Written Answers of 28 April 1999

PRIME MINISTER

  Arms Ban (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on UK participation in the enforcement of the arms ban on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1160. [82294]

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom fully supports the UN arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was imposed by UNSCR 1160. The embargo is implemented in the UK by means of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998 and is rigorously enforced.

  In addition, the UK participates in international monitoring of the arms embargo through the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM).

  Al Shifa Factory
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library his answer to the letter from Mr. Tim Pendry of 29 March concerning the Al Shifa factory. [81906]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: I have asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to reply on my behalf. A copy of Mr. Fatchett's reply will be placed in the Library in due course.

  European Council (Accountability)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his(a) policy towards and (b) definition of full accountability and absolute transparency in the European Commission, as set out as future Commission policy by President-nominate Prodi; and what representations he has made on the subject. [82478]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government agree with Mr. Prodi that the European Commission should be made more accountable, more transparent and more efficient. Achieving this will require a fundamental overhaul of the commission's financial control systems, as well as reform of its personnel policies and its management structures.

  We have already shared specific reform ideas with partners. Heads of State and Government discussed plans for reform with Mr. Prodi on 14 April. They will continue their discussions on the basis of proposals put forward by Mr. Prodi at the Cologne European Council in June.

  Europe Day
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister what activities are planned by(a) the Government and (b) the European Commission in the United Kingdom to mark Europe Day. [82476]
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  The Prime Minister
  On Europe Day, 9 May, the European flag will fly alongside the Union Jack from Government buildings and in Parliament Square.

  As on Europe Day every year, the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom will be holding a reception.

  NATO
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 26 April 1999,Official Report, columns 21–36, what are the elements of the new membership action plan for aspiring members of NATO. [82627]

  The Prime Minister
  The elements of the Membership Action Plan are set out in NATO Press Communique NAC-S(99)66, which was deposited in the Library of the House on 26 April.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 28 April. [82048]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have further such meetings later today.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Department Legal Business
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on her Department's policy when(a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81763]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Privy Council Office rarely, if ever, institutes legal proceedings, but is from time to time required to respond to proceedings initiated by third parties. In such cases the Department would be advised by the Treasury Solicitor's Department on the need to instruct counsel. However, there have been no recent instances (and none within the last three years) when it has been necessary to instruct counsel on behalf of my Department.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Digital Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of when digital terrestrial television will reach(a) 70 per cent., (b) 80 per cent. and (c) 90 per cent. of the population. [82150]

  Janet Anderson
  Responsibility for the delivery of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in the UK rests with the BBC and ITC. The Launch phase for DTT, which
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  comprises 81 transmitters, is expected to be rolled out by the year 2000. The table gives the existing and final predicted coverage for each multiplex.

  Percentage

  Multiplex

  Existing coverage

  Final predicted coverage

  BBC Multiplex

  75·6

  90

  Digital Channels 3 and 4

  75·5

  89

  SDN and Channel 5

  75·0

  88

  ONdigital (Mux B)

  74·2

  86

  ONdigital (Mux C)

  65·7

  77

  ONdigital (Mux D)

  62·2

  73

  Cable Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the land area of urban England is cabled. [82151]

  Janet Anderson
  I understand from the Independent Television Commission that over 53 per cent. of all homes in England now have cable available to them. This represents 57 per cent. of homes in urban England.

  Millennium Company (Sponsorship)
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total amount of cash receipts in sponsorship received by the Millennium Company up to 31 March[81744]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 21 April 1999, Official Report, columns 577–78.

  BBC (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to set targets for the BBC in relation to the employment of Black and Asian people. [82325]

  Janet Anderson
  We have no such plans. The BBC is required to comply with employment and equal opportunities law and to report annually, in its Annual Report and Accounts, on compliance with the legal requirements. The Annual Report also provides details of progress towards meeting the ethnic targets set by the BBC's Board of Governors and on the proportion of ethnic minorities in management.

  Chelsea Football Club
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings the Minister for Sport has had since May 1997 with officials of Chelsea Football Club in his official capacity; and if he will list them. [81802]

  Mr. Banks
  As Minister for Sport, I have attended a number of events where Chelsea officials were present, and I have met officials from the club on the following occasions.140
  8 July 1997:
  Meeting with David Blunkett to discuss a Study Centre linked to the Premier League (also in attendance was the President of Brazil and the then Brazilian Sports Minister, Pele). Representatives from many of the Premiership Clubs were in attendance, including Ken Bates, Chairman of Chelsea Football Club.
  8 September 1997:
  Meeting with Steve Keen, Lee Deegan, Leslie Smith and Colin Moore to discuss Chelsea Disabled Football Club.

  I have very good relations with Mr. Bates and frequent discussions with him. In his role as an FA representative, he was involved in the discussions this Department had about the development of Wembley Stadium.

  As part of the FA's Campaign to secure the 2006 World Cup, I have met with a number of FIFA Executive Committee members in this country and have accompanied some of them to Chelsea Football Club to tour the ground and view the impressive facilities there and at Chelsea Village.

  World Cup
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with FIFA about the suitability of English stadiums for the World Cup 2006 bid. [81804]

  Mr. Banks
  None. FIFA has well-established criteria for World Cup host venues.

  As the hon. Member may be aware, the Football Association is required to nominate between eight and 12 stadiums as host venues in the bid document, which it will be submitting to FIFA in July. These stadiums will be subject to inspection by a FIFA Inspection Committee at the end of this year.

  I understand that, following a detailed survey of potential venues, the Football Association has identified 15 stadiums which fulfil the FIFA criteria for World Cup venues and a further five that have the potential to be redeveloped in the run-up to the staging of the 2006 World Cup to meet the criteria.

  The FA are, therefore, well placed to meet FIFA's stadium requirements. This bears testimony to the £3565 million which football clubs in this country have spent on the redevelopment of their grounds over the past ten years, helped by £160 million from the Football Trust as a result of the reduction in Pool Betting Duty concession.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Herbicide-resistant Crops
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of herbicide-resistant crops on vulnerable species of birds. [80792]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am aware that many species of farmland bird are in decline in Britain and so I take very seriously the potential effect that the introduction of herbicide-resistant crops might have on these vulnerable species.
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  The Government have undertaken to fund a four year research programme into the effect of the management of genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops on farmland wildlife as announced in my answer on 15 April 1999, Official Report, columns 301–02. These farm-scale evaluations will begin in spring 1999 and will consider spring and winter-sown oil seed rape and maize. The research programme will concentrate on monitoring the diversity and abundance of plants and invertebrates in GM herbicide-resistant crops compared with conventionally managed non-GM equivalents. It is not planned that birds will be included in the monitoring programme. However, existing research has been able to demonstrate connections between some bird populations and, for example, weed and insect abundance in crops. In this way, the results of the plant and invertebrate monitoring will be used to predict whether an adverse affect on bird populations is likely to occur.

  Charities (Postal Costs)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will pay the postal costs of voluntary bodies and registered charities requested to respond to Government consultation documents; and if he will make a statement. [80920]

  Mr. Meale
  Numerous responses have been received to my Department's consultation documents and we are grateful to the many organisations and individuals who have taken the time to let us have their views. My Department has no plans to pay postal costs incurred by organisations that responded.

  Departmental Legal Business
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy when(a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81770]

  Mr. Meale
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions predominately uses junior counsel when it is necessary to instruct counsel to provide legal advice, as does the Treasury Solicitor when instructing counsel in court' proceedings involving the Department.

  The two First Treasury Counsel are both junior counsel and they will advise and represent the government without a Queen's Counsel in many of its important civil cases. In addition, the Attorney-General maintains four panels of junior Counsel whom departments are expected to use for the majority of the government's civil litigation. The approval of the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General is required before a Queen's Counsel can be instructed to appear for any government department in civil litigation.

  In determining the level of counsel to use (whether in connection with civil or criminal proceedings, or the provision of legal advice), the department will consider the individual circumstances of each case. It will take into account, amongst other things, the importance and sensitivity of the case, the complexity of the law, the
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  weight and complexity of the evidence, and the degree of experience and expertise required before deciding whether to instruct Queen's Counsel or junior counsel.

  The information as to cost is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  M4 (A38 Bridge)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the quality of repairs undertaken by the Highways Agency to the A38 Bridge over the M4 at Almondsbury in 1998; and if he will make a statement. [81956]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The repairs carried out in 1998 to the A38 bridge over the M4 at Almondsbury included road resurfacing and strengthening works necessary to ensure that the structure remained safe for future use.

  The Highways Agency was not satisfied with the surfacing laid by the contractor and negotiations have led to that surface being replaced at no expense to the taxpayer. The repair work began on 19 April and subject to weather conditions should be completed within 2 weeks.

  Congestion Charging
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the RAC to discuss congestion charging. [82255]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Ministers from the Department meet representatives of the Royal Automobile Club from time to time to discuss matters arising out of the Integrated Transport White Paper. The last such meeting, which was attended by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, was on 19 January 1999.

  Road Stress Maps
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Highways Agency has to update the existing motorway and trunk road stress map. [82258]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Highways Agency intends to publish in its 1998–99 Annual Report a map derived from Trafficmaster data showing congested sections of its network.

  New stress maps for the motorway and trunk road network based upon a calculation of traffic flow and capacity will be published when the data for 1998 are available later this year.

  A13
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what monitoring of air quality has been conducted, and what were the results thereof, in relation to the A13 and abutting residential areas, from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement. [82034]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: Local air quality studies of the existing levels of pollutants were undertaken by the Highways Agency in 1992 and in

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  1998 in order to assess the potential effect of the proposed junction improvement schemes for this section of the A13. The most recent monitoring data were gathered in the vicinity of the A13/A112 Prince Regent Lane junction for the period January to May 1998. The pollutants monitored were Carbon Monoxide, PM10, Nitrogen Dioxide, Benzene and 1–3 Butadiene.

  When compared with National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) objectives, to be achieved in 2005, the monitoring data indicate that the objective for PM10 (50 microgrammes per cubic metre as a running 24 hour mean) is currently exceeded. However, as a non-standard measuring method was used, the scale of this likely exceedence cannot be certain. The 99 percentile of a running 24 hour mean over the monitoring period was 113 microgrammes per cubic metre at the roadside. Mean Nitrogen Dioxide measurements exceeded the value of the NAQS annual mean objective (21 ppb) and were made using the standard method. The mean roadside concentration was 38 ppb. It is therefore possible that the 2005 objective is currently exceeded but a longer period of monitoring would be needed to confirm this. Monitoring of the other pollutants indicated current levels below the 2005 objectives.

  Local authorities are currently monitoring air quality more generally in their areas as part of the local air quality management process, with the aim of achieving the objectives of the NAQS by the year 2005. Where a local authority's review and assessment of local air quality indicates that air quality objectives are not likely to be met, then local authorities must declare Air Quality Management Areas. For each Air Quality Management Area, the local authority must draw up an action plan, setting out measures through which the objectives may be achieved.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what information he has obtained about the speed of traffic movements, congestion and impediments to mobility at peak times on the A13 from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement; [82033]

  (2) if he will convene a meeting of representatives of the Highways Agency, the London boroughs and the Traffic Section of the Metropolitan Police to examine what interim measures could be introduced to minimise traffic congestion and to maximise mobility in the westbound section of the A13 from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement; [82031]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the frequency and scale of congestion on the westbound A 13 section from the vicinity of Dagenham Dock to Central London; and if he will make a statement. [82032]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: As these questions relate to operational matters, I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
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  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Mackinley, dated April 1999:
  Thank you for the Parliamentary Questions that you have tabled on the subjects of congestion, traffic speeds, and mobility on the A13 from Dagenham Dock to Central London. As these are operational matters they have been passed to the Highways Agency for me to reply.
  Traffic congestion on the A13, particularly during peak periods, is undoubtedly a problem. The Highways Agency employs a number of methods to monitor congestion on trunk roads such as the A13. These include the formulation of traffic stress maps (Narnas) which were reproduced in the Roads Review report "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England". A copy of this document has been placed in the House of Commons library and I enclose copies of the London maps for your information. We are developing various ways of monitoring congestion from day to day including analysing data from traffic loops installed in the road and data supplied by Trafficmaster. However, none of these newer systems is yet in operation on the A13.
  Traffic speed on the A13 is also an issue. Traffic speeds are monitored by DETR in a programme of speed surveys. Surveys of traffic speeds on the A13 were last carried out in 1995 and 1998. Although the 1998 survey results have not yet been published, provisional indications are that there has been a substantial fall in average speeds during peak times on the A13 between these two dates. This suggests that journey times are getting worse and congestion is increasing on the A13.
  We hold regular meetings with representatives of the relevant London Boroughs to discuss the operation, maintenance and management of the A13 with the aim of making the best use of the available road space, to minimise congestion and maximise mobility. This is achieved by implementing a number of policies including ensuring that maintenance is carried out at off-peak times, undertaking small improvement schemes at junctions and optimising traffic signal timings. Acting as our maintaining agents the Boroughs also regularly meet officers from the Metropolitan Police to discuss these issues.
  Demand for road space on the A13 does exceed capacity, particularly at peak times. We have nearly completed the construction of a major new route for the A13 extending from Dagenham Dock out to the M25 which will be fully open to traffic later this year. In addition tenders are being assessed for the A13 Thames Gateway Design, Build, Finance, and Operate (DBFO) project as part of the Government's roads programme. This project includes major junction reconstruction schemes at Movers Lane, the A117 near Beckton Alps and Ironbridge to Canning Town, which have been designed to ease congestion and reduce accidents on the A 13 between Dagenham Dock and Central London. Subject to a satisfactory tender being accepted they are likely to be completed within five years of the letting of the DBFO contract, due to incentives provided to the DBFO company to programme the schemes early in their contract.
  I hope that I have answered your questions to your satisfaction.

  Landing Rights
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on bilateral discussions on landing rights between India and the UK; [82285]

  (2) what representations he has received concerning landing rights for British airlines in India. [82284]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Representations have been received from UK scheduled and charter airlines and passengers concerning the restrictive nature of the air services arrangements between the United Kingdom and India. British Airways wishes to operate additional services to India and Virgin Atlantic also wishes to enter the UK-India market but neither can do so because there is insufficient capacity under the UK/India air services
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  arrangements. In addition, we have received reports that there has been overbooking on UK-India services and a significant number of passengers are having to travel by indirect routes.

  We have been seeking to liberalise the arrangements. The last round of bilateral discussions took place in December 1996. Talks scheduled for September 1997 were postponed at the request of the Indian authorities. Despite repeated representations from the UK Government, no dates have been agreed for the next round of bilateral discussions.

  SSSIs
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Region if he will list the sites of special scientific interest that have been subject to inappropriate development since May 1997. [82495]

  Mr. Meale
  The English Nature Annual Report includes lists of all SSSIs damaged by development. Copies are available in the Library of the House covering the period up to 31 March 1998. Full information for the last financial year is not yet available.

  Not all development on a site should be classed as inappropriate. English Nature will provide advice to local authorities on moving harmful development away from sensitive locations or imposing conditions on planning applications to remove or reduce adverse effects on SSSIs, in order to safeguard the special interest.

  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities on their powers in relation to the holding of major sports events in areas of special scientific interest. [82354]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Once a Site of Special Scientific Interest is notified, the land manager must consult English Nature on any activity likely to damage the features of special interest. For those activities requiring planning permission, guidance is provided for local planning authorities in Planning Policy Guidance Note 9, in relation to SSSIs and to other locally important wildlife sites.

  Great Western Trains
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many passengers travelled on the lines currently run by Great Western Trains in each of the last 10 years. [82499]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The figures for passenger miles and passenger journeys for each of the last five years are shown in the table. Figures for the five years before that are not available.

  million

  Year

  Passenger miles

  Passenger journeys

  1993–94

  1,218

  14

  1994–95

  1,139

  14

  1995–96

  1,211·4

  14·4

  1996–97

  1,270

  15

  1997–98

  1,383·1

  16·4

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many trains operated by Great Western Trains were cancelled in each 146
  of the last two years; and if he will estimate the number of passengers affected by these cancellations. [82493]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Figures in the Franchising Director's Quarterly Bulletin (December 1998)—copies in the House Library—show that for the year ending December 1997 0·6 per cent. of trains were cancelled by Great Western Trains and that for the year ending December 1998 the figure was 1 per cent. It is not possible to estimate the number of passengers affected by these cancellations as these are walk-on services.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the timetable for the Government's negotiations with Great Western Trains for the extension, or termination, of their franchise. [82497]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Great Western Trains Limited franchise agreement is for a period of 10 years from 4 February 1996. We made it clear at the Rail Summit in February that we are prepared to renegotiate existing franchises if operators come forward with proposals which offer substantial benefits for passengers and value for money for the taxpayer. There is no timetable for this either generally or in respect of Great Western Trains specifically.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff were employed on the lines currently operated by Great Western Trains in each of the last 10 years. [82494]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information requested is not available. Under the present franchise agreements, Train Operating Companies' (TOCs) performance is measured on prescribed outputs such as service levels. Inputs such as numbers of staff employed are matters for the TOCs.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of trains operated by Great Western Trains have been more than five minutes late in each of the last two years; and what was the average total delay on those trains. [82496]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The information is not available in the format requested. The Franchising Director was requested to base his assessment of lateness on those applied under British Rail immediately before privatisation. For InterCity trains, such as those operated by Great Western Trains, the definition of lateness was a train that arrived at its destination more than 9 minutes and 59 seconds late.

