Written Answers of 15 December 1999

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what extra measures he proposes in order to achieve reductions in drink driving offences over the Christmas and new year holiday period. [101664]

  Mr. Hill
  My noble Friend Lord Whitty launched the Government's Christmas and new year anti-drink-drive publicity campaign on 1 December. The campaign is designed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from drink-driving especially during the coming holiday period, and also throughout the year. It has a particular significance this year because of the additional celebrations to mark the Millennium. The campaign emphasises the importance of planning ahead to ensure a safe journey home from festive celebrations. It also reinforces our message that drivers can still be well over the legal blood alcohol limit the following day after consuming alcohol and therefore should exercise particular caution in deciding when to resume driving. Nearly one in 10 of positive breath tests at the scene of an accident results from tests taken between 6am and 1pm.

  Street Works
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compliance rate of utilities in using permanent reinstatement materials as set out in the statutory code of practice under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. [102119]

  Mr. Hill
  Research carried out for the Department by the Transport Research Laboratory, covering a period up to early 1998, showed that there was room for improvement in utilities' standards of compliance with the statutory code of practice on reinstatement (the reinstatement specification). Street works and the reinstatements after works are subject to inspection by street authorities (normally the local highway authorities), who have powers under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to ensure compliance with the specification.

  The research is contributing to the revision of the specification, a new edition of which we expect to be published next year.

  Jet-skis
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ban the use of jet-skis in environmentally sensitive areas. [102169]
  188W
  Mr. Meacher
  Some environmentally sensitive areas already have local byelaws imposing strict speed limits, which result in the exclusion of jet-skis. We expect local authorities—who are responsible for making most local byelaws—to continue to judge each case on its merits.

  Last year's report of the Review of Byelaw Powers for the Coast recommended that local authorities should be given more general powers to regulate activities on the coast which affect the wider environment, such as the use of personal watercraft. We have given a long-term commitment to introduce legislation to take forward those recommendations in the Review which require changes to the law. In the meantime, we have published a voluntary code of best and safe practice for leisure craft users, and we are exploring options for a voluntary boat registration and identification scheme, which would include jet-skis.

  Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given on the collation of data for the Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database. [102561]

  Mr. Hill
  The Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database (SEAREM) is owned, administered and funded by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who are a registered charity and are independent of Government.

  The only Government contribution towards SEAREM is in the form of data supplied by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA), an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence. Guidance for the making of data contributions has, therefore, been issued to these agencies from the RNLI.

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the inclusion of rescues by local authority lifeguards within the Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database. [102563]

  Mr. Hill
  Local Authority lifeguards make no direct contribution to the Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database (SEAREM), as they do not have access to the database. If local authority lifeguards wish to provide data to the SEAREM database they do so through either the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) of the Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) who, as direct contributors, are able to access SEAREM database.

  Time Savings
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons(a) time savings to road users are incorporated in net present value calculations of the benefits of road capital schemes and (b) time savings to rail users are excluded from rail investment appraisals. [102597]

  Mr. Hill
  Road and rail investment schemes are appraised against the Government's five over-arching criteria as set out in the Integrated Transport White Paper: "environment, safety, economy, accessibility and integration". Time savings are included under the economy criterion for both road and rail appraisals.

  Air Services
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in which negotiations about new air services between London and the United States(a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have been involved since 1997; and what criteria determined the level of ministerial involvement in each case. [102779]

  Mr. Mullin
  Negotiations between the UK and other countries are conducted by officials after consultation with Ministers. The level of ministerial involvement in any instance is determined having regard to the circumstances of the case. In the case of negotiations with the United States, Ministers have taken a close interest.

  Airlines
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he received from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic prior to the granting of a slot to United Airlines to operate an air service between Boston and Heathrow; and if he will make a statement. [102780]

  Mr. Mullin
  Both airlines submitted views on the legal question of whether the application by United Airlines for a permit to operate a service between Boston and London had to be regarded as an entitlement under the terms of Bermuda II. These views were taken into account in reaching the decision to issue a permit.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the decisions by the United States Administration and Her Majesty's Government to allow(a) British Airways to commence a service between Denver and Gatwick and (b) US Airways to commence a service between Charlotte and Gatwick were taken (i) jointly or (ii) separately. [102797]

  Mr. Mullin
  The entitlement to operate these services derives from the Air Services Agreement between the UK and the US, commonly referred to as Bermuda II. The UK issued a permit for the US Airways Charlotte service in April 1998. The US was slow to issue a permit for the BA Denver service, and did not do so until July 1998.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he held with the US Secretary of Transportation before agreeing to grant a slot to United Airlines to operate an air service between Boston and Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.[102782]

  Mr. Mullin
  No discussions were held with the US Department of Transportation before a permit was issued to United Airlines to operate a service between Boston and London. The Government takes no part in the allocation of slots at slot-constrained UK airports; these are allocated by Airport Co-ordination Ltd.

  Road Improvement Schemes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the major road improvement schemes that are now taking place within the Greater London area. [102708]
  190W
  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to reply to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from David York, to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 15 December 1999:
  The Minister for Transport for London, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about major road improvement schemes that are now taking place in Greater London. I am replying in the absence of the Chief Executive, Peter Nutt.
  Landscaping work is being carried out on the Al2 Hackney M11 Link Road which opened to traffic on 6th October. The final section of the A13 West of Heathway to Mardyke scheme opened to traffic on 14 December and work continues on the London Primary Route Network Signing project to redesign and replace direction signs on London's primary routes within the M25 corridor. This work is being carried out in three phases because of its complexity and geographical spread. Two of the phases, covering East London and South West London, will be completed shortly, whilst work on the third phase, covering North West London, is expected to be completed in Autumn 2000.
  There are also a number of schemes in the pipeline. We are nearly ready to award a contract for the A 1 3 Thames Gateway DBFO project which includes improvements at Ironbridge-Canning Town, the A13/A117 junction and Movers Lane junction. Subject to the completion of the necessary statutory procedures, it could also include improvements to the A13/A117 Prince Regent Lane junction.
  Detailed design work for the A40 Western Avenue bridge replacement scheme will start next year and we are preparing tender documents for the A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road improvement scheme so that it could start in early 2002. There are also four proposals to improve the A406 North Circular Road at Bounds Green, Regents Park and Golders Green and the A205 at Catford Town Centre. These schemes will transfer to the Greater London Authority (GLA) who will study the role of these roads as part of their development of a transport strategy for London. It will be for the GLA to decide whether or not to take the schemes forward.
  One local authority major improvement is also underway, the A240 North South strategy for the London Borough of Kensington.

  Pollution
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the revenue to be derived from implementing the integrated pollution prevention and control regulation. [102582]

  Mr. Hill
  The phased implementation of integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) regulation extends up to 2007. In 2000–01, its first operational year, the revenue from IPPC regulation is estimated to be approximately £4.0 million.

  This information updates the estimate given in the Environment Agency' s corporate plan published in September 1999.

  Benefits
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the levels of capital and income disregards for the benefits for which his Department is responsible. [102511]

  Mr. Mullin
  Benefits are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Coulsdon Inner Relief Road
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will commence on the Coulsdon Inner Relief Road. [102501]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David York, to Mr. Richard Ottaway, dated 15 December 1999:
  The Minister for Transport for London, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the start of works for the A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road. I am replying in the absence of the Chief Executive, Peter Nutt.
  The scheme was included in the Targeted Programme of Improvements announced by the Secretary of State in July 1998. It will transfer to Transport for London in July 2000.
  We have recently appointed Consultant Engineers to prepare tender documents to allow work to start in early 2002.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports have been received by his Department from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in respect of its investigation into the quality control of plutonium MOX fuel manufactured at Sellafield. [102484]

  Mr. Meacher
  DETR Ministers have received a number of briefings from HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) on its investigation into the falsification of quality assurance data for fuel manufactured in the MOX demonstration facility at BNFL's Sellafield plant. This investigation has concluded that the automated 100 per cent. check on pellet diameters should provide high confidence that all of the MOX fuel which has been delivered from Sellafield to Japan will be safe in use. A copy of the letter that NII sent to the Japanese Embassy advising them of this conclusion has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Central Government grants and redistributed non-domestic rates

  £ million

  Revenue

  Community

  SSA

  Specific grant

  Redistributed

  support grant1

  charge grant

  reduction grant

  inside AEF7

  non-domestic rates

  1990–91

  9,468

  —

  —

  3,459

  10,429

  1992–92

  9,652

  4,805

  —

  4,163

  12,408

  1992–93

  316,605

  —

  —

  4,363

  12,306

  1993–94

  17,033

  —

  —

  4,664

  11,559

  1994–95

  18,479

  —

  280

  4,930

  10,685

  1995–96

  18,296

  —

  261

  4,779

  11,354

  1996–97

  18,001

  —

  220

  4,781

  12,736

  1997–98

  18,650

  —

  123

  5,068

  12,027

  1998–99

  419,480

  —

  102

  5,598

  12,524

  1999–2000

  519,875

  —

  7119

  5,874

  13,612

  2000–01

  619,403

  —

  751

  6,877

  15,400

  1Excluding RSG to Specified Bodies

  2Specific, Special and Supplementary Grants

  3Community Charge Grant was incorporated in Revenue Support Grant in 1992–93

  4Provisional outturn

  5Budget estimates

  6Consultation

  7Includes Central Support Reduction Grant

  192W
  NII is not currently in a position to comment further on its investigations since this could prejudice possible enforcement action.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the projected costs of the Civil Aviation Authority for the financial years(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [102758]

  Mr. Mullin
  The projected operating costs for the Civil Aviation Authority (including National Air Traffic Services Ltd.) are as follows:

  (a) 1999–2000: £588.2 million

  (b) 2000–01: £611.7 million.

  These costs will be recovered through charges levied on users in respect of the services provided by the CE.

  Privatised Ports Police
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what undertakings were given at the time of each privatisation of ports, where ports police forces existed, in relation to their future management and independence by the purchasers; and what scrutiny has been conducted as to the fulfilment of these undertakings since privatisation. [102436]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 14 December 1999]: I am not aware of any undertakings given in such cases.

  Central Government Grant (Local Authorities)
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the money allocated to local authorities from central Government in the form of(a) rate support grant and (b) specific grant in each of the 10 most recent years for which information is available. [102466]

  Ms Armstrong
  English local authorities have reported receiving the following central government grants. Data for community charge grant, SSA reduction grant and redistributed non-domestic rates have been included as these also provide unhypothecated funding for local authorities.

