Written Answers of 14 April 1999

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  ILO/WTO
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to support the creation of a joint working party between the ILO and WTO to examine relevant issues. [79110]

  Clare Short
  The Government are working for the world-wide observance of core labour standards for all workers. We believe that the right way to do this is through the ILO and that the recent ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work presents a key opportunity for progress. Developing countries—who make up nearly three quarters of WTO members—are opposed to the formal introduction of labour issues to the WTO agenda. They are concerned that labour standards would be used for protectionist trade purposes. We do not therefore believe the creation of a joint working party between the ILO and WTO to discuss labour issues is the right way forward, but we do support more systematic reporting between the two secretariats.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what Her Majesty's Government's plans are for humanitarian relief in Sierra Leone. [79111]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We have been leading the international effort to provide humanitarian relief and improve the security situation in Sierra Leone.

  We are co-ordinating closely with the EC, other donors and the UN to maximise effectiveness and encourage the burden sharing.

  We are also restarting longer term development programmes such as demobilisation of fighters, support to the reform of the police force and security forces, support for independent media and the peace process.

  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid given to the Government of Sierra Leone in the past two years. [79116]

  Clare Short
  We provided £10.5 million in 1996–97 financial year, £3.4 million in 1997–98 financial year and £9.7 million in 1998–99.

  We have provided humanitarian assistance and support for demobilisation, reform of the judiciary and legal systems, the independent media, and reform of the police and security force.

  Balkan Refugees
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the assistance her Department is providing for refugees in the Balkans. [79112]

  Clare Short
  We have been one of the largest and most active donors in helping improve the provision of humanitarian relief to the refugees from Kosovo. We have supported NATO in erecting camps, international agencies in bringing people and resources to the region—so far we have provided 23 flights and we have teams working in Tirana airport and supporting the Albanian Government. We are now preparing for the hand-over of camps to UNHCR and the NGOs and are helping establish two refugee centres in Albania.

  Our greatest concern is the situation of displaced people in Kosovo. We are considering all possibilities of providing support but no option is easy—in the face of deliberate Serbian repression. Milosevic will have to answer for this to the International Criminal Tribunal.

  Education
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the IMF and World bank representatives about reforming policies and programmes to protect access to basic education. [79114]

  Clare Short
  We made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the implementation of the international development targets which include universal primary education by 2015. We have worked consistently to encourage the World Bank and IMF to incorporate the targets in their programmes.

  In recent discussions with the Managing Director of the IMF and the President of the World Bank, I have underlined the importance of protecting spending on health, and education for the poor.

  Aid Conditions
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the linkage of good government criteria to the provision of aid by her Department. [79117]

  Clare Short
  As the White Paper on International Development makes clear, good governance is essential to the economic and social policies which are necessary to the reduction of poverty. Our country strategies—20 of which have been published so far—apply this to all our programmes.

  Caribbean
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the need for development aid in the Caribbean if the banana crop in that region is priced out of international markets; and if she will make a statement. [79118]

  Clare Short
  Substantial amounts of development assistance are already being made available through the European Commission to improve the competitiveness of the Caribbean banana producers and to support economic diversification programmes for those high cost growers
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  who are having to leave the industry. We are urgently examining, in consultation with the Caribbean, the implications of the recent WTO rulings. We believe the WTO ruling is compatible with new arrangements that will provide the Caribbean banana industry with viable access to international markets.

  EU Development Aid
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on EU development aid policy. [79119]

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU in connection with third world aid. [79120]

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards improving the management of EU development aid; and if she will make a statement. [79121]

  Clare Short
  Our contributions to the EC's external assistance programmes absorb approximately 30 per cent. of the Department for International Development's budget.

  In December 1998 we published our 18 point strategy to improve EC development spending. This reflects our concern that EC aid spending is both skewed against the poorest countries and often of poor quality. Our strategy includes a proposal for the agreement of a coherent overarching statement of EU development policy.

  We are pursuing vigorously our strategy with the Commission and with other EC member states. I agreed a Joint Declaration on improving the EC's contribution to international development with my French and German opposite numbers in February. I expect to discuss specific measures for improving the quality of the EC's development spending at the EU Development Council in May, in the context of the follow-up to recently completed evaluations of the EC's development programmes.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the resignation of the Commissioners of the European Union on the co-ordination of British development aid with that of the EU. [79113]

  Clare Short
  The events surrounding the resignation of the Commission provide a major opportunity to reform the EC's external assistance programmes. We need an overhaul of approval, auditing and financial management systems, and more accountability. We also need to avoid sanctioning EC programmes or budget levels which cannot be effectively managed. Strengthening co-ordination is a priority of the German EU Presidency and we will support all sensible proposals at the EU Development Council next month.

  Inter-American Development Bank
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the extent which the work of the Inter-American Development bank is focused on the relief of poverty. [79122]
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  Clare Short
  Since May 1997, we have been working to increase the poverty focus of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The Bank recognises that poverty remains a persistent problem in Latin America, which is the most unequal region in the world. In February, I co-chaired with IDB's President Iglesias a seminar which took as its starting point the Bank's recent Report entitled "Facing up to Inequality in Latin America". We welcome this as a contribution to raising awareness.

  In 1997, the IDB adopted a poverty reduction strategy that charts a broad course for attacking poverty in the region. This calls for the promotion of sustainable and labour-intensive economic growth, investments in human capital and special efforts to reach those groups which are unlikely to benefit from economic growth. Recognising that poverty in the region is principally a rural phenomenon, the Bank adopted a rural poverty reduction strategy in 1998 which emphasises the need to develop national rural poverty reduction strategies, and calls for activities that stimulate participation of beneficiaries including access to land and credit for farmers with productive potential, and non-agricultural employment in micro-enterprises for other rural inhabitants.

  During 1998, the Bank approved $3.3 billion for social sector and poverty reduction projects, which represented about 46 per cent. of the year's lending (the highest level ever achieved by the Bank) or 53 per cent. of the total number of projects approved. We believe that the Bank has made a good effort, but that more could be done, particularly on the link between poverty and ethnicity. We are also urging the Bank to commit itself to the International Development Goals on the elimination of poverty.

  Micro-Credit Scheme
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department plans to give to the development of the world micro-credit scheme. [79123]

  Clare Short
  We are constantly expanding its support for microfinance institutions targeting some of the world's poorest communities who have no access to formal financial services. Our current commitments for ongoing and planned project activities in this sector amount to £75 million.

  India
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her recent visit to India. [79124]

  Clare Short
  I visited India from 22 to 27 March. India is of critical importance in achieving international targets for poverty elimination since 1 in 3 of the poor of the world live there. I agreed with the Indian Government a new country strategy which will soon be published and will focus DFID assistance in a few states which are committed to implementing essential reforms for poverty elimination. These include Orissa and Andhra Pradesh which I visited to discuss how to strengthen our development partnerships with them.
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  The visit reinforced my view that India has the potential to make much more rapid progress in eliminating poverty. I confirmed Britain's commitment to support Indian partners who share that objective.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid to Zimbabwe. [79125]

  Clare Short
  Our Country Strategy Paper for Zimbabwe will be published shortly. The strategy will focus on reducing poverty in Zimbabwe which is increasing because of economic mismanagement and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Copies of the Zimbabwe paper, like all our country strategies, will be placed in the Library of the House.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future of the UK's involvement in UNESCO. [79126]

  Clare Short
  We are playing an active role in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). My Department is working to encourage UNESCO to contribute to the international goals for poverty eradication. The Government have published proposals for the design and establishment of a UK Commission for UNESCO.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her policy in respect of the current WTO regime as it affects developing countries. [79127]

  Clare Short
  The WTO provides a forum for all countries to participate in a global trading system which is rules based and which operates in an open and transparent way. All decisions are taken by consensus. This is particularly important for developing countries, who are sometimes at a disadvantage in negotiations with the developed world. My Department is working to strengthen the capacity of developing countries so that they can participate effectively in the existing system and in future negotiations. A copy of a recent speech in which I outlined our thinking on developing countries and the WTO will be sent to the hon. Gentleman. I will also place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Education (Females)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to link development aid to the provision of education to girls and women. [79128]

  Clare Short
  We made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the international goals of universal primary education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary education by 2005.
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  In our bilateral programme we are supporting Governments that give priority to the education of girls and women. We have committed over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda.

  We are also working in the multilateral agencies to increase the commitment to girls' and women's education.

  These and new programmes being developed reflect strong international evidence that investment in the education of girls is the single most effective way to reduce poverty.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's assessment of the amount of debt cancellation for indebted poor countries that is required in order for the Government to meet their poverty reduction targets for 2015. [79129]

  Clare Short
  It is impossible to calculate an amount of debt relief needed to meet the International Poverty eradication targets. The reduction of debt for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs), with good policy performance and a commitment to reduce poverty, does however have a crucial part to play in the achievement of the international development goals. A review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative is currently underway, and we are pressing for a link between debt relief and poverty reduction. In particular, the review needs to assess whether the amount and timing of the debt relief being provided is freeing up sufficient resources to allow governments to tackle poverty effectively. This has to be done on a country-by-country basis.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if it is her policy to maintain the current balance of expenditure on(a) direct bilateral aid, (b) aid in the EU, (c) contributions to United Nations agencies and (d)aid for voluntary organisations. [79130]

  Clare Short
  In our 1999 Departmental Report we published detailed current and planned figures for all areas of development assistance. Actual expenditure will and should vary reflecting changes, for example, in a country's commitment to poverty reduction.

  A copy of the 1999 Departmental Report is available in the Library of this House.

  Security Sector Reform
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support security sector reform in developing countries. [79131]

  Clare Short
  On 9 March, I announced my Department's new plans to help developing countries reform their security sectors. The security sector consists of those who are responsible, or should be responsible, for protecting the state and communities within the state. Included in the security sector are military, paramilitary
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  and intelligence services, as well as those civilian structures responsible for oversight and control of the security forces.

  All countries have legitimate security needs. But a major obstacle to making progress in development and reducing poverty in many countries is the existence of bloated, secretive, repressive, undemocratic and badly structured security sectors. Reforming the security sector is therefore a priority. Eliminating violence and reducing insecurity is a precondition for development.

  I outlined seven priority areas for future action which focus on the issues of good governance, conflict prevention, human rights promotion and post-conflict reconstruction. The priority areas are:
  to integrate a security sector reform perspective into country aid programmes, and into the thinking of other donors and multilateral development institutions
  to secure partnership programmes with the United Nations and with regional organisations who wish to co-operate with us on conflict and security issues
  to expand the provision of human rights training for members of the military
  to work internationally to reduce the number of children involved in wars
  to reduce the proliferation of small arms and light weapons
  to discourage excessive and inappropriate military expenditure
  to help to build up the peacekeeping and peace support capacity of developing countries.

  Within these priority areas, we plan to provide assistance to strengthen the democratic accountability and transparency of the security sector and facilitate the transition to peace; and second, to strengthen capacities of the uniformed security services, for example through training in conflict prevention and reduction. In doing this, we will work in co-operation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, but it is essential that authorities in developing countries both want our help and are committed to strengthening their effective control over their security sectors.

  A copy of my speech and of our "Policy Statement on Poverty and the Security Sector" is available in the Library of the House.

  Primary Education
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to achieve the target of universal primary education by 2015. [79132]

  Clare Short
  One of my key international poverty eradication targets is to secure primary education for all children in the world by 2015. Education is therefore of crucial importance in the work of my Department. We are working in the multilateral system to increase its commitment to the 2015 target. In the Government's first year in office (1997–98), we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent major commitments have been made of over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda. These and new programmes being developed reflect a major contribution 238
  to the challenge of achieving universal primary education and will substantially increase the proportion of our bilateral assistance invested in primary education.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to developing countries to achieve universal primary education. [79115]

  Clare Short
  We made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the international development targets which include universal primary education by 2015. We are working to increase international commitment to meet the target. In our own programmes, we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education in 1997–98. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent commitments of over £200 million have been made to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda.

PRIME MINISTER

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the changes to EU working groups that are to be made upon final ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. [80151]

  The Prime Minister
  The Treaty of Amsterdam covers a number of areas of Community competence, some of which may in time require the setting up of working groups to produce reports and recommendations on legislative proposals from the European Commission. It will be for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to decide in each case whether a Council working group needs to be established. Changes may also need to be made to the mandate of existing working groups.

  Electoral Reform
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to announce his considered response to the report of Lord Jenkins of Hillhead on electoral systems. [80224]

  The Prime Minister
  I set out my position in the oral answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 4 November 1998,Official Report, column 868, where I told the House we wish to see, and be informed by, a full debate on the proposals of the Independent Commission on the Voting System before taking a firm view.

  Departmental Staff (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin at 1 March of(a) his private office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) the No. 10 Policy Unit and (d) No. 10 Downing Street staff in total. [78505]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government, with the Civil Service unions, recently launched a Joint Charter to address under-representation of ethnic minorities at senior levels. The Government are also setting targets for ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service and below.
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  Information on the ethnic origin of civil servants is collected on a voluntary basis, using confidential questionnaires. The number and percentage of ethnic minority staff in the private office, Government special advisers and for all staff at No. 10 Downing Street are set out in the table. I answered on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 39, for Special Advisers across Government.

  Ethnic origin of No. 10 staff and special advisers

  Total

  Ethnic Minority

  Ethnic Minority Percentage

  Private Office

  9

  —

  —

  Policy Unit

  18

  1—

  1—

  All Downing Street Staff

  124

  7

  5.6

  Government Special Advisers

  18

  1—

  1—

  1 To protect the privacy of individual staff, numbers relating to fewer than five people are not disclosed

CABINET OFFICE

  Genetically Modified Food
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the paper by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser on the human health implications of genetically modified foods, requested by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Biotechnology, when he receives it. [76291]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  [holding answer 12 March 1999]The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser have been asked to advise Ministers on the public health implications of the genetic modification of food. Their work will be conducted in accordance with the Government's Guidelines on "The Use of Scientific Advice in Policy Making", which sets out a framework for ensuring that Government policy is made on the basis of the best scientific advice. Advice from officials to Ministers is not normally published but the possibility of publication in this case will be considered when the advice has been received.

  Macpherson Inquiry
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the Macpherson inquiry recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [80524]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Home Office published an Action Plan on 23 March containing the Government's detailed response to the specific recommendations of the Macpherson inquiry. The Plan commits the Government to setting out over the coming months how they will take forward their broader vision of an anti-racist society.

