Written Answers of 30 April 1999

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Winter Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of(a) the cost of paying the£100 winter allowance through the basic state pension and (b) the cost of paying the winter allowance separately. [82283]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 28 April 1999,Official Report,columns 168–69.

  Birth Certificates
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the purposes for which his Department and its Executive Agencies require a birth certificate to be provided by(a) employees, (b) contractors,(c) those applying for employment or contracts and (d) other persons. [82768]

  Mr. Timms
  This Department and its Agencies require new employees to provide proof of identity and their date of birth, and the provision of their birth certificate is one means of doing this. However, a birth certificate is required only in the absence of other documentation, usually a passport. The Department and its Executive Agencies do not ask for birth certificates from contractors or from those seeking a contract.

  The Benefits Agency does not insist on seeing birth certificates of new claimants of social security benefits to verify their identity, except when they are claiming certain benefits such as retirement pensions and child benefit. For other social security benefits, other forms of documentation are also acceptable.

  The Child Support Agency will ask for sight of a qualifying child's birth certificate where there is a paternity dispute to establish whether or not the non-resident parent is shown on the birth certificate. It is unlikely that the Agency will request a birth certificate in any other circumstances, as the dates of birth of qualifying children are verified for the purposes of child benefit.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 18 March 1999,Official Report, column 791, on Special Advisers, if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997 and the place visited. [82418]
  270
  Mr. Timms
  For the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999, Special Advisers in this Department have travelled overseas in an official capacity on one occasion to Brussels. The total cost, for a party of four, for travel and any hotel accommodation was £642. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fisheries Inspectorate
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vessels from each EU country have been(a) monitored and (b) boarded by his Department's Fisheries Inspectorate in British territorial waters in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Morley
  The UK has exclusive fishing rights within the UK 0–6 mile limits and there is only limited access for other Community fishing vessels within our 12 mile limits. It follows that the majority of enforcement activity within the territorial waters adjacent to England and Wales involves UK fishing vessels.

  Details of sightings and boardings of fishing vessels in British Fishery Limits adjacent to England and Wales are held by the Ministry. However, this information is not recorded in a way which would enable detailed information to be provided in respect of the territorial waters adjacent to England and Wales without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Competitive Bidding
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bids from farmers and farming organisations were(a) received and (b) successful in each of the competitive bidding processes launched and managed by his Department since May 1997.[82463]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 28 April 1999]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Culling Trials
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the next areas to be brought into the randomised culling trial. [83267]

  Mr. Rooker
  Using the criteria set out in their report of last July, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB has now identified the fourth triplet of trial areas. It is located in east Herefordshire and work will begin there shortly.

DEFENCE

  Air Brigades
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the readiness time for 5 Airborne Brigade; and what is the estimated deployment time for 16 Air Assault Brigade. [82347]
  271
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: Under current plans, 5 Airborne Brigade will cease to exist on 1 September 1999, and the command of the Airborne Battle Group will transfer to 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Airborne Battle Group will be maintained at the same very high readiness by 16 Assault Brigade as it is currently maintained by 5 Airborne Brigade. I am withholding more detailed information on readiness states under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Army Base Repair Organisation
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation for 1999–2000. [83229]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation has been set the following 5 Key Targets for 1999–2000.

  To complete 95 per cent. of all programmes within the plan agreed with the customers; to complete 95 per cent. of district load tasks within the turnaround times agreed with the customer unit;to drive down the cost of repairs, by 3 per cent. in real terms, for financial year 1999–2000; to reduce the cost of reworking returned faulty equipment by 3 per cent., in real terms, for financial year 1999–2000; and to develop a trading mechanism with the owner and other parts of MOD, as part of the transition to full Trading Fund status, by 31 March 2000.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of Gloucestershire airport about low flying by military aircraft.[82767]

  Mr. Spellar
  None.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kosovo
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the mandate of the EU Special Envoy for Kosovo; what is his budget; and what level of assistance has been provided to him to date. [82234]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On 5 October 1998, the European Council nominated Mr. Wolfgang Petritsch as EU Special Envoy to Kosovo to act on the spot for the EU under the direction of the Presidency and in close co-ordination with the EU Special Representative for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).

  In order to provide the EU Special Envoy with the human and logistical resources needed to carry out his functions, the Presidency presented a Joint Action which allocated a sum of euro 510,000 to cover the costs related to Mr. Petritsch's mission.

  The action was adopted on 25 March 1999. The action shall apply until 30 September 1999, unless renewed subject to a review including administrative and financial aspects.

  Official Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadors' and high commissioners' cars were made(a) in the UK and (b) outside the UK. [82559]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The Foreign Office has 215 flag cars in operation at Embassies and High Commissions overseas. These include protected and non-protected vehicles. There are presently 204 (95 per cent.) flag cars which have either been built in the UK and exported or built in the UK but bought locally. The Foreign Office has 11 flag cars which are non-UK built vehicles.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of vehicles used by(a) diplomatic posts and (b) Government departments overseas are (i) British manufactured and (ii) non-British manufactured. [82558]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Of the 1,202 vehicles currently supplied to diplomatic Posts overseas, 61.6 per cent. are British manufactured and 38.4 per cent. non-British manufactured. The information to answer part(b) of this question is not centrally held.

  Yugoslavia (Oil Embargo)
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the EU oil embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia came into force; and if he will make a statement. [83228]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On 23 April, the Council of the EU adopted a Common Position (1999/273/CFSP) prohibiting the sale or supply of petroleum and petroleum products to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Following from this Common Position, the EC adopted a Regulation on 26 April. The Regulation prohibits

  (a) the sale, supply or export, directly or indirectly, of certain petroleum and petroleum products listed in an Annex to the Regulation, whether or not originating in the Community, to any person or body in the FRY or to any person or body for the purpose of any business carried on in, or operated from the territory of the FRY;

  (b) the shipping of such products to the territory of the FRY

  (c) participation in related activities the object or the effect of which is to promote the transactions or activities referred to under (a).

  The Regulation includes exemptions, under certain conditions, for the sale, supply or export of petroleum and petroleum products for the use of diplomatic and consular missions of EU Member States; for the use of a future international military presence; and for humanitarian purposes.

