doctor's credentials. Additionally, an operator service is available during working hours for people wishing to make more detailed inquiries.

  Chemotherapy (Wigs)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to provide wigs free of charge to outpatients who lose hair through chemotherapy treatment. [42260]

  Mr. Boateng
  We are currently looking into the subject of such charges as part of the wider comprehensive review of health services costs and charges.

  Currently, a wig may be provided as part of National Health Service treatment if it is considered to be clinically necessary. As with the supply of any medication, patients will qualify for free wigs if they are hospital in-patients. Schedule 12 of the National Health Service Act 1977 states that
  "no charge shall be made to a patient who is for the time being resident in hospital".

  Out-patients cannot be said to be resident in hospital, and so are not entitled to the same automatic exemption from charges as in-patients.

  Out-patients and day patients may qualify for full or partial exemption from charges on income grounds. If patients are in receipt of Disability Working Allowance, Family Credit, Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they will be entitled to wigs free of charge. Additionally, people not in the groups who are automatically exempt may claim help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

  Waiting Lists (Cheshire)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of patients in the area covered by the Cheshire Health Authority who have been waiting for operations for over a year; and what the figure was on 1 May 1997. [42159]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on the numbers of patients awaiting admission to hospital, whether it be for surgery or for some other form of treatment, and how long they
  267
  had been waiting is published quarterly and shows the position at the end of the quarter. Information for 1 May 1997 is not therefore available. On 31 March 1997 414 patients resident in the areas covered by North and South Cheshire Health Authorities had been waiting more than a year for admission to hospital on either an ordinary or day case basis. The latest information currently available is for 31 December 1997 and this shows 1,328 patients waiting more than a year for admission.

  Health Insurance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of insurance as a way for individuals to pay for long-term care. [42064]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have established a Royal Commission on the funding of long-term care for the elderly. The Commission has been asked to recommend how the cost of care should be shared between public funds and the individual, and will no doubt be looking at the role of insurance in this.

  Anti-acne Drug
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received of adverse reactions following the use of the anti-acne drug Roaccutane/ Accutane; and if he will make a statement. [42061]

  Ms Jowell
  In England, there have been more than 11,000 prescriptions for Roaccutane since 1987, the first year for which data are available. During this period, the Medicines Control Agency/Committee on Safety of Medicines have received a total of 625 reports covering 1,025 suspected adverse reactions associated with Roaccutane treatment in the United Kingdom. These reports cover a wide range of effects: the most frequently reported include skin and subcutaneous tissue reactions, musculoskeletal disorders and gastrointestinal disorders.

  Roaccutane (oral isotretinoin) is available only on prescription for the treatment of severe acne which has failed to respond to antibiotics. It is recommended for use under the supervision of a consultant dermatologist. The product information for doctors and patients includes information on its adverse effects.

  Hip Replacement
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that inducements may not be offered to surgeons in order to encourage them to use specific hip replacement prostheses. [42063]

  Mr. Boateng
  Guidance on standards of business conduct for National Health Service staff is set out in circular HSG(93)5, copies of which are available in the Library. NHS trusts are responsible for ensuring that staff are aware of their responsibilities in this area.

  Ashworth Hospital
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the discovery of prescribed drugs collected by Ian Brady at Ashworth Hospital and the purposes for which they were collected; [42605]
  268
  (2) what assessment he has made of the current prescribing of drugs and checks on patients taking medication at Ashworth Hospital; [42606]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of procedures for the checking of items (a) coming in and (b) leaving Ashworth Hospital; [42607]

  (4) what action he has taken regarding recent security breaches at Ashworth Hospital. [42604]

  Mr. Boateng
  The matters referred to are, in the first instance, the responsibility of the management of Ashworth Hospital Authority. The North West Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive (NWRO) monitors Ashworth Hospital Authority's performance of its responsibilities, and the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board (HSPSCB), which is also part of the NHS Executive, has a service agreement with Ashworth Hospital Authority relating to the type and level of services which the hospital is expected to provide.

  Ashworth Hospital Authority introduced a revised security procedures manual in December 1997. The authority has arrangements in place for an ongoing audit of the manner in which the security procedures manual is being implemented across the hospital. Both the NWRO and the HSPSCB include, as part of their monitoring role, a review of the security arrangements in place at the hospital and the audit findings. Further changes to the security arrangements will be introduced if necessary.

  The security procedures manual covers the checking of items coming into and leaving the hospital. This includes searches of packages and the escorting of visitors to and from the premises.

  Arrangements are in place for patients to be observed while taking their medication, and an audit of drug prescribing is currently under way.

  Any breach of security is investigated by the hospital, and more serious breaches are considered by the NWRO and the HSPSCB as part of their monitoring role.

  Ashworth Hospital has informed the NWRO that a single tablet was found during a search of Mr. Brady's room in April this year. This is an internal matter, which hospital managers are best placed to deal with.

  NHS Executive Regional Office
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to establish the NHS Executive Regional Office for London; and if he will make a statement. [42671]

  Mr. Dobson
  In my statement on 3 February 1998,Official Report, column 843, I accepted the recommendations in Sir Leslie Turnberg's report on London's Health Services including the proposal that a single National Health Service Executive Regional Office for London should be a longer-term aim in order to ensure effective planning across London. I have now decided that it would be right to move more quickly on this front and I intend to establish such an Office from 1 April 1999. In the meantime, I expect the existing North and South Thames Regional Offices to continue to work closely with each other to ensure coherent strategic planning across London.
  269
  The decision to establish a single Regional Office for London necessarily affects the boundaries of other existing NHS Executive Regional Offices in the South of England and I intend to reorganise their boundaries to match more closely the boundaries of the Government Offices for the Regions. The following arrangements will be established from 1 April 1999.
  A London Regional Office which will be coterminous with the proposed Greater London Authority.
  A South East Regional Office which would cover Health Authorities in Kent, Surrey, Sussex (which are currently covered by South Thames Regional Office), Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (which are currently covered by the South and West Regional Office) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire (which are currently covered by the Anglia and Oxford Regional Office).
  An Eastern Regional Office covering Health Authorities in Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire (which are currently covered by the Anglia and Oxford Regional Office) and Essex and Hertfordshire (which are currently covered by North Thames Regional Office).
  A South West Regional Office which will exclude Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

  In addition I intend to restructure the Department's Social Care Regional Offices so that from 1 April 1999 they are coterminous with the boundaries of the NHS Executive Regional Offices as follows:
  The Northern Social Care Region will match the North West and Northern and Yorkshire NHS Executive Regional Offices.
  The Central Social Care Region will match the West Midlands, Trent and Eastern NHS Executive Regional Offices.
  The Southern Social Care Region will match the South West and South East NHS Executive Regional Offices.
  The London Social Care Region will match the London NHS Executive Regional Office.

  A map showing the new NHS Executive Regional Office structure has been placed in the Library.

  The Regional Chairmen for the new NHS Executive Regional Offices will be:
  London: Ian Mills
  South East: Sir William Wells
  Eastern: Rosie Varley
  South West: Janet Trotter.

  Their appointments will run until 31 October 1999, the date on which their original appointments were due to expire.