  The Government have already announced that they will legislate to apply the Race Relations Act, not just to the police service, but across public services as a whole. The Government are seeking to ensure that policy development take account of any race equality implications.

  It is also a top priority for the Government to ensure that the Civil Service reflects the full diversity of society, and values the differences that people bring to it. It must
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  be part of, not apart from, the society it serves. I recently launched with Sir Richard Wilson and with the Civil Service Trade Unions a Joint Charter for Action to redress the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service. The Civil Service is considering its policies as an employer in the light of the inquiry's recommendations.

  The Modernising Government White Paper published on 30 March announced challenging targets for proportions of women and ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service. We are also requiring Departments to set targets at levels below this. These targets signal the determination of the Civil Service to address under-representation and change the culture so as to tackle inequality.

DEFENCE

  NATO Exercises
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which countries had armed forces involved in the NATO air exercise over Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72852]

  (2) what was the cost of the NATO air exercise in Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; and what was the cost of UK participation; [72845]

  (3) how many personnel were deployed on the NATO air exercise in Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72983]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the principal benefits of the NATO air exercise in Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [76594]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer March 1999]Exercise Distant Thunder took place in Turkey between 28 April–9 May 1997. Italy, Turkey, the US and the UK took part. There is not a figure available within NATO for the total number of personnel participating. I understand from NATO that the cost of the NATO Exercise Fund of this exercise has been estimated at some £210,000. The additional cost to the UK of participation in the exercise totalled some £11,000, with about 100 personnel participating. We do not know what the national costs to other participating nations were. Exercise Distant Thunder provided excellent training in both deployment procedures and in practising Combined Air Operations.

  Building and Property Group
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security vetting is undertaken of staff employed by Building and Property Group Ltd. and their sub-contractors operating at his Department's establishments. [80044]

  Mr. Spellar
  Security vetting of staff was the responsibility of BPD Ltd. until last year, when their List X status was removed. At HMNB Portsmouth, BPD Ltd. currently undertake the Basic Check procedure and may issue temporary passes, pending Counter Terrorist Check clearance being carried out by the Defence Vetting Agency.

  Weaponry Gifts
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 1999,Official Report, column 508, if he will state in each case (a) on what date the equipment listed was supplied and (b) its value. [80477]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Gifts of weaponry by Her Majesty's Government to overseas Governments and armed forces since 1 January 1990, showing the date that each item was supplied, and the value, are as follows:

  Overseas Governments:

  Australia

  Gannet MkT5 aircraft—9 January 1995, £5,000

  Belize

  Harrier GR3–11 March 1994, £1,200

  Stores and equipment (which included ammunition) February 1994-June 1995, £401,000

  Canada

  FV 433 Abbott—25 July 1994, £3,000

  4 x Ferret scout cars—December 1997, £4,000

  2 x Chieftain main battle tanks—30 March 1998 and 12 December 1998, £5,000 each

  Other (unspecified) armoured vehicles—15 October 1992, £1,600

  Chile

  Harrier GR3 aircraft—24 February 1994, £1,100

  Czechoslovakia

  Phantom aircraft—16 January 1992, £8,500

  Germany

  Harrier—10 February 1992, £5,000

  Phantom—10 February 1992, £8,500

  Hastings aircraft—9 September 1994, £2,000

  FV 432 armoured vehicle and Ferret scout car—September 1994, £500

  2 x Centurion main battle tanks—20 October 1994, £5,700

  Jordan

  Hunter aircraft (and spares)—15 December 1994, £22,000

  Luxembourg

  25 pounder gun—14 May 1993, £2,000

  Lebanon

  500 x self loading rifles—7 July 1995, £32,500

  Norway

  Canberra aircraft—4 May 1995, £3,000

  Nepal

  70 x light machine guns—16 February 1993, £7,000

  Self loading rifles and light machine guns—August 1994, £10,000

  Ancillaries for light machine guns—31 May 1995, £18

  Romania and Bulgaria

  (Gifted through the Western European Union)

  Combat support boats—10 August 1993, £4,500 (Plus £32,000 transportation costs)

  Zimbabwe

  1,000 rounds of ammunition—17 February 1994, £375

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  Armed forces:

  Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion

  Anti-tank weapons—14 May 1996, £20

  France

  AR Martel missiles—April-July 1994, £30,000

  Netherlands

  Rifle—21 May 1991, £30

  Nepal

  15 x Ferret scout cars—5 August 1994, £3,750

  Ferret spares—4 November 1996, £7,000.

  Much of the equipment listed was gifted for display in national, service or other official museums in the countries concerned.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attack missions against Yugoslavia have been flown by British aircraft in the two weeks up to 31 March; and what was the cost of them to the British public funds. [80425]

  Mr. George Robertson
  As part of Operation Allied Force, a total of 50 sorties were flown by UK ground attack aircraft in the period up to 6.00 a.m. on 1 April 1999, at an estimated total extra cost excluding munitions, of some £360,000.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) bombs and (b) missiles paid for by British public funds have been used to attack Yugoslavia in the two weeks up to 31 March; and what was their total cost. [80427]

  Mr. George Robertson
  A total of 14 bombs were dropped by UK aircraft in support of Operation Allied Force during the period in question. These bombs cost a total of some £520,000. I am withholding the information requested in respect of missiles under exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what latest estimate he has made of the total cost of resolving the year 2000 computer problem in all defence-related areas; how much has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement. [79805]

  Mr. Spellar
  The projected additional cost of the MoD Year 2000 date change compliancy programme remains at £200m. Actual expenditure by MoD's top-level Budget Holders at the end of February 1999 was £48.5m. These figures include the cost of all activities to address the problem which we would not otherwise have needed to undertake. However, they exclude the cost of any equipment procurements or upgrades which were already planned and funded to meet a requirement of operational or business reasons, but which also address the Y2K issue. They also exclude the cost of internal MOD staff effort to ensure that our systems are compliant.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautions are being taken by Her Majesty's armed forces over the period 30 December 1999 to 5 January 2000 to ensure defence capability is not damaged by the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [79806]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The MoD has had a technical programme in place since 1996 to scope and address the problem of computer system compliancy with the Year 2000 date change. This programme is progressing well, with over 60 per cent. of MoD's critical systems now compliant. In addition, comprehensive contingency plans are being developed against the possibility of unexpected failure of MoD systems, or the failure of other non-MoD systems on which we rely, such as the public utilities. These plans seek to ensure the continuity of military operations and the requisite levels of defence capability throughout the period 1 September 1999 to 31 March 2000. There are also well-established procedures for crisis management on a 24-hour basis, which will apply throughout this period.

  Royal Navy Physiological Laboratory
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 March 1999,Official Report, column 307, how many goats have died in experiments at the Royal Navy Physiological Laboratory in (a) the last 12 months and (b) each of the previous five years; how many have been injured before undergoing experiments; what anaesthetics are administered to goats; and if he will list the experiments that have been performed on goats. [79725]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. 1 have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 14 April 1999:

  I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the former Royal Navy Physiological Laboratory (RNPL) which is now part of the Centre for Human Sciences (CHS) Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).

  You asked for information about DERA's research programme to determine the pressure and time limits for the safe escape of Navy personnel from a sunken submarine involving the use of goats. In addition to the ongoing escape programme carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, DERA is also taking part in a 3 year co-operative programme with the United States Navy looking at submarine rescue. All of these experiments involve exposing goats to altered pressure and atmospheres similar to those that would be experienced by submariners evacuating a sunken submarine.

  You asked what number of goats have died in experiments in the last 12 months and each of the last five years. DERA reports its statistics to the Home Office by calendar year and, in order to avoid confusion, I will follow the same format here. The experiments themselves do not cause death. The goats are closely monitored throughout the experiments and if signs of decompression sickness occur the goats may be recompressed in the same way as divers and submariners. Alternatively, if their condition warrants, they are humanely killed at that point. In each of the previous 5 years the numbers humanely killed during or following experiments were as follows:

  Year

  Number of goats

  1994

  2

  1995

  8

  1996

  5

  1997

  1

  1998

  11

  Since 1 January 1999, 9 goats have been humanely killed during or following experiments. It is likely that the total number of goats killed in 1999 will be higher than in recent years for three reasons. Firstly, two research programmes are being carried out concurrently
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  and, secondly, the conditions of the co-operative rescue programme are such that more animals will be humanely killed in the early stages. Thirdly, a restocking programme has started as many of the goats are getting old and these also, will be humanely killed.

  None of the goats are injured prior to the experiments.

  The anaesthetics administered to the goats are as follows
  Rompun and Domitor (sedative/analgesic)
  Torbugesic (analgesic)
  Halothane/oxygen/nitrous oxide (general anaesthetic)
  Lignocaine (local anaesthetic)
  Sodium pentobarbitone (lethal injection by anaesthetic)

  The dosages are as recommended by the independent veterinary surgeon and administered by trained and licensed staff.

  I hope this is helpful.

TREASURY

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems he has in place to ensure that policies being developed by his Department are subject to a crime impact(a) assessment and (b) audit and are not likely to lead to enhanced criminal opportunities.[72690]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 February 1999]Government Departments are co-operating closely on policy development and, therefore, I work closely with other Ministers on any likely implications for crime of new developments, as indicated by research.

  As far as the Treasury is concerned, all our policies should support Home Office Aim 1, which is to reduce crime and the fear of crime. The Home Office research programme monitors and evaluates the effects of new policy and other interventions.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what definition of poverty underlies his statement in this year's Budget statement that 700,000 children will be taken out of poverty as a result of the Budget. [78522]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]The estimate of 700,000 children is based on the number of children in low income families who will no longer be living in households below half the average equivalised income after allowing for housing costs. This calculation looks at the impact of all the tax and benefit measures announced in the last two Budgets, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit and National Minimum Wage.

  This method is one snap-shot indicator of one dimension of relative poverty. Child poverty is complex. It is characterised by a number of related problems, including persistent low family incomes caused by parental unemployment, damaged opportunities later in life, and too often a poor education in childhood.

  The Government's strategy for reducing poverty and social exclusion is tackling all aspects of poverty and tackling it at source. It is focused on investment in prevention, work as the best way out of poverty and regenerating the poorest communities, while providing support for those who cannot work.
  245
  The Government's report on the progress being made on tackling poverty and social exclusion, due to be published in early summer, will explain our policy priorities in more depth and include a range of low income indicators.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of higher rate taxpayers who will pay a 46 per cent. marginal rate of income tax consequent upon the tapering of the children's tax credit(a) in total, (b) where the taxpayer is the sole earner in the family and (c) where the taxpayer is the sole higher rate taxpayer in the family. [79091]

  Ms Hewitt
  It is estimated that in 2001–02 there will be 300,000 taxpayers on the children's tax credit taper. Of these, around 90,000 will be the sole earner in the family. In very few cases will there be two higher rate taxpayers in the family.

  Road Fuel Duty
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated extra revenue, including the added effects of VAT, from the road fuel duty escalator in the Budget statements for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99; and what was the actual revenue accrued, including the added effects of VAT, in those years. [79322]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 30 March 1999j: Estimates of the extra revenue, including VAT, from the road fuel duty escalator are shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Reports for the relevant years in the following tables:

  Table 1: Livebirth rates for girls aged under 16 and 16–19 per 1000 female population aged 13–15 and 16–19 respectively

  Scotland

  England and Wales

  N. Ireland

  Under 161

  16–19

  Under 161

  16–19

  Under1

  16–19

  1988

  1.5

  38.0

  1.4

  38.9

  1.1

  37.5

  1989

  1.3

  37.0

  1.5

  38.0

  0.9

  35.5

  1990

  1.4

  38.1

  1.5

  39.7

  1.0

  35.4

  1991

  1.3

  40.1

  1.7

  39.2

  1.0

  35.2

  1992

  1.5

  39.4

  1.5

  37.7

  0.9

  37.3

  1993

  1.4

  37.5

  1.6

  37.2

  0.9

  34.0

  1994

  1.4

  34.5

  1.4

  35.5

  1.3

  32.4

  1995

  1.7

  34.3

  1.6

  35.1

  1.2

  29.3

  1996

  1.7

  36.3

  1.7

  36.4

  1.4

  31.7

  1997

  1.9

  37.3

  1.7

  36.5

  1.1

  36.1

  1 Rates for under 16s include a very small number of births to mothers aged under 13

  Table 2: Fertility rates per 1000 female population aged under 20 at 31 December

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Belgium

  8.9

  8.6

  8.8

  7.9

  8.6

  8.9

  8.6

  8.0

  6.7

  6.7

  n/a

  Denmark

  6.7

  6.5

  6.3

  6.5

  9.1

  6.6

  7.0

  6.7

  6.8

  6.1

  n/a

  Germany

  13.0

  13.2

  14.0

  14.2

  14.6

  13.8

  12.7

  11.2

  10.1

  9.4

  9.6

  Greece

  25.9

  22.6

  19.1

  17.3

  15.6

  13.9

  13.2

  11.7

  10.7

  10.0

  9.7

  Spain

  13.1

  12.3

  11.9

  10.3

  9.3

  8.7

  8.0

  7.3

  6.6

  6.3

  n/a

  France

  10.8

  9.9

  9.4

  9.1

  9.2

  9.3

  8.8

  8.1

  7.3

  6.9

  6.8

  Ireland

  12.4

  12.6

  12.1

  11.5

  13.1

  13.5

  13.0

  12.7

  11.6

  11.8

  12.7

  Italy

  11.1

  10.3

  9.8

  6.9

  6.5

  6.2

  5.6

  6.0

  5.6

  5.3

  n/a

  Luxembourg

  6.7

  8.2

  10.1

  8.7

  14.1

  9.6

  9.1

  9.0

  8.5

  6.8

  7.0

  Netherlands

  5.1

  5.2

  5.6

  5.9

  6.4

  6.3

  5.8

  5.4

  5.1

  4.2

  4.1

  Austria

  17.8

  16.7

  16.7

  16.4

  16.4

  17.8

  17.9

  17.0

  14.4

  12.9

  11.5

  246
  1993–94: Table 4.1

  1994–95: Table 4.1 and paragraph 5 of Annex B to Chapter 4

  1995–96: Table 5.1 and Table 5B.2

  1996–97: Table 5.1 and Table 5B.2

  1997–98: Table 6.1 and Table 6B.2

  1998–99: Table 2.2 and Table 2B.2.