  The Regulation applies within the territory of the Community, including its air space and on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State and to any person elsewhere who is a national of a Member State and any body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State.

  The Regulation will enter into force on 1 May and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation introducing licensing and enforcement provisions, including penalties, will come into force the same day.

  Pakistan
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on Pakistan's political stability of the Taliban movement . [82874]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are concerned about the impact on regional security of the continued conflict and instability in Afghanistan. I discussed this issue with the Pakistani authorities when I visited Pakistan in February. I urged them to use any influence they had with the Taliban and other factions to encourage a peaceful and lasting settlement in Afghanistan.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has given to the High Commission in Pakistan regarding relations with(a) MQM and (b) Mohajirs; and if he will make a statement. [82876]

  Mr. Fatchett
  In line with our policy of dialogue with all ranges of political opinion in Pakistan, the British High Commission in Islamabad and Deputy High Commission in Karachi regularly meet representatives of both the MQM and the wider Mohajir community.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for ministerial visits to(a) Pakistan and (b) India. [82873]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has current plans to visit India and Pakistan.

  Spain
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens over the age of(a) 75 and (b) 80 years are serving jail terms in Spain. [82877]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There are at present no British prisoners over the age of 75 in Spanish jails.

  Ikbalbhai Chandubhai Khalifa
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision will be made on the settlement application made by Ikbalbhai Chandubhai Khalifa, Bombay reference AP/98/5/145. [82754]

  Mr. Fatchett
  A decision was made on this application on 19 April. We have asked our Deputy High Commission in Bombay for full details. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Symons, will be writing to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EU Industry Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming EU Industry Council of 29 April. [82178]
  274
  Mr. Byers
  The Industry Council on 29 April 1999 covered a number of issues, the principal of which were:Open debate on the competitiveness of EU industry in the light of globalisation.
  Possible political agreement on proposals to amend Council Regulations 199/65/EEC and 17/62EEC (Vertical Restraints Block Exemption Enabling Regulations).
  Possible political agreement on a Common Position on draft Directive on the Late Payment of Commercial Debt.

  Political Party Donations
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation to require companies to undertake a ballot of all employees before making donations to political parties. [82640]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government do not see a case for requiring companies to ballot employees before making donations to political parties. They have accepted the recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life that there should be a legal obligation on companies intending to make a political donation to have the prior authority of their shareholders, and have published a consultative document seeking views on the implementation of the Committee's recommendations.

  Auditing Regulation
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many organisations will be(a) directly and (b) indirectly responsible for regulating auditors under his Department's proposals for regulating accountancy and auditing. [82548]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The new framework for the regulation of the accountancy profession, which I announced on 28 April, does not affect the bodies recognised under the Companies Act 1989 to supervise auditors, of which there are at present five. However, the framework establishes three new independent boards covering ethical standards, investigation and discipline, and auditing standards, which largely replace existing bodies and whose work will underpin particular aspects of auditor regulation. These bodies will come under the scrutiny of a new independent Review Board and appointments to them, and to the Review Board, will be made by an independent Foundation.

  Inspectors (Accountancy Business Connections)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inspectors currently deployed to carry out investigations under the Companies Acts, the Financial Services Act 1986, the Insolvency Acts and the Insurance Companies Acts have business connections with accountancy firms criticised in previous DTI inspectors' reports. [82651]

  Dr. Howells
  Currently, one Inspector is from a firm which was criticised in the Inspectors' report on The Bestwood plc, published in 1994. This report deals with events which took place before 1990.

  Securities (Disclosure Compensation)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to introduce a section equivalent to section 150 of the Financial Services Act 1986 to the Companies Acts. [82647]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government currently have no plans to introduce legislation to this effect. However, the roles and liabilities of directors and auditors will be examined as part of the Company Law Review.

  Treaty of Amsterdam
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list each of the new responsibilities which he will assume when the signed Treaty of Amsterdam takes effect and for each(a) the likely effect on departmental staffing, (b) the bodies or persons in the European Union principally concerned and (c) the relevant section of that treaty and the consolidated treaties of the European Union and European Community. [80408]

  Mr. Byers
  The Treaty of Amsterdam will have minimal impact on the responsibilities of the Department.

PRIME MINISTER

  Anglo-Spanish Working Group
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the(a) mandate, (b) membership and (c) frequency of meetings of the Anglo-Spanish Working Group on Employment and Economic Reform. [82235]

  The Prime Minister
  The British-Spanish Working Group on Employment and Economic Reform complements and builds upon existing British-Spanish bilateral co-operation on labour market reform. As stated in the Declaration on Employment and Economic Reform agreed at the British-Spanish Summit on 10 April, the Working Group will promote all aspects of co-operation between the two countries regarding economic reform.

  The Working Group will be co-ordinated at Ministerial level. The UK co-ordinator will be my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. The detail and timing of meetings are currently under discussion with the Spanish government.

  Cabinet Meetings
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reason the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 22 April was cancelled; and on how many occasions since 1969 Cabinet meetings have been cancelled. [82878]

  The Prime Minister
  It is established practice under section 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees. The Cabinet usually, but not invariably, meets once a week when Parliament is in session.

  Steven Hayden
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has decided to refer the case of Chief Petty Officer Steven Hayden to the Security Commission. [83230]
  276
  The Prime Minister
  After consulting the Chairman of the Security Commission and the right hon. Gentleman, I have decided to refer this case to the Security Commission. The terms of reference will be:"To investigate the circumstances in which breaches of security have or may have occurred arising out of the case of Chief Petty Officer Steven Hayden, who was convicted on 23 October 1998 of offences under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1989; and to advise in the light of that investigation whether any change in security arrangements is necessary or desirable."

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judiciary (Speeches)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice his Department gives to members of the judiciary as to the content of speeches, with reference to language that could be interpreted as discriminating on grounds of sex, race or sexuality.[82825]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor expects judges to exercise personal responsibility in such matters, in order to ensure that nothing they say or do undermines the image of the judiciary as being impartial and even-handed towards all members of the community.

