Written Answers of 10 November 1998

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  New Parliamentary Building
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will make a statement on the use of bronze in the New Parliamentary Building. [58782]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  The initial brief for the building was set out in the Second Report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), Session 1990–91 (HC551). The Committee recommended a building of"durable, high-quality materials which are in keeping with the area and will weather well".

  In his subsequent report to the House, the architect, Sir Michael Hopkins, advised that the materials which had been selected were consistent with the requirements of a high-quality building with a minimum life span of 120 years. The major components of the building, including the main structural elements, would be designed to last for the life of the building.

  Aluminium bronze was selected for the roof for both its durability and good structural properties. The use of bronze has been continued down the elevations as a facing for the duct panels and the frames to the windows.

  The first of the fenestration and duct units will be installed before Christmas with work on the roof starting early in the New Year. Hon. Members will have then the opportunity to see the contribution the use of bronze has made to the high quality of the design of the building as well as to achieving the functional requirements.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Council if she has completed an audit of the state of readiness for millennium compliance in the public sector. [59268]

  Mrs. Beckett
  My right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) first reported to the House on the progress that was being made by central government departments and agencies in achieving millennium compliance on 27 November 1997,Official Report, columns 1104–05. Arrangements were then put in place to monitor progress on a quarterly basis. Three subsequent statements on progress across central government have since been made. The results of the last review, which I published on 9 September, showed that good progress is being made by departments and agencies in tackling the millennium bug. Work on correcting priority, business-critical, systems is particularly well advanced.
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  The Government also reported on progress across the wider public sector in their statement in the House on 8 June 1998, Official Report, columns 716–18. More detailed information on key parts of the wider public sector was then made available in the September statement.

  It is intended to issue the next statement on progress in tackling the bug shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the names of those people she has appointed to public bodies since 1 May 1997, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed, and whether they receive remuneration. [56762]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have placed in the Library a list of those individuals who have been appointed to public bodies in Northern Ireland in the period 6 December 1997 to 23 October 1998, with details of their position and whether they receive remuneration. Details for the period 1 May to 5 December 1997 were given in my answer of 15 December 1997,Official Report, column 40.

  Assaults (Direct Action Against Drugs)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serious violent assaults in Northern Ireland since 11 April(a) have been admitted by and (b) are believed to have involved Direct Action Against Drugs. [58205]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

  Lone Parent Benefit
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for(a) lone parent benefit and (b) child benefit were made from (i) 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 and (ii) 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998; of these how many have been approved; how many were refused; and how many await determination. [58666]

  Mr. McFall
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.

  Letter from Chris Thompson to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 10 November 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of applications for lone parent benefit and Child Benefit.
  The number of claims for Child Benefit for the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 was 32,817 and for the period I April 1998 to 30 September 1998 was 15,744.
  During the period I April 1997 to 30 September 1998 46,530 claims were approved and 366 claims were refused. At 30 September 1998 there were 1,665 awaiting determination.
  There is no separate benefit for lone parents only a higher rate of Child Benefit. It is therefore not possible to give separate figures for lone parents.
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  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for renewal books were made in respect of(a) child benefit and (b) lone parent benefits from (i) 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 and (ii) 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998; how long it took on average to process such applications; and how many applications are still outstanding. [58665]

  Mr. McFall
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.

  Letter from Chris Thompson to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 10 November 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of applications for renewal order books for Child Benefit and lone parent benefit.
  All renewal order books for Child Benefit are automatically issued to the customer so there is no need for an application to be made. Order books are normally issued to the post office 4 weeks before a customer's current order book is due to expire. Accordingly there is no information regarding the length of time it takes to process a renewal or how many renewals are outstanding.
  The number of Child Benefit renewal order books issued for the period I April 1997 to 31 March 1998 was 387,636 and for the period 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 was 232,051.
  There is no separate benefit for lone parents only a higher rate of Child Benefit. It is therefore not possible to give separate figures for lone parents.
  You will know that Child Benefit Office has experienced some problems following the introduction of a new computer system. This has undoubtedly had some impact on the issue of renewal order books but no separate figures have been kept. I am pleased to say we are over the worst of our difficulty.

  Paramilitary Attacks
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each week in October the number of(a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many were in each category committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [59231]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of paramilitary style attacks for each week in October is shown in the table:

  Paramilitary assaults

  Paramilitary shootings

  Period

  Attributed to Loyalists

  Attributed to Republicans

  Attributed to Loyalists

  Attributed to Republicans

  1-4 October

  3

  0

  0

  0

  5-11 October

  2

  2

  0

  0

  12-18 October

  2

  0

  0

  0

  19-25 October

  1

  0

  0

  0

  26-31 October

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Totals

  8

  4

  0

  1

  Note

  These figures are subject to minor amendment in the light of further information becoming available. The figures refer to casualties as distinct from incidents.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 7 November the number of(a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland; and if she will indicate how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalists and (ii) Republicans. [59244]
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  Mr. Ingram
  The number of paramilitary style attacks during the period 1–7 November 1998 are shown in the table:

  Paramilitary assaults

  Paramilitary shootings

  Attributed to Loyalists

  1

  2

  Attributed to Republicans

  1

  1

  Note

  These figures are subject to minor amendment in the light of further information becoming available. The figures refer to casualties as distinct from incidents.

  Autism
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will introduce a charter for persons with autism in line with the charter adopted at the fourth Autism European Congress in May 1992; and if she will make a statement. [57627]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Office of Public Service on 3 November 1998,Official Report, columns 558–59.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership Scheme
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many beneficiaries of the Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership Scheme there were(a) in total and (b) newly approved in the last full year for which data are available for (i) the UK, (ii) London and (iii) the London Borough of Richmond. [58589]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department is responsible for housing matters in England and the following figures therefore refer to England rather than the UK as a whole.

  (a) between its start in 1991–92 and 1997–98, the Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership Scheme has assisted a total of 23,306 households in England; of which 5,659 were in London and 72 in the London Borough of Richmond.

  (b) in 1997–98, a total of 2,238 households were assisted in England; of which 619 were in London and 10 in the London Borough of Richmond.

  Heathrow Airport
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what risk assessment has been made of the simultaneous use of the Kew and St. Margaret's western approaches at Heathrow. [58501]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The KEW and St. Margaret's western approaches are used simultaneously only rarely when the scheduled demand of aircraft waiting to land at Heathrow exceeds the capacity of the designated landing runway. This procedure conforms with the International
  113
  Civil Aviation Organisation's standard operating procedures and requires the maintenance of standard separation criteria between landing traffic. It does not, therefore, require special risk assessment.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to ensure that no area is disproportionately affected by overflying aircraft landing at Heathrow. [58496]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Landing aircraft need to make their final approach aligned with the runway, which limits the scope for varying their final approach track. The Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory Committee (ANMAC), which advises the DETR on aircraft noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, is currently investigating the feasibility of setting noise limits for arriving aircraft and other possible means of ameliorating arrivals noise. ANMAC has also established a working group which is looking at the causes of variability in the noise levels of landing aircraft.

  In the second stage consultation paper on night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, to be issued shortly, we will be inviting views on various options for changes to the preferential use of Heathrow's runways at night.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the safety impact of recent steps to reduce horizontal distances between planes on landing at Heathrow. [58494]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Safety concerns are paramount to both the Government and to our aviation safety advisers, the Safety Regulation Group (SRG) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). SRG approved stringent procedures for using reduced horizontal spacing for arriving aircraft at Heathrow in January 1998 after exhaustive trials had confirmed that safety was in no way compromised. Reduced separation can be implemented only in daylight hours; for certain types of aircraft; when there is an arrivals backlog; and is subject to prevailing weather conditions. SRG will continue to monitor the use of these procedures to ensure that the safe operation of the airport is maintained.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish an independent monitoring body to measure aircraft noise at Heathrow. [58497]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have no plans to do so. Aircraft noise is already measured satisfactorily by Heathrow Airport Limited to check compliance with the take-off noise limits set by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and to detect infringements. The integrated aircraft noise and track-keeping (NTK) system installed by BAA plc. in 1993 is used for this purpose. Data from the system are also used by the Department of Operational Research and Analysis of the CAA/NATS in producing the annual historical aircraft noise exposure contours published by the DETR, and for study purposes.

  Aircraft noise around Heathrow is monitored by the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC) and has been the subject of technical studies by DORA on behalf of the Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory
  114
  Committee (ANMAC), which advises my Department. Both include representatives of local government, local interest groups and the aviation industry.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what statutory provisions traffic commissioners allow small public service vehicle operators to run unregistered bus services. [58724]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The bus services which have to be registered with the traffic commissioner are 'local services', as defined in section 2 of the Transport Act 1985. Broadly speaking, local services are those using public service vehicles for the carriage of passengers at separate fares, with stopping places less than fifteen miles apart, and which are not trips organised privately by persons acting independently of vehicle operators etc. (as set out in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981), or services operated under a permit under section 19 of the Act. The requirement to register services is imposed by section 6 of the 1985 Act, which applies irrespective of the size of the public service vehicle concerned.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will issue guidance to regional development agencies on their sustainable development role and responsibilities in respect to rural areas; [58729]

  (2) if regional development agencies will be given guidance on their sustainable development obligations and responsibilities for rural areas before they prepare their regional strategies. [58659]

  Mr. Meale
  Yes. We published draft guidance to RDAs on their regional strategies on 20 October, and have invited comments by the end of November. Work is in progress on supplementary guidance to RDAs on how they should contribute to sustainable development and on rural policy, on which we will consult interested parties in due course. The aim is to finalise all these documents early in the New Year. RDAs will be fully operational from April 1999, and we envisage that they will produce their regional strategies by October 1999.

  Teesside Development Corporation
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998,Official Report, columns 454–45, if he will list the companies which submitted bids for disposal of (a) computers, (b) CD-Roms, (c) office equipment and (d) boardroom furniture, indicating which bids were accepted for each of the above categories of equipment after the demise of Teesside Development Corporation. [58675]

  Mr. Meale
  I understand that a large number of firms were approached in connection with the disposal of TDC's furniture and equipment. Three expressed interest and two definite bids were subsequently received, the higher of which was accepted. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, the names of these firms cannot be divulged.
  115
  I further understand that, in subsequent negotiations, it was agreed that the bulk of TDC's computers would also be sold to this firm. The remainder of the computers and some other furniture were made available to the remaining staff of the Corporation for sums which exceeded the relevant "benchmark" figures submitted by an office equipment company.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998,Official Report, column 454, if he will list those individuals who have kept a record of information which was previously stored on (a) CD-Roms or disks and (b) on paper after the demise of Teesside Development Corporation. [58779]

  Mr. Meale
  I understand that, upon its dissolution at the end of June 1998, the TDC bequeathed some 600 boxes of files to the Commission for the New Towns, as the residuary body. The CNT is currently working on cataloguing the information in these boxes before putting them away for long-term storage.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by local authority the level of charges set for registration of houses in multiple occupation. [58583]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local authorities are required to charge a reasonable fee which does not exceed the maximum specified by the Secretary of State. This maximum is £80 per property under a notification registration scheme, and £60 per habitable room under a registration scheme with control provisions. Information on the levels set by authorities who have introduced schemes is not held centrally.

  Integrated Transport Policy
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on how his integrated transport policy will apply to rural areas. [58478]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The measures in the Government's White Paper will produce a transport system which increases choice for all—including those who live in rural areas. There are specific measures targeted at rural areas; the White Paper announced the creation of a new Rural Transport Partnership fund to help get extra resources into rural transport where it counts. In addition, the Chancellor announced on 17 March 1998,Official Report, column 1109, an additional £50 million a year to improve the public transport alternative in rural areas.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what acreage of land in England is registered as(a) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (b) sites of special scientific interest. [58814]

  Mr. Meale
  The total area of land in England within designated areas of outstanding natural beauty is 5,039,360 acres; sites of special scientific interest extend 116
  to 2,440,318 acres. About one third of the area of sites of special scientific interest is within areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  Flood Damage (Shrewsbury)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he will make available to Shrewsbury to deal with recent flood damage. [59153]

  Ms Armstrong
  Local authorities affected by an emergency or disaster, such as severe flooding, can apply to my Department for special financial assistance under the Section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (the 'Bellwin scheme'). The scheme is intended to help local authorities deal with the immediate aftermath of such an event in their area or among their inhabitants. Grant is discretionary and is normally paid on qualifying expenditure at 85 per cent. above a threshold. The threshold is related to an authority's Standard Spending Assessment.

  Supermarket Developments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he has held in the last six months with representatives from supermarkets. [58883]

  Mr. Prescott
  In the last six months, I have met representatives of many organisations, including supermarkets, who have interests in the subject areas for which I am responsible and the many consultation documents my Department has issued.

  Connex South Central
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to meet the management of Connex South Central to discuss its performance and services. [59228]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Ministers will be meeting representatives from all of the train operating companies and Railtrack on November 26, to discuss future railways policy and in particular ways of improving poor performance generally.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 November 1998,Official Report, column 574, concerning rolling stock replacement, when he expects the Franchise Director to conclude his exploration of options with Connex South Central. [59227]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand that the position reached in the Franchising Director's exploratory discussions with Connex South Central is that the Company is now considering how it wishes to proceed. The Franchising Director will examine and respond to any further approach from the Company. There are no time limits on this process of dialogue.

  Buses and Coaches (Speedometers)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the public
  117
  service vehicle regulations, how often the speedometers of (a) fare stage buses and (b) coaches must be recalibrated; and if he will make a statement. [58755]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There is no legal requirement for the speedometers in either fare stage buses or coaches to be recalibrated. The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 require that speedometers must be maintained in a good working order. If the vehicle is fitted with a speedometer in accordance with either EC Directive 75/443EEC or UN ECE Regulation 39, then the accuracy requirements are that the speed indicated by the speedometer must never be less than the true speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

  BEST Trustees
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if negotiations between the Government's lawyers and the BEST trustees have begun; what outstanding issues remain; and when he expects a final settlement to be reached. [59157]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Discussions with the lawyers for the National Bus Company pension trustees have begun. They were started immediately after the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister on 30 September of the intention to achieve a just out-of-court settlement of the trustees' claim for return of the pension surplus paid over following NBC's privatisation.

  High priority is being given to achieving as soon as possible a conclusion to these discussions which is satisfactory for all concerned.

  Motor Coaches (Vehicle Condition Check-ups)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the number of motor coaches stopped by the police forces during the month of September for a vehicle condition check-up, how many(a) were found to have faults and (b) were refused permission to complete their journey, pending repairs to their vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [58298]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Figures for the numbers of motor coaches stopped by police officers during September are not available centrally, but I can report the coach checks recorded by the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI) in that period. Police officers exercise their power to stop moving traffic to enable VI to examine vehicles during multi-agency checks, and the VI also examines coaches whilst they are parked to minimise traffic disruption. In the latter cases, police officers would not be involved.

  Checks on coaches by Vehicle Inspectorate examiners during September 1998

  Number

  Full roadside checks by VI examiners

  1,328

  Prohibition notices issued

  164 (of which 76 had immediate effect, preventing coaches from continuing their journeys)

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  Checks on coaches by Vehicle Inspectorate examiners during September 1998

  Number

  Roadside emissions checks by VI examiners

  659

  Prohibition notices issued

  19 (of which one had immediate effect)

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firefighters
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to legalise the payment of compensation by fire authorities to firefighters who are permanently incapacitated or to dependants of firefighters killed on duty. [58590]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I have been asked by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades to give statutory authority for compensation payments, originally set out in the Council's Scheme of Conditions of Service for members of fire brigades. I am considering how this can be done.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the imposition of an administration fee in addition to the fine imposed upon drivers for exceeding the speed limit in cases detected by speed cameras. [58688]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Office has received representations from the Association of Chief Police Officers' Traffic Committee that an administrative charge should be added to fixed penalties for speeding offences detected by cameras. In addition, we have received a large volume of correspondence about increasing the funds for speed cameras by hypothecating the fine income from them.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to introduce an administration fee payable by drivers who have been detected speeding by speed cameras in addition to any other penalty they may face. [58689]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government are currently reviewing the funding arrangements for speed cameras to see what more might be done. The suggestion that an administrative charge be introduced is one of a number of options which are being considered.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the future licensing of the use of animals in skin corrosivity and phototoxicity tests, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [58667]

  Mr. George Howarth
  On receipt of the statement on the scientific validation of the 3T3 NRU PT test from the European Commission in November 1997, the Chief Inspector advised that in vivo tests of phototoxicity will no longer be authorised in research applications in the
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  United Kingdom and will not be permissible in safety testing unless the regulatory requirement can be demonstrated. This advice was updated when validation of the alternative test was extended to UV filter chemicals in May 1998.

  Similarly, the TER and EPISKIN in vitro skin corrosivity tests were substituted as soon as the statement of scientific validation was received in April 1998. In vivo skin corrosivity tests are now not authorised in relevant research work and will be permitted in regulatory safety testing only while regulators demand in vivo data. This advice was conveyed to Certificate holders in a newsletter on 29 June 1998.

  The Home Office policy in actively taking up validated alternative tests was discussed when my noble Friend the Minister of State visited the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods in May 1998.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the figures in Home Office Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain, Table 2, column 2, include animals imported from sources outside the EU to United Kingdom suppliers and then sold to designated establishments. [58668]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Animals used in scientific procedures which are listed in Schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and must therefore be obtained from designated supplying establishments in the UK, are accounted for in column 2 of table 2. This is the case, even if the animals were obtained by those supplying establishments from other countries, either inside or outside the European Union.