  It is not possible to isolate the extra revenue actually accrued from the escalator in isolation from the other factors influencing receipts.

  Birth Statistics
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of the last 10 years the percentage of births among (i) 13 to 15 and (ii) 16 to 19-year-olds per 1,000 females for(a) Scotland, (b) England and Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each other European Union country. [79591]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mrs. Helen Brinton, dated 14 April 1999:

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on teenage births.

  The attached Table 1 shows livebirth rates for girls aged under 16 and 16–19 per 1000 female population aged 13–15 and 16–19 respectively.

  Figures for other European Union countries are not readily available for the age-groups requested, but their teenage fertility rates are shown in the attached Table 2. The rates are for women aged under 20 at the end of the year, per 1000 female population aged 15–19, and are therefore not directly comparable to those shown above which are for women aged under 20 at maternity.
  247

  Table 2: Fertility rates per 1000 female population aged under 20 at 31 December

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Portugal

  24.2

  22.5

  21.4

  20.8

  18.9

  18.5

  17.9

  18.1

  17.3

  16.7

  16.7

  Finland

  9.5

  8.9

  9.1

  8.7

  8.7

  8.6

  8.2

  7.6

  7.0

  6.7

  6.9

  Sweden

  7.9

  7.4

  7.8

  8.9

  9.8

  9.2

  8.3

  7.7

  6.7

  6.1

  5.5

  UK

  23.9

  24.5

  25.9

  25.7

  27.0

  26.9

  25.8

  24.7

  22.7

  22.0

  22.9

  Source:

  Eurostat

  National Changeover Plan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the non-IT costs of the National Changeover Plan, with particular reference to informing business and the public. [80397]

  Ms Hewitt
  The cost of informing business and the public about the changeover would depend on the final approach taken to the changeover. By planning ahead, we will be able to ensure that a UK changeover would be cost effective for the economy as a whole.

  Euro Coins
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 22 March 1999,Official Report, column 100, on euro coins, what sanctions are to be applied in the case of the United Kingdom against those who damage or destroy the image of the euro; and what representations he has received on this subject. [80178]

  Ms Hewitt
  In the case of non-participating Member States, enforcement of the copyright in the common face design of euro coins will be ensured by the Commission, according to the national legislation of the Member State concerned. In the UK, enforcement would take the form of civil proceedings.

  Workless Households
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workless households with dependent children there were in(a) 1979, (b) 1984, (c) 1989, (d) 1994 and (e) at the latest date for which statistics are available. [79661]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 14 April 1999:

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on workless households with dependent children.

  The ONS introduced Labour Force Survey (LFS) databases especially designed for analyses of household data in August 1998. The earliest data available is for spring 1990. Hence, figures can only be given for 1990, 1994 and the latest date available, 1998. These figures are shown in the table.
  248

  Numbers of workless working age households with dependant children, Spring, United Kingdom

  Year

  1990

  800,000

  1994

  1,238,000

  1998

  1,164,000

  These figures were published in an article in the January 1999 edition of Labour Market Trends (pp 31–40), a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Cancer (Survival and Mortality Rates)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list national survival rates for all cancers for each year from 1992 to date. [80271]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 14 April 1999:

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on cancer survival rates.

  Survival rates in England and Wales were most recently published in ONS Monitor MBI 98/1, for cancers diagnosed in 1981 and 1989, followed up to the end of 1994. The relative survival rates at one-and five-years after diagnosis for all cancers as shown in this publication are given in the table below. This publication, which is available in the House of Commons Library, also presents survival rates for the major types of cancer in men and women.

  One and five-year relative survival (%), all cancers diagnosed in 1981 and 1989, England and Wales

  One-year survival

  Five-year survival

  1981

  1989

  1981

  1989

  Males aged 0–84

  37.0

  44.3

  19.5

  24.7

  Females aged 0–84

  50.3

  56.3

  31.7

  37.5

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list mortality rates for all types of cancers for each health authority; [80272]

  (2) if he will list mortality rates of cancers for all types of cancer, in descending order, for each EU country. [80273]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 14 April 1999:

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary questions on mortality rates of cancers.
  249
  The information requested is given in the attached tables.

  Mortality rates from all cancers1 in persons of all ages Age-standardised2 mortality rates per 100,000 population, 1995, (unless otherwise stated)

  Male rate

  Female rate

  Austria

  250

  153

  Belgium (1993)

  305

  153

  Denmark

  294

  220

  Finland

  220

  130

  France

  292

  129

  Germany

  263

  157

  Greece

  221

  115

  Ireland

  264

  177

  Italy (1994)

  276

  143

  Luxembourg

  300

  147

  Netherlands

  282

  159

  Portugal

  235

  126

  Spain

  262

  118

  Sweden

  191

  142

  United Kingdom

  257

  172

  1 Malignant neoplasms, International Classification of Diseases (Ninth Revision) codes 140–208

  2 Age-standardised rates are directly age-standardised to the European Standard Population

  Mortality rates from all cancers1 in persons of all ages Age-standardised2 mortality rates per 100,000 population in the period 1995–97 (England), 1997 (Wales)

  Health Authorities (boundaries as of April 1996)

  Male rate

  Female rate

  England

  Bradford

  248

  173

  County Durham

  288

  187

  East Riding

  264

  179

  Gateshead & South Tyneside

  318

  196

  Leeds

  254

  176

  Newcastle & North Tyneside

  302

  208

  North Cumbria

  256

  169

  Northumberland

  275

  177

  Sunderland

  296

  190

  Tees

  304

  191

  Wakefield Health Care

  271

  179

  North Yorkshire

  219

  155

  Calderdale & Kirklees

  246

  165

  Barnsley

  266

  183

  North Derbyshire

  252

  177

  South Derbyshire

  242

  162

  Doncaster

  286

  185

  Leicestershire

  217

  161

  Lincolnshire

  235

  159

  North Nottinghamshire

  254

  174

  Nottingham

  258

  169

  Rotherham

  257

  191

  Sheffield

  277

  186

  South Humber

  278

  182

  Bedfordshire

  237

  160

  Berkshire

  228

  157

  Buckinghamshire

  215

  161

  Cambridge & Huntingdon

  213

  151

  East Norfolk

  225

  156

  Northamptonshire

  254

  167

  North West Anglia

  228

  164

  Oxfordshire

  216

  161

  Suffolk

  224

  157

  Hillingdon

  232

  174

  Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster

  223

  161

  Enfield & Haringey

  233

  158

  Redbridge & Waltham Forest

  230

  152

  Barking & Havering

  272

  186

  Barnet

  197

  158

  Brent & Harrow

  215

  161

  Camden & Islington

  244

  176

  250

  Mortality rates from all cancers1 in persons of all ages Age-standardised2 mortality rates per 100,000 population in the period 1995–97 (England), 1997 (Wales)

  Health Authorities (boundaries as of April 1996)

  Male rate

  Female rate

  Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow

  233

  172

  East London & The City

  279

  185

  North Essex

  226

  162

  South Essex

  250

  174

  East & North Hertfordshire

  222

  162

  West Hertfordshire

  215

  164

  Bexley & Greenwich

  262

  171

  Bromley

  236

  269

  Croydon

  233

  173

  East Kent

  258

  165

  West Kent

  247

  169

  Kingston & Richmond

  233

  157

  Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham

  272

  177

  Merton, Sutton & Wandsworth

  249

  164

  East Surrey

  211

  142

  West Surrey

  223

  160

  East Sussex, Brighton & Hove

  233

  158

  West Sussex

  223

  154

  North & Mid Hampshire

  225

  157

  Portsmouth & South East Hampshire

  248

  168

  Southampton & South West Hampshire

  237

  157

  Isle of Wight

  222

  152

  Somerset

  230

  152

  South & West Devon

  235

  162

  Wiltshire

  221

  164

  Avon

  229

  157

  Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

  232

  170

  Dorset

  228

  154

  North & East Devon

  216

  150

  Gloucestershire

  224

  157

  Birmingham

  254

  172

  Coventry

  241

  172

  Dudley

  247

  168

  Herefordshire

  227

  152

  Sandwell

  285

  182

  Shropshire

  244

  167

  Solihull

  229

  169

  North Staffordshire

  284

  178

  South Stafforshire

  250

  165

  Walsall

  261

  164

  Warwickshire

  242

  170

  Wolverhampton

  257

  174

  Worcestershire

  230

  161

  South Lancashire

  253

  169

  Liverpool

  336

  226

  Manchester

  321

  209

  Morecambe Bay

  244

  163

  St. Helens & Knowsley

  311

  200

  Salford & Trafford

  282

  197

  Sefton

  273

  186

  Stockport

  241

  168

  West Pennine

  287

  180

  Bury & Rochdale

  262

  199

  North Cheshire

  287

  186

  South Cheshire

  240

  160

  East Lancashire

  261

  177

  North West Lancashire

  250

  174

  Wigan & Bolton

  263

  173

  Wirral

  276

  185

  Wales

  North Wales

  252

  165

  Dyfed Powys

  219

  165

  Morgannwg

  257

  167

  Bro Taf

  253

  177

  Gwent

  247

  162

  1 Malignant neoplasms, International Classification of Diseases (Ninth Revision) codes 140–208

  2 Age-standardised rates are directly age-standardised to the European Standard Population

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the exchange rate between sterling and the deutschmark. [80404]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government's aim is for a stable and competitive exchange rate over the medium term, consistent with the objective of price stability. The only sure path to long-term exchange rate stability is through the pursuit of macroeconomic policies aimed at achieving sustained growth, sound public finances and low inflation.

  EU Financing Arrangements
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the(a) gross and (b) net contributions of each member state of the European Union of the changes to EU financing arrangements agreed at the Berlin summit. [80015]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) on 29 March 1999,Official Report, column 737.

  Financial Services and Markets
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish further clauses of the draft Financial Services and Markets Bill. [80811]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have today made available to the Joint Committee on Financial Services and Markets four additional Parts of the draft Bill. These relate to official listing, collective investment schemes, disclosure of information and insolvency. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Endowment Policies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has requested(a) the Financial Services Authority and (b) the Personal Investment Authority to consider the advice required on the early termination and surrender of endowment policies. [80510]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Financial Services Authority is monitoring sales of mortgage-linked endowment policies. If there is a need for regulatory guidance, in respect of early termination and surrender, the regulator will act accordingly.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Postal Workers
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a breakdown by job centre of vacancies notified for postal workers in the last year for which figures are available. [80453]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given and a copy placed in the Library.

  Skyline College, UAE
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations have been made by his Department regarding the censorship at Skyline College in the United Arab Emirates referred to in the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education report 1998. [79941]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department has not made any representations on this issue, but we believe that universities-should always consider the ethical dimension of their activities.

  The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) conducts a programme of audits of institutions' overseas partnerships, and we are aware of the QAA audit report about the quality assurance arrangements of the collaborative partnership between the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside and Skyline College, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. We note that the QAA has asked the University to examine without delay the possible implications of restrictions in learning materials, which may be excluding its students from a body of scholarship on grounds of authors' race or creed.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young unemployed people he estimates will join the New Deal programme in 1999–2000, broken down by suitable locality. [80899]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The New Deal for young people is delivered through local partnerships. For planning purposes, the Employment Service has provided its partners in each local unit of delivery with an indicative assumption for the numbers of young people who might join the programme in 1999–2000. Those planning assumptions are based on current unemployment levels. They are not forecasts of the actual numbers who will join the programme. They do however enable the Employment Service and its partners in each local area to plan on a better informed basis, and they help to ensure that adequate plans are in place locally to meet potential demand.
  254
  I am placing in the Library a list showing the indicative planning assumption for the New Deal for young people in each unit of delivery.

  Departmental Investment Strategy
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish details of his Department's Departmental Investment Strategy. [80900]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Copies of the Departmental Investment Strategy report have been placed in the Library. In line with Government policy on electronic government this document will also be available on the DfEE internet site shortly.

  Digital Educational Broadcasting
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will announce his decision on the recent competition for the provision of digital educational broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum. [80901]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Following careful consideration of the bids received and presentations of the various proposals we are now inviting the short-listed bidders to take part in demonstration projects to test curriculum modules to support GCSE subjects. The resultant materials will be tested and evaluated as a basis for further decisions at a later date.

  Education Costs (Recovery)
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to recover the cost of education in the state sector of foreign children temporarily resident in the United Kingdom whose parents have received specific educational grants from their home Government; and if he will make a statement. [79689]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have no plans to change the current arrangements. We believe that all children resident in this country should be entitled to receive a free school education. Foreign children are treated in the same way as other children in the calculation of the Government's support for education through the standard spending assessment system.

  Local Education Support Division
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed within the Local Education Authority Support Division of his Department; and what is(a) the cost of that division in 1998–99 and (b) the budgeted cost for 1999–2000. [80388]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The Local Education Authority Support Division, within the Department for Education and Employment, has a staffing establishment of 50 people; a further 4 people are currently employed to support the change process to the new organisational structure.

  Appointments to the Division, made through open competition, include existing staff from within the

  255
  Department and the Funding Agency for Schools as well as some external candidates.

  The budget cost of the Division in 1998–99 was £440,000.

  The budget cost for the Division in 1999–2000 is £1,629,000.

  New Deal
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistical data he has collated on the destination of those who have completed a 12 month educational training option on the New Deal for 18 to 25 year olds. [80563]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Statistics are collected on various aspects of New Deal performance including destinations of those leaving New Deal from an Option. The latest figures are available in table 11 of the New Deal Statistical First Release, which is held in the Library. However, as New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds only started in Pathfinder areas in January 1998 and nationally in April 1998, very few will have had the opportunity to complete a 12 month Full-Time Education and Training Option. The results of early quantitative evaluation of Options in the Pathfinder areas will be published in the Summer.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) those local education authorities in England which are budgeting to spend more in 1999–2000 than provided for in their education standard spending assessment, and (b) which of these authorities are proposing a budget increase for education in 1999–2000 which is less than the increase in their education standard spending provision compared with 1998–99. [80499]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Authoritative information will not be available until June 1999 when local education authorities' returns in accordance with section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 have been collated and checked.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the Government's current policy in relation to the reports of the three United Nations panels on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [80515]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The panels' reports form a good basis for Security Council discussion on the way forward on Iraq.

  The disarmament panel has endorsed what has long been clear: that UNSCOM has achieved an enormous amount, but that there are still important questions left unanswered. The panel has also stated clearly that Iraq has not fulfilled its obligations. We share the panel's view
  256
  that if the inspectors are to go back into Iraq they will need a system more, not less, intrusive than before.