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has evaluated on leakage into soil from GM insect-resistant maize of the insecticide made by the plant as a consequence of its genetic modification; if he will instruct his officials to seek to follow up research of this kind; and if he will make a statement. [102722]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 14 December 1999]: The science journal Nature published a report on 2 December 1999 on leakage into the soil from crops genetically modified to express insecticidal peptides from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). I shall be asking the statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) to consider this paper at their next meeting. Their advice, including any recommendations for research, will be published. I will then act to commission further research as appropriate. However, no Bt plants are being grown or trialled in the UK, and we have assurances from industry that they have no plans to introduce such crops in the near future.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many rough sleepers there were in each of the last 30 months for which figures are available in(a) London, (b) Bristol, (c) Cardiff, (d) Glasgow, (e) Leeds, (f) Liverpool and (g) Birmingham. [101524]

  Ms Armstrong
  The following table sets out an estimate of the number of people sleeping rough on any one night in London, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham, as at June 1998 and June 1999.

  June 1998

  June 1999

  Greater London

  621

  635

  Bristol

  42

  32

  Leeds

  8

  17

  Liverpool

  17

  30

  Birmingham

  56

  43

  The figures for 1998 are based on single night street counts and were published as part of my answer of 19 May 1999, Official Report, columns 355–62W, which gave an estimate of the number of people sleeping rough across England. This estimate formed a baseline figure for the Government's target to reduce rough sleeping in England by two thirds by 2002.

  The figures for 1999 are being published today as part of the breakdown of the latest national estimate, showing the position as at June 1999. This shows that the number of people sleeping rough in England, on any one night, fell from 1,850 in June 1998 to 1,633 in June 1999. Copies of the full breakdown are available from the Library. Responsibility for the Rough Sleepers Initiative in Scotland is a devolved matter. I understand, however, that no comparable figures are available for Glasgow. A single night street count in central Glasgow in 1997 found 53 people sleeping rough. No counts have been undertaken since.
  194W
  Responsibility for rough sleeping in Wales is also a devolved matter. I understand, however, that an independent report has recently been prepared for the National Assembly for Wales and local authorities in Wales on the incidence of rough sleeping in Wales and its causes, and to advise on effective strategies for assisting rough sleepers. According to this independent report, single night street counts in September 1997 found 12 people sleeping rough in Cardiff city centre, and in September 1998 found 20 people.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce(a) his plans to meet the Prime Minister's target of reducing rough sleeping by at least two thirds by 2002 and (b) the latest figures for the numbers of rough sleepers in England. [103041]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Government's strategy on rough sleeping will be published later today and copies placed in the Library. We are also publishing today the latest estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in England on any one night. These figures show that the number of people sleeping rough in England fell from 1,850 in June 1998 to 1,633 in June 1999. Copies of the full breakdown are available in the Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Montenegro
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid has been given to Montenegro in 1999; and how much is planned for 2000. [101464]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We expect to provide around £92,000 in bilateral development technical assistance to Montenegro in the 1999–2000 financial year. This is mainly in support of privatisation programmes and public administration reform. Work was disrupted by the Kosovo crisis, during which we provided around £650,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance.

  For 2000–01, we are considering renewed activities in economic reform, support to civil society and public administration reform. The level of support has yet to be determined.

  The European Commission has committed about 56 million euro to Montenegro since April 1998 for public administration reform, private sector development, agriculture, budgetary support and humanitarian aid. The UK share of this is some 17 per cent.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Vaccine Damage (Compensation)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure the payment of compensation to those damaged by vaccines. [102167]

  Mr. Bayley
  The existing Vaccine Damage Payment scheme, which has been in place since 1979, provides
  195W
  a one-off payment to people severely disabled by vaccination against certain diseases. The scheme is not intended as compensation but is designed to ease the present and future burdens of those suffering from vaccine damage, and their families.

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for(a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102337]

  Angela Eagle
  The utilisation of specific rooms within individual Departmental buildings is a matter for local management. The information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Number of DSS permanent staff in the north-east by area and agency

  30 November 1999

  BA

  CA1

  ITSA

  HQ

  CSA

  WPA

  Total

  Northumberland

  430

  0

  0

  0

  9

  0

  439

  Newcastle

  3,359

  0

  561

  204

  710

  0

  4,834

  Washington

  2,550

  0

  87

  7

  0

  0

  2,644

  Wearside

  457

  0

  0

  0

  18

  0

  475

  County Durham

  662

  0

  0

  0

  56

  0

  718

  South Tyneside

  188

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  188

  Gateshead

  218

  0

  0

  0

  66

  0

  284

  Teesside

  807

  0

  0

  0

  30

  2

  839

  Totals

  8,671

  0

  648

  211

  889

  2

  10,421

  Note:

  1With effect from 1 April 1999, all CA staff transferred to Inland Revenue.

  Number of DSS permanent staff in the north-east area and agency

  BA

  CA

  ITSA

  HQ

  CSA

  WPA

  Total

  30 November 1998

  Northumberland

  448

  8

  0

  0

  18

  0

  474

  Newcastle

  3,235

  4,360

  526

  208

  487

  2

  8,818

  Washington

  2,023

  0

  89

  3

  0

  0

  2,115

  Wearside

  450

  0

  0

  0

  21

  0

  471

  County Durham

  679

  21

  0

  0

  65

  0

  765

  South Tyneside

  193

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  193

  Gateshead

  208

  42

  0

  0

  61

  0

  311

  Teesside

  784

  42

  0

  0

  30

  0

  856

  Totals

  8,020

  4,473

  615

  211

  682

  2

  14,003

  30 November 1997

  Northumberland

  470

  7

  0

  0

  24

  0

  501

  Newcastle

  3,097

  4,336

  494

  230

  459

  3

  8,619

  Washington

  1,766

  0

  98

  0

  0

  0

  1,864

  Wearside

  462

  0

  0

  0

  21

  0

  483

  County Durham

  618

  20

  0

  0

  39

  0

  677

  South Tyneside

  197

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  197

  Gateshead

  231

  48

  0

  0

  40

  0

  319

  Teesside

  810

  38

  0

  0

  35

  2

  885

  Totals

  7,651

  4,449

  592

  230

  618

  5

  13,545

  Notes:

  1. As staff details are not held by county or metropolitan areas, we have grouped information from our offices to give approximate coverage by those areas. The following groupings have been used:

  Northumberland—Ashington, Berwick, Blyth, Hexham, North Shields and Wallsend

  Newcastle—Broadway West, Gosforth locations including North-East outstation, Newcastle Central Office and local offices

  Washington—Durham House and Child Benefit Centre

  Wearside—Sunderland and Wearside DIRC

  County Durham—Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Durham, Houghton-le-Spring, Peterlee, Seaham and Stanley South Tyneside—Jarrow and South Shields

  Gateshead—Gateshead Local Office

  Teesside—Eston, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Northallerton, Redcar and Stockton.

  2. "Full-time employees" has been interpreted to mean all permanent staff, including those on non-standard hours; and excluding staff who are casuals or on fixed term contracts.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have put in place for the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside his Department. [102369]

  Angela Eagle
  Decisions on the format of minutes of meetings will depend on the nature of the discussion.

  Employment Statistics (North-east)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time employees were employed in each metropolitan, unitary or county area in North-East England by(a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies, in each of the last three years for which information is available. [102432]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the tables.

  Pension Sharing Regulations
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to consult on draft pension sharing regulations. [103126]

  Mr. Rooker
  The consultation document "Pension Sharing on Divorce: Consultation on Draft Regulations" is published today. The consultation period will run until 14 February 2000. Copies have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office. The document is also available on the DSS website.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Departmental Employees (Disabled People)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is registered as disabled; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people in his Department. [102039]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Following the devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 2 December 1999, the Assembly took on responsibility for all the Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments. The Secretary of State's responsibility is now limited to the Northern Ireland Office, and the following information relates to that Department only.

  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which came into force in 1996, removed the requirement for individuals with disabilities to register as disabled and, as a result, such information is no longer held on staff in the Northern Ireland Office. Individuals may, however, provide information regarding their disabilities on a voluntary basis. Statistics based on this information indicate that 4.04 per cent. of staff in the Northern Ireland Office have declared that they have a disability under the Act.

  The Northern Ireland Office is an Equal Opportunities employer and has a number of policies in place relating to the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities. Where open recruitment competitions are advertised, disabled people are among those under-represented groups who are encouraged to submit applications. The NIO also sponsors a number of people with disabilities to provide them with work in the Department under the Training and Employment Agency's Employment Support Scheme.

  The NIO has a dedicated Disabled Person's Liaison Officer whose role is to provide assistance and advice to staff and managers on what reasonable adjustments can be made to enable staff with disabilities to do their jobs. Consideration is also being given to joining the Positive about Disabled People "Two Ticks" scheme to indicate the NIO' s commitment to people with disabilities.

  Since 1997 the Northern Ireland Office has funded a bursary for staff with disabilities. This provides the bursary holder with a two year programme of training and mentoring to enable them to develop the competencies needed to gain promotion. Two members of MO staff are currently benefiting from the scheme.

  Parades Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what correspondence he has received from outgoing members of the Parades Commission; and if he will place copies in the Library. [101889]

  Mr. Ingram
  No such correspondence has been received.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason he is to review the workings of the Parades Commission; what are the terms of reference of this review; what organisations and individuals have been consulted over the terms of reference; and what body has been appointed to conduct the review. [101887]

  Mr. Ingram
  On 8 October the previous Secretary of State announced a review of the workings of the Parades Commission. The terms of reference are:"Within the existing framework of law and structures, and taking account of views received from interested parties and the experience of the marching seasons over the last two years, to consider
  possible ways of achieving even greater acceptance of the approach to handling contentious parades; and, in particular,
  the arrangements for mediation;
  and to report to Ministers by the end of December 1999".

  As part of the announcement the Secretary of State made a general invitation for contributions from any interested parties. Subsequently a wide range of interested parties have been specifically invited to contribute.

  Officials from my Security Policy and Operations Division have been asked to conduct the review.

  Fire Brigade
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the composition of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade by (i) gender and (ii) by perceived community origin(a) in the last month for which figures were available, (b) for the same month five years ago and (c) 10 years ago; [101886]

  when the emblem of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade was introduced. [101885]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Security Policy and Operations Department
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the functions of the Security Policy and Operations Department; how many staff, at what grades, are assigned to this unit; and how many additional staff have been (i) appointed and (ii) seconded in the last six months. [101888]

  Mr. Ingram
  The aim and objectives of the Security Policy and Operations Division were set out on pages 32 and 33 of the Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2001–02 for Northern Ireland (Cm 4217). A copy is available in the Library of the House.
  199W
  The Division has 20.5 staff across the full range of administrative grades from Senior Civil Service to D2. In the last six months an additional 1.5 staff have been appointed—none have been seconded.