  The figures in the latest issue of the Franchising Director's Quarterly Bulletin (December 1998)—copies in the House Library—show that the proportion of trains recorded as late (against the above definition) for the year ending December 1997 was 13·3 per cent. and for the year ending December 1998 was 15·5 per cent. Figures for average total delay are not recorded.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the rates of investment in the infrastructure, rolling stock and passenger services on the lines currently run by Great Western Trains in each of the last 10 years and (b) the planned investment for each of the next 10 years. [82498]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This information is not available.

  Motor Events
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to require environmental impact assessments to be undertaken before motorised sporting events and rallies may take place in the countryside. [82353]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are no provisions in the regulations implementing Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment to carry out an assessment of these events and rallies, and there are no plans to introduce such regulations.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the report leaked from his Department on the impact of genetically modified crops on wildlife and the environment; and if he will make a statement. [72759]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 25 February 1999]: The discussion paper "The Commercial use of Genetically Modified Crops in the United Kingdom: the Potential Wider Impact on Farmland Wildlife" prepared by the Secretariat for the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) was published on 18 February 1999. The paper may be found on ACRE' s website (www.environment.detr.gov.uk/acre/wildlife/index.htm) or in ACRE' s latest Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The leaked report was an early draft of the one published. This early draft had served as a basis for a meeting I chaired in June last year to advise me on the possible wider indirect effects of the use of GM crops on wildlife. I invited a number of experts, including English Nature, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the chairman of ACRE, to inform me of the issues to enable us to get an initiative started to address concerns about wider impacts on biodiversity from the use of genetically modified crops.

  My officials then developed the paper with ACRE. The key conclusion of the paper is that there have been serious declines in farmland wildlife, and we need to ensure that the widespread introduction of GM crops does not prejudice Government objectives to halt and where possible reverse these wildlife declines. To this end, it is important to have the capability to identify whether and how GM crops are likely to change agricultural practices which could result in indirect, delayed and long term adverse effects on farmland wildlife. I have already taken steps to address this.

  Before this paper was published, I requested that the remit of ACRE be extended to consider the potential wider implications of the use of GMOs, especially when the committee is requested to give advice on applications to place GM crops on the market. ACRE has set up a Sub-group on Wider Biodiversity Issues to consider the issues raised the paper in more detail. The first meeting of this Sub-group was held on 15 March. The farm-scale evaluations into the ecological effects of genetically modified crops being set up by my Department, MAFF and Scottish Office will also assist in providing baseline
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  data on farmland wildlife in order to underpin the consideration of wider biodiversity issues on a more detailed level.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Kosovar Refugees
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information she has obtained regarding the numbers of refugees from Kosovo who are to be offered protection in other EU countries. [81996]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The latest figures we have received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on offers of temporary protection by other EU countries are as follows:

  Austria: up to 5,000

  Belgium: up to 1,200

  Denmark: initially 1,500

  Finland: 1,000

  France: no figure stated (so far over 770 accepted)

  Germany: 10,000 Greece: 5,000

  Ireland: initially 1,000

  Netherlands: 2,000

  Portugal: 1,500

  Spain: some thousands

  Sweden: 5,600.

TREASURY

  Personal Taxation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish estimates of the total amounts of(a) income tax, (b) VAT, (c) national insurance contributions, (d) other indirect taxes and (e) local taxes currently paid by typical families at varying multiples of average earnings in the format used on 3 December 1981, Official Report, column 188; and if he will make a statement. [78055]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 22 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 16 April 1999, Official Report, columns 387–90.

  Tax Avoidance
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of(a) annual tax loss as a result of tax avoidance in the area of personnel services covered by IR 35 and (b) the value in 1998 of Government contracts with IT and other companies providing personnel services which will be affected by IR 35. [81329]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is always difficult to measure the extent of tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) avoidance. The measures covered by IR 35 are forecast to raise £475 million in 2000–01 and £375 million in 2001–02.
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  No information is collected from contractors which allows an assessment to be made of the number or value of Government contracts awarded to companies involved in tax and NICs avoidance.

  Finance Acts (Human Rights)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to review the compatibility of the provisions of the Finance Acts passed since May 1997 with the Human Rights Act 1998. [81701]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In line with other Government Departments, the Chancellor's Departments are reviewing their legislation and procedures in the light of the Human Rights Act 1998.

  Health Insurance
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the powers under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 of permanent health insurance companies to deduct state benefits from payments to claimants. [82168]

  Ms Hewitt
  No. It is for insurers to decide on what terms to offer insurance policies to customers.

  Marginal Income Tax
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people with a marginal income tax rate on their earnings and pension income of 10 per cent. who also have savings income. [82192]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: In 1999–2000 there are estimated to be around 1·4 million taxpayers with a marginal rate of 10 per cent. on their earnings and pension income and some taxable savings income.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pattern of military low flying activity in the United Kingdom during 1998. [82470]

  Mr. Spellar
  The amount of low flying training carried out in the UK Low Flying System during 1998 was some 16 per cent less than for 1997. This reduction was due, in part, to the number of aircraft and aircrew deployed on activities overseas. The distribution of low flying training across the UK has not changed significantly. I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper giving a detailed account of low flying training in the UK Low Flying System for 1998. Further copies can be obtained from the following address:

  Secretariat (Air Staff) 2

  Ministry of Defence

  Room 8247

  Main Building

  Whitehall

  London SW IA 2HB.

  Service Personnel (Suspensions)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel in(a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy have been suspended from duty due to allegations as to their conduct for (i) up to three months, (ii) up to six months, (iii) up to nine months, (iv) up to 12 months, (v) up to 15 months and (vi) over 15 months at the latest date for which figures are available. [69384]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Services do not, at present, collate statistics which relate to suspensions as a result of unproven allegations. This information is held on personal records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but will in future be recorded centrally.

  The position on suspensions in each Service is as follows:
  Naval Service
  The Royal Navy and Royal Marines do not use suspension from duty when personnel are subject to investigations of alleged misconduct. If appropriate, Officers are re-appointed and Ratings are drafted to another job.
  Army
  Army officers may be suspended from duty due to allegations of misconduct in accordance with Queen's Regulations (Army) 6·015. There is no similar mechanism for suspending soldiers from duty. In such circumstances, soldiers are dealt with by their chain of command and should there be a pressing Service need administrative action may be taken to move them to another unit while investigations take place.
  RAF
  The RAF may suspend officers from duty due to misconduct in accordance with Queen's Regulations (RAF) 1009. There is no formal system in place by which an airman or woman can be suspended. It is extremely rare for an officer to be suspended, or for an airman or airwoman to be removed from all Air Force duties. In such cases, it is likely that the individual would be taken from specific duties and employed on other duties until the allegation of misconduct had been resolved. If an individual is facing charges of such severity that their continued presence on a unit would prejudice good order and discipline, or where welfare considerations dictate, an individual may be moved to another unit.

  Military Training
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which military officers(a) have visited the United Kingdom and (b) have been visited by United Kingdom military personnel to receive training or other military assistance under the Defence Military Assistance Fund since 1 April 1997. [81379]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  (a) The countries from which military officers have visited the United Kingdom to receive training or other military assistance under the Defence Military Assistance Fund (DMAF) since 1 April 1997 are:

  Albania

  Argentina

  Austria

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Belize

  Bosnia-Herzegovina

  Brazil

  151

  Brunei

  Bulgaria

  Chile

  Czech Republic

  Egypt

  Estonia

  Ethiopia

  Finland

  Georgia

  Greece

  Hungary

  India

  Indonesia

  Jamaica

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Kuwait

  Latvia

  Lithuania

  Macedonia

  Malaysia

  Morocco

  Moldova

  Nepal

  New Zealand

  Nigeria

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Philippines

  Poland

  Portugal

  Qatar

  Republic of Ireland

  Romania

  Russia

  Saudi Arabia

  Slovakia

  Slovenia

  South Africa

  South Korea

  Spain

  Sweden

  Thailand

  Turkey

  Ukraine

  United Arab Emirates

  Uruguay

  Uzbekistan

  Yemen.

  (b) The countries which have been visited by United Kingdom military personnel to receive training or other military assistance under the Defence Military Assistance Fund (DMAF) since 1 April 1997 are:

  Albania

  Argentina

  Austria

  Australia

  Bahrain

  152

  Bangladesh

  Belize

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Brunei

  Bulgaria

  Chile

  China

  Czech Republic

  Estonia

  Finland

  Georgia

  Ghana

  Greece

  Hungary

  India

  Indonesia

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Korea

  Kuwait

  Malaysia

  Latvia

  Lithuania

  Macedonia

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Philippines

  Poland

  Qatar

  Republic of Ireland

  Romania

  Russia

  Saudi Arabia

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Slovakia

  Slovenia

  South Africa

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Turkey

  Ukraine

  United Arab Emirates

  USA

  Venezuela

  Zimbabwe.

  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel have assisted United States military personnel in providing military training to, or in conducting joint training exercises with, members of the Colombian(a) armed forces and (b) police in (i) the United States and (ii) Colombia in each of the last eight years. [81374]
  153
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  We have no records of British military personnel having assisted US military personnel with the provision of military training to, or the conduct of joint training exercises with, the Colombian armed forces or police during the last eight years.

  Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the pay and conditions of service of service men and women serving in Macedonia are comparable with those service men and women of other NATO countries. [82228]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The pay and conditions of service of personnel serving in the armed forces of NATO are governed by the needs and circumstances of individual member states and reflect the composition and role of their armed services. In the case of the UK, the pay and conditions of service package, which is recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, reflects the fully professional status of our armed forces and their expectation of unlimited liability for world-wide deployment throughout a career.

  Basic pay includes a component known as the X Factor, currently 12 per cent. for regulars, which recognises, among other things, the need to serve sometimes in difficult and dangerous situations. Unlike special operational allowances which may be paid to other countries' armed forces when on deployment, the X Factor is paid through a whole UK Service career and is pensionable. Other career benefits include, subsidised food and accommodation, assisted house purchase schemes and—while away on

  1 Para

  2 Para

  3 Para

  Estb

  Str

  Estb

  Str

  Estb

  Str

  Infantry:

  576

  —

  574

  —

  550

  —

  Parachute Regiment

  —

  457

  —

  536

  —

  443

  Gurkha Reinforcement Company1

  —

  —

  —

  106

  —

  —

  Other Infantry Cap Badges2

  —

  2

  —

  2

  —

  3

  Royal Armoured Corpse2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Royal Logistics Corps

  23

  19

  23

  26

  23

  22

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  2

  5

  2

  2

  2

  3

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  14

  13

  14

  14

  11

  23

  Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support)

  21

  23

  21

  22

  21

  23

  Army Physical Training Corps

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  637

  520

  635

  710

  608

  518

  1The strength figures for 2 Para include 106 Gurkhas in the Gurkha Reinforcement Company: these Officers and Soldiers are not counted in United Kingdom Trained Army Personnel figures

  2Officers and Other Ranks on attachment to Parachute Regiment

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date are 10 and 4 (TA) parachute battalions are due to be merged and reduced; what was their old manpower establishment; and what is their planned amalgamated manpower establishment. [82346]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: The TA parachute battalions, 4 Para (V) and 10 Para (V), are to be merged and reduced in size with effect from 1 July 1999. 4 Para (V) was established for 531 all ranks and 10 Para (V) was established for 530 all ranks. After 1 July 1999 the new battalion, to be called 4 Para (V), will be established for 324 all ranks.
  154
  operations—a special allowance to compensate for longer periods of separation known as Longer Separated Service Allowance which is payable after three years' total service. In addition, special arrangements have been made to provide our Service men and women with a wide range of supportive and welfare measures while they are deployed to the Balkans. These include the availability of 10 minutes of free telephone calls per week, return flights for rest and recreation in UK for those deployed in excess of 4 months and some free mail facilities.

  Overall, it is difficult and misleading to attempt to draw precise comparisons between the different nations' armed forces serving in Macedonia based on a single aspect such as pay. A full comparison of terms and conditions of service, or the spectrum of welfare provision and facilities, is necessary.

  Parachute Battalions
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the(a) manpower establishments and (b) actual manning levels for each of the three regular parachute battalions. [82344]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: The establishments and actual staffing levels for each of the three regular parachute battalions, as at 1 March 1999, are shown in the table. The figures are for UK Trained Army Personnel only, and exclude Locally Employed personnel, Royal Irish (Home Service) personnel, Reservists mobilised for duties associated with Bosnia, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, and Gurkhas (excepting the Gurkha Reinforcement Company presently attached to 2 Para).

  Dunkirk Anniversary
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Dunkirk and to mark the final pilgrimage of the Dunkirk Veterans Association. [75912]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I understand that the Dunkirk Veterans Association is planning to hold its final pilgrimage to Dunkirk in June 2000, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk.

  Armed Forces (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic origin and grade of members of the(a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force. [79051]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I will publish the figures for the end of the year 1998–99 shortly.

  Non-statutory Liabilities
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the basis on which some non-statutory liabilities are described as unquantifiable at page 23 of his Department's expenditure plans 1999–2000 to 2001–02, Cm 4208. [81576]

  Mr. George Robertson
  Because of the nature of the liabilities involved, it is not always possible to quantify accurately the potential contingent liability or to provide a realistic estimate of the likely charge that would result if the liabilities were to mature. In these cases, the term "unquantifiable" is used to describe the liabilities in question. If the indemnities were to be called upon, provision for any payment would be sought through the Supply procedure.

  Small Arms Trainer Systems
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many small arms trainer ranges were available for armed forces use in 1997; and how many are currently available. [81777]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As at 31 December 1997, there were 158 small arms trainer (SAT) systems available to the Armed Forces. Since then, three further systems have been procured, two of which are now fully operational.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the(a) condition, (b) availability and (c) future use of the small arms trainer range at Chelsea Barracks. [81778]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The small arms trainer at Chelsea Barracks has been moved to Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow. Units that previously used the small arms trainer at Chelsea Barracks are now able to use the alternative facility at Wellington Barracks.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on the Falkland Island garrison of the withdrawal of diversion rights for RAF Tristars by Uruguay and Brazil; and if he will make a statement. [81868]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There has been no withdrawal of diversion rights for RAF aircraft by Uruguay or Brazil.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's time scale in the delivery of a 20mm calibre gun to the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department for the arming of a fishery protection vessel. [82059]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Following Government approval in January 1999 to procure a 20mm Oerlikon cannon, a formal order was received from the Falkland Islands Government on 2 February. Considerable work 156
  was subsequently necessary to clarify the requirements for spares, fittings and ammunition, and the order for this support material was not received until 15 April. The cannon and associated support stores have now been prepared for dispatch and, on current plans, will be sent out at the next practical opportunity in early May.

  RAF Pensions
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the provision of RAF pensions to surviving spouses of service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [82042]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: Surviving spouses of members of the RAF, like those of other Service personnel, are generally entitled to receive a widow's pension. There are two exceptions: pensions are not paid to widows or widowers who married their partner before 1978 but after their partner had left the armed forces; and pensions are withdrawn from widows and widowers who remarry (although they may be restored if their second spouse subsequently dies). From time to time we receive representations to extend entitlements to these groups, and we shall examine them again as part of the current review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

  Air Brigades
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date 16 Air Assault Brigade will become operationally effective. [82342]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: 24 Airmobile Brigade is due to be re-named 16 Air Assault Brigade on 1 September 1999 when it will take over command of the very high readiness Airborne Battle Group from 5 Airborne Brigade. 16 Air Assault Brigade will remain operationally effective in the Airmobile role and the Airborne Battle Group will continue to be operationally effective throughout. 16 Air Assault Brigade will not be fully operationally effective in the Air Assault role until the new Westland Attack Helicopter is brought into service. The Brigade's Attack Helicopter Regiments should all be operationally effective by mid-2004.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date 5 Airborne Brigade Headquarters will cease to be an airborne headquarters. [82341]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: It is currently planned that 5 Airborne Brigade Headquarters will cease to be an airborne headquarters on 1 September 1999 and it will be re-named Headquarters 12 Mechanised Brigade and start training in this new role.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Paralogistic Battalion is due to disband; and what logistic unit will replace it. [82343]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: 5 Airborne Brigade's Paralogistic Battalion is due to disband on 1 September 1999. Some parachute trained personnel will transfer on this date to 16 Air Assault Brigade's Logistic Regiment and Field Workshop to support 16 Air Assault Brigade's very high readiness Airborne Battle Group. The remainder will form the nucleus of the new 12 Mechanised Brigade's Logistic Squadrons and Equipment Support Companies.