  Iraq's refusal to come clean over its weapons of mass destruction has prevented any movement on sanctions. Compliance with Security Council resolutions is an essential prerequisite for lifting sanctions. Our insistence on Iraq meeting its obligations does not mean we can ignore the suffering of the Iraqi people. We are pleased that the humanitarian panel has picked up many of our proposals on how to improve international efforts to alleviate this suffering, on how to increase the amount of money going into the oil-for-food programme and ensuring it is used as effectively as possible.

  Neither should we lose sight of the fate of the Kuwaitis and others still missing since the Gulf War ended in 1991, on which Iraq has remained shamelessly silent. I welcome the third panel's support for the Tripartite Commission chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and echo its call for Iraq to co-operate fully.

  Human Rights
  Sir Peter Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to publish the annual report on human rights. [80575]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government's Annual Report on Human Rights for 1999 will be laid before Parliament as a Command Paper by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development during the present Parliamentary session.

  Ascension Islands (Oil Storage)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of efficacy of a shore-based solution for the bulk oil storage arrangements of the Ascension Islands. [79809]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following a review of strategic stock holdings at Ascension Island, my Department is considering the optimum arrangements for the future storage of fuel stocks. As part of this work, we are examining the amount of on-island fuel storage infrastructure currently available, whether additional storage is necessary and whether this can be provided more cost effectively than under present arrangements utilising the chartered vessel MV Maersk Ascension.

  Chechnya
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the advice he has placed in the Library in respect of people travelling to Chechnya was issued to individual visa applicants employed by Granger Telecom or was issued to the company that employed them. [66960]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1999, c. 536–37]: Granger Telecom have informed FCO officials that as a result of Granger's meeting with

  257
  FCO officials on 21 August 1998, Granger management did not re-consult their field staff about their willingness to work in Chechnya, but Granger Telecom directors discussed the advice given to Granger by the FCO at that meeting. Granger Telecom have reaffirmed that they drew to the attention of their field staff the FCO travel advice for Russia which stated:
  "We strongly advise against travel to the Chechen Republic … because of the unstable security situation. Visitors have been kidnapped in these areas recently."

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Transsexuals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to review the legal status of transsexual people. [81107]

  Mr. Straw
  My officials will chair an inter-departmental Working Group on transsexuals. This will have the following terms of reference:"To consider, with particular reference to birth certificates, the need for appropriate legal measures to address the problems experienced by transsexuals, having due regard to scientific and societal developments, and measures undertaken in other countries to deal with this issue."

  Membership:

  Department for Education and Employment

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Department of Health

  Home Office

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  Office of Law Reform, Northern Ireland

  Northern Ireland General Register Office

  Office for National Statistics

  Scottish Office

  Scottish General Register Office

  Department for Social Security

  Welsh Office.

  I have asked the Group to report its findings Ministers by Easter 2000.

  Prisoners (Drug-free Medicine)
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what studies have been carried out into the effect of withdrawing from prisoners constitutional integrated drug-free medicine received for patterns of addiction, violence and related disturbances;[80137]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the constitutional integrated drug-free medical treatment programme established in HMP Coldingley, Feltham and Downview by Complementary Medical Services for Prisoners and the effects reported by prisoners; [80138]

  (3) when the Prison Service instruction to governors regarding the provision of complementary medical services to prisoners will be issued; who was consulted in formulating this policy; and what assessment he has
  258
  made of the impact it will have on the provision of constitutional drug-free medicine within the prison service; [80166]

  (4) what assessment the Minister of State responsible for Prisons has made of the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Delinquency's report on the complementary medical treatment programme at HM Prison Coldingley; and if he will make a statement. [80167]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The report by the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Delinquency provides a general evaluation of the complementary medical treatment pilot at Coldingley and records the broadly positive and supportive views of patients. It makes proposals for improving the organisation of the service and for future research. The report does not provide a detailed assessment of the therapeutic value of all the treatments and practices involved nor of the resource and other implications of continuing the programme or extending it to other prisons.

  The Prison Service, recognising the need to establish clear guidelines about the place of complementary therapies alongside conventional health care provided to prisoners, and having consulted the Department of Health, has concluded that only a limited number of complementary therapies of potential benefit to prisoners and prison regimes should be provided in prison, subject to an assessment of health needs and overall budgeting constraints. Provision will have to be on the basis of an assessed health need and in the context of an integrated health improvement plan, as described in the Government's announcement of 29 March 1999, Official Report, columns 556–58, on the future organisation of prison health care. Service providers will be required to show that they operate within accepted professional standards of competence. An instruction will shortly be issued to all Prison Service establishments to explain this policy.

  The Prison Service has not carried out research into the effects of limiting the range of complementary therapies.

  Schengen Accords
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those elements of to the Schengen supplementary accords, copies of which his Department had not received at the time of the formal application to join elements of the Schengen system; and if he will make a statement on his plans to place them in the Library. [80398]

  Kate Hoey
  As no formal application has yet been made by the Government it is not possible to list those elements of the Schengen supplementary accords copies of which the Home Department had not received at the time of the formal application. The Government will continue to place all further Declarations and Directives of the Schengen Executive Committee in the Library as they are received, where these are not classified.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to report to the House on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12 March.[80494]
  259
  Kate Hoey
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 March 1999, Official Report, column 532.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he took of the geographical extent of bee activity when deciding the extent of the sanitary cordon around genetically modified trial crops. [75093]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 8 March 1999]Each application for the release of genetically modified (GM) plants for research purposes is supported by a risk assessment, which is evaluated by Government experts and independent scientists on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Their consideration will include the possible spread of GM pollen by all means, including bee activity, and its likely consequences. One member of ACRE is an expert on bees and their behaviour. Based on the type of GM plant, how it has been modified and the circumstances of the proposed release it may be judged necessary to minimise the potential for cross-pollination of neighbouring sexually compatible crops or wild relatives by the GM plants. The precautions taken to prevent or reduce cross-pollination include the removal of flowers, specific isolation distances between GM and non-GM plants or borders of non-GM plants around the plots of GM plants. It has to be recognised however that bee activity may in some cases involve the dissemination of GM pollen beyond the isolation distances traditionally used.

  Speed Limit Repeater Signs
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in favour of permitting repeater signs indicating the 30 mph speed limit in built-up areas; and if he will make a statement. [79690]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We regularly receive a small number of letters requesting that repeater signs be allowed so as to reinforce the 30 mph speed limit. We are currently conducting a speed policy review which will consider all speed related issues, including the role signs play in managing traffic speeds.

  Motorcycle Advisory Group
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the terms of reference of the Government's motorcycle advisory group will be; [79928]

  (2) which non-governmental groups will be invited to join the Government's advisory group on motorcycling; [79927]

  (3) what steps he is currently undertaking to encourage the use of small motorcycles. [79926]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Arrangements will be made shortly for the convening of the first formal meeting of the Motorcycling Advisory Group. We will announce the date and the Group membership shortly. The Terms of 260
  Reference will be finalised at this meeting. However, a central feature will be to consider the role of motorcycling in our integrated transport policy.

  We are already providing assistance over motorcycle security in that we are supporting Lord Rotherwick's Bill, introduced on 30 March, which will enable local authorities to provide secure parking devices.

  Residential Leasehold Reform
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many submissions he received in response to the Government's Green Paper on Residential Leasehold Reform in England and Wales by 31 March. [80645]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We had received 923 responses to the consultation paper by 31 March.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the setting of the standard spending assessment level for the planning period in respect of local authority road maintenance expenditure. [80400]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]This was amongst the issues discussed as part of the overall level of expenditure for transport and local authorities during the CSR period.

  Housing Projections (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact that his revision downwards on the projection of the number of houses that will need to be built between now and 2016 will have on the projected number of houses needed in(a) Essex and (b) Mid-Essex. [80289]

  Mr. Raynsford
  As the Deputy Prime Minister said in his answer on 29 March 1999,Official Report, column 472, my Department will be writing to regional planning bodies setting out further information which may be relevant in the context of preparing regional planning guidance.

  English Nature
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish a statement defining the strategic relationship between English Nature and his Department. [80902]

  Mr. Meale
  We have published today, the "English Nature Management Study", copies of which can be found in the House Libraries.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Licences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences were(a) granted and (b) refused between 3 August and 31 December 1998 for

  261
  the export of military or police goods to (1) Angola, (2) Chad, (3) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (4) Namibia, (5) Uganda and (6) Zimbabwe; and if he will specify the number of licences granted in each of the categories set out under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. [80502]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 3 August and 31 December 1998, 16 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 7 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in the specified countries of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List. In the same period, no applications for such licences were refused. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings and/or countries.

  SIELs issued between 3 August 1998 and 31 December 1998 covering the export of goods on the Military List

  Number issued covering goods with this rating

  Angola

  Chad

  DR Congo

  Namibia

  Uganda

  Zimbabwe

  ML1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  ML2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML6

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  ML11

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  ML13

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML15

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  PL 5017

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  PL 5031

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  PL 5033

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  OIELs issued between 3 August 1998 and 31 December 1998 covering the export of goods on the Military List

  Number issued covering goods with this rating

  Angola

  Chad

  DR Congo

  Namibia

  Uganda

  Zimbabwe

  MLI

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  ML2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  ML10

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML15

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  PL 5002

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  PL 5018

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.
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  In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of House.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for the export of military equipment to Sri Lanka have been refused in each of the last five years. [80439]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1998, six applications for Standard Individual Export Licences covering the export to consignees or end-users in Sri Lanka of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List, were refused. In the same period, no applications for Open Individual Export Licences covering such exports were refused. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Individual Licences refused in each calendar year covering the export to Sri Lanka of goods on the Military List

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Number of refusals

  2

  0

  1

  0

  3

  Number of applications refused in each year covering goods with this rating

  ML1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  3

  ML2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  ML3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ML4

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  This information does not cover any applications for Media OIELs that have been refused during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  Supermarkets
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ensure any reference of supermarkets to the MMC includes a request that the investigation considers the commercial relationships between supermarkets and (i) farmers and (ii) growers.[80583]

  Dr. Howells
  The Director General of Fair Trading announced on 8 April that he had referred supermarkets to the Competition Commission. The terms of reference are a matter for him. In his press notice (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) announcing the reference the Director General identified as one important issue the
  263
  nature of the relationship between the multiples and their suppliers, including agricultural producers and the ways in which buyer power is exerted.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 1999,Official Report, columns 202–03, on export licences to Indonesia, for what reason the number of ML1 standard individual export licences listed for 1997 and 1998 was fewer than the number reported in the answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) of 8 April 1998, Official Report, columns 345–46. [80012]

  Dr. Howells
  My hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) referred in her answer of 8 April 1998,Official Report, columns 345–46, to her earlier answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71, in which she had said that information derived from the Export Control Organisation's computer databases should be treated as indicative only because of problems that had been identified in them; and that new checking procedures had been introduced and would be backdated to cover information recorded since 2 May 1997.

  The discrepancy to which my hon. Friend draws attention arose because one export licence which actually only covered electronic goods with a rating of ML11 was found to have been recorded on the databases with ratings of ML11 and ML1. This error was corrected before I gave my answer of 9 February 1999, Official Report, columns 202–03; and that correction is the reason for the discrepancy. It did not affect the total number of licences or the number of licences with a rating of ML11 in either Answer.

  The information contained in the recent Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls may be treated as definitive, subject to the constraint that there is always some small risk of human error in the compilation of so much data.

  Consumer Councils
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the Government's response to consultation on proposals to establish consumer councils for the energy, telecommunications and water sectors. [81139]

  Mr. Battle
  On 30 September last year, the Government published a consultation paper on their proposals for establishing independent consumer councils for the water, energy and telecommunications sectors. The establishment of independent consumer councils for the utility sectors is a vital element in the Government's broader agenda for reforming the framework for utility regulation so that it delivers a fair deal for consumers.

  The Government received over 130 responses to the consultation paper. In addition, they held discussions with a wide range of interested parties. These indicated strong support for the approach set out in the consultation paper.

  The consultation paper looked in detail at a number of important issues such as the functions and powers of the future consumer councils; their structure and organisation;
  264
  and the framework for establishing strong and constructive links with the utility regulators' offices. The Government have considered the representations made on these matters and announced their decisions on the way forward on 8 April.

  In taking forward proposals for the consumer councils, the Government have had four key concerns: firstly to create independent and influential consumer advocates, with a voice at the heart of the regulatory system, advising the utility regulators, utility companies and others on consumer issues; secondly, to ensure that all consumers have a one stop shop they can go to when they have unresolved grievances about the standards of service or conduct of a utility company; thirdly, to provide consumers with a source of good quality information and advice on getting the best deal from the utility markets. Influential councils and well-informed consumers can play a key part in driving standards up, and prices down. Finally, the new arrangements must provide for an open, professional and co-ordinated relationship between the new councils and the utility regulators.

  Implementation of the Government's proposals will require legislation. We intend to introduce legislation to implement these proposals along with the Government's other proposals for the reform of utility regulation as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

  These proposals are generally intended to apply to consumer arrangements in the whole of the UK. They do not, however, extend to Northern Ireland, in respect of the water and energy sectors, nor to Scotland in respect of the water sector.

  We propose to give the councils broad functions within the regulatory system. They will act as public advocates for all utility consumers in their sectors, and will be expected to provide information and advice on consumer issues to regulators, Government, Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, the media and others. They will draw attention to areas requiring action by the companies, utility regulators and others. And they will publish information and advice of interest and assistance to consumers, such as advice on securing the best deal from utility companies. These broad functions will ensure that the councils have flexibility to investigate and advise on the consumer issues of the moment.

  These functions will be underpinned by a research capacity to ensure that issues of concern to consumers, including particular groups of consumers such as the disadvantaged or small businesses, or those in a particular region, can be investigated, and that the councils can speak with knowledge and authority.

  In addition, we propose giving the councils the specific task of handling consumer complaints against utility companies where these have not been resolved by the company concerned. Where possible, we will expect the councils to try to mediate a satisfactory outcome between the company and the complainant. Where further action such as enforcement action may be required, the council will also pass the complaint on to the appropriate regulatory authority. We also anticipate the councils working constructively with the utility companies to reduce the causes of complaints.
  265
  An effective framework for collaboration between the councils and the utility regulators will be required. To achieve this, we intend to place a duty on the council and the relevant utility regulator to agree and then publish a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The detailed content will be a matter for the parties to agree, but we expect it to cover such matters as the practical arrangements for consultation between them, the co-ordination of requests for information from the utility companies, the exchange of information, and the co-ordination of work on consumer-related issues. We also propose that the water consumer council and the drinking water inspectorate should be placed under a similar duty to agree and publish an MoU to cover co-operation between them on water quality issues and the handling of water quality complaints.