  "Election Expenses"
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates following the(a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987 and (d) 1992 General Elections the Home Office published "Election Expenses"; and when he expects the volume for the 1997 General Election to be published. [58539]

  Mr. Straw
  The Home Office, Scottish Office and the Northern Ireland Office published the Election Expenses volume following the last four Parliamentary general elections as follows:

  1979: 11 February 1980

  1983: 12 December 1983

  1987: 20 April 1988

  1992: 15 April 1993.

  It is hoped to be able to publish the volume relating to the 1997 general election before the end of the year.

  Video Evidence
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government intend to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Pigot report. [58670]

  Mr. Boateng
  The majority of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Video Evidence, chaired by Judge Pigot, were implemented in the Criminal Justice Act 1991. Those which have not been implemented were considered by interdepartmental Working Group on Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, the establishment of 120
  which was announced on 13 June 1997 by my right hon. Friend. The Working Group's report "Speaking up for Justice" was published on 10 June this year by my right hon. Friend for the purpose of consultation, and included recommendations to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Pigot Report. The consultation exercise has now been completed and the Government are urgently considering the responses. We are determined to improve the treatment of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including children in the criminal justice system.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 1998,Official Report, column 385, concerning children in prison, how many children aged 15 years or under (a) are in young offenders' centres and (b) in adult prisons. [59251]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Provisional information shows that of the 203 persons aged 15 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1998, 162 were held in accommodation dedicated to young offenders and 41 were held in other accommodation containing adults. Young persons held in adult prisons are normally accommodated separately from adults.

  Former Secretary of State for Wales
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information was passed by Home Office(a) Ministers and (b) officials to the Prime Minister's Office prior to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October regarding the actions of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies); and if he will make a statement. [59278]

  Mr. Straw
  When the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. John Stevens, told me in a telephone call shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October, that Mr. Davies had been involved in an incident, I passed that on in a telephone conversation to the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Mr. Jonathan Powell. By coincidence, Mr. Stevens then came to the Home Office on other business and looked in on me. During that meeting, Mr. Stevens also spoke on the telephone to Mr. Powell. 1 cannot properly disclose the contents of the conversations because of the risk of prejudicing any criminal proceedings. At that stage, the police had not taken a formal statement from Mr. Davies and we were talking only about the initial information which was available and lines of inquiry which were being followed by the police.

  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what briefing was received by(a) him and (b) Home Office (i) Ministers and (ii) officials from the Metropolitan Police before 11.00 am on Tuesday, 27 October, regarding the actions of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies); and if he will make a statement. [59279]

  Mr. Straw
  The first information provided to Ministers or officials at the Home Office was given by the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. John Stevens, when he spoke to me on the telephone shortly after 10.00 am on Tuesday, 27 October. By coincidence, Mr. Stevens then came to the Home Office on other
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  business and he looked in on me. The Permanent Secretary, Mr. David Omand, attended that meeting, which took place before 11.00 am.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Sheldon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average costs of recruitment of policemen(a) in the Metropolitan area and (b) in the rest of England. [58838]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner tells me that the current average cost of recruiting a police officer for the Metropolitan Police Service is estimated at £780.

  Information about the cost of police recruitment for the rest of England is not collected centrally and could be obtained from each police force only at disproportionate cost.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 6 October to the Under-Secretary of State regarding the right of abode of a constituent. [59063]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 9 November.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the role of the TA in contingency planning scenarios for the millennium bug; [59161]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on emergency preparedness for the millennium bug (a) in the UK, (b) in Scotland and (c) north of Inverness of planned reductions in the Territorial Army. [59159]

  (3) what representations he has received from the Secretary of State for Scotland concerning the role of the Territorial Army in responding to civil emergencies resulting from the impact of the millennium bug on electricity supply and telecommunications; and if he will make a statement; [59158]

  (4) if his contingency planning scenarios for the millennium bug include a role for the TA infantry and TA engineers. [59160]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Procedures are already in place for the provision of military aid to the civil authority and these arrangements are under regular review in the run up to the Millennium date change. The deployment of the Territorial Army in response to requests for aid is an operational matter for consideration within the Ministry of Defence.

  Adoption
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a national register of couples wishing to adopt. [58248]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have been asked to reply.
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  We have no plans to introduce a national register of couples wishing to adopt. However, the recent Government initiative 'Quality Protects', and publication in August of the Local Authority Circular 'Adoption—Achieving the Right Balance' set out the Government's commitment to improving services for children, including adoption. Local authorities must be pro-active in avoiding undue delay in placing children for adoption and in recruiting prospective adopters able to meet the needs of children needing new and permanent families. We will monitor closely progress by local authorities on the placement of children for adoption.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Sports Facilities
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many local authorities with responsibility for provision of leisure facilities have a strategic sports facilities plan; and if he will make a statement. [57892]

  Mr. Banks
  The English Sports Council (ESC) advises me that some 170 local authorities have such strategies currently in place, with around a further 70 in draft form.

  Government and the English Sports Council (ESC) see such strategies as an important element of delivering sport at the local level. They should set the context not only for the provision of new facilities, but also for sports development and the protection of playing fields. To help assist local authorities assess their facility needs in preparing their strategies, the ESC has developed a Facilities Planning Model, and this service will be available in the Spring.

  We are seeking to raise the importance of these strategies through a number of channels. Planning Policy Guidance for Sport and Recreation (PPG17) advises planning authorities which sport and recreation matters should be included within Development plans. Planning authorities are advised to consider sport and recreation strategies when they prepare those plans. This PPG is currently being updated with a revised draft for consultation around the turn of the year. In addition, as well as tying this work with the production of its Lottery Strategy, the ESC will be producing revised guidance on preparing local sport and recreation strategies early in the New Year.

  Digital Terrestrial Television
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will ensure that the proceeds from auctions of analogue spectrum are used to assist all consumers and communities in the United Kingdom to receive the same quality of digital television service; [58502]

  (2) when the switch-off date will be for analogue transmissions; [58503]

  (3) if he will provide financial support to households that currently receive analogue terrestrial television, but which cannot receive digital terrestrial television to enable them to receive the digital television service via (a) digital satellite television and (b) otherwise. [58684]
  123
  Janet Anderson
  We have not set a date for the switch-off of analogue terrestrial transmissions or yet taken a view on whether any spectrum so released should be auctioned and whether any direct Government measures should be taken to assist the migration from analogue to digital reception. These issues and others were raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future". We are currently considering the responses to that consultation exercise and an announcement on next steps will be made in due course.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of households which will need to purchase new antennae in order to receive digital terrestrial television; [58720]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of households in the United Kingdom which will not be directly served by digital terrestrial television; [58733]

  (3) what steps the Government intend to take to ensure that the digital terrestrial television network provides the same level of coverage as the existing analogue network; [58725]

  (4) how many residents in the Inverness, East, Nairn and Lochaber constituency will not be directly served by digital terrestrial television; [58722]

  (5) which regions will experience difficulties in being directly served by digital terrestrial television. [58723]

  Janet Anderson
  The launch phase of digital terrestrial television has been jointly planned by the BBC and Independent Television Commission so that the 81 transmitters used will reach around 90% of the UK population by the end of 1999 though the coverage of all six multiplexes will vary and in some cases be less. Extending digital services beyond the reach of the first 81 digital terrestrial transmitters was one of the issues raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future" the responses to which are currently being considered.

  The Independent Television Commission published estimates of digital terrestrial television coverage by existing aerials in their Invitation to Apply for Multiplex Service Licences. For the first multiplex carrying the BBC's services, the ITC estimated that 81-87% of the UK population should be able to receive the service with their existing aerials.

  I understand that digital terrestrial transmissions from the Rosemarkie transmitter are expected to cover the Inverness region. The BBC and ITC have jointly produced a CD-Rom containing coverage predictions for each multiplex for each transmitter site. Copies of the CD-Rom have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many civil servants are currently employed at his Department(a) in total and (b) in each policy area covered by his Department. [58859]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]There are currently a total of 362 staff within DCMS. The number of staff in each policy area (not including Central Services or senior management) is as set out.124

  Policy area

  Number of staff

  Arts

  18

  Buildings, Monuments and Sites

  54

  Broadcasting Policy

  24

  Creative Industries Unit

  4

  Media

  14

  Libraries

  14

  Millennium Unit

  12

  Museums and Galleries

  25

  National Lotteries

  12

  Regions

  6

  Sport and Recreation

  23

  Tourism

  20

  "Modernising Local Government"
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions have been held between his officials and the Local Government Association about the implications for(a) the performing arts, (b) the visual arts, (c) museums and galleries and (d) libraries of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' White Paper "Modernising Local Government". [58861]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]Discussions with the Local Government Association about the development of cultural strategies have included discussions on the implications of the White Paper.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the White Paper "Modernising Local Government". [58964]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]The subject has been discussed in correspondence and at the Central Local Partnership meeting I attended in July. Officials of both Departments are discussing how best to take forward the White Paper proposals in areas where I have an interest.

  Internet Publishing
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to require all task forces and equivalent bodies sponsored by his Department to publish their working papers and minutes on the Internet. [58768]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]My Department encourages greater openness of the public bodies it sponsors, wherever practical and appropriate. My Department supports the proposals in "Quangos: Opening The Doors" which recommends that public bodies be encouraged to follow best practice in producing and distributing information on their role and achievement on the Internet. The extent to which the records of any specific task force or equivalent body are published or placed on the Internet will depend upon the individual circumstances and specific tasks undertaken. However, the presumption will be that the final report or recommendations will be made public unless there are good reasons to the contrary.

  World Heritage Sites
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Government will announce their list of prospective world heritage sites to be put forward by the UK to UNESCO for consideration. [59019]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Together with Ministerial colleagues in the other interested Departments, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will need carefully to consider the results of the current consultation exercise before reaching a final decision on the list; but I hope that an announcement can be made within the next two or three months.

  Youth Music Trust
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates he has made of the costs of establishing the Youth Music Trust. [59234]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  There are various costs associated with the establishment of the Youth Music Trust, including administrative support and the cost of expert advice on the development of the Trust's underpinning policy and structure. My Department is supporting the work to establish the Trust, both financially, and in kind.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Council (Director-General)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the resignation of the Director-General of the British Council and place a copy of his resignation letter in the Library. [59274]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Dr. David Drewry resigned from his post as Director-General of the British Council having successfully completed a review of the Council's purpose and strategy. I understand that he saw this as an opportune time to return to his interest in academia. There is no letter of resignation: Dr. Drewry communicated his intention to resign orally in a private meeting with the Chair of the British Council, Baroness Helena Kennedy.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to Indonesia about East Timor. [59283]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I visited Jakarta on 8 October and met President Habibie and members of his Cabinet. I reinforced our commitment to the United Nation's efforts to seek a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the East Timor issue.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to(a) Indonesia and (b) Australia following the decision of the International Commission of Jurists that five Australian journalists were killed by the Indonesian Government at the time of the invasion of East Timor. [59282]
  126
  Mr. Fatchett
  I raised the issue of the deaths of two British born journalists in Balibo in 1975 with President Habibie in Jakarta last month. He undertook to look into the matter. We are aware of reports in Australia of new information on the incident and welcome the Australian government's decision to refer this to Mr. Tom Sherman for his consideration.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is intending to take to reduce the incidence of child abuse in the Third World by western tourists. [59281]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The UK has adopted tough legislation to strengthen action against those who organise or participate in the sexual exploitation of children overseas. There are also extensive arrangements in place for assisting other countries in the investigation and prosecution of offences involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, as well as for responding to extradition requests.

  Following a joint UK-Philippines initiative at the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM), the UK hosted a conference on Child Welfare in London in October, involving government and non-government representatives from the 25 ASEM countries. The meeting focused on practical cooperation to tackle the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

  Pakistan
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the UK's policy on sanctions against Pakistan. [59277]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The measures which the UK and the international community took in response to nuclear tests by Pakistan and India are kept under constant review. We regularly consult our partners on the two countries' progress on nuclear non-proliferation and regional security, most recently at a meeting of the Task Force of Senior Officials held in London on 30 October.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of sanctions on Pakistan by the USA on the prospects of Pakistan signing the Non-Proliferation Agreement. [59280]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We welcome the progress made by Pakistan on regional security and nuclear nonproliferation since its nuclear tests at the end of May, namely Pakistan's stated intention to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, its participation in negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and the resumption of talks with India. We attach importance to further progress, in particular the unconditional signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

  Counter-drug Agreement
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998,Official Report, columns 692–93, when he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement by the United Kingdom and United States concerning maritime

  127
  and aerial operations in the Caribbean, signed in Washington on 13 July, together with the explanatory memorandum. [59042]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We expect to place a copy of the agreement by the United Kingdom and United States concerning maritime and aerial operations in the Caribbean in the Library of the House by the end of the year.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Teachers' Pay
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number and percentage of classroom teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools who are paid on each point of the pay spine. [57699]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The numbers and percentages of full-time classroom teachers in England and Wales at 31 March 1997' in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, on each point of the pay spine, are given in the table.

  1Provisional data. Excludes around 13,000 teachers whose pay details are not yet available.

  Maintained nursery and primary

  Maintained secondary

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Spine point 0

  400

  0.3

  420

  0.2

  Spine point 0.5

  30

  1—

  20

  1—

  Spine point 1

  370

  0.3

  510

  0.3

  Spine point 1.5

  30

  1—

  20

  1—

  Spine point 2

  7,800

  5.7

  6,080

  3.6

  Spine point 2.5

  140

  0.1

  110

  0.1

  Spine point 3

  7,950

  5.8

  6,390

  3.8

  Spine point 3.5

  180

  0.1

  200

  0.1

  Spine point 4

  7,200

  5.2

  5,700

  3.3

  Spine point 4.5

  250

  0.2

  250

  0.1

  Spine point 5

  6,200

  4.5

  4,920

  2.9

  Spine point 5.5

  220

  0.2

  210

  0.1

  Spine point 6

  5,640

  4.1

  4,630

  2.7

  Spine point 6.5

  220

  0.2

  210

  0.1

  Spine point 7

  5,200

  3.8

  4,080

  2.4

  Spine point 7.5

  220

  0.2

  200

  0.1

  Spine point 8

  5,120

  3.7

  4,100

  2.4

  Spine point 8.5

  320

  0.2

  260

  0.2

  Spine point 9

  36,410

  26.5

  25,100

  14.7

  Spine point 9.5

  1,420

  1.0

  930

  0.5

  Spine point 10

  26,740

  19.4

  19,150

  11.2

  Spine point 10.5

  670

  0.5

  670

  0.4

  Spine point 11

  19,950

  14.5

  30,820

  18.1

  Spine point 11.5

  540

  0.4

  1,020

  0.6

  Spine point 12

  3,690

  2.7

  21,970

  12.9

  Spine point 12.5

  110

  0.1

  610

  0.4

  Spine point 13

  480

  0.3

  22,880

  13.4

  Spine point 13.5

  60

  1—

  630

  0.4

  Spine point 14

  70

  0.1

  7,300

  4.3

  Spine point 14.5

  10

  1—

  160

  0.1

  Spine point 15

  10

  1—

  550

  0.3

  Spine point 15.5

  10

  1—

  60

  1—

  Spine point 16

  10

  1—

  150

  0.1

  Spine point 16.5

  2—

  1—

  30

  1—

  Spine point 17

  2—

  1—

  60

  1—

  Total

  137,640

  100.0

  170,350

  100.0

  1Less than 0.05 per cent.

  2Less than 5 teachers

  University Drop-outs
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students(a) applied for
  128
  primary teaching courses, (b) began the courses and (c) subsequently failed to complete the courses, in each of the years 1992 to 1998. [56197]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The following tables give information on:

  (a) the number of applications to primary initial teacher training (ITT) courses, separately for undergraduate and postgraduate, for the years 1992 to 1998;

  (b) the number of students entering primary ITT courses, separately for undergraduate and postgraduate, for the years 1992 to 1997; information for 1998 is not yet available;

  (c) the information requested on the number of primary ITT students beginning courses each year who subsequently fail to complete the course is not available centrally.

  Table 1:Applications1 to primary ITT courses, 1992–93 to 1998–99—England and Wales

  Year

  Undergraduate3

  Postgraduate

  1992–93

  n/a

  11,910

  1993–94

  n/a

  12,720

  1994–95

  n/a

  10,950

  1995–96

  n/a

  12,250

  1996–97

  92,290

  12,580

  1997–98

  78,120

  13,220

  1998–992

  65,420

  12,730

  1UCAS count up to six applications per applicant, whilst GTTR count one application per applicant. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2Provisional figures

  3Comparable undergraduate information is not available prior to 1996. The figures include all courses where students may opt for a teaching certificate, and may exclude a number applying at the clearing stage.

  Sources

  Undergraduate applications—Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

  Postgraduate applications—Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)

  Table 2: Intake to primary ITT courses,1 1992–93 to 1997–98—England and Wales

  Year

  Undergraduate

  Postgraduate

  Total

  1992–93

  12,109

  6,255

  18,364

  1993–94

  11,268

  6,218

  17,486

  1994–95

  9,447

  5,640

  15,087

  1995–96

  9,236

  5,696

  14,932

  1996–97

  8,363

  5,454

  13,817

  1997–98

  7,803

  5,217

  13,020

  1Includes SCITT

  Sources

  England—DFE Annual Recruitment Survey 1992–93 to 1993–94; HESES 1994–95;

  TTA Survey of ITT Providers 1995–96 to 1997–98

  Wales—DFE Annual Recruitment Survey 1992–93 to 1993–94; Welsh Office 1994–95; HESES 1995–96 to 1997–98

  New Deal (Construction)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places have been filled on the New Deal for Construction programme for the latest available date. [575561]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 2 November 1998]A total figure for New Deal clients moving into jobs in construction is not yet available, because an analysis of those starting unsubsidised jobs by industrial
  129
  sector is not yet available; however, the number who had started subsidised jobs in construction was, by the end of August 1998, 750.