  Civil Service Review
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the terms of reference of the review of the composition of the senior grades of the Civil Service; what is the composition of the senior grades of the Civil Service; what is the composition of the review team; when the review began; when it will report; and when its recommendations will be published. [101884]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Criminal Justice (Working Group)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the membership of the working group announced on 4 November 1998 to consider the implementation of the recommendations of the Third report of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of session 1997–98 (HC337); how many times the group has met; what representations it received from the Northern Ireland Police Federation; and if he will make a statement on its terms of reference and work to date. [101877]

  Mr. Ingram
  The working group on membership of exclusive organisations within the Criminal Justice system comprised representatives of the Northern Ireland Office, the RUC, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Court Service, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. The working group met formally on four occasions and received no representations from the Northern Ireland Police Federation. The working group's terms of reference were as announced on 4 November 1998. It submitted its report to the Secretary of State in July 1999. The Report of the Independent Commission on Policing (published on 9 September) proposed that police officers should be obliged to register their interests and associations. The Government are currently considering the responses to consultation on all the Commission's recommendations and awaiting the conclusions of the Criminal Justice Review.

TREASURY

  External Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on external consultants and advisers since May 1997. [102076]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 December 1999]: The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Low Birthweight Babies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proportion of low birthweight babies in each health authority area of England, in each of the last five years. [102228]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 15 December 1999:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on low birthweight babies. I am replying in Dr. Holt's absence.
  The information requested is shown in the attached table.

  Percentage of live births with a stated birthweight less than 2,500g England, regional offices and health authorities1, 1994–1998

  Health Authority

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  England

  7.0

  7.3

  7.3

  7.5

  7.5

  Northern and Yorkshire

  7.3

  7.7

  7.4

  7.9

  7.6

  Bradford

  9.3

  8.8

  8.7

  9.1

  9.8

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  7.7

  8.7

  7.7

  8.4

  8.2

  County Durham

  6.6

  7.3

  7.2

  7.8

  7.0

  East Riding

  7.2

  6.9

  7.5

  8.2

  7.4

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  7.3

  7.9

  7.4

  8.1

  6.8

  Leeds

  8.0

  8.5

  8.1

  8.2

  8.4

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  8.2

  7.7

  7.9

  8.3

  7.5

  North Cumbria

  5.9

  6.6

  7.0

  7.5

  6.6

  Northumberland

  6.7

  7.3

  6.0

  7.1

  6.7

  North Yorkshire

  5.8

  6.5

  5.5

  6.6

  6.0

  Sunderland

  6.3

  7.6

  8.0

  8.1

  8.4

  Tees

  7.3

  7.8

  7.3

  7.6

  7.8

  Wakefield

  7.6

  7.9

  7.6

  7.9

  7.7

  Trent

  7.0

  7.3

  7.3

  7.6

  7.8

  Barnsley

  6.7

  7.6

  6.6

  6.9

  7.8

  Doncaster

  7.0

  7.5

  6.8

  8.8

  7.7

  Leicestershire

  7.5

  8.0

  8.2

  8.2

  8.0

  Lincolnshire

  6.1

  6.4

  6.2

  6.8

  7.3

  North Derbyshire

  6.5

  5.9

  6.1

  6.5

  6.4

  North Nottinghamshire

  7.2

  8.0

  8.0

  8.9

  7.7

  Nottingham

  7.8

  7.5

  7.4

  7.2

  7.8

  Rotherham

  7.3

  8.0

  7.1

  7.3

  7.8

  Sheffield

  7.8

  7.9

  7.9

  7.7

  8.4

  South Derbyshire

  6.2

  6.5

  6.9

  7.0

  7.9

  South Humber

  6.3

  7.1

  7.0

  7.5

  8.2

  Anglia and Oxford

  6.6

  6.8

  6.9

  7.0

  7.0

  Bedfordshire

  6.8

  6.7

  7.3

  7.2

  7.6

  Berkshire

  6.6

  6.9

  6.8

  7.1

  7.6

  Buckinghamshire

  6.6

  6.8

  6.7

  7.2

  6.6

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  6.3

  6.8

  6.5

  6.2

  5.8

  East Norfolk

  6.7

  7.3

  6.7

  6.7

  6.9

  Northamptonshire

  7.9

  7.0

  7.5

  7.7

  7.5

  North West Anglia

  6.4

  7.6

  7.8

  7.4

  8.1

  Oxfordshire

  5.8

  5.7

  6.2

  6.3

  5.9

  Suffolk

  6.4

  6.3

  6.5

  6.9

  7.0

  North Thames

  7.2

  7.5

  7.4

  7.6

  7.6

  Barking and Havering

  6.4

  6.2

  6.8

  7.4

  6.8

  Barnet

  7.0

  7.8

  7.5

  7.9

  7.2

  Brent and Harrow

  8.6

  8.6

  9.0

  8.7

  8.4

  Camden and Islington

  7.8

  7.4

  7.5

  7.8

  7.2

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  7.4

  7.7

  7.7

  7.8

  8.2

  East and North Hertfordshire

  6.7

  6.8

  6.5

  6.6

  6.1

  East London and The City

  9.0

  9.0

  8.9

  9.7

  9.7

  Enfield and Haringey

  7.5

  7.9

  7.7

  8.2

  8.3

  Hillingdon

  6.7

  8.3

  7.2

  7.5

  8.2

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  7.4

  7.8

  7.7

  7.6

  7.5

  North Essex

  6.0

  6.5

  6.3

  6.2

  6.4

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  8.5

  8.3

  7.9

  8.0

  7.7

  South Essex

  5.8

  5.7

  5.9

  6.7

  6.3

  West Hertfordshire

  5.9

  6.5

  6.9

  6.0

  6.8

  201W

  Percentage of live births with a stated birthweight less than 2,500g England, regional offices and health authorities1, 1994–1998

  Health Authority

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  South Thames

  6.8

  7.0

  6.9

  7.0

  7.0

  Bexley and Greenwich

  6.9

  6.9

  7.4

  7.3

  7.6

  Bromley

  7.0

  6.9

  6.9

  6.4

  6.3

  Croydon

  7.4

  8.3

  7.8

  7.9

  8.7

  East Kent

  6.4

  6.7

  6.2

  7.4

  6.3

  East Surrey

  6.9

  6.5

  6.3

  5.8

  5.9

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  6.6

  6.4

  6.7

  7.1

  6.3

  Kingston and Richmond

  5.8

  5.7

  5.9

  6.2

  5.4

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  8.9

  9.1

  8.7

  8.8

  8.8

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  7.1

  7.1

  6.9

  6.7

  6.9

  West Kent

  5.9

  6.7

  6.6

  6.3

  6.9

  West Surrey

  6.3

  6.4

  5.7

  6.2

  6.5

  West Sussex

  6.3

  6.6

  6.4

  6.8

  6.6

  South and West

  6.4

  6.7

  6.8

  6.7

  6.6

  Avon

  6.3

  6.8

  7.0

  7.0

  6.3

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  6.2

  6.8

  6.7

  5.8

  6.2

  Dorset

  6.5

  6.3

  6.5

  6.8

  7.0

  Gloucestershire

  7.3

  6.9

  6.5

  6.8

  6.5

  Isle of Wight

  5.9

  6.5

  7.1

  7.3

  7.3

  North and East Devon

  6.5

  6.7

  6.9

  6.3

  6.7

  North and Mid Hampshire

  5.9

  6.2

  7.2

  6.2

  6.4

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  6.7

  6.9

  6.7

  6.4

  6.6

  Somerset

  6.0

  6.5

  6.7

  6.4

  6.3

  Southampton and South West

  Hampshire

  6.3

  7.1

  6.8

  6.6

  7.0

  South and West Devon

  6.2

  6.6

  6.7

  7.4

  6.7

  Wiltshire

  6.9

  7.0

  6.6

  7.3

  6.5

  West Midlands

  7.6

  8.0

  8.1

  8.1

  8.4

  Birmingham

  8.8

  9.5

  9.2

  9.4

  10.0

  Coventry

  9.0

  8.7

  9.7

  8.7

  8.7

  Dudley

  7.7

  7.9

  8.5

  8.3

  8.8

  Herefordshire

  6.1

  6.4

  6.8

  6.9

  6.7

  North Staffordshire

  6.4

  7.1

  7.4

  7.0

  8.2

  Sandwell

  9.9

  9.7

  9.5

  10.0

  10.4

  Shropshire

  6.0

  7.1

  7.0

  6.7

  7.0

  Solihull

  7.1

  6.6

  8.5

  7.2

  6.6

  South Staffordshire

  6.7

  6.6

  7.0

  6.5

  7.4

  Walsall

  7.6

  8.8

  9.1

  10.1

  10.3

  Warwickshire

  6.8

  6.9

  6.3

  6.7

  6.7

  Wolverhampton

  8.3

  9.2

  9.6

  10.1

  10.0

  Worcestershire

  6.4

  7.1

  6.6

  7.2

  6.6

  North West

  7.0

  7.7

  7.7

  7.8

  8.1

  Bury and Rochdale

  7.8

  8.3

  8.2

  8.6

  9.2

  East Lancashire

  7.8

  8.7

  7.7

  8.3

  9.5

  Liverpool

  7,9

  8.3

  8.5

  7.7

  8.2

  Manchester

  8.3

  9.9

  9.2

  9.2

  9.3

  Morecambe Bay

  7.3

  7.4

  7.3

  6.2

  6.9

  North Cheshire

  5.4

  5.5

  6.6

  6.2

  6.5

  North West Lancashire

  7.1

  7.1

  7.6

  8.1

  8.3

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  6.6

  7.9

  8.0

  8.1

  8.5

  Salford and Trafford

  7.9

  8.0

  7.8

  8.3

  8.3

  Sefton

  6.6

  7.1

  7.2

  7.6

  7.9

  South Cheshire

  5.5

  6.5

  6.4

  6.6

  6.1

  South Lancashire

  6.4

  6.4

  6.9

  7.0

  6.3

  Stockport

  5.4

  6.9

  6.3

  6.1

  7.2

  West Pennine

  7.3

  7.8

  7.6

  8.4

  8.4

  Wigan and Bolton

  6.8

  8.2

  8.3

  8.7

  8.9

  Wirral

  6.3

  6.6

  7.6

  7.0

  8.0

  1 Boundaries as at 1 April 1998

  Endowment Insurance
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statutory provisions restrict the ability of policyholders to make top-up payments to long-term endowment insurance plans; and what plans he has to review these provisions. [102433]
  202W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are no statutory provisions prohibiting top-up payments. The provision of advice on and selling of endowment policies is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Policyholders are encouraged to seek independent financial advice before deciding on options to meet projected shortfalls in maturity.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Employees (Disabled People)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is registered as disabled; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people in his Department. [102050]

  Mr. Hain
  As at 1 October 1999, 111 staff (2 per cent.) had declared themselves as disabled in a voluntary survey. The FCO is committed to the employment of people with disabilities. In September 1998 the Department qualified for the Employment Service Two ticks symbol "Positive about disabled people". Under this scheme the Department guarantees an interview to anybody with a disability where the application meets the minimum criteria for the post. Particular arrangements are put into place for tests and interviews when requested by the candidate. Reasonable adjustments are made to the working environment for new entrants with disabilities. The FCO has appointed a Disabled Persons Officer to deal with disability issues within the Office.