  The councils' powers to access information will need a basis in statute. We intend to give the councils direct rights of access to the information they need from utilities so that unresolved customer complaints can be investigated. In addition, we propose that councils should receive copies of any monitoring returns that utility companies are required to send to the utility regulators to demonstrate compliance with codes of practice on complaints handling. This is intended to assist the councils in their task of tackling the causes of consumer complaints at source.

  We propose that other types of information should be obtained by making a request to the relevant utility regulator, or to the drinking water inspectorate, where it cannot be obtained from the utility companies on a voluntary basis. Consistent with their existing functions, we intend to give the utility regulators and the drinking water inspectorate powers to obtain information from the utilities on behalf of the councils as well as for themselves, and we intend to make the councils bodies to whom they can disclose information. These bodies will be required to comply with reasonable requests from the councils for information, both information that they hold already or have generated themselves, and new information which needs to be obtained from the utility companies. Where a request is declined, these bodies will need to give reasons. There will be reciprocal obligations on the councils to provide information to the utility regulators or to the drinking water inspectorate on similar terms.

  These are strong information-gathering powers which will ensure that the councils have access to the information they will need in order to play an influential and informed role within the regulatory system. The powers are consistent with the Government's vision of the councils as independent, effective consumer champions.

  The Government wish to establish focused and professional consumer councils. The optimum number of council members may vary between the utility sectors, and over time. Accordingly, we propose that the legislation should not specify a minimum or a maximum number of council members. This will provide the necessary flexibility. Appointments to the councils and approval of their budgets will be a matter for the Government, thus ensuring their independence from the utility regulators. Their resources will be raised, wherever possible, through licence fees, and they will be required to operate in an accountable and transparent fashion.
  266
  The Government fully recognise the importance of the regional dimension in the provision of utility services, and recognise that some issues and concerns may be best addressed at a regional level. They also recognise that regional arrangements will need to be different in different sectors, depending on the structure of the industry.

  We propose to give the telecoms and energy councils a duty to ensure that regional needs are addressed efficiently and effectively, and that their work is informed by an awareness of regional issues. To meet this duty, the telecoms and energy councils will be given flexible powers to establish regional offices where they need them, and to appoint regional committees or panels where these are needed to help address customer complaints and other issues. These powers will give the councils the flexibility to change their regional arrangements in response to market developments in their utility sectors. The councils will be required to obtain the consent of the Secretary of State for their regional arrangements and to consult the Secretary of State on the appointment of any regional chairmen. In addition, the national energy council will be required to maintain offices and an appropriate consumer committee or panel structure in Scotland and Wales. The national telecommunications council will be required to maintain similar arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  In the water sector, the Government propose to take an approach which reflects the particularly strong regional dimension in water supply, and the forthcoming devolution of certain functions to the National Assembly for Wales. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will therefore be given powers to determine the regional structure of the water consumer council (to include an office and consumer committee in Wales), and powers to appoint both the regional chairmen of committees operating in England, and members of the national council. The appointment of the chairman to the Welsh consumer committee will be made by the Welsh Assembly. The national council will make the other appointments in line with guidance issued by the Secretary of State in respect of English regional committees, and guidance issued by the Welsh Assembly in respect of the Welsh consumer committee. The guidance will be designed to ensure that the appointments adequately reflect local consumer interests. As for the other utility councils, it is intended that the regional organisation will operate as part of a single public body.

  More generally, detailed operational matters are best left to the councils. The Government do not therefore wish to legislate on specific matters such as call centre arrangements, or on the detailed arrangements for handling complaints. These arrangements may need to change over time, and are not matters for legislation.

  The Government wish to ensure that the work of all the councils and any regional or other specialist committees is professional, and that work on such committees is attractive to a wide cross-section of the community. To this end all the councils will be given powers to remunerate the members of any regional or other specialist committees where appropriate.

  More generally, the councils may find it useful to establish operational links with other regulators such as the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the Electricity Engineering Inspectorate, and with

  267
  consumer bodies such as local authority Trading Standards Offices, and Citizens' Advice Bureaux. We propose to give the councils powers to establish MoUs or other arrangements with these and other organisations where appropriate, to ensure the effective referral of consumer concerns to those who can best deal or act on them.

  In the water sector, the Government also propose to improve the arrangements by which service standards are set. Standards can currently be set only by the Secretary of State in response to a specific proposition from the economic regulator. We believe that this is no longer appropriate in a sector where standards may need to be set for environmental and public health reasons beyond the scope of the economic regulator's functions. We propose, therefore, to extend the existing arrangements so that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in respect of England, and the Welsh Assembly in respect of Wales, can initiate proposals for new or amended service standards, subject to public consultation. The new procedure would normally only be exercised by the Secretary of State and the Welsh Assembly in respect of standards raising environmental and public health issues. Where any new or amended standards had a significant financial effect, they would trigger existing provisions in the water companies' conditions of appointment that enable costs to be passed through.

  Steps will be taken to ensure a smooth transition from the existing consumer bodies to the new councils, with the existing bodies being wound up when the transition has been achieved. This will ensure that consumer interests are effectively addressed during the interim, and that the councils can operate effectively from the moment they take over.

  Government will not be able to achieve the results they want without high quality staff. Already, within existing organisations, there are staff who are doing some of the things the consumer councils will be doing, and doing it well. Steps will need to be taken to ensure that full use is made of this existing expertise. Staff will need to be transferred or seconded to the councils. Staffing arrangements will be a matter for detailed discussion between the staff concerned, the utility regulators, the Gas Consumers' Council (in respect of the energy council), and any relevant unions.

  These proposals, taken together, will ensure that consumers have the strong and independent voice they need, and thereby help to ensure that the regulatory regime is able to respond promptly and efficiently to meet their needs.

  I am placing a list of the organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation paper, excluding those who requested confidentiality, in the Library of the House.

  Chemical Weapons Act 1996
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. [81140]

  Dr. Howells
  In accordance with the Act, I have placed a report on its implementation during 1998 in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Gas Power Station, Baglan Bay
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on the notification under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 by the Baglan Cogeneration Company to use natural gas as the fuel at a proposed combined cycle gas turbine power station at Baglan Bay in South West Wales. [81141]

  Mr. Byers
  I announced on Wednesday 7 April my conclusion that the potential benefits of a proposed new 500 Megawatt gas-fired power station at Baglan Bay, South Wales, particularly in terms of local employment and economic regeneration, are such that I have decided not to use my powers under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to halt or defer this project.

  Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter have been placed in the Library of the House. The general policy on power station consents is set out in the Government's October 1998 Energy White Paper and remains in force.

HEALTH

  Hospital Discharges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the review of hospital discharge procedures; and if he will make a statement. [80458]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]: We expect to be able to go out to consultation in the summer on a draft of the revised guidance with a view to issuing final revised guidance before the end of 1999.

  Brumby Hospital, Scunthorpe
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reach a decision regarding the future of Brumby Hospital, Scunthorpe. [80283]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]A decision on the proposal to relocate Inpatient and Day Hospital Services from Brumby Hospital to Scunthorpe and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust will be made shortly, once Ministers have had the opportunity to consider all relevant factors. Ministers will only approve changes which result in improved health services for local people.

  Lamotrigine
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1999,Official Report, columns 656–57, on Lamotrigine, if he will list for each further evaluation undertaken or commissioned by the Medicines Control Agency in respect of Lamotrigine, (a) the name of the individual body who was instructed to carry out the further research, (b) the terms of reference of the research, (c) the cost of the research and (d) when and where the results of the research were or are planned to be published. [80229]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The safety of all marketed medicines is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency through the Yellow Card Scheme which collects reports of suspected adverse reactions. Lamotrigine is closely monitored under the Black Triangle Scheme, by which new drugs are
  269
  intensively monitored for the first few years of marketing until their safety profile is established. Marketing Authorisation holders are responsible for providing the Medicines Control Agency with all information relating to the safety of their drugs. In addition, owing to the issue of serious skin reactions associated with Lamotrigine, the safety of Lamotrigine is reviewed regularly at a European level at the Pharmacovigilance Working Party of the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products. Information about the safety of Lamotrigine in general, and skin reactions in particular, were published in the Medicines Control Agency/Committee on Safety of Medicines drug safety bulletin "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in February 1993, October 1996 and May 1997. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The Medicines Control Agency has not commissioned any research in respect of Lamotrigine.

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each(a) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (b) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (c) the relevant section of that treaty and the consolidated treaties of the European Union and European Community.[80415]

  Ms Jowell
  My responsibilities are to ensure that, within the context of the Government's overall policy on the European Union, Community activities in the field of public health add value and address objectives which cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States acting alone. The coming into force of the Amsterdam Treaty will not alter those responsibilities. It will have minimal impact directly on the Department and its staffing. There will be an increased role for the European Parliament following amendments to Article 129 (renumbered Article 152) of the Treaty. These provide for measures to be adopted, through the co-decision procedure, to set high standards of quality and safety of organs and substances of human origin, blood and blood derivatives and in the veterinary and phytosanitary fields which have as their direct objective the protection of human health.

  Biggleswade and Steppingly Hospitals
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the proposed closure of Biggleswade and Steppingly hospitals from(a) health professionals and (b) others. [80579]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]We have received written representations from my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Hall) and from Councillor Robin Younger of Bedfordshire County Council.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the surveys commissioned by the area health authority into the viability of Biggleswade and Steppingly Hospitals. [80578]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The documents commissioned by Bedfordshire Health Authority into the viability of Biggleswade and Steppingly Hospitals will be placed in the Library.

  Intensive Care (Hampshire)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision of intensive care beds there is in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority area; and what estimate he has made of the changes in each of the next five years. [80571]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Intensive care provision in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority is at Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Results from a pilot census indicated that on 1 December 1998, Portsmouth NHS Trust had 10 general intensive care beds. A more reliable figure from the first full census of 31 March 1999 is expected to be available in May. Both figures give a snapshot on the census day and the actual number of intensive care beds on another day may be different.

  In addition, there are up to a maximum of four general intensive care bed spaces based at the Royal Hospital Haslar.

  The health authority are currently considering further provision of health services in the area following the proposed closure of the Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport.

  Neurological Conditions
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the extent to which purchasers develop care pathways for patients with neurological conditions. [80595]

  Mr. Hutton
  Service agreements should be the basis for continuing dialogue between all those involved in the care pathway to ensure that arrangements are developing as planned and that any problems are addressed in good time. Arrangements for monitoring and review will also need to be built in. If a problem arises, the emphasis in the first instance will be on a local resolution.

  Consideration will be given to reviewing the extent to which purchasers develop care pathways for patients with neurological conditions if this proves necessary.

  Clinical Terms Version 3
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the report of the independent evaluation of Clinical Terms Version 3 (the Read Codes); and if he will make a statement. [81073]

  Mr. Denham
  The evaluation of Clinical Terms Version 3 (the Read Codes) is being carried out in three stages. The first stage has now been completed and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  The second stage of the Evaluation is currently underway and will produce a methodology for long term evaluation of the Clinical Terminology in live use in the National Health Service. This methodology will then be used in stage three of the evaluation, which will involve continuous evaluation of the effective use of Clinical Terminologies in the NHS.
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  As a result of recommendations made in the report the NHS Executive intends to mandate the use of a coded clinical terminology (currently Clinical Terms Version 3) and has entered into an Agreement with the College of American Pathologists to create a new international standard which combines CAP's SNOMEDTM with the Clinical Terms Version 3 (Read Codes).

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of expenditure to date by the NHS to resolve the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [79726]

  Mr. Denham
  An analysis of quarterly monitoring returns for the period ended 31 December 1998, the latest available, shows the estimated total cost to be approximately £321 million. Further estimates will become available as future returns are made.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has made to limit the risks to the provision of NHS services as a consequence of the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement.[79727]

  Mr. Denham
  There is a comprehensive programme for National Health Service Year 2000 preparations that reports progress via my right hon. Friend the President of the Council's quarterly statements to Parliament. The programme ensures that NHS organisations minimise the risks to the provisions of NHS services as a consequence of the year 2000 problem through the provision of guidance, attention to external suppliers, frequent monitoring of progress, independent assessment, performance management and disclosure of progress.

  Task Forces and Policy Reviews
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which(a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74462]

  Ms Jowell
  Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate.

  Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  It is rare for task forces and reviews to engage in public consultation exercises. Where, exceptionally, comments from the public or representative organisations are sought, a consultation document might be published inviting a response, as in the Review of the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome (Environmental Policy)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which non-governmental organisations have been consulted in respect of environmental aspects of the Millennium Experience; what plans there are to include exhibitions on British energy saving and environmental technologies; and if he will list the environmental issues which have been taken into account in the planning, construction and operation of the Dome. [70662]

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to use renewable energy sources to power the Millennium Dome. [75685]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 11 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) recognises the unique opportunity afforded by the Millennium Experience project to adopt positive environmental policies across all aspects of the project, including planning; construction; and operation. NMEC is doing so wherever possible, recognising the time and budgetary constraints within which it is operating. Underpinning NMEC's operation is its Environmental Plan (including targets and objectives) which has been presented to non-governmental organisations, and was approved by Greenwich Council in mid-1998. The Environmental Plan is regularly reviewed. The Plan is sent to all companies tendering for works, goods and services and they are required to include in their bids, statements of their own environmental polices.

  A number of innovative environmental initiatives are already in progress on site. Following discussions with the NMEC, Thames Water is installing a state-of-the-art grey water recycling scheme at the Dome. During the year of operation, the NMEC will adopt a waste management strategy based on the concepts of waste reduction, re-use, recycling and efficient removal from the site, providing opportunities for innovative demonstration environmental projects. NMEC is also investigating supply strategies that will minimise the quantity of packaging coming onto the site and facilities to allow separation of those major waste streams that are generated in order that they can be processed or recycled efficiently. There is daily monitoring of dust and noise levels and robust systems are in place to ensure immediate response should any problems arise. Two firms of independent environmental consultants have reviewed the environmental health and safety and the environmental integrity of the site.