  Armed Forces (Balkans)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the units of the armed forces deployed to the South-East Balkans are under strength; and by what means it is intended to bring these units up to full strength. [82049]

  Mr. George Robertson
  None of the units of the armed forces deployed to the South-East Balkans is under strength.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to draw on Territorial Army units to make up shortfalls in manning levels of the armed forces in the South-East Balkans. [82050]

  Mr. George Robertson
  There are currently no plans to deploy formed Territorial Army (TA) units to the Balkans. Individual members of the TA are already serving in the Balkans with regular units on a volunteer basis, and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units of the armed services have been deployed to the South-East Balkans. [82074]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) on 26 April 1999,Official Report, columns 10–11.

  Indonesia
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Indonesian military officers are currently training in the UK. [82464]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There are currently eight Indonesian military personnel attending training courses in the UK.

  List of health authority and national health service trust appointments which expired in 1998 and for which no appointment had been made by 1 April 1999

  Region

  Body

  Number of Chairs

  Number of Non-Executives

  Eastern

  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  North West

  Chester and Halton Community NHS Trust

  1

  0

  Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Manchester Health Authority

  0

  1

  Wirral Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Calderdale and Kirklees Health Authority

  0

  1

  London

  BHB Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Croydon Community Health NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Enfield Community Care NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Trent

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Grantham and District Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  South East

  East Surrey Health Authority

  0

  2

  South West

  Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  0

  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

  0

  1

  West Midlands

  Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull (Teaching) Hospitals NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Walsall Community Health NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Total

  1

  17

  Hercules Fleet
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) proportion and (b) number of the Hercules fleet is currently airworthy. [82348]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: The Royal Air Force operates a fleet of fifty-five Hercules aircraft. Currently, all aircraft in the fleet are airworthy.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he received concerning the efficacy of air strikes alone in achieving the objectives of the United Kingdom and its NATO allies in Serbia and Kosovo. [82165]

  Mr. George Robertson
  NATO's military objectives, in support of the political aims of the international community, are to disrupt Milosevic's repressive operations and weaken his forces. A phased air campaign was chosen, on the basis of full and comprehensive military advice, as the best way of achieving those objectives.

HEALTH

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trust and health authority appointments which were not made by the due date and which remained outstanding on 1 April. [81391]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 19 April 1999]: All health authority appointments due on 1 April 1999 were completed on time. A small number of appointments (18) to National Health Service trusts and health authorities which expired in 1998 remain vacant. These vacancies are listed in the table.

  Eastbourne District General Hospital
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate an urgent inquiry into the levels of nursing staff at the Eastbourne District General Hospital and their effect on standards of patient care; and if he will make a statement. [81657]

  Mr. Hutton
  The East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority has a duty to ensure that the quality of care for those living in Eastbourne is satisfactory. The health authority and Eastbourne Hospitals National Health Service Trust are conducting a joint analysis of current needs regarding nursing staff levels at the hospital, and expect to conclude this work by June for consideration by the local Primary Care Group.

  We have also asked officials of the National Health Service Executive to discuss nursing levels at the trust with the Chief Executive and Director of Nursing of the NHS trust.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cash increase represented by the expenditure of an additional 3 per cent. of GDP on the NHS in 1999–2000. [81985]

  Mr. Denham
  The latest available data on the Gross Domestic Product in cash terms are for the year 1997–98 and the amount is £811,849 million. Three per cent. of this is £24,355 million. Planned total expenditure for the National Health Service in England in 1999–2000 is £39,703 million.

  Investing in Dentistry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority the numbers of successful applications under the Investing in Dentistry initiative. [82186]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of investing in dentistry applications which have been approved up to 26 April 1999 are shown by health authority in the table.

  Investing in dentistry requests approved by health authority as at 26 April 1999

  Health authority

  Number of applications approved

  Avon

  5

  Barnsley

  4

  Bedfordshire

  2

  Berkshire

  6

  Birmingham

  1

  Bradford

  1

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  4

  Camden and Islington

  1

  City and East London

  5

  Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

  10

  County Durham

  3

  Doncaster

  2

  Dorset

  3

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  6

  East Kent

  3

  East Lancashire

  3

  East Norfolk

  3

  East Riding

  6

  Gloucestershire

  11

  Herefordshire

  2

  160

  Investing in dentistry requests approved by health authority as at 26 April 1999

  Health authority

  Number of applications approved

  Isle of Wight

  3

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  4

  Leicestershire

  2

  Lincolnshire

  2

  Liverpool

  2

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  2

  Morecambe Bay

  7

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  2

  Northamptonshire

  4

  North Cheshire

  1

  North Cumbria

  6

  North Derbyshire

  1

  North and East Devon

  8

  North Essex

  2

  North and Mid Hampshire

  7

  North Staffordshire

  8

  North West Lancashire

  5

  North Yorkshire

  8

  North West Anglia

  2

  Nottingham

  2

  Oxfordshire

  6

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  8

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  4

  Rotherham

  6

  Salford and Trafford

  2

  Sefton

  1

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  3

  Shropshire

  8

  Somerset

  6

  Southern Derbyshire

  1

  South Cheshire

  10

  South Essex

  1

  South Humber

  2

  South Lancashire

  2

  South Staffordshire

  2

  South West Devon

  8

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  12

  Suffolk

  6

  Tees

  1

  West Hertfordshire

  1

  West Kent

  3

  West Surrey

  5

  West Sussex

  5

  Wigan and Bolton

  1

  Wiltshire

  14

  Wolverhampton

  1

  Worcestershire

  3

  Insulin Pen Needles
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on Government proposals on pen needles and insulin injection pens; and if he will make a statement. [82012]

  Mr. Denham
  We have received representations from most of the organisations consulted. We are considering them, and are seeking clarification on certain points before we make our final decisions.

  Operating Department Practitioners
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice his Department has given to NHS trusts on the procedures they should adopt for checking the qualifications of those who apply for posts as operating department practitioners; [82078]
  161
  (2) how many cases of misconduct by operating department practitioners have been reported to his Department in each of the past five years; [82080]

  (3) what research his Department has undertaken into the ability of operating department practitioners to provide care in areas other than the operating theatre, with particular reference to (a) accident and emergency, (b) cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and (c) intensive care units; [82075]

  (4) what advice his Department has given to NHS trusts on whom they should notify if an operating department practitioner is dismissed for misconduct or incapability. [82079]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has not undertaken any research on the ability of operating department practitioners to provide care in other areas. Guidance has been issued on good recruitment practice which applies to all National Health Service staff. All NHS employers have a "duty of care" to ensure that all their employees are qualified and competent to perform the duties for which they are employed. This duty includes ensuring that high standards of patient care are maintained at all times.

  Responsibility for dealing with issues of misconduct and incapability are a matter for NHS trusts. The Department does not collect information on the numbers of cases of misconduct by operating department practitioners.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the establishment of a statutory regulation scheme for operating department practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [82076]

  Mr. Denham
  Since 1 May 1997, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received eight representations about regulation of operating department practitioners.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of operating department practitioners in the NHS who work in areas other than operating theatres. [82077]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available centrally. Planning the number of operating department practitioners is a matter for local employers to determine in the light of local needs and priorities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders convicted of(a) sexual offences and (b) violent offences have been released on home detention curfew on or since 28 January. [81947]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No prisoner has been placed on home detention curfew who has been convicted of an offence to which part I of the Sexual Offenders Act 1997 applies. One offender has been placed on home detention curfew whose current sentence is for bigamy but this is not an offence to which part I of the Sexual Offences Act 1997 applies.
  162
  Of the 3,730 offenders who have been placed on home detention curfew up to Monday 19 April, 617 offenders have a current conviction for an offence of violence.

  Only prisoners serving less than four years are eligible for consideration for home detention curfew. All eligible prisoners must pass a risk assessment before they can be placed on home detention curfew. Prisoners who either pose a risk to the public or a risk of re-offending during the home detention curfew period, or are unlikely to comply with terms of curfew, will not be granted home detention curfew.

  Racial Assaults
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially-motivated assaults have been recorded in each of the last three years at(a) Tooting and (b) Wandsworth police stations. [81890]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that Wandsworth and Tooting police stations are part of Wandsworth Division and it is not possible to break down the figures below divisional level. He has provided the following information:

  Financial year

  Racial assaults

  1997–98

  30

  1998–99

  66

  It is not possible to provide figures for the financial year 1996–97 as the Metropolitan police's system did not then separate racial assaults from all other assaults.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of incitement to racial hatred were(a) reported, (b) investigated and (c) the subject of arrest, in (i) Tooting and (ii) Wandsworth police stations in the last three years. [81888]

  Kate Hoey
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that Wandsworth and Tooting police stations are part of Wandsworth Division and it is not possible to break down the figures below divisional level. He has provided the following information for incidents reported under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 in Wandsworth Division:

  Financial year

  Reported

  Investigated

  Arrested

  1996–97

  1

  1

  1

  1997–98

  4

  4

  0

  1998–99

  2

  2

  0

  Refugees (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has given to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of the number of refugees from Kosovo who will be offered protection in the United Kingdom. [81998]

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from the Kosovan conflict the Government have agreed to accept into the United Kingdom. [82226]
  163
  Mr. Straw
  I refer to my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 April 1999,Official Report, columns 6–9, to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson).

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to his European Union counterparts to coordinate the emergency admission of refugees from the Kosovo conflict. [82225]

  Kate Hoey
  An emergency meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council was held on 7 April. The Council agreed that the first priority was to seek to protect refugees in the region. It was also agreed that the emergency relocation of refugees from the region should be co-ordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions he has made to accept refugees from the conflict in former Yugoslavia to the United Kingdom. [82224]

  Mr. Straw
  We have always made it clear that the United Kingdom stands ready to receive some thousands of refugees from that region on criteria agreed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) who gives priority to relieving pressure on the camps by giving priority to the most vulnerable and those with family links in the United Kingdom.

  Under these arrangements, the first arrivals—161 refugees, mainly women and children—came to the United Kingdom on Sunday and are being looked after in Leeds. Reception centres are being staffed by the Refugee Council which is taking the lead in establishing a special reception service for Kosovan refugees arriving in the United Kingdom.

  On arrival, the refugees were given a basic health check to determine if anyone needed immediate medical attention; none of the refugees needed immediate hospital treatment. At the reception centres, each refugee will be given a more thorough health check and be assigned a General Practitioner; children of school age will be assigned to a local school and refugees will be put in touch with any known relatives or friends.

  People arriving under the UNHCR programme will be granted permission to enter in line with close family members already settled in the United Kingdom or 12 months' exceptional leave to enter to provide for their protection as requested by UNHCR. They will have

  Payment reductions to private contractors managing prisons

  Prison

  Date

  Amount(£)

  Reason

  Altcourse

  May 1998

  28,089

  Failure to meet performance standards

  Blakenhurst

  February 1994

  41,167

  Temporary reduction in cell availability

  November 1998

  25,000

  Escape from escort

  Buckley Hall

  February 1997

  526

  Failure to meet performance standards

  Doncaster

  —

  —

  —

  Lowdham Grange

  July 1998

  702

  1 unavailable place

  October 1998

  45,080

  Failure to meet performance standards

  January 1999

  31,231

  Failure to meet performance standards

  February 1999

  6,334

  Failure to meet performance standards

  Parc

  March 1998

  54,782

  Failure to meet to standard requirements

  May 1998

  1,309

  Failure to meet performance standards

  July 1998

  298

  Doubling cell occupation beyond permitted level

  October 1998

  306,747

  Failure to meet performance standards

  Wolds

  September 1998

  23,855

  Reduction in service

  164
  access to the benefits system, NHS medical treatment and will be entitled to work. Other refugees arriving independently will be eligible to apply for asylum in the usual way.

  Televisions (Prisons)
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last five years the number of television sets with stand-by units in prisons in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [81983]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The information requested on the numbers of television sets with stand-by units for prisoners' use in England and Wales is not available in the form requested. The number of television sets with stand-by units in prisons in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  My hon. Friend, the then Minister for Prisons and Probation (Ms Quin), announced our intention to extend the availability of in-cell television as part of the incentives and earned privileges scheme in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mrs. Jones) on 1 June 1998, Official Report, columns 50–51. Figures for television sets with stand-by facilities installed since then in 1998 and 1999 to the end of April, are as follows:

  Year

  England

  Wales

  1998

  9,828

  560

  1999

  4,526

  412

  These figures do not include television sets used in association and communal rooms for which information is not kept centrally.

  Private Prisons
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of(a) fines and (b) contract payments which have been reduced to reflect the performance against the contract at (1) HMP Parc, (2) HMP Lowdham Grange, (3) HMP Altcourse, (4) HMP Wolds, (5) HMP Buckley Hall and (6) HMP Doncaster; and if he will state the reasons for each fine and reduced payment. [82446]

  Mr. George Howarth
  As shown in the table, there have been thirteen occasions on which a payment to a contractor managing a prison has been reduced. The table includes Blakenhurst prison which is also managed by a contractor. There is no distinction between a fine and a reduction in payment because a fine is made by being deducted from a due payment.

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates in prisons in England and Wales have a record of illegal drug taking. [82289]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 1998, 88,304 mandatory drug tests were conducted on prisoners, of which 20,152 tested positive for drugs. The figures include some prisoners who will have been tested more than once. Implementation of the Prison Service drug strategy over the next three years will include provision of information about new prisoners' histories of drug misuse prior to arrival in prison.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales have drug treatment facilities; and how many prisoners were undertaking such treatment on 1 April. [82290]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Systematic data about existing programmes and the number of participating prisoners is not yet collected centrally. The table gives the best available information about the current situation and the proposed outcome of implementation of the Prison Service's drug strategy.

  Prison drug treatment and programmes

  Service provision

  Current situation

  After drug strategy implementation

  CARATs1

  43

  all establishments

  Detoxification2

  10

  35

  Rehabilitation programmes

  24

  60

  Therapeutic communities

  4

  8

  Voluntary testing

  46

  all establishments

  1Low threshold Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare service which will meet the needs of the great majority of prisoners

  2Enhanced detoxification facilities in local prisons and remand centres

  Prisoners (MPs' Visits)
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance is given by his

  Numbers of police officers retiring, England and Wales, 1993–94—1997–98

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Avon and Somerset

  132

  147

  102

  166

  123

  Bedfordshire

  22

  40

  36

  38

  46

  Cambridgeshire

  39

  40

  54

  50

  48

  Cheshire

  67

  75

  55

  50

  81

  City of London

  25

  23

  35

  26

  38

  Cleveland

  65

  58

  44

  38

  25

  Cumbria

  46

  48

  39

  46

  45

  Derbyshire

  68

  56

  82

  67

  78

  Devon & Cornwall

  113

  94

  125

  114

  110

  Dorset

  36

  41

  27

  51

  50

  Durham

  64

  64

  41

  43

  49

  Dyfed-Powys

  44

  38

  36

  25

  24

  Essex

  82

  81

  115

  90

  117

  Gloucestershire

  44

  35

  33

  45

  56

  Greater Manchester

  271

  285

  346

  319

  327

  Gwent

  35

  43

  33

  50

  32

  Hampshire

  95

  104

  134

  100

  100

  Hertfordshire

  42

  35

  38

  54

  52

  Humberside

  92

  68

  78

  52

  80

  Kent

  126

  91

  93

  91

  90

  166
  Department to Her Majesty's prisons on the arrangements to be made to respond to requests by hon. Members to visit a prisoner; [82323]

  (2) what arrangements there are for visits to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons by hon. Members. [82324]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The arrangements are set out in Prison Standing Order 5D. Prisoners can request or consent to a visit from a Member of Parliament, upon which the Governor will produce a valid special visiting order. The Governor will also ensure that the visit does not take place within the hearing of prison staff, unless either party or security considerations demand otherwise. The Governor can also permit the Member to tape record any conversation which takes place during the visit. This, along with other special visits, including those from legal advisers and priests or ministers, does not normally count against the prisoner's allowance for visits.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons held on remand were found guilty when brought to trial in the last year for which figures are available. [82459]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Seventy-two per cent. of persons held on remand in England and Wales in 1997 were found guilty when brought to trial.