  The construction industry has a relatively good vacancy to placing ratio, which suggests that young people are finding construction jobs attractive and have the skills and qualities required by the industry.

  We are grateful for the positive contribution the construction industry is making to the New Deal.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what target the Government have announced for the number of places to be taken up on the New Deal for Construction programme from the date of its launch to 31 December. [57557]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 2 November 1998]The Government have announced no target but, when the Construction Industry New Deal framework was launched in February 1998, the industry expected to offer opportunities to around 3,000 young people each year.

  New Junior Schools
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new junior schools, in which local authority areas, have been(a) started and (b) completed in each of the last five years. [58285]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  No statutory proposals to establish new junior schools have been approved in the last three years. Accurate information for earlier years is not available.

  Full-time Students
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 11 to 18 year olds were in full-time state education in(a) 1998 or the latest available date, (b) 1988, (c) 1978 and (d) 1968. [58346]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The number of full-time 11 to 18 year old pupils in maintained schools is shown in the table.

  Figures as at January of each year

  Year

  Pupils

  19681

  2,897,922

  1978

  4,108,619

  1988

  3,084,372

  19982

  3,074,899

  1 Maintained primary and secondary schools only

  2 Includes Pupil Referral Units but excludes sixth form colleges

  School Budgets
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was(a) the lowest and (b) the highest sum of money allocated per state (i) primary and (ii) other school pupil in full-time education in 1997–98. [58290]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table sets out the education standard spending assessment per primary pupil and per secondary pupil for all local education authorities in England for 1997–98. The lowest sum of money allocated per primary pupil and per secondary pupil was 130
  £1,902 and £2,466 respectively, and the highest sum of money allocated per primary pupil and per secondary pupil was £3,576 and £7,247 respectively.

  1997–98 SSA per pupil

  £

  LEA

  Primary Per 5-10 pupil

  Secondary per 11-15 pupil

  Isles of Scilly

  3,576

  4,702

  Tower Hamlets

  3,217

  4,262

  Hackney

  3,179

  4,331

  Lambeth

  3,106

  4,403

  Southwark

  3,029

  4,030

  Cith of London

  3,017

  7,247

  Islington

  2,999

  4,027

  Camden

  2,975

  3,741

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,955

  3,827

  Lewisham

  2,936

  3,889

  Greenwich

  2,810

  3,680

  Westminster

  2,789

  3,579

  Wandsworth

  2,779

  3,670

  Haringey

  2,762

  3,722

  Newham

  2,752

  3,619

  Kensigton and Chelsea

  2,711

  3,631

  Brent

  2,648

  3,579

  Waltham Forest

  2,563

  3,400

  Ealing

  2,480

  3,331

  Slough

  2,448

  3,278

  Hounslow

  2,440

  3,155

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,429

  3,214

  Enfield

  2,398

  3,132

  Knowsley

  2,381

  3,178

  Croydon

  2,361

  3,126

  Manchester

  2,359

  3,138

  Redbridge

  2,323

  3,037

  Merton

  2,314

  3,030

  Barnet

  2,300

  2,976

  Liverpool

  2,295

  3,022

  Harrow

  2,267

  3,000

  Nottingham City

  2,264

  2,996

  Hillingdon

  2,262

  2,969

  Luton

  2,244

  2,958

  Birmingham

  2,240

  2,961

  Thurrock

  2,239

  2,939

  Sutton

  2,219

  2,866

  Leicester

  2,208

  2,899

  Bexley

  2,206

  2,888

  Middlesborough

  2,199

  2,936

  Bromley

  2,180

  2,840

  Blackburn

  2,179

  2,849

  Southampton

  2,179

  2,889

  Havering

  2,176

  2,853

  Brighton and Hove

  2,173

  2,847

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,171

  2,847

  Oxfordshire

  2,047

  2,670

  Herefordshire

  2,046

  2,707

  St. Helens

  2,045

  2,696

  Durham

  2,043

  2,686

  Stoke on Trent

  2,043

  2,692

  West Sussex

  2,043

  2,675

  Norfolk

  2,042

  2,675

  Bolton

  2,042

  2,674

  Lincolnshire

  2,041

  2,676

  Leeds

  2,041

  2,681

  North Lincolnshire

  2,039

  2,673

  Barnsley

  2,038

  2,687

  Sefton

  2,038

  2,687

  Darlington

  2,037

  2,684

  Rotherham

  2,037

  2,655

  Plymouth

  2,034

  2,645

  Bournemouth

  2,033

  2,650

  Lancashire

  2,026

  2,657

  Tameside

  2,025

  2,649

  Devon

  2,024

  2,668

  131

  1997–98 SSA per pupil

  £

  LEA

  Primary per 5-10pupil

  Secondary per 11-15pupil

  Cumbria

  2,022

  2,644

  Northumberland

  2,016

  2,639

  North Tyneside

  2,015

  2,665

  Hampshire

  2,007

  2,630

  North Yorkshire

  2,006

  2,603

  Shropshire

  2,000

  2,612

  Northamptonshire

  1,999

  2,621

  Somerset

  1,996

  2,621

  Newbury

  1,994

  2,591

  Trafford

  1,993

  2,603

  Cambridgeshire

  1,989

  2,613

  Wakefield

  1,988

  2,604

  Wiltshire

  1,988

  2,603

  Suffolk

  1,983

  2,599

  Swindon

  1,979

  2,601

  Gloucestershire

  1,977

  2,585

  Bury

  1,972

  2,559

  Nottinghamshire

  1,969

  2,581

  Wigan

  1,969

  2,573

  Dorset

  1,963

  2,565

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  1,961

  2,561

  Solihull

  1,961

  2,540

  Warwickshire

  1,960

  2,573

  Warcestershire

  1,957

  2,558

  Dudley

  1,954

  2,559

  Cheshire

  1,952

  2,542

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,168

  2,825

  Isle of Wight Council

  2,166

  2,841

  Portsmouth

  2,163

  2,832

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  2,159

  2,835

  Reading

  2,153

  2,897

  Bradford

  2,151

  2,845

  Wolverhampton

  2,150

  2,849

  Sandwell

  2,139

  2,808

  Salford

  2,139

  2,814

  Hertfordshire

  2,135

  2,789

  Southend

  2,135

  2,809

  Milton Keynes

  2,133

  2,814

  Halton

  2,128

  2,811

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,126

  2,728

  Conventry

  2,123

  2,787

  South Tyneside

  2,121

  2,780

  Doncaster

  2,116

  2,783

  Rochdale

  2,114

  2,806

  Surrey

  2,109

  2,764

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2,105

  2,739

  Kent

  2,104

  2,759

  Essex

  2,104

  2,761

  Bracknell Forest

  2,104

  2,753

  Oldham

  2,102

  2,732

  Wirral

  2,100

  2,764

  Peterborough

  2,100

  2,756

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  2,098

  2,705

  Hartlepool

  2,098

  2,754

  East Sussex

  2,094

  2,753

  City of Bristol

  2,093

  2,784

  Medway Towns

  2,092

  2,750

  Sunderland

  2,089

  2,744

  Derby

  2,085

  2,747

  North East Lincolnshire

  2,077

  2,729

  Gateshead

  2,074

  2,737

  Walsall

  2,071

  2,702

  Sheffield

  2,068

  2,725

  Kirklees

  2,066

  2,707

  Buckinghamshire

  2,066

  2,719

  The Wrekin

  2,060

  2,701

  Bedfordshire

  2,055

  2,696

  Torbay

  2,055

  2,688

  Calderdale

  2,050

  2,690

  132

  1997–98 SSA per pupil

  £

  LEA

  Primary per 5-10 pupil

  Secondary per 11-15pupil

  Blackpool

  2,048

  2,739

  Derbyshire

  1,952

  2,565

  York

  1,946

  2,565

  Poole

  1,942

  2,540

  Rutland

  1,942

  2,466

  North Somerset

  1,942

  2,553

  Stockport

  1,939

  2,548

  Warrington

  1,939

  2,544

  Staffordshire

  1,935

  2,534

  Bath and North East Somerset

  1,933

  2,484

  Wokingham

  1,913

  2,517

  Leicestershire

  1,905

  2,504

  South Gloucestershire

  1,902

  2,497

  Total

  2,130

  2,782

  Secondary Schools
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many secondary schools were in the maintained sector in(a) 1998 or the most recent available date, (b) 1988, (c) 1978 and (d) 1968.v [58345]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Number of maintained secondary schools in England

  January of each year

  Number

  1968

  5,222

  1978

  4,711

  1988

  4,153

  1998

  3,567

  Todmorden Road Primary School
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he proposes to take on the leaking of the draft OFSTED report regarding Todmorden Road County Primary School, Burnley; and if he will make a statement. [58541]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Arrangements for confidential oral feedback of OFSTED findings are set out in the Framework for School Inspection. I deplore any case in which normal publication arrangements are pre-empted by a breach of confidentiality, but this is not a matter in which the Department can intervene and I am not in a position to make any judgment on the case referred to.

  Todmorden County Primary School is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education and requires special measures. The school and Lancashire LEA must now produce urgent plans to resolve the key issues identified in the OFSTED report so that it can be removed from special measures within 2 years.

  New Secondary Schools
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new secondary schools have been(a) started and (b) completed in each of the last five years; and in which council areas the schools are located. [58800]
  133
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows the number of proposals approved and implemented in each Local Education Authority to establish new maintained secondary schools in each of the last three years. The list includes proposals which have been determined by the Local Education Authority and proposals by independent schools to join the maintained sector. A number of proposals have been decided but not yet implemented. Accurate information for earlier years is not available.

  Number approved

  Number implemented

  1996

  Sutton

  1

  —

  East Sussex (pre 1 April 1997)

  1

  —

  Surrey

  1

  —

  Staffordshire (pre 1 April 1997)

  1

  —

  1997

  Trafford

  2

  2

  Kent (pre 1 April 1998)

  1

  1

  Liverpool

  1

  —

  Croydon

  1

  1

  Ealing

  1

  —

  Birmingham

  1

  1

  Milton Keynes

  1

  —

  Buckinghamshire (pre 1 April 1997)

  —

  1

  Sutton

  —

  1

  Surrey

  —

  1

  Kent (pre 1 April 1998)

  —

  1

  Staffordshire (pre 1 April 1997)

  —

  1

  1998

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1

  —

  Wandsworth

  1

  —

  Haringey

  1

  1

  Wolverhampton

  1

  1

  Kent (pre 1 April 1998)

  1

  1

  Hillingdon

  1

  —

  East Sussex (pre 1 April 1997)

  1

  1

  Islington

  1

  —

  Ealing

  —

  1

  Education Funding (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of his Department's funding for education for the year 1997–98 has been allocated to the London Borough of Wandsworth. [58826]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department's funding for education in Wandsworth in 1997–98 consisted of some £91.7 million through the education SSA system, £1.5 million through grant for education support and training, £0.1 million for capital expenditure, and £0.1 million for the New Deal for Schools. These allocations represent 0.5 per cent. of the Department's total funding for education.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority the percentage of children in that local authority with statements of special educational needs. [58989]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]The latest available data are drawn from schools' Annual Census returns to the Department and relate to January 1998. The table indicates, for each local 134
  education authority as at January 1998, the proportion of pupils attending schools in the authority's area who had statements expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils in such schools.

  Percentage of pupils with statements, January 1998

  LEA

  Percentage

  Hartlepool

  2.41

  Middlesbrough

  3.21

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2.14

  Stockton-on-Tees

  3.10

  Darlington

  3.38

  Durham

  3.56

  Northumberland

  2.92

  Gateshead

  2.31

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2.58

  North Tyneside

  2.80

  South Tyneside

  2.97

  Sunderland

  3.55

  Cheshire

  3.34

  Cumbria

  3.92

  Bolton

  2.82

  Bury

  2.60

  Manchester

  2.47

  Oldham

  1.53

  Rochdale

  2.31

  Salford

  2.14

  Stockport

  2.68

  Tameside

  2.90

  Trafford

  1.73

  Wigan

  4.12

  Lancashire

  3.89

  Knowsley

  3.69

  Liverpool

  2.80

  St. Helens

  5.01

  Sefton

  2.92

  Wirral

  3.41

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  2.38

  City of Kingston-Upon-Hull

  2.37

  North East Lincolnshire

  2.14

  North Lincolnshire

  2.39

  York

  2.54

  North Yorkshire

  2.41

  Barnsley

  3.06

  Doncaster

  5.34

  Rotherham

  3.41

  Sheffield

  2.89

  Bradford

  2.44

  Calderdale

  2.43

  Kirklees

  4.03

  Leeds

  3.22

  Wakefield

  2.90

  Derby

  3.08

  Derbyshire

  3.34

  Leicester City

  3.81

  Rutland

  1.66

  Leicestershire

  2.73

  Lincolnshire

  3.27

  Northamptonshire

  2.59

  Nottinghamshire

  1.20

  Hereford and Worcester

  2.83

  Shropshire

  4.01

  Stoke

  3.01

  Staffordshire

  3.35

  Warwickshire

  2.68

  Birmingham

  2.58

  Coventry

  2.42

  Dudley

  2.25

  Sandwell

  2.45

  Solihull

  1.85

  Walsall

  2.79

  Wolverhampton

  2.60

  Luton

  2.99

  Bedfordshire

  3.05

  135

  percentage of pupils with statements, January 1998

  LEA

  Percentage

  Cambridgeshire

  3.19

  Essex

  2.25

  Hertfordshire

  2.77

  Norfolk

  3.38

  Suffolk

  3.08

  City of London

  0.11

  Camden

  3.16

  Hackney

  3.19

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3.38

  Haringey

  2.55

  Islington

  3.54

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1.27

  Lambeth

  3.76

  Lewisham

  3.15

  Newham

  2.70

  Southwark

  2.83

  Tower Hamlets

  3.77

  Wandsworth

  3.10

  Westminster

  2.07

  Barking and Dagenham

  2.61

  Barnet

  1.85

  Bexley

  2.36

  Brent

  2.78

  Bromley

  3.28

  Croydon

  1.81

  Ealing

  2.21

  Enfield

  2.13

  Greenwich

  3.81

  Harrow

  2.68

  Havering

  2.80

  Hillingdon

  3.09

  Hounslow

  2.74

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2.31

  Merton

  2.83

  Redbridge

  1.69

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  2.00

  Sutton

  2.89

  Waltham Forest

  3.27

  Berkshire

  2.92

  Milton Keynes

  3.83

  Buckinghamshire

  3.02

  Brighton and Hove

  4.27

  East Sussex

  2.98

  Portsmouth

  2.71

  Southampton

  2.89

  Hampshire

  2.60

  Isle of Wight

  3.89

  Kent

  3.19

  Oxfordshire

  2.39

  Surrey

  3.16

  West Sussex

  3.13

  Bath and North East Somerset

  2.72

  City of Bristol

  4.03

  North Somerset

  3.11

  South Gloucestershire

  3.13

  Cornwall

  4.30

  Isles of Scilly

  1.10

  Devon

  3.48

  Bournemouth

  2.31

  Poole

  3.10

  Dorset

  2.81

  Gloucestershire

  2.76

  Somerset

  2.92

  Swindon

  3.20

  Wiltshire

  2.37

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 29 October 1998,Official Report, columns 233–34, if the research project to assess the relative costs, benefits and practical implications of educating children with moderate learning
  136
  difficulties in mainstream and special schools covers children assessed as having emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems. [58992]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]The research project recognises and allows for the fact that pupils with moderate learning difficulties may also have other special educational needs. The project, which is small-scale, does not cover those with emotional and behavioural or other difficulties who do not have moderate learning difficulties.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received on special educational needs. [59291]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We received over 3,600 responses to consultation on the Green Paper,Excellence for all children: meeting special educational needs. In the light of these, and the advice of the National Advisory Group on Special Educational Needs (SEN), we published Meeting Special Educational Needs A programme of action, earlier this month. This sets out the practical steps we will take to support and promote developments in SEN over the next few years.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines his Department has issued on staffing levels at special needs schools for children with(a) severe and (b) moderate learning difficulties. [59258]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department issued guidance on staffing for pupils with special educational needs in 1990, in Circular 11/90. The Circular outlines the factors which Local Education Authorities and schools ought to consider in determining staffing levels, and is not intended to be prescriptive. Local Education Authorities and schools are best placed to determine their staffing needs in the light of local circumstances.

  LEAs (Project Funding)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the funds which have been made available to(a) local education authorities and (b) schools for projects as part of the £19 billion extra spending on education as announced in the House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 187–211. [58988]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]England's share of the additional £19 billion for education over the next three years is £16 billion. Increases in Education Standard Spending Assessments account for £7.135 billion of this. Local education authorities and schools will also benefit from substantial other additional resources, including an additional £1.5 billion for schools capital and a big increase in the Standards Fund. A number of areas are still to be finalised, and full details will be published in the Department's Annual Report in the spring.

  Veterinary Science and Medicine Primary Degrees
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the typical offers of A-level grades required for students wishing to
  137
  pursue primary degrees in (a) veterinary science and (b) medicine in universities, broken down by university, for each of the last five academic years. [59294]

  Mr. Mudie
  The expected A-level grades required for entry to first degree courses in veterinary science and medicine are set out in the Universities and Colleges Entrance Guide published by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). Copies of the latest edition (covering 1999 entry) and those for the previous four years are available in the Library.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the examination failure rates for undergraduate students in universities pursuing primary degrees in(a) veterinary science and (b) medicine, broken down by (i) university and (ii) year of study for each of the last five academic years. [59296]

  Mr. Mudie
  Information on first degree examination failure rates by individual course and university or year of study is not compiled centrally.