  The Dome structure was conceived and developed as an energy and resource efficient means of housing a range of exhibits and attractions appropriate to the conditions of the Greenwich peninsula site. The Dome does not provide a conventionally controlled environment; it is not air-conditioned, and heating and cooling provisions have been minimised to reflect the fact that visitors will be wearing clothing appropriate to outdoor conditions. In addition, the translucency of the Dome cladding material allows the interior to be naturally lit for much of the year. It is inevitable that operating a large scale visitor attraction requires a significant quantity of power, but NMEC will seek to minimise this requirement wherever it is practicable to do so.
  273
  In the early stages of the development of the National zone, in which there will be a significant focus on environmental matters, meetings were held with representatives from the Council of Rural England, Greenpeace, and the Natural Foresight Panel (DTI). The Environment Agency has ongoing liaison with the NMEC in light of its statutory role and responsibilities and in the light of its work in regenerating Thames River bank areas adjacent to the Dome site. In this latter respect the Dome has provided the catalyst for the creation of a new river bank ecology and ecological terrace as well as for regeneration of the Peninsula as a whole. The NMEC also has ongoing contacts with non-governmental organisations such as Greenpeace.

  The National zone will explore the UK's relationship with the environment and its structure will optimise use of environmentally positive materials and techniques. The Local zone, unveiled on BBC Television's Blue Peter programme earlier this year, will be one of the largest recycled cardboard structures in the world. Children across the UK have been invited to participate in the creation of the zone. Other exhibit zones and areas within the Dome will also incorporate and address issues which have an environmental aspect.

  Millennium Dome (School Visits)
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding terms and conditions for teachers accompanying groups of pupils visiting the Millennium Dome. [78165]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is in consultation with the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) as part of the process of developing management plans for school and education visits. The procedures which the NMEC will adopt and operate will be based on established procedures for other visitor attractions. The ratio of children to teachers will be one adult to every six pupils in years 1 to 3 and special needs groups; one adult to every ten pupils in years 4 to 6; and one adult to every fifteen pupils in years 7 and above. Adults accompanying children in these groups will be admitted to the Dome free of charge.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the New Millennium Experience Company's budget for the Dome of granting free access to school parties; [78178]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the effect on overall visitor numbers to the Dome of the policy of granting free access to school parties. [77999]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) ticketing strategy provides for up to one million free admissions for school children on the Education Tours Scheme. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced details of this scheme in the House on 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 1117. Copies of the NMEC's press release detailing the operation of the scheme have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Over and above this scheme, schools will be able to take advantage of the education visits discounted group rates.
  274
  The NMEC remains confident that its forecast of 12 million visits remains achievable and that the children taking part in the Education Tour Scheme can be accommodated within that forecast. The Millennium Experience project remains within its £758 cash budget taking into account the free school admissions provision.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding the cost of overnight accommodation for parties of school children and teachers visiting the Millennium Dome. [78167]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is not responsible for accommodation arrangements for visitors to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. However, the NMEC is in discussion with the travel trade to encourage and facilitate attractive packages for those requiring overnight accommodation. For school children in organised groups, the NMEC has instigated a range of options for overnight accommodation with a number of youth hostels and higher education institutions who have expressed interest in providing safe, clean and affordable accommodation for school groups.

  Millennium Dome (Transport)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what negotiations the New Millennium Experience Company has had with London Transport regarding free or discounted tube or bus travel to the Millennium Dome. [78888]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is in constructive discussion with London Transport about a special Millennium travel ticket which will provide a good deal for visitors to the Dome. Details are currently being negotiated with all interested parties.

  Millennium Dome (British Engineering)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for exhibits in the Millennium Dome which promote public understanding of British engineering. [77856]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]The Millennium Dome itself, and the individual exhibits within it, are striking examples of the capabilities and imagination of British designers, architects and engineers. Some elements of the exhibits will also address and reflect issues within the engineering field. In addition, the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is working with the Design Council to accommodate a number of its innovative Millennium Products within the Dome. Aspects of the NMEC's school curriculum resource packs (which are issued to every school in the UK) deal with a range of construction and engineering issues involved in the building of the Dome.

  Greenwich Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with (a) Bexley and Greenwich Health Authority
  275
  and (b) Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust regarding the millennium celebrations; and if he will make a statement; [79315]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the need for health care services in Greenwich arising from the millennium celebrations; and if he will make a statement; [79316]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the likely demand for emergency ambulance services arising from the millennium celebrations; and if he will make a statement. [79317]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 29 March 1999]I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by the Minister of State, Department of Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham), on 29 March 1999,Official Report, columns 498–99. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has been in discussion for over twelve months with Bexley and Greenwich Health Authority, Greenwich Healthcare Trust and the London Ambulance Service about health and emergency planning issues. The NMEC is also represented on the Health Authority Millennium Co-ordinating Group which is, among other things, working with the NMEC on issues to do with health care on the Dome site. The London Ambulance Service is represented on all these forums and attends a monthly meeting with all the emergency services, the NMEC and others. The NMEC also participate in the Safety Advisory Group established by the London Borough of Greenwich.

  Sports Funding
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received regarding the establishment of a national sports endowment fund, from Lottery money, for sports funding. [79200]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]I have received a number of representations on this matter from Members of Parliament and others.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  European Community Documents
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list for each document of the European Community referred by the Select Committee on European Legislation to a European Standing Committee in Session 1997–98,(a) the date of referral, (b) the topic and numbers of the document, including the dates of (i) consideration in the Committee, (ii) subsequent resolution of the House and (iii) consideration, and substantive agreement in the Council of Ministers and (c) any consequential United Kingdom legislation arising therefrom. [79543]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The information requested for(a) and (b)(i) and (b)(ii) is contained in the document "European Community Documents, Session 1997–98", which was published on 19 November 1998 and is available in the Library of the House.

  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly on the other information requested.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Media Allegations (Rebuttals)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list(a) those units in her Department and (b) the number of departmental staff which are concerned with preparing rebuttals of allegations in the media; and what is (i) the total cost of their work, including salaries, and (ii) the number of rebuttals issued since May 1997. [71846]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]The Northern Ireland Information Service does not have a specialist rebuttal unit. It is part of the day-to-day responsibilities of all information officers to identify and seek to correct wherever possible misleading or inaccurate information.

  Environmental Appraisals
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what environmental appraisals of policy her Department has(a) completed, (b) started and (c) planned. [79617]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The available information is currently being collected by each Department to meet the Environmental Audit Committee's request for information on environmental appraisals as part of its second inquiry into the Greening Government Initiative.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of prosecutions for benefit fraud were prosecuted under the Theft Acts in each year since 1992–93.[79794]

  Mr. Timms
  Questions on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 13 April 1999:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of prosecutions for benefit fraud were prosecuted under the Theft Acts in each year since 1992–3.

  The figures are not available for prosecutions for the years 1992 to 1995.

  In 1995/6 the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service together prosecuted a total of 13,972 cases. Of these, 320 cases were classed as Theft Act or Serious Fraud, and a further 420 were prosecuted by Organised Fraud teams. Specific figures for total prosecutions under the Theft Act were not compiled.

  I am able to give you the figures, as requested, for the financial year's 1996/7, 1997/8, and 1998/9. They are included in the attached table. For the year 1998/99, for the first time, we have prosecuted under the Theft Act where the amount of benefit involved is less than £5,000. This resulted in a further 2,169 prosecutions.

  I hope that this is helpful.
  277

  Prosecutions for benefit fraud

  Theft Act prosecutions

  Total prosecutions

  Percentage

  1996–97

  750

  11,770

  6.4

  1997–98

  835

  12,074

  6.9

  1998–99

  1,23,441

  8,268

  41.6

  1 Figures are as at 28 February 1999

  2 Includes prosecutions for the first time where the amount of benefit involved is less than £5,000

  Notes:

  Figures provided by BA Security

  Figures are provisional and subject to change

  Benefits Agency Medical Service
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the arrangements made by Sema/Nestor for recruitment under contract of sessional doctors to provide services under the Benefits Agency Medical Service contract. [80282]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of medical services for the Benefits Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Philip Hammond, dated 13 April 1999:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment he has made of the arrangements made by Sema/Nestor for recruitment under contract of sessional doctors to provide services under the Benefits Agency Medical Services contract.

  Sema Group was awarded the contract for the provision of medical services for the Benefits Agency on 1 September 1998. The arrangements they have made have been very successful. Currently a pool of 2,951 doctors are available to provide medical examinations, 2,529 of whom have signed formal contracts.

  When Sema became responsible for the medical service they identified a small number of locations where the Agency was experiencing difficulties in recruiting doctors. The pool of doctors currently available has enabled them to steadily improve their performance against service levels in key benefits. In addition, other methods such as moving doctors voluntarily are being employed to cover any shortfalls. Sema Group now has a sufficient number of doctors to enable them to deliver performance against agreed service levels.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Tariff Income Schedule
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of income support over the age of 60 years are affected by the tariff income schedule regime; and what reduction of expenditure on income support is achieved by the schedule. [80505]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Income support recipients aged over 60 years old with tariff income taken into account, average amount taken into account and estimated expenditure savings, 1997–98

  Period

  Numbers with tariff income taken into account

  Average weekly amount (£)

  Estimated expenditure savings (£)

  May 1997

  78,000

  6.25

  6,316,000

  August 1997

  78,000

  6,31

  6,430,000

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  Income support recipients aged over 60 years old with tariff income taken into account, average amount taken into account and estimated expenditure savings, 1997–98

  Period

  Numbers with tariff income taken into account

  Average weekly amount (£)

  Estimated expenditure savings (£)

  November 1997

  83,000

  6.34

  6,838,000

  February 1998

  89,000

  6,92

  7,961,000

  All quarters (97–98)

  27,545,000

  Notes:

  1. The estimate represents a four quarter total taken from the Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiries for May 1997 to February 1998. The quarterly inquiries are based on a 5 per cent. sample of all Income Support cases and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand and may not sum owing to rounding.

  3. Reduced expenditure arising from the tariff income schedule regime has been estimated by using the average amount taken into account for tariff income cases during each quarter.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiries, May 1997-February 1998.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of potential claimants of income support who are prevented from qualifying for income support as a result of the tariff income schedule regime. [80506]

  Angela Eagle
  This information is not currently available. Estimates of the number of potential claimants prevented from qualifying for Income Support as a result of the tariff income regime are based on the data used to produce the published estimates of take-up of income related benefits. These estimates are currently being revised following the discovery in December of an error, the effect of which was to understate income brought to account, and will be republished in May.

  Savings Threshold
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the level of savings which requires his Department to assume an income of £1 for every £250 above that limit, when calculating benefits; and if he will make a statement. [80666]

  Angela Eagle
  The assumption of notional (tariff) income of £1 for every £250 of capital above £3,000 reflects an expectation that people with more substantial savings can make some contribution towards their living expenses from those savings. This formula, which does not represent any assumed rate of interest, avoids the many practical difficulties that would arise if actual income were taken into account. However, we continue to review the benefit rules as part of our commitment to modernise the Social Security system.

  In particular, we are determined to help the poorest pensioners and are concerned about those who miss out on the Minimum Income Guarantee because of modest savings. We have made it clear in the Pensions Green Paper (cm 4179) that we want to look at options for changing the rules on the treatment of voluntary saving to

  279
  better reward those who have saved for their retirement, and intend to bring forward proposals later in this Parliament.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the size and cost of the rebates required to implement the Partnership for Pensions proposals. [80509]

  Mr. Timms
  The proposals for Stakeholder Pensions and the State Second Pension will impact on the National Insurance rebate payable to those contracted-out of the State scheme. For Stakeholder Pensions, we will first need to look at the charging structure before determining the appropriate levels of National Insurance rebates. We expect to consult with the Government Actuary's Department later in the year and would aim to lay any Rebate Orders before 6 April 2000, a year before the planned introduction of Stakeholder Pensions in April 2001.

  The scheduled introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 will coincide with the introduction of any new rebates arising from the next full review that will take place during the 2000–01 tax year. The review will include full consultation, and will set out the level of rebate considered appropriate to compensate for the new State benefits forgone.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he plans to require providers of stakeholder pensions to have a duty to offer advice with utmost good faith to potential customers; [80507]

  (2) if he plans to require his Department (a) to offer advice, (b) to pay for independent advice and (c) to provide a channel to authorised independent advice, on the switch between the state second pension and the stakeholder pension proposed in his Partnership for Pensions. [80508]

  Mr. Timms
  The arrangements for the provision of information and advice to those considering joining stakeholder pension schemes are subject to further consultation. Further details will be set out in due course.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the proportion of (i) pensioner couples, (ii) single male pensioners, (iii) single female pensioners and (iv) pensioners in total aged(a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 74, (c) 75 to 79 and (d) 80 years or above who are in receipt of income from an occupational pension; and if he will list for each group the mean and median amounts received. [80422]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is in the tables.

  The methodology used is consistent with The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1996–97. Estimates of the proportions in receipt of occupational pension income should be regarded as provisional. This is because they are based partly on data extrapolated from the Government Actuary's Department Surveys of Occupational Pensions, which are published approximately every five years, with the most recent surveys relating to 1991. Estimates are likely to be revised when the latest survey is published.
  280
  Estimates of mean and median amounts can be regarded as final.

  Proportion of pensioners in receipt of income from an occupational pension

  Percentage

  Age band

  65 to 69

  70 to 74

  75 to 79

  80 or above

  Pensioner couples

  77

  78

  75

  65

  Single male pensioners

  54

  58

  61

  56

  Single female pensioners

  69

  65

  61

  51

  All pensioner units

  70

  70

  66

  55

  Mean amount of occupational pension income for those in receipt—July 1996 prices

  £ per week

  Age band

  65 to 69

  70 to 74

  75 to 79

  80 or above

  Pensioner couples

  132

  112

  98

  87

  Single male pensioners

  88

  96

  63

  63

  Single female pensioners

  63

  58

  51

  44

  All pensioner units

  109

  92

  74

  61

  Median amount of occupational pension income for those in receipt—July 1996 prices

  £per week

  Age band

  65 to 69

  70 to 74

  75 to 79

  80 or above

  Pensioner couples

  87

  67

  52

  50

  Single male pensioners

  59

  55

  37

  39

  Single female pensioners

  37

  34

  29

  27

  All pensioner units

  66

  52

  39

  32

  Notes:

  1. Estimates of the proportion of pensioner units in receipt of occupational pension income are based upon data from the Family Resources Survey 1996–97, controlled to a number of individual recipients which is extrapolated from the Surveys of Occupational Pensions of the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Estimates of the proportions with occupational pension income should be treated as provisional.