  Police Officers (Retirement)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by police authority(a) the number of officers who have retired and (b) the estimated cost of paying the pensions of retired officers in each of the last five years. [82492]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on the number of officers retiring is set out in the table. For information on the cost of police pensions I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 23 March 1999, Official Report, columns 164–72.
  167

  Numbers of police officers retiring, England and Wales, 1993–94—1997–98

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Lancashire

  150

  108

  134

  87

  110

  Leicestershire

  71

  73

  72

  52

  59

  Lincolnshire

  47

  49

  63

  47

  58

  Merseyside

  185

  232

  256

  217

  151

  Metropolitan

  721

  1,302

  864

  904

  1,027

  Norfolk

  55

  55

  75

  64

  68

  Northamptonshire

  38

  65

  27

  24

  44

  Northumbria

  162

  153

  178

  136

  151

  North Wales

  55

  50

  50

  60

  40

  North Yorkshire

  106

  57

  43

  51

  45

  Nottinghamshire

  83

  79

  78

  67

  94

  South Wales

  87

  98

  154

  119

  140

  South Yorkshire

  124

  87

  94

  74

  93

  Staffordshire

  106

  70

  50

  85

  133

  Suffolk

  43

  41

  53

  56

  51

  Surrey

  36

  67

  53

  58

  73

  Sussex

  100

  78

  155

  145

  126

  Thames Valley

  86

  114

  133

  125

  123

  Warwickshire

  50

  44

  29

  26

  54

  West Mercia

  58

  87

  59

  82

  72

  West Midlands

  228

  306

  285

  256

  314

  West Yorkshire

  211

  152

  151

  161

  164

  Wiltshire

  29

  37

  30

  67

  47

  Provincial Total

  3,618

  3,568

  3,768

  3,574

  3,781

  England and Wales Total

  4,339

  4,870

  4,632

  4,478

  4,808

  Surrey Constabulary
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the negotiations between the Metropolitan Police and the Surrey Constabulary to effect the transfer of responsibility for policing parts of Surrey. [81624]

  Kate Hoey
  I understand that the negotiations between the Metropolitan police and Surrey police have made good progress on the wide range of detailed issues which need to be resolved in order to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibility on 1 April 2000. These negotiations take place bilaterally or, where appropriate, in a wider forum involving Essex police and Hertfordshire Constabulary, the other two forces affected by the change to the Metropolitan police district boundary. All four forces are represented on the central consultative group which the Home Office has set up to bring together all interested parties. There has been an excellent spirit of co-operation throughout.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Income
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are(a) the total income of a single man aged 65 years who has no savings or resources, taking account of guaranteed minimum pension, housing benefit and council tax benefit, (b) the retirement pension payable to a single man aged 65 years who has savings above the means-testing limits, (c) the difference per annum between (a) and (b), and (d) the amount of money which would be required to purchase an annuity to fund (c). [81913]

  Mr. Timms
  The amounts of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit that a person receives depends on local factors as well as personal circumstances. This individual is assumed to have no pension above the basic 168
  pension and no savings and so is eligible for £75 Minimum Income Guarantee. This hypothetical individual with the average amount of Housing Benefit and the average amount of Council Tax Benefit received by those on Income Support aged 60 or over would receive £127 a week in Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Retirement Pension consists of two main components, the basic State pension and additional pension, also known as SERPS. This individual is assumed to be a recently retired man who has at least £16,000 capital and who receives no income from his capital. This hypothetical individual with the average basic State pension and the average gross SERPS would receive £108 a week.

  The difference in income is £19 a week.

  At March 1999 annuity rates, a lump sum of £14,000 would be required for a single 65 year old man to purchase an annuity that provides this level of weekly income. This is less than the £16,000 capital limit for income related benefits.

  Note:
  1. Weekly income figures are rounded to the nearest pound and the lump sum figure is rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Sawford) of 19 April 1999,Official Report, column 465, on occupational pensions, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the reported rise in occupational pension coverage. [82061]

  Mr. Timms
  A number of factors are likely to have contributed to the rise in take up. Increased awareness of pensions generally in the light of the public debate generated by the pensions review, launched in July 1997;
  169
  improvements in the quality of information about pensions; and increased awareness of the value of occupational pensions in the light of mis-selling problems associated with personal pensions.

  State Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the categories of people who can be credited entitlement to(a) the basic state pension, (b) SERPS and (c) the proposed second state pension; and if he will make a statement on the reason for the differences in the crediting arrangements for each. [81991]

  Mr. Timms
  The categories of people who can be credited with National Insurance contributions to assist them to satisfy the second contribution condition for basic State pension are:Young people for the tax years containing their 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays;
  Men for the tax years containing their 60th birthday and the four succeeding years, provided they have no liability for Class 1 or 2 National Insurance contributions;
  Persons undergoing courses of full time approved training;
  Invalid Care Allowance recipients;
  Family Credit recipients;
  Disability Working Allowance recipients;
  Persons who are either in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or unemployed and satisfy specified conditions which include that they are available for and actively seeking paid employment;
  Persons incapable of work through illness or disability;
  Statutory Maternity Pay recipients.

  There are no arrangements for crediting people with entitlement to SERPS.

  It is proposed that carers and long-term disabled people with broken work records will be credited with entitlement to the State Second Pension. In addition, those earning between the Lower Earnings Level and £9,000 will receive a boost to their State Second Pension by being treated as if they had had earnings at that level.

  The main reason for crediting entitlement to the basic pension is the recognition that it would be unreasonable to allow the future entitlement of people who are involuntarily out of work through unemployment or sickness or whose earning power in work is seriously depleted by these contingencies, to be jeopardised by deficiencies in their contribution records.

  SERPS is purely a contributory earnings-related second pension scheme which does not attract any form of credits. It gives insufficient help to those who need it most. This is why we are proposing the new State Second Pension to replace SERPS.

  Income Support
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the(a) numbers and (b) percentages of single parents on income support, who have mortgages, for each of the past 10 years. [82164]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.170

  Single parents in receipt of income support who have a mortgage or loan for the accommodation they are living in since 1994

  Year

  Number of claimants

  Percentage of all Single parents on Income Support

  1994–95

  130,000

  14

  1995–96

  130,000

  13

  1996–97

  150,000

  14

  1997–98

  110,000

  11

  Notes:

  1. Figures are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, percentages to the nearest integer.

  3. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for region, Council Tax Band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.

  4. Benefit receipt is based on self-assessment and therefore may be subject to mis-reporting.

  5. Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance (introduced in October 1996) has been included in the analysis for the 1997–98 financial year, but not for the 1996–97 year, since it could not be separately identified from Unemployment Benefit.

  Source:
  Family Resources Survey (Great Britain).

  All Work Test
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what medical conditions permanently exempt a person in receipt of benefits from the all work test. [82152]

  Mr. Bayley
  Regulations list a number of medical conditions and other circumstances which will result in a person being treated as incapable of work without the need for an assessment under the All Work Test. The relevant conditions, which are not all expressed in terms of specific diseases or disablements, are set out. Many, but not all, of these conditions will be permanent: If there is a possibility of improvement in an individual case the exemption will be reviewed periodically and in some circumstances it may become appropriate to carry out an All Work Test assessment.

  Medical conditions qualifying for exemption from the All Work Test (Regulation 10 of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations 1995):

  (i) tetraplegia;

  (ii) persistent vegative state;

  (iii) dementia;

  (iv) paraplegia or uncontrollable involuntary movements or ataxia which effectively renders the sufferer functionally paraplegic;

  (v) a severe learning disability;

  (vi) a severe and progressive neurological or muscle wasting disease;

  (vii) an active and progressive form of inflammatory polyarthritis;

  (viii) a progressive impairment of cardio-respiratory function which severely and persistently limits effort tolerance;

  (ix) dense paralysis of the upper limb, trunk and lower limb on one side of the body;

  (x) multiple effects of impairment of function of the brain or nervous system causing severe and irreversible motor, sensory and intellectual deficits;

  (xi) manifestations of severe and progressive immune deficiency states characterised by the occurrence of severe constitutional disease or opportunistic infections or tumour formation;

  (xii) a severe mental illness.

  171
  In addition, people will be treated as incapable of work if they
  are registered blind;
  are terminally ill;
  have an 80 per cent. disablement assessment;
  are receiving the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, or certain allowances payable under the Industrial Injuries and War Pensions schemes for attendance needs.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 April 1999,Official Report, column 592, on winter fuel payments, what is the additional cost of paying the winter fuel payment separately from the basic state pension. [82190]

  Angela Eagle
  To include the full amount of the Winter Fuel Payment with the Retirement Pension of every eligible pensioner would involve using a qualifying week at the end of the previous winter. This is because Retirement Pension order books last for up to 20 weeks and are printed and issued well in advance. As a result, large numbers of people who retire after the qualifying week would not be eligible for a payment the following winter. In addition, allowing such a substantial interval to elapse would mean changes of household circumstances amongst many of those in the eligible population.

  It would be possible to make a payment of £50 to every eligible pensioner at the beginning of each winter by including that amount along with their qualifying benefit. However, an exercise would then be necessary, after the qualifying week, to identify those who live alone or those who are the only eligible pensioner in their household, and make an additional £50 payment. This method would correctly deliver £50 payments to about 4·5 million pensioners but require two separate payments to about 5·5 million pensioners every winter.

  The administration cost of this option is estimated at around £12·5 million in the first year and £10 million in subsequent years. The cost of the present delivery mechanism is estimated at £11 million each year. Therefore, including the payment along with the qualifying benefit is estimated to cost an additional £1·5 million in the first year, followed by a saving of around £1 million in subsequent years. The method of payment for this winter is designed to give all eligible pensioners a single, well timed payment before Christmas.

  Methods of payment for future years will be kept under review.

  Miss H. McNulty
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the outcome of the home visit made by the Benefits Agency to Miss H. McNulty ref. JP/4L/JKM. [82274]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 27 April 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the outcome of the visit by an officer of the Benefits Agency to Miss H. McNulty.
  172
  The purpose of the visit on 22 March was to obtain the fullest possible details of the need for a mobility scooter before undertaking a review of the decision to refuse a Community Care Grant or Budgeting Loan for the scooter.
  On 25 March the reviewing officer, taking full account of the details obtained at the visit, decided that Miss McNulty's application should be treated as having medium priority for either a Community Care Grant or a Budgeting Loan, but because the District budget could only sustain applications with high priority, a payment was again refused.
  A request that the application should be looked at by a Social Fund Inspector (SFI) was received from Miss McNulty on 30 March. On 6 April the relevant papers were copied to Miss McNulty to give her the opportunity to comment. Her reply was sent to the SFI dated 8 April. The outcome of the decision of the SFI, issued on 21 April 1999, was that the decision of the reviewing officer to refuse a payment from the Social Fund was correct.
  I am sorry I have to give what must be a disappointing reply for Miss McNulty.

  Marginal Tax Rates
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people faced marginal tax rates, including social security of over(a) 40 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 60 per cent., (d) 70 per cent., (e) 80 per cent., (f) 90 per cent. and (g) 100 per cent. in each year since 1996–97; [82237]

  (2) how many people will face marginal tax rates including social security of over (a) 40 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 60 per cent., (d) 70 per cent., (e) 80 per cent., (f) 90 per cent. and (g) 100 per cent. taking account of the introduction of the working family tax credit and the children's tax credit. [82236]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The data requested are contained in the table. The table illustrates the combined effect of the 1999 Budget and the Government's reforms since the election which will see the numbers of those facing marginal rates of over 70 per cent. reduced by two thirds, significantly relieving the poverty trap.

  The increased generosity of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) compared with Family Credit will see an extension of in work support for families with children. Even those whose marginal rate increases as a result of this change will be better off in cash terms and see an increased return to working compared to being on benefit. On average, WFTC will give low earning families an extra £24 per week compared with Family Credit.

  Impact of the 1998 and 1999 budgets on the number of families with marginal deduction rates of 40 per cent. or more1

  Thousand

  Before

  After

  100 per cent. or more

  5

  0

  90 per cent. or more

  115

  15

  80 per cent. or more

  255

  175

  70 per cent. or more

  715

  230

  60 per cent. or more

  730

  950

  50 per cent. or more

  730

  1,110

  40 per cent. or more

  775

  1,150

  1Figures are for families in receipt of income-related benefits or the WFTC where at least one partner works 16 hours or more, and are based on 1998–99 caseload and take-up rates.

  173
  Available historical estimates of marginal deduction rates are published in the DSS's annual departmental report, on page 16 of the 1998 report and page 57 of the 1997 report.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Parliament Building
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the conversion of the Church of Scotland assembly hall and nearby City of Edinburgh Council office buildings, for use as a temporary home of the Scottish Parliament, broken down in to costs in respect of (i) VAT, (ii) fees, (iii) furnishings and fittings, (iv) information technology and TV facilities, (v) returning the Assembly Hall to its original state and (vi) compensating the Church of Scotland for disruption and the hire of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as its meeting place. [77799]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 25 March 1999]: The cost of converting the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall and refurbishing the nearby former City of Edinburgh Council buildings to house the Scottish Parliament is estimated to be around £7·62 million in total. Of that figure, some £4·5 million is being spent on the principal works programme, and can be broken down as follows:

  Conversion/refurbishment works £3·3 million

  Fees £0·5 million

  VAT £0·7 million.

  The cost of the works carried out to install the infrastructure to support the IT and telecoms networks and the TV production facilities are not separately identifiable, but are included in the conversion/refurbishment figure of £3·3 million given.

  Fitting out the accommodation is an additional £3·1 million including VAT. The cost of furniture (£0·75 million) and IT equipment (£1·5 million) are included in that figure, and the remainder covers mainly the costs of the provision of telecoms, security systems and office equipment.

  The Church of Scotland wishes to retain the new layout prepared for the Debating Chamber. Some readjustment works will be necessary, but it is too early to provide an estimate of the likely costs involved.

  The Church of Scotland has neither sought nor been paid any form of compensation for disruption. The cost of hiring the EICC and related expenditure totals just over £140,000 including VAT.

  Social Inclusion
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the total of resources to be made available to social inclusion projects under(a) the New Deal and New Futures Fund, (b) new community schools, (c) early intervention schemes, (d) alternatives to exclusion (schools), (e) pre-school education initiatives, (f) new housing partnerships, (g) Rough Sleepers Initiative, (h) Empty Homes Initiative and (i) social inclusion partnerships (1) in Glasgow and (2) in Scotland. [78346]
  174
  Mr. Macdonald
  [holding answer 31 March 1999]: The Government have already allocated significant resources to these and other initiatives as part of their commitment to promote social inclusion in Scotland. The figures given relate to funding committed or estimated to be spent over the financial years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  For most of these programmes, some of the committed funds have yet to be allocated to specific areas of Scotland. Where this is the case, the figures given include the total already allocated; the amount already allocated to Glasgow; and the amount which remains to be allocated. Furthermore, some of the figures given are estimated rather than formal allocations.

  It is estimated that £290 million will be spent on the New Deals in Scotland in the next three years (1999–2000 to 2001–02). Of this, it is estimated that at least £54 million will be spent in Glasgow (no decision has yet been made on resources available for Glasgow under the New Deal for the Disabled). These figures make no provision for underspends in the period until March 1999.

  Of the £2·0 million that has been committed from the New Futures Fund (NFF) for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 a total of £1·1 million has already been allocated to projects in Glasgow. A number of other projects are still under consideration and may receive financial support during this period. Over the next three years it is estimated that a total of £12·4 million will be spent in Scotland on NFF projects.

  We plan to invest £26 million to pilot New Community Schools in every education authority over the next 3 years. On this basis, it is estimated that £1 million of the funds will be spent in Glasgow.

  Of the £42 million committed to early intervention schemes over the next three years, Glasgow will receive £4·5 million in total.

  Of the £24 million committed to alternatives to exclusion from school schemes over the next 3 years, £2·34 million has been allocated to Glasgow.

  Of the £111 million committed to pre-school education initiatives in the first of the next three years (1999–2000), Glasgow's provisional allocation is over £12 million. A further £269 million has been committed to Scotland for the 2 subsequent years (£131 million in 2000–01 and £138 million in 2001–02) but estimates of allocations are not available at this stage.