  Sheppey Community Hospital
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the PFI for the new hospital on the Isle of Sheppey; and what contingency plans his Department has made in the event of failure of the PFI. [41919]

  Mr. Milburn
  We recognise the service need for improved hospital facilities at Sheppey. Thames Gateway National Health Service Trust, West Kent Health Authority and South Thames NHS Executive Regional Office are currently working hard to ensure a successful private finance initiative (PFI) scheme. Like all PFI schemes, to be approved the final agreed PFI solution must demonstrate it is affordable to the NHS and best value for money.
  270
  Should the decision be taken not to proceed with the PH option then all the parties above will work together to find an alternative solution.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors led the North Kent Health Trust to purchase a new greenfield site for the intended Sheppey Community Hospital prior to determination of the PFI. [41921]

  Mr. Milburn
  In the outline business case for this scheme the trust examined the option of developing on their current site, but this was discounted as it would have involved using a cemetery (now disused) which is on the site. Local consultation indicated that there would be considerable opposition to building across the cemetery and this could delay any start on site by a significant period. Additionally, there would have been high costs involved with the removal of remains to an alternative site. These were the reasons for purchasing the new greenfield site.

  A greenfield site was identified as the preferred option in the outline business case long before the trust started testing for the private finance initiative scheme.

  Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors led to the construction of two new wards in the Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital in 1996–97; what funding was secured to staff and equip them; and when they will be staffed and equipped. [41920]

  Mr. Milburn
  The two new wards (for rehabilitation and general practitioner services) were constructed at the same time as the rest of the new community hospital at Sittingbourne. However, the costs of providing the full range of services at the new hospital had to be revised upwards. Since April 1997 West Kent Health Authority has funded outpatients, minor injuries and psychiatric day services at Sittingbourne hospital. West Kent Health Authority and Thames Gateway National Health Service Trust are aiming to open the two wards for rehabilitation and GP services by the end of this financial year.

  Stroke Units
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that there is nationally available access to specialised stroke units. [34099]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 16 March 1998]: In terms of hospital care, it is well established that rehabilitation after a stroke is best provided by properly organised multi-disciplinary teams, and we have endorsed this message in one of our Effective Health Care Bulletins.

  It is currently the responsibility of local commissioners to assess the health care needs of their population and to commission services appropriately.

  The Clinical Standards Advisory Group is currently undertaking a study on clinical effectiveness, using stroke as a marker condition, and has recently commissioned a survey of stroke services in a representative sample of National Health Service trusts. Its report is expected to be published later this year.
  271
  The NHS White Paper, The New NHS—Modern and Dependable, sets out a clear vision of the kind of NHS in which access to services, equity of care and the needs of all patients, including those with long term illness, are paramount.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the financing of the Food Standards Agency. [41585]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government intend to consult with interested parties on detailed proposals for a scheme of charges that would pass a greater proportion of the costs of food safety away from the taxpayer on to the food industry. These proposals are being drawn up in the light

  Funding body

  Research body

  Title

  Start date

  End date

  Price band

  MAFF/DH/HSE

  Institute of Occupational Medicine

  Epidemiological study to detect well defined chronic effects in humans of dipping sheep with OP products

  November 1995

  April 1999

  A

  MAFF

  Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  Study of the long-term electrophysiological effects of sheep-dip OPs in the mouse nervous system

  January 1997

  March 1999

  C

  MAFF

  CBD Porton Down

  Dose effect profiles for OP sheep dips on brain electrical activity and sensitive behaviour indices in non-human primates

  Expected shortly

  3 years to complete

  B

  MAFF

  Covance

  Bioavailability of OP residues in fruit

  December 1997

  March 1999

  D

  MAFF

  Institute of Food Research, Reading

  The impact of informational content and presentational context on perceptions of specific food risks

  April 1997

  March 2000

  C

  MAFF

  Institute of Food Research, Reading

  Impact of media reporting of risk on public perceptions of OPs

  February 1998

  June 1998

  E

  MAFF

  Covance Laboratories Ltd.

  Bioavailability of OP pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables

  December 1997

  March 1999

  D

  MAFF

  Soil Survey and Land Research Centre

  Role of soil and crop management practices in determining the variability of OP residues in carrots

  May 1997

  April 1998

  E

  MAFF

  Central Science Laboratory

  Analysis of individual carrot roots for pesticide residues

  October 1997

  March 1998

  E

  ILGRA

  AEA Technology

  Risk communication benchmark study (includes OP case study)

  January 1997

  March 1998

  D

  HSE

  Institute of Occupational Health

  Investigation of chronic neurophysiological and neuropsychological effects of exposure to OP sheep dips

  —

  1995

  C

  272
  of the comments submitted during public consultation on the White Paper, The Food Standards Agency: A Force for Change (CM 3830).

  Organophosphates
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 8 April 1998,Official Report, columns 233–34, on organo-phosphates, if he will list the organisations which received funding in the past five years and indicate which studies were co-funded by (a) education institutions, (b) charitable institutions and (c) private sector companies. [41388]

  Mr. Rooker
  Details of the research and development of direct relevance to organophosphorus compounds and funded by the Government are given in the table. The price bands are as follows:Band A: £500,00 or more
  Band B: £300,000–£499,999
  Band C: £100,000–£299,999
  Band D: £50,000–£99,999
  Band E: up to £50,000.
  273

  Funding body

  Research body

  Title

  Start date

  End date

  Price band

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  Neuropsychological study of orchard workers exposed to OP pesticides

  September 1996

  September 1998

  C

  HSE

  Internal

  Feasibility of using the National Proficiency Tests Council's database of holders of Certificates of Competence for Agricultural Pesticides for related epidemiology

  —

  June 1998

  0

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  Non-cholinergic effects of OP exposure

  October 1995

  August 1997

  C

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  Chlorphyrifos volunteer study

  July 1995

  December 1996

  D

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  Handling of sheep dip concentrates

  July 1997

  November 1998

  E

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  Changes over time in the level of inhibition of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase activity after OP exposure

  October 1996

  July 1997

  E

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  Immunochemical method for monitoring the specific activity of plasma cholinesterase

  June 1997

  December 1997

  E

  HSE

  Health and Safety Laboratories

  An in-vitro investigation of the relative inhibitory effects of OPs and carbamates towards pseudocholinesterase in human blood

  August 1997

  February 1998

  E

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for azinphos-methyl in water

  1987

  January 1991

  1—

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for fenitrothion in water

  1987

  January 1991

  1—

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for dichlorvos in water

  1987

  February 1991

  1—

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for malathion in water

  1987

  February 1991

  1—

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for dimethoate and omethoate in water

  1991

  February 1994

  1—

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for triazophos in water

  1991

  December 1994

  1—

  DETR

  Water Research Centre

  Proposed Environmental Quality Standards for demetons in water

  1991

  September 1995

  1—

  MOD/DERA

  University of Birmingham

  The effects of anticholinesterases on the cellular mechanisms controlling the levels of acetylcholinesterase

  May 1997

  May 1999

  C

  MOD/DERA

  University of Birmingharr

  Neuropathology of anticholinesterases

  October 1997

  September 1998

  E

  1 Proposed EQSs prepared as part of a larger project, price band B.

  274 275
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reports his Department has received of adverse effects from using organophosphate pesticides in each of the last three years. [41382]

  Mr. Rooker
  In the three years to March 1998, the Pesticides Safety Directorate has considered three cases of alleged adverse effects relating to use of organophosphate pesticides. In the case of Phorate, data indicating that residues in carrots could erode safety margins led to the suspension of approval for use of Phorate products on carrots and parsnips. Of the other two cases, one related to a small increase in the amount of impurity present in a product after storage, and the other to alleged crop damage. Neither of these resulted in regulatory action.