  3. Pensioner units are defined as single people above State pension age (60 and over for women, 65 and over for men) and couples (married or cohabiting) where the man is over State pension age.

  4. Pensioner couples have been allocated to age bands according to the age of the man.

  5. The occupational pension income category includes income received by widows on the basis of their late spouse's contributions to an occupational pension scheme.

  Sources:

  Family Resources Survey 1996–97, Government Actuary's Department Surveys of Occupational Pensions 1991.

  Bereavement Allowance
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) widowers and (b) widows he expects to be entitled to the bereavement payment in (i) the first full year of implementation and (ii) 2020. [80656]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]It is estimated that around 20,000 widowers and around 40,000 widows will be entitled to the Bereavement Payment in the first full year of implementation and in 2020, following equalisation of State Pension age at 65.
  281
  It is not possible to provide exact long-term estimates and therefore estimates for 2020 should be regarded as illustrative.

  Note:

  Figures have been supplied by the Government Actuary's Department. They are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and are subject to a wide range of uncertainty.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated increase in the number of income support claimants as a result of the replacement of the widows pension by the bereavement allowance in (i) the first full year of implementation and (ii) 2020. [80658]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  In order to provide some idea of the scale of the likely effect, the following figures provide indicative estimates of the average increase in the number of Income Support claimants as a result of the proposed changes to Widows Pension. Estimates for 2020 should be regarded as illustrative.

  In the first full year, the increase in the number of Income Support recipients is estimated to be less than 5,000. It is estimated that this could rise to around 30,0003 by 2020.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates assume that a constant proportion of those affected by the proposed changes to Bereavement Benefits move on or off Income Support. Therefore the estimates for 2020 should be regarded as illustrative.

  2. Estimates use information from the 1995–6 Family Resources Survey, the May 1996 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and forecasts from the Government Actuary's Department concerning the number of men and women affected by the proposed changes.

  3. Figure rounded to the nearest 10.000.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) widowers and (b) widows he expects to be entitled to bereavement allowance in (i) the first full year of implementation and (ii) 2020. [80655]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]It is estimated that around 10,000 widowers will be entitled to Bereavement Allowance from the first full year of implementation up to 2020. It is estimated that around 10,000 widows will be entitled to Bereavement Allowance in the first full year of implementation, increasing to around 20,000 by 2020 following equalisation of State Pension age at 65.

  It is not possible to provide exact long-term estimates and therefore estimates for 2020 should be regarded as illustrative.

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been supplied by the Government Actuary's Department. They are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and are subject to a wide range of uncertainty.

  2. Figures represent the average number of cases throughout the year. Hence the first full year is the second financial year following implementation.

  Widowed Parents Allowance
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) widowers and (b) widows
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  he expects to be entitled to widowed parents allowance in (i) the first full year of implementation and (ii) 2020. [80652]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Existing widowed fathers will be able to claim Widowed Parent's Allowance from the date the new scheme is implemented. We estimate that around 20,000 widowers will be entitled to Widowed Parent's Allowance in each year up to 2020.

  We estimate that around 10,000 new widows will be entitled to Widowed Parent's Allowance in the full first year of implementation, building up to around 30,000 by 2020. Existing widowed mothers will continue to receive Widowed Mother's Allowance.

  It is not possible to provide exact long-term estimates and therefore estimates for 2020 should be regarded as illustrative.

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been supplied by the Government Actuary's Department. They are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and are subject to a wide range of uncertainty.

  2. Figures represent the average number of cases throughout the year. Hence, the first full year is the second financial year following implementation.

  Noise Exposure
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the need to extend to new industries arrangements for monitoring for noise exposure. [80028]

  Mr. Meale
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Noise at Work Regulations 1989, which require employers to make arrangements to assess their employees' exposure to loud noise at work, apply to all industries, including new industries, with the exception of ships at sea and aircraft taxiing or in flight.

SCOTLAND

  Class Sizes
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary school classes(a) had over 30 pupils in May 1997 and (b) currently have over 30 pupils.

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 March 1999]The information requested for May 1997 is not centrally available. The most recent figures are from the schools census carried out in September 1997 when 2,679 publicly funded primary school classes had more than 30 pupils. Figures for 1998 are not available yet.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament. [74554]

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to whom the document, "Down to Earth—a Scottish Perspective on Sustainable Development", was distributed; and how it was distributed; [75821]
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  (2) how many copies of "Down to Earth—a Scottish Perspective on Sustainable Development", were printed; [75822]

  (3) what was the total cost, including research and departmental time, for producing and publishing "Down to Earth—a Scottish Perspective on Sustainable Development". [75823]

  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 16 March 1999]"Down to Earth" was published on 3 February 1999 as part of our on-going programme to deliver our commitment to place sustainable development at the heart of policy making. We first indicated our intention to produce a Sustainable Action Plan for Scotland in September 1997. "Down to Earth" brought together work on sustainable development being undertaken in many parts of the Scottish Office and was co-ordinated by departmental staff as part of their normal duties. 4,000 copies were printed and a large proportion of these have

  Review/Inquiry

  Completion date/ Expected completion date

  Inquiry into the handling by Grampian Police of the Murder of Scott Greg Simpson

  April 1998

  Review of the Use of Custody for Women Offenders in Scotland

  May 1998

  Review of the Treatment of Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses

  November 1998

  Review of Scottish Crime Prevention Council

  March 1999

  Review of Child Protection Committees

  August 1999

  Review of Services for People with Learning Difficulties

  December 1999

  Review of National Curriculum for Children's Panel Member Training

  December 1999

  Review of Police Force and Fire Brigade Structures

  March 2000

  Review of the Sentencing and Treatment of Serious Violent and Sexual Offenders

  mid 2000

  SCRA Time Intervals Working Group—reviewing the processing of cases referred to the Children's Hearings System

  On-going monitoring and review role

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the issues on which the Government have undertaken advertising campaigns in Scotland since they came into office; and how much they have spent on each campaign. [80054]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The details are as follows:

  Year/Campaign

  Spend (£)

  1997–98

  Bogus Callers

  37,000

  Childrens Hearings

  176,250

  Continence Campaign

  2,900

  Daily Record Health Supplement (NHS Green Paper)

  79,700

  Electoral Registration

  70,000

  Fire Prevention

  323,800

  Food Safety

  21,100

  Historic Scotland

  352,000

  Organ Donors

  41,300

  Referendum Reminder

  420,000

  Road Safety

  383,300

  Severe Weather

  46,000

  1998–99

  Children's Panels

  112,300

  Daily Record Health Supplement (NHS White Paper)

  77,000

  Democratising Scotland

  248,500

  Domestic Violence

  630,700

  Electoral Registration

  41,000

  Fire Prevention

  225,000

  284
  been distributed by the Scottish Office to a wide range of interested organisations and individuals in Scotland and beyond. Copies of the publication are available upon request and the full text has been placed on the internet. The cost of production and publishing was £20,283.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Home Department Reviews and Inquiries
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reviews and inquiries have been announced on areas within the responsibility of the Scottish Home Department since 1 May 1997; what is the completion date or expected completion date in each case; and if he will make a statement. [80041]

  Mr. McLeish
  The following reviews and inquiries have been undertaken by the Scottish Office Home Department:

  Year/Campaign

  Spend (£)

  Food Safety

  21,150

  Fostering

  97,400

  Further Education

  70,000

  Historic Scotland

  410,000

  Local Government Commission

  78,000

  Nursing Recruitment

  258,300

  Pharmacy Point of Dispensing

  53,200

  Police Graduate Recruitment

  9,500

  Scottish Parliament Campaign

  1,785,000

  Teacher Recruitment

  4,200

WALES

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met members of the aerospace industry in Wales to discuss future prospects in the industry; and if he will make a statement. [79843]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met representatives of the aerospace industry when he visited GE Aircraft Engine Services Ltd. at Nantgarw on 16 February, and I last met representatives when I visited British Airways Maintenance Cardiff on 1 February.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the prospects for the steel industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [79847]

  Mr. Hain
  The Welsh steel industry is among the most competitive in the world. However, like others, it is experiencing very difficult trading conditions. The industry is therefore taking action to maintain its competitiveness, such as the introduction of new technology and team working. For example, British Steel has recently completed a £121 million investment in a new continuous annealing process line at Port Talbot, which represents the biggest single investment in the industry since privatisation.

  The Government are also supporting initiatives aimed at improving the industry's competitiveness. We have provided grant support through the UK Steel Association and Steel Training Ltd. for a range of projects involving benchmarking, education and training.

  Assisted Area Status
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the importance of assisted area status in the decisions of (i) United Kingdom and (ii) overseas companies concerning location and investment; and if he will make a statement. [79845]

  Mr. Hain
  The Welsh Office, together with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Scottish Office, have jointly commissioned "Arup Economics and Planning" to undertake an evaluation of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) between 1991 and 1995. Amongst other things, it will look at the influence of RSA on investment decisions. The report is expected to be ready towards the middle of this year. Previous evaluations of RSA suggest that up to a fifth of RSA funded projects would have located outside the UK Assisted Areas in the absence of RSA.

  Teachers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources are to be made available to him to implement the Government's proposals for the future of the teaching profession. [80441]

  Mr. Hain
  We announced in December last year that education and training in Wales will receive a total of £844 million extra over the next three years. This includes resources for the new pay and performance management arrangements proposed in the Green Paper on the future of the teaching profession in Wales. The costs of these will be over and above the cost of normal pay increases which have been taken into account in plans for the local government revenue settlements for 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  Decisions on education funding for 2000–01 onwards will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  National Assembly (Salaries)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that future percentage changes in the level of the salaries of members of the National Assembly will be linked to changes in the level of(a) the national minimum wage and (b) the basic state pension. [80587]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 13 April 19991: This will be a matter for the National Assembly to determine. The Review Body on Senior Salaries has recommended that the salaries of Members of the National Assembly for Wales be uprated each year in line with Senior Civil Service pay, specifically by the same percentage as the average of the movements in the mid-points of the nine Senior Civil Service pay bands below Permanent Secretary.

  River Wye Navigation
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to publish the report of the Inquiry into Navigation on the River Wye; and if he will make a statement. [80263]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Exchanges of correspondence are presently taking place between the Environment Agency, the applicants for the Wye Navigation Order, and an objector who has made post inquiry representations. This, together with the complexities involved in considering this case, means that the report is unlikely to be published prior to the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales.

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each (i) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (ii) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (iii) the relevant sections of that Treaty and the consolidated treaties of European Union and European Community. [80403]

  Mr. Hain
  The Treaty of Amsterdam is not expected to add to the range of policy areas for which the Welsh Office is responsible. We recognise, however, the need to implement the provisions of the Treaty so far as they relate to current areas of responsibility, the majority of which will transfer to the Welsh Assembly from 1 July 1999.

  Mental Health
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the total NHS budget in Wales was allocated to mental health services in each of the last three years.[80194]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The figures are as follows:

  1996–97: 4.7 per cent.

  1997–98: 3.4 per cent.

  1998–99: 3.3 per cent.

  These figures represent the funds specifically allocated from within the NHS Total to mental health services which includes mental illness and learning disability services. In 1997–98, some £30 million spent on local

  287
  authority strategies (representing 1.3 per cent. of the NHS Total) was transferred recurrently into the local authority revenue settlement. In addition to these amounts, Health Authorities will commission mental health services from within their discretionary funding allocations.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of inequalities in mental health treatment affecting members of the (i) black and (ii) other ethnic minority communities in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [80189]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  There has been no specific assessment and there is some doubt as to whether the numbers of ethnic minority mental health patients in Wales gives a sufficient base for robust findings. We shall consider the needs of ethnic minority patients when drawing our plans for future Strategies on both child and adolescent and adult mental health services.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Mental illness

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  NHS hospitals:

  In-patient cases

  17,033

  18,182

  18,376

  17,841

  17,588

  Out-patient first attendances

  1—

  18,552

  18,624

  18,545

  21,589

  NHS day hospitals—first attendances

  5,670

  7,127

  4,846

  5,705

  5,580

  Persons seen by community psychiatric nurses2

  24,230

  26,419

  26,801

  32,681

  33,932

  1 Not available

  2 First contacts in the financial year

  Following the transfer of functions this will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Wind Turbines
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the reasons for his decision to approve six additional wind turbines at Cemmaes B; and if he will make a statement. [80452]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The reasons for the decision are set out in the Welsh Office letter of 16 March 1999, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Once a decision has issued it is final; in these circumstances it would not be appropriate for further comment to be made on the merits of the decision or the reasons for it.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  New and Renewable Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact in Wales of the proposals in the Government's consultation paper, "New and Renewable Energy—Prospects for the 21st Century". [80242]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The Government intend working towards a target of renewable energy providing 10 per cent. of UK electricity supplies, cost effectively, as soon as possible. We hope to achieve this by 2010.
  288
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the rates of(a) schizophrenia and (b) depression among (i) AfroCaribbeans and (ii) the population other than Afro-Caribbeans in Wales. [80190]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Reliable data are not available centrally on the ethnic group of patients treated in Wales. It is not sufficiently complete and consistently coded to be used for assessing differences between incident rates across ethnic groups. There is also doubt as to whether the numbers of ethnic minority mental health patients in Wales gives a sufficient base for robust findings.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mental health patients were treated on the NHS in Wales over the last five years. [80191]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The available data, held centrally, are given in the following table. They do not, however, represent the numbers of individuals treated by the NHS over this period as one person could be included in more than one category or be discharged more than once from an NHS hospital during a year.

  The review document seeks views on a number of issues to enable the Government to frame future policies to meet their objectives of supporting renewables while they are reaching market prices and considers both the costs and benefits of moving towards greater use of renewables. In particular, the paper looks at options for a revised Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) in the competitive energy markets of the future.

  The paper identifies key issues and challenges which the Government and industry would need to pursue.

  Wales already has rich reserves of renewable energy resources, especially wind and biomass. It is important, in terms of generating jobs and developing future industries, that it continues to build on this.