  Of the £208 million which has been earmarked to councils to support New Housing Partnerships (NHPs), £32 million has been earmarked for Glasgow. A total of £333 million has been committed to support NHPs in Scotland over the next 3 years. £125 million of that total has been set aside for assistance with debt in connection with whole stock transfers.

  Of the £7 million to be spent under the Rough Sleepers Initiative in 1999–2000, £2·4 million has been allocated to Glasgow. A further £14 million has been committed to the initiative in the following 2 years.

  £15 million has been committed to the Empty House Initiative over the next 3 years, of which £2·77 million has been allocated to Glasgow.
  175
  £137 million has been committed to Social Inclusion Partnerships over the next 3 years, including £48 million for the new Social Inclusion Partnerships designated in Spring 1999. Of the total, £51 million will be spent in Glasgow, of which over £24 million relates to the new Social Inclusion Partnerships.

  From 1 July 1999 these programmes, apart from the New Deal, will be matters for the Scottish Parliament.

  Statistical Service
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what qualifications and experience will be required of the successful candidate for the position of Head of the Statistical Service in his Department. [81175]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 23 April 1999]: The basic educational qualification required is an Honours degree with a substantial element of statistics and/or an equivalent post-graduate qualification. In addition, since this is a post in the Senior Civil Service, management experience at a senior level is necessary, including experience in the use and/or production of statistical information.

  Professional Statisticians
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society. [81208]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 23 April 1999]: Statistical work is undertaken by a range of specialists, including Research Officers, Economists and Statisticians. Since 1996, The Scottish Office has employed statisticians through its own departmental recruitment as well as through the Civil Service Selection Board. This resulted from a rapid growth in statistics posts coupled with a shortfall of recruits from the Civil Service Selection Board source.

  Withe my Department there are 36 statisticians recruited through the Civil Service Selection Board: 25 at Band C and 11 at Band B. There are also 13 statisticians at Band B who were directly recruited by the Department. All are managed by a chief professional officer at Senior Civil Service level: at the present time this post is vacant.

  Affiliation to the Royal Statistical Society is not mandatory and some members of staff may not have reported acquisition of Chartered Statistician status. There are four statisticians at Band C who are known to hold Chartered Statistician status./

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81188]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 23 April 1999]: Statistical work is undertaken by a range of specialists, including Research Officers, Economists and Statisticians. Since 1996, The Scottish Office has employed statisticians through its own departmental recruitment as well as through the Civil Service Selection Board. This resulted
  176
  from a rapid growth in statistics posts coupled with a shortfall of recruits from the Civil Service Selection Board source.

  The number of professional statisticians who have left on early retirement in the last 10 years is seven. Four of these had transferred into administration at an earlier stage in their career. Details by year are shown in the table.

  Early retirement of staff who have worked as professional statisticians

  Year

  Number

  1998–1999

  1

  1997–1998

  1

  1996–1997

  2

  1995–1996

  —

  1994–1995

  2

  1993–1994

  1

  1992–1993

  —

  1991–1992

  —

  1990–1991

  —

  1989–1990

  —

  Job Creation
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in date order since 2 May 1997 each occasion on which Scottish Office ministers have made announcements about the creation or safeguarding of jobs in Scotland indicating(a) the business and the economic sector to which it belongs, (b) its address in Scotland, (c) the number of jobs to be (i) created and (ii) safeguarded, (d) the nature of the assistance offered by the Scottish Office and other Government agencies, (e) the reference number of Scottish Office press notices issued in association with the announcement and (f) the Minister who made the announcement. [82184]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: News Releases issued where Ministers have made announcements about creation or safeguarding jobs are available on:
  1. The Scottish office website at www.scotland.gov.uk/news/ archive.asp for all news releases issued from October 1997.
  All Scottish Office news releases are also available in the House of Commons Library.
  2. The Locate in Scotland website www.lis.org.uk/lisnws.cfm for news releases relating to inward investment announcements from September 1997.
  Further information on announcements up to March 1998 is available in the Locate in Scotland Annual Review for 1997–98.

  Pollution
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will list the worst repeat offenders against pollution legislation in a form similar to that published for England and Wales. [81277]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has no plans to publish a league table of offenders in a similar way to that recently published by the Environment Agency. Information on offences against environmental legislation is published in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's Annual Reports, copies
  177
  of which are in the Library. Information on offences in 1998–99 will be included in the report due to be published later this year.

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

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the enforcement regime and level of fines imposed in Scotland against those who transgress pollution standards. [81278]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is the statutory regulator for environmental standards in Scotland. I am satisfied that the Agency is both a firm and fair regulator and is prepared to take enforcement action against those who breach standards or illegally pollute the environment.

  In addition to referring cases to the Procurator Fiscal, there are various forms of enforcement action available to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. These include the issue of improvement and prohibition notices. Enforcement action can lead to adverse publicity and loss of accreditation for those companies which have independent environmental management systems. These factors are often stronger deterrents than fines.

  It is for the Procurator Fiscal to decide whether it would be in the public interest to prosecute a case referred to him by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The level of fines for pollution offences is entirely a matter for the Sheriff to consider in each case.

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

  Mussel Farming
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will include mussel farming as an approved measure under the agricultural business improvement scheme. [82533]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The legislation governing the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme was recently amended following suggestions from industry representatives and detailed negotiations with the European Commission. Mussel farming was not raised in those discussions and there are no plans to include it as an approved measure. The Scheme closes to grant applications on 31 October 1999.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nurse Shortages
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the shortage of nurses in the United Kingdom. [77837]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have received no recent representations; however, at the Commonwealth Health Ministers meeting in Barbados in November 1998, the Minister of Health for Jamaica made representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health 178
  about concerns in the region that there was a drain of trained nurses to the UK. It was agreed that a collaborative approach should be developed.

  British Council Libraries
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance is in place for the choice of books that are acquired by the British Council for its overseas libraries; what restrictions are imposed by(a) the UK and (b) other Governments regarding what texts can be supplied in any particular country. [79942]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 14 April 1999]: The Government do not give the Council guidance on books for its libraries, which is an operational matter for the Council's management.

  European Commission Staff (Security Clearance)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Commission staff will receive clearance, in accordance with 1999/218/EC (Official Journal L80, 25.3.99), for access to(a) confidential, (b) secret and (c) top secret material; what categories of information are covered; what is his policy thereto; what contribution to screening Government agencies will make, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [81043]

  Ms Quin
  Commission Decision 1999/218/EC extends Decision C(94)3282 of 30 November 1994 on the security vetting of European Commission staff to cover documents relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy. It does not affect the security clearance of staff already working for the Commission.

  There have been no applications to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (which is responsible for the security vetting of all UK nationals directly recruited to work at the Commission) by the European Commission for the security clearance of UK nationals since the publication of Commission Decision 1999/218/EC. It is expected that the numbers of Commission staff cleared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office each year will remain the same (ie six or seven a year). Similarly, the Commission do not expect the overall number of their staff requiring security clearance to rise significantly.

  The vetting procedures set out in Commission Decision 1999/218/EC are applicable to classified information held by the Commission, including that relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are usually asked to clear Commission staff to see up to and including Secret material. The cost of security vetting is approximately £11 for Confidential clearance and £149 for Secret clearance.

  Entry Clearance
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in(a) Islamabad, (b) Karachi, (c) Bombay, (d) New Delhi, (e) Calcutta, (f) Madras, (g) Colombo, (h) Jamaica, (i) Barbados, (j) Russia, (k) Poland, (l) Zimbabwe, (m) Ghana, (n) Bangladesh, (o) Lagos and (p) Abuja

  179
  (i) applied for, (ii) were granted and (iii) were refused entry clearance as visitors in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available. [81686]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Visit visa applications 1998

  Post

  Received

  Issued

  Refused

  Islamabad

  38,250

  26,737

  5,615

  Karachi

  27,536

  22,270

  3,116

  Bombay

  61,450

  55,957

  4,528

  Calcutta1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Madras

  23,544

  23,065

  837

  Colombo

  13,999

  12,714

  510

  Kingston

  3,203

  2,957

  161

  Bridgetown

  688

  615

  57

  Moscow

  76,976

  73,172

  2,077

  St. Petersburg

  14,279

  13,621

  636

  Ekaterinburg

  2,921

  2,837

  64

  Warsaw

  1,139

  980

  109

  Harare

  1,511

  1,258

  258

  Accra

  22,159

  16,130

  4,826

  Dhaka

  12,822

  9,823

  2,776

  Lagos

  42,913

  29,840

  8,351

  Abuja

  11,331

  9,962

  1,421

  New Delhi

  57,804

  50,538

  7,742

  1 The figures for Calcutta are not yet available

  1999 figures will not be available until posts complete their 1999 Annual Statistical Return early in the year 2000. Figures are collated in this way on an annual basis only and could be obtained in the interim only at disproportionate cost.

  Falkland Islands (Fisheries)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if it is his policy to assist the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department to prevent illegal fishing within the Falkland Islands Fisheries Protection Zone; and if he will make a statement; [81879]

  (2) if approval has been given for the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department to (a) arm and (b) use a 0·50 inch calibre gun, on one of its fisheries protection vessels. [81876]

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to prevent illegal fishing in Falkland Islands waters; [81963]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the extent of illegal fishing in Falkland Islands waters; and if he will make a statement; [81961]

  (3) what representations he has received about illegal fishing in Falkland Islands waters; and if he will make a statement. [81962]

  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will approve the application of the Falkland Islands Government to utilise a 0·50 inch calibre gun for fisheries protection purposes. [82217]

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the timescale in granting permission for the arming of a Falkland Islands fishery protection vessel with a 0·50 inch calibre gun; [82058]
  180
  (2) if he will make a statement on the timescale in the arming of a Falkland Islands fishery protection vessel; [82060]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the level of illegal fishing being carried out in the water around the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [82057]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We take the matter of illegal fishing in the Falkland Islands seriously and it is our shared objective with the Falkland Islands Government to combat the problem. Illegal fishing has the potential to undermine the Falklands economy and attempts to conserve fish stocks. Recently, there have been up to an estimated 50 unlicensed vessels in Falklands waters and we assume that all were engaged in illegal fishing activities. The number of vessels now appears to be declining.

  In January this year, we authorised the arming of a Fisheries Protection Vessel (FPV) with a 20mm Oerlikon cannon, which is the best weapon for the task of deterring illegal fishing and dealing with it, if necessary. The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) are responsible for the procurement and shipment of the cannon. This process has taken longer than anticipated. We have tried to help FIG speed up the shipment of the consignment but it cannot be carried on a passenger aircraft together with the ammunition needed. Accordingly, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to fly the cannon out on the next freight flight on 6 May.

  FIG requested approval for temporary use of a smaller, 0·50 inch, machine gun on an FPV, as an interim measure. This request was carefully considered and a decision was made not to give approval. The machine gun is not a good visible deterrent and there are concerns that warning shots, which the FPV would be required to fire to alert a suspected unlicensed vessel, would not be seen or heard.

  As a temporary measure, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to our request for one of the Royal Navy vessels stationed in the Falklands to accompany an FPV on its patrols. We have also made representations to the Taiwanese authorities in London and Taipei, as the majority of unlicensed vessels in Falklands waters are theirs. We shall continue to urge the Taiwanese authorities to bring their fleet under control.

  We have received representations on this issue from FIG and its Fisheries Department, several MPs and from members of the public. Commercial operators who are licence-holders have made indirect representations.

  We shall continue to support FIG in its attempts to combat illegal fishing.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application of the provisions of the White Paper, Partnership for Progress and Prosperity, concerning environmental protection to the waters within the Falkland Islands Fisheries Protection Zone; and what plans he has to ensure that the Falkland Fisheries Department is equipped to implement that policy. [81878]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Our stated objective in the White Paper: Partnership for Progress and Prosperity is to use the environment of Overseas Territories to provide benefits to the people in them, and to conserve our global heritage by managing sustainably all the Overseas Territories' natural resources. The Falkland Islands
  181
  Government administer the fisheries within their waters and the revenue from fishing licences is the mainstay of the Falklands economy. Effective management of the fishery helps in efforts to conserve fish stocks. Enforcement of the licensing regime is the responsibility of the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department which have two Fisheries Protection Vessels at their disposal. Ministers have authorised the Falkland Islands Government to purchase a 20mm Oerlikon Mk7A cannon for installation on one of the vessels to help deter unlicensed vessels from fishing in Falklands waters. There are no further plans at present.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to assist the Falklands Islands Government to meet its international obligations in terms of conserving living resources around its coastline, as set out in the White Paper, Partnership for Progress and Prosperity; and if he will make a statement. [81877]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  As stated in the White Paper: Partnership for Progress and Prosperity, British accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was extended to the Overseas Territories including the Falkland Islands. Article 61 of UNCLOS requires States to take measures to conserve living marine resources in their exclusive economic zones (EEZs). In the Falkland Islands, the requirement is met through the administration of its fishery. The Falkland Islands has no EEZ, nor does it have to declare one.

  Article 61 also requires the Falkland Islands to co-operate within regional fisheries organisations to meet conservation and management aims. To promote such co-operation, Falkland Islands Government officials form part of the British delegation which attends regular meetings of the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission (SAFC) with the Argentines. SAFC is a forum for the exchange of information which assists with the management of fish stocks and in which ways of conserving of commercially important fish stocks in the South Atlantic are discussed. We continue to support the European Union in its efforts to encourage Argentina to help establish a South West Atlantic Multilateral Fisheries Agreement.

  Child Soldiers
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on the use of child soldiers; and if he will make a statement. [82329]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The Government are committed to bringing to an end the use of child soldiers in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We urge all Governments and armed groups to adhere to the international humanitarian and human rights standards that protect the rights of children in conflict situations. We support the work of the United Nations to protect those children affected, particularly the work of the UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict. The UK played a leading role in the establishment of the use of child soldiers as a war crime in the statute of the International Criminal Court.

  On 2 March 1999, Official Report, column 895, we announced a new UK commitment of £10 million to promote stability in Sierra Leone. A condition of this
  182
  assistance is that children under 16 must not be used by the Sierra Leone Armed Forces or the Civil Defence Force. We believe that this may be the first time that any Government have made non-use of child soldiers an explicit condition of such assistance.

  Senator Pinochet
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who in his Department had access to the Foreign Office report written in Madrid on 16 October 1998 pertaining to Senator Pinochet and passed to his Department; at what time of day; and what action was taken as a result. [82408]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 10 February 1999,Official Report, columns 293–94, and 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 620.

  Victims' Remains (Independent Commission)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the agreement with the Irish Government establishing an independent commission for the location of victims' remains to be signed. [82713]

  Ms Quin
  The Agreement was signed on 27 April. Copies of the Agreement are available from the Vote Office, have been placed in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament, and will be published later in the usual way.

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Treaty of Amsterdam to come into force. [82714]

  Ms Quin
  The process of ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam was completed on 30 March, when France deposited its instrument of ratification with the Italian Government.

  In accordance with Article 248 of the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty of Amsterdam will come into force on Saturday 1 May 1999.

  Falkland Islands
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what exchanges he has had with the Government of Chile over the cancellation of Lan Chile flights to the Falkland Islands. [82659]

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to the Government of Chile regarding their decree which prohibits Chilean carriers flying to the Falklands. [82055]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Lan Chile have not flown to the Falklands since 31 March, when their contract with the Falkland Islands Development Corporation expired. As the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), made clear in his answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 25 February 1999,Official Report, columns 451—53, the continuation of that contract after that date was a commercial matter for discussion between

  183
  Lan Chile and the Falkland Islands Development Corporation. On 19 April my hon. Friend reported that the Government of Chile had issued a Decree prohibiting Chilean carriers from flying to the Falklands with effect from 10 April.

  I have now spoken to the Chilean Foreign Minister. I told him that we strongly disagree with his Government's Decree. I underlined that there was no justification for the Chilean Government taking such a measure and have urged Senor Insulza to reconsider it. I reminded him of the commercial and social benefits for remote communities, both in the Falklands and in southern Chile, of Lan Chile being allowed to continue flights to the Falklands.

  We are in close touch with the Falkland Islands Government on alternative air links.