  In addition, in the three years to March 1997, a total of 36 incidents of alleged ill health (involving 78 people) have been assessed by the Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel of the Health and Safety Executive where at least one of the active ingredients used was classed as an organophosphate. For 16 of these (involving 46 people), the ill health was assessed as confirmed or likely to be linked to pesticide exposure. The panel assesses cases that have been brought to its attention following investigation by the Health and Safety Executive or a Local Authority.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls his Department exercises to regulate the export of animals for intended use in experiments. [42077]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: Anyone exporting animals, including those exported for experimentation purposes, must comply with all statutory animal health and welfare rules applicable to the species and, in the case of exports to third countries, the animal health requirements of the importing country. We are shortly to begin discussions with the Home Office about possible criteria for further controls enabling us to take into account the treatment of the animals in the country of destination before we issue official non-statutory health certification.

  Animal Smuggling
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his letter, 113574, of 23 April, what information has been obtained about anti-smuggling devices that can detect the heart-beat of an animal concealed inside a vehicle. [41120]

  Mr. Rooker
  The use of a device to detect the heartbeat of a person or animal that is concealed in a vehicle is being investigated by the Home Office in conjunction with the Prison and Immigration Services. I will write again to my hon. Friend when my Department has further information.

  Consumer Information
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for ensuring that information is available to the consumer about the origin of food at the point of sale. [42160]
  276
  Mr. Rooker
  Generally, the place of origin of any food must be given if omitting it could mislead the purchaser about the true place of origin of that food. The Department has issued guidance on these rules which makes clear that, where such indications are used to describe processed foods, this must not mislead the consumer about the origin of the individual ingredients of the product.

  More specifically, EC rules require certain fresh fruits and vegetables to be marked with the country of origin at all points of sale. In October last year, we launched the Beef Labelling Scheme, which provides for the accurate labelling of beef. With effect from 1 July, any beef labelled with country of origin information must have been derived from animals born, reared and slaughtered in that country. It is envisaged that national origin labelling of beef will become compulsory by the year 2000.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for the Central Science Laboratory staff at(a) Torry, (b) Slough, (c) Harpenden and (d) Worplesdon, the total number of (i) mobile and (ii) non-mobile staff, (1) made compulsory redundant, (2) redeployed to MAFF or MAFF agencies, (3) who were found employment elsewhere and (4) who took early retirement. [41668]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 12 May 1998]: The information requested concerning those Central Science Laboratory (CSL) staff not transferring to York from the Torry, Slough, Harpenden and Worplesdon sites is as follows:

  Staff

  Torry

  Slough

  Harpenden

  Worplesdon

  Redundant

  Mobile

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Non-mobile

  24

  34

  30

  9

  Redeployed in MAFF

  Mobile

  0

  3

  2

  2

  Non-mobile

  1

  8

  1

  2

  Resignations

  Mobile

  116

  3

  8

  0

  Non-mobile

  114

  4

  3

  1

  Age/early retirement

  Mobile

  10

  23

  8

  7

  Non-mobile

  3

  20

  4

  1

  1 These staff transferred to the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen University and the Scottish Office Marine Laboratory.

  Part-time staff in mobile grades are not subject to mobility requirements and are therefore treated as non-mobiles.

  Without reference to individual personnel files, which would incur disproportionate cost, it is not possible to distinguish those staff who resigned to take up employment elsewhere from those who resigned in the normal course of events.

  The age profile of the staff complement at Slough, Harpenden and Worplesdon reflects a major expansion in the early 1950s. A significant number of staff were

  277
  approaching retirement age at the time that the various sites were due to close and this is reflected in the number of age and early retirements.

  Whilst the information provided is accurate, a certain amount of caution must be exercised in the interpretation as each individual member of staff's case is different and was dealt with by CSL on a confidential basis.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 30 April 1998,Official Report, column 248, how many

  CSL sites

  Scientists

  Non scientists

  Mobiles

  Non mobiles

  CSL Slough

  71

  27

  90

  8

  CSL Harpenden

  60

  6

  63

  3

  CSL Worplesdon

  17

  0

  16

  1

  CSL Torry

  7

  3

  8

  2

  CSL Norwich

  5

  1

  4

  2

  CSL elsewhere

  22

  1

  20

  3

  Not previously employed by CSL

  128

  86

  87

  127

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed by the Central Science Laboratory at Torry in January 1995; and how many of those individuals were still employed by the CSL at York in January 1998 broken down(a) into (i) scientists and (ii) non-scientists and (b) into (1) mobile and (2) non-mobile grades. [41669]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 12 May 1998]: The information requested on the Central Science Laboratory staff previously employed at Tony and those who continue to be employed at CSL York is as follows:

  January 1995

  January 1998

  Total staff

  108

  10

  of which:

  Scientists

  67

  7

  Non-scientists

  41

  3

  Mobiles

  45

  8

  Non-mobiles

  63

  2

  On closure of the Torry laboratory, funding for work of particular relevance to Scotland was transferred to the Scottish Office and work programmes and associated staff were transferred to the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen University and the Scottish Office Marine Laboratory.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will make available to the University of East Anglia the necessary financial information about the operation of the Norwich Laboratory of the Central Science Laboratory to enable it to prepare properly costed proposals for a management buy-out of the laboratory. [42081]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: No.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the job titles of the 30 non fee-earning scientists employed by the Central Science Laboratory at York and Norwich, indicating which two are based at Norwich. [42082]
  278
  (a) scientific staff, (b) non-scientific staff, (c) mobile grade staff and (d) non-mobile grade staff employed by the Central Science Laboratory at York in January 1998 were employed in January 1995 by (i) CSL Slough, (ii) CSL Harpenden, (iii) CSL Worplesdon, (iv) CSL Tony, (v) CSL Norwich, (vi) CSL elsewhere and (vii) not the CSL. [41664]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 12 May 1998]: The information requested concerning those Central Science Laboratory staff employed in January 1998 at York that were based at various CSL sites or not employed by CSL in January 1995, is as follows:

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: Job titles for the various non-fee earning scientists based at the Central Science Laboratory at York and Norwich are as follows:
  Chief Executive
  Research Director (Agriculture and Environment)
  Research Director (Food)
  Commercial Director
  Head of Conservation Environment Protection Group
  Head of Infestation Risk Evaluation Group
  Head of Pest Management Strategies Group
  Head of Plant Health Group
  Head of Pesticides Group
  Head of Microbiology Group
  Head of Information Services Group
  Training Officer
  Health and Safety Officer
  Systems Administration
  Data Logging
  Business Development Team (6 posts)
  Information Centre (2 posts)
  Group Scientific Support (4 posts)
  Quality Assurance Unit (3 posts).

  The Research Director (Food) and one member of the Business Development Team are based at Norwich.

  In addition, of those non fee-earning scientists based at York, 11 have responsibilities for the provision of support or management at the Norwich laboratory.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what conclusions his Department has reached following the recommendations in its memorandum of February 1997 about the possible scope for placing other additional work at Sand Hutton, York; [42079]
  279
  (2) what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendation in its memorandum of February 1997 that additional MAFF-funded work which could be moved to Sand Hutton, York, should be identified; and if he will list such work which could be moved. [42078]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: A number of options for placing additional work at the Central Science Laboratory's York site have been considered, including work currently done elsewhere in MAFF. No other MAFF work, with the exception of the work currently carried out at CSL's Norwich site, has been identified which could be transferred to York economically and without creating problems for other parts of the Department. As regards non-MAFF work, a Commercial Director has been appointed to the CSL Board to develop and establish new business.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, column 301, if he will set out the steps which his Department or the Central Science Laboratory would take to resettle Norwich-based non-mobile staff by (a) relocation and (b) securing employment elsewhere in the event that a decision is made to close the Norwich laboratory. [42109]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: In the event of a decision to close the Norwich laboratory, non-mobile staff would normally be given the opportunity to relocate to York. Every effort would be made to assist those non-mobile staff unable to relocate to identify and secure suitable employment elsewhere in the public sector, for example in other Government departments and local authorities, or in the private sector.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of whether there would be unoccupied laboratory and office space if the Norwich Laboratory of the Central Science Laboratory was relocated to York. [42080]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 3 March 1998, Official Report, column 596.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 30 April 1998,Official Report, column 247, on what date his Department decided not to proceed with the tendering exercise to identify consultants to advise on how best to achieve a secure financial future for the Central Science Laboratory; and by whom the decision was made. [42110]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The Prior Options review of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) concluded that there was no obvious solution to securing a sound financial future for the Agency. The key was to introduce additional revenue. A number of actions were put in hand, including a tendering exercise to identify consultants to advise on the issue and the creation of a new post at Board level to develop new business. When officials reviewed progress in May 1997, they concluded that, since the principal requirement was to increase the utilisation of the Sand Hutton site, the most appropriate course was to proceed with the appointment of a Commercial Director but not with the appointment of external consultants.
  280
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, column 301, for what reasons 16 of the non-mobile staff at the Norwich laboratory of the CSL are not entitled to redundancy payments in the event that the Norwich laboratory is closed. [42371]