  Diplomatic Missions
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the British diplomatic missions that have been closed during the last five years. [102407]

  Mr. Hain
  The British diplomatic missions that have closed in the last five years are: Douala in 1994, Kuching and Chiang Mai in 1998 and Cleveland in 1999.

  In addition, the Embassy in Belgrade closed at the start of the Kosovo campaign. The Yugoslav authorities subsequently severed diplomatic relations. We have since re-established a presence in Belgrade with an British Interests Section of the Brazilian Embassy.

  China
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent progress in co-operation with China in tackling international crime. [102704]

  Mr. Battle
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Jiang Zemin agreed on the need for further dialogue between our two countries on the problems of international crime and drugs in their meeting during the Chinese State Visit. I raised the issue of drugs with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister during my recent visit to China and we agreed to continue close co-operation in this field, where we have had a number of small, mainly training, projects.
  203W
  There have been a number of successful co-operative operations between the British and Chinese police to deal with kidnapping cases.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed further co-operation in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction when he met President Jiang Zemin during his visit to Britain. [102742]

  Mr. Battle
  The need for further dialogue on this subject was agreed in the Prime Minister's meeting with President Jiang Zemin during the State Visit.

  EU Applicants
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which(a) have applied for membership of the EU and (b) are investigating the possibility of applying for membership within the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [102459]

  Mr. Vaz
  The countries that have applied for membership of the EU are listed in the table. Accession negotiations started in March 1998 with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. Accession negotiations will begin in February 2000 with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia. The Helsinki European Council on 10-–1 December 1999 recognised that Turkey is a candidate for membership. Norway put its application on hold in 1994 after a referendum rejected membership. Switzerland suspended its application in 1993. In 1987, the Council of Ministers did not accede to an application from Morocco. No other country has signalled an intention to apply for membership within the next 12 months. This Government strongly support EU enlargement.

  Countries that have applied for EU-membership

  Country

  Date of application

  Morocco

  120 July 1987

  Turkey

  14 April 1987

  Cyprus

  3 July 1990

  Malta

  216 July 1990

  Switzerland

  320 May 1992

  Norway

  425 November 1992

  Hungary

  31 March 1994

  Poland

  5 April 1994

  Romania

  22 June 1995

  Slovakia

  27 June 1995

  Latvia

  13 October 1995

  Estonia

  24 November 1995

  Lithuania

  8 December 1995

  Bulgaria

  14 December 1995

  Czech Republic

  17 January 1996

  Slovenia

  10 June 1996

  1 EU did not accede to the request

  2 Frozen in 1996, re-activated 10 September 1998

  3 Left in abeyance 1992

  4 1994 referendum rejected membership. Application on hold

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements(a) he and
  204W
  (b) Ministers in his Department have put in place for the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside his Department. [102363]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Decisions on the format of minutes of meetings will depend on the nature of the discussions.

  Sports Clubs (Personal Injury Insurance)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will introduce legislation to require sports clubs to insure team members against personal injury. [102502]

  Kate Hoey
  I have no plans to introduce legislation requiring sports clubs to insure their members against personal injury, but I encourage them to ensure that adequate insurance is in place. The home country Sports Councils, in co-operation with the Association of British Insurers, published a booklet in 1997 called "Managing Risks" which provides guidance on insurance for sports organisations, clubs and individuals.

  Osborne House
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his plans are for the future use of those parts of Osborne House not once occupied personally by Queen Victoria and opened to the public, and of the grounds; and if he will make a statement. [102570]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  As I announced on 4 February, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has decided that it is no longer appropriate to run this part of Osborne House as a convalescent and residential home and will be seeking Parliament's approval to repeal the provisions of the Osborne Estate Act 1902 which places this responsibility on him. In the meantime the home remains open. I have asked English Heritage to bring forward proposals for the use of the accommodation currently occupied by the convalescent home.

  British Olympic Facilities
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the British Olympic Association on ensuring that a future British Olympic bid contains proposals to disperse major sporting events throughout the United Kingdom; [102804]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the British Olympic Association and other interested parties on ensuring the availability of funding for Olympic facilities throughout the United Kingdom. [102803]

  Kate Hoey
  I am in regular discussion with the British Olympic Association and other interested parties on a number of issues including facilities to stage a future Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee require that the Olympic Games are city rather than countrywide based. The British Olympic Association, who have responsibility for UK bids for the Olympic Games, are finalising a series of feasibility studies on a London based bid and I am expecting their report shortly.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Transport
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [99145]

  Mr. Wills
  All travel undertaken by civil servants in DfEE and the Employment Service (ES) complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

  For DfEE, the total amount spent on civil servants' car transport in each of the last two years is £648,826 (1997–98) and £720,853 (1998–99)1.

  For ES, the total amount spent in each of the last two years is £3,462,169 (1997–98) and £4,992,971 (1998–99)1.

  1 These figures are net of payments received from staff under DfEE/ES private user schemes.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure greater transparency in the allocation of funds by local education authorities to individual pupils with special educational needs. [101467]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 7 December 1999]: We have taken steps to require local education authorities to publish budget statements which make clear the amounts retained centrally and the amounts delegated to schools to make provision for children with special educational

  Percentage

  1997–98

  1998–99

  April-November 1999

  To complete the calculation of ill health benefits or short service incapacity grants within 20 days of receiving approval of the application

  91

  98

  91.7

  Requests for further medical evidence to be made within 5 days of notification

  —

  100

  97.8

  To inform applicants for ill health retirement of the decision within 10 days of medical advisers notification

  —

  —

  98.9

  The figures for applications rejected and successful appeals are as follows. Successful appeals usually result from further medical evidence being received.

  Number rejected

  Successful appeals

  1997–98

  1,227

  382

  1998–99

  788

  179

  April-September 1999

  288

  13

  1 Does not include appeals still under consideration.

  School Transport
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review arrangements for home to school transport. [102239]

  Jacqui Smith
  The School Travel Advisory Group is looking into all aspects of school transport and I expect to receive its recommendations early in the new year. In addition, we have a number of initiatives already in place: we have produced guidance for schools on safe routes; we
  206W
  needs, with and without statements. Once budgets are delegated to schools, schools' governing bodies may take decisions on precisely how to deploy the resources available for the benefit of individual pupils. Where extra resources are required to enable a school to make the provision specified in a statement of special educational need for an individual child, the local education authority may provide support from a central resource; devolve funds for that specific child; or in some cases, the schools' delegated budget will already include funds to meet the needs of pupils with statements of special education need.

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average time taken for the Teachers' Pension Agency to process a teacher's request for early retirement on health grounds in each of the last three years; how many such requests have been refused in each of the last three years; and how many of these refusals have been overturned on appeal. [101923]

  Mr. Wicks
  The administration of the Teachers' Pensions Scheme has been carried out under contract by Capita Business Services since October 1996. Details of the average time taken for the complete processing of ill-health retirement applications are not recorded, but a Statement of Service Requirements (SOSR) attached to the contract has specific targets with regard to ill-health applications. The performance of the scheme administrator is given in the following table. These targets reflect the stages in the process where responsibility for the action rests with the administrator and not with a third party. The number of years for which the information is available reflects the periodic updating of the SOSR.

  are developing mapping software and a car sharing database for schools' use; we are reviewing the provision of transport for pupils with special educational needs, leading to guidance on best practice for Local Education Authorities; and we have been working with the Department of Health on "Safe and Sound", a competition for schools designed to promote healthier and sustainable school travel.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the appeal to the Data Protection Registrar by the National Union of Teachers against his Department using home addresses collected for pension purposes and the General Teaching Council elections; and if he will make a statement. [102773]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Data Protection Registrar has confirmed that teachers' home addresses can be used for the despatch of pensions information and to form the basis of the electoral roll for the General Teaching Council.

  Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on external conz45sultants and advisers since May 1997. [102080]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 13 December 1999]: The Department's NDPBs spent £22.062 million on external consultants and advisers. The individual NDPB expenditure is listed on the following table.

  Department for Education and Employment—expenditure on consultants and advisers

  £000

  May 1997 to-date

  Total

  British Educational Communications and Technology (BECTa)

  865

  Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

  638

  Education Transfer Council (ETC)

  0

  Engineering Construction Industry Training Board(ECITB)

  35

  Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)

  147

  Further Education Funding Council (FEFC)

  2,510

  Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

  2,847

  Investors in People UK Ltd. (IIP)

  4,614

  Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)

  3,800

  Remploy Ltd.

  816

  Students Loan Company (SLC)

  1,612

  Teacher Training Agency (TTA)

  4,174

  Advisory Committee for Disabled People in Employment and Training (ACDET)

  2

  Disability Rights Task Force (DTRF)

  1

  National Disability Council (NDC)

  0

  New Deal Task Force (NDTF)

  0

  Race Employment and Education Forum (REEF)

  1

  Skills Task Force (STF)

  0

  22,062

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to what extent the money contributed by TECs to the national legal fund established under the auspices of the TEC National Council is to be used to contest the distribution of reserves and assets upon the winding up of TECs; and if he will make a statement. [102081]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 14 December 1999]: We understand the primary purpose of the legal fund is to seek advice on issues common to all TECs/CCTEs, including the extent of the obligations they have under their contracts with Government. This is a reasonable step rather than each TEC seeking separate advice with the additional costs that would entail. However, we would not expect TECs/CCTEs to use public funds to contest the distribution of reserves and assets.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the application by the WTO of the principle of free trade to purchases by Governments and local authorities of goods and services concerned with education. [101674]
  208W
  Mr. Caborn
  There have not been any such discussions concerning the WTO and Government procurement.

  A400M Project
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the proportion of the United Kingdom aerospace industry's projected investment which is accounted for by the A400M airbus military aircraft project. [102392]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My Department does not produce estimates of future investment in the aerospace sector. As my previous reply on 8 December 1999,Official Report, columns 571–72W, explained in relation to the Future Transport Aircraft competition (FTA), we assess the possible impacts of the bids on the UK's industrial and technological capabilities. Since the FTA competition is still at the competitive bidding stage, it would be inappropriate to publish information provided by companies as part of this process.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence over the A400M programme. [102741]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Future Transport Aircraft (FTA) competition is being run by the Ministry of Defence. The A400M, along with Boeing's C-17 and Lockheed Martin's C130J, is a contender in the competition. My Department is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence in the consideration of the industrial implications of this procurement. Our assessment looks at the possible impacts of each bid on the UK's industrial and technological capabilities.

  Ghana
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those companies that have received promotional assistance in exporting to Ghana in each of the last five years. [101972]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 9 December 1999]: British Trade International provides assistance to companies seeking to trade with or invest in Ghana. I shall place in the Library of the House a list of those companies interested in exporting to Ghana over the last five years, who have participated in the formal export promotion schemes now run by British Trade International.