  East Timor
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the recent violence in East Timor. [82465]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant) on 26 April 1999,Official Report, column 31.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the killing of refugees at a church in Liquica, East Timor, on 6 April. [82500]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have received reports that on 6 April a number of civilians, who had sought refuge in a church in Liquica, East Timor, were killed during a violent clash with a pro-Indonesia militia group. The number of casualties remains unclear, as does the role of the Indonesian security forces in the incident.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by local education authority the expenditure per pupil at 1998–99 prices from aggregate schools budgets in(a) maintained primary schools and (b) maintained secondary schools in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99, giving the average percentage change from (1) 1996–97 to 1997–98 and (2) from 1997–98 to 1998–99. [81648]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I have placed a table in the Library showing, for each local education authority in England for the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99, the aggregated schools budget for primary and secondary schools giving(a) the aggregated schools budget per pupil, (b) the real terms figure per pupil adjusted for 1998 real terms figures and (c) the percentage change on the previous year.

  School Budgets
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of each shire county's education department budget was allocated to school budgets in 1998–99. [82187]
  184
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows the proportion of each shire county's education General Schools Budget which was allocated to schools through the Aggregated Schools Budget in 1998–99. Information on local authority education department budgets is not allocated centrally.

  1998–99

  ASB as percentage of GSB

  Bedfordshire

  75·6

  Buckinghamshire

  69·8

  Cambridgeshire

  64·9

  Cheshire

  75·6

  Cornwall

  70·2

  Cumbria

  73·6

  Derbyshire

  69·6

  Devon

  72·2

  Dorset

  74·4

  Durham

  71·9

  East Sussex

  75·0

  Essex

  72·1

  Gloucestershire

  74·6

  Hampshire

  78·7

  Hertfordshire

  76·9

  Kent

  76·7

  Lancashire

  73·1

  Leicestershire

  76·0

  Lincolnshire

  78·3

  Norfolk

  74·2

  North Yorkshire

  77·2

  Northamptonshire

  74·4

  Northumberland

  75·8

  Nottinghamshire

  79·3

  Oxfordshire

  75·0

  Shropshire

  73·3

  Somerset

  75·0

  Staffordshire

  74·3

  Suffolk

  79·4

  Surrey

  74·3

  Warwickshire

  74·1

  West Sussex

  77·3

  Wiltshire

  69·6

  Worcestershire

  76·4

  School Attendance
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for changing the age at which it is compulsory for children to attend school. [81990]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  None.

  SSAs
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local education authorities, which at the latest date for which information is available, were not fully passing on to schools any increases in their standard spending assessment in respect of education. [82335]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: Budget information for 1999–2000 is currently being collected and checked by the Department. We will publish authoritative data showing the plans of the authorities, including the amounts to be held back centrally, in June.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the(a) number and (b) percentage of total school hours that is spent on physical education in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in the last year for which figures are available. [81806]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The number of school hours spent on physical education varies from school to school. Evidence from Ofsted inspections during 1998 of the average number of hours per week primary and secondary schools currently spend teaching National Curriculum PE is given.

  Average hours of PE per week (approximately)

  Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7)

  1 hour 20 minutes

  Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11)

  1 hour 35 minutes

  Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14)

  2 hours

  Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16)

  1 hour 15 minutes

  As a percentage of teaching time, these times are approximately: Key Stage 1—6·3 per cent.; Key Stage 2—6·8 per cent.; Key Stage 3—8·3 per cent. and Key Stage 4—5·2 per cent. These figures do not account for travelling and changing time incurred in the provision of swimming tuition. At Key Stage 4, the figure relates to the time allowed for the National Curriculum compulsory component of PE. Pupils studying for GCSE normally have between 8 per cent. and 12 per cent. extra time for the examination course.

  Laboratories (Schools)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve the standards of science laboratory furbishment in schools. [82491]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Decisions on how best to refurbish science laboratories in schools rest with individual local education authorities and governing bodies. Since the Election, we have provided an additional £680 million for specific improvements to school buildings through the New Deal for Schools programme. £9·5 million of the £340 million allocated through the New Deal for Schools in March 1999 was for improvements to science laboratories. The Department provides guidance in its 1995 publication, 'Science Accommodation in Secondary Schools: A Design Guide'. This is currently being updated.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of those invited to join the New Deal for Young People in January 1998 had found unsubsidised employment lasting for more than 13 weeks by the end of January 1999. [82163]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Of the 6,826 young people who were invited to join New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds in January 1998, 2,065 had found sustained unsubsidised 186
  employment without returning to JSA within 13 weeks by January 1999. A further 2,366 of the invitees are still taking part in the New Deal.

  New Deal (Schools)
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of schools which will benefit from the New Deal for Schools. [81861]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Since the introduction of the New Deal for Schools programme, we have approved funding of £680 million for work at some 11,000 schools in England.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contribution to the Government's Kyoto commitments she expects Northern Ireland to make. [81286]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I expect the new Northern Ireland Assembly to play its full part in contributing to the United Kingdom's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

  May I take this opportunity to tell the House that, in Belfast, 23 schools and colleges have with help from Phoenix Gas, been converted to natural gas which will save 12,000 tons of CO2 over 3 years. This will help children's health and reduce costs.

  Good Friday Agreement
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the progress of inter-party negotiations to establish the Northern Ireland Executive. [81287]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The parties, supported by both Governments, have worked intensively over the last few weeks but have yet to reach a consensus on how to overcome the remaining difficulties preventing the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement. Discussions are continuing to try to achieve the cross-community support necessary for the successful establishment of the Executive.

  Mrs. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations she has had with the Northern Ireland parties on implementing the Good Friday Agreement in the last six weeks. [81290]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I and my Ministerial colleagues continue to have regular meetings with the Northern Ireland parties concerning the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the implementation of the Good Friday agreement. [81294]

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress in implementing the Good Friday agreement. [81300]
  187
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on developments in the Northern Ireland peace process. [81303]

  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress in implementing the Good Friday agreement. [81304]

  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards establishing an Executive for the Northern Ireland Assembly. [81305]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer my hon. Friends to the replies I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) and for Harlow (Mr. Rammell) on 28 April 1999,Official Report, columns 325 and 184.

  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has held with the Irish Government on ways to advance the peace process in the past six months.[81297]

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings she has had with the Irish Government concerning the implementation of the Good Friday agreement. [81306]

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent meetings she has held with representatives of the Irish Government concerning the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. [81289]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I continue to have regular contact with representatives of the Irish Government concerning the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Both Governments remain united in their determination to make progress and to ensure that all parties live up to all their commitments under the Agreement.

  Prisoner Releases
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons convicted of murder have been released under the Good Friday agreement to date. [81291]

  Mr. Ingram
  To date there have been 82 prisoners, released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, who were convicted of murder. This is drawn from information current at 16 April 1999.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have been released under the accelerated release scheme set up by the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 to date. [81295]

  Mr. Ingram
  To date there have been 259 prisoners released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. This is drawn from information current at 16 April 1999.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the numbers of public appointments she has made since 1 January. [81292]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  There have been 474 public appointments since 1 January.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about progress towards the decommissioning of illegally held weapons. [81293]

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arms and explosives have been decommissioned; by which groups; and under what circumstances. [81301]

  Mr. Ingram
  The LVF decommissioning event which took place on 18 December last year was a positive and significant act. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning verified and destroyed sub-machine guns, rifles, handguns, ammunition, explosive devices and detonators. I urge the LVF to continue and other paramilitary groups to start decommissioning now.

  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on progress towards the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives. [81302]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 28 April 1999,Official Report, column 330.

  Security Measures
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the steps being taken towards normalising security procedures. [81296]

  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on recent steps taken towards scaling down security measures. [81288]

  Mr. Ingram
  Since July 1997, the Chief Constable has announced a progressive reduction in security measures in the province.

  Specific measures include a reduction in troop levels, which now stand at under 15,000, fewer than at any time since 1970, a two-thirds reduction in military patrolling, up to a third reduction in helicopter activity and the closure of 25 military bases and installations.

  The security situation continues to be kept under close scrutiny and further progress will depend on the assessment of the terrorist threat.

  New Deal
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many companies have signed up to the New Deal initiative in Northern Ireland. [81298]

  Mr. McFall
  At the end of March 1999, 2,370 Northern Ireland companies had confirmed their support for New Deal by signing an Employer Agreement.

  School Links
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to encourage links between schools in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. [81299]
  189
  Mr. McFall
  Seventy six schools from Great Britain are involved with schools from Northern Ireland and other parts of Europe in a curriculum based European Studies project. These schools form cluster groups and work together on common projects to explore relationships within the United Kingdom and also both the Republic of Ireland and the rest of Europe.

  The Department of Education Northern Ireland also funds the Warrington Project which has established a series of Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland/Warrington links at primary school level and which aims to promote a 'whole school' approach to cross community activity through the curriculum.

  The development of the National Grid for Learning will also enable all schools to have easier access to one another, through information technology.

  Murders
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in bringing to justice the murderers of the Reverend Robert Bradford and Mr. Edgar Graham.[81307]

  Mr. Ingram
  Two persons were arrested for the murders of the Reverend Bradford and Mr. Kenneth Campbell, interviewed and released without charge. Despite an extensive police investigation no persons have to date been made amenable for these crimes.

  In respect of Mr. Graham's murder, one person, convicted of making property available and withholding information was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for three years. Another was convicted of withholding information and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment suspended for two years. A number of other persons were arrested and interviewed in relation to this murder.

  The RUC review all murder investigations. New or further evidence will be acted upon with diligence.

  Tourism
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the impact of the tourism industry on the economy of Northern Ireland. [81308]

  Mr. Ingram
  During 1998, staying visitors in Northern Ireland contributed £217 million to the Northern Ireland economy, with an additional estimated £57 million from domestic tourism (totalling £274 million). This accounts for approximately 2 per cent. of Northern Ireland's GDP and sustains the equivalent of 14,750 full-time jobs in the industry.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to make Canadian driving licences exchangeable for Northern Ireland driving licences. [81494]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The ability to exchange a Canadian driving licence for a Northern Ireland licence would require new Northern Ireland primary legislation. This 190
  will be a matter for the new Assembly to consider, taking account of similar legislation introduced in Great Britain last August.

  Parks and Play Areas
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the condition of public parks and play areas in Northern Ireland and the impact of social and policing problems related to the conflict of the past 30 years on such facilities. [81626]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Any assessment of the condition of public parks and play areas in Northern Ireland would be a matter for individual district councils. I am not aware that a general survey of these facilities has been carried out. The impact of social and policing problems over the years has not, therefore, been considered by central government.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the Government plan to take to improve parks and play areas in Northern Ireland. [81625]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The establishment and upkeep of parks and play areas in Northern Ireland are functions of district councils. The Government have no plans to provide financial assistance or to make improvements in these areas.

  Political Activity (Staff)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of her Department in respect of members of staff engaged in political activity. [81860]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  All civil servants are required to observe rules on engagement in political activities liable to give public expression to political views. The rules are intended to protect the political impartiality of the Civil Service whilst giving individuals the greatest possible freedom to participate in public affairs.

  The extent to which a member of staff is permitted to engage in political activity, and whether they are required to seek permission from their department, is determined by reference to the grade of the individual and the nature of their official duties. Even where permission has been granted, the individual is required to observe fully the general rules on conduct and the code of discretion which governs the extent to which a civil servant may express political views.

  All staff are barred from any form of political activity whilst on duty or in uniform or on official premises.

  The rules on political activity are contained in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code which is available to all staff. Similar rules applying to Home Civil Servants are contained in their Staff Handbook.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action was taken following the investigations into a member of staff from the Department of the Environment-Planning Service who appeared on a public platform at a rally in support of the Spirit of Drumcree Group in November 1995; and if she will place the report of the inquiry in the Library. [81885]
  191
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Following an internal investigation, and having considered representations made by him, the Department of the Environment (NI) concluded that the officer concerned had, by his comments and actions in November 1995, breached the Conduct section of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code. The officer consequently received, in December 1998, a formal written reprimand and a warning as to his future conduct.

  As disciplinary action involving a civil servant is an internal matter which is dealt with by his/her employing Department in confidence, and in strict accordance with established procedures, it is not appropriate for any papers relating to this internal investigation to be placed in the Library. The officer concerned has, in any case, indicated his intention to appeal against the disciplinary penalty imposed.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures she is taking to assist pensioners in Northern Ireland. [81282]

  Mr. McFall
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith) on 28 April 1999,Official Report, column 332.

  Departmental Legal Business
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on her Department's policy when(a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions her Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81766]

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  I answer this question on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office because as Attorney-General for Northern Ireland I have statutory superintendence of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and appoint the Crown Solicitor and Senior and Junior Crown Counsel in Northern Ireland. Senior Crown Counsel is a Queen's Counsel. Both Counsels are retained by the Crown to undertake work on behalf of the Government and Northern Ireland Departments.

  In civil cases, in conducting Government work, the most important work would be undertaken by Senior Crown Counsel. In other cases where a Queen's Counsel is required and it is not possible to instruct Crown Counsel, either because of his workload or because of the need for specialist skills, a Queens Counsel is instructed from amongst the Bar of Northern Ireland.

  The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland nominates three counsels, one of whom is a Queen's Counsel, to whom he would first have recourse to prosecute the most serious of prosecutions. Thereafter, in any case requiring a Queen's Counsel he would instruct counsel from the Bar of Northern Ireland.

  In determining whether a Queen's Counsel is to be instructed, the Crown Solicitor and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland will consider the
  192
  individual circumstances in each case. They will take into account, inter alia, the weight and complexity of the evidence and the degree of experience and expertise required before deciding whether Queen's Counsel should be instructed.

  It should be understood that Northern Ireland is a separate jurisdiction with its own laws, courts and independent Bar. The role of counsel also differs from that of counsel in England and Wales: in particular, in criminal cases, in relation to the contact counsel in Northern Ireland has with witnesses and victims. The consideration given to the instruction of counsel by the Crown Solicitor and Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland will be made in the light of the particular circumstances of the separate jurisdiction of Northern Ireland.

  Records are not maintained in a form which would enable the number of occasions on which the Crown Solicitor and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland have instructed Queen's Counsel in the last three years, and the cost of doing so, to be given without incurring disproportionate cost.

  The Compensation Agency for Northern Ireland and the Departmental Solicitor's Office will both, on occasions, instruct Queen's Counsel on the same basis as the Crown Solicitor and the Director of Public Prosecutions of Northern Ireland.

WALES

  Environmental Research
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to paragraph 4·85 of his Department's Annual Report, Cm 4216, what are(a) the cost of the environmental research programme and (b) the names of each of the studies completed or in progress; and if he will place copies of each of these studies in the Library. [81941]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Welsh Office expenditure on the programme in 1998–99 was £320,000.Projects in progress in 1998–99 were:
  Air Quality Monitoring Database for Wales
  Rural Sulphur Dioxide Monitoring in Wales
  Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) Monitoring
  Welsh Acid Waters Survey Database
  Nitrogen Deposition—Impacts on Upland Acid Grassland
  Biogeochemical Consequences of Climate Change on Upland Acid Grassland
  Environmental Change Network—Snowdonia
  UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions—Inventory for Wales
  Rapid On-Site Analysis of Radioactivity in Wales
  Countryside Survey 2000—Land Cover Mapping
  Monitoring of Stranded Cetaceans
  Macrobenthic Survey in Milford Haven
  Monitoring of Sheep Dip Compounds in Private Water Supplies
  Effects of Sewage Sludge Applications on Soil Microbial Activity
  and Fertility.
  193
  Completed project reports in 1998–99 were:
  The Application of Mineral Processing Technology to the Decontamination of Metalliferous Mine Spoil
  River Rhymney Minewater Study—Review of Remedial Options
  Scoping Study for an INTERREG Marine Information System for the Southern Irish Sea
  All-Wales Environmental Health Surveillance Project
  Air Quality Monitoring Database—Second Annual Report
  DETR Report—Rural Sulphur Dioxide Concentrations in the UK: 1996.

  I am arranging for copies of the completed reports to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

  Ministerial Meetings (US)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times ministers in his Department held meetings with members and officials in the US Administration since 1 June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved at each meeting and the US Department involved in each meeting. [82253]

  Mr. Michael
  None.

  Housing (Newport)
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on Newport County Borough's plans to demolish its prefabricated housing stock and its impact on housing funding for Newport. [82423]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The council's stock of pre-fabricated bungalows is in very poor structural condition and the authority has engaged in intensive consultation with residents regarding the future of these properties. Any resources it allocates towards their replacement or repair will depend on its local priorities as set out in its Housing Strategy and Operational Plan. The funding of any major redevelopment programme will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. I have, however, been able to allocate additional credit approval of £550,000 to support the development of the council's proposals in 1999–2000.