  Mr. Rooker
  The staff in question are not entitled to redundancy payments as they are employed by the Central Science Laboratory on Fixed Term contracts, and it is envisaged that they would complete these contracts in the event that the Norwich site were to be closed.

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 30 April 1998,Official Report, column 247, what the financial implications are for his Department of the High Table versus Horst case, in the event that mobile staff of the Central Science Laboratory in Norwich refused to relocate to York. [42373]

  Mr. Rooker
  Further to my reply given on 30 April 1998,Official Report, column 247, I can confirm that the High Table versus Horst case holds no financial implications for the Department or the Central Science Laboratory.

  Agenda 2000
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of United Kingdom farms which will be ineligible for CAP support under the Agenda 2000 proposals; and if he will estimate the equivalent number in each other EU member state. [41358]

  Mr. Rooker
  Any farmer who, at the time of application, fulfils the eligibility criteria for support set down in the regulations proposed by the Commission, or in any future detailed rules necessary for the implementation of those regulations, would be entitled to the appropriate CAP support payment.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve access for people with disabilities at further and higher education establishments. [41093]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 7 May 1998]: Under the new higher education funding measures for 1998/99, Disabled Students' Allowances will no longer be means tested for disabled full time students. Access funds in both further and higher education have increased significantly. In further education, the funding mechanism provides for additional support for disabled students according to need.

  Employment Service (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money he has allocated to staffing in the Portsmouth District Employment Service to cover the implementation and future costs of(a) the New Deal and (b) the jobseeker's allowance. [41934]
  281
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 18 May 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning how much money has been allocated to staffing in the Portsmouth District of the Employment Service to cover the implementation and future costs of (a) the New Deal and (b) the Jobseeker's Allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Funding for the New Deal essentially follows the client with entitlement to funding for staffing, staff expenses and programme costs being based on the actual numbers entering the different stages of the programme. However, assumptions have been made as to the likely uptake of New Deal places and the resulting entitlement to funds. The Portsmouth District is covered by two delivery units for New Deal. For the Isle of Wight unit an allocation of £123,200 has been identified for 1998/9 and for the remainder, known as Portsmouth/South East Hampshire, an allocation of £315,700 has been identified for the year. These figures include small amounts for expenditure, outside of salary costs, to cover directly related expenses, such as staff travel costs.
  For its other activities, the Portsmouth District of the Employment Service has been allocated £3.27m for 1998/9 salary costs, based on an allocation of 203.1 staff units. This has been calculated by a formula which relates staffing to expected business volumes. Within this total, 129.3 staff units relate to the Jobseeker's Allowance.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will assess the risk to employees' health from occupational stress within the Portsmouth District Employment Service. [41935]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 18 May 1998:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply direct to your question which asks whether we will assess the risk to employees' health from occupational stress within the Portsmouth District of the Employment Service. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  It may be helpful if I explain that we have developed our own guidance to staff and managers on dealing with stress which is set out in a document entitled 'The ES and You; A Guide for Managers'. This is based on the Health and Safety Executive's own good practice recommendations, and is being followed in Portsmouth and other Employment Service Districts. In summary, we have followed the HSE's recommendations that:
  Managers have guidance which enables them to understand the issues and manage them appropriately. We also have a clear policy stating that the Employment Service will not tolerate harassment or bullying in any form, and systems for dealing with it including a 'Hotline' telephone service.
  Individuals have clear roles, responsibilities and objectives;
  Sickness absence is monitored regularly and staff attitudes are periodically surveyed—our most recent Staff Attitude Survey in fact shows a reduction in the number of staff saying they feel under uncomfortable pressure at work;
  282
  We have access to professional Occupational Health Service (OHSA Ltd) to advise on individual cases;
  All staff have individual access to an Employee Assistance Service. Where appropriate managers can suggest, but not insist, that staff seek help through this service.
  Should it become apparent that particular members of staff are suffering from stress, there are a range of measures available to deal with such problems. These include reviewing objectives, changing duties and providing additional training or support. As well as general monitoring of staff absence by managers as a routine part of their job, and action taken in individual cases to ease an individual's return to work, the Portsmouth District has recently worked with the Employment Service's Regional Psychologist to identify the causes of stress at Cosham Jobcentre.
  I hope this is helpful.

  New Deal (Young Unemployed)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the planned cost of(a) the subsidised employment option, (b) the full-time education and training option, (c) the voluntary sector option and (d) the environmental task force option of the New Deal for the Young Unemployed per placement for the duration of each option; and if he will make a statement. [41392]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 13 May 1998]: Within the New Deal for 18–24 year olds, our planning assumptions are that the average cost of Employment Option places will be just over £2,000; and the average cost of a place in each of the other 3 options, including New Deal allowances, will be about £4,000.

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to implement part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [41953]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We shall move to implement the remaining rights in Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act as soon as practicable. An announcement detailing our timetable for implementation will be made in due course.

  Special Education
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will rank all local education authorities in terms of the percentage of their potential schools budget under section 122 statements spent on special education provision including special units. [42041]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 18 May 1998]: The following table gives the amounts of SEN funding held centrally by LEAs shown as a ranking for England for 1997–98. The figures are derived from the budget statements produced by the local authorities and as such represent the estimated spend for the financial year in question. Many LEAs delegate some or most of their funding for SEN to schools. The table provides only a partial picture of total funding on SEN, and LEAs' spending centrally will be affected by their decisions on

  283
  what is delegated. Information on spending on SEN by schools from their delegated budgets is not collected centrally.