  Oftel
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the projected costs of Oftel for the financial years(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [102749]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Running costs

  12.3

  11.1

  Other capital expenditure

  0.3

  0.3

  Capital

  1.2

  0.4

  "Modern Markets: Confident Customers"
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to take forward the White Paper, "Modern Markets: Confident Customers". [103125]

  Dr. Howells
  The White Paper contained some 90 initiatives to help people get a good deal. I have today published a detailed implementation plan, giving commitments on timing and naming an official responsible for each. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

  Post Office
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on DTI-DSS co-ordination in relation to the Post Office. [101554]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I maintain a dialogue with our DSS colleagues, and there is regular contact between our officials at working level on matters of mutual interest, including the Post Office.

  Electronic Mail
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to extend the privacy protection afforded to the Royal Mail to electronic mail correspondence; and if he will make a statement. [101083]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 6 December 1999]: I have been asked to reply.

  Section 1 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 makes it an offence to intercept a communication in the course of its transmission by post or by means of a public telecommunications system. It therefore provides privacy protection for electronic mail (e-mail) when it is carried on the network of a public telecommunications operator (PTO), but not when it passes over networks which are not operated by a PTO. We recognise the need to extend legal protection to all communications on non-PTO networks. In June 1999, the Home Office published a consultation paper, "Interception of Communications in the UK", which contains the Government's proposals for legislation in this area. I will carry these proposals forward in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill which was announced in the Queen's Speech.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration and Asylum Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many immigration and asylum appeal hearings in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 his Department did not present its case. [101495]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1997–98 the Presenting Officer Unit (POU) piloted new working procedures designed to increase flexibility and productivity which included identifying non-complex cases in which the absence of a Presenting Officer would not affect the outcome of the appeal. A total of 126 appeal cases were heard without a Home Office representative being present. In 1998–99 the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) significantly 210W
  increased its throughput of appeals and by introducing the new working practices the POU was able to target resources with some precision. The IAA was informed in 6,230 cases, 11 per cent. of the total listed for hearing, that there would be no Home Office representative: no information is available as to how many of these cases proceeded to a hearing. In the current financial year the IAA has been informed in 610 cases, 3 per cent. of total listed, that there would be no Home Office representative.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have put in place for the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside his Department. [102374]

  Mr. Straw
  Private secretaries usually take notes of formal meetings between Ministers and people from outside the Home Office. The degree of detail recorded, and the writing up of notes, depends on the nature of the meeting and of the issues raised.

  Police Forces (Reorganisation)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the police forces in England and Wales, the dates of(a) force reorganisation plans and (b) new chief officers taking up appointment. [R] [102393]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The organisational structure of each police force is a matter for the chief officer of police.

  In relation to police areas of the Metropolitan Police Service, Essex Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Surrey Police will change on 1 April 2000 when the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District are brought into line with those of the 32 London Boroughs. These changes are from section 323 of the Greater London Authority Act. The commencement order has been made which will bring section 323 into effect from 1 April 2000.

  The dates of new chief officers who have taken up appointment during 1999 are:

  Date

  Dorset Police

  10 May 1999

  Gwent Police

  23 July 1999

  Hampshire Constabulary

  21 September 1999

  West Mercia Constabulary

  5 April 1999

  St. Kitts
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the entitlement of residents of St. Kitts to British citizenship. [102300]

  Mrs. Roche
  St. Kitts and Nevis is no longer a British dependent territory. A St Kitts and Nevis child may in certain circumstances have an entitlement to registration as a British citizen, but in most instances a number of years' residence in the United Kingdom is required on the part of the child and/or its parents. Adults may obtain
  211W
  British citizenship only by naturalisation, which is a discretionary matter rather than an entitlement, generally following some years' residence in the United Kingdom.

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is made available by his Department for help in setting up neighbourhood watch schemes. [102707]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We do not provide funding to set up individual Neighbourhood Watch schemes. We do, however, fund national initiatives such as publicity campaigns and training packs which have played a considerable part in the growth of the movement.

  Criminal Justice Act 1988
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the principal conclusions and recommendations of the review of the interpretation of section 133(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 that was concluded in April 1999; and if he will place a copy of that review in the Library. [101709]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This review did not lead to any change of policy or practice. The review was conducted by means of communications between Ministers and officials of various Departments, and legal advice to Ministers. The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information indicates that such internal discussion and advice is exempt from the commitments to provide information in that Code.

DEFENCE

  Rapier Mk 2 Missiles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the value of the contract for Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles that was awarded to Matra BAe Dynamics; [100760]

  (2) how many Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles have been ordered from Matra BAe Dynamics in addition to the original order. [100759]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 15 December 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the value of the contract for Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles that was awarded to Matra BAe Dynamics. You also asked how many Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles have been ordered from Matra BAe Dynamics additional to the original order. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  The value of the contract for Rapier Mk 2 surface-to-air missiles that was awarded to Matra BAe Dynamics is around £260M. I am afraid that I am unable to let you know how many missiles have been ordered as it is considered that the release of this information would be harmful to our national security interests and would also be in breach of a third party's commercial confidences. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemptions 1 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Naval Projects
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the collapse of the Common New-Generation Frigate programme on future European collaborative naval projects; [100758]

  (2) what he estimates the typical cost of the Type-45 destroyer will be. [100751]

  Mr. Hoon
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 15 December 1999:
  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Type 45 Project. This matter falls to me to answer within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  The total programme cost for the 12 currently planned Type 45 warships including their missiles is approximately £6Bn. This includes approximately £1.2Bn for the development, design and build of the first of class ship and £1Bn for the development and initial production of the Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS). The balance of £3.8Bn contains funding for further missile procurement, allows for the incremental acquisition of the combat system. The ship design will incorporate significant growth margins to allow for this incremental capability development. A typical cost per ship is thus difficult to asses but the average is expected to be within a target cost of about £270M, excluding missiles.
  You also asked what assessment had been made of the effect of the collapse of the Common New Generation (CNGF) Programme. The tri-national project office, before it closed on 29 October 1999, provided an assessment of the lessons learned to each of the three partner nations. These reported lessons are being carefully considered and we will be compiling our own UK national lessons learned paper in order to ensure that they are applied appropriately to other collaborative projects. At this stage, I would assess the key lessons to be:

  a. The operational requirement should be agreed in detail, and be confirmed as affordable against agreed budgets. This information (on requirement and cost) should be communicated to Industry at an early stage to avoid over-ambitious performance specifications being set at the outset that have subsequently to be adjusted (with consequent delay) as financial realities are brought to bear;

  b. early in the programme, a credible industrial organisation must be established which meets the requirements of industry and of all particular governments. For the UK, this means the appointment of an effective prime contractor not a joint venture company;

  c. work share arrangements should not be allowed to distort industrial management of the programme. The involvement of trans-national companies and OCCAR are likely to be helpful in ensuring work share issues are resolved efficiently and economically.

  Applying these principles proved intractable in the context of HORIZON but was possible with the PAAMS Anti-Air Warfare missile component of the CNGF programme and you will be aware that a Development and Production contract for PAAMS was successfully placed last August on behalf of the three nations. This illustrates that the HORIZON outcome need not inhibit successful collaboration in Europe in future.

  Missile Assessment
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the advantages of(a) the Meteor missiles made by Matra BAe Dynamics and (b) its US rival; and if he will make a statement. [100597]
  213W
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 15 December 1999:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary for Defence about the assessments that have been made of the Meteor and US missile options bid into the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) competition. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  We are currently evaluating the Best and Final Offers we have received in response to the above competition to satisfy the RAF's requirement for a BVRAAM for Eurofighter. The evaluation will take into account a wide range of factors including missile performance, cost, industrial factors and overall value for money and will set out the respective advantages of each option. It remains our intention to announce the outcome of the competition in the new year.

  RAID System
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the RAF are participating in the Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing Systems mission. [101659]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  There are no RAF Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing Systems (RAIDS) 'missions' as such involving RAF personnel. However, the RAF has procured eight RAIDS pods and two ground stations and is conducting a trail of their utility. A wider procurement of RAIDS pods is in process. A number of RAF personnel across a number of units and organisations are involved in the trial but none of them is solely assigned to RAIDS.

  Family Contact
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions have been made to ensure family contact on 25 December 1999, 31 December 1999 and 1 January 2000 for those members of the armed forces who will be separated from their families on those dates. [101728]

  Mr. Hoon
  We recognise the importance of Service personnel away from home being able to keep in touch, particularly during holiday periods. To this end, all personnel deployed on eligible operations are given 20 minutes worth of free welfare telephone calls home each week. In the past, this facility has been provided using a mix of private and military services, and, whenever operational constraints have allowed, has also been made available to personnel to allow them to make additional telephone calls home at their own expense. All personnel deployed away from home over the Christmas and New Year period will have access to this minimum level of service, either as their primary means of calling home or as a fallback when other systems are not working.

  We are currently in the process of deploying a new communication system, called Project WELCOME, which is being introduced to give personnel who are deployed away from home on operations guaranteed access to a welfare telephone, whatever the operational situation. This new system will be fully operational in the Gulf by Christmas and will be introduced into other theatres as soon as the necessary equipment is available and appropriate contractual arrangements can be made.
  214W
  In addition to this, to cope with the increased demand over the Christmas and New Year, we have:

  Purchased eleven additional mobile phones for the Gulf.

  Introduced 'electronic blueys' into the Falkland Islands, following a successful trial in the Balkans.

  Arranged for the deployment of seven extra satellite phones into Kosovo.

  Negotiated with The Sun newspaper, BT and Siemens to provide a video conferencing link which will enable troops to book a 10-minute slot free of charge to link up with their families at home and talk on camera. The service will operate in Kosovo during the period 22 to the 26 of December and in Bosnia during the period 29 December to the 2 of January. It is anticipated that approximately 1,000 troops in each theatre will be able to take advantage of this service.

  Agreed with BT to provide all troops serving in isolated locations throughout the Balkans who are having to use the BT satellite phones with a free five minute phone card valid for use on or after the 25 of December.

  Agreed with Cable and Wireless that all single and married unaccompanied personnel serving in the Falkland Islands will be given 20 minutes of welfare telephone calls free.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have put in place for the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside his Department. [102376]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Decisions on the format of minutes of meetings will depend on the nature of the discussion.

  Departmental Employees (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is of ethnic minority origin; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of people from the ethnic minorities in his Department. [102737]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Considerable efforts are being made in my Department to increase the proportion of ethnic minority staff we employ from our current level of 1.5 per cent. of the total civilian workforce. Our longer term aim is to reflect the diversity of MOD's recruitment catchment populations in our total civilian workforce. To this end our outreach work includes: establishing links with local racial equality councils and community organisations; targeted advertising; participating in careers fairs aimed principally at the ethnic minorities; sharing experience with like-minded employers through membership of Race for Opportunity; and providing work placements for ethnic minority graduates in association with the Windsor Fellowship. Internally, ethnic minority representation goals have been set and specific recruitment goals are being developed for recruiting areas which take account of relocations and re-organisations, and the representation of the ethnic minorities among the working population in catchment communities. Work is also underway, in conjunction with the Services, to improve the MOD's image as an equal opportunities employer in respect of both civilian staff and Armed Forces personnel.

