Written Answers of 21 October 1998

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Detrunking Roads
  Mr. Chope:
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in response to his proposals for detrunking trunk roads. [54374]

  Dr. Reid
  We have received representations seeking clarification of the detrunking proposals, in particular resource transfers and timing. Concern has been expressed about detrunking certain routes, but we have also had some informal indications from local highway authorities of a willingness to take over routes proposed for detrunking. Officials have recently held constructive discussions with the Local Government Association about the proposals and there will be further consultations with the Association and individual local highway authorities.

  Communication Masts
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that planning permission is required from a local authority to erect(a) a radio and (b) a mobile phone mast under 15 metres high. [55657]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general planning permission for certain telecommunications masts providing that the mast is erected by a telecommunications code system operator licensed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the Telecommunications Act 1984;
  the mast does not exceed 15m in height;
  the mast is not erected in a National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation area, or the Broads; and
  the mast is not refused prior approval by the local planning authority within the period allowed under the Order. The authority must be given the opportunity to say whether they wish to approve, within 28 days, details of the mast's siting and appearance. The authority may refuse approval if they consider there to be a serious threat to amenity.

  A full application for planning permission is normally required for any mast which does not meet these criteria. We have recently consulted on a proposal to make masts erected within a site of special scientific interest subject to a full planning application and are currently considering the responses received. Apart from this proposal, we have no plans to extend the current requirements for full applications for planning permission for telecommunications masts.

  Country Landowners Association
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will 1106
  request the Countryside Commission to make it a condition of future grant aid to the CLA in respect of access to the countryside that the new access land is posted on the CLA's website. [55412]

  Mr. Meacher
  Publicity for new access opportunities is an essential element in opening up the countryside for public enjoyment. The Countryside Commission recognises the importance of publicity—through a range of media—and I am asking them to take this into account when setting grant conditions. Access land identified through the Country Landowners Association (CLA) Access 2000 scheme is already being posted on to the CLA's website.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to verify independently the nature and extent of the new public access to the countryside offered by the CLA under its Access 2000 scheme. [55417]

  Mr. Meacher
  None. The register on the CLA's website contains many details of the access involved and the CLA is responsible for the accuracy. We would expect it to verify information before it is made public on a website.

  House Repossessions
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many cases where income support was paid on interest payments on mortgages houses were repossessed by the mortgage lender in the last year for which figures are available. [55662]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not available.

  Rail Freight
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to promote piggy-back rail freight services in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement. [55600]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Railtrack has for some time been considering an upgrade of the west coast main line to accommodate "piggyback" rail freight. The project would be likely to require substantial Government grant. Railtrack has not yet made an application.

  Greater London Authority
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has decided which of the seven locations currently being considered will provide accommodation for the Greater London Authority; and if he will make a statement. [56048]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Following a detailed assessment of the initial proposals for our seven short-listed buildings and sites we have selected two first-class options to study further. These are:London Bridge City, SE1—a new building to be constructed on the site between Tower Bridge and London Bridge on the South Bank of the River Thames; and
  Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square, WC1—a major refurbishment of an existing building first constructed in the 1920s.
  1107
  There was keen competition among all the short-listed teams to produce high quality ideas for housing the Mayor and Assembly in London. The architects associated with the two chosen projects—Will Alsop of Alsop and Stormer for Victoria House and Sir Norman Foster of Foster Associates for London Bridge City—are leading British architects with international reputations for innovation and excellence. I am confident that, with the teams associated with these two options, we will be able to ensure that the proposed new Greater London Authority is housed in a landmark building worthy of its status and one of which Londoners can be proud.

  I would like to thank all those Londoners who took the time to visit the exhibition at Oxo Tower Wharf where the ideas for the seven short-listed locations were on display. Nearly 1,000 people called in and the views expressed were carefully considered before coming to a decision. In fact, the two options I have chosen to take forward were the people's choice as well. Other factors such as finance, design, location and technical feasibility were also taken into account.

  The next step will be to work with the teams from the two selected options and with our expert advisers to explore the ideas in greater detail and see how well they will meet the needs of the new Greater London Authority. We also want these buildings to contribute to their local area and intend to work closely with the local authorities to ensure that this happens. I expect to announce a final decision in the new year.

WALES

  Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Gwynedd which are funded in(a) part and (b) whole by his Department. [55597]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  In the current financial year the Department is providing funding, under the Department's grant scheme for residential services providing care for drug and alcohol misusers, to Cyngor Alcohol Information Services (CAIS) towards the core costs of the Ty'n Rodyn residential unit at Lower Penrallt, Glanrafon Hill, Bangor, Gwynedd.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department is taking to improve drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Wales. [55599]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  One of the aims of the Welsh drug and alcohol strategy "Forward Together" is to improve the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation services for those who misuse. The Welsh Drug and Alcohol Unit (WDAU), which works to and is funded by the Department, provides technical advice and support to those in the field including drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Wales.

  As part of their contract the WDAU has produced a Directory of Service Providers in Wales to ensure that commissioners are aware of the range of services available within localities. Guidance has also been produced for health and social service commissioners on
  1108
  the purchasing of drug and alcohol treatment services. The Directory and the Guidance have been given a wide distribution in Wales.

  Earlier this year the Department commissioned a review of the purchasing requirements for, and the provision of, residential and community services in Wales for people with drug and alcohol problems. The final report has recently been produced and the Department is considering how its grant scheme for residential services providing care for drug and alcohol misusers can best be utilised to support residential treatment and rehabilitation units.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales had been on hospital waiting lists for over one year at the latest available date. [55619]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  At 31 August 1998, some 9,573 residents in Wales had been on hospital waiting lists for over 1 year for treatment as an in-patient or daycase.

  Hill Farming
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the effect of current hill farming incomes on the rural Welsh economy. [55595]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Welsh Office officials are currently preparing income forecasts for hill farming as part of the annual review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands. This is an exercise to which we attach great importance. An assessment of the impact of recent trends in farm income on rural employment will also be made.

  Agriculture is estimated to contribute directly about 8 per cent. to total employment in the Less Favoured Areas (LFA). Agriculture also indirectly supports jobs in other industries; and published studies suggest that in the LFA every 10 full-time jobs in agriculture support approximately a further four jobs in related industries.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps the Welsh Office has undertaken in the past year to reduce homelessness in Wales. [55594]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  We have made regulations giving local authorities powers to allocate permanent accommodation to homeless people; we have assisted various voluntary bodies concerned with preventing and alleviating homelessness and rough sleeping; we have seconded an officer from the voluntary sector to advise local authorities on measures to deal with rough sleeping.

  Our other housing programmes are designed to increase the supply and quality of accommodation which will help reduce homelessness pressure.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Refreshment Prices
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee by what formula, and to what extent, the
  1109
  notional costs of (a) services, (b) rents and (c) rates are reflected in the prices of restaurants, cafés, bars and banqueting suites in the House of Commons. [55613]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  [holding answer 19 October 1998]: The House of Commons votes do not presently allocate costs to individual Departments of the House, although the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting in 1999 will lead to a greater degree of transparency of such costs in the future. Under the present arrangements, the Refreshment Department has a target to achieve an overall operating surplus of 5 per cent. on its trading account, but there is no direct linkage between the prices charged to customers using the Department's facilities and the costs (notional or actual) of common services, rents or rates.

  I shall ensure that a copy of the published Refreshment Department Trading Account for 1997–98 is sent to my hon. Friend. He will wish to note that the Department made an operating surplus of £445,476 (10.6 per cent. of turnover). Consequently, a sum of £462,429 will be transferred from the Refreshment Department trading account to the House of Commons Administration Vote in the present financial year for ultimate return to HM Treasury.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the President of the Council what progress has been made in ensuring millennium compliance in central Government's systems and equipment and in its suppliers. [54713]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The results of the last quarterly review, which I announced on 9 September 1998, showed that good progress is being made by Departments and agencies in tackling the year 2000 problem. Work on correcting priority, business-critical, systems is particularly well advanced. Over half of the returns reported that 50 per cent. or more of the correction work has been completed and in a fifth of cases this figure was as high as 90 per cent. Departments and agencies are also seeking assurances from suppliers that they will be able to continue to provide key products and services into the next century.

  The individual returns from the last quarterly review are available in the Library of the House together with my statement, a copy of which I sent to all hon. Members on 9 September.

DEFENCE

  Trainer Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1998,Official Report, column 310, what options his Department has to extend the contract for the Grob 115D aircraft at the end of the contract period. [50432]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Negotiations continue with the preferred bidder for the Royal Air Forces Light Aircraft Flying Task. The intention is to recompete the 1110
  requirement at the end of the ten-year contract and there are consequently no plans to include options for extending the contract.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1998,Official Report, column 310, what assessment he has made of the effective working life of the Grob 115D aircraft. [50433]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Grob 115D is certified for 15,000 flying hours for the type of flying operations the RAF plans to undertake, subject to normal maintenance inspections. Based on these criteria, and assuming a constant usage rate, the RAF assesses the working life of the aircraft to be around 30 years.

  Commercial Exploitation Levies
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 31 July 1998,Official Report, column 720, to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), for what products his Department received commercial exploitation levies in each of the last three years; and what were the values of the levies. [55643]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 19 October 1998]: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Chlorine
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (Porton Down) to investigate whether short-term exposure to chlorine can cause long-term illnesses; when this research was carried out; and what were the results. [55331]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 21 October 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about research into possible long term health effects from short term exposure to chlorine.
  I informed you in my letter of 21 July, printed in the Official Report Col 469 dated 21 July, that DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence sector (CBD) had not carried out any research into possible long term effects of chlorine. This is still the case.
  My earlier letter also explained that CBD is aware of the general toxicology and health effects of chlorine gas, as reported in the open literature, particularly in relation to exposure occurring through industrial accidents.
  I hope this is helpful.