  I would encourage all interested parties in Wales to submit their views on the proposals so that they can play their part in framing future renewable energy policy.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the planning appeals in Wales since May 1997, in regard to which the Secretary of State for Wales has overturned the recommendation of the inspector; and if he will he make a statement. [80493]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  There have been no planning appeals in Wales under Section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, decided since May 1997, where the inspector's recommendation has been
  289
  overturned. On two occasions since May 1997 the recommendations of inspectors on applications called in for determination under Section 77 of the 1990 Act have been overturned.

  These were:

  an application for a detached dwelling at Trefil, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent where the application was refused contrary to the recommendation of the inspector

  an application for six wind turbine generators at Cemmaes Wind farm, Mynydd y Cemmaes, Machynlleth, Powys where planning permission was granted for six turbines contrary to the recommendation of the inspector that only four be allowed.

  Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Supermarkets (Business Rate)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to review(a) the level of business rate which is paid by supermarkets in Wales and (b) the basis on which their liability to uniform business rate is calculated. [80208]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The current level of business rates paid by supermarkets in Wales is based on their rateable values, the "poundage" or "uniform business rate" fixed each year by the Secretary of State and the impact of any provisions for relief or exemptions. The rateable values broadly represent annual rentals for which the property might have been let on the open market in 1993, and are assessed using evidence of actual rents. All retail outlets in Wales are valued on this rental comparative method.

  No steps have been taken to review the level of rates paid by supermarkets. The next revaluation of all rateable values takes effect on 1 April 2000 and will be based on market rents on 1 April 1998.

  Following the transfer of functions this will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Non-domestic Rating Liability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the instances on which he has used his powers under the Local government Act 1988 to confer exemptions from non-domestic rating liability. [80492]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  There have been no instances of the Secretary of State using his power under Schedule 5 paragraph 20 of the Local Government Finance Act 1998.

  Following the transfer of functions this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

  Water Rates
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will issue an order, under section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991, to require water supply undertakers in Wales to review their charging policy towards single person households with unmetered billing; [80207]

  (2) how many orders he has made under the provisions of section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991 with regard to the services provided by water undertakers for elderly people; and if he will make a statement. [80212]
  290
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991 does not provide the Secretary of State with order making powers in respect of single person households or pensioners. The Water Industry Bill currently before Parliament provides for householders, including the elderly and single persons, to opt to be charged on a measured basis without paying any initial costs for the installation of a meter. This may help those using less water to pay less. If the arrangement did not suit their individual needs, customers would have the right, within the first 12 months of installation, to revert to unmeasured charging.

  The Government believe that households on low incomes or with special needs should have available to them a range of payment options. The Water Industry Bill will enable the Secretary of State to give guidance to the Director General of Water Services on matters to be taken into account in approving water companies' charges schemes. Such guidance could cover payment arrangements. The Bill also gives powers to specify by regulation matters which must be included in charges schemes. This power will enable specially targeted protection to be offered to particular categories of vulnerable customers. It is proposed that these powers to give guidance and make regulations will transfer to the National Assembly for Wales in respect of Dwr Cymru and Dee Valley Water. Clause 14 of the Bill will provide for a transfer of functions order to be made under section 22 of the Government of Wales Act 1998, without the need for an affirmative resolution procedure.

  National Assembly
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to make the first standing orders of the National Assembly for Wales. [81034]

  Mr. Michael
  I have now made the first standing orders for the Assembly in accordance with section 50 of the Government of Wales Act, and am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Nuclear Waste Storage
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy not to permit the storage of nuclear waste at Trecwn in Pembrokeshire. [80173]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  I understand that no application has been made to store nuclear waste at Trecwn. If one were, it would be fully considered on its facts, and against the background of representations from interested parties.

  The Secretary of State for Wales' responsibilities in this area are shortly to transfer to the National Assembly for Wales.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  IACS Checks
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of IACS checks carried out in each of the EU member states. [73291]
  291
  Mr. Rooker
  The following information has been provided by the European Commission for the total number of IACS applications subject to administrative checks in Member States during 1997:

  Member

  Number

  Luxembourg

  2,183

  Belgium

  45,019

  Netherlands

  51,276

  Denmark

  63,134

  Sweden

  66,745

  Finland

  79,644

  Ireland

  134,915

  United Kingdom

  146,241

  Portugal

  156,073

  Austria

  170,635

  Greece

  327,797

  Germany

  392,975

  Spain

  449,300

  France

  466,526

  Italy

  709,806

  All Member States also carried out on-the-spot controls in respect of a proportion of applications.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the agenda for the Agriculture Council of 19 and 20 April. [79574]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Agriculture Council scheduled for 19 and 20 April has been cancelled.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe) of 18 March 1999,Official Report, column 819, concerning representations from the US Government, what was the nature of the representations received on each of the three occasions; what was the response of his Department in each case; and if he will make a statement. [80109]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]A wide range of agri/food issues of mutual interest to the UK and US Governments were discussed during the meetings in question and the UK' s commitment to a science based approach to biotechnology which both protects public health and the environment, was made clear.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from(a) farmers and (b) farming organisations regarding funding proposals for the Food Standards Agency. [79880]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have received a number of representations, both formal and informal, from a variety of farming organisations and individual farmers during the recent public consultation on the draft Food Standards Bill and associated proposals for a levy scheme. Many criticised the levy proposals and suggested that alternative methods of funding the Agency be found.
  292
  We are now reviewing these responses, along with all the others received during the consultation, and will consider carefully all the comments made before deciding how to proceed.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations his Department has received on the calculation regarding the funding of the Food Standards Agency; and how many were in favour of the fixed £90 levy on food distributors. [80037]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]We received nearly a thousand responses to public consultation on the draft Food Standards Bill and associated proposals for a levy scheme. Over three quarters of these commented directly on the levy proposals. A large majority criticised the proposal that the levy be set at a flat rate, and suggested that alternative methods of funding the Agency be found or that the levy be graduated.

  We are now reviewing these responses and will consider carefully all the comments made before deciding how to proceed.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he had with small retailers prior to drawing up his proposals for the Food Standards Agency; what estimate he has made of the likely cost to each food retailer of the Food Standards Agency over the first five years of its operation; and if he will make a statement. [80144]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Organisations and individuals representing the entire range of interests affected by the Food Standards Agency were included in consultations on Professor James's report in 1997, the subsequent White Paper in 1998 and on the draft Food Standards Bill and associated levy proposals earlier this year. In addition, I have held a number of regional meetings and officials have discussed the possible impact of the draft proposals with organisations representing small businesses.

  The cost to food retailers over the first five years of the Agency's operation will depend on the initial rate of levy set and any amendments made during that period. Our proposal was that the levy should be set at £90 per annum. We are now considering the responses to the consultation. Additional costs due to the exercise of the Agency's functions cannot be anticipated. The draft Bill does, however, require the Agency to take account of the risks, costs and benefits of its proposed actions, consulting interested parties wherever possible.

  Badgers
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made based on badger road-kills as to the extent of their tuberculosis infection. [80486]

  Mr. Rooker
  Until August 1990 badger carcases were collected and sampled as part of a national road traffic accident (RTA) survey of badgers. Since then RTA badger carcases have been collected and tested on an ad-hoc basis as part of the epidemiological investigation of TB incidents. Information from such carcases is not representative of the incidence of TB in the badger population as a whole.
  293
  Both the Krebs report and the report from the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB recommended reintroducing the road traffic accident survey as part of a programme to establish the prevalence of TB among badgers. We are currently considering these recommendations.

  Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what outside interests have been declared by the members of the Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals.[80628]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The Declaration of Interests of members of the Export Group on Vitamins and Minerals has been published and copies have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions were taken at the meeting of the Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements on 21 January; and if the minutes of that meeting have been published. [80636]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]A summary of the items discussed at the meeting of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals on 21 January has been published and copies have been deposited in the Libraries of the House. The minutes of the meeting will be published once members of the Group have agreed them at their next meeting.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review food safety legislation to give greater protection to the continued availability of vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements and blends; and if his Department has had any discussions with the European Commission on such matters. [80624]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The Government have no plans to review the way in which Vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements and blends are regulated under food safety legislation. The Department responded in 1997 to a European Commission discussion paper on the harmonisation of controls on vitamin and mineral supplements and has been involved in discussions with the Commission on trade problems involving dietary supplements.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects the European Commission to publish the Draft Directive on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements; and what policy objectives he will be seeking to pursue when responding to that Draft when published; [80625]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the legislative position in other European Member States on the availability of vitamin and mineral supplements; and what steps he is taking in advance of the publication of the forthcoming Draft EU Directive on such supplements to encourage other Member State Governments to accept the principles which underpin his Department's polices in this area. [80626]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Controls on vitamin and mineral supplements vary from Member State to Member State. In most cases the rules relating to supplements sold under food law are more restrictive 294
  than those applying in the United Kingdom and typically limit the permitted level of vitamins and minerals in supplements to the Recommended Daily Amount or a multiple thereof. The EC Commission is considering the possibility of harmonising the controls on vitamin and mineral supplements sold under food law but is not yet committed to legislating in this area. We have made clear to the Commission and to other Member States our view that any new controls should be based on safety considerations.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the role and status of the Codex Alimentarius Commission; what progress has been made by that Commission in considering trade in dietary supplements; what his Department contributes to the discussions of that Commission; and what policy objectives are being pursued by his Department in that context. [80627]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an FAO/WHO—sponsored intergovernmental body charged with the development of food standards to protect the health of consumers and facilitate international trade. The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses has been discussing the elaboration of guidelines for dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals for a number of years. When the draft guidelines were last discussed in September 1998 the UK argued, as it has done in the past, that maximum limits on the vitamin and mineral content of supplements should only be based on safety considerations. A similar line was taken by a number of other participants. But because there was a general lack of consensus on this, and other aspects of the proposal, little progress was made. The draft guidelines will not now be discussed again until the year 2000.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he has given to the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals on the conclusion of the Agriculture Committee's Fifth report of Session 1997–98 (HC 753) on Vitamin B6 that the Group should be asked to produce recommendations for a framework for deciding whether regulation of dietary supplements is necessary at all. [80623]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]Members of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals are aware of the conclusions and recommendations of the Agriculture Select Committee's report on Vitamin B6. They are also aware of the Government's response to the Select Committee's recommendation that the Group should be asked to produce recommendations for a framework for deciding whether regulation of dietary supplement is necessary at all. This states that:"The Government considers that [the Expert Group's] terms of reference do not place the Expert Group under any obligation to establish principles that would result in limits on the level of all vitamins and minerals in supplements sold under food law. It is for the Food Advisory Committee or, if it is established by the time the Group reports, the Food Standards Agency, to consider whether, in the light of the scientific evidence provided by the Expert Group, changes to the regulation of dietary supplements or their labelling should be recommended to Government".
  295
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the membership of the European Union's Scientific Committee for Food in relation to its work on the safety of vitamin and mineral supplements, indicating the scientific backgrounds and declared interests of members; and what are the Committee's terms of reference. [80638]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) has allocated its work on the safety of vitamin and mineral supplements, to a Vitamins and Minerals Task Force. The Commission has not yet published a list of members of the Task Force or its terms of reference.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the roles of the(a) Food Advisory Committee and (b) Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals in considering the safety of vitamin and mineral supplements [80629]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 25 March 1999,Official Report, column 410.

  Farmers (Generic Drugs)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of(a) farmers' access to generic drugs for use with animals and (b) the current cost structure of dispensing drugs through veterinary surgeons. [79877]

  Mr. Rooker
  When no authorised veterinary medicinal product exists for a condition in a particular species and in order to avoid causing unacceptable suffering, veterinary surgeons exercising their clinical judgment may prescribe for one or a small number of animals under their care in accordance with the following sequence:

  (i) a veterinary medicine authorised for use in another species, or for a different use in the same species;

  (ii) a medicine authorised in the UK for human use;

  (iii) a medicine to be made up at the time on a one off basis by a veterinary surgeon or a properly authorised person.

  In addition, veterinarians treating food producing animals under the above arrangements may only use medicines whose pharmacologically active ingredients are contained in a product already authorised for use in a food-producing animal. The products used may include generic products.

  Decisions on the pricing of veterinary medicinal products are matters for the companies marketing them, taking account of commercial factors such as development and production costs and anticipated volume of sales. Similarly the cost of veterinary treatment is not governed by statutory rules but is a matter for negotiation between the veterinarian and client.

  Dairy Produce (New Zealand)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current status of agreements with New Zealand regarding the supply of dairy produce. [79878]
  296
  Mr. Rooker
  Under the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement the EU can import certain quantities of butter and cheese from New Zealand at preferential rates of duty. The annual quotas and preferential rates are as follows:

  Quantity (tonnes)

  Rate of duty (euros per tonne)

  Butter

  76,667

  868.8

  Cheddar

  7,000

  170.6

  Cheese for processing

  4,000

  170.6

  Potatoes
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions processed potato importers have been found to have imported Monsanto's New Leaf potatoes or products derived from them; what quantity of material containing Monsanto's New Leaf potatoes has entered the food chain; and if he will make a statement. [80104]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 23 March 1999,Official Report, column 217. I am not aware that any of these potatoes or their products have been imported into the UK. However, enforcement responsibility for imports of processed potatoes lies with local authorities.

  Farmers (Land Management)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funds under the Common Agricultural Policy will be available to assist farmers to manage land in environmentally sensitive ways. [79904]

  Mr. Morley
  Following the recent agreement in Berlin, funding under the Common Agricultural Policy for agri-environment schemes and all the other measures under the Rural Development Regulation will be roughly 4.3 beuro per annum for the whole Community. Subject to confirmation by the European Commission, this includes an addition of about 140 meuro for agri-environment schemes. No further breakdown is yet available.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sanctions are imposed by the Marine Safety Agency on fishing vessels which are found to have underdeclared their engine capacity. [80238]

  Mr. Morley
  The recording of fishing vessel's engine capacity is a requirement of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 which are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. New regulations, planned to come into force in September 1999, will enable the de-registration of a fishing vessel where its engine power does not match that registered. Checks on engine power are due to commence on 1 January 2000.

  Genetically Modified Foods
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to publish the paper requested by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Biotechnology from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser on the human health implications of genetically modified foods. [75419]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I have been asked to reply.
  298
  The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser have been asked to advise Ministers on the public health implications of the genetic modification of food. Their work will be conducted in accordance with the Government's Guidelines on "The Use of Scientific Advice in Policy Making", which sets out a framework for ensuring that Government policy is made on the basis of the best scientific advice. Advice from officials to Ministers is not normally published, but the possibility of publication in this case will be considered when the advice has been received.

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