  Extract from section 122 budget statements (England) 1997–98

  LEA name

  PSB (000s)(a)

  All SEN(non-delegated)funding(000s)(b)

  Column (b) as percentage of column (a) (c)

  Cambridgeshire

  158,375.0

  10,986.0

  6.94

  Cornwall

  140,232.0

  9,105.0

  6.49

  Bolton

  83,402.5

  5,316.0

  6.37

  Calderdale

  42,622.1

  2,563.1

  6.01

  Bromley

  43,700.0

  2,573.0

  5.89

  Barnsley

  63,111.0

  3,596.0

  5.70

  Barnet

  76,932.6

  4,314.3

  5.61

  Bradford

  150,074.0

  8,224.0

  5.48

  Derby City

  53,312.0

  2,728.0

  5.12

  Lancashire

  426,027.0

  20,966.0

  4.92

  Lincolnshire

  135,364.0

  6,652.0

  4.91

  Somerset

  134,228.0

  6,510.0

  4.85

  Derbyshire

  175,795.0

  8,502.0

  4.84

  Doncaster

  103,673.0

  4,950.0

  4.77

  Ealing

  73,666.8

  3,512.5

  4.77

  Merton

  49,621.7

  2,355.6

  4.75

  Kent

  346,365.9

  16,262.9

  4.70

  Barking/Dagenham

  63,669.0

  2,951.0

  4.63

  Leicester City

  99,464.0

  4,532.0

  4.56

  Lambeth

  55,392.0

  2,523.0

  4.55

  Camden

  57,899.0

  2,575.0

  4.45

  Isle of Wight

  38,910.6

  1,711.2

  4.40

  Newham

  96,673

  4,222.0

  4.37

  Harrow

  64,869.0

  2,785.0

  4.29

  Durham

  156,152.0

  6,701.0

  4.29

  Gateshead

  63,662.0

  2,709.0

  4.26

  Wakefield

  96,809.0

  4,088.0

  4.22

  Stockport

  80,608.7

  3,379.2

  4.19

  Swindon

  42,057.0

  1,748.0

  4.16

  Wandsworth

  51,327.0

  2,127.0

  4.14

  Hereford/Worcester

  186,570.0

  7,700.0

  4.13

  Brighton and Hove

  61,444.0

  2,535.0

  4.13

  Richmond

  43,863.5

  1,808.7

  4.12

  Darlington

  28,928.0

  1,172.0

  4.05

  Haringey

  79,022.0

  3,196.0

  4.04

  Essex

  283,166.0

  11,379.0

  4.02

  Warwickshire

  132,274.5

  5,144.9

  3.89

  Gloucestershire

  96,216.0

  3,712.0

  3.86

  Wiltshire

  83,113.0

  3,150.0

  3.79

  Tower Hamlets

  91,487.7

  3,451.6

  3.77

  South Gloucestershire

  79,015.0

  2,893.0

  3.66

  Enfield

  86,417.0

  3,157.0

  3.65

  Kirklees

  118,668.3

  4,305.7

  3.63

  Sheffield

  135,507.0

  4,866.0

  3.59

  Leicestershire

  178,708.0

  6,311.0

  3.53

  Hertfordshire

  277,511.0

  9,788.0

  3.53

  Devon

  282,327.0

  9,928.0

  3.52

  Bournemouth

  29,625.3

  1,035.0

  3.49

  Trafford

  53,313.0

  1,855.0

  3.48

  North Somerset

  56,706.0

  1,959.0

  3.45

  Poole

  25,269.0

  856.9

  3.39

  Redcar and Cleveland

  50,415.0

  1,693.0

  3.36

  Croydon

  77,674.0

  2,593.0

  3.34

  South Tyneside

  48,820.0

  1,606.0

  3.29

  Havering

  67,518.2

  2,205.4

  3.27

  Northumberland

  96,268.0

  3,134.0

  3.26

  North Tyneside

  59,721.0

  1,930.0

  3.23

  St. Helens

  60,050.0

  1,921.7

  3.20

  York

  47,914.0

  1,530.0

  3.19

  Surrey

  221,698.0

  7,018.0

  3.17

  Kingston

  30,867.0

  969.0

  3.14

  Bath and NE Somerset

  49,667.0

  1,537.0

  3.09

  North Yorkshire

  173,467.0

  5,340.0

  3.08

  Salford

  71,892.0

  2,210.0

  3.07

  Milton Keynes

  52,296.0

  1,595.0

  3.05

  Nottinghamshire

  307,514.0

  9,286.0

  3.02

  284

  Extract from section 122 budget statements (England) 1997–98

  LEA name

  PSB (000s) (a)

  All SEN (non-delegated) funding (000s) (b)

  Column (b) as percentage of column (a) (c)

  Middlesbrough

  49,824.0

  1,469.0

  2.95

  West Sussex

  212,697.0

  6,243.0

  2.94

  Westminster

  47,285.7

  1,386.4

  2.93

  Sefton

  97,588.9

  2,781.7

  2.85

  Norfolk

  192,569.0

  5,432.0

  2.82

  Walsall

  78,957.9

  2,191.0

  2.77

  Rutland

  4,583.0

  127.0

  2.77

  Cheshire

  314,695.0

  8,607.0

  2.74

  Oxfordshire

  160,389.0

  4,356.0

  2.72

  North Lincolnshire

  50,739.0

  1,369.0

  2.70

  Tameside

  62,913.0

  1,673.0

  2.66

  Dorset

  93,090.0

  2,462.7

  2.65

  Kensington and Chelsea

  27,425.0

  720.0

  2.63

  Rotherham

  86,756.4

  2,223.4

  2.56

  Cumbria

  115,518.0

  2,950.0

  2.55

  Hartlepool

  30,213.0

  764.0

  2.53

  Bexley

  64,088.0

  1,612.0

  2.52

  Sandwell

  101,336.0

  2,532.0

  2.50

  Hull

  83,879.0

  2,071.0

  2.47

  Solihull

  68,856.1

  1,699.4

  2.47

  Wirral

  100,853.0

  2,484.0

  2.46

  Newcastle

  84,057.6

  2,067.3

  2.46

  Southwark

  70,462.0

  1,726.0

  2.45

  East Riding

  98,964.0

  2,416.0

  2.44

  Rochdale

  59,103.0

  1,439.0

  2.43

  Birmingham

  356,109.0

  8,611.0

  2.42

  Coventry

  108,300.0

  2,618.0

  2.42

  Stoke-on-Trent

  71,002.0

  1,707.0

  2.40

  Sunderland

  96,686.0

  2,266.0

  2.34

  East Sussex

  133,969.0

  3,009.0

  2.25

  North East Lincolnshire

  56,236.0

  1,245.0

  2.21

  Staffordshire

  230,216.1

  4,981.5

  2.16

  Stockton on Tees

  63,182.0

  1,338.0

  2.12

  Oldham

  84,206.0

  1,758.0

  2.09

  Liverpool

  150,988.6

  2,919.7

  1.93

  Buckinghamshire

  126,080.0

  2,429.0

  1.93

  Suffolk

  200,483.4

  3,814.7

  1.90

  Hackney

  67,214.5

  1,264.1

  1.88

  Bristol

  112,419.8

  2,070.7

  1.84

  Wolverhampton

  77,955.4

  1,384.1

  1.78

  Shropshire

  113,449.0

  1,999.0

  1.76

  Luton

  51,034.0

  881.0

  1.73

  Islington

  60,655.4

  1,041.5

  1.72

  Hounslow

  76,140.0

  1,104.0

  1.45

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  40,177.7

  569.0

  1.42

  Sutton

  39,845.2

  456.9

  1.15

  Northamptonshire

  165,140.3

  1,834.2

  1.11

  Wigan

  103,673.0

  1,139.0

  1.10

  Dudley

  82,937.0

  875.0

  1.06

  Berkshire

  200,668.0

  2,002.0

  1.00

  Hampshire

  320,474.0

  3,166.0

  0.99

  Portsmouth

  49,949.0

  467.0

  0.93

  Leeds

  226,303.5

  1,959.5

  0.87

  Knowsley

  58,105.0

  477.3

  0.82

  Manchester

  145,167.0

  1,187.0

  0.82

  Bedfordshire

  107,198.0

  829.0

  0.77

  Bury

  52,799.0

  399.0

  0.76

  Southampton

  61,501.4

  393.1

  0.64

  Hillingdon

  44,863.0

  276.0

  0.62

  Lewisham

  84,416.6

  490.4

  0.58

  Brent

  49,652.0

  189.0

  0.38

  Greenwich

  87,744.1

  225.9

  0.26

  Redbridge

  80,900.0

  136.0

  0.17

  Corporation of London

  724.0

  0.0

  0.00

  Waltham Forest

  72,296.0

  0.0

  0.00

  Isles of Scilly

  883.0

  0.0

  0.00

  285
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of segregated special education on community care policies. [41923]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We do not have information which implies a link between type of educational provision and subsequent need for community care. We are considering how best to collect information about the experiences, once they have left school, of young people with special educational needs, with the aim of helping schools and colleges prepare young people for adult life more effectively.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact there would be on national collaborative partnerships between colleges and training providers of allowing further education colleges to provide only for local communities. [41924]

  Dr. Howells
  No such assessment has been made.