  Reserves
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the categories of reserves, indicating in each
  215W
  case (a) the name of the category, (b) the numbers of (i) men and (ii) women in the category, (c) the amount of training obligations for the category, (d) the number of (i) men and (ii) women who fulfilled that training obligation in the last year, (e) the call-out commitment of the category and (f) the number of personnel in the category with whom there has been written communication in the last year to confirm (i) addresses and other personal particulars and (ii) continued availability for call-out commitment. [102828]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Air Losses (Kosovo)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what type of manned and unmanned aircraft or air vehicles were lost during operations over Kosovo in 1999; and what is their replacement value. [101862]

  Mr. Hoon
  Over the 78 days of Operation Allied Force, the UK lost 12 Phoenix Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) although only two of these were lost to direct enemy air defence activity. Additionally, one RAF C-130 Hercules was lost outside Yugoslav airspace.

  The approximate capital cost of the RAF C-130 aircraft is £15 million at 1998 prices. The original cost of the 12 Phoenix UAVs was in the region of £3.5 million. No final decision has yet been made on whether to replace these UAVs on a like for like basis but, if we were to do so, replacement costs would be subject to negation with the prime contractor.

  Nuclear Plant Safety (USA)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the health and safety record of nuclear-related plants managed by Lockheed Martin in the USA; and if they have incurred fines or had plants closed for health and safety reasons by the Department of Energy. [101863]

  Mr. Hoon
  The health and safety record of a US contractor operating under a US regulatory regime is a matter for the US authorities. I can confirm that the AWE Management Limited consortium, which will operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment from 1 April 2000 and of which Lockheed Martin is a member, will be subject to strict supervision by the Ministry of Defence and close regulation by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

  Departmental Lost Property
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items of equipment and furniture and their cost that(a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the last 12 months, identifying items valued at £5,000 or more, and separately identifying information technology material. [102836]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  My Department makes a statement on losses in its annual Appropriation Accounts. The Accounts for financial year 1998–99 will be published shortly. The detailed information requested is, however, not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Army Intelligence Corps
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the decision was taken to stand down the Research Unit of the Army Intelligence Corps; and if he will make a statement.[101865]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am withholding this information under Exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Military Insignia (Copyright)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past two years legal action has been taken to collect fees levied for use of badges, crests and insignia of Her Majesty's armed forces; and what penalties have been imposed for infringement of Crown copyright in such cases. [101870]

  Mr. Spellar
  Over the past two years it has not been necessary to initiate legal proceedings in connection with the non-payment of fees for the reproduction of badges, crests and insignia of Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

  Defence White Paper
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for publishing a Defence White Paper. [103043]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will publish a Defence White Paper on Monday 20 December.

  CHARM 3
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the CHARM 3 training ammunition competition; and if he will make a statement.[103042]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I am please to announce that, following a competition and subject to the negotiation of satisfactory terms and conditions, we have decided to award a contract to Royal Ordnance for the development and initial production of 120mm training ammunition for the Challenger 2 tank. This is good news for the company and will provide the Army with training ammunition to match Challenger 2's excellent performance and capability.

  In addition, discussions between MOD and Royal Ordnance on a possible Partnering Arrangement are progressing very well. We signed a Partnering Principles document on 8 October, which defined our mutual objectives, including the achievement of improved value for money for the MOD as customer, and profitability for the company. Negotiations are continuing and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly. In the event that an agreement is reached, the intention is that CHARM 3 Training Round would be included within the scope of any such Agreement.

  Military Forces (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many patrols were carried out by each battalion stationed in Northern Ireland in the last month for which figures are available, broken down by police district and approximate district council constituencies.[101868]
  217W
  Mr. Spellar
  The number of patrols that were carried out by each battalion stationed in Northern Ireland in November 1999, broken down by each police district and

  Battalion

  Police division

  Approximate district council boundaries

  Number of patrols

  3 Infantry Brigade

  Armagh Roulement Battalion

  H

  Armagh, Newry and Mourne

  247

  East Tyrone Roulement Battalion

  K

  Cookstown, Dungannon

  160

  Ballykinler Battalion

  G

  Down, Ards, Newry and Mourne

  12

  3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment

  J

  Craigavon, Lisburn, Banbridge

  185

  8th Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment

  H

  Armagh

  228

  8 Infantry Brigade

  Ballykelly Battalion

  N

  Limavady, Strabane

  12

  Londonderry Battalion

  N

  Londonderry, Strabane

  0

  Omagh Battalion

  L

  Omagh, Dungannon, Fermanagh

  104

  4th Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment

  L

  Fermanagh

  305

  5th Royal Irish Regiment

  Magherafelt, Limavady, Coleraine, Moyle, Larne, Antrim,

  O

  Ballymena, Ballymoney

  11

  39 Infantry Brigade

  Belfast Roulement Battalion

  B

  Belfast

  0

  Holywood Battalion

  D

  North Down, Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey

  0

  7th Royal Irish Regiment

  A and E

  Belfast, North Down, Castlereagh

  0

  9th Royal Irish Regiment

  D and B

  Lisburn, Antrim

  0

  A patrol is defined as any foot or mobile patrol in support of the RUC regardless of size or duration. Patrols conducted by the Army for local security around bases are not included.

  Some battalions operate in more than one Police Division. Police Divisions are not coterminous with District Council boundaries. These delineations are therefore only approximate and in some cases a Council area may be covered by more than one Battalion, e.g. Lisburn.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the overall strength in September(a) 1998 and (b) 1999 was of military forces in Northern Ireland, broken down into the numbers attached to the (i) RAF, (ii) Royal Navy (iii) RIR, (iv) RIR part-time and (v) others. [101866]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Strength 1998

  Strength 1999

  Army (General Service)

  110,873

  210,491

  Royal Air Force

  1,152

  1,150

  Royal Navy

  321

  182

  Unit

  Strength

  Length of Tour

  The 1st Battalion the Scots Guards

  604

  2 years—until April 2000

  The 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers

  608

  2 years—until August 2000

  The 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment

  595

  2 years—until May 2001

  The 1stBattalion the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  639

  2 years—until December 2001

  The 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets

  590

  2 years—until March 2001

  The 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards

  531

  6 months—until March 2000

  The 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards

  500

  6 months—until December 1999

  The 1st Battalion the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire

  443

  6 months—until May 2000

  218W
  approximate district council constituencies are set out in the table:

  Strength 1998

  Strength 1999

  The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service Full Time)

  2,627

  2,536

  The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service Part Time)

  1,961

  1,841

  Total

  16,934

  16,200

  1Includes the Province Reserve Battalion and the Urban Reinforcement Battalion which are fully committed to Northern Ireland although only one company of each was deployed to the Province as at 30 September 1998. Also includes the Rural Reinforcement Battalion which was committed but not deployed at that time.

  2Includes the three Northern Ireland Reinforcement Battalions (Urban, Rural and Drumadd) which are fully committed to Northern Ireland but as of 17 November 1998 were all rear-based on the Mainland. It also includes the Province Reserve Battalion which is also fully committed to the Province but had only one company in Northern Ireland as at 30 September 1999.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Army regiments currently deployed in Northern Ireland, indicating(a) the numbers attached to each and (b) the estimated duration of their tour of duty; and if he will make a statement on planned deployment during the next 12 months. [101867]

  Mr. Spellar
  The British Army General Service Infantry Battalions currently deployed in Northern Ireland are listed in the table, along with their strength and tour length:
  219W
  Apart from one company of The 1st Battalion The King's Regiment, the following are fully committed to

  Unit

  Strength

  Length of Tour

  The 1st Battalion the King's Regiment

  579

  2 years—until April 2001

  12 Regiment Royal Artillery

  335

  6 months—until April 2000

  The 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry

  335

  6 months—until December 1999

  7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

  425

  6 months—until January 2000

  Note:

  Figures as at 3 December 1999

  In addition there are six Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, totalling 4,377 soldiers, comprising both full-time and part-time members, which are wholly committed to service to Northern Ireland, but not shown in the above table.

  Details of future deployments to the Province are being withheld under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Number of patrols

  Battalion

  Accompanied by RUC

  Unaccompanied by RUC

  3rd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  61

  124

  4th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  305

  0

  5th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  11

  0

  7th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  0

  0

  8th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  73

  155

  9th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  0

  0

  A patrol is defined as any foot or mobile patrol in support of the RUC regardless of size of duration. Patrols conducted by the Army for local security around bases are not included.

  Ordnance Replacement Costs
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the replacement costs of(a) Paveway II, (b) Paveway III, (c) RBL 755, (d) 10001b bomb, (e) Alarm and (f) sea-launched cruise missile. [102674]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 November 1999,Official Report, column 83W.

PRIME MINISTER

  Civil Service Modernisation
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has received the substantive report on progress in modernising the Civil Service which was promised in the "Modernising Government" White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [102987]

  The Prime Minister
  I am very pleased to be able to report that the Head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Richard Wilson, has sent me his report on Civil Service reform.

  The world in which the Civil Service operates is changing. Information technology, the media, electronic communications, Europe, modernisation of the
  220W
  Northern Ireland under control of the GOC but are not currently deployed to the Province.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Irish Regiment patrols were(a) accompanied by the RUC and (b) unaccompanied in the last month for which figures are available. [101869]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of Royal Irish Regiment patrols accompanied by a member of the RUC and those unaccompanied for the month of November 1999 are set out in the table:

  constitution, and public demand for higher quality services are all changing fast, and the Civil Service needs to change too.

  Sir Richard and his colleagues have set out an excellent and exciting programme, which I fully endorse. It is designed to ensure that the Civil Service is fully equipped to deliver the Modernising Government agenda, and to meet the challenges of the 21st century. A Modernisation Fund of £100 million over two years has been set up to support the programme. Sir Richard and his colleagues will be leading these changes with the full support of the Government and, I hope, the House. I would like to pay tribute to the quality of the Civil Service. I believe that a sign of this quality is the fact that the Service has recognised for itself the need for further improvement and is now driving forward such an ambitious programme of reform. A copy of the Report has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15 December. [102584]

  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.

  Mid Essex Hospital Trust
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Prime Minister what information the Government have compiled on the degree
  221W
  of compliance by Mid Essex Hospital Trust with the Government's undertaking that treatment for in-patients will be carried out within 18 months. [101942]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 December 1999]: The Government are committed to ensuring that no patient has to wait more than 18 months for treatment. To reinforce this aim Sir Alan Langlands, the National Health Service Chief Executive, has asked NHS trusts to review their waiting lists and to tighten their procedures.

  As a result of this work, a number of patients at Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust have been identified as waiting over 18 months for treatment at the end of November 1999.