  Work is currently being undertaken by the funding bodies in the UK to produce progression statistics for each institution. After a period of consultation with individual institutions, this is intended to lead to the publication next year of progression rates which will reflect the numbers of students who do not complete courses, which will include those who do so as a result of examination failure.

  Access to Work
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 3 November 1998,Official Report, column 404, concerning access to work, what assessment he made of the implications of creating full-time councillors in drawing up the proposals for directly elected mayors and cabinets contained in the White Paper, In Touch with the People. [59229]

  Ms Hodge
  Access to Work provides help for disabled people who are in, or about to start, paid employment. Help can be provided for people who are employed or self-employed, full or part-time, permanent or temporary. Councillors do not come within the scope of the programme because their activities are not regarded as their main paid employment. If this situation changes, and the activities of councillors become their main paid employment, then they may be eligible for Access to Work support.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a table showing the levels of unemployment in each of the areas currently designated as(a) development areas and (b) intermediate areas under the provisions for regional selective assistance. [58718]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  138
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 10 November 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on unemployment.
  The information you have requested can only be derived from the monthly claimant count of people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits). Essentially, all people who were claiming these benefits on the count day are counted.
  The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in each of the areas currently designated as (a) development areas and (b) intermediate areas under the provisions for regional selective assistance can be obtained from the Nomis database which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Uganda
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in relieving the debts of Uganda owed to OECD countries. [57903]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  On 24 April this year, Uganda became the first country to reach its completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt initiative. This last tranche of multilateral debt relief resulted in a further debt reduction of $347 million in NPV terms (approximately equivalent to $650 million in nominal terms), on top of previous concessional reschedulings and aid loan write offs.

  Civil Servants (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in her private office, as at 1 October 1997; [56807]

  (2) if she will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in her Department, by grade, as at 1 October 1997. [56805]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 5 November 1998,Official Report, columns 666–70.

  Central America (Hurricane Mitch)
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to provide aid to Nicaragua, and other Central American countries devastated by Hurricane Mitch. [59142]

  Clare Short
  We are responding to the immediate relief needs of the region as part of the international relief effort. This includes a contribution of £200,000 to the Red Cross Regional Appeal, approximately £60,000 to the Pan American Health Organisation for basic health care needs, £94,525 to CAFOD for food and household items and £
  100,000 to Christian Aid to supply medicines, temporary shelters, blankets and water containers for Honduras. In Nicaragua, we have channelled £32,585 through the non-governmental organisation CARE for the provision of safe water, food and clothes. We are also sending medical
  139
  supplies to El Salvador to meet the needs of 20,000 people for 3 months. In addition, HMS Sheffield provided immediate disaster assistance to Honduras, and RFA Sir Tristram and HMS Ocean are providing further support. We have also provided a UK expert to the United Nations Assessment and Co-ordination teams working in the region.

  We have recently agreed an enlarged development programme for Central America and committed £6 million. We are currently refocusing the programme to take account of reconstruction needs.

  Nicaragua and Honduras are both Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, as defined by the World Bank and IMF. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have called on the IMF and World Bank to look urgently at the case for special treatment in the matter of debt for countries afflicted by natural disasters which severely damage their economies. We are urging the international community to consider what exceptional debt relief measures might be appropriate in the short term for these countries.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid the UK Government are providing to victims of Hurricane Mitch; and if she will make a statement. [59255]

  Clare Short
  Since May 1997 my Department has been working to strengthen the capacity of the international system to respond very quickly to emergencies wherever they arise. In the past, uncoordinated shipments of aid and expertise often exacerbated rather than assisted such crises. The first step following Hurricane Mitch was that UN disaster assessment teams were mobilised. A British expert was made available. HMS Sheffield was in the vicinity and was helping in Belize and at the request of the local authorities was able to make available helicopters, engineers and medical support. DFID immediately contacted NGOs who were already working in the countries concerned to offer support. We have made available £200,000 to the Red Cross Regional Appeal and supplies were flown on Sunday.

  In Honduras, we have contributed £60,000 to the Pan American Health organisation for basic health care needs, £94,525 to CAFOD for food and household items and a grant of £100,000 to Christian Aid to supply medicines, temporary shelters, blankets and water containers. In Nicaragua, we have channelled £32,585 through the NGO CARE for the provision of safe water, food and clothes. We are also sending medical supplies to El Salvador to meet the needs of 20,000 for three months. HMS Ocean and RFA Sir Tristram are also in the area and, at local request, are providing search and rescue and reconnaissance service.

  We have recently agreed an enlarged development programme for Central America and committed £6 million. We are currently refocusing the programme to take account of reconstruction needs.
  140
  We must ensure that the reconstruction effort focuses on reducing vulnerability, for example by flood protection and through the appropriate location of new housing. It will also be necessary to strengthen local and regional capacity to respond more effectively when disaster strikes. We have recently agreed a major programme with the International Red Cross to strengthen such capacity in all developing countries.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid has been requested by the Nicaraguan Government from the UK to help the victims of Hurricane Mitch. [59256]

  Clare Short
  The Nicaraguan Government have requested international assistance to provide food, medicines, tents and construction materials to cope with the aftermath of the disaster. Our contributions so far have been channelled through the Red Cross and the non-governmental organisation CARE.

  We continue to monitor the situation in Nicaragua closely through the United Nations, the Red Cross and our Embassy and we are in close contact with British non-governmental organisations about support to their relief activities. Beyond the immediate response to the emergency, we are considering how we can best use our recently enlarged assistance programme to help with reconstruction.

  Nicaragua, is a heavily Indebted Poor Country, as defined by the World Bank and IMF. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have called on the IMF and World Bank to look closely, as part of the work they already have in hand on post-conflict debt relief, at the case for special treatment in the matter of debt for countries afflicted by natural disasters which severely damage their economies. We are urging the international community to consider what exceptional debt relief measures might be appropriate in the short term for these countries.

  UNESCO
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will make a statement on the UK National Commission for UNESCO; [59252]

  (2) if she will make a statement on the process for appointing members of the UK National Commission for UNESCO. [59253]

  Clare Short
  The structure and funding of a UK Commission for UNESCO, including the process for appointing members, are currently under discussion. It is my intention that the Commission be effective and economical. I hope that an announcement on the establishment of the Commission will be made shortly.

  Mrs. Gillan:
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the costs of the UK's membership of UNESCO in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [59254]

  Clare Short
  The identifiable costs of the UK's membership of UNESCO were £16,185,671 in 1997–98, and are projected to be £11,304,718 in 1998–99.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Civil Servants (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in his Department, by grade, as at 1 October 1997; [56817]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in his private office, as at 1 October 1997. [56819]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 5 November 1998,Official Report, columns 666–70.

  Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts are under investigation by his Department under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1994. [57530]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 2 November 1998]None. My Department has no powers to investigate complaints under the Regulations.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the combined heat and power schemes sanctioned this year and those schemes for which there are applications for consent outstanding, indicating the capacity of the scheme. [59165]

  Mr. Battle
  The following is the information requested:

  Consents granted under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 during 1998 (England and Wales1)

  British Sugar, Bury St. Edmunds: 80 MWe

  Bridgewater Paper, Ellesmere Port: 65 MWe

  Applications currently under consideration under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (England and Wales1)

  Shotton Paper, Flintshire: 215 MWe

  BNFL/Urenco, Capenhurst: 65 MWe

  ICI Runcorn, Cheshire: 140 MWe

  British Sugar, York: 70 MWe

  Hickson & Welch, Castleford: 56 MWe

  Sappi Europe, Blackburn: 60 MWe

  Slough Heat and Power, Slough': 92 MWe

  Michelin Tyres, Stoke on Trent: 58 MWe

  Clearances given under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 (Great Britain2)

  British Sugar, Bury St. Edmunds: 80 MWe

  Bridgewater Paper, Ellesmere Port: 65 MWe

  BPB Paperboard, Mugiemoss: 49 MWe

  BP Grangemouth, Stirlingshire: 130 MWe

  Notifications currently under consideration under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 (Great Britain2)
  Three notifications are currently under consideration. However these contain information which is classified as commercially confidential. When a decision on the particular notification is made it will be announced by way of Press Notice and placed in the Library of the House.

  1The Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for those applications relating to Scotland.
  142
  2Section 14(1) empowers the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to regulate, for reasons of energy policy, the construction of power stations to be fuelled by natural gas or oil.

  3 This is an increase from 80 MWe to 92 MWe of an existing combined heat and power station. The increase will be fuelled by bio-fuel.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the EC Directives due to come before Parliament in the session commencing November 1998 which will be the responsibility of his Department. [585301

  Mr. Mandelson
  Scrutiny by Parliament of European legislation is a continuing process involving deposit in Parliament of documents which fall within the terms of reference of the scrutiny committees of both Houses of Parliament. These include formal legislative documents such as proposals for Directives, Regulations and Decisions.

  The Commission's work programmes, which are deposited in the House, outline areas in which it will seek to legislate and give an indication of the Directives which may come before the Scrutiny Committees in the next session.

PRIME MINISTER

  Life Peers
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the procedures for and list the committees, and their membership, involved in selecting candidates to be proposed for appointment as life peers; and what changes to these arrangements he proposes to make following the abolition of hereditary peers' rights to vote. [58681]

  The Prime Minister
  Under this and the previous administration, there has been no formal committee structure in the selection of candidates for appointment as life peers. We will announce our proposals for changes in the way life peers are appointed in due course.

  Anglo-Irish Secretariat
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister how many persons are presently working in the Anglo-Irish Secretariat at Maryfield; on what date Maryfield will be closed; and if he will make a statement. [59287]

  The Prime Minister
  The British and Irish sides of the Secretariat comprise 26 full and part-time British and Irish civil servants.

  The offices of the Secretariat at Maryfield will close by the end of the year.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Prime Minister how many non-departmental public bodies have been(a) established and (b) abolished since 1 May 1997. [59208]

  The Prime Minister
  Since I May 1997, the Government have abolished 44 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and have established 30, including bodies such as the Low Pay Commission, the Disability
  143
  Rights Task Force and the New Deal Task Force which will help the Government fulfil their Manifesto commitments. The Government have also announced plans to abolish a further 37 NDPBS and Ministers are continuing to examine all the NDPBs they sponsor with a view to identifying further candidates for abolition.

  Surveillance Commissioners
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an announcement about arrangements to appoint the Surveillance Commissioners under Part III of the Police Act 1997. [59445]

  The Prime Minister
  I appointed Sir Andrew Leggatt as the Chief Surveillance Commissioner in July. In accordance with section 91 of the Police Act 1997, I have, in addition, appointed six Surveillance Commissioners for a period of three years. There will be three Commissioners for England and Wales, two for Scotland and one for Northern Ireland. However, the remit of each Commissioner will cover the whole of the United Kingdom so that any Commissioner will be able to act in jurisdictions other than his own.

  The Commissioners, who must hold or have held high judicial office, are:

  For England and Wales

  Sir Christopher Staughton—retired as a Lord Justice of Appeal in December 1997.

  Sir Michael Hutchison—a Lord Justice of Appeal who will be retiring in January 1999.

  Sir Charles McCullough—retired in January 1998 as the senior judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.

  For Scotland

  Lord Davidson—retired in 1996 as a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland.

  Lord Bonomy—a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland since 1997.

  For Northern Ireland

  Sir John MacDermott—retired in August 1998 as the senior Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland.

  The Commissioners are the first to be appointed under the provisions of Part III of the Police Act 1997. Since the authorisation of intrusive surveillance operations forms a key component of the Government's response to serious and organised crime, I attach considerable importance to the early implementation of these provisions, and I am delighted that the Commissioners have accepted their appointments. In conjunction with Sir Andrew Leggatt, their substantial judicial experience, particularly of the criminal justice system, will provide independent oversight of surveillance operations, which although operationally important, must also be subject to stringent safeguards.

  In the more sensitive categories of intrusive surveillance, application will be made to a Commissioner for prior approval of authorisations and renewals given by chief officers of police, the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and HM Customs and Excise. The Commissioners will also be responsible for scrutinising notifications and renewals of all other surveillance operations, together with cancellations, and for investigating complaints that authorisations have been improperly given.
  144
  The Commissioners will have the power to quash or cancel authorisations where there are no reasonable grounds for believing that they meet the criteria set out in Part III of the Police Act 1997. They may also order the destruction of records (other than those required for pending criminal or civil proceedings) and the payment of compensation where a complaint is upheld. The decisions of the Commissioners will be subject to appeal to the Chief Commissioner, but are not liable to be questioned in court.

  Sudan
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1998,Official Report, column 915, what advice he received on the production of EMPTA as a bi-product of tests on insecticides and pesticides for use in Africa. [57344]

  The Prime Minister
  On the basis of information available to them the Americans advised that there are no known commercial reasons to produce EMPTA nor are CBD Porton Down aware of any commercial uses for EMPTA.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he has been notified of the exact circumstances surrounding the finding of EMPTA at the El Shifa plant; and in what quantities they were found; [57345]

  (2) what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to verify the information from the United States concerning the strike against the El Shifa factory; [57346]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 915, what assessment he has made of the possibility that the EMPTA alleged to have been found in soil samples close to the pharmaceutical factory in the Sudan could have been the hydrolysis product of an insecticide or germicide chemical for (a) military and (b) commercial test purposes; [57347]

  (4) what (a) independent scientific organisations and (b) United Kingdom universities have been invited to assess whether the American claims about the Sudanese factories are true. [57348]

  The Prime Minister
  It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information received in confidence from foreign Governments.

  Economic Forecasts
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 4 November 1998,Official Report, column 870, if he will list the forecasts which indicate that there will be a pick-up in growth after next year. [59293]

  The Prime Minister
  Full details of independent forecasts for the medium-term were published in "Forecasts for the UK Economy" by HM Treasury on 19 August.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Members of Parliament (Criminal Offences)
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Attorney-General what contact he or his Department have had with(a) the Crown

  145
  Prosecution Service and (b) the Metropolitan Police following recent allegations of criminal offences involving a Member of Parliament. [58850]

  The Attorney-General
  It is the practice that I am informed (but not usually consulted about) any case involving a Member of Parliament under consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service. I have not been informed of any such case in the recent past but on two occasions the Crown Prosecution Service raised with my officials concerns about the possible impact of publicity on a criminal case. It is my policy not to give details of discussions about individual cases.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the(a) tonnage and (b) value of British beef sold in the United Kingdom during September; and if he will make a statement. [57438]

  Mr. Rooker
  This information is not held centrally. However, the market research company Audits of Great Britain conducts a monthly survey of household consumption on behalf of the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC). The latest figures, for the four week period up to 20 September 1998, show that 16,988 tonnes of beef were consumed in this period and expenditure on this beef was £76.5 million. It should be noted that these figures include imported beef but exclude beef consumed in NI, beef used in processing and beef used in the catering sector. Separate information from the MLC suggests that, for the first half of 1998, 79 per cent. of all beef consumed in the UK was home produced, up 7 percentage points on the same period last year.

  Fish Quotas
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of the fisheries regulating authority of the Commission of the European Community in respect of(a) off-quota catches by line fishermen in the territorial waters of the United Kingdom and (b) fisheries within territorial limits of a member state shown to be self sustainable. [57483]

  Mr. Morley
  All landings of fish of stocks subject to quotas count against Member States' quotas whether or not the fish are caught within territorial waters and regardless of the means used to catch the fish. Such restrictions do not apply to stocks of fish and shellfish for which quotas are not set.

  Member States are able to apply additional national conservation rules to their own fisherman. Many such rules are applied by Sea Fisheries Committees within the 6 mile limits around the coasts of England and Wales.

  Battery Cages
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the policy his Department will adopt on the European Commission proposals on battery cages; and how he will ensure that third country imports comply with EU regulations. [57746]
  146
  Mr. Morley
  Our policy is to negotiate for an early phase out of the battery cage, improved standards in the interim and appropriate EU wide standards for non-cage systems. We recognise that the implications of any different standards applying in the case of third country imports have to be taken into account and have already taken steps to ensure that these are considered: an obligation has been placed on the European Commission to produce a report on this aspect by 30 June 1999.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he plans to take to encourage red meat and poultry slaughterhouses to have a written welfare policy for the protection of animals; and if he will make a statement; [58169]

  (2) what steps he plans to take to (a) encourage slaughterhouses to keep detailed records of the testing and maintenance of all stunning devices and (b) encourage red meat and poultry slaughterhouses to ensure that all staff involved in the stunning and slaughter of animals have received formal training in animal welfare; and if he will make a statement; [58171]

  (3) what steps he plans to take to require poultry slaughterhouses to have devices for the metering and monitoring of the electric current supplied at stunning. [58166]

  Mr. Morley
  I have welcomed the recommendations of the Meat Hygiene Service Animal Welfare Survey Report 1997–98 that slaughterhouse operators should develop a written policy for the protection of animals in their care and increase formal welfare training together with other recommendations in respect of stunning equipment and record keeping. The Survey assessed compliance with the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 and was also designed to identify slaughterhouses operating to standards beyond the statutory minimum and to encourage other premises to adopt these higher standards. As a part of the Survey process, Official Veterinary Surgeons discussed reports with individual slaughterhouse operators to initiate, where appropriate, changes intended to improve animal welfare standards.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) sheep, (b) goats, (c) cattle and (d) chickens were slaughtered by a religious method without prior stunning in 1997. [58167]

  Mr. Morley
  Information is not held separately on the number of animals slaughtered by a religious method without stunning. The Meat Hygiene Service Animal Welfare Survey Report 1997–98 indicated that, at the time the survey was carried out, 26 slaughterhouses killed cattle and/or sheep and 19 poultry by the Jewish or Muslim method without stunning.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to ensure that slaughterhouses using electrical stunning apparatus comply with the requirements of the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 that(a) the apparatus must incorporate a fail-safe device which prevents its operation unless a current sufficient to stun the animal unconscious can be passed, (b) a device indicating the voltage and current being used must be

  147
  clearly visible to the operator and (c) the apparatus must incorporate an audible or visible device indicating the length of time of its application to an animal. [58170]

  Mr. Morley
  The development of new systems which measure impedance and control current flow will make it easier for slaughterhouse operators to comply fully with this requirement. We are closely monitoring the work being done on this so that as soon as such systems become commercially available we will be ready to take any additional enforcement action which may be necessary. In addition, the Meat Hygiene Service will provide Official Veterinary Surgeons with additional technical information and guidance on electrical stunning systems to help them to assess existing equipment.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of World Trade Organisation decisions on animal welfare legislation in the United Kingdom. [58224]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 3 November 1998]WTO rules have no effect on legislation on the welfare of farm animals in the UK. There is, however, a need for attention to be given to the question of animal welfare standards to which products imported into the EU are produced. As a result of initiatives made during our Presidency, the European Commission has been expressly charged with producing a report on the implications of third country welfare standards which differ from those in the Community.

  Milk
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to revise his Department's advice on the safety of milk following the finding of abnormal prion protein in the appendix of a patient in Torbay; and if he will make a statement. [57000]

  Ms Jowell
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no plans to revise present advice relating to the safety of milk. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) advises Government on all matters connected with Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. As part of its remit SEAC is kept informed of new scientific findings and keeps its advice on matters under review. At its meeting in April it re-affirmed earlier advice in relation to milk that no further measures were needed to protect public health.

  The finding of the abnormal prion protein in the appendix of a patient who subsequently died of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease tells us nothing about the possibility of infectivity being present in cow's milk. Furthermore milk from clinically affected cattle has been tested by bioassay in mice and no evidence of infectivity has been found.

TREASURY

  Labour Statistics (Scotland)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in(a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in each constituency in Scotland (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the most recent available date. [58340]
  148
  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 10 November 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on full-time and part-time employment in each constituency in Scotland.
  The statistics you request are derived from the ONS Annual Employment Survey (AES). However, the latest results are for September 1996, and before then at September 1995. This information can be obtained from the Nomis database which is accessible by the House of Commons Library.
  The figures for September 1997 are planned to be available from NOMIS from May 1999.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of unemployed people has been assumed for each of the next three years for the purpose of calculating social security spending plans in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [58507]

  Mr. Byers
  In line with the convention adopted by previous governments we do not publish forecasts for unemployment.

  Abortions
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of abortions in Clwyd, South were funded by the NHS in the last year for which figures are available. [58719]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 10 November 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on abortions.
  Information on the number of abortions performed on residents of each parliamentary constituency is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  ONS routinely publishes abortion statistics by regions and health authorities (HA). In 1997, the latest year for which provisional figures are available, 86 per cent. of abortions performed on residents of North Wales HA were funded by the NHS.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of abortions funded by the NHS for women living in Harrow, West in each of the last five years. [58833]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Gareth R. Thomas, dated 10 November 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on NHS abortions in Harrow West.
  Information on the number of abortions performed on residents of each parliamentary constituency is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  149
  The ONS routinely publishes abortion statistics by regions and health authorities (HA). The following table shows the percentage of abortions funded by the NHS for residents of Brent and Harrow HA.

  Percentage of abortions funded by the NHS for residents of Brent and Harrow HA, 1993–97

  Year

  Percentage

  1993

  52

  1994

  53

  1995

  62

  1996

  69

  19971

  77

  1Provisional

  Euro
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to advertise the benefits of the United Kingdom Government's decision not to join the euro to potential inward investors. [58680]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Treasury's assessment of the impact on inward investment in the UK of the Government's decision not to join the single currency in the first-wave was set out in the five economic tests assessment published in October 1997. The UK currently attracts a significantly larger share of inward investment than other countries in the EU. This reflects a number of important benefits that we offer including low taxes, the English language, a flexible and adaptable workforce and a commitment to lasting economic stability.

  The Government believe that, while the UK remains insufficiently converged with the other European economies, there would be risks for stability, and hence for inward investment in the UK, if the UK joined EMU. The Government have set in place new frameworks for fiscal and monetary policy which will help to deliver the economic stability which international investors look for in making their decisions.

  The Government continue to promote in all major international markets, the inherent strengths which have made, and will maintain, the UK as the most attractive European location for inward investment.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the Committee on Implementation of the Euro which he is establishing and on its accountability to the House. [58872]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]The Cross-Party Advisory Group on Preparations for EMU is an informal group which will act as a channel for the exchange of information and develop cross-party awareness of the continuing preparations for the euro. It will also play an advisory role in relation to the Standing Committee on preparations for EMU.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 6 July from the right hon. Member for Wells requesting that he give estimates for the change-over costs of joining a single European currency. [59100]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Shortly.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Tynemouth constituency who will benefit from the introduction of the minimum wage. [59007]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Alan Campbell, dated 10 November 1998:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the introduction of the minimum wage.
  The national minimum wage (NMW) will become effective in April 1999 and has been set at £3.60 for workers aged over 21. A development rate of £3.00 per hour will apply for those aged 18 to 21. Workers aged 16 and 17 and all those on apprenticeships will be exempt.
  The Low Pay Commission, in arriving at their recommendations, had to adjust 1999 pay rates to 1998 values. Their methodology produces £3.50 and £2.90 as the 1998 values of the government's preferred rates.
  The preferred method for assessing the coverage of the proposed NMW is to present adjusted NES and Labour Force Survey (LFS) data for the number of employees earning less than the proposed NMW rates. This method adjusts for the fact that the NES is based on a one per cent. sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff, earning below the tax-threshold, and in particular those who work part-time. It is not possible to use this method for small areas, and information solely from the NES, has therefore been provided. Regrettably, NES cannot provide statistically reliable estimates for Tynemouth constituency, therefore information for Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County has been provided.
  The latest available information from the 1998 New Earnings Survey shows that 4.5 per cent. of workers over 21 years of age in Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County earn less than £3.50 per hour and 4.7 per cent. of workers aged 18 to 21 years earn less than £2.90 per hour. The information is given as a proportion of workers because appropriate grossing factors for the NES sample are not available at very detailed levels of disaggregation.
  The extent of the bias in the NES data may be estimated for the North East by using the adjusted NES and LFS data for all employees. This suggests that the estimate of the overall proportion of full-time employees aged over 21 years earning below £3.50 could understate the true position by as much as 5 percentage points. However, it is unlikely that the occurrence of lower paid jobs is uniform across the region, and so it would be wise to treat this figure as broadly indicative rather than as a precise estimate. I am unable to provide the bias for employees aged 18 to 21 years because the sample size is too small for a reliable estimate to be produced.

  Marriage (Special Licences)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were married by special licence in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last five years. [59022]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Patrick McLoughlin, dated 10 November 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of people married by special licence in England and Wales.
  151
  The information required is as follows:

  Number of marriages solemnised in the Church of England/Church in Wales on issue of a special licence granted by, or on behalf of, the Archbishop of Canterbury

  Country of marriage

  Year of marriage

  England

  Wales

  1991

  2,974

  54

  1992

  2,876

  53

  1993

  2,761

  49

  1994

  2,328

  35

  1995

  2,201

  36

  Source

  Marriage, divorce and adoption statistics, annual reference series FM2

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Tynemouth constituency who will benefit from the disabled person's tax credit; [59008]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of families in the Tynemouth constituency who will benefit from working families' tax credit. [59011]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that estimates for individual constituencies are not available.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessments his Department has made of the risk of fraud and wage substitution in relation to the introduction of the working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement. [58277]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) will build on, and replace, Family Credit from October 1999 and it will help make more families better off in work than on benefit. WFTC will be administered by the Inland Revenue who have considerable experience and expertise in detecting and combating fraud.

  The Revenue's compliance strategy is being designed with input from those currently involved in running Family Credit and countering fraud.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are proposed to ensure that employers do not claim working families tax credit and then fail to pass it on to their employees. [58973]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]Employers will not be able to claim working families tax credit on behalf of their employees. They will pay the tax credit to their employees when notified by the Inland Revenue and they will generally set off the amount of tax credit against their tax and NICs liabilities. The Inland Revenue will put in place arrangements to monitor the operation of the new WFTC system.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer where a claim form for the working families tax credit is issued if it will be addressed to the principal carer or to the worker in the couple. [58976]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]Claim forms will be available from a number of sources but where they are sent out by the Inland Revenue they 152
  will generally be addressed to the person who requests it. In addition, claim forms will be sent to those who are approaching their renewal date.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average weekly gain from the introduction of the working families tax credit; and if he will provide a separate estimate for(a) homebuyers, (b) renters and (c) non-householders. [58596]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]Estimates of the average weekly gain for those in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit in Great Britain in 1999–2000 are given in the table. Estimates relate to gains in Working Families Tax Credit.

  Average gain, £per week

  Owner Occupiers

  19.50

  Renters

  15.10

  Non-householders

  17.00

  Total

  17.20

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer where a family opts not to receive the working families tax credit through the pay packet, by what means it will be delivered if the claimant does not have a bank account. [58975]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]A couple will have the option of which one of them is to receive the Working Families Tax Credit. From April 2000, if the person who is to receive the WFTC is not in employment they will be paid directly by the Inland Revenue, who are looking at how this can best be done, including to those without bank accounts.

  Fuel Excise Duty
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the current rates of excise duty per litre on (i) standard unleaded petrol, (ii) leaded petrol, (iii) standard diesel and (iv) low-sulphur diesel in each country of the European Union. [58705]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 9 November 1998]The current rates of excise duty per litre on (i) standard unleaded petrol, (ii) leaded petrol, (iii) standard diesel and in each country of the European Union are:

  Leaded petrol pence per litre

  Unleaded petrol pence per litre

  Standard diesel pence per litre

  Austria

  n/a

  28.34

  19.81

  Belgium

  38.66

  34.68

  19.83

  Denmark

  n/a

  30.94

  21.02

  Finland

  n/a

  38.23

  20.81

  France

  43.17

  40.32

  25.36

  Germany

  n/a

  34.27

  21.68

  Greece

  24.18

  20.93

  15.34

  Ireland

  31.36

  26.11

  22.75

  Italy

  39.33

  36.17

  26.45

  Luxembourg

  27.31

  23.75

  17.29

  Netherlands

  n/a

  39.27

  23.16

  Portugal

  34.25

  32.03

  19.24

  Spain

  27.24

  25.01

  18.16

  Sweden

  n/a

  33.69

  20.14

  United Kingdom

  49.26

  43.99

  44.99

  153
  The excise duty rate in the United Kingdom for low-sulphur diesel is 42.99 pence per litre. Rates of excise duty on low-sulphur diesel are not available for the countries of the European Union other than the United Kingdom.

  VAT
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a decision will be made on the review of the VAT registration threshold. [58889]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The representations received by Customs to their consultation document on the Review of the VAT Registration Threshold are currently being evaluated. No decisions on the various proposals will be made until after this evaluation is complete.

  Growth Forecasts
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the margin of error used in his growth forecast for the next financial year. [59295]

  Ms Hewitt
  Information on error margins surrounding the Treasury's growth forecasts was set out in table A7 of the Pre-Budget Report published on 3 November.

  Alcohol and Tobacco Duty
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules will apply to(a) European commissioners, (b) members of the European Parliament and (c) accredited diplomats regarding the payment of excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products after 30 June 1999. [59269]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Diplomats who are accredited to the Court of St. James are entitled to certain privileges and immunities in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. These privileges and immunities will continue after 30 June 1999.

  The fiscal arrangements for officials and representatives of European institutions are determined by the host nation within which the institution is located.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason projected revenues from tobacco duty for 1998–99 have been reduced; and if he will make a statement. [59270]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs' forecast for tobacco duty receipts in 1998–99 has been reduced because receipts in the financial year to date have been lower than hitherto expected. It is too early to have a robust explanation for this decrease.

  Project

  Funding partners

  1998–99

  Melatonin receptors in finfish

  EU

  Identification of species in processed seafood products using DNA-based diagnostic techniques

  EU

  Advanced methods for identification and quality monitoring of (heat) processed fish

  EU

  Metabolic manipulation of milk protein output in the dairy cow

  Milk Development Council/Purina Mills/Hendrix Voeders

  Effect of transforming growth factor on proton co-genes, tumor suppressor genes and cell cycle regulators: growth arrest versus apoptosis

  EU

SCOTLAND

  Civil Servants (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in his private office, as at 1 October 1997; [56816]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin of civil servants in his Department, by grade, as at 1 October 1997. [56814]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 2 November 1998]I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 5 November 1998,Official Report, columns 666–70.

  Community Land Purchase
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much is planned to be made available annually from National Lottery funds for community land purchase in Scotland. [57761]

  Mr. Galbraith
  A consultation paper on proposed new initiatives to be funded by the New Opportunities Fund will be published shortly. Ministers will subsequently consider the allocation of funds to whatever new initiatives are brought forward in the light of that consultation.

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the income for hill farmers in Scotland as(a) a total and (b) an average per farmer in 1997–98; and what are the predictions for income in the current financial year. [58015]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Estimates of Hill Farm Incomes will be published by The Scottish Office on 30 November with accompanying statistical tables placed in the library of the House.

  Rowett Research Institute
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the research projects at the Rowett Research Institute which the Government have provided part funding for in each of the last five years; and who its research funding partners have been in each case. [57912]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Listed in the table are the research projects at the Rowett Research Institute which the Government have provided part funding for in each of the last five years. The research funding partners are shown alongside.
  155

  Project

  Funding partners

  Effect of copper in the food chain on human health

  EU

  Improving the quality of nutritional value of processed foods by optimal use of food antioxidants

  EU

  Seasonal dietary antioxidant levels in relation to human health

  EU

  1997–98

  Melatonin receptors in finfish

  EU

  The identification of canned tuna species by characterisation of the nucleic acids

  EU

  Identification of species in processed seafood products using DNA-based diagnostic techniques

  EU

  Metabolic manipulation of milk protein output in the dairy cow

  Milk Development Council/ Mills/Hendrix Voeders

  Advanced methods for identification and quality monitoring of (heat) processed fish

  EU

  Effect of transforming growth factor on proton co-genes, tumor suppressor genes and cell cycle regulators: growth arrest versus apoptosis

  EU

  Effect of copper in the food chain on human health

  EU

  Improving the quality of nutritional value of processed foods by optimal use of food antioxidants

  EU

  Increased fruit and vegetable consumption within the EC: potential health benefits

  EU

  The comet assay: application in genotoxicity testing and as a screening method for assessing the exposure of human populations

  EU

  1996–97

  Metabolic manipulation of milk protein output in the dairy cow

  Milk Development Council/Purina Mills/Hendrix Voeders

  Effect of transforming growth factor on proton co-genes, tumor suppressor genes and cell cycle regulators: growth arrest versus apoptosis

  EU

  Effect of copper in the food chain on human health

  EU

  Improving the quality of nutritional value of processed foods by optimal use of food antioxidants

  EU

  Increased fruit and vegetable consumption within the EC: potential health benefits

  EU

  The comet assay: application in genotoxicity testing and as a screening method for assessing the exposure of human populations

  EU

  Translation modification of gene expression to promote secretion of intercellular proteins

  EU

  Dietary enzymes to improve nutrient flow in ruminants

  J. Bibby Ltd./Nutec/Novo/Roche/Trouw UK/Trident Foods

  Dry fractionation of cereal straw to separate botanical components

  Compak/Dalgetty/Turner/Finfeeds/St. Regis/Silsoe

  Enhanced recovery from crop materials

  Home Grown Cereals Authority/ Dalgetty/BOCM/Finfeeds/Roche/Rhone/Novo/Park Tonks

  1995–96

  Metabolic manipulation of milk protein output in the dairy cow

  British Petroleum/Milk Marketing Board

  Increased fruit and vegetable consumption within the EC: potential health benefits

  EU

  The comet assay: application in genotoxicity testing and as a screening method for assessing the exposure of human populations

  EU

  Translation modification of gene expression to promote secretion of intercellular proteins

  EU

  Dry fractionation of cereal straw to separate botanical components

  Compak/Dalgetty/Turner/Finfeeds/St. Regis/Silsoe

  Enhanced recovery from crop materials

  Home Grown Cereals Authority/Dalgetty/BOCM/Finfeeds/Roche/Rhone/Novo/Park Tonks

  Utilisation of crop residues and supplementary feeds

  EU

  Pig muscle fibre characteristics as a source of variation in eating quality

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  1994–95

  Metabolic manipulation of milk protein output in the dairy cow

  British Petroleum/Milk Marketing Board

  Increased fruit and vegetable consumption within the EC: potential health benefits

  EU

  Dry fractionation of cereal straw to separate botanical components

  Compak/Dalgetty/Turner/Finfeeds/St. Regis/Silsoe

  Enhanced recovery from crop materials

  Home Grown Cereals Authority/Dalgetty/BOCM/Finfeeds/Roche/Rhone/Novo/Park Tonks

  Utilisation of crop residues and supplementary feeds

  EU

  Pig muscle fibre characteristics as a source of variation in eating quality

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  156 157
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the United Kingdom Government funding which has gone to the Rowett Research Institute for each of the last five years. [57911]

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department

  6.231

  6.190

  6.225

  6.244

  6.249

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  0.489

  0.540

  0.757

  0.860

  0.850

  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  0

  0.010

  0.012

  0.024

  0.002

  Scottish Office Department of Health

  0

  0

  0

  0.052

  0.045

  British Council

  0.002

  0.002

  0.003

  0.002

  0.003

  Others

  0.004

  0

  0.002

  0.009

  0.011

  Total

  6.726

  6.743

  6.998

  7.191

  7.161

  Public Expenditure Summaries
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the public expenditure summaries published in Cm 3914; and if he will make a statement. [57926]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 2 November 1998]Public expenditure figures published in Cm 3914 have now been superseded by those announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper, Cm 4011. I am placing a detailed breakdown of the latest figures for 1998–99 to

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total

  A

  F

  A

  F

  A

  F

  A

  F

  A

  F

  A

  F

  A

  F

  Central

  46

  0

  49

  0

  44

  0

  49

  0

  62

  0

  43

  0

  293

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  44

  0

  52

  0

  71

  0

  84

  0

  23

  5

  22

  0

  296

  5

  Fife

  116

  0

  78

  0

  91

  0

  129

  0

  68

  1

  79

  0

  561

  1

  Grampian

  101

  0

  267

  0

  173

  0

  106

  1

  123

  0

  119

  0

  889

  1

  Lothian and Borders

  95

  1

  339

  0

  363

  0

  359

  0

  234

  0

  340

  0

  1,730

  1

  Northern

  28

  0

  34

  0

  37

  0

  123

  0

  35

  0

  41

  0

  298

  0

  Strathclyde

  456

  2

  504

  0

  688

  2

  714

  0

  575

  3

  551

  0

  3,488

  7

  Tayside

  149

  0

  147

  0

  159

  0

  102

  0

  111

  0

  116

  0

  784

  0

  Total

  1,035

  3

  1,470

  0

  1,626

  2

  1,666

  1

  1,231

  9

  1,311

  0

  8,339

  15

  Note:

  A—Number of accidents

  B—Number of fatalities

  Disabled Tenants
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amounts were allocated to housing associations for aids and adaptations for disabled tenants in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated amount for 1998–99. [59216]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information requested is not held centrally. Since Scottish Homes is responsible for allocating funding to housing associations in Scotland, I have asked the Chairman, Mr. John Ward, to write to my hon. Friend with the relevant information.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his policy to support the retention of a TA engineering presence in Scotland. [59250]
  158
  Mr. Macdonald
  The table lists the United Kingdom Government funding received by the Rowett Research Institute for the last 5 financial years.