  Conditional Fees (Insurance)
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 April 1999,Official Report, column 534, if he will place in the Library copies of such written details of the insurance products to support the use of conditional fees as have been received by his Department from the providers listed. [82472]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have today placed in the Library copies of information on the relevant insurance products provided by:

  First Assist;

  Litigation Protection Ltd.; and

  Greystoke Legal Services.

  Copies of information on the insurance products provided by:

  Collegiate Insurance Brokers Ltd.;

  Abbey Legal Protection; Amicus;

  Eastgate Assistance; and

  Saturn Professional Risks Ltd.

  have been requested from the companies. These will be placed in the Library on receipt and I will write to the right hon. and learned Gentleman.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Macpherson Inquiry
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the Macpherson inquiry recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [80537]
  277
  Janet Anderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 14 April 1999,Official Report, columns 238–39.

  My Department has a major part to play in helping to build an inclusive and diverse society. We are seeking to secure race equality and cultural diversity objectives in the funding agreements made between DCMS and its sponsored bodies; in monitoring the Lottery distributors' new strategies; in setting the agenda of the new DCMS regional consortiums and in encouraging the development of local authority cultural strategies. I am following developments in the media as broadcasters and programme makers examine their role in engaging ethnic minorities as audiences and in creative roles. My Department has enlisted the support of prominent sports people and clubs in portraying racism in sport as unwanted and unacceptable.

  The Permanent Secretary has signed, on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the joint Charter for Action to redress the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service (SCS). The Department has adopted the targets for ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service (3.5 per cent. by 2005) published in the modernising government White Paper. The Department is considering a number of measures aimed at increasing representation in the higher grades, including the development of staff with potential in the feeder grades and more direct recruitment at higher levels.

  Seaside Amusement Machines
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received regarding seaside amusement machines; and if he will make a statement. [82316]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department has received no recent representations. The Government recognise the popularity of amusement machines as entertainment for local residents and holidaymakers.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of an increase in the taxation of seaside amusement machines on his policy with regards to historic seaside piers. [82315]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department has made no such assessment. Questions on taxation are a matter for Treasury Ministers.

HEALTH

  Residential Care
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department last reviewed the funding by local authorities towards the cost of people previously resident in their area who are in private residential or nursing home care; and if he will make a statement. [80026]

  Mr. Hutton
  Local authority funding was given priority in the Government's recent Comprehensive Spending Review of all public expenditure. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in July 1998 that almost £3 billion extra would be provided for Personal Social Services over the next three years.
  278
  These additional resources year on year will enable authorities to plan and commission more effectively the range of services, including residential and nursing home care, required by vulnerable people.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the number of patients on NHS waiting lists waiting 12 months or longer since 1 May 1997. [80287]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]: Between March 1996 and March 1997 (the latest figures available on 1 May 1997), the total number of patients on National Health Service waiting lists for 12 months or longer rose from 3,600 to 30,200. It continued to rise until June 1998 [to 72,100]. It has since fallen by 29 per cent. (21,200), to stand at 50,900 by the end of February 1999. We fully expect this downward trend to continue.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the reports he has commissioned into reducing waiting lists, including the dates when they were received. [80280]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]: In January 1998, the Department commissioned a report from Professor John Yates of the Inter-Authority Comparisons and Consultancy, at the University of Birmingham's Health Services Management Centre, on waiting times in the Ear, Nose and Throat specialty. The report was received by the Department in March this year.

  Haemophilia and Hepatitis C
  Sir Geoffrey JohnsonSmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what number of people with haemophilia and hepatitis C the assumptions are based on which his estimate of the cost of a financial assistance scheme is founded; if his estimate of the costs of such a scheme includes amounts of money for(a) payments for all and (b) a hardship fund; and how much he has assumed would be applied for each; over how many years such expenditure would be spread; what are the estimated costs in the first year; and what figure for first year start up costs he has included in his estimate. [80463]

  Mr. Hutton
  The estimate was based on approximately 3,000 people and the overall expenditure to date on the special payment scheme for those with haemophilia infected with HIV through national Health Service treatment with blood products. The estimates did not include start-up costs or the costs of managing the process.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy regarding the future of community health councils; and if he will make a statement.[81708]

  Mr. Denham
  No immediate changes to the role of community health councils are planned.

  NHSnet (Running Costs)
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the(a) development and (b) running costs of

  279
  the NHSnet in each of the last five years; what are the forecast costs for the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [81644]

  Mr. Denham
  NHSnet is provided to National Health Service organisations as a service by commercial contractors who funded its development and meet its running costs: those costs are, therefore, confidential to the contractors.

  Individual NHS organisations are charged by the contractors for NHSnet connections and for the messages they send over NHSnet.

  Until 31 March 1999, bills for these charges were met by individual NHS users. The estimated total charges for the last four years are as follows (NHSnet has been in use only since 1995–96):

  Estimated total charges (£ million)

  Year

  NHSnet connections

  Messaging

  1995–96

  0·275

  0·013

  1996–97

  1·900

  0·113

  1997–98

  3·000

  0·661

  1998–99

  4·400

  1·500

  From 1 April 1999, the charges for NHSnet are being met centrally, as recommended in "Information for Health", the new NHS Information Strategy published in September 1998. The estimates for the next two years are:

  Estimated total charges (£ million)

  Year

  NHSnet connections

  Messaging

  1999–2000

  8·800

  4·300

  2000–01

  15·800

  5·500

  Primary Care Groups
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the annual reports on clinical governance from primary care groups will be required to include reports on the management of chronic illness. [81866]

  Mr. Denham
  Clinical governance reporting requirements for National Health Service organisations in 1999–2000 were set out in the document "Clinical Governance: Quality in the new NHS", published under cover of HSC 1999/065 on 16 March 1999.

  Primary care groups are required to undertake an assessment of the current provision, produce plans to rectify shortfalls in quality and report on progress. Where there are quality shortfalls in the management of chronic illnesses, primary care groups will be required to report on them through this mechanism.

  "National Framework for Mental Health"
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects "National Service Framework for Mental Health" to be published; and if he will make a statement. [81984]
  280
  Mr. Hutton
  An exact date has not been set for the publication of the mental health national service framework. We expect the framework to be published in the next couple of months.

  Health Provision (Colchester)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on his powers in relation to the decision of the former North Thames Regional Health Authority to retain a cancer centre at Colchester, and to build a new centre of excellence in the town, and the role of the Eastern Region Health Authority; [82219]

  (2) what discussions his Department has held over the possible transfer of the cancer centre in Colchester to Ipswich. [82218]

  Mr. Hutton
  No decision was made by the former North Thames Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive to designate Colchester General Hospital as a cancer centre or to approve a capital investment programme.

  Prior to receipt of any proposed business case, the Eastern Regional Office of the NHS Executive, in agreement with all interested parties, is conducting a review of cancer services across Suffolk and North Essex to determine the most appropriate way in which cancer services can be provided to local people.

  Easington Primary Care Group
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how may GPs are expected to retire over the next five years in the Easington primary care group and if he will make a statement.[82299]

  Mr. Denham
  The information held centrally is classified by health authority and not by primary care group, and the latest figures for County Durham Health Authority are shown in the table. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the health authority for information about the Easington primary care group.

  Age groups of unrestricted principals in County Durham Health Authority as at 1 October 1997

  Age group

  Number

  Under 30

  2

  30–39

  119

  40–49

  123

  50–59

  65

  Over 60

  7

  Total

  316

  Source

  Department of Health GMP Census

  Pacemakers
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Medical Devices Agency has a record of patients with pacemakers in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [82398]

  Ms Jowell
  Pacemaker patient records are not held by the Medical Devices Agency. Patients implanted with pacemakers are registered with the National Pacemaker Database (NPD), using data supplied by implanting hospitals on a voluntary basis.
  281
  In a survey conducted by the NPD in 1997, it was estimated that in 1996 approximately 94 per cent. of all pacemaker implants were recorded on the database.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Siemens Sensolog 2033T pacemakers have been supplied by the NHS for use in England and Wales. [82402]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department does not hold this information. However, the National Pacemaker Database has 377 United Kingdom patients (including implants under the National Health Service and in private practice) registered as having received a Sensolog 2033 pacemaker implant, 268 of which are for the 2033T. The suffix T refers only to the configuration of the pacemaker connector into which the pacemaker lead is attached.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the regulations regarding the recording of patients with pacemakers. [82397]

  Ms Jowell
  We have no plans to review current arrangements for the recording of patients with pacemakers. The maintenance of patient records is a matter of clinical practice and is not subject to regulation. The voluntary recording of pacemaker implants by clinicians with the National Pacemaker Database is endorsed by the British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group, the professional body for clinicians practising cardiac pacing.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the companies which manufacture pacemakers supplied by the NHS and which are used by patients in England and Wales, (b) the type of pacemaker supplied by the NHS and (c) the number of patients who use each type. [82403]

  Ms Jowell
  Information recorded by the National Pacemaker Database indicates that the following companies have, at some time, supplied pacemakers to United Kingdom pacing centres: Medtronic, Pacesetter (St. Jude Medical), Vitatron, CPI Guidant, Biotronik, Siemens, Sultzer Intermedics, Telectronics, Sorin Biomedica, ELA, Cordis, Biotec, Medico, Implantronik, APC Medical, Paladin, Precimed, Medcor, LEM, American Optical, Coratomic, Arco, Cardiac Control Systems, Lucas, Corporel. A number of these companies no longer supply pacemakers today.

  Information relating to the types and numbers of pacemakers supplied by individual manufacturers is not published because of commercial sensitivity.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Siemens Sensolog 2033T pacemaker was withdrawn from sale; and when the Medical Devices Agency was informed of its withdrawal. [82400]

  Ms Jowell
  The manufacturer last sold this pacemaker in the United Kingdom in 1994, when it was superseded by a newer model. The Medical Devices Agency was not informed as the discontinuation was for commercial reasons and not in response to any known safety concerns.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the procedure for alerting patients who have pacemakers which are withdrawn from supply because of faults in manufacture. [82399]
  282
  Ms Jowell
  Pacemaker manufacturers are primarily responsible for issuing information to hospitals if a fault associated with any of their products is identified. If the Medical Devices Agency determines that a significant risk remains to the safety of pacemaker patients, it issues advice to clinicians at all United Kingdom pacing clinics to assist them in patient management. Clinicians are responsible for providing appropriate advice to their patients.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Siemens Sensolog 2033T pacemakers have been referred to the Medical Devices Agency as having faults. [82401]

  Ms Jowell
  Only one United Kingdom adverse incident involving the Sensolog 2033 pacemaker model (including the 2033T) has been reported to the Medical Devices Agency.

  Oral Cancer
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list by health authority, ranked in descending order, the number of people, and the percentage of the population served by the authority, who have been diagnosed as having(a) treatable and (b) untreatable oral cancers in the last 12 months for which figures are available;[82332]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of oral cancers which were identified as such by a dentist (a) at an early and treatable stage and (b) at an advanced stage, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [82334]

  Mr. Denham
  The table gives details of hospital treatments for conditions which are usually described as oral cancers. Information is not routinely collected on sources of referrals or their prognosis.

  Ordinary admissions and day cases combined: completed episodes by primary diagnosis and age NHS hospitals, England, 1997–98

  All ages

  C00 Malignant neoplasm of lip

  454

  C01 Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue

  606

  C02 Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue

  2,082

  C03 Malignant neoplasm of gum

  326

  C04 Malignant neoplasm of floor of mouth

  980

  C05 Malignant neoplasm of palate

  548

  C06 Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of mouth

  878

  Total (C00-C06)

  5,874

  Note:
  Figures are provisional, no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls (i.e. the data is ungrossed). The table shows numbers of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) by primary diagnosis and age, in NHS hospitals in England for the financial year 1997–98. An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within a year.
  Source:
  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices have closed in each year since 1990 as a result of(a) retirement of the dentist and (b) the inability of the dentist to sell the practice as a going concern. [82331]

  Mr. Denham
  Dentists are independent contractors, and we do not therefore have information on the reasons for the closure of practices.

  Princess Diana (Memorial)
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the introduction of the Princess Diana Memorial Nursing Service does not harm the fundraising efforts of charities already providing community outreach nursing services for children with life threatening illnesses; [82277]

  (2) what steps he plans to take to emphasise the distinction between the activities of the Princess of Wales Memorial Committee and the charitable activities of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund; [82278]

  (3) what representations from other medical charities he has received concerning the introduction of the Princess Diana Memorial Nursing Service. [82279]

  Mr. Hutton
  Diana Children's Community Nursing Teams are funded by the Government to provide care and support in the home for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. The teams do not depend upon public subscription and will not impact upon the fundraising activities of charities already active in this area—who have welcomed this initiative for the additional resources it brings to this small but extremely vulnerable group of children. The distinction to be made between the Memorial Committee, which was formed to consider ways in which the Government might commemorate the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Memorial Fund, which is a charitable foundation with its own trustees, has been expressed throughout discussions within the Committee and repeated in communications with the media.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), had with the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) concerning their respective times of departure from the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on 16 April. [81675]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 22 April 1999]: None.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield, (Mr. Meale) withdrew his agreement to answer questions at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce conference on transport, on Friday 16 April. [81671]
  284
  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 22 April 1999]: Because of the late starting of the conference, there was insufficient time for my hon. Friend to take questions. He therefore offered to respond in writing to any questions that people wished to raise.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he instructed the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield, (Mr. Meale) not to answer questions at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on Friday 16 April and to leave early; and what discussions he had with the Under-Secretary of State and the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) concerning their respective times of departure from the conference. [81676]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 22 April 1999]: No; none.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of his replies to the correspondence he has received about the decision by the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), not to answer questions following his speech to the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on Friday 16 April and to leave early. [81674]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 22 April 1999]: No.

  Ministerial Visit (Peterborough)
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the official engagements of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), for Friday 16 April, stating in each case, what time each engagement was scheduled to start and finish and when the Under-Secretary actually arrived and departed. [81670]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 22 April 1999]: My hon. Friend's official engagements on Friday 16 April were "The Southern North Sea—The Next 30 Years" Conference in Great Yarmouth and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Transport Conference.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), travelled to the recent meeting of the Greater Peterborough Commerce, Training and Enterprise Council in a stretch limousine. [82073]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 27 April 1999]: My hon. Friend travelled to Peterborough by public transport. The final two miles of his journey was by car, which was provided by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise.

  Energy-efficient Lighting
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contribution he expects new lighting technologies to make to the achievement of his targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; and what plan his Department has to promote energy-efficient lighting. [82139]
  285
  Mr. Meale
  Our UK Climate Change Programme Consultation Paper discussed and invited comment on ways in which the UK could meet its climate change objectives. Energy efficient lighting is included in this analysis as an element of the estimated potential for savings from energy efficiency more generally. The Government is now considering responses and will consult further on a new climate change programme for the UK later this year. Future initiatives to promote energy efficient lighting will be developed in the context of this process.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the budget of the Energy, Environment and Waste Directorate is allocated to the promotion of energy-efficient lighting. [82138]

  Mr. Meale
  Last year, 1998–99, my Department spent an estimated £109.2 million on programmes to promote energy efficiency. Of this, over £6 million can be identified as being specifically earmarked for promotion of energy-efficient lighting. In addition to this direct expenditure, the Energy, Environment and Waste Directorate has developed and provided finance for broader initiatives, including the Market Transformation Strategy and our high profile campaign, "Are You Doing Your Bit", which will have had a positive impact on the promotion of energy-efficient lighting.

  During the same period, some –11.6 million was approved for expenditure on promoting energy-efficient lighting under schemes developed as part of the Standards of Performance set by the Director-General of Electricity Supply.

  Road Hauliers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to issue observations on the petition from Shropshire's rural road hauliers presented to the House on 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [82001]

  Dr. Reid
  The Secretary of State has issued an observation today on the petition from Shropshire's rural road hauliers.

  Disabled People (Local Authorities)
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the regulations that prevent local authorities from accepting a financial contribution from clients towards the cost of adaptations for the disabled with the objective of allowing them a choice in how their needs are met. [82407]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local authorities are responsible, under Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, for paying disabled facilities grants towards the cost of disabled adaptations. Whilst the Act places no restrictions on the type of adaptation that may be eligible for grant assistance, it does require authorities to satisfy themselves that the works are necessary and appropriate for the occupant and that they are reasonable and practicable, given the age and condition of the building. These requirements are necessary to ensure that public money is used effectively, and we have no plans to change them. However, local authorities are required in Guidance to involve the 286
  disabled occupant in discussions about the adaptation scheme, and we would expect applicants to be offered a choice where this is appropriate. The amount that the applicant is expected to contribute towards the cost of the adaptations is determined by a means test, but there is nothing in the Act to prevent applicants from paying for additional work from their own resources.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the fuel escalator's impact on social exclusion. [82257]

  Dr. Reid
  The Government recognise that transport issues are significant in considering the causes of social exclusion, and my Department has been giving priority to gathering information in this area. The Department is currently undertaking research to gain a better understanding of how transport affects social exclusion. Once this research has been completed, we will be in a better position to estimate the impact of different transport measures. In the meantime, we will continue to keep the impacts of the fuel duty escalator on social exclusion under review.

  National Bus Company
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the pension schemes of the National Bus Company; and if he will make a statement. [82532]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We have received a number of representations from former employees of the National Bus Company, and others, about the repayment of the surpluses from the company's pension schemes paid over to the Department of Transport in 1990. We are giving high priority to achieving without any unnecessary delay a just out-of-court settlement of the litigation commenced by the schemes' trustees on this matter.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to open the Stratford to North Greenwich phase of the Jubilee Line Extension. [82746]

  Dr. Reid
  As previously indicated in the answers given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions on 27 November 1998,Official Report, columns 43–44, and 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 567, London Transport expects to open the Stratford to North Greenwich phase of the Jubilee Line Extension in late Spring.

  Taxis
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the level of usage of taxi ranks within the Metropolitan Police district by taxis. [82280]
  287
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There are currently 523 taxi ranks in the Metropolitan Police District. There is no routine monitoring of their usage; individual ranks may be monitored from time to time, if a need to do so is identified.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list(a) the number of licensed taxis entitled to ply for hire in (i) each of the current suburban sectors and (ii) each of the revised suburban sectors proposed by the Carriage Office and (b) the number of applications for licences that are currently being considered in suburban sectors; [82281]

  (2) if he will list (a) the number of taxi ranks by (i) sector and (ii) category within (A) the current Metropolitan Police district and (B) the revised Metropolitan Police district, (b) the number of taxis allowed to wait at each rank and (c) the number of taxis licensed to ply in the area covered by each rank.[82282]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The number of licensed London taxi drivers entitled to ply for hire in each of the old suburban sectors is as follows:

  Sector 1—627 drivers licensed* of which

  337 may ply for hire in Sector 1A (Woodford area)

  434 may ply for hire in Sector 1B (Romford area)

  520 may ply for hire in Sector 1C (Ilford area)

  Sector 2—228 licensed drivers* of which

  142 may ply for hire in Sector 2A (Bexley area)

  165 may ply for hire in Sector 2B (Bromley area)

  Sector 3—607 licensed drivers* of which

  425 may ply for hire in Sector 3A (Wimbledon area)

  270 may ply for hire in Sector 3B (Carshalton area)

  392 may ply for hire in Sector 3C (Croydon area)

  Sector 4—243 licensed drivers*

  234 may ply for hire in Sector 4A (Kingston area)

  136 may ply for hire in Sector 4B (Hounslow area)

  Sector 5—314 licensed drivers*

  242 may ply for hire in Sector 5A (Ealing area)

  216 may ply for hire in Sector 5B (Ruislip area)

  229 may ply for hire in Sector 5C (Wembley area)

  Sector 6—133 licensed drivers*

  66 may ply for hire in Sector 6A (Finchley area)

  94 may ply for hire in Sector 6B (Wood Green area)

  59 may ply for hire in Sector 6C (Walthamstow area).

  The number of licensed London taxi drivers entitled to ply for hire in each of the new suburban sectors (introduced on 31 March 1999) is as follows:

  Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge Sector—627 drivers* of whom

  612 may play for hire in Barking and Dagenham

  451 may play for hire in Havering

  520 may play for hire in Newham

  513 may play for hire in Redbridge

  Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham Sector**

  142 drivers may play for hire in Bexley

  142 drivers may play for hire in Greenwich

  228 drivers may play for hire in Lewisham

  288
  Bromley Sector**

  165 drivers may play for hire in Bromley

  Croydon Sector***

  392 drivers may play for hire in Croydon

  Merton and Sutton Sector***

  452 drivers may play for hire in Merton

  452 drivers may play for hire in Sutton

  Hounslow, Kingston and Richmond Sector—243 licensed drivers* of whom

  135 may ply for hire in Hounslow

  233 may ply for hire in Kingston

  243 may ply for hire in Richmond

  Hillingdon and Ealing Sector****

  275 drivers may ply for hire in Hillingdon

  242 drivers may ply for hire in Ealing

  Harrow, Brent and Barnet Sector****

  255 drivers may ply for hire in Harrow

  229 drivers may ply for hire in Brent

  117 drivers may ply for hire in Barnet

  Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest Sector****

  110 drivers may ply for hire in Enfield

  59 drivers may ply for hire in Haringey

  59 drivers may ply for hire in Waltham Forest.

  The number of applicants for suburban licences who are currently studying the Knowledge are as follows:

  Old sector for which applied

  Area for which will ultimately be licensed

  Total applicants

  1A

  Havering and Redbridge

  15

  1B

  Barking and Dagenham and Havering

  96

  1C

  Barking and Dagenham, Newham and Redbridge

  211

  2A

  Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham

  71

  2B

  Bromley and Lewisham

  84

  3A

  Merton and Sutton

  156

  3B

  Merton and Sutton

  43

  3C

  Croydon

  157

  4A

  Kingston and Richmond

  119

  4B

  Hounslow and Richmond

  17

  5A

  Ealing and Hillingdon

  68

  5B

  Harrow and Hillingdon

  35

  5C

  Brent and Harrow

  52

  6A

  Barnet

  21

  6B

  Barnet and Enfield

  34

  6C

  Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest

  18

  The number of taxi ranks appointed by the Commissioner in each suburban sector of the current Metropolitan Police District is as follows:

  Sector 1A: 3

  Sector 1B: 16

  Sector 1C: 22

  Sector 2A: 9

  Sector 2B: 13

  Sector 3A: 15

  Sector 3B: 9

  Sector 3C: 14

  289

  Sector 4A: 13

  Sector 4B: 7

  Sector 5A: 4

  Sector 5B: 12

  Sector 5C: 10

  Sector 6A: 4

  Sector 6B: 12

  Sector 6C: 8.

  The number of taxi ranks appointed by the Commissioner in each suburban sector of the revised Metropolitan Police District is as follows:

  Sector

  Number

  Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge Sector

  43

  Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham Sector

  13

  Bromley Sector

  13

  Croydon Sector

  13

  Merton and Sutton Sector

  21

  Kingston, Richmond and Hounslow Sector

  18

  Hillingdon and Ealing Sector

  7

  Harrow, Brent and Barnet Sector

  28

  Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest Sector

  22

  These figures exclude ranks on land privately owned at airports, railway stations, hotels, and shopping centres which are not appointed by the Commissioner. Details of such ranks are not available.

  The number of taxis permitted to stand at each rank varies between 34 and 1.

  The number of taxi drivers licensed to ply for hire in the area covered by each rank can be determined from the information above. All drivers licensed for a particular suburban sector may ply for hire on a rank within that sector, as may any driver licensed for the whole of the Metropolitan Police District.

  Notess* Many suburban drivers are licensed to ply for hire in more than one sub-sector. In addition, all 20,498 All-London drivers are permitted to ply for hire in the whole of the Metropolitan and City Police Districts (therefore, for example, 21,125 drivers may ply for hire in the Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge Sector).
  ** There are 228 drivers licensed for the 2 sectors covering Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Bromley
  *** There are 607 drivers licensed for the 2 sectors covering Croydon, Merton and Sutton

  * There are 447 drivers licensed for the 3 sectors covering Hillingdon, Ealing, Harrow, Brent, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest. Separate figures are not currently available.

  Housing Projections
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by local authority the number of houses(a) under construction, (b) for which planning permission has been given and (c) estimated to be built in the next five years. [82708]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A table will shortly be deposited in the House of Commons Library showing estimates of the number of dwellings under construction for each local authority area in England.
  290
  Information on the number of dwellings with outstanding planning permission in England has been placed in the Library.

  The Department does not produce forward estimates of the number of dwellings to be built.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by local authority the projected figures of housing need in each of the next five years, indicating how the figures were produced and collated. [82709]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This Department does not produce projections of housing need by local authority.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Car Crime
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to reduce car crime; and if he will make a statement. [82649]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and Rowley Regis (Mrs. Heal) on 15 December 1998,Official Report, column 467. Since then, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced to the House on 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 902–04, that an additional £150 million is being allocated over three years to boost crime prevention in areas to which the public have access and where crime is highest. This will be used for closed circuit television systems and the infrastructure necessary to make them operate most effectively and a significant proportion will be used to improve car park security.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 1999,Official Report, columns 419–20, on remand prisoners, how many (i) untried and (ii) convicted remand prisoners spent (a) 0–10 days, (b) 11–20 days, (c) 21–30 days, (d) 31 to 50 days, (e) 51 to 100 days, (f) 101 to 150 days, (g) 151 to 250 days and (h) over 250 days in custody in 1998; and what percentage each category represented of the total prison population. [82488]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The available information relates to the length of time since first remanded into prison and is given in the tables.

  Untried prisoners in prisons in England and Wales by length of time since first reception on 30 June 19981,2

  Length of time since first remand into a Prison Service establishment

  Number

  Percentage of all untried prisoners

  Percentage of all prisoners

  All lengths

  8,358

  100

  12·7

  Up to and including 10 days

  1,056

  13

  1·6

  11 to 20 days

  950

  12

  1·4

  21 to 30 days

  786

  9

  1·2

  31 to 50 days

  1,198

  14

  1·8

  51 to 100 days

  1,778

  21

  2·7

  101 to 150 days

  939

  11

  1·4

  151 to 250 days

  939

  11

  1·4

  Over 250 days

  712

  9

  1·1

  291

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners in prisons in England and Wales by length of time since first reception on 30 June 19981,2

  Length of time since first remand into a Prison Service establishment

  Number

  Percentage of all convicted unsentenced prisoners

  Percentage of all prisoners

  All lengths

  4,545

  100

  6·9

  Up to and including 10 days

  560

  12

  0·9

  11 to 20 days

  639

  14

  1·0

  21 to 30 days

  395

  8

  0·6

  31 to 50 days

  521

  12

  0·8

  51 to 100 days

  817

  18

  1·2

  101 to 150 days

  568

  13

  0·9

  151 to 250 days

  596

  13

  0·9

  Over 250 days

  449

  10

  0·7

  1 Time since first reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment. This includes any intervening time spent on bail, but excludes time spent in police cells beforehand.

  2 Provisional figures

  Kosovar Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that family members of Kosovar asylum seekers already in the United Kingdom will be granted family reunion; [81999]

  (2) what steps he is taking to accelerate the processing of asylum applications from Kosovars who are already in the UK and have made such applications. [81997]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We remain committed to the policy of providing support for Kosovar refugees within the region. However, a special unit has been established in Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) to enable a flexible response to any requests from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) to provide temporary refuge to evacuees from the Kosovo region. Kosovars recognised as refugees in the United Kingdom are entitled to be joined by their pre-existing spouse and minor dependant children under the terms of the family reunion concession. In compelling compassionate circumstances, the concession might be extended to other family members who formed part of the refugee's family unit before he fled to seek asylum. Arrangements are being made to deal with outstanding asylum applications, and to give particular priority to those where there are compelling compassionate circumstances, thus enabling families to be reunited under the terms of the concession.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants from Pakistan have claimed membership of the MQM Party in each of the last two years. [82875]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We regret that the information is not available.

TREASURY

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites,
  292
  indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years.[70963]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 February 1999]: HM Treasury currently operates two websites, HM Treasury (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk), and The Euro (www.euro.gov.uk). The UK Debt Management Office, an executive agency of HM Treasury operates the DMO site (www.dmo.gov.uk). All three sites are run from the HM Treasury server and share running costs. There are currently no non-departmental public body websites.

  HM Treasury's website cost approximately £20,000 to set up in September 1994. Operation costs initially were £8,000 a year for a leased line, and one full-time Range C post (Internet Editor). The Euro site was set up in May 1998 at a cost of £7,000. Current operating costs for both sites are around £60,000.

  Topics covered on the HM Treasury site include News Releases, Budget information, economic information, speeches, savings, guidance. The current average number of hits per month is 832,829.

  The euro site provides information on business preparation for the euro. The average number of hits per month is currently 191,366.

  The expenditure for each of the next three years is difficult to estimate, but server and personnel costs are likely to be around the current level.

  The United Kingdom Debt Management Office website was set up in January 1999 at no additional cost. The website operates on the Treasury server with additional running costs of £50 per annum for domain name registration. The site is edited by DMO staff, with no additional staff costs.

  Topics covered are news releases, publications and background information on the DMO. It is too early to establish hits per month, but the site has received 76,254 hits to date. Estimated costs for the next three years are nil.

  Aggregates Tax
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the results of last year's consultation on the potential aggregates tax will be made available. [83278]

  Ms Hewitt
  HM Customs and Excise are issuing a summary of the results of the consultation today. At the same time, draft legislation for a possible aggregates tax, covering crushed rock, sand and gravel, is being made available for comment.

  Productivity Road Shows
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many productivity road shows have been held to date; how many people attended; what was the cost of the road shows; and how many people contributed to the productivity debate. [80821]

  Mrs. Roche
  The productivity debate has been taken forward by the Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers' participation in a number of productivity focused events.
  293
  These included a series of ten productivity road shows held throughout the UK, at a cost of £95,000. These were attended by over 600 representatives of business, education and training providers. The debate has generated a widespread response from all these sectors and the public.

  National Changeover Plan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 April 1999,Official Report, column 247, on the National Changeover Plan, what types of non-IT expenditure he expects in the National Changeover Plan prior to any parliamentary decision to hold a referendum; and at what estimated levels of cost. [81747]

  Ms Hewitt
  It is for each organisation to decide for itself what resources to commit to preparations. The National Changeover plan provides an overall framework to help planning and encourage cooperation and consultation.

  Departmental Staff (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin, at 1 March, of(a) his private office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) his Policy Unit and (d) staff in total.[78515]

  Ms Hewitt
  At 1 March 1999, records for the Treasury's Ministerial support teams showed that, of those who have provided a self-declaration, there are nine members of staff who are in ethnic minorities. This represents 19.6 per cent. of those who have provided a self-declaration and 17.3 per cent. of the total of these teams.

  There can be only up to four Special Advisers in the Treasury. In line with Cabinet Office guidance, information relating to fewer than five people is not disclosed. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave aggregated information on the ethnic origins of the Special Advisers in his written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 39.

  There is no Policy Unit in HM Treasury. On ethnic origins of Treasury staff in total, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 31 March 1999, Official Report, columns 710–11.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1999,Official Report, column 686, how many times Ministers in his Department met their counterparts in the US Administration between 1 January and 1 June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved and the name of the US counterpart.[82248]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer met the US Treasury Secretary, Robert Rubin, on 21 February 1998 (London), 15 April 1998 (Washington) and 8 May 1998 (London).

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the place visited on each occasion when (i) departmental and (ii) non-department special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997, (A) accompanied and (B) unaccompanied by Ministers and (b) the total travel cost of each occasion when a departmental and non-departmental adviser travelled abroad in an offical capacity since 2 May 1997. [82430]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 March 1999,Official Report, columns 669–70.

  Vehicle Excise and Road Fuel Duties
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were(a) the rates of vehicle excise duty, (b) the levels of road fuel duty and (c) the annual receipts from each of these sources in each of the last 10 years. [82436]

  Ms Hewitt
  The rates of vehicle excise duty on typical vehicles for the last 10 years are:

  £ Per Year

  Effective date

  Private and light goods

  Lightest HGV1

  2 axled articulated Vehicle2

  March 1990

  100

  130

  3,100

  March 1991

  100

  130

  3,100

  March 1992

  110

  150

  3,100

  March 1993

  125

  150

  3,100

  November 1993

  130

  150

  3,100

  November 1994

  135

  150

  3,100

  November 1995

  140

  150

  3,100

  November 1996

  145

  150

  3,100

  November 1997

  150

  160

  3,210

  March 1998

  150

  160

  3,210

  March 1999

  155

  160

  3,210

  1 The rates apply to rigid and articulated goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes

  2 The rates apply to articulated vehicles between 36 and 38 tonnes with a 2 axled tractive unit used with 3 or more axled semi trailer(s)

  The levels of road fuel duty for the last 10 years, up to and including the increase on 17 March 1998, are published in the HM Customs and Excise Annual Report 1997–98, Table K1. The rates of duty applying since the Budget on 9 March 1999 are published in Customs and Excise Budget Notice 6/99.

  The annual receipts from road fuels up to 1997–98 are published in HM Customs and Excise Annual Report 1997–98, Table K2. Provisional receipts for 1998–99 are £21,329 million.

  The annual receipts for Vehicle Excise Duty up to 1997–98 are published in the Office for National Statistics publication, Financial Statistics, Table 2.1B. The provisional receipts for the financial year 1998–99 are £4,667 million.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the discount to be offered by the Government to taxpayers filing tax returns via the internet. [80819]
  295
  Mrs. Roche
  The Budget proposed a discount on returns filed via the internet as part of the package of increased support for small businesses. The detail is currently being considered by the Government.

  Millennium Gift Aid
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the Millennium Gift Aid scheme to support services provided in the UK by UK-based charities. [82260]

  Ms Hewitt
  In his document speech, the Chancellor confirmed that the consultation document on the Review of Charity Taxation, published on Budget Day, contains a proposal to extend the advantages of Millennium Gift Aid to all charitable causes supported by UK charities. This would take effect after 31 December 2000, when the present Millennium Gift Aid scheme comes to an end. Comments on this and the other proposals in the consultation document are invited by 31 August.

  Median Earnings
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an estimate of the current figure for half adult median earnings on a like-for-like basis with the hourly adult rate for the national minimum wage. [82045]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 26 April 1999]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 30 April 1997 As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on adult median earnings.
  The information requested is not available for 1999, nor on a like-for-like basis with the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
  The preferred method for assessing the coverage of the NMW is to present adjusted New Earnings Survey (NES) and Labour Force Survey (LFS) data, in line with an article by David Wilkinson in the May 1998 issue of Labour Market Trends entitled Towards reconciliation of NES and LFS Earnings Data, which is available in the House of Commons Library. This method adjusts for the fact that the NES is based on a one per cent. sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold, in particular those who work part-time.
  Using this methodology, which is not on a like-for-like basis when compared with the NMW, the estimate of half median earnings of full-time employees aged 22 and over was £3.83 in
  296
  Spring 1998. The NMW for those aged over 21 has been set at £3.60 per hour. An estimate for all employees is not available, but were one to be calculated it would give a lower value because of inclusion of part-time employees.

  Increased Fuel Duties
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the increased fuel duties imposed in his 1999 Budget on peak traffic flows on(a) the M25 and (b) other motorways; [80284]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the increased fuel duties imposed by his first two budgets on peak-hour traffic flows on (a) the M25 and (b) other motorways. [80285]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 13 April 1999]: I have been asked to reply.

  The pre-Integrated Transport White Paper National Road Traffic Forecasts published by the Department of Environment Transport and the Regions in 1997 make allowance for the impact of 6 per cent. per annum real fuel duty increases between 1996 and 2002 on car use and commercial traffic. By 2002, these increases are estimated to reduce total motorway traffic by nearly 2.5 per cent. below what it would otherwise have been. The reduction in traffic between 8 am and 9 am is about 2 per cent. The 1997 forecasts do not distinguish between individual roads and cannot therefore be used to provide a separate estimate for the M25.

CABINET OFFICE

  Departmental Legal Business
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [81769]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General,Official Report, 26 April 1999, column 1.

  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.