  Derby University
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date he proposes to make an announcement on the proposed merger of Derby University and High Peak College. [42289]

  Dr. Howells
  We expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date he intends to publish the next teacher vacancy figures. [42312]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We expect to publish the figures on Friday 22 May.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current ratio of New Deal for lone parents advisers to lone parents participating in the scheme; and what ratio is envisaged when the pilot becomes a nationwide scheme. [40214]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Up to 31 March 1998, a total of 4,637 lone parents had agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents in the eight prototype areas; and during this period 72 advisers were available to work with them. The ratio of advisers to lone parents in the nationwide programme will of course depend on the rate at which lone parents participate in the service. However, the Government are drawing up resourcing plans for the New Deal for Lone Parents using assumptions based on the participation rate to date. Therefore, the ratio of advisers to lone parents in the nationwide service will be at least as good as it has been up until April 1998.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of all lone parents who have received an initial letter under the New Deal for lone 286
  parents' pilots have moved from income support into paid employment; if she will provide similar figures for (a) lone parents with mortgages, (b) lone parents in rented accommodation and (c) lone parents who are non-householders; and if she will make a statement on the role of housing tenure in determining the likelihood of moving off welfare and into work. [40213]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The management data which are routinely collected on the New Deal for Lone Parents do not identify the housing status of lone parents.

  A wide range of factors affect the likelihood of any individual lone parent moving off Income Support and into work. The Personal Adviser approach is designed to offer tailored help and advice which will take account of each individual's particular circumstances, including housing status where relevant.

  Up until 31 March 1998, 1,530 lone parents had obtained work following participation in the New Deal for Lone Parents, of whom 1,114 left Income Support. A further 201 had been able to increase their hours of work, of whom 169 left Income Support.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of lone parents would have to find work under the New Deal for Lone Parents for the scheme to be cost neutral. [40822]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The percentage of lone parents finding work is only one of a number of factors which affect the potential savings arising from the New Deal for Lone Parents, including the earnings of lone parents going back to work, how long lone parents remain in work, and substitution and displacement effects.

  A full evaluation on the short and longer term effects of the New Deal for Lone Parents will be published in Autumn 1999; this will take account of a number of factors including observed earnings and duration of work.

  Child Benefit
  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) under what circumstances child benefit is payable to a father in respect of a child for whom he has a residence order; [41143]

  (2) in how many cases child benefit was paid to both parents in respect of children subject to a shared residence order in 1997–98; [41146]

  (3) what provision is made to ensure that child benefit is payable to both parents in cases where a child is the subject of a shared residence order under the Children Act 1989. [41145]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is not available.

  Entitlement to Child Benefit depends on a person having responsibility for a child because the child lives with them or they contribute to the cost of providing for the child. In cases where the child lives alternatively with each parent, both parents could qualify but only one of them can be entitled for the same child in the same week.
  287
  Where competing claims are received in respect of the same child, legislation provides for priority of entitlement. Where the care of a child is shared equally between two parents who are not residing together they may jointly elect which of them shall receive the benefit. In the absence of an election the Secretary of State may decide which of them shall be entitled, taking a number of factors into account.

  The existence of a residence order is not a requirement for entitlement to Child Benefit. It is an important factor in reaching a Secretary of State decision about entitlement, but others such as the actual time the child spends living with either parent, and the extent of expenditure incurred by each parent are also considered.

  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances child benefit is payable to an adult other than the mother of the child for whom the benefit is paid. [41151]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  There are a variety of circumstances, usually involving the mother's absence, where Child Benefit might be paid to an adult other than the mother of the child. This could be for a temporary period, or permanently.

  If the parents of a child separate, benefit will normally be paid to the parent with whom the child lives. If both of them share the care of the child equally they may jointly elect which of them is to receive the Child Benefit. In default of such an election the Secretary of State may, in her discretion, decide which of them shall be entitled.

  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases in 1997–98 child benefit was paid to the father. [41144]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested as it is responsibility for a child rather than parenthood which give entitlement to Child Benefit.

  The number of Child Benefit awards to male claimants were an estimated 273,000 as at April 1998. This represents just under 4 per cent. of the total number of awards in payment at that time.

  Unclaimed Benefits
  Sir Raymond Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action her Department is taking to increase the take up of unclaimed social security benefits. [41592]

  Mr. Denham
  We would encourage everyone who thinks they may be entitled to benefit to make a claim, wherever they live in Britain. However, we know there are particular barriers which stop pensioners taking up their Income Support and that is why we are focusing on this group.

  We are committed to examining to the ways of delivering more automatic help to the poorest pensioners, and have already started to honour this commitment.

  As a first step, we have started research to establish the reasons why pensioners do not claim their Income Support entitlement, and the most effective ways of getting help to them. Since April, we have been running nine local pilot projects costing £15 million to test the
  288
  best way of getting help to the estimated 1 million pensioners who are currently entitled to Income Support but do not claim it.

  Disability Benefits Forum
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to establish a body to work alongside Government in accordance with the principles of consultation with disabled people outlined in the green paper, "A New Contract for Welfare"; if a significant part of that body will be drawn from among disabled people; and what timescale she proposes. [41357]

  Mr. Denham
  We are currently in the process of setting up a Disability Benefits Forum to discuss the reform of benefits for people who are long-term sick or who are disabled. The majority of members of the Forum will be representatives of organisations of or for disabled people. We will announce further details as soon as possible.

  Benefit Savings
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will publish for each Great Britain local authority, a breakdown, for each of the last five years, of weekly benefit savings for(a) thresholds, (b) claimed savings, (c) amount of additional subsidy claimed and (d) amount of subsidy penalty applied. [41652]

  Mr. Field
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what analysis her Department has made of the long-term effect of Economic and Monetary Union on the integration of the social security schemes of participants. [41955]

  Mr. Field
  No such analysis has been conducted. Member States will continue to be responsible for the financing and design of national social security schemes.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate she has made of the overall cost of the winter fuel payment scheme in 1998; [41856]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the overall cost of winter fuel payments made in error but not repaid to date. [41852]

  Mr. Denham
  Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. A total of £400 million has been committed for two years (1997/98 and 1998/99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay. This is the first time any Government have provided automatic help to over 7 million pensioner households with fuel bills to pay, living in the United Kingdom, who receive a Retirement Pension or one of a number of other qualifying benefits.
  289
  The making of this year's payments has been an enormous and unprecedented exercise. In order to establish all eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data in around 15 million computer records, involving 15 qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems. Overall, almost ten million pensioners, in over seven million households, have received a payment.