  The figures for November 1999 are not due to be published until the week commencing 10 January 2000. However, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, in conjunction with the North Essex Health Authority and the Eastern Regional Office, are taking steps to ensure that patients identified as waiting over 18 months are treated as soon as possible.

HEALTH

  Correspondence
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire's letters of 23 August regarding Mrs. G. Hague, and 29 September regarding Mr. P. Hodgson. [102798]

  Yvette Cooper
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply to his question as soon as possible.

  Disablement Services
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people are waiting for an eligibility assessment for an electronically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair; [102318]

  (2) how many extra contractual referrals took place during their last year of operation in respect of (a) orthotics, (b) prosthetics and (c) wheelchairs; [102316]

  (3) how many people who have been assessed as being eligible for an electronically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair are waiting for one; [102319]

  (4) how many out of area treatments have taken place for (a) orthotics, (b) prosthetics and (c) wheelchairs. [102315]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) artificial limbs and (b) wheelchairs were issued by the National Health Service in 1997–98.[102320]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service issued 1,276 powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in 1997–98. Information on how many artificial limbs were issued is not available centrally.

  NHS Dentists
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage NHS dentists to keep(a) their skills and (b) the treatments they offer up to date. [102354]

  Mr. Hutton
  The General Dental Council has agreed proposals with the dental profession for a 'recertification' scheme whereby dentists would not be allowed to remain registered unless they showed evidence that they were participating in continuing education and training. We support these proposals and are drawing up an order to make the necessary amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 by means of Section 60 of the Health Act 1999.

  Abortion
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he received the recent surveys carried out by Voice for Choice on abortion services; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the criteria for obtaining an NHS abortion are standardised throughout England and Wales;[101933]

  (2) if he will ensure that health authorities set up a central telephone helpline and booking system for use by women, doctors and other health professionals in line with the Family Planning Association's recommendations following their recent survey on abortion. [101934]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 9 December 1999]: Officials received a copy of the surveys on 6 December.

  It is for local health commissioners to determine the appropriate level of gynaecological provision, including abortion services, in the light of the needs of their local populations. The national sexual health strategy which is currently being developed will look at all aspects of sexual health including access to services.

  In addition the White Paper "The new NHS" outlines a number of steps which we will be taking to improve the consistency of service provision throughout the NHS. Health improvement programmes (HImPs) are being drawn up by health authorities in consultation with NHS trusts, primary care groups, primary care professionals, local authorities, the public and other partner organisations such as voluntary organisations. The HImP sets out the strategic direction on improving health and on delivering better health and social care as well as setting out the framework for action on commissioning services.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to give women in Northern Ireland the same rights to abortion as those given to women in England, Scotland and Wales. [101930]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 9 December 1999]: There are no plans to extend the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, to Northern Ireland.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional places in local authority secure accommodation have been provided since 1 May 1997; and how many he plans to provide. [102766]
  223W
  Mr. Hutton
  At 31 March 1997 there were 346 approved places in local authority secure accommodation in England and Wales. A further 110 places have since been made available. Eight more places will become available next year. Decisions have yet to be taken on the development of secure accommodation beyond this spending period.

  NHS Direct
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the further report by Sheffield University into the effectiveness of NHS Direct; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [102776]

  Ms Stuart
  Sheffield University's second interim report into the effectiveness of NHS Direct is expected early in the New Year. The University's final report is expected in spring 2000. Copies of the reports will be placed in the Library.

  Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre; and if he will make a statement. [103044]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre in Birmingham has made an important and valued contribution to the treatment and care of some of the most difficult and disturbed young people with whom the child care system has had to deal, and has been influential in the lives of many young people.

  When the Centre opened in 1978, except for St. Charles the other Youth Treatment Centre in Essex, which has since closed, there were no comparable facilities for accommodating and treating such difficult and disturbed young people. Since then, however, local authorities have developed their own secure accommodation and have become skilled and experienced in dealing with many young people needing secure care. The Department of Health has undertaken a major building and refurbishment programme in recent years to strengthen the range and geographical spread of local authority accommodation by providing an additional 170 places for young people. There will be funding in the coming year to continue this programme of upgrading and refurbishment.

  From April 2000, the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales will become responsible for commissioning and purchasing places in the secure juvenile estate for remanded and sentenced young people. The Board has decided that it does not wish to use the Glenthorne Centre for this purpose. As up to half the young people accommodated in the Centre at any one time are placed there by the Prison Service it would be extremely difficult to continue to run the Centre as a viable unit without these placements. There are also good child care practice issues to be considered. Because of the growth in experience and provision in the wider child care field, these young people can now be cared for in a number of appropriate locations and need not be labelled as "the worst in the country" by virtue of being placed in only one facility. For these reasons, I therefore intend to consult the staff and their representatives about the future of the unit, including its possible closure. The consultation period will last three months, at the end of which I will make my final decision on the future of the Centre.

  Generic Drugs
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to offset the impact of a rise in the price of generic drugs in those health authority areas with a high use of such drugs. [102447]

  Ms Stuart
  All health authorities should have contingency arrangements in place to manage this and similar financial pressures within their unified budgets.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Billy Gorman and Paddy McKinney
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place a copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the 1980 conviction of Billy Gorman and Paddy McKinney in the Library. [101871]

  Mr. Lock
  Copies of the judgment have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Bilateral Concordat Wales.
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to publish the bilateral concordat between the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales. [103046]

  Jane Kennedy
  I am pleased to announce that my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and the First Secretary have agreed the text of the Concordat between the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales. Copies of the Concordat have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the text is available on the Lord Chancellor's Department website (www.open.gov.uk/lcd-see 'What's New?').

  I hope that the Concordat will mark the beginning of a fruitful and co-operative working relationship between the Department and the National Assembly.

  Advisory Committee (Eighth Report)
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on legal education and conduct intends to publish its eighth and final annual report. [103045]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct has today published its eighth and final annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

CABINET OFFICE

  Scottish and Welsh Ministers (Briefing Costs)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office from which budgets the costs of briefing Scottish and Welsh Executive Ministers by UK ministries for replying to debates in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly are found. [101550]
  225W
  Mr. Stringer
  Any costs involved in assisting the devolved administrations are borne by the Department concerned.

  Modernisation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions she has had with trade union representatives and others on modernising Government. [101551]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I meet the trade unions regularly to discuss Modernising Government, among other topics.

  I have recently discussed the modernisation agenda with Sir Jeremy Beecham of the Local Government Association, with members of the senior civil service and with representatives of the business and voluntary sectors.

  Social Exclusion
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in implementing the reports of the social exclusion unit. [101552]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  All five of the Social Exclusion Unit reports—on rough sleeping, truancy, teenage pregnancy, poor neighbourhoods, and training for 16–18 year olds—are being implemented.

  In my new role as Chair of the Ministerial Network on Social Exclusion I will be making sure that the implementation process works, so that we deliver real change on the ground—where it counts.

  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement about the implementation of policies designed to tackle social exclusion. [101560]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  We aim to create a fairer society, in the next two decades, in which no child lives in poverty. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to take on a new role with the Social Exclusion Unit to make sure that joined-up government, particularly for deprived areas and people, is a reality both inside Whitehall and in every part of the country.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Government's annual report on non-departmental bodies will be published. [101553]

  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Government's annual report on non-departmental bodies will be published. [101555]

  Mr. Stringer
  "Public Bodies 1999" will be published tomorrow.

  The 1999 Executive Non-departmental Public Bodies Report will be published in January 2000 as stated in the Modernising Government Action Plan.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the cases in which powers formerly held by non-departmental public bodies have been transferred to elected bodies since 1 May 1997. [102513]
  226W
  Mr. Stringer
  The Government have transferred around 200 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) to democratically elected chambers in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the number of(a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) task forces in England (i) on 1 May 1997, (ii) on 1 May 1998 and (iii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [102486]

  Mr. Stringer
  Information on the number of non-departmental public bodies in England, and throughout the UK, is published annually in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies are available from the Library of the House. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 9 December 1999,Official Report, column 634W, for information on the number of task forces.

  Better Government for Older People
  Dr.Iddon
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of the better Government for older people pilot schemes. [101556]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The programme continues to make good progress towards delivering real improvements in older people's experience of public services.

  The Bolton pilot, which I visited on 26 November, impressed me with a number of significant achievements: a new day care centre for Asian elders and better access to benefits information via a new touch-screen IT link.

  Earlier today, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Local Government Association how best to bring other service providers up to the high standards of the pilot projects once the programme's pilot phase comes to an end next year.

  Ms Blears
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made in implementing better Government for older people. [101568]

  Mr. Stringer
  The programme continues to make good progress towards delivering real improvements in older people's experience of public services.

  Earlier today, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Local Government Association how best to bring other service providers up to the high standards of the pilot projects once the programme's pilot phase comes to an end next year.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made in delivering the Government's anti-drugs strategy. [101557]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Charlotte Atkins) today, column 261.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance is given by her office to Special Advisers in Government Departments on the limitations to be observed on their political involvement. [101559]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Detailed guidance for Special Advisers on their role and responsibilities is set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". This includes the rules governing the involvement of Special Advisers in political activities.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the number of advisers employed by the Government. [101562]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  There are 68 Special Advisers serving Cabinet Ministers. In addition, I have appointed Mr. Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and Mr. Michael Trace as his Deputy. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has appointed Professor Michael Barber as the Standards and Effectiveness Adviser and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Mr. Chris Wales, Mr. Paul Gregg and Ms Shriti Vadera as members of the Council of Economic Advisers. All are employed on Special Adviser terms.

  Rural Affairs
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what actions she is taking to ensure inter-departmental co-ordination on rural affairs. [101561]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I am chairing the new Cabinet Committee to co-ordinate the Government's policies affecting rural areas.

  Inter-departmental Reviews
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals she has to enable parliamentary scrutiny of the recently announced inter-departmental reviews. [101564]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Interdepartmental reviews can be scrutinised in the normal way by ministerial accountability to Parliament.

  Internet
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps her Department is taking to make use of the internet in communications between Government and business. [101565]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Cabinet Office is investigating ways of increasing the amount of electronic communication with business, including the use of the Government Procurement Card, e-commerce discussions with major suppliers, and making procurement information available on the Department's website.

  Since the autumn of this year the Cabinet Office IT Infrastructure Division has provided access to the internet for all the Department's staff (via the Government Secure Intranet). This makes it possible for the Cabinet Office to communicate effectively with other departments and business and greatly facilitates meeting the Government's target for doing business electronically.
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  The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) has established, and manages, a number of procurement schemes under which public sector organisations can purchase a wide range of IT and telecommunications products and services from the private sector using the internet.

  Information Champions
  Mr. White
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the role of the information champions; and what progress has been made since the committee was set up. [101566]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Information Age Government Champions (IAGC) lead work in support of the Corporate IT Strategy. They take ownership on behalf of departments and agencies and report to Ministers and the Modernising Government Project Board. Members include representatives from departments, the NHS and local government. The IAGC have agreed a programme of work that will result in the publication in March 2000 of the Corporate IT Strategy for government. Further details of the work of the IAGC can be found on their website http://www.iagchampions.gov.uk).