  CBDE Technical Papers
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many series of technical papers have been produced by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (Porton Down) since 1990; and what are the titles of each series. [55319]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
  1111
  Letter from Mr. John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 21 October 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about the number and titles of series of technical papers produced by DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence sector (CBD) since 1990.
  Since 1990 CBD has produced 8 series of internal reports, the titles of which are as follows:
  Field Trial Reports
  Field Trial Programmes
  Operational Granby Reports
  CBD Reports
  Technical Papers
  Technical Notes
  Technical Memoranda
  DERA Reports
  I hope this is helpful.

  Royal Tournament
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation payments have been made as a result of injuries incurred by military personnel participating in the Royal Tournament in each of the last five years. [55695]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Only one compensation payment has been made by my Department to military personnel as a result of injuries sustained while participating in the Royal Tournament in the last five years.

TREASURY

  Monetary Union
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which current powers of the Bank of England to make regulations, inspect or supervise, control credit limits and permit companies to operate as banks in the United Kingdom would, in the event of full adherence to monetary union, be within the authority of or subject to limits set by the European Central Bank. [55691]

  Ms Hewitt
  The responsibilities of central banks in Stage Three of economic and monetary union are described in Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty and in the ESCB Statute (Protocol No. 3 to the Treaty). If the UK joined EMU, national legislation, including the statutes of the Bank of England, would have to be made compatible with the Treaty and the Statute.

  In the UK, responsibility for the authorisation and supervision of banks was transferred from the Bank of England to the Financial Services Authority by the Bank of England Act 1998. The Treaty does not assign to the ECB a direct role in the prudential supervision of credit institutions which remains primarily the responsibility of individual Member States. Any extension of the ECB' s role in this area would require the unanimous approval of all Member States under Article 105(6) of the Treaty.

  Were the UK to join the single currency, UK banks' holdings of minimum reserves with the Bank of England would need to be compatible with the requirements imposed by the ECB under Article 19 of the ESCB Statute at that time.
  1112

  European Community Budgets
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of the Transfer of Appropriations No. 16/98 Non Compulsory Expenditure (SEC 1998) 1062 final concerning Section III (Commission Parts A and B), agreed by the Council of Finance Ministers, what are the sums transferred in sterling, the former purpose of those sums and the purposes to which those sums will now be devoted; at which meeting of the ECOFIN Council such transfers were agreed, and which Treasury Minister was present; and if the Government will request the President of the Council when conveying such approval in future to include the original purpose and new purpose to which sums are being devoted in all public documents related thereto. [55694]

  Ms Hewitt
  This transfers concerns 450,000 ecus (£300,040 at the rate of £1 = 1.4998 ecu which is set for UK VAT and Fourth Resource contributions to the 1998 European Community Budget). This sum is to be transferred from the reserve budget to the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union. Further details will be found in an explanatory memorandum which is being submitted by HM Treasury to the Select Committee on European Legislation. As a rule, the Council adopts its position on transfer proposals at the first convenient Council meeting following consideration in the Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives. This may not necessarily be a meeting of ECOFIN. Generally speaking, the President of the Council, in conveying approval to a transfer, refers to the original and new purpose to which sums are being devoted.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what means transfers of appropriation from one purpose to another within the budget of the European Community are authorised and published; where the public may obtain information concerning such changes and the amounts involved; and if he will list those approved so far in the current financial year, together with details for each. [55692]

  Ms Hewitt
  The European Commission may make proposals to the budgetary authority (the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament) for the transfer of appropriations between chapters of each EC budget section. In the case of transfers relating to expenditure resulting from Treaties (compulsory expenditure), it is the Council, after consulting the European Parliament, which decides whether or not to approve the Commission's proposal. In the case of transfers relating to other expenditure (non-compulsory expenditure) the roles of the Council and the European Parliament are reversed. The full procedure is set out in Article 26 of the EC's Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977, a copy of which will be placed in the Commons Library. The following list details of transfers that have been proposed so far this year. All transfer proposals are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, however, and further details may be found in the relevant explanatory memorandum or FCO cover note submitted on each transfer proposal to the Select Committee on European Legislation by the Treasury.
  1113
  Members of the public may obtain information on transfers from the published reports of the Select Committee on the European Legislation or directly from the offices of the European Commission.

  EC Budget 1998: Transfers

  Amount (million ecu)

  Transfer no.

  Date of proposal

  Document no.

  Commitments

  Payments

  Subject

  Transfer from

  1

  29 January 1998

  SEC(1998)153

  23.1

  17.1

  Information and communication

  Reserve

  2

  20 May 1998

  SEC(1998)888

  8

  7

  Information and communication

  Reserve

  3

  25 February 1998

  SEC(1998)347

  0.171

  Economic and Social Committee/Committee of the Regions

  Reserve

  4

  1 April 1998

  SEC(1998)560

  45

  38

  Assistance to economic reform and recovery in the New Independent States and Mongolia

  Reserve

  5

  2 April 1998

  SEC(1998)572

  94

  0

  Measures to accompany the reforms to the economic and social structures in the Mediterranean non-member countries

  Reserve

  6

  29 May 1998

  SEC(1998)923

  30

  24

  Yugoslavia

  Reserve

  7

  20 May 1998

  SEC(1998)908

  10.1

  6.55

  EU co-operation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States

  Reserve

  8

  14 May 1998

  SEC(1998)811

  245.5

  Loan Guarantee Fund

  Loan Guarantee Reserve

  9

  13 May 1998

  SEC(1998)809

  0.7

  0.5

  European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

  Reserve

  2

  Drugs Agency

  10

  19 June 1998

  SEC(1998)883

  2

  Administration

  Reserve

  11

  3 June 1998

  SEC(1998)948

  4.4

  Economic and Social Committee/Committee of the Regions

  Reserve

  12

  4 June 1998

  SEC(1998)947

  2.195

  European Court of Justice

  Reserve

  13

  11 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1022

  4

  3

  Justice & Home affairs

  Reserve

  14

  10 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1023

  15

  15

  Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation

  Reserve

  15

  19 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1056

  0

  3.25

  International Fisheries Agreements

  Reserve

  16

  19 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1962

  0.45

  Management of resources

  Reserve

  17

  19 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1063

  1

  0.5

  Safety at work

  Reserve

  18

  26 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1101

  5.59

  13.58

  Staff and administrative expenditure of EC delegations

  19

  5 August 1998

  SEC(1998)1363

  3.8

  Disarmament and prevention of conflicts

  Financial protocols with Malta and Cyprus

  20

  23 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1229

  50

  50

  Contribution to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Chernobyl Shelter fund

  Reserve

  21

  25 June 1998

  SEC(1998)1230

  11

  0

  Energy policy

  Reserve

  22

  16 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1407

  2.4 (non-difference)

  Postal charges and telecommunications

  Reserve

  23

  10 July 1998

  SEC(1998)1231

  0.26

  Interinstitutional co-operation

  Staff in active employment

  24

  15 July 1998

  SEC(1998)1262

  150

  100

  Humanitarian aid

  Emergency aid reserve

  25

  9 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1525

  3

  2

  New Transatlantic agenda

  Reserve

  26

  9 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1498

  1.1 (non-difference)

  Operation of radio and television studios and audiovisual equipment

  Reserve

  1114 1115

  EC Budget 1998: Transfers

  Amount (million ecu)

  Transfer no.

  Date of proposal

  Document no.

  Commitments

  Payments

  Subject

  Transfer from

  27

  9 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1513

  0

  8

  Support for democracy in central and eastern Europe

  Co-operation with the republics formerly part of Yugoslavia

  28

  16 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1544

  0

  810

  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guarantee Section (Arable crops, sugar, sheepmeat and goatmeat, refunds on certain goods obtained by processing agricultural products)

  EAGGF Guarantee Section (Fruit and vegetables vine products, milk and milk products, beef/veal, pigmeat, other measures)

  29

  11 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1528

  0.95 (non-difference)

  Court of Justice—movable property and associated costs

  Provisional appropriations

  30

  28 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1616

  5 (non-difference)

  Publishing

  Reserve

  31

  18 September 1998

  SEC(1998)1552

  0.4 (non-difference)

  Meetings of the Committee of the Regions (COR)

  COR joint interpreting service, publications, basic salaries, family and expatriation allowances

  Euro
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if euro notes and coinage, irrespective of the issuing national central bank, will be legal tender in all member states of the European Union. [55680]

  Ms Hewitt
  In EMU, all euro bank notes issued by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks of participating member states will be legal tender in all member states which participate in EMU. Similarly, all euro coins issued by participating member states and complying with the denominations and technical specifications adopted by the Council in accordance with Article 105a(2) of the Treaty, will be legal tender in the participating member states.

  Registration Records
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he plans to take to improve access to registration records; [55666]

  (2) what plans he has to reform the system of access to civil registration records; and if he will make a statement. [55667]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Registration Acts are quite specific as to the means of access to all the records of births, deaths and marriages. The Acts allow members of the public to search the indexes in order to identify the entries they are looking for and to obtain certified copies (certificates) on payment of the appropriate statutory fees. The Registrar General has no powers to make available or disclose registration information in any other way,

  It is widely acknowledged that the present arrangements, whereby there is no right to browse through individual records and extract information, are unnecessarily restrictive. The Registrar General is reconsidering the proposals in the 1990 White Paper "Registration: proposals
  1116
  for change" (Cm 939) about access to registration records. He is preparing an options paper for the Government to consider. This should be ready by the end of the year.