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

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many beds are currently blocked in each of the district hospitals in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [80841]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The latest available information relating to delayed discharges from hospital is shown by NHS Trust in the following table. Information relates to a chosen day in January 1999 (usually 31 January 1999), as reported in local authority responses to the Survey of Delayed Discharges from Hospital. The survey requested information on the numbers of hospital patients known to local authority social services departments, who were medically fit to be discharged, but were still occupying a hospital bed. All patients medically fit to be discharged are counted; this may include patients whose delay came within agreed timescales for the discharge process.194

  NHS Trust

  Number of delayed discharges, January 1999

  Bridgend and District

  5

  Cardiff Community Healthcare

  8

  Carmarthen and District

  12

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  4

  Clwydian Community Care

  17

  East Glamorgan

  1

  Glan Clwyd General Hospital

  16

  Glan Hafren

  111

  Glan-y-Mör

  31

  Gwent Health Care1

  27

  Gwynedd Community2

  26

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  7

  Llandough Hospital

  12

  Llanelli Dinefwr

  20

  Morriston Hospital

  69

  Nevill Hall and District

  31

  North Glamorgan

  28

  Pembrokeshire and Derwen

  5

  Powys Health Care

  12

  Rhondda Health Care

  32

  Swansea

  38

  University Hospital of Wales Healthcare

  68

  Velindre

  1

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  9

  Total

  590

  1As reported by Caerphilly County Borough Council on post April 1999 Trust basis.

  2 Includes 6 patients with delayed discharges at February 1999.

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

  Drug Treatment (Young Adults)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young adults started drug treatment in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 10 years. [81334]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  Reliable information on the number of young adults starting drug treatment in Wales is not currently available. Some data are obtained on a voluntary basis by the Welsh Drug and Alcohol Unit although coverage is incomplete. The arrangements for collecting data in this area are currently under review.

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

  Low Birthweight Babies
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of low birthweight babies were born in each (i) local and (ii) health authority area in Wales in each of the past 10 years. [81330]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The information readily available on a comparable basis for the 22 unitary authorities and 5 health authorities in Wales, provided by the Office for National Statistics, is for 1990 to 1997 and is given in the table.
  195

  Distribution of low birthweight babies by authority

  Health authority/Unitary authority

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  North Wales

  22

  20

  19

  19

  21

  20

  20

  22

  Isle Of Anglesey

  2

  2

  2

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Gwynedd

  4

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  Conwy

  4

  3

  3

  2

  4

  3

  3

  4

  Denbighshire

  3

  3

  2

  3

  4

  3

  2

  4

  Flintshire

  5

  5

  4

  5

  4

  4

  5

  5

  Wrexham

  4

  3

  5

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Dyfed Powys

  13

  13

  13

  14

  14

  13

  14

  13

  Powys

  3

  3

  3

  4

  3

  3

  4

  3

  Ceredigion

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Carmarthenshire

  5

  4

  4

  5

  5

  4

  5

  4

  Morgannwg

  16

  17

  17

  15

  15

  17

  16

  16

  Swansea

  6

  7

  7

  6

  6

  8

  6

  6

  Neath Port Talbot

  5

  5

  5

  5

  4

  4

  6

  5

  Bridgend

  5

  5

  5

  4

  5

  5

  4

  5

  Bro Taf

  26

  27

  29

  29

  28

  28

  29

  27

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Cardiff

  11

  11

  13

  13

  14

  12

  13

  12

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  9

  9

  10

  10

  8

  9

  9

  9

  Merthyr Tydfil

  2

  3

  2

  3

  2

  2

  3

  2

  Gwent

  22

  23

  22

  23

  21

  22

  21

  22

  Caerphilly

  7

  6

  7

  7

  7

  6

  7

  6

  Blaenau Gwent

  3

  4

  4

  3

  3

  4

  3

  3

  Torfaen

  4

  4

  3

  4

  3

  4

  3

  4

  Monmouthshire

  2

  2

  2

  3

  2

  3

  2

  2

  Newport

  5

  6

  6

  7

  6

  5

  6

  6

  Note:

  Figures may not add-up exactly due to rounding

  The figures are based on birthweights below 2,500 grammes for all births, excluding cases where no birthweight was stated.

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

  Owain Glyndwr Pennal Letter and Seal
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the return of the Pennal Letter and Seal of Dwain Glyndwr to Wales from France for the opening of the National Assembly for Wales. [82451]

  Mr. Michael
  The National Library of Wales is already planning a major exhibition about the life of Dwain Glyndwr for the year 2000. I have asked the National Library and the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, in co-operation, to explore urgently the practicalities of acquiring the Seal and the Letter on loan. The nature of the artefacts is such that they could be displayed only in the strictly controlled environment that can be provided by the Library and the Museum. I have asked to be informed of the outcome, and will keep my hon. Friend informed.

CABINET OFFICE

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what upper age limits apply to the membership of public bodies; and what plans he has to review this. [82054]
  196
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  All public appointments are made on merit. There are no upper age limits which apply to public appointments. I have no plans to review the current position.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Raw Cows' Milk
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 1999,Official Report, column 469, if he will list the names of the hon. Members who wrote to him in (a) January, (b) February and (c) March regarding the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's inquiry into the supply of raw cows' milk. [82053]

  Dr. Howells
  I am placing in the Library of the House a list of the hon. Members who wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in January, February and March regarding the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report into the supply in Great Britain of raw cows' milk.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place the minutes of the Insolvency Review Working Party in the Library. [82008]

  Dr. Howells
  No. The Insolvency Regulation Working Party was established by the seven insolvency Recognised Professional Bodies and my Department's Insolvency Service. Its members were the representatives of these
  197
  bodies. The Working Party was charged with reporting to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and to the Presidents of the professional bodies. The Working Party has completed its task and copies of its report are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will require those licensed under the Insolvency Act 1986 to publish information about their affairs and the impact of their actions on stakeholders. [82011]

  Dr. Howells
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the insolvency practitioners licensed by his Department. [82141]

  Dr. Howells
  The following practitioners are authorised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State:

  Christopher Robert Ashurst

  Duncan Robert Beat

  John Samuel Francis Bennett

  Ashok Kumar Bhardwaj

  Peter Andrew Blair

  Douglas Norman Bowden Brian Bower

  Matthew Colin Bowker

  Peter John Bridger

  Stephen Briscoe

  Colin Thomas Burke

  Phillip John Burrows

  Philip Gerard Byrne

  Peter Geoffrey Cann

  Dawn Lesley Chadwick

  Trevor Irving Clark

  Lawrence Cooper

  John Wynn Davies

  Sara Elizabeth Dayman

  Andrew David Dick

  Brendan Eric Doyle

  Colin Duckworth

  John Francis Dumble

  Peter William Engel

  Stephen John Evans

  Clive Everitt

  Evelyn Gabrielle Exley

  Peter Adrian Finn

  Andrew Charles Fozzard

  Nola Garside

  Neil Hammond Geddes

  James Campbell Gibson

  Roger William Gillett

  Stephen Gilmore

  Stephen Simon Goderski

  Simon Matthew Gwinnutt

  Patricia Ann Haddon

  Colin Michael Trevethyn Haig

  Ronald Stanley Harding

  Paul William Harding

  Stephen Lawrence Harfitt

  Guy Charles David Harrison

  Frank Anthony Hatch

  198

  Trixie Jean Haviland

  Trevor Rex Hemmings

  Neil Francis Hickling

  John Roger Hill

  Peter James Hughes-Holland

  Christakis Michael Icaovides

  Gethyn Islwyn Morris James

  Ruth Muir James

  Diane Johnston

  Rowan Fergus Jones

  Robert William Keating

  David Crew Knight

  Janice Vivienne Leigh

  Philip Alan Lightfoot

  Walter Lismore

  Hilary Lesley Felicity Ann Lofthouse

  Stephen Lord

  Philip Michael Lyon

  James MacLachlan

  John Harvey Madden

  Sandra Marshall

  Paul David Meakiin

  Malcolm John Mears

  Stephen Charles Mileman

  Daniel Britten Miller

  Nicholas John Miller

  Manubhai Govindbhai Mistry

  Rupert Graham Mullins

  John Michael Munn

  Eric Nisbet

  David Nisbet

  Christopher John Nutting

  Michael O'Connor

  Rodney Gavin Owen

  Christine Lesley Peak

  Nigel Paul Pincott

  Philip Daniel Pink

  David Graham Platt

  John William Powell

  John Prenderville

  Alan Redvers Price

  Norma Rosetta Prosser

  Michael Leslie Reeves

  Kenneth Brian Ribgy

  David John Roberts

  Pamela Mary Roe

  Stanley Rose

  Eileen Teresa Frances Sale

  John Christopher Sallabank

  Rashpal Singh Sandhu

  Michael Stanley Sargeant

  Peter Sargent

  Richard Albert Brock Saville

  Richard Andrew Segal

  Wendy Mary Sharpe

  Christopher James Shaw

  Gordon Allan Mart Simmonds

  Alan Simon

  Robert Soanes

  David Solomons

  199

  Diana Spencer

  Caroline Rose Stark

  Keith Aleric Stevens

  Susan Jane Stockley

  John Paul Sugden

  Michael Sutcliffe

  William Clive Swindell

  David William Tann

  Steven George Taylor

  David Thomas

  Alan Keith Thornton

  Neil Tombs

  Brian Tomlinson

  John David Travers

  Stephen James Wainwright

  Roderick John Watson

  Peter George Weil

  Francis F. A. Wessely

  Andrew Richard Williams

  Steven John Williams

  David Frederick Wilson

  Vernon Charles Wright

  Michael William Young.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to replace the present regulators of the insolvency business with a single independent regulator.[82144]

  Dr. Howells
  I have no such proposals.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the meetings held by the Insolvency Review Working Party have been open to the public. [82009]

  Dr. Howells
  None. The Insolvency Regulation Working Party met in private but also carried out a wide ranging consultation exercise so that all those with an interest in this field had an opportunity to make their views known.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints relating to insolvency practitioners have been referred to his Department since May 1997. [82010]

  Dr. Howells
  Sixty-eight complaints about insolvency practitioners authorised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have been referred to my Department since May 1997.

  Cashmere Wool Industry
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has issued to companies operating in the United Kingdom cashmere wool industry regarding the guaranteeing of the bond imposed upon them by the United States of America. [77900]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 27 April 1999,Official Report, column 83.

  Wealth Warnings (Radio)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 28, if he is now in a position to make an announcement about the removal of wealth warnings from radio advertisements. [81572]

  Dr. Howells
  Since my reply of 25 January 1999, I have been undertaking further consultations with representatives of the credit industry and consumer bodies. Once these have been concluded, and I have considered their responses, I will make a further announcement.

  Royal Mail
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the delivery(a) targets and (b) performance of the Royal Mail letter service for (i) first and (ii) second class mail in each of the last 12 months in the Stoke-on-Trent postal area. [82145]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Responsibility for mail delivery performance rests with Post Office management from whom I understand that Royal Mail's delivery performance for first and second class mail for the Stoke-on-Trent postcode over the last four quarters has been as follows:

  First class (percentage)

  Second class (percentage)

  Target

  94·0

  96·9

  Actual:

  June 1998

  92·3

  98·4

  September 1998

  92·4

  98·8

  December 1998

  92·5

  99·8

  March 1999

  90·0

  97·7

  These figures relate to the percentages of first class mail delivered the next working day after posting and of second class mail delivered within three working days of posting.

  Product Liability
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 24 March 1999,Official Report, column 270, on product liability, what plans he has to collate and publish details of cases concerning product safety; and if he will make a statement. [81681]

  Dr. Howells
  Records of cases kept by the courts do not provide sufficient information to enable a search to be made by reference to the particular legislation under which the actions have been brought. However, when product liability cases brought under Part I of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 raise significant points of law, judgments given in them would be reported in published law reports, and these are monitored by the Department. The Secretary of State made a report to Parliament under section 42 of the 1987 Act on action taken under Part II of the Act (product safety) on 25 November 1998 (ISBN 0 10 252299 5).

  Auditors
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will require those licensed to act as
  201
  auditors under the Companies Act 1989 to publish information about their affairs and the impact of their actions on stakeholders. [82007]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government have no plans to do so. Requiring registered auditors to publish information about their affairs would need primary legislation. The five bodies recognised to register and supervise auditors already submit reports to my Department every six months, covering the monitoring, inspection, supervision and disciplining of company auditors. Their annual reports, which are published by the bodies, are placed in the Library of the House.

  Heritage plc
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations he had conducted into the receivership of Heritage plc. [82143]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department has made no investigations into the receivership of Heritage plc but officials are in touch with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales concerning a complaint made to the Institute about the conduct of the administrative receivers.

  Accountants
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prevent accountants acting as reporting accountants from acting as receivers.[82142]

  Dr. Howells
  This issue has been referred to the joint DTI/Treasury review of corporate rescue procedures. Their final report is expected by the end of 1999 and we will give careful consideration to their recommendations.

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of holders of current consumer credit licences are also authorised under the Financial Services Act 1986.[81596]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: This information is not available in the form requested and to collate such information would involve disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consumer credit licences have been revoked by the Office of Fair Trading, and for what reasons, in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 to date. [81595]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: The Director General of Fair Trading revoked 35 licences in 1997 and 17 licences in 1998. 10 licences were revoked during the period 1 January to 19 April 1999.

  Generally, a licence is revoked as a result of complaints and/or criminal convictions against the licensee which show that the licensee is no longer a fit person to engage in the activities covered by the licence. The exact reasons for the revocation of a particular licence are placed on the public register which the Director General has a duty to maintain under section 35 of the Consumer Credit Act.
  202
  This information is available to the general public from:

  The Office of Fair Trading

  Consumer Credit Licensing Bureau

  Craven House

  40 Uxbridge Road

  Ealing

  London W5 2BS

  Telephone: 0171 269 8608/8616.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were employed by the Office of Fair Trading to carry out its consumer credit, licensing and related regulatory functions during(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [81592]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: The number of staff units employed by the Office of Fair Trading to carry out these functions were as follows:

  Period

  Number of staff units

  1997–98

  85·6

  1998–99

  83·2

  1999–2000

  89·2

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requirements have to be met to obtain a consumer credit licence from the Office of Fair Trading. [81594]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: The Director General of Fair Trading has to be satisfied that an applicant is fit to engage in all the business activities covered by a licence and that the applicant's name is not misleading or undesirable. In considering whether or not an applicant is a fit person he will have regard to evidence tending to show that an applicant has:

  (a) committed any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, or violence;

  (b) contravened any provision made by or under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, or by or under any other enactment regulating the provision of credit or other transactions with individuals;

  (c) practised discrimination on grounds of sex, colour, race or ethnic or national origins in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business; or

  (d) engaged in business practices appearing to the Director General to be deceitful or oppressive, or otherwise unfair or improper (whether unlawful or not).

  These criteria are set out in full in section 25 of the Consumer Credit Act.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many current consumer credit licensees are operating(a) in the consumer credit market, (b) in the secured credit market for loans of up to £25,000 and (c) in the secured credit market for loans above £25,000. [81593]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: The Director General of Fair Trading collects information to help him assess the fitness of licence holders but does not collate information about their business activity. To collate such information would require disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consumer credit licences issued by the Office of Fair Trading under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 are still current.[81598]
  203
  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: There were 261,075 current licences on 1 April 1999.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring the Office of Fair Trading and trading standards officers undertake of individuals granted consumer credit licences under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. [81597]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 20 April 1999]: The Office of Fair Trading generally relies upon local authority trading standards services to monitor licensees. Consumers who have problems with licence holders can complain to their local trading standards services, and details of these complaints are passed to the Office of Fair Trading. Trading standards services also have powers under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 that allow them to enter premises, inspect documents, and to make test purchases. They also prosecute offences under the Act.

  The Office of Fair Trading maintains a register of convictions that result from action by trading standards services. The register is used in both assessing the fitness of applicants for licences and monitoring the continuing fitness of licensees.

  Export Licences
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those countries for which an export licence for goods with a possible military application is not permitted. [82438]

  Dr. Howells
  All applications for an individual licence to export arms and other goods entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (the so-called Military List) are assessed on a case by case basis using the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26—29, and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. Both sets of criteria are also used to assess applications for a licence to export dual-use goods where there are grounds for believing that the end-user would be the armed forces or internal security forces of the recipient country.

  As noted in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. King) by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), on 28 January 1998, Official Report, columns 273–74, a list of all UK policy commitments, including embargoes, has been placed in the Library of the House and an updated version will be laid annually (or more frequently if policy changes require a revision).