  2001–02 in the library of the House of Commons, and making them available to all main political parties in Scotland.

  Police Vehicles (Accidents)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police vehicles from each police force in Scotland have been involved in accidents in each year since 1992; and how many fatalities have resulted. [58271]

  Mr. McLeish
  The number of police vehicles from Scottish police forces involved in accidents and the number of fatalities that resulted are shown in the table.

  Mr. Dewar
  I support a TA presence in Scotland that fulfils the modern role envisaged for the TA in the Strategic Defence Review. The detail of the structure of the TA is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he believes civil authorities in the North of Scotland will be in a position to respond effectively to electricity or telecommunications failures which may result from the millennium bug. [59242]

  Mr. Dewar
  I am aware that the wide range of authorities who have responsibilities for responding to such failures, from whatever source, are constantly at a high level of preparedness.
  159
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision he has made for civil emergencies in(a) Scotland and (b) the North of Scotland as a result of the millennium bug. [59248]

  Mr. Dewar
  A wide variety of means has been employed to raise awareness, in both the public and private sectors, of the potential for problems arising and to stimulate appropriate action. This has been on an all-Scotland basis.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it will be his policy to request the use of TA engineering units in the event of civil emergency resulting from the millennium bug. [59243]

  Mr. Dewar
  Should any kind of civil emergency arise as a result of millennium bug problems, I am confident that the Scottish Executive would request military assistance if it considered that desirable. It would be for the armed services to determine whether any specific assistance was provided by the TA or otherwise.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what communications he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the provision of Territorial Army assistance to civil authorities in(a) Scotland and (b) the North of Scotland in the event of a civil emergency resulting from the millennium bug. [59249]

  Mr. Dewar
  I have emphasised to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence my concern that the ability of the Territorial Army in Scotland to provide military aid to the civil community should be maintained, and have drawn attention to the particular importance of this at a time when millennium bug problems could potentially pose a threat to key services. These points were made with respect to Scotland generally.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what extra resources(a) have been and (b) are planned to be made available to (i) local authorities, (ii) the NHS and (iii) the emergency services in Scotland to deal with millennium bug compliance. [59247]

  Mr. Dewar
  An additional £10 million is being made available to local authorities in Scotland for 1999–2000, to help them respond to demands placed on them by the millennium date change issue. Local authorities have discretion in the use of this money; they may use it to support action across any of the services they provide, including emergency services.

  The Government have provided £151 million of new money for 1998–99 for the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSiS) on top of the £98 million which was already planned. Action in the NHSiS on the Millennium Date Change problem is being funded from within these increased general resources.

  I do not expect to have to make further additional resources available. However, the situation remains under constant review.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which minister in his Department has responsibility for millennium bug compliance in Scotland. [59246]
  160
  Mr. Dewar
  My noble Friend Lord Macdonald of Tradeston is responsible for Scottish Office action on the Millennium date change issue. That includes oversight of progress in the public sector in Scotland generally. However, primary responsibility for ensuring that particular public services in Scotland are not materially affected by the Millennium date change lies with senior managers of the services concerned.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the names of those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 May 1997, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and whether they receive remuneration. [56824]

  Mr. Denham
  The information has been placed in the library.

  Children Support
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of children in the UK living in families dependent on supplementary benefits or income support in each year since 1979, and for each year these as a proportion of all children in the
  UK. [58297]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Number of children in families on Supplementary Benefit/Income Support as percentage of child population—Great Britain,

  Year

  Children agedless than 16

  % of child Population

  1979

  923,000

  7.3

  1980

  1,088,000

  8.8

  1981

  1,493,000

  12.3

  1991

  2,368,000

  20.9

  1998

  2,224,000

  19.0

  Number of children in families on Supplementary Benefit/Income Support as percentage of child population—United Kingdom

  Year

  Children aged-less than 16

  %of child population

  1982

  1,826,000

  14.8

  1983

  1,900,000

  15.7

  1984

  2,059,000

  17.3

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  1986

  2,250,000

  19.3

  1987

  2,236,000

  19.3

  1988

  2,202,000

  19.1

  1989

  2,143,000

  18.5

  1990

  2,155,000

  18.5

  1991

  n/a

  n/a

  1992

  2,831,000

  23.9

  1993

  2,979,000

  25.9

  1994

  3,105,000

  25.7

  161

  Number of children in families on Supplementary Benefit/Income Support as percentage of child population—United Kingdom

  Year

  Children aged less than 16

  % of child population

  1995

  3,090,000

  25.5

  1996

  3,048,000

  25.2

  1997

  2,399,000

  19.8

  Notes

  1. Figures for Northern Ireland for the years 1979–81, 1991 and 1998 are not available

  2. No figures were produced for 1985 in the United Kingdom table as a result of industrial action

  3. Children are defined as aged 0–15 years

  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand

  5. Income Support replaced Supplementary Benefit in 1988

  6. Sample sizes: 1979–82 Supplementary Pension cases 1 in 200, Supplementary Allowance cases 1 in 50. 1983–87 Supplementary Pension cases 1 in 200, Supplementary Allowance cases 1 in 50. E (Unemployed) cases 1 in 100. 1988–93 1 in 100. 1994 to date 1 in 20

  7. n/a denotes UK information not available

  8. Figures are given for May of each year, except for 1982 to 1984 when the month was December, 1979 the month was November, and 1986 the month was February

  9. Numbers from 1997 exclude children in families receiving Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance which replaced Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996

  10. Percentage population figures for 1998 are based on Office for National Statistics mid-term estimates for 1997

  Source

  1. Income Support/Supplementary Benefit Statistics Annual Enquiries 1979–93

  2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries 1994–98

  3. Income Support Statistics, Northern Ireland

  4. Office for National Statistics mid-term population estimates 1979–97

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of people who have ceased to receive incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance and who are drawing the disability working allowance who will gain a two year cover to return to benefit should they be forced to give up their job because of ill health. [58302]

  Mr. Timms
  Everyone who moves on to Disability Working Allowance from Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance can take advantage of the two-year linking rule which allows them to return to their former benefit, should they be forced to give up work because of ill health.

  At April 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,261 people who qualified for Disability Working Allowance via receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance, and 2,383 people who qualified via receipt of Incapacity Benefit.

  Cyclical Benefit Payments
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total spent on cyclical benefit payments for each month from May 1997 to September 1998. [58506]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is set out in the table.162

  Estimated outturn of cyclical social security on a monthly basis for the financial year 1997–98

  £ million

  Month

  Estimated outturn

  May 1997

  1,003

  June 1997

  1,012

  July 1997

  1,090

  August 1997

  974

  September 1997

  1,037

  October 1997

  1,040

  November 1997

  916

  December 1997

  1,092

  January 1998

  932

  February 1998

  904

  March 1998

  987

  Notes

  1. Final outturn figures will be published in the 1999 Departmental Report

  2. Figures on a similar basis for 1998–99 will not be available until November 1999 when the Appropriation Accounts are published

  3. Cyclical Social Security has been defined as Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support to the under 60s

  Expenditure Forecasts
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of future social security expenditure if the growth in output of the United Kingdom economy is(a) 0 per cent. for 1998–99 and 1 per cent. for 1999–2000 and 2000–01, (b) 0.5 per cent. for 1998–99, 1 per cent. for 1999–2000 and 1.5 per cent. for 2000–01 and (c) 1 per cent. for 1998–99, 1.5 per cent. for 1999–2000 and 2 per cent. for 2000–01. [58508]

  Mr. Darling
  Forecasts of future Social Security expenditure was published as part of the Pre-Budget Report (CM 4076) on 3 November 1998.

  Disability Income Guarantee
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which parts of the disability income guarantee will be means-tested. [58510]

  Mr. Timms
  The disability income guarantee will provide extra help for the poorest disabled people with the highest care needs. It will be paid as part of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and will take the form of a new, higher rate of disability premium and a new, higher rate of disabled child premium for those getting the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated expenditure on family credit for the current tax year. [58554]

  Angela Eagle
  The estimated expenditure on Family Credit for the current tax year is £
  2,498 million.

  Note:
  This figure is consistent with that in the Pre-Budget Report of 3 November 1998.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps were taken to publicise
  163
  the consultation paper on the draft regulations to bring non-cash vouchers into Class 1 National Insurance liability; and what specific steps were taken to consult those organisations affected; [58480]

  (2) if he will assess the impact on jobs in the UK catering sector of the proposal to bring luncheon vouchers into Class 1 National Insurance liability; [58481]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the weekly cost to those employees in receipt of luncheon vouchers of the proposal to bring them into Class 1 National Insurance liability; [58511]

  (4) to what extent the procedures outlined in the "Better Regulation Guide", published on 10 August, have been followed in respect of the draft regulations to bring non-cash vouchers into Class 1 National Insurance liability. [58479]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government proposals were announced during the passage of the Social Security Bill, 22 July 1997,Official Report, column 786 and 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 468–69, and in DSS Press Release 97/127. The proposals are intended to introduce greater fairness in the National Insurance treatment of cash and non-cash earnings. The technical detail of the regulations were subject to a public consultation exercise which ran from 14 August to 14 September. Over 100 businesses and representatives were contacted, about 50 organisations or individuals replied.

  An explanatory and financial memorandum, and a regulatory appraisal, were published alongside the Bill in July 1997. The regulatory costs and impact of the proposal to make non-cash vouchers liable for National Insurance in the same way as cash vouchers was set out in the Social Security Compliance Cost Assessment published in December 1997. A copy of that regulatory appraisal accompanied the consultation paper on the draft regulations issued in August.

  The Better Regulation Guide gives Departments discretion to adopt an approach best suited to the scale of the proposal and the data available.

  The weekly cost to those employees in receipt of luncheon vouchers will vary depending on the value of the voucher and the level of earnings. On current standard rates, the extra National Insurance liability will be 50 pence a week for an employee receiving a £5 a week luncheon voucher and earning between the lower and upper earnings level. Some employers may choose to meet the costs of their employees' National Insurance contribution liability on vouchers.

  Residential Living Allowance
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to equalise the residential living allowance between local authority residential care homes and private residential care homes; and if he will make a statement. [58664]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government have established an independent Royal Commission to consider the future funding of long-term care and to make recommendations. Issues such as benefit provision for people in long-term care fall within the Royal Commission's deliberations. The Royal Commission will report at the end of the year.
  164
  Officials in the Department have been asked to consider whether Residential Allowance is meeting the objectives of community care. This is not a formal review with specific terms of reference, and it is too early to give a commitment on whether, or when changes will be introduced.

  Benefit Entitlement
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department plans to introduce to place a responsibility on claimants to report improvements in their medical condition which may affect benefit entitlement. [58572]

  Mr. Timms
  We want to ensure that disabled people on Incapacity Benefit get the benefits to which they are properly entitled and that they receive the advice they need to help them achieve independence. Equally we want to reinforce the principle that the right to benefit is balanced by responsibilities. Currently many people, once they get Incapacity Benefit, have no further personal contact with their social security office, and often do not realise that changes in their medical condition may affect their benefit entitlement. We intend to make it clear in legislation that improvements are changes that should be reported and will explore ways of keeping in closer contact with claimants to ensure that the information held is up to date.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to exempt carers from the contributions requirement in respect of incapacity benefit. [58578]

  Mr. Timms
  Carers currently have to pay a minimum amount of National Insurance contributions at some point prior to the claim, in order to qualify for Incapacity Benefit. This will continue to be the case in the future. However, as we made clear in our consultation paper "A New Contract for Welfare: Support for Disabled People" we are planning to modify the proposed new contribution test so that carers who received Invalid Care Allowance are not disadvantaged because they were unable to pay contributions due to their caring responsibilities in one of the two tax years before the claim.

  Welfare to Work
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what funds his Department plans to make available for each of the three stages of pilot schemes for the introduction of a single gateway. [58674]

  Angela Eagle
  Final decisions have still to be taken on the amount of additional resources to be made available to fund the single gateway pilots. Detailed work on costs is still being undertaken. An important reason for piloting the single gateway is to measure costs in order to inform decisions about national implementation.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many examinations for disability living
  165
  allowance and incapacity benefit have been processed by the Glasgow office of the Benefits Agency medical services in each of the last 12 months. [58270]

  Mr. Timms
  The administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Brian H. Donohoe, dated 9 November 1998:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many examinations for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Incapacity Benefit (IB) have been processed by the Glasgow office of the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) in each of the last 12 months.
  A decision to contract BAMS out to the private sector was announced by the Secretary of State on 31 July 1997. This decision was in line with the Government's commitment to modernising the delivery of Social Security to make it better, simpler, and more efficient. On 19 February it was announced that the BAMS contract had been awarded to the Sema Group for the next five years. They continue to use the Glasgow Medical Services Centre for medical examinations.
  Information about the number of DLA and IB examinations carried out at the Glasgow Medical Services Centre is given on the attached table.

  Number of DLA/IB examinations performed at the Glasgow Medical Services Centre

  Month

  DLA

  IB

  October 1997

  1,635

  4,082

  November 1997

  2,503

  4,672

  December 1997

  1,548

  4,388

  January 1998

  2,108

  4,548

  February 1998

  1,974

  4,175

  March 1998

  1,882

  4,879

  April 1998

  1,274

  4,338

  May 1998

  1,650

  3,919

  June 1998

  1,852

  4,521

  July 1998

  1,609

  4,117

  August 1998

  1,605

  3,817

  September 1998

  1,273

  3,628

  Note

  Figures are provisional and subject to change

  Source

  Figures provided by Medical Services on behalf of Sema Group

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence was evaluated by his Department prior to determining the age limit of three years for the mobility component of disability living allowance. [58569]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government took account of the views of medical advisers as well as research by the then Office for Population, Censuses and Surveys, by the Disability Alliance and by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children are expected to benefit from the extension of the mobility component of disability living allowance to children of three and four years old; and what estimate he has made of the number who would benefit if it was extended to children below the age of three years and of the cost to his Department of that extension. [58573]
  166
  Mr. Timms
  8,000 children a year are expected to benefit from the extension of the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to children of the ages of three and four. The cost of extending this to disabled children under three is difficult to estimate given that the current criteria for help is based primarily on an inability or virtual inability to walk, and that all children under three are unable to walk any substantial distances.

  Guaranteed Pensioner Income
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Tynemouth constituency who will benefit from the introduction of a guaranteed pensioner income. [59012]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. As at May 1998, there were approximately 8,000 pensioners in receipt of Income Support in the area covered by North Tyneside Local Authority. The above-inflation increase in the Income Support rates, providing a guaranteed minimum income of not less than £75 per week for a single pensioner and £116.60 for a couple, will benefit pensioners entitled to Income Support from April 1999.

  Notes

  1. Estimate rounded to the nearest thousand, and based on a 5 per cent sample of Income Support claimants.

  2. "Pensioners" are defined, for Income Support purposes, as single persons aged 60 or over, or couples (married or unmarried) where one or both members are 60 or over.

  Source Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1998.

  Income Support
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of income support in the Warrington, North constituency had weekly deductions paid to(a) British Gas and (b) North West Water for each of the past five years. [58316]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of Income Support is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Helen Jones, dated 9 November 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Peter Mathison to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in receipt of Income Support in the Warrington North constituency had weekly deductions paid to (a) British Gas and (b) North West Water for each of the past five years. As Mr Mathison is away from the office on leave, I am replying.
  The information is not available in the format requested. The Benefits Agency (BA) collate Income Support (IS) statistics by BA District which do not correspond to Parliamentary Constituency boundaries. The BA North Cheshire District with offices at Warrington and Widnes is one such District. Information for this District is shown on the attached table.
  It has not been possible to list payments solely to British Gas nor North West Water. Direct payment statistics record a deduction as either "fuel" or "water". No distinction is drawn between gas and electricity suppliers, or between the different water suppliers.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  167

  Number of IS recipients in the North Cheshire BA District having weekly deductions for fuel and water 1993–98

  Year

  Fuel deductions applications accepted

  Water deductions applications accepted

  1993–94

  1,799

  1,745

  1994–95

  1,901

  1,922

  1995–96

  2,117

  1,843

  1996–97

  1,484

  1,684

  1997–98

  1,470

  1,097

  Notes

  1. A customer may be recorded more than once if their claim to IS ended and they later reclaimed.

  2. Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Source

  Figures supplied by the Central Data Unit of BA Banking and Accountancy Branch.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to meet the Disability Benefits Forum to discuss his plans for replacing the Benefit Integrity Programme. [59230]

  Mr. Timms
  We value the help provided by the Disability Benefits Forum as we take forward our plans to reform disability benefits and we meet them regularly. Yesterday, at our most recent meeting, we discussed the latest position on the Benefit Integrity Project and we announced further administrative improvements in its operation. From 16 November 1998, the Project will no longer contact people receiving the highest rate of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component with either the highest or middle rate of the DLA care component, where the award pre-dates April 1992. Nor will it contact people receiving both components of DLA at the highest rates whose main disabling condition is recorded (on the DLA computer system) as Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurological Disease or Mental Subnormality.

  Cases in action will be finalised but no new cases will be selected from these groups. This change builds on other improvements that have been made since we inherited this Project which ensure that it operates in a way that is both sensitive and cost-effective. At the same time, we invited the Forum to continue to work with us and officials as we develop a new fairer way of reviewing people's entitlement to DLA, which will replace the Benefit Integrity Project. A special working group will be set up to take this forward.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of calculating housing benefit and council tax benefit for lone parents using the applicable amounts used for couples. [59156]

  Angela Eagle
  The estimated cost of calculating Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for lone parents using the applicable amounts used for couples would be £185 million in Housing Benefit and £25 million in Council Tax Benefit.

  Notes

  1. Information drawn from the 1995/96 Family Resources Survey, uprated to 1999/2000 prices and benefit levels.

  168

  2. Estimated caseloads adjusted using May 1997 administrative data and calibrated in line with the Department's forecasts consistent with the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

  3. Estimates are at 1999/2000 prices and are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  4. The reply assumes that the lone parent rate of the Family Premium will continue for those who qualify for it.

DEFENCE

  Head of Defence Export Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract of the current Head of Defence Export Services finishes; who his successor will be; and what the salary of the post is. [58963]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I am announcing today that the Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Mr. Tony Edwards as the next Head of Defence Export Services in succession to Sir Charles Masefield. Mr. Edwards, who will be seconded to the Ministry of Defence from TI Group plc., will formally take up appointment on 14 December 1998 when Sir Charles Masefield, who has been seconded to the Ministry from British Aerospace, will take up a new appointment in industry.

  Mr. Edwards will receive a salary from the Ministry of Defence of £165,000 a year plus an annual performance related bonus of up to £15,000. In addition, the Defence Industries Council, acting on behalf of the defence industry as a whole, will provide a top-up element so that Mr. Edwards' basic remuneration package will remain on a par with what he is currently receiving from TI Group plc.

  Police and Guard Services
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by rank(a) the establishment and (b) the current operational strength of (i) the Ministry of Defence Police, (ii) the Military Provost Guard Service and (iii) the Ministry of Defence Guard Service. [58330]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Rank

  Complement

  Strength

  Ministry of Defence Police

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  Deputy Chief Constable

  1

  1

  Assistant Chief Constable

  3

  3

  Chief Superintendent

  2

  2

  Superintendent

  27

  28

  Chief Inspector

  55

  55

  Inspector

  125

  123

  Sergeant

  596

  569

  Constable

  2,979

  2,863

  Totals

  3,789

  3,645

  Military Provost Guard Service

  SSgt

  4

  4

  Sgt

  19

  19

  Cpl

  20

  20

  LCp1

  32

  32

  Pte

  43

  38

  Totals

  118

  113

  169

  Rank

  Complement

  Strength

  Ministry of Defence Guard Service

  CS01

  4

  4

  CSO2

  14

  15

  CS03

  82

  78

  CSO4

  562

  538

  CS05

  3,608

  3,424

  Totals

  4,270

  4,059

  Notes

  CSO—Civilian Security Officer

  All figures are as at 1 November 1998

  White Fleet Contracts
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will issue an invitation to negotiate on the white fleet contracts for Scotland, Central, London and Southern regions; and if he will make a statement. [58331]

  Mr. Spellar
  Invitations to submit proposals for MOD `white fleet' requirements for the Scotland, Central Britain, London and Southern projects are expected to be issued shortly.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the target dates for the award of white fleet contracts outstanding; and if he will make a statement. [58332]

  Mr. Spellar
  The target date for contract award of the Scotland, Central Britain, London and Southern 'white fleet' contracts is August 1999. That for the South Western project is December 1999.

  Challenger II Tanks
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contracts will be awarded in respect of the new transporters for the Challenger II tanks; and if he will make a statement. [58333]

  Mr. Spellar
  We are currently considering industry's proposals for this programme and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Mechanical Handling Equipment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will let the contract for tri-service mechanical handling equipment; and if he will make a statement. [58334]

  Mr. Spellar
  If a PH solution is adopted it is estimated that a contract will be awarded in February 2000.

  Military Bands
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military bands each of the armed services had in(a) May 1979 and (b) May 1997; how many each has at the present time; and what proposals he has to alter the number. [57174]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The number of bands of the Armed Forces, in each of the years specified, is as follows:

  May 1979

  May 1997

  October 1998

  Royal Navy

  9

  5

  5

  Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

  0

  0

  0

  Army

  179

  30

  30

  170

  May 1979

  May 1997

  October 1998

  Territorial Army

  24

  24

  24

  Royal Air Force

  5

  4

  3

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force

  0

  0

  0

  1 This figure is based on a study undertaken in 1981, but is believed to be representative of the number of bands which existed in May 1979.

  We have no plans to alter the present number of regular Service bands.

  Military Bases (Land Quality)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those occupied and unoccupied sites of military bases that his Department has identified as areas of environmental concern, indicating the principle causes of environmental problems on those sites; and if he will place copies of the relevant land quality statements in the Library. [56295]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 3 November 1998]The need for more information on the extent to which the Defence Estate might have been contaminated through being used for military purposes was recognised, and a programme of Land Quality Assessments was initiated in 1996. The scope of this programme is extensive and, given the capacity of specialist firms to undertake this work, it is estimated that this programme could take up to 10 years to complete. Accordingly, effort is being concentrated in the first instance on those sites allocated for disposal.

  The provision of LQAs is the responsibility of the unit or organisation occupying the site. No central record of these documents has been maintained. However, arrangements are now being put in place to ensure that the Defence Estate Organisation will, in future, receive copies of all LQAs produced.

  At any one time, there are approximately 400 sites in disposal, many of them very small and handled by local offices. It would not be practical to put a copy of every land quality statement in the Library of the House; statements related to specific sites, could, however, by made available on request.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the consultation document on the restructuring of the TA was first made available to the TA command; and on what date it was first made available to the Secretary of State for Scotland. [59239]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Initial proposals on the restructuring of the TA were first circulated internally within the Army chain of command and to Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations on 21 July; and were subsequently provided to officials of the Scottish Office on 20 August.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland concerning the proposed disposition of TA infantry and engineering units in Scotland. [59238]
  171
  Mr. George Robertson
  I have discussed the proposals for the TA in Scotland with the Secretary of State for Scotland on a number of occasions as they have developed.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with other Ministers concerning the anticipated role of the Territorial Army in contingency planning for the millennium bug; [59235]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the potential role for Territorial Army units in cases of civil emergency as a result of the millennium bug. [59236]

  Mr. George Robertson
  My Ministerial colleagues and
  I have participated fully in the Government's work in addressing the Year 2000 problem. Long-standing arrangements exist under which local authorities can request military assistance, whether from the regular or the volunteer forces, in the event of a civil emergency. As yet, we have received no requests which would indicate any major requirement for military assistance to the civil authorities over the millennium period.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision he has made for availability of Territorial Army or regular army units in the north of Scotland in case of civil emergency as a result of the millennium bug. [59237]

  Mr. George Robertson
  The arrangements for providing military assistance in the event of civil emergency are long standing, well understood by local authorities and apply to the whole of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he will announce his proposals for the restructuring of the Territorial Army. [59240]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I hope to do so next week.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to retain a TA engineering presence in(a) Scotland and (b) the Highlands. [59241]

  Mr. George Robertson
  This will be subject to decisions on the future structure of the Territorial Army as a whole, on which I hope to make an announcement next week.

HEALTH

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of long-term care. [57365]

  Mr. Hutton
  The report of the Royal Commission on Long-term Care is due at the turn of the year. Other publications in the coming months include the Social Services White Paper and the Long Term Care Charter.

  NHS (Best Practice)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to identify and spread best practice in the NHS. [57366]
  172
  Mr. Milburn
  We are taking positive action to disseminate best practice throughout the National Health Service, including establishing the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and a database of good practice on the National Health Service web. We are making available £10 million a year to identify and promote 100 beacon local health services. And we are abolishing the internal market which created such obstacles to sharing best practice in the NHS.

  NHS Direct
  Jacqui Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for extending NHS Direct in the west midlands. [57367]

  Mr. Milburn
  We will be extending NHS Direct to cover the Black Country from the beginning of January 1999 and Birmingham from April 1999.

  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of people to be covered by NHS Direct by April 1999. [57372]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Miss Johnson),Official Report, column 140.

  Chiropody Services
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to improve the provision of chiropody services in East Sussex. [57368]

  Mr. Hutton
  Provision of chiropody services is a matter for the health authority. The hon. Member will be pleased to know that the targeting of resources on those with clinical need has reduced podiatry waiting lists from 14 to 2 weeks and resources have been released for other county-wide priorities such as cancer care.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to identify the number and use of acute beds in the NHS. [57369]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Michie),Official Report, column 141.

  Free Eye Tests
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of senior citizens who are eligible to benefit from free eye tests. [57371]

  Mr. Milburn
  We estimate that, from 1 April 1999, some 7 million more people aged 60 and over will become eligible for free National Health Service sight tests.

  Global Warming (Health Effects)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies he has made of the effects of global warming on health. [57373]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government, through the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), support research on the global impacts of climate change on human health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The Department of Health itself has
  173
  not yet commissioned any studies directly related to the effects of global warming on health. However since the Climate Change Impacts Review group of the DETR identified possible health effects we are in discussion about research areas with the Environmental Change Unit at the University of Oxford.

  NHS Resources
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effect of the availability of resources on (i) nurses' and midwives' pay and (ii) the rationing of drugs or procedures in the health service. [57374]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Comprehensive Spending Review produced a settlement which can accommodate fair pay rises for nurses and midwives and will ensure that cost effective drugs and procedures are available in the National Health Service. The Government are determined to ensure that patients receive the full benefit of this new investment so pay review bodies will need to strike a careful balance between fairness and affordability.

  Breast Screening
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the value for money of the breast screening programme. [57375]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service Breast Screening Programme is based on the recommendations of the 1987 Forrest report. This report included an economic appraisal of the costs and benefits of breast screening, including a comparison against other health service activities.

  Over one million women aged 50–64 are screened each year in England at a cost of around £35 million. In 1996–7 over 6,500 cases of cancer were detected.

  Booked Admissions
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to promote booked admission pilots in the NHS. [57376]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr. Foster),Official Report, column 137.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to promote booked admission pilots in the NHS. [57382]

  Mr. Milburn
  On 29 September 1998, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State announced that 24 sites had been selected to pilot innovative systems to enable patients to book hospital admission dates convenient to them. £5 million has been made available this year, with £20 million next year to enable the programme to be extended.

  Children's Services
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on special grants for children's services and their relationship with "Quality Protects" action plans. [57378]
  174
  Mr. Hutton
  On 5 November, we published the Government response to the report of the Children's Safeguards Review. This set out our plans for a new children's services special grant, which will amount to £375 million over three years, and its link to our "Quality Protects" programme. We shall be publishing, later this week, a circular to all local authorities, copied to National Health Service bodies and the voluntary sector, giving them further information about the special grant and its relationship with Quality Protects action plans.

  Acheson Report
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he plans to take in response to Sir Donald Acheson's report on the causes of health inequalities. [57379]

  Ms Jowell
  Sir Donald's report will be published shortly.

  The Government are committed to taking action to redress the effects of health inequalities. This is one of the key aims of the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation", published in February this year. Action is already being taken through a broad range of Government initiatives, notably the Social Exclusion Unit's report "Bringing Britain Together". Cutting health inequalities is one of the top priorities for local health and social services, as identified in "Modernising Health and Social Services: National Priorities Guidance 1999/2000–2001/02", issued recently. Early next year we will publish our White Paper on a health strategy for England with further proposals for action.

  Health Visiting
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to promote health visiting in the NHS. [57380]

  Mr. Milburn
  On 22 October my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health announced that an Innovation Fund of up to £1 million will be set up to explore new ways of working, new partnerships and new roles for health visitors. The health visitor will be key to delivering "Our Healthier Nation" objectives.

  Heart Attacks
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to shorten the average time taken to deliver treatment to victims of heart attacks. [57381]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department has introduced various initiatives to reduce the time taken to treat people who have heart attacks. There is now considerable evidence that delays in providing emergency treatment have been reduced and more patients are receiving early thrombolytic therapy.

  However, more remains to be done. This is why the first National Service Framework on coronary heart disease includes the management of heart attack. The Emerging Findings Report, which will be published shortly, contains draft standards which include the pre-hospital care of people who suffer heart attacks as well as emergency treatment in hospital.

  Out-patient Consultations
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people awaiting out-patient consultations on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 1998. [57383]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information is not collected centrally in the form requested. Available data on outpatient appointments are collected and published quarterly in a statistical bulletin. Copies are available in the Library.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve conditions for patients and staff in accident and emergency departments. [57384]

  Mr. Hutton
  As part of the National Health Service Modernisation Fund, the Government have announced an extra £30 million to modernise Accident and Emergency Departments next year.

  Hip Replacements
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the reduction of the waiting lists for hip replacements; and if he will make a statement. [57385]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information on waiting lists for individual procedures is not available nationally. However, the £417 million additional resources made available this year will enable the National Health Service to make progress in tackling waiting lists for hip replacements.

  Metal-based Amalgams
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken to evaluate the risks involved in using metal-based amalgams in dentistry; and if he will make a statement. [57386]

  Mr. Milburn
  Two projects have been commissioned this year. These are a pilot study of the incidence of adverse reactions associated with dental materials and a study of neuropsychological functioning of dentists exposed to chronic low levels of mercury.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): nursing and midwifery staff working in the registered midwifery area of work, as a proportion of Registered Midwives by grade and by region, in England, as at 30 September for each year

  Percentage

  1993

  1994

  Grade D

  Grade E

  Grade F

  Grade D

  Grade E

  Grade F

  England

  1.1

  35.1

  17.4

  1.1

  36.4

  18.8

  Northern

  6.8

  39.9

  13.9

  3.1

  46.5

  14.5

  Yorkshire

  0.8

  44.4

  10.9

  0.5

  44.0

  15.2

  Trent

  0.4

  33.8

  13.3

  0.5

  34.2

  14.4

  East Anglia

  0.2

  33.9

  14.6

  0.5

  38.6

  14.1

  North West Thames

  0.8

  30.5

  25.9

  1.1

  28.7

  28.3

  North East Thames

  0.3

  25.1

  25.4

  0.3

  26.7

  28.3

  South East Thames

  1.0

  28.7

  19.7

  1.3

  28.9

  22.1

  South West Thames

  1.3

  32.5

  21.7

  1.0

  32.1

  22.6

  Wessex

  0.3

  36.3

  18.2

  2.8

  36.0

  18.5

  Oxford

  1.0

  35.9

  10.8

  2.6

  34.6

  13.7

  South Western

  1.2

  37.2

  15.0

  0.5

  39.0

  15.9

  Hospital Beds (National Inquiry)
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the national inquiry into hospital beds, which he announced on 30 September. [57387]

  Mr. Milburn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 30 September 1998 the establishment of a national inquiry into hospital beds. The findings of that inquiry will be published next Spring.

  Waiting List (Orthopaedics)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the waiting list size for orthopaedic consultants nationally relative to the average waiting list size for all NHS consultants. [57388]

  Mr. Milburn
  At the end of June 1998, the number of patients waiting for elective admission to trauma and orthopaedics was 254,470. This represents 20 per cent. of the total list.

  Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the investment he is making to reduce NHS waiting lists over the next three years. [57377]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham),Official Report, column 133.

  Midwives
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of midwives are on(a) D, (b) E and (c) F grades (i) nationally and (ii) by region for each of the last five years. [56929]

  Mr. Milburn
  The table shows the percentage of registered midwives in the National Health Service in England for the years 1993 and 1994, broken down according to grade and region. Figures are not available for 1995–97 as the Department's non-medical workforce census, the source of this statistic, does not collect information by clinical grade. In addition, the NHS Executive has gathered information from trusts about how the grading guidance is being applied to midwives.
  177

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): nursing and midwifery staff working in the registered midwifery area of work, as a proportion of Registered Midwives by grade and by region, in England, as at 30 September for each year

  Percentage

  1993

  1994

  Grade D

  Grade E

  Grade F

  Grade D

  Grade E

  Grade F

  West Midlands

  0.7

  29.9

  22.4

  0.8

  32.6

  22.7

  Mersey

  0.1

  42.3

  14.2

  0.5

  44.2

  15.3

  North Western

  0.9

  41.1

  15.9

  0.9

  43.3

  15.3

  Others

  4.7

  31.4

  5.7

  0.0

  22.4

  16.8

  Notes

  Percentages were calculated using whole-time equivalents

  Figures exclude learners and agency staff

  Source

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census

  Palliative Care
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of demand over the next five years for(a) in-patient, and (b) respite and day care provision for palliative care; and if he will make a statement. [58178]

  Mr. Hutton
  In Executive Letter (95)22 regional health authorities were asked to ensure that health authorities should agree service contracts for specialist palliative care to meet the needs of their resident populations. This was followed by Executive Letter (96)85 which gave further advice on epidemiologically based needs assessment for palliative and terminal care.

  We are committed to ensuring that the principles and practice of palliative care are adopted in the care of all people with life threatening illnesses in all settings. Significant advances have been made in pain and symptom control and there is greater emphasis on maximising the quality of life of patients.

  In June this year we issued Health Service Circular 1998/115 pointing out the need to integrate the principles and practice of palliative care for all those facing life threatening illnesses into the whole of National Health Service practice. To support this, with the circular the Government also circulated three documents published by the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services which provide guidance on key issues facing those who are dying and those caring for them in the NHS. These were:

  (i) Guidelines for Managing Cancer Pain in Adults

  (ii) Changing Gear—Guidelines for Managing the Last Days of Life in Adults

  (iii) Palliative Care in the Hospital Setting.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review inspection and registration standards for nursing homes; and if he will make a statement. [58181]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are committed to reforming current regulatory arrangements for social services, including nursing homes, to create independent arrangements that are tough, transparent and accountable. As part of this process we are aiming to develop national required standards to ensure greater consistency in the work of the different regulation authorities. Details of our reforms will be included in the Social Services White Paper to be published shortly.

  Cervical Screening
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 October 1998,Official Report, columns 975–76, for what reasons health authorities in England are unable to report average time taken for patients to receive results of cervical smear tests: and how methods of data collection on waiting times for cervical smear tests in English health authorities differ from those in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [57869]

  Mr. Hutton
  None of the four health departments routinely collect information about the length of time women wait for the results of their cervical smear tests. However, information on the length of time laboratories take to read smear tests was collected centrally in England until March 1997.

  As the Welsh Office have only five health authorities, and Northern Ireland Office only four health boards, both Departments were able to collect information about waiting times for smear results on an ad hoc basis. The Scottish Office were also able to contact each of their 11 health boards, but provided information only on reporting times. As there are over 100 health authorities in England the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Information about waiting times for results will be included as part of the current review of data collection on the cervical screening programme.

  Joint Procedures (NHS and Personal Social Services)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations took place with users and carers and their representative organisations when drawing up the Joint Procedures Guidance for the NHS and Personal Social Services. [57785]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 3 November 1998)No formal consultation was undertaken with any organisations before the publication of "Modernising Health and Social Services: National Priorities Guidance 1999–2000–2001–02".

  Dietary Supplements
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue further guidance to the Medicines Control Agency about the classification of products containing blends of herbal, vitamin and mineral
  179
  supplements; and if it is his policy that dietary supplements should be available on general retail sale provided that they are safe. [58731]

  Ms Jowell
  The Medicines Control Agency acts on behalf of the Licensing Authority in accordance with Medicines Act 1968. The Agency classifies products on a case by case basis in accordance with European Community and United Kingdom law, legal precedent and published guidance, and there are no plans to change this. Whether a product is subject to food or medicine legislation is a matter of law not policy. Products which are not medicinal products and fall within the definition of food must comply with the law relating to food. Amongst other things, this effectively requires that products are safe.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a product containing a blend of herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements may require a medicine's product licence in cases where different elements of that blend could each be sold separately without such a licence. [58536]

  Ms Jowell
  A product containing a blend of herbs, vitamins and minerals whose different elements could be sold separately under food law is not considered a medicinal product by the Medicines Control Agency, unless it is presented for treating or preventing disease or it may be administered with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in humans. However, where a herbal product—whether or not it includes non-herbal substances—is classified as a medicinal product it will be subject to medicines legislation. Herbal remedies, accordingly, require a marketing authorisation (product licence) unless they are exempt from licensing under the terms of Section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968. Section 132 of the Act makes it clear that the exemption for herbal remedies does not extend to products which contain active non-herbal substances.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used by the Medicines Control Agency in classifying a blend of herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements as a medicine; whether the criteria include the availability of the product on general retail sale in other states in the European Union; and if it is the practice of the Agency to provide manufacturers of such blends with a statement of the reasons for so classifying a product. [58537]

  Ms Jowell
  In assessing whether a product is a medicine, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has regard to the definition of a medicinal product found in Pharmaceutical Directive 65/65/EEC. It also has regard to legal precedent, and its guidance, (including assessment criteria), which it has published in its leaflet Medicines Act Leaflet 8: "A guide to what is a medicinal product". On a case by case basis, the MCA decides whether a product is presented for treating or preventing disease, or may be administered with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in humans. If either or both, the product is a medicine. The MCA does regard a product's status in other member states as a relevant factor when coming to a decision on its classification in the United Kingdom.

  When notifying a manufacturer that it has classified a product as a medicinal product, the MCA explains the grounds for its decision.

  Dementia
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the future levels of demand for respite provision for those caring for people with dementia; and what policies he has in place to meet that demand. [58571]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Royal Commission on Long-term Care of the Elderly has been asked, in its terms of reference, to have regard to the number of people likely to require various kinds of long-term care in the future. The National Carers Strategy will draw together existing work within Government that impacts on carers, assess whether any of their key needs have been overlooked and set out an integrated strategy for future action by Government.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of research funded by his Department into ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been carried out by psychologists and psychiatrists. [58742]

  Ms Jowell
  Management of much of the research supported by the National Health Service research and development levy is devolved and details are not collected routinely by the Department. Information which is available centrally shows that the NHS R&D Programme has been funding a research project entitled "Should GPs manage chronic fatigue syndrome? A controlled trial", which has now reported. The lead researcher for this project was a General Practitioner. Further work is about to be commissioned through competitive tender on the topic of "Management Strategies for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome".

  The Medical Research Council funded one study in relation to myalgic encephalomyelitis which has recently been completed. The work was undertaken at the University of Manchester and the project was entitled "The role of noradrenaline in the neuropsychological pathogenesis of the chronic fatigue syndrome". This project was led by a psychiatrist.

  Health Authorities (Revenue Allocations)
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the 1999–2000 revenue allocations for health authorities. [59480]

  Mr. Dobson
  The 1999–2000 unified revenue allocations for health authorities are given in the table. Unified allocations cover spending on hospital and community health services, general medical services (cash limited) and prescribing.

  1999–2000 Health authority total allocations

  £000

  Percentage cash increase

  Avon

  582,510

  6.69

  Barking and Havering

  256,500

  6.60

  Barnet

  209,057

  6.58

  Barnsley

  156,588

  7.85

  Bedfordshire

  312,909

  7.47

  Berkshire

  431,001

  7.38

  Bexley and Greenwich

  289,039

  5.45

  Birmingham

  681,946

  6.50

  Bradford

  312,469

  7.25

  181

  1999–2000 Health authority total allocations

  £000

  Percentage cash increase

  Brent and Harrow

  310,879

  5.79

  Bromley

  183,609

  6.49

  Buckinghamshire

  368,084

  7.15

  Bury and Rochdale

  249,286

  7.09

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  369,439

  6.67

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  233,706

  6.70

  Camden and Islington

  320,971

  7.04

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  317,079

  5.80

  County Durham

  411,001

  7.09

  Coventry

  200,882

  7.28

  Croydon

  202,682

  6.72

  Doncaster

  198,465

  7.04

  Dorset

  446,631

  5.49

  Dudley

  183,018

  6.66

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  475,900

  6.67

  East and North Hertfordshire

  290,037

  6.59

  East Kent

  395,915

  6.36

  East Lancashire

  349,892

  6.57

  East London and the City

  491,634

  8.12

  East Norfolk

  380,037

  6.41

  East Riding

  360,233

  6.92

  East Surrey

  244,052

  5.49

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  505,366

  6.35

  Enfield and Haringey

  323,495

  6.72

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  255,537

  6.95

  Gloucestershire

  334,591

  5.47

  Herefordshire

  98,713

  6.45

  Hillingdon

  154,353

  6.46

  Isle of Wight

  92,390

  5.96

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  286,339

  8.71

  Kingston and Richmond

  208,380

  5.51

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  573,116

  7.11

  Leeds

  469,356

  6.80

  Leicestershire

  517,887

  7.15

  Lincolnshire

  394,990

  6.42

  Liverpool

  350,296

  6.87

  Manchester

  349,914

  6.00

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  422,995

  6.35

  Morecambe Bay

  205,730

  5.46

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  333,829

  6.92

  North and East Devon

  300,720

  5.50

  North and Mid Hampshire

  291,934

  6.39

  North Cheshire

  201,585

  5.49

  North Cumbria

  198,917

  6.78

  North Derbyshire

  228,364

  6.47

  North Essex

  503,561

  6.57

  North Nottinghamshire

  236,475

  6.71

  North Staffordshire

  304,458

  7.32

  North West Anglia

  250,526

  6.86

  North West Lancashire

  321,635

  6.51

  North Yorkshire

  434,879

  6.51

  Northamptonshire

  326,245

  6.40

  Northumberland

  196,638

  6.81

  Nottingham

  391,712

  7.40

  Oxfordshire

  327,812

  7.39

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  330,353

  6.65

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  296,944

  5.46

  Rotherham

  159,696

  7.27

  Salford and Trafford

  310,166

  6.72

  Sandwell

  205,838

  7.35

  Sefton

  192,610

  6.73

  Sheffield

  367,283

  6.88

  Shropshire

  247,650

  6.51

  Solihull

  122,698

  6.82

  Somerset

  290,097

  6.40

  South and West Devon

  383,565

  5.63

  South Cheshire

  405,696

  6.42

  South Derbyshire

  340,745

  6.90

  South Essex

  417,802

  7.24

  South Humber

  199,138

  5.47

  South Lancashire

  185,797

  5.49

  South Staffordshire

  322,868

  6.41

  182

  1999–2000 Health authority total allocations

  £000

  Percentage cash increase

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  327,774

  6.58

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  237,210

  6.88

  Stockport

  176,374

  6.68

  Suffolk

  397,601

  5.49

  Sunderland

  201,223

  6.97

  Tees

  370,553

  7.02

  Wakefield

  211,891

  6.81

  Walsall

  163,794

  7.37

  Warwickshire

  293,422

  5.49

  West Hertfordshire

  317,538

  6.38

  West Kent

  562,935

  6.41

  West Pennine

  297,286

  6.80

  West Surrey

  371,000

  5.48

  West Sussex

  467,090

  6.59

  Wigan and Bolton

  373,322

  7.18

  Wiltshire

  345,684

  6.37

  Wirral

  226,913

  6.70

  Wolverhampton

  160,766

  7.15

  Worcestershire

  303,405

  6.37

  England

  31,192,915

  6.60

  Pay Review Bodies
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the terms of reference of the doctors' and dentists' and the nurses' review bodies. [59481]

  Mr. Milburn
  Earlier this year, I set out proposed terms of reference for the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) and the Nurses, Midwives and Professions Allied to Medicine Review Body (NPRB). The Government have listened very carefully to the points made in consultation. As a result, we have been able to finalise the terms of reference. These are set out as follows.

  Doctors and Dentists Review Body: Terms of Reference
  The Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' remuneration is independent. Its role is to make recommendations to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales on the remuneration of doctors and dentists taking any part in the NHS.
  In reaching its recommendations, the Review Body is to have regard to the following considerations:
  the need to recruit, retain and motivate doctors and dentists;
  the Health Departments' output targets for the delivery of services, as set out by the Government;
  the funds available to the Health Departments as set out in the Government's Departmental Expenditure Limits;
  the Government's inflation target.
  The Review Body may also be asked to consider other specific issues.
  The Review Body is also required to Jake careful account of the economic and other evidence submitted by the Government, staff and professional representatives and others.
  Reports and recommendations should be submitted jointly to the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Scotland. the Secretary of State for Wales and the Prime Minister.

  183
  Nurses, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professionals Allied to Medicine Review Bodies: Terms of Reference
  The Review Body on Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine (NPRB) remuneration is independent. Its role is to make recommendations to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales on the remuneration of

  (i) Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors employed in the NHS;

  (ii) Physiotherapists, Radiographers, Remedial Gymnasts, Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Chiropodists, Dietitians and related grades employed in the NHS.

  In reaching its recommendations, the Review Body is to have regard to the following considerations:
  the need to recruit, retain and motivate nurses, midwives, health visitors and staff in the Professions Allied to Medicine;
  the Health Departments' output targets for the delivery of services, as set out by the Government;
  the funds available to the Health Departments as set out in the Government's Departmental Expenditure Limits;
  the Government's inflation target.
  The Review Body may also be asked to consider other specific issues.
  The Review Body is also required to take careful account of the economic and other evidence submitted by the Government, staff and professional representatives and others.
  Reports and recommendations should be submitted jointly to the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Prime Minister.

  Pharmacists' Bills
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what sum is currently owed on bills submitted by pharmacists to the Government; [58757]

  (2) what the average length of time taken is for the Government to pay bills submitted by pharmacists. [58758]

  Mr. Milburn
  Pharmacies do not submit bills to the National Health Service for payment. Instead they submit prescription forms to the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) for pricing and payment in accordance with established procedures. Prescriptions may be dispensed at any time during a particular calender month. At the end of the month, prescriptions are batched and sent to the PPA for interpretation and the calculation of the payment due. Some 80 per cent. of the estimated sum due is paid at the end of the month in which the prescriptions are received, with an adjusted balance, paid at the end of the following month. Each month on average over £380 million is paid to pharmacies.

  Car Park Charges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further guidance he has issued to health authorities and trusts concerning the levying of charges for car parking for staff and visitors. [59245]

  Mr. Milburn
  A guide to the implementation of car parking charges was issued in January 1996. Copies are available in the Library. No further guidance is planned.

  Children's Services Grant
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for payment of the Children's Services Grant after 2001–02. [59226]
  184
  Mr. Hutton
  We will review the future of the Children's Services Grant in 2000, as part of the overall review of the Government's spending plans.

  Surgical Instruments (Sterilisation)
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) instruction or (b) guidelines his Department has (i) issued and (ii) intends to issue to require hospitals to amend the sterilisation procedure for surgical instruments in respect of (a) the temperature and (b) the duration of the autoclave cycle. [59155]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department issued guidance on hospital sterilization in "Health Technical Memorandum 2010" and in "Guidance on Decontamination". Copies are available in the Library.

  In addition, updated and extended advice was issued in April 1998 by The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens and The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on handling surgical instruments used on patients known to have, or suspected of having, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Having taken into account the available scientific evidence on both CJD and non variant CJD, this revised guidance recommends disposal of all instruments used on patients with clinical symptoms of any type of CJD. This advice also recommends temperatures and autoclave cycle durations appropriate for use in decontamination processes in certain other situations.

  The advice is kept under constant review.

  School Nurses and Health Visitors
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's recent letter to North Thames and South Thames health authorities regarding school nurses and health visitors. [58737]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department recently conducted a national survey in line with its agenda in relation to school nurses and health visitors which showed no uniform planned reduction in community nursing staff.

  As a result of this survey my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health wrote on 19 October to the regional chairmen of those regions proposing reductions (which included North and South Thames) asking that they discuss with the relevant health authorities the reasons for, and the nature of, the reductions. Regional chairmen in North and South Thames in conjunction with the regional directors of nursing have contacted the relevant health authority chief executives to discuss the issues raised by my right hon. Friend's letter.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of typical waiting times between GP referrals and NHS consultant appointments. [57370]

  Mr. Milburn
  Data on waiting times for outpatient appointments in England are collected and published quarterly. Figures for the quarter ended 30 June 1998 showed that 96 per cent. of patients attending first out-patient appointments had waited under 26 weeks since
  185
  general practitioner written referral, 82 per cent. had waited under 13 weeks and 38 per cent. had waited under 4 weeks.

  Maternity Unit (Maldon)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reach a decision on the appeal by Mid Essex Community Health Council against the proposed closure of the maternity unit at St. Peter's Hospital, Maldon. [59271]

  Mr. Milburn
  We will announce our decision when we have given full and proper consideration to the proposals.

  Hospital Unit Closures
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appeals by community health councils against proposals to close hospital units are currently awaiting determination by him. [59273]
  186
  Mr. Milburn
  There are eight contested proposals currently with Ministers.

  Women's Issues
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a report on the progress made on issues affecting women since May 1997. [59446]

  Ms Jowell
  We have published our report, "Delivering for women: Progress so far". This charts what has been achieved in the first 18 months of this Government to improve the lives of women. Copies of this report have been placed in the Library of the House, together with two research documents, "Researching Women's Attitudes" and "Tackling Violence Against Women", and it summarises reported action already taken by local authorities to protect women from violence. In addition the right hon. the Baroness Jay has, together with her right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, issued new guidelines on Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment to relevant officials throughout government. Copies of this have also been placed in the library of the House.

  GCSE Data for Schools in England
  GCSE Data for Schools in England
  GCE A-Level Data
  GCE A-Level Data
  Student Loans Helpline
  Student Loans Helpline
  Head of Defence Export Services
  Head of Defence Export Services
  NHS Director of Counter Fraud Services
  NHS Director of Counter Fraud Services
  "Delivering for women: Progress so far"
  "Delivering for women: Progress so far"
  Real Earnings Growth: Average Annual Rate
  Real Earnings Growth: Average Annual Rate
  VAT Top Rate in Member States
  VAT Top Rate in Member States
  VAT Grouping and Universities
  VAT Grouping and Universities