  Pre-Budget Report
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to publish the pre-Budget report. [56231]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  On 3 November.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the extent of blending of deep-mined and open-cast coal at power stations. [49261]

  Mr. Battle
  The mix of deep-mined and open-cast used in power stations is a commercial matter for each private sector generator.

  The open-cast mining of coal itself is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library copies of correspondence her Department has received in the last six months from the European Commission concerning the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive as it affects the offshore oil and gas industry. [50633]

  Mr. Battle
  The correspondence referred to is regarded as confidential by both the Commission and the Department. It forms part of a negotiation over complex
  1117
  issues, and it may harm the chances of reaching a satisfactory outcome to the negotiations if the position of either party is made public.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list inward investments in the UK manufacturing sector over £1 million in each of the last three years, indicating the nation from which the investment came, the area of the United Kingdom in which it was made, and the grants made by the Government in respect of each investment; and if he will list those investments which have fallen short of the amount indicated to the Government by 30 September or as much of such information as is readily available to him. [55497]

  Company

  Country of Origin

  Grant Offered (£000)

  Area

  1995–96

  Bi-Link Metal Specialities (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  1,500

  Scotland

  Motorola Ltd.

  USA

  7,000

  Scotland

  Delta Textiles (London) Ltd.

  Israel

  350

  Scotland

  Barr & Stroud Ltd.

  France

  2,795

  Scotland

  Forbo-Nairn Ltd.

  Switzerland

  2,700

  Scotland

  Lexmark International Inc.

  USA

  8,500

  Scotland

  Shin-Etsu Handotai Europe Ltd.

  Japan

  4,000

  Scotland

  Bray Valves & Controls (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  550

  Scotland

  H. J. Heinz Co. Ltd.

  USA

  990

  London

  Chartex International PLC

  USA

  480

  London

  Printpack Europe Ltd.

  USA

  400

  Merseyside

  Mackie Automotive Systems (UK) Ltd.

  Canada

  750

  Merseyside

  Freudenberg Technical Products LP

  Germany

  940

  North East

  Neyr Plastiques

  France

  950

  North East

  Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty)

  USA

  415

  North East

  Valeo Security Systems Ltd.

  France

  600

  North East

  Schur Flexible UK Ltd.

  Denmark

  400

  North East

  TRW Automotive Systems Ltd.

  USA

  2,100

  North East

  Siemens PLC

  Germany

  24,985

  North East

  Edbro PLC

  France

  225

  North West

  Bayex Ltd.

  France

  500

  North West

  Photronics (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  1,800

  North West

  Cohnen GBR

  Germany

  245

  South East

  Nortel Ltd.

  Canada

  5,000

  South West

  AVX Ltd.

  Japan

  825

  South West

  Pall Europe Ltd.

  USA

  950

  South West

  Rotometrics International Ltd.

  USA

  500

  West Midlands

  Callow & Maddox Bros. Ltd.

  USA

  900

  West Midlands

  Magneti Marelli UK Ltd.

  Italy

  3,500

  West Midlands

  Metabrasive Ltd.

  France

  700

  West Midlands

  Ishida (Europe) Ltd.

  Japan

  950

  West Midlands

  Coveton (Manuf) Ltd.

  Germany

  65

  West Midlands

  Rockwell Light Vehicle Sysm (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  740

  West Midlands

  GE Aircraft Engine Services Ltd.

  USA

  7,000

  Wales

  Nippon Electric Glass (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  4,500

  Wales

  Flextronics International Ltd.

  Singapore

  1,000

  Wales

  Nimbus Manuf (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  590

  Wales

  ITT Automotive UK Ltd.

  USA

  3,100

  Wales

  Owens Corning Fiberglas (GB) Ltd.

  USA

  800

  Wales

  Lemforder Nacam Ltd.

  Germany

  500

  Wales

  Big Batteries Ltd.

  USA

  1,700

  Wales

  BP Oil Llandarcy Refinery Ltd.

  Belgium

  1,000

  Wales

  Speywood Biopharm Ltd.

  France

  260

  Wales

  Diaplastics (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  1,000

  Wales

  NMC (UK) Ltd.

  Belgium

  120

  Wales

  Ford Motor Co. Ltd.

  USA

  354

  Wales

  Hoya Lens UK Ltd.

  Japan

  1,800

  Wales

  Tap Manuf Ltd.

  Japan

  1,500

  Wales

  Hitachi Home Electronics Europe Ltd.

  Japan

  2,000

  Wales

  1118
  Mrs. Roche
  Comprehensive information on all the financial packages available to inward investors is not held centrally and to provide a detailed list would involve disproportionate costs. However, a list of internationally mobile inward investors in the manufacturing sector whose investment was greater than £1 million and who were offered regional selective assistance, or in Northern Ireland selective financial assistance, and where some payment of grant has been made, is as follows. There will, of course, have been many other inward investment projects in the manufacturing sector which did not receive regional selective assistance.

  Projects may be revised for a variety of reasons and the amount of grant, which is paid in stages against progress on capital investment and jobs, may be varied accordingly. The majority of projects receiving offers over the last three years are still in progress. Details of any changes are commercially confidential unless they involve public announcements of complete closure.
  1119

  Company

  Country of Origin

  Grant Offered (£000)

  Area

  Renner Powder Metallurgy Ltd.

  Germany

  340

  York/Humb

  Polycarb Ltd.

  Israel

  960

  York/Humb

  Short Brothers PLC

  Canada

  5,000

  Northern Ireland

  Short Brothers PLC

  Canada

  1,295

  Northern Ireland

  Delwyn Enterprises Ltd.

  France

  282

  Northern Ireland

  Fujitsu Telecom Europe Ltd.

  Japan

  2,950

  Northern Ireland

  Coca-Cola Brothers (Ulster) Ltd.

  Luxembourg

  400

  Northern Ireland

  Aldiscon (NI) Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  678

  Northern Ireland

  Burnside Hydraulic Cylinders Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  1,033

  Northern Ireland

  Webtech (NI) Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  480

  Northern Ireland

  Europa Tool Co. Ltd.

  South Korea

  3,210

  Northern Ireland

  Baker Hughes Ltd.

  USA

  1,841

  Northern Ireland

  BCO Technologies (NI) Ltd.

  USA

  7,307

  Northern Ireland

  Copeland Ltd.

  USA

  11,111

  Northern Ireland

  Nacco Materials Handling (NI) Ltd.

  USA

  3,300

  Northern Ireland

  Plastofilm Ltd.

  USA

  948

  Northern Ireland

  Regal Processors Ltd.

  USA

  962

  Northern Ireland

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  USA

  10,407

  Northern Ireland

  Stream International (NI) Ltd.

  USA

  5,375

  Northern Ireland

  1996–97

  Wedco Technology UK Ltd.

  USA

  100

  East Midlands

  Organon Laboratories Ltd.

  Netherlands

  2,500

  Scotland

  Chunghwa Picture Tubes (UK) Ltd.

  Taiwan

  55,000

  Scotland

  Alcan Aluminium UK Ltd.

  Canada

  550

  Scotland

  Simple Technology Inc.

  USA

  1,700

  Scotland

  Tenma (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  1,000

  Scotland

  Monsanto PLC

  USA

  1,428

  Scotland

  SCI Holdings Inc.

  USA

  4,800

  Scotland

  Nikon Precision Europe GMBH

  Japan

  250

  Scotland

  Award PLC

  USA

  2,000

  Scotland

  Lite-on Technology (UK) Ltd.

  Taiwan

  5,500

  Scotland

  Smart Modular Technologies

  USA

  3,000

  Scotland

  Roche Products Ltd.

  Switzerland

  6,000

  Scotland

  Instrument Specialties Europe Ltd.

  USA

  600

  Scotland

  ABB Vetco Gray UK Ltd.

  Switzerland

  700

  Scotland

  ABB Wylex Production & Development

  Switzerland

  630

  Scotland

  Polaroid (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  2,000

  Scotland

  IBM UK Ltd.

  USA

  200

  Scotland

  Norton Healthcare Ltd.

  USA

  990

  London

  Dong Jin Precision UK Ltd.

  South Korea

  950

  North East

  Simula Automotive Safety Devices Ltd.

  USA

  890

  North East

  TSL Group PLC

  France

  125

  North East

  Mono Containers Ltd.

  Kuwait

  500

  North East

  Hydro Aluminium Century Ltd.

  Norway

  950

  North East

  Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd.

  USA

  500

  North East

  Elring Klinger GB Ltd.

  Germany

  350

  North East

  Dresser UK Ltd.

  USA

  2,500

  North East

  Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  2,000

  North East

  Bristol-Myers Squibb

  USA

  750

  North West

  Stralfors PLC

  Sweden

  750

  South West

  Toshiba Consumer Products (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  240

  South West

  Harman International Industries Ltd.

  USA

  950

  South West

  Gleason Works Ltd.

  USA

  950

  South West

  Rittal-CSM Ltd.

  Germany

  500

  South West

  Lucas Control Systems Products

  USA

  200

  South West

  Jaguar Cars Ltd.

  USA

  40,000

  West Midlands

  Huf UK Ltd.