  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 14 May 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the winter fuel payments scheme.
  The making of Winter Fuel Payments to almost ten million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of March 1998, has been a challenging task for the Benefits Agency (BA). This was achieved whilst maintaining normal benefit business.
  Around one and a half million of the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, received their payment of £50 during January. Almost eight and a half million other eligible pensioners, for example those in receipt of state Retirement Pension, were issued with a payment of £20 or £10. The issue of these payments was completed by 24 March 1998.
  Around £200 million was paid to help pensioners with their fuel bills last winter. The total administrative cost is expected to be around £20 million.
  We are aware of 649 eligible pensioners who received two £50 payments. This includes 211 who erroneously received two payments due to being in receipt of both Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance for at least one day in the qualifying week. In accordance with legislation, only one payment should have been made. Also, due to a computer operator error, 40,801 invalid girocheques were sent out with an incorrect date of issue. The error was quickly identified and all the invalid payments were replaced within 72 hours. The letter which accompanied the replacement payment apologised for the error and advised the recipient to destroy the invalid girocheque or if they had encashed it, to return the replacement to the nearest Benefits Agency office. It appears that in 438 instances both the invalid and replacement girocheque were cashed.
  In addition we are aware that 9,357 £50 payments have been made to customers who were not entitled to them. This means that 10,006 incorrect payments, valued at £500,300, were made in error. This represents 0.7% of the total number of £50 payments made. No information is presently available on the other eligible pensioners who received either a £10 or £20 payment.
  Action is being taken in each individual case to consider whether recovery action is appropriate. We will write to individuals who were overpaid informing them of the position and inviting repayment. Until this exercise is complete, we will not know how much has been repaid.
  I hope that this clarifies the position.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she plans to undertake the reassessment of Mr. Trevor J. Collier's war pension disability assessment, made in 1959, of 20 per cent., which he requested in 1996. [42465]

  Mr. Denham
  The review of Mr. Collier's War Pension assessment, requested by him in March 1996, was concluded on 18 September 1996. For reasons of 290
  confidentiality the Acting Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Steve Johnson, will write to the hon. Member separately.

  Actors
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many actors received non-means-tested jobseeker's allowance in 1997–98; and how much was paid to actors in terms of non-means-tested jobseeker's allowance in 1997–98. [42577]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will calculate the net difference in the amount that actors as a group pay in class 1 national insurance contributions and the amount that they claim and receive in terms of non-means tested benefits. [42576]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 30 March regarding a constituent, Ref. 5/3644/30. [42264]

  Mr. Denham
  A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on Monday 18 May 1998.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Official Cars
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the type or specification of vehicles allocated to(a) Secretaries of State, (b) Ministers of State and (c) Under-Secretaries of State for their official duties; and if he will list any exceptions; [27112]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake), 16 February 1998, Official Report, column 486, if he will list the Ministers who have the use of an official car in a category other than that to which they would normally be entitled. [31663]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  For the models of cars from which Ministers can choose and those which are currently used by Ministers, I refer the right hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake), 16 February 1998,Official Report, column 486. I understand that the only Ministers who currently have the use of cars in a different category are the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, the Minister without Portfolio, the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, the Minister for the Armed Forces, the Minister for Defence Procurement and the Under-Secretary of State for Defence. These exceptions are either on the grounds of security or where the Ministers concerned have the use of cars provided for Ministers in the previous Administration, and to replace them would not be an efficient use of public resources.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to reply to the question tabled by the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst on 24 February, on official cars (31663). [42402]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I have answered this question today.

TREASURY

  Highly Indebted Poor Countries
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by country the value of outstanding debts on loans(a) made by and (b) guaranteed by the British Government to highly indebted poor countries. [42042]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: (a) All development assistance to Highly Indebted Poor Countries has been in the form of grants for many years, and the vast majority of old aid loans, to an amount of £1.2 billion, have been forgiven. At 1 May 1998, the only outstanding debts on UK aid loans to HIPCs are shown in the table:

  Country

  Amount (£)

  Cameroon

  67,000

  Liberia

  78,000

  Nigeria

  4,900,000

  (b) At end 1997, the outstanding debts on loans guaranteed by the Government through ECGD, to the 41 countries identified under the HIPC initiative, were as follows:

  £ million

  Country

  Debt owned to ECGD

  Angola

  91

  Benin

  3

  Bolivia

  18

  Burkina Faso

  1

  Burundi

  0

  Cameroon

  62

  C.A.R.

  1

  Chad

  0

  Congo-Brazzaville

  123

  Cote d'Ivoire

  31

  DR Congo (ex Zaire)

  129

  Equatorial Guinea

  0

  Ethiopia

  12

  Ghana

  4

  Guinea

  5

  Guinea Bissau

  0

  Guyana

  44

  Honduras

  0.5

  Kenya

  44

  Lao PDR

  0

  Liberia

  15

  Madagascar

  27

  Mali

  4

  Mauritania

  7

  Mozambique

  86

  Myanmar

  25

  Nicaragua

  1

  Niger

  11

  Nigeria

  3,100

  292

  £ million

  Country

  Debt owned to ECGD

  Rwanda

  0

  Sao Tome et Principe

  0

  Senegal

  3

  Sierra Leone

  4

  Somalia

  28

  Sudan

  405

  Tanzania

  126

  Togo

  14

  Uganda

  14

  Vietnam

  10

  Yemen

  6

  Zambia

  234

  Taxation
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are his latest estimates of the average weekly payments for the tax year(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 for (i) NICs, (ii) income tax, (iii) VAT, (iv) indirect taxes excluding VAT and (v) council tax for a married couple with the male earning and the female not earning with two children, on total family earnings of (1) 75 per cent., (2) 100 per cent. and (3) 150 per cent. of average gross male full-time earnings, excluding any 1997 Budget measures whose revenue effect does not occur until at least the tax year 1999–2000; [41975]

  (2) what are his latest estimates of the average weekly payments for the tax year (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 for (i) NICs, (ii) income tax, (iii) VAT, (iv) indirect taxes excluding VAT and (v) council tax for a married couple with the male earning and the female not earning with no children, on total family earnings of (1) 75 per cent., (2) 100 per cent. and (3) 150 per cent. of average gross male full-time earnings excluding any 1997 Budget measures whose revenue effect does not occur until at least the tax year 1999–2000; [41977]

  (3) what are his latest estimates of the average weekly payments for the tax years (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 for (a) NICs, (b) income tax, (c) VAT, (d) indirect taxes excluding VAT and (e) council tax for a single person on (i) 75 per cent., (ii) 100 per cent. and (iii) 150 per cent. of average gross male full-time earnings, excluding any 1997 Budget measures whose revenue effect does not occur until at least the tax year 1999–2000. [41973]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The available information, which shows tax and NIC payments at multiples of median male full-time earnings, is given in the table. Changes already announced, which will take effect in 1999, will offer significant help to families, reducing the burden of tax and NICs for a family with two children on median earnings. A one earner couple with 2 children with half median male earnings (£187.25 per week) will gain around £20 a week from the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit. No family with children with earnings less than £220 per week will pay income tax. Child benefit for the eldest child will be increased by £2.50, the largest real increase since 1978. And all employees earning more than the Lower Earnings Limit will gain £1.28 a week from the abolition of the NICs entry fee.
  293
  Calculations of indirect taxes were dealt with in my answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 5 May 1998, Official Report, columns 331–34.