  Regional Initiatives (Funding)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions she has had with those of her Cabinet colleagues responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of economic development funding, European funding and other regional initiatives. [101567]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have no Ministerial responsibility for these policy areas but of course I participate fully in collective discussion of them.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on progress made by the Social Exclusion Unit in meeting the Government's target to reduce homelessness. [101569]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Social Exclusion Unit's report on Rough Sleeping sets the target of reducing the number of those who sleep rough by two thirds by 2002. The Rough Sleepers Unit in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is responsible for action to meet this target and they have today published an implementation strategy for England.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deregulation proposals her Department expects to be introduced in 2000. [101570]

  Mr. Stringer
  There are about nine proposals under consideration at the moment.

  As my hon. Friend will know through his valuable work as Chairman of the Deregulation Committee, I will be introducing legislation in this session of Parliament to remove barriers to wider application of the current deregulation order-making powers. I am confident this will lead to more proposals coming forward for consideration by the Deregulation Committee.

  Civil Service (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures she is taking to tackle the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the civil service. [101571]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government are committed to redressing under-representation and we are actively working to recruit and retain ethnic minorities at all levels in the Civil Service. Some key measures include the appointment of an Outreach Worker to work with ethnic minority university groups to promote careers in the Civil Service, and a Civil Service ethnic minority careers fair which will be held annually.

  Meetings
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will include in the Government's Annual report dates of Cabinet meetings held and their duration. [101563]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  No.

  Breakdown of additional anti-drugs money

  £ million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Total

  PSS (purchase of community care services) Local Authority

  3

  5

  12.5

  20.5

  NHS—Health Authorities drug misuse special allocation

  12

  18

  20

  50

  Comprehensive provision for treatment of problem drug users in prison and effective links between prisons and community

  20

  20

  20

  60

  Voluntary drug testing in every prison

  2

  5

  5

  12

  Piloting of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders followed by comprehensive Implementation subject to evaluation

  1

  20

  40

  61

  Development Funding for Drug Action Teams

  1.5

  1.5

  1.5

  4.5

  Department of Health prevention work

  1

  1

  1

  3

  Research

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  217

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many fast track civil servants have been recruited to Government departments since May 1997. [101558]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  We recruited 766 Civil Servants on to the Fast Stream Development Programme between May 1997 and the end of October this year. 448 of those were recruited to the General Fast Stream and 318 to specialist schemes.

  Quangos
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to ensure wider diversity in appointments to quangos. [101547]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government are committed to ensuring that public appointments are open to a wide field of candidates.

  My Department co-ordinates the work of other Departments in taking forward their published action plans to achieve equality of opportunity for all.

  Drugs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much money has been spent to date on each area of the Government's anti-drugs strategy announced following the comprehensive spending review. [102662]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  It is not possible at this stage of the financial year to provide the information in the format requested.

  The Comprehensive Expenditure Review 1997–98 estimated drug-related spending across the UK to be in the region of £1.4 billion.

  The 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review settlement provided an additional £217 million over three years directed to health, local authorities and criminal justice agencies for targeted anti-drugs activities. The table details allocations.

  In addition, in July 1999, the Home Secretary announced the availability of a further £20 million for the development of Arrest Referral Schemes to get drug misusers into treatment.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Imported Chickens
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if(a) chicken meat and (b) chicken products imported from Thailand and Brazil are produced from animals raised using antibiotics that are banned in the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [100403]

  Ms Quin
  The details of antibiotics authorised for use in Thailand and Brazil are not currently available. However, like all other third countries that wish to export meat and other animal products to the EU, Thailand and Brazil are required to submit to the European Commission their plans for testing for residues of veterinary medicinal products including antibiotics.

  Cattle Incineration
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy on direct incineration of over-thirty-month scheme cattle. [100827]

  Ms Quin
  EU Commission Regulation 716/96 requires that OTMS animals be incinerated, or rendered and destroyed. The Intervention Board (IB), which is
  231W
  responsible for the administration of the scheme in the UK, looks to maintain a balance between direct carcase incineration and rendering. On the basis of capacity and cost considerations, the IB has determined that rendering should be the primary disposal route for OTMS animals. IB has contracted meat and bone meal incineration capacity to meet its needs for the foreseeable future. Direct carcase incineration will continue to play an important part in the scheme, in particular for casualty animals slaughtered on-farm.

  Flood Defence Review
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the results of the Flood Defence Review. [101448]

  Mr. Morley
  I assume this question refers to the action which the Government undertook in response to the 1998 Agriculture Select Committee Report on Flood and Coastal Defence, in particular the review of flood defence funding mechanisms. That review is continuing. A consultation exercise took place earlier this year and the comments received are currently being considered and an announcement on the conclusions will be made in due course.

  The Government continue to review progress on implementation of the Environment Agency's Action Plan for implementing the Independent Report on the Easter 1998 Floods, and have published the Agency's quarterly progress reports, most recently on 11 November 1999. Interim High Level Targets for flood and coastal defence operating authorities were published in May. These have been superseded by more comprehensive targets, published on 19 November, which will take effect from 1 April 2000.

  Departmental Employees (Disabled People)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is registered as disabled; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people within his Department. [101668]

  Mr. Morley
  6.8 per cent. of staff in core MAFF have declared that they consider they have a disability which falls within the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The percentage is 6.0 per cent. when Agency staff are included.

  We encourage the employment of people with disabilities by including equal opportunities statements in all job advertisements and providing reasonable adjustments at interview and during employment. For most clerical posts and equivalents we offer selection tests for people with disabilities who do not have the required academic qualifications. We employ people under the Employment Service's Supported Employment Scheme and provide mechanisms for helping staff with disabilities to adjust to any changes in their situation. We also have an ongoing programme of building works to improve access for people with disabilities.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Financial Instruments Fisheries Guidance grants received by(a) the Scottish fishing fleet
  232W
  and (b) the England fishing fleet will be mainly funded by the United Kingdom under the Fontainebleau arrangement. [102177]

  Mr. Morley
  Final decisions have not yet been taken on what Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) grants will be available to either the Scottish or English fishing fleet for the period 2000–06, but any introduced would be mainly funded by the United Kingdom taxpayer. Under the Fontainebleau arrangement it effectively costs the UK taxpayer around 71p for every £1 of EU money spent int he UK.

  FIFG grants are also dependent on a minimum level of additional national grant which would be wholly funded by the United Kingdom taxpayer. The proportion of the total grant of this national element would vary depending on the type of work aided and whether or not it is in an Objective 1 area.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department has spent on fisheries in each of the past five years; and what is his estimate of spending on fisheries in each of the next three years. [102397]

  Mr. Morley
  Grant in aid paid by the Department of the Environment to the National Rivers Authority, the Environment Agency's predecessor, for salmon and freshwater fisheries work was as follows:

  £ million

  1994–95

  111.1

  1995–96

  19.7

  1 England and Wales

  Details of grant in aid paid by MAFF to the Environment Agency are as follows:

  £million

  1996–97

  17.5

  1997–98

  17.4

  1998–99

  222.1

  1999–2000

  34.8

  2000–01

  34.8

  2001–02

  33.3

  1England and Wales.

  2In 1998–99 there was a temporary change in the rules whereby all revenue from licence fees was returned to Treasury but with an equivalent increase in grant in aid. The underlying figure for MAFF grant in aid is £7.9 million, which included a one-off additional payment of £0.5 million to assist the enforcement of the salmon conservation byelaws.

  3 England only.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the impact on the Environment Agency of cuts in the fisheries budget. [102398]

  Mr. Morley
  I have not discussed this matter with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions but I have done so with the Chairman of the Environment Agency.
  233W
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of reduction in grant-in-aid on the Environment Agency's capacity to carry out its functions with regard to fishing in the North West Region. [102395]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 27 October 1999,Official Report, column 922W.

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for(a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102338]

  Mr. Morley
  This information is not held centrally and with around 200 properties on the MAFF estate, gathering the information would involve disproportionate cost.

  We have the following figures for 19 of our major sites (including London HQ offices, HQ offices in York and Guildford and our Regional Service Centres):

  Rooms set aside for:

  Number

  (a) Ethnic minority religious use

  0

  (b) Pregnant and nursing mothers

  6

  (c) Smoking

  28

  Some of our larger sites have more than one building, which accounts for there being more smoking rooms than sites.

  Most of the Department's sites have first-aid rooms and/or meeting rooms. These areas are flexible and are made available to meet any reasonable requests from staff, including religious use and needs of pregnant and nursing mothers.

  Early Retirement (Farmers)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his reasons for deciding not to pursue an early retirement scheme for farmers; and if he will estimate the projected cost of such a scheme. [102799]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 December 1999]: In reaching a decision not to run an early retirement scheme, account has been taken of the results of consultation, an economic appraisal, and the scope for restructuring provided by other instruments under the Rural Development Regulation and elsewhere. The consultation showed that views were mixed on the benefits of a scheme. While it could contribute to restructuring, the cost would outweigh that benefit. A scheme would also be very complex and costly to administer and would be very difficult to target only to those most in need.

  The cost of a scheme would depend entirely on the rates paid—which are laid down in the Rural Development Regulation—and on the targets set.

  Religious Slaughter
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the extent to which meat from religious slaughter is sold to the general public without being labelled as such. [102259]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 December 1999]: Figures on meat production do not separately distinguish meat produced from the religious slaughter of animals.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to make it his policy to ensure that all meat from religiously slaughtered animals is labelled as such; and if he will make a statement. [102256]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 December 1999]: We have no plans to do so.

  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary: Appointment of Women
  Lords of Appeal in Ordinary: Appointment of Women
  Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct
  Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct
  Lord Chancellor's Department and National Assembly for Wales Concordat
  Lord Chancellor's Department and National Assembly for Wales Concordat
  Angola
  Angola
  Burma
  Burma
  James Mawdsley
  James Mawdsley
  Republic of Congo: Humanitarian Predicament
  Republic of Congo: Humanitarian Predicament
  Criminal Justice Act: Summary and Triable Either Way Offences
  Criminal Justice Act: Summary and Triable Either Way Offences
  European Union: Action Against Discrimination
  European Union: Action Against Discrimination
  Kosovo: Use of Depleted Uranium-based Munitions
  Kosovo: Use of Depleted Uranium-based Munitions
  START II: US and Russia
  START II: US and Russia
  Defence White Paper
  Defence White Paper
  Snowdon Award Scheme: Disabled Students' Allowances
  Snowdon Award Scheme: Disabled Students' Allowances
  Vehicle Records
  Vehicle Records
  Mersley Farm, Isle of Wight
  Mersley Farm, Isle of Wight
  Shahtoosh Trade
  Shahtoosh Trade
  Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas