Written Answers of 10 February 1999

DEFENCE

  Task Forces
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the (i) task forces, (ii) review panels and (iii) advisory groups his Department has, (b) the remit of each and (c) the members of each together with their principal employment and their level of remuneration. [62809]

  Mr. Spellar
  As far as bodies composed of independent members are concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 30 July 1998,Official Report, column 451.

  While this Department has not set up any Task Forces since 1 May 1997, information on review panels and advisory groups on which external members serve and which are set up from time to time across the Department is not held centrally. Collecting this information is taking longer than expected. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the retention of the 101 Battalion REME in Chorley since 16 December. [68157]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 28 January 1999]Since 16 December 1998, my Department has received 22 Parliamentary Questions on this matter, all from my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley, five letters from Parish Councils and three letters from members of the public.

  Trident
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is(a) underway and (b) planned to provide a low-yield Trident warhead able to fulfil Trident's sub-strategic role. [68836]

  Mr. Dog Henderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) on 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 724.

  Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the investigations which(a) have been commissioned and (b) have been circulated or recommended by medical officers in the past 20 years
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  concerning the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among serving or former serving members of HM Armed Forces. [67428]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 2 February 1999]: My Department does not maintain central records of investigations commissioned, circulated or recommended by medical officers on the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among serving or former members of the Armed Forces. However, I am not aware that my Department has commissioned, or has been recommended by medical officers to commission, investigations specifically into the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among serving or former members of the Armed Forces over the past 20 years.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations have been received in the past 20 years from(a) former soldiers, (b) general practitioners or family doctors, (c) prison doctors or chaplains, (d) officers of the court and (e) others, concerning the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder. [67429]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 2 February 1999]: The information requested is not available as no central records are maintained by my Department of representations received concerning post-traumatic stress disorder.

  RN Base Clyde
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1999,Official Report, columns 460–61, on RN Base Faslane, in which year the current civilian system of monitoring started at RN Naval Base Clyde; and what proportion of Navy supervisors were qualified to City and Guilds standards prior to that date. [69087]

  Mr. Spellar
  The use of civilian Health Physics Monitoring Supervisors was introduced at the Clyde Naval Base around November 1989.

  Prior to this date, there were two categories of supervisors in the area of Health Physics, both were Royal Naval personnel. Monitoring Supervisors were in charge of the administration of the Monitors, while Radiological Protection Supervisors maintained an oversight of the Monitoring aspects. The latter were qualified to City and Guilds Stage 2 in Radiation Safety Practice.

  Procurement Contracts
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses in establishing the preferment to be given to(a) UK only and (b) UK/European bids for procurement contracts when the competition is with non-EU contractors. [69469]

  Mr. Spellar
  The MOD has a policy of open international competition whenever this is possible. A wide range of factors are considered by the MOD when making procurement decisions, including: long term value-for-money, security of supply, UK technological capabilities and the benefits to MOD of potential exports.
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  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses to assess the export potential for UK-designed and produced equipment when considering bids made by competitors for defence procurement contracts. [69468]

  Mr. Spellar
  MOD assessments of the export potential of British defence equipment are based on a judgment of the potential requirements in the market place, the level of competition the UK company is likely to face, and the company's own assessment of its export potential, tempered by our knowledge of their previous record of export success.

  Skill Shortages
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what skill shortages he has identified within the UK defence industry; and what steps he has taken to address them. [69409]

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

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to each of the Government's public consultations. [69774]

  Mr. Spellar
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to public consultation conducted only by the Ministry of Defence. No single collation and assessment of all public consultation conducted by the Ministry of Defence exists. Our largest public consultation exercise to date was that conducted to inform the Strategic Defence Review. Where consent was given by the authors, copies of submissions made to the Ministry of Defence in the course of that exercise have been placed in the Library of the House. The assessment of those submissions formed part of the Strategic Defence Review, the recommendations of which were reported to Parliament on 8 July 1998,Official Report, columns 1073–96.

  War Memorial (Service Women)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to fund a war memorial to service women. [70174]

  Mr. Spellar
  It has been a long-standing policy of successive Governments that the cost of memorials is usually met not from public funds, but from private donations or public subscription. However, the Government have nothing but the utmost respect and gratitude for those women who served and died in the service of their country.

  We are aware of a campaign to erect a memorial to Service women. Although the Government are unable to assist financially with this project, I have announced in the House on several occasions since 20 May 1997, that if the necessary funds were raised from public subscription or private donation, my Department would be more than happy to provide representation at any dedication ceremony.
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  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69963]

  (2) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69837]

  (3) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner; [69904]

  (4) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69951]

  (5) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69986]

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

  General Pinochet
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Defence Export Services Organisation was made aware on 6 October 1998 of the presence in the United Kingdom of General Pinochet; to which other sections in his Department and beyond this information was relayed; and if he will make a statement. [70242]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The Defence Export Services Organisation became aware of Senator Pinochet's visit in the context of other business; DESO was not involved in arrangements for the visit and there is no record of the information being relayed further. In addition, as my noble Friend Lord Hoyle explained on 11 January 1999, Official Report, House of Lords, column 5, other officials within the central staffs of the MOD had been informed of the Senator's impending visit on 16 September 1998 by officials at the FCO. However, this information was not passed to any other section, and no further action was taken.

  Northern Division HQ
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his decision to close 2 Division HQ in York and create a new northern division HQ in Edinburgh was based on an investment appraisal of(a) complete divisional/district restructuring, (b) that element which involved a choice of locations or (c) other factors. [70126]
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  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The decision took into account an investment appraisal of options for the location of the headquarters of the proposed northern division.

HEALTH

  New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if SEAC has been asked for its opinion as to the potential efficacy of pentosan polysulphate in treating nvCJD; and if he will make a statement; [61679]

  (2) what is the cost of an oral course of pentosan polysulphate as prophylaxis against nvCJD. [61680]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 2 December 1998]: It is not yet known whether an oral course of pentosan polysulphate would be effective as a prophylaxis against nvCJD, or what dose or duration of treatment would be required, or what adverse side effects there might be from its use for this purpose. Therefore it is not possible to calculate the cost of an oral course as an effective prophylaxis against nvCJD.

  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) met on 11 January and considered the potential use of pentosan polysulphate as a prophylactic. The Committee is in the process of preparing its advice to Ministers. The Committee on the Safety of Medicines is also considering this use of pentosan. The Government are awaiting the advice from these committees.

  Blood and Blood Products
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of persons who have been inoculated with blood or blood products over the past three years in the United Kingdom. [61681]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 2 December 1998]: It is estimated that about one million people in the United Kingdom receive blood and blood products every year.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who suffer from epilepsy in the UK. [70214]

  Mr. Hutton
  Epilepsy is the commonest chronic neurological disorder and it is estimated to affect between 400,000 and 420,000 people in the United Kingdom.

  Nurses (Pay)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the average pay levels in London for nurses in each grade. [70041]

  Mr. Denham
  Estimated total annual average earnings for nursing staff in London by grade, taken from the Department's August 1997 earnings survey, are shown in the table.
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  National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services nursing and midwifery staff: Estimated total annual average earnings by grade

  London as at December 1998

  £

  Clinical grade

  Annual total earnings 1

  A

  12,900

  B

  14,800

  C

  16,100

  D

  17,800

  E

  20,700

  F

  23,400

  G

  26,000

  H

  27,500

  I

  29,800

  1 Annual total earnings is an estimate averaged across all incremental points. It includes basic pay, elements from flat rate allowances such as London allowance, on call and stand by and elements from allowances that are salary related such as London allowance and special duty.

  Note:

  Data are rounded to the nearest £100.

  Source:

  Department of Health Earnings Survey August 1997

  Medicines (Children)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to make EU guidance on medicines for children legally binding on pharmaceutical companies; [69684]

  (2) what steps he is taking to assess the cost to the NHS of making guidance on medicines for children legally binding on pharmaceutical companies; [69685]

  (3) what steps are being taken by EU member states to monitor the way pharmaceutical companies comply with EU guidance on the licensing of medicines for children; which companies have complied with this guidance; which products are being developed in accordance with this guidance; and when the application of the guidance will be extended to products already on the market, in other EU member states. [69683]

  Ms Jowell
  The European Union guidance came into operation in September 1997. As the development times for medicinal products are relatively long, there will be a delay before trials in children are submitted with all relevant applications for authorisation of medicinal products.

  Where a medicinal product has an anticipated therapeutic benefit in children, the applicant is asked to provide details of a paediatric development plan if this is not already included in the dossier supporting the application for marketing authorisation. Information relevant to paediatric use, based on the availability or not of paediatric data, is included in the product particulars. The EU guidance on the investigation of medicinal products in children applies to products already on the market as well as to new products. Information on those companies which have so far complied with this guidance in other member states is not available, neither is information on those products which are being developed in accordance with this guidance in other member states.
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  European guidance is not legally binding on pharmaceutical companies and no steps have been taken to assess the costs to the National Health Service of making guidance on medicines for children legally binding on pharmaceutical companies. If the guidance does not have the effect of increasing the availability of appropriate medicinal products to children, there is scope for the United Kingdom and other Member States to raise with the European Commission the question of whether legislative steps should be taken to strengthen the regulatory framework.

  ME
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work programme of the working group on myalgic encephalomyelitis, and its timescale. [70255]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Lepper) on 4 February 1999,Official Report, columns 524–25.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in promoting awareness and understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME among(a) health professionals and (b) the general public; and if he will make a statement. [70160]

  Ms Jowell
  The recent publicity surrounding the announcement of the establishment of the working group on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and the involvement of many health professionals, academics, patients and carers in its work has already raised awareness of CFS/ME. The best practice guidance that the Group has been tasked with producing will also raise understanding and awareness. In the mean time, we will continue to work with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Alliance to promote awareness and understanding of this distressing and debilitating condition.

  Under-age Alcoholics
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions are made for the treatment of under-age alcoholics; and if he will make a statement. [68648]

  Ms Jowell
  Health and local authorities are responsible for assessing the level of need for all alcohol services locally, and making arrangements to meet that need in accordance with local priorities and the resources available.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of practising physicians are general practitioners. [70080]

  Mr. Denham
  There were 27,100 general practitioners (unrestricted principals) as at 1 October 1997. This figure was 31 per cent. of the total number of doctors employed in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors' and (b) general practitioners' posts are unfilled in (i) England and (ii) Norfolk. [70081]
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  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age of retirement for general practitioners was in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 1998; and if he will make a statement. [70083]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the average number of working days lost per(a) doctor and (b) general practitioner for psycholkgical reasons in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 1998; and if he will make a statement, [70084]

  (2) what was the average number of working days lost per (a) doctor and (b) general practitioner for medical reasons in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 1998; and if he will make a statement. [70085]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not collected centralhy. A survey carried out in National Health Service trusts in August 1998 identified the sickness trusts in August 1998 identified the sickness absence rates for medical and dental staff at 1.6 per cent. The survey did not distinguish between medical and psychological illness.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Portcullis House
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on monitoring the progress of the Portcullis House project. [70000]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Commission has authorised a mid-term review of progress on Portcullis House.

  The objective of the review, which is part of a continuing programme of supervision of the project, will be to satisfy the Commission that the new parliamentary building can be delivered, to the desired quality, on budget and within the agreed timetable.

  The hon. Lady will be aware that in approving the principle of the new building, the House itself was well aware of the important heritage implications of what will be a major parliamentary development on an internationally important site. While the Commission recognises that Portcullis House needs to be a building of the first architectural quality, it has also been concerned throughout with the need to keep costs in control.

  The review, to be conducted by Northcroft, will analyse cost movements to date and include an independent risk appraisal of outturn costs. It will also provide an opportunity to examine organisational structure and procedures used during the project.

  House of Commons Switchboard
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee for what reason the House of
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  Commons switchboard does not have available the fax numbers of Committees and Departments of the House. [69467]

  Mr. Allan
  Action has recently been taken to ensure that the information available to the House of Commons switchboard is consistent with the contents of the internal Parliamentary Phone Directory. However, entries in that directory are determined by the wishes of Members, Departments and Committees and therefore are not necessarily comprehensive.

  It has also been a long-standing policy that the switchboard will reveal telephone numbers to external callers only if expressly permitted to do so by the owner. This complements the restricted circulation of the Parliamentary Phone Directory.

  If Departments and Committees wish their fax numbers to be listed and to be made available to external callers, there is no obstacle to doing so.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Tourism Offices
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to assist local authorities with tourism offices. [68470]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 1 February 1999]: My Department is encouraging local authorities, as major deliverers of cultural services, to produce cultural strategies. These strategies will cover the broad range of cultural services offered by local authorities which relate to DCMS interest (including tourism) and aim to develop their economic and social impact through greater integration.

  Association of British Travel Agents
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of(a) travel agents and (b) tour operators were members of the Association of British Travel Agents in (i) 1992, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1998. [69375]

  Janet Anderson
  The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) suggests that in 1998 around 95 per cent. of high street travel agents and 65 per cent. of tour operators were ABTA members. Information is not available for 1992 and 1995.

  Campus Radio Stations
  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the Radio Authority to produce guidelines for issuing licences to campus radio stations. [69728]

  Janet Anderson
  The Radio Authority published its notes of guidance for low-powered AM licences, intended for use by establishments such as universities and hospitals, on 11 January 1999. Copies of the guidelines have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the German Government on negotiation of contracts for processing nuclear waste in the United Kingdom. [69158]

  Mr. Battle
  My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the German Government on negotiation of contracts for processing nuclear waste in the United Kingdom. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 21 January 1999,Official Report, column 547.

  Uranium
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the production of highly enriched uranium for civil purposes is adequate to meet current demand. [69533]

  Mr. Battle
  This is a commercial and operational matter for suppliers of enrichment services and their customers, subject to satisfying the necessary international and regulatory requirements.

  Employment Relations Bill
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has made of the annual increase in awards for unfair dismissal under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill. [69593]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: While some of the proposals contained in the Employment Relations Bill are expected to increase the number of applications to Employment Tribunals, others could reduce the number of disputes that result in an application to a Tribunal. We expect the net effect on the total number of applications to be very small. We have not made an estimate specifically of the number of unfair dismissal cases, or of how many of these may be successful at a Tribunal hearing.

  British Coal (Canteen Workers)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total cost to public funds of the British Coal canteen workers equal pay claim; and when he expects the case to be resolved. [69896]

  Mr. Battle
  This remains a matter for British Coal. I understand they have settled around 70 claims from UDM and a few NUM canteen workers at an average settlement cost of around £1,300 per claim. In the meantime, the Employment Tribunal has ordered that sample cases be referred to an independent expert, who has been asked to submit his report by March 1999. Subsequent progress will depend largely on the content of this report.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b)the

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  agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69943]

  (2) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69973]

  (3) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69829]

  (4) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69980]

  (5) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69911]

  Mr. Byers
  The executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by the Department are actively seeking ways of operating in a more open way consistent with the recommendations of "Quangos—Opening the doors". A number of executive NDPBs already issue summary reports of meetings where practicable and these are in the public domain; these include the National Consumer Council; the Gas Consumer Council; the Post Office Users Councils; the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Research Councils. All executive NDPBs with board members have a register of their members' interests and these are available to the public, for example the Coal Authority publishes its register in its Annual Report and Accounts and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission place its register on its website. There is no statutory requirement in legislation for this sort of activity; however it represents good practice and is entirely consistent with "Quangos—Opening the doors".

  In the case of advisory NDPBs, the Council for Science and Technology produces summaries of meetings and issues press notices on its website, which also contains information on meetings, events, and work in progress; it is also due to publish a register of members interest shortly. The Human Genetics Advisory Commission issues summary reports of meetings which are published on its website. It has a register of members' interests as do others, for example the LINK/Teaching Company Scheme Board, the Measurement Advisory Committee, the Spectrum Management Advisory Group, the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the seven Regional Industrial Development Boards. Other advisory NDPBs are taking steps to have registers of interest in place shortly, in line with the recommendations in "Quangos—Opening the doors". As in the case of executive NDPBs, there are no statutory requirements for this.
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  The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has held open meetings at its Dounreay and Windscale sites and also has local liaison committees which have a formal membership drawn from the local community. The Coal Authority's annual meetings are open to the public. The Research Councils regularly hold open days, seminars, exhibitions and public consultations. Other NDPBs, including the National Consumer Council, Gas Consumer Council, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Post Office Users National Council and the three Post Office councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are considering whether they might hold open meetings.

  The National Consumer Council and the Gas Consumers Council both have a complaints procedure as part of their draft code. The Post Office Users National Council and the three national councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in the process of establishing their own complaints procedures. There are no statutory requirements in this area.

  The Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property holds public meetings; the Human Genetics Advisory Commission has held its first open meeting and is planning a programme of consultative meetings for this year; the Council for Science and Technology has provision for holding open public meetings within its code of practice and also for the co-opting of third parties onto the sub-group of Council members for particular topics. Several other advisory NDPBs including the Energy Advisory Panel and Measurement Advisory Committee are considering whether it would be appropriate for them to hold public meetings. There is no statutory requirement for them to do this.

  All appointments to the Department's executive and advisory NDPBs are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments code of practice. The code requires that appointments are made on merit judged against criteria relevant to the responsibilities and duties of each appointment. Each of the Department's Consumer bodies requires experience of knowledge of consumer issues.

  Many of the executive NDPBs have a statutory base: exceptions include the Simpler Trade Procedures Board and the National Consumer Council. The following executive NDPBs are currently under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman: the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; the Research Councils, the Coal Authority, the Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action, and the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members. The British Hallmarking Council; Gas Consumers Council; Post Office Users Council; National Consumer Council; Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and the UKAEA are due to be brought within the Parliamentary Ombudsman's jurisdiction shortly by means of an Order in Council which goes before the Privy Council this month.

  Vibration White Finger
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total number of claims settled for the industrial disease, vibration white finger, before the new scheme was agreed, indicating the(a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average award. [69841]
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  Mr. Battle
  As at 4 February the Department has settled 3,572 claims for vibration white finger. Of these 1,968 have been settled by payment, and the remaining 1,604 have been ruled out. The individual settlement payments have ranged from £3,000 to £200, with an average of £1,900. The total cost of settlements to date is £3,646,349. In addition to this the Department has paid £1,033,979 in costs to plaintiffs' solicitors.

  Since November last year Plaintiffs' solicitors have been advised that higher settlement levels were likely to be agreed with the Plaintiffs' Solicitors Group, who represent 60 per cent. of the plaintiffs, and they were asked to advise their clients accordingly.

  Following the agreement reached with the plaintiffs' solicitors on 22 January the average award is likely to be in the region of £6,000 for General Damages (within a range of £500 to £18,000). Additional compensation for special damages will be decided on a case by case basis.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to all the Government's public consultations. [69769]

  Mr. Byers
  I will arrange for a summary of responses to all public consultation exercises carried out by the Department since 1 May 1997 to be placed in the Library of the House.

  EC Copyright Directive
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the(a) European Commission and (b) European Parliament concerning the proposed EC copyright directive. [70113]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The United Kingdom has made clear to all concerned our support for the main aims of the draft copyright Directive. However, we have expressed strong reservations on the over-prescriptive approach on exceptions to rights, many of which exceptions have little or no effect on the internal market. In particular, we remain firmly opposed to a general requirement to impose levies in return for all private copying exceptions, no matter how minor. The Government wish to maintain a fair and reasonable balance between the interests of rights holders and those of users of rights and intermediaries, including network operators and service providers. We have also called for clarification of the provision on technological protection measures, while supporting its general aim, and have welcomed the fact that liability of intermediaries is being considered as a horizontal issue in the draft electronic commerce Directive.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that the traditional interests of copyright holders are protected in the context of the electronic media under the proposed EC copyright directive. [70114]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that copyright protection across the EU is at least as good as that already in UK law; strong intellectual property rights are fundamental to an innovative economy. Digital
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  technology allows data to be more easily disseminated and used or copied, and effective copyright protection for the electronic age is essential. Without the confidence that rights are properly protected worldwide, there would be no incentive for suppliers of information to make works available on-line and therefore no global information society. The Government believe the copyright Directive should prove to be of considerable benefit to UK rights holders in the context of Europe as whole, and we have broadly welcomed it. However, we will also continue to press for more flexibility for member states in the exceptions provisions of the Directive. Rights holders, users of rights and intermediaries are all key players in ensuring the success of the new services of the information age.

  Chargeable Export Services
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what systems are in place for measuring the effectiveness and impact of the major Government chargeable export services. [70941]

  Mr. Wilson
  We have received results of independent surveys conducted among a sample of over 1000 businesses who used Overseas Trade Services in 1997. I am delighted that the results show an average overall satisfaction rate of 88 per cent. compared to an average of 83 per cent. in 1995 and 1996. Furthermore, the positive trend was the same for virtually every individual scheme.

  Last year we reviewed the way in which DTI and FCO monitors and evaluates customer satisfaction and perceptions of the major export promotion services we deliver. As a result, the Quality Management System (QMS) was significantly revised so as to enable us to obtain more detailed information about customer satisfaction levels on a world-wide basis.

  The Quality Management System will be further enhanced in 1999 to take into account comments of the business representatives of the British Overseas Trade Board's Regional Committee, and the tendering process for a new contractor to start work in April is currently underway. The contractor will carry out work to capture data relevant to the new joint FCO/DTI export promotion objectives.

CABINET OFFICE

  Drugs
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to support the parents of young people who abuse drugs. [68653]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government's anti-drugs strategy includes the provision of information, advice and support to parents. Support is provided day to day through the National Drugs Helpline. Locally, Drug Action Teams were asked to consult and to consider the needs of parents and carers when drawing up plans for local action.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how he intends to improve co-ordination of anti-drug measures at local level. [68655]
  229
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Drug Action Teams should take a strategic overview of anti-drugs action including resource allocation and link up with other local and regional partnerships. They have now submitted their provisional local action plans for 1999–2000. These are being assessed.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the incidence of drug misuse among people under the age of 25 years. [68656]

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the incidence of drug misuse among people under the age of 25 years. [68669]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Drugs misuse is most common among people in their teens and early twenties. About half of young people are likely to take drugs at some time in their lives, but only about one-fifth will become regular misusers, with a smaller minority developing the most serious problems.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what initiatives have been taken by the United Kingdom's anti-drugs co-ordinator to combat new trends in drugs misuse. [68670]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Government's anti-drug strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", provides a framework for co-ordinated action against the range of drugs problems over ten years. Action is overseen and monitored by Keith Hellawell, to whom the local Drug Action Teams across the country have recently reported with their action plans for 1999/2000. His first annual report and national plan will be produced in the spring.

  Liberal Democrats (Discussions)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many policy areas he has identified to date as suitable for detailed discussions with Liberal Democrat hon. Members using the Joint Consultative Cabinet Committee mechanisms. [68654]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The review of the work of the Joint Consultative Committee, which I am undertaking with the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) is not yet complete.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the cost of ministerial travel for each Minister in his Department since 1 May 1997. [68657]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Ministerial Code requires Ministers always to make effective and cost-efficient travel arrangements. Figures on the spend by this Government on Ministers' visits overseas were published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on guidelines within his Department for ministerial travel. [68663]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Ministerial Code requires Ministers always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
  230
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to review ministerial travel regulations. [68668]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  None. Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on ministerial travel are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration.

  Charter Marks
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the charter mark awards scheme. [68658]

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the 1998 charter mark awards. [68659]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  This has been another very successful year for the charter mark awards scheme with 508 awards being made—the highest number ever. There were a record number of applications from virtually all types of public service in the UK, and there were 128 second time winners and 18 third time winners. It was particularly pleasing to note that there were 74 winners of the award who had been unsuccessful in the previous year.

  Charter mark is making a real contribution to improving public services and we will continue to develop the scheme to make it even more effective.

  Better Government (Older People)
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the better government for older people programme. [68660]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The Better Government for Older People initiative, an important part of our commitment to modernising government, has valuable lessons to teach about developing improved services that are more responsive to the needs of their users. Next month we are putting in place a Learning Network so that many more local authorities across the UK can share in this learning and experience. Well over two hundred authorities have already expressed an interest in joining the Network.

  Ms Moran
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures he intends to take to encourage local authorities to become involved in the better government initiative. [68665]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Local Government is a key partner in the drive to improve public service effectiveness and responsiveness and is involved at all levels in the production of the Modernising Government White Paper. For example, Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman of the Local Government Association attends meetings of the Ministerial Group on Better Government. I welcome a wide debate on these matters and I recently launched the Modernising Government discussion forum on the Downing Street website, to encourage people to participate in the consultation process.
  231

  Government (Modernisation)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on his Department's agenda for(a) modernising Government and (b) improving the efficiency of public services. [68661]

  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the progress of the modernising government strategy. [68666]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  As my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office explained to the House on 21 October last year, the Government will publish a White Paper in the Spring, setting out their programme for modernising government and joining-up public services to respond better to the people that need them. Discussion on the 10 Downing Street website describes the work in hand and invites people to join in.

  Quangos
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will announce further measures to abolish quangos; and if he will make a statement. [68664]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government remain committed to keeping the number of NDPBs to an absolute minimum. Many NDPBs have already been abolished and many more have been targeted for abolition in the near future. All NDPBs which remain are subject to a rolling programme of quinquennial reviews to ensure that the downward pressure on numbers continues.

  Public Services
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on his Department's agenda for improving the efficiency of public services. [68667]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The White Paper on Modernising Government will describe the Government's agenda for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public services, and is to be published in the spring. It will build on our current initiatives which focus on promoting partnerships between the public and private sector, investing in new collaborative initiatives, benchmarking, setting and measuring performance standards, and special organisation reviews.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his answer of 19 January 1999,Official Report, column 405, on civil servants' hearing impairments, if he will list the other circumstances which resulted in large numbers of civil servants not qualifying for a pension. [70245]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The circumstances under which civil servants leave without qualifying for a civil service pension are as follows:

  Prior to 1972

  all those who left unestablished service

  all those who left established service under age 50 or over age 50 with less than 10 years' service

  those women who resigned on marriage and received a gratuity

  232

  Since 1 June 1972

  those who left before 6 April 1988 with less than 5 years' service or since that date with less than 2 years' service

  those who are excluded from the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme by virtue of Rule 1.4 (mainly casual staff, and certain part-time staff before 1995) or who have chosen to opt-out of the pension scheme.

  Civil Service (Fast Stream)
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about future arrangements for recruitment to the Civil Service fast stream development programme. [70942]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  Management of the Fast Stream recruitment process was contracted out to the Capita Group plc as part of the decision to privatise the former Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency in October 1996.

  A review of the operation of the recruitment process took place during 1998. As a result I have decided in principle that, on the expiry of the current contracts, the selection stages of the process will return to direct Civil Service management. I expect specialist services including advertising, publicity, response handling and psychology support to continue to be supplied by the private sector following competitive tender.

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration will be extended to cover all executive non-departmental public bodies and those advisory non-departmental public bodies which have significant dealings with members of the public. [70943]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Her Majesty in Council has today approved an Order extending the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to an additional one hundred and eleven executive non-departmental public bodies and to forty-seven advisory non-departmental public bodies which have direct dealings with members of the public. This fulfils the commitment that the Government gave in "Quangos: Opening the Doors"—published on 29 June 1988—and will substantially increase the avenues of redress available to members of the public who wish to complain about their treatment by a non-departmental public body. It is another example of this Government's determination to ensure that all non-departmental public bodies are properly and fully accountable to both Parliament and the public for their actions.

  The Order will be laid before Parliament on Monday 22 February. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Order will come into force on Monday 15 March.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69967]
  233
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a)none of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings.

  (b) public meetings are held by:

  The Better Regulation Task Force

  The Civil Service Appeal Board

  The Committee on Standards in Public Life

  The Women's National Commission

  (c) the following bodies have lay or consumer representatives:

  The Better Regulation Task Force

  The Civil Service Appeal Board

  The Women's National Commission.

  In addition, the Advisory Committee on Advertising is comprised of senior advertising and media professionals who are independent of government and advertising agency suppliers; members are appointed to the Committee on Standards in Public Life to bring a mix of experience and expertise from different areas of public life; and membership of the Security Commission and the Security Vetting Appeals Panel is drawn from a range of people from different professions and backgrounds.

  There is no statutory requirement for the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to admit the public to meetings or to hold public meetings. However, all advisory non-departmental public bodes are encouraged to do so where practicable and appropriate. Nor is there any statutory requirement for advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to have lay or consumer representatives. However, all members of advisory non-departmental public bodies are appointed on merit and membership will, where appropriate, include individuals from a balance of backgrounds.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69839]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  There is no statutory requirement for the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to publish the minutes of meetings, the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings, or a register of members' interests. However, all advisory non-departmental public bodies are encouraged to do so where practicable and appropriate. Currently, minutes of meetings, agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings are published by the Women's National Commission. A record of the hearing of Security Vetting Appeals Panel is given to the appellant and the relevant organisation. Reports of Civil Service Appeal Board hearings go only to the relevant interested parties.

  Registers of Interests are either in place, or are in the process of being prepared, in all advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department. These Registers are either published or are made available for public inspection on request.
  234

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received regarding the work undertaken by special advisers; and if he will make a statement. [68671]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  I receive occasional representations on the role of Special Advisers. The most recent representations from hon. Members were put to me in a debate on 13 January 1999,Official Report, columns 311–68, on Government Information.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Road User Charging
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the first road user charging schemes to be introduced. [69390]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Implementation will be subject to the necessary legislation, which we will introduce when Parliamentary time permits. The preparatory work is underway and we have offered help to local authorities outside London who wish to make early progress. Implementation in London will depend on decisions by the Major following the GLA election in May 2000.

  A3 (Hindhead)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to visit Hindhead to examine the transport problems on the A3. [69731]

  Dr. Reid
  I have no plans currently to visit Hindhead to examine the transport problems on the A3. We already recognise that there is a serious congestion problem and in December last year announced our intention that an A3 study would form part of a group of road-based studies.

  Revenue Support Grant
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the(a) RSG and (b) RSG per head in (i) Waverley and (ii) Sedgefield for (1) 1999–2000, (2) 1994–95 and (3) 1989–90. [69730]

  Mr. Prescott
  The information requested is as follows:

  £ million

  £ per head

  Waverley

  Sedgefield

  Waverley

  Sedgefield

  Revenue Support Grant

  1999–2000

  0.864

  3.570

  8

  40

  1994–95

  2.114

  3.571

  18

  39

  Block Grant1

  1989–90

  0

  3.009

  0

  34

  1 Calculated under the Rate Support Grant Report 1989–90

  235

  Repossessions
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement concerning the case of Ropaighealach v Barclays Bank (The Times, 6 January) and the right of a mortgagor to enter a property and dispossess its owner without a court order. [69693]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In the case of Ropaigealach v Barclays Bank plc (Times Law Report, January 6 1999) the Court of Appeal held that a mortgage lender was entitled to exercise its common law right to take possession of a mortgaged dwelling house without first obtaining a court order. The protection provided to the borrower by section 36 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 applied only where the lender had brought an action for possession.

  There are restrictions on the exercise of a mortgage East lender's common law right to take possession of a mortgaged dwelling. The right must be exercised peaceably. Use of violence would be an offence under the Criminal Law Act 1977, and the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 provides protection for tenants occupying the property.

  Portsmouth Rail-head
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions he has had with(a) Portsmouth City Council and (b) Portsmouth Ferry Port concerning the development of a freight rail-head in Portsmouth; [69673]

  (2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the development of a freight rail-head in Portsmouth since 1990. [69848]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I understand that a feasibility study for a sea-rail link at Portsmouth is benefiting from a grant of 18,000 ecu from the European Commission under the Trans-European Network ("TENS") scheme. I met a delegation representing Portsmouth Commercial Port and Portsmouth City Council on 11 January to East Hampshire discuss general investment in the Port. However, the issue of rail links was not raised.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the(a) individuals and (b) organisations that have made representations requesting that council tax Band G be split into two new bands with consequential increases in the proportion of tax due for both the new band and the current Band H in order to reflect better the differential in value between lower bands; and if he will make a statement. [69998]

  Ms Armstrong
  As part of our review of Local Government Finance last year, we invited views on the Telford and the Wrekin operation of the council tax.

  Two councillors and the following organisations made representations requesting that Band G be split:

  Local Authorities (121 Authorities)

  Rother

  Harrow

  Reigate and Banstead

  236

  Sutton

  Durham City

  Forest of Dean

  Mid Suffolk

  Wychavon

  Fenland

  Teesdale

  West Oxfordhire

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Hastings

  South Syropshire

  Wealden

  Harrogate

  Devon

  East Northamptonshire

  Staffordhsire

  Lewes

  Alnwick

  New Forest

  Bassetlaw

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  Macclesfield

  Dacorum

  Dudley

  Castle Point

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Shepway

  North Norfolk

  Canterbury

  Eastleigh

  Walsall

  Oadby and Wigston

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Wigan

  Leicestershire

  East Hampshire

  Broxtowe

  Crawley

  Peterborough

  Craven

  East Staffordhire

  Warrington

  Warwickshire

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Cumbria

  Barnet

  West Dorset

  Telford and the Wrekin

  Southend-on-Sea

  Bolton

  Knowsley

  Fareham

  Gloucestershire

  Swindon

  Suffolk

  237

  Ribble Valley

  Bradoford

  Staffordshire

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk

  Amber Valley

  Wakefield

  Portsmouth

  Derby

  Newcastle upon Type

  Guildford

  Coventry

  Camden

  Calderdale

  Doncaster

  Birmingham

  Greewich

  Forest Heath

  Manchester

  Barnsley

  Bolsover

  Epping Forest

  Aylesbury Vale

  Luton

  Rochdale

  Torbay

  Northampton

  Wear Valley

  Bristol

  Barnsley Central

  Wyre Forest

  Exeter

  Tyne and Wear

  South Oxfordshire

  Ipswich

  Milton Keynes

  Leicester

  Durham County

  West Berkshire

  Dorset

  Gatehsead

  Braintree

  South Lakeland

  North Tyneside

  Allerdale

  Buckinghamshire

  Worcester

  Watford

  Lancashire

  Bury

  Elmbridge

  Liverepool

  Southwark

  Merton

  Sheffield

  Solihull

  St. Helens

  Boston

  238

  Welwyn Hatfield

  Maidstone

  Rutland

  Local Authority Representative Organisations

  Society of Municipal Treasures

  Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities outside London

  Local Government Association

  South Yorkshire Districts

  Police Authorities

  Warwickshire Police Authority

  Lancashire Police Authority

  Parish Councils

  Broomley and Stocksfield Parish Council

  Voluntary Sector Organisations

  Age Concern

  Political Organisations

  Blackburn and Darwen Labour Gruoup

  Woodstock and District Labour Party

  Warwickshire Labour Party Group

  Liberal Democrats Group, Allerdale.

  Three individuals and the following organisations made representation to retain the cuttent valuation bands:

  Local Authorities

  Rushcliffe

  Wandsworth

  Hampshire

  Tonbridge and Malling

  Restormel

  Redbridge

  Cheshire

  Isles of Scilly

  Rugby

  Lewisham

  Reading

  Others

  Local Government Research Unit, Wolvehampton

  Wolverhampton Conservative Group

  We fully considered these representations along with others that we received and set our conclusions in the White Paper, Modern Local Government—"In Touch with the People". We explained that the council tax was generally working well and that we do not plan to make any fundamental changes to the council tax, or carry out a revaluation, during the course of this Parliament.

  Public Consultations Worcester
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to all the Government's public consultations. [69780]

  Mr. Meale
  My Department follows the Cabinet Office guideance, "How to Conduct Written Consultation Exercises". A list of respondents is placed in the Libraries of both Houses and copies of responses are placed in the Department' libraries, except where the respondent has asked that their response remains confidential. Where possible, a summary of responses is produced and made public.
  239

  Housing Steering Group
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there will be tenant representation on the housing steering group on best value. [69736]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The official level Best Value in Housing Steering Group that we established last year to examine the application of best value to housing has two tenant representatives from TAROE—the tenants' and residents' organisations of England. This is underpinned by a tenants' sounding board focus group comprised of local authority and housing association tenant representatives.

  Fur Trade
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action the Government are taking to ensure the implementation of the ban on furs entering the EU under Regulation 3254/91; [70009]

  (2) what action the Government are taking to press the Commission and EU Ministers to set a deadline for ratification of the humane trapping standards for animals caught in leghold traps; [70008]

  (3) if (a) Russia, (b) Canada and (c) the USA have ratified the agreement on humane trapping standards for animals caught in leghold traps; and what is the deadline for ratification of the convention. [70007]

  Mr. Meale
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: I understand that Canada and Russia have not yet ratified the agreement on humane trapping standards for animals caught in leghold traps agreed with the European Community in July 1997. I also understand that the USA has not ratified the agreed minute agreed with the European Community in December 1997. We will look for suitable opportunities to discuss with the Commission and EU Ministers what further progress can be made in pressing Canada, Russia and USA to ratify these agreements.

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are responsible for ensuring implementation of the import ban on certain furs into the United Kingdom under Regulation 3254/91. In the case of all measures prohibiting the importation of goods, it is standard procedure for detailed written guidance to be issued to Customs officers as to the manner of regulating legitimate trade and the handling of illegal consignments. This practice was followed in the case of furs caught in leghold traps. I also understand that since the customs entry documents for virtually all commercial imports are processed electronically, and because all imported goods have a specific "commodity code" number which must be declared by importers on those documents, Customs officials are able to identify furs which may be prohibited from entering the United Kingdom under the Regulation.

  Groundwater Regulations 1998
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which EU countries require individual businesses to register under the Groundwater Directive. [69782]
  240
  Mr. Meale
  It is a requirement of the Groundwater Directive (80/68/EEC) that individual discharges to groundwater should be subject to prior authorisation. It is for Member States, in accordance with their treaty obligations, to transpose these requirements into national law. The Groundwater Regulations 1998 complete transposition of the Directive by requiring authorisation of the disposal of listed substances to land, as distinct from a register of businesses.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he plans to issue to farmers with regard to the necessity of registering with the Environment Agency under the groundwater regulations. [69783]

  Mr. Meale
  The Groundwater Regulations 1998 provide that disposals, or tipping for the purpose of disposal to land of listed substances, require prior authorisation. Transitional arrangements provide that applications which relate to an activity substantially the same as one carried out by the applicant previously, and made prior to 1 April 1999 (when the main provisions in the Regulations come into force), will be deemed approved until finally disposed of the by Agency. My officials wrote on 21 December 1998, to draw attention to these arrangements, to those consulted on the draft regulations, including the National Farmers Union, Tenant Farmers Association and the Farming Union of Wales. Draft guidance will be published for consultation as soon as possible.

  Connex South East
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many complaints have been received by his Department about(a) overcrowding, (b) standards of cleanliness and(c)p unctuality on Connex South East trains for each quarter in 1998; and what are the latest available figures. [70110]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  So far in 1999 my department and the Franchising Director's office have received three complaints relating to overcrowding on Connex South East trains; four on the general standard of their trains including cleanliness and 21 on punctuality. The table provides the same information for each quarter in 1998.

  Overcrowding

  Standard of the trains including cleanliness

  Punctuality

  January-March

  29

  12

  65

  April-June

  7

  5

  20

  July-September

  7

  9

  21

  October-December

  14

  17

  101

  Total for 1998

  57

  43

  207

  Planning Permission
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if, when a metropolitan borough council has stated in its UDP that a certain piece of land is designated for business use and suitable for general B1 purposes, it can subsequently grant planning permission to use this land for B 1, B2 industry and B8 warehouse use without amendment to the UDP. [70057]
  241
  Mr. Raynsford
  The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires local planning authorities to determine applications for planning permission in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. It is for local authorities to decide whether material considerations justify granting a planning permission that is not in accordance with the plan.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69906]

  Mr. Meale
  All the executive NDPBs sponsored by DETR have a statutory base except the British Board of Agrement and the National Forest Company.

  All the bodies are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, with the following exceptions:
  The Audit Commission, the British Board of Agrement (BBA), the five Housing Action Trusts (HATs), the London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA), the London Regional Passengers' Committee, the National Forest Company (NFC).

  The NFC will be brought within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration by means of an Order in Council due to go before the Privy Council later this month.

  The HATs and LPFA are subject to investigation by the Commissioner for Local Administrations (CLA)—the Local Government Ombudsman. The Environment Agency also comes within the remit of the CLA for matters concerning flood defence and land drainage.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69961]

  Mr. Meale
  (a) None of the advisory non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings.

  (b) The following advisory non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department hold public meetings:
  Advisory Committee on Packaging, Disabled Passengers' Transport Advisory Committee, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.

  (c)The following advisory non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department have lay or consumer representatives on their boards:
  Committee on Chemicals and Materials for Use in Public Water Supplies and Swimming Pools, Disabled Passengers' Transport Advisory Committee, Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. Sustainable Development Education Panel, UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.
  None of these matters is subject to a statutory requirement.
  242
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69835]

  Mr. Meale
  (a) The following advisory non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department publish the minutes of their meetings on the internet or make them available in paper form or do both:
  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, Committee on Chemicals and Materials for Use in Public Water Supplies and Swimming Pools, Export Action Group for Building Materials, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Sustainable Development Education Panel, UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.

  (b) The following advisory non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department publish the agendas of meetings and documents for their meetings:
  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment Export Action Group for Building Materials, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Sustainable Development Education Panel, UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.

  (c)The following advisory non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department publish a register of members' interests or have it available on request:
  Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances, Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, Advisory Committee on Packaging, Building Regulations Advisory Committee, Committee on Chemicals and Materials for Use in Public Water Supplies and Swimming Pools, Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards, Government Panel on Sustainable Development, Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council, Property Advisory Group, Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Sustainable Development Education Panel, UK Round Table on Sustainable Development, Water Regulations Advisory Committee. All advisory NDPBs have or should shortly have a register of interests in place.

  None of these items is published under a statutory requirement.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69949]

  Mr. Meale
  (a) The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department publish the minutes of their meetings on the internet or make them available in paper form or do both:
  Countryside Commission, English Nature, Environment Agency, Health and Safety Commission, Health and Safety Executive, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Local Government Commission for England, London Regional Passengers' Committee.

  (b) The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department publish the agendas of meetings and documents for their meetings:
  Countryside Commission, English Nature, Environment Agency', Health and Safety Commission, Health and Safety Executive, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull,

  243
  Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), Joint Nature Conservation Committee, London Regional Passengers' Committee.
  1Agendas only

  (c) The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department publish a register of members' interests:
  Audit Commission, British Board of Agrement, Commission for the New Towns, Countryside Commission, Docklands Light Railway, English Nature, English Partnerships, Environment Agency, Health and Safety Commission, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), Housing Corporation, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Local Government Commission for England, Local Government Residuary Body (England), National Forest Company, Rural Development Commission.

  All executive NDPBs have or should shortly have a register of interests in place.

  None of these items is published under a statutory requirement.

  No information has been supplied on Regional Development Agencies as they are not yet operational and are still in the process of making decisions on these matters.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69984]

  Mr. Meale
  (a) The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings:
  Countryside Commission, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), London Regional Passengers' Committee.

  (b) The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department hold public meetings:
  Commission for the New Towns, Countryside Commission, Docklands Light Railway, English Nature, English Partnerships, Environment Agency, Health and Safety Commission, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), Local Government Commission for England, Local Government Residuary Body (England), Traffic Director for London.

  (c) The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department have lay or consumer representatives on their boards:
  Health and Safety Commission, Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), Housing Corporation, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, London Pensions Fund Authority, London Regional Passengers' Committee.

  (d)The following executive non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure:
  Audit Commission, Commission for the New Towns, Countryside Commission, Docklands Light Railway, English Nature, English Partnerships, Environment Agency, General Lighthouse Authorities (Northern Lighthouse Board, Trinity House) Health and Safety Commission, Health and Safety Executive, Housing
  244
  Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, North Hull, Stonebridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest), Housing Corporation, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Local Government Commission for England, London Pensions Fund Authority, London Regional Passengers' Committee, Rural Development Commission, Traffic Director for London.

  None of these matters is subject to a statutory requirement.

  No information has been supplied on Regional Development Agencies as they are not yet operational and are still in the process of making decisions on these matters.

  Deaths at Work
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths at work were recorded in the most recent available year; and if he will make a statement on recent trends. [70053]

  Mr. Meale
  In 1997–98 there were 261 fatalities to workers.

  The fatal injury rate for all workers in 1997–98 was 1.0 per hundred thousand workers, which represents a return to the level seen in 1995–96, the lowest since the introduction of the reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations in 1986. The rate has fallen from 1.4 per hundred thousand five years ago and 1.8 per hundred thousand ten years ago.

  The information for 1997–98 is provisional.

  Biosafety Protocol
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Biosafety Protocol negotiations in Colombia, with specific reference to Article 1; and if he will make it his policy to support the inclusion of the precautionary principle as regards human health. [70346]

  Mr. Meale
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 9 February 1999,Official Report, columns 153–54.

  Housing (Ex-service Personnel)
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of local authorities in England and Wales use length of service as the basis for housing allocation to ex-service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [69795]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department does not hold this information. Many local housing authorities require applicants for housing to have been resident in their area for a specified period before they will place them on their housing registers. This sort of requirement can cause difficulties for ex-service personnel and the Department's Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness advises authorities to give sympathetic
  245
  consideration to applications from ex-service personnel who have close connections with their district or lived their prior to enlisting.

  Voluntary Sports Clubs
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a mandatory rate relief system for voluntary sports clubs; and if he will make a statement. [70541]

  Ms Armstrong
  We are currently reviewing the arrangements under which non-profit making sports clubs may receive relief from non-domestic rates at the discretion of local authorities. We intend to issue a consultation paper in the near future.

  Roads (London)
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he will announce the Government's intentions as to which roads will make up the GLA road network, for which Transport for London will be the highway and traffic authority; [71002]

  (2) what role Transport for London will have in relation to planning applications which affect GLA roads. [71003]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Our White Paper, "A Mayor and Assembly for London", made clear that we start from the presumption that the GLA Road Network should be based on the primary route and red route networks. This base network is made up of some 220 miles of trunk roads and 105 miles of borough roads. We issued a consultation document last summer on whether roads might be added to or deleted from this base network to form the GLA Road Network. We received 93 responses to this consultation exercise. A summary of the responses has been placed in the Library. Copies of individual responses are available from the library of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  We have carefully considered the representations received and we have concluded that there should be some adjustments to the network as envisaged by the White

  Additions to base network

  Deletions from base network

  Adjustment for new road

  New A13 (West of Heathway to Wennington)

  Old A13 (West of Heathway to Wennington)

  A12 (Hackney Wick—M11 link)

  All (Bow interchange—Green Man Roundabout)

  A1203/A1261 (Limehouse Link/Aspen Way)

  A106 (Lea Interchange—All at Leytonstone)

  A1020 Royal Docks Road

  A117 Woolwich Manor Way (from A13 to A1020

  Deletions of primary routes

  A307 (Kew Green—Richmond Circus)

  A3O8 (Hampton)

  A503 (Waterworks Corner—Tottenham Hale Gyratory)

  Additions within the Inner Ring Road

  A201 Kings Cross—Elephant and Castle (via Blackfriars Bridge)

  A200/A3200/A3036 Tooley Street, St. Thomas Street, Southwark Street, Stamford Street, York Road, Lambeth Palace Road, Albert Embankment

  A3211 Tower Hill, Lower and Upper Thames Street, Victoria Embankment

  Westminster Bridge

  Lambeth Bridge, Millbank (from Vauxhall Bridge to Lambeth Bridge)

  246
  Paper. Those are set out in the table and shown on the two maps which have today been deposited in the Library. In outer London, there are some small adjustments primarily to reflect the construction of new roads. In central London, we propose the addition of roads which act as key distributor routes for the area within the Inner Ring Road.

  The resulting network gives Transport for London a clear and coherent set of roads to manage. The Mayor's Integrated Transport Strategy will set the framework within which Transport for London and boroughs will work. It is important that the Mayor, through Transport for London, should be responsible for key roads to help facilitate improved co-ordination in the movement of people and goods. In particular, direct involvement in roads in the central area will help the Mayor ensure there is a balanced approach to accessibility and traffic management not only to and from the City and West End but also for the developing south bank of the Thames.

  This GLA Road Network is broadly the same size as the base network and the transfer of about 220 miles of trunk roads from the Highways Agency to Transport for London represents a significant shift of responsibility from central Government.

  Subject to Parliamentary procedures, we intend that the network will be formally defined by Order to come into effect when Transport for London is brought into being. In defining the network, we are minded to include those small sections of side roads which are necessary to ensure that the main road is managed safely and efficiently.

  We have looked carefully at the powers Transport for London should have as highway authority in relation to planning applications which affect GLA roads. Our conclusion is that Transport for London should be consulted by the local planning authority where the proposed development would materially affect the volume or type of traffic on a GLA road; require direct access to a GLA road or be likely to prejudice the improvement or construction of a GLA road. We do not envisage that the Mayor should have the power to direct the planning authority over highway related matters.
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WALES

  National Assembly
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what leisure facilities are planned to be made available for members of the National Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [69218]

  Mr. Michael
  I have asked for a review of leisure facilities available to Welsh Office staff in Cardiff and elsewhere. Most of the staff to be employed by the Welsh Assembly will transfer from the Welsh Office in Cathays Park where the leisure facilities available to staff are quite limited. There is a fitness suite in Cathays Park, known as the Welsh Office Crown Building Fitness Centre, opened in May 1992, on the initiative of a number of staff. The suite is run as a private club by a committee of staff and its use is restricted to club members. The Department provides the accommodation in the mezzanine of Cathays Park but the equipment is funded by members' subscriptions and loans from the Civil Service Sports Council.

  There is also a Welsh Office Sports and Social Association (WOSSA) funded by subscription from staff, for which the Welfare Department provides the secretariat. However this has not been very active in recent years and any social and sporting activity carried on within the Department is generally organised by individual staff members, sometimes with the help of grants from WOSSA. Other than the support given in the form of basic accommodation, in the case of the fitness suite, the Department does not provide staff leisure facilities in Cardiff or elsewhere.

  Members and officials working in Crickhowell House will be provided with an induction pack which will list the leisure facilities in the Bay and surrounding area. There is no room at present in Crickhowell House to provide any facility similar to that at Cathays Park, but as additional space becomes available, in due course, it may be possible to provide leisure facilities. Following the review, recommendations will be prepared for consideration by the Assembly.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 1999,Official Report, column 549, on the National Assembly, when he expects to lay the draft of the Order relating to disqualification of persons from membership of the National Assembly before Parliament. [69690]

  Mr. Michael
  Section 12 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 deals with disqualification from membership of the National Assembly. It provides that certain individuals and classes of person may not be members of the Assembly:by applying section 1(1) of the House of Commons (Disqualification) Act 1975, judges, civil servants, members of the armed forces, members of the police forces and members of foreign legislatures;
  those disqualified from being a member of a local authority;
  the Auditor General for Wales and the Welsh Administration Ombudsman;
  criminals in detention and those who have escaped; and
  Lords-Lieutenants and High Sheriffs for areas in Wales who are disqualified from representing those areas in the Assembly.
  248
  Section 12 also provides for an Order-in-Council to designate further offices and employments, the holding of which would be incompatible with membership of the Assembly. A consultation exercise invited views on the offices and employments that might be covered by the Order.

  Having considered the comments received, I have set out in a draft Order-in-Council which has today been laid before both Houses of Parliament, a list of the proposed disqualifying offices and employments. The draft Order-in-Council is subject to affirmative resolution procedure in both Houses before being put to Her Majesty in Council.

  The draft Order proposes the following disqualification from membership of the Assembly:

  (a) Members of

  National Park Authorities in Wales

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  Rent Assessment Panel in Wales

  Registered Inspectors Appeal Tribunal

  Sianel Pedwar Cymru

  Arts Council for Wales

  Audit Commission for Local Authorities and National Health Service in England and Wales

  Broadcasting Standards Commission

  Channel Four Television Corporation

  Commission for Local Administration in Wales

  Competition Commission

  Council of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

  Countryside Council of Wales

  Environment Agency

  Forestry Commissioners

  General Teaching Council for Wales

  Independent Television Commission

  Joint Nature Conservation Committee

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales

  Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales

  Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

  Pensions Compensation Board

  Radio Authority

  Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales

  Sports Council for Wales

  Wales Tourist Board

  Welsh Language Board

  Council of the National Library of Wales

  Council of the National Museum of Wales

  (b) Members(not also being employees) of

  Further Education Funding Council for Wales

  Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

  Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales

  Welsh Development Agency

  Certification Officer or assistant certification officer

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Health Authority in Wales

  NHS Trust in Wales

  Special Health Authority in Wales

  249

  (c) other disqualifying offices

  Chief Adjudication Officer appointed under section 39 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992

  Chief Child Support Officer appointed under section 13 of the Child Support Act 1991

  Civil Service Commissioner

  Commissioner for Public Appointments

  Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action

  Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Commissioner or assistant Commissioner of the Boundary Commission for Wales

  Director General of Electricity Supply

  Director General of Fair Trading

  Director General of Gas Supply

  Director General of Telecommunications

  Comptroller and Auditor General

  Governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation

  Health Service Commissioner for Wales

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales

  Member of a Medical Appeal Tribunal appointed under section 50 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992

  Member of a panel appointed under section 6 of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 of persons to act as chairmen of Child Support Appeal Tribunals

  Member of a panel appointed under section 6 of the Tribunal and Inquiries Act 1992 of persons to act as chairmen of Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Medical Appeal Tribunals and Disability Appeal Tribunals

  Member of a panel of persons appointed under section 6 of the Social Security Act 1998

  Member of a panel of persons who may be appointed to serve on a Vaccine Damage Tribunal

  Member of the Council of the National Library of Wales

  Member of the Council of the National Museum of Wales

  Staff of the Auditor General for Wales

  Staff of the Forestry Commissioners

  Staff of the National Audit Office

  Pensions Ombudsman

  Staff holding politically-restricted posts in local government and National Park Authorities in Wales (unless exemption is obtained under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989)

  President of appeal tribunals appointed under section 5 of the Social Security Act 1998

  President of Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Medical Appeal Tribunals and Disability Appeal Tribunals

  Regional or other full time chairman of a child support appeal tribunal established under section 21 of the Child Support Act 1991

  Regional or other full time chairman of Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Medical Appeals Tribunals or Disability Appeals Tribunals

  Rent Officers appointed under the Rent Act 1977

  Returning Officers in Assembly elections

  Social Fund Commissioner.

  There will be separate arrangements outside the Order-in-Council to cover the disqualification of members of the Boards of Training and Enterprise Companies in Wales, Career Companies in Wales and the Welsh European Programme Executive Ltd.

  I have decided not to take forward the suggestion contained in the consultation paper that staff of the bodies listed in the draft Order should be disqualified. However,
  250
  where an employee of such a body is elected as a member of the Assembly, I would expect that person to resign their paid employment immediately following election.

  Economically Active People
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of economically active people in Wales between the ages of (i) 25 to 34 and (ii) 35 to 49 years(a) currently, (b) in 1992 and (c) in 1997. [70068]

  Mr. Hain
  Estimates of the economically active in Wales, from the Labour Force Survey, are shown in the following table.

  Economically active, Wales (not seasonally adjusted)

  Age 25–34

  Age 35–49

  September to November 1992

  326,000

  467,000

  September to November 1997

  331,000

  478,000

  September to November 1998

  323,000

  487,000

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics

  In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates his Department has made of the percentage of(a) five year olds, (b) six year olds and (c) seven year olds that were in classes of 30 or less in January 1997. [70059]

  Mr. Hain
  As I informed the hon. Member in my reply on 3 February 1999,Official Report, column 609, information on the number of pupils in classes of 30 or more was not available prior to 1998. Until January 1998, data were collected centrally only for the number of classes, by size of class, not for the number of pupils in each class.

  In January 1997, 24 per cent. of ordinary classes in primary schools had more than 30 pupils.

  In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

  Registered Housing Associations
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the procedures which his Department's officials will follow in taking formal action in relation to registered housing associations, their committee members and members of staff; when these procedures were agreed to and by whom; and what actions have been taken to date under these procedures. [69721]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  The formal actions available to the Department are set out in Schedule 1 of the Housing Act 1996 and are:

  power to appoint a new committee member

  power to direct an inquiry into the affairs of an association

  power to require an extraordinary audit of accounts and balance sheet

  where an inquiry or audit establishes misconduct or mismanagement, to remove or suspend officers, employees or agents, to freeze bank accounts or to restrict transactions.

  251
  The Department has taken no action under these procedures.

  In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Agency (Telephone Calls)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of telephone calls made to Benefits Agency offices which are not answered within the target times; [69003]

  (2) how many complaints concerning the failure of Benefits Agency offices to answer telephones promptly he has received in each of the last three years; [69004]

  (3) what targets he has set the Benefits Agency concerning the answering of telephone calls. [69005]

  Angela Eagle
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 9 February 1999:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking, what estimate has been made of the proportion of telephone calls made to Benefits Agency (BA) offices which are not answered within the target times, how many complaints concerning the failure of BA offices to answer telephones promptly he has received in each of the last three years, and what targets he has set the BA concerning the answering of telephone calls.

  The information is not available in the format requested. At present the Agency does not have a national target covering telephone response times, although each individual District sets and publishes its own target.

  The BA introduced a series of measurement checks last year which included telephone call response times. The first year's checks will be completed by the end of March 1999 and figures reflecting this period of measurement will be available by the end of April 1999. The measurement checks will produce figures, including average telephone response times, which are statistically valid within each of the Agency's 17 Area and Benefit Directorates.

  The Agency does not maintain national records of the number of complaints received in respect of telephone response times although individual Districts maintain complaints information which is analysed and used to improve services locally.

  The BA is currently piloting new complaints handling procedures, designed to ensure that all offices which deal with the public, record and collate complaints in a consistent way. Once the results of the pilot exercise have been evaluated we will consider how best to introduce the most effective system.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability Benefits Unit
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent the Disability Benefits Unit has been completing review decisions during the current year in line with the targets which have been set. [69640]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
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  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 9 February 1999:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking to what extent the Disability Benefits Unit has been completing review decisions during the current year in line with the targets which have been set. The Disability Benefits Directorate's published targets for 1998/1999 for clearance of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reviews is 60% in 55 working days and 80% in 75 working days.

  The actual year to date achievement of DLA review clearances is, as at 31 January 1999, 70% in 55 days and 86.05% in 75 days.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Efficiency Gains
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to express efficiency gains as a percentage of his departmental budget; and if he will make a statement. [69632]

  Mr. Darling
  I refer the hon. Member to the Department's interim Public Service Agreement which was published in the Government's White Paper "Public Services for the Future: Modernisation, Reform, Accountability" in December 1998.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the average number of hours which a non-main earner in a couple receiving family credit benefits works per week. [69681]

  Angela Eagle
  As at August 1998, in those couples where both members of the couple work, it is estimated that the non-main earner works, on average, 18 hours per week.

  Note:

  Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample of all Family Credit claimants.

  Source:

  Family Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 1998.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount that the main earners in couples receiving family credit work per week. [70216]

  Angela Eagle
  As at August 1998, the average number of hours worked by the main earner in couples receiving Family Credit was 33.5 hours per week.

  Note:

  Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample of all Family Credit claimants.

  Source:

  Family Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 1998.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average family credit award in 1998. [70278]

  Angela Eagle
  A complete set of data for the whole of 1998 will not be available until April 1999. The latest information is for August 1998 at which time the average award of Family Credit was £59.82 per week.

  Note:

  Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample of all Family Credit claimants.

  Source:

  Family Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 1998.
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  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's report on Family Credit. [70863]

  Mr. Darling
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate was asked to study the working practices and procedures at the Family Credit Unit to see what further improvements could be made in tackling Family Credit fraud. I am now considering the Inspectorate's findings. A copy of the Inspectorate's report is being placed in the Library.

  Lone Parents (Working Hours)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average amount that lone parents work per week. [70279]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 10 February 1999:

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

  The latest estimates available from the UK Labour Force Survey are that in autumn 1998 46 per cent. of lone parents with dependent children were in employment. They worked an average of 29 hours per week.

  This average is defined using total usual hours, that is, hours usually worked including paid and unpaid overtime and excluding meal breaks. The estimate is based on respondents' main jobs and is not seasonally adjusted. Dependent children are defined as those aged 0–15 and 16–18 year olds in full-time education.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69978]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the previous Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the Authorised Practitioners Scheme.

  The Answers in respect of the Legal Aid Board are:

  (a) no

  (b) no

  (c) yes

  (d) yes, but not under a statutory requirement.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the
  254
  agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69945]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the previous Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the Authorised Practitioners Scheme.

  The Legal Aid Board does not publish either the minutes of, or the agendas and documents for, meetings.

  It does have a register of interests, which is published.

  There are no relevant statutory requirements.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69960]

  Mr. Hoon
  For the advisory non-departmental public bodies listed under my Department in the Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies 1998', the answers are as follows:

  (a) none

  (b) none, but the Civil Justice Council will be holding annual open meetings.

  There is no statutory requirement for these bodies in these areas.

  (c) the following bodies have lay or consumer representatives:

  The Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct has lay members: the Lord Chancellor must by statute have regard to the desirability of appointing persons who have experience in, or knowledge of, consumer affairs.

  The Civil Justice Council and the Civil Procedure Rule Committee have lay and consumer representative by Statute.

  The Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI) has both lay and consumer representation. The relevant Order indicates the attributes required for membership.

  All the Advisory Committees on JPs have at least one lay member as do most of the Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69909]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the previous Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the Authorised Practitioners Scheme.

  The Legal Aid Board has a statutory base and is subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his
  255
  Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69831]

  Mr. Hoon
  For the advisory non-departmental public bodies listed under my Department in the Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies 1998', the answers are as follows:

  (a) none, although the Advisory Council on Public Records and the Civil Justice Council publish summary reports.

  (b) none

  (c) the Advisory Council on Public Records and the Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI) have registers of members' interests. Registers for the other bodies are at various stages of preparation, except where the body is due to be wound up soon.

  There are no statutory requirements in these areas.

  Worshipful Company of Scriveners
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to end the monopoly in London of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners. [70040]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government have concluded that the monopoly of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners over notarial work in the central London area should be ended. An appropriate amendment will be moved to the Access to Justice Bill.

TREASURY

  Public Sector Research Establishments
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his proposals for developing the commercial potential of the output of public sector research establishments. [70900]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am very pleased to announce that John Baker, who is Chairman of Medeva plc, has agreed to investigate the commercialisation of public sector research establishments (PSRE) outputs, with the view to making recommendations for increasing the rate of their exploitation. The study takes forward a commitment made in the Competitiveness White Paper, published last December. Mr. Baker will be working closely with HM Treasury and the Office of Science and Technology, who are collaborating on the initiative.

  It is time we took a close look at how we maximise the commercial potential of the high quality research that is carried out by the PSREs, where it is possible to do so. We need to identify the barriers to commercialising research and make sure that the PSREs share the best ways of overcoming them. The results should be of great benefit to the PSREs and the Departments that sponsor them.

  The intention is that the study will look in particular at the coverage of commercialisation in research contracts between PSREs and their sponsors, the organisation of the knowledge transfer process and incentives for PSRE staff.
  256
  John Baker will begin this work very soon; seeking the views of key people in the PSREs and sponsor Departments. He is expected to report later this year.

  The terms of reference of this study are as follows:
  To investigate the commercialisation of research in the Government's public sector research establishments (PSREs) and make recommendations for increasing the rate at which PSRE research outputs are successfully commercialised, consistent with other Government objectives for PSREs, with reference in particular to:

  the role of sponsor departments/Research Councils in promoting the exploitation of research in the PSREs;

  progress in improving the culture of entrepreneurship within PSREs—particularly through the adoption of new guidance on exploiting Government assets;

  the organisational capacity and expertise for managing and exploiting Government IP effectively;

  specific institutional barriers, and possible new incentives;

  spreading best practice;

  the scope for closer co-operation with the private sector.

  Electronic Capital Equipment
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will introduce fiscal incentives to encourage recycling of electronic capital equipment; and if he will make a statement; [68630]

  (2) what fiscal incentives are available to industry to encourage recycling of electronic capital equipment. [68631]

  Ms Hewitt
  There are no special fiscal incentives to encourage recycling of electronic equipment. Businesses make a commercial judgment on whether or not to recycle any equipment. Where they do so the cost of recycling is treated for tax purposes in the same way as any other business cost. However, tax relief already exists for firms that give gifts of trading stock, or equipment they have used in their trade, to recognised educational establishments.

  Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to implement in full the recommendations of the HM Customs and Excise Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review; and which of the recommendations have been implemented. [69554]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have already implemented major recommendations of the review by making available resources to enable Customs to deploy additional staff to tackle the smuggling of alcohol and tobacco. Sixty-six new staff were in post at the south-east Channel Ports by the end of November 1998, and the remainder will be in post at other ports and inland by the end of February 1999, taking the total number of new staff to over 100.

  Customs are currently undertaking a wide-ranging consultation exercise with the trade to establish the cost to industry of implementing the many review recommendations which involve procedural changes to tighten up on fraud. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, a final decision will be taken on how and when the measures are to implemented during 1999.
  257
  Some of the remaining recommendations require the participation of all EU member states.

  Rec. number

  Recommendation

  2

  Government to consider making available additional resources to adopt a high impact approach at the Channel ports

  3

  Government to consider making available additional resources inland to tackle the sale and distribution and sale of illicit excise goods

  4

  Government to consider making available additional resources to enable Customs Solicitors Office to progress cases arising from the deployment of additional resources

  40

  Government to consider making available increased Customs anti-smuggling resources to combat the risk of cigarette smuggling

  44

  UK to continue joint action with other member states to tackle cigarette smuggling by air

  45

  The participation of Customs officers in Police roadblocks

  46 and 47

  Customs to amend the regulations for the holding and movement of duty suspended goods

  48

  Customs to review its prosecution policy for excise smugglers

  51

  Customs should ask the courts to disqualify smugglers from driving for set periods

  52

  Customs should apply for curfew orders in all appropriate excise smuggling cases

  53

  Customs should ask the Lord Chancellor's office to advise on publishing guidance on sentencing for excise smuggling

  54

  Customs to seek compensation orders in addition to any other sentence imposed by courts

  55

  Customs to explore with the Police that targeted checks be made on hired vans and cars

  57

  Customs to adopt a tougher policy on seized vehicles with high restoration charges

  58

  Customs should continue to arrest, charge and prosecute persistent offenders where large quantities of excise goods are involved

  60

  Customs should seek the confiscation of assets of excise smugglers

  69

  Customs to take up vendor control problems with relevant fiscal authority

  76

  Customs should incorporate promiscuous checks on warehouses in assurance plans

  79

  Customs should continue blitzes of high risk traders

  81

  Customs should further develop a national task force approach involving closer working with other agencies

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Quantum Project
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the conclusions of the Prison Service's review of the Quantum project. [70899]

  Mr. Straw
  The Prison Service's six-month review of the Quantum project announced on 10 August 1998 has been concluded. I have seen the review report. The Director General and the Executive Committee of the Prison Service endorses the recommendation made in the report to take the project forward by means of a framework agreement in partnership with one of the two short-listed suppliers. The contract will cover an Information Technology infrastructure service, joint development of a strategy for Information Technology-based business change and an agreed mechanism for implementing business change on a partnership basis.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for legislation on freedom of information. [68642]

  Mr. Straw
  Freedom of information is an essential component of the Government's programme to modernise British politics, as set out in our manifesto. This programme of constitutional reform aims to involve people more closely in the decisions which affect their lives. Giving people greater access to information is fundamental to that aim.

  The effect of a Freedom of Information Act will be that for the first time, every citizen in the country will have
  258
  ATFR recommendations which have been implemented are shown in the following table:

  the right of access to information held by bodies across the public sector. I believe this will radically transform the relationship between Government and citizens.

  The Government published their proposals for Freedom of Information in December 1997 in a White Paper entitled, "Your Right to Know". The Home Office took over responsibility for Freedom of Information legislation from the Cabinet Office in the Summer, to enable the policy to be developed alongside other constitutional measures, such as human rights and data protection. Since then, we have devoted a great deal of effort towards translating the White Paper's proposals into a draft Bill. That process is very nearly complete, and the Government will publish a draft Bill as soon as it is ready.

  There are those who feel that the Government should have produced a Bill sooner. I must emphasise, however, that any delay is not an indication of a lack of commitment on the part of the Government. It is quite the reverse. Indeed, we have devoted additional resources to work on Freedom of Information. This is a complex subject. There have been a great number of issues to resolve; for example the need to address existing legislation which impinges on freedom of information, including that which arises from our international legal obligations; the need to consider the implications of devolution; the practicalities of the enforcement mechanism. These are just a few of the issues which have occupied us for some time, but I am convinced that we are right to take the time to get the detail right. If we are to achieve our aims then we must have an Act that is realistic and workable.

  We therefore look forward to a thorough and informed debate when we publish the draft Bill. There will be a period of public consultation, during which the Bill will receive pre-legislative scrutiny by the Select Committee for Public Administration. We hope and expect that this

  259
  process of scrutiny will lead to a more effective Bill. Following this period of consultation, the Government are committed to introducing the Bill to Parliament as soon as the legislative programme allows.

  A Freedom of Information Act will radically change the way Government conducts its business. Government alone cannot bring about the cultural change necessary in public sector bodies for a more open approach in their relationship with the public. It will be for a wide variety of public bodies to implement the legislation, and cultural change must take place in all of those bodies if the Freedom of Information Act is to succeed. During the consultation period, I will set out my proposals for delivering this cultural change.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the expenditure on his Department's crime prevention initiatives, in cash and real terms, in each of the last three years; what is the planned cash and real terms spending in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [70325]

  Mr. Boateng
  Over the last three years, (1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99) £12.4 million, £16.1 million and £9.4 million will have been spent in cash terms on crime prevention initiatives. In real terms at 1998–99 prices this is £13 million, £16.5 million and £9.4 million.

  In July 1998 the Government announced a new £250 million crime reduction programme. Over the three years from April 1999 the planned cash expenditure for this programme and other crime prevention initiatives is £42.1 million in 1999–2000, £101.8 million in 2000–01 and £111.8 million in 2001–02. In real terms at 1998–99 prices this is £41 million, £96.8 million and £103.8 million.

  These figures are in addition to public expenditure on the police service, one of whose key functions is crime prevention.

  Crime (European Union)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken on the relative levels of crime in European Union countries; and if he will make a statement. [70322]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information is published annually in Criminal statistics, England and Wales on the levels of crime recorded by the police in most European Union countries. In addition, we have participated in all three sweeps of the International Crime Victimisation Survey, which provided comparative data on crime levels for most European Union countries. The latest results relating to victim's experience of crime in 1995 were published in Home Office Research Findings No 57.

  Copies of both publications are in the Library.

  General Pinochet
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total cost of(a) issuing and (b) serving the arrest warrant for General Pinochet; and what was the breakdown of costs; [70251]
  260
  (2) what out-of-hours costs were involved in the issuing and execution of the arrest warrant for General Pinochet. [70252]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The costs incurred in police operations are a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contacts his Department had with journalists concerning the incorrect reports of General Pinochet's death in October 1998(a) before and (b) after the story was published. [70253]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: My Department has no knowledge of any contacts with the media about this matter.

  Town Centres Working Party
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects that the Working Party on Town Centres will report. [70404]

  Mr. Boateng
  A small working group is being established by the Association of Town Centre Managers to look into the development of "Speakers Corners" in town centre areas. The Home Office and other departments will contribute to this work. I understand that the first meeting will be held around the end of February and the group hopes to report in the summer.

  Female Prisoners
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners have been held in prison in England and Wales and had a child or children with them in each of the last 10 years. [69175]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on the average female prison population in England and Wales over the last 10 years is given in the table. This information is also published (up to 1997) in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 1.4 of the 1997 edition), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Information on the number of women who had a child or children with them in prison in each of the last 10 years is not collected centrally. However, on 1 February 1999, there were 51 women occupying places in the four mother and baby units within the female prison estate.

  Average
  population of females in prisons in England and Wales, 1989–1998

  Year

  Average population

  1989

  1,767

  1990

  1,597

  1991

  1,561

  1992

  1,577

  1993

  1,561

  1994

  1,811

  1995

  1,979

  1996

  2,262

  1997

  2,675

  1998

  3,105

  261

  English Hooligans
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on action taken against English hooligans attending the World Cup. [70264]

  Mr. Boateng
  The French authorities have provided the National Criminal Intelligence Service with information about all those arrested or deported from France. For those convicted of criminal offences in France, the French authorities have provided the Home Office with the court judgments in accordance with the bilateral agreement reached with France before the World Cup. We have requested further details in a number of cases with a view to determining whether there are sufficient grounds to apply to the domestic courts for the issue of a restriction order to prevent the offenders travelling to future matches abroad.

  Police (Hampshire)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of police numbers in Hampshire. [70065]

  Mr. Boateng
  My right hon. Friend has made no assessment of police numbers in the Hampshire Constabulary. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for the chief constable to determine the number of police officers in the force, within the resources available to him or her.

  In its latest annual report on police performance, published on 28 January, the Audit Commission concluded that success in solving crime does not depend solely on numbers of police officers available.

  Police (Avon and Somerset)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) police civilian employees there were in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary on (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) the most recent date for which figures are available. [70170]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information on police numbers is collected at the end of March and September of each year. The statistics for the period requested are set out in the table.

  First degree graduates in medicine/dentistry in the UK

  Medical students

  1993–941

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Number of graduates

  4,600

  5,700

  5,700

  6,000

  5,900

  of which, those with known destinations2

  4,400

  3,900

  4,400

  4,300

  n/a

  of which, those entering full-time permanent employment in the UK

  4,200

  3,700

  3,900

  3,800

  n/a

  of which, those entering medical occupations3

  n/a

  3,500

  3,700

  3,600

  n/a

  1 Figures for 1993–94 are not directly comparable to those for later years because of a change in the data collection process

  2 Destination six months after graduation.

  3 "Medical occupations" covers general practitioners and doctors, and hospital house officers.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of first-year medical students failed to become a fully qualified doctor in the five most recent years for which figures are available. [70086]

  Mr. Mudie
  Information on non-completion rates analysed by subject of study is not compiled centrally.
  262

  Avon and Somerset Constabulary

  Date

  Police Officers

  Civilian support staff

  Traffic wardens

  31 March 1997

  2,989

  1.439

  108

  30 September 1998

  2,966

  1.435

  101

  Brian Parsons
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999,Official Report, column 70, on Brian Parsons, what are the salary costs of the officers on the inquiry; and if they will be charged to the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. [70109]

  Mr. Boateng
  I understand that the overall cost to date of the investigation and associated work by Hampshire Constabulary on this case is £430,000, of which salary costs account for £320,000. The salary costs are not being charged to the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to each of the Government's public consultations. [69776]

  Mr. Mudie
  The Department follows the Cabinet Office best practice guidance on consultations including publicising and making available the results of consultation exercises wherever practicable. For individual consultations this can take the form of a press notice or ministerial statement, and the detailed results are made available on request.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment over the last five years, how many medical students completed their academic studies; and how many, having completed their studies, did not become practising doctors. [70087]

  Mr. Mudie
  The available data are shown in the following table:

  Adult and Community Learning Fund
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the second round of bidding to the Adult and Community Learning Fund. [71001]
  263
  Mr. Mudie
  Nearly 500 applications were received in the second round of bidding to the Adult and Community Learning Fund which closed on 30 November 1998. Following consideration by the Department's independent Advisory Panel we are today announcing funding of £3.5 million for 96 projects covering a wide range of local activities to involve more people in learning relevant to their lives. A list of the successful projects has been placed in the Library.

  New Deal
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the New Deal in(a) London and (b) other regions. [69557]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Clive Soley, dated 10 February 1999:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question asking for a statement on the effectiveness of

  Annex A: New Deal for 18–24 year olds

  ES region/country

  Number starting New Deal

  Unsubsidised jobs

  Subsidised jobs

  FTET option

  VS option

  ETF option

  East Midlands and Eastern

  16,881

  3,436

  825

  1,977

  483

  410

  London and South East

  50,024

  9,214

  1,866

  5,200

  1,312

  744

  Northern

  15,222

  2,447

  1,137

  2,871

  616

  595

  North West

  29,343

  5,250

  2,230

  3,597

  628

  899

  South West

  12,021

  2,539

  1,007

  1,525

  647

  412

  West Midlands

  19,444

  3,643

  861

  2,328

  419

  492

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  24,720

  4,296

  1,603

  3,557

  900

  963

  Office for Scotland

  21,438

  3,889

  1,680

  2,294

  1,033

  792

  Office for Wales

  12,965

  2,428

  1,252

  1,642

  440

  701

  National Total

  202,058

  37,142

  12,461

  24,991

  6,478

  6,008

  Notes:

  1. The figures above are from the Government Statistical Service (GSS) First Release for period ending November 1998.

  2. It should be noted that the Government First Release national figures also include those outcomes where a Regional Office is not known. For this reason, and also because of rounding up or down, the national total above will not necessarily equate to the figures shown in the First Release. The variations are however small.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reports he has received from (1) Fernley Employment Service and (2) Pelcon on their delivery of the New Deal. [69234]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 10 February 1999:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question asking if he has received any reports from Femly Business Services or Pelcombe about New Deal. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  264
  the New Deal in London and other regions. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  The New Deal for young unemployed people is developing well in London. The latest Government Statistical Service figures to the end of November 1998 show that in the London area of the Employment Service London and South East Region, over 31,000 young people have joined the New Deal for 18–24 year olds. While most are still on the Gateway phase of the programme, over 5,000 have found unsubsidised jobs; 950 have been placed into subsidised jobs; over 3,000 have joined the Full-Time Education and Training option; nearly 750 the Voluntary Sector option; and some 330 the Environment Task Force. A comparison with other Employment Service Regions in England and with Scotland and Wales is set out in the table at annex A.

  More generally, the effectiveness of New Deal is being assessed through a comprehensive evaluation strategy within which a number of qualitative and quantitative surveys are being carried out. The findings from these surveys, as and when they are available, form part of our continuous improvement strategy in that they help identify those aspects of our processes which are working well and those that are capable of being improved. Findings from the evaluation surveys are communicated within the ES and to our partners who form part of over 40 partnerships in London responsible for New Deal delivery. Each partnership will draw up an action plan for performance improvement over the next 12 months, based on the evidence from local management information and evaluation findings.

  If you would like to discuss the progress of New Deal in the London area in more detail, Stephen Holt, the Director for the Employment Service London and South East Region, would be happy to do so. He can be contacted on 0171 211 4395.

  I hope this is helpful.

  The Secretary of State has received Delivery Plans from both Fernly Business Services, in respect of their delivery of New Deal for 18–24 year olds in Leicestershire, and from Pelcombe in respect of the New Deal 25 Plus pilot in Leicestershire and South Humber.

  Fernly took over delivery of New Deal from July 1998 and Pelcombe implemented the 25+ pilots on 30 November 1998. Under the terms of their contract for the delivery of New Deal both Fernly Business Services and Pelcombe are required to submit monthly management information reports on their performance. These are discussed on a monthly basis with the Employment Service and any issues are highlighted and addressed.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to ensure that the New Deals for(a) lone parents and (b) over 25s meet the needs of the ethnic minority community. [69233]
  265
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We are ensuring that the Employment Service develops effective links with local communities. In many locations lone parent advisers and community organisations work together to offer New Deal outreach services, and publicity materials are produced in ethnic minority languages. The New Deal personal advisers are trained in equal opportunities awareness, and given guidance on the problems facing people from ethnic minorities. I am monitoring the participation of ethnic minorities within all the New Deal programmes to ensure they are treated fairly.

  PGCE Applicants
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of applicants for PGCE courses in (i) primary and (ii) secondary teaching obtained either a first or an upper second class honours degree for the latest period for which figures are available. [69794]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: No information is available about the degree class of PGCE applicants.

  The following table gives information about the degree class of PGCE intake.

  Number and percentage of first-year trainees on postgraduate initial teacher training courses with either a first or an upper second class honours degree in England, 1996–97

  First-year trainees with a first or 2:11

  Number

  Percentage

  Primary

  2,480

  49

  Secondary

  6,277

  46

  Total

  8,757

  47

  1 Trainees with an undivided second class degree are classified as upper second class

  Source:

  TTA Survey under the Framework for the Assessment of Quality and Standards in ITT

  SATS (Financial Allocations)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the extra money allocated to each local education authority for the improvement of year 6 SATS results in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000. [70119]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: A new £18 million programme will support the teaching of literacy and numeracy for year 6 pupils outside normal school hours. The programme will start in the February half-term to the end of the Easter break and into the early part of the summer term. The grant allocation to Local Authority for two financial years requested is as follows:

  £000

  Number

  LEA

  Total allocation for LEA maintained schools 1998–99

  Total allocation for maintained schools 1999–2000

  201

  City of London

  0.8

  0.2

  202

  Camden

  34.4

  9.8

  203

  Greenwich

  62.6

  18.1

  204

  Hackney

  50.9

  14.7

  266

  £000

  Number

  LEA

  Total allocation for LEA maintained schools 1998–99

  Total allocation M maintained schools 1999–2000

  205

  Hammersmith

  31.6

  9.2

  206

  Islington

  47.4

  13.5

  207

  Kensington and Chelsea

  19.5

  6.1

  208

  Lambeth

  50.9

  17.2

  209

  Lewisham

  63.4

  18.4

  210

  Southwark

  56.9

  17.9

  211

  Tower Hamlets

  65.7

  18.8

  212

  Wandsworth

  48.1

  15.2

  213

  Westminster

  31.7

  9.0

  301

  Barking

  40.3

  11.5

  302

  Barnet

  71.5

  21.3

  303

  Bexley

  58.6

  17.3

  304

  Brent

  52.2

  16.5

  305

  Bromley

  60.2

  19.5

  306

  Croydon

  75

  22.5

  307

  Ealing

  64.9

  19.4

  308

  Enfield

  66.4

  19.2

  309

  Haringey

  54.9

  15.7

  310

  Harrow

  45.6

  13.0

  311

  Havering

  58.5

  16.7

  312

  Hillingdon

  48.1

  16.2

  313

  Hounslow

  51.3

  14.7

  314

  Kingston upon Thames

  29.3

  8.7

  315

  Merton

  28.3

  8.1

  316

  Newham

  69.2

  19.8

  317

  Redbridge

  54

  15.4

  318

  Richmond upon Thames

  33.4

  9.5

  319

  Sutton

  36.6

  11.1

  320

  Waltham Forest

  51.4

  15.1

  330

  Birmingham

  294.4

  85.4

  331

  Coventry

  89.7

  25.6

  332

  Dudley

  84.7

  24.6

  333

  Sandwell

  92.3

  26.4

  334

  Solihull

  57.5

  16.8

  335

  Walsall

  78

  23.3

  336

  Wolverhampton

  75.4

  21.5

  340

  Knowsley

  58.8

  16.8

  341

  Liverpool

  137.1

  39.5

  342

  St. Helens

  55.7

  15.9

  343

  Sefton

  83.4

  23.8

  344

  Wirral

  95.8

  27.4

  350

  Bolton

  89.7

  25.9

  351

  Bury

  56.6

  16.7

  352

  Manchester

  132.3

  38.1

  353

  Oldham

  78

  22.3

  354

  Rochdale

  66.5

  20.5

  355

  Salford

  74.3

  21.2

  356

  Stockport

  84.6

  24.2

  357

  Tameside

  70.8

  20.2

  358

  Trafford

  61.3

  17.5

  359

  Wigan

  101

  28.9

  370

  Barnsley

  70.8

  20.2

  371

  Doncaster

  93.5

  26.7

  372

  Rotherham

  81.4

  23.3

  373

  Sheffield

  122.5

  36.5

  380

  Bradford

  116.0

  34.2

  381

  Calderdale

  61.3

  19.5

  382

  Kirklees

  110.6

  31.6

  383

  Leeds

  207.9

  59.6

  384

  Wakefield

  96.9

  27.7

  390

  Gateshead

  60.3

  17.2

  391

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  67.6

  19.3

  392

  North Tyneside

  50.1

  14.7

  393

  South Tyneside

  47.2

  13.5

  394

  Sunderland

  87.2

  24.9

  420

  Isles of Scilly

  1.1

  0.3

  800

  Bath and NE Somerset

  48.2

  13.8

  267

  £000

  Number

  LEA

  Total allocation for LEA maintained schools 1998–99

  Total allocation for maintained schools 1999–2000

  801

  City of Bristol

  97.5

  27.8

  802

  North Somerset

  49.0

  14.0

  803

  South Gloucestershire

  74.6

  21.3

  805

  Hartlepool

  30.5

  8.7

  806

  Middlesbrough

  46.6

  13.3

  807

  Redcar and Cleveland

  47.3

  13.5

  808

  Stockton-on-Tees

  58.1

  16.6

  810

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  81.2

  23.2

  811

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  98.4

  28.6

  812

  North East Lincolnshire

  48.1

  13.8

  813

  North Lincolnshire

  50.0

  14.3

  815

  North Yorkshire

  218

  62.4

  816

  York

  46.4

  13.3

  820

  Bedfordshire

  69.8

  22.1

  821

  Luton

  40.1

  14.0

  825

  Buckinghamshire

  113.7

  35.3

  826

  Milton Keynes

  51.5

  15.4

  830

  Derbyshire

  227.9

  67.4

  831

  Derby

  56.0

  17.2

  835

  Dorset

  85.5

  25.5

  836

  Poole

  26.3

  7.7

  837

  Bournemouth

  26.9

  8.2

  840

  Durham

  172.1

  49.2

  841

  Darlington

  28.2

  8.1

  845

  East Sussex

  127.8

  36.5

  846

  Brighton and Hove

  50.2

  14.3

  850

  Hampshire

  306.9

  91.4

  851

  Portsmouth

  37.9

  11.7

  852

  Southampton

  48.5

  13.8

  855

  Leicestershire

  167.6

  50.2

  856

  Leicester

  78.5

  22.6

  857

  Rutland

  11.3

  3.5

  860

  Staffordshire

  241.7

  70.0

  861

  Stoke-on-Trent

  74.5

  21.3

  865

  Wiltshire

  126.7

  41.1

  866

  Swindon

  49.5

  15.0

  867

  Bracknell Forest

  27.2

  7.8

  868

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  30.5

  8.7

  869

  West Berkshire

  46.4

  13.5

  870

  Reading

  34.8

  9.9

  871

  Slough

  19.5

  8.0

  872

  Wokingham

  40.5

  11.6

  873

  Cambridgeshire

  148.2

  44.2

  874

  Peterborough

  48.7

  14.2

  875

  Cheshire

  214.3

  62.2

  876

  Halton

  44.9

  12.8

  877

  Warrington

  62.8

  18.0

  878

  Devon

  228.7

  65.4

  879

  Plymouth

  70.2

  20.1

  880

  Torbay

  29.4

  8.7

  881

  Essex

  305.4

  105.5

  882

  Southend-on-Sea

  29.9

  10.4

  883

  Thurrock

  37.9

  11.3

  884

  Herefordshire

  62.5

  17.9

  885

  Worcestershire

  120.3

  35.7

  886

  Kent

  353

  109.9

  887

  Medway Towns

  68.9

  19.7

  888

  Lancashire

  404

  116.6

  889

  Blackburn with Darwen

  49.7

  14.6

  890

  Blackpool

  34.6

  9.9

  891

  Nottinghamshire

  220.7

  63.6

  892

  Nottingham City

  79.3

  22.7

  393

  Shropshire

  94.4

  27.9

  894

  Wrekin, The

  47.0

  13.7

  908

  Cornwall

  174.1

  49.9

  909

  Cumbria

  165.5

  52.5

  916

  Gloucestershire

  165.3

  52.8

  268

  £000

  Number

  LEA

  Total allocation for LEA maintained schools 1998–99

  Total allocation for maintained schools 1999–2000

  919

  Hertfordshire

  299.4

  88.9

  921

  Isle of Wight

  26.1

  7.5

  925

  Lincolnshire

  187.1

  61.4

  926

  Norfolk

  210.3

  63.9

  928

  Northamptonshire

  167.4

  52.0

  929

  Northumberland

  68.9

  19.7

  931

  Oxfordshire

  171.9

  49.3

  933

  Somerset

  143.2

  41.7

  935

  Suffolk

  165.7

  47.3

  936

  Surrey

  199.9

  62.5

  937

  Warwickshire

  136.5

  49.4

  938

  West Sussex

  169.0

  48.8

  England

  13,532.1

  4,000.0

  Note:

  GM schools have been allocated £470,000 for financial year 1998–99 which will be administered through the Funding Agency for Schools, and thereafter through the Local Education Authority.

  Primary Schools
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has commissioned into the effectiveness of(a) integrated curriculum work and (b) subject specialist teaching in improving children's learning in primary schools. [69793]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The Department has not recently commissioned research on the effectiveness of integrated curriculum work. But the current guidance on Key Stage 2 curriculum planning produced by the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority (now QCA) in 1995 addresses this issue. The frameworks for teaching literacy and numeracy produced by the Department, together with model schemes of work give the flexibility to plan through integrated themes based on the programmes of study.

  The Teacher Training Agency has recently published reports of research on both effective teachers of literacy and effective teachers of numeracy. These reports and evidence from primary school inspections suggests that subject knowledge is a significant factor in improving children's learning, but that this need not always be taught through subject specialist teaching or by subject specialist teachers.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will reduce the distance between primary schools which is used as the criterion for considering provision of additional accommodation; and if he will make a statement.[70192]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department will shortly be seeking views from local education authorities on the arrangements for the schools capital expenditure programme in 2000–01. One of the areas likely to be covered is Basic Need.
  269

  Grants (Devon)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what grants have been made, or are planned to be made, by his Department to Devon County Council in addition to revenue support grant in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [69365]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Details of the grants, in addition to revenue support grant, made available, by the Department for Education and Employment to Devon County Council in 1997–98 and 1998–99 and planned to be made in 1999–2000 are shown in the following tables. From 1 April 1998, Torbay and Plymouth became separate unitary authorities, the figures across the first two years are therefore not directly comparable. The allocation of the grants for New Deal for Schools and the reduction of class sizes for 1999–2000 have not yet been made. For the Standards Fund the figures shown include the grant made by the Department and the contribution made by the local education authority.

  Grants made available to Devon County Council in 1997–98

  Allocation

  Grant title

  £

  Standards Fund

  School Effectiveness

  2,805,300

  National Curriculum Assessment—Verification KS1

  117,900

  National Curriculum Assessment—Supply Cover KS1

  228,400

  Training for KS2 Teacher Assessment

  131,300

  KS3 Non-core Teacher Assessment

  43,100

  Primary Teachers' Subject Knowledge

  354,400

  Special Educational Needs

  369,900

  Qualifications—GNVQ Provision

  270,900

  Qualifications—Part One GNVQ Pilot

  159,500

  Truancy

  137,000

  Disruptive and Disaffected Pupils

  246,200

  Pupil Behaviour and Discipline

  246,700

  Bilingual Pupils

  45,300

  Drug Prevention and Schools

  80,000

  Training for Careers Teachers

  15,000

  Youth Service

  31,600

  National Professional Qualification for Headship

  87,600

  School Security

  436,300

  Child Protection

  26,800

  Specialist Schools

  626,400

  Specialist Teacher Assistants

  56,900

  Baseline Assessment

  193,900

  Private Finance Initiative

  75,000

  Primary Performance Tables

  11,700

  Books for Schools

  497,589

  New Deal for Schools

  New Deal for Schools

  965,716

  Total

  8,260,405

  Grants made available in 1998–99 to Devon County Council

  Allocation

  Grant title

  £

  Standards Fund

  School Effectiveness

  2,093,331

  School Leadership: NPQH

  125,043

  School Leadership: Serving Heads

  53,590

  Induction for Newly-Qualified Teachers

  72,938

  Early Years Training and Development

  199,325

  Reduction of Infant Class Sizes

  1,000,000

  Capital Work to reduce class sizes

  523,479

  Baseline Assessment

  147,796

  Assessment: Verification KS1

  41,344

  270

  Grants made available in 1998–99 to Devon County Council

  Allocation

  Grant title

  £

  Assessment: Supply Cover

  160,334

  Training for KS2 Teacher Assessment

  89,691

  Effective use of National Curriculum Results

  91,155

  National Literacy Strategy—Primary

  741,622

  Summer Literacy Schools

  20,000

  Family Literacy

  42,000

  Special Educational Needs

  273,004

  Qualifications: GNVQ, AS/A Level, Key Skills etc.

  167,986

  Qualifications: Part One GNVQ Pilot

  55,000

  Work Related Learning at KS4

  50,000

  Improving Attendance

  161,650

  Improving Behaviour

  185,650

  Improving Attendance and Behaviour

  148,400

  Behaviour and Discipline Projects

  94,300

  Drug Prevention

  88,844

  Youth service

  24,549

  School Security

  291,753

  Specialist Schools

  646,100

  Specialist Teacher Assistants

  19,825

  National Grid for Learning

  978,576

  Summer Numeracy Schools

  9,975

  Beacon Schools

  25,000

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  12,000

  Specialist Educational Needs Regional Coordination Pilot Projects

  55,000

  Books for Schools

  346,045

  Children's Parliament

  840

  Year 6 Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes

  228,748

  Numeracy Consultants and Leading Maths Teachers

  9,350

  Removal of Outside Toilets

  972,035

  Energy Management

  175,450

  Portable CD-ROM Systems for Special Educational

  Needs Coordinators

  44,000

  New Deal for Schools

  New Deal for Schools

  1,287,500

  Total

  11,753,228

  Grants made available to Devon County Council in 1999–2000

  Allocation

  Grant title

  £

  Standards Fund

  School Improvement

  3,308,308

  National Professional Qualification for Headship

  276,170

  School Leadership: Serving Headteachers

  118,359

  Local Recruitment Measures

  130,540

  Early Years Training and Development

  202,970

  National Literacy Strategy—Primary

  608,061

  Summer Literacy Schools and Literacy at Key Stage 3

  122,500

  National Numeracy Strategy—Primary

  774,653

  Summer Numeracy Schools

  20,000

  Family Literacy

  42,000

  Family Numeracy

  20,000

  Lifelong Learning Development Plans

  94,081

  Qualifications

  187,519

  Work Related Learning at Key Stage 4

  37,500

  Special Educational Needs

  407,639

  Social Inclusion: Pupil Support

  420,308

  Drug Prevention

  98,133

  Youth Service

  25,945

  National Grid for Learning

  1,212,754

  School Security

  308,352

  Beacon Schools

  37,500

  Travellers and Displaced Persons

  259,208

  Ethnic Minority Achievement

  17,597

  Access Fund for Post-16 Pupils in Schools

  43,412

  Year 6 Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes

  65,357

  Total

  8,838,866

  271

  Male Teachers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department has taken to encourage male teachers to teach in primary and junior schools; and if he will make a statement. [69807]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government recognise the problem of under-representation of men in primary teaching. The Teacher Training Agency has asked all providers of initial teacher training courses to set themselves targets to focus their efforts to recruit more men into teacher training, and to produce action plans stating how they will work towards that goal.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1998,Official Report, columns 385–88, if he will list the values of the bids made by local education authorities before 20 November 1998 for capital expenditure to meet the Government's class size pledge. [70281]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The values of applications for capital funding to meet the class sizes pledge are listed in the following table by local education authority. These figures refer to the 1999–2000 bidding round.

  Applications for capital funding to reduce infant class sizes: 1999–2000

  £

  Local Education Authority

  Grant applied for

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,021,950

  Barnet

  75,280

  Barnsley

  903,398

  Bath and North East Somerset

  699,773

  Bedfordshire

  1,982,910

  Bexley

  176,000

  Birmingham

  1,817,919

  Blackburn

  956,063

  Blackpool

  1,018,480

  Bolton

  1,650,877

  Bournemouth

  4,145,060

  Bracknell Forest

  511,985

  Bradford

  —

  Brent

  74,116

  Brighton and Hove

  1,343,140

  Bristol, City of

  17,137,900

  Bromley

  1,307,750

  Buckinghamshire

  2,379,512

  Bury

  187,014

  Calderdale

  383,040

  Cambridgeshire

  936,968

  Camden

  177,660

  Cheshire

  1,847,270

  City of London

  —

  Cornwall

  2,451,424

  Coventry

  375,237

  Croydon

  1,719,140

  Cumbria

  1,061,200

  Darlington

  354,468

  Derby City

  847,369

  Derbyshire

  14,646,713

  Devon

  838,741

  Doncaster

  702,320

  Dorset

  745,674

  Dudley

  1,001,566

  Durham

  2,131,524

  Ealing

  720,000

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  2,475,600

  East Sussex

  1,154,895

  Enfield

  1,130,631

  Essex

  2,074,491

  272

  Applications for capital funding to reduce infant class sizes: 1999–2000

  £

  Local Education Authority

  Grant applied for

  Gateshead

  27,000

  Gloucestershire

  1,536,092

  Greenwich

  319,641

  Hackney

  —

  Halton

  360,000

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  Hampshire

  1,422,390

  Haringey

  —

  Harrow

  —

  Hartlepool

  213,625

  Havering

  305,257

  Herefordshire

  1,560,742

  Hertfordshire

  1,059,636

  Hillingdon

  1,140,800

  Hounslow

  712,247

  Isle of Wight

  983,156

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  Islington

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  Kent

  2,939,900

  Kingston upon Hull

  488,911

  Kingston upon Thames

  5,172,532

  Kirklees

  1,778,839

  Knowsley

  77,784

  Lambeth

  1,237,999

  Lancashire

  4,643,666

  Leeds

  1,442,077

  Leicester City

  805,207

  Leicestershire

  1,022,431

  Lewisham

  —

  Lincolnshire

  947,600

  Liverpool

  395,115

  Luton

  795,000

  Manchester

  602,412

  Medway Towns

  434,769

  Meiton

  2,225,845

  Middlesbrough

  —

  Milton Keynes

  1,655,500

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  820,230

  Newham

  987,500

  Norfolk

  1,298,079

  North East Lincolnshire

  684,275

  North Lincolnshire

  220,036

  North Somerset

  350,875

  North Tyneside

  454,537

  North Yorkshire

  5,325,000

  Northamptonshire

  1,297,585

  Northumberland

  1,404,162

  Nottingham City

  497,382

  Nottinghamshire

  4,172,246

  Oldham

  1,722,164

  Oxfordshire

  3,535,063

  Peterborough

  1,612,494

  Plymouth

  —

  Poole

  492,330

  Portsmouth

  1,163,659

  Reading

  424,837

  Redbridge

  1,576,000

  Redcar and Cleveland

  402,000

  Richmond Upon Thames

  1,690,345

  Rochdale

  888,260

  Rotherham

  2,985,060

  Rutland

  —

  Salford

  336,772

  Sandwell

  294,467

  Sefton

  918,283

  Sheffield

  54,000

  Shropshire

  265,000

  Slough

  918,120

  Solihull

  1,545,500

  Somerset

  2,799,840

  South Gloucestershire

  1,790,718

  South Tyneside

  —.

  273

  Applications for capital funding to reduce infant class sizes: 1999–2000

  £

  Local Education Authority

  Grant applied for

  Southampton

  204,333

  Southend on Sea

  1,293,700

  Southwark

  1,242,500

  St. Helens

  1,152,256

  Staffordshire

  1,255,580

  Stockport

  2,064,682

  Stockton on Tees

  258,200

  Stoke on Trent

  1,859,575

  Suffolk

  1,000,500

  Sunderland

  292,980

  Surrey

  1,316,980

  Sutton

  421,525

  Swindon

  —

  Tameside

  1,378,675

  Telford and Wrekin

  116,580

  Thurrock

  452,798

  Torbay

  1,801,628

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  Trafford

  526,663

  Wakefield

  1,234,946

  Walsall

  690,854

  Waltham Forest

  825,280

  Wandsworth

  249,375

  Warrington

  1,996,116

  Warwickshire

  478,859

  West Berkshire

  1,574,513

  West Sussex

  1,348,275

  Westminster

  —

  Wigan

  1,244,728

  Wiltshire

  1,439,440

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  519,600

  Wirral

  938,966

  Wokingham

  1,083,470

  Wolverhampton

  1,710,044

  Worcestershire

  1,304,523

  York, City of

  434,730

  Grant Maintained Schools

  4,007,398

  National Totals

  192,118,323

  Northumberland County Council
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what grants have been made by his Department to Northumberland County Council in addition to revenue support grant in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [70217]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Details of the grants, in addition to revenue support grant, made available, by the Department for Education and Employment to Northumberland County Council in 1997–98 and 1998–99 are shown in the following tables. For the Standards Fund, the figures shown include the grant made by the Department and the contribution made by the local education authority.

  Grants made available to Northumberland County Council in 1997–98

  £

  Grant title

  Allocation

  Standards Fund

  School Effectiveness

  1,082,600

  National Curriculum Assessment—Verification KS1

  64,100

  National Curriculum Assessment—Supply Cover KS1

  78,300

  Training for Key Stage 2 Teacher Assessment

  41,200

  Key Stage 3 Non-core Teacher Assessment

  13,500

  274

  Grants made available to Northumberland County Council in 1997–98

  £

  Grant title

  Allocation

  Special Educational Needs

  103,600

  Qualifications—GNVQ Provision

  131,400

  Qualifications—Part One GNVQ Pilot

  34,000

  Disruptive and Disaffected Pupils

  125,800

  Bilingual Pupils

  7,800

  Drug Prevention and Schools

  20,000

  National Professional Qualification for Headship

  42,000

  School Security

  168,400

  Child Protection

  5,100

  Specialist Schools

  286,900

  Specialist Teacher Assistants

  27,400

  Baseline Assessment

  64,800

  Primary Performance Tables

  5,000

  Books for Schools

  194,081

  New Deal for Schools

  New Deal for Schools

  496,250

  Total

  2,992,231

  Grants made available in 1998–99 to Northumberland County Council

  £

  Grant Title

  Allocation

  Standards Fund

  School Effectiveness

  1,209,921

  School Leadership: NPQH

  76,918

  School Leadership: Serving Heads

  25,639

  Induction for Newly-Qualified Teachers

  42,158

  Early Years Training and Development

  47,250

  Reduction of Infant Class Sizes

  324,000

  Capital Work to reduce class sizes

  224,000

  Baseline Assessment

  71,674

  Assessment: Verification KS1

  27,648

  Assessment: Supply Cover

  79,989

  Training for KS2 Teacher Assessment

  48,010

  Effective use of National Curriculum Results

  52,334

  National Literacy Strategy—Primary

  295,894

  Summer Literacy Schools

  17,000

  Family Literacy

  13,960

  Special Educational Needs

  93,621

  Qualifications: GNVQ, AS/A Level, Key Skills etc.

  145,950

  Qualifications: Part One GNVQ Pilot

  12,000

  Work Related Learning at KS4

  50,000

  Improving Attendance

  43,100

  Drug Prevention

  42,939

  Youth Service

  12,961

  School Security

  168,630

  Specialist Schools

  325,100

  Specialist Teacher Assistants

  3,100

  Travel to Study Support Centres

  1,880

  National Grid for Learning

  489,288

  Early Excellence Centres (Revenue)

  48,820

  Beacon Schools

  64,000

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  60,000

  Books for Schools

  193,472

  Children's Parliament

  100

  Year 6 Literacy & Numeracy Booster Classes

  68,901

  Numeracy Consultants & Leading Maths Teachers

  3,300

  Removal of Outside Toilets

  237,455

  Energy Management

  102,500

  Portable CD-ROM Systems for Special Education Needs Coordinators

  24,000

  New Deal for Schools

  New Deal for Schools

  1,881,600

  Early Excellence Centres (Capital)

  34,700

  Total

  6,663,813

  275

  Competitive Bidding
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many of his Department's initiatives relating to schools announced to date for (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000 include opportunities for competitive bidding by(a) education action zone, (b) the Funding Agency for Schools and (c) others, excluding local education authorities; [63536]

  (2) how many of his Department's initiatives relating to schools announced for the year 1997–98 included opportunities for competitive bidding by (a) education action zones, (b) the Funding Agency for Schools and (c) others, excluding local education authorities. [63657]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 14 December 1998]: In 1998–99 education action zones were able to bid for funding for work related learning and the special early years programme. From 1999–2000 these programmes will be incorporated within the education action zones budget and bid for as a separate competitive exercise. Education action zones did not come into existence until after the 1997–98 bidding round.

  Since 1997–98 the Funding Agency for Schools has been able to bid for phases 1 and 2 of the Early Excellence Centre pilot programme.

  Information on the number of competitive bids open to other bodies is not held centrally.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment of the initiatives in 1998–99 involving competitive bidding from local education authorities, including education action zones, and the equivalent initiatives from 1999–2000, how many bids by each of the education action zones were(a) made and (b) successful. [63311]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  There have been no programmes in which Education Action Forums (EAFs) have competed with local education authorities. Unlike LEAs, EAFs do not bid for Standards Fund grant, or for New Deal for Schools capital. Of course, schools within EAZs can still benefit from these programmes through LEA bids. EAZs have been able to bid for work-related learning and Early Years in a separate exercise funded from the EAZ programme budget. In future years these activities will be funded from EAZs' own budgets.

  Working Time Directive (Playgroups)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with playgroup associations on the Working Time Directive; what help he intends to provide for such groups in obeying the directive; and if he will make a statement. [69504]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]I have been asked to reply.

  Ministers at the DTI have not had discussions with playgroup associations about the Working Time Directive, although Ministers have received a number of letters from playgroups. DTI published guidance for all employers and workers on the Working Time Regulations in August 1998.
  276

SCOTLAND

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government are taking to improve the(a) co-ordination and (b) promotion of crime prevention initiatives. [69403]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Scottish Office Crime Prevention Unit has responsibility for co-ordinating crime prevention in Scotland. This is done in collaboration with Scottish police forces, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and a wide range of national agencies.

  On 16 June 1998, I announced to the Scottish Grand Committee a new community safety strategy for Scotland—"Safer Communities Through Partnership—A Strategy for Action". The Strategy for Action, which was jointly agreed by The Scottish Office, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, is designed to reduce crime and improve community safety through well co-ordinated partnerships between public, private and voluntary bodies.

  I welcome the fact that a number of partnerships have already been formed. To support this, The Scottish Office will publish, in May, comprehensive guidance to assist in the development of such partnerships. It will include examples of current good practice.

  The Scottish Office constantly promotes crime prevention initiatives. The latest example is a renewed campaign against domestic violence.

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

  Police
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department has issued concerning arrangements for consultation between the police and the local community in each police force area; and if he will make a statement. [69626]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Justice Charter for Scotland requires police forces to consult their local communities and take their views into account when setting standards of service and deciding priorities. In addition, guidance was issued to police forces in March 1998 about the way in which "User Surveys" should be designed to measure public opinion on the police service. I am satisfied that police forces in Scotland fully appreciate the value of local consultation; have the necessary arrangements in place to engage with the public; and use the consultation process to inform their decisions on policing policy and priorities.

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

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the annual cost of reducing class sizes to 30 or under for pupils in primary years(a) four, (b) five, (c) six and (d) seven; and if he will make a statement. [69415]
  277
  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The table provides an estimate of the additional marginal annual primary teaching costs of reducing classes in primary schools by stage.

  Education authority primary schools in Scotland Marginal annual recurrent teaching costs associated with reducing the maximum single stage class size to 30 by each additional stage, September 1997

  Additional Stage 1

  Marginal Costs (£ million)

  P4

  2.9

  P5

  3.7

  P6

  3.2

  P7

  3.8

  1 Based on the number of pupils in each school, as recorded in the September 1997 School Census.

  These figures show the cost of employing an additional teacher for each new class likely to be created because of a reduction in the class size maximum. In each case, the figure assumes that all earlier stages have been reduced to a maximum of 30 pupils and that current general arrangements in place with respect to composite classes continue. These figures do not include an assessment of the additional capital costs of providing new classrooms.

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

  Specialist Colleges
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he has taken of the conclusions of the Sutherland report on the funding of smaller and specialist colleges in England when deciding on the funding allocation to (i) Edinburgh College of Art, (ii) Glasgow School of Art and (iii) the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. [69740]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Allocation of funding to individual Higher Education Institutions including the Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Academy of Music and Drama is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. The Council was aware of the findings of the Sutherland Report in making decisions on funding. However, as the report related to small institutions in England, and the SHEFC unit of resource for Arts, Design & the Performing Arts is substantially higher than that for Drama, Music and Art in England, the Council decided it would not be appropriate to award a funding premium.

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

  Modern Studies
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish secondary schools do not offer modern studies as a subject. [69734]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information available is based on the actual take-up of modern studies in schools rather than the number of schools that offer modern studies. Information on the latter is not held centrally. The table shows the estimated number and proportion of publicly funded secondary schools in which modern studies was not taught in September 1997. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  278

  Total number of schools

  Proportion 1 of schools in which modern studies was not taught %

  Estimated1 number of schools in which modern studies was not taught

  S1

  400

  39

  155

  S2

  400

  33

  130

  S3

  390

  29

  113

  S4

  390

  26

  100

  S5/S6

  380

  17

  63

  1 Based on response rates of 82 per cent, for SI to S4 and 49 per cent, for S5/S6

  Primary Schools (Consultants)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to phase out visiting specialist teachers in primary schools and replace them with consultants. [69735]

  Mrs. Liddell
  We have no such proposals. The deployment of teachers in primary schools is a matter for education authorities.

  As from 1 July this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Fiscal Fines
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are given to procurators fiscal about the use of fiscal fines. [70187]

  Mr. McLeish
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, who is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, informs me that guidelines have been issued to procurators fiscal to ensure a consistent approach to the use of fiscal fines and to encourage them to make more extensive use of this alternative to prosecution in the district court. The details of those guidelines form part of prosecution policy and are confidential.

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

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change in the guidance about which cases should go to the Sheriff Court and which to the district court has been issued in the last five years. [70188]

  Mr. McLeish
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland. Guidance to procurators fiscal has been issued following legislative provisions which have introduced variable and increased levels of fiscal fines; extended the jurisdiction and powers of the courts; and created new offences and penalties. Further guidance has been issued to procurators fiscal to ensure a consistent approach to the use of fiscal fines and to encourage them to make more extensive use of this alternative to prosecution in the district court. He informs me that the choice of court is determined by considerations of jurisdiction, the gravity of the offence, the offender's record and the likely penalty. The details of the guidance issued to procurators fiscal about prosecution policy are confidential.

  From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
  279
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the overall number of fiscal fines in each of the sheriffdoms in Scotland in each of the years since they were introduced. [70186]

  Year

  Grampian, Highland and Islands

  Tayside, Central and Fife

  Lothian and Borders

  North Strathclyde

  South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

  Glasgow and Strathkelvin

  1988

  2,393

  1,210

  860

  1,984

  1,809

  1,048

  1989

  2,359

  2,363

  1,912

  3,450

  3,509

  1,963

  1990–91

  2,091

  3,898

  1,875

  3,614

  3,163

  2,188

  1991–92

  1,908

  3,048

  2,191

  2,955

  2,918

  2,038

  1992–93

  2,221

  4,101

  1,714

  3,142

  3,242

  3,934

  1993–94

  1,785

  3,098

  1,859

  2,437

  3,123

  3,278

  1994–95

  1,946

  3,370

  1,442

  2,003

  3,517

  3,768

  1995–96

  1,863

  2,367

  1,538

  1,570

  2,862

  5,854

  1996–97

  2,330

  2,565

  1,253

  1,839

  3,589

  3,562

  1997–98

  2,136

  3,003

  1,582

  2,651

  4,088

  5,501

  1998–99

  2,280

  2,172

  1,104

  2,032

  2,938

  3,580

  Notes

  1. The figures for 1988 and 1989 are for calendar years.

  2. The figures for the first quarter of 1990 are not included.

  3. Prior to April 1996 inconsistencies in the method of recording statistics for fiscal fines existed.

  4. The figures for the financial year 1998–99 relate to the period to December 1998.

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

  Eye and Dental Check-ups (Charges)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the annual cost of abolishing charges for(a) eye and (b) dental check-ups in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [70352]

  Mr. Galbraith
  NHS sight test are available free of charge to eligible patients. It is estimated that the re-introduction of universally free NHS sight tests in Scotland would cost a minimum of £14 million annually. Free NHS sight tests for people aged 60 and over will be introduced from April

  At present, patients who are not eligible for free NHS dental services or for help with the costs of these pay 80 per cent. of the examination or treatment fee directly to the dentist. It is estimated that the re-introduction of universally free NHS dental examinations in Scotland would cost a minimum of £4.5 million

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

  NHS Trusts (Wage Rises)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are, for each NHS trust in Scotland,(a) the amount budgeted for wage rises for the next financial year, (b) the percentage increase for staff not covered by pay review boards, by category and (c) the amount which will be required to fund the new salary levels; and what plans he has to provide additional funds to ensure trusts are able to provide salary increases and protect planned projects. [70349]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Information on individual trusts' pay assumptions is not held centrally. No specific sum has been provided for wage rises in the NHS in Scotland for the next financial year. However, the uplift of 4.25 per cent. in general allocations made available to health boards in
  280
  Mr. McLeish
  The number of criminal reports concluded by way of a fiscal fine in each of the sheriffdoms in Scotland are as follows:

  1999–2000 is sufficient to meet the costs of providing health care including pay. The cost of meeting the Review Bodies' recommendations is estimated to be £89 million. No additional funds have been made available for pay. However, an additional tranche of modernisation funding amounting to £20 million has been made available. The NHS in Scotland has been fully funded to meet the costs of the pay awards and to continue with the modernisation agenda. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Overseas Travel
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on overseas travel for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02. [69252]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 4 February 1999]: Information on overseas travel in The Scottish Office is not held separately and cannot be disaggregated from total expenditure on travel without disproportionate costs in staff time. Overseas travel for future years is not estimated separately.

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

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Tacis (Unpaid Invoices)
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received about problems caused to United Kingdom companies by unpaid invoices to the EU for work undertaken as part of the Tacis Programmes; and what initiatives she is taking to resolve these problems. [70094]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Late payment of Tacis invoices is a serious problem for UK companies, which the Government are working to help solve.
  281
  My department maintains a regular dialogue with the British Consultants Bureau (BCB) on this subject. I met BCB representatives at the end of last year. The Chief Executive of the Association of Consulting Engineers wrote to me about the issue two weeks ago. Individual companies have also contacted my department, the DTI and the FCO.

  Ministers and senior officials raised the issue with the European Commission on numerous occasions in the latter part of last year. We have received some indications that the overall situation has since started to improve. This is a Commission management issue, and immediate improvements in efficiency should be possible. In the longer term the Government are supporting the Commission's plan to bring forward a harmonised contracting regulation simplifying procedures for all external aid programmes, and pressing for reform to the EC Financial Regulation, which sets out procedures for the payment of invoices which are unduly onerous in some cases. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish her Department's collation and assessment of responses to each of the Government's public consultations. [69766]

  Clare Short
  My Department held for the first time last year a series of Development Policy Forums, with wide participation from outside groups across the UK. We are about to publish a report on the process as we promised. This will include consolidated comments and recommendations from participants and a Departmental response.

  We have also consulted widely in preparing all our Country and other Strategy Papers, which set out how we aim to contribute to achieving the International Development Targets through our work with partnership countries and international institutions. All these papers have been or are being published—18 have been published to date—and include a record of the individual consultation processes. Country strategy papers have not previously been published by the predecessor department.

  Additionally, we have undertaken a review of our relationship with Civil Society, involving discussion with a broad range of groups in the UK and overseas. A copy of the report of the process is about to be sent to all who contributed as well as being made available more widely.

  TB
  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department currently gives to help developing countries combat TB. [70169]

  Clare Short
  TB accounts for a significant proportion of the global burden of disease, particularly amongst the poorest. Its control is a crucial component of the Department for International Development's (DFID) health strategy. Over the last two years, DFID has programmed nearly £26 million directly for TB work. This has been primarily at country level to establish well functioning Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) programmes and to develop the contribution of 282
  the private and voluntary sectors to TB prevention and treatment. Priority countries include India (where a commitment of £20.5 million was made in 1998), Malawi, Russia, Nepal and Uganda. DFID has contributed £1 million to the World Health Organisation Global TB programme, and funded approximately £1.5 million of UK research.

  Western Sahara
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid is given by the European Union to Western Sahara; and what is the cost to the United Kingdom's European Union budget contribution. [69900]

  Clare Short
  The European Union plans to spend 10 million euro from July to December 1999 on humanitarian aid to Saharawi refugees. The exact UK share of EU spending is determined retrospectively but the estimated forecast UK share will be approximately 1.97 million euro, or £1.46 million.

  Morocco
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom's European Union budget contribution of European Union aid given to Morocco in the last year. [69899]

  Clare Short
  In 1997, the latest year for which figures are available, the cost was £18.37 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  Operation Desert Fox
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the letter from his private secretary of 20 January, to the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, what discussions he has held with the UN on the impact of military action under Operation Desert Fox on the humanitarian situation. [68684]

  The Prime Minister
  As my Private Secretary said in his letter of 20 January, the UN, in a briefing to the Secretary Council on 14 January, confirmed that the impact of Operation Desert Fox on the humanitarian situation was limited.

  On 30 January the Security Council agreed to the establishment of 3 Panels to discuss Iraq issues. One of these will address the humanitarian situation in Iraq. We hope that the Government of Iraq co-operates with the UN's humanitarian work.

  Engagements
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 10 February. [68689]

  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.
  283

  Commissioner for Public Appointments
  Mr. Fabian Hamilton
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the appointment of a new Commissioner for Public Appointments. [70769]

  The Prime Minister
  Her Majesty in Council has today approved the appointment of Dame Rennie Fritchie as Sir Len Peach's successor as Commissioner for Public Appointments. Dame Rennie, who will also be appointed as a Civil Service Commissioner, will take up office from 1 March 1999.

  Sir Len Peach will continue to serve as Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. I am sure that all Members of the House would wish me to express their appreciation for the manner in which Sir Len has carried out his responsibilities over the past three years. He has made a major contribution to raising standards in public appointments.

  Ministerial Flights
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the flights taken by(a) himself and (b) other ministers on Concorde since 2 May 1997. [67984]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer I February 1999]: The Ministerial Code requires Ministers to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

  In line with this guidance and the practice of the previous Administration, I and 8 of my Ministers have taken scheduled Concorde flights on a total of 14 occasions. This compares with 11 Ministers on a total of 13 occasions during the last two years of the previous Administration.

  In addition, as accounted for in answers to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 14 July 1997, Official Report, column 46, and the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant) on 13 March 1998, Official Report, columns 366–67, I have also chartered Concorde, as did my predecessor.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Insley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits at current prices(a) for the financial years (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96 and (iv) 1996–97 and (b) over the period (1) 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 and (2) from 1 April 1998 to date. [70189]

  The Prime Minister
  Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1993–94

  6.5

  1994–95

  6.6

  1995–96

  6.9

  1996–97

  7.8

  1 May 1997–31 March 1998

  6.1

  1 April–31 December 1998

  4.0

  The figures for 1993–94,1994–95 and 1995–96 do not include some expenditure falling to the Scottish Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Office where the information is not available. Full costs are available from
  284
  1996–97 onwards. All figures are in 1997–98 prices. The figure for the period 1 April to 31 December 1998 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the division of responsibilities between(a) the Minister for the Cabinet Office and (b) the Secretary to the Cabinet. [69492]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office assists me and Ministerial colleagues in the implementation and co-ordination of Government policy and its effective presentation. He is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's policies against drug misuse; for discharging, on a day-to-day basis, my responsibilities as Minister for the Civil Service; and for delivering the Modernising Government agenda. He oversees the work of the five Cabinet Office Agencies and the Central Office of Information. As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, he is responsible to Her Majesty the Queen for the general administration of the Duchy.

  As under previous Governments, the Secretary of the Cabinet is principal official adviser to the Prime Minister, and supervises official support for the collective decision-making process. He is also Head of the Home Civil Service.

  Former Soviet Union (Nuclear Reactors)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what assistance the Government are giving to former Soviet Union countries to ensure that their nuclear reactors are millennium compliant. [69789]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: Last year, the Department of Trade and Industry commissioned a report specifically with a view to helping Central and Eastern European and former Soviet Union countries achieve millennium compliance in their civil nuclear power reactors. That report, entitled The Millennium Problem—Raising the Awareness of Nuclear Power Station Operators and Regulatory Authorities in Central and Eastern Europe, was translated into Russian and distributed to every nuclear plant and regulatory authority in the region. In addition the DTI has, so far, offered £62,000 towards the International Atomic Energy Agency's extra budgetary activities this year specifically pursuing the international effort to assist the countries concerned in their efforts to avoid Year 2000 problems and to carry out contingency planning.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Risk Material Controls
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to pass on the costs of specified risk material controls to producers. [68737]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard) on 14 January 1999,Official Report, column 291. The charges would be levied at slaughterhouses and cutting plants. The extent to which

  285
  these costs are passed on to primary producers is a commercial matter for the industry. The industry already bears the cost of removal and disposal of Specified Risk Material. We see no reason why the tax payer should bear the cost of enforcing these activities.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research the Government have commissioned into genetically modified grasses to be used for animal grazing; when the research will be completed; and if the results will be made public. [68772]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Ministry has not commissioned any research into the production of genetically modified grasses to be used for grazing. However, the Ministry has commissioned a desk study to assess the possible implications for agriculture should genetically modified grasses and legumes be introduced. The work is due to be completed in July 1999 and we would hope to make the final report available soon afterwards.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a levy to fund the Food Standards Agency from chain stores or stores over 10,000 sq ft. [69150]

  Mr. Rooker
  The proposals that we published for consultation on 27 January envisage a levy that would apply to all food retail and catering premises required to register under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 (as amended), with the exception of premises dealing in wrapped confectionery, soft drinks, crisps and similar wrapped products. While chain stores and stores over 10,000 sq ft. that fall within this definition would be liable for payment, the proposals do not contain any specific provisions relating to these types of premises.

  FEOGA
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the UK contribution in the current financial year to the FEOGA budget. [69323]

  Mr. Rooker
  The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole and not to one particular part. For the 1999 EU Budget, the UK's gross financing share before abatement is 18.15 per cent. FEOGA accounts for around 47 per cent. of the 1999 EC Budget. Of the FEOGA budget, just over 2 per cent. is spent on tobacco regime.

  Green Top Milk
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the basis for calculating the price to be charged to bed and breakfast outlets for testing green top milk; [70262]

  (2) what representations he has received on the impact of the cost of testing green top milk on small bed and breakfast outlets. [70263]

  Mr. Rooker
  The objective is to recover the full cost of carrying out this statutory microbiological sample testing work. The charges are expected to cover the costs of 286
  obtaining representative samples, laboratory analysis, IT and administration including invoicing and any debt recovery.

  I have not received any representations about the impact of charging on bed and breakfast outlets.

  Farmers (Bankruptcy)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of farmers have become bankrupt in each of the past five years. [69309]

  Mr. Rooker
  The table sets out the number of bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sectors in England and Wales between 1993 and 1998. During this period the total number of farmers, partners and directors in England and Wales has been in excess of 200,000. In each of these years therefore bankruptcies represented less than ½ per cent. of this total.

  Number of bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sectors: England and Wales 1993–98

  Year

  Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals

  Company 1 Insolvencies

  Total

  1993

  277

  157

  434

  1994

  231

  166

  397

  1995

  218

  99

  317

  1996

  168

  89

  257

  1997

  155

  51

  206

  19972 (January to June)

  88

  23

  111

  1998 (January to June)

  71

  30

  101

  1 Including partnerships

  2 Last 6 months figures unavailable for 1998. For comparison purposes half yearly figures for 1997 have also been provided

  Source

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Honeybees
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the import of honeybees of the Italian sub-species, apis mellifera ligustica. [69488]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 8 February 1999]: No. Apis mellifera ligustica is one of the most successful and commonly used honey bee strains in the commercial honey producing world. Since 1955, and probably earlier, thousands of consignments of ligustica have been imported by beekeepers into the UK each year.

  Abattoirs
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the impact on small abattoirs of the increased charges for specified risk material audit; and if he will make a statement. [70260]

  Mr. Rooker
  A number of representations have been received in response to the consultation document which was issued on 14 January. Final decisions on the proposed arrangements for recovering from industry the cost of enforcement by the Meat Hygiene Service of the controls on specified risk material will be taken once the consultation period ends on 12 February.
  287
  Copies of all the responses received will be available for public scrutiny in the main MAFF Library in Whitehall Place in due course, as is our normal practice.

  Quarantine
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent public consultation on quarantine reform; what changes he proposes; and when they will be introduced. [69373]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are considering the results of the public consultation on the recommendations made by the Kennedy Group. There has been a large number of replies (more than 3,700).

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the cost of meat inspection was increased in each 12 month period since the Meat Hygiene Service became operational; and what estimate he has made of cost to the industry for 1999. [68127]

  Mr. Rooker
  The total cost of the Meat Hygiene Service to the industry since the launch of the Agency in April 1995 has been:

  Year

  Cost (£ million)

  Percentage increase/decrease

  1995–96

  128.9

  —

  1996–97

  26.0

  11% decrease

  1997–98

  29.8

  15% increase

  1998–992

  33.1

  11% increase

  1 The total cost of the MHS in 1995–96 was £31.4 million. However, £2.5 million concerned transitional relief funded by government for the set up of the new Agency.

  2 Latest forecast

  From 1995–96 certain MHS enforcement costs, such as those for Specified Risk Material controls, were met by Government.

  The MHS budget for 1999–2000 is currently being prepared. Figures for 1999–2000 are therefore not yet available. However, after careful consideration, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced on 14 January 1999, Official Report, column 291, that the Government can no longer defer the introduction of charges to industry to cover the costs of SRM controls. It is proposed that these costs should be transferred from the taxpayer to industry from 29 March 1999. A consultation package on this proposal was issued on 14 January.

  Mink Farming
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during what hours Ministry officials were in attendance for the transport of mink on 22 December 1998 from Ponteland to Devon; and what charges were levied for their attendance. [68145]

  Mr. Morley
  Officials attended the mink at Ponteland on 21 December from 9.45 am to 11.00 am and from 12.30 pm up till their departure at 1.45 pm the same day. Officials also met the mink on arrival at the premises 288
  of destination at 11.55 pm, inspecting them for about 45 minutes. A further inspection was carried out at 1 pm the following afternoon (22 December). The work is not chargeable. Under the arrangements for licensing mink farms, the premises of destination are regarded as being in Cornwall.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how long the mink transported on 22 December 1998 from the mink factory farm at Ponteland remained in the lorry which transported them. [68144]

  Mr. Morley
  The journey was on 21 December. The time from loading the first mink at Ponteland to unloading the last animal at the premises of destination was 19 hours. The animals had access to water in each compartment and food was also carried in case of delay.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been allocated by Her Majesty's Government to opposition groups in Iraq. [68818]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have given humanitarian assistance to Kurdish groups in northern Iraq and Shia groups in southern Iraq.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many licences for the export of armaments to Indonesia have been agreed for each of the last five years. [68638]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 3 February 1999]: I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 9 February 1999, Official Report, column 202.

  Cossacks (Repatriation)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on public access to Public Record Office files relating to repatriation of Cossacks at the end of the Second World War. [69710]

  Ms Quin
  All FCO files more than 30 years old relating to repatriation of Cossacks are available for access at the Public Record Office.

  Public Consultations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to each of the Government's public consultations. [69778]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The FCO does not as a matter of course collate and assess responses to the Government's public consultations. To do so in order to reply to this question would involve disproportionate costs.
  289

  Burma
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to raise concerns about the situation of(a) the Karen and (b) other ethnic groups in Burma at the forthcoming session of the UN Human Rights Commission. [69809]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The UK, with EU Partners, will work for a tough resolution on Burma at the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, to highlight the abuse of ethnic minorities, including the Karen and press the military regime to stop violating human rights.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to encourage the Association of South East Asian nations to expel Burma from its membership. [69810]

  Mr. Fatchett
  ASEAN members are fully aware of our deep concern about the appalling human rights and political situation in Burma. We encourage them to use their influence on Burma.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to encourage the Thai Government(a) to permit the entry of refugees from Burma and (b) not to repatriate such refugees forcibly. [69808]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Our Embassy in Bangkok is in close touch with the Thai authorities, who are aware of our concerns about Burmese refugees on the Thai-Burma border. We welcome the agreement reached with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees which includes arrangements for admissions into refugee camps. The Thai authorities assure us that no refugees have been forcibly repatriated.

  Customs and Excise Searches
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times his Department's premises have been searched by HM Customs and Excise officers in connection with their investigations in the last five years.[69814]

  Mr. Fatchett
  HM Customs and Excise have never used their statutory powers to search FCO premises. There have been occasions during the course of HMCE investigations when they have examined FCO documents with the consent of the Department. But no central record of such examinations has been maintained either by HMCE or the FCO.

  Arms Embargoes
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1999,Official Report, columns 214–15, on arms embargoes, when each of (a) the listed UN resolutions and (b) the implementing Orders in Council were first circulated to the relevant British ambassadors. [69815]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The UK Mission in New York transmits the texts of United Nations Resolutions on adoption to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and relevant overseas posts.
  290
  As stated in my reply of 26 January, it was not normal practice prior to July 1998 to circulate details of the Orders in Council to the relevant High Commissions or Embassies.

  Western Sahara
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he has taken in pursuance of the implementation of the United Nation resolution relating to Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara, with particular reference to the provision for a referendum of the Saharawi people. [69897]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We fully support the United Nations' policy of holding a free and fair referendum in the Western Sahara. We are working to this end with our EU partners, within the Security Council and at the Friends of the Western Sahara Group in the UN. We urge the co-operation of all the parties involved with the UN Secretary-General's present initiative. We also regularly raise the Western Sahara in bilateral meetings, emphasising the need for achieving a just and lasting solution.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69972]

  (2) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner; [69907]

  (3) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69983]

  (4) which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement; [69834]

  (5) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69948]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The answer for advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the FCO is shown in the tables.
  291

  Executive NDPBs

  Diplomatic Service Appeals Board

  Advisory NDPBs Government Hospitality Fund

  Wilton Park Academic Council

  (a) Admit members of the public to all Board or Committee meetings?

  no

  no

  no

  (b) Hold public meetings?

  no

  no

  no

  (c) Have lay or consumer representatives on their Boards?

  no

  yes

  yes

  (d) Under Statutory requirement?

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Diplomatic Service Appeals Board

  Advisory NDPBs Government Hospitality Fund

  Wilton Park Academic Council

  Publish

  (a) Minutes of meetings?

  yes

  no

  no

  (b) Agendas for meetings and documents for these meetings?

  yes

  no

  no

  (c) A register of members interests?

  yes

  yes

  no

  (d) Under statutory requirements?

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  British Council

  Britain Russia Centre

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  Commonwealth Institute

  GB China Centre

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  (a) Admit members of the public to all Board or Committee meetings?

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  (b) Hold public meetings?

  no1

  no

  no

  no

  yes2

  no

  no

  (c) Have lay or consumer representatives on their Boards?

  yes

  no

  yes

  yes

  yes

  yes

  yes

  (d) Operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure?

  yes

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  (e) and if so, is this under a statutory requirement?

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  no

  n/a

  no

  n/a

  1 Only the AGM is an open meeting

  2 Held once a month: the AGM is also open to the public

  British Council

  Britain Russia Centre

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  Commonwealth Institute

  GB China Centre

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  Publish

  (a) Minutes of meetings?

  no

  no

  no

  no3

  no

  no

  no

  (b) Agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings?

  no

  no

  no

  no3

  no

  no

  no

  (c) A register of members interests?

  no

  no

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  no

  (d) Is it a statutory requirement?

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  no

  n/a

  no

  n/a

  3 Available for public reference in the Commonwealth Resource Centre

  British Council

  Britain Russia Centre

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  Commonwealth Institute

  GB China Centre

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  (a) Which of the executive NDPBs have a statutory base?

  no

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  yes

  no

  (b) Which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner?

  yes

  yes

  no

  no4

  no4

  no4

  no4

  4 These NDPBs are due to be brought within the Parliamentary Ombudsmans jurisdiction by means of an Order in Council to be laid in February 1999

  Venezuela
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby, who are imprisoned in Venezuela, in the last three months. [70001]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, received a letter from my hon. Friend in December 1998 about his constituent James Miles. My noble Friend replied on 5 January 1999.
  292
  Officials in the Consular Division of the FCO are in regular contact by telephone and letter with James Miles' and Paul Losebys' parents.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) the British Ambassador to Venezuela and (b) a representative from the British Embassy last visited Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. [700021]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The British Ambassador to Venezuela has not visited James Miles and Paul Loseby. UK based Consular staff visit James Miles and Paul Loseby at least
  293
  every quarter and last did so on 2 February, when James Miles declined to see the UK-based member of staff. Other consular staff visit more frequently and have seen both on numerous occasions.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of(a) the conditions in which Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby are being held and (b) their medical and dental situation. [70003]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Consular staff at our posts overseas monitor prison conditions to satisfy themselves that British prisoners are not discriminated against, that their basic human rights are met, and that illnesses are treated.

  Consular staff have interceded with the Venezuelan authorities whenever James Miles or Paul Loseby have requested medical or dental treatment.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings representatives of the British Embassy in Caracas have had with Venezuelan Government officials in respect of Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. [70004]

  Mr. Fatchett
  Consular staff at the British Embassy in Caracas meet regularly with Venezuelan officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Prisons to discuss consular aspects of their imprisonment. The most recent meeting was on 3 February 1999 between the Vice Consul and an official from the Prisons Directorate at the Ministry of Justice.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the inauguration of the new Venezuelan President on the case of Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. [70005]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The new President of Venezuela was inaugurated on 2 February. It is too early to say what, if any, policies might be introduced which will affect foreign prisoners.

  Maldives
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on allegations that the Government of the Maldives imprisoned seven Christians because of their beliefs. [70213]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We attach importance to the right to freedom of religion and expression. We were therefore concerned to learn about the deportation from the Maldives in July 1998 of nineteen foreign nationals for alleged proselytising activity and the detention of several Maldivian citizens who had apparently converted to Christianity. We understand that all those detained have now been released. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

  General Pinochet
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what levels the four reports despatched to his Department by the British Embassy in 294
  Madrid, relating to the investigations by Judge Garzon, were read, and when; which desks these reports were forwarded to for information within his Department and to where outside his Department; and what action was taken as a result. [70284]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The reports of 12 November 1997 and 23 January 1998 were read at desk level in the Department; the former was sent to our Embassy in Santiago; the latter to our Embassies in Santiago and Buenos Aires. The reports of 15 and 16 October were read at senior official level in the FCO, passed to the Home Office on 16 October, and drawn on in briefing the Foreign Secretary on 16 October before Senator Pinochet was detained.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the informal indication to the British Embassy in Santiago in early September 1998 that Augusto Pinochet was to visit the United Kingdom; what reports were sent to his Department as a consequence; what reference was made in internal communications to potential legal and diplomatic difficulties that might ensue; and if such reports were brought to his attention. [70285]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 9 February 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 29 October 1998, Official Report, columns 273–74, and to the answer my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, gave to the nobel Lord Lamont of Lerwick in another place on 11 January 1999, Official Report, House of Lords, column 3. The reports subsequently circulated with the FCO made no reference to potential legal and diplomatic difficulties. This was reported to me over the weekend 19/20 September.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the contents of the note faxed to his Department on 9 October 1998 by the British Embassy in Santiago relating to reports of General Pinochet' s death; at what level in his Department this was read; and what action was taken in response. [70287]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Our Embassy in Santiago telephoned the Resident Clerk late on 9 October following inquiries from the press about reports that Senator Pinochet had died that afternoon in London. The Resident Clerk obtained confirmation from the Chilean Embassy that the reports were untrue and informed our Embassy. The Embassy's subsequent note to the Department recording this exchange was received after Senator Pinochet was detained.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (i) minutes and (ii) other documents are held by his Department relating to telephone calls made by representatives of the Chilean Embassy concerning the departure from the UK of General Pinochet prior to the issuing of the arrest warrant; what was the nature of the discussions; at what time of day those discussions took place; and if he will make a statement. [70289]
  295
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 9 February]: For details of the telephone calls between the Chilean Ambassador and Foreign Office officials, 1 refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Trend) on 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 149, and on 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 496–97. As I have already made clear, both conversations took place before the receipt of the request from the Spanish authorities for the provisional arrest of Senator Pinochet.
  296

  Cornish Language
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to co-ordinate Government policy on the future development and status of the Cornish language. [68662]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are discussing with colleagues in home departments the impact of the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on the Cornish language. This is, ultimately, a matter of domestic rather than foreign policy.

  Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment
  Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment
  Prison Service Quantum Project: Review
  Prison Service Quantum Project: Review
  General Pinochet
  General Pinochet
  Royal Commissions
  Royal Commissions
  Peers' Age Profile
  Peers' Age Profile
  Correction to Official Report
  Correction to Official Report
  NHS Boards: Peers Serving as Members
  NHS Boards: Peers Serving as Members
  Iraq
  Iraq
  US Contacts with Iraqi Opposition in UK
  US Contacts with Iraqi Opposition in UK
  Worshipful Company of Scriveners: Monopoly
  Worshipful Company of Scriveners: Monopoly
  General Pinochet: Arrest Warrant
  General Pinochet: Arrest Warrant
  Public Sector Research: Exploitation
  Public Sector Research: Exploitation
  Electricity Supply from EU
  Electricity Supply from EU
  Bank Holidays
  Bank Holidays
  Fish Movement Regulations: Infringement
  Fish Movement Regulations: Infringement
  Thomas Hamilton: Sergeant Hughes' Report
  Thomas Hamilton: Sergeant Hughes' Report
  Scotland: Shotgun Use
  Scotland: Shotgun Use
  Adult and Community Learning Fund: Award
  Adult and Community Learning Fund: Award