  Consultations (Postal Costs)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will pay the postal costs of voluntary bodies and registered charities requested to respond to Government consultation documents; and if he will make a statement. [80918]

  Dr. Howells
  We will consider paying these costs where circumstances merit.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Telecommunications Council held in Luxembourg on 22 April; and if he will make a statement. [82396]

  Mr. Wills
  I represented the UK at the Telecommunications Council on 22 April. The Council reached political agreement on a common position in respect of a Directive on a Common Framework for Electronic Signatures. A Council Resolution on the Year 2000 Computer Problem was agreed in principle.

  The Council also held a debate on the state of the EU telecommunications market. The Commission presented a Communication on the results of public consultation on the Green Paper on the Convergence of Telecommunications, Media and Information Technology Sectors, on which Council Conclusions were agreed in principle. The Commission also presented its Green Paper on Access to Public Sector Information, and provided an oral update regarding developments on Globalisation and the Information Society, Internet Domain Names, and on the public consultation on the Commission Green Paper on Radio Spectrum Policy.

  Miners (Compensation)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in total he estimates his Department will pay in compensation as result of miners'(a) vibration white finger injuries and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema diseases. [82530]

  Mr. Battle
  The gross level of provision for the British Coal health liabilities assumed by the Department is:

  £million

  1999–2000

  228·2

  2000–01

  490·3

  2001–02

  507·5

  Due to a number of uncertainties—not least the number of claims likely to be received and the actual levels of compensation payable in individual cases—it is not possible to say how much will be required to meet the specific cost of miners' health claims for vibration white finger, and chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

  The Government have however made it clear that they will provide the funds necessary to meet the cost of legitimate claims.

  Right-hand Drive Vehicles
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has to prevent car manufacturers from refusing to supply right-hand drive vehicles to continental dealers for sale to United Kingdom customers. [81223]

  Mr. Byers
  EC competition law provides that manufacturers must not restrict the freedom of their dealers to supply right-hand drive motor vehicles to UK customers.

  Enforcement of these provisions is a matter for the European Commission. The seriousness with which the Commission views breaches of EC law was

  205
  demonstrated by its decision to fine Volkswagen £67 million in January 1998 for prohibiting its dealers in Italy from selling cars to foreign buyers.

  Forest Products (Trade Liberalisation)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the United Kingdom's policy is on the proposal from the US and other Governments to negotiate a forest products sectoral trade liberalisation agreement before the 1999 WTO ministerial conference in Seattle. [82262]

  Mr. Wilson
  The possibility of a sectoral liberalisation agreement reducing tariffs on forest products and other limited sectors is being proposed by the US and other members of APEC for agreement at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle. The primary objective of the Conference is to launch a new comprehensive round of trade negotiations, including industrial tariffs, agriculture, services and technical standards and a range of other issues. The UK's priority issues were set out in my previous answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell) of 21 January 1999,Official Report, column 548. The UK and the EU are concerned not to lose momentum for launching the wider negotiations at Seattle by focusing only on limited sectors. We do not rule out early agreements on tariffs including the forest product sector during the course of the new round as part of a comprehensive package of negotiations.

  Professional Statisticians
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81179]

  Mr. Byers
  Three "professional" Statisticians have left the Department on early retirement, including retirement on medical grounds, in the last ten years.

  Milk Marque
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what considerations are delaying publication of the MMC report on Milk Marque. [82273]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will publish the report as soon as is practicable.

  The Department of Trade and Industry has provided information about the publication arrangements for monopoly reports at paragraphs 8.1—8.3 of its publication "Guidance on DTI procedures for handling Monopoly references and reports", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Professional Statisticians
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81178]
  206
  Mr. Morley
  The number of professional statisticians who left on early retirement (including on medical grounds) from my Department in each of the past 10 years was as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1989

  0

  1990

  0

  1991

  0

  1992

  0

  1993

  1

  1994

  0

  1995

  2

  1996

  0

  1997

  0

  1998

  0

  I have asked Chief Executives to reply separately.

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate have left on early retirement terms in each of the past 10 years. This is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  There were no such retirements for these staff in each of the past 10 years.

  Letter from P. W. Greig-Smith to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question on professional statisticians who have left on early retirement in each of the last ten years. I am replying on behalf of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), which, prior to April 1997, was the MAFF Directorate of Fisheries Research (DFR).
  I can advise you that no professional statisticians have left DFR/CEFAS on early retirement during the period 1989 to 1998.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food requesting information on the number of staff who have worked as professional statisticians who have left on early retirement in each of the past ten years, has been passed to me to reply as regards this Executive Agency.
  The MHS is responsible for enforcing meat hygiene, inspection, animal welfare and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) legislation in licensed fresh meat premises in Great Britain. The majority of MHS staff are veterinary surgeons or Meat Hygiene Inspectors. The MHS does not have any professional statisticians in its employment.

  Letter from T W. A. Little to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  The Minister has asked me to respond to your question about staff who have worked as professional statisticians in MAFF and have left on early retirement in each of the past ten years.
  No professional statisticians have worked at the VLA and took early retirement in the past ten years.

  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), to your questions concerning professional statisticians.

  207
  CSL was established as an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in April 1992. Since that time there have been no professional statisticians who have left the Agency on early retirement grounds.
  CSL presently employs one member of staff as a professional statistician, graded at CSL Level 3 (SEO equivalent). This person has not been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society and has not been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board.

  Letter from Sarah Nason to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  The Minister has asked me to respond, in respect of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA), to your question about the number of staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department who have left on early retirement in the past ten years.
  FRCA was created as an Executive Agency on 1 April 1997: to date no professional statisticians have been employed by the Agency.

  Letter from J. A. Bainton to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 28 April 1999:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question concerning the employment of professional statisticians.
  Since PSD was formed in 1993, no professional statisticians have been employed in the Agency.

  Rats
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department has made of the rat population of(a) the UK, (b) London, (c) Manchester, (d) Liverpool, (e) Newcastle, (f) Bristol and (g) Plymouth. [82460]

  Mr. Morley
  Data on the incidence of rodents in England were collected in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' 1996 English House Condition Survey on behalf of MAFF. The results should be published later this year. The sample size of the survey does not permit figures for individual local authorities to be produced.

  Information for the other parts of the UK is the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require the labelling of food products to contain information on the age of each ingredient. [82002]

  Mr. Rooker
  Consumers need information on the minimum durability of food products, so that food can be consumed within its recommended period and while it retains its specific properties. This need is met by the legal requirement to provide 'use by' or 'best before' dates for most prepacked foods. Information on the varying ages of the individual ingredients would not enable consumers to use food within the appropriate timescale.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many existing MAFF staff will be transferred to the Food Standards Agency. [82272]
  208
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 23 March 1999, Official Report, column 219.

  EU Fraud
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what(a) discussions he has had and (b) proposals his Department has put forward at Council of Ministers' meetings in respect of EU fraud; and if he will make a statement. [77777]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 19 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 19 March 1999, Official Report, column 858.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times officials from his Department have met their opposite numbers in the US Government and US Embassy to discuss genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry since 1 June 1998; and if he will list for each meeting the dates and locations; and the US department whose officials they met. [81082]

  Mr. Rooker
  Ministers and officials in this Department are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in biotechnology—including environmental groups, consumer groups and biotechnology companies. We are also following practice and trials in a number of countries overseas, including the United States.

  Rabies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if countries with land borders with countries outside the European Union will be eligible for the pet passport system recommended by Professor Kennedy if they comply with the Office International des Epizooties definition of being free from rabies. [81928]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: The Kennedy Group recommended that pet cats and dogs resident in all EU and EEA countries should be eligible for alternative arrangements to quarantine, regardless of whether those countries had land borders with countries outside the European Union. In addition, the Government plan to include Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican in the new arrangements.

  The Kennedy Group recommended that, in addition, islands elsewhere in the world meeting the OIE definition of being free from rabies should be included. Other countries which are rabies free but are not islands would not be included. The Government are following the approach of Professor Kennedy's Group here.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which will be contacted to confirm whether they can comply with the OIE definition of being free from rabies; and when he expects to publish the list of qualifying countries. [81929]
  209
  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: We have
  already written to the following islands which appear to meet the OIE definition of being rabies free to seek confirmation that this is the case:

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Australia

  Bahrain

  Barbados

  Cape Verde

  China (Taiwan)

  Cook Islands

  Falkland Islands

  Fiji

  French Polynesia

  Japan

  Jamaica

  Malta

  Mauritius

  New Caledonia

  New Zealand

  Réunion

  St. Kitts

  St. Lucia

  Seychelles

  Singapore

  Vanuatu.

  The Government are accepting representations from other islands not on the list.

  Pork and Bacon
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken recently to urge consumers to purchase pork and bacon that has been reared to high welfare standards. [82443]

  Mr. Rooker
  In recent months we have encouraged consumers, retailers, caterers and public procurement bodies to take account of quality and welfare factors when purchasing pigmeat. This encouragement has taken place at industry events, seminars and meetings and in letters. We have also written to all MPs and UK MEPs urging them to support the pig industry in its efforts to meet consumer demands.

  Abattoirs (Inspections)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire on 15 February 1999,Official Report, column 574, what separate items have to be inspected by the EU Commission before the export ban can

  Date

  Title of meeting

  EU member states

  European Commission

  World Trade Organisation

  Meetings attended since 1 January 1999

  7 January 1999

  EU group of seed experts

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  8 January 1999

  EU Standing Committee on Seeds

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  14-15 January 1999

  EU group of experts on the vegetable common catalogue

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  19 January 1999

  EU group of experts on hybrids of cereals

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  19 January 1999

  EU group of seeds experts

  Yes

  —

  —

  20 January 1999

  EU Standing Committee on Seeds

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  9 February 1999

  Community Plant Variety Office Fees Working Party

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  210
  be lifted; if the abattoirs which apply then will require a second inspection; when he will invite the Commission to carry out the inspections already required; and what remaining issues need to be resolved before that invitation is issued. [72252]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 22 February 1999]: The
  European Commission inspected our procedures for operating the Date-based Export Scheme (DBES) from 12 to 16 April. During their visit, the inspectors were given demonstrations of the practical operation of the DBES in three slaughterhouses—one in England, one Scotland and one in Northern Ireland. They also visited two farms, an incinerator, an Animal Health Divisional Office and the new Unit in Gloucester which will run the Scheme.

  The Commission are now writing a report of their inspection for presentation to the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC). After the SVC have seen the inspection report, the Commission should set a date from which exports of UK beef produced under the DBES can start.

  There is no requirement for the individual abattoirs which decide to participate in the DBES to be inspected by the Commission. The approval of such abattoirs will be dealt with on a national basis.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on cross-pollination between genetically modified oil seed rape in field trials and the wild weed variety; and if he will make a statement on the latter' s resistance to weedkiller. [81781]

  Mr. Rooker
  There is no evidence, from MAFF-funded research, of cross hybridisation between oilseed rape and weeds in field trials. However, the research is still at an early stage and it is not possible to exclude the possibility that hybrids may be found. There have been reports of herbicide-resistant wild turnip in oilseed rape fields in some part of the UK. It is likely that the wild turnip, a close relative of oilseed rape, is naturally resistant to the same herbicides as is unmodified oilseed rape.

  Plant Variety and Seeds Office
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the meetings which officials from the Plant Variety and Seeds Office have attended with officials from(a) EU member states, (b) the European Commission and (c) the World Trade Organisation since 1 January 1999; and if he will list such meetings planned up to 1 June 1999. [81880]

  Mr. Rooker
  The lists requested are set out.
  211

  Date

  Title of meeting

  EU member states

  European Commission

  World Trade Organisation

  10 February 1999

  Meeting on testing of hybrids and parent lines for distinctness, uniformity and stability

  Yes

  —

  —

  15 February 1999

  Joint Symposium by UPOV (International convention for the protection of new varieties of plants), WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) and WTO (World Trade Organisation) on the protection of plant varieties under Article 27·3(b) of the TRIPS (Trade related aspects of international property rights) Agreement

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  18 February 1999

  Community Plant Variety Office meeting on sugar beet variety testing

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  4 March 1999

  EU group of experts on variety denominations

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  22-25 March 1999

  UPOV Technical Committee

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  25 March 1999

  Bi-lateral meeting with Commission

  —

  Yes

  —

  25 March 1999

  UPOV Administrative and Legal Committee

  Yes

  —

  —

  26 March 1999

  UPOV Council

  Yes

  —

  —

  26 March 1999

  UPOV Consultative Committee

  Yes

  —

  —

  6 April 1999

  Community Plant Variety Office Fees Working Party

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  7-8 April 1999

  Community Plant Variety Office Administrative Council

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  8 April 1999

  EU ad hoc group on vegetable seed marketing

  Yes

  —

  —

  12-13 April 1999

  EU agricultural common catalogue

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  23 April 1999

  EU Standing Committee on Seeds

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  Meetings planned up 1 June 1999

  29-30 April 1999

  EU comparative trial on oilseed rape

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  3-4 May 1999

  EU Seed Certification Agencies Association

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  10-11 May 1999

  UPOV editorial sub-group meeting

  Yes

  —

  —

  14 May 1999

  EU comparative trial on electrophoresis

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  28 May 1999

  EU Standing Committee on Seeds

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  18-21 May 1999

  OECD seeds meetings

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  Departmental Legal Business
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy when(a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81759]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food predominantly uses junior counsel when it is necessary to instruct counsel to provide legal advice or to conduct legal proceedings.

  In civil cases, the two First Treasury Counsel are both junior counsel and they will advise and represent the government without a Queen's Counsel in many of its important cases. In addition, the Attorney-General maintains four panels of junior Counsel who departments
  212
  are expected to use for the majority of the government's civil litigation. The Attorney-General or Solicitor-General's approval is required before a Queen's Counsel can be instructed to appear in civil litigation.

  A panel of Counsel, maintained by the Attorney-General, exists to provide advice in more significant criminal case work. His consent is sought to the nomination of such Counsel.

  In determining the level of counsel to use, the department will consider the individual circumstances of each case. It will take into account, inter alia, the importance and sensitivity of the case, the complexity of the law, the weight and complexity of the evidence, and the degree of experience and expertise required before deciding whether to instruct Queen's Counsel or junior counsel.

  The number of occasions on which the Ministry instructed Queen's Counsel in the last three years, and the cost of doing so, cannot be given without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Kosovo
  Kosovo
  Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme
  Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme
  CAP Reforms: Agenda 2000 Negotiations
  CAP Reforms: Agenda 2000 Negotiations
  Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
  Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
  Treaty of Amsterdam: Entry into Force
  Treaty of Amsterdam: Entry into Force
  British Dependent Territories Citizens: British Citizenship
  British Dependent Territories Citizens: British Citizenship
  EU Member States: UN Civil and Political Rights Convention
  EU Member States: UN Civil and Political Rights Convention
  Serbia: Cessation of Military Action
  Serbia: Cessation of Military Action
  Treaty of Rome: Channel Islands and Isle of Man
  Treaty of Rome: Channel Islands and Isle of Man
  Gibraltar: Illicit Trafficking Control
  Gibraltar: Illicit Trafficking Control
  FCO: Restructuring of Departmental Responsibilities
  FCO: Restructuring of Departmental Responsibilities
  Treaty of Amsterdam: Co-operative Initiatives
  Treaty of Amsterdam: Co-operative Initiatives
  Sudan: Killing of Relief Workers
  Sudan: Killing of Relief Workers
  Sudan: Ceasefire
  Sudan: Ceasefire
  Serbia: Costs of NATO Action
  Serbia: Costs of NATO Action
  Bahrain
  Bahrain
  Good Friday Agreement
  Good Friday Agreement
  Mr. David Adams
  Mr. David Adams
  Castlereagh Holding Centre
  Castlereagh Holding Centre
  Part-time Judges: Commercial Directorships
  Part-time Judges: Commercial Directorships
  Appellate Committee and Privy Council Majority Decisions
  Appellate Committee and Privy Council Majority Decisions
  Appeal and Appellate Committees: Composition
  Appeal and Appellate Committees: Composition
  General Pinochet
  General Pinochet
  Corpus Juris
  Corpus Juris
  Animal Welfare Legislation
  Animal Welfare Legislation
  Murder of Relief Workers: Definition
  Murder of Relief Workers: Definition
  Medicines (Advertising) Regulations
  Medicines (Advertising) Regulations
  Human Cloning: Council of Europe Protocol
  Human Cloning: Council of Europe Protocol
  Form CRU1
  Form CRU1
  Mortgage Protection Insurance
  Mortgage Protection Insurance
  Buses: EU Legislation
  Buses: EU Legislation
  British Films
  British Films
  Electronic Interfaces with the Public
  Electronic Interfaces with the Public
  UK and Euro-area Interest Rate Comparisons
  UK and Euro-area Interest Rate Comparisons