  Germany

  150

  West Midlands

  Mann & Hummel (UK) Ltd.

  Germany

  1,700

  West Midlands

  Webasto Holdings Ltd.

  Germany

  500

  West Midlands

  Denso Sales (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  80

  West Midlands

  Ford Motor Co. Ltd.

  USA

  10,000

  Wales

  Newport Waferfab Ltd.

  Hong Kong

  7,000

  Wales

  Northern Automotive Systems Ltd.

  USA

  1,500

  Wales

  JCB Transmissions Ltd.

  Netherlands

  3,150

  Wales

  Halla Euro Enterprise Ltd.

  South Korea

  5,000

  Wales

  Bos Automotive Products UK

  Germany

  500

  Wales

  3M UK PLC

  USA

  1,750

  Wales

  Punch Precision Ltd.

  Belgium

  180

  Wales

  Showa (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  3,000

  Wales

  Kyushu Matshushita Electric (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  1,000

  Wales

  Hoover Ltd.

  Italy

  800

  Wales

  Alberto-Culver Co. (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  600

  Wales

  1120 1121

  Company

  Country of Origin

  Grant Offered (£000)

  Area

  Fiamm UK Ltd.

  Italy

  3,000

  Wales

  Brite Sparks Ltd.

  Switzerland

  850

  Wales

  Walbro Automotive Ltd.

  USA

  850

  Wales

  Sony UK Ltd.

  Japan

  7,000

  Wales

  Aero-Motive (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  400

  Wales

  R-Tek Ltd.

  Japan

  500

  Wales

  Toyo Seal Industrial Co. Ltd.

  Japan

  240

  Wales

  Bertrand Faure Seating Ltd.

  France

  4,500

  Wales

  Align-Rite Ltd.

  USA

  1,680

  Wales

  Viskase UK Ltd.

  USA

  250

  Wales

  Faun Municipal Vehicles Ltd.

  Germany

  950

  Wales

  Sei Interconnect Products (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  450

  Wales

  Bericap UK Ltd.

  Germany

  450

  York/Humb

  Luk (UK) Ltd.

  Germany

  940

  York/Humb

  Koyo Bearings (Europe) Ltd.

  Japan

  900

  York/Humb

  K & L Microwave

  USA

  200

  York/Humb

  Portola Packaging Ltd.

  USA

  900

  York/Humb

  Thrige Scott Ltd.

  Denmark

  460

  Northern Ireland

  Glen Electric Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  1,380

  Northern Ireland

  Irish Fertiliser Industries Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  4,400

  Northern Ireland

  Octopus Sportswear Manufacturing Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  975

  Northern Ireland

  Pharmaflex Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  370

  Northern Ireland

  Colorite Europe Ltd.

  USA

  1,146

  Northern Ireland

  Cynamid of GB Ltd.

  USA

  3,526

  Northern Ireland

  FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd.

  USA

  36,405

  Northern Ireland

  Ford Motor Co. Ltd.

  USA

  4,571

  Northern Ireland

  Gallaher Ltd.

  USA

  9,957

  Northern Ireland

  Liberty Information Technology

  USA

  837

  Northern Ireland

  Moy Park Ltd.

  USA

  8,112

  Northern Ireland

  Seagate Media Technology

  USA

  24,245

  Northern Ireland

  AVX Ltd.

  USA/Japan

  8,000

  Northern Ireland

  1997–98

  Alcan Aluminium UK Ltd.

  Canada

  6,000

  Scotland

  Avex Electronics Ltd.

  USA

  990

  Scotland

  Eaton Shared Services Ltd.

  USA

  900

  Scotland

  Honeywell Control Systems Ltd.

  USA

  250

  Scotland

  Carron Phoenix Ltd.

  Switzerland

  250

  Scotland

  Primaflex Ltd.

  Germany

  300

  Scotland

  Knowsley Plastics Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  600

  Merseyside

  MTK Holdings SA

  Switzerland

  750

  North East

  Vauxhall Motors Ltd.

  USA

  10,000

  North West

  Bott Ltd.

  Germany

  350

  South West

  Rover Group Ltd.

  Germany

  22,500

  West Midlands

  Nordam Europe Ltd.

  USA

  2,350

  Wales

  Alert Packaging Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  210

  Wales

  LG Group Ltd.

  Korea

  69,500

  Wales

  Yajima (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  1,000

  Wales

  Tomoe Tritec Ltd.

  Japan

  600

  Wales

  Friction Dynamics Ltd.

  USA

  1,410

  Wales

  Triten International Ltd.

  USA

  300

  York/Humb

  Sematic UK Ltd.

  Italy

  400

  York/Humb

  Nortel PLC

  Canada

  3,500

  Northern Ireland

  Nortel PLC

  Canada

  600

  Northern Ireland

  Short Brothers PLC

  Canada

  19,507

  Northern Ireland

  Michelin Tyre PLC

  France

  2,500

  Northern Ireland

  Huco Lightronic NI Ltd.

  Germany

  229

  Northern Ireland

  Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  2,803

  Northern Ireland

  Webtech (NI) Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  615

  Northern Ireland

  Humax Electronics Ltd.

  South Korea

  1,226

  Northern Ireland

  Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

  USA

  12,300

  Northern Ireland

  Information Management Resources Ltd.

  USA

  1,944

  Northern Ireland

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  USA

  39,375

  Northern Ireland

  Euro
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking to help companies to redenominate share capital to prepare for the euro. [55989]
  1122
  Mr. Mandelson
  I am very keen to play a full part in helping UK business prepare for the euro. The DTI's consultation "The Euro: Redenomination of Share Capital" showed that companies are starting to consider whether to redenominate their share capital as the euro
  1123
  becomes widely-used in Europe. Existing Companies Act 1985 procedures for the reorganisation of share capital are not specifically designed for redenomination of shares, and can place an unnecessary burden on companies in terms of cost, and the requirement for formal court approval to any reduction in share capital.

  I propose to seek amendments to the Companies Act 1985 to provide a specific mechanism for companies to use in redenominating their share capital. The new mechanism would permit companies to resolve that references in any document to share capital denominated in one currency would be to the equivalent amount in euro (or another currency). A resolution of each class of shareholders would be required (although a resolution of the board would suffice where the company was redenominating into euro during any transitional period to membership of the single currency).

  The new mechanism would also permit companies to adjust the resulting nominal or par values of the shares to a more convenient figure in euro (or other currency), subject to shareholder approval and without the need for court approval. There would be no requirement for companies to issue new share certificates following redenomination.

  The second part of my proposal relates to the requirement in section 118 of the Companies Act 1985 that public companies should have a minimum amount of authorised and issued share capital of £50,000. Currently the Act requires this amount to be denominated in sterling, although companies can and do issue share capital in other currencies, over and above the minimum amount. Companies have told this Department that they favour having the flexibility to denominate the whole of their share capital—including the minimum amount—in a foreign currency; and I propose to seek an amendment to the Companies Act 1985 to allow them to do so.

  In preparing the new legislation the DTI will issue a further consultation document in the new year with the detailed proposals for change.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cabinet Committees
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish an updated list of Ministerial Committees of the Cabinet. [55929]

  The Prime Minister
  An updated list of the names and membership of the Ministerial Committees which I have established to date is as follows. In addition to the members listed, other Members are invited to attend meetings as and when business requires:

  Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs (EA)

  Composition

  Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  1124

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest. The Chief Scientific Adviser attends for issues relating to science and technology.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider issues relating to the Government's economic policies".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Energy Policy (EA(N))

  Composition

  Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Paymaster General, Treasury

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Minister of State, Scottish Office

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office

  Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider the principles and objectives which should underlie the United Kingdom's energy strategy; and make recommendations for an energy strategy to the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Welfare to Work (EA(WW))

  Composition

  Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Paymaster General, Treasury

  Minister of State, Home Office

  Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

  Terms of Reference
  "To develop polices to get people from welfare to work and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs (EA)".
  1125
  Ministerial Committee on Public Services and Public Expenditure (PSX)

  Composition

  Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)

  Lord Chancellor

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Chief Secretary, Treasury Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for matters in which they have a departmental interest.

  Terms of Reference
  "To monitor progress against public service agreements, to review public expenditure allocations and make recommendations to the Cabinet."

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Chair)

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of Transport

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  The Secretary of State for Social Security and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment also receive papers. They and other Ministers are invited to attend as necessary. The Chief Scientific Adviser attends for issues relating to science and technology.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider environmental policies and to co-ordinate those on sustainable development".

  Ministerial Committee on Local Government (GL)

  Composition

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Chair)

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Lord Chancellor

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  1126

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of Transport

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider issues affecting local government, including the annual allocation of resources".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on London (GL(L))

  Composition

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Chair)

  Paymaster General, Treasury

  Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Minister of State, Department of Health

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Culture, Media and Sport

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

  Terms of Reference
  "To co-ordinate the Government's polices on London, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Local Government (GL) and the Ministerial Committee on Devolution Policy (DP)".

  Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs (HS)

  Composition

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Chair)

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Lord Chancellor

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  1127

  Minister of Transport

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  The Attorney-General, the Lord Advocate and the Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms also receive papers. They and others are invited to attend as necessary.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider issues of home and social policy".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Health Strategy (HS(H))

  Composition

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)

  Secretary of State for Health

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Minister of State, Department of Health

  Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Economic Secretary, Treasury

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  The Chief Medical Officer is in attendance.

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

  Terms of Reference
  "To oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the Government's health strategy; to co-ordinate the Government's policies on United Kingdom-wide issues affecting health; and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs (HS)".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Drug Misuse (HS(D))

  Composition

  Minister for the Cabinet Office (Chair)

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Solicitor-General

  Financial Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

  Minister of State, Department of Health

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions also receives papers and may be invited to attend as appropriate.

  1128
  Terms of Reference
  "To co-ordinate the Government's national and international policies for tackling drugs misuse, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs (HS)".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Women's Issues (HS(W)) Composition

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal) (Chair)

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Minister of State, Scottish Office

  Minister of State, Department of Health

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Economic Secretary, Treasury

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Terms of Reference
  "To review and develop the Government's policy and strategy on issues of special concern to women; to oversee their implementation; and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs (HS)".

  Ministerial Committee on The Queen's Speeches and Future Legislation (QFL) Composition

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Lord Chancellor

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed by Lord Privy Seal)

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Attorney-General

  Lord Advocate

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is invited to attend for discussions of The Queen's Speeches

  Terms of Reference
  "To prepare and submit to the Cabinet drafts of The Queen's Speeches to Parliament and proposals for the Government's legislative programme".

  Ministerial Committee on Legislation (LEG)
  Composition

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)

  Lord Chancellor

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  1129

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Attorney-General

  Lord Advocate

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Minister of State, Home Office

  Financial Secretary, Treasury

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland also receives papers and is invited to attend as necessary.

  Terms of Reference
  "To examine all draft Bills; to consider the parliamentary handling of Government Bills, European Community documents and Private Members' business, and such other related matters as may be necessary; and to keep under review the Government's policy in relation to issues of Parliamentary procedures".

  Ministerial Committee on Constitutional Reform Policy (CRP)

  Composition

  Prime Minister (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Lord Chancellor

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Other Ministers may be invited to attend as necessary.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider strategic issues relating to the Government's constitutional reform policies".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Incorporation of the European Convention of Human Rights (CRP(EC))

  Composition

  Lord Chancellor (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  1130

  Attorney-General

  Lord Advocate

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest. The Minister of State, Cabinet Office receives papers.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider policy and other issues arising from the Government's decision to legislate for the incorporation of ECHR in UK law and to promote and oversee progress of the relevant legislation through Parliament and its subsequent implementation, reporting as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Constitutional Reform Policy".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on Freedom of Information (CRP(FOI))

  Composition

  Lord Chancellor (Chair)

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Attorney-General

  Lord Advocate

  Minister of Transport

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider policy and other issues arising from the Government's decision to legislate on freedom of information; to promote and oversee progress of the relevant legislation through Parliament and its subsequent implementation; and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Constitutional Reform Policy".

  Ministerial Sub-committee on House of Lords Reform (CRP(HL))

  Composition

  Lord Chancellor (Chair)

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend as necessary.

  1131
  Terms of Reference
  "To consider policy and other issues arising from the Government's plans for reform of the House of Lords and to make recommendations to the Ministerial Committee on Constitutional Reform Policy".

  Ministerial Committee on Devolution Policy (DP)

  Composition

  Lord Chancellor (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Health

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

  Attorney-General

  Lord Advocate

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited for items in which they have departmental interest.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider policy and other issues arising from the Government's policies for devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the regions of England and to promote and oversee progress of the relevant legislation through Parliament and its subsequent implementation".

  Joint Consultative Committee with the Liberal Democratic Party (JCC)

  Composition
  The Committee will be chaired by the Prime Minister. Other Ministers and Liberal Democratic spokesmen will be invited to attend as necessary.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider policy issues of joint interest to the Government and the Liberal Democratic Party".

  Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy (DOP) Composition

  Prime Minister (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  The Chief of the Defence Staff attends as required, as do the Chiefs of Staff when necessary. Others are invited to attend as necessary.

  1132
  Terms of Reference
  "To keep under review the Government's defence and overseas policy".

  Ministerial Sub-Committee on European Issues ((E)DOP)

  Composition

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Secretary of State for International Development

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Attorney-General

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe

  The Minister of State, Cabinet Office reviews papers

  Other Ministers are invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.

  The United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the European Union is also in attendance.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy (DOP)".

  Ministerial Committee on Northern Ireland (IN)

  Composition

  Prime Minister (Chair)

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Terms of Reference
  "To oversee the Government's policy on Northern Ireland issues and relations with the Republic of Ireland on these matters".

  Ministerial Committee on the Intelligence Services (CSI)

  Composition

  Prime Minister (Chair)

  Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Terms of Reference
  "To keep under review policy on the security and intelligence services".
  1133
  Ministerial Group on Food Safety (MISC 1)

  Composition

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  Minister for the Cabinet Office

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Health

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  The Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip will also receive papers and may attend as necessary.

  Terms of Reference
  "To co-ordinate Departmental consideration of issues arising from the establishment of a Food Standards Agency and other aspects of food safety, and to make recommendations to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs".

  Ministerial Group on Crime Reduction and Youth Justice (MISC 2)

  Composition

  Secretary of State for the Home Department (Chair)

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women (appointed as Lord Privy Seal)

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Solicitor-General

  Minister of State, Home Office

  Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland also receives papers, and may attend or be represented as necessary.

  Terms of Reference
  "To oversee the Government's programme to reduce crime and the reform of youth justice and to make recommendations to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs".

  Ministerial Group on Utility Regulation (MISC 3)

  Composition

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Chair)

  Minister of Transport

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Paymaster General, Treasury

  Minister of State, Scottish Office

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office

  Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

  1134
  Terms of Reference
  "To oversee an inter-departmental review of regulation of the utility industries, to consider issues arising from the review and to report to the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs (EA)".

  Ministerial Group On The Millennium Date Change (MISC 4)

  Composition

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Paymaster General, Treasury

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Minister of State, Home Office

  Minister of State, Scottish Office

  Minister of State, Ministry of Defence

  Minister of State, Department of Health

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

  The Chairman of Action 2000 and the Prime Minister's Adviser on the Year 2000 problem are invited to attend.

  Terms of Reference
  "To drive action in the public and private sector, including the national infrastructure, to prevent damage from the failure of electronic systems related to the Year 2000 date change".

  Ministerial Group on the Restructuring of the European Aerospace and Defence Industry (MISC 5)

  Composition

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Chair)

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Paymaster General

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Terms of Reference
  "To develop Government policy and co-ordinate related activity in promoting the restructuring of the European aerospace and defence industry".

  Ministerial Group on Biotechnology and Genetic Modification (MISC 6)
  Composition

  Minister for the Cabinet Office (Chair)

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Financial Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  1135

  Minister of State, Home Office

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Minister of State, Department of Health

  Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

  The Chief Scientific Adviser also attends.

  Terms of Reference
  "To consider issues relating to biotechnology, in particular those arising from genetic modification".

  Ministerial Group on Better Government (MISC 7)
  Composition

  Minister for the Cabinet Office (Chair)

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment

  Secretary of State for Health

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Chief Secretary, Treasury

  Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department

  Minister of State, Scottish Office

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  Terms of Reference
  "To develop the Government's programme for improving the quality, coherence and responsiveness of public services and to oversee its implementation".

  Intelligence and Security Committee
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to lay the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual report before Parliament. [56233]

  The Prime Minister
  I am grateful to the Intelligence and Security Committee for their valuable work and their latest annual report. Following consultation with them over matters which could not be published without prejudicing the continuing operation of the intelligence and security agencies, I have today laid the report before Parliament. Copies of the report have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Government will respond formally to the report shortly.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will issue a white paper on the constitutional implications of the Government's policy in respect of economic and monetary union. [54868]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have no plans to do so.
  1136

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give his latest assessment of the timescale for the completion of the Holyrood Parliament Building. [55455]

  Mr. Dewar
  We still expect completion of the Holyrood building project by Autumn 2001.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in Strathclyde resulted from the use of Temazepam in each year since 1994 and in 1998 to date. [55160]

  Mr. McLeish
  The information available is given in the table. The figures cover all deaths in the categories listed where temazepam was recorded as being present at the time of death, either alone or in combination with one or more other drugs. Information for 1998 is not yet available.

  Deaths in the former Strathclyde region involving temazepam

  Year

  Number

  1994

  67

  1995

  52

  1996

  33

  1997

  24

  Underlying cause of death categories included (codes refer to the International Classification of Diseases etc., ninth revision (ICD 9)):
  drug dependence (304), nondependent abuse of drugs (305), accidental poisoning (E850-E858), suicidal poisoning (E950-E952) and poisoning undertermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (E980-E982).

  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in Strathclyde resulted from more than one drug including Temazepam in each year since 1992 and in 1998 to date. [55159]

  Mr. McLeish
  The information available is given in the table. The figures cover all deaths in the categories listed where temazepam was recorded as being present at the time of death in combination with one or more other drugs. Improved procedures for recording information about drug-related deaths were introduced in 1994, therefore comparable information is not available for 1992 and 1993. Information for 1998 is not yet available.

  Deaths in the former Strathclyde region involving temazepam in combination with one or more other drugs

  Year

  Number

  1994

  53

  1995

  47

  1996

  31

  1997

  21

  1137
  Underlying cause of death categories included (codes refer to the International Classification of Diseases etc., ninth revision (ICD 9)):
  drug dependence (304), nondependent abuse of drugs (305), accidental poisoning (E850-E858), suicidal poisoning (E950-E952) and poisoning undertermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (E980-E982).

  Heroin
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in Strathclyde resulted from the use of heroin in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998 to date. [55161]

  Mr. McLeish
  In both 1996 and 1997 there were 26 deaths in Strathclyde involving heroin. Information for 1998 is not yet available. The figures cover all deaths in the categories listed where heroin was recorded as being present at the time of death, either alone or in combination with one or more other drugs.

  Underlying cause of death categories included (codes refer to the International Classification of Diseases etc., ninth revision (ICD 9)):
  drug dependence (304), nondependent abuse of drugs (305), accidental poisoning (E850—E858), suicidal poisoning (E950—E952) and poisoning undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (E980—E982).

  Methadone
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in(a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde have resulted from the prescribed use of methadone in each year since 1992 and in 1998 to date. [55214]

  Mr. McLeish
  The information is given in the table. The figures cover all deaths in the categories listed where methadone was recorded as being present at the time of death, either alone or in combination with one or more other drugs. Improved procedures for recording information about drug-related deaths were introduced in 1994, therefore comparable information is not available for 1992 and 1993. Information for 1998 is not yet available. It is not possible to identify separately deaths from drugs which have been prescribed.

  Deaths involving methadone in:

  Year

  Scotland

  The former Strathclyde region

  1994

  55

  27

  1995

  58

  34

  1996

  101

  36

  1997

  87

  26

  Underlying cause of death categories included (codes refer to the International Classification of Diseases etc., ninth revision (ICD 9)):
  drug dependence (304), nondependent abuse of drugs (305), accidental poisoning (E850—E858), suicidal poisoning (E950—E952) and poisoning undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (E980—E982).
  1138

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cytology laboratories in Scotland are sending their cervical smears to other laboratories for interpretation. [55306]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Of the 16 NHS Trusts providing cytology services, three are sending their cervical smears to other laboratories for interpretation. This is primarily due to staff shortages which have now been resolved in two of the laboratories and interpretation of the slides in the laboratories will revert to in-house reading.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will announce the outcome of the annual review of the cold weather payments scheme; and if he will make a statement. [56032]

  Angela Eagle
  Following advice from the Meteorological Office, the annual review of the Cold Weather Payments scheme has now been completed. Amending regulations were laid on 9 October 1998 and will come into force in time for the beginning of the winter period.

  Two of the weather stations used in the scheme last winter have been replaced. The weather station located at Gatwick Airport has now closed and will be replaced by a new one located at Redhill. Waterstein Head, which was introduced into the scheme last winter to represent most of the postcodes on the Isle of Skye, will be replaced by a newly available station located at Lusa which is considered to be more representative. In addition, a number of minor changes have been made to the scheme as a result of postcode changes made by Royal Mail.

  Cold Weather Payments are separate from, and paid in addition to, Winter Fuel Payments which are only paid to pensioners.

  I have written to each of the hon. Members whose constituencies are affected by the changes.

HEALTH

  Accident and Emergency Facilities
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) service and (b) professional disciplines must be available at a 24 hour accident and emergency facility.[55565]

  Mr. Boateng
  Guidance on accident and emergency departments suggests they should be consultant led, with appropriately trained staff and with support and back-up available from appropriate clinical specialties at all times. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  CJD Screening
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the National
  1139
  CJD Surveillance Unit about the screening of appendicectomy and tonsillectomy specimens; and if he will make a statement. [55539]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department has received applications from researchers, including the National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit, for anonymised pilot surveys to assess the prevalence in appendices and tonsils removed during routine surgery of the abnormal prion protein associated with new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. These proposals are now the subject of expert scientific review before we make a final decision on funding.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorist Activities
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) civilians and (b) soldiers have been killed as a result of terrorist activities in Northern Ireland in each month over the last five years. [55506]

  Mr. Ingram
  The tables illustrate the number of deaths of civilians and members of security forces over the last five years as a result of the security situation. They include the tragic death earlier this month of RUC Constable Frankie O'Reilly as a result of events at Drumcree.

  Deaths in 1998 up to 16 October

  RUC

  RUCR

  Army

  RIR

  Civilian

  Total

  January

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  7

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  March

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  May

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  June

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  5

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28

  28

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  October

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Total

  —

  —

  1

  —

  52

  54

  Note:

  All statistics are subject to minor adjustment as further information comes to light.

  Deaths 1997

  RUC

  RUCR

  Army

  RIR

  Civilian

  Total

  January

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  February

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  March

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  May

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  4

  June

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  4

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  October

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Total

  3

  1

  1

  —

  17

  22

  1140

  Deaths 1996

  RUC

  RUCR

  Army

  RIR

  Civilian

  Total

  January

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  March

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  May

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  June

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  October

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  —

  1

  —

  14

  15

  Deaths 1995

  RUC

  RUCR

  Army

  RIR

  Civilian

  Total

  January

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  March

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  May

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  June

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  October

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Total

  1

  —

  —

  —

  8

  9

  Deaths 1994

  RUC

  RUCR

  Army

  RIR

  Civilian

  Total

  January

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  February

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  5

  March

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  April

  1

  —

  —

  —

  13

  14

  May

  —

  —

  1

  1

  9

  11

  June

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  11

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  7

  August

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6

  7

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  October

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Total

  3

  —

  1

  2

  56

  62

  RUC—Royal Ulster Constabulary

  RUCR—Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve

  RIR—Royal Irish Regiment

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the number of violent deaths in each month in 1998 in each police division in Northern Ireland attributed to each terrorist organisation in Northern Ireland, indicating the cause of death and whether the victims were army, police or civilian. [53765]

  Mr. Ingram
  Up to 20 October, there have been 54 deaths in Northern Ireland as a direct result of the security situation. Of the 54 deaths, 38 have been
  1141
  attributed to Republicans and the remaining 16 to Loyalists. Twenty-nine of these deaths occurred following the horrific bomb explosion in Omagh. Nineteen were the

  Police Division

  A

  B

  D

  E

  G

  H

  J

  K

  L

  N

  0

  P

  January

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  4

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  February

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  March

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  April

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  May

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  June

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  July

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  August

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28

  —

  —

  —

  September

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  October

  RUC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Civ

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  6

  3

  3

  1

  0

  4

  3

  0

  29

  1

  1

  3

  Proscribed Organisations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been convicted of membership of a proscribed organisation in each of the

  Number of people found guilty of membership of, or belonging to a proscribed organisation

  Sentence

  Length of sentence

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Imprisonment

  5 years and under

  12

  13

  4

  2

  6 to 10 years

  10

  6

  2

  2

  Imprisonment (suspended)

  less than 1 year

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 year

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2 years

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3 years

  0

  1

  0

  0

  greater than 3 years

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1142
  the result of fatal gun attacks and 6 were due to other causes,
  for example the deaths of the 3 Quinn children in
  Ballymoney.

  last five years; and what was the punishment received in each case. [55499]

  Mr. Ingram
  A total of 59 persons have been convicted of membership of a proscribed organisation since 1994 as set out in the table:
  1143

  Number of people found guilty of membership of or belonging to a proscribed organisation

  Sentence

  Length of sentence

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Detained Young Offender's Centre

  less than 1 year

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 year

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2 years

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3 years

  0

  1

  0

  0

  4 years

  0

  1

  0

  0

  greater than 4 years

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Detained Young Offender's Centre (suspended)

  less than 1 year

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 year

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2 years

  0

  3

  0

  0

  greater than 2 years

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total found guilty

  22

  26

  6

  4

  For 1998, the figures are available only up to 31 March. During the period 1 January to 31 March, one person was found guilty of membership of a proscribed organisation and was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of "five years and under".

  Direct Action Against Drugs
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice she has received from the Chief Constable of the RUC on talks between Direct Action Against Drugs and the PIRA. [55143]

  Mr. Ingram
  None. As it is the firm belief of the security forces that Direct Action Against Drugs and the Provisional IRA are the same organisation, it is unlikely that discussions as suggested by the hon. Member's question would have taken place.

  1996

  1997

  Type of Fishery

  Number of Salmon

  Weight (kg)

  Number of Salmon

  Weight (kg)

  Drift Net

  19,958

  56,047

  31,407

  90,453

  Draft Net

  10,586

  27,118

  12,556

  33,069

  Rod

  1,444

  3,951

  1,020

  2,658

  Total

  31,988

  87,116

  44,983

  126,180

  Fraud
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of possible fraud have been identified in agencies of the DOE (NI) since 1995; and what steps were taken to investigate them. [55575]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Department of the Environment's response is set out as follows:

  Rate Collection Agency(figures are only available for period 1 October 1997–9 October 1998)
  40 cases involving fraudulent claims by members of the public; 10 cases referred to Fraud and Prosecution Branch, DHSS, for further investigation, the remaining 30 were resolved internally by RCA and action taken to stop the fraudulent claims

  Driver Vehicle Testing Agency
  1 case involving the removal of cash from a till in 1997; case proven—further action pending.
  1144

  Salmon
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each of the Foyle Fisheries Commission areas and the Fisheries Conservancy Board area the number and total weight of(a) salmon and (b) grilse taken by (i) angling and (ii) commercial nets in (1) drift and (2) estuary nets for each of the last five years and for 1985, 1980 and 1975 or as much of such information as is readily available; and if he will provide the same information for fish classed (x) 1 sea winter, (y) 2 sea winter and (z) 3 sea winter fish. [55570]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Such information as is available is contained in the Annual Reports for the Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The Reports of the Foyle Fisheries Commission for 1996 and 1997 are not yet in the Library and the information available is as follows:

  Road Service

  1995

  Materials stolen from store (£3,000); Police notified, but no action taken. Final formal written warning issued; Employee demoted. Materials recovered.

  1996

  One fraudulent claim for travelling subsistence i.r.o days on which employee failed to attend college; Employee suspended from duty and subsequently dismissed. All monies repaid (£1,700).

  One case of theft of materials from store at Castlenavan Quarry; Police notified; Storeman interviewed and admitted theft; employee suspended but since reinstated in another capacity. Police investigated possible collusion with external supplier, but decided on no further action.

  One case of theft of fee (£2) accompanying application for Orange Badge; Employee suspended from duty. Police notified; Employee successfully prosecuted and dismissed from Civil Service.

  1145

  1997

  One case of failure to produce proceeds (£20) from sale of scrap materials; Police not notified; Employees issued with 'Final Formal Warnings' and required to make restitution.

  Environment and Heritage Service (wef 1 April 1996)
  suspend fraud case involving the misappropriation of grant-aid. Referred to RUC for investigation but no evidence of fraud or deception. The case is still ongoing.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing NI
  >3 suspected cases of fraud-1 proven case of theft from petty cash and member of staff dismissed; 2 cases of suspected fraud still under investigation.

  Construction Service (wef 1 April 1996)
  1 case of suspected patronage of contractor—Internal Audit investigation still ongoing.

  Water Service (wef 1 April 1996)
  Since 1996 the Water Service has undertaken 9 investigations of suspected fraud. The police were involved in 5 of these investigations. Of the 9 investigations carried out fraudulent activity was confirmed in 2—prosecution has taken place in one case and is currently being considered in the case of another—there cases relate to fraudulent activity by Water Service suppliers. The remaining 7 investigations did not find evidence of fraud.
  Four new allegations of fraudulent activity involving staff are currently being investigated.

  Prior Options Study
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the outcome of the prior options study on the superannuating functions in Northern Ireland departments. [56147]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  After consideration of the options for the future delivery of the superannuation functions of Departments of Finance and Personnel, Health and Social Services and Education, I have concluded that, in this case, the Government's aim to achieve best value in public services would be achieved most cost effectively by the application of the management disciplines associated with agencies to the current arrangements, allied to adherence to rigorous targets and benchmarking against best practice in other public and private sector organisations. This solution will contribute to any additional arrangements which the New Northern Ireland Assembly might wish to introduce.

  Government Purchasing Agency
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets were set for the Government Purchasing Agency in 1997–98; what further plans have been prepared by the Agency; and what arrangements have been made for publication for this year's plans. [56148]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  As an Executive Agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Government Purchasing Agency provides a professional procurement service to all six Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Office and an increasing number of other public sector bodies.
  1146
  The following key performance targets were set for the Agency in 1997–98:

  To break even in the 1998–99 financial year by balancing Agency income and operating costs.

  To achieve a 6% rate of return on capital employed.

  To increase the number of Agency customers by 10‥.

  To increase the volume of customer business by 10‥.

  To achieve a 70‥ level of satisfaction in the 1997–98 Agency survey of customer organisations.

  To achieve a 70‥ level of satisfaction in the 1997–98 Agency survey of suppliers.

  To increase the ratio of outputs to inputs by 3‥ from the 1996–97 outturn.

  The agency has published its Corporate Plan 1997–2000 and Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The following key performance targets were set for the Agency in 1998–99:

  To break even in the 1998–99 financial year by balancing Agency income and operating costs.

  To achieve a 6‥ rate of return on capital employed.

  To increase the number of Agency customers by 10‥.

  To increase the volume of customer business by 10‥.

  To achieve a 80‥ level of satisfaction in the 1998–99 Agency survey of customer organisations.

  To achieve a 80‥ level of satisfaction in the 1998–99 Agency survey of suppliers.

  To increase the ratio of outputs to inputs by—from the 1997–98 outturn.

  Background information is given in the Agency's Corporation and Business Plans 1998–2001, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Presidential Visit
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the sums expended by Her Majesty's Government in respect of(a) the RUC, (b) the Army, (c) the RAF and (d) the other public bodies in respect of the recent visit by President Clinton. [55496]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The sums expended in relation to the visit of President Clinton were(a) RUC £1,300,000,
  (b) Army and RAF approximately £78,000 and
  (c) approximately £195,000 by other public bodies.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Independent Schools (Nurseries)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the independent schools registered with his Department which admit children of three years old and under have been visited by local social services departments following the invitation of the Registrar of Independent Schools in the last 12 months. [55627]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  One independent school admitting children of three years old and under has been visited by a local Social Services Department following the invitation of the Registrar of Independent Schools in the last 12 months.
  1147
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which local social services departments have recommended action to the Registrar of Independent Schools in respect of nurseries attached to independent schools in their area. [55626]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not maintain statistics in the form requested. All information received from Social Services Departments about nursery provision at independent schools is passed to Ofsted's HMI who inspect such schools. Where weaknesses are found in that nursery provision, the Department takes action with the school to ensure that they are remedied.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many independent schools registered with his Department admit children younger than(a) three and (b) two years old. [55628]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  There are currently 2,261 independent schools registered in England. 921 admit children under three years old and 161 admit children under two years old.

  Grammar School Ballots
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations his Department has received about the draft Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations; and when he will lay revised regulations before the House. [56031]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  A total of 322 responses were received in the Department about the draft regulations which were sent out for consultation on 3 June 1998. Copies of these have been placed in the Library. We have today laid revised draft regulations before the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cyprus
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what consultations he has held with EU foreign Ministers over the ban imposed by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on meetings between members of both Cypriot communities on the island; [52383]

  (2) what steps he is taking to encourage the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community to remove his ban on meetings between members of both Cypriot communities on the island; [52388]

  (3) what consultations he has held with Turkey and Greece, as co-guarantor powers, over the ban imposed by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on meetings between members of both Cypriot communities on the island. [52389]

  Ms Quin
  [pursuant to the reply, 27 July 1998, c. 45]: Due to an administrative error only the first paragraph of the answer was published. The full answer is as follows.

  We have made clear to Mr. Denktash on numerous occasions that we greatly regret the current suspension on Turkish Cypriot participation in bicommunal activities on Cyprus, and have urged him to lift the current suspension. Bicommunal activities make a valuable contribution to building a foundation of understanding
  1148
  between the two Cypriot communities, which will be essential for the success of a political settlement on the island.

  To encourage this process, the UK was involved in securing the inclusion of UN Security Council Resolution 1178 (1998) of 29 June of an expression of regret for the suspension of bicommunal activities by the Turkish Cypriot leadership and a call to both sides, in particular the Turkish Cypriot side, to facilitate arrangements within which bicommunal contacts can take place uninterrupted and without formalities.

  Our interest in the promotion of bicommunal contacts includes those held outside Cyprus. Sir David Hannay met Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen of the Brussels Group during his recent visit to Cyprus (20–22 July). He expressed our appreciation and encouragement of the Group's continuing activity.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with his EU partners on all aspects of the EU's relation with Cyprus. 5 mecu of EU funds is available to Cyprus for bicommunal projects. A further 12 mecu is available for projects which would support progress towards a political settlement.

  We use every suitable opportunity to impress upon Greece and Turkey the importance of encouraging Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to work towards a lasting political settlement through the good offices of the United Nations Secretary-General.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) permanent and (b) temporary posts there are and how many temporary Home Office Immigration Service personnel have been employed at the entry clearance posts in (i) Delhi, (ii) Bombay, (iii) Islamabad (iv) Karachi and (v) Dhaka in (1) May, (2) June and (3) July. [55237]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The information is in the table.

  Delhi

  Bombay

  Islamabad

  Dhaka

  Permanent immigration entry clearance posts

  15

  12

  33.5

  15

  Temporary posts

  May 1998

  7

  8

  5

  0

  June 1998

  6

  7

  8

  0

  July 1998

  5

  3

  7

  0

  Temporary home office staff employed for summer relief

  May 1998

  5

  5

  5

  0

  June 1998

  5

  5

  8

  0

  July 1998

  4

  3

  7

  0

  Home office staff on full postings to permanent posts

  May-July 1998

  7

  6

  17

  6

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on licensing arms exports to Slovenia. [56146]
  1149
  Ms Quin
  We, along with EU partners, have decided, taking into account the well-entrenched democracy in Slovenia and her stable political and economic structures, to remove Slovenia from the EU Common Position on arms exports to the former Yugoslavia. Applications for licenses to export military equipment will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, how the criteria for defence exports are used to assess applications for licence to export arms or goods subject to control for strategic reasons, for the purpose of demonstration, trial, testing or evaluation. [56232]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Licence applications to export goods and technology controlled under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (the 'Military List'), or dual use goods when there are grounds for believing that the end-user of such goods will be the armed forces or internal security forces of the recipient country, are examined on a case-by-case basis against the published defence exports criteria and the EU Code of Conduct.

  When the application is for demonstration, trial, testing or evaluation purposes, attention is paid to the level of control exercised by the exporter and whether the export will be temporary in arriving at a judgment as to whether the equipment might be used for internal repression, international aggression, diverted to an undesirable end-user or otherwise contravene the criteria.

  If a decision is taken to issue such a licence, this in no way fetters our discretion in considering future applications for the export of equipment of the type demonstrated or evaluated. Such applications will be treated on their merits against the prevailing circumstances at that time.

  In some cases, licensees will be informed that, on the information available at that time, a licence would not normally be granted for the permanent export of the same or a greater quantity of the goods concerned to the same end-user, irrespective of the purpose of the intended export.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Alcopops
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the new code of practice on the sale of alcopops; and what measures are in place to continue to monitor the industry's marketing of alcopops. [55184]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We are currently considering the progress made and expect to announce our conclusions in November.
  1150

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made with the proposed freedom of information legislation. [54734]

  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for freedom of information legislation. [54719]

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with the freedom of information legislation. [54714]

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to promote open Government. [54738]

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to introduce legislation on freedom of information. [54721]

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made with his Department's open Government initiatives. [54739]

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to bring forward legislation for a Freedom of Information Act. [54724]

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's current timetable for implementation of freedom of information legislation. [54717]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government are committed to the introduction of a Freedom of Information Act as part of their programme for constitutional reform, which aims to modernise British politics and bring Government closer to the people.

  We published our proposals for a Freedom of Information Act in a White Paper "Your Right to Know" in December 1997. We made a commitment in that White Paper to publish a draft Bill for consultation. Work is well in hand on this and it will be published early in the new year.

  Following consultation on the draft Bill and pre-legislative scrutiny by the Select Committee on Public Administration, I intend to introduce the Bill to Parliament as soon as the legislative programme allows.

  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on plans to introduce a Bill to establish freedom of information. [54736]

  Mr. Straw
  In the period 1 August-9 October, I received 281 representations about the Government's plans for a Freedom of Information Bill. These were generally supportive of our plans, but the majority sought further information about the timetable for the Bill. I have also met my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) to discuss our plans and intend to discuss them further with other interested parties and individuals over the coming weeks.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how the proposed freedom of information legislation will apply to the Scottish Parliament. [54727]
  1151
  Mr. Straw
  It will be for the Scottish Parliament to determine the approach of the Scottish Executive and other public bodies to openness and freedom of information within areas of devolved competence. Reserved matters would be subject to the proposed United Kingdom Freedom of Information Act.

  Policy Co-ordination
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to make the procedures relating to inter-departmental communication on policy development more transparent. [54726]

  Mr. Straw
  I intend to introduce a Freedom of Information Act which will apply to information held by public authorities. Information on the policy development process will be covered by the Act but, as the White Paper "Your Right to Know" made clear, this information could be withheld if disclosure would cause harm to the decision-making and policy advice processes. The Act will also exclude certain information.

CABINET OFFICE

  Information Technology
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in achieving the strategic direction of information technology in the Government's service. [54733]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Our developing Information Technology strategy is an important enabler for our Better Government programme.

  The Government Secure Intranet (GSI) launched earlier in the year, is growing rapidly and enabling Government Departments to communicate electronically with each other.

  Currently 12 Departments are connected and we intend that all major departments will be connected over the next year.

  Ministerial Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to ensure that all Ministers reply to letters from hon. Members within a specific time scale. [54735]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government attach the greatest importance to the effective handling of correspondence. Challenging targets are set for replying to letters from hon. Members and performance against target is continuously monitored. Departments have recently been reminded of the importance of replying promptly to letters from hon. Members and the Cabinet Office will issue guidance later this month reminding Departments of the correct procedures to be followed when handling ministerial correspondence.

  Better Regulation Initiative
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals he has to extend the better regulation initiative. [54737]
  1152
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  As part of the Better Regulation Initiative I am determined to extend good practice at all stages of regulatory work. In August we published new guidance to help Departments to apply the Better Regulation Task Force's principles of good regulation.

  This means that no regulatory proposal which has an impact on businesses, charities and voluntary bodies should be considered by the Government without a thorough assessment of the risks, costs and benefits, a clear analysis of who will be affected and an explanation of why a non-regulatory approach would be insufficient. The Guide replaces the previous Administration's range of guidance on Deregulation, Compliance Cost Assessment and Risk Assessment with a single document.

  The publication of the Guide also heralds the introduction of a more comprehensive system of regulatory reporting to meet the Government's manifesto commitment to monitor the regulatory activity. Every Department is required to publish an account (in the Departmental Report) of their regulatory activity with examples of how they have improved the quality and effectiveness of regulation through the application of the Task Force's principles.

  European Directives
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to co-ordinate Government policy relating to European directives. [54708]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) earlier today,Official Report, column 1264.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Meat (Sulphonamides)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughtered farm animals in each year since 1990 had sulphonamides present above the maximum permitted levels. [54665]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is responsible for a large scale random sampling surveillance programme for residues of veterinary medicines in meat. Under the National Surveillance Scheme samples which reflect the supply profile of red meat to the consumer are taken at randomly selected slaughterhouses and on-farm.

  The presence of sulphonamides in cattle, sheep and pigs is specifically monitored using a multi-residue method.
  1153
  Directive 86/469/EEC, which until the end of 1997 prescribed the number of samples tested for each substance, required a greater proportion of pigs to be

  Year

  Cattle

  Greater than MRL

  Sheep

  Greater than MRL

  Pig

  Greater than MRL

  ℅ pigs greater than MRL

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1,210

  61

  5.04

  1991

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1,207

  46

  3.81

  1992

  38

  0

  68

  0

  867

  26

  3.00

  1993

  103

  0

  98

  0

  1,193

  19

  1.59

  1994

  111

  1

  139

  0

  1,214

  23

  1.90

  1995

  109

  0

  126

  0

  1,210

  16

  1.32

  1996

  89

  0

  93

  0

  1,107

  18

  1.62

  1997

  77

  1

  80

  0

  1,135

  17

  1.50

  In addition, the microbiological assay (FPT) which is used for the wider surveillance of antimicrobial compounds will identify the presence of sulphonamides in cattle, sheep and pigs where concentrations are well in excess of the permitted levels. The results from this survey are:

  Sulphonamides FPT 1991 to 1997—Great Britain

  Year

  Samples

  Greater than MRL

  1990

  0

  0

  1991

  34,081

  164

  1992

  37,186

  149

  1993

  35,590

  19

  1994

  34,037

  210

  1995

  33,931

  36

  1996

  31,619

  16

  1997

  32,444

  15

  1Pigs

  2(8 pig, 1 cow, 1 goat)

  3(5 pig, 1 cow)

  BSE
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his projections for BSE cases in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland for (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000, (iv) 2001, (v) 2002 and (vi) 2003. [55494]

  Mr. Rooker
  Predictions of the number of BSE cases in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for 1998, 1999 and 2000 are set out. They are derived from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's computer model of the epidemic together with additional data provided by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. The model predicts that the epidemic will continue to decline, a finding that is in agreement with published and unpublished findings of Professor Anderson's group at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, University of Oxford.

  Year

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  1998

  2,685–2,891

  20

  1999

  1,223–1,741

  12

  2000

  451–784

  6

  1154
  tested for sulphonamides because they are more often used in the treatment of pigs compared to cattle or sheep. The results are as follows:

  Because the computer model uses data for Great Britain as a whole, it cannot provide separate predictions for England, Scotland and Wales. Supplementary estimates have therefore been made based on the proportional distribution of BSE cases in the three countries in 1997. These are less precise than the national predictions because they do not take into account movements of cattle from one part of Great Britain to another or different rates of decline in the number of BSE cases from region to region.

  Year

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  1998

  2,402–2,586

  84–91

  199–204

  1999

  1,094–1,557

  38–55

  91–129

  2000

  403–701

  14–25

  33–58

  It is not possible to provide estimates with any precision for the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 because by this time there will be random, unpredictable effects, particularly arising from cases occurring with long incubation periods.

  The VLA predictions represent 95 per cent. confidence intervals around a central estimate. It is inevitable that future predictions contain elements of uncertainty particularly when historical exposure levels to the BSE agent are not known. Nevertheless, based on information currently available, it is expected that the observed number of confirmed BSE cases for 1998 will prove to be close to the upper end of the predicted range provided above.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for(a) each EU country (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland and (e) Northern Ireland the number of BSE cases recorded in each of the last three years for which figures are readily available and the figures for this year to the latest available date, indicating for each of the United Kingdom countries the figures for each month of the current year to 30 September. [55495]
  1155
  Mr. Rooker
  Figures for confirmed BSE cases in other EU countries for 1995, 1996, 1997 and to the end of September 1998, supplied to us by the Commission, are given in the following table:

  EU country

  1995

  1996

  1997

  11998

  Belgium

  —

  —

  1

  4

  France

  3

  12

  6

  10

  Germany2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Netherlands

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Portugal

  14

  29

  20

  60

  Republic of Ireland

  16

  73

  77

  46

  1to 30 September 1998

  2Germany has report no homebred cases of BSE

  Equivalent figures for each of the UK countries by year and for 1998 by month, of confirmation are as detailed.
  1156

  Year of confirmation

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  N. Ireland

  Total

  1995

  13,227

  1,474

  750

  170

  15,621

  1996

  7,691

  703

  346

  82

  8,822

  1997

  4,308

  374

  165

  28

  4,875

  January to September 1998

  2,272

  186

  74

  12

  2,544

  Month of confirmation

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  N. Ireland

  Total

  January 1998

  281

  18

  13

  1

  313

  February 1998

  422

  38

  15

  2

  477

  March 1998

  319

  31

  8

  0

  358

  April 1998

  248

  17

  2

  1

  268

  May 1998

  216

  14

  9

  0

  239

  June 1998

  328

  28

  10

  1

  367

  July 1998

  164

  13

  4

  0

  181

  August 1998

  101

  12

  6

  4

  123

  September 1998

  193

  15

  7

  3

  218

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