  Income Tax and National Insurance at multiples of median full-time male earnings

  Applied percentages

  75

  100

  150

  1997–98

  Single

  Gross Income

  268.80

  358.40

  537.60

  Income Tax

  41.57

  62.18

  103.39

  NICs

  21.92

  30.88

  41.54

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  15.5

  17.3

  19.2

  NICs

  8.2

  8.6

  7.7

  Married no children

  Gross Income

  268.80

  358.40

  537.60

  Income Tax

  36.29

  56.90

  98.11

  NICs

  21.92

  30.88

  41.54

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  13.5

  15.9

  18.3

  NICs

  8.2

  8.6

  7.7

  Married with 2 children

  Gross Income

  268.80

  358.40

  537.60

  Income Tax

  16.24

  36.85

  78.06

  NICs

  21.92

  30.88

  41.54

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  6.0

  10.3

  14.5

  NICs

  8.2

  8.6

  7.7

  1998–99

  Single

  Gross Income

  280.88

  374.50

  561.75

  Income Tax

  43.57

  65.10

  108.17

  NICs

  22.97

  32.33

  43.38

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  15.5

  17.4

  19.3

  NICs

  8.2

  8.6

  7.7

  Married no children

  Gross Income

  280.88

  374.50

  561.75

  Income Tax

  38.08

  59.62

  102.69

  NICs

  22.97

  32.33

  43.38

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  13.6

  15.9

  18.3

  NICs

  8.2

  8.6

  7.7

  Married with 2 children

  Gross Income

  280.88

  374.50

  561.75

  Income Tax

  17.33

  38.87

  81.94

  NICs

  22.97

  32.33

  43.38

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  6.2

  10.4

  14.6

  NICs

  8.2

  8.6

  7.7

  Notes:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the basis that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and have income only from employment. All earners are assumed to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  2. Earnings are taken to be the median gross weekly earnings of all full-time male employees on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. (Median earnings are more representative of the population as a whole than mean) The level of earnings in 1998–99 is based on a stylised assumption in line with the actual outturn for the year to January 1998.

  3. In line with the convention in the Tax Benefit Reference Manual, Child Benefit is treated as a negative Income Tax.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are his latest estimates of the average weekly payments for the tax year 1996–97 for(a) NICs, (b) income
  294
  tax, (c) VAT, (d) indirect taxes excluding VAT and (e) council tax, for a single person on (i) 75 per cent.,
  (ii) 100 per cent. and (iii) 150 per cent. of average gross male full-time earnings; [41972]

  (2) what are his latest estimates of the average weekly payments for the tax year 1996–97 for (a) NICs, (b) income tax, (c) VAT, (d) indirect taxes excluding VAT and (e) council tax for a married couple with the male earning and the female not earning with no children, on total family earnings of (1) 75 per cent., (2) 100 per cent. and (3) 150 per cent. of average gross male full-time earnings; [41976]

  (3) what are his latest estimates of the average weekly payments for the tax year 1996–97 for (a) NICs, (b) income tax, (c) VAT, (d) indirect taxes excluding VAT, (e) council tax for a married couple with the male earning and the female not earning with two children on total family earnings of (i) 75 per cent., (ii) 100 per cent. And (iii) 150 per cent. of average gross male full-time earnings. [41974]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 May 1998]: The available information, which shows tax and NICs payments at multiples of median male full-time earnings, is given in the table:

  Income Tax and National Insurance at multiples of median full-time male earnings

  Applied percentages

  75

  100

  150

  Single

  Gross Income

  256.73

  342.30

  513.45

  Income Tax

  42.24

  61.78

  102.85

  NICs

  20.79

  29.35

  40.62

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  16.1

  18.0

  20.0

  NICs

  8.1

  8.6

  7.9

  Married no children

  Gross Income

  256.73

  342.30

  513.45

  Income Tax

  36.07

  56.61

  97.69

  NICs

  20.79

  29.35

  40.62

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  14.1

  16.5

  19.0

  NICs

  8.1

  8.6

  7.9

  Married with 2 children

  Gross Income

  256.73

  342.30

  513.45

  Income Tax with CB

  16.47

  37.01

  78.09

  NICs

  20.79

  29.35

  40.62

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  6.4

  10.8

  15.2

  NICs

  8.1

  8.6

  7.9

  Notes:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the basis that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and have income only from employment. All earners are assumed to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  2. Earnings are taken to be the median gross weekly earnings of all full-time male employees on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. (Median earnings are more representative of the population as a whole than mean). The level of earnings in 1998–99 is based on a stylised assumption in line with the actual outturn for the year to January 1998.

  3. In line with the convention in the Tax Benefit Reference Manual, Child Benefit is treated as a negative Income Tax.

  Windfall Tax
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recalculate Table 1.2 of the FSBR with figures for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to include the windfall tax and associated spending. [39854]

  Mr. Darling
  Estimates of the expected receipts from the windfall tax are given in Table B9 and estimates of the associated spending are given in Table B11 of the March 1998 Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR). Table 1.2 can be recalculated to include the windfall tax and associated spending by adding the windfall tax receipts net of associated spending to the figures presented.

  Piper Alarms
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the levying of VAT on Piper alarms; and if he will assess the advantages of exempting such alarms from VAT. [41932]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Piper alarms (and similar alarm systems which enable people with disabilities to alert specified people or control centres that they are in distress) are already fully relieved from VAT when bought by disabled people and charities which serve their needs.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Customs and Excise personnel were employed(a) in countering smuggling of alcohol and tobacco products and (b) in total, on (i) 31 December 1996, (ii) 31 December 1997 and (iii) the most recent date for which figures are available. [41871]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Countering alcohol and tobacco smuggling is a part of the duties of all the Department's front line anti-smuggling staff, who are deployed to deal with a wide range of import prohibitions and restrictions; in this they are backed up by specialist intelligence and investigation staff. The only staff who deal exclusively with excise smuggling are Excise Verification Officers, whose responsibility is to counter smuggling from the Single Market. Their numbers were as follows:At 31 December 1996: 285
  At 31 December 1997 330
  At 1 April 1998: 330.

  The total number of staff employed by Customs was as follows:
  At 31 December 1996: 23,571
  At 31 December 1997: 23,475
  At 1 May 1998: 23,450.

  Members of Parliament: Age Statistics
  Members of Parliament: Age Statistics
  Rough Sleeping in Westminster
  Rough Sleeping in Westminster
  NHS Executive Regional Offices
  NHS Executive Regional Offices
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Funding
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Funding
  NHS: Millennium Compliance
  NHS: Millennium Compliance
  EC Health Council, 30 April
  EC Health Council, 30 April
  NHS Dental Care Expenditure
  NHS Dental Care Expenditure
  Northern Ireland: Target Revolvers and Terrorist Incidents
  Northern Ireland: Target Revolvers and Terrorist Incidents
  Northern Ireland Agreement: Accelerated Release of Prisoners
  Northern Ireland Agreement: Accelerated Release of Prisoners
  Northern Ireland Agreement: Parliamentary Ratification
  Northern Ireland Agreement: Parliamentary Ratification
  Pesticides Approvals: Review
  Pesticides Approvals: Review
  Fishing Vessel Licensing and Economic Link with UK
  Fishing Vessel Licensing and Economic Link with UK
  Immigration Advisers
  Immigration Advisers
  Women Prisoners
  Women Prisoners
  Chief Constable of Gwent: Suspension
  Chief Constable of Gwent: Suspension
  Firearms Rules: English and Welsh Language Licensing Forms
  Firearms Rules: English and Welsh Language Licensing Forms
  Firearms Consultative Committee
  Firearms Consultative Committee
  UN Human Rights Commission: Late Publication of Reports
  UN Human Rights Commission: Late Publication of Reports
  Bosnia: Muslim Armed Forces
  Bosnia: Muslim Armed Forces
  Building Contractors in Greater London: HSE Prosecutions
  Building Contractors in Greater London: HSE Prosecutions
  Allotment Closure Procedures
  Allotment Closure Procedures
  Army Engineer Logistics Review
  Army Engineer Logistics Review
  War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme
  War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme
  Military Low Flying
  Military Low Flying
  Defence Council Instructions
  Defence Council Instructions
  Army General Administrative Instructions and Material Regulations For The Army
  Army General Administrative Instructions and Material Regulations For The Army